The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City

LMC Board of Directors Summary of Minutes
April 30, 2015, 8:30 a.m. • SEIU Local 1

Attending: Sam Alpert, Tim Bell, KC Borden, Scott Hoisington, Joe Hudson, Lindsay Walker, Bob Jacobi.

•Thanks to Lindsay Walker and SEIU Local 1 for hosting.

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

•The 2015-16 budget will be presented at the July board meeting.

•The Board added one issue to the 2015 Legislative Agenda since the agenda was approved in January (mandatory benchmarking ordinance in KCMO). That issue is in the KCMO Council committee process. Other key issues include “right-to-work” which likely will face Missouri Senate debate very soon, perhaps today; it is on the informal perfection calendar. Gov. Nixon signed the data center incentives bill. Concerns continue over transportation funding in both Missouri and Kansas.

•The Anniversary and Awards Dinner proved successful; we will begin researching the date for next year and then Argosy’s availability. Upcoming programs include:
--Mid-America Labor/Management Conference July 5-8, Camden on the Lake. Registration now available at www.malmc.org .
--Craig Whitaker Memorial Golf Tournament July 20, Oakwood Country Club. Sponsorships, and foursomes are now available and donations of food/beverage and prizes also welcome. Volunteer opportunities provide good networking as well.
--Mid-Level Leadership dates will be announced after July 1.
--Public Officials Reception will be Oct. 15, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Sponsorships will be available soon.
--Advanced Mid-Level is nearing readiness. Some further program work and scheduling issues remain to be finalized.

•The July board meeting will take place at 8:30 a.m., Thursday, July 23 at KC NECA, 4016 Washington, KCMO.

•M/S/C to adjourn at 9:15 a.m.

Workplace safety is the focus today as Kansas City recognizes Worker Memorial Day. The Builders' Association and OSHA sponsored an event that recognized workers killed at work, comforted families and emphasized that "for a job to be a good job, it must be a safe job." Family members of workers who have been killed, safety educators/trainers, business and labor leaders gathered at the event at the Builders' Training Center. Speakers included LMC officers Don Greenwell, Pat "Duke" Dujakovich and Alise Martiny as well as OSHA Area Director Barb Theriot and proclamations from Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon and KCMO Mayor Sly James. Theriot noted that while great progress has been made since the creation of OSHA in 1971, each day an average of 12 workers are killed in the US.

The Missouri Senate may debate SB 127, "right-to-work," this week. Opponents are urged to contact Senators.

The LMC's 2015 Craig Whitaker Memorial Golf Tournament is set for the morning of Monday, July 20 at Oakwood Country Club. Sponsorships, foursomes, prize and food donors and volunteers are now welcome. Contact the LMC for details.

Congrats to the Muehlbach hotel on its 100th anniversary. While only its meeting rooms are in current use through the Downtown Marriott, the LMC has used those rooms for events throughout its history from a dinner honoring Rev. Frank Murphy in the 1980s to our Public Officials Reception just a few years ago. The Missouri AFL-CIO held conventions there as recently as the 1980s and many business events continue to be held there.

Labor-Management Council Learns from Fed President, Honors Martiny and Greenwell

Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank President Esther George discussed the national and regional economies, interest rates, banking regulation, employment trends and retirement concerns with 230 business, labor, government and education leaders at the Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City’s (LMC) 36th Anniversary Celebration and 16th Awards Dinner April 16 at Argosy Casino.

Photos of the event can be found in the Photo Album 2015Anniversary&Awards Dinner, left.

The LMC also recognized Alise Martiny, business manager of the Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Trades Council, and Don Greenwell, president of the Builders’s Association. Martiny earned the LMC’s Leadership in Labor-Management Cooperation Award and Greenwell the Service to the LMC honor.

Pat “Duke” Dujakovich, Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO president ascended to the Labor Co-Chair of the LMC, while Tim Bell, business manager of the Western Missouri and Kansas Laborers District Council, was elected Vice Co-Chair. Martiny was reelected secretary and Greenwell as treasurer. Elected to renewed terms on the LMC Board of Directors were Jack Bainbridge, business manager, Heavy Construction Laborers Local 663; Bret Bonge, director employee relations, Kansas City Power & Light Co.; Michael Kitchen, labor relations manager, City of Kansas City, Mo.; Dave Lovetere, MC Realty; Joe Hudson, business representative, Carpenters District Council; Ron Johnson, business manager, Teamsters Local 541; and Lindsay Walker, Kansas City director, Service Employees International Union Local 1.

Dujakovich noted introducing keynote speaker George that local AFL-CIOs around the nation were working to establish conversations with regional federal reserve banks, and thanks to George the dialogue in Kansas City is excellent. The Kansas City Fed president makes a real effort to understand economic conditions on the ground in the region, he noted.

George expressed optimism that the now five-year expansion would continue and gradually improve. A bad winter and port congestion slowed recent growth. She noted that consumer behavior drives the economy and that consumers have slashed debt. The labor market is improving at the best rate in two decades though challenges remain, she pointed out. U.S. economic growth is envied by most of the world, and would be aided if Europe and Japan could see better performance.

Interest rates are a key issue addressed by the Federal Reserve. George explained her position that now is a good time to consider small, gradual rate increases so the impact on growth is small and the economy would be able to adjust over time to limit inflation. Waiting too long to raise rates and then having to do so steeply could harm the economy, as happened in 2003. In any case, she expects interest rates to be relatively low for a long time. Those at or near retirement age should particularly watch interest rate developments, she suggested.

The Kansas City-area economy has avoided the boom-and-bust cycles of other areas. The local economy has benefited from strong agricultural and energy trends and is diversified.

Banking regulations, changed in the Dodd-Frank legislation five years ago, have probably been overly strict on smaller, community banks and not strict enough on the “too-big-to-fail” institutions, she said. Without further addressing the large banks, another crisis could happen, George fears, though small banks could use some regulatory relief.

George noted that employment rates are difficult to accurately measure, but that it appears workforce participation is nearing demographic norms. Un-and-under employment, skill mismatches and benefit considerations continues to be factors, but she added that monetary policy cannot fix those issues.

Graduates of the LMC’s Mid-Level Leadership Program at Rockhurst University were also recognized. Those attending included Angela Ashlock and Shelly Loulos, Kansas City Power & Light Co.; Tracey Bryant, City of Kansas City, Mo.; and Jason Wright, JE Dunn Construction Co. Unable to attend were graduates Robert Crockett and Tiffany Drummer, City of Kansas City, Mo.; Ross Grundyson, Ted Henry and Paul Paikowski, City of Kansas City, Mo. Fire Department; Paul Brooks, Missouri Fraternal Order of Police and Grandview Police Department; and Jacque McCormick and Calogero Casa, Kansas Gas Service.

Event sponsors included, Anniversary level, Builders’ Association and Power Partners; Awards level, Bank of Labor, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, Cigna, JE Dunn Construction Co. and Pipefitters Local 533; and supporters Aetna and Michael D. Fitzgerald, P.C.

A pair of tickets to the Kansas City Ballet were won by Larry King, National Institute for Construction Excellence.

Future LMC events announced include the Mid-America Labor/Management Conference July 5-8; the annual Craig Whitaker Memorial Golf Tournament July 20; and the annual Public Officials Reception Oct. 15.

The mission of the LMC is to enhance collaboration and trust between labor and management and the community. The LMC is a nonprofit association based at Rockhurst University. More information about the event and the LMC can be found at http://labormanagementkc.typepad.com , and by contacting Bob Jacobi, executive director, at (816) 501-4565 or bob.jacobi@rockhurst.edu.

More than 230 LMC members and friends gather tonight to hear Federal Reserve Bank of KC President Esther George, find out who receives the Leadership in Labor-Management Cooperation and Service to the LMC awards, and celebrate the LMC's 36th anniversary at the Argosy Casino beginning at 6:30 p.m. Contact the LMC with questions.

The National Institute for Construction Excellence (NICE) hosted more than 2,000 middle and high school students today at the iBuild Showcase. Most construction craft unions, many contractors and government agencies offered interactive opportunities for the students to learn about potential construction careers. Volunteers from the industry aided the teachers and students in their journey. WInning schools in NICE's Crayons to CAD and CAD Design competitions were also revealed.

Construction Committee Reviews Legislation at State, City Levels

Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes 8 a.m., Thursday, April 9, 2015, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.

Attending: Terry Akins, Sam Alpert, Greg Chastain, Greg Davey, Brian Dietz, Jerry Helmick, Joe Hill, Scott Hoisington, Joe Hudson, Matt Johnson, Wayne Ibbotson, Dave Kirkpatrick, Greg Lever, Bill Livingston, Joe Mabin, Alise Martiny, Brandy McCombs, John Tompson, Bob Jacobi.

•Thanks to Rosana Privitera Biondo and Mark One Electric Co., Inc. for hosting.

•The KCMO streetcar project is 55% complete. There have been challenges meeting minority/women workforce goals but the unions have helped. An extension is still planned in the near future, but another election must be held.

•A Senate debate on SB 127 (“right-to-work”) is likely, possibly the week of April 23. SB 149, data center incentives, is awaiting gubernatorial action; the LMC sent a letter urging him to sign it. SB 540, raising the gas tax for transportation so Missouri can retain federal matching dollars, is waiting for Senate perfection. Other bills being watched have advanced but are not yet scheduled for floor debates. In Kansas, transportation funding has taken $290 million in cuts and a balanced budget has yet to be completed. Kansas has also made extensive changes to unemployment taxes and compensation. A Kansas Appeals Court will hear the suit on the Mission driveway tax April 14. Legislation is also moving to standardize the property tax appeals process in Kansas.

•Opponents, including the LMC, of the proposed KCMO mandatory energy use benchmarking ordinance have been meeting with city officials, ordinance supporters and others. Those opposed are urged to contact council members. The ordinance is in city legal to prepare for introduction. •Concerns continue regarding the recent KCMO resolution regarding women business certification. Many committee members support certification to take place only through the current city process so that standards can be maintained; the lack of communication to affected parties before the resolution’s passage is also a concern.

•NICE’s iBuild Showcase is April 14 at Bartle Hall, with more than 2,000 students expected including nearly 1,000 high school students. A reception at Bartle for participants and potential supporters will be April 13, 5:30 p.m. at Bartle. All committee members are invited.

•Workers’ Memorial Day will be held at the Builders’ Training Center, 10 a.m., April 28. RSVP at www.buildersassociation.com.

•Upcoming Events:

*Working Families Friend Poker Tournament, April 10, Plumber/Pipefitter Hall

*iBuild Reception, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Bartle Hall *iBuild Showcase, April 14, 2015, Bartle Hall

*HCA Luncheon, April 15, 11:30 a.m., Guadalupe Center, JE Dunn presenter

*LMC Anniversary & Awards Dinner, April 16, Argosy Casino

*KCMO CEPAC Meeting, April 17, 1:30-3 p.m., Kauffman Foundation

*NAWIC Dinner at Sporting KC April 21, speaker Cliff Illig, Cerner

*MDA Labor Bowl, Ward Parkway Lanes

*Workers Memorial Day, April 28, 10 a.m. at the Builders’ Training Center.

*ASA Industry Awards Dinner, May 7, Uptown Theater.

*SMACNA Associate Member Golf Tournament, May 12, Shoal Creek

*Builders’ Scholarship Foundation Golf Tournament, May 18, Milbourn Country Club

*Midwest Minority & Women Business Expo, May 13, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., MCC BTC

*NAWIC Golf Tournament, June 8, Adams Pointe Golf Club (Blue Springs)

*Rockhurst University Joseph Freeman Golf Tournament, June 29, Lions Gate

*KCMO general election day June 23

*Working Families Friend Golf Tournament, June 16, The National/Duece

*Mid-America Labor/Management Conference, July 5-8, 2015, Camden on the Lake

*LMC Craig Whitaker Memorial Golf Tournament, July 20, Oakwood Country Club

*Working Families Friend Fall Cookout, Sept. 10

*LMC Public Officials Reception, Oct. 15, 5-7 p.m., Kauffman Performing Arts Center

*Construction Expo Oct. 21

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

•Next Meeting: 8 a.m., Thursday, May 14, 2015, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.

•M/S/C to Adjourn at 9:15 a.m.

The mission of the Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City is to enhance collaboration by solidifying trust and communication between labor and management in the community.

Congratulations to winners in metro area local government and school board races yesterday. The LMC looks forward to working with those re-elected and newly elected. Of course, for Kansas City, Mo., it was a primary election with the general election June 23.