The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City

Congratulations to LMC member the Builders’ Association, which received the prestigious Community Labor Partner Award from the Heart of America Boy Scouts at the George Meany and Community Labor Partner Awards Dinner Aug. 22 at Argosy Casino. A photo can be found in an album on the left, Builders Boy Scout Award.

The Community Labor Partner Award is presented annually to organizations that have provided significant contributions to local Scouting programs.

Alise Martiny, Business Manager, Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Trades Council and LMC secretary, presented the award. “The Heart of America Council and the AFL-CIO are proud to present this award to The Builders’ Association for their dedication and service to the Scouting community. They have awarded scholarships totaling $850,000 to our students including numerous Scouts and Eagle Scouts. They’ve opened the doors at their Advancement Center to countless Scout Troops and Packs to earn merit badges and provide hands-on exploration of the skilled-trades field. In addition, their registered apprenticeship programs have provided thousands of hours of labor to support annual workdays at the H. Roe Bartle and Theodore Naish Scout Reservations. We are honored by The Builders’ Association’s service to our camps, communities and Scouting.”
Builders’ Association President Don Greenwell, LMC treasurer, accepted the award saying “We are proud to be part of a mission that we share with all of our labor partners, and that is to do our best, to do our duty, to be prepared to help other people at all times, and to do a good turn daily.”

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly noted “We all have cause to salute tonight’s award recipients. This year’s George Meany Labor Recognition Dinner has an outstanding list of winners who help teach valuable lessons and skills relevant in today’s fast-changing global economy ranging from STEM programs to building construction trades. These ventures have helped build a pipeline of talent for the future, and as Kansas Governor I thank you for that.”

The Builders’ Association represents about 750 general contractor, subcontractor, supplier, and service provider member companies employing about 25,000 people. More information can be found at www.buildersassociation.com and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Congrats to Kevin Sexton, former LMC Co-Chair, on his reelection as international secretary-treasurer for the Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons International Association. Kevin served as business manager for OPCMIA Local 518 before joining the international.

Construction Committee Discusses Medicaid Expansion, Area Projects

Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes

 8 a.m., Thursday, June 13, 2019, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.

Attending:  Sam Alpert, Greg Davey, Brian Dietz, Kevin Gard, Jerry Helmick, Jesse Husketh, Kevin King, Greg Lever, Bill Livingston,  Alise Martiny, Michael Malicoat, Jason Mendenhall, Justin Stien, Jeff Stiffler, ColleenWhite, Bob Jacobi.

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

•Presentation from and discussion with Justin Stein, Missouri Jobs with Justice, regarding the Missouri Medicaid expansion initiative petition effort. The program would cover 219,000 now uninsured persons with 90% matching federal funds.  As a constitutional amendment it will require 180,000 signatures for a November 2020 vote.  Those interested in participating can contact Justin at Jobs with Justice, who is available to speak at meetings about the effort.

•JE Dunn Construction Co. has won the contract for Blue Valley School District’s $80 million program.

•The KCI garage is expected to begin construction next summer or fall.  Pre-job meetings are being held regularly as initial work is underway.  Anthony Slaughter is now the point person for the pre-apprenticeship program, which expects to have 160+ participants in three-week classes.  About 80 are working now.

•Key federal issues include worker classification of employee versus independent contractor as federal interpretations are changing just as the problem of worker exploitation and tax fraud continues to increase; maintaining the construction exemption from new USDOL apprenticeship program rules and HR 397; and addressing multiemployer pension plans.  Members are urged to continue contacting USDOL and Congress, respectively, on those issues.

•NICE’s annual Awards Luncheon Oct. 29 features a presentation from Facebook and Turner Construction on the workforce development programs attached to Facebook data center projects.  NICE is also gearing up for the school year with Senior Days, Crayons-to-CAD and other programs to connect students with the construction industry.

•Jackson County homeowners have yet to be educated on the impact of property tax reassessment.

•Upcoming Events:

*MO House Interim Committee on Taxation hearing, Aug. 12, 9 a.m., MCC 1750 Universal, KCMO, Room CC 248

*KC CREW Golf Tournament, Aug. 15, 8 a.m., Creekmoor Golf Course

*GKC AFL-CIO Car & Bike Event, Aug. 24, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Providence Ampitheater, Bonner

  Springs.  Open to all but only American-made cars & motorcycles can be displayed

*UAW Region 5 Golf Tournament, Aug. 25, Sunflower Hills

*Urban Land Institute Real Estate Development Diversity Initiative first session Sept. 9

*Builders’ Expo, Sept. 18, Bartle Hall

*Mid-Level Leadership Program first session Sept. 18, Rockhurst University

*Roofers Local 20 100th Anniversary Celebration, Sept. 20

*MCA Charity Golf Outing, Sept. 23, The National

*Working Families Friend Picnic & BBQ Cookoff, Sept. 26, Pipefitters Local 533 Hall

*SIOR Development Day, Sept. 26, 4:30-7:30 p.m., Union Station

*Western MO & KS Laborers DC Charitable Golf Tournament, Sept. 27, Drumm Farm

*LMC Public Officials Reception, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Oct. 24, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

*NICE Annual Awards Luncheon, Oct. 29, Muehlbach.

*iBuild Reception, April 15, 2020

*iBuild 2020, April 16, 2020

*LMC 41st Anniversary Celebration and 21st Awards Dinner, April 30, 2020, Argosy Casino

*Mid-America Labor/Management Conference, July 12-15, 2020, Camden on the Lake

*Craig Whitaker Memorial LMC Golf Tournament, July 27, 2020, Oakwood Country Club

*Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service National Conference, Aug. 18-20, 2020, Chicago

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

•Next Meeting: 8 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.

•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.

Congrats to new KCMO Mayor Quinton Lucas and council members Kevin O'Neill, Heather Hall, Teresa Loar, Dan Fowler, Brandon Ellington, Melissa Robinson, Katheryn Shields, Eric Bunch, Lee Barnes, Ryanna Parks-Shaw, Andrea Bough and Mayor Pro-Tem Kevin McManus on being sworn in this morning in an inspiring (and dry) event.