Masonry Magazine May 1978 Page. 20
MASONRY INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
continued from page 19
The Masonry Industry Committee (MIC), which includes the International Union and the Laborers' International Union, also includes the International Masonry Institute, the Brick Institute of America, the National Concrete Masonry Association, the National Lime Association, and the Portland Cement Association. It is, therefore, truly an industry-wide organization.
The Committee was created to enable major elements of the industry to work together to overcome impediments that one or two organizations might not be able to cope with. It was also established to provide a better flow of information within the industry.
MIC is able to bring the attention of the entire masonry industry to bear on common problems, and it can utilize the particular strengths that some masonry organizations have-for example, the engineering/technical strengths of the manufacturer associations. MIC has already successfully done this in the areas of energy conservation. weatherproof walls, fire codes, and research.
I'm sure all of you have heard of MIC. At the International Union we believe MIC is a most important and positive development for the masonry industry, and we are dedicated to supporting and working through it. But beneath the umbrella of MIC, there should be a means whereby your organization and ours can join together to consult and act in mutual support on matters of particular application to mason contractors and masonry craftsmen.
Consultation and Action
There are numerous examples I can cite of issues and matters where we believe consultation between you and us would be advantageous and if the consultation can lead to mutual action and support, so much the better.
One such example is the need, which I feel very strongly about, for the masonry industry at the local level to use public relations techniques to tell the American public positive things about mason contractors and craftsmen. We need to publicize the ability of the masonry construction industry to produce high quality buildings. on time, and economically. Right now, the public too often is told only of our shortcomings.
I would like to see MCAA and the IU discuss ways of encouraging our local components to get involved in programs of this nature. In a number of areas successful programs of this kind already exist. One is in St. Louis. The "Pride" program there is a construction industry-wide program that also involves building owners and designers.
Another area has to do with manpower. I think we should, working together, try to devise a method of exchanging information at the national level about local/regional manpower needs and capabilities. As you know, there are right now areas of the country where there are shortages of bricklayers, and other areas where there are surpluses of bricklayers. We need more and better information about manpower needs and capabilities, gathered and presented in an orderly fashion.
Then we need to use the information to devise programs that will, for example, help remove impediments to the mobility of craftsmen. f craftsmen, and encourage mobility through incentives. If we can do so, we will have created a service of enormous value to contractors and Local Unions.
The IU should be consulting with you more directly about ways of getting more business for you in new and undeveloped markets, and thereby more jobs for our members. This kind of business or market development program inevitably will, and should, involve the complex problem of trade jurisdiction and competition from open-shop contractors.
There will also be legislative matters that we should