April 2005
From the desk of Hugh Kelleher, Executive Director
Comments or suggestions for future items:
hughkelleher@aol.com
New Code Now Available: At
the PHCC of Mass. Trade Show, Plumbing Board Chair Paul Kennedy
announced that the new Mass. Plumbing Code is now available at the State
House Bookstore, 617-727-2834. Copies can also be ordered online at
www.state.ma.us/sec/spr. The Code comes in a binder, costs $25 plus
$6 S&H. Local 12 signatory contractors will receive copies directly from
our office.
6
Months: Both the old code
and the new code will be acceptable during the next six months. As of
September, only the new code will be acceptable. There are hundreds of
changes, and a new format.
Purchase Fuel Gas Code: The
new Plumbing Code contains only the Massachusetts modifications to the
NFPA Fuel Gas Code. Because of copyright issues, the body of the NFPA
Fuel Gas Code must be purchased separately through the National Fire
Protection Association. NFPA 54 (2002 Edition) is available at NFPA.org.
Also available: NFPA 58, the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code (2001.)
How It Happened: It took
many years and several gubernatorial administrations for the new
plumbing code to be approved. How did the Plumbing Board and the
Division of Registration finally push this over the top? Credit has to
go to past and present members of the Board, including Chairman Paul
Kennedy, as well as to the head of the Division of Registration, Anne
Collins.
The Collins Company: Turns
out that Anne Collins, instrumental in getting the state to approve the
new code, has a heritage in the plumbing industry. The William Collins
Company of South Boston was started by her grandfather.
“A
hundred years ago, my grandfather started out working for his
father, who was a general contractor in Southie. The other workers
included John McCormack, who eventually became the US Speaker of the
House. My grandfather had a choice of being a bricklayer, carpenter or
plumber. Bill picked plumbing because he thought the plumber boss was
easy-going, but he was wrong! He carried lots of bathtubs up into
triple deckers. He started his own business, had jobs all over town,
including the Baker Building at Mass General, and the Bradford Hotel.”
Anne
adds: “It gives his family great pride to see the company well run, and
a leader in the industry.” The Collins Company, today operated by Ed
Strickland, is a Local 12 contractor still based in Southie. Focus:
Waste water systems, water treatment plants and other major projects.
Congratulations!: To Local
12 Training Director Joe Conley who has been named recipient of this
year’s OSHA Egan-Volpe Award for contributions to worker safety. Joe has
led the joint Local 12-PHCC of Greater Boston training effort, which has
one of the highest rates of OSHA training in the nation.
Safety: OSHA reports that
in 2004 there were 36 construction-related deaths in our state. 5 were
on union jobs. 31 were on non-union jobs.
Next Year’s Superbowl: Will
the Pats be back at the Superbowl in 2006? The other important question
is: Which Local 12 Journeyman and his/her guest will be at Ford Field in
Detroit next February 5? A Local 12 Journeyman who completes 20 hours
of continuing education qualifies to have his name in the PHCC of
Greater Boston’s New Year’s raffle for this once-in-a-lifetime trip.
And Also: Local 12 members
who have OSHA 10-hour training qualify for a raffle for a 2006 Caribbean
vacation for two. This is also part of our Association’s effort to work
with Local 12 to maintain safe jobs.
Photos: Want to learn about
some of the men who helped build our industry in the twentieth century?
Go to our web site,
www.phccboston.com. See some great pix and profiles from our
Industry Night book. Read stories about John Cannistraro Sr., Ed Duggan,
Jack Fandel, John O’Leary Sr. and Lou Visco.
Did You Know?: $3.58 per
hour of Local 12 retirement contribution goes directly to a personal
annuity. Each Local 12 plumber directly controls how that money gets
invested. They are offered a choice of various funds, and can change
their investment allocations directly from their home computers, or by a
phone call.
Improved Labor Relations:
The Sheet Metal Contractors (SMACNA), a union group, has released a
national report showing greatly improved labor relations around the
country. 90% of SMACNA contractors said that labor relations were either
“very” or “somewhat cooperative.” Other findings: labor grievances were
“generally infrequent or declining.” These national findings mirror
developments here in Massachusetts, where labor and management are
cooperating on issues ranging from scholarship programs to safety and
pension plans.
Hiring Issues: Despite a
slowdown in the major construction projects in New England, long term
trends indicate that there could be a shortage of skilled workers in
coming years…Again this year the jointly operated Local 12- PHCC of
Greater Boston Training Program will invest nearly $1 million in
training.
Why So Blue?: Blue collar
trades like plumbing will not be alone in facing labor shortages in the
future. Already the trucking industry is suffering from lack of drivers.
Trucking firms face a remarkable 100% turnover in drivers each year.
Debt: Under President
Bush’s proposed 2006 budget, 8.3% of every dollar will go to cover
existing debt payments. Rising national debt, anticipated interest rate
increases, a weak dollar, and poor trade balance with other nations are
all expected to put a damper on the national economy. Still, economists
report that the national economy is growing…but rising interest
rates could have a very negative impact on housing and construction
businesses.
Is
It a Bubble?: Much talk
recently about high real estate prices, and a potential real estate
bubble. Boston Business Journal reports that more people are
buying condos as a speculative investment. That practice was one of the
problems which led to the real estate crash of the late 1980’s. But many
of today’s developers are restricting the number of investors who would
not be owner-occupants.
High Prices: But with real
estate prices still at all-time highs, developers continue to try to
enter the Boston housing market. Lennar, the company which bowed out of
developing Fan Pier, now plans to build 500 units on Pier One in East
Boston.
Low Pressure: Anecdotal
reports again this winter of low gas pressures causing boilers to fail
to meet temperature demands. Our Mass Alliance group, made up of union
and non-union contractors, has begun meeting with state officials to
discuss the problem…Meanwhile, gas providers are lobbying for off-shore
LNG storage facilities. A $900 million facility is proposed off
Gloucester.
Workers Comp: If you are an
employer, did you know that with workers comp only paid claims
are used in determining your annual rating? Simply having a claim filed
has no impact on your rating.
Leading Lady: Winner of
American Standard’s Sexiest Plumber Contest: Lori Sardinha-Costa, a PHCC
member from Fall River. A blonde whose family runs M. Sardinha & Sons,
Lori’s photo can be found on the American Standard’s 2005 calendar –
along with photos of the 11 runners-up (all men). You can get the
calendar at
www.americanstandard-us.com .
©PHCC of Greater
Boston, 5 Elm St., Danvers, MA 01923 • 978-777-8764
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