The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City

A detailed agenda has been revealed for the 33rd Annual Mid-America Labor/Management Conference July 8-11 at Camden on the Lake. Check www.malmc.org for registration and hotel information:

33rd Mid-America Labor/Management Conference
Agenda July 8-11, 2018, Camden on the Lake
Shaping the Future of Labor/Management Relationships

Sunday, July 8

4 p.m. — Registration begins – lobby (The lobby bar will be open)

5:30-7 p.m. — Opening Reception – Toad Island. Drinks and hors d’ouveres

Monday, July 9

7:30 a.m.-noon — Registration – Outside Harbor Ballroom

7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m — Breakfast – Harbor Ballroom

8:30 a.m.—General Session – Harbor Ballroom
Dr. Tom Kochan
Keynote speaker Kochan is the George Maverick Bunker Professor of Management, a Professor of Work and Employment Research and Engineering Systems, and the CoDirector of the MIT Sloan Institute for Work and Employment Research at the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Dr. Kochan focuses on the need to update America’s work and employment policies, institutions, and practices to catch up with a changing workforce and economy. His recent work calls attention to the challenges facing working families in meeting their responsibilities at work, at home, and in their communities. Through empirical research, he demonstrates that fundamental changes in the quality of employee and labor-management relations are needed to address America’s critical problems in industries ranging from healthcare to airlines to manufacturing. His most recent book is Shaping the Future of Work (Business Experts Press, 2016).
He speaks frequently at national and regional labor-management conference. Kochan holds a BBA in personnel management as well as an MS and a PhD in industrial relations from the University of Wisconsin.

10 a.m.—Break – Harbor Ballroom

10:15 a.m.-Workshops – First Floor
Affinity Approach to Collaborative Economic Bargaining
An alternative method of bargaining that compliments Interest Based Bargaining and further promotes collaborative discussion with issues that can’t be settled by only using the Interest Based model. It does so by further facilitating participation of every individual and discussions amongst the full group, sub groups and individuals; all in order to find better understanding and common ground so that collaboratively negotiated packages are accomplished
Glen B. Reed, Jr. is a St Louis Commissioner with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. He has been with the Service since March, 2003. Mr. Reed is a graduate of the Coles School of Business, at Kennesaw State University, located in Kennesaw, Ga, with a BA Degree in Management, and a concentration in Human Resources. Prior to his service in the Federal Government, Commissioner Reed spent five years working with various chapters of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors Association (SMACNA), and the Mechanical Contractors Association (MCA). These are all non-profit trade organizations in the area of Labor-Management Relations for the electrical and mechanical construction industries.
Myla Hite, St. Louis Commissioner with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service

The Union’s Duty of Fair Representation
William LeMaster, Field Attorney, National Labor Relations Board
Carla Coffman, Field Examiner, National Labor Relations Board
The presentation will cover a union’s responsibilities to the employees it represents, more specifically, its responsibilities when handling grievances, in contract negotiations, and in its general communications with employees. The presenters will also talk about the Union’s prohibition from seeking or causing the discipline or discharge of the employees it represents.

11:30 a.m.—Golf Tournament – Lake Valley Country Club (shuttle available). 367 C.C. Balir Drive, Camdenton, MO 65020

For non-golfers the afternoon and evening are open for networking, meetings and exploring the Lake of the Ozarks. A shuttle into Osage Beach is available on request.

Tuesday, July 10

8-9 a.m.—Breakfast – Harbor Ballroom

9 a.m.—General Session – Harbor Ballroom
Addressing Mental Health Issues for Workers
Chris Carlough is the Education Director of SMART MAP, which delivers leadership, communication, representation and organizing education to all union members, representatives, organizers and training fund instructors. SMART MAP is a program that highlights the problems associated with mental health issues, with a primarily focus on substance use disorder and suicide prevention then educates union members to direct those members and their families to those helping resources. These SMART MAP Volunteers are compassionate, empathetic and well-respected union members who continue to support our members when returning back to work. The therapeutic value of one union member helping another cultivates a powerful peer support network which is often the difference between relapsing or entering a new and healthy life in recovery.

On-Site Health Care Clinics
Labor and management efforts to enhance health care and control costs include the development of clinics at workplace and union hall sites. Panelists will discuss the experience of a clinic developed by Cerner Corp. for members of Operating Engineers Local 101.

Women in Workforce: Skilled Trades, Utilities, Manufacturing
The emergence—and need for even greater participation—of women in building trades, utility and manufacturing create opportunities and issues for labor and management. Panelists will provide their perspectives on how to attract women to these fields and to adapt workplaces to retain them.
Alise Martiny, Business Manager, Greater Kansas City Building & Construction Trades Council
Tania McNeive, IBEW 7th District Womens Committee person

Noon—Lunch and Speakers – Harbor Ballroom
OSHA Whistleblower and Voluntary Protection Plan
Mike Oesch, Acting Assistant Regional Administrator, U.S. Department of Labor—OSHA
Bill McDonald, Director, St. Louis Regional Office, U.S. Department of Labor-OSHA

1:15 p.m.—Workshops – Breakouts on First Floor

Mock Arbitration
Kara Larson – Counsel for the company (Nevergy, Inc.)
Steve Boyce – Sr. Director, Labor & Employee Relations (Nevergy)
John Garretson – Business manager (IBEW Local 304)
Bret Bonge – T&D Supervisor (Nevergy)
Brad Miller – Line foreman - terminated for serious safety violation (Nevergy)
Gene Sicard – journeyman lineman (Nevergy)
Will Lawrence – Counsel for the union
Patrick Dunn – arbitrator

Here’s a summary of the facts of the case:
 
On June 1, 2017, foreman Brad Miller and journeyman lineman Sicard were assigned to move an underground electric junction box. Miller, who was in charge of running the job, directed Sicard, a relatively new employee with the company, to cut an underground cable that he (Miller) assumed had been grounded. Neither man followed all of Nevergy’s safety procedures to determine whether the cable was dead and, therefore, safe to cut.
 
Miller, who was standing nearby, directed Sicard to cut the 7200-volt underground cable. The resulting flash burned Sicard’s leg and put a softball-sized hole in his pants. Sicard was not taken to a hospital until supervisor Bonge learned what had happened and directed Miller to do so. Sicard missed two days of work on account of his injuries.
 
Nevergy discharged Miller and issued a five-day unpaid suspension to Sicard after an investigation. 
 
IBEW Local 304 grieved both disciplinary actions, and the subject of the arbitration in this matter is the Miller termination. The union alleges that the company did not prove just cause for termination. 
 
The Impact of Missouri’s New Prevailing Wage Law
Hon. Missouri State Sen. Gina Walsh
Hon. Missouri State Sen. Dave Schatz

2:45 p.m.—General Sessions – Harbor Ballroom

Fiduciary Responsibility
Panelists will review and update the requirements for fund trustees.
Brian Dunn, Dunn & Davidson
Roger Novak, CPA, Novak Birks, P.C. A leader in professional and civic organizations, Roger has more than 34 years of experience with employee benefit issues and is a member of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.
William ”Bill” Miller, CPA, is CEO of Novak Birks, a past Unified Government Commissioner and a member of the Bank of Labor Board of Directors.
Mark Underwood, US Department of Labor

Personal Financial Planning
Nationally-recognized expert Brad Stephens, Principal, will discuss planning for your financial future whether you are a business owner, executive or union member.

6 p.m.—Reception – Lakeside Room
Wine provided by Missouri Wine and Grape Alliance

7 p.m. — Banquet – Harbor Ballroom
- Herman Wallace Family Presentation
- Prize Drawings

Wednesday, July 11

8-9 a.m.—Breakfast – Harbor Ballroom

9 a.m. — General Session– Harbor Ballroom

Cyberwar: Brief History and Current State of Affairs
Shannon McMurtrey, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems
Drury University
Breech School of Business Administration
Dr. McMurtrey teaches Cybersecurity courses in the graduate college. His professional background includes over 20 years of IT experience in the field of e-commerce. Dr. McMurtrey is a Missouri State University College of Business research award winner and has published journal articles in the area of artificial intelligence in the United States and Europe. He holds several respected industry certifications in the areas of network penetration, incident handling, and web application security. Dr. McMurtrey was recently awarded an Excellence in Technology Award as Security Professional of the Year by the Association of Information Technology Professionals and Biz417.
The Status of “Right-to-Work” in Missouri
Mike Louis, President, Missouri AFL-CIO
TBA

Prize Drawings

11 a.m. Close

Noon—MALMC Planning Committee meeting. Any interested participant with ideas is welcome to attend.

The LMC is preparing for the 20th Craig Whitaker Memorial Golf Tournament July 16 at Oakwood Country Club. An excellent vehicle to build relationships, the tournament also provides opportunities to promote within the labor-management community. Participation can include:
•Sponsorship at various levels
•Foursomes and individual players
•Donations of raffle prizes, items for all golfers, and food for lunch and for snacks
•Volunteer to assist players and the tournament operation.
Contact the LMC office with questions, suggestions and to secure your participation.

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) is currently recruiting for a Mediator in Kansas City, MO!

Application Cut Off Date: Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Announcement Number: DE-10213166-18-FM
Position/Series/Grade: Mediator, GS-241-13 (FPL 14)
Salary: $87,804.00 to $114,146.00 /NOTE: The starting salary for applicants who are not current Federal employees is $87,804.00. This is non-negotiable.
Link to Posting: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/499582100
As a Mediator you will be responsible for promoting the development of sound and stable labor-management relationships by advocating the practice of collective bargaining, mediation and arbitration. You will also be responsible for fostering the establishment and maintenance of constructive joint processes to improve labor-management relationships and preventing or minimizing work stoppages through the use of mediation, relationship development training and other joint processes. Mediators also provide a wide range of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services to help government entities reduce litigation costs, including mediation of discrimination and other claims, workplace conflict management training, facilitation, systems design and negotiated rule-making.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Being assigned to a probationary (trial) period of up to two (2) years
Living within a 35 miles radius from the Kansas City Field Office located at 2345 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64108
Possessing and maintaining a valid and current driver's license
Working a non-standard work schedule
Accepting duty station assignments as determined by FMCS and accepting subsequent reassignments made for the good of FMCS
We urge you to apply if interested or to forward to anyone you think may be interested!

Congrats to five women at LMC-related organizations who made up the Kansas City Business Journal panel in the June 8 issue on "Women Who Build: Finding Opportunities for Profitable Careers in Construction." They included past LMC honoree Brandy McCombs, International Builders & Consultants, Inc.; Beth Soukup, JE Dunn Construction Co.; Elise Kirchhofer, McCownGordon Construction Co.; Karen Hogan, Turner Construction Co.; and Erica Jones, MMC Corp.

The same issue included a list of the top 150 private firms in the KC area. LMC members on the list reported revenues last year of more than $10 billion.

Construction Committee Discusses New Prevailing Wage Law, Development Incentives

Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes

 8 a.m., Thursday,  June 14, 2018, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.

Attending:  Jim Albano, Sam Alpert, Willis Bowers, Brian Dietz, John Fennesy, Alex Gonzalez, Jerry Helmick, Kevin King,  Greg Lever, Kevin O’Neill, Bob Jacobi.

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

•Discussion of progress of negotiations between craft unions and CWC on construction of KCI

•Missouri’s new prevailing wage law, assuming it is signed by new Gov. Parson, will mean significant changes in enforcement rules.  A session will be held at the Mid-America Labor/Management Conference July10 with State Sens. Gina Walsh and Dave Schatz, who were most heavily involved in developing the bill.  Current challenges with prevailing wage enforcement were discussed as well.

•KCMO is considering a new MBE/WBE ordinance.  An additional wealth limitation is likely to further narrow the pool of eligible contractors; the city’s change of requirement to six months presence here will probably allow more contractors to be eligible.  Regarding both the airport negotiations and the MBEWBE ordinance, it was agreed that more focus on diverse workforce eventually generates a larger MBE/WBE contractor pool.  Consistency among economic development agencies would also be positive/

•Alex Gonzalez invited craft unions to participate in interviews with Hispanic media on opportunities to join unions and for contractors to sign with unions.

•A lawsuit filed by the Missouri attorney general against St. Louis developer Paul. McKee could have implications.  McKee is being sued for taking $2.5 million in state incentives but not maintaining control of properties he acquired and not completing proposed projects.

•A housing issue on the August KCMO ballot would have implications for affordable housing development, and would make it more expensive to offer such housing.  The ordinance can be found at http://cityclerk.kcmo.org/LiveWeb/Documents/Document.aspx?q=UKuT5OsvHwwBwsWnTA6Jx41MkdV775nPya2YWKBCCTeW1%2bhYYo%2be92WC1m87Dw59.

•NICE will hold its annual Awards Luncheon on Oct. 30.

•Upcoming Events

*Working Families Friend Golf Tournament, June 19, 7 a.m., Loch Lloyd Country Club

*Hispanic Contractors Asso

ciation luncheon, CWC KCI Project, June 20, 11 a.m., Guadalupe

  Centers, 5123 Truman Road

*Mid-America Labor/Management Conference, July 8-11, 2018, Camden on the Lake

*Celebration of Life of Bill Richardson, July 10 (tentative), noon, Sheet Metal Local 2

*LMC Craig Whitaker Golf Tournament July 16, 2018, Oakwood Country Club

*LMC Board Meeting July 18, 8:30 a.m., Rockhurst University

*Primary Election Aug. 7

*FMCS National Conference, Aug. 21-23, 2018, Chicago

*Builders’ Industry Expo, Sept. 19, Bartle Hall

*Working Families Friend BBQ Cook-Off, Sept. 29, 1-4 p.m., Pipefitters Local 533

*KC CREW Golf Tournament, Oct. 4, Creekmoor Golf Course

*LMC Public Officials Reception, Oct. 11, 5:30 p.m., Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

*NICE Awards Luncheon, Oct. 30, Muehlbach 

*General Elections Nov. 6

*iBuild 2019 April 18

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

*Note: NO JULY MEETING see you at the MALMC July 8-11 at Camden on the Lake

•Next Meeting: 8 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, 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 LMC welcomes Kansas City Public Schools back to membership. Ivan Nugent, Chief Legal Counsel for the district, is its representative to the LMC. Thanks to Kevin Masters, KCPS government relations director, for helping engage the district with the LMC.

Contact information:

Kansas City Public Schools #33
Ivan L. Nugent, Chief Legal Counsel
2901 Troost Ave., 2nd Floor
Kansas City, MO 64109
(816) 418-7610; fax 481-7411; [email protected]

Congrats to representatives of LMC member organizations chosen to the Kansas City Star "Influencers" panel: Rockhurst University, the Rev. Thomas Curran; Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO, Duke Dujakovich; City of Kansas City, Mo., Alissia Canady, Heather Hall, Sly James, Quinton Lucas, and Scott Wagner; JE Dunn Construction Co., Richard Martin; Husch Blackwell, Jeff Simon and Maurice Watson; Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Pam Whiting; and Mid-Level Leadership graduate John Fierro, Kansas City School Board and Mattie Rhodes Community Center.

Condolences to Wester Energy on the death of two employees in St. Mary's, Kansas. Westar, an LMC member when it had operations in the metro area, is merging with LMC member Kansas City Power & Light Co. Two operations supervisors at the Jeffrey Center plant were fatally injured when high-pressure steam equipment failed.