Bill Brown Addresses President Hunt

December 19 2006

Labor Relations

This summer in Washington, D.C. marked the 41st time the Ironworkers have assembled for their national convention. This week long event touched on issues ranging from market share growth to improving the safety and health of America?s union workforce, two concerns that The Association of Union Constructors (TAUC) will be dedicated to improving.

While addressing the delegates in attendance on the Ironworkers? IMPACT (Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust) program, which strives to expand the job opportunities for union Ironworkers and their signatory contractors, General President Joe Hunt invited TAUC President, Bill Brown to the podium to speak about TAUC’s involvement. Mr. Brown, a third generation Ironworker and President and CEO of Ben Hur Construction Company, began by saying that with teamwork and collective responsibility, TAUC and IMPACT will succeed in increasing the market share for union construction while maintaining safe jobsites. In 2001, President Hunt and Mr. Brown sat down to map out the initiatives of IMPACT and how TAUC would become the catalyst to reach its goals. It was agreed that market share increases would only be realized when labor and management respected one another?s objectives.

Touching on some of the initiatives that IMPACT has embarked on to make a difference in the industry for its members and contractors, Mr. Brown cited their Safety, Substance Abuse & Insurance Program. This program which is designed to create safe work environments that meet and exceed owner requirements, creates a pool of pre-tested workers, pre-qualified to work on job sites.

Further discussing TAUC’s involvement with IMPACT, Mr. Brown said that with TAUC and combined deeds and convictions, union construction can win the battle and ?return to the time of industry prominence and dominance.”