Esther George on the Money at the Mid-America Labor/Management Conference

Lake Ozark, Mo - Inflation particularly impacts working families and small business and the Federal Reserve Bank is committed to bring it down, Kansas City Fed President Esther George told more than 100 leaders at the Mid-America Labor/Management Conference. But George cautioned that the central bank should move gradually so the economy can adjust and also continue meeting the goal of full employment.

Photos from the conference are available at the Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City blog, http://labormanagementkc.typepad.com under photo album 2022 Malmc. Contact [email protected] for George’s remarks and other information about the conference.

George served as keynote speaker at the 36th annual conference held at Camden on the Lake July 10-13. Labor, business and government leaders come together each year at the conference to learn, network and address key issues of mutual interest. Conference sponsors were Ameren, Evergy, Bank of Labor, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, Grissom & Miller, Humana, IBEW Local 304, Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City, Missouri AFL-CIO, Novak Birks PC, SolidaritUS, ULLICO and United Healthcare.

The conference closed with a session featuring Chamber of Commerce leaders from the two biggest metro areas in the region. Jason Hall, executive director of Greater St. Louis Inc. and Joe Reardon, president of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, highlighted exciting recent economic progress as well as great potential for both bi-state metro areas. Both emphasized the need for a unified approach to economic development and addressing community issues, rising above internal disagreements to focus on big picture needs.

Economics, health care, the impacts of legalizing medical and potentially recreational marijuana, transportation, utilities, diversity, arbitration, construction, safety, unemployment and workers compensation and labor law were among the topics addressed at the conference. Networking opportunities were also a vital component.

Money was also a topic for Bill Krystalyn, ULLICO; Joe Schoonover, Bank of Labor, and Bill Miller, Novaks Birk PC. Krystalyn explained ULLICO’s insurance offerings as well as its growing investment tools for union funds to generate a good return, create jobs for those paying into the funds and improve communities. Schoonover discussed several Bank of Labor programs, particularly the MORE program, aimed at positive outcomes for workers, retirees, developers and communities particularly with affordable housing. Miller explained trends and new regulations for health and welfare funds trustee’s fiduciary responsibilities and their importance. It’s about people keeping secure folks they never met, he pointed out.

Health care has accelerated from its already critical role in labor-management relationships thanks to the pandemic, technology and other trends. Dr. Ayo Ajaiyeoba, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City vice president, explained the Integrated Behavioral Health model being used to elevate and integrate mental health with physical health. Dr. Ravi Johar, United Healthcare’s chief medical officer, emphasized the rising importance of mental health and also the key role of musculo/skeletal especially for workers in construction, manufacturing maintenance and other careers. Rick Dade with America’s Agenda and SolidaritUS shared solutions involving on-site primary care for union workers and more transparent systems for pharmacy while Ben Pauley from Included Health noted the disfunction of the US health care system and the importance of tools such as highly qualified second opinions to improve care while reducing costs.

The legalization of medical marijuana in MIssouri and surrounding states (except Kansas) has created many complications for employers and unions in keeping workplaces safe and treating workers fairly. The complexity of the many parts and types of marijuana is often not understood by medical review officers much less arbitrators, noted Dave Gaba, Compass Law Group. Gaba both hears cases as an arbitrator and his wife has a testing lab. Legalization of recreational marijuana will add to the complexity though elements of the upcoming Missouri ballot issue will improve justice and help steer users from the illicit market, noted Jack Cardetti who is running the ballot campaign.

Ameren is implementing its Smart Energy Plan thanks to legislation passed in Missouri. The plan is modernizing the power grid, shifting towards renewable energy while maintaining a reliable base load and holding down rate increases for consumers.

Great opportunities abound for contractors and workers in Missouri and Kansas thanks to state and federal funding boosts for transportation. David Ahlers, construction and materials manager for the Missouri Department of Transportation, cites more than a billion dollars per year in work for several years thanks to the increasing of the state’s gas tax and the federal infrastructure plan. Kansas also has robust program going with now full funding for its transportation plan plus the federal infusion, noted Burt Morey, deputy secretary of transportation for Kansas.

The Missouri State Building and Construction Trades Council held a meeting in conjunction with the conference as well.

Federal labor law is changing fast with new leadership at the National Labor Relations Board. Jake Miller, Grissom and Miller, and Kra Larson, Evergy, highlighted the key changes and their impact on labor law. Arbitration is always a big topic and arbitrators Pat Dunn, Dave Gaba and Colleen White gave suggestions as to better practices for labor and management in the arbitration process as well as reviewing key cases.

Missouri’s unemployment compensation system has survived to onslaught of COVID and is focused on serving qualified workers and helping employers participate effectively in the system, said Bill Dillon, claims program coordinator, and Lynda Kerr, benefits program supervisor for the Missouri Department of Industrial Relations Division of Employment Security. Jason Pinkston, tax manager, explained the way Missouri determines if a worker is an employee or independent contractor. Kurt Mueller, fraud and noncompliance manager with the Missouri Division of Workers Compensation, encouraged reports of potential workers comp fraud through the state’s online and hotline systems.

Diversity has been a critical topic at the conference for several years. Greta Bax, Missouri Works executive director, presented on the successful BUD program in St. Louis to bring women and minorities into the construction trades. Similar programs are underway in Kansas City and Springfield and area already chaining lives. Sylvester Taylor Jr., IBEW Local 1 and NECA, challenged attendees to mentor, speak up for and help the minorities and women that are recruited into their workforces.

Safety is the most important priority and OSHA has several new initiatives to help the workplace become safer and help employers comply with the law, noted Elizabeth Morales from OSHA. She explained each of OSHA’s emphasis areas and encouraged participation in events such as the standdown for suicide at work, especially in construction, Sept. 5-9.

The conference also featured networking and family opportunities such as a golf tournament, wine tasting reception sponsored by the Missouri Wine and Grape Board and banquet.

Next year the conference returns to Camden on the Lake July 9-12.