Since the beginning of the year LCCA has hosted five management seminars – 2 Construction Quality Management, a seminar on LEED and Mechanics Liens and the Supervisor Training Program at CLC. 115 employees from 35 member companies have been trained but many more need the help.

Every year the Education Committee struggles to find appropriate educational programs that will help members keep abreast of a changing industry. But at the end of year they are scratching their heads wondering why more members did not take advantage of the programs. Were they the wrong topics, held at the wrong time, in the wrong place? Or do our members just not need any educational programs?

Construction is changing dramatically - new bidding programs, new construction techniques, BIM, LEED. And as margins shrink, where do you look for an advantage? Lower labor costs? I don’t think so. Reducing material costs? There is only so much room to negotiate. How about reducing overhead? Can you find something else to do?

What about the lurking non-union competition? Every year we see a few more non-union projects and they get larger and larger as non-union general contractors figure ways to bring in subs from Alabama, for example, (and still beat local union costs), and they improve their operations and productivity. While the issue has been around for years, look for it to intensify – especially in the private markets – as we move ahead. Project owners are getting squeezed by lower profits and higher costs and either they will get their construction costs down, or go somewhere where they can.

So what can you do to prepare for the future? Construction is not about steel, concrete and dirt. It is about people. And while you might think your employees are the best you can get, unless they continually improve themselves, you will quickly fall behind. There is no better source for education than LCCA. But the Education Committee needs your help. Soon many of you will be asked to participate in a survey to help chart the future educational needs. Please participate. Help LCCA make YOUR employees more informed and productive. It will help YOU survive in the decade of change that is coming!

Concord Construction Services, Inc.
570 Oakwood Road
Lake Zurich, IL 60047
Phone: (847) 438-9388
Fax: (847) 438-9774
www.concordway.com 
    CONTRACTOR
Mike Henderson, President
General construction.
SPONSORED BY: Lyle Ehlers, Boller Construction Co.

Illini Hi-Reach, Inc.
15N320 Route 25
East Dundee, IL 60118
Phone: (847) 428-3311
Fax: (847) 428-3344
www.hi-reach.com 
    SUPPLIER
Mike Garrard, Branch Manager
Full service, JLG aerial work platforms, booms, scissors, forklifts, rentals, sales, service.
SPONSORED BY: Dave Petersen, Hard Rock Concrete

McDonough Mechanical Services, Inc.
4081 Joseph Drive, Unit A
Waukegan, IL 60087
Phone: (847) 244-7451
Fax: (847) 244-7521
    CONTRACTOR
    Thomas Splitt, Comptroller
Mechancial and HVAC contractor.
SPONSORED BY: Gerry Dumalski, Boller Construction

Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP
1860 West Winchester Road, Suite 201
Libertyville, IL 60048
Phone: (847) 949-0025
Fax: (847) 247-0555
www.smbtrials.com 
    ASSOCIATE
    David F. Pardys, Partner
Law firm/legal services.
SPONSORED BY: Gary Schaefer, Hey & Associates, Inc.

Several LCCA Members and local unions have graciously volunteered to be sponsors of the 2008 LCCA Golf Outing. Sponsors to date include:

Platinum Medallion Event Sponsor:
Osco Oil

Gold Beverage Cart Sponsor:
Chicago Area LECET
H.H. Holmes Testing Laboratories
Maxim Construction Corp.
West Side Tractor Sales

Silver “Closest to Pin” Sponsor:
Lake County Building Trades Council
MK Industries, Inc.
NorStates Bank
Ozinga Transportation, Inc.

Bronze Hole/Evening Reception Sponsor:
Air Con Refrigeration & Heating
Aldridge Electric, Inc.
Althoff Industries, Inc.
Becker Electrical Group
Blue Book, The
Blue Boy Portable Toilets
Bornquist, Inc.
Burris Equipment Co.
City of Waukegan
Concord Construction Services, Inc.
I.B.E.W. Local 150
Iron Workers Union, Local 63
Lance Construction Supplies
McCann Industries, Inc.
Meyer Material Co.
North Chicago Iron Works, Inc.
Northern Illinois Mack
RSC Equipment Rental
Sprinkler Fitters Union, Local 281
Vulcan Materials Co.
Wellenstein & Sons, Inc.

If you are interested in becoming a Golf Outing Sponsor, contact Heidi Diederich (847-623-2345 x3).

It is not to early to be thinking about entering a project in the LCCA APEX Awards Program that will recognize a project in Lake County built by LCCA members. Remember, ANY project completed in the last year in Lake County or a contiguous county is eligible -- be it a road, utility, excavation or building. Look for your Project of the Year entry form in the mail in the next 2-weeks.

Eligibility - The Project of the Year Award will be presented to a Lake County project completed within the last 12 months. Nominees may be submitted by any LCCA member associated with the project. Any type of construction project is eligible for the award – building, road, utility, etc. – large or small – new construction or rehab.

Judging Criteria - Entries will be judged on:

Quality of construction
Design/Engineering
Impact on the community
Spirit of cooperation among parties
Safety record

The LCCA Office will be closed on Monday, September 1, in celebration of Labor Day. For most unions Saturday, August 30 will be at the regular Saturday rate. Most unions refuse to work on Labor Day unless an emergency exists. Check your own labor agreements to be sure.

Bruce Diederich, Waukegan Roofing Co., has been appointed by President Lyle Ehlers to the LCCA Board of Directors to complete the term of Steve Dalbec who has resigned. In welcoming Bruce to the Board, Ehlers was also grateful to all the service that Steve Dalbec has given over the years as a Board member. Steve will continue as Government Affairs Chairman with his new company, Concord Construction Services.

In addition to Diederich, the Board approved Skip McCann, Dam, Snell and Taveirne to serve as LCCA’s Treasurer.

Date: January 10-15, 2009
Location: Occidental Grand, Papagayo, Costa Rica
Cost:

Air: Assistance with air transportation is available from Travel by Marcy. Call Marcy Gelber at (847) 597-5911 for more information.

The 5 Star Occidental Grand Papagayo inspires guests to both extremes of the activities spectrum. Everyone is covered, from down time in a poolside chaise lounge offering total relaxation to excursions for the more adventurous. Guests embrace the all-inclusive features this resort offers - many choices around two free-form pools, Fun Club and Fitness Center: aerobics; bird watching; daily recreational activities schedule; swimming; tennis; volleyball.

Beachside, guests discover the calm, warm bay waters are perfect for non-motorized water sports covered in the all-inclusive plan. The water sports office provides equipment to kayak and snorkel. And tall canopy trees along the base of the bluff mean ample natural shade for lounging and monkey and exotic bird watching.

This year’s trip to Cancun was a great success and we look forward to another exciting trip with ASA members. Meet new friends and renew old acquaintances this year in Costa Rica. Space is limited so make your plans soon. Airlines are starting to add fuel surcharges. Be sure to make your reservation ASAP to ensure the lowest airline rates. Also, book before September 1 and save $25 per person.

The “Chicago Area Independent Construction Association” (CAICA) has been sending some contractors faxes claiming you are members and they are your labor advocate. Do Not Respond to these invitations. You have no obligation to respond or “join.”

CAICA was created by the Laborers District Council at the conclusion of the last negotiations as a place to redirect industry fund money that had traditionally gone to MARBA associations.

If you are receiving faxes informing you that you are a “member” of CAICA or if you have any questions, call Gary at the LCCA Office. Always feel free to send us notices referring to any and all unfamiliar association or union requests so we can answer or help you.

Labor Costs Now Set - Almost all the unions have settled and made distributions for their increases. Here are the unions ranked by their total annual wage/benefit packages:

	Increase	Total Package
Ironworkers, Local 1 Operating Engineers, #150 Build Operating Engineers, #150 HHU Electricians, Local 150 Sheet Metal Workers, Local 73 Ironworkers, Local 63 Pipefitters, Local 597 Plumber's, Local 93 Heat & Frost Insulators, Local 17 Sprikler Fitters #281 Carpenters, Commercial Cement Masons, Local 11-362 Glaziers, Local 27 Bricklayers, Distr. Council Tile Layers, #67 Painters District Council #14 Laborers District Council Roofer's #11 Automobile Mechanics #701 Teamsters, Local 301 (Group 1)	3.00 3.85 3.85 1.412 3.37 3.00 3.37 3.00 3.52 2.63 3.42 3.25 3.35 3.25 3.50 3.50 3.00 2.35 2.00 2.00	$65.94 $64.33 $62.53 $61.93 $61.25 $61.06 $60.98 $60.42 $59.85 $59.63 $57.69 $57.31 $57.22 $57.06 $54.56 $53.54 $50.27 $50.02 $44.39 $43.63

The average increase this year was $3.031, a 1.3% increase from 2007. Take-home pay now averages 38.81 per hour for all the trades and increased 4.5 % this year. Meanwhile, the Total Package, wages and fringes together, increased 5.7% from 2007.

Laborers Continue to File Grievance - The Laborers continue to file many grievances claiming “subcontractor” violations for landscape related work. As we have reported in the past, the “hardscaping” (brick, retention block and similar installations) is the target. Many Landscape contractors are signatory to the joint Operators/Teamsters Agreement for the work and this creates a jurisdictional dispute that is creating costly liability for many contractors.

We are also seeing Laborer’s grievances filed for building cleanup where the claim is for cleanup work traditionally done by a trade for its own work. Once again a jurisdictional dispute that is being attacked through the Subcontracting Clause. If you have any issues like these, call the LCCA Office.

Laborers Here Today, Gone Tomorrow – The Laborers International Union is returning to the Building and Construction Trades Department of the AFL-CIO after leaving the group two years ago to join the Carpenters, Teamsters and Operators in the National Construction Alliance. According to the Laborers, the decision to rejoin was based on the Building Trades agreement to amend the Plan for the Settlement of Jurisdictional Disputes, known as the “Green Book” and give more weight to local practices when deciding jurisdictional disputes. The agreement provides that a “local industry practice” that has prevailed for more than 10 years will supersede a Green Book decision.

Carpenters Agreements Still Not Signed – A dispute regarding a contribution to the Three Rivers Alliance in the Grundy County Carpenters Agreement has put the final completion of all Carpenters Agreements on hold. At issue is one penny per hour – MARBA claims the agreement should include $.01 per hour and the union says it should be $.02 per hour. After the attorneys work out this “significant” issue, we might get signed agreement and finally know what really was agreed to. Anyone want to bet the attorney fees on both sides of this issue will equal the penny per hour for the contract duration?

Bill Dugan Retires – Bill Dugan has retired from the Operating Engineers Local 150. Jim Sweeney has been appointed President and Jim McNally will take Sweeney’s place as Vice President.

Bricklayers Settle On One-Year Extension – MARBA and the Northern Illinois Mason Employers Council (NIMEC) have agreed to a one year extension of their existing contract that will cover June 1, 2009 through May 31, 2010. The current agreement does not expire until May 31, 2009.

The agreement will provide $3.25 per hour increase effective June 1, 2009. In addition, there were minor changes to the Jurisdiction and Steward language.

Suburban Teamsters Requesting Info – The Suburban Teamsters Welfare Fund has sent many signatory contractors a form for them to sign regarding how many employees you have. According to MARBA counsel, this is a legitimate request. For active employees who work after 65, Medicare is primary and the Welfare Fund is secondary if the employer has fewer than 20 employees in 20 calendar weeks. If the employer has more employees than 20 employees, the Welfare Fund is primary and Medicare is secondary. Sign and return the form as instructed.

Every month the LCCA Website has new material. This month you will find two new labor contracts:

Technical Engineers
Roofer’s Local 11

Go to www.lcca-il.org and find the contracts on the MEMBERS ONLY page.

LCCA’s Future Leaders Committee is pleased to announce a trip to Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin to see the VSCDA Elkhart Lake Vintage Festival. This promises to be a great day. Both Josh and Bob Boller will be racing so come on out and cheer them on. Registration forms will mail in the next two weeks.

Road America is one of the world’s finest and most challenging road courses in the United States. The four-mile, fourteen turn, track is 53 years old and hosts numerous events year round. The event, VSCDA Elkhart Lake Vintage Festival, brings out around 300 vintage race cars from all around America and will cover a wide variety of race cars from pre-war cars and open wheel cars to muscle cars and cam am cars. Everyone is sure to find a car they will fall in love with. Races start at 8:00 am and continue throughout the day ending around 5:00 pm with a different race group starting every half hour and qualifying races in the afternoon. Besides watching the races there are several other points of interest not to miss at the track: track touring - spectators are allowed to drive their personal vehicle on the track itself during lunch, or go karts, which has a track of it’s own and takes place all day. Each of these carries a small fee and the space is limited for track touring so you will need to sign up in advance (SUVs, trucks, and vans are not allowed to participate in track touring). Also don’t miss the paddock, this is where the cars and drivers are available when they are not on the track. Spectators are free to get up-close to the cars and meet the drivers. Golf karts are also available to rent. The day is long and shade is limited so we recommend you bring your sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses. Bleachers are available throughout the site, or you are welcome to bring a chair or blanket to sit and watch. The races also go rain or shine, hopefully there won’t be any rain, so dress accordingly. One of the best souvenirs is a picture of yourself next to a race car so don’t forget to bring a camera! For more information on the track please visit the website www.roadamerica.com.