Why GMCS Contracted Labor Relations Services & Support is a Better Solution to your Organization’s Needs

Given all of the recent jurisdictional changes, disputes, council mergers and uncertainty ahead, there has never been a more urgent need and time than right now for a recognized and experienced regionally based, management side, neutral, labor relations representative to support your organizations, members and industry independent signatories.  GMCS provides a recognized, experienced and educated single point and source for management in the region enabling closer collaboration, participation and communication amongst the Mid-Atlantic’s entire signatory contractor base.   

A February 6, 2014 National Labor Relations Board DECISION AND ORDER ruled in favor of a Philadelphia contractor over events that took place on their work site.  This contractor’s employees were subjected to the following:

(1) threatening employees with unspecified violence;

(2) threatening employees with specific violence, including threats to throw employees down a stairwell;

(3) removing tools, equipment and materials used by employees and scattering them about employees’ work areas;

(4) blocking employees from accessing their work areas.

Fortunately, the contractor sought counsel and, over the course of many months (June, 2013 – February, 2014), at significant financial legal costs for attorney fees and related personal time and expense along with a loss of job site productivity and employee morale, the contractor prevailed.  The underlying question here is, at what cost and what could have been done to reduce the cost of this conflict?

Research Says Average Jobsite Argument Costs $11K. When you factor in actual legal costs, the loss of personal time, direct expense and employee morale in this case, it isn’t inconceivable for this conflict to exceed 20k. Read the complete Center for Construction Research and Training Report here…

Many regional contractors continue to rely on the labor relation’s guidance provided to them by their employer associations as a benefit of their membership.  Unfortunately, most regional employer associations lack the educated, qualified and experienced staff that specializes in labor relations to provide that benefit.  In the case mentioned above, this local employer was an association member, yet most likely failed to receive important guidance and support in what appears to be another industry jurisdictional dispute.  A dispute not unlike the100's of previous industry disputes handled expeditiously and cost effectively by Gregory Management & Consulting Services and its educated, qualified and experienced Founder and President, Wayne Gregory.

Wayne Gregory is the recognized leader in the Philadelphia region in the areas of Labor & Industry Relations since 2005 and a respected management representative in building trade negotiations in Philadelphia. He has led the industry through some of the most tumultuous times in Philadelphia’s collective bargaining history.  He has personally participated in the negotiation of 20+ building trade agreements with the basic and sub contracting building trades and consulted on many more through the region’s comprehensive sub contracting associations and has been the only recognized, trained and formally educated Labor & Industry Relations professional for the construction industry in Philadelphia region.  He has personally intervened on hundreds of disputes over the years and represented contractors working on the largest and most visible projects in the region.

Professional management side labor relations support is a direct benefit that contractor members and independent signatories should be receiving as a result of the millions of dollars paid annually by contractors for each man hour worked into the region’s Industry Advancement Programs (IAP).  Shouldn’t you receive professional labor relation’s benefits from your firm’s hourly Industry Advancement Program (IAP) contributions?

Association members interested in receiving assistance and support during collective bargaining and throughout the terms of your collective bargaining agreements should direct their Board of Directors to contact Wayne Gregory at GMCS today, wegregory@gregorymcs.com, for consultation.  Independent signatories should contact Wayne Gregory at GMCS directly, wegregory@gregorymcs.com, for consultation.