(UPDATE – April 30, 2014, 5:00 PM) Regional Collective Bargaining Agreements for Philadelphia Commercial Construction and Heavy & Highway Contractors that Expire at Midnight on April 30, 2014:

At this time, we still have several groups actively negotiating their collective bargaining agreements.  Most employer associations and their labor partners have checked in with GMCS this afternoon and are reporting that active negotiations are ongoing at this time and that labor and management continue to work together in an attempt to achieve mutually acceptable agreements.

Additionally, we currently have several rounds of trade negotiations taking place within the Mid Atlantic regional construction industry and also outside of the industry, but with associated trades, that could impact our region’s workforce.  At this time, all indications are that labor and management are engaged in active negotiations and that they continue to works towards mutually acceptable agreements.

In the event of a work stoppage, GMCS provides contractor support in the form of dual Gate Language and administration, support, strategy and guidance on your obligations as a member of an employer association or as an independent in the industry.



Additional updates on the status of regional collective bargaining will be posted here as that information is reported from our employer associations and labor.


Contact GMCS today at wegregory@gregorymcs.com to learn more about our services.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS – Steamfitters Local 420 and the Mechanical Contractors & Service Contractors Association of Eastern Pennsylvania and Greater Delaware Valley. (Tentative agreement reached; awaiting details and confirmation from the representing Association.)

A 3 year agreement, effective term started 5/1/2014 and expires on April 30, 2017.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS – Laborers District Council and the Contractors Association of Eastern Pennsylvania: (Tentative agreement reached; awaiting details and confirmation from the representing Association.)

A 3 year agreement, effective term started 5/1/2014 and expires on April 30, 2017.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS – Insulators and Asbestos Workers Local Union 14 and the Delaware Valley Insulation & Abatement Contractors Association: (Tentative agreement reached; awaiting details and confirmation from the representing Association.)

Existing terms: A 3 year agreement, effective term started 5/1/2011 and expires on April 30, 2014:

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS – United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers & Allied Workers Local Union #30 and the Roofing Contractors Association:

Existing terms: A 2 year agreement, effective term started 5/1/2012 and expires on April 30, 2014:

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS – Metropolitan Regional Council of Carpenters and the Contractors Association of Eastern Pennsylvania:

Existing terms: A 3 year agreement, effective term started 5/1/2011 and expires on April 30, 2014:

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS – International Union of Operating Engineers AFL-CIO, Local #542 and the Contractors Association of Eastern Pennsylvania: 

 Existing terms: A 3 year agreement, effective term started 5/1/2011 and expires on April 30, 2014:

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS – Cement Masons and Plasterers Union Local 592 and the Contractors Association of Eastern Pennsylvania: 

Existing terms: A 3 year agreement, effective term started 5/1/2011 and expires on April 30, 2014:

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS – International Union of Operating Engineers AFL-CIO, Local #542 and the General Building Contractors Association:

Existing terms: A 2 year agreement, effective term started 5/1/2012 and expires on April 30, 2014:

Detroit reaches deal with city's largest union

DETROIT - A tentative deal announced Monday on major aspects of a contract between Detroit and some of its unions could help speed up the city's long exit from bankruptcy.

The city and the Coalition of Detroit Unions, which represents more than 3,500 city workers, agreed in principle on "major aspects" of the five-year collective-bargaining agreement, a court-appointed mediation team said. The coalition comprises the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees - the city's largest - and 13 other civilian unions.

Terms of the deal were not released, but mediators said it will "provide an economically feasible agreement for the city as it emerges from bankruptcy."

When bankruptcy judge Steven Rhodes approved the city's plan to pay $85 million to UBS and Bank of America for pension debt, he urged the city and other creditors to reach more deals. It appears to have been taken to heart.

Since then, state-appointed emergency manager Kevyn Orr and his team have reached agreements with Detroit's two employee pension funds and with retired police and firefighters on retiree pension cuts.

The flurry of agreements reached "are positive developments that will allow the city to exit from bankruptcy sooner and financially solvent," Orr's spokesman Bill Nowling said via e-mail Monday.

Union members still have to ratify terms of the collective-bargaining agreement. Plus, roughly 30,000 retirees and city employees will receive ballots to vote on the pension deals ahead of a summer trial on Orr's plan to restructure city debt.

Under the pension deals, police and firefighters would see cost-of-living payment trimmed to about 1 percent. Other city retirees would get a 4.5 percent cut in their pension and elimination of the cost-of-living payment. That agreement is possibly "the centerpiece" of Orr's plan, said James McTevia, a turnaround expert and managing member of McTevia & Associates in suburban Detroit.

Orr has said Detroit's unfunded retiree health obligations were about $5.7 billion, while unfunded pension liabilities were $3.5 billion.

Source: Philly.com

Exelon buying Pepco Holdings for $6.83 billion

CHICAGO (AP) - Energy provider Exelon is buying Pepco Holdings Inc. for $6.83 billion to create a large electric and gas utility in the Mid-Atlantic region.

The deal will combine Exelon Corp.'s electric and gas utilities BGE, ComEd and PECO with Pepco's Atlantic City Electric, Delmarva Power and its namesake utility.

The combined utility businesses will serve approximately 10 million customers and have a rate base of approximately $26 billion.

Under terms of the deal, Exelon will pay $27.25 per Pepco share, an 18 percent premium to the company's $23.10 closing price on Tuesday.

Shares of Pepco rose $1.51, or 6.6 percent, to $24.30 before the opening bell on Wednesday.

Chicago's Exelon will put $100 million into a customer investment fund to be used across the Pepco utilities' service territories as each state public service commission feels is appropriate for customer benefits, such as rate credits, assistance for low income customers and energy efficiency measures.

Exelon President and CEO Chris Crane will serve in those roles for the combined company. Pepco Chairman, President and CEO Joseph Rigby will stay in his positions until the transaction closes. He had announced in January that he plans to retire in the first half of 2015. To help ease the transition, he'll step down as CEO near the end of this year after his successor is chosen.

The deal is expected to significantly add to Exelon's adjusted earnings in the first full year after the acquisition is complete.

Both companies' boards unanimously approved the transaction, which is targeted to close in 2015's second or third quarter. The deal needs approval from Pepco shareholders and regulatory approvals.

Exelon also announced mixed first-quarter results on Wednesday. The company reported adjusted earnings of 62 cents per share on revenue of $7.24 billion. Analysts surveyed by FactSet predicted earnings of 69 cents per share on revenue of $6.56 billion.

Source: Philly.com

Deal dead for 260 S. Broad St. - Post Brothers revert back to residential conversion

A deal to sell the Atlantic building at 260 S. Broad St. in Center City for $50 million has fallen through.

Jefferson Apartments of McLean, Va., had put the 21-story, 330,000-square-foot former office building under agreement earlier this year. With that deal dead, Post Brothers will move ahead with converting the property into a multifamily complex, said Matt Pestronk of Post Brothers.

“We are proceeding with development, as planned,” he said. “The project will be a top-notch project in all regards.”

Across the street, MRP Residential, a division of MRP Realty of Washington D.C., plans to spend tens of millions to redevelop the Avenue of the Arts building at Broad and Chestnut streets into a high-end apartment property with 220 units.

Both projects continue a steady increase in residential development along South Broad, pioneered by Dranoff Properties with Symphony House, a condominium building that was completed in 2007. Since then, the vibrancy of South Broad and the thriving multifamily market has spurred other developers to seek out residential projects along the street and areas flanking it.

Post Brothers acquired 260 S. Broad for $27 million in July 2012. While it’s certain they are moving ahead with its conversion, they have debated whether to move forward with whether to make the units condominiums or apartments.

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal

Expansion of Drexel's 11th Street health center to begin next week

Drexel University is starting work next week on a major $9 million expansion of its nurse-managed health center in North Philadelphia. The 11th Street Family Health Services Center will be doubling in size from 17,000-square-feet to about 34,000 square feet.

The Sheller Family Foundation earlier this year provided Drexel with a $2.5 million gift to fund the expansion. The facility has garnered national attention from entities such as the Department of Health and Human Services and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as a pioneer in integrated care.

“It’s not just about growing bigger,” said Patricia Gerrity, director of center and a professor and associate dean for community programs at Drexel. “It’s about being able top provide more and better services and having better facilities. We are so crowded right now.”

The center — which will be renamed as the Stephen and Sandra Sheller 11th Street Family Health Services Center when the expansion project is completed in the fall of 2015 — now annually cares for about 7,000 mostly low-income patients from four nearby public housing projects.

The two-story expansion will provide space for growing existing primary-care, dental and behavioral-health services; adding new services; and allowing more students and faculty from Drexel’s College of Nursing and Health Professions to train in interdisciplinary care.

Part of a new wing will be used to allow the center to handle more primary-care visits. It will also provide space for counseling services provided by graduate students in Drexel’s department of couple and family therapy. In addition, the center’s dance, music and art therapies will each get their own studios.

The center began in 1996 and moved to its current location on North 11th Street near Poplar Street in 2002. It focuses on providing integrated care — combining primary care and behavioral health services.

“We don’t separate mind and body,” Gerrity said. “A majority of patients come here with and toxic stress from growing in (turbulent) neighborhoods."

In addition to primary-care needs, the center’s staff also address mental health, nutritional needs and home environments of patients when developing treatment plans. The center operates its own fitness center, offers health coaching and provides complimentary therapies like yoga and mindful meditation.

Drexel has put together an advisory panel of community members who will help decide what services and programs should be provided at the site.

The expansion will allow the facility to grow from eight to 20 exam rooms. The size of the staff, now at 55, is also expected to grow by about 15 people.

A ground-breaking ceremony planned for Wednesday afternoon was postponed because of the unfavorable weather forecast. No new date for the event has been scheduled.

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal