1996 ANNUAL REPORT
Activities and Accomplishments
Wisconsin LECET

The Wisconsin Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust (Wisconsin LECET) had a very active and productive year in 1996. Basic issues in funding and personnel were addressed. Communications to both labor and management were enhanced . . . and programming to increase market share for signatory contractors produced some memorable success stories.

Here are some highlights of the activities of Wisconsin LECET in 1996.

LECET INCLUDED IN ALL MAJOR AGREEMENTS
During 1996, new contracts were negotiated that resulted in statewide funding for the program.

With the addition of LECET to contracts in Laborers Local 113 in Milwaukee and the addition of the members of the Wisconsin Underground Contractors Association as signatories, Wisconsin LECET (and National LECET) will experience a significant increase in income

The funding will enhance the programming and marketing efforts of Wisconsin LECET in 1997 and beyond.

WISCONSIN LECET SPONSORS UNITY CONFERENCE
Early in 1996, Wisconsin LECET was a major sponsor for a Unity Conference organized by the Wisconsin Laborers District Council.

Nearly 300 participants from all of the Laborers Locals in Wisconsin spent a weekend learning about the activities of their union and the labor-management trust funds.

Wisconsin LECET held workshops for union members on the importance of labor-management cooperation to their future ability to enjoy well-paying jobs. LIUNA's Tri-Fund strategy of labor-management cooperation was a major theme of the conference.

TRAINING CENTER VIDEO
Wisconsin LECET funded the production of a 12-minute video highlighting the benefits of the Wisconsin Laborers Training Center in Almond, Wisconsin.

The video, entitled "Wisconsin's Best Kept Secret", was distributed to Laborers Local Unions and signatory contractors. In addition, each union member received a copy.

The video received a "Telly" award from Wisconsin's advertising community in the non-broadcast video category in 1996.

DODGE DATALINE2
Wisconsin LECET subscribed to Dodge Dataline2 in 1996 to ensure access to the most comprehensive bid information for construction projects in the state.

Information on construction projects is shared twice a month with each Laborers Local Union in Wisconsin.

In addition, Dodge Dataline2 is also used extensively in the operations of Wisconsin LECET's Alliance for Fair Contracting and the Market Recovery Program.

WISCONSIN ALLIANCE FOR FAIR CONTRACTING (WAFC)
Though WAFC has been in operation for more than two years, 1996 was a banner year.

The Labor-Management Work Preservation Fund was discontinued after contract negotiations in 1996. As a result, the WAFC was moved under the Wisconsin LECET umbrella. Thus, Wisconsin LECET now has direct responsibility for monitoring prevailing wage projects in our state.

Wisconsin LECET has expanded the operations of the WAFC and hired an additional investigator. WAFC now employs four full-time field investigators and an administrative assistant in our Madison office.

During two years of operation, WAFC has been responsible for more than $100,000 in increased salary and penalties paid to Wisconsin workers from unscrupulous contractors on prevailing wage projects.

Currently, WAFC has 100 active case files and has filed complaints with state and federal authorities that could result in many more dollars in salary and penalties for underpaid Wisconsin workers.

MARKET RECOVERY PROGRAM
Wisconsin LECET began operating a Market Recovery Program in 1996 targeted to the asbestos abatement industry.

The program offers assistance for union contractors bidding against low-wage, non-union contractors in instances where it is likely that we can obtain jobs for union laborers.

On eligible projects, assistance may be approved and can only be collected at the completion of the project. The Market Recovery Program is available to all union contractors who bid on the eligible project.

At the end of 1996, the Market Recovery Program participated in a winning bid that preserved more than 2000 hours of wages for union laborers.

TRANSPORTATION FUNDING COALITION
Wisconsin LECET contributed money and manpower to a coalition formed to promote increased funding for Wisconsin's transportation infrastructure during the 1996 legislative session.

During the transportation budgeting process, Wisconsin LECET was approached about joining a coalition to lobby for increased funding for highway projects. We joined the coalition with the Wisconsin Road Builders Association, the Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin and others.

The coalition was successful in obtaining increased funding for Wisconsin's transportation needs. Wisconsin LECET was the only union affiliated group in the coalition.

We will maintain our involvement in transportation budgeting issues in 1997.

WORKERS COMPENSATION PREMIUM ADJUSTMENT PROGRAM
Wisconsin LECET was heavily involved in promoting negotiated workers compensation programs in Wisconsin in 1996.

We sponsored a contractors conference on the issue in the spring of 1996 to educate our signatories on the potential for savings in workers comp premiums. We also lobbied the Workers Compensation Advisory Council to allow a pilot program on negotiated workers comp in the construction trades.

Though we were unsuccessful in getting negotiated workers comp programs allowed, the state did address the wage disparity issue that was included in all of our arguments.

In 1996, the state announced the Wisconsin Contractors Workers Compensation Premium Adjustment Program. The program gives substantial decreases in workers comp premium to high wage employers.

The program will become effective in 1997.

NEW DIRECTOR JOINS WISCONSIN LECET
Late in 1996, Wisconsin LECET hired Gerald J. Diemer as our new Director.

Mr. Diemer brings many years of experience in the construction industry to the position. He served as Executive Vice President for a construction industry trade association and on the staff of a Wisconsin Governor.

His background in budgeting, personnel, writing, editing, public speaking, non-profit management and government relations has already proven valuable to Wisconsin LECET as we head into 1997.

ON THE HORIZON . . . IN THE WORKS!
In 1996, Wisconsin LECET also began working on projects that will come to fruition in 1997. Some of these projects that are "on the horizon" include:

• A mini-advertising campaign based on National LECET's ads in the Engineering News Record (ENR). We will advertise in the directories of the Wisconsin Road Builders Association, the Associated General Contractors of America, Wisconsin Chapter and many local building trades councils.
• We plan to purchase a trade show exhibit to use at labor and management meetings, high schools and trade schools, conventions and training conferences.
• We plan to sponsor and to participate in the Governor's Conference on Economic Development. We will have a table-top display highlighting the training and productivity of union labor and the competitiveness of our signatory contractors.
• We are currently negotiating with the State of Wisconsin to co-sponsor seminars on the prevailing wage and open records laws. The seminars would be aimed at officials responsible for awarding bids for public sector construction projects.

Wisconsin LECET enjoyed some successes in 1996 and we already have some labor-management success stories "in the works" for 1997.