Mark Minter Executive Director

One of the largest construction projects in Arizona was stopped dead earlier this month after a 5-4 vote by Phoenix Mayor and Council. While the stated purpose of the delay was to analyze the project's impact on holiday and Super Bowl travelers, the real reason was more nefarious. The Arizona Building Trades Unions had gotten their allies on the City Council to delay the project to pressure the general contractor to hire more union subcontractors. The unions tried this tactic earlier in the year with a different political subdivision, as well. The City Council vote to delay the project came even after staff estimated the cost of the delay at $1.9 million! 

After learning of the Sky Harbor delay the Arizona Builders' Alliance and the Associated General Contractors swung into action. We sent a strongly worded letter to Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton and the rest of the City Council. The letter pointed out the possible illegal actions of the City Council by violating Arizona's PLA ban and the state procurement code section on subcontractor selection. We emphasized the economic importance of construction jobs and the impact of Sky Harbor itself. We contacted city officials including the City Engineer and City Manager pointing out these issues. Read More

Tom Dunn Director for Southern Arizona

October's membership dinner quickly followed the state convention and the turnout was outstanding. Snell & Wilmer's Chuck Keller updated the membership on hot topics with respect to OSHA issues and concerns. Keller's presentation highlighted new OSHA reporting requirements and how to maneuver through them successfully. He also reported on the recent Federal OSHA and ADOSH developments and actions taken by Federal OSHA. 

Jeff Hooper Director of Apprenticeship & Training

Over the last three and half months we really have put our noses to the grindstone in evaluation of our apprenticeship program. We have identified areas that we believe will improve our program greatly, including:  

• Adding a part-time administrative assistant in our office at GateWay. She will be working from 4:30 to 8:30 two evenings per week. This will greatly improve our outreach and access to the ABA student body. This will also get attendance updates to the contractor even before the weeks end. 
• Adding a part-time lab assistant. This position will greatly enhance our lab areas, help our instructors facilitate labs, work with students, and provide consistent analysis with up and coming technologies.

Both of these roles have been filled by ABA electrical apprenticeship alumni. We are thrilled to have them aboard.

We are working with GateWay Community College to mainstream the process of registration and payment. Unfortunately, it looks as if we will have to manage through the GateWay policy change throughout the rest of this school year - with significant changes pending for fall 2015. 

It has been my honor to serve as your Director of Apprenticeship and Training these past few months. Unfortunately due to life circumstances I will be moving to Spokane WA to aid in the care of my mother. The transition of my replacement has already begun with a new hire. He and I will work together for the next couple months to insure a seamless transition.

If I can leave one lasting impression, it would be this: training makes us better, training makes us safer, and training makes the industry more profitable.
 

The Board of Directors of the Arizona Builders' Alliance voted unanimously to endorse the passage of Proposition 480 to provide funding for expansion of the Maricopa Integrated Health System (MIHS).  

Fortunately, the Proposition passed on November 4 and funding for the nearly $1 billion of new construction will support and expand activities at the Maricopa Medical Center, the Arizona Burn Center and facilities in Avondale, Chandler, El Mirage, Glendale, Guadalupe and Maryvale. The MIHS is the county's only teaching hospital and Arizona Burn Center is the major facility in the state for treating burn victims.