The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City

Construction Committee Discusses Eco Devo, Workforce, Legislation

Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes

 8 a.m., Thursday,  Feb. 11, 2016, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.

Attending:  Nicole Abrahamson, Terry Akins, Sam Alpert,  Mike Bates, Brian Dietz, Matt Harris, Jerry Helmick, Matt Johnson,  Kevin King, Dave Kirkpatrick, Greg Lever, Joe Mabin, Alise Martiny, Joe Privitera, Colleen White, Bob Jacobi.

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

•NICE’s iBuild event is set for April 14, move-in and reception April 13.  iBuild will have more space available this year at Bartle.  Registration for booths and ads is open now, with a March 18 deadline. Volunteers are also sought.  NICE’s next fundraising luncheon will be Oct. 25.

•Cerner phase (building) 1 and 2 are under way, and a link between the buildings has been approved.  The third phase is in early planning stages.  Cancellation of the BNIM project cost JE Dunn a project; JE Dunn is doing the Linwood Y project.  The KCMO Fairness Board is evaluating 22 current projects, many related to water/sewer upgrades.

•KCMO economic development agencies are working on prevailing wage and E-Verify polices.

Concerns continue with the downtown hotel project awaiting a court decision and uncertainty as to the viability of incentive programs and the future of the earnings tax, though development here now is stronger than many other areas of the nation.

•A Missouri House committee has advanced HB 1700, allowing opt-out of prevailing wage for projects less than $750,000; HB 1756, weakening independent contractor enforcement, and HB 1540, benefit fund regulation, to possible floor action.  HB 1406, prohibiting prevailing wage on disaster-area construction projects, will be heard in the House Workforce Committee Monday, Feb. 15, noon in House Hearing Room 5.  Contractors particularly are sought to testify.

A transportation funding bill, SB 623, is on the Senate perfection calendar. Concerns were also expressed about HB 1997 and SB 1022, which would create statewide licensing for roofing contractors, due to provisions on the board makeup and subcontracting.  SB 575, elimination of city earnings taxes, now excludes KC from the ban and is eligible for floor action.

•Kansas continues to transfer funds from transportation to cover general revenue shortfalls.

•The importance of passing the KCMO earnings tax April 5 was emphasized.

•BOMA members met federal officials in Washington.  Recent legislation makes permanent the depreciation for tenant improvements and makes them 15 years.  Similar treatment is sought for energy efficiency improvements.  Support is also being sought for giving building owners the opportunity to address ADA complaints before lawsuits are filed.  Missouri congressional leaders also indicated that they will wait to see if the state adds to its transportation funding before pushing for more federal money.

•KCMO has filled positions in HRD for contract compliance with one person now going into the field.

•The Workforce Subcommittee is planning meetings with contractors to seek commitments on minority, women and KCMO hiring and continues to work with community groups as well.

•The Building Trades will again host a career fair at the Mohart Center on April 2.  Details will follow.

•Upcoming events:

  *Mayors’ Prayer Breakfast, March 1, 7:30 a.m., KC Convention Center Grand Ballroom

  *Missouri Presidential Primary March 15

  *Midwest Construction Safety Conference, March 24-5, Adams Pointe Conference Center

  *Building Trades Career Fair, Mohart Center, April 2

  *Election Day, April 5 (KCMO E-Tax Renewal, Local and School)

  *iBuild Showcase, April 14, 2016, Bartle Hall

  *LMC 37th Anniversary and 17th Annual Awards Dinner, April 21, Argosy Casino

  *Missouri legislative session ends May 13

  *MAGIC Camp, Builders’ Training Center, June 6-10

  *Mid-America Labor/Management Conference, July 10-13, 2016, Camden on the Lake

  *LMC Craig Whitaker Memorial Golf Tournament, July 18, 2016, Oakwood CC

  *Primary Election, Aug. 2

  *NICE Luncheon, Oct. 25, Marriott/Muehlbach

  *LMC Public Officials Reception, Oct. 6, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 5:30 p.m.

  *General Election, Nov. 8

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

•New Business

•Discuss April meeting date: conflicts with iBuild

•Next Meeting: 8 a.m., Thursday, March 10, 2016, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.

•Adjourn

Note: the Committee also learned about a national prevailing wage study, available at www.smartcitiesprevail.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/PW-national-impact-study-FINAL2.9.16.pdf

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.

 

The LMC's Construction Industry Committee meets tomorrow, Feb. 11, at 8 a.m., Mark One Electric Co., Inc. 909 Troost, KCMO.

The LMC wishes Chere Chaney best wishes and hope for successful treatment of her illness. Chere is a past LMC Board member and graduate of the Mid-Level Leadership Program. She has been an outstanding promoter of the LMC and its mission.

The LMC has set its 2016 Issues Agenda, supported unanimously by its Board of Directors from labor and from management. Contact the LMC with questions or suggestions:

Labor-Management Council 2016 Issues Agenda

The LMC takes positions on public issues when a minimum of 75% of both management and labor members of the Board of Directors agrees. The board-approved positions for 2016 include:

Federal
•Support construction of the Keystone pipeline project. President vetoed bill to require authorization and indicated that he would not approve the application.
•Note: we also expressed support for a federal transportation bill, which was passed.
Watch List:
•Oppose a benefits tax in federal health care reform; Any future stimulus funds include significant vertical construction projects. No significant action on either front, though bi-partisan bills have been introduced to address the “Cadillac tax” and several presidential candidates have called for repeal (all GOP, plus Clinton and Sanders).

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

Watch: Unemployment Insurance, Workers Compensation, Utility Rates & Energy Capacity, Education/Kansas City School District.

Kansas
•The LMC supports reasonable and effective economic development incentives.
•The LMC supports continued funding for the comprehensive transportation plan.
•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.

The LMC's Public Officials Reception will be held Oct. 6, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

The LMC mourns the passing of Jack Welborn, a founder of a leading electrical contractor Electrical Contractors of America, ECA. He was a past president of KC NECA (National Electrical Contractors Association) and also served as a trustee on joint Labor-Management, apprenticeship and benefit fund board at both the national and local levels.