March/April 2014

(continued on page 4)

IL Secretary of State Addresses PAMCANI and PCA March Meeting Company Safety Award Winners and 2014 Bargaining Update Also Top Agenda

Over 80 PAMCANI Alliance and PCA signatory contractors and guests gathered for a combined membership meeting on March 19, 2014, at Maggiano’s Little Italy Restaurant in Oak Brook, Illinois.

This special dinner event, featuring guest speaker Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White (pictured above), brought the contractors together to share and celebrate their mutual interest in workplace safety and to hear the latest developments in contract negotiations with Plumbers Local 130.

Following customary introductions, review of industry news and announcements, and the approval of the February 2014 PCA membership minutes, Executive Director S.J. Peters opened the meeting by recognizing all of the recipients of the PAMCANI Alliance 2013 Company Commitment to a Safe Workplace Awards.

Peters mentioned that this PAMCANI Alliance award recognizes improvements in safety made by the contractors over the last three years in at least four out of six categories, such as lost workdays and workers’ compensation resolutions.

All of the winners present were invited up to the podium to accept their trophy. The winners present included: Lori L. Abbott (Abbott Industries); Dick Browning (Arrow Plumbing & Heating Co.); Paul F. Buddy (Cannonball Mechanical Corp.); Bill and Doug Flader (Flader Plumbing & Heating Co.); Brian Kennedy (Gehrett Plumbing); George Palermo (Professional Plumbing); Rick Kuhn (R.J. Kuhn Plumbing, Heating, Cooling); Dave Ariano (Ravinia Plumbing & Heating Co.); and Pat Sullivan and Charlie Anderson (Taylor Plumbing). A complete list of the winners appears on page 3.

After a photo of the safety winners and a short break for dinner, Executive Director S.J. Peters returned to the podium to introduce Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White who was invited to speak about the new Illinois laws that directly affect our plumbing industry with an emphasis on employers.

Secretary of State White applauded both the PAMCANI Alliance and the PCA for their outstanding history and reputation in providing our state with the best plumbing contractors and the most highly educated and skilled plumbers who protect the health of our nation.

None of us is as strong as all of us.

603 Rogers St., Suite 2, Downers Grove, IL 60515 | 630.960.3970 | 312.563.9526 | 312.263.6612 | FAX: 630.960.5487www.PAMCANI.org S www.PCAOFCHICAGO.com S www.PLUMBINGCOUNCIL.com

atWORK603 Rogers St., Suite 2, Downers Grove, IL 60515603 Rogers St., Suite 2, Downers Grove, IL 60515603 Rogers St., Suite 2, Downers Grove, IL 60515603 Rogers St., Suite 2, Downers Grove, IL 60515603 Rogers St., Suite 2, Downers Grove, IL 60515 | 630.960.3970 | 312.563.9526 | 312.263.6612

PLUMBING A ND MEC HANICAL C ONTRACTORSAUTHORITY OF NO RTHERN I LLINOIS None of us is as strong as all of us.

atat

MISSION STATEMENT: To improve the viability of member firms by providing timely, educational, useful and practical information and services which enable them to better serve their customers and their employees. PAMCANI, PCA, and the Plumbing Council are dedicated to the promotion, advancement, education and training of the industry for the protection of our environment and the health, safety and comfort of society.

2

Inside This Issue

PAMCANI Safety Award Winners Cover story (continued from page 1)

3 4

PCA April Meeting Re-cap IL PHCC Expo Photo Review

5 6

IMSCA Lobby Day UA Veterans in Piping Advertising

7 8-9

Project Labor Agreement Workshop PAMCANI-OSHA Safety Training Class

10 11

PCA Plumbing Code Classes Contractor Connections: Taylor Plumbing, Inc.

12 13

“Make More by Marketing Maintenance” Article IL PHCC “Plumbing Industry” Legislative Update

14 15

NEWS BRIEFS F.E. Moran Fire Protection Honored by Illinois Fire Service Institute PCA and PAMCANI contractor F.E. Moran was recently awarded with the Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) Appreciation Award. This is the third year in a row the company has received this accolade. As reported in the February 2014 issue of the Contractor Magazine (www.contractormag.com), F.E. Moran Fire Protection has provided IFSI with many resources to enhance its educational endeavors including providing side by side burn units for the IFSI and University of Illinois hosted Fire Factor program and training IFSI cadets on sprinkler valves in its training facility. Congratulations to F.E. Moran on this distinguished award. To learn more about the company's fire protection services, visit www.femoranfp.com. NLRB Drops Notice Posting Rule

The controversial notice posting rule proposed by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) recently died. The NLRB's proposed rule was earlier struck down by both the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. After twice

requesting extensions of time within which to file petitions for a “writ of certiorari” with the Supreme Court of the United States, the Board let the final deadline of January 2, 2014, pass without filing anything. The final rule would have required most employers to post notices: advising employees of their rights to unionize; identify specific types of protected concerted activity; and detailing several unfair labor practices that can be filed against employers. The posting requirement would have applied to both unionized and nonunion employers. Source: Ogletree Deakins: Employment Law: January/February 2014 PCA and PAMCANI Appointed Fund Trustees Attended Pension Roundtable Meeting

The City of Detroit was the site on February 26, 2014 of the MCAA Great Lakes Peer Group for signatory employers, management negotiation com-mittee members, pension trustees and association executives to discuss in depth construction industry multi-

employer defined benefit plans – from the perspective of current challenges and opportunities for improvement. Planned by MCA of Detroit, PCA and PAMCANI sent appointed Trustees serving on UA LU 130, 93 and 501 pension funds, including Lori L. Abbott (Abbott Industries); Jim Smith (CJ Erickson Plumbing Company); Local 130 Fund Administrator Terry Musto; Local 130/93/501 Fund legal co-counsel, panelist and presenter James Vanek; Mike Kerrigan (FJ Kerrigan Plumbing Company); Dick Browning (Arrow Plumbing & Heating); and S.J. Peters (PCA, Plumbing Council and PAMCANI Executive Director).

2014 St. Patrick's Day Parade Re-Cap The PCA, Plumbing Council and PAMCANI made an appearance at the 2014 St. Patrick's Day Parade as our sponsored combined float traveled on the Columbus Drive parade route on Saturday, March 15, 2014. Along with the traditional dyeing of the Chicago River green, this year's parade, thanks to the involvement and efforts of UA Local 130 and Business Manager Jim Coyne, featured Grand Marshal John McDonough, President & CEO of the Stanley Cup Champions Chicago Black Hawks along with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Irish bagpipers, Celtic dancers and many other traditional Irish inspired floats.

Call JULIE Before You Dig JULIE, Inc. encourages contractors to consider online options to avoid potential delays. With a record number of contractors participating in the program, JULIE continues to offer convenient training options for Remote Ticket Entry at www.illinois1call.com/excavators/remoteticketentry.html. This no cost option allows trained users to submit their own locate requests without the potential for delays during peak call volume periods. RTE users enjoy many other advantages, including the ability to view all of the information on a locate request through JULIE’s Ticket Search program. In addition, E-Request continues to be a popular choice for normal, single site requests. This fast and easy option requires no training. For information, visit JULIE’s website at www.illinois1call.com/contact.html or call 1-800-892-0123.

At Work is the official publication of PAMCANI/PCA/Plumbing Council. Unless otherwise credited, all articles are written by PAMCANI/PCA Communications and Public Affairs Director Jeff Weiss. All photos by PAMCANI/PCA staff unless otherwise credited. To request permission to reproduce any content, please contact 630-960-3970 or send an email to jeff@pamcani.org. Past issues are posted at www.pamcani.org and www.pcaofchicago.com.

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PAMCANI Alliance Safety Award Winners

Recipients of the 2013 Company Commitment to a Safe Workplace Award for PAMCANI Alliance members were honored at the PAMCANI and PCA Membership Meeting held on March 19, 2014 at Maggiano’s in Oak Brook, IL. This award acknowledges contractors who have maintained or improved the work safety record at their own companies in 2013 (based on their own three year running average using specific safety criteria). Congratulations to this year’s winners:

Abbott Industries, Inc.

Arrow Plumbing & Heating Inc.

C.W. Burns Co., Inc.

Cannonball Mechanical Corp.

Colette & Ano Plumbing Co.

Ernie Peterson Plumbing, Inc.

Flader Plumbing & Heating Co.

Gehrett Plumbing, Inc.

Hagerty and Son, Inc.

J.L. Wagner Plumbing & Piping, Inc.

Meccon Industries, Inc.

Professional Plumbing, Inc.

R.J. Kuhn Plumbing & Heating Co.

Ravinia Plumbing & Heating Co.

Sherman Mechanical, Inc.

Taylor Plumbing, Inc.

Pictured from left: Executive Director S.J. Peters, Pat Sullivan (Taylor Plumbing), Rick Kuhn (R.J. Kuhn Plumbing, Heating, Cooling),

Charlie Anderson (Taylor Plumbing), David Ariano (Ravinia Plumbing & Heating Co.), Dick Browning (Arrow Plumbing & Heating Inc.), Lori L. Abbott

(Abbott Industries, Inc.), Doug Flader (Flader Plumbing & Heating Co.), Paul F. Buddy (Cannonball Mechanical Corp.), George Palermo (Professional

Plumbing), Brian Kennedy (Gehrett Plumbing), and Bill Flader (Flader Plumbing & Heating Co.).

Contractor Magazine Honors Bill Erickson as one of the Most

Influential People in the Plumbing Industry

This year is CONTRACTOR’s 60th Anniversary, and during these 60 years, editors of the magazine have traveled the country, visiting contracting firms, manufacturers and distributors, plus, attend industry trade shows, conventions and conferences. The editors have met and built relationships with so many passionate and committed industry professionals.

We at CONTRACTOR magazine believe these individuals deserve recognition of the mark they have made in the plumbing and hydronics industries; hence we give you our cream of the crop: the most influential people in the plumbing and hydronics industry... Bill Erickson William E. Erickson had a highly successful career and then he really soared. Bill is the chairman of C.J. Erickson Plumbing in Alsip, IL, a 108-year-old firm that’s now being successfully run by his son Matt and daughter-in-law Shawn. Bill started his career in a ditch with a bunch of Irishmen who treated him as just another apprentice, not the son of the boss. As president of C.J. Erickson, Bill became active in the Mechanical Contractors Association of America and served on the board of the Plumbing Contractors of America for 10 years, three of those as chairman. He served on MCAA’s board for six years. But perhaps his most significant contributions came when he turned the company over to Matt and Shawn and became chairman. Bill then served as MCAA’s representative on the Board of Directors of the International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials, becoming chairman of the IAPMO Green Technical Committee. Bill wrangled the unruly bunch of engineers, manufacturers, contractors, association representa-tives, and others – many of them brilliant in their own right – until the GTC eventually issued the seminal Green Plumbing & Mechanical Code Supplement, the industry’s first green code document. Bill absolutely deserved it when MCAA awarded him its highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, in March 2012. If you would like to nominate someone to be included in a future list of the most influential people, please e-mail Senior Editor Candace Roulo at Candace.roulo@penton.com or Editorial Director Bob Mader at Robert.mader@penton.com with your nomination. Please include their name, title, company, and why you are nominating them to be on our (Contractor Magazine) Most Influential list.

Permission to reprint article granted by Contractor Magazine

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(Continued from page 1)

White then went on to talk about his positive experience with our associations’ plumbing contractors including his most recent construction project in building the Jesse White Community Center and Fieldhouse in Chicago.

He also took this opportunity to highlight his many administration’s accomplishments.

White noted that he runs the largest Secretary of State office in the nation with over 4,000 employees. He operates a nearly $400 million dollar budget overseeing 130 offices and 23 different agencies. In addition, he focused on his various literacy initiatives and highly successful organ donor program.

“One person can provide life for twenty-five individuals by donating their organs,” remarked White. “These people, in my humble opinion, are the true heroes in our society because they unselfishly save the lives of others.”

From there, White turned his focus to his essential role as the chief administrator of Illinois drivers’ licenses.

He said that he suspends over 750,000 drivers licenses a year due to individuals not complying with the rules of the road or the laws of our state.

White remarked that he takes this job quite seriously for the safety of every citizen in the state as he reviewed some of

the most common vehicle law violations. He also noted that he was the author of the “No Texting While Driving” legislation that recently passed in Illinois and was instrumental in the 2014 Illinois law banning driving while on a handheld device.

For the remainder of his speech, White delved into his military background (Army Airborne Division), civil rights activism (working closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Alabama), and genuine passion for community involvement.

He concluded with a question and answer forum as he discussed his professional career with the Chicago Cubs, his tireless work ethic, his ability to speak seven different languages, and his personal philosophy of doing something good for someone each and every day.

White received a standing ovation from the audience. Following dessert, PCA President and PAMCANI

Alliance Treasurer Lori L. Abbott concluded the meeting by presenting a concise update on the status of negotiations between the PCA and PAMCANI Alliance (bargaining jointly) with UA Local 130. She also fielded questions from the audience and reminded everyone to fill out and return their bargaining surveys in advance of the start of the contract talks.

Many contractors remained well after the meeting ended to talk more about the associations’ bargaining strategy and to discuss other industry related news.

Pictured on left and below: PAMCANI Alliance and PCA

contractors take a moment to

read through and fill out the

bargaining surveys distributed

in advance of the meeting.

PCA contractor Kitty Freihage (T & J Plumbing, Inc.) with Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White.

From left: PAMCANI Alliance President David Ariano, Plumbing Council Chairman Bob Melko, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White,

PCA President Lori L. Abbott, and Executive Director S.J. Peters.

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PCA April Meeting Features Updates on Medical Marijuana and Concealed Carry Laws and Contract Negotiations

Over 50 PCA contractors and guests gathered at the Erie Café in Chicago on April 8, 2014 for their regularly scheduled membership meeting. Those in attendance were treated to an agenda packed with topics pertinent to the changing legal landscape in Illinois as well as an update on contract negotiations with Plumbers Local 130.

Following customary table introductions, approval of the March 2014 membership meeting minutes, and dinner, PCA Executive Director S.J. Peters introduced the evening’s first speaker, Luci Manos, Vice President of Operations, ScreenSafe, Inc.

Luci talked about the new Illinois “Medical Marijuana” law that went into effect on January 1, 2014. She went into detail about how this law impacts our plumbing contractors, their employees, and our industry’s drug testing program.

While Luci pointed out that the new law gives protection against the criminal prosecution for the possession and use of medical marijuana, she said it does not prohibit employers from enforcing a company policy concerning drug testing, zero-tolerance, or a drug free workplace.

This led to a lengthy discussion about our industry drug testing policy and what happens when employees test non-compliant for marijuana.

While Luci fielded many questions on the topic of random drug testing and the liability of the contractors, she stressed that the number one goal of ScreenSafe, Inc. is to ensure a safe working environment for everyone.

She added that drug testing is not used to punish but help those in need recover from their addictions. In conclusion, Luci reminded everyone that our industry’s drug free workplace program will adhere to all state and federal guidelines including the use of medical marijuana.

Abbott then encouraged everyone to distribute our drug free policy booklets to their employees and if needed to request additional copies from the PCA office or download it from our association website (www.pcaofchicago.com).

The next speaker on the agenda was Thomas J. Manos, Director of Security for Kraft Foods in Chicago.

Tom used his expert knowledge of the new “Illinois Fire Arm Concealed Carry Act” and his 20-plus years in the safety and security fields to explain how this new law should be correctly interpreted from a business owner’s perspective and from a gun owner’s legal rights.

Tom noted that the new legislation became law on January 5, 2014 in Illinois. He said it allows registered gun owners the ability to apply for a concealed carry license that is valid throughout the state for a period of 5 years to carry a loaded or unloaded concealed firearm and to keep a loaded or unloaded concealed firearm within a vehicle.

He then reviewed all of the legal exceptions to this rule including the ban of concealed weapons in private or public schools, hospitals and nursing homes, government, state and municipal facilities, and any business or residence that posts a “no-firearms” sign, just to name a few.

Thomas took many questions on this subject from the audience and cautioned that employers should immediately put a policy in place at work on concealed carry that has been reviewed by an employment lawyer.

Abbott concluded the meeting with an update on contract negotiations with Local 130. She noted that the PCA (and PAMCANI) presented the union with a series of proposals aimed at improving competitiveness to the contractors and the ability to employ more membership resulting in the increase of market share. In addition, she explained a number of our bargaining strategies and took questions from the audience. Abbott added that the PCA and PAMCANI remain fully committed to transparency throughout this entire process and have and will continue to keep our constituents apprised of any contract updates.

Anyone who would like more information or printed materials about any of the topics discussed at this meeting should contact Executive Director S.J. Peters at 312-563-9526 or 630-960-3970. He can also be reached by e-mail at sj@pcaofchicago.com or sj@pamcani.org.

Luci Manos (with microphone), V.P. of Operations, ScreenSafe, Inc. answers contractor questions about the new “Medical Marijuana” law in Illinois.

Thomas J. Manos, Director of Security for Kraft Foods in Chicago explains the new “Concealed Carry” law in Illinois.

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IL PHCC Expo & Trade Show: Photo Review Over 800 industry contractors, plumbers, vendors and guests packed the Drury Lane Conference Center in Oakbrook Terrace on March 21, 2014, for the Illinois PHCC annual trade show and educational day. The PCA, Plumbing Council and PAMCANI set up their own booth as its staff distributed association materials and promotional handouts and also assisted in the registration process for the 4-hour continuing education class. Over 160 booths lined the ballroom space as rows of plumbing exhibitors displayed their latest products, tools, trucks and technologies. The event concluded with an evening reception and raffle to thank all of the industry volunteers that helped make this year's IL PHCC Expo one of the most successful to date. Congratulations to the IL PHCC Board and Executive Director Bev Potts and her staff for another productive and memorable plumbing industry event.

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IMSCA Lobby Day 2014 Focuses on Mechanics Lien Act

Nearly fifty members of the Illinois Mechanical & Specialty Contractors Association (IMSCA) refused to let the cold winter weather prevent them from visiting with their state legislators on February 18, 2014 in Springfield, Illinois to discuss pressing industry related topics. Among the many IMSCA participants were PAMCANI Board Member Paul F. Buddy (Cannonball Mechanical, Inc.) and PAMCANI and PCA/Plumbing Council Executive Director S.J. Peters and Communications & Public Affairs Director Jeff Weiss. Following an IMSCA Board Meeting and guest address by Illinois State Senator Matt Murphy (District 27) who focused on the upcoming gubernatorial primary and the need to get Illinois fiscally back on track, participants made a short walk over to the state capitol to drum up support of Senate Bill (SB) 3023 which would amend the Mechanics Lien Act to prevent the elimination of lien rights through the use of subordination clauses. In addition, they also lobbied in opposition to House Bill (HB) 4657 to prevent the "bonding over" proposal that would seriously weaken the mechanics lien rights of construction industry contractors, subcontractors, laborers and material suppliers. While most lawmakers were busy in session during most of the day, many of the IMSCA group members were able to schedule one on one sessions with their elected leaders

including a personal visit with PAMCANI member and State Senator (District 32) Pamela Altoff (Altoff Industries) who supported all of the IMSCA initiatives. Not too long after the event, IMSCA President Jim Rohlfing met with representatives from the banking industry to discuss a possible compromise to SB 3023 “Mechanics Lien Act.” The two sides eventually reached an agreement and an amendment was drafted in late March of 2014 that will be sent back to committee for a hearing. In terms of the status of HB 4657 “bonding over” that IMSCA strongly opposed, Illinois House Judiciary Chair-woman, Rep. Elaine Nekritz, House Judiciary Minority Leader, Rep. Ron Sandack and the bill sponsor, Rep. Art Turner agreed to move the bill to sub-committee in late March of 2014. They reached this decision after IMSCA lobbyists (both through phone calls and in person) argued that this effort will give the committee ample time to review the complexity of the issue. This should be viewed as a major legislative victory for our construction industry contractors. To learn more about any of the legislative issues addressed at this year’s lobby day or for more information about IMSCA and future events, visit www.IMSCA.org or contact IMSCA Executive V.P. Louie Giordano or Legislative Assistant Jessica Newbold at 217-523-4361.

Illinois State Senator Matt Murphy addresses the IMSCA lobbyists.

IMSCA Executive V.P. Louie Giordano welcomes the IMSCA Board Members.

From left: PCA & PAMCANI Executive Director S.J. Peters, Illinois State Senator Pamela Althoff, and PAMCANI member

Paul F. Buddy (Cannonball Mechanical, Inc.).

IMSCA lobbyists at the state capitol including second from right: PAMCANI member Paul F. Buddy (Cannonball Mechanical Inc.) and far

right: PAMCANI member Karen Johnson (Roughneck Concrete Drill & Saw).

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United Airlines Grounds UA “Veterans in Piping” Advertising If you have never heard of the UA’s Veterans in Piping (VIP) program, perhaps it is because companies like United Airlines have refused to advertise it in their publications. Unfortunately this biased response to a legitimate paid advertisement denies contractors, politicians and the general public the ability to learn about this military and government official lauded program that offers high-quality skills training and jobs in the pipe trades to U.S. veterans and active duty military personnel preparing to leave the service. As the UA clearly points out on its own website, the VIP Program addresses two important issues: 1. A growing shortage in the construction industry of skilled workers due to the combined effects of an aging workforce, increased demand, and lack of skills training for youth; and 2. An exceedingly high unemployment rate for US veterans, despite their being a disci-plined and highly trainable population. In response to United Airlines decision to prevent the UA from purchasing an advertisement in the company’s Hemispheres magazine, the PCA and PAMCANI wrote a letter this past February to Jeff Smisek, CEO of United Airlines

Mr. Jeff Smisek Chief Executive Officer United Airlines, Inc. 77 W. Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60601 It has recently come to our attention from our union counterparts at the United Association of Union Plumbers, Pipe Fitters, Welders and Service Technicians of the United States, Canada and Australia (UA) that your administration has refused/rejected to publish their paid advertisement promoting their military touted “Veterans in Piping” (VIP) job placement program in United’s Hemisphere’s magazine. In our opinion, there isn’t anything more vital to improving our economy, and in turn increasing your business, than transitioning our military families back to civilian work in quality jobs that lead to a stable career. Their service to our country deserves our deepest gratitude. The “Veterans in Piping” program is a highly touted and proven effort to repay them for their sacrifice. However, by silencing the UA’s advertisement for unjust “special interest” reasoning, you are denying our veterans an incredible opportunity to advance their livelihood. Don’t forget that these are the proud men and women who fly your airlines and who will continue to remain loyal to United provided that your company demonstrates a mutual respect. We would also like to point out that our members of the Plumbing Contractors Association (PCA) of Chicago and Cook County represent more than 400 plumbing contractors employing thousands of workers in the Chicago metropolitan and suburban areas including military graduates of the “VIP” program. As an organization based in your hometown headquarters of Chicago, we also frequently fly the “friendly skies” with United and would sincerely hope that you will reconsider your decision to pull the UA’s advertisement. As United Airline’s CEO, we would ask that you take the appropriate course of action and “steer” your company’s decision on this military-based advertisement in the right direction. We would be more than willing to discuss this issue with you in person and answer any questions you might have from our unique business perspective. Let’s work collaboratively as fellow Chicago based companies to find a resolution to this situation and ultimately do what’s best for our veterans and their families. Sincerely, Lori L. Abbott S.J. Peters Robert Melko PCA President PCA Executive Director Plumbing Council Chairman cc: UA General President William P. Hite

requesting that he (and his company) re-consider its assessment and allow the VIP advertisement to be published. Please take a moment to read through our letter below along with the UA advertisement in question printed on the following page. We would ask that all of our signatory contractors consider sending their own correspondence to Jeff Smisek in a concerted effort to explain to him from a business perspective as to why he should allow the VIP program to be viewed by United Airlines passengers. Currently, the Construction Industry Service Corporation (CISCO) has pledged to assist us in this effort, and we intend to reach out to several other local, regional and national association and trade groups to invite them to join in as well. You can send your letter electronically by e-mail to Jeff Smisek, CEO, United Airlines at jeff.smisek@united.com and also make sure to send a hard copy to P.O. Box 66100, Chicago, IL 60666. If you have any questions about the VIP program or would like to learn more about how you can hire a VIP plumber, contact the UA Veterans in Piping Program at 410-269-2000 or send an e-mail to uavipinfo@uanet.org.

PLUMBING CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION OF CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY 603 ROGERS STREET, SUITE 2, DOWNERS GROVE, ILLINOIS 60515 PH. 312-563-9526 FX. 630-960-5487

Mr. Jeff SmisekChief Executive OfficerUnited Airlines, Inc.77 W. Wacker DriveChicago, IL 60601

It has recently come to our attention from our union counterparts at the United Association of Union Plumbers, Pipe Fitters, Welders and Service Technicians of the United States, Canada and Australia (UA) that your administration has refused/rejected to publish their paid advertisement promoting their military touted “Veterans in Piping” (VIP) job placement program in United’s Hemisphere’s magazine.

In our opinion, there isn’t anything more vital to improving our economy, and in turn increasing your business, than transitioning our military families back to civilian work in quality jobs that lead to a stable career.

Their service to our country deserves our deepest gratitude. The “Veterans in Piping” program is a highly touted and proven effort to repay them for their sacrifice. However, by silencing the UA’s advertisement for unjust “special interest” reasoning, you are denying our veterans an incredible opportunity to advance their livelihood. Don’t forget that these are the proud men and women who fly your airlines and who will continue to remain loyal to United provided that your company demonstrates a mutual respect.

We would also like to point out that our members of the Plumbing Contractors Association (PCA) of Chicago and Cook County represent more than 400 plumbing contractors employing thousands of workers in the Chicago metropolitan and suburban areas including military graduates of the “VIP” program. As an organization based in your hometown headquarters of Chicago, we also frequently fly the “friendly “friendly “fskies” with United and would sincerely hope that you will reconsider your decision to pull the UA’s advertisement.

As United Airline’s CEO, we would ask that you take the appropriate course of action and “steer” your company’s decision on this military-based advertisement in the right direction. We would be more than willing to discuss this issue with you in person and answer any questions you might have from our unique business perspective. Let’s work collaboratively as fellow Chicago based companies to find a resolution to this situation and ultimately do what’s best for our veterans and their families.

Sincerely,

Lori L. Abbott S.J. Peters Robert MelkoPCA President PCA President PCA President PCA Executive Director Plumbing Council Chairman

cc: UA General President William P. Hite

PLUMBING CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION OF CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY603 ROGERS STREET, SUITE 2, DOWNERS GROVE, ILLINOIS 60515 PH. 312-563-9526 FX. 630-960-5487

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The PCA and PAMCANI co-sponsored a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) Workshop hosted by CISCO (Construction Industry Service Corporation) on March 31, 2014. The event, held at the Cement Masons Local 502 Hall in Bellwood, IL drew nearly 100 construction industry contractors, association executives, and labor leaders to learn the “nuts and bolts” of project labor agreements. CISCO Executive Director Dan Allen opened the workshop with welcoming remarks. He noted that the main goals of the workshop were to explain the benefits of PLA’s and to clear up any mis-conceptions of their use. He then reviewed the workshop agenda and introduced the panel of experts including Chicago & Cook County Building Trades President Tom Villanova, DuPage County Building Trades President John Boske, Lake County Building Trades President Pete Olson, and Chicago Builders Association Executive Director Dan McLaughlin. Chicago & Cook County Building Trades President Villanova led the forum discussion by first reading through the Project Labor Agreement template that he uses in securing PLA’s in Chicago and Cook County. In his template, Villanova confirmed that the contractor or sub-contractor who is the successful bidder must be bound to the collective bargaining agreement covering their trade. In the event that they are a non-union company winning the bid, they basically have two options according to Villanova. They can sign the collective bargaining agreement and be bound to stay union during the duration of the contract (not just for the one job) or they can sub out the work to union contractors. Villanova explained that this PLA language puts everyone on a level playing field by ensuring that the project will be

completed by union trained and highly skilled journeymen and apprentices. He added that it also ensures that the job will be completed in the most timely, productive, economical and orderly manner possible, and without labor disruptions of any kind that might interfere with, or delay, the project. He stressed that this last part of continuous work with a no strike/work stoppage or lockout clause is the main reason why financial institutions and owners prefer and choose PLA’s. Without a PLA, Villanova claimed that job delays due to jurisdictional disputes can have a serious financial impact on an owner’s profits. To avoid jurisdictional disputes in a timely manner, Villanova said that Cook County is the only place in the country with its own Joint Conference Board. He noted that this allows complaints to be heard within 48 hours and often completed within one week. All other counties use the National Plan, according to Villanova, where complaints can take up to six weeks for resolution. A discussion ensued as both contractors and labor leaders asked many questions and provided personal testimony for the success of PLA’s in our area. The consensus among the contractors was that they need case studies and bullet points to prove that PLA’s are indeed more cost effective than owners simply choosing the low bids of their non-union competition. CISCO Executive Director Allen agreed and said his organization will start working on that task. He added that this workshop was just the start on educating everyone about what works best with PLA’s, and encouraged everyone to continue discussing the issue at their respective building trade councils and to promote the use of PLA’s in their area.

Project Labor Agreement Workshop Draws Large Crowd

Chicago & Cook County

Building Trades President

Tom Villanova (at the podium)

discusses the history and

benefits of Project Labor

Agreements to the audience of

nearly 100 union contractors,

association executives, and

labor leaders. Also pictured are

Lake County Building Trades

President Pete Olson (left),

CISCO Executive Director

Dan Allen (2nd from right), and

DuPage County Building Trades

President John Boske (right).

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PAMCANI Sponsors OSHA Safety Training Classes

A crowd of about forty PAMCANI signatory contractors and their employees traveled north to Antioch, IL on March 25, 2014, to attend a 4-hour continuing education class on OSHA Focus 4 and Ladder/Scaffolding Training.

Led by PAMCANI and PCA safety consultant Roger Paveza, Senior Vice President of Strategic Safety Consulting, the two (2-hour) courses provided the attendees with an understanding of the four primary construction hazards (falls, struck-by, caught in-between, and electrocution) as well as how to recognize the hazards associated with ladders, stairways, and the type of scaffolding being used at the work site.

Using a Power Point presentation and videos to illustrate safety concepts, Paveza grabbed the participants’ attention for the full four hours.

In discussing OSHA’s (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) Focus 4 hazards as they apply to plumbing job safety, Paveza noted that on average, 4,500 Americans die from workplace injuries annually and over 4 million non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses are reported each year. The tragic news, he said, is that almost all of these workplace deaths and accidents could have been prevented with a company commitment to safety.

He then went on to review the OSHA Focus 4 hazards beginning with electrical safety. Paveza reviewed the primary

causes of electrical fatalities; how electricity effects the human body; and hazard control procedures including the use of insulated tools, non-conductive ladders, and personal protective clothing.

In terms of falls, Paveza noted that falls are the leading cause of fatalities in the construction industry. He said that OSHA requires all employees who are required to work on surfaces which are six-feet or more above a lower level must be protected by guardrails, safety nets or use personal fall arrest systems such as an anchored body harness/lifeline.

The final subjects brought forward were the hazards of caught in-between and struck by. To illustrate these hazards, Paveza used a case study of two concrete pipe workers who got trapped in sand in an open silo and a video of a worker who was caught in between a moving fork lift and building wall. Paveza stressed the importance of hazard identification in every situation.

Following a short break, the training turned to the subject of ladder and stair safety. Paveza pointed out that OSHA’s common ladder citations include the lack of a 3-foot extension; the ladder not secured properly; improper construction of job built ladders; and ladder clearance from power lines.

He then focused on the different types of ladders, their weight rating, and how to properly set up a ladder and inspect it for damage. He also reviewed how to properly climb and descend ladders and what safe practices should be used when working on a ladder.

The session concluded with safety tips for working on stairs and handrail systems. He noted that OSHA requires all stair rails and hand rails to be capable of withstanding without failure up to 200 pounds; provide adequate handhold for employees, and a height of more than 37 inches and not less than 36 inches.

Paveza distributed handouts from both sessions to take back to the workplace. He also provided everyone with his contact information to answer any future workplace safety questions or concerns.

PAMCANI and PCA contractors can contact Roger Paveza at his office at 847-813-6822, by e-mail at roger@strasafe.com or visit www.strategicsafety.com.

PAMCANI and PCA Safety Consultant Roger Paveza, Senior V.P., Strategic Safety Consulting, leads the C.E. class on OSHA Focus 4 and Ladder Safety.

PAMCANI Alliance contractors listen carefully to the safety presentation. Class participants view various safety videos as part of their C.E. credit.

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PCA Hosts Plumbing Code Classes for C.E. Credit

Following the tremendous success of the PAMCANI and PCA sponsored “Contractor Inspector Night” held earlier in January, the PCA hosted two separate but identical continuing education classes on plumbing code this past February and March at the Best Western Hotel in Hillside, Illinois. Led by Local 130 JAC instructor Jim Majerowicz (pictured above), the two classes offered PCA contractors and plumbing inspectors the option of either earning 4 or 6 state accredited continuing education (C.E.) hours. Nearly 80 PCA signatory contractors and Illinois and municipal plumbing inspectors attended the February 26, 2014 class, while over 60 participants gathered at the March 12, 2014 event despite a severe snow storm that blanketed the area the night before. Majerowicz spent much of the training by reviewing illustrated examples of plumbing installations using the correct Illinois state plumbing codes. He also addressed storm water management, water conservation techniques, and discussed possible plumbing codes that may be implemented by the state in the near future. Both of these C.E. classes were offered free of charge to any plumbing contractor or plumber signatory to Local 130, 93 or 501. A continental breakfast and refreshments were offered at the start of each class and a lunch break was also provided to everyone after the 4-hour classes concluded.

All of the participants received a certificate from the PCA for either completing the 4 or 6 hour sessions. In addition, the PCA sent their attendance record and other verified information to the state for further processing. For more information on other C.E. classes offered by our association or other allied organizations throughout the year, contact our PCA office at 312-563-9526.

PCA contractors and plumbing inspectors packed the Best Western Hotel in Hillside, Illinois on February 26, 2014 to earn their C.E. credit.

Plumbing contractors and inspectors took detailed notes on plumbing code regulations at the March 12, 2014 PCA class.

13

Contractor Connections: Taylor Plumbing, Inc. Turns 100 PAMCANI and the PCA congratulate Taylor Plumbing, Inc. on reaching its centennial milestone in 2014. We recently reached out to the company’s third generation owner Tom Taylor, Jr. (by phone in Arizona) to provide a historic re-cap and personal insight on the secret to the company’s success. Taylor Plumbing, according to Tom, was founded in 1914 by his grandfather Thomas Charles (T.C.) Taylor who was a plumber in England before coming to America. The original shop was located at 4307 North Western Ave. in Chicago (now currently located in Wheeling, IL). In the mid-1920s, Tom Taylor, Sr. graduated from Local 130 apprentice school and worked for several commercial plumbing companies before purchasing Taylor Plumbing in

1942. Tom’s dad successfully ran the company during World War II and specialized in gas piping until he sold it to his son in 1973. It was around that time that Tom Taylor, Jr. capitalized on an emerging trend of backflow testing, which he believed fell under the jurisdiction of a licensed plumber. In fact, Taylor Plumbing became one of the very first plumbing companies in our area to perform this type of work. In addition to backflow testing, Tom expanded the company’s scope to being an industry leader in servicing mid to large size management companies. “Our success can be directly attributed to the quality of our work and the reputation and referrals that commands,” said Tom. “We must be seen as professionals and never as a commodity that can be purchased at the lowest cost. That’s why I uphold the “Taylor Way.” That is to say that everyone takes pride in this company including keeping our trucks and shop immaculately clean and providing top notch customer service on every call. We must also stay one up on our competitors and remain active in our associations by taking advantage of their educational and networking opportunities. I see continued success for Taylor Plumbing under its current leadership as they constantly adapt to the trends in our industry much like I and my father and grandfather did in the past. I can only hope that our company celebrates many more historic milestones in the future.”

Taylor Plumbing employees pose

for a picture at their shop in

Wheeling, IL.

Pictured from left: Patrick T.

Sullivan Jr. (V.P. of Operations)

Sandra (Sam) Kitto (Operations

Manager), Fred Mueller, Kathy

Fischer, Ellen Fallico, Gayle

Eng, Charlie Anderson (Service

Manager) and Nita Brandon.

In the News Flushing Trouble Down the Drain A severe drought and poor maintenance had done a number on the sewers of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. And because of insufficient water pressure, the pipes kept clogging, causing some to burst. So, without the benefit of a massive

plunger, what’s a city to do? Simple, said the town council. Twice a week, citizens will simultaneously flush their toilets in order to produce enough water pressure in the sewer system to dislodge clogs. It worked! One resident told the Associated Press, “So far the flushing of the toilets has been a success.” —This article appeared in the February 2014 issue of Readers Digest in its “Lousy Ideas...That Worked! Section.

PHCC Scholarship Deadline: May 1, 2014

The PHCC Foundation is offering $61,500 in scholarship awards to apprentices, trade school and college students this year. Every plumbing & HVACR apprentice, plus college students who are pursuing studies related to our industry have a shot at 25 different awards worth $1,500 to $5,000 each. Scholarship applications can be downloaded at www.phccfoundation.org. Questions? Contact the PHCC Foundation Scholarship Coordinator at 1-800-533-7694.

Tom Taylor, Jr.

14

By Adams Hudson What if you could make money while possibly saving your customers thousands? That’d be a pretty sweet deal for both of you. So it’s obviously too good to be true, right? Wrong. Contrary to the “old” belief that people won’t call a plumber unless something breaks, busier people now want to a) Avoid

unnecessary breakdowns b) Get ‘bundled’ services c) Streamline vendor sources. All this adds up to selling preventative maintenance. Maintenance agreements are a great source of “mailbox money”. They get your techs into your customers’ homes twice a year for plumbing inspections, which brings income for the service itself plus any upgrades. Tank-less water heater, anyone? Plus, you “lock in” customers with maintenance agreements, able to offer them increased services without concern that they’ll “migrate” elsewhere. Your new service mantra to customers is really an old one: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In this case, an ounce of maintenance is worth 100 gallons of water cascading down the hallway. Okay, that doesn’t roll off the tongue as easily, but the point is that each door you enter has two sales: the need you were called in for, and the one to help prevent the next one. This can effectively double your sales, halve your acquisition effort, and increase retention. By marketing maintenance as opposed to just “being there” for emergency service or large repairs, you solve both your problem and that of your customer. You need predictable income to run smoothly and efficiently. Your customers need homes free of leaks and plumbing “surprises”. By providing preventative maintenance to homeowners you not only secure funds for your business, you save them potentially thousands of dollars in major—yet avoidable—repairs. The preceding sentence is not only to help you sell to customers, but to people who must be sold before the first customer ever hears about preventative maintenance: your technicians and CSR’s. Then and only then can they “convert” (don’t use the word “sell” in your training) customers. It’s not that hard. Converting a service customer to a maintenance agreement customer is as simple as presenting its undeniable value. With maintenance agreements, you’re never “selling.” You’re simply delivering to your customers the highest service and the greatest value in a cost-effective package. The process works like this: you’re called into the home for service or a repair. The first thing you do is address exactly what the customer has called you out to do. You act professionally, and through your interactions with the customer, you demonstrate competence and integrity. Just as you complete the job, and before you shove an invoice in their general direction, you show the customer:

1. What you did (either on the invoice or maintenance agreement form). Keep it simple and to the point. Using terminology that the homeowners don’t understand isn’t going to score you any “boy is he smart or what?” points. In fact, it may actually hurt you.

2. What you found. Was there a large blockage in the drain system? Were there supply line leaks? Don’t exaggerate the problem, but be sure that homeowners are aware of the exact issues you encountered with their system.

3. What this service can help prevent. You’ve per formed the needed repair, which solves the immediate problem of being either too wet or too dry. But what did you do that will keep this problem from recurring? Stress the value of this service to the customer.

4. How they can be better at preventative maintenance. Give the customer a quick list of things they can do to keep things at peak plumbing performance in their home. This can be as simple as turning off the water while brushing teeth, or periodically checking seals and grout in bathrooms. By telling them what they can do to save money on repairs, you increase your likeability—and your credibility.

5. The price for today’s services. Present the pr ice for the repairs or services performed. What you’ve done and why has already been thoroughly explained in easily understandable terms. The barrier of resistance is, therefore, naturally low.

6. Next – after they agree and understand the value – you utter the following question which will change your conversion rate dramatically: “Would you mind if I showed you a way to save $10 in 10 seconds?” You will almost certainly get a “yes”. At this point, you begin discussing your maintenance agreement.

The way to be successful is to show customers that a maintenance agreement doesn’t cost them money, it saves them money – through discounts, less breakdowns, improved energy efficiency. Not only that, they get priority service when something does go wrong. The message you’re trying to convey is that you’re not trying to sell them anything; you’re trying to give them a discount. That’s something you can believe in, and soon your customers will too. Adams Hudson is president of Hudson, Ink, a creative marketing firm for contractors. PAMCANI, PCA and Plumbing Council readers can get a free report, “Two Scripts for Greater Maintenance Agreement Conversions” by emailing their polite request to freestuff@hudsonink.com or by faxing their company information to 1-334-262-1115. See other marketing reports at www.hudsonink.com or call 1-800-489-9099.

Make More by Marketing Maintenance

15

Plumbing Industry: Legislative Update

By Bev Potts, IL PHCC Executive Director The following is a recap of some of the industry related pieces of legislation that have been enacted or introduced during the Spring “2014” Session of the Illinois General Assembly.

Plumbing/Piping/Trade Related Bills: HB 4267 (L. Chapa LaVia) Amends the Illinois Plumbing License Law to provide that no governmental unit shall act as a plumbing contractor. Further provides that a person employed by a governmental unit as a Plumbing Inspector is prohibited from acting as a plumbing contractor on behalf of the governmental unit. Referred to House Rules. HB 5038 (J. Durkin) Makes a technical change in the Illinois Plumbing License. On Calendar Order of 2nd Reading in the House. HB 5410 (R. Gabel) Amends the Lead Poisoning Prevention Act. Prohibits persons from acting as lead abatement contractors, supervisors, and workers unless licensed accordingly by the Department. Sets forth criminal sanctions and civil penalties for violations of the Act. Makes other changes. On 2nd Reading in the House. HB 5595 (B. Phelps) Creates the Facilitating Business Rapid Response to State Declared Disasters Act of 2014. Provides that an out-of-State business that conducts operations within the State solely for the purpose of performing work or services related to a declared State disaster or emergency during a specified disaster period shall not be required to register, file, or remit State or local taxes with respect to that disaster-related work, and is not subject to any State licensing or registration requirements; provided that, in the case of an out-of-State employee who is required to have a professional license to perform the disaster relief or recovery work, that employee is required to maintain a current license in his or her home state or another state during the disaster period. Assigned to House Labor/Commerce Committee. HB 5735 (A. Williams) Creates the Home Repair and Construction Task Force Act. Provides that the Task Force shall: (1)discuss whether the residents of Illinois would benefit from legislation requiring home repair and construction service providers to be licensed; (2) if it is determined that licensure is required, determine the requirements applicants must meet to qualify for a license, and any other considerations relevant to a licensing requirement; and (3) make recommendations to the General Assembly. Provides that the Task Force shall report to the General Assembly no later than Novem-ber 1, 2015. On 2nd Reading in the House. HB 5776 (T. Demmer) Amends the Higher Education Green Jobs and Technology Act. Permits public community colleges to establish green jobs certificate programs for workers in certain industries, including the energy efficient building industry, construction and retrofitting, and others. Assigned to the House Higher Education. SB 3215 (J. Morrison) Makes a technical change in the Illinois Plumbing License. Referred to Senate Assignments.

SB 3047 (D. Kotowski) Creates the Water Loss Accounting Aware-ness Act. Provides that, before July 31, 2015, the Illinois EPA, in con-sultation with the Department of Natural Resources, the Illinois Com-merce Commission, the Illinois State Water Survey of the University of Illinois, and other local and regional water management leaders and interested parties, shall submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report that reviews and evaluates the latest available information on water loss in Illinois including existing data, policies, procedures, and institutional knowledge (including reports from the federal EPA, AWWA, and the State archives). Assigned to the Senate Environment Committee. SB 3055 (D. Biss) Amends the Illinois Water Well Construction Code. Changes the definitions of "modification" and "closed loop well". Makes other changes. On Calendar Order of 3rd Reading in the Senate. Other Construction/Business Related Bills: HB 4657 (A. Turner) Amends the Mechanics Lien Act. Provides that an applicant may file a petition to substitute a bond for the property subject to a lien claim on the property against which the lien claim is asserted. “Bonding Over” would seriously weaken the mechanics lien rights of contractors, subcontractors, laborers and material suppliers that the construction industry has fought hard to secure. Often times, the only leverage available to a contractor who is owed money for work performed is to record a mechanics lien against a project. Without a mechanics lien on the property, contractors and subcontractors are compelled to either accept a significantly smaller payment for their work, or endure expensive and lengthy litigation. IMSCA and the Illinois PHCC strongly oppose this bill. IMSCA has worked to have this bill remanded to the House Subcommittee on Civil Process and Procedures for further study. This is more great work by our IMSCA Lobbying staff. HB 4769 (D. Beiser) This bill is an initiative of IMSCA and amends the Public Construction Bond Act to provide that the surety on a bond shall be a company with a certificate of authority from the Department of Insurance specifically authorizing it to execute surety bonds and a financial strength rating of at least A- as rated by A.M. Best or a similar rating agency. On Calendar Order of 3rd Reading in the House. HB 5663 (E. Simms, Jr.) Amends the Mechanics Lien Act to provide that the Act does not apply unless there is a written and executed contract to improve the lot or tract of land or for the purpose of improving the tract of land or to manage a structure under construction thereon. This proposal would require a written and executed contract before a subcontractor could have lien rights. IMSCA and the Illinois PHCC are in opposition of this proposal. On Calendar Order of 2nd Reading in the House. SB 3023 (J. Mulroe) This impor tant bill is an IMSCA initiative seeking to amend the Mechanics Lien Act to prevent the elimination of lien rights through the use of subordination clauses. On Calendar Order of 2nd Reading in the Senate.

Contact the Illinois PHCC office at 1-800-795-PHCC or e-mail bev@ilphcc.com with questions/comments on any legislation or regulatory activity.

ALLIED PRINTING

458CHICAGO, IL

UNIONLABEL® TRADES COUNCIL

PLUMBING INDUSTRY EVENTS

16

May 2014

CISCO Annual Luncheon—May 9—Maggiano’s, Schaumburg, IL

PCA Membership Meeting—May 13—Erie Cafe, Chicago, IL

PHCC Legislative Conference—May 20—Marriott Hotel, Arlington, VA

Memorial Day—May 26—PAMCANI, PCA, Plumbing Council Office Closed

RCEC Golf Outing—May 29—Highlands of Elgin Golf Course, Elgin, IL

June 2014

IMSCA PAC Event—June 5—Hamburger University, Oak Brook, IL

Will & Grundy County Contractors Golf Outing—June 6—Broken Arrow Golf Club, Lockport, IL

IL PHCC Convention—June 12-15—French Lick Resort, French Lick, IN

ASPE Chicago Chapter Golf Outing—June 20—Hilldale Golf Club, Hoffman Estates, IL

July 2014

Independence Day—July 4—PAMCANI, PCA, Plumbing Council Office Closed

South Side Contractors Social Club Golf Outing—July 11—TBD

For up-to-date event information, please visit the industry-wide calendar

(founded and managed by PAMCANI) at: www.piccal.org.

Also be sure to visit the PAMCANI website: www.pamcani.org PCA website: www.pcaofchicago.com

Plumbing Council website: www.plumbingcouncil.com

PCA-PAMCANI Contract Updates

Make sure to visit any of our three websites (listed above) to receive timely news and information regarding the status of our negotiations with UA Local 130.

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