By Tom MacDonald

– A Philadelphia labor union is using unmanned aircraft to survey building sites in the city.

John Dougherty, head of the Philadelphia Building Trades Council says he’s bought three drones scanning the city for unscrupulous contractors who are violating building codes.

“It’s more to get the unlicensed contractors sometimes undocumented workers just document it and send it to the right authorities and let them know,” he said. “It’s just a more positive way to do business in the modern world.”

Dougherty, who also is business manager at the influential IBEW Local 98 of the electricians union, says the overhead surveillance could even save lives.

“Who is to say if we had a drone flying around 22nd and Market Street [before the 2013 building collapse there] we could have prevented that tragedy,” he said.

Dougherty says if they find something troubling, they will send it to city officials or even federal officials for further investigation.

Source – http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/philadelphia/90995-union-leader-johnny-doc-now-has-his-own-air-force-video