The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City

Construction Committee Meets Dec. 11

The LMC's Construction Industry Committee will meet at 8 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 11 at Mark One Electric Co., Inc., 909 Troost.  Please contact the LMC with any questions.

Mid-Level Class Discusses Future of Labor Law

LMC's Mid-Level Leadership Program class focused on the future of labor law during its Nov. 19 session.

Class members were priviliged to hear from Terry Kilroy, Shughart Thomson Kilroy (soon to be Polsinelli Shughart); John Philllips, Husch Blackwell and Louie Wright, Fire Fighters Local 42 and also an attorney.  These top labor law experts discussed the future of public sector labor law in Missouri in light of the recent state Supreme Court ruling recognizing a constitutional right to collective bargaining and possible federal changes such as the proposed Employee Free Choice Act with a new President and congressional changes.  The potential impact of these changes and their relative merits were discussed and debated.

The session was the final one for the fall portion of the 2008-2009 program.  Sessions will resume Jan. 28 at Rockhurst University.

LMC Builds Relationships With Public Officials

The past week has been focused on building relationships betwen the LMC, its members and area elected officials.

More than 150 attended the LMC's annual Public Officials Reception at the Downtown Marriott/Muehlbach Nov. 20.  Elected officals from all levels and both states joined LMC members and friends for conversation and refreshments.  Co-Sponsors included:

Cabinet

IBEW Local 124 

Fire Fighters Local 42 

Senator

Greater Kansas City Building & Construction Trades Council

Operative Plasterers’ & Cement Masons Local 518 

Pipefitters Local 533 

Power Partners (IBEW Local 124 & NECA-KC Chapter)

Representative

Asbestos Workers Local 27 

Builders’ Association 

Husch Blackwell Sanders 

Sprinkler Fitters Local 314 

Teamsters Local 541 

Assistant

J.E. Dunn Construction Co. 

Mark One Electric Co., Inc.

Sheet Metal Workers Local 2 

Turner Construction Co.

Supporter

Bricklayers Local 15 

Mechanical Contractors Association 

Rockhurst University

Photos from the event will be on this site soon.

The following three days, a coalition of area civic groups including the LMC hosted 17 freshmen Missouri legislators in a series of events and activities to help the new legislators get to know the KC region and our legislative priorities.  Among other presentations, the freshmen heard one from the LMC regarding workforce issues in the construction, utilities and related industries.  Presenters included Allen Dillingham, Builders' Association; Dave Kendrick, Greater Kansas City Building & Construction Trades Council; Craig Wright, National Institute for Construction Excellence, and bob Jacobi from the LMC.  This is the fourth time the coalition has hosted such a program for the legislators.  Legislative leadership and other members of the KC delegation also participated.

Awards, Golf Dates Set for 2009

Summary of Minutes

LMC  Board Meeting

Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008 at Fire Fighters Local 42

Attending:  James Daley, Jim Delaney, Gerard Grimaldi, Bob Jacobi.  Louie Wright had to leave before the start of the meeting to attend a wake.

•Thanks to Louie Wright and Local 42 for hosting.

•Due to lack of a quorum, no official actions were taken.  The Board members attending recommended the following:

•The Issues Committee should meet by January and among other issues should consider a position on the federal stimulus package, particularly regarding possible unemployment insurance, infrastructure and Medicaid payments to states proposals.

•The 2009 Awards Dinner should be Thursday, April 16 at Argosy Casino.  Gov.-Elect Jay Nixon will be invited to give the keynote address.

•The 2009 Golf Tournament will be July 20 at Oakwood Country Club.  Moving the tournament from afternoon to morning will be considered.

•Board meeting dates in 2009 should follow the same format as currently, which would have 11:30 a.m. meetings on Jan. 21, March 18, May 20, July 15, Sept. 16 and Nov. 18.

•M/S/C to adjourn at 1 p.m.

Construction Committee Views Check Presentation to TMC

Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes

8 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008, Mark One Electric, 909 Troost

Attending:  Terry Aikens, Rosana Biondo, Troy Carlson, Garry Kemp, Dave Kendrick, Dave Lovetere, Bob Looman, Payne Mendenhall, Herb Millard, Lonnie Scott, Ron Shaffer, Colleen White, Craig Wright, Bob Jacobi, Valerie Fulbright, Deb Bass. Greg Davison.

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

•Election results Nov. 4 included positive results for two LMC positions:  opposition to judicial elections and support for the Triangle tax in Johnson County.  New leaders will be in place for nearly every state position in Missouri as well as the Presidency, and the Kansas legislative positions (and possibly Governor) will be determined later and could also have changes.

(Note for those interested:  There will be a presentation on the difficult state of the Missouri budget Dec. 4, 8-10 a.m., Penn Valley Community College Education Bldg., Room 019.  It’s free but RSVPs required at www.mobudget.org).  The LMC is one of the groups presenting to the Missouri legislative freshmen Nov. 22.  Education and NICE will be the focus of the LMC presentation.

•The Construction Summit Planning Committee met and is developing the target audience of owners/developers not currently using organized contractors, and the program.  Developments regarding the Kansas City Construction Partners will help drive the program, which would also focus on apprenticeship and training.

•The Building Trades is holding an OSHA 500 & 7600 class Feb. 9-13 and an entrepreneurship class beginning Feb. 12 (info attached).

•The LMC Public Officials Reception is Nov. 20, 5-7 p.m. at the Downtown Marriott/Old Muehlbach lobby.  Please rsvp to the LMC.

•NICE has begun Power Lunches at Van Horn High School; the latest speaker was Rosie Biondo, who drew the highest attendance to date.  Crayons to CAD will be implemented in all middle schools in KCMO, KCK, Hickman Mills and Center school districts, reaching more than 1,000 students.  A new program to KC, the Construction Challenge, is drawing teams from throughout the region Feb. 7, location to be determined.  Booth and sponsor registration for iBuild, May 5. 2009 is now available.  NICE is also negotiating with the KCMOSD for implementation of the high school curriculum.  BNIM is now providing marketing assistance.  Anyone with photos of construction workers in action are asked to submit them to Craig Wright, wrightcraigg@aol.com, for possible inclusion in curriculum materials for the 2009 Crayons to CAD.

•The Building Trades is encouraging construction industry union members and contractors to submit resumes to them for recommendation to the incoming Missouri governor for appointments.  Those interested on serving on boards and commissions can be of either party.

•Guests were welcomed for a presentation of a check for $24,500 to Truman Medical Centers Foundation.  The money was raised by the Greater Kansas City Building & Construction Trades Council annual Golf Tournament earlier this year.  The funds will purchase much-needed new equipment for the neonatal unit at the Lakewood campus of the hospital.  Guests included Valerie Fulbright and Deb Bass from Truman and Greg Davison from the Building Trades golf committee.  An additional $1,000 is expected to be generated for the project.  Garry Kemp noted that the Building Trades represents craft workers at the hospital and that construction projects use union labor, as well as TMC’s membership in the LMC and the honor the LMC has given to TMC CEO John Bluford.

Photos will be posted later.

•The next meeting will be at 8 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 11 at Mark One Electric Co., Inc.

LMC Board Meets Nov. 19

The Labor-Management Council Board of Directors will meet on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Fire Fighters Local 42, 6333 Manchester.  Please contact Bob Jacobi if there are ideas or issues you wish the Board to consider.

Election Results a Plus for LMC

Johnson County, Kansas, voters passed the two issues supported by the LMC on the Nov. 4 ballot.  Voters rejected an attempt to change to a system of partisan judicial elections and enacted a sales tax to support the technology "triangle" with educational programs aimed at developing a high tech workforce.

The LMC also looks forward to working with federal, state and local winners and encourages current and newly elected officials to attend the Public Officials Reception on Thursday, Nov. 20, 507 p.m. at the Downtown Marriott-Muehlbach lobby.

Remember to Vote Nov. 4

The Labor-Management Council would like to remind you to vote Nov. 4 (as if no one else was reminding you!).  The LMC has taken positions on two Johnson County, Kansas ballot issues:

•Oppose Question 1, judicial elections.  We believe that, particularly within a large metropolitan area, the current system for appointing judges is far superior to judicial elections.  The current system is designed to produce qualified, independent judges who will rule according to the law and to provide checks and balances.  The overwhelming evidence is that the system produces such judges.

•Support Question 2, Technology Triangle sales tax.  The proposed sales tax increase would generate $15 million per year to boost engineering, animal health and cancer research at higher education institutions in the county.  We believe that this initiative will generate considerable economic development, as well as enhancements to people's lives in health and technology. While no one really wants higher taxes, this is an investment that can have a significant return for the people of Johnson County.