ABC Story

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is a national construction trade association representing more than 24,000 merit (open) shop construction and construction-related firms in 78 chapters across the United States.

ABC was founded in 1950 when six Maryland contractors met to counter a massive organizing drive by local unions. Their courage and dedication to the merit shop spread rapidly, and within time, ABC became the fastest growing association in the United States.

The merit shop philosophy is the core principle of the association. ABC believes in fair and open competition. The merit shop philosophy holds that construction contracts should be awarded solely on the basis of merit, regardless of whether or not a company's employees have chosen to belong to a union.

In 1970 only 30 percent of the nation's construction was performed merit shop and only six of the top 400 construction firms were ABC members. Today, the merit shop accounts for more than 80 percent of all construction across the nation, and ABC's membership has grown to include over one-third of the top 400 construction companies in the United States.

The association continues to grow. ABC provides members with representation on Capitol Hill, one of the nation's largest construction political action committees, craft training and management education products. ABC continues to work to promote a positive image for the construction industry and to encourage the highest standards of quality.

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