What is the deal with "Merit Shop?"

One of the core values of Willmar Electric Service has always been what we today call Merit Shop.  The term “Merit Shop” didn’t come along until the start of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) in 1950.  So the first generations of Willmar Electric Service didn’t refer to Merit Shop, but they did live the philosophy.

Before I give you a long history of what the Merit Shop philosophy is let me tell you what it isn’t.  Merit Shop isn’t just another way to say Open Shop.  It also isn’t anti-Union. 

The Merit Shop philosophy in its simplest terms is really equal to free enterprise.  Under the Merit Shop philosophy companies and people are judged based on their abilities and not on their union or non-union status.  If we have two qualified contractors going after the same project, we disregard the fact that one of the two contractors may or may not be union or non-union.  The same would apply to individuals.  As an individual you are evaluated based on you performance not you affiliations. 

In practical terms it means that not every single employee is paid the exact same rate.  What people get paid is determined by several factors like longevity, willingness to travel, knowledge, and willingness to get along with co-workers, past performance, local market rates, education, role, and level of responsibility. 

In practical terms Merit Shop means we are willing to work for either union or non-union contractors and we hire and subcontract work to both union and non-union contractors.  You may have seen Willmar Electric Service either work for union contractors or hire union contractors and wondered why, or thought working for and with the unions is contradictory to our philosophy.  It isn’t.  Since 1920 Willmar Electric has operated under the idea that the “best man should get the job.”  Anything else would be un-American!

In the mid 1970’s Willmar Electric Service was a founding member of the Minnesota Chapter of ABC.  Frank Chapin was the local Chapter’s first Treasurer.  John Chapin served as ABC national Chairman in 1990.   John Chapin also served ABC in many other roles including as the Minnesota Chapter Chairman.  Steve Bowen has served the Cornhusker Chapter as Chairman and several other roles in addition to his current role as a member of the National ABC’s Business Development Committee.  Al Hamilton served the Rocky Mountain Chapter as Chairman and several roles.  I (David Chapin) served as Minnesota and Cornhusker Chapter Chairman, a national board member, been a part of the national Political Action Committee and I am currently the Vice-Chairman of the Midwest Region.    Dave Jung, Larry Davis and Jay Tornquist have served on various boards and committees for ABC in the past.