THETHE BUILDINGBUILDING TRADESMANTRADESMAN Official Publication of the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council VOL. 69, NO. 15 Since 1952 • Serving the highly skilled men and women in Michigan’s building trade unions 65 Cents July 24, 2020 Tuesday, August 4 SHORT Vote in the statewide Michigan Primary Election. CUTS For Endorsements: See Page 4 Momentum index State civil service takes a hit in June The “Momentum Index” for U.S. construction recorded panel takes another by Dodge Data and Analytics dropped 6.6 percent in June to 121.5 (2000=100) from the re- bite out of unions vised May reading of 130.1, the By Marty Mulcahy union leaders. group reported July 8. Editor Whitmer blasted the Civil The index is a monthly LANSING – Republican Gov. Service Commission when it measure of the first report for Rick Snyder’s anti-union admin- first revealed the union dues nonresidential building projects istration has been out of office proposal last month. “Make no in planning, which have been A COMERICA PARK light tower looms in the background across Woodward Avenue in Detroit, as for the past 18 months, but his mistake, this action is a direct shown to lead construction building trades workers toil on the underground work for a new TCF Bank building. appointees are a gift that keeps assault on our hardworking state spending for nonresidential on giving to those who want to employees, who are serving buildings by a full year. The in- keep chipping away at the bravely on the frontlines to pro- stitutional construction compo- TCF Tower comes out of the strength of organized labor. tect the people of Michigan from nent of the Momentum Index fell The Michigan Civil Service COVID-19,” said Whitmer. “We 11.7 percent while the commer- Commission on July 13 voted to are in the middle of a global pan- cial component declined by 3.5 change state rules and require demic and the worst economic percent. ground in downtown Detroit Michigan’s 33,800 unionized state crisis in our lifetimes, and the no- “The Momentum Index has By Marty Mulcahy former parking lot and the demol- says a statement from the employees to annually re-autho- tion that Civil Service Commis- shifted noticeably lower as the Editor ished Michigan Mutual Liability building’s designer, Neumann/ rize the deduction of union dues sion would choose this moment fallout from recession contin- DETROIT – Rising on Annex, an architecturally unre- Smith Architecture. “Using from their paycheck, or the con- to take power away from our ues to hold its grip on the con- Woodward across from markable 10-story building that glass in different ways was in- tributions will stop. In addition, health care workers, road repair struction sector,” Dodge said. Comerica Park will be a signifi- opened in 1951. tentional and meant to create lesser “agency fees” – which are workers, corrections officers, and “The overall Momentum Index cant addition to the city’s sky- “The Tower’s design en- ‘movement,’ drawing the eye to deducted from worker paychecks unemployment call center employ- fell 13 percent in the second line: a 21-story mixed-use build- hances the existing downtown the top of the Tower, and to for the use of union to fund ser- ees is unthinkable. quarter from the first three ing that will be headquarters for skyline, announcing the head- ‘blend’ the levels of parking vices like for negotiations, ben- “This action will make it months of the year. While the TCF Bank. quarters for TCF with dynamic and office floors.” efit administration and grievances harder for these frontline work- recession has ended and recov- The glass-encased tower at architecture that offers unparal- The tower, to be erected on – are also eliminated. ers to negotiate together for ery underway, the return from Woodward and Elizabeth will be leled views of surrounding desti- a comparatively tiny 1/2-acre The 3-1 vote by members of strong wages, health care, and a one of the steepest downturns erected on the footprint of a nations and the downtown core,” (Continued on Page 2) the Snyder-appointed commis- secure retirement. I’m calling on in U.S. history will be slow and sion was made over the objection the civil service commissioners to fraught with risk. This holds of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and (Continued on Page 3) true for the construction sector as well. While projects continue ‘Let’s not just praise them, let’s pay them’ to enter planning, the slower pace suggests that recovery in the construction sector will be Biden’s plan for workers modest in coming months.” Dodge said that civil con- struction has been less likely calls for stronger unions, to be impacted COVID-19, “and has continued in many jurisdictions throughout the higher wage standards economic shutdown. A survey By Brian Young Recovery plan, Biden proposes revealed that more than half of UComm Blog creating 5 million manufacturing all civil contractors “have a On July 9, presumptive and innovation jobs as well as high level of confidence about Democratic nominee for president making an investment of $300 bil- the market’s ability to provide Joe Biden released his new jobs lion in his first term to be spent new business opportunities and recovery plan. Just a day be- on research and development to for the next 12 months, in- fore, the campaign also released create a diverse range of high- creasing to 63 percent for a the findings from the “unity task quality jobs. two-year outlook.” force.” Both plans had numerous Biden is also proposing However, Dodge said recommendations on what Biden spending $400 billion in govern- data from one of its publica- could do to strengthen unions ment money to “Buy American.” tions reveals contractors in and create a stronger workforce. He will require that all American this sector “are facing sup- AT WORK AT THE TCF Bank project in Detroit at Woodward and Elizabeth are Laborers Charles Here is a look at some of the high- companies that want to receive ply chain issues and other Blasidell (Local 1076) Kent Laskowsky and Dave Cotcher (both Local 1191). They’re employed by lights. Buy American funds pay their challenges in keeping Rohrscheib Sons Caissons, Inc. In his Jobs and Economic workers at least $15/hour, provide jobsites going.” paid leave, maintain fair overtime In the meantime, Dodge re- and scheduling practices, and ported July 16 that total U.S. Labor gets boost from House panel’s spending plan guarantee a choice to join a union construction starts did increase and bargain collectively. 6 percent in June, the second By Mark Gruenberg on July 7. The full committee and deliver the people in this country religious right, including the Not only would Biden’s plan straight month for industry PAI Staff Writer the entire House will tackle it later to the dawn of recovery, not aban- granddaddy of all such schemes: help to prop up American compa- gains since COVID-induced WASHINGTON (PAI) – The this month. It allots $196.5 billion don them to an economic col- a ban on using federal Medicaid nies but it would make an impor- declines in March and April. mammoth, often controversial, for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1, lapse,” due to pandemic-caused funds for abortions, except in tant investment in companies that Dodge estimates that construc- House money bill for federal la- plus $24.5 billion more for this fis- business closures and bankrupt- cases of rape, incest or to protect are doing the right thing and tak- tion starts in June totaled $641.4 bor, health and education spend- cal year for emergency spending cies, subcommittee Chair Rep. the life or health of the mother. ing care of their workers. This billion, with nonresidential ing adds billions of dollars for on public health programs, due Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., ex- Another controversy could would be an expansion of the gains climbing 6 percent and schools and health programs and to the pandemic, which is again plained at the start of the panel’s erupt over the measure’s detailed Obama-era policy, which required non-building (mainly infrastruc- supports some issues dear to la- sweeping the country. Trump work session that day. language to, in so many words, all government contractors to ture work) moving 27 percent bor, but could also set off several wanted to cut the main bill by $20 While being pro-worker, the ensure Planned Parenthood clin- give their workers paid sick leave higher. But the group noted social issue uproars when it hits billion, with no extra dollars. legislation throws some “social ics again can get federal funds for and banned companies that had through the first six months of the House floor later this month. “We must work together to issue” bones to the radical and (Continued on Page 2) labor violations from working the year, construction starts The measure doles out and with the federal government. were down 14 percent compared increases funds for the depart- rate in June 2019. Biden anticipates that his plan to June 2019. ments of Labor, Health and Hu- State’s unemployment “Michigan’s labor market in will create “millions of good-paying “Construction starts activ- man Services and Education, es- June recorded a notable rebound union jobs in manufacturing and ity remains significantly weaker pecially money to battle the in jobs, led by significant recalls technology across the country.” than year-ago levels, even coronavirus pandemic. It also triple rate of a year ago in the auto industry,” said Jason As Biden has said, “let’s not though it has been slowly in- beefs up the National Labor Re- LANSING – Michigan’s sea- to 21.3 percent).