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News Briefs

Date Posted: May 11 2007

Sheet Metal Workers Local 7: welcome
The Building Tradesman puts out the welcome mat for Lansing-based Sheet Metal Workers Local 7. With this issue it joins the long list of local unions subscribing to our paper.

One of the oldest and largest trade union papers in the country, the Tradesman is mailed every other week to about 50,000 construction workers in Michigan.

We're pleased to have Local 7's tinknockers aboard, and hope you enjoy receiving the paper.

Toyota goes to the land of cheap labor
According to the Construction Labor Report, Toyota Motor Corp. wants to build its eighth assembly plant in Mississippi, a $1.3 billion auto plant near Tupelo.

Toyota wants a project labor agreement with local unions before construction starts. But, the article said there is concern that the area won't be able to man the work. That's because a recently completed $2.5 billion Toyota truck assembly plant in San Antonio, Texas had to guarantee significant amounts of overtime wages to attract construction workers, because wage rates there were so low.

"Wages are even lower in Tupelo," said the president of the Central Mississippi Building Trades Council to the Construction Labor Report.

How low? Check out the local wage rates if you're interested in booming out of Michigan and may be eyeing Mississippi.

The article said prevailing wage determinations for Mississippi by the U.S. Department of Labor find hourly wage ranges from $5.30 for laborers to $10 for electricians. The prevailing wage for carpenters is $7.50 per hour, $8.79 for plumbers and $9.50 for backhoe operators. The data indicates there are no benefits paid for any of the crafts.

Footnote: both Texas and Mississippi are right-to-work states.

'Give 'em a brake' campaign starts
Michigan's Give 'em a Brake Safety Coalition (GEAB) kicked off its annual highway work zone safety campaign at a news conference held at the State Capitol May 3, releasing encouraging numbers along with a warning: Motorists should continue paying close attention in work zones and drive the appropriate speed.

The good news: In 2006, there were more than 5,000 crashes in work zones on Michigan roadways - a 20 percent decline over the previous year.

"We know our efforts, in collaboration with the statewide GEAB Safety Coalition, have saved many lives," said Kirk T. Steudle, director, Michigan Department of Transportation. "However, we must continue to promote work zone safety in order to reduce crashes, injuries, and deaths even further. Our goal is to make 2007 the safest yet."

Michigan's Give 'em a Brake Safety Coalition, representing union road workers, law enforcement, road builders, utility workers, and transportation interests, hopes that continued use of the "Where Workers Present 45" signing will continue to provide a more consistent application of speed limits in all work zones in order to protect workers and motorists.

"We believe the new speed rules are working," said Dennis Gillow, infrastructure director, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 324. "Our group (and other labor organizations) collaborated with Michigan's GEAB Safety Coalition on the work zone signing scheme. While 2006 was safer than 2005, we still have more work to do. The bottom line is this: Appropriate speeds save lives of workers and motorists."

In 2006, there were 5,216 crashes, 1,450 injuries and 18 fatalities in Michigan work zones, a 20 percent improvement over 2005 data. In 2005, there were 6,545 crashes, 1,811 injuires, and 20 fatalities.

"We don't want to rest on our laurels now," said Rob Coppersmith, vice president of membership services, Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation Association." The "Where Workers Present 45" signs seem to be working but we must focus on reducing crashes even more. Safety is serious business and motorists need to take their job behind the wheel as such."

Michigan's Give 'em a Brake Safety Coalition members include: Michigan Department of Transportation; Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation Association; Michigan Laborers' District Council; Michigan State Building & Construction Trades Council; and the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 324.