ABC is a non-profit trade Association dedicated to the principals of merit shop Construction, and is the only national construction association promoting the merit shop philosophy. There are over 25,000 firms in more than 79 chapters nationwide that make up ABC. In this chapter alone, there are over 250 members.

What Is An ABC Member?
A business firm ranging from a large corporation to a small proprietor. The four basic categories of membership are: general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers (material; not responsible for on-site labor) or a professional associate (architect, engineer, lawyers, CPA's, insurance/bonding companies).

Why Is ABC In Maryland?
ABC is needed in Maryland to help protect the right of Maryland contractors to operate under the Merit Shop. The training of a qualified work force is essential for construction to prosper in the future. Legislative representation helps keep each contractor aware of issues directly affecting the construction industry.

Why Should I Belong to ABC Chesapeake?
"Every man owes a part of his time and money to the business or industry in which he is engaged. No man has a moral right to withhold his support from an organization that is striving to improve conditions within his sphere." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1908

This famous quote by a great American leader should inspire you to support an organization that works on a daily basis to make the construction industry strong. However, we want you to know the direct dividends that you will receive from your investment in ABC.

Because the phrase Merit Shop might mean different things to different people, to clear up any misconceptions, we are presenting here the origin of the term as it is used by the Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc.

Organized originally to support the open shop, ABC asserted as its chief purpose, the creation of a climate where union and independent firms could work together in harmony.

As ABC was invited into heavily unionized areas, we found that "open shop" connoted "anti-union" and, therefore, the phrase caused the merit of this harmonious method of working to be lost because of semantics. Therefore, ABC developed the phrase Merit Shop.

Many people do not understand that Merit Shop is a business way of life for both employers and employees. It means the preservation of the individual worker's freedom to choose whether he wants to be a union member or not. It means that union and independent contractors should be protected in their right to do business with each other, regardless of their firm's labor relations. In bidding, it means that the job goes to the lowest responsible bidder whether the firm is union or independent.