Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes
8 a.m., Thursday, June 13, 2024, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.
Attending: Sam Alpert, Greg Chastain, Rudy Chavez, Greg Davey, Brian Deitz, Joey Flickner, Steve Gercone, Alex Gonzalez, Jackson Gonzalez, Dustin Himes, Todd Howerton, Chuck Martin, Bo Moreno, Phil Mount, Ralph Oropeza, Cameron Seip, Tina Shonk-Little, Chris Stanton, Brian Wood, Bob Jacobi.
•Thanks to Rosana Privitera-Biondo and Mark One Electric Co., Inc. for hosting.
•Session #31 of the Construction Summit: Efforts continue working with the Fair Contracting Alliance.
•Tina Shonk-Litttle, Heartland Women in Trades and Unions United Child Care, presented on the child care program for the trades being developed and requested help distributing a survey to members as part of a $4 million federal grant application jointly filed with the Full Employment Council. HWIT and UUCC have developed a survey required by the grant application to generate an estimate of demand for childcare overall and in specific geographic areas, so sites can be chosen. Unions can participate in a Survey Monkey set up by Heavy Construction Laborers Local 663 or do the survey themselves. UUCC also seeks commitments of financial support from unions and contractors before the end of the year. About 15 cents per member per month would fund the plan which would provide 24-hour child care centers open to union members only. Workers at the the centers would be unionized with pay at $20 per hour. Tina can be contacted for more details and to participate in the survey.
•The Missouri legislature concluded with a record low number of bills passing. The budget passed with many strong KC projects funded, though Gov. Parson still must sign the bills. One bill, HB 2866 sponsored by Rep. Gallick of Belton, would prohibit local governments from requiring employers in the subdivision or its vendors to meet quality and economic standards which would negate many of the responsible bidder ordinances recently passed or being pursued. Committee members are asked to contact Rep. Gallick. While the bill was heard too late to reach the House floor, it passed the General Laws and Rules-Regulatory Oversight committees and it is likely to be filed next year. The Senate companion, SB 1066 was sponsored by Sen. Ben Brown. It did not receive a hearing. The bill is attached.
•The Kanas legislature meets in special session next week to search for a compromise tax cut bill. Also expected to be discussed are proposals for public incentives to attract the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals to Kansas. The results those discussions will drive next steps in both states regarding new/renovated stadiums for the teams. With proper requirements, such as prevailing wage, the Kansas proposal could be positive. A plan to put a 3/16 cent sales tax on the Jackson County ballot in November has been introduced by Legislator Manny Abarca; otherwise the county, Missouri and KCMO have not put forward any new proposals yet. The Kansas effort is strongly supported by the leadership and eastern state GOP members; western GOP with Democratic legislators possibly holding the balance.
•Discussions continue on responsible bidder language with Jackson County and city of Independence.
•Affordable housing issues are having a significant impact. Discussions are taking place among city leaders, craft unions, union investment funds and tenant rights advocates as well as developers and providers of housing. KCMO has harmed the incentive to provide more housing in the city with passage of the strongest tenants rights in the country and the newest energy codes, the only metro city to pass those codes. U.S. Rep. Cleaver recently brought in FHA administrators to learn about the impact of local and proposed federal regulations on housing providers. The differences between property-based subsidies and tenant subsidies was explained. More dialogue is needed to find the best balance of quality, construction worker, contractor and tenant protections with costs to tenants and taxpayers.
•OSHA is promoting Trench Safety Stand-Downs June 17-21; trenching deaths continue to increase. OSHA also asks employees to sign on for Safe and Sound Weekrecognizing the successes of workplace health and safety programs and offers information and ideas on how to keep America's workers safe. Brian Wood is the contact for details. OSHA continues to have a limited budget—better in the current administration but still below needs—for responding to enforcement issues. However all are encouraged to contact OSHA when unsafe conditions are observed or experienced.
•Since last month’s Construction Committee meeting discussion with Nate Zier of NICE, NICE has met with Greg Chastain at Local 2 and is working on more teacher days at apprenticeship centers.
•The LMC Craig Whitaker Golf Tournament July 23 will have title sponsors of IBEW Local 124 and Pipefitters Local 533. There is still time to register for the Mid-America Labor/Management Conference as well; the link is https://cvent.me/zQKNla. Hotel rooms are tight but available.
•Upcoming Events:(For details on these events, please contact the sponsoring group or LMC)
*Working Families Friend Golf Tournament June 14
*DBIAMAR KC BBQ Competition, June 20, Garney Consrtruction
*FMCS/LERA National Conference, June 26-30, 2024, New York
*CREW KC Past Presidents Roundtable and Happy Hour, June 27, 4-6 p.m., Denton’s Law Office
*Mid-America Labor/Management Conference, July 7-10, Camden on the Lake
*Builders’ Member Summer Party, July 17
*LMC Craig Whitaker Golf Tournament July 23, Eagles Landing
*Primary Election Day Aug. 6
*KC Labor Car & Motorcycle Show, Aug. 10, 8 a.m. Azura Amphitheater
*CREW KC Golf Tournament, Aug. 19, Canyon Farms Golf Club
*Laborers Sporting Clay Shoot, Sept. 7, Powder Creek
*LMC Sporting Clay Shoot Saddle & Sirloin, Sept. 12
*Construction Innovation Expo. Sept 17
*Working Families Friend Fall Cook-Off, Sept. 21
*HWIT Kickball Tournament Oct. 5
*LMC/BOMA-KC Public Officials Reception, Oct. 10, 5:30-7 p.m., Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
*NICE Annual Luncheon, Oct. 25, Bartle Hall
*Election Day Nov. 5
*Builders’ Holiday Party Dec. 12
*NICE iBuild Showcase April 8, 2025
Note: Due to the Mid-America Labor/Management Conference, there will be no July meeting
•Next Meeting: 8 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.—Kansas City Public Schools Will Present on its Upcoming Bond Issue and at the Sept. 12 meeting the City of Independence will present on its upcoming bond issue.
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