MCAA Regional Report, Region D

Illinois......Terry Mulligan
Wisconsin......Joel Gruman
Indiana......James DeMuyt

ECONOMIC CLIMATE AND MARKET EXPANSION

Illinois

Chicagoland and surrounding suburbs report very strong growth. Many major schools are being built predominantly of masonry. Also rehab construction continues to grow in some of the older School District. The material end of the industry has experienced great expansion especially the landscaping sector and associated newer architectural products for institutional and commercial use. With the upturn of masonry construction there is extended lead-times required for some architectural CMU’s. Clay product’s moderate lead-times have been extended to six or nine months, this necessitates more lead-time for proper coordination of jobs. The contracting climate after going through nine successful growth years is still comparative as ever, small niches and segments of masonry industry exists for specialty oriented contractors. The residential sector has continued to grow availability of both manpower and available units is the only hindrance to a greater market share. The Union is working very hard to maintain strong presence and is very visible on large city projects, but the farther out the projects are in the urban areas, non-Unions contractors seem to be springing up. Greater diligence on their part working with the local contractors association prevented this intrusion into the larger school projects. The attempts to amalgamate Eastern European immigrants as Union craftsman have experienced limited success, but holds great potential. The future economic climate appears to hold the same growth potential if not even greater. Both potential industrial, commercial urban sector market combined with the redevelopment and revitalizing of the Chicago market loom very large.

The economic climate in central Illinois continues to be excellent. The commercial market continues to be steady, and the State of Illinois through the school construction program is beginning to release projects in the area. Also, State Farm in Bloomington has a $200 million program this year, which will include a significant amount of masonry.

In Southern Illinois masonry’s market share continues to be stable, but is losing some projects to tilt up precast. The primary way that precast and tilt up is beating masonry is through speed of production. The price does not seem to be an issue as masonry appears to be less expansion, but the speed of completing the projects is significantly faster with tilt up and precast.

Indiana

The amount of work available still remains high through most of the state. Contractors still face a shortage of craftsmen in most areas, as apprentices are not sufficient to replace retirees. The quality of work has declined along with the work ethic and lack of pride in the craft. One thing that should be addressed is material weights as this may have a detrimental affect on people staying in the trade. There should be a concentrated effort to get back in lighter weight material of all types, specifically having Architects specify true-lite weight block. I believe this would have a large impact on getting and keeping apprentices in the trade if lighter material were used.

Wisconsin

They are experiencing a strong volume of work at the present time and the outlook looks good for the next 6-8 months.

WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT

Illinois

There is some excitement in this area that previously mentioned Novice Trainee program should help create a “shot in the arm” to the apprentice program. A new building is being looked at to centralize the training without losing the training in some of the satellite locations. Training will now include scaffold user and other safety training. Manpower remains to be a major problem but the Union has worked hard with some success to organize non-union bricklayers and may contractors have benefited from this organizing campaign. All the Locals seem to be operating on full capacity, which is good for the potential.

The major efforts to recruit future masons have been conducted primarily through the BAC. The BAC has recruited non-union residential bricklayers into the commercial construction industry, and many of those have attended the IMI Pre-Apprentice Training Program.

The major labor relations issues in Central Illinois continue to be the shortage of skilled masons and the issue of forklift operation. The reports are that most of the central Illinois area is being hit with a shortage of masons which had an effect on the ability of contractors to sell masonry or perform masonry projects. The forklift operation issue is primarily a dispute between the Laborers and Operators. Masonry central Illinois contractors have implemented the MCAA International Agreement with the Laborers. This has been coldly received by the Operators, but has allowed the contractors to make positive changed in the Operators contracts.

In the 34 Southernmost Illinois counties (there are 65 counties total in Local No. 8), the bricklayer union has been organized. Additionally, the bricklayer union training program has greatly improved, in the past, bricklayer apprentice training was held every Saturday for several years. The program now is held daily, Monday through Friday, during the months of January, February, and March. The training material used is obtained from the International masonry Institute. Also, the non-union sector does not have any formal bricklayer training.

Mason Contractors sponsor an apprenticeship contest for all levels of Apprentices at the State Fair, which generates a fair amount of interest. They have an ongoing apprentice-training program that is only moderately successful. They have 12 weeks of training in our Indianapolis center prior to apprentice being job placed and continue their four year apprenticeship with an additional 144 hours of training which takes them off the job 8 hours per week. They have a high failing rate in most areas of the State. This in part may be due to our acceptance of a low caliber of person. More emphasis should be stressed to contact high school graduates in vocations classes who have no desire to go on to college.

Throughout the state they have a very strong apprenticeship program with 200 apprentices at present.

They have had the IMI training program in the state twice in the last year, once in Milwaukee and once in the Green Bay area. All the people that participated we placed with contractors.

OSHA & SAFETY

Illinois

The greatest concern from OSHA is a consistent interpretation and enforcement of scaffold regulations. Also the silicosis regulations from OSHA and how they affect mason contractors. The OSHA Peoria office has had an emphasis on the silicosis and the scaffold regulations in the area. Sporadic reports of job site investigations and fines have been reported.

OSHA citations have been very minimal. Most fines though, are due to guardrails.

Indiana

OSHA has been a real thorn in everyone’s side with fines increasing dramatically for repeat violations. To meet all of the regulations becomes impossible, specifically with rules on scaffold and fall protection. Interpretation varies from Inspector to Inspector. Smaller contractors are not policed or inspected as these contractors do not pay fines or they move to different locals. This creates higher costs for contractors competing with the smaller fly-by night firms and places us in a low competitive situation.

Wisconsin

No report.

MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Illinois

Renewals have been fairly constant for Greater Chicago the four-year agreement has had a positive impact on membership recruitment. The annual golf outing’s success now has grown to include a PAC outing and a Block outing in the preceding months. The “Big” outing, the annual golf outing, was a whooping success despite the rain, 230 people stayed for inner. Social activity attendance is at an all time high. Chapter aggressively sought to persuade the National MCAA and the NCMA to resume talks to get the MASONRY EXPO back together. The Chapter is extremely disappointed so far with both sides inability to see the big picture.

The Central Illinois Mason Contractors Association has had stable membership. Most of the larger commercial mason contractors are members of the association. The association recently expanded to the Peoria area and has had significant success in recruiting members from that area.

In Southern Illinois have in the past hosted seminars and invited all contractors and bricklayers. After a 13-year break they hosted a Masonry Awards Program in April 1998. It is hoped to hold this awards program every three years. Also, during our regular business meetings, they hold informative, brief programs on masonry-related topics. They have greatly increased the attendance of our regular meetings from about five in 1990 to an average of 15-20 in 1998. Additionally, their associate members have about doubled, with area suppliers very interested in attending. Present membership: 68 masonry contractors and 15 association members (suppliers).

Indiana

There are approximately 50% of the largest mason who belong to the national association. Smaller contractors lack interest in the national association and do not feel they can receive any benefits from the national organization. They have approximately 30 participation firms in the Indiana Mason Contractors Association.

Wisconsin

No report.