Maintain pressure on sanitation bill
LANSING - The state's lawmakers are on their summer hiatus, but that doesn't mean they don't check their e-mail, read letters or get phone messages.

As we have reported, one of the last pieces of legislation taken up by the Michigan House before lawmakers went on the break, House Bill 5064, failed to get enough support from Michigan lawmakers, both Democrats and Republicans.

HB 5064 would increase the ratio of portable toilets on Michigan construction sites to one for every 10 workers, increasing the availability of the toilets, as well as the odds that they will be kept clean. The bill would also require the use of alcohol-based hand santizers or hand-washing stations near portable toilets. State law currently has no such requirements.

Democrat and Republican lawmakers are getting pressure from the Michigan business community, claiming that this legislation is "anti-business," even though the costs involved are minimal. And the lack of support for the bill is clearly a slap in the face to Michigan's construction workers, who are basically being told that they're not worthy of a halfway decent place to relieve themselves and to clean their hands afterward.

Last month, we urged our readers to contact their state House representatives and support House Bill 5064. If you haven't done so yet, and you have Internet access, go to www.house.mi.gov. Click on the "Representatives" tab in the upper left corner. There is a statewide district map and a zip code search to help you find your rep. If you don't have Internet access, ask a neighbor or relative to get the name and number of your representative for you, or call your local city or township clerk's office to get the information.

Nice hike for industry wages
U.S. construction industry wage and benefit increases in the unionized sector averaged $2.30 per hour in the first year of contracts to date in 2008, according to the Construction Labor Research Council, as reported by the Construction Labor Report.

The 4.9 percent increase compares to a hike of 4.7 percent or $1.90 per hour in 2007.

Driving the considerable leap in hourly pay and benefit levels: a whopping $2.77 per hour average first-year increase for unionized construction workers in the "East North Central Region," which includes Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The high number of contract settlements in our region vs. the rest of the nation during the first half of 2008 pushed the U.S. settlement numbers higher.

The average settlement numbers are even better in the second year of "East North Central" contracts: construction industry wages and benefits will go up an average of $3.03 or 5.4 percent, according to the CLRC and Construction Labor Report.

CLRC Executive Director Robert Gasperow told the Construction Labor Report that higher volumes of work, especially in the industrial sector, helped move the bargaining increases higher.

Blood drive set for Labor Day
On Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1, a blood drive will be held from 6 a.m. to noon in the basement of the IBEW Local 58 union hall.

Labor Day marchers from all trades and their family members are urged to give the gift of blood before or after the festivities. The American Red Cross reports that during this annual collection, 30-40 pints of blood are collected, and its sorely needed this time of year.