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Resource Highlight: MSCA’s Plumbing Service 101 Webinars & Workbooks

Each week, MCAA will highlight one or more of the educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership. This week, we focus on MSCA’s Plumbing Service 101 webinars and workbooks. These resources cover fundamental plumbing concepts for mechanical service contractors thinking about entering the plumbing service business.

In this series of 60-minute webinars and corresponding workbooks, you will learn about:

Plumbing Service Business Basics including the pros and cons of plumbing service, how to make a sound decision about whether to enter the market, and types of services to offer based on commitment level.

Plumbing Service Markets and what type of research needs to be done before making a final decision to enter the market. Learn about 10 specific target markets that create opportunities for the HVACR contractor looking to add plumbing services.

Finding and Developing Great Plumbing Techs discusses the required skill sets, recruiting sources, and training needed to find and develop great service techs.

Cash is King will give service contractors an understanding of the key, important financial concepts and factors in planning a successful start-up and profitable operation of a plumbing service business.

Operations Part 1 explores the key personnel and organizational structure required to establish, sell, and grow a viable plumbing services division.

Operations Part 2 summarizes the most important advice from the experts. Topics include how to integrate plumbing into an existing corporate culture, strategies for externally communicating the new service, and key service differentiators for plumbing.

Play the Webinars and Download the Workbooks

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA/MSCA’s Teresa Pezzi.

BLS Reports Slight Uptick in Construction Industry Union Representation in 2021

Union representation rates in the construction industry inched up slightly in 2021, increasing to 13.6%, with 1,112, 000 of the 8,157,000 workers “represented” by unions, up from 13.4% in 2020 (993,000 of 1,050,000 employed). Among those 1,112,000 represented by unions, 1,024,000 were classified as union members, leaving some 88,000 (roughly 8%) of the remainder classified as represented by unions (covered by a collective bargaining agreement (CBA)) but not reported as union members.

In 2020, 993,000 of the 1,050,000 represented by unions were classified as members, leaving some 57,000 (some 5%) classified as represented or covered by a CBA, but not counted as union members – as judged by responses to the BLS Current Population Survey questions that are the basis of the annual report. (Union Members – 2021, USDL-22-0079, January 20, 2022).

READ UNION MEMBERS – 2021

According to the BLS report, median weekly earnings among all full-time wage and salary workers in the construction industry came to $966 in 2021, up marginally from $961 the year before. In 2021, union members were credited with $1,344 per week, as compared with $1,322 for those non-members covered by a labor contract, and $922 per week for non-union workers. In 2020, the amounts were: $961 for all workers; $1,254 for union members; $1,234 for non-members covered by a CBA; and $920 for non-union workers.

MCAA Note – The differential between union membership and union representation rates may reflect the impact and change in right-to-work laws in any state. BLS data on union membership rates over the years is available on a state-by-state basis on the BLS website. The state data reflects total union membership rates and is not broken down by public or private sectors or by industry.

VIEW THE STATE-BY-STATE DATA

Don Campbell Named 2021 MCAA/MILWAUKEE TOOL Safety Professional of the Year

MCAA and MILWAUKEE TOOL congratulate Don Campbell, our 2021 Safety Professional of the Year award winner. Don is a longtime safety leader and vice president at P1 Group in Kansas City, MO, and a member of MCAA’s Safety & Health Committee. The award was announced at MCAA’s Safety Directors’ Conference in Florida. The award is presented annually to a mechanical industry safety and health professional who has led his or her company to achieving an exceptionally high degree of safety excellence.

Don developed P1 Group’s robust safety program from the ground up. The program’s success has significantly reduced the company’s Experience Modification Rating (EMR) and incident rates.

Don joined our team approximately 20-years ago and it is he who created the ‘culture of safety’ that all of our associates live and appreciate today. Since joining the organization, Don has assembled a team of six other Safety Professionals that help instill our company’s credo, ‘Safety First, Quality Always’.
– Kollin Knox, P1 Group President

Don has been invited to the MCAA22 convention in San Diego, CA, in March to receive the award on stage during the Awards of Excellence Breakfast.

MCAA and MILWAUKEE TOOL congratulate Don and thank him for his ongoing commitment to safety.

CLRC Releases 2021 Year End Settlements Report & Video

The Construction Labor Research Council (CLRC), a longstanding partner of MCAA, has released its 2021 Year End Settlements Report and associated video. The report covers the first year of newly bargained settlements to assist readers in understanding current trends. It also covers all years of negotiated settlements to assist in projecting future labor costs. In addition to a general overview, the report provides various detailed data cuts, including by geographic region and specific craft. For additional information, contact Carey Peters, Executive Director, at 202-347-8440 or clrc@clrcconsulting.org.

OSHA Officially Withdraws COVID-19 ETS on 1/26/22

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has withdrawn the COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard on vaccine mandates as an enforceable emergency temporary standard. OSHA remains committed to pursuing a proposed rule through the formal process. Both MCAA and the UA continue to strongly encourage the vaccination of workers against COVID-19.

MCAA’s In-Person Safety Directors’ Conference a Win for Safety & Health

Last week the MCAA presented one of the most exciting Safety Directors’ Conferences ever. The first in-person conference in two years brought together safety professionals from around the country for world-class education on best practices and safety and health issues specific to the mechanical industry. Participants also heard keynotes on safety leadership from Capt. Richard Phillips, Olympian Vince Poscente, and longtime safety advocate Regina McMichael during the January 18 – 20, 2022, event in sunny Florida.

The latest innovations from over 20 exhibitors were on display, including those from MCAA Manufacturer/Supplier Council members MILWAUKEE TOOL, Tyfoom, Emerson, DEWALT Industrial Tool Company, and Victaulic, which unveiled its new QuickVic^TM System, a solution with exciting safety implications. Other exhibitors, like Little Giant Ladder, also showed off their latest solutions.

MCAA thanks CNA and MILWAUKEE TOOL for sponsoring the event, and all the safety professionals who attended.

Find the Latest from BELIMO Americas and MORSCO in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show

MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Participating companies highlight and link to new products, product lines, services, solutions or web pages of particular interest. Here are just a few of the recent additions:

BELIMO Americas
Belimo Energy Valve utilizes advanced analytic technology to leverage captured system data to improve coil and system performance for increased energy savings. Energy savings you can see. #SmallDevicesBigImpact

Learn More

MORSCO
MORSCO is a leading U.S. distributor of commercial and residential plumbing, HVAC, and PVF, with showrooms across the country. Since our inception in November 2011, we’ve grown rapidly through a series of acquisitions and store openings. MORSCO is a private company sponsored by Advent International and led by a team of industry veterans.

Learn More

Need Something Else?

Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show!

Visit the Virtual Trade Show

Speaking of Smart Solutions

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website to learn how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with cost-saving and productivity-enhancing applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

This section of our website also includes tips and ideas to help your company save money and enhance your productivity. Don’t miss it!

Visit Smart Solutions

ConGRADulations to the New Graduates of IPM Classes 79 and 80

They negotiated change orders, they reviewed contract clauses, they learned best practices for everything from precon to close-out… and at the end of their Week II session, they headed home as the first Institute for Project Management graduates of 2022. We congratulate IPM Classes 79 and 80 and thank them for the energy and enthusiasm they brought to the classroom. Here’s how some of these new grads describe the return on investment they’re leaving IPM with:

“[IPM was the] best experience of my career. This will have a major impact on my ability to lead and execute successful projects.”

“This course has given me a lot of information and good insight on how to be a successful PM. The lessons learned here will help me to work on myself as well as the company. The best part was meeting a great group of people who I learned a lot from… Thank you for sharing your knowledge, experiences, and time to help me grow into a better PM and person.”

“This experience was incredible, and extremely impactful for my career. The entire program is thorough, and put together in a solid fashion. Thank you for everything!”

The Institute for Project Management is our longest-running and most popular project management program. It is intended for individuals with 3+ years of mechanical project management experience. Registration is done online on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration for our next IPM course will open on June 15, 2022. For additional information, please visit the IPM course page.

IPM Course Page

Resource Highlight: NCPWB’s General Brazing Guidelines

Each week, MCAA will highlight one or more of the educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership. This week, we focus on NCPWB’s General Brazing Guidelines. These guidelines provide background information and supplementary instructions to contractors and their brazers who are using National Certified Pipe Welding Bureau Welding (NCPWB) Brazing Procedure Specifications (BPSs).

Your workers will learn about:

Mandatory practices that should be followed during the process of making brazed joints
Recommended practices that should be followed during brazing unless the brazer is otherwise directed by their supervisor
General information of interest to brazers, such as tables of copper tube and fitting sizes

DOWNLOAD

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact NCPWB’s Dariush (Nick) Nikpourfard.

MCAA’s Final Four Student Chapters Will Compete at MCAA22 in San Diego for First Place and a $10,000 Prize

Twenty three MCAA Student Chapters submitted a proposal for the Lake Placid Olympic Center Revitalization project. We would like to congratulate the Final Four and Certificate of Merit teams. Don’t miss out on seeing the Final Four compete during the Student Chapter Competition on Monday afternoon at MCAA22!

Students were asked to provide a project proposal to remove the existing R-22/R407F refrigeration system including all refrigeration equipment, related equipment and materials, controls, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and related systems inside the existing refrigeration room and the removal of the exterior cooling tower. Construction of the new R-513 indirect 1375-ton refrigeration system inside the existing refrigeration room, and new exterior cooling tower. Work includes demolition, excavation, concrete, refrigeration, equipment, pumps, piping, insulation, refrigerant, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, controls, motor control center, and building modifications.

When the project is completed, the new refrigeration system will feed the three existing indoor ice rinks and the new outdoor oval rink (existing oval rink is being replaced under a different contract). This is the same building where USA beat the Russia in the 1980 Miracle on Ice game.

Connect With the Latest Training from SLOAN and Victaulic at MCAA.org

The Manufacturer/Supplier Training area of MCAA’s website connects our contractor members with training opportunities available from the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Participating companies highlight and link to new webinars and training opportunities across their product lines, services, solutions or web pages. Here are just a few of the recent additions:

SLOAN
Sloan has the largest selection of automatic touch-free sensor faucets. Learn about the features and benefits of each in this detailed and whether you are selecting the right products for your projects.

Learn More

Victaulic
From one-hour seminars to full-day events, Victaulic University Continuing Education courses provide training on key industry concepts, including piping movement design, grooving and installation fundamentals, and gasket technology, as well as Victaulic HVAC and fire protection solutions. Request an instructor-led course or enroll in an online course today!

Learn More

Interested in More Training from Our Supplier Partners?

Be sure to visit the Manufacturer/Supplier Training area for all the latest offerings.

Learn More

Corporate Mechanical of New England Announces New Residential and Commercial Plumbing Capabilities

Corporate Mechanical of New England (CMNE) is pleased to announce their new comprehensive plumbing capabilities, serving commercial and residential customers throughout the Boston area. The Woburn, MA, company is a member of the New England MCA and MCAA.

In 2021 CMNE became a proud member of the Plumbers & Gasfitters UA Local 12 and welcomed Ronald (Ron) Pescatore as Plumbing Operations Manager. Ron is a Licensed Master Plumber & Gasfitter and brings 29 years of industry knowledge and experience to CMNE.

“Ron’s enthusiasm and tremendous skill set will prove invaluable for our new plumbing capabilities and extension into the residential market” said Paul Battaglia, President of CMNE. “We are excited to have Ron on board.”

Corporate Mechanical of New England (CMNE) designs, constructs, and maintains mechanical and HVAC and plumbing systems for a growing customer base in the Boston area’s commercial, industrial, and higher education markets. CMNE is part of the Arden Building Companies family, one of the largest mechanical contracting companies in New England.

Find the Latest from Morris Group International and Jonas Construction Software in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show

MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Participating companies highlight and link to new products, product lines, services, solutions or web pages of particular interest. Here are just a few of the recent additions:

Morris Group International
Acorn Controls® offers a complete line of thermostatic showering and tempering valves and controls, as well as whole-building water systems—perfect for all your tepid water plumbing needs.

Learn More

Jonas Construction Software
JONAS ENTERPRISE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE – A fully integrated and automated construction management software solution for everyday life.

Learn More

Need Something Else?

Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show!

Visit the Virtual Trade Show

Speaking of Smart Solutions

This section of our website also includes tips and ideas to help your company save money and enhance your productivity. Don’t miss it!

Visit Smart Solutions

MCAA Members Are Invited to Participate in TAUC’s Union Craft Labor Supply Survey

The Association of Union Constructors (TAUC) invites MCAA members to participate in its 2022 Union Craft Labor Supply Survey, the industry’s only union-specific survey focused on construction and maintenance. The survey is once again being conducted in conjunction with the Construction Labor Research Council (CLRC). Survey responses are due by February 11, 2022.

The survey responses provide for a detailed, data-driven picture of the current state of the labor supply throughout the United States. The resulting data set allows for educated decision making and action that can both strengthen our industry and increase market share.

Launched in 2015, the survey has been continually enhanced based on the feedback of a wide cross-section of previous respondents, including more than 3,250 contractors, labor representatives, owner-clients and construction association representatives. This survey will drill down into the specifics of both regional and national labor supply trends and further assessment of the union craft workforce. New this year, the survey addresses COVID-19, the infrastructure deal, and more.

Your responses are confidential, submitted anonymously and will be analyzed to create a final report that will be shared with MCAA members when it is available this spring.

TAKE THE SURVEY

Registration Is Now Open For the NCPWB 2022 Annual Technical Conference/Committee Meeting

This event is a combined NCPWB Technical Conference and Technical Committee meeting. If you are interested in learning and sharing knowledge on the impact of supply chain chaos on welding; improving your welding business through technology; safe pressure testing of piping systems; building a digital manufacturing fab shop — not to mention networking with friends, colleagues, and new acquaintances — then don’t miss the NCPWB Annual Technical Conference April 24 – April 26, 2022. In addition to the conference, the NCPWB Technical Committee meets annually to resolve technical welding issues, develop and approve welding procedures, review various code activities, and educate chapter administrators about the policies and procedures involved in the operation of their chapters.

To register or get more information, please click the buttons below.

More Info

Covid Protocols

The Greater Boston PCA Is MCAA’s Newest Affiliate

MCAA is pleased to welcome the Greater Boston PCA as our newest affiliated association. The coalition of roughly 60 union plumbing businesses is based out of the Greater Boston area. Remarking on this milestone, Andrew DeAngelo, Executive Director, said, “I am very excited to work with you and be a part of MCAA!”

MSCA 2022 Sales Basecamp Registration Now Open

MSCA Sales Basecamp is the starting block for your entry-level service sales personnel. This two-day program, held March 28-29, 2022 in Linthicum Heights, MD near BWI Airport, will transform your recent hires, providing them with relevant skills for time management and the confidence to sell HVACR services. Classes fill up fast so sign up today!

Class size is limited, so make sure to sign-up today!

Learn More and Register

Resource Highlight: MCAA/CNA MICROLEARNING SAFETY VIDEO SERIES: Refraining from Distracted Driving

Each week, MCAA will highlight one or more of the educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership. This week, we focus on the MCAA/CNA MICROLEARNING SAFETY VIDEO SERIES: Refraining from Distracted Driving. This video will teach your workers how refraining from distracted driving can help prevent motor vehicle collisions.

Your workers will learn:

How talking on the phone – even using a hands-free device – takes the mind off the road and leads to inattention blindness, a phenomenon that has proven to be deadly
Why it is smart to pull off the road to a safe location before making calls, sending texts, programming a GPS, or similar tasks
The importance of taking 60 seconds to clear the dashboard and organize the vehicle before heading out

Together with our partners in safety, CNA, MCAA developed the video, which is part of the MCAA/CNA Microlearning Safety Video Series, a series of easy-to-watch safety videos that are under 3-minutes long.

Download or Play the Video

All the videos in this series are available in our Resource Center any time.

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Raffi Elchemmas.

Supreme Court Reinstates OSHA ETS Stay on 1/13/22

Today the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued a decision regarding the highly controversial OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for COVID-19 vaccination.

SCOTUS granted the application for the stay blocking enforcement and progress of the ETS.

Regarding this nationwide stay of OSHA’s ETS for COVID-19 vaccination, SCOTUS holds that challengers to the rule are “likely to succeed on the merits” of their claims because the rule is broad enough to qualify as a “public health” mandate rather than an occupational standard.

They went on to say, “OSHA has never before imposed such a mandate. Nor has Congress.”

The full decision can be read here.

Watch for Updates As They Occur

MCAA will be closely monitoring SCOTUS and OSHA developments related to this issue and will communicate updates as they occur. In the meantime, questions may be addressed to MCAA’s Raffi Elchemmas.

Bassett Mechanical Named Contractor of the Year by PHC News

Congratulations to everyone at Bassett Mechanical for being named PHC News magazine’s Contractor of the Year. The company, which is a member of MCAA and the MCA of North Central Wisconsin, was selected for its effective Behavior Based Safety Program, 85-year history, comprehensive capabilities, and customer-centered approach. Included among these pillars is the company’s long-standing motto, “We Answer to You®”, and its vision of Creating Customers for Life®.

“We are honored to be highlighted as Contractor of the Year,” said Kim Bassett, President & CEO. “We are passionate about safely providing exceptional value and Creating Customers for Life®. This is a great way to recognize our associates for their focus on safe and responsible solutions and strong customer relationships.”

The extensive feature article details many of the company’s complete solutions, additional Virtual Design and Construction enhancements, and the growth the company has experienced under its second and third generations of family leadership.

Kim Bassett states, “We continuously strive to be seen as ‘Contractor of the Year’ in our customer’s eyes and are committed to bringing their ideas to life through our uniquely customized solutions. From idea to implementation, we are here to partner with them every step of the way.”

READ THE ARTICLE