State of the Union Construction Industry 2009

December 14 2009

TAUC News

Speakers included:

• Jordan Barab of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration,
  
• Randy DeFrehn of the National Coordinating Committee of Multiemployer Pension Plans
  
• Frank Migliaccio of the Ironworkers International Union
  
• Lynn Forcia of the Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development
  
• Darrell Roberts of Helmets to Hardhats,
  
• Jack Gerard of the American Petroleum Institute, and
  
• Mark Ayers of the Building and Construction Trades Department

Jordan Barab provided an update to those in attendance on the renewed focus of OSHA on enforcement, while also maintaining their role in alliances specifically with those in the VPP Program.  He indicated that key roles within OSHA will be filled in the near term now that David Michaels has been confirmed as OSHA Administrator.  TAUC members questioned specifically when the positions within the Directorate of Construction would be filled, but Barab did not commit to a specific timeline.

Building and Construction Trades President Mark Ayers provided an overview of what his organization has been able to accomplish in 2009, but spent more time discussing how our industry can benefit through a clean energy economy and the resolve to show our “value on display everyday!”  “We have to stop competing directly with the non-union, because our business model is entirely different than there’s,” said Ayers.

Executive Director Jack Gerard of the American Petroleum Institute (API) noted that the petroleum industry in the United States has actually spent more on clean energy technology than the US Government or any other industry from 2000 to 2008, a whopping $58.4 billion.  He reported on the newly created Oil and Nature Gas Industry Labor-Management Committee which API and the Building Trades Department are involved in.  This is an organization established to preserve and create jobs by promoting domestic oil and natural gas production.

During the program TAUC signed a strategic alliance with the North American Contractors Association (NACA) which will allow both organizatins to collaborate on a number of activities vital to the union contractors they represent.  More details about the TAUC-NACA Strategic Alliance can be found by clicking here.

Questions regarding this event can be directed to Todd Mustard, executive director of association services at tmustard@tauc.org or (703) 524-3336 ext. 112.