Your News for November 16, 2015

Join Us at the Orlando Grande Lakes resort for MCAA 2016!

Registration is Now Open for MCAA 2016!

MCAA is Better than Ever and will celebrate its accomplishments at MCAA 2016 in Orlando, FL (March 20-24, 2016). The program features headliners such as Peyton Manning and Shaquille O'Neal and entertainers Sheryl Crow and Andy Grammer. An excellent line-up of business experts will equip you with great ideas to help you kick your business into high gear. Motivational speakers will inspire, fascinate and convince you that the "impossible" is within reach for the determined and tenacious. And, you won't want to miss the chance to applaud UA General President Bill Hite as we honor him with MCAA's first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award. All of this plus the Annual Manufacturer/Supplier Council Exhibit, fabulous social events, fun and exciting recreational activities and much more will be at the beautiful Orlando Grande Lakes - a resort comprised of two amazing hotels, the JW Marriott and the Ritz-Carlton, a challenging golf course and in close proximity to Orlando's attractions. Make your plans and register now while the best rooms are available.

Check Out the Program

Webinar Scheduled on Affordable Care Act Reporting Requirements

To assist MCAA members in understanding and complying with the upcoming requirements of the Affordable Care Act, MCAA in conjunction with Groom Law Group will present a webinar for MCAA members on December 9, 12:00 p.m. Eastern time. For the first time, employers with 50 or more full-time employees will have to file a return with the IRS and issue annual statements to full-time employees about coverage (if any) offered to the employee, by month, including the lowest employee cost of self-only coverage offered. Health insurers, multiemployer plans and employers that self-fund plans will also have to file an annual report with the IRS and issue annual statements to covered individuals indicating the

calendar months in which individuals were enrolled in "minimum essential coverage" offered/sponsored by the issuer, plan, or employer.

Register Now for Mobile Device Management Webinar

Field personnel and project managers are able to increase their productivity dramatically by using tablets and smart phones on the jobsite. They can access the latest drawings, internal information and even financial data. However, these devices can pose a tremendous risk if they are not managed. If they are lost or stolen, outsiders gain access to that same information and even raise the possibility of a cyber security threat. On November 17 (1:00 PM Eastern), as part of the MCAA Construction Technology Initiative, a webinar will be featured and led by industry expert Rob McKinney to educate members on the risks and benefits of having a mobile device management (MDM) policy in your company. This session will cover policy basics, suggested software and hardware to implement a MDM policy and how to secure company information when your employees are using their personal devices (i.e., smart phones) to access company information.

NFPA Safety Training Webinars Are Open for Registration

Registration is Still Open for Next Arc Flash Training Webinar

There's still time for your employees who work with or around electricity to sign up for the Qualified Level Arc Flash Safety Training Webinar on November 19, 8:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. Eastern time. The webinar is 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. Employees who manage or supervise electrical workers and safety/engineering professionals who manage the company's Electrical Safe Work Practices program will also benefit from this training. The session covers all applicable OSHA and NFPA requirements, best practices and real-world accident information.

Contact the Hilgeman Group to Register

MSCA presenter Steve Thomas had so much information to share on Characteristics of an Effective TEAM, we had to schedule two sessions. Join Thomas for Part II of this discussion on December 2 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time. In this last installment of The TEAM Thing webinar series, he will identify which "great" qualities should exist on your team and explain how to ascertain "good" qualities from the great ones. He will also recap all six sessions to illustrate how the concepts work together to create an effective team. These webinars are free to MSCA and MCAA members as a benefit.

Safety Directors_ Conference is Open for Registration

MCAA's 2016 Safety Directors Conference is the best resource for the latest information about keeping your employees safe while on the jobsite. The conference will take place January 26-28 in Tempe, AZ, and will feature leadership keynote speaker Daniel Rodriguez - decorated combat veteran and football star - an exhibit of the latest safety technologies, topical breakout sessions, workshops and educational sessions on the latest developments from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and other safety-related information. The conference draws safety directors from across the country, adding to the networking opportunities and the depth of information.

AIPM 2016 is Sold Out!

The Advanced Institute for Project Management (AIPM) is sold out for 2016. If your senior project managers missed this opportunity, be sure they attend the 2017 course. Watch for the announcement in the National Update.

Team USA Wins Community Plumbing Challenge

A group of students, including two from the Milwaukee School of Engineering who are members of an award-winning MCAA Student Chapter) - Miya Preston and Jill Vande Boom - won a competition in Nashik, India, challenging future young professionals to solve bathroom plumbing and sanitation problems in a local school. The competition took place November 2-4. The USA team worked for six months on the project design to improve and renovate hand-washing stations and toilets. Tools and materials had to be available locally. The Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation provided $5,000 to help support Team USA's efforts. Congratulations!

Build an Elite Service Sales Team

MSCA Sales Institute courses are now open for registration and are designed for all professional levels of the sales service team. The Sales Leadership Symposium - a two-day program for the sales leader - is scheduled for January 26-27 in Phoenix, AZ. Entry-level service sales staff will have two opportunities to attend Sales Basecamp, February 1-2 in Orlando, FL, and May 2-3 in Chicago, IL. The Sales Masters program, a unique two-week program for intermediate- and advanced-level personnel, is scheduled for April 17-21 (Week I) in Oak Brook, IL, and November 13-18 (Week II) in Houston, TX. Space is limited for all classes. (Note: Service sales leaders must attend the Symposium before their team members can participate in the Sales Masters Program.)

Learn More and Register

Pension Reform Legislation Continues to Edge Forward

Part II of the Solutions Not Bailouts multiemployer pension plan reform proposal is moving ahead with legislative language being reviewed by committees, a potential House hearing, and possible Senate action early next year. MCAA and local affiliates continue to target key lawmakers in district meetings where local impacts of legislation are felt most acutely. Last week, MCA of Western Washington representatives and MCAA staff met with the staffs of Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and House Ways and Means Committee members Congressmen Dave Reichert (R-WA) and Jim McDermott (D-WA). MCA of Eastern Pennsylvania representatives and MCAA staff met with Congressman Pat Meehan (R-PA), also a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, about the importance of the new multiemployer plan designs. Industry meetings with Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) are scheduled for next month in their district offices.

Affordable Care Act Employer Mandates Face Repeal Attempt

The Obamacare employer mandates for employers with 50 more employees may come up for a repeal vote, without the possibility of filibuster, if the procedures on the omnibus year-end federal spending bill hold. If that repeal measure passes, it would have to survive a Presidential veto, which is unlikely. Also, the excise tax on high value health plans that will take effect in 2018 may come up for a repeal vote in the Continuing Resolution year-end spending process.

Apprenticeship Programs to Face New Affirmative Action, Non-Discrimination Requirements

On November 6, the Obama Administration issued proposed regulations amending and greatly increasing the non-discrimination and affirmative action requirements that apply to federal and state registered apprenticeship programs. The proposed regulations would add: a 7% affirmative action requirement for admitting disabled apprentices; new separate affirmative action local labor market utilization analyses of Black/African American, women, ethnic minorities, or disabled apprentices; goals and timetables for remedial program admittance procedures if underutilization disparities are found; protections for individuals aged 40 and over, transgender workers and those with sexual preference differences; and anti-discrimination requirements for applicants and apprentices on the basis of genetic information. The proposed regulations recognize the UA Veterans in Piping and the NABTU Helmets-to Hardhats programs as approved procedures for the "direct entry" method of apprentice program selections. Comments are due on the proposed regulations (80 FR 68908) January 5, 2016.

Shinn Mechanical Contributes to MCERF

The Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF) received $2,015 from Shinn Mechanical, Inc. (Kent, WA), with 50% designated for MCERF scholarships. Shinn made the contribution in memory of Pat Hinton, who recently passed away. Mike Shinn noted, "Pat started at Shinn Mechanical our first day of business 22 years ago. He was a tremendous influence and mentor to Shinn and many others in the industry during his life. He will be missed by us all." The MCERF Board of Trustees greatly appreciates the contribution which will help support the Foundation's continuing education and research activities.

Learn More About MCERF

MCAA Presses Action on Paid Sick Leave Executive Order

Preliminary actions have begun on the Administration's Executive Order 13706 requiring direct federal contractors and subcontractors on projects over $2,000 to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Proposed regulations are expected next September and final regulations are to take effect in January 2017. MCAA participated in a conference call with Labor Department officials last week, raising a variety of significant scope of requirement and coverage questions and the possibility for a collective bargaining exemption as has been allowed in several similar state and local regulations. MCAA has also convened a coalition to address the requirements before proposed regulations are issued.

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.