The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City

On Martin Luther King's birthday holiday, the LMC recognizes his message of dignity for all people and the respect for that dignity in all parts of our working, community and personal lives.

The LMC mourns the death of Walter Smith, longtime leader in Roofers Local 20. Services will be Saturday, Jan., 26 at 10 a.m., Park Lawn Funeral Home followed by a fellowship from noon-3 p.m. at the Roofers Apprenticeship Training Center, 5100 E. 59th Street, KCMO 64130.

Condolences to two LMC leaders and their families:

Jay Lind, Sheet Metal Local 2 financial secretary, on the loss of his father Theodore Lind in Fort Collins, Colorado. Services will be Feb. 2.

John Fennesy, IBEW Local 124 business manager, on the loss of his sister Marcia Fennesy. Services were this morning.

LMC Board Sets 2019 Issues Agenda

Summary of Minutes

LMC Board of Directors Meeting

Jan. 16, 2019 • Rockhurst University

Attending:  Tim Bell, Teri Casey, Greg Davey, Brian Dietz, Mike Kane, Jason Mendenhall, Bob Jacobi.

•Thanks to Rockhurst University for hosting.

•M/S/C to accept the financial report subject to audit.

•M/S/C to adopt the 2019 Issues Agenda.  (Attached)

•The 40th Anniversary Celebration and 20th Awards Dinner April 18 will recognize the LMC founders and the first recipient of the Leadership Award, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver.  A goal of $40,000 in revenue recognizing the 40th anniversary was adopted.

•M/S/C to nominate the following officers for election April 18:  Alise Martiny, Secretary; Don Greenwell, Treasurer; Mike Kane, Executive Committee.  Further nominations will be made later.

•The next Board meeting will be Wednesday, April 10, at 9 a.m. (note the later starting time) at Rockhurst University.

•The Construction Industry Committee was noted for its work.  Rosana Privitera Biondo and Mark One Electric Co., Inc., were thanked for hosting the meetings, and condolences were noted on the recent death of Mark One’s founder Carl Privitera.

•M/S/C to adjourn at 10:30 a.m.

2019 Issues Agenda

Federal

•Support construction of the Keystone pipeline project.

•Oppose a benefits tax in  federal health care reform.

•Any future stimulus funds include significant vertical construction projects.

•Support continuation of Davis-Bacon in any new federal infrastructure program. 

•Oppose federal “right-to-work.”

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 a construction Prevailing Wage in Missouri.

•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 supports matching funds for a UMKC performing arts campus.

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.

•The LMC supports reinstatement of a local option for prevailing wage in Kansas.

Local

•The LMC opposes elimination of the Kansas City, Mo. city earnings tax until an alternative is in

  place. 

•The LMC supports prevailing wage on projects with economic development incentives.

•The LMC supports modernization of the Kansas City International Airport.

Congratulations to new Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly on taking office yesterday. The spirit of cooperation and problem-solving in the new Governor's inaugural address is a hopeful sign for the state. And welcome to new Kansas Secretary of Labor Delia Garcia.

Congratulations to Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway on being sworn in for her first elected term as State Auditor. We look forward to continuing to work well with you.

Other new statewide officer holders we welcome to new or renewed terms include Missouri Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt and Kansas Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers, Attorney General Derek Schmidt, Treasurer Jake LaTurner, Secretary of State Scott Schwab and Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt.

Construction Committee Discusses Prevailing Wage, New Legislative Sessions

Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes

 8 a.m., Thursday,  Jan. 10, 2019, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.

Attending:  Sam Alpert, Willis Bowers, Greg Chastain, Greg Davey, Brian Dietz, Chris Heegn, Jerry Helmick, Andy Johnson, Kevin King, Dave Kirkpatrick, Greg Lever, Bill Livingston, Jeff Stiffler, Bob Jacobi.

•Thanks to Rosana Privitera Biondo and Mark One Electric Co., Inc. for hosting.  The committee expresses its condolences on the death of Carl “Red” Privitera, Mark One founder.  Services are at 8 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church.  Contributions to the church are requested in lieu of flowers.

•Discussion regarding demolition and renovation projects at the former Bannister federal complex.

•Labor and management are working to research and coordinate responses to proposed regulations from the Missouri Dept. of Labor regarding the new prevailing wage law (HB 1729).  Strategic Workplace Solutions is assisting the Builders’ Association with the project as is labor’s legal counsel.  The contractors’ coalition on the issue meets Monday.  It is vital for contractors to report all wages to the MODOLIR.

•Workforce and economic development incentives look to be key issues the Missouri legislature will focus on this year, as well as attempts to address the “Clean Missouri” initiative petition amendment passed in November.  “Right-to-work” bills will be watched carefully.  The session has begun though committee assignments and hearings are yet to be announced.

•There will again be an attempt to restore prevailing wage options for counties in Kansas; the new Governor is favorable though the new legislature may be less so than previous one was.  The new session begins Jan. 14.

•Attempts continue to address multi employer pension issues at the federal level.  The special committee continues to work though some members have changed and the deadline for expedited consideration has passed.  A House version of the “Butch Lewis” bill has been introduced.  Congressman Cleaver has suggested possible solutions to the issue.  Changes in the assumption rate would be devastating to many funds, even relatively healthy ones.  Variable plans are becoming more common; trustees are urged to become educated on such options as well as on pending legislation.

•KCMO is considering several housing ordinances at a Jan. 23 committee hearing.  The ordinances would mandate affordable housing inclusion in new projects with residential components as well as incentivized projects as well as add to the increased regulation brought by the ballot initiative.  All are urged to express concerns that such policies could erode the tax base and drive market-rate projects to surrounding cities.

•The Mission driveway tax, thrown out by the Kansas Supreme Court, will likely generate restitution for taxpayers now being negotiated.  The court involvement in the issue is ending.

•The next meeting will be on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 8 a.m. at Mark One.  Other upcoming events:

*Services for Carl “Red” Privitera, Jan. 12, 8 a.m., Holy Rosary 

*Missouri Auditor Nicole Galloway swearing-in, Jan. 14

*Kansas legislature opening session, Jan. 14

*LMC Board Meeting, Jan. 16

*Kansas Gov. Kelly State of the State, Jan. 16

*Missouri Gov. Parson State of the State, Jan. 16, 3 p.m.

*Lean Construction Institute Lean Coffee, Jan. 23, JE Dunn Construction Co.

*Mayors’ Prayer Breakfast, Feb. 26, 7:30 a.m., KC Convention Center

*iBuild Reception, April 17, Bartle Hall

*iBuild 2019, April 18, Bartle Hall

*LMC 40th Anniversary & 20th Awards Dinner, April 18, 2019, Argosy Casino

*Missouri legislature ends regular session, May 13

*Kansas legislature ends regular session, June 26

*Mid-America Labor/Management Conference, July 7-10, 2019, Camden on the Lake

*LMC Golf Tournament, July 15, 2019, Oakwood Country Club

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

•M/S/C to adjourn at 9:25 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's Construction Industry Committee meets tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 10, 8 a.m at Mark One Electric Co., Inc., 1414 Genessee KCMO.

The LMC mourns the passing of Carl Privitera, founder of Mark One Electric Co., Inc. We will post details on his services soon.

Southwest Airlines founder Herb Kelleher died. In addition to his innovative approach as SWA CEO and the airline's remarkable success for nearly 50 years, Kelleher also set standards for labor-management relationships. He worked well with unions at Southwest--the most heavily unionized airline--and helped SWA develop innovative workforce practices. (We recommend the book "NUTS! Southwest Airlines' Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success" and use excerpts in our Mid-Level Leadership Program).

The LMC wishes all a great start to 2019.

The LMC mourns the death of Neil Colby. Neil served as Catholic Charities executive director for 25 years, and continued actively serving the community after retirement. He founded and supported several programs to help disadvantaged young people enter the workforce and public policies that reward work. His son Brian has also worked with the LMC on health care issues. Services are today, 6-8 p.m. at Visitation Church, 5151 Main, KCMO.