The Mid-America Labor/Management Conference got off to a strong start this morning. Registration of 193 is the largest since 2002. The conference can also be followed on Twitter: @MALMC2011 tage $malmconf.

Missouri U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill opened the conference via Skype--a change in Senate schedule meant she had to be in D.C. instead of the lake. Sen. McCaskill lamented the state of DC politics and called for reasonable compromises that would both close the deficit and help create jobs via targeted investments in infrastructure and education. She lauded the conference attendees as the "best of Missouri" for their work as labor-management cooperation is critical for "a well-paid, trained work force which is the backbone of the middle class." Government must pay attention to the purchasing power of the middle class, Claire noted, and to do so requires working together.
A similar call for reasonable compromise came in the second session where speakers emphasized the need for legislation to ensure environmental improvement while maintaining adequate power as electric producers transition to a broader mix including coal, hydro, nuclear, solar, wind and natural gas sources. Jerry Hunter, head of utilities for the IBEW, and Tony Jacobs, special assistant to the president of the Boilermakers, emphasized that current scheduled regulations under the 1990 Clean Air Act are pressuring utilities to cut capacity before alternatives will be in place. They also noted that labor and utilities are working together to generate compromise legislation in Congress as well as working with EPA to develop realistic regulations. Mark Ruelle, president and CFO of Westar Energy, and Mark Birk, vice president of generation for Ameren Missouri, agreed on that point and noted that only by working together can utilities deliver for customers and shareholders and unions for their workers.
Jobs and economic development was the focus for Robbie Makinen, Jackson County economic development director. He said that too often economic development efforts lack the input of labor and of schools, and that he and Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders are working to remedy that. He also revealed a new web site that feature vast amounts of information on all real estate in Jackson County, making it much easier to research properties both residential and commercial for economic development. He asked for feedback on how to improve the website, which though not yet live is already under consideration for several international awards.
The conference has adjourned for the golf tournament and other activities and will resume Thursday morning.