Important News from Construction Business Group February 2010
Robb Kahl

Welcome to our Winter 2010 edition of our newsletter.  Since our last newsletter, Construction Business Group (CBG), as a joint labor-management organization, has been working to ensure that Local 139 and its signatory contractors are making advancements to enhance and preserve job opportunities in this difficult economic climate.  In particular, CBG, Local 139 and our signatory contractors have been working jointly at the local, state and federal level to preserve the strength of our construction industry in the following areas:

          -Prevailing Wage - CBG, Local 139 and Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association ("WTBA") worked collectively to ensure that needed changes to the state's prevailing wage law were implemented as part of the state budget.  (See summary of changes at the end of this newsletter).

          -Uniform Wind Siting - CBG, Local 139 and contractor partners like Michels Wind Energy, a division of Michels Corporation, worked together to allow for wind energy development growth in Wisconsin.

          -State Capital Budget - CBG, Local 139 and Associated General Contractors ("AGC") worked, with other trades and industry stakeholders, to promote an aggressive $1.4 billion building program for state construction that became part of the state budget.

          -State Transportation Budget - CBG, Local 139 and WTBA worked cooperatively together to aggressively pursue additional funding for road construction and to protect the Transportation Fund from massive transfers for non-transportation expenses.

          -Enbridge Pipeline - CBG, Local 139 and Enbridge worked collectively to shepherd the Alberta Clipper pipeline project through various state and federal regulatory approvals.

There are other upcoming matters of joint interest pertaining to issues like the Zoo Interchange, proposed mining regulations, proposed operator certification requirements, unemployment compensation fund changes, renewable energy mandates (including lifting the moratorium on nuclear power plant construction), capital project delivery process changes and other items too numerous to mention.  Rest assured that CBG will continue to push forward items of mutual interest as part of its ongoing efforts to serve Local 139 members and our signatory contractors.

If you want to contact CBG, we can be reached on the internet at www.cbgwi.com, by phone at 608-240-4170, by fax at 608-240-4179 or by e-mail at cbginfo@cbgwi.com.

Thank you.

Robb Kahl
Executive Director