ABOUT MARBA

Formed in 1971, the Mid-America Regional Bargaining Association (MARBA) is a multi-employer association focused on collective bargaining in the construction industry. It brings together various contractor associations in the Metropolitan Chicago region for the purpose of unified labor relations. MARBA is involved directly in labor relations constantly throughout the year. This provides contractors with a central group that is always “tending the store.” Contractors can count on MARBA as a year-round information source, one which is in constant communication with union leaders.

MARBA recruits industry experts to serve in the leadership roles during negotiations. These individuals are usually one of the leading employers in the particular craft for which MARBA is negotiating. MARBA stabilizes the construction industry by unifying contractors and providing them with a strong, single voice to handle union relations.

Negotiating twenty-one separate collective bargaining agreements with ten unions is just one aspect of MARBA’s services to its members. MARBA offers a forum for labor/management problem resolution, labor information, grievance administration, training and educational programs. Its success in housing employer associations under one “umbrella” was instrumental in spurring the creation of such organizations as the Chicagoland Construction Safety Council (CCSC) and the Construction Industry Service Corporation (CISCO).