Your News for September 28, 2015

MCAA to Testify on Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order

This week, MCAA's Government Affairs Committee Chairman Bill Albanese will testify before the House Committee on Small Business on the Obama Administration's Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order (EO) 13673. Representing MCAA and the Campaign for Quality Construction, Albanese will detail the MCAA/CQC position concerning the EO's objectives to improve legal compliance screening of prospective federal construction prime contractors and subcontractors. He will offer support for the EO provisions aimed at staunching the misclassification of employees as independent contractors. He also will point out the essential need to change the EO administrative procedures to require the agency Contracting Officer and Labor Compliance Advisor to review the new legal compliance certifications of covered prime contractors and subcontractors in the initial pre-award responsibility determination process. He will highlight other potential areas for abuse if primes are allowed to evaluate each subcontractor's legal compliance at the time of subcontract execution, as the order currently allows.

WebLEM Password is Changing

The next scheduled WebLEM password change will be on or about October 6. Your company's primary WebLEM contact will receive the new password by email. To be sure the password gets through your company's spam filter, please ask your IT Department to add mcaa@weblem.org, support@weblem.org and the MCAA LEM Committee [support@weblem.org] to your spam filter's "accept" list to ensure that you continue to receive these and other important communications. The password is only sent to the primary contact, so please share it with the other WebLEM users in your company to ensure uninterrupted access to this valuable and free member benefit.

Questions?

Next Arc Flash Training Webinar is October 15

If your employees who work with and around electricity have not taken safety training, the Qualified Level Arc Flash Safety Training Webinar will take place on October 15, 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Eastern time. The webinar provides training and information specifically designed for mechanical and service employees who are exposed to electricity from HVAC work, electrical maintenance, troubleshooting, voltage testing, fuse testing, verifying a zero energy state, infrared imaging, etc. It is also designed for those employees who manage or supervise electrical workers and safety/engineering professionals who manage the company's Electrical Safe Work Practices program. Presented by the Hilgeman Group, the session covers all applicable OSHA and NFPA requirements, best practices and provides participants with real-world accident information to reinforce the training. This webinar is a life-saver.

Contact the Hilgeman Group to Register

Learn the Secrets of Influence and Persuasion

Do you know what nonverbal messages you're sending in business meetings or personal exchanges? Join Dr. Linda Talley during MSCA 2015 (Colorado Springs, CO) for her session, "It's Not What You Said! It's What You Didn't Say! The Secrets of Body Language." In her humorous and engaging style, she will outline exactly what you're saying with your body language and reveal the secrets of influence and persuasion. You'll also learn what the universal validator is, how to use space for effect, how to power-pose and motivate yourself for success, and the art of power-gazing. When this session ends, you'll understand how to say what you mean and mean what you say.

Learn More/Register

View the Schedule for MCAA's Safety Directors Conference

Don't Miss MCAA's 2016 Safety Directors Conference

The conference will bring you up to date on the latest information about safety and health regulations, issues and best practices. The annual conference that will take place January 26-28, 2016, in Tempe, AZ is a forum of our industry's top safety professionals featuring keynote speaker Daniel Rodriguez - decorated combat veteran and football star - an exhibit showcasing the latest safety technologies, topical breakout sessions and workshops that cover the latest developments from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and other safety-related information. Because safety directors attend from across the country, the networking opportunities are exceptional and add value to this very popular conference. Registration opens later this year; watch this publication for the announcement.

View the Conference Schedule

AIPM Raises PMs' Management Skills, Knowledge

Your most experienced project managers are the best candidates for the Advanced Institute for Project Management (AIPM) (January 17-22, 2016, University of Texas in Austin, TX) because they will quickly grasp the advanced management practices that will help them succeed. AIPM is where graduates of the Institute of Project Management or seasoned project managers with considerable project management experience learn how to take on and address efficiently, effectively and successfully the issues that could otherwise be detrimental to their projects. This class is offered only once each year and it fills quickly.

MCA of Greater Springfield Contributes to MCERF

The Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF) recently received a $1,000 contribution from the MCA of Greater Springfield, its first contribution. Executive Director John Schmidt said, "This local association...is happy to make its first contribution to MCERF." The MCERF Board of Trustees is very grateful for the support which will help ensure the continuation of valuable education and research programs that help our industry grow and thrive.

Learn More About MCERF

MCAA Lobbying Continues for Phase 2 of Pension Reform

MCA of Colorado Executive Vice President & CEO Dave Davia, MCAA member Paul Dense from Trautman & Shreve and UA representatives from Colorado and the UA national office will meet with Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) to push for support of the new composite plan designs in the Solutions Not Bailouts (SNB) proposal that were not enacted last year. MCAA continues to press for that measure with House and Senate members of lead committees of jurisdiction. MCAA representatives met last week with Michigan Senator Stabenow in Detroit, and MCA-Maryland/ Delaware representatives met with Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), gaining support for the composite plan designs from both offices.

The MCAA National Update is a weekly publication of the

Mechanical Contractors Association of America.

Questions? Contact Ann Mattheis, Editor, or call 301-869-5800.