Union vs Non-Union Commercial Glazier in Florida — Practical Guide

Florida is a right-to-work state. Union representation is rare in Florida commercial glazing relative to union-density states like Illinois, New York, and California. Most Florida commercial glaziers (including ACG) are non-union shops with W-2 employees on the union prevailing wage where the scope requires it (federal projects, certain public scopes).

Florida is right-to-work — what that means

Right-to-work means employees cannot be required to join a union as a condition of employment. Florida adopted right-to-work in 1944. Result: most private-sector Florida construction work is non-union. Public-sector projects may have union or prevailing-wage requirements depending on funding source.

When the union question matters

Federal-funded construction (Davis-Bacon Act) typically requires prevailing-wage labor.

Florida state DOT and certain public projects may have prevailing-wage requirements.

Private commercial work typically does not require union labor.

Some hospitality and corporate brands prefer union-labor projects as a corporate policy.

What ACG provides

ACG is a non-union commercial glazing contractor. W-2 employee field crews. Glaziers paid above Florida glazing wage average. ACG pays Davis-Bacon prevailing wages on federal-funded scopes when contracted. Non-union status does not affect bid eligibility on most Florida commercial projects.

Quality is not a function of union status

Field quality, schedule discipline, and safety culture are independent of union/non-union status. The glazier's track record, credentials, and references are the right things to evaluate — not union affiliation alone.

Frequently asked questions

Is ACG a union glazier?

No. ACG is a non-union commercial glazing contractor based in West Palm Beach, Florida. We pay Davis-Bacon prevailing wages on federal-funded projects when contracted to those scopes.

Can ACG bid federal-funded glazing scopes?

Yes. ACG bids federal-funded scopes (FAA, VA, GSA) when partnered with a DBE-certified primary contractor. We are not currently DBE-certified ourselves.

Does union vs non-union affect bid pricing?

Sometimes. Union prevailing-wage scopes typically price 10-20% higher than non-union private work due to wage and benefit structure. ACG bids both scopes at the rate the labor classification requires.