Blogger Mike Holland discussed a workforce initiative of the Houston Chapter of the Associated General Contractors in his November 3, 2010 post. Since that time, over fifty individuals from Houston area contractor and specialty contractor companies have been working in seven task forces to fulfill the mission of creating a method whereby socially responsible owners, contractors and specialty contractors can positively affect the growth of a sustainable workforce. The task forces aim to achieve this by advancing principles that raise the image of the industry, attract and retain verifiably qualified workers, provide a safer and healthier environment and improve efficiency and productivity. Formerly called the Construction Industry Sustainable Workforce Alliance (CISWA) and now known as the Construction Career Collaborative (C3), the initiative has sought the support of other leading industry organizations from ABC, ASA, MCA, OSHA, HASC to SCTC in the effort
Reshaping the Construction Industry
Graduation ceremonies are interesting. They are celebrations, “crossing of the bar,” successful completions. Not only are they completions, but they are new beginnings. Graduation ceremonies mark significant milestones in our lives and in our industry.Recently we attended, along with leaders from the industry, family members, company coaches and leaders, the graduation of 16 “helpers” at The Marek Company’s Houston office. These individuals had completed the 2,000 hours of jobsite work as well as a year long series of safety, equipment and on-the-job training courses designed to teach them the industry and the craft that they have chosen as a career.We have written about the Marek Company several times for their outstanding commitment to a sustainable workforce for the future and for their commitment to a structured workforce development program. They truly understand the importance of having highly skilled
August 08, 2011
An eye-opening article in Britain’s Construction Enquirer this week reported on the looming predicament the construction industry is facing: the aging workforce and the resulting imminent shortage of skilled craftsmen. Editor Aaron Morby interviewed Mark Farrar, Chief Executive of CITB-ConstructionSkills about the latest statistics reported by that company.The numbers paint an ominous picture of an impending skilled workforce shortage. The article reports:“The number of workers aged 55 years and over in the industry has increased by 65% since 1990, while those aged 24 and under has fallen
August 05, 2011
According to Chris Ward, executive director of the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey, construction of the memorial at the site of the 9/11 attacks to the World Trade Center...
August 04, 2011
Protests were held last week near several Hyatt Regency hotels to call attention to the use of labor brokers for construction work on the renovation of the Hyatt Regency in New...
July 28, 2011
If you are being forced to use a Project Labor Agreement to construct a public building as the result of President Obama’s executive order, you might want to take a close look at...
July 28, 2011
Channel 4’s investigative news team from WSMV has been digging around on several issues surrounding the construction industry, specifically around the $585 million Music City...
July 27, 2011
Editor’s note: The following article written by Construction Citizen’s newest blogger was originally published in Dallas / Ft Worth Construction News, one of a group of monthly publications which report on the construction industry in Texas.The Construction Industry may want to improve its “Image” in order to recruit students. CareerCast, a job search and placement website, rated construction jobs in the bottom 10 for the last 3 years. Few, if any, high school counselors recommend students going into the construction workforce. Why should they? What does the industry have to offer these young men and women?
July 21, 2011
The use of low-wage underground carpenters and drywall workers in Portland has landed a specialty subcontractor in hot water and, pending the outcome of his trial, a possible term in jail. An article in Oregon Business explains:“The subcontractor is Stephen Nagy, formerly president of S&S Drywall Assemblies, arrested January 2011 and charged with racketeering, theft and other crimes related to shady business practices. S&S has shut down its Hillsboro office and disconnected its phone line while Nagy awaits trial.”The regional carpenter’s union, itself the target of questionable practices from some of its critics, is protesting the shady practices of S&S by picketing
July 20, 2011
Following the June passing of Alabama’s new illegal immigration law, HB56, many Hispanics have left the state to seek work elsewhere, causing a potential shortage of construction...
July 18, 2011