Volume 1 - Eastern Missouri Laborers District Council LECET

foundation for success
A Quarterly Publication of the Laborers-Employers Cooperation
and Education Trust of Eastern Missouri
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Cover
Volume I, 2009
LECET is a partnership between the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) and its affiliated construction and
environmental contractors.
LECET works to generate business opportunities for signatory union contractors and job opportunities for members of LIUNA by
improving communications, cooperative relations and efficiency of representatives of labor and management.
Through these actions and other, LECET ensures that signatory construction owners and users understand the benefits of working
with LIUNA members and their employers.
Contents
on the cover
Stimulus Package
For Transportation
Projects
Pages 6 & 7
also in this issue
Hwy 21 Opens in
Jefferson County
Page 5
First Section of
Hwy 40/I-64 Opens
The LECET BOARD of TRUSTEES
Labor Members
Gary Elliott, Business Manager,
Eastern Missouri Laborers’ District Council
Perri Pryor, Secretary/Treasurer,
Eastern Missouri Laborers’ District Council
Andrew Orlando, Business Manager,
Laborers’ Local 53
Larry Bloomer, Business Manager,
Laborers’ Local 662
Contractor Members
Ken Karsten, Karsten Equipment Company
Bill Luth, Fred M. Luth and Sons Inc.
Joe Leritz, Leritz Contracting Company
Jim Morgan, Subsurface Constructors
Patrick R. Pryor, LECET Director
Page 4
Legislature is
Back in Session
Pages 2 & 3
Foundation for Success is a quarterly
magazine published by the Eastern Missouri Laborers’ District Council and the
Laborers-Employers Cooperation and
Education Trust (LECET)
Office: 3450 Hollenberg Dr.
Bridgeton, MO 63044
Phone: (314) 291-0373
e-mail: LECET@molecet.org
www.molecet.org
www.buildunion.com
Former Laborer to Oversee Missouri
Department of Labor
Governor Jay Nixon has appointed Mr. Lawrence
G. Rebman to the position of Director of Labor and
Industrial Relations. The Department promotes
healthy and safe workplaces in the state of Missouri
and protects workers and individuals against unfair
treatment and discrimination. According to a
press release from Governor Nixon’s office, “Mr.
Rebman will work with Governor Nixon to enforce
compliance with the Prevailing
Wage laws, ensure safe and fair
treatment of Missouri workers
and oversee programs to assist
workers who are laid off or
injured on the job.”
degree from University of Missouri-Kansas City
School of Law. Mr. Rebman understands the issues
affecting Missouri’s working families because
he has been there himself. “Missouri’s working
families are the backbone of our state,” he said.
“But during these difficult economic times, too
many workers are struggling to make ends meet. I
am honored to have this opportunity to protect the
rights of Missouri’s working
families and to help ensure that
our state is ready to compete in
the new global economy.”
This is not the first time
Lawrence Rebman has worked
for Governor Jay Nixon. In
1995, then Attorney General
Nixon hired Mr. Rebman as
an Assistant Attorney General
to counsel the Department
of Public Safety, the Police
Officer Safety and Training
Commission, the State Fire
Marshal’s Office and many other
boards and commissions.
Along with all the above
mentioned duties of the
Department of Labor and
Industrial Relations, they also
pay out unemployment benefits
to workers who lost their jobs
by no fault of their own. Due to
the high unemployment rate, the
unemployment trust fund has been
severely depleted over the past
few months. The Department of
After Mr. Rebman’s tenure
Labor said that as claims have
with the Attorney General’s
risen the balance in the fund
Office, he has dedicated himself
has went from $114 million at
Director of Department of Labor &
I
ndustrial
R
elations
,
L
awrence
R
ebman
to representing individuals
the start of the year to only $9
and organizations in cases
million by the end of February.
involving employment, worker’s
Mr. Rebman has requested
compensation and other areas affecting workers’
relief from the federal government to help pay
rights. For the past six years, he has managed his
out unemployment benefits. The recently passed
own law firm, Rebman & Associates, where he
federal stimulus package allows states to borrow
funds with no interest and make repayments starting represented the Kansas City Fraternal Order of
Police Lodge 99, the Leavenworth Police Officers’
in December 31, 2010.
Association and various other clients. He will bring
those experiences with him to the Department of
Mr. Rebman was a member of Laborers’ Local
Labor to pursue fairness for all workers.
663 in Kansas City for 19 years. He worked as
a laborer while he was in college and earned his
He and his wife, Michelle, have two sons, George
bachelor’s degree in economics from the University
and William.
of Missouri-Columbia and his juris doctorate
-1-
MISSOURI LEGISLATURE BEGINS WORK
Economy Is the Big Issue
Members of the Missouri General Assembly returned to the
state capitol January 7 to take their oaths of office and begin
the 2009 legislative session. It will be a session dominated
by economic issues as Missouri and the rest of the country
struggle to cope with the impact of the recession.
State budget analysts estimate the state could be between
$300-million to
$350-million short in
revenue during next
fiscal year [July 1, 2009
to June 30, 2010], even
after reserves are spent
down. Some of this
“shortfall” is the result
of mandated increases
the legislature must
pay, such as additional
funding for public
education, but much of
the problem lies with
the state and national
economy. Across the
country, companies are laying off workers and Missouri is no
exception. The state’s unemployment rate is nearly 8-percent
and private companies reported large revenue losses in 2008.
Add to this, the slow down in construction, particularly the
housing industry, and the country is in a recession. People
are spending less and as a result, sales tax revenue is falling.
Particularly hard hit in Missouri is the automobile industry
where Chrysler has stopped operations at its Fenton plant and
General Motors’ Wentzville plant gave its workers an extended
holiday because sales have been weak.
The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is
particularly hit by the tough economic times. The department
is looking at having to reduce its highway construction
spending by half because it already has pledged some of its
revenue to repay bonds it sold several years ago and both
vehicle sales tax and fuel tax revenues have decreased due to
the economy (See the last issue of Foundation for Success,
Vol. III 2008).
Both leaders in the legislature, Ron Richard-Speaker of the
House and Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields made
note of the economic difficulties their respective bodies will
face in their opening remarks to members.
“This session brings with it great challenges and the only way
to meet these challenges is by working together,” said Richard.
“Skilled and industrious Missourians find themselves out
-2-
of work and unable to find the kind of jobs that will insure a
higher quality of life.” Added Shields, “Our state (Missouri)
is in a difficult financial situation. We are financially better off
than most states. Despite that, our new governor, the House
of Representatives and the Senate will be making difficult
decisions in the next four and one/half months to meet our
mandate of a balance budget.”
And, Governor Nixon
noted the difficulties
many Missourians find
themselves in this year
during his inaugural
address. “Too many
Missourians can’t make
ends meet in the job
they’re in, can’t find the
job they want, or fear
they may lose the job
they have. Too many
Missourians are working
harder and harder, but
they are not getting
ahead. The current
economic downturn has certainly made these problems worse,
and immediate action is needed.”
Unity Is Stressed, But Will it Occur?
All the legislative leaders and Governor Nixon called on
Democrats and Republicans to work together to address
the economic issues facing the state. Last year’s election
resulted in significant changes to the statewide office holders,
but nothing new for the Missouri Legislature. While the
Democrats hold all but one statewide office, the lieutenant
governor’s, the party could not gain control of the senate or
the house. In fact, Republicans gained three additional senate
seats. House Republicans lost four seats, but still hold an 89 to
74 edge in members.
In the Senate, President Pro Tem Shields established the
new Progress and Development Committee and appointed
Democratic Senator Victor Callahan [Kansas City] as its
chairman. This is unusual in that usually the majority party’s
members are made committee chairmen. Is this a show of
bipartisanship?
Key Issues
Obviously, balancing the state’s budget in this economic
recession will be the most important issue facing legislators,
but there are other measures to consider.
-more-
Ameren, U.E. the private electric company wants to build a
second nuclear power plant at its Callaway County facility
near Fulton. The project would generate nearly 3,000
construction jobs for almost 10 years. However, the cost to
build a second nuclear unit is estimated between $6 to $9
billion.
Ameren officials say they cannot build such a facility unless
a state law is amended. The law, known as the Construction
While in Progress Act (CWIP), does not allow a utility
company to begin charging its customers for the construction
of a power generating plant until the plant comes on line
and begins producing electricity. This law was created by
voters who approved the ballot issue in 1976 after Ameren,
then known as Union Electric, built the first Callaway County
nuclear power plant.
Company officials contend they don’t have the resources to
fund that large a project unless they can begin paying the
construction cost while building is on-going. Consumer
groups and large electric customers are opposed to changing
the law. They contend if Ameren wants to build the new
plant, it will find a way to finance it without changing the law.
Many legislators would like to see all the jobs created by the
proposed project, but are leery of the backlash from Ameren
electric customers who would have to pay higher bills. The
bill to follow is S.B. 228.
Unfortunately for highway construction workers, there is little
hope of passing legislation increasing state funding for road
construction. Lawmakers do not want to put a tax issue on
the ballot when the economy is in such poor shape. Instead,
MoDOT personnel are hoping for increased funding from
Congress through the Economic Stimulus package [see relate
article on pages 6 & 7].
Missouri’s unemployment trust fund, the fund that pays out
benefits to unemployed workers, needs fixing. The fund is
broke and the state will be required to borrow money from the
federal government to insure benefits continue to be paid out.
Legislation is likely to be filed to fix the short fall in funding
the Trust Fund is experiencing now and will likely to continue
facing in the years ahead.
build to be used on extending the Hwy 364 project (Page
Avenue extension) in St. Louis and St. Charles counties.
S.B. 267 makes changes to the state’s mechanic’s lien
law. Liens are filed by general contractors, subcontractors
and material suppliers when they are not paid for the work
performed or supplies delivered to a work site. The law
specifically allows attorneys fees to be collected when a
judgment on the lien is reached.
S.B. 311 makes it illegal for owners and general contractors
to require subcontractors to carry additional insurance on
their projects to cover the liability of the owners/general
contractors’ employees on the job site.
On the House side of the legislature, there are several bills
(H.B. 53 & H.B. 350) again addressing the illegal immigrants
issue and how to cope with it.
H.B. 122 requires Missouri public bodies to break up large
construction contracts or projects into smaller ones that
Missouri based companies can bid on easier.
H.Bs 271, 354 & 359 would enable MoDOT to undertake
more design/build projects on highway construction. It is
believed this method of construction, whereby one contract
is let to design, engineer and build a highway project, can
reduce the time and ultimately the cost of building highway
improvements.
H.B. 376 increases the amount of a project a Missouri county
may contract out without bidding and redefines when a
county public work project has to be advertised for bids.
H.B. 511 would increase the penalty against a driver
convicted of striking a construction work in a work zone to
the same amount as striking a police officer.
The Missouri General Assembly will remain in session until
mid-May, so you have plenty of time to contact your state
representative or senator and let them know of your support
or opposition to specific pieces of legislation.
Other Legislation
Some other bills of interest to the construction industry that
have been filed:
S.B. 13 Allows MoDOT to build a toll road in the state if
voters approve it. This bill has been around for years and
never gets anywhere. Nothing will change in 2009.
S.B. 128 and 178 allows MoDOT to use more design/build
methods for constructing highways and bridges throughout
Missouri. With the success of the I-64/Hwy 40 project, the
transportation department would like to remove the cap of
only using the design/build method on three projects. This
bill removes the limit and would specifically allow design/
-3-
NEW SECTION OF HIGHWAY 40/I-64
OPENS TO TRAFFIC
Eastern Section Shut Down for
Next 12 Months
until December 31, 2008, to complete the first phase
of the $535-million project, the largest highway
project in Missouri’s history.
To much fanfare and
the delight of some
St. Louis City and
County motorists,
the Missouri
Department of
Transportation
(MoDOT) opened
the western section
of the rebuilt
Thousands of residents turned out to walk or bike
Highway 40/I-64 in
on the new section of Highway 40/I-64.
St. Louis County on
December 15. While some motorists are delighted
with the work, another group must cope with the
closing of four miles of the highway east of its
To mark the opening of the
western section of the highway,
the public was invited to tour
the new road. Thousands
of residents turned out to
ride a bike, take a horsedrawn carriage, walk or
even skateboard on the new
pavement. Two ceremonial
ribbon cuttings were held with
local officials and MoDOT representatives.
The rebuilt
Highway
40/I-64 has new
pavement and
bridges along
with rebuilt
access points.
In some places,
the access
ramps were
directed into
newly built round-abouts, which were designed to
smooth traffic flow to and from the highway.
This aerial view shows the new intersection of
I-64 and I-170. The eastern portion of I-64 is now
closed for four-miles from this point to just east of
Kingshighway Boulevard in the city of St. Louis
intersection with Interstate Highway 170 (I-170)
mostly in the City of St. Louis. That section of the
highway will remain closed until December 2009.
The contractor on the project, Gateway Constructors,
received an incentive bonus for completing the
project ahead of schedule. Gateway, a partnership
among contractors Millstone-Bangert, Fred Weber,
Inc. and Granite Construction (California) was given
-4-
While traffic began flowing on the new section of
highway the next day, there was still some work left
to be done. Most of the work involved fine grading
and landscaping on the highway right-of-way.
MoDOT Completes Highway 21
in Jefferson County
On December 12, 2008, the Missouri Department of
Transportation opened the final segment of Highway
21 from St. Louis County to Route B. A ribbon
cutting ceremony was held to commemorate the
opening of the new highway. MoDOT engineers
and elected officials addressed the large crowd
to convey the
importance of
the project and to
recognize those
individuals who
played a large part
in getting a safer
highway.
your dedication to stop losing lives on “Blood
Alley” that made this day possible”, he added.
Highway 21 was named “Blood Alley” by
the citizens living in the area because of the
disproportionate number of crashes and fatalities
occurring there. From 1991 to 2003,
there were an astounding 44 fatalities
on this stretch of road. Highway 21 was
named one of the “5 most dangerous
highways in America” in the November
2000 issue of Readers’ Digest.
According to a MoDOT press release,
construction on the final segment of the
new four-lane divided highway began in
State Senator and
the Summer of 2006. The old Highway
Laborers’ Local
21 only had two lanes with very narrow
110 member, Ryan
State Senator Ryan McKenna Addresses The Crowd shoulders and several entrances. The
McKenna, thanked
new road provides a much better alignment, which
the citizens who
means it is straighter and less hilly with wider
brought attention to the dangerous stretch of road.
shoulders that will improve
visibility and safety. The
$25.1 million project was
awarded to Fred Weber, Inc.
and was completed eight
months ahead of schedule.
“Today is a happy day for many
of us, but today also is a somber
day for those who lost a friend
or a family member on this
stretch of highway,” Senator
McKenna said. “A big debt of
gratitude goes to those citizens
that started the Highway 21
Task Force way back in the
early 1980’s and to the citizens
that kept it going over these
many years. It is because of
MoDOT Officials, Federal, State & County Elected Officials And 21-Task Force
Membrs Pose for a Picture During The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
-5-
FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY HE
WORK ON MISSOUR
If you work in
the highway
construction
business in
Missouri, you
have got to be
grateful that
Congress passed the
American Recovery
and Reinvestment
Act, better know as
the “stimulus bill.”
That is about the
only new funding
the Missouri
Department of
Transportation will
have for highway construction projects during the
next 18 months or so.
Without these funds, highway contractors and their
employees (Laborers) were looking at MoDOT
spending less than half of what it is has averaged
during the last three fiscal years, roughly $560
million, for new construction. State highway
construction funding was falling off due to the
repayment of bonds and the failure to secure any
additional transportation money from voters. Now,
with passage of the stimulus bill, the state will
receive $637 million in federal highway assistance
and another $150 million to help build air, rail,
mass transit, waterway and pedestrian projects.
“These federal funds will help keep a lot of our
members working this summer and through next
year,” said Eastern Missouri Laborers’ District
Council Business Manager Gary Elliott. “Without
these dollars coming in, the employment picture in
the highway construction industry was pretty bad.”
It is estimated the highway projects alone will
create 14,000 construction jobs in Missouri, and it
couldn’t come at a better time.
-6-
Missouri became the
first state to utilize
federal stimulus money
when the contractor on
a new bridge on Route
17 over the Osage
River near Tuscumbia
in Miller County began
work just minutes
after President Barack
Obama signed the bill
[see related article on
page 9]. The stimulus
legislation requires
states receiving highway
funding and other types
of federal assistance have
“ready-to-go” projects available to bid and award
contracts for construction within six months. In
fact, 50-percent of the funds have to be obligated by
the middle of June. The remaining 50-percent of the
funds have to be allocated by March 2010.
Not a problem, according to MoDOT Director Pete
Rahn. “We know we can award $510 million worth
of work or more within 180 days of the stimulus
bill’s passage, with a considerable amount in less
time,” said Rahn in a press release earlier this year.
“Not only would it (the stimulus money) provide an
immediate economic shot in the arm, but it would
yield the long-term benefits of safer highways and
enhanced quality of life.”
MoDOT, in preparation of Congress approving the
stimulus package, already had advertised for bids on
projects it planned to construct. The Highways and
Transportation Commission approved 32 projects
at its March 4 meeting. Those projects totaled
$38,922,000 and involved road resurfacing work
through out the state. The highway commission let
four other projects, including the Tuscumbia bridge
job previously mentioned, in February when the
stimulus legislation had not even passed.
ELPS BOLSTER CONSTRUCTION
SSOURI PROJECTS
At its March 19 meeting, the commission approved
the list of all remaining projects MoDOT plans to
fund from the stimulus money. The commission
did so early in the process so that it can reap
highway dollars other states may not use and put
them toward Missouri highway projects.
“We were aggressive in getting these stimulus
projects going for two major reasons: we want
to put Missourians to work fast, and we want to
show that investing in transportation infrastructure
provides immediate economic relief,” said Rahn.
The contracts on those jobs had a provision in
them that allowed the department to get out of the
contract if Congress had not passed the stimulus
proposal.
Among the first batch of state highway jobs to be
built in the Eastern Missouri Laborers’ area are:
Resurfacing Hwy. 136 in Schuyler & Putnam counties $ 977,000
Resurfacing Hwy. 202 in Schuyler County $423,000
Resurfacing Hwy. D in Macon County
$ 89,000
Resurfacing Hwy.s J, EE & W in Ralls County
$ 765,000
Resurfacing Hwy. W & Hwy 61 in Marion County
$ 177,000
Resurfacing & coldmilling I-70 in Cooper County
Resurfacing Hwy. 28 in Maries and Pulaski counties
$ 7,612,000
$ 829,000
$10,872,000
Legislative Issues?
While MoDOT was working to put together its
list of projects to fund with the federal dollars
and actually start bidding projects, the Missouri
General Assembly was trying to establish a place
in the budget where the federal funds would be
deposited before being spent. Senate Bill 313
was approved by the legislature just before it
adjourned for its spring break on March 13. The
bill creates two funds in the state treasury where the
stimulus money will be deposited and then tracked.
Governor Nixon signed the bill into law.
Sounds good, but wait a minute! MoDOT raised a
problem with the bill. When money is placed in the
state treasury, it takes an appropriation bill approved
by the legislature to spend it. Since the legislature
does not meet year round, some projects may have
to be delayed until the money could be allocated. In
fact, MoDOT was worried that projects it already
awarded to contractors would have to be stopped
and all other projects postponed until the legislature
approved an appropriations bill for the work.
Before adjourning for their Spring Break, the
state Senate did amended and pass a supplemental
appropriations bill (H.B. 14). Within that bill, the
senators appropriated funding for the highway
projects to be built with the stimulus funding. The
House then passed the bill immediately when it
returned from Spring Break. This, for the time
being, took care of the problem.
Local Issues
Local governments throughout Missouri also
scrambled to get their own list of improvements
that could be funded by the stimulus money
together. For example, the East-West Gateway
Coordinating Council, comprised of officials from
Continued on Pagf 9.....................
-7-
How the Training Center and Apprenticeship
Program Save Contractor Money
A publication from the National
Safety Council (NSC) arrived in
the LECET office the other day.
The printed material promoted
the construction safety courses
offered by the NSC that were in
compliance with Occupational
Health and Safety
(OSHA) standards and
as the publication put
it “keep your workers
safe on construction
site.”
What got your
attention right away
was the cost of
providing this training
to a NSC member and
non-member. For
the basic OSHA 10-hour safety
course, the member cost was $99
per person and for a non-member
it was $135 per person. For a
two-day course labeled OSHA
10-hour construction, the cost
was $280 to a NSC member and
$365 for a non-member. Even
a four-hour “flagger’s” course
on how to direct traffic through
highway construction zones cost
$99 per person. The NSC did
offer the courses either in one of
their training facilities or onsite
at a contractor’s location.
At the Laborers’ Training Center
in High Hill, these courses are
offered to all apprentices enrolled
in the program. In fact, the
OSHA 10-hour safety course is
required to be completed by all
apprentices and in January 2010,
-8-
all employees on public works
construction projects in Missouri
will be required to have a 10-hour
OSHA certificate proving they
have taken and passed the course.
Journeymen can also come back
and take these courses for a
refresher or to gain certification.
Aerial Photo of the Laborers’ Training
Center in High Hill, MO
Contractors signatory to a
Laborers’ agreement pay into
the Training Fund for each
hour a Laborer works in eastern
Missouri. The funds generated
pay for the cost of running the
training programs and the center.
While some may argue that
the training is not provided for
free because of the per cent an
hour pay in, it is safe to say the
training costs are lower than what
is offered by private companies
providing this service. It is kind
of like buying in bulk, the more
trainees in the program; the less
you pay per person.
Further it is more convenient for
the contractor and the Laborers
that such training is offered
as part of the apprenticeship
program. When an apprentice
completes the training and
becomes a journeyman, he or she
is prepared to start work with
the safety knowledge gained at
the Training Center. They don’t
have to be “retrained” in safety
nor loose time to go
take a class on safety
because they already
completed the course.
The Laborers have
committed to having
all of their members,
more than 8,500,
OSHA 10-hour
certified before the
new state law becomes
effective.
And the training doesn’t stop
with the OSHA 10-hour. A widearray of training programs is
available to help Laborers learn
new skills and become safer on
construction job sites. This is
one of the benefits contractors
signatory to a Laborers’ trade
agreement have that other
non-union contractors do
not. Members and contractors
should make use of the Training
Center whenever they can. For
a contractor, it is a matter of
economics and productivity,
for the Laborer it is a matter of
employability and work zone
safety.
.......Contuned from Page 7
the five metro Missouri counties around St. Louis,
received a list of projects total more than $1.2
billion. Other planning bodies around Missouri also
received requests from the public bodies in their
area. The requested funding ranged from sidewalk
improvements to street and bridge replacements.
The list of projects was far greater than the money
available from the stimulus bill. Local planning
agencies had to reduce the number of jobs down to
the amount of funding the local public bodies would
receive in a given area.
Additional Transportation Work
Along with money for highway construction, the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act also
included funding for airport, rail and waterway
work. Missouri is expected to receive $150-million
in federal dollars for work on these types of
Hundreds of Laborer Related Jobs
will Be Created Under The
Stimulus Package
projects. Once again, local governmental agencies
made requests to governmental planning bodies
to receive a portion of the funding. For example,
the city of St. Louis received $400,000 for port
development along the Mississippi River.
Using Stimulus Funding...A First For Missouri
Missouri had the distinction
of becoming the first state in
the country to make use of the
federal stimulus dollars for
highway funding. And another
feather in the cap, the project is
being done by a union contractor
signatory to the Laborers’ Union.
Within minutes after President
Obama signed the stimulus bill
into law, shovels were inserted
into the dirt near the Highway
17 Bridge over the Osage
River in Miller County, about a
mile east of Tuscumbia. “We
promised we would be ready to
go to make the best use of every
dollar we received through the
economic recovery act to create
jobs and make our highways
safer,” said Missouri Department
workers will come from the
company’s own workforce based
in Kansas.
of Transportation (MoDOT)
Director Pete Rahn (pictured
above). “We delivered on that
promise and then some.”
APAC of Kansas is the contractor
on the $8.5 million project to
replace the bridge. The company
plans to hire about 50% of the
Laborers it needs in building the
new bridge from Laborers’ Local
662 in whose area the structure
is being built. The remaining
MoDOT had solicited bids on this
project and three others earlier
in the year, before Congress had
even approved the stimulus bill.
In the event the federal legislation
was not approved, MoDOT had
language in the bid documents
noting that the project would only
be built upon approval of the
stimulus bill.
Another early project awarded
by MoDOT was the repaving of
portions of Interstate Highway
55 in New Madrid and Pemiscot
counties in the boot hill portion of
Missouri.
-9-
LABORERS USED IN NEW BRACING PROCESS FOR
CONSTRUCTING BUILDING WALLS
A Missouri contractor has been using a different
method to brace tilt-up walls, pre cast walls and
some masonry structures, and Interstate Construction
Services, LLC of Lee’s Summit is utilizing members
of the Laborers for
the installation.
“The Laborers are
working well for
us,” said Gordon
Bell of Interstate
Construction
Services. “They
show up on time and
are ready to work.”
In tilt-up
construction, the
concrete walls are
precast and hoisted
into place rather
than poured in
place or built with
bricks or blocks. Bracing is needed to hold the
wall in place until they are secured.
Traditionally when using the tilt-up
method of constructing buildings,
the wall bracing is done from inside
the structure. When the floors are
poured, the walls are anchored to
the floor. This results in holes in the
floor. But the traditional method
isn’t always suitable to all types of
construction that is planned. That
is when Bell and his company are
called in to assess a job.
Bell and his company use the
Meadow Burke Brace Badger
helical anchor system. Recently, the
company was a subcontractor to Ahal
Concrete Contracting of St. Louis
who was the foundation and title-
- 10 -
up contractor on the new Schnucks store being built
near the intersection of Ballas and Manchester roads
in west St. Louis County. Brinkmann Constructors
served as the general contractor.
Schnucks chemically stains the concrete floors of
their grocery stores and concern was expressed
that the tilt-up walls would discolor the floor and
the holes used to brace the walls if done in the
traditional style from the inside the building and
would not look good on the finished product.
Ahal was also instructed by the general contractor
not to brace the walls from the inside due to the
amount of plumbing and electric facilities needed.
Adding to the problems, the project was built
in the winter. The outside face of the walls was
finished with thin brick and Ahal had to cope
with snow and ice on the panels prior to placing
concrete in them. Thus, the Brace Badger system,
bracing from the outside made more sense.
In using this method, a helical anchor is
screwed into the ground using hydraulic equipment
mounted on skid steers,
excavators or boom
mounted utility trucks.
“It is very similar to
screwing a lag screw
into a piece of wood,”
said Bell. The anchors
look like an auger
bit with metal plates
welded to it. The
installer, in this case a
Laborer, must maintain
constant downward
pressure (torque) on
the Brace Badger as it
makes it way through
the various soil types it
is passing through. The
brace continues
Generally, Bell and
the Laborers he hires,
are in and out of a job
site within two days.
He said if need be, his
crew can work right
in front of the steel
erection workers on
a job site. “This is
another alternative to
bracing tilt-up walls.”
Interstate Construction
Services usually
employs about two
Laborers on a crew to
install the braces.
“Generally, I train the
workers on how to
use the equipment and
install the braces on
site,” said Bell. “It
Bill Keaton, on the skid steer and William Washington, both Laborers from Local 42 were trained to
has
worked well for
install the new bracing system at a new Schnucks store being built in west St. Louis County.
us.”
through the ground until it reaches a dense soil or
rock is reached. The soil density or rate of ground
compaction holds the anchor in place.
Once the anchor has been securely screwed into the
ground, the hydraulic equipment is removed and
braces are then attached to the outside of the walls
and the braces secured to the anchors. This method
allows the floors, structural steel and utilities on
the on the inside of a new building to be installed
without the bracing interfering and without the need
for deadmen installed in the floor.
The bracing remains in place until the tilt-up walls,
pre-cast walls or masonry structures are secured to
the structural steel of the building. The bracing is
then removed. To remove the Badger Brace, the
Laborer simply reverses the hydraulic motor drive
and backs the brace out of the ground, again similar
to removing a screw from a piece of wood.
But that could change thanks to discussions
Bell has held with the Laborers about training
members at the Laborers’ Training Center at High
Hill in how to use the Badger Brace system. “I
am planning to go to the Training Center and
see if they could also train members about the
installation of these braces there (at the Training
Center),” said Bell. “I am excited about that
because I feel this would help develop a pool of
trained people who could install these anchors.”
Bell said he also feels it is important to have well
trained-workers for the safety of other construction
workers who are on job site using this system to
brace their walls. The Laborers require safety
training as part of our basic courses at the Training
Center.
Interstate Construction Services works throughout
the United States installing the MB Brace Badger,
helical anchor system.
“This method of bracing cuts down on waste,” said
Bell, “because the bracing is removed and reused.
It is economically good and green construction.”
- 11 -
Upcoming Events for Laborers and Friends
EMLDC Annual Charity Golf Tournament
WHEN:Friday, June 5th
WHERE:
Warrenton Golf Course in Warrenton, MO
Member/Guest Annual Golf Tournament
WHEN:Saturday, June 6th
WHERE:
Incline Village Golf Course in Foristell, MO
Summer Sporting Clay Event
WHEN:Saturday, June 27th
WHERE:
Blackhawk Valley Hunting Preserve in Old Monroe, MO
Summer Archery Tournament
WHEN:Saturday, August 22nd
WHERE:
Laborers-AGC Training Center in High Hill, MO
**Attention--Attention--Attention**
Before you see a NEW Physician or go to a NEW Facility, please call
the fund office to make sure they are one of our Network Providers.
For Locals #42, #53,
and #110:
Call Greater St. Louis
Construction Laborers
Welfare Fund
(314)-644-2777
- 12 -
For All Outstate
Locals:
Call TIC International
(800)-392-8726
WET WEATHER DAMPENS ARCHERY SHOOT, BUT NOT THE
ARCHERS’ SKILLS
Despite a steady, sometimes heavy rain and a cold north wind, some 64 archers braved the elements to participate in the Eastern
Missouri Laborers’ District Council Spring Archery tournament. The conditions were difficult, sometimes requiring two people to
help pull arrows out of the targets, provided they were hit.
After being soaked to the skin tracking down 40 targets spread throughout the grounds of the Laborers Training Center at High Hill,
the archers were treated to a warm lunch and the awards ceremony.
Prizes were awarded in various categories, traditional, bowhunter, women, junior and cub. The “cub division” consisted of youngsters
under the age of 12. All participants in this division won awards. Winners in the various divisions are listed below.
Traditional Division
1st place
2nd place
3rd place
Tim Stege (right)
Mark Reynolds (middle) Zach Reynolds (left)
Bowhunter Division
1st place
2nd place
3rd place
Aaron Welschmeyer (right)
Mike Keir (middle)
Mark Abt (left)
Women’s Division
1st place
Lindsey DeCoster (right)
nd
2 placeStacey LaGarce (left)
3rd place
Lisa Horneker (middle)
Junior Division
1st place
2nd place
3rd place
Jared Lewis (middle)
Brandon Dunker (right)
Bill Bohler (left)
Cub Division
1st place
2nd place
3rd place
Hanna Abt
P.J. Monehan
Jeremy Monehan
- 13 -
Bits–N-Pieces
Reminder to Contractors
New Requirements in Place to Check on Illegal Immigration
Missouri has a new law on the books regarding contractors with state contracts and verifying their workers are legally in
this country. Effective January 1, 2009, any contractor with a state contract totaling $5,000 or more must affirm, through a
Memorandum of Understanding, that the contractor is participating in the Federal Work Authorization Program, referred to as the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify.
The law further states contractors with such state contracts must have an affidavit on file stating they do not and shall not employ
anyone who does not have proper authorization (work permits) to work in Missouri and the United States. This law is applicable
to prime contractors, subcontractors and contract labor and was passed in the 2008 by the Missouri General Assembly.
For contractors bidding or working on Missouri Transportation Department (MoDOT) projects, MoDOT only requires the prime
contractor to have on file with it the Memorandum of Understanding and affidavit. The transportation department requires the first
page and signatory page of the memorandum. The prime contractor would be responsible for insuring all subcontractors working
with it have the proper documentation.
Failure to follow the law will lead to a loss of the contract and the right to bid on state public works projects for several years.
#########################################################################################################
New Anual Wage Order Filed
The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations has filed with the Missouri Secretary of State’s office Annual Wage
Order Number 16. This wage order covers building and heavy construction work[sewers, bridges, etc.]. It does not cover general
highway work.
The Annual Wage Order contains the prevailing wage rates for each occupational titles in each Missouri county and the city of St.
Louis. Prevailing wage is the minimum rate of pay and benefits paid to workers on public works construction projects in Missouri.
Seven objections were filed on Annual Wage Order 16. The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission will now hear those
objections and rule on them before finalizing the wage order.
*********************************************************************************************************
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