Dispute among Philly's building trades unions

Inside, patrons play the slots. Outside, unions are in disagreement over who should build signs at the Parx Casino expansion in Bucks County.

Building Trades Council leader John Dougherty has scheduled a meeting Friday morning with union leaders a week after Gary J. Masino resigned as the president of a key BTC subcommittee, the Mechanical Trades District Council of Delaware Valley. Masino is president and business manager of Local 19 of the Sheet Metal Workers International Union. In his resignation letter, Masino says he is resigning over a conflict of interest, accusing another union in the Mechanical Trades of raiding his members’ work.

According to sources, the dispute is between the sheet metal workers union and the electricians’ union, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98, over who should do work on electronic signs constructed at projects on Market Street and at the Parx Casino in Bucks County.

NLRB: Carpenters/IUPAT: Raymond Interior Systems, Inc., Board Case No. 21-CA-037649 (reported at 355 NLRB No. 209) (D.C. Cir. decided February 5, 2016)

A cautionary tale of woe for our Philadelphia contracting community that is signatory to an IUPAT agreement and is considering signing with the Carpenters union to perform drywall installation. 

In a published opinion, the court granted in part the Board’s cross-application for enforcement, and remanded one issue to the Board for further consideration.  In doing so, the court granted in part the separate petitions for review filed by the Employer, a construction-industry contractor operating in California, and the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters.  The court found it unnecessary to reach the question raised by the Painters Union in a third petition for review.

(JURISDICTION) (LABOR) Philadelphia Regional Update – Geographic Jurisdictional Changes - All Contractors with Signatory Obligations to the Metropolitan Regional Council of Carpenters - Philadelphia and or Greater Pennsylvania Regional Council – Pittsburgh

Gregory Management & Consulting Services has received numerous client inquiries regarding the January 8, 2014 letter from the Greater Pennsylvania Regional Council, Pittsburgh and the Metropolitan Regional Council of Carpenters, Philadelphia detailing a market consolidation across three regional councils and multiple states throughout the entire Mid-Atlantic region. This consolidation impacts signatory contractors in Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C., Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania.

While market consolidations have not been commonplace in this region, they have occurred throughout the United States more frequently over the last several years.  In many cases, they take place in an attempt to consolidate territories and areas of operation while maximizing the limited resources and effectiveness of a regional council.  In some cases, employers realize efficiencies in operations as a result of the expansion.

You are urged to contact Wayne Gregory at Gregory Management & Consulting Services (GMCS) today to discuss how these changes could impact your organization and operations.  Having successfully resolved hundreds of matters related to area collective bargaining agreements and contractors throughout the Philadelphia metropolitan and Lehigh Valley regions, GMCS is your single, recognized, educated, experienced and reliable source for labor & industry relation’s support. 

Every organization is unique and your obligations and liabilities may change based on your existing operational models, area of operation, structure and signatory obligations as a result of these recent changes.  Your liabilities and obligations may have changed and, in some cases, the implications may be severe. 

We remain committed to this industry’s contractors and the proper administration of its many collective bargaining agreements throughout the region.  Labor and Industry Relations is a highly specialized field that requires years of education, direct experience and a sincere belief that a collaborative nature and trusted, industry relationships matter.  GMCS possesses all of these skills and is recognized throughout the industry for Knowledge, Trust, Integrity and an unwavering commitment to Serve the Industry.

GMCS provides a comprehensive umbrella of protection and support to the region’s many contractors and facility owners.  This is accomplished through having an in-depth understanding of the region’s many collective bargaining agreements, current labor leadership and an established national network of industry professionals and stakeholders.  Additionally, GMCS relies on a comprehensive in-house library of regional & national collective bargaining agreements and a detailed knowledge base documenting 100’s of regional labor disputes, implemented resolutions and industry trends.  GMCS is continually working to protect its clients by providing accurate and timely information to resolve any project or contractual dispute.  One jurisdictional claim could cost your organization 100’s of thousands of dollars, one illegal work stoppage could cost your project days of lost productivity, forced placement of non-productive personnel could result in excessive payroll and benefits.  GMCS provides multiple tiers of contracted service products and hourly rates that will fit any budgetary and administrative requirement to help your organization stay focused on its mission and on budget.   With contracted services starting as low as $170.00 a month, GMCS has contracted labor & industry relations solutions that meet most any organization’s needs.

From Association Management & Executive Leadership services, Owner Representation, Government Affairs and Labor & Industry Relations, let GMCS provide your association or organization with a better solution.  You may respond directly to this e-mail or go to www.gregorymcs.com for more information on GMCS contracted services and support.  Trust, experience and relationships matter, GMCS’s success was built on that foundation. Trust the recognized Labor and Industry Relations’ professional in the Philadelphia region since 2006, Wayne Gregory of GMCS.  Contact Wayne Gregory via e-mail at wegregory@gregorymcs.com for a follow-up consultation.

(JURISDICTION) (LABOR) Philadelphia Regional Update – Interior Glazing Products and the Signatory Obligations of a Contractor

JURISDICTION: Philadelphia Regional Update – Interior Glazing Products and the Signatory Obligations of a Contractor

There has been a significant increase in reported cases of jurisdictional disputes over interior glazing type systems in the market place over the last 12 months.   This is the type of glazing that you would typically see installed in the course of an interior office fit-out or similar installation.  Contractors continue to receive incorrect guidance from industry sources with respect to the installation of this product and their signatory obligations.  Adding to the confusion are recent claims by competing entities for this work in the field.

Gregory Management & Consulting Services (GMCS) supports the right of a contractor to award contracts based on economics and efficiency with respect to their current signatory obligations.  In many cases, contractors are simply not aware that they do have a choice.  Don’t let your free labor relations advice cost you or your project time and profits. Contractors are urged to contact Wayne Gregory at wegregory@gregorymcs.com for advice on your signatory obligations as it relates to your organization’s collective bargaining agreements.

As reported in the October, 2013 Gregory Management & Consulting Services REGIONAL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY UPDATE e-mail newsletter, research says that the average jobsite argument costs $11K.  You can find a copy of the original post and the full research report here…  While this report is limited to interpersonal conflict on a project and not specifically jurisdictional disputes, a job site jurisdictional dispute could quickly exceed the stated 11K as a result of the interpersonal conflict created between the impacted trades and others, additional work stoppages, labor and materials required to resolve a jurisdictional dispute should you receive and follow incorrect guidance.

Avoid unnecessary worksite conflict; trust your company and its bottom line to the recognized labor & industry relation’s professional in the region that has successfully settled hundreds of jurisdictional disputes in the commercial construction marketplace since 2005.  Questions about your signatory obligations as it relates to the installation of interior glazing, similar products or questions regarding your collective bargaining agreement can be directed to Wayne Gregory, wegregory@gregorymcs.com at GMCS.  The recognized regional leader in the Philadelphia region in the areas of Labor & Industry Relations since 2005 and is continuing to serve the industry and its multi-employer Associations under the Gregory Management & Consulting Services brand, Knowledge, Trust, Integrity and a unwavering commitment to Serve the industry.  

JURISDICTION: Philadelphia Regional Update – Rain Screen Products and the Signatory Obligations of a Contractor

There has been a significant increase in reported cases of jurisdictional disputes over architectural exterior panel systems / rain screen in the market place over the last 9 months.   Furthermore, many contractors continue to receive incorrect guidance from industry sources with respect to the installation of this product and their signatory obligations.  Adding to the confusion are several pieces of language in area agreements claiming “pre-finished panels for exterior use” and “corrugated metal wall panels” are to be performed by employees covered under one agreement.  Furthermore, “It is understood that the installation and attachment of the miscellaneous iron and steel to serve as support systems pertaining to any work outlined in this Agreement shall be done by the Employees covered under this Agreement.”  In many cases within a large part of the Philadelphia marketplace, you do have options.  Don’t let your free labor relations advice cost you or your project profits.

As reported in the October, 2013 Gregory Management & Consulting Services REGIONAL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY UPDATE e-mail newsletter, research says that the average jobsite argument costs $11K.  You can find a copy of the original post and the full research report here…  While this report is limited to interpersonal conflict on a project and not specifically jurisdictional disputes, a job site jurisdictional dispute could quickly exceed the stated 11K as a result of the interpersonal conflict created between the impacted trades and others, additional work stoppages, labor and materials required to resolve a jurisdictional dispute should you receive and follow incorrect guidance.

Avoid additional and unnecessary worksite conflict, trust your company and its bottom line to the recognized labor relation’s professional in the region that has successfully settled hundreds of jurisdictional disputes in the commercial construction marketplace since 2006.  Questions about your signatory obligations as it relates to the installation of this, similar rain screen type products or general collective bargaining agreement questions can be directed to Wayne Gregory, wegregory@gregorymcs.com at Gregory Management & Consulting Services.  The recognized regional leader in the Philadelphia region in the areas of Labor & Industry Relations since 2006 and is continuing to serve the industry and its multi-employer Associations under the Gregory Management & Consulting Services (GMCS) brand, Knowledge, Trust, Integrity and a unwavering commitment to Serve the industry.