The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City

Welcome back from the Memorial Day holiday. The LMC thanks all veterans for making our country possible.

Esther George Speaks at 31st Mid-America Labor/Management Conference

Esther George, Bud Stallworth and Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway highlight the 31st Mid-America Labor/Management Conference July 10-13 at Camden on the Lake.

President of the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank, George serves this year on the Fed committee that sets interest rates. She gave an outstanding keynote address at last year’s Labor-Management Council Anniversary Celebration and Awards Dinner, and actively seeks the views of business and labor leaders throughout the Kansas City Fed’s territory.

Bud Stallworth is a former NBA and University of Kansas basketball star. He is former director of design and construction at the KU Medical Center and served in the Design and Construction Department of the University.

The conference will also feature a session of the Missouri Court of Appeals hearing oral arguments in several labor-related cases, and a presentation from the Parkway School District and Missouri National Education Association on their labor-management partnership. Matthew Capece, Carpenters, will discuss independent contracting issues and a utility industry session will also be held.

Workshop topics include safety, NLRB issues, millennial diversity and a mock arbitration. Members of the Kansas City Chiefs alumni group will host a reception and offer prizes, and a golf tournament will be held at the Oaks, Tan-Tar-A.

Registration, hotel and agenda information is available at www.malmc.org .

Please let us know if you have questions or suggestions. We look forward to seeing you at the lake.

PS—If you are interested in labor-management conferences, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services has revived its national conference Aug. 15-19 in Chicago. Go to ww.fmcs.gov for details.

Congrats to LMC members honored at the Kansas City Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) biennial Building Excellence Awards Banquet May 24. Honorees included:

•Turner Construction Co., Building Excellence Finalist over $50 million for the Learned Hall expansion at the University of Kansas; General Contractor Project of the Year $10-25 million for Anderson County Hospital.

•JE Dunn Construction Co., General Contractor Project of the Year $25-50 million for the Leon Mercer Jordan Campus in KCMO; General Contractor Project of the Year finalist under $5 million, JJ's Restaurant at Plaza Vista; Renovation Project by General Contractor for GSA Richard Bolling Federal Building; Community Service Award finalist.

•McCownGordon Construction Co., General Contractor Project of the Year finalist $25-50 million for The Crossing-South, University of Central Missouri; Community Service Award.

The Labor-Management Council supports the use of prevailing wage on projects with incentives provided by the Kansas City, Mo., Planned Industrial Expansion Authority. The authority is considering a proposal that would require prevailing wage on most of its projects.

The final week of the Missouri General Assembly's 2016 regular session did not impact the LMC's issues agenda. The legislature next meets in veto session Sept. 14. Thanks to the legislators for their work, and to LMC members for active engagement in the process.

Construction Committee Meets Auditor Galloway; Backs PIEA Prevailing Wage

Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes

 8 a.m., Thursday,  May 12, 2016, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.

Attending:  Nicole Abrahamson, Terry Akins, Sam Alpert, Greg Chastain, Greg Davey, Allen Dillingham, Brian Dietz, Kathleen Early, Nicole Galloway, Alex Gonzalez, Jerry Helmick, Dave Kirkpatrick, Greg Lever, Bill Livingston, Kevin O’Neill, Emily Wales, Colleen White,  Bob Jacobi.

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

•Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway discussed the role of the Auditor’s office, status of the prevailing wage enforcement audit, issues with economic development entities and her connection to the construction industry.  She encouraged calls to her whenever laws aren’t being followed or there are questionable expenditures by state and local governments, and noted that the auditor’s office also has hotline for such calls.  The auditor’s website also has details on each of the economic incentive agencies.  The Auditor also explained her experience while Boone County Treasurer in prevailing wage compliance.  Committee members expressed appreciation for her visit and discussion.  She will also speak at the Mid-America Labor/Management Conference July 11.

•M/S/C to recommend that the LMC support the requirement of prevailing wage for Kansas City, Mo., Planned Industrial Expansion Authority projects.

•With the end of the Missouri legislative session tomorrow, it appears the legislature will avoid passing legislation harmful to the industry.  HB 2376, design build for public projects, is ready for a final House vote.  We continue to monitor SB 623, transportation funding, for possible passage.

(Note:  the Senate upheld the override of HB 1891 late last night, so no filibuster will happen on that bill, meaning “normal” operation for the Senate is possible for the final day Friday the 13th)

•Johnson County is considering the City Energy Project, similar to what KCMO passed last year.  The LMC opposed the original ordinance to implement the project in KCMO.  Discussions with the Johnson County Commission are under way.

•NICE will hold its Awards Luncheon Oct. 25 and the 2017 iBuild will be May 4 at Bartle Hall.

•The SMACNA/Sheet Metal Workers Local 2 labor-management meeting May 17 on complying with the KCMO Workforce Ordinance is open to crafts and contractors; RSVP to the SMACNA office.

•The American Heart Association Heart and Stroke Walk/5K Run is June 18 in the Power & Light District.  LMC members are welcome to participate with their own team or with JE Dunn team; contact [email protected] or call 816-292-8701 for details.

•Fiesta Kansas City June 17-19 provides an excellent opportunity for workforce recruitment.  Sponsorship details are attached.

•The American Woodworking Institute 64th annual convention will be in KC Oct. 23-25.  Contact Nicole Abrahamson for details.

•Upcoming events:

 *Builders’ Association Scholarship Golf Tournament, May 16, Milburn CC

  *SMACNA/Local 2 presentation on KCMO Workforce Ordinance, May 17, 4 p.m., Anton’s Taproom

  *Lean Construction Institute Coffee, May 18, 8:30 a.m., McCownGordan Construction Co.

  *Muticultural Business Happy Hour, May 23, 4-7 p.m., River Market Event Space

  *MCA Seminar, Construction Selling-Bid Less, Win, May 26, 8 a.m., JCCC

  *Lean Construction Institute GEMBA Walk of Church of the Resurrection Project, May 26

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

  *Electrical Workers Minority Caucus Golf Tournament, June 11, Swope Memorial

  *MCA First Aid/CPR Certification, June 12, 8 a.m.-noon, JCCC

  *Heart & Stroke Walk/5k Run, June 18, Power 7 Light District 

  *Rockhurst University Fr. Joseph M. Freeman, SJ Rockhurst Cup Golf Tournament,

      June 26-27, Lions Gate Golf Club

  *Minority Supplier Development Council Golf Tournament, June 28, Shoal Creek

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

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

  *LMC Board Meeting, July 27, 8:30 a.m., Husch Blackwell

  *Primary Election, Aug. 2

  *FMCS National Labor-Management Conference, Aug. 15-18, Chicago

  *Builders' Advancement Center Grand Opening, August 30, 5-7 pm, Builders' Training Center

  *Construction Expo and Construction Academies, Oct. 5, Bartle Hall; registration 12:30, 

    academies 1 p.m, Expo 3 p.m.

  *KC CREW Golf Tournament, Oct. 6, Swope Memorial

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

  *American Woodworking Institute Convention, Oct. 23-25

  *NICE Awards Luncheon, Oct. 25, Downtown Marriott/Muehlbach

  *General Election, Nov. 8

  *iBuild Showcase, May 4, 2017, Bartle Hall

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

•Next Meeting: 8 a.m., Thursday, June 9, 2016, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.

•M/S/C to adjourn at 9:45 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.

The Missouri General Assembly begins its final week of this year's session today. The LMC thanks the legislators for their service. Below is a reminder of the LMC's Missouri issues agenda and the status of each position:
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. (Enhancements to the data center incentives passed the House, and a bill to improve manufacturing incentives is on the House calendar; a Senate bill is under consideration that would cap historic tax credits)
•The LMC opposes legislation to impose “right-to-work.” (No bill is on the calendar in either body)
•The LMC supports maintaining and increasing Medicaid eligibility and adequate provider reimbursement. (No chance for expansion this year)
•The LMC supports state funding for a comprehensive transportation plan. (SB 623 passed the Senate as a 5.9 cent gas tax boost requiring a public vote; the bill has passed out of House committees with amendment)
•The LMC supports Prevailing Wage in its present form. (Two bills to weaken prevailing wage have advanced but unlikely to see a floor vote)
•The LMC supports development of a statutory framework for public employee collective bargaining in Missouri to reduce uncertainty for workers and for public employers.
*The LMC opposes Missouri SJR 39 as passed in the Senate. (The bill failed in the House committee)

Watch: Unemployment Insurance, Workers Compensation, Utility Rates & Energy Capacity (SB 1028 would revamp rate approval and capital expenditure process is under consideration), Education/Kansas City School District.

Upcoming LMC events include:

•Construction Committee Meeting 8 a.m., Thursday, May 12 at Mark One Electric Co., Inc.

•Mid-America Labor/Management Conference, July 10-13, Camden on the Lake (www.malmc.org)

•LMC Craig Whitaker Memorial Golf Tournament, July 18, Oakwood Country Club

•LMC Public Officials Reception, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts