Masonry Magazine October 2006 Page. 54
News
Local, State &
Regional
# Arizona
On Oct. 21, 2006, the Arizona Masonry Contractors Association will be holding its annual Arizona Masonry Expo. This year's host is Superlite Block's Lone Butte facility, which is located in Chandler, Az. Most of the activities will take place between 7:00-10:00a.m.
The morning will start out with MCAA's Region G Masonry Skills Challenge. In this contest, apprentices from MCAA's Region G-which includes Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming are invited to compete for cash prizes, as well as the chance to represent the region in the MCAA International Masonry Skills Challenge, which will be held next February in Orlando.
Immediately prior to the Fastest Trowel contest will be the Toughest Tender contest. The tenders who are assisting the Fastest Trowel contestants are given a sample contest area set-up. The winning team is the one who accurately sets up their area the quickest. This contest was added last year, and has proven to be a lot of fun to watch.
The highlight of the Expo, starting promptly at 9:00 am., is the Arizona Fastest Trowel on the Block contest. Competitors have 20 minutes to lay as many 8" x 8" x 16" CMUs as they can. The contestants' work will be judged, not only on the number of block laid, but also on the quality of the wall.
In addition to the contests, there will be exhibits from local companies, events for the children in attendance and a raffle for great prizes. Last year, someone won a new mortar mixer!
For more information, contact the Arizona Masonry Contractors Association at (602) 262-0510, or visit www.azmasonry.net.
MCAA & LIUNA Sign New International Agreement
On Aug. 22, 2006, the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) President, Frank Campitelli, and Labors International Union of North America (LIUNA) General President, Terrance O'Sullivan, signed a newly revised international agreement between the two organizations.
The agreement, which was first negotiated on Jan. 6, 1955, has long benefited the MCAA signatory members who sought work in multiple jurisdictions. The revised agreement between the two national organizations fosters a closer relationship between signatory contractors and their employees in the masonry industry.
The agreement outlines and standardizes the contractor's rights and obligations as they work from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. It adds improvements, such as a provision for the benefits of a key man to follow them back to their home local. The agreement also strengthens the key man provision from the original agreement, which allows contractors to bring an agreed upon number of key men from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Finally, the agreement also enhances the mason contractor's rights to assign the work of the operation of the forklift and other equipment to the laborers.
For decades, the MCAA has fought the efforts of the Operating Engineers Union to claim the rights to run forklifts for mason contractors. It was the Association and member contractors' beliefs that the contractor had the right to assign work to the union that best suited the contractor's operation. As a result, it is the practices of virtually the entire country for signatory contractors to assign the work of mason tending to the members of LIUNA.
"Our members have long felt that it was counterproductive and not profitable to have more than two unions on their jobs," said MCAA Executive Director, Michael Adelizzi. "With respect to the laborers, they mixed the mortar, erected and moved scaffolding, and moved materials with the forklift. They are highly skilled and well trained to assist the mason and the mason contractor.
"Our members didn't have to hire an operating engineer, who was paid for eight hours, but maybe only worked two or three."
Signatory mason contractors should look seriously at participating with the international agreement, especially if they are currently, or possibly will work, in more than one labor jurisdiction.
Contractors interested in getting more information can view the international agreement between the MCAA and LIUNA on MCAA's website, or call for a copy. Only MCAA members are eligible for this agreement.
For more information about the MCAA or membership, call (800) 536-2225, or visit www.masoncontractors.org.