The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City

Construction Committee Meets May 13

The LMC's Construction Industry Committee will next meet at its regular time and place, 8 a.m. Thursday, May 13 at Mark One Electric Co., Inc., 909 Troost.

Photos from the 2010 LMC Awards Dinner and Anniversary Celebration are now posted. See "2010 Awards" to the left under Photo Albums. Photos were taken by Mary Jacobi, Jackson County Circuit Court, and Bill Wien, Builders' Association.

LMC Honors Reardon, Couch, Wilkinson at Awards

LMC Honors Reardon, Couch, WIlkinson

Kansas City, Mo - The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City honored Kansas City Kansas Mayor/Wyandotte County CEO Joe Reardon with its Leadership in Labor-Management Cooperation Award at the organization’s 31st anniversary celebration April 15 at Argosy Casino.

More than 180 participants also heard from Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster and joined in honoring retired Truman Medical Centers Deputy Executive Director Dan Couch and retired Heavy Construction Laborers Local 663 Business Manager Barry WIlkinson with the Service to the Labor-Management Council Award.  The event also featured the election of Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders as management Co-Chair, the first elected official to serve as an LMC co-chair.

Reardon was cited for involving labor and management in the policies leading the the tremendous growth in Kansas City, Kansas and Wyandotte County in recent years, growth that continue to occur even in a challenged economy.  His active metro-wide leadership was also cited for its benefit to the labor-management and broader communities.

Koster praised the LMC and its members for Kansas City’s “doing labor-management cooperation exceptionally well.”  He noted that success is the result of “good people coming together for a common purpose.”

The Attorney General also described what is happening in state government and the approach of his office.  Since Larry Rebman became director of the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the department is “an engine that has been turned on,” Koster said, citing active approaches to unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, prevailing wage and other areas.

“Simple values make the best policies,” Koster noted.  “Our goal is to marry our values and our policies.”  He cited the values of treating workers with dignity and leveling the market for responsible businesses as leading to new emphasis areas of civil, disability and worker rights.  Enhanced enforcement of prevailing wage, worker misclassification and undocumented worker laws is being pursued by his office, Koster pointed out.

Couch and Wilkinson, who served together as LMC co-chairs in the late 1990s, have continued to be involved with and supportive of the LMC after retirement.  They jointly lead a session of the Mid-Level Leadership Program each year, continue to provide advice and support, and continue to involve the LMC in their community leadership roles.  WIlkinson noted that the LMC is “the backbone” of the community.

LMC members in attendance also elected Sanders as the management co-chair, succeeding Jim Delaney, Turner Construction Co., and elected Kevin Istas, vice president, Walton Construction Co., as vice co-chair.  They also reelected Dave Kendrick, business manager, Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Trades Council, as secretary and Don Greenwell, president, Builders’ Association as treasurer.  Pat Dujakovich, president of the Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO, and Scott Hoisington, deputy operations director for Turner Construction Co., were picked for the executive committee while board members elected included Sam Alpert, Construction Users Council; Sherwin Carroll, SEIU (re-elected); Jim Prothe, Kansas City Power & LIght Co. (re-elected), Dave Lovetere, DST Realty; Gary O’Bannon, city of Kansas City, Mo.; Jeff Wilkinson, Heavy Construction Laborers Local 663.

The event also featured presentation of a check for more than $13,000 to the National Institute for Construction Excellence contributed by the LMC from proceeds of the third Construction Summit in January.  The funds will support the Crayons to CAD middle school program and iBuild Showcase, which will bring more than 1,000 students together with industry professionals April 27.

Founding sponsor for the celebration and dinner was the Power Partners.  Anniversary sponsors included the Builders’ Association and J.E. Dunn Construction Co. and Award sponsors were Blue Cross/Blue Shield/Preferred Health Professionals, Mark One Electric Co., Inc. and Truman Medical Centers.

For more information contact Bob Jacobi, executive director, at bob.jacobi@rockhurst.edu or (816) 501-4565.

Photos will be posted on the blog soon.

LMC Awards Thursday Night

The LMC's 31st anniversary celebration and twelfth annual awards dinner is set for Thursday, April 15 at Argosy Casino.  Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster will keynote and the nearly 200 attendees will learn the recipients of the 2010 Leadership in Labor-Management Cooperation and Service to the Labor-Management Council Award winners as well as elect this year's LMC officers.

For information contact the LMC at bob.jacobi@rockhurst.edu or (816) 501-4565.

Construction Committee Hears From CORO, iBuild; Green Event Follows

Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes
 7 a.m., Thursday, April 8, 2010, IBEW Local 124
Attending:  Terry Akins, Rosana Biondo, KC Borden, Jim Delaney, Lyle Farrand, Don Greenwell, Scott Hoisington, Steve Janasz, Pat Julo, Garry Kemp, Dave Kendrick, Payne Mendenhall, Anne Skinner, Tom Whittaker, Colleen White, Bob Jacobi.
•Introductions and thanks to Terry Akins and Local 124 for hosting.
•The iBuild Showcase April 27 expects at least 843 students from six high schools and 13 middle schools.  Booth sponsors (and ad copy from booth sponsors) and volunteers are still needed.
•Anne Skinner, Rockhurst University, presented on behalf of CORO.  The internship program is looking for hosts for the interns’ business and labor focus weeks, other events they could attend and financial support.  Contact Anne at anne.skinner@rockhurst.edu for information.
•Though the anti-earnings tax petitioners are not active at the moment in KC, that could change as the May 2 deadline approaches.  If petitioners are spotted we are urged to call 1-877-644-0466 so that the Decline to Sign campaign can post people to inform potential signers of the petition’s real impact.
•The budget crisis means all Missouri tax credits, particularly the Historic tax credit, are on the table for decreases or elimination as well as proposals to subject them to annual appropriations process.  Legislators need to continue to be informed as to the economic importance of the key tax credits such as the Historic tax credit.  HB 2399 is a vehicle for the debate and is still in committee.
•A version of Kansas SB 401 passed out of committee.  With the legislature not passing a budget, it is doubtful that the veto session beginning April 28 will see many other issues addressed but the bill needs continual monitoring.  The Kansas legislature did pass a bill affecting retainage.
•The Green Conference sponsored by Local 124, Power Partners, AIA, Mark One and others follows the committee meeting.  More than 120 are expected to attend.
•Committee members were thanked for support of the American Diabetes Association event last month that raised $17,000.

•Upcoming Events include:

  *Working Families Friend Poker Tournament, April 9, Plumbers/Pipefitters Hall
  *LMC Awards Dinner April 15, Chris Koster Keynote Speaker
  *MODOT Big Truck Night for kids 600 NE Colbern Road
  *KC Crew Luncheon April 20, Stewart Title Chief Economist, Mission Hills
  *LMC Board Meeting April 21
  *iBuild April 27
  *Design Build Conference April 29, Harrah’s
  *Labor Bowl Challenge for MDA, May 1, Ward Parkway Lanes
  *Fashion for a Cause benefitting Truman Medical Centers May 2; info at
   http://www.trumed.org/truweb/cf/ways_to_give/gifts_of_time/fashion_for_a_cause_2010.aspx
  *SMACNA Golf Tournament, May 11, Loch Lloyd
  *ASA Sport Shoot May 14
  *Builders’ Association Golf Tournament May 17, Milburn Country Club
  *DAD’s Day Bike Run & Car Show June 12, Independence Arena
  *Rockhurst University Golf Tournament, June 14, 11:30 a.m., Milburn Country Club
  *KC Crew Luncheon, June 15, MARC Economist, Mission HIlls Country Club
  *EPA Lead Awareness Training June 21, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Builders Association
  *Mid-America Labor/Management Conference July 5-8
  *LMC Golf Tournament July 19, Oakwood Country Club
  *Building Trades Golf Tournament Aug. 19, Eagle Landing; prize drawings or early registrations.
  *Race for the Cure, Aug. 20
  *American Subcontractors Association Golf Tournament Aug. 31, Loch Lloyd
  *NICE Golf Tournament Sept. 20, Oakwood Country Club
  *KC CREW Golf Tournament, Aug. 30, Loch Lloyd

•The next meeting will return to the regularly scheduled time and place: 8 a.m., Thursday, May 13 at Mark One Electric Co., Inc.

•Adjourn.

Immediately following the meeting, many attendees participated in the Green Energy Conference: Sustainable KC 2010 at the Local 124 hall and the Local 124/NECA training center next door.  Participants heard about the importance of green construction to the local economy from Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders; learned about the real economics of going green from Bernie Kotlier, director of green energy solutions for IBEW/NECA LMCC, California; learned about the LEED rating system, liabilities of going green, evaluating existing buildings for upgrade, how to access utility and government funding for green projects, applying SMART grid, maximizing solar and wind systems, how a city of Kansas City, Mo. tow lot facility achieved green construction and about future standards and impact of green construction.

Local 124 Business Manager and LMC Co-Chair Terry Akins noted that NECA contractors and IBEW members have been installing green solutions for decades and are prepared for doing even more now and in the future.  Event hosts included Local 124, AIA Kansas City chapter and the US Green Building Kansas City chapter.  Co-sponsors included Mark One Electric Co., Inc; Power Partners, Energy Svings Store and Boulevard Brewing Co.