Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes
8 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.
Attending: Sam Alpert, Jose Aragon, Greg Davey, Brian Curtin, Ed Downey, Joey Flickner, Kevin Gard, Kevin Hendrickson, Brett Jennings, Mike Johnson, Gabe Jones, Dan Loftis, Ralph Oropeza, Tina Shonk-Little, Pam Nolte, Cameron Seip, Chris Stanton, Bill Tillman, Steve Townsend, Brian Wood, Stacey Zerr, Nate Zier, Bob Jacobi.
•Thanks to Rosana Privitera-Biondo and Mark One Electric Co., Inc. for hosting. We welcome Dan Loftis to his first meeting.
•Session #33 of the Construction Summit: Efforts continue working with the Fair Contracting Alliance.
•Tina Shonk-Little presented an update and requested feedback on the efforts of Unions United Childcare to provide affordable, all-hours childcare for union construction families. The committee provided feedback on projected participation levels, cost estimates, funding mechanisms and cost-sharing models, access for participating contractor management personnel, future needs versus present, potential as a recruitment and retention tool particularly for women, facilities locations and other issues. The discussion will continue at future meetings and information on costs projections will be shared with the committee.
•NICE has its annual fundraising luncheon Nov. 12; details are attached.. A construction math session for teachers, generated by committee discussion, is set for Sept. 19 at the Laborers Training Center with at least 10 math teachers and instruction from Laborers, Plumbers and IBEW to help teachers understand better what students need to know to get into apprenticeship programs and become successful. Upcoming Senior Day events are set for Oct. 4 at the Builders, Oct. 14 at Local 2, Oct. 18 at the Roofers.
•Missouri’s veto session will have little or no activity. The ballots for the Nov. 5 election are set; Missouri ballot issues include a minimum wage hike plus paid family leave as well as sports gaming, reproductive rights and prosecutor/sheriff pensions. Federal paid leave standards can be very complicated to address for contractors especially as workers move among contractors on federal projects. Attached is more information on federal leave programs.
•President Biden recently issued an executive order on how apprenticeship requirements are to be implemented in federal construction contracting, with an aim to closing loopholes. This has been a problem especially on recent large solar projects. Apprenticeship standards are also often an issue with attempts to get local governments to adopt Responsible Bidder Ordinances. Providing a USDOL registered program is possible for smaller contractors and ensures a quality of training. More details can be found at https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2024/09/06/executive-order-on-investing-in-america-and-investing-in-american-workers/.
•OSHA has proposed a heat standard and seeks comments. Details on the standard and how to comment are attached. Comments are due by Dec. 30. Heat has been an increasing problem particularly for construction workers as the climate warms. Workers should begin preparing to work in high heat in advance with hydration and adaptation.
•Brian Wood from OSHA noted that September is Suicide Prevention Month and this week Construction Suicide Prevention week. Construction workers are far more likely to commit suicide than workers in other industries, often because of addiction to pain medication for the impact of construction work on their bodies and because in the construction workplace culture they fear stigma and embarrassment for seeking help. Having mental health services at the same site as physical health care, such as Spira Care centers, helps as does the availability of tele-health. The MCA and Locals 533 and 8 are working together to educate and help workers feel more comfortable about seeking help. More emphasis and training on getting construction workers to act as professionals and treat each other with respect on the job is also needed to help prevent mental health issues and suicide. Workers need examples and modeling on the best behavior for job sites. This is also a retention issue especially for women and workers of color.
•The LMC Mid-Level Leadership Program continues to accept applications with the first session Sept. 25. The LMC/BOMA-KC Public Officials Reception also seeks RSVPs and sponsors for the Oct. 10 event at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. More than 50 rsvps have already come in from winners of the August primaries.
•Upcoming events:
*LMC Sporting Clay Shoot Saddle & Sirloin, Sept. 12
*NAWIC Golf Tournament Sept. 19, Adams Pointe Golf Course
*Working Families Friend Fall Cook-Off, Sept. 21
*Mid-Level Leadership Program First Session, Sept. 25, Rockhurst University
*DBIA-MAR Shrimp Boil, Sept. 25, 4-6 p.m., Lenexa Public Market
*Missouri & Kansas Laborers Western Charity Golf Tournament, Sept. 27, Drumm Farm
*Unions United Kickball Tournament, Oct. 5, 8 a.m., City Park KCK
*LMC/BOMA-KC Public Officials Reception, Oct. 10, 5:30-7 p.m., Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
*Dozer Day by NUCA-KC, Oct. 11, Truman Sports Complex
*Fishing for Freedom, Oct. 11-13, Truman Lake
*KCPS Bond Issue Open House, Oct. 29, 5:30-7 p.m., Location TBA
*Election Day Nov. 5
*CREW Kansas City Quarterly Luncheon, Nov. 5
*NICE Annual Luncheon, Nov. 12, Bartle Hall
*Builders’ Holiday Party Dec. 12
*NICE iBuild Showcase April 8, 2025
*Mid-America Labor/Management Conference July 6-9, 2025, Camden on the Lake
•Next Meeting: 8 a.m., Thursday, October. 10 at Mark One Electric Co.
The mission of the Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City is to enhance collaboration by solidifying trust and communication between labor and management in the community