Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes
8 a.m., Thursday, March 10, 2022, Via Zoom
Attending: Sam River, Bricklayers Local 15, Rudy Chavez, Jim Dahlin, Anne Dale, Joey Flickner, Kevin Gard, Steve Gercone, Chris Heegn, Kevin Hendrickson, Valerie Johnson, Gabe Jones, Kevin King, Greg Lever, Tanya Lewis, Bill Livingston, Bo Moreno, Luke Moylan, Alise Martiny, Tony Roberts, Soctt Van Bebber, Tom Wyrsch, Bob Jacobi.
•Thanks to Greg Davey and the Builders’ Association for Zoom hosting.
•Moment of silence for Mike Bolger, Local 533 fourth-year apprentice, two of his children and his mother-in-law who were tragically killed by a tornado in Iowa. His wife and other child were seriously injured as well.
•Presentation from Anne Dale and Sam Bivas, Washington University, on their Workplace Opioid and Substance Abuse Awareness Program. Anne Dale has previously worked with building trades and contractors on preventing workplace injuries for 20 years. Several years ago John Gaal and the Carpenters requested help with opioid abuse increase. They have developed a a process guide and off-the-shelf resources list for trust funds, unions and contractors to use in creating awareness and helping those with opioid abuse, an increasing problem. Interviews with 200 construction industry folks including 25 workers with opioid abuse issues were used to develop the guide. They would like to test the guide for effectiveness working with at least three trust funds and local unions under a grand from the National Institutes for Health. The project would include surveys with a goal of 300 responses (or proportional to the union’s size) to determine the extent of awareness and look at claims and pharmacy data. Feedback from the participating locals would be used to improve the guide as well as information for the fund and local to improve their response to the problem. Those interested can contact Sam Bivers, sbiver@wustl.edu. More information will be attached to these minutes as well. An article Anne wrote on ergonomics in construction can be found here https://synergist.aiha.org/201905-ergonomics-opioid-crisis.
••Session #13 of the Construction Summit:
Further work on the Construction Summit will resume after the April school board and Missouri municipal elections, results of which will shape somewhat the plan going forward. Pipefitters Local 533 member Aaron Hynds is running for the Holden School Board and is hosting a meet-and-greet for those interested on March 19, noon at 104 E 2nd Street in Holden. CIC committee member Laura Wagner is running in the North Kansas City district. Also the Kansas City Public Schools is now taking public input on its long range plan, an opportunity to make sure preparation for the construction industry is included.
•.Missouri SB 665 and HB 1860 would drastically reduce eligibility for unemployment compensation and are moving in the legislature. Such a reduction could push workers out of the industry during slack times as well as endanger the ability of unemployed persons to pay their bills until they find work. The LMC will convene to discuss a possible position on the issue.
•There is optimism regarding Kansas getting the $4 billion Apex project, for which a special incentive package was developed and passed into law. A decision is expected very soon.
•The city of Grandview has a $21 million bond issue on the April 5 ballot. Six million is slated for city buildings, $2 million for streets and sidewalks and $2 million for a fire station.
•NICE is taking booth registrations for iBuild April 5 at Bartle Hall. NICE has moved its office into the Mark One Electric Co. building on Genessee. More than 35 exhibitors including nine trades are signed up with room for more; more high school students are signed up at this point than middle school.
•The KC Labor Car and Bike Show will be Aug. 27.
•The Building Trades will host the 2nd annual Take a Kid Fishing Day with Boys & Girls Club Sept. 10. The location is TBA but will likely be near last year’s location at Troost Lake. Volunteers will be sought.
•The Mid-America Labor/Management Conference July 10-13 will feature Esther George, president of the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank, and sessions on construction and benefit fund topics. Hotel reservations at Camden on the Lake are available now; conference registration should be available by April 1.
•Upcoming Events:
•Filing for Missouri primary election ends March 29
*Midwest Construction Safety Conference, March 10-11, Adams Pointe Conference Center
•CREW KC Happy Hour, March 10 4:30-5:30 p.m., on starting a new business
•iBuild Showcase April 5, 2022; Reception April 4, both at Bartle Hall
•Local elections in Missouri, April 5
*Builders’ Talk on Cyber Security, April 13, 8:30 a..m., The Jewel Event Space
*LMC Anniversary Celebration & Awards Dinner April 21, Argosy Casino
*Working Families Friend Texas Hold’um Tournament, April 22
*Workers’ Memorial Day, Builders’ Association, April 28, noon
•TAUC Leadership Conference, May 17-20, Napa, CA
*Working Families Friend Golf Tournament, June 10
•Mid-America Labor/Management Conference, July 10-13, 2022, Camden on the Lake
•Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service National Labor-Management Conference, virtual, July 12-13
•Primary Elections Aug.2, 2022
*KC Labor Car and Bike Show, Aug. 27, Azura Amphitheater, 9 a.m.
*Take A Kid Fishing Day sponsored by the Building Trades Sept. 10
Upcoming Events, continued
•LMC Sporting Clay Shoot Sept. 15 at Saddle & Sirloin
*Working Families Friend Cook-off, Sept. 24
•LMC Public Officials Reception, Oct. 13, 5:30 p.m., Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
•NICE Annual Luncheon, Nov. 1, Bartle Hall
•General Election Nov. 8
*Missouri Apprenticeship Summit, Nov. 15; pre-conference Nov. 14
•Next Meeting: 8 a.m., Thursday, April 14, 2022, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.
•M/S/C to adjourn at 8:45 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.