SHOWCASE YOUR COMPANY'S SAFETY ACHIEVEMENTS
 It's no small achievement for a company's safety program to earn high marks, and it should be recognized for exceptional performance. MCAA's annual Safety Awards Program, co-sponsored by CNA, showcases contractor members that have achieved excellence in managing safe operations throughout their businesses. This year's program focuses on safety performance in 2012. If your company's safety program meets the eligibility requirements for a safety award, you will automatically receive a safety awards application electronically. Completed applications are due by February 18. This program is free as a benefit of MCAA membership. Go to www.mcaa.org/safetyawards for more information and the online form for submission of your 2012 safety statistics. Contact Pete Chaney (pchaney@mcaa.org) with questions.   

UNION REPRESENTATION/MEMBERSHIP RATES CONTINUED TO DECLINE IN 2012
 Union membership in the overall economy stood at 11.3% in 2012, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, down from 11.8% in 2011, and further below the 20.1% level logged when the statistical series began in 1983. Public sector employees are now the predominate sector of union members in the economy, with union membership rates comprising 35.9% of public employees, as compared with a 6.6% union membership rate in private sector employment. In the construction industry, union representation rates were at 13.7% (850,000 union workers out of the 6.2 million workers employed) in 2012, BLS reported, down from a 14.9% union representation rate (928,000 workers) in 2011, a loss of 78,000 bargaining unit workers over the period. Industry union membership rates reflected that decline, with 820,000 (13.2 % of 6.2 million) belonging to unions in 2012, BLS reported, down from 14% (874,000 members) in 2011, a loss of over 50,000 members overall. ("Membership" counts dues paying members of the union; "representation" includes dues paying members and other non-members in the bargaining unit included by the bargaining agreement.)

LONG-AWAITED PBGC MULTIEMPLOYER PROGRAM SOLVENCY REPORT RELEASED
 A very important piece of the opening multiemployer pension plan reform debate took on new urgency last week with the release of the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation's (PBGC) bleak assessment of it long-term solvency under current rules. The report stated, "The financial position for the [PBGC] multiemployer program is -$5.2 billion [negative] as of FY2012, the result of liabilities of $7.0 billion and assets of $1.8 billion. Because the multiemployer program has only a small base of assets, the program's large negative net position carries a substantial risk of exhaustion of multiemployer fund assets in the foreseeable future. Based on these projections, and assuming no changes either in multiemployer plans or in PBGC's multiemployer program [emphasis added], there is about a 35% probability that the assets of the PBGC's multiemployer insurance program will be exhausted by 2022 and about a 90% probability of exhaustion by 2032.... The Administration expects to engage with Congress and the multiemployer community in a cooperative process over the next several years, to develop a supportive, financially sound insurance program and to help preserve the multiemployer plans that provide lifetime retirement security for more than ten million participants and their families." MCAA's National Legislative Conference (May 1-3, 2013, Washington, D.C.) will focus on the reform of the multiemployer program to make sure it remains sustainable for contributing employers and allows the industry to regain and recapture market share so the plans can prosper and grow along with the industry. MCAA member attendance at the National Legislative Conference and meetings with regulators, lawmakers and key Congressional staff will help ensure that your industry achieves the legislative reforms that PBGC cites above and needs. Go to www.mcaa.org/education to register.

NEXT PCA WEBINAR TO FOCUS ON RADIO FREQUENCY FUSION WELDING
 Over the past 25 years, the plumbing industry has seen new technologies developed to reduce installation times, expenses, and safety concerns. The most recent innovation is radio frequency fusion welding, which uses radio waves to produce a clean, OD sheer joint on any thermo fusion (thermofusable) plastic piping material with no exposed heat, glues or o-rings. It draws less than 100 watts per weld. Learn more about this new technology and how it can impact your plumbing business by participating in PCA's next webinar on February 28, 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Product Director Stephen Barrett of Watts will lead the session. This webinar is free as a benefit of MCAA/MSCA membership; please register at https://mcaa.webex.com.

BENICIA PLUMBING CONTRIBUTES TO MCERF
 Once again, Benicia Plumbing (Benicia, CA) has made a contribution recently to the Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF), donating $1,000 recently. CEO Bill Cawley has been a stalwart supporter of the foundation for many years, and the MCERF Board of Trustees is very grateful for the contributions. Find out how MCERF is helping our industry grow and thrive through its ongoing education and research programs-especially its new Scholarship Program which helps worthy future young professionals finance their education-by visiting www.mcerf.org or contact Dennis Langley (dlangley@mcaa.org).