1997 ANNUAL REPORT
Activities and Accomplishments
Wisconsin LECET

In 1997, Wisconsin LECET undertook specific activities to improve the competitiveness of our signatories, marketing initiatives on behalf of laborers, signatory contractors and our sister labor-managment funds and "big picture" efforts to improve transportation funding and to promote economic development.

A brief rundown of some of these activities follows:

TRI-FUND CONFERENCE

Six Trustees and the Wisconsin LECET Director attended the Tri-Fund Conference at the beginning of the year. The workshops and general sessions were very informative. The networking opportunities with other LECET funds from around the country are invaluable.

We look forward to the same level of participation at the 1998 Tri-Fund Conference.

TRADE SHOW DISPLAY

Wisconsin LECET, in conjunction with the Wisconsin Laborers Skill Improvement Fund, purchased a portable trade show booth and artwork to market a trained, productive workforce and labor-management cooperation.

The artwork for the booth emphasizes a commitment to training, health and safety, and a cooperative partnership between labor and management. Photos show laborers in many of the construction jobs that require the skills taught in our training program.

CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE AND VISIBILITY

After purchasing the portable display, we thought we better use it.

We participated in the Governor's Conference on Economic Development, where 400 business leaders, economic development professionals, government officials and media were very receptive to the only union-affiliated participant at the conference.

We also displayed at the Governor's Education and Training Conference where more than 1500 participants were very interested in the Wisconsin Laborers Training Center and our commitment to enhancing the skills of our members.

The display also was used at the Minnesota-North Dakota-Wisconsin Joint Training Conference and at the 1997 National Training Conference.

TRANSPORTATION ISSUES

Wisconsin LECET continued to be active in transportation issues on both the national and state levels.

We participated in two fly-ins to Washington, DC during 1997, one in March and one in September. We continue to work closely with the Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin, including representation on their Board of Directors.

On the state level, we were instrumental in obtaining Democratic votes for a transportation budget that represented a healthy increase over 1996 spending levels. In a grassroots effort to promote increased transportation funding, Wisconsin LECET underwrote a mailing to all laborers in the state explaining the importance of road and bridge construction to their jobs.

Wisconsin LECET and the Wisconsin Laborers District Council received a healthy dose of the credit for increases in transportation spending in 1997 from many management organizations.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

As mentioned previously, Wisconsin LECET participated in the 1997 Governor's Conference on Economic Development.

As a result of that participation, we were invited to join the Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA). WEDA is an organization that promotes economic development and job creation. Since we joined, we have found common ground with the WEDA membership on transportation budgeting issues and brownfields development.

Wisconsin LECET is the only labor-affiliated member of WEDA.

ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN

In the planning stages in 1996, Wisconsin LECET's advertising campaign took off in 1997.

We ran our ads in the directories of the Associated General Contractors of America, Wisconsin Chapter and the Wisconsin Road Builders Association. In addition, our labor-management cooperation message ran in local building trades council directories, bid list publications and labor newspapers.

We ran three different ads promoting labor-management cooperation in building construction, road construction and environmental remediation.

CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION

Wisconsin LECET participated as a seminar moderator at the 1997 Minnesota-North Dakota-Wisconsin Joint Training Conference along with Minnesota LECET and National LECET. The workshop informed local laborers union staff about the many activities undertaken by the LECET trust funds.

The Wisconsin LECET Director also attended meetings of the LECET Directors Council. These conferences are valuable for the exchange of ideas and the networking opportunities among LECET Directors from all over the United States and Canada.

HIGHWAY SAFETY

Wisconsin LECET wrote and distributed a Letter to the Editor over the 4th of July weekend about obeying traffic laws in highway work zones.

The letter was distributed to signatory contractors and local laborers unions and appeared in many state newspapers over the holiday.

Wisconsin LECET also attended the Highway Work Zone Safety Conference in Washington, DC sponsored by the Laborers Health & Safety Fund of North America. Many of the safety methods discussed at that meeting have been added to existing training programs at the Wisconsin Laborers Training Center.

PREVAILING WAGE REPORTING

Wisconsin LECET underwrote an integrated program to improve understanding and contractor participation in the Wisconsin wage and hour reporting program that determines prevailing wage rates.

We held a seminar for local laborers union staff to explain the reporting requirements and how to fill out report forms. The goal was to prepare the union staff to help signatories.

We also did a mailing to all signatory contractors explaining the importance of participating in the program and laying out all the deadlines.

In conjunction with a consultant, Wisconsin LECET also developed a wage and hour reporting software package that allowed our signatories to report their wages and hours directly to the State of Wisconsin electronically.

The result of all this effort was a vastly improved participation in wage reporting by our signatories and favorable prevailing wage rates in much of the state.

CLEAN AIR ACT STANDARDS

Wisconsin LECET wrote letters to our Congressional Delegation pointing out the potential harm new, more stringent Environmental Protection Agency ozone and particulate matter standards could cause to construction project spending and job creation in Wisconsin.

The proposed clean air requirements could cancel construction projects and put many laborers out of work.

WISCONSIN LECET GOES ONLINE

Wisconsin LECET finally joined the electronic age and created a web page this year. Our new Internet address is http://www.solidarity.com/lecet. You can send us e-mail at wilecet@solidarity.com.

The new home page contains information on transportation and clean air, newsletters, training schedules and links to many other websites, including National LECET and the Laborers International Union of North America.

Though it has been in operation only a little more than three months, the website has received over 500 "hits" or visitors. E-mail has been received from Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, DC, Illinois and Kentucky.

ASBESTOS ABATEMENT MARKET SHARE

Wisconsin LECET operates a Market Recovery Program for asbestos abatement that experienced success in 1997 by winning some contracts.

Added to the Market Recovery effort in 1997 was a bid notification program for signatory asbestos abatement contractors. Using Dodge Dataline2, Wisconsin LECET notifies contractors of upcoming projects and bid dates.

Contractors are enthusiastic about the program, and we are hopeful that the effort will increase market share. We have noticed an increased interest in our Market Recovery Program among signatories since we started the project updates.

WORKERS COMPENSATION

An effort that began in 1996 came to fruition in 1997 when the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) approved the Wisconsin Contractors Premium Adjustment Program.

Wisconsin LECET worked with OCI and other labor representatives to make discounts on workers compensation premiums available to high wage employers. We also notified all of our signatory employers about the program and distributed information on program requirements.

WISCONSIN ALLIANCE FOR FAIR CONTRACTING (WAFC)

Wisconsin LECET assumed responsibility for the operations of WAFC in 1996.

Since then, we have expanded the operations of the prevailing wage monitoring group and increased cooperative efforts with other monitoring organizations. We have recovered over $200,000 in wages owed to workers and increased the caseload of our investigators.

We are currently cooperating in an effort to rejuvenate a national entity to coordinate fair contracting efforts by regional and state organizations.

OTHER LABOR-MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS

Wisconsin LECET worked with a number other labor-management organizations in our state during the year to promote cooperation, collaborate on projects and exchange ideas on new ways labor and management can work together. The Twin Ports Construction Liaison Committee meets regularly in the Superior, WI/Duluth, MN area to promote cooperation between local contractors and unions. Wisconsin LECET helped underwrite the cost of billboards rented by the committee to promote labor-management cooperation. Minnesota LECET also participated.

Wisconsin LECET also attended the 5th Biennial Wisconsin Labor-Management Council Conference. More than 400 people were at the one day conference to attend workshops about successful labor-management efforts in our state.

MARKETING MATERIALS FOR TRAINING CENTER

Wisconsin LECET designed and distributed marketing materials for the upcoming training season at the Wisconsin Laborers Training Center.

The Trainer, a brochure that includes course descriptions, registration procedures and the training schedule was distributed to all laborers in Wisconsin. It was also provided in bulk to contractor organizations and local laborers unions.

A special issue of The Wisconsin LECET News, was also published and sent to all signatory contractors. The newsletter contained a rundown of the Strategic Plan of the Laborers-AGC Education and Training Trust Fund and a description of the innovative training awards Wisconsin received during the 1997 National Training Conference. Also enclosed with the newsletter was a poster of the 1998 Training Schedule at the Wisconsin Laborers Training Center.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Wisconsin LECET also:

• sent a representative to the Tunnel & Shaft Contractors meeting in Las Vegas in June.
• worked to recruit a traffic control contractor from Illinois to become signatory in Wisconsin.
• wrote a grant proposal for an integrated educational program on safety for both laborers and signatories. The proposal unfortunately was not funded by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

FUTURE PLANS

As 1997 comes to a close, Wisconsin LECET has plans already in the works for activities in 1998. Some of the things we have on the calendar include:

• the advertising program has already been approved for another year. We are currently working with the publisher to upgrade our ads in the AGC and Wisconsin Road Builders Association directories.
• we already have reserved our spot in the trade show for the 1998 Governor's Conference on Economic Development.
• we will co-sponsor a Unity Conference with the Wisconsin Laborers District Council and other trust funds. We will also put on workshops for rank and file members during the conference on labor-management activities and prevailing wage monitoring.
• a seminar is being planned for WAFC staff on the state prevailing wage laws and fringe benefit requirements. The seminar will help our investigators better understand violations of the law.
• we have been using tracking information from National LECET and Dodge Dataline2 to better inform our local laborers unions and signatory contractors about upcoming projects. We will expand that effort in the environmental remediation area.

The Trustees and staff of Wisconsin LECET hope this information is helpful to you in understanding what we have been up to in 1997.