The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City

Construction Committee Meets June 12

The LMC Construction Industry Committee will meet at 8 a.m., Thursday, June 12 at Mark One Electric Co., Inc., 909 Troost, KCMO.  The National Institute for Construction Excellence Board meeting will follow.  Please contact the LMC with any questions.

Directory Updated

You can download an updated directory of LMC members and board of directors here: Download membershiprosterbd.pdf (79.0K) Please let the LMC know of any changes.

Directory Updated

Here is an updated LMC membership and board of directors directory:

a href="http://labormanagementkc.typepad.com/membershiprosterbd.pdf">Download membershiprosterbd.pdf (79.0K)</a>

Please contact the LMC with changes.

Health Care Quality Event June 5

Readers of this blog are invited to the following event, which will highlight a vital project for enhancing the quality of health care in the Kansas City region.

The project encourages labor-management participation.  The details:

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Kansas City Quality
Improvement Consortium invites you to a special event as they announce
an unprecedented commitment of resources, expertise and training to
improve health care quality in the United States. Aligning Forces for
Quality is a bold effort to transform health care in 14 communities
across the nation.

Here in Kansas City, The Kansas City Quality Improvement Consortium and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation are teaming up with those who get care, give care and pay for care to deliver lasting change across the
entire community.

Thursday, June 5 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Truman Forum Auditorium at the Kansas City Public Library Plaza Branch
4801 Main Street Kansas City, Mo

During the event, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation President and CEO Dr.
Rita Lavizzo-Mourey and representatives from other selected regions will
join via satellite. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will release new
research from the Dartmouth Atlas project on the state of health care in
different communities.

Lunch will be provided.
RSVP by Wednesday, May 28th to Tara Meadows at Tara.meadows@msplr.com, 202-261-2871

Bob Jacobi
Executive Director
Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City
(816) 501-4565; fax 501-3198
bob.jacobi@rockhurst.edu

LMC Board Analyzes Issues

Summary of Minutes
LMC  Board Meeting
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at GKC Building & Construction Trades Council

Attending:  James Daley, Jim Delaney, Lyle Farrand, Rick Greeno, Don Greenwell, Gerard Grimaldi, Dave Kendrick, Kevin Sexton, Bob Jacobi.

Thanks to Garry Kemp, Dave Kendrick and the Building Trades for hosting.

•M/S/C to accept the Financial Report. subject to audit.

•The LMC will investigate having an audit.  An accounting class at Rockhurst will be approached to considering doing an audit as a class project.

•M/S/C to approve the proposed 2009-2009 budget.

•A process for employee evaluation and compensation will be developed.

•The board will be provided a list of membership prospects to contact as well as past due members to follow up

•Legislative sessions in Missouri and Kansas proved somewhat successful for the LMC’s agenda, particularly regarding economic development, and no highly objectionable legislation was passed.  Funding increases in Missouri for health care and other services fell short of the LMC’s position.  A ballot issue will address casino loss limits and will be considered by the Issues Committee.  Transportation funding will be a key issue in 2009 in both states.

•The Awards Dinner was successful in terms of attendance, revenues and program.  The Board agreed that the 2009 event should again be in April.

•The 2008 Golf Tournament is already generating sponsors, reservations and donations but more are needed.  The tournament is July 21 at Oakwood Country Club.

•The Board was reminded of the FMCS national conference June 9-11 and the Mid-America Labor/Management Conference June 30-July 3.

•The Board received a report on the Kansas City School District’s Engineering and Construction Academy.  Funding from state and federal sources will be sought in addition to the district, and eventually private funds will be needed.

•Board openings remain.  The Builders’ Association board will discuss Management openings.  (Note: after the meeting James Daley volunteered for the Treasurers’ position; however that may be an issue in requesting an audit from a Rockhurst class.  Don Greenwell, the current assistant Treasurer, volunteered for that position and the nomination will be brought to the Board for the July meeting).

•The next meeting will be Wednesday, July 16 at Teamsters Local 541.

•M/S/C to adjourn at 1 p.m.

Immigration Law Session Offered

The American Subcontractors Association Kansas City chapter's June 3 Membership Meeting will feature Brad Pace, Attorney, Armstrong Teasdale, who will cover the Immigration Law in the states of Kansas and Missouri.

The meeting will be held at the Ritz Charles (9000 W. 137th Street, Overland Park, KS). A reception will be from 5:30-6:30 p.m., followed by a buffet dinner and 7 p.m. program. Cost is $35 for ASA members and $45 non-members.

Deadline for registration is Friday, May 30. Registration can be faxed to 913-499-7694, mailed with a check to ASAKC, P. O. Box 24074, Overland Park, KS 66283-4074, or faxed and pay by check or credit card at the door. The ASAKC Web site is at www.kcasa.org.

ASAKC will now be accepting Visa and Master Card in payment for events. Cost is 35.00 for members and $45.00 for non-members. ASAKC Website – www.kcasa.org.

Head count must be submitted for dinner reservations by, May 30th, so please submit your registration as soon as practical. Ritz Charles is located at 9000 W. 137th Street, Overland Park, KS.

National Labor-Management Conference June 9-11 in DC

The National Labor-Management Conference, sponsored by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, will be held June 9-11 in Washington, DC. The deadline for advance registration ($595) is May 29.

The FMCS conference brings together labor relations professionals from the public, private, and federal sector for insightful workshops and news-making speakers. The biennial conference featuresmore than 60 skill-building and knowledge-sharing workshops to help navigate these challenging times for labor-management. Workshops include specialty tracks geared specifically for the the federal and public sectors, international labor relations, and the Labor and Employment Relations Association (LERA). 

Plenary sessions include Collective Bargaining: Wave of the Future? with a panel of Harold P. Coxson, Jr., Ogletree Deakins, U.S. Chamber of Commerce  Labor Relations Committee; Jon Hiatt, General Counsel, AFL-CIO; Kenneth C. Huhn, Vice President, Industrial Relations, Deere & Company and John Wilhelm, President/Hospitality Industry of UNITE HERE. 

Keynote Speakers include MSNBC political commentator Chris Matthews, host of Hardball with Chris Matthews; Dr. William Ury, co-author of Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In, and economist Stephen Rose, author of a landmark study on wage and income, Social Stratification in the United States. 

Visit www.fmcs.gov for a complete list and description of workshops. The information number is 202-606-3631.

Construction Committee Gets Issue, Education Updates

Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes

8 a.m., Thursday, May 8, 2008, Mark One Electric, 909 Troost
Attending: Jim Beem, Rosana Biondo, Troy Carlson, Gene Darby, Jjim Delaney, Robin Floyd, Rick Greeno, Bob Looman, Dave Lovetere, Leroy Lutes, Payne Mendenhall, Vince Migliazzo, Bill Miller, Julie Perkins, Lonnie Scott, Ron Shaffer, Kelly Sterner, Tom Whittaker, Craig Wright, Bob Jacobi.

•Introductions and thanks to Rosie Biondo and Mark One for hosting.

•Congratulations to Tom Whittaker and Rosie Biondo for their recognition at the LMC Awards Dinner with the Leadership in Labor-Management Cooperation and Service to the Labor-Management Council Awards, and to Jim Delaney for becoming LMC Co-Chair (as well as for his 37th wedding anniversary)

•Garry Kemp and Dave Kendrick are in negotiations with Jackson County.

•KC Borden is receiving chemo treatments and is responding well.

•The Mechanical Contractors Association and Pipefitters Local 533 have ratified a new contract; negotiations are near completion with Plumbers Local 8. One significant change is the move to day time training.

•Legislative updates include: Bombardier plant support has passed the legislature and while there is hope the Governor will sign it, communications with him in support could be needed, as well as support for the omnibus economic development bill which includes a piece crucial to attracting Bombardier as well as other positive changes; the proposed Missouri ban on affirmative action did not receive sufficient signatures to reach the ballot; immigration legislation is possible in Missouri but dead in Kansas; the Governor is expected to veto the Holcomb plant bill; Kansas has passed indemnity legislation sought by the American Subcontractors Association and other contractor groups for several years; transportation funding will be a major issue in both states in 2009.

•The Kansas City Construction Partners has adopted its detailed provisions, is generating promotional materials and will soon begin meeting with owners, developers and general contractors again with the newly-finalized details.

•Upcoming golf tournaments include the NICE/iBuild on June 2 and the LMC on July 21.

•The next statewide construction labor-management meeting will take place 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 3 at the Lodge of the Four Seasons in conjunction with the Mid-America Labor/Management Conference June 30-July 3.

•The iBuild event May 6 drew more than 2,000 students and 250 volunteers, gaining TV coverage and generating numerous applications for apprenticeship and other industry opportunities. The Crayons-to-CAD middle school contest involved 300 students; the top three entries came from a rural, an urban and a suburban school. Next year’s iBuild will be on May 4-5.

A presentation on the Engineering and Construction Academy in the Kansas City School District will be held at 7:30 a.m., Wednesday May 14 at the Kauffman Foundation (see attached). Industry and school district leaders will learn more about the planned school and how they can participate.

•The next meeting will be at 8 a.m., Thursday, June 12 at Mark One.

•M/S/C to adjourn.

Note: A Caring Bridges website has been set up for progress reports on KC Borden, If you need the address, please email bob.jacobi@rockhurst.edu.

Note: An excellent packet of maertials, including a DVD, on immigration compliance has been put together by Dan West of J.E. Dunn Construction has been supplied to the committee. Anyone wishing copies please contact Bob Jacobi.

Also, the American Subcontractors Association is holding a session on immigration complianced. We will follow up with more details.

Initiatives, Legislation Taking Shape

The LMC is pleased that the proposed initiative to ban affirmative action did not receive enough signatures to be placed on the Missouri ballot. Opposition to the initiative came from business and labor as well as other communities. Supporters spent significant funds; reports were that in the last week, supporters were paying out-of-state petition gatherers up to $5 per signature plus expenses. Despite such expenditures, the petition drive failed.

One issue that the LMC has supported is removing the loss limit from Missouri casinos. An initiative petition drive to do that did turn in signatures and awaits verification. If it is on the ballot, the LMC Issues Committee and Board will evaluate the issue's language to determine a position.

The Missouri and Kansas legislatures are moving towards conclusion. Missouri has critical economic development legislation and budget items, including the possible Bombadier plant, yet to be concluded. An immigration package, which at this point fits the LMC's position, is headed for a final vote. In Kansas, immigration legislation appears dead. Both legislatures are likely to pass less legislation than typical, especially in Missouri.

With term limits and the 2008 elections, Missouri will have a new governor and at least at 25% change in the legislature in 2009. For more information on legislative and public issues, contact the LMC office.