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February 2010
Massachusetts to Start Regulating Sheet Metal Workers
A new state board is poised to approve rules for the sheet metal industry that would improve public safety. Proponents and opponents packed hearings on the issue that the Board of Examiners of Sheet Metal Workers held in Quincy, Malden and Springfield in January. The state Legislature created the Board in response to a 2007 fire at a Chinese restaurant in West Roxbury that killed two Boston firefighters. Faulty duct work was found to have caused the fire. Gov. Deval Patrick appointed seven members to the Board and George Weber, the director of Patrick's Division of Professional Licensure, said every effort was made to appoint a balanced board. The new rules would require thousands of sheet metal workers to be licensed for the first time. Board members are carefully considering the comments that have been submitted and will strive to approve a balanced and fair set of standards. Much of the controversy about the proposed rules has focused on ratios that would be established for construction projects. The new rules would require at least three experienced sheet metal workers for every one apprentice sheet metal worker on a commercial construction job that is bigger than 35,000 cubic feet and has more than two sheet metal workers. A one-to-one ratio would be required for residential projects and smaller commercial projects. This is not intended to be a union or non-union issue, its intent is to regulate and educate a very vital construction trade.
Construction Activity in Massachusetts
By all accounts of late, 2010 looks to start off as a very slow year for new construction projects. Numerous projects have been shelved for various reasons from lack of financing to lack of confidence in the economy. Architecture firms are still reporting very weak business conditions. However, new Senator-elect Scott Brown has teamed up with Mayor Menino and is pushing Gov. Patrick to release more of the Federal Stimulus monies to pay for infrastructure work. The mayor and other cities and towns have jobs and shovel-ready projects that they can get done right away with the release of this money. The City of Boston is looking into making $18 million in improvements to the Hynes Convention Center. The objective is to provide a roadmap for the hospitality and convention industry in Massachusetts over the next 10 years, by making Boston a Top 5 North American destination for meetings and conventions as well as a leading international destination. The Convention Partnership will present a report of its findings and research to the Governor, Mayor, Senate President and House Speaker by December 31, 2010, with hopes of starting construction soon after, likely in the beginning of 2011.
SMACNA Wins Special Construction Industry Small Business Exemption in Senate Health Care Bill
SMACNA Boston, along with other employer groups, urged members to keep the Merkley Amendment in its final health-care bill. Our staff wrote letters to all democratic senators strongly supporting the bill which would require more construction industry employers to provide health care benefits. The amendment was indeed included in the final leadership bill that passed the Senate just before it adjourned for the end of the first session. The amendment would narrow the small business exemption for the construction industry only. SMACNA Boston feels that Senator Merkley is taking a rational approach to expanding health care benefits for workers in a high risk industry and who work in jobs that year after year take a physical toll on the body. Providing health care for workers should be a cost of doing business for construction employers. Small business exemptions in current bills at that time, would effectively exempt the entire construction industry from an employer mandate. SMACNA Boston thought a more sensible small business exemption should be set for the construction industry. Before this amendment, the Senate proposal would have exempted all companies with less than 50 employees. However, ninety percent of construction firms employ fewer than 20 workers. SMACNA Boston members prove that small construction firms can provide health care benefits.
Senate Democrats Said to Consider $80 Billion Jobs Legislation
Lawmakers are set to consider a jobs-stimulus package totaling about $80 billion that would provide tax credits to small and medium-sized businesses that hire workers. The plan would include aid to state governments to prevent layoffs and additional funding for infrastructure projects. The package will also likely include energy-related provisions such as incentives to weatherize homes. The proposal is smaller than an economic aid package approved last month by the House, in part because lawmakers plan to approve extensions in unemployment benefits costing tens of billions as a part of separate legislation. The House plan, costing more than $150 billion, eschewed small business tax cuts in favor of spending $53 billion to extend unemployment benefits including so-called COBRA subsidies to help the jobless buy health insurance. The Senate proposal comes as lawmakers find themselves under growing pressure, underscored by Republican Scott Brown's win in last week's special U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts, to boost the economy before this year's midterm elections. At the same time, lawmakers are trying to show voters they are serious about taming the government's spiraling budget deficits.
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