Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes
8 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.
Attending: Rudy Chavez, Greg Davey, Sean Delgado, Brian Dietz, Ed Downey,Joey Flickner, Kevin Gard, Chris Heegn, Dustin Himes, Gabe Jones, Billie Kizer, Dominic Klobe, Chuck Martin, Bo Moreno, Ralph Oropeza, Chris Stanton, Stefan Townsend, Brian Wood, Stacey Zerr, Bob Jacobi.
•Thanks to Rosana Privitera-Biondo and Mark One Electric Co., Inc. for hosting.
•Session #23 of the Construction Summit: Efforts continue working with the Fair Contracting Alliance.
•Welcome to Stefan Townsend, Full Employment Council, attending his first meeting.
•Presentation from Billie Kizer, OSHA Regional Administrator for Region VII including Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska. Billie has been Region VII administrator for one year, coming here from Region IV based in Atlanta. OSHA wants to build relationships and trust, encouraging employers and employees to work together towards a mutual goal of everyone returning home safely each day from work. Safety should be embedded in work processes, not an add-on. While OSHA in an enforcement agency, there are not enough resources to inspect and enforce all worksites so OSHA works through outreach and partnerships to achieve a safe workplace. OSHA encourages anyone who sees a violation to report it—including workers without regard to documented status, unions and others. There are whistleblower protections for those who report safety violations, including for undocumented and other vulnerable workers such as youth. OSHA fines can range unto $150k; one employer who ignored OSHA requirements and court orders has been jailed in the KC area recently so the agency does follow through. Deaths from trenching have increased considerably, so OSHA is emphasizing awareness of trenching as well as falls as leading causes of death. Deaths of youth workers are also increasing.
OSHA is also emphasizing mental heath and suicide prevention in outreach efforts. Outreach efforts are being made to vulnerable workers in partnership with community organizations, including day workers in the Hispanic community. Workplace deaths are higher among black and brown workers often because those workers are more likely to be exploited. More partnerships with the community are sought and OSHA will speak to any group of workers or employers. One challenge is workers who are placed by labor brokers or temp agencies. OSHA is working on proposed standards for heat and for proper PPE fit. While the heat standard is in progress, protection from excessive heat does fall under the general duty clause. All employers with more than 100 workers must now file their complete injury and illness logs, and those are available on the OSHA website. The website is translated into many languages and OSHA publications are in both English and Spanish. Workers should know their rights and employers should understand their responsibilities. Brian Wood is available as is Billie to talk with any group and to develop partnerships. Trainings on reporting incidents and conditions is available. OSHA materials on suicide prevention, falls and hydration were distributed.
Committee members urged particular attention to the Latino community as that workforce is growing in the KC area. OSHA also works with other agencies such as Wage and Hour as incidents of wage theft are common at some worksites with safety violations.
•The Missouri Apprentice Ready Program recently saw two graduates join IBEW Local 124’s apprentice program. The next cohort begins in February; recruitment is the focus for the next few months. Graduation ceremonies are inspiring and provide the opportunity for unions and employers to meet the graduates and their families. Full Employment Council also has job candidates available.
•NICE holds its annual fundraising luncheon Oct. 17 with a theme of women in construction and a program on the KC Current stadium. The pitch is now installed in the stadium.
•The Building Trades Holiday Party is set for Dec. 1 at IBEW Local 124.
•The LMC has space for one or two more teams for its Sporting Clay Shoot, and encourages both public officials and candidates at all levels to attend the LMC Public Officials Reception co-hosted with BOMA-KC Oct. 12.
•Upcoming events:
*Builders’ Innovation Expo, Sept. 19, 8-11 a.m.Builders’ Training Center
*South Loop Project Public Meeting, Sept. 19, 5-7 p.m., The Gallery Event Space
*LMC Mid-Level Leadership Program Begins, Sept. 20, Rockhurst University
*LMC Sporting Clay Shoot Sept. 21, Saddle & Sirloin
*CREW KC Recruitment/Current stadium update, Sept. 26, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Rosehill Gardens
*DBIA KC Shrimp Boil, Sept. 27, Lenexa Public Market 4-6 p.m.
*Missouri & Kansas Laborers Charitable Foundation Golf Tournament, Sep. 29, Drumm Farm
*NAWIC Scholarship Golf Tournament, Oct 12, Adam’s Point Golf Club
*LMC/BOMA-KC Public Officials Reception Oct. 12, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
*NICE Annual Luncheon Oct. 17, 2023, Bartle Hall
*CREWKC Luncheon, Ocr. 24, Johnson County Community College
*Building Trades Holiday Party Dec. 1, IBEW Local 124
*NICE iBuild April 2, 2024, Bartle Hall
•Next Meeting: 8 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.
•M/S/C to adjourn at 9:30 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.