The National Architectural Glass & Metal Association (NAGMA) was formed to assist local associations and architectural glass and metal contractors to preserve and grow their market share while working with industry stakeholders and our industry partner, IUPAT. We have been hard at work on initiatives to support our members' success.

NAGMA services are rapidly evolving. Our goal remains to create a competitive advantage for union architectural glass and metal contractors.

Download our latest Services overview

Get to Know the NAGMA Board

Terry Webb | Co-Chair

“Our mantra is to help local areas advance. By helping others across North America, we’re defending what we’ve all grown and taking it further. Together, we’re all stronger.” 

A hands-on, proactive leader, Terry believes in surrounding himself with smart colleagues and empowering others for mutual growth and success. He puts these beliefs into practice as President of Philadelphia-based glazing contractor, Eureka Metal & Glass Services, Inc. and as NAGMA board co-chair, where he advocates consistency, quality, safety, and ethics. 

Read more about Terry

NACC Program Update

50th Contractor Certified

“I learned a lot about my company, in pulling it apart and looking at inefficiencies. We look forward to face time with our customers to explain what NACC means to us and to them.”

In March 2022, United Glass and Panels Systems, Inc. (UGPS), a leading glazing subcontractor headquartered in North Canton, became the first in Ohio and the 50th overall to earn North American Contractor Certification (NACC).

To date, there are 54 certified contractors with another 60+ applicants in process to become certified in coming months.

Read more about NACC

2022 Construction Union Wage Settlements

Outpace Those Negotiated in 2021

There has been a “noticeable growth” in the size of union construction wage and fringe benefit increases in the past 18 months according to a recent study by the Construction Labor Research Council (CLRC). First-year wage and benefit increases negotiated in 2022 for all union construction workers averaged 3.6% or $2.17 per hour, compared to 3.1% or $1.81 per hour for those first-year increases negotiated in 2021. In 2021, most construction settlements fell in the 2.6-3.0% range. In 2022, most settlements exceeded 5.1%. In analyzing the significant increase for settlements for all construction trades in 2022, CLRC suggested that high inflation impacted settlements this year more than two other recent factors – craft labor shortage and COVID-19.

Download and read the NAGMA Fall 2022 Wage Update

Updates to the International Painters and Allied Trades

Industry Pension Plan 

Earlier this year the International Painters and Allied Trades Industry Pension Fund issued a communication advising contributing employers of certain changes to the Fund. The communication was highly detailed and may have left contractors scratching their heads, trying to understand how this impacts them and their member-employees. Michael McNally of Fox Rothschild prepared the following succinct summary of the changes that contractors need to know:

1. For the 2022 Plan Year, the Fund’s Trustees have elected to be in Critical Status (or Red Zone). The Trustees chose to elect to be in Critical Status because it gives them access to additional ‘tools’ to strengthen the Fund for the long term.
2. The Rehabilitation Plan adopted by the Trustees does not require any change to the contribution rates so long as the contribution rate under the CBA meets what was required by Funding Improvement Plan 2.
3. The Rehabilitation Plan includes an Alternate Schedule 2, which requires higher contribution rates and offers higher accrual rates. District Councils may wish to increase the contribution rate to take advantage of this. There is no requirement that employers contribute at a higher rate, instead the members may elect to allocate a higher portion of the package to the Fund’s contribution rate.
4. The Rehabilitation Plan also implements certain modifications to participants’ benefits, including changes to early retirement benefits, and eliminates certain forms of payment, including lump sums. The Fund’s communication offers detailed information regarding these changes.
5. Finally, the Fund’s accrual rate for determining a participant’s future benefit has been modified to vary based on the Fund’s trailing three-year average return on investments. This Variable Benefit Accrual Rate (VBAR) will more closely align participants’ accruals with the Fund’s investment returns, and also eliminate the possibility of a year in which there are zero accruals. The communication from the Fund office provides a detailed explanation of the mechanics of the VBAR.

Michael G. McNally is a partner in the Minneapolis office of Fox Rothschild LLP. He works with clients in all aspects of benefits and labor law including issues involved in the participation in, and withdrawal from, multi-employer defined benefit pension funds. He can be reached at (612) 607-7094 or [email protected].

Leadership Update

NAGMA is working for you! As a relatively new national contractor association, NAGMA would like to formally introduce the employees who work with the board to promote the quality and value of union glazing contractors.

Get to Know the NAGMA Staff

Deborah Wyant, Esq.

Executive Director

“I encourage contractors to take the initiative to get involved in both their local union glazing associations and NAGMA. Don’t underestimate the value of belonging.”

Read more about Deb

Get to Know the NAGMA Staff

Anne McHenry

Director of Finance, Education & Training

“The biggest priority for NAGMA is getting members engaged so we can see exactly what they need and design the right training and education programs for them. Engagement is essential."

Read more about Annie

Industry News

NACC Appearing in More Specifications: Using data from Dodge Data & Analytics, NAGMA put together a graph showing the number of times that NACC has been referenced in recent project specifications. As you can see, numbers have dramatically increased, with 2022 already having surpassed 2021 totals (with four months left in the year). The data illustrates how spec writers and other project personnel are recognizing the importance of certification and specifying NACC to ensure quality installations.

FGIA Fall Conference: Registration is now open for the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) 2022 Hybrid Fall Conference September 25-28 in Chicago. Visit https://fgiaonline.org/events-category/conferences for details.

NGA Applauds Signing of Inflation Reduction Bill: Glass Magazine shared an NGA recap of the bill's highlights and will host a webinar September 7 to identify details in the bill of interest to glazing contractors. Learn more: https://www.glassmagazine.com/news/national-glass-association-outlines-impacts-inflation-reduction-act-2022

FGIA Releases New Safety Spec: Building Enclosure magazine reports that FGIA has released a new specification providing a framework for creating a safety program within a glass manufacturing facility. Read more: https://www.buildingenclosureonline.com/articles/90889-fgia-releases-new-glass-safety-standard?oly_enc_id=2093J3342767D1G

Don't miss the 2023 Annual Labor-Management Finishing Industry Forum!

It's no secret that areas of the country with the strongest labor-management relationships have the greatest union glazing market share. All NAGMA and IUPAT signatory contractors are strongly encouraged to attend along with local union partners to learn new strategies to increase work opportunities. What topics interest you? Send suggestions to [email protected] and NAGMA will pass along ideas to the planning team.

Have an idea for a program, educational tool, or newsletter article?

NAGMA welcomes your feedback, questions, and suggestions.

Deborah A. Wyandt, Esq. | Executive Director

[email protected]

Anne McHenry | Director of Finance, Education, and Training

[email protected]