MCAA Regional Report, Region D

WISCONSIN

Workforce Development
Our apprentice program is doing an excellent job of recruiting new apprentices. There are presently 40+ apprentices in the program. We have moved the apprenticeship program to the BAC Training Center. There has been numerous benefits with moving the program to the Training Center. Some of the benefits are better control of the actual training, what is taught, and the time or schedule the apprentice is in class. The training is now down during the winter instead of the summer when we need the apprentice working. The pre-apprentice program is going strong and we are thinking of adding a second class in anticipation of the strong economy and the need for more bricklayers. We have finalized a Bricklayers Residential Agreement with the union and are close to finalizing one with the Labors Union. This will help the union contractors who wish to enter the residential market and at the same time help the unions organize the residential market.

Economic Climate
The market has really picked up. We feel we will be at full employment this summer with a possible shortage of bricklayers and labors. Bricklayer's hours are up 9% so far over the previous year. The following industries seem to be strong, financials, healthcare, retail, schools and followed by industrial. Precast Concrete is becoming more and more of a concern. Not only are we seeing more of it, but it is starting to look good. There is also a surge of development in downtown Milwaukee, especially in the condominium market. There is a growing concern of material shortages as the year goes forward.

Membership Growth & Chapter Activities
We have lost three members this past year, one through retirement and two through downsizing. It has been extremely difficult to attract new contractors to our chapter. We have picked up a couple new associate members to help offset the loss. We hold both social and educational meetings. Our social events have been very well attended. We just had a seminar by Pat Conway with IMI on Cement Masonry Brick vs. Clay Brick. We hope with the better economy our membership will grow.

OSHA & Safety
OSHA has been pushing their partnership program with the General Contractors. There are several Mason Contractors who have joined the partnership program. We are still trying to resolve the use of man baskets with forklifts. We will be meeting with OSHA, Rashod from MCAA and our local AGC-Safety director the first week in April to hopefully resolve this issue. OSHA is starting to pay more attention to the residential market. It is our hope that MCAA OSHA Training Program, which was held in St. Louis, will be expanded to other areas. OSHA seems to be focusing on fall protection, forklift training and competent person for scaffolds. We continue to promote education and good work practices on silica.

Indiana

Economic Conditions
It appears that the economic activity in the Indianapolis area for this year is going to be very strong. At present this includes the new construction of educational, manufacturing and health care facilities along with the new Midfield Terminal building at the Indianapolis International Airport, the new football stadium in downtown Indianapolis, Lilly Expansions and strip malls. This should keep all of the available masons and contractors in this and the surrounding areas quite busy for the rest of 2006 and well into 2007.

Workforce Development Activities
Apprentice training in the Indianapolis area countinues to be providing the market with well trained first year apprentices, thus keeping our manpower requirements adequate at this time, we may have a bricklayer shortage by summer, but the local union assures us that they will do everything in their power to keep us supplied with qualified masons. We just concluded a "hands on" and interviews with 22 applicants and those who are accepted will being their training about the first of April. We will also be involved with Local 4 - IN/KY in "Career Days" at the local high schools and with our past experience in this area we are very optimistic about the quality of recruits that we can expect to enter our program.

Masonry Marketing Activities
At the end of January 2006, representatives from the local mason contractors, block producers and brick producers had an initial meeting with the purpose of making a list of our strenghts and the quality of our end product and then a list of our weaknesses in order to evaluate and promote our total package to the owners and architects with the goal of being able to impliment these facets in a unification of architects, owners and mason contractors.

OSHA & Safety
OSHA is continuing to place its priorities in safety training in the areas of scafoold erection, use and removal, wall bracing, fall protection, dry cutting of masonry units, rough terrain forklift usage and programs with weekly "Tool Box Safety Programs" and the availability of written safety programs and HAZCOM manuals on the jobsite.

Illinois

No report.