Welcome hike for wage/benefit levels
Negotiated wage and benefit increases in the U.S. construction industry so far in 2005 average $1.58 per hour or 4.1 percent, according to the Construction Labor Research Council via the Construction Labor Report.

The region that includes Michigan enjoyed even higher wage and benefit settlements during that period, averaging $2.08 per hour or 4.9 percent. That compares favorably to last year, when new first-year construction contracts averaged $1.47 per hour or 4.2 percent.

U.S. contract settlements in 2005 for the second and third years are also positive for construction workers. Second-year wage and benefit packages will rise 4.3 percent, compared to 4.0 percent last year. Third-year increases in new contracts also provide an average increase of 4.3 percent, compared to 3.7 percent last year, the CLRC said.

Three-year construction contract lengths continue to be the most common.

Welding fumes: next legal target?
"First it was asbestos. Will welding fumes be next?"

That was the question asked by a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, which reported that a federal court in Cleveland indicated that it would allow lawsuits to go forward alleging that breathing welding fumes caused Parkinson's disease in welders.

Similar to the ongoing arguments in Congress over setting up a fund to aid workers harmed by asbestos, welding fume exposure may be the next major area for worker litigation.

The Journal said there are 10,000 current lawsuits in the U.S. alleging neurological injuries from welding fumes. Now more may be on the way.

"It is definitely a significant ruling," said Sigurd Sorenson, a lawyer who has represented companies in asbestos cases, to the Journal. "Plaintiffs can make the argument that there is a connection between fumes and Parkinson's, and that gives plaintiffs a lot of leverage."

Labor sets up Katrina fund
The labor movement has set a goal of raising $500,000 for relief of Hurricane Katrina victims on the Gulf Coast.

Late last week, the AFL-CIO said contributions from union members put them half-way to that goal.

"All across the labor movement," said AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka, "unions and union members are rushing to get urgently needed assistance to the victims of Hurricane Katrina - providing front-line rescue efforts, meeting emergency construction needs, stepping in to teach children and giving funds and items.

"We are the first to pitch in and put our union values to work, and we are the ones who will keep doing it long after the TV cameras are gone."

To contribute, log on to www.afl-cio.org or call AFL-CIO Hurricane Relief, toll-tree: 1-877-AFLCIO9.

The AFL-CIO said in Baton Rouge, five building trades locals are using their halls as "processing centers" to connect displaced workers in shelters with new jobs. In addition, many building trades unions have set up their own funds to aid in relief efforts.