Special TV Coverage of Prevailing Wage Features MN ABC Members!

Over the past several weeks, ABC members have been working with Rick Kupchella, News Anchor/Reporter for KARE Television (NBC/Gannett).  He has done extensive work in uncovering the inequities of our current prevailing wage system in Minnesota and how it robs tax payers of paying market rates for public work.  Kupchella will explore the antiquated and statistically unreliable modal calculation and how it can drive costs almost 30% higher in some cases. 

Tune-in May 1st and 4th, 2008 at 10:00 PM on KARE TV to watch this investigative reporter delve into the dismal state of Minnesota's prevailing wage system.

To preview the series, click here.

Union Legislator Embarassed For Protecting Unions, Instead of the Public

This week, WCCO Channel 4 embarrassed Rep. Tim Mahoney for putting his union buddies ahead of the environment and taxpayers.  Mahoney is a union pipefitter, and has often advocated for union causes in opposing the free market.

As chief author of House File 1208, Mahoney prohibited the use of waterless urinals in Minnesota.  Citing bogus concerns of pipe corrosion and hygiene, Mahoney fought attempts to allow the water-saving devices.  The real concern of the union plumbers and pipefitters was that they did not want to lose work from the lack of fresh water plumbing lines into the new units.

Meanwhile, every other state in the nation allows waterless urinals.  Studies have shown no corrosive conditions, an improvement in hygiene, and major savings of water.

Shelby pointed out these disparities, and asked why the legislature was putting unions before the environment.  As a result, Mahoney blamed the Board of Plumbing, and called for an emergency meeting of the board to consider waterless urinals.

One of the chief arguments in HF1208 was discussion of whether the code agencies should be advisory councils with the power residing in the commissioner, or to create independently-empowered boards.  Mahoney argued that the legislature should put the decision in the hands of experts and empower the board.  Ironically, in the same bill Mahoney prohibited the board from allowing air admittance valves or waterless urinals.

On Tuesday, the board unanimously voted to ask the legislature to remove the waterless urinal prohibition and actually put the experts in charge, and to quit playing politics.

Chanting "construction jobs now" and waving "put us to work" signs, hundreds of construction officials and union members rallied at the Capitol on Tuesday in support of the long-anticipated $2.1 billion expansion of the Mall of America in Bloomington.

Mall officials say the expansion - which calls for 5 million square feet of new shops, restaurants and other attractions - would create 7,000 construction jobs and $800 million in construction wages, as well as $100 million in construction taxes and labor income taxes.  Read more.

 

Big Labor Bada Bing

And the Oscar for best performance in a humorous political ad goes to... Vince Curatola, better known as "Johnny Sack" in the Sopranos, for a new ad about unfair union organizing.

Big Labor has been desperate to replace the system of secret ballots in union-organizing elections with a "card check" method, in which a majority of employees would simply have to sign a card. The Democratic House passed a "card check" bill last year at union bidding, but polls shows a majority of the public hates the idea, recognizing that workers would be subject to intimidation and peer pressure.

In the ad, created by the business-backed Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, a worker walks into a voting booth to cast a ballot. A hand suddenly clamps him on the shoulder and "Johnny Sack" appears in the booth, looking as mobsterish as ever. "Whaddya got there?" he asks. My "secret ballot" replies the worker. "Not any more it ain't," says Mr. Curatola, who snaps his fingers to make the curtains disappear, leaving the man in front of a crowd of intimidating colleagues pressuring him to sign a card.

The Coalition for a Democratic Workplace is made up of about 500 business associations and groups across the country fighting card check legislation. It will soon start running the educational ad on national cable stations, and will presumably tailor it for districts of specific Democratic House members who last year voted to get rid of the secret ballot. As for Mr. Curatola, word is he's simply a paid actor, and takes no public stand on card check one way or another. But his menacing mob face is sure to stick in voters' minds come November.

www.myprivateballot.com

 

The Union Agenda

The attached article appeared in the Wall Street Journal Online. It depicts the union agenda under the leadership of Hilary Clinton or Barack Obama.  It doesn't really matter which one either choice is terrible for merit shop contractors.  The union is trying for the "trifecta."  They want to keep the House, Senate and capture the White House.  If that happens, they will change 60 years of labor law. 

Read more, it's scary.

Commercial Construction
Down 6.2% Nationally

Several federal departments issued reports on the national economy yesterday, and had generally sour numbers for the first quarter of 2008. Commercial construction shrank at a rate of 6.2%, while residential construction contracted by a whopping 26.7% (annualized).

Better news is that the country did not actually experience a recession, but the national economy grew only at a 0.6% rate.  Labor costs held steady at 0.7%, but unemployment grew to 5.1%.

Many economist that were predicting a recession in the first quarter are now predicting an economic dip in the second quarter.

There's Still Time to Apply for the ABC Family Scholarship

Do your coworkers know about the ABC Family Scholarship? 

If not, give them this form and have them contact us, it's not too late for ABC members and their employees to apply for a $500 scholarship.  Contact Jim if you or someone in your company might need an extension.

OR.....Get the word out by using these handy payroll stuffers!

ABC and 19 other construction-related associations have worked together to launch ConsensusDOCS -- contract documents for use by designers, owners, contractors, subcontractors, and surety firms. ABC members are entitled to receive up to a 20 percent discount on most purchases.  Enter Partner Code "ABC" and Enter Promotion Code "100"

ConsensusDOCS Contract Series includes more than 70 ConsensusDOCS contract documents: General Contracting series; Collaborative Documents series; Design-Build series; Construction Management series; Subcontracting series;
Program Management series.  Attached is a sample, or please visit ConsensusDOCS at www.abc.org/DOCS.

 

MN ABC Announces First Webinar!

In response to members lack of time and high gas prices, MN ABC is holding its first of many webinars on May 21st. 

"Build, Protect, and Transfer Your Company's Value" is held in conjunction with Profit Builders Network (PBN), a local organization that consults and trains construction companies. 

The class will take place in Minneapolis at PBN's headquarters, with two satellite locations, St. Cloud and Owatonna, offered as an easier way for outstate members to attend. 

Learn more about the seminar by clicking here. here.