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Greetings!
This year has only just begun, and we've already been fortunate enough to enjoy victories for both our clients and the firm. Our government relations team continues to celebrate the triumphs of client-endorsed political candidates. And the Davis-Bacon team has scored big when it comes to enforcing prevailing-wage laws against cheating contractors. All of TCLG's successes would not be possible without the team working hard every day. On that note, I'm proud to announce that our office has been named one of 2011's Best Places to Work by the Phoenix Business Journal. The award recognized employers who strive to make work rewarding for employees by offering above-standard benefits, encouraging high morale and leading a cohesive team. I am so proud of our team and the work they do for our clients every day. And of course, with the best clients in the world, you all make our jobs worth the effort. 
All the best, 
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Planning pays off at 469 Pin Ceremony
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70-year pin recipient Boyd Vaughn.
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It took months of planning, but the nearly 400 guests who attended the 2012 UA Local 469 Pin Ceremony left smiling after an evening full of food, drink, live music and celebration at the 469-built Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel.
TCLG's communications team brought together all the pieces of the event to honor our clients' years of service, detail by detail during the past year.
Special recognition goes to 70-year pin recipient Boyd Vaughn, who traveled all the way from Texas to see his Local brothers and sisters. It was an honor to meet such an amazing veteran of his trade. Congratulations, Boyd!
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The TCLG team planned all aspects of the world-class event.
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TCLG's Ashley Walkup registers guests at the 2012 Pin Ceremony.
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Labor-friendly candidates victorious in Tempe
469-endorsed candidates emerged victorious from Tempe's elections March 13.
Dedicated 469 political action volunteers, mobilized by TCLG's government relations team, helped lead Councilmember Corey Woods to victory!
Also in Tempe, Councilmember Mark Mitchell, running for mayor, and council candidate Dick Foreman advanced to the May 15 general election.
Grassroots campaign efforts that TCLG organizes for clients, such as phone banking, literature distribution and sign pounding, are imperative for pushing candidates to victory.
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TCLG mobilizes 469 PAC volunteers throughout the 2012 campaign season.
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Clients represented on key city committees
Clients' increased political engagement, in consultation with TCLG, has resulted in seats for them on influential Phoenix and Tucson committees. Torres team member Jason McDonald also sits on the Tucson committee.
The strategic relationships that Torres Consulting cultivates for clients create opportunities to educate elected officials. When those same officials seek expert opinions on important public issues related to construction and development, our clients have "a seat at the table."
That's why political engagement is so important - relationships endure well beyond elections.
Several clients are representing the construction trades on a Phoenix task force charged with evaluating the city's development approval process. Clients represented include UA Local 469, IBEW 640, Sheet Metal Workers 359 and Ironworkers Local 75. The Tucson committee is studying a possible hire-local law for the city's construction projects and includes a seat for Local 469.
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Members of the Phoenix ad hoc task force discuss how to leverage their expertise to benefit municipal development processes.
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IMPACT conference attendance breaks records
 TCLG team members were honored to attend the fifth annual conference for IMPACT, an ironworker labor-management organization.
This year's conference attracted more than 750 contractors, labor representatives and industry insiders. TCLG team members enjoyed attending break-out sessions, connecting with ironworker union leaders and meeting partner contractors. Thanks to IMPACT for hosting this wonderful event!  | |
TCLG Managing Partner Israel Torres provides an interview about Davis-Bacon compliance at the recent conference.
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Visit us on Facebook for pictures, updates and all the latest industry news!
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Labor-friendly city officials take office
TCLG staff and clients were fortunate to join Phoenix's new leadership, including Mayor Greg Stanton and city Councilmen Daniel Valenzuela and Michael Nowakowski, as they took the oath of office in January.
The celebratory event capped months of mobilizing by client PAC volunteers to pound campaign signs, call voters and knock on doors.
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From left to right, UA Local 469 Business Representative Chris Van Kirk, TCLG Managing Partner Israel Torres, Phoenix Councilman Daniel Valenzuela and TCLG attorney Jim Barton celebrate inauguration day.
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New legal services highlighted at ACMA conference
 Torres Law Group staff traveled to Sedona in February to meet members of the Arizona City/County Management Association at its winter conference in Sedona.
With an entire slate of new services to offer - including counsel and training related to municipal open meeting and public records laws - attorney Jim Barton and Public Affairs Director Marie Levie were excited to meet the organization's members and learn more about them.
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From left to right, TCLG attorney Jim Barton, Public Affairs Director Marie Levie and Cox Communication's Julia Bogen.
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D-B team visits Colo. job site,
stockpiling knowledge to fight cheating contractors
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Legacy Mechanical Inc. Foreman J.C. Woodson, left, takes TCLG behind the scenes of the Union Station construction site.
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 Torres Consulting's Davis-Bacon team members recently increased their industry fluency on a trip to Colorado that included a visit to the Union Station construction project. The team also updated client Colorado Building and Construction Trades Council on new methods to ensure enforcement against contractors who fail to pay prevailing wages.
Seeing all the trades interact on-site gave team members firsthand knowledge of the craft. That knowledge allows compliance specialists to speak with authority when discussing worker classification with the Department of Labor. Thanks to the trades council for the hospitality! |
Torres teaches compliance at UA headquarters  TCLG Managing Partner Israel Torres and team member Anna Clark visited the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters' headquarters in Maryland to teach new business managers from more than 40 locals nationwide about Davis-Bacon compliance.
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UA General Secretary-Treasurer Mark McManus, TCLG Managing Partner Israel Torres and UA Director of Organizing Brett McCoy at the UA headquarters.
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United Association's international headquarters in Annapolis, Md.
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New clients, welcome!
- UA Local 102 -- Knoxville, Tenn.
- Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 359 -- Phoenix, Ariz.
- United Association Organizing Department -- Annapolis, Md.
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Torres speaks about Davis-Bacon and the border on DOL panel
TCLG Managing Partner Israel Torres represented the construction trade groups on a Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division panel that focused on the intersection of Davis-Bacon rules and illegal migrant workers.
Unscrupulous contractors often purposefully hire illegal workers to avoid paying Davis-Bacon wages. The contractors know the workers won't risk exposure to fight for fair wages.
These contractors, armed with cheap labor, unfairly underbid law-abiding contractors. TCLG is working with DOL to identify and stop this abuse.
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McDonald assists gov't relations victories
 Jason McDonald joined Torres Consulting in 2009, when client Local 469 drew just nine or so volunteers to its political action events and nominally influenced state politics.
Today, the 469 Political Action Committee ranks as the state's largest. Last year, it attracted 550 volunteers to grassroots campaign events.
The PAC has celebrated the wins of numerous endorsed candidates, including Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, and has representation on key city task forces.
Jason assisted the PAC's rapid growth, a feat he considers his greatest achievement so far.
"I've always had the resources I need to succeed, along with the support and vision of our clients," Jason said.
"Israel and Marie have been great mentors," he added about Managing Partner Israel Torres and Public Affairs Director Marie Levie.
When Jason first joined the firm, he coordinated volunteer efforts. However, his responsibilities grew with every success.
Today, he lobbies for clients at the Arizona Legislature and Corporation Commission and works with municipalities around the state. He analyzes policy and legislation to determine client impact and also develops political action and community outreach plans.
Jason, who graduated from Northern Arizona University with a bachelor's in international affairs, enjoys exploring his downtown Phoenix neighborhood with his wife, Camille.
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Wages on solar projects scrutinizedTCLG's coordination with the Department of Labor has elevated the department's scrutiny of wages paid on the state's largest solar projects. The firm organized a February summit between DOL and Arizona Building and Construction Trades Council to review site work and discuss the corresponding worker classifications for multiple Arizona solar projects. The meeting was the first step in making sure that all the projects' contractors follow the law, bid jobs correctly, and pay workers appropriate wages. 
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Colo. workers' wages nearly double after TCLG's D-B victory  Wages for workers at a U.S. Department of Housing and Development project in Colorado nearly doubled -- up to prevailing wage -- after TCLG urged the Department of Labor to re-evaluate how the contractor classified workers. DOL had already granted the contractor permission to pay the lower rate, based on the work the agency believed was being completed. However, after TCLG compliance specialists investigated, our legal team provided evidence that caused the DOL to reverse its decision. As a result, unscrupulous and cheating contractors pay the price again. |
TCLG's Travels
 | | TCLG welcomed members of the District Council of Ironworkers and Vicinity to a dinner at Rustler's Rooste before the quarterly meeting in Phoenix. From left to right, sit TCLG Managing Partner Israel Torres, attorney Jim Barton and Los Angeles Local 416 Business Manager Hart Keeble. |
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TCLG Managing Partner Israel Torres meets Vice President of the International Brotherhood Electrical Workers District 10 Bobby Klein, left, during a recent district meeting in Tennessee.
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The TCLG team celebrates a successful 2012 Lunch on the Capitol Lawn for client Local 469.
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