The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City

Golf Update

In looking at the previous post, we neglected to list United Labor Credit Union among the Eagle sponsors for the 2009 LMC Golf Tournament.

LMC Golf Tourney Photos Available

The 12th Craig Whitaker Labor-Management Council Golf Tournament featured outstanding weather, outstanding golf and great opportunities for relationship-building July 20 at Oakwood Country Club.  Photos, taken by Mary Jacobi, are available in the photo album section at left.

The first-place foursome was Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City (Brent Wehmeyer, Ron Miller, Stephen Flores and Bill Wilson).  Second place also went to a Blue Cross Blue Shield foursome (Bruce Ellis, Andrew Will, Tom Wilson and John Colbern).  Third place was taken by J.E. Dunn Construction Co. (David Slovikowski, Chris Cole, Mike Plau and Graham Jones).  Karen Horton, Argosy Casino, took longest drive while Scott Forbes, Pipefitters Local 533, won nearest-to-the-pin.  Sponsors included:

Eagle--Argosy Casino, J.E. Dunn Construction Co., Mechanical Contractors Association, Pipefitters Local 533, Power Partners, Walton Construction Co.

Refreshment Cart--Asbestos Workers Local 27, Builders' Association.

Hole Sponsors--Bricklayers Local 15, Midwest Mechanical Contractors, Teamsters Local 541

In-Kind--Teamsters Local 838/Signatory Bottlers & Distributors, Robbie Makinen, Metzler Bros. Insurance, United Labor Credit Union, Pesca Promoworks, Argosy Casino.

Volunteers--Sang Duong, Lyle Farrand, Mary Jacobi, Greg Lever, Herb Millard.

Speaking at the Awards Luncheon were Mary Whitaker, widow of tournament founder Craig Whitaker, and Kansas State Treasurer Dennis McKinney.  Kansas State Rep. Sean Gatewood also attended.

Other upcoming tournaments of interest include National Institute for Construction Excellence Aug. 17, GKC Building Trades Aug. 20, American Subcontractors Association Aug. 21, Argosy Casino Charity Aug. 24, Dave Peterson Memorial Aug. 30, Teamsters Joint Council 56 Sept. 12, KC CREW Sept. 22. 

2009 MALMC Photos Available

Check the photo albums at left for photos from the 2009 Mid-America Labor/Management Conference at the Lodge of the Four Seasons July 5-8.  The 2010 conference will be July 5-8 again at the Lodge.  Feel free to contact Bob Jacobi with ideas for conference speakers and session.  The conference planning committee next meets in August.

LMC Golf Tourney a Success

The LMC's 12th annual Craig Whitaker Golf Tournament featured great weather, great company and even some great golf July 20 at Oakwood Country Club.  Look for results and photos here soon.

LMC Golf Tournament Monday

The 12th annual Craig Whitaker Labor-Management Council Golf Tournament is set for Monday, July 20 at Oakwood Country Club.  Registration begins at 7 a.m. and shotgun start at 8 a.m.

If you/your organization plans to play and you didn't get an email this morning, contact Bob Jacobi, (816) 501-4565, bob.jacobi@rockhurst.edu.

MALMC Concludes With EFCA Debate, CISAP Session

The 24th annual Mid-America Labor/Management Conference concluded July 8 with a fascinating debate on the Employee Free Choice Act now being considered by Congress.

A panel of Kansas Citians analyzed and debated the proposal as well as possible compromises before a packed room of conference participants.  Moderator Dan Hubbell, National Labor Relations Board regional director, was joined by management attorney Terry Kilroy, Polsinelli Shughart, and union attorney Angie Atkinson, Blake & Uhlig.

Among other sessions was one focused on the Construction Industry Substance Abuse Program, a growing multi-craft drug testing program designed to limit costs and provide top quality, accurate service for contractors and workers.  CISAP Executive Director Brad Patten explained the unique program's history, design and upcoming developments.

Dates are also set for the 2010 conference, which will be the 25th annual.  Taking place at again at the Lodge of the Four Seasons, next year the conference will take place July 5-9 with the first sessions taking place July 6.

For more information check the conference web site, www.malmc.org.  Photos from the conference will soon be posted on this blog.

Labor and Management Work Together in Legislature

Contrary to the assumptions and perceptions of many, labor and business often work together successfully on Missouri legislation, participants at the Mid-America Labor/Management Conference learned today.

Speakers cited many instances of finding common ground, achieving compromises and jointly lobbying legislators.  While labor and business groups may never agree fully on some issues, one key to working together on other issues is to avoid making disagreements personal, all agreed.

Panelists included Herb Johnson, Missouri AFL-CIO; Dan Mehan, Missouri Chamber of Commerce; Brad Jones, National Federation of Independent Businesses; Richard Craighead, United Steelworkers, and Scott Ramshaw, Pipefitters & Plumbers Local 562.

Soon labor and management will again be searching for common ground as meetings are held to find solutions to Missouri's Second Injury Fund insolvency and perhaps broader workers compensation issues arising from the passage of workers' comp changes in 2005.

Another point of common agreement is that the implementation of term limits has created many challenges, particularly inexperienced legislators and competition among legislators to move up to higher office when their terms end.  These dynamics can even slow or prevent passage of bills labor and management agree on.

The conference continues through Wednesday.

Gov. Nixon Speaks to MALMC

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon praised the competitive advantage provided by labor/management collaboration and outlined his priorities for more than 140 attendees at the Mid-America Labor/Management Conference today.  The 24th annual conference is taking place at the Lodge of the Four Seasons in Lake Ozark, Mo.

Nixon noted that like champion NASCAR drivers, Missouri needs to move aggressively in the current tough environment to prepare for the future.  He cited the following priorities that he sees as necessary to respond to today's challenges and take advantage of future opportunities:

•Missouri needs to be positioned to implement its portion of upcoming federal health care reform.  Expanding access and controlling costs is critical to the state and nation's economic competitiveness.

•Infrastructure needs must be addressed.  Proposals for a no-tax-increase bond program will be explored for a public vote.  The most recent major bond program is about to be paid off, providing an opportunity with the state's solid credit rating to affordably address infrastructure issues.

•Taking advantage of bioscience capacities and moving to energy independence, keeping Missouri as a net energy exporter.

•Helping MIssourians facing challenges, such as providing coverage for screening and treatment plans for children who may be autistic.

Nixon also noted the hard work of Missouri Dept. of Labor and Industrial Relations Director Larry Rebman and his staff to get help to unemployed residents as soon as legislation was passed.  Rebman is also a recent addition to the MALMC's planning committee.

Other highlights of the conference included a presentation on the partnership between IBEW Local 124 and Milbank Manufacturing at its recently organized Concordia, Mo. plant, an update on labor and employment law changes from nationally-recognized attorney Leonard Court, an update on federal health care reform legislation and karaoke (thankfully no report on the details of the karaoke will be made).  The conference continues through July 9.

Mid-America L-M Conference Begins Sunday

The Mid-America Labor/Management Conference begins Sunday at the Lodge of the Four Seasons in Lake Ozark, Mo.  There is still time to sign up for the excellent programs offered by the 24th annual conference.  Check the website, www.malmc.org, for details.

More Golf!

More upcoming events of interest to the labor-management community include:

•Argosy Casino "Hearts & Hands" Charity Golf Classic, Aug. 24, 8:30 a.m. at Staley Farms Golf Club.

•Dave Peterson Memorial Tournament, Aug. 30, sponsored by AFL-CIO Tri-County Labor Council of Eastern Kansas, more info soon.

•KC Crew Charity Golf Tournament,Sept. 21,  11 a.m., The National.

Contact the LMC for details on any of these tournaments.