The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City

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. 

Construction Committee Meets Aug. 13

The LMC Construction Industry Committee resumes its regular meeting schedule at 8 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 13 at Mark One Electric Co., Inc., 909 Troost.  Preceding the meeting at 7:15 a.m. will be a session for the Construction Summit Planning Team and immediately following will be a board meeting for the National Institute for Construction Excellence.

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.

Kiewit Moves

Just moved into new quarters is Kiewit Power Constructors.  The new home is 9401 Renner Road, Lenexa, KS 66219.  New phone is 913-928-7800, fax 689-4800.  Kiewit previously had been in Overland Park.

Builders' Association Completes Move

The Builders' Association has now moved to 720 Oak Street, Kansas City, Mo., 64106, from its previous headquartersat 632 W. 39th Street.  There is no change for staff at the Builders' Training Center in North Kansas City and phone and email addresses continue.

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, [email protected].

LMC Board Sets Public Officials Reception

Summary of Minutes

LMC Board Meeting July 15, 2009

Teamsters Local 541 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Attending:  Donna Birks, Jim Delaney, Lyle Farrand, Kevin Istas, Robbie Makinen, John Phillips, Bob Jacobi.

•Thanks to Lyle Farrand and Teamsters Local 541 for hosting.

•A consolidated and analyzed financial statement will be sent with the board minutes.  The board reviewed a version just received.

•M/S/C to adopt proposed 2009-2010 budget (sent to board in May)

•Issues Report:  In addition to those from the board background information, Ned Holland, recently named to a federal Health and Human Services position, would be a good invitee to a forum/event on health care; reform of consumer protection on credit is being considered; bills have been introduced to eliminate arbitration for employment (though not labor relations) issues; Jackson County is being considered for the new U.S. Public Service Academy.

•The golf touornament will be July 20.  All are looking forward to Robbie’s pulled pork.  The Mid-America Labor-Management Conference was successful and marketing for the Mid-Level Leadership Program is underway.

•M/S/C to change to a quarterly board meeting schedule after the Sept. 16 or Nov. 18 meeting.  The Executive Director will develop a meeting schedule based on key board decision points.  Morning meetings perhaps with a speaker or tied to an event are preferred.

•M/S/C to pursue the Nov. 19, 2009 date at the Downtown Marriott, Old Muehlbach Lobby, for the Public Officials Reception.  (That date has now been confirmed)

•M/S/C to adjourn at 1 p.m.

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.