 In the late 19th century, the construction industry was in transition, and this transition led to large, frequent jurisdictional conflicts between labor unions.Proliferation in new building techniques and materials led to an increase in specialized construction professions, which in turn led to the establishment of numerous small specialty unions and fights over which union's members would perform the work.The nature of the construction industry at the time also concentrated power in the hands of local rather than regional or international unions.