The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City

The Construction Industry Committee will meet at 8 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 13 at Mark One Electric Co., Inc.

The LMC congratulates Sherwin Carroll, Kansas City director of SEIU Local 1 and an LMC Board Member, on his retirement beginning at the end of this week. Sherwin has served the local for more than 30 years, and has been a solid supporter of the LMC. He will be succeeded by Lindsay Walker, who is returning to KC after serving in Washington, D.C. with SEIU's efforts to pass immigration reform. She was an active leader in community issues before going to DC and we look forward to her return next week.

The Missouri House Workforce Development and Workplace Safety Committee will hear HB 1305, which substantially dilutes the state's prevailing wage law, on Monday, Jan. 27, at noon. The LMC opposes HB 1305.

SMACNA-KC and Sheet Metal Workers Local 2 have established a partnership with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. An additional alliance was signed by OSHA and the International Association of Sheet Metal Workers, Local 2, to provide safety and health training to its members. The partnership and alliance establish a collaborative relationship to promote safe and healthful work environments for workers in the construction and general industries. Other LMC members are involved in similar pro-safety partnerships with OSHA, including the Builders' Association.

LMC Adopts 2014 Issues Agenda

The following positions have been adopted by the Board of Directors of the Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City as reflective of our mission to enhance collaboration by solidifying trust and communication between labor and management and the community.  Each position requires the support of at least 75 percent of both the labor and of the management members of the board.

 The Issues Committee and Board will also consider other issues, such as ballot issues, as they evolve during the year.

Federal

•Support construction of the Keystone pipeline project. 

Note:  we also expressed support for a longer-term federal transportation bill.

Watch List:

 •Oppose a benefits tax in  federal health care reform; Any future stimulus funds include significant vertical construction projects.

Missouri

•The LMC supports reasonable and effective economic development incentives.  While the LMC supports ensuring that tax credits and other incentives are cost effective, we want to preserve those tax credits crucial to economic development such as the historic tax credit, tax increment financing and enact an angel tax credit and data center incentives.

•The LMC opposes legislation to impose “right-to-work.”

•The LMC supports maintaining and increasing Medicaid eligibility and adequate provider reimbursement. 

•The LMC supports state funding for a comprehensive transportation plan. 

•The LMC supports Prevailing Wage in its present form.

•The LMC opposes TABOR (taxpayer bill of rights) that would further restrict the rights of legislatures and local governments to adopt fiscal policies of their choosing. 

•The LMC endorses retention of the Missouri Plan for judicial selection and the similar policy that exists in Kansas.

•The LMC supports development of a statutory framework for public employee collective bargaining in Missouri to reduce uncertainty for workers and for public employers. 

Watch:  Education/Kansas City School District (transfer issue and others), Unemployment Insurance, Workers Compensation, Utility Rates & Energy Capacity. 

Kansas

•The LMC supports reasonable and effective economic development incentives.

•The LMC supports continued funding for the comprehensive transportation plan.

•The LMC endorses retention of the Missouri Plan for judicial selection and the similar policy that exists in Kansas.

•The LMC opposes immigration reform proposals that would put the burden of I-9 verification on contractors for subcontractors.  Verification responsibility should fall only on the direct employer of those workers.

Watch:  Kansas “driveway” tax (proposed requirement for impact study if increasing user fees). 

Local

•The LMC opposes elimination of the Kansas City, Mo. city earnings tax until an alternative is in place.  

Watch:  Bidding practices in local governments, particularly regarding design build in KCMO and Johnson County (KS), KCMO Development Code, Jackson County implementation of PACE.

As we celebrate Martin Luther King's birthday, whether we are working or not, we remember the principles he advocated. The LMC is mindful of his great interest in labor-management relations, which took him to Memphis for his final day, and the power labor and management have to fulfill the dream he so eloquently espoused.

LMC Board of Directors Summary of Minutes
Jan. 16, 2014, 8 a.m. • Husch Blackwell

Attending: Sam Alpert, Jack Bainbridge, Bret Bonge, Scott Hoisington, Bob Jacobi.

•Thanks to John Phillips and Husch Blackwell for hosting.

•M/S/C to approve the financial report.

•The Board will follow developments on various issues before making any changes in the current issues positions.

•The 2014 Public Officials Reception will be held again the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. The LMC should consider holding it before the November election.

•Two potential keynote speakers were identified for the Anniversary Celebration and Awards Dinner April 17. Nominations for the Leadership in Labor-Management Cooperation and Service to the LMC awards are now being accepted.

•Board members will recruit for a Management Vice Co-Chair and other open positions for election at the Awards Dinner. Scott Hoisington is available for reelection as Co-Chair. A slate will be developed and voted on by the Board either before the dinner or at the next Board meeting.

•The next Board meeting will be at 8:30 a.m. (note time change) on Wednesday, April 9, location TBA.

•M/S/C to adjourn at 9:30 a.m.

The Missouri House Workforce Development committee heard HB 1099 Monday, a "right-to-work" bill. The LMC opposes all "right-to-work" or "freedom-to-work" legislation. We urge all members and friends to express their opposition to Missouri legislators. The legislature remains in session through May 16.

The LMC Board of Directors meets Jan. 16, 8 a.m. at Husch Blackwell.

Construction Committee Learns about City Energy Project

Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes

 8 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.

Attending:  Terry Akins, Sam Alpert, Rita Cortes, Brian Dietz, Jamie Green, Scott Hoisington, Joe Hudson, Dennis Joyce, Kevin King, Greg Lever, Dave Lovetere, Alise Martiny, Gordon McCleary, Joe Mabin, Kevin Murphy, Kevin Sexton, John Tompson, Ed Wehrle, Colleen White, Bob Jacobi.

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

•Terry Akins has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Kansas City Area Development Council.

•Jamie Green and Kevin Murphy presented on the soon-to-be-announced City Energy Project.  KCMO has received a substantial, three-year grant to encourage owners and managers of large buildings to retrofit for energy efficiency.  The goal is to make the city and ultimately metro area more competitive and create jobs.  An advisory committee is being developed.  The project will be a resource for those interested in finding information and financing for energy retrofits.

•The pre-bid meeting for the Crime Lab/East Patrol Station project’s police station, auditorium and central power plant will be Jan. 21 at JE Dunn.  All crafts and interested contractors are urged to attend.  Partnerships and flexibility will be needed to help the project achieve its Section 3 goals.  The bid date is Jan. 30.

•”Right-to-work,” prevailing wage, economic development and taxes will be among the key issues for the Missouri legislature in 2014.  House and Senate leaders have different priorities, and the election-year atmosphere will complicate the session.  Continued communication with legislators is urged.  Any “right-to-work” bill coming to a House vote will likely be for a referendum probably in August.  Such a route would have to pass the Senate as well but is not subject to gubernatorial veto.  It was noted that of the five states with the highest per capita rate of bankruptcies in 2013, all were “right-to-work” states.  Tennessee was the worst, with a rate nearly double the national average.

•The Kansas City Construction Partners has published a new brochure, with web site soon to be on line.  Several new projects are in the pipeline.

•NICE is beginning to sign up participants in the iBuild Showcase, April 17 at Bartle Hall.  Registration information for booths and volunteers can be found at www.nice-kc.com

•The Kansas City Public Schools facilities master plan advisory process has been suspended pending resolution of accreditation issues later this year (ie achieving accreditation in the next round of testing or legislative reform of the school transfer law).

•The Cordish Block 110 residential project in downtown KCMO is proceeeding.  It will be prevailing wage and likely use Davis-Bacon rates.  JE Dunn is the general contractor.

•All are encouraged to contact board members of the KCMO PIEA to support including prevailing wage and MBE/WBE in taxpayer-supported projects.  There are openings on that board for those interested in applying as well.  The PIEA will becoming part of the KCMO EDC in the future.

•Subcontractors and crafts interested in the KCMO Streetcar project are encouraged to attend the Minority and Women Coalition session Friday, Jan. 10, 8 a.m. at Mark One.

•All are invited to IBEW Local 124 at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 21 to hear a presentation on the “right-to-work” issue by former Missouri State Sen. Tim Green.

•Upcoming Events:

 *Minority & Women Coalition Meeting for Subcontractors interested in the Streetcar project,

    Friday, Jan. 10, 8 a.m. at Mark One.  RSVP to rsvp@markone.com

  *MCA Joint Safety Session, Managing Costs by Managing Claims, Jan. 16, 7:30-9 a.m., 

    Overland Park Sheraton

  *Pre-bid meeting for KCMO East Patrol Station, Jan. 21, JE Dunn Construction Co.

  *KC CREW Luncheon "Plaza Vista" Jan. 21, 11:30 a.m., Mission Hills Country Club.

  *Presentation on “right-to-work” by former Sen. Tim Green, 5:30 p.m., Jan. 21, IBEW Local 124

  *Hispanic Contractors Economic Forecast, 11:15 a.m., Feb. 6, Downtown Marriott

  *SMACNA-KC Trade Show, Feb. 18, 2014

  *Midwest Construction Safety Conference, March 12-14/2014, Adams Pointe Center

  *iBuild Showcase, April 17, Bartle Hall

  *LMC Anniversary Celebration and Awards Dinner, April 17, Argosy Casino

  *Builders’ Association Scholarship Golf Tournament, May 19, Milburn Country Club

  *Mid-America Labor/Management Conference, July 6-9, Camden on the Lake

  *LMC Golf Tournament, July 21, Oakwood Country Club

  For details on the above events, please contact the sponsoring group or the LMC

•Next Meeting: 8 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014, Mark One Electric Co., Inc., 909 Troost.

•M/S/C to Adjourn at 9:30 a.m.