Anne Newcombe, Editor, Ph: 1-800-556-3653, Fax: 301-990-9690
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Volume 4, Number 23, June 7, 1999
REMODELED MCAA WEB SITE MAKES NAVIGATION EASIER - MCAA's Web site looks a little different these days, but the real change in the recent remodeling is behind the scenes. Much of our web site is now "database-driven" which allows us to update information even faster than before. Look for a new site map which will help you find your way around. In addition, MCAA has kept the use of graphics on the Web site to a minimum so you can quickly retrieve the information you need without being slowed down by pictures. Check us out at www.mcaa.org.
A FEW HOTEL ROOMS REMAIN FOR MCAA'S 4TH ANNUAL MID-YEAR EDUCATION CONFERENCE – The record number of registrants has left only a few rooms open at the Toronto Holiday Inn. If you are interested in this opportunity to learn about managing project productivity and controlling costs, we recommend that you sign up for the conference as soon as possible. Contact Shawn Durand (shawn@mcaa.org) for registration information.
MSCA INSTITUTES ACCEPTING REGISTRATION FOR FALL CLASSES – Management -- MSCA's Institute for Service Management will offer the Leadership and the Service Challenge session October 10-15 in Dallas, Texas. There's still room for a few more registrants…Sales -- MSCA's Sales Institute will offer two sessions in the Fall: October 17-21 in Baltimore and November 7-11 in Chicago. Attendance at each program is limited. Brochures and registration forms for both the management and sales programs are available at www.mcaa.org/meetings or you may contact Adrienne Breedlove (abreedlove@mcaa.org) for more information.
MCAA & THE UNITED ASSOCIATION TO SURVEY OWNERS – A meeting last week among the leaders of MCAA, the United Association and the Business Roundtable firmed up procedures for administering an MCAA/UA survey of industrial owners nationwide. The survey's finding will be reported at the October 16-19, 1999 MCAA/UA Labor Relations Conference in San Antonio, Texas, and The Business Roundtable’s Annual Construction Conference set for November 15-18, 1999. UA General President Maddaloni has accepted an invitation to address BRT’s conference this year.
INDUSTRY RELATIONS –The Associated Specialty Contractors, chaired by MCAA Board member Frederick S. Oyer, met with the Associated General Contractors (AGC) and the American Subcontractors Association (ASA) last week. Oyer is concluding two years of leadership of ASC with consideration of endorsement of two more AGC standard form subcontracts setting out unconditional payment terms for subcontractors on design-build projects (Form 450 -- fixed price, no design; and 460 -- GMP with design services). Last year, Oyer also led the group to endorse AGC's unconditional payment design-bid-build subcontract (Form 650).
MCAA OPPOSING RECENTLY INTRODUCED DAVIS-BACON ACT REPEAL LEGISLATION – Sen. Robert C. Smith (R-NH) introduced Davis-Bacon Act repeal legislation (S. 1157) on May 27. The bill would repeal both the Davis-Bacon Act—requiring prevailing wages on federally funded construction—and the Copeland Act—prohibiting kickbacks for employment on federally funded construction. According to Sen. Smith, S. 1157 would spark economic competition and provide opportunities for minority and female owned businesses. S. 1157 is identical to H.R. 736, Davis-Bacon Act repeal legislation introduced by Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) in the House. MCAA and its allies in the Mechanical-Electrical-Sheet Metal Construction Alliance are acting to make sure that those and similar bills are not enacted. See MCAA's online Legislative Action Center for a draft letter opposed to Davis-Bacon Act repeal for MCAA members to send to their congressional representatives.
UNITED ASSOCIATION-NATIONAL CERTIFIED PIPE WELDING BUREAU WELDER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM COMMITTEE MEETS - Members of the tripartite committee formed to administer the UA-NCPWB Welder Certification Program met with the D.C. Pipe Welding Bureau Chapter and UA Local 602 representatives on June 2 to discuss ways to generate greater interest among contractors in the joint NCPWB/UA welder certification program. The representatives were able to resolve several procedural issues, as well as the local union's need to maintain certain aspects of its welder certification program. Discussions are continuing. Contact Nick Nikpourfard (nnikpourfard@mcaa.org) for more information.
MORE ACCURATE PREVAILING WAGE DETERMINATIONS EXPECTED FROM NEW DEPARTMENT OF LABOR INITIATIVES – Department of Labor (DOL) initiatives to conduct more accurate and more frequent wage surveys will provide more accurate prevailing wage determinations, if successfully implemented, according to a newly released General Accounting Office (GAO) report. The report found that two DOL initiatives—redesigning the wage survey process to greater utilize technology, and using Bureau of Labor Statistics data to determine prevailing wages—would greatly improve the accuracy and timeliness of prevailing wage determinations. By 2002, DOL plans to be using a prevailing wage determination system that allows it to survey the entire country at least every three years, and issue 90 percent of all wage determinations within 60 days of receiving survey data. The report can be found at www.gao.gov.
