The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City

The LMC welcomes back to membership United Auto Workers Local 249. Local 249's contact information:

United Auto Workers Local 249
Eric Hall, President
8040 NE 69 Hwy
Pleasant Valley, MO 64068
(816) 454-6333; fax 454-6341
[email protected]

www.local249.org

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

“Future of Work” Holds Promise and Peril

Inspiring success stories of labor-management collaboration mixed with warnings of trends threatening to both workers and companies painted the “Future of Work” at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service’s (FMCS) National Labor-Management Conference this month in Chicago. More than 1,000 participants came from all industries and all sections of the nation, including several foreign participants.

The conference had its emotional moments as well: Kaiser Permanente CEO Bernard Tyson and millennials expert Jason Dorsey talking about their fathers influence, and a story about how an American Water Co. backhoe driver brightens the life of an autistic boy.

Tyson, CEO of the $60 billion health care organization, noted how his father’s membership in the Carpenters Union conferred dignity in tough times. Tyson’s father went to the union hall each day in search of work, and when work was scarce, the hall and its support helped him through. Kaiser and 26 unions established a landmark partnership to ensure that those who receive care and those who deliver it are “respected and rewarded.” He also touted the book, “The Fourth Industrial Revolution.”

Dorsey explained that he only saw his father cry once, in 1981, when the longtime General Motors employee was laid off “from the only job he ever wanted.” Dorsey presented at the conference to help attendees “make sure people don’t have to experience that in the future.”

AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka gave a rousing endorsement of labor-management cooperation, noting that unprofitable companies ultimately fail to provide good jobs and that high quality, safe work is critical to every organization’s success.

The “Future of Work” is also represented by millennials, a focus of the conference, whose expectations and perspective often differ from their elders but who show more interest in partnerships and creative solutions. Millennials are quickly becoming the largest generation in the workforce.

Dorsey, perhaps the leading expert on millennials, provided a lively counter to stereotypes about millennials with research data from his firm. Trumka also cited his experience that millennials are hard workers who expect input and meaning from the workplace.

CEOs and union presidents explained the dramatic results that partnerships bring to their organizations. Those partnerships are hard work and always fragile, yet can be forged in the most difficult circumstances. Experts provided many methods and tools to build better relationships. FMCS resources to help labor and management do so were also outlined.

Alabama Power CEO Mark Crosswhite shared the story of its partnership with IBEW. Crosswhite explained that his predecessor and the union president sat next to each other at a funeral for a young worker. Afterwards they vowed to do everything they could to keep workers safe. The safety partnership blossomed into other avenues of the operation, contributing to Alabama Power’s low costs and high customer satisfaction. IBEW Utility Director Jim Hunter discussed how the partnership is a model for other utility relationships.

A former Alabama Power executive, Susan Story, took note of that success when she became CEO of American Water. Years of difficult relationships with the Utility Workers and other unions had cost the company growth opportunities, and health care costs had reached a crisis state. Story and Utility Workers President Michael Langford began candid discussions that led to labor-management collaboration becoming a key element of the company’s culture. The results are seen in the bottom line of the company, Story said.

The conference host city also provided an example of labor-management partnership. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel welcomed attendees and discussed a partnership that has held health care costs flat for five years without harming benefits. And the relationships generated ideas that have significantly improved key city services while saving millions of dollars. Chicago Labor Federation President Jorge Ramirez echoed Emanuel and noted the key is open, consistent communication.

FMCS Director Allison Beck contended that collective bargaining allows labor and management to solve problems on their own terms. With the economy now in a digital era and millennials set to become the workforce majority, collective bargaining provides a framework to address complex issues.

Such issues come to the fore particularly in the workforce’s changing demographics—generational, racial, ethnic, gender among others—creating new challenges and opportunities. Jason Dorsey, chief strategy officer for the Center for Generational Kinetics, highlighted two trends that shape the workforce: parenting and technology.

Parenting styles of baby boomers have helped produce the millennials’ characteristics, and millennials are shaped by the struggles of student debt and a slow-growing economy.

Dorsey pointed out that millennials (Gen Y) are not necessarily “tech-savvy” but rather are “tech-dependent.” Learning methods are changing and how organizations communicate to employees must also change. Millennials prefer text messages, read just the subject line of emails and look to social media for work communications, according to Dorsey’s research. They are not accustomed to reading long blocks of text. And they do not like getting phone calls.

There are three key reasons to hire and promote millennials, Dorsey pointed out: they want to make a difference at work from the first day, they challenge the status quo and they will work for less money if they believe in the organization. Yet he notes the characteristics of any generation are also defined by where they grow up, so there are some distinct differences within Gen Y.

Of course there is another generation now hitting the workplace, and they are much different from Gen Y. Dorsey has a book Y-Size Your Business that explains his research results.

A more contentious view of labor-management relationships was displayed in a session on the National Labor Relations Board. NLRB Chair Mark Gaston Pierce and General Counsel Richard Griffin explained the Board’s current approach and processes, noting key decisions on several issues were likely soon (including the status of graduate students, decided shortly after the conference). Questioners Lynn Rhinehart, AFL-CIO general counsel, and Randel Johnson, Chamber of Commerce vice president for labor, immigration and employee benefits, also expressed their perspectives on the NLRB’s decisions and policy changes. Rhinehart generally supported the board’s new direction while Johnson expressed concern that regulatory changes could harm businesses and economic growth.

Several sessions focused on the “gig” economy, from exploring how organized labor is finding new ways to support and represent those who may not be considered employees to how in the entertainment industry a system of “gig” work under collective bargaining has flourished for decades.

SEIU leader and author David Rolf said a “new labor movement” was being invented to address low-wage work. He co-founded the Workers Lab to develop and support such efforts. The IAM’s agreement with Uber in New York is an example; the IAM’s Jim Conigliaro said the deal provides a voice for drivers without addressing the issue of employee versus independent contractor. coworker.org is another example of new ways for workers to join together outside traditional organizations.

One employer who chose to hire employees rather than independent contractors, as potential funders of her business insisted, made her case. Christina Sembel, founder and CEO of Farmgirl Flowers, noted that her delivery workforce uses primarily bicycles and, if hurt, needed workers compensation support unavailable to them as independent contractors. She believes that her productivity and quality of work makes the employee model superior to the independent contractor approach.

The conference featured many workshops focused on specific tools for enhancing relationships. Several featured the latest knowledge on neuroscience; understanding how the brain works provides ways to elicit more cooperation and defuse confrontation. Others described successful labor-management partnerships in nearly every industry, both public and private sector. Such partnerships lead to innovation benefitting employers while improving conditions for workers and often generating better outcomes for customers.

For more detailed notes and handouts, please contact me. A list of sessions and speakers can be found at www.fmcs.gov

The Hon. Ed Quick's memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday,, Aug. 31 at the First Baptist Church, 2205 Iron Street in North Kansas City, MO 64116. A reception will follow at the church. Cards and messages can be mailed to:
Jane Quick
607 E 29th Ave
North Kansas City MO 64116

The LMC mourns the passing of the Hon. Ed Quick. Ed served 20 years in the Missouri senate representing Kansas City's Northland, including as Senate President Pro Tem. He was a great friend to the LMC and our issues; when the LMC was reinvigorating its programs, he was the first speaker. A former Kansas City, Mo., firefighter and city councilman, Ed brought KC area issues to the forefront of the legislature. Later he served as Clay County Presiding Commissioner. Memorial service details are pending; check this space soon for an update. Our prayers go out to his wife Jane and his children and grandchildren.

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service is seeking mediators in several cities:
Chicago, ttps://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/447909500/
Trenton, NJ: ttps://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/447909500/
Seattle: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/447092800/
Applicants should have extensive experience in the collective bargaining process. The federal government positions are GS-241-13.

The FMCS National Labor-Management Conference got off to an excellent start in Chicago. Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Labor Federation President Jorge Ramirez described tremendous benefits of their partnership for city taxpayers and for workers, while acknowledging challenges. Kaiser Permanente CEO Bernard Tyson gave a moving description of the $60 billion organization's partnership with 26 unions and benefits for both patients and workers. More later!

Thanks to the Kansas City Star for publishing our piece on opportunities for construction jobs!

The LMC is at the National Labor-Management Conference in Chicago this week. Look for updates later today and throughout the week.

Construction Committee Discusses KCMO Community Benefit Agreement Ordinance

Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes
8 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 11 2016, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.
Attending: Sam Alpert, Brian Dietz, Allen Dillingham, Alex Gonzalez, Don Greenwell, Jerry Helmick, Kevin King, Greg Lever, Joe Mabin, Alise Martiny, Kevin O’Neill, Colleen White, Alissia Canady, Scott Wagner, Bob Jacobi.
•Thanks to Rosana Privitera Biondo and Mark One Electric Co., Inc. for hosting.
•NICE holds its annual fund raising luncheon Oct. 25 with Jason Van Eaton, Southwest Airlines, as keynote speaker, and the next iBuild will be May 4, 2017 at Bartle Hall.
•Extensive discussion of the Kansas City, Mo., proposed Community Benefit Agreement resolution with guests Councilwoman Alissia Canady and Councilman Scott Wagner. Recent changes were noted to the draft distributed at the meeting; here is a link to the updated resolution: http://cityclerk.kcmo.org/LiveWeb/Documents/Document.aspx?q=GEgcvYdHo7OTkRhZ7h8kNqFrVc3xKORhdx7kBr5jK280WNw3NOusqa3D6X247xX7 .
Committee members discussed the purpose and goals as well as implementation details and looks forward to working with the Council as it is finalized and implemented. The resolution will be entered into the first reading docket at the Council today.
•The Builders’ Association will open its Advancement Center Aug. 30 at its training center. A new construction career academy concept is being discussed with area school districts.

•Upcoming Events
*MCA Joint Safety Series Aug. 12, Sept. 9 and Oct. 14, JCCC, 8 a.m.
*FMCS National Labor-Management Conference, Aug. 15-18, Chicago
*Lean Construction Coffee, Aug. 17, 8:30 a.m., CRB
*George Meany Boy Scouts Awards Dinner, Aug. 17, 6 p.m., Argosy Casino
*Clayco/Amazon Event for MBE/WBE contractors, Aug. 18, 4-6 p.m., KCKCC
*GKC AFL-CIO Labor Day Picnic, Aug. 27, Longview Lake
*Builders' Advancement Center Grand Opening, August 30, 5-7 pm, Builders' Training Center
*BuildingTrades Golf Tournament benefitting Truman Medical Centers, Sept. 1, Eagle’s
Landing
•KC Day at the Capitol hosted by Missouri Reps. McGee, Morgan and McCann Beatty Sept. 13,
8:15 a.m.-7 p.m.
*MCA Charity Golf Tournament, Sept. 19, Lake Quivera Country Club
*LMC Mid-Level Leadership Class begins Sept. 21, Rockhurst University
*Iron Workers Local 10 Charity Golf Tournament, Sept. 24, Eagle’s Landing
*Western MO & Kansas Laborers Charitable Foundation Golf Tournament, Sept. 30, Drumm
Farm
*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, Muehlbach; speaker Jason Van Eaton, SW Airlines
*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, Sept. 8, 2016, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.
•M/S/C to adjourn at 10:30 a.m.