Union Tribune Editorial on Gaylord Project…We Agree!

On Saturday, the Union Tribune published the following editorial. AGC agrees. The IBEW, the Building Trades Unions, and the AFL-CIO should stop the extortion.

UNION-TRIBUNE EDITORIAL
Say no to extortion
Hotel firm rejects questionable labor tactics
June 2, 2007

Acquiescing in extortion only encourages more of it. Labor unions held Petco Park to a sleazy extortion tactic called a “project labor agreement.” Only contractors with union agreements could bid and dues were pumped into union coffers.

Future projects favored by the public, say a major hospital or a football stadium, can expect the same treatment.

How refreshing, then, that Nashville-based Gaylord Entertainment has chosen to take a principled economic stand. Gaylord is negotiating with Chula Vista and the San Diego Unified Port District for a bayfront hotel and convention center.

The project would create jobs – 12,900 for construction workers, 2,000 for hotel employees, and 1,100 for suppliers. It would jump-start long desired activity on Chula Vista's bayfront. Mission Bay made San Diego, and this would put the Bay into South Bay.

Gaylord has negotiated with labor unions for more than a year, offering to pay union-level benefits to construction workers. It has consented to a neutrality agreement, meaning hotel employees could opt for union membership for the duration of a 66-year lease.

However, Gaylord refuses to be extorted, and rightly so. The company says it will walk away from the San Diego region before signing an extortionate project labor agreement. It will not accept something that blocks 80 percent of contractors from bidding on a national-class project and adds up to $70 million in construction costs.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers has gained 90 percent of the loaf. To push further is to put the jobs of its own members at risk, as well as take away 2,000 permanent hotel jobs for people much in need of health insurance and other benefits. Where is the union brotherhood in that?

Stand firm, Gaylord.

 

AGC 2007 Membership Sets Record!

The AGC Board of Directors held its Annual Board Retreat last Thursday at the Silverado Resort in Napa, California. The Retreat gives the Board the opportunity to review current and past AGC activities and to begin the process tin initiate new initiatives, if necessary.  As part of this meeting, the Board reviews the membership members as of May 2007.

AGC membership numbers are divided into 2 categories. The first is AGC membership. On 1/1/2000, AGC had 310 members. As of 5/30/07, AGC’s membership total is 721. A record 49 firms have joined during the first 5 months of 2007 (thru May).

The other category of membership is AGC’s Plan Room.  These firms join AGC’s Plan Room operation only.

The Plan Room started with no membership in 2002.  As of 5/31/07, there are 642 firms in the Plan Room.  Plan Room membership has increased by a net (after member resignation) of 96 firms during the first 5 months of the year.

The total AGC membership now totals 1,363, an increase of 143 firms since the beginning of the year.

AGC 2007 Vice President, Kevin Elliott, Roel Construction chairs the AGC Membership Committee.  During the retreat, Kevin presented the committee’s 2007 Marketing Plan, which has established a goal of 1,430 total member firms in AGC and the Plan Room by 12/31/07.

It appears that this goal is certainly achievable!

AGC’s Strategic Plan, which was adopted in early 2006, calls for AGC’s total membership to reach the 1,500 firm level in 2009 or 2010.

 

Welcome New Members

The AGC Board of Directors and the AGC Staff would like to welcome the following new members to the Association.

Remember….” It is Good Business to do Business with an AGC Member!”

Company	Type of Work	Contact	Phone	email
Barton Malow	CM/Design Build	Bob Byrom	619.651.2000
Essrig Taylor Construction, Inc.	GC	Michael Essrig	760.487.1454
Fry Specialty Co.	Carpentry	Robert Fry	619.562.8446	rob@fryspecialty.com
Hands on Labor	Labor staffing	Paul Yahnke	619.299.5991	paul@handsonlabor.com
Hollenbeck Enterprises, Inc.	GC/framing concrete, drywall	Darel Hollenbeck	619.722.6358	dahollenbeck@cox.net
J.R. Daley Construction, Inc.	General Building	Jeff Daley	858.831.0888
Piana Construction & Painting, Inc.	Painting	Mihail Papadopoulos	818.340.7882	pianaconstruction@sbcglobal.net
Silver Creek Industries	Carpentry/modular bldgs.	Lisa Hoppe	951.943.5393	lhoppe@silver-creek.net
Tank Site Constructors, Inc.	General Eng.	Dennis LaPore	909.336.4945	dennis@tanksiteconstructors.com
Visionary Painting Services	Painting	George Flint	619.282.2228	goflint@visionarypainting.com
Western Door	Carpentry	Terry Spinks	951.530.1200	Terry.spinks@westerndoor.com

 

A Legislative Report From Napa:  Expect Heat in Sacramento!

By Brad Barnum, Vice President Government Relations

Last Saturday morning, AGC Spring Conference attendees received a unique overview of the current legislative session from a legislator and a lobbyist.  The temperatures are rising this time of year in Sacramento, but by all indications, it will get much hotter in the coming days at the State Capitol as a budget deadline of June 15 fast approaches.

The legislator’s perspective came by way of Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines.  He represents the Fresno area, and he is a former business owner.  A popular game show, “Deal or No Deal”, comes to mind as he prepares for a budget battle.  A 2/3 vote is required to pass a state budget, and Assembly Republican Leader Villines controls six of the Republican votes necessary to help the Democratic majority get the budget out of the Assembly.  Some of Villlines’ expectations in the coming weeks:

·         No new borrowing in the budget; except possibly for a water bond.

·         No fee increases.

·         Let’s rehab and expand existing prisons.

·         It’s unfair that the State Legislature draws the legislative districts.  Let’s have a re-districting plan and give that responsibility to a Citizens’ Commission.

·         The “I can’t lose in the Primary Election” mentality needs to be replaced with competitive races in the Primary and General Elections.

·         Voters aren’t going to the polls because they believe their vote doesn’t matter

The leader of the Assembly Republicans was loud and clear: “No deal!” until some of these concerns are addressed.  The Democrats do need some Republican help in the coming weeks, but the question will be how much the two sides are willing to compromise.  Stay tuned…a deal will be made, but it’s just a matter of how long it will take.

Dave Ackerman, AGC’s chief legislative advocate, rounded out the legislative report with a summary of the first half of the legislative session, which has seen thousands of bills moving through the Assembly and Senate.  In what he terms “the good, the bad, and the ugly”, Dave reviewed a few of the hundreds of bills that pertain to the construction industry (a list of the bills is attached): 

The Good:  AB 672 - will require high school students to take at least 2 career tech classes before they graduate.

The Bad:   SB 540 - would have eliminated sales tax charged on state and federal gas taxes and reduced Proposition 42 revenues by $523 million. This is a “two-year bill” and will not be considered until next year’s legislative session.

The Ugly:  SB 622 - will allow an employee or a labor union to bring a civil action against an employer who willfully misclassifies an employee as an independent contractor.

We can expect more good news and bad news from our legislative advocates as the State Legislature continues to figure out what laws to create.  We can also expect the Governor to take action on the hundreds of bill that actually make it to his desk!
Legislation Attachment

 

Doug Barnhart, AGC of America’s Senior VP, Addresses the National Scene

Doug Barnhart, of Barnhart, Inc., closed the morning business session with an informative overview of AGC of America activities and services.  Doug is the 2007 Senior Vice President of AGC of America, and he is expected to be sworn into office as the 2008 President at the March, 2008 Convention in Las Vegas.

Doug praised AGC San Diego for its recent renovation of its building, which houses an impressive apprenticeship program and state-of the-art classrooms for safety and education programs.  He expects other AGC chapters throughout the country to take note of this accomplishment.

 

Affiliate Day Golf Tournament is over 50% Sold Out!

Attached to this Monday Morning Quarterback, please find forms for registration and sponsorship for the 2007 AGC Affiliate Day Golf Tournament scheduled for Monday, August 6, 2007. 

The event is already over 50% SOLD OUT! So we encourage those members that plan on this event each year to complete your registration form as soon as possible.

 

Continuing Education for Human Resource Personnel

The AGC Human Resource Practices Committee is offering three, 3-Hour Seminars for all members dealing with HR and Employment Issues, including office and field supervisors, foreman, etc.

This Year’s Seminar Topics Include: 

·         June 14, Key-Note Speaker:  Linda Aguilar, Deputy Labor Commissioner discussing O.T. Laws and Exempt vs. Non-Exempt Classifying Mistakes.

·         September 20, Employment Law Updates including Meal & Rest Period Rules.

·         December 6, Critical Work Shop for Field Supervisors in Dealing with Problem Employees and Developing Progressive Discipline Procedures

See the registration form attached and fax to Rae Krushensky at 858-558-8444.

 

 

“AGC Education & Training….Building a Solid Foundation”

UPCOMING AGC CONSTRUCTION EDUCATION & SAFETY CLASSES

JUNE
Construction Education Classes
Microsoft Excel Formulas & Functions – June 12
HR Mini Series – Begins June 14th
Web CM - June 19
CPM Scheduling – June 20 

Safety Training Classes
Scaffolding & Hazard Awareness- June 8
Trenching & Excavating- June 13
Crane Awareness – June 16
OSHA 10 Hour – June 18
CPR/First Aid- June 27   

Upcoming in July
Sure Trak – July 12
Blueprint 102- July 10
CQM- July 17-18 (Contractor Quality Management)
Fall Protection – July 18

 

JUNE
June 6 – Safety Committee Meeting- 7 AM
June 7-  Builders’ Exchange – 7AM
June 20 – Public Building Liaison Meeting – 7 AM
June 21- Specialty Contractors’ Council Meeting – 11 AM
June 22- Electronic Age- 7 AM
June 25 – Airport Liaison Committee Meeting 11 AM at Airport
June 27 – County Liaison Meeting – 1:00 PM

 

UPCOMING AGC EVENTS
June 19 – Baseball Bash and Padres Game – SOLD OUT!
July 20 – Day at the Races
August 6 – Affiliate Day Golf Tournament – Singing Hills- 50% SOLD OUT!
November 1 - Build San Diego Awards