56 CHAPTER SEVEN
FIGURE 7.1.Published Productivity Rates.
From Means Building Construction Cost Data 2007. Copyright RSMeans, Kingston, MA 781-585-7880; All rights
reserved.productivity for an 8'' 8 '' 16 ''decorative concrete block
is 0.118 labor hours per sf. Care must be exercised when
using the costs from national data sources, because they are
less accurate than historical data.
7–2 Unions—Wages and Rules
The local labor situation must be surveyed carefully in
advance of making the estimate. Local unions and their work
rules should be given particular attention, since they may
affect the contractor in a given community. The estimator
will have to determine whether the local union is cooperative
and whether the union mechanics tend to be militant in their
approach to strike or would prefer to talk first and strike as a
last resort. The estimator will also have to determine whether
the unions can supply the skilled workers required for the
construction. These items must be considered in determining
how much work will be accomplished on any particular job
in one hour.
While surveying the unions, the estimator will have to
get information on the prevailing hourly wages, fringe
benefits, and holidays; also the date that raises have been