Ryan’s “Sage” Advice for Andy Berg, NECA’s New Executive Manager
By Jim Ryan, Executive Vice President  

Andy Berg is the new Executive Manager of the San Diego Chapter of the National Electrical Contractor’s Association.  Andy takes over for long time NECA Executive Manager, Ron Cooper. 

As Executive Manager, Andy is responsible for staffing NECA’s activities in San Diego and representing the NECA membership in San Diego.  NECA has 65 member firms in San Diego…..38 of them are electrical contractors and the remainder are associated with the electrical construction industry in some manner.  All of NECA’s contractor members are signatory to NECA’s labor contract with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).

In his short tenure as Executive Manager of NECA, Andy has been an outspoken advocate of union-only Project Labor Agreements. In the July 2007 issue of Contractor News and Views, Andy, and Randy Thornhill, the Director of Special Projects for the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters, were the “pro” part of an article that featured a Q&A of Andy, Randy, and George Hawkins of ABC.  Obviously, George represented the opposing view of PLAs ( yes….Andy was positioned on the same side with Randy….the person in charge of the Carpenter’s Bannering program in San Diego).

In addition, Andy has been, in AGC’s opinion, the person taking the lead in attempting to convince the Board of Directors of the Sweetwater Union High School District that a PLA would be a good idea on the $1 Billion of school construction that voters approved with the passage of Proposition O ($644 million bond with matching funds) last November.  Andy was appointed by the San Diego County Taxpayers Association to represent that group on the Citizen’s Oversight Committee for Sweetwater’s Proposition O.  He is also on the Oversight Committee for Sweetwater’s Proposition BB (hmmm….on the Oversight Committees and advocating a union only PLA when you represent an organization of union only contractors…hmmm)

Now Andy, I am not going to debate the PLA issue with you in this article….I read your comments in the CNV article and it appears that you are totally convinced that PLAs, as you so eloquently put it, “are not the devils that ABC and AGC would like you to believe they are.”

But Andy, I would like to give you some professional advice.  I have been in association management for a few decades longer than you have, and I am finding it difficult to understand how you can be such an outspoken advocate of PLAs when a good portion of your members’ customers would be eliminated from competing for projects that include a PLA.  Andy, look at the top 40 projects list from the San Diego Business Journal….yes, these are the “large, sophisticated projects” that you referenced in the CNV article that you believe are the type of projects that fit a PLA.  Only 11 of the General Contractors that were completing these projects are signatory to a union agreement. 

The point is…..the other 29 projects were being built or were built by contractors that were not signatory to union agreements.  In addition, the 11 that did have union agreements are, as a rule, not inclined to want to participate in a project that has a PLA.  Most do not want to be forced to accept agreements with unions that they do not currently have an agreement with.  Andy, General Contractors in San Diego often have agreements with only the Carpenters and maybe one other union….not 6 or 7 basic craft unions that fall under the GC’s scope of work.  A PLA requires them to sign agreements they do not want!!  Nor do they like to restrict bidding in this market to the relatively few subcontractors that are willing to work on a PLA project.

So Andy…what you are doing is upsetting your members’ customers….the general contractors. From one association manager to another….that is not a good idea!!!  When XYZ General Contractor is not able to bid on a project because Andy Berg, the Executive Manager of the San Diego National Electrical Contractors Association talked the owner into restricting the project to union only bidders…XYZ General Contractor is going to be really upset with your membership….and my guess is that when that happens you are going to get a call or two from your members and that PLA you were boasting about at the last Board meeting may not seem like such a good idea.

Andy, if you would like some more advice feel free to contact me anytime (858) 731-8160.        

 

State Assembly Passes Budget While Senate Stalls – Are Progress Payments in Jeopardy?
By Dave Ackerman, AGC’s Legislative Advocate 

As you may be aware from the news reports, the State Assembly approved the state budget and various implementing "trailer bills" at 4:00 AM last Friday.  These bills included the appropriation authorization for the 2007-2008 bond fund expenditures.   The Assembly passed the budget over to the State Senate for further action then recessed until August 20.

The Senate went into session at 9:00 AM Friday morning and immediately found themselves at impasse on straight party lines.  The budget and all trailer bills that had been passed by the Assembly came up two votes short of passage.  Senate Democratic Leader Don Perata then "locked down" the Senate, not allowing anyone to leave the Senate Chambers Friday night until there was movement on the budget.  At 10:00 AM Saturday, Perata and Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman admitted there would be no more progress and recessed until this Wednesday.  Perata demanded the Republicans put their demands and budget proposals on the table for consideration Wednesday.

There are several points of contention.  Senate Republicans want:

• Further reductions in General Fund spending to balance the 2007-2008 budget to lessen the deficit problems for 2008-2009.

• Less emphasis on environmental expenditures and more road and highway expenditures regarding the bond funds.

• CEQA exemptions to avoid the Attorney General's lawsuits regarding projects compliance with AB 32 (Greenhouse gas reductions).  Developers and the oil industry are pushing this issue.

The Assembly, in order to obtain Republican votes, also passed a business tax bill credit giving tax credits to the movie, high tech, and airline industry.  Perata is opposed to this bill and refused to even consider the measure.  It is not tied to passage of the budget.

Changes sought by the Senate Republicans might require the Assembly to return to Sacramento to take action on the budget revisions.  Speaker Fabian Nunez has stated he is not bringing the Assembly back to Sacramento and that it is up to the Senate to approve the budget sent to them by the Assembly.

It is possible there will not be a budget approved until the State Legislature returns in late August. If this is the case, our contractor members who are performing construction work for state agencies or local agencies that depend on subventions from the state may have their progress payments delayed.  Contractors should be advised to contact agencies they contract with to check on payment policies in the event of a delayed state budget.

It should be noted that the potential local impacts of a delayed state budget were discussed at last Friday’s AGC/Caltrans Liaison Committee.  Asked whether or not some of the current or future jobs were at risk, Caltrans leaders answered that it depended on how long the delay would be and where the funds were coming from.  They didn’t appear to be too concerned, but they did indicate that projects with budget year 07/08 funding could be impacted with an extended budget stalemate. 

We will continue to monitor the budget situation and will provide further details how it could impact Caltrans projects as well as other agency projects with state funding.

 

Reminder: Meet Your General Contractor – July 26, 2007

The AGC Specialty Contractor’s Council presents two to four “Meet Your General Contractor” events every year.  This Thursday, as mentioned in prior notices, we are excited to feature Pacific Building Group at their location. 

The address is 9752 Aspen Creek Court, San Diego 92126.
You can go to their website for directions at www.pacificbuildinggroup.com. 

Remember, the event will begin at 4:30 PM and end at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Members are also required to RSVP to ensure sufficient supply of drinks and appetizers. 

A panel of Pacific Building Group key staff will be available and offer insight on their bidding procedures, billing process, scheduling and coordination and the company’s goals & future plans. 

Special thanks again to Anderson Drilling & Tower Glass for hosting the appetizers & beverages.

Make your reservations…  click here for registration form and fax it to 858-558-8444.

 

Announcing The AGC Annual Softball Tournament

Registration forms are now available for the annual AGC Softball Tournament, scheduled for Saturday, September 15 at the SportsPlex USA in Poway.

It's time once again to get your teams together and start practicing! 

Last year we had 21 teams participate and it was a full day of friendly competition.

For information on rules and regulations and to register your team, please click here for registration.

You can also contact Rae Krushensky at 858-731-8157 with any questions.

 

AGC Summer Mixer- August 16th

Last October, when AGC had their official Open House to showcase the newly remodeled building, AGC staff and members commented that the AGC patio would be a great summer venue for a Mixer, therefore, we are pleased to introduce our brand new member, Zumasys who will be hosting the Mixer on August 16^th at the AGC. Zumasys located in Lake Forest, recently appeared on Computer Reseller News’ list of the 100 fastest growing IT solution s in the United States.

These mixers have turned into a popular event offering AGC members the opportunity to mingle with business associates and gain new contacts.   CLICK HERE FOR REGISTRATION FORM. Pre-registration is required. 

              

“AGC Education & Training….Building a Solid Foundation”
The latest AGC Education Catalog (July –December 2007) is now posted on our website.
CLICK HERE FOR CATALOG 

Upcoming Construction Education and Safety Training Classes

Safety Training Classes
JULY
CPR/First Aid – July 25 click here
Mobile Crane Certification – July 23-27- click here 

AUGUST
OSHA 10 Hour- August 6 - click here
Spanish OSHA 10 hour- Aug. 14- click here
Spanish CPR – August 15- click here
CPR/First Aid- August 29 – click here 

Construction Education Training Classes

JULY   
WEBCM – July 31 

AUGUST
Blue Print 103- starts August 7 (4 sessions)- click here
Excel Level I- August 7 –click here
iSqFt Toolbox- August 8
MAP Leadership – “Hoosiers”- August 13- click here
Auto CAD- August 13-14 – click here
Microsoft Project- August 15-16- click here
LEED- August 15- click here
SWPPP – August 17-click here
Advanced Auto CAD- August 20-21-click here
Timberline – August 22-23-  click here
Timberline Estimated Extended- Aug 24-   click here
Excel Level 2- August 28- click here

 

JULY          
July 26 – Meetings & Events – 12 PM 

AUGUST
August 1 – Safety Committee – 7 AM
August 2- Storm Water Issues- 2 sessions- 9:00-10:15 or 10:45-12:00
August 23- Affiliate Members Council- 12 PM
August 28- Foundation for Success – 12 PM
August 31- Electronic Age- 7 AM

 

UPCOMING AGC EVENTS
July 26 – “Meet Your GC” at Pacific Building Group  click here for registration
August 6 – Affiliate Day Golf Tournament – Singing Hills- SOLD OUT!
August 16- AGC Mixer – AGC outdoor patio click here for registration
September 15 – AGC Softball Tournament – click here for registration
September 22 – SDSU Aztec Football Tailgate & KGB Sky Show- click here for registration form
October 12- Midway Mixer
November 1 - Build San Diego Awards click here