MALMC Celebrates 30th Anniversary
The 30th annual Mid-America Labor/Management Conference’s 30th annual drew leaders from six states as well as speakers from top levels of companies, state government and labor July 5-8 at Camden on the Lake in Lake Ozark, Mo.
Two key themes emerged throughout the speakers and presentations: the critical difference effective labor-management relationships make in economic development and the competitiveness of states, cities, companies and individuals, and the critical importance of leadership at all levels.
Keynote speaker Rick Gregory emphasized finding joy in leadership. He noted that leading in a labor-management environment is “tough work,” but using emotional intelligence, appropriate humor, “grit” and forgiveness helps everyone finish the day better off. Leaders must renew themselves away from work, and focus on serving the folks they lead, Gregory said. Forgiveness is especially key to moving forward so problems can be solved, and taking weight off one’s own back, he noted.
Later Gregory presented an entertaining and enlightening workshop on “Think Before You Speak.”
Gregory also wrapped up the conference, citing Cicero’s qualities of leaders: vision, justice, courage and moderation. He noted the “code of excellence” initiated by the IBEW and other unions as vital to future success, and urged participants to be more like “worms, who with no brain understand that they need each other to survive.”
Missouri’s top elected officials focused on the importance of labor-management cooperation in growing the state’s economy:
•Gov. Jay Nixon highlighted the tremendous growth of the state’s auto industry and that labor-management cooperation made that growth possible. He also pointed to agreements to contain the cost of a possible new St. Louis stadium and bring more aerospace jobs to the state. Gov. Nixon urged legislators, several of whom attending the conference, to uphold his veto of “right-to-work” legislation.
•Secretary of State Jason Kander urged economic policies that emphasize predictability and transparency. Predictability in labor and tax policy allows companies to plan and grow, he noted. Transparency in state policies is also attractive to business. Missouri’s lack of limits on lobbying or campaign spending inhibit the transparency that is key to markets, he contended. The lack of limits also causes legislators to spend more time with lobbyists and big donors rather than constituents, he said. Kander also called for a focus on growing existing Missouri firms, especially newer, small companies that have “Fortune 500 ideas.”
•Attorney General Chris Koster pointed out that the state’s economic growth has been behind the national average. But if the state invested in its transportation, health care and energy infrastructure, those investments alone would move the state ahead of the nation for growth. Financing road and bridge maintenance and improvements, expanding Medicaid with federal funds and modernizing energy finance would add billions of dollars and tens of thousands of jobs to the state’s economy, Koster noted. He added that Missouri needed strong enforcement of prevailing wage laws and, as did Nixon and Kander, opposed “right-to-work” proposals.
The judicial branch was also prominent at the conference. Attendees witnessed oral arguments before a Missouri Court of Appeals panel on three cases, hearing not just the arguments of each side but the judge’s questions. One of the cases featured a contention that Missouri’s Human Rights Act barring discrimination based on gender also includes discrimination based on sexual identity. That case, Pittman vs. Cook Paper Recycling Corp., generated significant questions from the judges.
Two second-injury fund cases were also heard, challenging decisions by the Missouri Labor and Industrial Relations Commission. The cases raised issues of statute of limitations and whether a decision was supported by the case’s facts.
Energy was also the focus of Warren Woods, Ameren Missouri vice president. He explained the state of Missouri’s energy infrastructure and compared it to Kansas and other neighboring states. Woods contended that the state needs to update its regulations on the financing of electric infrastructure improvements to improve and replace aging facilities. He also noted the challenges, which labor and management are cooperating to address, in recruiting a skilled workforce. Similar concerns were raised in a panel including representatives from utilities, the state legislature, labor and energy advocates.
Workforce concerns also dominated industry reports presented at the conference from energy and construction leaders. Labor-management collaboration has been critical and new programs are being implemented, but more needs to be done. Workforce diversity is a challenge as well as replacing retiring workers’ skills.
The public sector reported no growth and financial challenges as government revenues lag economic growth, while the industrial sector reported growth but a mixed labor-management atmosphere.
Health care emerged as a key concern as well when Peggy McNeive, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, presented on collective bargaining trends and Devin Devine, Claremont Partners, provided a detailed example of a successful labor-management collaboration to address rising health care costs. Health care costs are a key issue in negotiations throughout the region.
The National Labor Relations Board is making significant rulings and policies, and participants learned the details and potential impact of those decisions in two workshops from Mary Taves and Christal Key, NLRB attorneys.
Workplace bullying was described and approaches recommended by Barbara Rumph, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. And consumers learned tips to avoid scams from Tom Durkin, Missouri Attorney General’s office. Among those tips is to only pursue on-line transactions that you have initiated, rather than those from email or social media solicitations.
With 30 successful years, the conference also planned for the future. The 2016 conference will return to Camden on the Lake July 10-13. Tammy Cavender, Missouri Department of Labor director of administration, will succeed Chas Young as conference chair. Among those joining the conference planning committee are Kansas City area representatives Bret Bonge, Kansas City Power & Light Co.; Jay Lind, SMART Local 2; and Jacque McCormick, Kansas Gas Service (Bonge and McCormick are graduates of the LMC’s Mid-Level Leadership Program).
Young has served in the key planning role for more than six years. She will continue to serve on the committee.
See a few photos at left under 2015 MALMC.
The conference welcomes input and ideas for future conferences. Check the conference website, www.malmc.org , for presentations from each of the workshops and other details.
Thanks.
Bob Jacobi
Executive Director
Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City
(816) 501-4565; fax 501-3198
[email protected]
http://labormanagementkc.typepad.com
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.