Masonry Magazine October 1977 Page. 23
IMI's new Affiliation Program moves forward: Seven local/Regional groups achieve new status
The International Masonry Institute's new "Affiliation" program is moving forward at a rapid pace. The program aims to increase the effectiveness of masonry industry promotion efforts through improved coordination and mutual support.
Seven local/regional masonry promotion groups have already requested and been granted the status of "affiliate" of IMI, and additional requests for affiliation are now being considered by the IMI Board.
The affiliates are:
* Chicago Masonry Institute Promotion Fund
* Mason Industry Fund of Northwest Indiana
* Masonry Institute of Houston-Galveston
* Masonry Institute of Memphis
* Masonry Institute of St. Louis
* Texas Masonry Institute
* The Mason Promotion Fund of Lake County, Illinois
IMI Chairman Charles Velardo said IMI's affiliation program "Obviously is meeting one of the industry's needs, and clearly will help make an already effective promotional effort by the masonry industry even better."
The Institute's Board announced the affiliation program last year. In order to become an affiliate, local/regional groups must submit an application agreeing to operate within minimum standards developed by IMI.
MCAA Executive Vice President George Miller, on behalf of the IMI Board, urged mason contractors to work to have local/regional promotion groups support the new program.
"Affiliation will help strengthen the industry by increasing coordination between various masonry groups," he said, "as well as by establishing minimum standards for the operation of such groups."
The IMI Board has approved a form for use by local/regional groups that wish to request affiliation. The form can be obtained from MCAA or from IMI (Suite 1001, 823 15th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20005).
59 Locals now provide IMI with contributions of two cents or more per hour
The drive by the Mason Contractors Association of America and the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen to increase the funding level of IMI from one cent to two cents per hour worked by bricklayers is yielding quick results, according to George Miller, Executive Vice President of the Mason Contractors Association of America.
Miller said that 59 Locals of the Bricklayers' International Union, in their collective bargaining agreements with mason contractors or other employer groups, now call for IMI contributions of two cents or more-and that number is steadily increasing.
"There's no question," he said, "that this drive is off to a successful start. The masonry industry recognizes the need, and knows that the additional investment in IMI will be profitable."
IMI, founded in 1970 by the Bricklayers' International Union and the Mason Contractors Association, was originally funded on the basis of one cent per hour worked.
The one-cent contribution level was maintained for six years, in the face of inflation and growing masonry industry promotion needs. But in 1976, MCAA and the Bricklayers' International Union announced that they would campaign for a two-cent contribution in order for IMI to expand its promotion work.
Locals contributing 2¢ or more
Local unions whose collective bargaining agreements with mason contractors now call for an IMI contribution of two cents or more are:
* Atlantic Provinces (10 Locals)
* Alabama #1
* Arkansas statewide (6 Locals)
* Connecticut #14, 16
* Indiana #2, 3
* Kansas #3, 24
* Kentucky #17
* Louisana #1 (eff. 11/1/77)
* Massachusetts #2 (3¢ per hour)
* Michigan #40
* Montana statewide (9 Locals)
* Nebraska #1
* New Jersey #2, 5, 11, 16
* New York #11 (res. only)
* #22, 27, 48, 51, 55, 75, 83
* Pennsylvania #8, 15, 33
* Rhode Island #5
* Tennessee #6
* Texas #1.7 (3¢ per hour)
* Virginia #1, 15
* Washington #7