Photo via Inc.
Judy Marks, CEO of Otis Worldwide, the elevator and escalator manufacturer, recently highlighted an often-overlooked advantage of unionized workforces: operational predictability. According to Inc., Marks argues that working with organized labor creates a framework for stability that extends across an organization's operations, allowing leadership to plan with greater confidence.
For Atlanta-area industrial and manufacturing leaders, Marks' perspective offers a counterpoint to traditional labor-management tensions. As the city's logistics, real estate, and manufacturing sectors continue to expand, the ability to forecast labor costs and workforce availability becomes increasingly valuable for companies managing complex supply chains and building projects.
Marks emphasized that union partnerships align leadership and workers around a common mission, creating mutual accountability. This collaborative approach, she suggests, reduces the friction and uncertainty that can derail operational timelines and inflate unforeseen costs—a particularly relevant consideration as Atlanta companies scale operations and compete for talent in a tightening labor market.
The Otis case demonstrates that predictability—whether achieved through unionized agreements or other labor frameworks—may be worth the trade-offs CEOs traditionally associate with organized labor. For Atlanta businesses evaluating their own workforce strategies, the message is clear: clarity and alignment with employees can drive measurable business benefits.
