The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City

The 2015-16 Mid-Level Leadership Program began Wednesday with a strong group of participants and an excellent presentation from and discussion with Don Greenwell, Builders Association president and LMC treasurer.

The LMC's Construction Industry Committee next meets at 8 a.m., Thursday, Oct 8 at Mark One Electric Co., Inc.

Congratulations to Pat "Duke" Dujakovich, LMC Co-Chair and President of the Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO, for being named one of 15 members to the Federal Reserve Bank Community Advisory Council. Appointees come from various industries and all regions of the U.S.

The LMC's Mid-Level Leadership Program holds its first session for 2015-16 today, 4 p.m. at Rockhurst University.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City presented research today on "The Vanishing Middle: Job Polarization and Workers' Response to the Decline in Middle-Skill Jobs." Researcher Jonathan Willis said that 30 years of data shows a decline in middle-skills jobs, due primarily to technology, global economic trends and declining labor unions. Job growth has been in high and low skill areas, though he added that in the past two years low-skill jobs have not grown. The research is important in determining policies to raise workers' incomes and meet employer needs. The Fed also published an new book on workforce development policies with the Atlanta Fed, available at www.kansascityfed.org/transformworkforce .

The LMC thanks the following Kansas City area legislators who voted to uphold the veto of HB 116 & 569, "right-to-work":

Ira Anders
Lauren Arthur
TJ Berry
Jon Carpenter
Pat Conway
Kevin Corlew
Randy Dunn
Brandon Ellington
Galen Higdon
Bill E. Kidd
Nick King
Jeremy LaFever
Jeanie Lauer
Gail McCann Beatty
Tom McDonald
Bonnaye Mims
Judy Morgan
JJ Rizzo
Joe Runions
Sheila Solon

Note that each of the KC-area no votes on the bill during the regular session maintained their position yesterday, in spite of a significant effort by the bill's supporters. Statewide, just four legislators switched their votes of the 24 targeted by supporters.

As you have the opportunity, please share your appreciation with these legislators. Many will be attending the LMC's Public Officials Reception Oct. 15 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

This is a week of deadlines:
•The Missouri legislature Wednesday will consider whether to overturn Gov. Jay Nixon's veto of HB 116/582, "right-to-work." The LMC supports the veto and asks members and friends to contact legislators urging upholding the veto.
•Application deadline for the Mid-Level Leadership Program is Tuesday. If you plan on applying but won't have the paperwork complete by then just notify us to reserve a spot(s). The first class is Sept. 23.
•Printed invitations for the Oct. 15 Public Officials Reception go out later this week. If your organization wants to be listed as a sponsor on the invites please contact us by Wednesday.
Please let us know if you have questions on any of these deadlines.

Construction Committee Talks Workforce, Legislation

Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes

 8 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.

Attending:  Nicole Abrahamson, Terry Akins, Sam Alpert, Greg Davey, Brian Dietz, Adrienne Foster, Jerry Helmick, Matt Johnson, Dave Kirkpatrick, Greg Lever, Colleen White, Brian Wood, Bob Jacobi.

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

•The KCMO Streetcar project is nearing completion of overhead lines.  KCMO’s East Patrol project is at the interior finish stage, as is One Light with Two Light planned.  The Cerner project is proceeding.

•The Missouri legislature veto session will be Sept. 16.  The LMC’s key priority will be upholding the governor’s veto of HB 116/582, “right-to-work.” A rally in support of the veto will be held at the Teamsters hall on Saturday, Sept. 12, 9:30 a.m. (participants are asked to arrive by 9 a.m.)  Teamsters president James Hoffa and Gov. Jay Nixon will be on the program.  Committee members are urged to contact legislators who voted “no” and confirm that they will not change their vote if an override vote is taken.  “RTW” supporters are aggressively pressuring these legislators.  Other key veto issues include HB 722, limiting local governments on issues such as minimum wage, and unemployment compensation changes.

•The Workforce Subcommittee will be visiting contractors soon to request commitments to hire apprentices, minorities and women, and to communicate their workforce needs to the crafts in advance.  Longer-term strategies are being developed as well.  Resources include federal apprenticeship grants aimed at minority and female recruitment; the BeUnion.com site with apprenticeship information; the Kansas Dept. of Commerce facilities at 88th and Quivera where training programs can be held.

•Adrienne Foster of the Kansas Dept. of Commerce offered to work with crafts and contractors on workforce issues.  She has available Leeppad devices and CDs that provide construction safety information in Spanish with the English terms; she will provide those free to any craft or contractor or other program that can use them.  She can be contacted at adrienne.foster@ks.gov.  The devices were developed for the Home Builders Association just before the market collapsed.  She noted that several large projects are underway or planned for southwest Kansas.

•Past pre-apprentice and apprentice trainees can be recruited today.  More training in how new apprentices, particularly minorities and women, can secure jobs after their first one would be helpful.

•Nicole Abrahamson is doing membership development for the Builders’ Association.

•NICE has changed the date of the 2016 iBuild Showcase to April 14 at Bartle Hall.  NICE is holding a major fundraising luncheon Nov. 17 with former Sen. Kit Bond as keynote speaker.

•OPCMIA Local 518 is holding its picnic Sept. 12 at the hall in Independence.

•Upcoming events:

  *Working Families Friend Fall Cookout, Sept. 10

  *Laborers Charitable Fund Golf Tournament, Drumm Farm, Sept. 11

  *Rally to Support “Right-to-Work” Veto, Teamsters hall, Sept. 12, 9:30 a.m.

  *Missouri General Assembly Veto Session, Sept. 16, Jefferson City

  *How to Survive a DOL Audit, MCC Penn Valley, Sept. 16, 9-11 a.m., presented by Colleen

     White

  *Managing Workers Comp Issues, Sept. 17, 8-10 a.m., JCCC: MCA/NECA/SMACNA

  *MCA Charity Golf Tournament, Sept. 21, The National

  *Mid-Level Leadership Program begins, Sept. 23, Rockhurst University

  *Electrical Workers Minority Caucus Golf Tournament, Sept. 26, noon, Swope Memorial

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

  *KC CREW Real Estate Market Update, Oct. 20, 11:30 a.m., Mission Hills CC

  *Construction Expo, Oct. 21

  *Election Day Nov. 3

  *NICE Luncheon, Nov. 17, 11:30 a.m., Muehlbach.  Keynote speaker Sen. Kit Bond

  *iBuild Showcase, April 14, 2016, Bartle Hall

  *LMC Golf Tournament July 18, 2016, Oakwood Country Club

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

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

•M/S/C to adjourn at 10 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.

 

Missouri's annual legislative veto session begins Sept. 16. The LMC is urging legislators to uphold Gov. Nixon's veto of HB 116, "right-to-work," and is urging members to contact particularly those legislators who voted "no" to maintain their positions. The bill did not pass with veto-proof majorities in either house.  A rally to support the veto will be held in KC Saturday, Sept. 12, 9:30 a.m. at the Teamsters hall, 4501 Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd.  Contact the LMC for more information.

Congrats to LMC members JE Dunn Construction Co. and McCownGordon Construction Co. for making the Kansas City Business Journal's list of Best Places to Work in KC.