Post-Recession Realities and Strategies

JOURNAL: ISSUE 2 - 2015

From left, ICE President Mike Schmerbeck and BAC President James Boland moderated a lively exchange on the “Evolving Construction Marketplace” with the help of expert panelists Robert Westendorf, Senior Superintendent, Turner Construction Company; Julie Eizenberg, FAIA, Principal, Koning Eizenberg Architecture; Mike Hartman, Senior Vice President, Clark Construction Group, LLC; and George Ranalli, FAIA, Principal, George Ranalli Architect and Dean, The Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture of The City College of the City University of New York.

The transition from recession mode to recovery mode was a recurring theme during the Executive Council’s two-day meeting in March and at the meetings that followed when Council members were joined by signatory contractors and additional Union representatives that comprise BAC’s six Labor-Management Craft Committees (Brick and Block, Cement, Plaster, Restoration and Retrofit, Tile/Marble/Terrazzo, and Stone; see photos below.)

Executive Council

In the State of the Union report that led off the Executive Council meeting, BAC President James Boland said, “The Union is in a solid position for rebuilding. With the construction industry poised for more broad-based growth, BAC is ready to move from defense to offense to increase work opportunities for current members, bring back former members, attract newcomers to the trowel trades, and to maintain and expand market share.”

High on the list of union functions requiring a post-recession “reboot” are negotiating and bargaining strategies, which Council members explored at the general session and at regional workshops that followed.

Organizing is another. Several reports on organizing immigrant workers and the work of labor-community campaigns to help eligible workers obtain legal employment authorization prompted Boland, the newly appointed Chair of the AFL-CIO Immigration Committee, to restate BAC’s commitment to continuing to press forward to support deferred action programs to empower hardworking immigrant workers.

Technology advances outlined at the meeting will impact members on several fronts: on the jobsite, as one of many important functions of the Building Information Modeling for Masonry initiative (see page 14 for more on BIM-M), and by way of improved member services, through the launch of BACMobile, the new Member Portal app (see page 11).

Politics was a constant on the agenda, including the importance of voter participation, especially in light of the dismally low turnout by BAC and union members in the 2014 midterms and the post-election proliferation of anti-union measures across the country. Guest speakers included California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, who addressed the issue of voter participation among Latino voters, and Berkeley Law School Professor Ian Haney-Lopez, author of “Dog Whistle Politics”, who spoke about the right’s all-pervading use of racially coded messaging and how it has divided and fractured the political clout of the middle class.

Labor-Management Meetings

California Secretary of State Alex Padilla recounted his family’s struggles when his father, a union restaurant worker, had his benefits cut, then his wages before finally being laid off as that sector’s union density declined. “No parent should suffer the hit to their dignity or self-respect that I saw in my father’s eyes,” said Padilla, who pledged then and there “to fight for working families.”

A frequent theme at the Council and labor-management meetings was the growing reach of sustainability – from skyrocketing demands by building owners to reduce the environmental imprint and waste during the construction phase and to produce energy efficient buildings with lower lifecycle costs, all megatrends that impact the building envelope and the materials installed by BAC contractors and craftworkers. Sustainability’s wider impact on the global economy and emerging sustainable investing approaches for union pension assets were also examined as were strategies for influencing the adoption of stronger fire safety building codes that distinguish between highly flammable, hazardous lightweight construction materials and fire resistant masonry.

A highlight of the joint meetings was a discussion on the “Evolving Construction Marketplace.” A panel of two general contractor representatives and two architects shared their thoughts on how and where BAC contractors and craftworkers fit into the equation.

BAC Labor-Management Craft Committees

Tile/Marble/Terrazzo

International stone and marble expert and marketing analyst Vince Marazita (inset) spoke on trends in marble, Art Mintie of Laticrete reviewed improvements in large thin tile installation, and Co-Chairs Mike Hawthorne and John Trendell updated the Committee on ACT (Advanced Certifications for Tile Installers).

Stone

Jeremy Douglas (left) of Hohmann and Barnard outlined current methods and materials for stone veneer and masonry systems and industry expert Vice Marazita offered a comprehensive overview of international stone trends and the impact on the U.S. market.

Restoration and Retrofit

Two case studies were presented: Masonry Façade Assessment and Recladding by architect Elizabeth Cassin (right) of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Assoc. Inc. and another on a GFRC restoration project involving BIM by engineer and BIM consultant David Biggs. Committee member Mike Radigan (center) of Western Facades/Western Group, chronicled their work with Brisk Waterproofing and Local 1 NY on a rain screen restoration in New York City; Two Smooth-On representatives presented on Mold Making and Casting Solutions for Façade Restoration.

Plaster

President Gary Johnson (left) of Mortar Net Solutions highlighted “Advances in Drainage and Ventilation of Adhered Masonry Veneer.” Smooth-on product solutions for the plaster market were featured, courtesy of Brooke Wheeler and Scott Shafer.

Cement

IMI’s Director of Sustainability and Program Development Maria Viteri (center) spoke on “Sustainability and Environmental Trends on Cement Use.” Laticrete representative, Dean Cunningham, sketched out the Supercap system.

Brick and Block

The results of a recent survey of signatory contractors that included a series of questions on the BIM for Masonry initiative were summarized and indicated that as awareness of BIM grew, so did support for the project. Fire safety building code expert Steve Skalko (right) reported on the latest developments in this important area. Architect Elizabeth Cassin outlined the Building Enclosure Commission process.