Elizabeth McPherson's blog

The U.S. Department of Labor (U.S. DOL) and the Vermont Department of Labor signed an agreement this summer to protect employees and law-abiding businesses by reducing the practice of worker misclassification in Vermont.  The three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) allows the two agencies to share information and work together to conduct investigations and enforce the laws against employers identifying their employees as independent contractors or designating them with other non-employee statuses.

Agencies from several other states have signed similar agreements with the U.S. DOL including agencies from Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.   [node:read-more:link]

EarthCam captured images of the construction of the Flight 93 National Memorial Visitor’s Center as it progressed, condensing the 5-year project into a fascinating 1½-minute time-lapse video.

A video produced and directed by Eddie Rosenstein of Eyepop Productions, Inc., shares the story of boat captains and crewmen who worked together fourteen years ago today to rescue people from lower Manhattan following the attacks on the World Trade Center Towers.  Narrated by Tom Hanks, the video includes interviews with captains and crew members of public and private boats who answered the radio call from the Coast Guard to evacuate people off of the island when hundreds of thousands of people ran south as they fled the area of the fallen towers.

The idea to organize the evacuation came when US Coast Guard Commander Michael Day witnessed a small boat becoming so overloaded with people fleeing the island that he feared it might tip over.   [node:read-more:link]

Last May, the US Department of Labor signed a three-year agreement with the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (DLT) to battle worker misclassification by establishing a working relationship in which both agencies will share information and coordinate law enforcement.  According to a press release from the office of US DOL Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez:

“The [agreement] represents a new effort on the part of the agencies to work together to protect the rights of employees and level the playing field for responsible employers by reducing the practice of misclassification. The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training is the latest state agency to partner with the U.S. Labor Department. Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming agencies have signed similar agreements.”   [node:read-more:link]

At an event honoring several who recently advanced within Marek’s workforce development program, John Roberts, Executive Vice President for Jones Lang LaSalle, applauded the recent advancements of the evening’s honorees and challenged them to be “the best you can be in everything you do.”

Many successful companies have taken the skilled labor shortage into their own hands and have developed their own training programs to supply their needs for skilled craft professionals.  Marek is one such company, and on July 29 Marek took the time to honor several employees who have achieved milestones within their Workforce Development (WFD) Program.  Twenty-two graduating Helpers, seven graduating Mechanics, and twelve recently promoted Foremen, along with their coaches and their families attended a dinner and graduation ceremony at the Marek offices in Houston.  Each graduate stood with their favorite coach in front of the crowd as their career accomplishments and praise from their coaches were read aloud by Saied Alavi, Director of Operations at Marek Houston.   [node:read-more:link]

NBC correspondent and Today show anchor Natalie Morales visited Rio de Janeiro last week to report on the progress of the construction of the venues which are being built for the 2016 Summer Olympics, set to begin one year from now on August 5, 2016.

“There have been a lot of hurdles getting ready for this Olympics – a lot of obstacles and challenges; and the glare of the spotlight has been harsh at times.  But what we saw are signs of progress.  At most of the venues we have seen at least 50 percent completion.  The mayor of Rio is saying that by February or March of next year they expect to have everything up and running and online.  The infrastructure – they have added on to that – with bus and rapid transit lines – the metro lines are going to be expanded throughout the city, which is great news for this city – they need that.”   [node:read-more:link]

Interview with Ronnie White, a construction project manager for Force Corporation, an industrial construction company that provides Construction, Railroad and Maintenance services in TX and LA.

Recently twelve junior high and high school aged girls participated in a three-day camp at Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke, Virginia focused on introducing young women to careers in construction.

Magic Camp: Mentoring a Girl in Construction exposed the girls to careers in several skilled trades including carpentry, plumbing, HVAC, and electrical.  Representatives from heating and air conditioning giant TRANE brought equipment for demonstrations.

WSLS-10 news anchor Dawn Jefferies reported:

“Camp instructor Veronica Spradlin studied building construction at Virginia Tech.  While there, she found guidance through the National Association of Women in Construction.  She says she wants to offer other young girls the same.”   [node:read-more:link]

Alabama Power and Go Build Alabama sponsor one-week camps that give high school girls a week of hands-on training in much-needed professions which have been traditionally filled by men.