A Publication of The Association of THE WINTER 2021 Union Constructors www.tauc.org CONSTRUCTIONUSER ADVANCING UNION CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE Celebrating a Half-Century of Excellence Special Section Begins on Page 8 69620_TAOUC_Q4_Winter21.indd 1 2/3/21 10:23 AM The Boilermakers advantage FORGED FROM INTEGRITY. WE ARE MULTI-SKILLED RIGGERS, FITTERS, WELDERS AND MORE. WE ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING SAFELY. WE ARE 100% SUBSTANCE ABUSE TESTED. WE ARE COMMITTED TO YOUR SUCCESS. WE LIVE THE BOILERMAKER CODE. WE ARE BOILERMAKERS. Let’s get to work together. Visit us online at BestInTrade.org 69620_TAOUC_Q4_Winter21.indd 2 2/3/21 10:23 AM The Boilermakers advantage A Publication of The Association of FORGED FROM THE WINTER 2021 Union Constructors www.tauc.org CONSTRUCTIONUSER INTEGRITY. ADVANCING UNION CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE The Construction User is published WE ARE MULTI-SKILLED RIGGERS, FITTERS, WELDERS AND MORE. quarterly by: WE ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING SAFELY. WE ARE 100% SUBSTANCE ABUSE TESTED. IN EVERY ISSUE IN EVERY CORNER THE ASSOCIATION OF UNION 4 FROM THE DESK OF THE 26 THE BRESLIN CORNER CONSTRUCTORS PRESIDENT 1501 Lee Highway, Suite 202 The Ultimate Test: Leadership WE ARE COMMITTED TO YOUR SUCCESS. Arlington, Va 22209 Transitions Lessons From a Very Bad Year 703.524.3336 Steve Johnson Mark Breslin 703.524.3364 (Fax) www.tauc.org WE LIVE THE BOILERMAKER CODE. 28 THE LEO CORNER EXECUTIVE EDITOR FEATURED ARTICLES Facing the Challenge: LEOs Are David Acord Ready to Help in 2021 703.628.5545 6 Onward WE ARE BOILERMAKERS. [email protected] Steve Lindauer Dave Daquelente ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE (Contact for rates and details) Bill Spilman Innovative Media Solutions 320 W. Chestnut St. NMAPC 50TH P.o. Box 399 Oneida, Il 61467 309.483.6467 [email protected] SUBSCRIPTIONS For information about subscriptions, reprints, or purchasing bulk copies, 8 Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence contact: Executive Editor, David Acord 9 How It All Started: 703.628.5545 ZISA 20TH [email protected] The Origins of the NMA 16 Introduction ART DIRECTION & DESIGN 10 Milestones: 10 Events Top Shelf Design, ­ that shaped the NMA www.Topshelfdesign.net 17 Gold © 2021 The Association Of Union 11 How the NMAPC Helped Save 17 Silver Constructors. the Steel Industry 18 Bronze All Rights Reserved. The Contents 12 Aiming for the "Impossible": NMAPC Let’s get to work together. Of This Publication May Not Be and the Zero Injury Deal 19 Merit Reproduced, In Whole Or In Part, Without The Prior Written Consent Of The Publisher. 14 2021: Right Back Where We Started 24 Sponsors Visit us online at BestInTrade.org 2021 PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 2021 WINTER 3 69620_TAOUC_Q4_Winter21.indd 3 2/3/21 10:23 AM FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT BY STEVE JOHNSON, PRESIDENT, GEM, INC. Transitions COVID-19 relief bills, including paid family and sick leave, tax credits and small-business loans. As a result, the cords that bind our industry together — an absolute commitment to safety, tripartite cooperation and open dialogue — only grew stronger. It couldn’t have happened without great leadership. As most of you know, Steve Lindauer — the CEO of TAUC and the Impartial Secretary/CEO of the any challenges await us in 2021. The NMAPC — will retire at the end of February. I’m sure he never envisioned spending his last year of gainful employment bat- country (and the world) continues to tling a deadly pandemic, but nevertheless, he did an incredible M battle COVID-19. The business out- job of ensuring that both organizations listened to contractors look for many contractors is uncertain, to say the and quickly responded to meet their needs. The sta of TAUC least. A contentious election has given us a new and NMAPC demonstrated an ability to be exible, nimble and pivot on a dime when circumstances changed. That doesn’t presidential administration. In Congress, we must happen by accident. still ght for multiemployer pension reform and In some ways, this past year was Steve’s “nal exam” — a ref- other legislative changes crucial to our industry’s erendum on his nearly decade and a half of leadership of TAUC success. and NMAPC. It was the ultimate stress test. Were his organi- zations prepared for a challenge like COVID-19? The answer quickly became obvious. As someone who has worked closely Nevertheless, TAUC members are well-positioned to succeed with Steve for several years and is familiar with the history of despite these obstacles. Rather than turn inward to ride out the both groups, I wasn’t surprised. storm, TAUC instead met the diculties of last year head-on, and in so doing created a strong foundation for 2021. We increased Looking Back at a Legacy engagement with our members through dozens of virtual com- mittee meetings, online webinars and conferences. We made Steve took over the reins of TAUC and NMAPC in 2006, which, sure everyone had access to the latest information on corona- coincidentally, was also a time of change and transition. One of virus safety guidance from OSHA and the CDC. Our government his rst tasks was to complete the years-long transformation aairs team ramped up its outreach and answered contrac- of our predecessor group, the National Erectors Association tors’ questions about complicated provisions in the numerous (NEA), from an organization that represented only union THE 4 CONSTRUCTIONUSER 69620_TAOUC_Q4_Winter21.indd 4 2/3/21 10:23 AM How do we convince the next generation that construction and maintenance is about much more than slinging hammers and lifting heavy loads — that, in fact, it’s one of the most technologically advanced industries in America? contractors in the steel-erection industry year. I encourage you to read the extensive our rapidly retiring boomer population. into a national organization for contrac- retrospective beginning on Page 8 to learn Today’s young men and women have tors of all types and sizes. In 2007, nearly more. grown up in a digital era; many of them 40 years after the NEA was founded, our I have been proud to work alongside learned how to operate computers before name was ocially changed to TAUC. Steve for several years. He leaves behind they could walk. How do we reach them? Not everyone agreed with the move, a legacy of excellence, and I wish him the How do we convince them that construc- but Steve understood its importance. It best as he enters this exciting new phase tion and maintenance is about much more was time to spread the tripartite philos- of life. than slinging hammers and lifting heavy ophy and culture of cooperation he had loads — that, in fact, it’s one of the most helped create at NEA. The name change Facing Forward technologically advanced industries in was much more than cosmetic. TAUC had America? a new mission: we were now an associa- Dan Hogan will become the new leader There are no easy answers, but I am con- tion truly by, and for, the entire union con- of TAUC and NMAPC in March. Dan has dent Dan is the right person to lead us on struction and maintenance industry. been with both groups for more than a our quest to solve these problems. Several Over the next decade-plus, Steve decade and has an extensive background years ago, he spearheaded the creation worked hard to make this vision a reality. in labor relations. From my conversations of We Build USA (www.webuildusa.org), a Safety became an even higher priority, as with him, I know he is grateful for all the comprehensive website aimed at young well as strengthening contractors’ rela- work Steve and his predecessors have put people considering a career in union con- tionships with the building trades. This in and is eager to begin building on that struction and maintenance. And he has was evident in the success of recogni- foundation. been a crucial part of the IGI team since tion programs, such as the Thomas J. One thing’s for sure: we’ll have our our very rst event in 2018. He under- Reynolds Awards and the Craftperson hands full in 2021. Aside from the short- stands technology — but more impor- of the Year Award, which are now con- term challenges I mentioned at the begin- tant, he understands that people always sidered some of the industry’s highest ning of the article, we will also have to come rst. honors. TAUC’s Legacy Partner Program, deal with longer term issues, such as the At the beginning of 2020, I could never created under Steve’s tenure, allows our eect of technology on our industry. How have predicted that we would endure a members to collaborate one-on-one with can we help contractors choose the right year of illness, face masks and social dis- some of the foremost manufacturers high-tech tools that will keep them com- tancing. And a year from now, I am sure I and service providers in the world, such petitive for years to come? What can we will look back at this article and think, “I as Milwaukee Tool and Procore. And do to ensure that this technology is used had no idea what was coming!” As Greek TAUC’s new Industrial Grade Innovation to assist, rather than replace, our skilled philosopher Heraclitus said a couple Conference and Expo, or IGI, was among craftworkers? And how will a new post- of thousand years ago, “Change is the the rst to focus on the incredible poten- COVID era of remote work and increasing only constant in life.” He was right — but tial of technology to transform our reliance on powerful software aect our another constant is our innate ability to industry.