THETHE BUILDINGBUILDING TRADESMANTRADESMAN Official Publication of the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council VOL. 69, NO. 14 Since 1952 • Serving the highly skilled men and women in Michigan’s building trade unions 65 Cents July 10, 2020 Vote Tuesday, Aug. 4 SHORT in the Michigan Primary CUTS For Endorsements: See Page 4 Michigan regions, for now, Jobless gains likely just a mirage enjoy top U.S. rankings in WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two months of huge payroll em- ployment gains does not equate survey of construction jobs to a healthy economy. By Marty Mulcahy to shortly. The federal Bureau of La- Editor In our last issue, we ex- bor Statistics released its latest We’re sizzling, Michigan. plained how Michigan’s con- monthly employment numbers And it’s not because of the 90- struction employment was up 24 on July 2, and they show a degree temperatures much of the percent from March 1 (pre-COVID) record 4.8 million job gains in Lower Peninsula has experienced compared to May 31 (three weeks June alone, on top of a 2.7 mil- in recent weeks. But we’re post-COVID) – the second-high- lion hike in jobs in May. But few headed for uncertain, maybe est percentage increase in the economists expressed excite- chillier times. nation during that time. ment over the numbers. Construction activity in But now, in a report released For one, they didn’t reflect Michigan, relative to the rest of by the AGC on June 30, a further the business shutdowns and “re- the country, zoomed to the top of breakdown of the numbers shows shutdowns” that came later in A TUBE STEEL CANOPY is erected last month at Henry Ford Allegiance Hospital in Jackson by the employment charts that are how widespread the jumps in June in various states, including members of Iron Workers Local 25, employed by Douglas Steel. Photo credits: Marc Crance updated every month by the As- construction are in Michigan. Michigan, as the virus surged to sociated General Contractors of We’ve never seen anything close record levels in some places. America, based on federal job sta- to this: among 329 geographical Said the Economic Policy New way to welcome patients tistics. Michigan’s building “metropolitan” jurisdictions in Institute: “Because so many trades workforce has been ex- the U.S., eight of the nation’s top jobs were lost in March and April, tremely busy since Gov. Whitmer 10 communities for construction we are still 14.7 million jobs be- going up at Henry Ford Allegiance on May 7 ended the six-week employment increases are right low where we were in February, By Marty Mulcahy visor Karen Chaprnka. “From the high quality of care and service COVID-19 construction lock- here in Michigan. before the pandemic.” Editor moment patients approach the we offer. One way to achieve down on building in the state. But “Yes we’re busy, there’s a And, ominously, the EPI JACKSON – Welcome to hospital, we want them to feel this is to create an entrance with there’s a caveat, which we will get (Continued on Page 3) said in the last week of June, 2.3 Henry Ford Allegiance Hospi- welcome by creating a calm, heal- an inviting look and atmosphere. million U.S. workers applied for tal. ing environment that reflects the (Continued on Page 13) unemployment benefits – the A nicer, more efficient way NLRB shift weakens 15th week in a row that jobless to greet patients, visitors and claims have been more than staff is on the way to the city’s twice the worst week of the main hospital at Michigan and union position prior Great Recession a decade ago. East avenues. “Unfortunately, deepening Henry Ford Allegiance pain is on the horizon,” the EPI Health said it is in the midst of to bargaining process said. “Given the increase in expanding the front entrance of WASHINGTON, D.C. – The the union. coronavirus over the last couple the hospital to enhance way- National Labor Relations Board Overturned was an Obama- of weeks along with re-shutter- finding so that patients, fami- on June 23 overturned precedent, era NLRB rule that “required em- ing of businesses ...June’s labor lies and visitors can more eas- yet again, and now “allows em- ployers to provide notice and an market – as weak as it is – is the ily navigate its expanding hos- ployers to impose serious disci- opportunity to bargain to a best we can expect for a while.” pital structure, including its pline on an employee ahead of newly-certified union on ‘serious’ new West Tower of private pa- reaching a collective bargaining disciplinary action against unit U.S. is Third World tient rooms. This renovation agreement with a newly formed employees, even before a collec- for worker rights will also include a more welcom- union,” according to Bloomberg tive bargaining agreement is in All the statewide right-to- ing environment in the lobby Law. place, says the National Law work laws, an OSHA and NLRB area. The decision means that Review. apathetic to workers and the “This is really about ensur- management at newly unionized The Review added: “The Na- general decline in unions are ing our patients have the best UNDERNEATH the new steel tube canopy at Henry Ford Allegiance- businesses can carry out disci- tional Labor Relations Board con- having an effect on the United experience we can possibly pro- Jackson, Iron Workers Local 25 members employed by Douglas pline against employees during tinues to overrule Obama-Board States. vide,” said Henry Ford Alle- Steel weld joints for the new entrance. Leading the project are the pre-contract phase without precedent at a rapid pace.” Em- Those and other factors giance Health Integration Ad- Local 25 foreman Dennis Douglas and steward Larry Lambaria. having to notify or bargain with ployers weren’t required to reach have been noted by the Inter- an agreement with the union “be- national Trade Union Confed- fore actually taking action under eration (ITUC), which ranked the previous precedent, and the United States on June 18 House adopts $1.5 trillion infrastructure bill could impose discipline unilater- among the worst countries for By Marty Mulcahy price tag that probably has some- decades-long refusal to address ing ports and train networks to ally in certain exigent circum- workers’ rights in its 2020 Glo- Editor thing for everybody. our aging infrastructure. investing in schools and child care. stances,” says Labor 411. bal Rights Index for “systemic WASHINGTON, D.C. – It Adopted was House Reso- “The Moving Forward Act is There’s even talk in there about The NLRB, which in com- violations of rights.” took an economic crisis bought lution 2, which passed by a 233 - a $1.5-trillion, 2,300-page bill,” electric or hybrid airplanes.” prised of a 3-0 majority of appoin- The U.S. earned a No. 4 on by an historic pandemic, but 188 vote, mostly along party lines says Forbes, “that would touch Peter DeFazio, the Democrat tees of President Trump, said in a ranking, which has the cat- the Democrat-led House of Rep- with Democrats in support. Paper- almost every aspect of American who chairs the House Transpor- statement that the precedent was egory “systemic violations of resentatives on July 1 adopted a wise and content-wise, it’s a very life, from the roads we drive on to tation and Infrastructure Commit- overturned because the existing rights.” That puts the U.S. on long-awaited, wide-ranging infra- thick bill, and in many ways tries the way rural communities get tee, said the legislation “deals rule that called for employers to par with countries like Haiti, structure bill with a $1.5 trillion to play catch-up with the nation’s broadband internet, from improv- (Continued on Page 3) (Continued on Page 3) Jordan, Uganda and Venezuela, to name a few. The ranking puts Your health and safety matters the U.S. closer to nations like China, Iran and Egypt (all bot- tom-ranked No. 5, “no guaran- tee of rights”) than it does to Summer’s heat brings special risks for facemask use No. 2 Canada (repeated viola- By Nick Fox other 370 required days heat exhaustion and heat that many construction employ- tion of rights”) or the best, No. Laborers Health and Safety away from work to re- stroke can happen ers have implemented is the man- 1 ranked countries like Ger- Fund of North America cover from heat illness. quickly.” datory use of cloth face cover- many, Iceland, and Sweden Across the U.S. and Canada, “LIUNA members Construction employers ings on the job. Face coverings (“sporadic violation of rights”). the summer months bring wide- working on road jobs to and other businesses are especially important when The COVID-19 pandemic spread risk for heat illness to mil- repair our aging highway have implemented social workers are working close to- is being used by some coun- lions of workers who spend most system, on pipelines and distancing policies, gether in enclosed spaces and tries to further restrict workers’ of their days outdoors. Accord- other critical infrastructure North America General President stepped up cleaning and disin- when it’s not feasible to practice rights, the ITUC said. ing to the most recent data from projects and on other projects in Terry O’Sullivan. “These jobs can fecting protocols and taken other physical distancing during a task. “If the findings of the the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 11 the construction industry are at require tough, physical labor, and measures to prevent the spread However, a policy that mandates Rights Index are not shocking construction workers died from high risk for heat illness,” says when that physical exertion is of COVID-19 on jobsites.