BOND ISSUES

The big news coming out of Painters' District Council No. 14 just now is all about the new Master Bonding Program.

As you no doubt already know very well, Article 15, Section (b)(1) of the current Contract obliges all Union Painting Contractors to maintain a bond securing and assuring payment of employee wages and fringe benefits.

The CBA specifies the following bond levels:
$10,000 (6 or less painters)
$25,000 (7 to 13 painters)
$50,000 (14 to 25 painters)
$75,000 (26+ painters)

Article 15, Section (b)(2) further imposes a personal liability of $30,000 plus all amounts in excess of that sum for failing to satisfy the those bond requirements.

This may all sound a bit intimidating, but it's really a very routine method of protecting the employees' financial welfare when the employer owes wages and benefit contributions. For a small contractor, the bond should cost about $250 to $300 a year when secured through an agent.

Now there is another avenue for securing a bond through participating in the new Cooperation Trust & Education Fund Master Bonding Program. This plan was just created for signatory employers, to help them easily fulfill the bonding requirement.

You apply by filling out the usual forms and submit a $250.00 application fee, which repeats annually thereafter, and contribute just 10 cents per hour for each hour worked by painter employees back into the Bonding Program. The latter is true of all employers, whether or not they obtain their bond through the Master Bonding Program.

In reality, the Master Bonding Program will not actually cost any of the employers that 10 cents because it is being taken out of the Union's Total Economic Package. Essentially, the Union is testing the water by offering this new Bond program, and if the plan doesn't work out well in the next few years, it will be withdrawn and that dime will revert to the package for distribution as wages and benefits to the employees.

Under the plan, if an Employer becomes 90 days delinquent in fringe benefit contributions, the company's bond may be cancelled. At that point, a private bond must be substituted.

On other fronts, we enjoyed a good turnout for the 2008 PDCA Al Sennese Memorial Golf Outing in June at Bloomingdale Golf Club. Most golfers played eleven or twelve holes before it got too wet, but - of course - a few diehards played right on through the rain. We'll have full coverage and nice pictures in the Summer issue of the Dropcloth newsletter….

The next major event coming up will be the Fall General Membership Meeting at Maggiano's Little Italy in Chicago. This year's featured guest speaker will be the great Bears wide receiver, Tom Waddle. This program will be a terrific follow-up to last year's Dan Hampton program, so mark the calendars and plan to attend!

All the Best…

NEW BEGINNINGS…

It is a high honor for me to be your new President, and in the two years ahead I will do my best to move FCAC and PDCA forward.

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Miles Beatty for his great service; he leaves behind big shoes to fill. It is not always appreciated just how much personal time and effort it takes, but Miles redefined "leadership" with class, dignity, strength, and style in a way that cannot go unnoticed.

And now we must go forward again as Officers move through their chairs (congratulations to Vice President Tom Tyrakowski, Secretary Jeff Hester, and Treasurer Leo Hart) and we welcome Tony Bochniak to the Board in the company of returning Members Rick Ascher and Tom Hester.

High on our list of 2008 priorities is the new Market Recovery Program. At this writing, a search has been launched for an Executive Director for the new LMCC, our Labor-Management Cooperation Committee, which is being created to lead the marketing effort. This will be an entirely new office, jointly supervised by FCAC and PDC14, focused solely on promoting Union painting & drywall finishing contractors in Cook, Lake, Will and Grundy Counties.

Meanwhile, FCAC has also launched its own sales effort to gain new members and sell the services of FCAC members to building owners and managers.

Last month, we brought veteran S-W salesman Al Deatherage out of his short retirement to make sales calls for us. He will be personally visiting signatory contractors to interest them in FCAC and spreading the

good word about our Union contractors among buyers of contracted services downtown. Toward that end, Al will distribute the fancy new red portfolio that debuted at our Fall Membership Meeting at Maggiano's.

On another front, we are promoting safety and craftsmanship through the STAR Program, which is now in its second year and drawing far more involvement than last year. Of course, the prospect of winning a new truck is a powerful incentive to all STAR participants. This program is a win-win situation for both Union members and their employers, who benefit from a well-trained, safe workforce. If your employees are not as yet involved with STAR, I strongly urge them to visit the Apprentice School web site for information and registration (www.jatc-dftc.org).

Meanwhile, we have two major events coming up! Associates Night will be on March 12th this year at the Rosewood in Rosemont. Once again, the Associates group will produce its own great tradeshow with continuous food & refreshments, early bird cash drawings at 5:00 and 6:00 PM, show specials, booth prizes, and a big $500 cash Grand Prize. It's always a great must-attend event, and I hope to see you there!

Not that far off, we also look forward to the June 20th FCAC Golf Classic which is honoring the memory of Al Sennese this year. Book your foursomes early…it's going to sell out!

Until Later,

ONE LAST WORD…

It's hard to believe that my term as your President has already wound its course and it's time to step aside for my successor.

The last two years have been eventful, to say the least, and although it has been great fun, I will also relish having a bit more personal time to devote to our family and business.

I leave office with a true sense of accomplishment, due in no small part to the fine team of Officers and Directors it has been my distinct privilege to serve with. With that thought in mind, I must thank Vice President Norb Soltysiak, Secretary Tom Tyrakowski, Treasurer Jeff Hester, and Board Members Rick Ascher, Jeff Castles, Allan DeLange, Keith Farnham, Scott Hall, Leo Hart, Tom Hester, Fred Levy, Marty Tew, and Bob Tracy for their constant support and sound advice. Attorney Rod Osborne has been very helpful with sound counsel throughout our process of both creating a new FCAC Association and negotiating a fresh contract with PDC 14. And I have valued the day-to-day support of Rich Volkmer, our Executive Director.

I have never known a finer group of individuals or one more giving of their time and talent. FCAC and PDCA are truly fortunate to enjoy the service of such competent and dedicated officials and consultants.

Looking back, I can honestly reflect that the changes we have made will prove beneficial to our Association for years to come. With the transition to FCAC, we have laid the groundwork for a vital and viable future for Union Painting Contractors in Chicago. With this change, we have cemented a solid foundation for our relationship with the Union, both locally and nationally.

On the local level, we have developed a more harmonious partnership with PDC14 and now look

forward to working together aggressively on a Market Recovery Program which holds great promise for recapturing lost markets for our Contractor Members. This is, to say the least, a healthy development, for in labor relations, trust is everything. In another sense, we have learned that the time for an adversarial relationship is long past.

On the national level, through FCA and LMCI we have gained a presence on the national stage and developed invaluable contacts within the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades which well serve our local Association. They are well aware that Chicago retains a stronger Union presence for painters than many other major markets, and truly value the jobs we create for their members. For that reason, I believe we can expect to see even more support forthcoming from the International Union in the years ahead.

In closing, I wish Norb Soltysiak and our new 2008 Officers and Directors good fortune in their endeavors for our Association. As the immediate Past President, I will remain at their side to assist them in every way possible.

I also hope that you have enjoyed a rewarding holiday season with your family, and that the New Year ahead brings all of life's blessings and rewards.

Until Later,

NEW CONTRACT…

We conducted a Special FCAC General Membership Meeting Tuesday, October 30th, to discuss a proposed Contract extension with Painters District Council #14 of the IUPAT. This was the culmination of over five months of negotiations with PDC #14 consisting of eight bargaining meetings.

All 95 current FCAC Contractor members were sent a detailed "Summary of Changes to the CBA" document two weeks prior to the meeting to inform them completely of all the significant changes in the Contract language, along with their Special Meeting notice.

Only 19 FCAC Members attended the meeting. We spent approximately three hours  discussing details of the proposed Contract extension at length.

Everyone in attendance was given the opportunity to speak their mind and many worthwhile thoughts and ideas were brought to the floor. This gave your FCAC board the guidance we need to work with PDC #14 on jurisdictional and enforcement issues for FCAC Contractors.

The CBA was voted on and passed. There is consensus on the Board of Directors that this is a good Contract. It provides significant changes that will promote the Union Painting and Decorating Industry and make our Contract enforcement even more effective.

Speaking on behalf of the Board of Directors, we were both surprised and disappointed that our attendance was so low for an important issue like a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

At the same meeting, a new slate of proposed 2008 FCAC and PDCA Officers and Directors was presented by the Nominating Committee and approved by the

general membership. One additional candidate was nominated from the floor. All Officer and Director candidates will be voted on by the membership at our annual Christmas meeting, which is scheduled to be held at Maggiano's Little Italy in Oak Brook next month, on December 12th.

Everyone in the Association should plan on attending the Christmas party, including both Contractors and Associates. If you don't attend these meetings, you really cannot gain current knowledge of Association business.

As this year - and my term - draws to an end, I hope everyone has enjoyed a prosperous 2007 and looks forward to having an even more successful year in 2008. It has, for sure, been a busy year, and I am pleased to note that hours for August and September were very strong.

Looking forward, one thing you can count on is labor stability in the coming years, thanks to our new Contract extension. That, along with a significant new Union investment in the Market Recovery Program, should boost hours for Union Painting Contractors.

Only time will tell if we truly have a good agreement, but we sincerely believe that two or three years down the road we'll all look back and say "Yes, it worked out quite well."

Until Later,

FALL IS HERE…

Autumn in our part of the world is one of my favorite times of year. This year, we seem blessed with temps that are running 10 degrees over the norm for October, which makes up for that cold week that surprised us last month.

Contractors scurry about this time of year trying to get their outdoor work done, so it's a real break to enjoy this mild weather. We're busier this year than ever, and I hope your company is, too.

Your Board has been busy, too, with our Nominating Committee lining up a new slate of Officer and Director candidates for your voting at the Christmas meeting and our Negotiating Committee sounding out the Union for terms and conditions for a new Contract. We expect to have a Membership Meeting soon to discuss progress on the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, so watch your mail and by all means plan to attend. If we don't hear your voice in these matters, we have no way of knowing how you feel or what ideas you may have to offer.

We had a super General Membership Meeting last month at Maggiano's Little Italy downtown, featuring a personal appearance by Bears great Dan Hampton. I really think it was one of our best meetings in years…strictly PDC14 Contractors meeting downtown, a great speaker, and bountiful Italian food…all tied together by a festive atmosphere in the room. I think we'll revisit the place next year, it went so well.

One highlight of the event was the Associates Group presenting another donation check to the Apprentice School, this year $5,000.00 to support the STAR program.

Now we have another big national event coming up which you may attend in Las Vegas…the annual Finishing Industry Forum hosted by LMCI (the Labor-Management Cooperation Initiative).

LMCI is a partnership of FCA (our national association of Union Painting Contractors) and IUPAT (the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades). Collectively, our own cents-per-hour contributions help fund LMCI, so it pays to attend these events when we're paying for them anyway.

For example, we just completed a three-day “STP” Seminar at the Apprentice School in Berkeley, which stands for Supervisor Training Program. LMCI paid all travel expenses and day wages to send three well- experienced Instructors to Chicago and put on this useful training for our Contractors' field supervisory personnel. The school provided classroom facilities, and our Industry Advancement Fund paid for meals and $500 rebates to each participating company to help compensate for employee time lost on the job.

Now the Finishing Industry Forum is coming up on November 12-15, 2007, and there's another chance for you to benefit from LMCI's work and investment. For the details on attending, there is an informational story above, in this issue of the Monitor.

In closing, I must observe that the STAR Program Awards Breakfast is coming up at this writing. This will be the first such event hosted by PDC14 for its members who have compiled the required hours of advanced skills training and safety training during the past year. Watch for our Dropcloth publication to see our feature story. Someone's getting a new truck out of this deal….

Until Later,

ON TO THE DOG DAYS…

Hard to believe, but we've already hit the midpoint of Summer, and soon the “dog days” of August will be here. I hope you're enjoying plenty of relaxing times with your family and finding time for a few getaway weekends. I am!

With this Monitor issue, all FCAC Contractor members are receiving another set of worksheets for their web page on chicagolandconstruction.com to fill out and submit directly to them. I urge you to take action on this important new membership benefit through a personalized web page on their site as well as a listing on our Directory page there. It won't cost you a dime, and, as you know, everything is going on the internet now...so don't get left out!

Every FCAC company can have a personalized page on chicagolandconstruction.com describing the kind of work it does, listing contact points, company personnel, and work specializations. They will even include three or four pictures of jobs and a company logo, if provided.

“Projects Out For Bid” will also be e-mailed to members who provide e-mail addresses to help them get new work. You may have a lot of work now, but what about the slower Winter months? It's nice to have something in the pipeline continuously, and the work appearing now will mostly commence later.

Turning from the Internet for a moment, I must also call your attention to enclosures announcing our next “STP” Seminars. STP is short for the LMCC “Supervisory Training Program.” Read up on the particulars, and you will see that this training really hits the mark for Contractors. We ran the training three years ago, and it was a real hit with all who attended.

This time, we will have both STP-I and STP-II offered. STP-I is three days of training, and will be conducted at the JATC Apprentice Training Center on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, October 2-3-4, 2007.

Advanced STP-II sessions will take place on Friday, October 5, 2007. Only Contractor personnel who have completed STP-I will be eligible to attend STP-II (but that includes those who have previously taken the STP-I coursework).

I cannot recommend any employee training more highly than the STP Seminars…bearing in mind that it's always hard to free up key employees for so much time away from work. But I can guarantee to you that they will return to work energized and more competent than ever to help your company make money and survive in an ever-tougher marketplace.

Finally, I must also call your attention to the next major event coming up, which will be our General Membership Meeting planned to be held September 12, 2007, at Maggiano's Little Italy in Chicago. This year, we have moved it downtown for the first time in years, and it will be held solely for the benefit of PDC14 Signatory Contractors, FCAC Members, and Chicago PDCA Associates. We also expect a good turnout of Union Officials from Painters' District Council No. 14, so by all means mark the date and plan to attend. This will be our main opportunity for the balance of this year to discuss the pressing issues we all share an interest in...so come prepared for a lively evening of fine food, ample refreshments, and fellowship with your compatriots!

Until Later,

SUMMER BECKONS…

Finally we have the mild weather to enjoy that we wait for through the long Chicago winter…and with it, the return of all that outdoor work. It looks like our hours are going up seasonally once again, and I hope you are getting your share of the work.

We have good news in the “getting work” department to announce to FCAC members in this issue. Beginning in June, all FCAC contractors will participate in a new web-based service designed to promote their companies and help bid new work. Go to chicagolandconstruction.com and take a look for yourself.

Each FCAC company will have its own page on the web site, describing the kind of work it does, listing contact points, company personnel, and work specializations. They will even include three or four pictures of jobs and a company logo, if provided.

All FCAC members will be listed in the web site Industry Directory and be accessible directly through direct web site and e-mail links.

Best of all, trade-specific Project Notifications will be e-mailed directly to each FCAC member to help them get new work. There are many jobs available through this web site that get lost in the cracks of the big national job tracking services, such as BidTracker, Reed’s Construction Data Service, and the Dodge Report. If you ever priced out those services, you know they are really beyond the reach of small and medium-sized contractors.

There will be considerable setup time involved for us to get this thing up and running…beginning with information forms that each member will have to fill out. I know, this is always a pain, but the effort will be repaid many times over for those who make it.

It used to be the big deal to print up a fancy color brochure and stick it in with bidding documents or leave it behind when making a call. Now the whole game has changed, and we have to change with the times.

Competition is fierce these days and you have to put out more bids for every job you actually get. Over 90% of construction industry decision-makers recently polled said that they turn to the Internet first when seeking information and/or sources.

Does your company have a web site? Do you use e-mail every day…or, are you still relying on faxes and snail mail?

If you fall into the latter classification, then maybe our affiliation with chicagolandconstruction.com will help get your company up-to-date without incurring a dime of out-of-pocket expense.

Every FCAC member will have direct access to this service, which is really catching fire throughout the Chicago area. You will be able to update your own page from time to time as needed and use the web site any time of day or night to find subcontractors you may need or look for new work to bid on.

Don’t be surprised if you start getting some e-mail and/or phone calls as a result of your listing. That’s what it’s supposed to do.

In closing, I must emphasize that FCAC’s web site venture on behalf of our members will only work if each member responds to the information requests we will be mailing out soon.

This is a grand opportunity for small companies and large to benefit from our newest membership benefit. Don’t get left out!

Until Later,

SWINGING INTO SPRING

Spring is here (at least for today)! And now our thoughts turn to getting that outdoor work done that’s been piling up during the long Winter months. I hope your book is full and that a profitable fair weather season awaits.

Meanwhile, your new FCAC Contractor Association is moving forward, too.

Sometimes, I’m asked, “Why are all these changes going on?” or “What is the point of it all?” Well, the way I look at it, an Association is just like a business, in the sense that there is no such thing as standing still or even maintaining the status quo. You either go forward, or you fall backward.

There will be no falling backward on my watch…we are charging into the future and making it happen on our own terms. That is why we have now created FCAC (the new Finishing Contractors Association of Chicago) to cast our lot with National FCA, which is an all-Union organization just like ours.

Now is the time to board our train. If you have not yet submitted your membership application (the yellow FCAC form), please do take action today. This membership is FREE! All it takes to join is a few minutes of your time to complete the form and FAX it back to us at 630/393-1393.

We will maintain our old PDCA Chapter as a parallel universe, however. For those who find value in National PDCA Membership, we will also continue offering FREE membership in Chicago PDCA. If you take a National PDCA membership on your own, then submit the similar pink Chicago PDCA form, paid dues receipt, and rebate coupon, we will then rebate half the cost of your National PDCA dues. Our National PDCA Charter, dating back to 1934, in fact requires all local PDCA contractor members to also carry National PDCA memberships.

Going forward, FCAC will be our Main Event on the fight card with our non-Union competition. It is the link that defines our relationship with our Union partners at Painters District Council No. 14, and, on a higher level, as a chapter of National FCA, with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades.

Through FCAC, we can not only hold the line on encroachments on our traditional work, but also fight to gain back lost markets.

To do this, we must first root out our enemy within…the few unscrupulous Union contractors who cheat on the Contract and steal jobs from us just like non-Union contractors. In fact, they are much worse, because they pose as legitimate Union contractors.

Therefore, we are ramping up our “Policing the Industry” effort to target the miscreants and we need your help. Send us a completed Complaint Form (copy enclosed) if you discover someone cheating, and we will follow up on the incident you call to our attention with help from PDC14.

Contractors caught violating Contract rules may be required to appear before a tribunal of Business Agents to discuss the problems and seek resolution.

More serious and habitual offenders can also be summoned to appear before our Joint Trade Board, which consists of a panel including both contractors and Union officials. At this level, it becomes serious. The Joint Trade Board has authority to levy severe fines for offenses.

Adjoining this column is a box setting forth “Six Major Requirements of the Contract” which represent the most common infractions resulting in contractors appearing before the BA tribunal and/or the Joint Trade Board. You can avoid such experiences by simply complying with all Contract provisions.

As time goes by, we will report on recent Joint Trade Board transactions and results in this space. It always makes for interesting reading….

Until Later,

9 GOOD INTENTIONS
FOR THE NEW YEAR AHEAD

My primary intention for this column is to give fellow contractor members of FCAC a “heads up” on certain key issues that are contained in our Collective Bargaining Agreement which require full compliance…and that may not be currently enforced strictly…but soon will be by Painters’ DC #14 and our routine auditing program.

Non-member contractors will have to fend for themselves during their next audit, but it is our (FCAC Board of Directors) hope that all of our regular members will gain compliance and thus have a hassle-free audit experience.

Some major points that you should keep in mind:

1. You must pay benefits on your apprentices for their day in school.

2. You must have a $5000.00 bond in place guaranteeing payment of fringe benefits (non-members need a full $15,000.00 bond).

3. You must have a current certificate of insurance on file at PDC #14.

4. You must report all of your current jobs, furnishing start dates, job descriptions, and locations.

5. You must report all overtime work, who’s working (names & locals), plus job locations, and dates.

6. You must submit “New Hire” cards promptly to PDC #14 when hiring a new painter.

7. You cannot employ non-Union helpers or laborers to perform jurisdictional work.

8. You cannot use non-Union subcontractors to perform jurisdictional work.

9. You must submit a “Subcontractor Reporting Form” when subcontracting jurisdictional work.

I sincerely hope that this will be a helpful reminder of our basic obligations as professional Union Painting Contractors working in the Painters District Council No. #14 jurisdiction.

In saying this, I also seek your support in helping us make our area the Gold Standard for legitimate Union Painting and Decorating Contractors.

At this writing, we are preparing a number of other enclosures to accompany this mailing of the Monitor newsletter, including two forms for our Contractors to use. We absolutely need the yellow FCAC form filled out completely and submitted by everyone. This will help us update our records for FCAC.

The other membership form is optional, and should only be submitted by Union Painting Contractors who wish to renew (or start) their

memberships in National PDCA. I should reiterate that we will provide a 50% rebate on paid National PDCA dues to anyone who finds National membership useful in their business. We mailed out the rebate coupon and National PDCA application form with the last Monitor, but you may also call the office for more information. Basically, just pay your National PDCA dues, send us a receipt, and we’ll give you back half.

On the lighter side, you’ll find my cover note and an invitation to join us on 1/26/07 for President’s Night, which commences our year of official Membership Meetings. This year, we will again enjoy the music of Strait Southern, which is a great band. If you haven’t attended a President’s Night recently, please try this one. You’ll find a roomful of fun and friendship as our Associates and PDC14 Union officials join us for an evening of fellowship and fresh memories.

Looking a little farther down the road, you will also find invitations for our 3/22/07 Associates Night, which returns to the Rosewood Restaurant for 2007, and the 6/15/07 PDCA/FCA Golf Outing, which will again be held at beautiful Bloomingdale Golf Club. Our Associates Group invests a terrific amount of effort in planning and staging these major events, and we’d appreciate your blocking in the dates on your 2007 calendar as must-attend occasions.

While we’re talking about the Golf Outing, you may also want to loosen up your wallet a bit (other than the usual friendly wagering during play!). Why not consider becoming an official sponsor? Last year’s successful event resulted in a historic donation of $10,000.00 being made by the Associates to the JATC-DFTC Apprentice School. It’s too early to forecast if such generosity will again be possible, but it surely gave a shot in the arm to the school last year. We’ll be beating that drum all Winter long in high hopes for a repeat performance. Following this advance notice, you will receive more mail about the details on sponsorship opportunities.

That’s it for now…you now have nine Resolutions for the New Year to gain compliance with the Union on our Collective Bargaining Agreement, plus three major events to attend coming up soon

• January 26, 2007 President’s Night (Rosewood)
• March 22, 2007 Associate’s Night (Rosewood)
• June 15, 2007 Golf Outing (Bloomingdale G.C.)

Until Later,

GETTING A FRESH
START FOR 2007…

As I write this, we have just completed our annual Christmas Luncheon at Maggiano’s in Oak Brook…enjoying a great turnout of 105 for a very festive occasion highlighted by great Italian food and the camaraderie we have come to enjoy so much at this time of year.

Two important transactions took place during the Business Meeting portion of our agenda for the day. Being the occasion for our official election, the membership appointed Scott Hall (Triangle Decorating) and Allan DeLange (CL Coatings) as new members of our Board of Directors, and re-elected veteran Board Member/Past President Jeff Castles (Ascher Brothers Company) to continue on the Board. They will be installed next month at our January 26, 2007, President’s Night dinner at the Rosewood Restaurant in Rosemont.

The second big decision was a unanimous vote among the Contractor Members present and proxied to transfer Collective Bargaining Rights from Chicago PDCA to our new association, FCAC (the Finishing Contractors Association of Chicago).

I spent considerable ink in the last column relating reasons for taking this important step, and much of that information will be condensed and reprinted in the forthcoming Winter issue of The Dropcloth publication, which will reach your mailboxes in January. As we move forward as your contractor association in 2007 we will emphasize our affiliation with the National FCA (it has 100% Union Contractor membership) and de-emphasize our relationship with National PDCA…predominately a non-Union organization. You will notice that we will increasingly refer to our organization in 2007 and beyond as FCAC and not PDCA of Chicago.

We feel strongly, as a Board, that this step is really in the best interests of our Contractor membership and will prove very beneficial in the coming years as we build on our partnership with Painters’ District Council #14 to improve our market share and professionalism of our industry (Union painting & decorating). Much the same process is taking place in other strong Union markets, including New York City, Los Angeles, St. Louis, and Minneapolis.

The startup of our new organization, FCAC, represents our primary focus for the first part of 2007. This month, we sent out some hefty information packets to all Contractor members with my cover letter explaining the situation and urging all of you to complete some forms we must have to update your files at our office. That mailing included membership forms for both FCAC and Chicago PDCA, but the only one we really need back is the yellow FCAC form.

The pink form for 2007 membership in Chicago PDCA is optional, and only necessary if you wish to continue or start a national membership with National PDCA. Some contractors may find this beneficial, and if so, you can submit the 50% rebate coupon after you have paid your National PDCA dues directly to them. We will then rebate to you half of your national dues (just another benefit of your membership in FCAC/PDCA Chicago).

Moving forward, we will have two local associations, FCAC and Chicago PDCA. Only the Contractor members who belong to National PDCA will be part of Chicago PDCA, and our Associates will still be in Chicago PDCA. FCAC will encompass all our Union Contractor association members, whether they belong to National PDCA or not. It’s as simple as that.

Don’t miss January 26th, (President’s Night)! We’ll install our new directors, have a great dinner at the Rosewood Restaurant in Rosemont and have some fun with Straight Southern, a terrific band that plays southern rock and county music. Please make it a point to join us.

Enough business already. Now let’s kick back for the balance of our Holiday Season and focus on what’s really important in life…our families and friends. They are the ones who give true meaning to our daily lives, and they should take priority all year long …but especially at this time of year.

I wish you all the best at Christmas and for the New Year ahead…in both your personal and business lives.

Until Later,

GRAND TRADITIONS
JUST KEEP ON COMING

In Chicago, nothing beats putting together a Winning Team. With the Sox copping a World Series last year and the Bears running 7-0 this season, it’s only a matter of time until the Cubs wake up.

Our Association is like those teams, in the sense that we need to keep re-inventing it. Times change, players change, markets move, and for us to survive and prosper, we can never remain static.

It seems like PDCA has always been there. Several generations of Contractors and Associates have worked through their careers thinking of it as the umbrella covering our industry and uniting it. Locally, we called it Chicago PDCA, the Chicago Painting & Decorating Contractors Association. On the national level, it was known widely as the Painting & Decorating Contractors of America.

In Chicago, we’ve had a good run with PDCA. Our local group incorporated in 1933, and was granted a National PDCA Charter as a Chapter in 1937. By 1942, Chicago PDCA had grown so large that it was granted another Charter as a Council. We have always been an all-Union affiliate of the National PDCA. Elsewhere in the country, however, PDCA has become mostly a non-Union organization in recent years. Nevertheless, we still support National PDCA by offering membership rebates and maintain both our Chapter and Council status.

In the late 1980’s, Chicago PDCA established an Industry Advancement Fund (IAF) to promote the industry. Since that time, it has sponsored publications, run advertising, hosted seminars, offered 50/50 clothing and brochure programs, and provided funding for many industry meetings. Our IAF is the mechanism which supports the entire Union Painting & Decorating industry in Chicago.

Meanwhile, in the late 1990’s, a new and totally-Union organization, FCA (the Finishing Contractors Association), was established to become a rallying point for Union painting contractors in the major markets. Chicago PDCA had a major role in founding the FCA, and remains one of its principal financial supporters. As such, we have become an affiliate of National FCA and started calling ourselves Chicago PDCA/FCA several years ago.

Now we are taking this newer relationship to the next level by establishing the Finishing Contractors Association of Chicago, or FCAC for short. FCAC will be a new Chapter of National FCA, and we will use this new local association to build our partnerships with Painters District Council No. 14 and IUPAT, the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. To hear all about it, attend our Chicago PDCA/FCA Christmas Luncheon at Maggiano’s Little Italy in Oak Brook on December 13th.

SORTING OUT OUR
ALPHABET STEW

There you have it. First, PDCA. Then, IAF. Now, FCAC. It may seem a little confusing, so we make it easier by calling our two Contractor Associations “Chicago PDCA/FCA” for short. Meanwhile, we just call the Industry Advancement Fund our IAF.

Chicago PDCA will continue its long history, and remain available for interested companies to join on the National level. We will continue incentives to defray National PDCA dues, and maintain our local Chapter as it we have since 1933. Associate Members will continue being Chicago PDCA Associates.

The IAF will soldier on, doing its best to promote the Industry as a whole.

Meanwhile, we’ll focus more on FCA of Chicago in terms of developing and promoting our local Union painting industry. Going forward, FCAC will become our Main Event for building a Winning Team in the Chicago market. As a bonus, all Associate Members will automatically be given FCAC Associate status at no extra cost.

That wasn’t so hard, was it? Just imagine that now we have three legs to stand on…and what could be more stable than a tripod?

Later,

JATC & DFTC APPRENTICE CREWS
        FINISH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

The JATC/DFTC Apprentice Training Center undertook an ambitious Charitable Project this Fall in the town of Harvey for Habitat for Humanity.

First, DFTC Apprentice Training Coordinator Ed Bogdan and his crew of drywall finishing students taped the entire house, including two bedrooms, two baths, a kitchen, and a living room.

On their heels followed a painting crew dispatched by JATC Apprentice Training Coordinator Jim Watte and supervised by Instructor Mike Krawiec. The student painting crew primed, painted, and finish-coated the house in five different colors in just one day.

DONATIONS WILL BE MUCH APPRECIATED FROM BOTH CONTRACTORS & VENDORS! THE JATC/DFTC APPRENTICE SCHOOL CAN USE…

• 54” COMMERCIAL VINYL
• WALLPAPER & WALLCOVERINGS
• WHITE & OFF-WHITE PAINT
• TOOLS & EQUIPMENT
• FAUX FINISH PRODUCTS
• ZOLA-TONE & MULTI-SPEC PAINT
• DRYWALL BOARD
• DRYWALL COMPOUNDS
• DRYWALL TOOLS

SUMMERTIME THOUGHTS

Hello, fellow contractors ...here it's mid-Summer, and already it seems as if both of our baseball teams are going into the tank. Oh well, wait until next year. What else can you do?

Don't wait, that's what! We have all kinds of things going on this Summer and coming up for Fall and Winter to keep your mind off the state of baseball.

Too late now, in case you missed the recent Open House held at the JATC-DFTC Training Center, held in Berkeley on July 19, 2006. It was a great opportunity to tour the finest painting and drywall finishing school in the country. Guided tours were conducted through the school and a fine luncheon spread provided.

Running a first-class school gives us a real edge, and I hope every contractor member uses the advantage of hiring apprentices. They help us compete effectively financially, but also infuse our work force with highly-trained "fresh" manpower.

Getting back to the action, you can still attend our joint Membership Meeting next month, on September 20th at Maggiano's Little Italy in Oak Brook. This is always one of our biggest meetings of the year...and your opportunity to network with your fellow contractors, Union officials, and Associate Members from both PDC14 and PDC30. Join us that evening to find out what's going on within our industry...but you'll have an enjoyable experience to boot, with Ken Mate our headliner for entertainment.

That same day, an LMCI "STP-II" (Supervisory Training Program will be held for those who already took the "STP-I" course. We had 22 Contractors previously take the STP-I three-day training, but the follow-up course only takes one day. I hope all 22 gentlemen return for the advanced course.

September 21st and 22nd follow on the heals of the Joint Membership Meeting with the first FCA Midwest Regional Conference, being conducted at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago. FCA will present a full afternoon with dynamic Keynote

Speaker Norb Slowikowski leading off with his presentation on "Hardhat Productivity" and there will follow panel discussions of both Owners/Developers and General Contractors keyed to an audience of Union officials and Subcontractors. The IUPAT will follow on Friday with Labor-Management sessions hosted by General President Jim Williams.

Finally, September will also bring Bob Cusumano back to town for a "Blueprint Reading & Estimating" Seminar. The IAF will be offering six scholarships to Contributing Contractor firms, good for 50% of the Tuition fee of $1150.00 upon completion of the course (limited to one attendee per company). I highly recommend this 3-day Seminar for both new employees to learn the basics as well as veterans seeking a few fresh ideas. Bob is widely respected as the father of the "PDCA Standards" series, he is a past national President of PDCA, and he travels widely as an expert consultant on coatings problems.

On another topic, some contractor members have already realized a competitive edge by enrolling their office personnel in the Painters District Council No.14 Welfare plan. This gives non-bargaining employees excellent health coverage benefits a savings. Please contact OBA Midwest at 630/960-3322 for the details.

Have I made my point about where the action is? If you're not currently involved in Chicago PDCA/FCA events and programs, you're really missing out on the many opportunities we tailor to benefit your business. The Apprentice Program, the social functions, the educational seminars, and the health insurance all make us the place to get connected!

That said, I hope everyone enjoys an awesome summer…even if our baseball teams don't.

THOUGHTS AT LARGE...

We just finished up the first round of Chicago’s annual Cross Town Classic, and whether you’re a Cubs fan or a Sox fan, it really does signal that Summer is here. I hope everyone is busy, that the work backlog is good, and that we’re all making money. That may sound optimistic, but, hey... Chicago even brought home a World Series trophy this past Fall for the first time in, what, 88 years? So maybe we’ll all have great years in 2006!

To survive and prosper as Union Contractors, we must continue exploring new ways to separate ourselves from the non-Union competition, Don’t forget to promote the STAR program with your own employees…stressing that it will make them a much more valuable asset to the firm than the painter who doesn’t or won’t participate.

Another way to separate ourselves from non-Union competition is beginning now to prepare for a possible bird flu pandemic. I know...what if it never happens, we’ll look like idiots. But what if it does happen? Most experts agree it’s not a matter of if, but when. Will your individual residential customers or your commercial customers allow service people in their homes or buildings? How long will it last? What precautions can be taken? Can we test our employees and certify them as healthy? Can we inoculate them and certify them as non-transmitters? This is not an original idea of mine... these thoughts on the bird flu came from a Contractor friend over breakfast, but the more we talked, the more I became convinced that this has the potential to stifle the service industry businesses more than 9/11.

As a Contractor group, and in league with our Union partners, we need to become proactive and make policies and procedures to deal with what could well become a crippling crisis for our industry. If we start now, we can be prepared to respond to this situation. You know the non-Union contractor won’t be. And if, by some miracle, it doesn’t happen, I can put up with people calling me “Chicken Little” because we can well recall a famous hunting guide once advising, “Expect the best but prepare for the worst.”

That said, my thoughts turn outdoors to warm days and the recreational opportunities we face...not the least of which is the forthcoming Chicago PDCA Golf Classic. Our outing moves to Bloomingdale Golf Club this year on June 16th, and the Associates have planned a fabulous outing at the new venue.

We should all get behind this event, which is one of our major opportunities to gather for fellowship and friendly combat. Please note the enclosed flyer offering Sponsorship opportunities and give if you can...the proceeds allow our Associates to host a really fine event and help fund their other activities during the year.

In closing, I should acknowledge the outstanding Associates Night Tradeshow we enjoyed on March 16th at the Embassy Suites in Chicago. This year, for one time only, Associates Night was imbedded in the “Heart of America” regional PDCA Convention and we journeyed downtown for a different kind of experience. The setting was very deluxe and the atmosphere quite festive. Upwards of 300 attendees enjoyed a truly fine experience. Returning to our previous location at the Rosewood Restaurant in Rosemont is likely for 2007, and the Associates are considering carrying over some features from this year, such as the continuous food buffet, rather than a sit-down meal. I look forward to it!

"NEW BEGINNINGS"

Hello, fellow contractors…I hope 2006 has gotten off to a good start for you, and that it will be a prosperous year for all of us in the Union Painting and Decorating field. There is no way that I can measure up to Marty when it comes to writing these columns, so I won't even to try being funny or witty. "Just the facts," as Sgt. Joe Friday used to say…I'll just call the shots as I see them.

With that in mind, I want to explore where our industry is headed in the next few years… and what we must do as a Union contractor organization to get there in good shape. The two biggest challenges we face as Chicago PDCA/FCA contractors are non-Union competition and (from within) the non-compliant Union competition.

First, let's address the latter, for it will become a top priority of our Chicago PDCA/FCA in its partnership with the Union, Painters' District Council #14, to more effectively police our own Union contractors to ensure that all shops play by the same rules. We will be allocating significant resources to accomplish this goal, so all payments due are paid into our jointly-managed trust funds. We have already had discussions with PDC14 on how best to proceed with this objective. Furthermore, I must encourage all of you to contact the Chicago PDCA/FCA office with any information regarding another Union contractor you suspect of not playing by our collective bargaining rules. It is the only way we can make the playing field level.

Secondly, Union contractors must collectively do everything within our power to distance ourselves from our non-Union competitors. We must take the necessary steps to ensure that our Union workers are drug free…that they are the safest, best-trained, most professional, and most respected workers in the industry. We already have the tools in place to accomplish this goal. If we fail, we have no one to blame but ourselves.

We have an excellent drug testing program in place that hardly anyone uses. We have one of the finest Apprenticeship training programs in the nation that we should all utilize fully. Our apprentices graduate with OSHA 10 & 30-hour training, City of Chicago Scaffold training, Respirator Fit Testing & Use, OSHA Fall Protection training, First Aid/CPR, and much, much more.

Now, we are initiating a brand new, first-rate safety training and incentive program for our journeymen called "STAR" that could have a HUGE (see Marty, I do remember George Hedley, too) impact upon our collective safety records…helping to reduce insurance costs and overhead. In addition, the Journeyman upgrading courses offered through the Apprentice school help our employees gain the skills they need to succeed and become productive, valued employees. We, as contractors, must encourage our employees to participate in these programs, educate ourselves on how they work, and implement them.

Lastly, I must reiterate that we exist as a contractor organization precisely to help educate our membership and to provide the members with the tools to become successful. It truly pays dividends to become involved and participate with the Chicago PDCA/FCA. We are the only organization that represents the Union Painting Contractor in Chicago, Cook, Lake, Will and Grundy Counties and have your best interests at heart.

Now, how about this…Chicago PDCA/FCA, partnering with Painters' District Council #14, is producing a new marketing brochure that will highlight the many reasons why building and project managers should hire Union contractors, specifically Chicago PDCA/FCA member contractors. This brochure will stress many of the same truths I have highlighted in this column about the clear superiority of Union painters and decorators.

The best part of this whole deal? District Council #14 Business Agents and Organizers will distribute the brochure to building managers, project managers, architects, and property managers. It doesn't get any better than that...our partners at PDC14 are going to help market us.

So, I'll close with that news. Here's to a great '06...now let's all pitch in!

The Last Roundup...

Hello again . . . and welcome back for the last edition of "a few words." I realize that sometimes my few words have turned into many, many words . . . but hope that you have enjoyed reading these columns for the last two years as much as I have enjoyed writing them.

It has been like taking Creative Writing 101 in night school, trying to come up with the fun facts and figures, create the satire, work in the hidden song lyrics, and relay the tales from strange-but-true real life experiences.

The holidays have now come and gone, and we are just flying into 2006. We are now in the grasp of winter and it is time to hunker down for that long hibernation. And I do mean hunker; did you get your gas bill yet? WHOA! Put another sweater on, throw another log on the fire, then rustle up some bacon and some beans. Now is the time to pull the throttle back and head to Florida for a few months.

For a moment now, I would like to draw your attention to recapping some of the past year's highlights. This year, we partnered with PDC14 to launch an innovative new job safety training/journeyman upgrade program called STAR which will take effect in early 2006. Planning continues on STAR, but we know that the program will offer participating painters who qualify by working the required number of safe hours on the job an opportunity to win substantial prizes in drawings to be conducted at the end of the year (major appliances, home entertainment equipment, tools, wearing apparel, and perhaps even a pickup truck). Our hope is to surpass the already-excellent job safety record of our contractors.

Saddened by the plight of our fellow countrymen who suffered the ravages of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the association contributed $15,000.00 to the Gulf Coast Relief Effort. Our brothers at Painters District Council No. 14 did even more, contributing an astounding $100,000.00 to the relief efforts. Working together, Union contractors and their Union

partners around the country have generously donated millions of dollars this year to relieve the suffering of Gulf Coast residents and provide them with housing, food, clothing, and jobs.

We also undertook a charitable painting project at Ace Tech High school on the south side of Chicago to assist this Charter School in its mission of providing educational opportunities for disadvantaged and minority youths in such challenging career fields as architecture, engineering, and construction. Some graduates of Ace Tech High School will ultimately enter degree programs at institutions of higher learning. Others will flow into the construction trades Apprenticeship programs, with plans to become painters, tapers, plumbers, electricians, or carpenters.

Looking forward to the New Year ahead, our Associates group Trade show will anchor the 2006 Heart of America convention on March 16th at the Embassy Suites Hotel on Columbus Drive. This year's trade show is expected to draw attendees from seven states across mid America and promises to be HUGE this year (remember George Hedley and his Hard Hat Seminars?  Everything was HUGE!!!).

Even sooner, our first event of the year is approaching and this year's Presidents Night promises epic proportions. No soft jazz or proper behavior this year. A lively country band (Strait Southern) is on tap, so dust off those cowboy boots and shine up that oversized belt buckle for a wild ride on that proverbial "mechanical bull" of an evening.

I'll leave you with the words of one Michael Murphy, "I just want to be a cosmic cowboy, I just want to ride and rope, and hoot. I'm gonna buy me a vest and head out west." See you all at the Rosewood Ranch on January 20th.

Seasons Change
. . . And So Do I

You needn't wonder why the South Side is still buzzing with excitement because the Chicago White Sox have emerged as the best team in baseball.

For the first time in 88 years, Chicago has a World Series Champion. Congratulations to the good guys wearing black!  And thank you for a fabulously successful, most memorable season.

The leaves have changed and they are falling down fast. The air is crisp, the Summer drought is a distant memory, and the holiday season is upon us now. It is high time to wrap up those outsides and finish the year strong before we hunker down for our long Winter hibernation.

From the reports I hear, the future is so bright we should wear shades. The Union halls are empty, unemployment at the Apprenticeship School is a low 3%, and some crews are working extra shifts on nights and weekends for mucho dinero. That should provide for grand presents for a Feliz Navidad this year!

However, let us not forget, when life looks like Easy Street, there is danger at your door. If you are still not aware of the some of the changes in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, allow me to just remind a few of you out there again that jobs and overtime (i.e. nights and weekends) must be reported to District Council 14 and (of course) appropriate wages and benefits must be paid.

Speaking of changes, there have been some realignments of personnel and assignments in the Union ranks that you may or may not be aware of. Let me take a moment to update the Business Agent lineup card for you. Mr. John Hull has filled the vacancy left by Tony Munari's passing. Mr. Larry Thomas has taken over the duties left when Bobby Holder retired, and Mr. Andrew Perch has assumed the role from his father Joe Perch, who has also retired. Terry Fitzmaurice's assumption of Secretary/Treasurer duties when Jerry Harms retired has left a void now filled by Mr. Ron Haftl.

New organizer positions were also created, and (for the painters) Frank Sustersic and Mike Conrad are on board while (for the tapers) Hugo Manzo is hard at work.

Feel free to call the District Council 14 office anytime if you need help with a problem. You will then be directed to the appropriate Business Agent handling the geographical jurisdiction where you may need assistance. We are, after all, on the same page, and every time I call the District Council office everyone there has been most helpful. With active management support and participation, beefed up Union ranks, and perhaps some help from a private investigator to follow up on abuses of the system, we can work together to make this industry better for all.

There is a new program being launched in January that will separate us another notch from our non-Union counterparts. The STAR program is a continuing education program designed to promote safety and Journeyman upgrade skills. The focus now will be to offer every worker an OSHA 10-hour Training Certification.

This will be coupled with new skills upgrade courses such as wallcovering installation, wood finishing, and decorative finishes, along with a full spectrum of safety classes covering topics ranging from fall protection to CPR/first aid to ladder and scaffold safety. It's an exciting new program offered and supported jointly by labor and management. Class attendees will have chances to win impressive incentive prizes once the eligibility requirements are met, class work is completed, and limits of safe hours of worked in the field are attained. More specific information will follow shortly. The most important thing now is to encourage your men to attend. We can have the best-trained, most productive work force available if we just put in the effort now to upgrade training and skills enhancement.

Just over a year ago, at our Fall Membership Meeting featuring "Big Jim Thompson," John Benoit (Benoit Painting) was talking to me about his idea for creating different classifications of journeyman based upon skill levels determined by a Union-administered test. Well John, some folks out west were thinking along the same lines as your idea, and it has become a reality.

In negotiations with IUPAT PDC#5, Seattle's Union contractors agreed to an innovative new 5-year agreement that creates 5 different grades of journeyman painter, each paid differently based upon a JATF-administered skills test. Wage rates range from $19.00 to $25.00 depending on the classification. Training classes are being made available to those wishing to upgrade their skills and corresponding compensation level. Similar to our STAR program, the classes are the same. Seattle's incentive is higher wages and ours is prizes. Now, which city do you think will have a higher participation percentage?

In closing, let us now focus on giving thanks for what we have and on the most important things in life . . . like family and health. Everyone have a great holiday season and I look forward to our December meeting at Maggiano's in Oak Brook on December 14th . . .

Hello again and greetings to all. The summer has ended, autumn is upon us, and the "good guys wearing black" are still looking forward to post season play in October. The "monsters of the midway" will be entertaining us on Sunday afternoons and I wish them well in this upcoming season. The season is barely underway and already I find myself mumbling, "wait until next year".

A heartfelt congratulation goes out to all 77 recipients of this year's scholarship money. Of the $180,000.00 in the scholarship fund, $150,000.00 was distributed to the deserving applicants. Good luck to all the students as they head to college this fall. These fine young men and women are our future and the pennies per hour that you pay every month is a great investment. The scholarships awarded help ease the financial burden immensely for the students and their families and is a great member benefit to have.

Unless you've been under a rock for a while, you have been in shock over the devastation from hurricane Katrina. The damage from the wind and rain, coupled with the levee breaks, has left many

people homeless with no place to stay having only the clothes on their backs. Images being shown everyday from the media coverage and the stories of suffering being told from the survivors are horrifying. Jimmy Page said it best when he sang, "All last night people sat on the levee and moaned". We have no idea yet just how many thousands of souls have perished from this monumental meteorological catastrophe. The FCA and the IUPAT will work together to provide what aid we can to help the victims. Our fellow FCA/IUPAT members who have been impacted by this disaster would surely appreciate any support of this joint effort.

So unless you get fired soon, I look forward to seeing you all on the evening of September 14th at Maggiano's, in Oak Brook.

"HOW LOW CAN YOU GO?"

Hello again, and welcome back! We're at the All-Star Break already, and I can still hear the fireworks going off from my office. The "good guys" wearing black still have the best record in baseball and now hold a commanding lead in their division. I hope to still hear the fireworks in October. There are mosquitoes on the river, fish are rising up like birds, it's been hot for seven weeks now, and the drought is on. I hope everyone reading this today is enjoying a fun and safe Summer.

School is starting back up soon for some, but has ended for others. A heart-felt congratulations goes out to the 88 men and women who graduated from the Apprenticeship program celebrated on June 24th. These fine young professionals were all smiles upon reaching this important milestone in their lives. We truly have a great JATC program with a first class staff of instructors. The foundation for a fulfilling career has been laid. Best wishes to all and good luck with your future careers.

I recently read two short articles from the Chicago Tribune under the DIY Project column. Whenever the subject matter is a painting project, I always sit up, take notice, and wonder, "Is there a chance we might recapture this lost market?" Basically, the newspaper articles analyze what a contractor would charge for the work versus the cost & labor of "doing it yourself."

One article dealt with the painting of dark wood paneling. The work involved a 12 X 20 room to be solvent-washed, followed by an ammonia/water rinse coat, one coat of shellac-based primer, and 2 finish coats of quality paint. The contractor estimate was $225.00 with the material cost at $75.00. Subtracting the difference ($150.00) yields the labor portion. If you figure a man for the day to do the work, I come up with $18.75/hour for their labor rate. This gives you an idea of where the "Paint gives paneling a fresh look" interior residential market is.

Another DIY article dealt with painting vinyl siding. The job consisted of a 1000-square-foot house (say 25 X 40) needing a thorough pressure washing followed by a coat of water-based acrylic exterior paint. The contractor estimate was $1,150.00 with $150.00 of that dedicated to the expense of the paint and cleaning supplies. The labor was estimated to be 30 hours. (I find it hard to believe the work wouldn't be done in a multiple of eight) So a quick calculation of $1,000.00 divided by 30 hours yields an hourly rate of

$33.33 giving us an idea of where the "Top coat can freshen look of faded vinyl siding" market is.

I recently had the chance to personally recapture some lost market share but failed in my attempt due to pricing issues. The work was originally lost to a second-shift building engineer painting offices as side jobs after hours or on weekends. He moved on from the building, which opened the door for a contractor to pick up the work. The tenant office manager, however, decided to oppose the building manager's recommendation and use an inexpensive non-Union contractor from Des Plaines who had done some work at their other facility locations. For $125.00 (a small office) or $145.00 (a large office), the work would be done on overtime, including the furniture moving. Even factoring in the so-called "work rules" we discussed in the last Monitor (such as the floating 40-hour work week, the undocumented employees, etc.), I still couldn't make it compute on paper...let alone with the legitimate pricing we use daily. Now, which is worse, losing the work to a Union building engineer doing side jobs, or losing the work to a non-Union contractor? Can you feel the frustration here folks? AAAARRRRGGHH!!!

So, let's go back to the market recovery idea. Can we afford the work we have lost (such as paneling painting) in the $18.75/hour range? I say no, it is too far-gone and the work is done way too cheaply.

Can we afford to recapture such work (residential exteriors and commercial office space) in the $33.00 per hour range? I say we can't afford not to try. This, however, would take radical thinking, way outside the box. I've seen railings being painted on North Michigan Avenue by custodial staff, and just learned that bricklayers and tuck pointers have been applying clear waterproofing materials and Modac coatings to masonry exteriors for years now. It seems to me that the painters deserve to take back some of the work that has been lost to other jurisdictions.

Enjoy the rest of your Summer, while it lasts...and good luck bidding against the in-house custodial staff and our non-Union competition painting contractors.

"Rules, rules, rules.
Are Rules made to be broken?"

Welcome back to another edition of the Monitor. The grass is green, the birds are singing, and I can hear the fireworks from 35th street. How about those White Sox!

I recently stopped by the Painters District Council 14 office and witnessed some of the skills our apprentices possess. Under the direction of Mike Krawiec, I saw first hand some of the finest decorating work completed. There was more work in progress, with fabulous results to be revealed shortly. My visit confirmed my opinion that our apprentices do graduate out of the program better trained and more knowledgeable about the industry than in years past. Personal kudos to all the staff at our Berkeley facility that provides the training for our future work force.

I once had a new employee who, after a few weeks on the job, caused me to notice a few apprentice-type mistakes being made. I asked the man how he became a painter and when had he graduated from Washburn? He responded that he used to drive a truck for a living, but always enjoyed painting on the side for friends and relatives. He said that "painting was easy, anyone can do it, and you make big money."

So, he bought his card and officially became part of the work force as a union member. Not quite the response I was looking for, but it was the answer I was given. The brush and roller work was adequate, but his lack of official training was soon apparent. Simple apprentice mistakes were really no big deal, but the skills one expects from a journeyman weren't there. Paint material was over-ordered on jobs because the proper spread rates weren't calculated, color and stain mixing/matching couldn't be done with any accuracy, wallcovering installation...fawgetaboutit!

When asked, "Can you operate a pressure washer?" The man's answer was affirmative. Later, I found out the surfaces were washed without the benefit of soap because he didn't know how to connect the siphon tube that mixes the soap with water. Just keep repeating to yourselves, "painting is easy, anyone can do it, you make big money."

When I asked my 17-year-old son recently what he wanted to do for a living when he grows up, he responded that he wants an easy job where you make lots of money. I chuckled to myself and recommended that he become a painter. We can start with a faux finishing seminar offered by Home Depot on Saturday morning.

Now I'd like to turn attention the job-reporting requirement in our contract with Painters District Council 14. Article XII, section 4, states that the employer will report to the union, in writing, all jobs before beginning work on them. Employers failing to report their work can be assessed liquidated damages in an amount determined by the Joint Trade Board. Currently, the going rate is $2,000.00 per unreported job. In addition to fines, any employer failing to comply with the reporting requirements can be required to furnish a $30,000.00 bond for the life of the contract. It's so simple to comply, I don't understand why would anyone risk the fine or the increased bonding requirement.

Enclosed for your use are a few simple forms for job reporting and subcontractor use. Feel free

to use your own format. Also enclosed is a job complaint form. This can be used to report jobs that are not yours but where you feel that something might be "rotten in Denmark."

Here is a quick example. Say you bid on a simple occupied tenant repaint job scheduled for a weekend and two bids come in at $8,995.00 and $9,000.00. The third bid comes in at $6,000.00. You can only assume at this point that the low man is using the "Floating 40-hour week" work rule or the "Cash for weekends" work rule. The use of such "rules" must be reported to the District Council when employed. It is possible that a double-breasted shop could be the low bidder. With a price advantage, that non-union crew can go in on the weekend and capture the work.

Have you ever heard this: "Days, nights, weekends, it doesn't matter, and it's the same low price." This is commonly the sales pitch of a double-breasted company. Whichever bogus work rule is being used, the District Council will surely have a keen interest.

I personally had a man call seeking employment that was so desperate for work that he offered to work for less than union scale. This would be the offer to me from the man to utilize the "Work 40 hours but get paid for less" work rule. There is also another variation of this "rule" out there being utilized which results in the same net effect. It's the "Only report on a fraction of the employees" work rule. This is where you report on say 10, or 20, or 30 men but really employ more like 40, or 50, or 80.

I've had men in the past offer to work using the "Cash for weekends" rule. The men who wanted to take advantage of that work rule were really sold on the benefit. You might not need the hours reported because you worked enough in the quarter or have enough hours in the bank for health insurance. You're well on your way to a pension credit for the year; there are no taxes for Uncle Sam taken out, no dues check off, no political action deduction, etc. If you couple an unscrupulous contractor with a willing employee, the rules of the game can bend, change, and even new ones can be created.

You can also have an employee in a compromised position that is taken advantage of. The compromised position comes into play usually when the English language is not well spoken or understood by the employee or when the employee is new to this country. It's unfortunate, but over the years I've personally seen employees get taken advantage of because they had recently emigrated from Russia or spoke only Polish, or had a Hispanic background. Usually the man's job is held over his head and he is bamboozled into working for less than scale under the threat that he will lose his job "if he causes trouble." Until that man can come forward and tell his story, these abuses will continue.

In short, the existence of rules makes it likely that people will break them. Truly legitimate contractors abide by real rules.

Enough preaching...let Summer begin!

"Spring Is On The Way...Time To Un-hibernate!"

Hello again and greetings to all. Our snow has melted, the days are getting longer, and our daytime temps are warming up. Soon our pumps will be humming, our stages will be swinging, and our rollers will be rolling. Our painters will awaken from their winter hibernation slumber and full employment will be achieved once again barring any more unforeseen economic setbacks.

March madness is here now and I would like to send out a "high 5" to any Illini fans and alums and wish our great roundball warriors in Champaign the best of luck in the upcoming NCAA tournament. Before you know it, we will be hearing the crack of the bat once again as our April opening days are just around the corner.

I would like at this time to put in a plug for one of our premier events of the year, Associates Night. It is being held this year on Wednesday March 16th at the Rosewood Restaurant and Banquet hall in Rosemont. I feel honored to be able to work with such a great group of people throughout the year. We as an industry are fortunate to have such hard-working and knowledgeable partners in profit. If at all possible, make every attempt to come out that night and say thank you to the sales and support staff people who work hard to earn your business.

I was recently informed about a bill working its way through the Illinois General Assembly and would like to share its intent with you. It's about fair contracting and survival in the competitive market of public works. It's called the "Prevailing Wage Certified Payroll Amendment." Representative Lou Lang introduces House Bill 0188 and senator Debbie DeFrancesco Halverson introduces Senate Bill 0076. This amendment provides that, while they are participating on public works projects, each contractor and subcontractor shall submit weekly a certified payroll to the public body in charge of that project. Because of under-funding and lack of personnel at the Illinois Department of Labor, fair contractors continue to struggle when bidding public works projects. Non-union contractors continue to take advantage of a system they know will inadvertently protect them. The Union contractors that pay fair wages and benefits cannot compete. Because of the inability to keep cheating contractors or non-Union contractors in check, honest Union contractors can no longer survive in the public works market.

So what can you do? How can you help? Write, call, or e-mail your State Representative and State Senator and tell them you support the bill (820 ILCS 130/5) "Prevailing Wage Certified Payroll Amendment." You can find out more about this by calling the Foundation for Fair Contracting at 815-254-3332.

A disturbing trend continues and I often wonder what the future will hold. The erosion of Union density in the construction industry continues. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, for example, has recently released data showing that the percentage of construction workers represented by Unions continues to decline. In spite of the economic recovery and record employment in construction in 2004, only 14.7% of all construction workers were members of Building Trade Unions. This compares with 16% in 2003, 17.2% in 2002, and 18.1% in 2001.

Speaking of downward trends, the current hours being worked for the Chicago Painters have not yet felt the so-called "recovery" we would have hoped to have seen by now. Since our peak last July of 512,169 current hours worked, the numbers have lagged in my expectations. With the following months being reported as 498,139 for August; 487,849 for September; 479,361 for October; 454,203 for November; and ending the year with 447,843 for December. Maybe 2005 will be a big turn around year.

At this point, I would like to applaud (standing ovation), the efforts of Arnold and Kadjan, the legal counsel for the Fringe Benefit Funds, who collect on hours worked but are unrecorded and not paid for with the Fringe Benefit Funds. The recovery of hours is just incredible to me and often can run about 20% of the current hours reported. The hard work of collections done by the personnel at Arnold and Kadjan has been a tremendous boost to the funds.

See you all at the Rosewood next week...so stay healthy, don't let the flu bug bite!

From the January-February, 2005 issue of the Monitor:

Upgrade Training Now Available At JATC…

As we welcome 2005, I must extend greetings and salutations to all…and take this opportunity to wish everyone a healthy and prosperous New Year!

Hunkering down for the long and cold Winter ahead of us, we can use this traditionally slow period to maintain our equipment and sharpen our skills through more professional training and educational classes…to be at peak performance and ready for the upcoming busy season.

Journeyman upgrade training is available now through our JATC Apprenticeship School. I urge you to encourage your employees to call Ron Haftl at 708/449-5282 for a list of classes available. When enough participants are interested, a class will be scheduled. I suggest starting out with OSHA 10-hour training. Worker’s Compensation insurance rates should naturally fall with a safer workforce. Our facility is world-class, and our instructors are top-notch. As an industry, the training resources available to us are actually under-utilized, so let’s take better advantage of the competitive edge JATC training provides.

I had a job once where part