.jpeg?itok=6uFZXEBH)
Despite concerns from some council members about a “cleaner process” for going after employers who cheat workers out of their pay, the chairman of the Houston City Council’s Public Safety Committee on Tuesday pledged an “aggressive” timetable to enacting a tough wage theft ordinance.Committee Chairman Ed Gonzalez held a public hearing on the proposal that included testimony from workers who have been cheated and a construction executive who says he’s “ashamed” that the practice of stealing wages often happens in his industry. Gonzalez said the concerns “are not falling on deaf ears”. He said his office has worked with the city attorney to craft something that is workable and will make headway, even if the proposal might need some changes before it can be adopted. “It’s not good enough to say you can’t stop everyone so you should do nothing,” Gonzalez said. “We have to address this.”
Reshaping the Construction Industry
.jpeg?itok=4Vi_1nJG)
Most states add jobs in past year; nonres, multifamily starts tumble, say Reed, CensusEditor’s note: Construction Citizen is proud to partner with AGC America to bring you AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson's Data DIGest. Check back each week to get Ken's expert analysis of what's happening in our industry.View the state employment data by rank, by state and by change from peak. In June, seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment increased from a year earlier in 37 states, decreased in 12 states and the District of Columbia and was unchanged in Arkansas, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported on Thursday. Seasonally adjusted construction employment climbed in 36 states and fell in 14 states and D.C., an AGC analysis showed. The largest one-year percentage gains in construction jobs occurred in Wyoming (10.4%, 2,200 jobs), Louisiana (9.7%, 12,200) and Arizona (9.7%, 11,100). California added the most new construction jobs over the past 12 months (32,200, 5.5%), followed by Texas (31,400, 5.4%), Florida (12,200, 3.6%) and Louisiana.
July 23, 2013
We've been telling you about the problem of wage theft for years and it sounds now like the Houston City Council is getting serious about it. Tomorrow, the council's public safety committee will take testimony on the proposal to go after those unscrupulous employers who steal the labor of their workers. Laura Perez-Boston, Director of the Fe y Justicia Worker Center in Houston, is trying to rally support for the city cracking down on this problem. “We have a very narrow window of time to get this ordinance passed and your voice is crucial,” she said in a note to supporters.
July 22, 2013
The following was originally published in DTown Delivers, a bi-monthly publication produced by the Corpus Christi (Texas) Downtown Management District and published by the Caller Times.Pardon Our Dust: Chaparral Street Project UpdatePhoto By Mglsndst1993By Etta LuizThere’s an old saying that “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” That certainly rings true for what’s happening on Chaparral Street these days. I spend a lot of time on the street, ready to lend an ear to anyone who thinks I need to listen, so I definitely hear some trash talk, but I also get positive feedback that I treasure.For some people, the biggest surprise in the Chaparral Street Project is the simple fact that it’s actually happening. After fighting over it and getting snagged politically for years, progress is finally being made. There were those who said it would NEVER happen. Then one day about two months ago, the equipment arrived. That got some attention!It started shortly after the first of the year. The intersection of Chaparral and Schatzell Streets was
July 19, 2013
During the battle over a crackdown on worker misclassification in the Texas Legislature this year, I was struck by some of the testimony from business owners who had never been previously politically involved. As the process played out, one thing that was clearly happening was the emergence of new leaders in the fight against what many have called a "scourge" in the industry.One of those who stood out in particular was Michael Beeter, CEO of BRI Roofing & Sheet Metal in Fort Worth.
July 18, 2013
Houston is having a major growth spurt in Class A buildings, and Hines is moving forward on its latest entry in that market with a major office building that will be located at 609 Main Street or Block 69.Ralph Bivins, editor at Realty News Report, says that the building schedule and size are being increased in order to meet the growing demand for Class A space in the Central Business District (CBD) market.Currently, Class A space in the Houston CBD market is approaching 93% occupied, and that has helped Hines move forward at an accelerated pace, despite the fact that they have not yet announced any major tenants for the building they are projected to break ground on in the first quarter of 2014. The building will be ready for occupancy by 2016.Even though the initial plans for the Pickard Chilton-designed build showed 41 floors and 815,000 square feet, the latest rendering shows a larger building of 50-plus floors indicating that it might approach 1 million square feet.The site is located on the Main street rail line and near the Chase Bank Tower
July 17, 2013
(Photo: Business Wire)Chevron announced an expansion to its facilities in downtown Houston in a recent press release. The announcement said, “The 50-story, 1.7 million-square-foot building will be located at 1600 Louisiana Street at Pease. Together with Chevron’s existing properties at 1500 Louisiana and 1400 Smith, the buildings will comprise an urban campus with indoor and outdoor common areas, enhanced dining facilities, a fitness center, training and conference facilities, and additional parking.”According to the company press release, Houston is headquarters to nine of its business and those businesses currently employ 9,000 employees and contractors in the Houston region.The building, designed by HOK, will be located next to two other high-rise office buildings to create an urban campus. According to Bereket Haregot, president of Chevron’s Business and Real Estate Services division, “The new building and expanded urban campus will provide a first-rate work environment for our employees and help us remain the employer of choice.”
July 16, 2013
Prices for materials, construction flatten or dip in June; freight costs may rise soonEditor’s note: Construction Citizen is proud to partner with AGC America to bring you AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson's Data DIGest. Check back each week to get Ken's expert analysis of what's happening in our industry.Click here to view June PPI table.The producer price index (PPI) for finished goods climbed 0.3%, not seasonally adjusted (0.8%, seasonally adjusted), in June and 2.5% over 12 months, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported on Friday.
July 15, 2013
Hi there. The Chamberlin Man here.There's a saying to the effect of, "it's the tightest ships that best make their way through rough seas." I believe it to be true. Don't you? We can all most likely agree there have been some rough seas to navigate in recent years. The real estate and construction industry has struggled along with many others - and the economy as a whole. Gratefully, we're starting to see the tide turn at Chamberlin. There is promising work on the horizon, and my, doesn't the horizon look nice!Good times or challenging times, the strategy of applying technological resources to better manage our business and add value endures. It's something we strive to do in all areas of our business. After all, knowing and understanding project requirements and effectively managing labor and material costs to deliver a fair, marketable price while at the same time keeping the best crew men and women on board is essential to achieving a balance that will enable companies to motor full steam ahead and meet clients' needs.
July 12, 2013
The “war for talent” is certainly a reality for Houston based construction firms, whether they are general or specialty contractors. Firms are hiring again at an ever accelerating pace and people with experience are in great demand. So firms are after the best “talent” and are making increasingly lucrative offers to lure them away from their current employers. It is happening at every level too, from craft worker to senior executive. And, in our judgment, with the robust market for both commercial and industrial construction, it has “only just begun!”This battle for the right people is further intensified by players from outside our construction world. The energy companies are looking for the same type person as our craft workers and engineers. This has become exacerbated with the wonderful (for Houston and Texas) shale gas boom. Shale drilling is much more labor intensive than the traditional methods of finding oil; consequently, these energy companies are raising the stakes for the high school graduate with some technical aptitude, that young person good with their head and hands. They also want the college graduates with engineering degrees, as do many other industries. So we have real tough competition from big, powerful and prosperous companies.
July 11, 2013
