The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City

Good Luck, Khensa

The LMC wishes best of luck to past co-chair Khensa Karim, who is soon leaving her post as executive director of SMACNA-KC Chapter.  Khensa will be doing marketing work, particularly for construction-related companies.

Khensa served on the LMC Executive Committee, as vice co-chair and as co-chair bringing new ideas and energy.  She also helped raise SMACNA's visibility and helped develop the Kansas City Construction Partnership.

Health Care Forum Generates Diverse Ideas

About 30 leaders attended the Dec. 27 Health Care Forum at Rockhurst University sponsored by the LMC and he UAW-Ford Community Health Care Initiative at the request of the Obama transition team.

Despite cool and slippery weather, participation exceeded expectations.  A full summary of the event is being compiled for the Obama Transition Team and will be included on this blog when complete.  Participants included leaders from business, health care providers, labor and the community.

Contact the LMC for more information.

Farewell to Harold Cullum

We are sad to learn of the death of Harold Cullum.  Harold served many years as a labor liasion for the Greater Kansas City United Way, connecting union members with United Way services and helping raise funds for the organization.  Labor-management cooperation has been critical to the United Way's success, but only with the hard work of people like Harold.

A longtime member and leader in the United Food and Commercial Workers, Harold continued to be active years after his retirement.  He led the retiree group for the Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO and continued to volunteer for many events, causes and issues.  HIs long-term perspective, vast experience and tireless dedication were a great help to and inspiration for our community.

We will miss his leadership and friendship.

LMC Co-Hosts Health Care Session Dec. 23

The LMC, at the request of the Obama Transition Team, invites you to a discussion on health care reform on:

Tuesday, Dec. 23

10 a.m.

Rockhurst University, Massman Hall Room 248

Similar discussions are being held throughout the U.S.  Input from these discussions will help the new administration develop its health care reform proposals.  Co-hosting with the LMC is the UAW-Ford Community Health Care Initiative.

The nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, former Sen. Tom Daschle, will attend some of these meetings.  We do not know yet if he will attend this one.  We assume not, but will let you know if he chooses our meeting.  All meetings must be held by Dec. 31, which is why we are moving quickly.

Please RSVP to bob.jacobi@rockhurst.edu and also contact us with questions or more detailed directions to Rockhurst.  A participants' meeting guide twill be emailed to those who RSVP.

Water Plan Passes

The full Kansas City, Mo. City Council has approved both the wet weather plan and the funding strategies recommendations for the plan.  The EPA and MIssouri Dept. of Natural Resources will be sent the wet weather plan for approval, hopefully putting the city in compliance with federal law once the plan begins implmentaion to significantly reduce water pollution over the next 25 years.

Several LMC member organizations are already aggressively lobbying area congressional representatives to include the program for funding from the federal stimulus package, which would help soften the significant rate increases for homes and businesses that will be required to pay for the plan.

Construction Committee Discusses Infrastructure Stimulus, Kemp Retirement (Partial!)

Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes

8 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008, Mark One Electric, 909 Troost

Attending: Rosana Biondo, Troy Carlson, Jim Delaney, Lyle Farrand, Garry Kemp, Dave Kendrick, Mike Kotubey, Bob Looman, Herb Millard, Bill Miller, B.Z. Parscale,  John Tompson, Dan West, Colleen White, Craig Wright, Bob Jacobi, Dan Osman.

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

•A key factor in limiting the economic slowdown for construction is the federal economic stimulus proposal focus on infrastructure.  The Building Trades have gathering--and are seeking more--projects that could be on the street quickly if funds were available and have a list from KCMO of $746 million (see attached).

   Contractor groups including the ASA are working on changes in Missouri’s lien law.  A bill is

expected to be pre filed; contentious issues include legal fees.  A Kansas bill is being pre filed to regulate controlled insurance programs so that they cover all aspects and allow for review by subcontractors’ agents.  Taking effect Jan. 1 in Kansas bans add insured.

  Also taking effect Jan. 1 in Missouri is the requirement for contractors on public jobs to use E-verify or similar system. On Aug. 28 requirements for OSHA training take effect.

•The city of Kansas City, Mo., is hosting an open forum on the workforce ordinance Dec. 17, 9 a.m. at the Downtown Marriott (see attached).  The program also will feature the city’s First Source Hiring Program.

  The Unified Government is also developing an affirmative action ordinance, now in its third draft.  A hearing will be held on Dec. 17, 6 p.m. in the county commission meeting room.  Contractors and crafts are urged to attend and to advocate for rules and forms as close to those of KCMO as possible to limit costs and focus on practices already shown to be effective.

•The Kansas City Construction Partners is working with current nonparticipants to see if the program can be all-inclusive.  More meetings will be held in January

•Preliminary meetings and research are underway for the next Construction Summit.  No firm date is set.

•Upcoming events include the opening of the Missouri legislature Jan. 7, the opening of the

Kansas legislature and Missouri gubernatorial inauguration Jan. 12, LMC Board Jan. 21, LMC Awards Dinner April 16 and Mid-America Labor/Management Conference July 6-8.

•The Building Trades is offering OSHA train-the-trainer session Feb. 9-13.  The deadline for registrations Jan. 15.  Both management and union safety folks are welcome.  The fee is $75. (see attached)

•NICE is seeking a speaker and sponsor for next week’s Power Lunch at Van Horn High; seeking teams and sponsors ($120 per team) for the Construction Challenge Feb. 7; and booth sponsors fir iBuild May 5.  Teacher training for Crayons-to-CAD will be held soon and about 1,000 students are expected to participate.  Contact Craig Wright to sponsor teams for the Construction Challenge, with questions about iBuild and to participate in the Power Lunch.

•The committee recognized Garry Kemp on his upcoming retirement as Business Manager for the Building Trades Council and congratulated Dave Kendrick who will be his successor.  Garry will continue to work part-time for the Building Trades.

•Garry is serving on the Transition Team for Missouri Gov-Elect Jay Nixon and strongly encourages industry leaders to submit their names for consideration for appointment to state boards and commissions; more than 500 appointments will be made in the next year by Gov. Nixon.  Please visit the web site, govelect.mo.gov, to make application and then inform Garry that you have done so.  Most positions require Missouri residency.

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

•Have a great holidays!

LMC Awards Dinner Announced

The Labor-Management Council will celebrate its 30th anniversary at the 2009 Awards Dinner Thursday, April 16 at Argosy Casino.  The dinner will also see announcements of the Leadership in Labor-Management Cooperation and Service to the LMC award recipients and election of the 2009 LMC officers and board.

A reservation form can be downloaded here <a href="http://labormanagementkc.typepad.com/awadsfrm.pdf">Download awadsfrm.pdf (30.7K)</a>.  Please contact the LMC office for award nomination forms, as well as with any questions.

Water Rate Strategy Passes Committee

Today the Kansas City Council Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved and sent to the full council the recommendations from the Water Services Utility Funding Task Force.  LMC Executive Director Bob Jacobi served on the task force.  The full council is expected to vote on it and on the recommened Overflow Control Plan next week.  The Overflow Control Plan will be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency and the MIssouri Dept. of Natural Resources.

For a copy of the task force recommendations, contact Bob Jacobi (bob.jacobi@rockhurst.edu).  Most of the costs would be covered by ratepayers.  Many task force members, and LMC members, are now working to get federal support to help fund the several billion dollar set of projects to better clean the city's water and reduce sewer backups, among others.  Green solutions in the proposed plan exceed those of any city in the U.S.

Photos Available from Public Officials Reception

Photos from the 2008 LMC Public Officials Reception at the Dowowntown Marriott/Muehlbach on Nov. 20 are now available on this blog.  It's included with the photo albums to the left of this column.  Please let us know of your comments or if you would like a hard copy or JPG file of any of the photos.