Newsletters of the PHCC of Greater Boston

Contractor of the Year: Congratulations to Michael Petrilli, President of E. H. Marchant Co. of Quincy. Michael is also the vice-president of the PHCC of Greater Boston and has been named Contractor of the Year at the recent PHCC of Massachusetts Convention, which was held in Boston. Mike's late father, Larry Petrilli, served as president of both the PHCC of Massachusetts and Greater Boston.

Apprentice Study: The University of Massachusetts recently released a study on union and non-union apprentice programs in Massachusetts. "Union" programs are actually directed by joint labor-management groups. Example: half the trustees of Local 12 Training Center are contractor members of the PHCC. Bottom line from U-Mass. study: in the construction sector, 82% of apprentices are enrolled in union programs. Union apprentices also graduate at significantly higher rates. Report supported by The Construction Institute and details can be found at: The Construction Institute Web site.

Drug Testing: Congratulations to the over 900 Local 12 plumbers who have joined the PHCC/Local 12 Drug-Free Safety Program. All participants have been drug tested, and have agreed to take part in random drug testing. Our shared goal is a safe, drug-free workplace. Nearly all union plumbing contractors are now participating in the program.

Continuing Education: Important details of the new continuing education requirement for plumbers you must complete 6 hours of training before April 2009, and another 6 hours in the following year. Otherwise, you cannot renew your license in 2010. You CANNOT take 12 hours in a single year, and qualify to have your licensed renewed.

Museum: Hats off to Russ Manoog whose plumbing museum in Worcester is being relocated to Watertown, thanks to the very generous support of the J.C. Cannistraro Co. New museum will open in fall. See The Plumbing Museum Web site.

Commercial Slowdown: Boston Business Journal (BBJ) reports that the sale of commercial buildings in Boston has come to a screeching halt, because of problems in the financing markets brought on by the sub-prime mess. Last year, 41 commercial buildings in Greater Boston were taken off the market. Sellers feel that current prices are too low, and are waiting for financing and prices to improve. In the first quarter, commercial sales in Boston were down a staggering 98.7% compared to 2007. However, Boston office space remains in short supply, and deals are expected to start flowing again in the summer. Rents remain high.

Homes: Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports that average home price will decline 7% to 9% this yearŠwide variation between regions of country, and even from city to city. In hard-hit Las Vegas, sales are up 30% from a year ago, but prices declined 23% to $236,000 average. Inventory in Boston area up 5.9% from year agoŠ National report for April: housing construction up 8.2% from last year, but it's mostly apartments not single family homes, where construction is at 16-year low.

Declining Equity: USA Today reports that for the first time since 1945, the equity of the typical American home owner has fallen below 50%. This means that if someone were to sell his home, his profit would be less than 50% of the sales price. The rest would go to pay off mortgages or home equity loans.

Related: In a related story USA Today says that at the end of 2007, a record number of homes were facing foreclosure. 6.3% of all homeowners nearly 3 million people were behind in their mortgage payments in the fourth quarter, and an additional 2% of all loans were in foreclosure. This amounted to foreclosure on 1 million homes.

Nest Eggs: The WSJ reports that average retirement account grew 7% in 2007, compared to 12% in 2006.

WSJ Reports: Women with M.B.A.s are twice as likely to get divorced or separated as their male counterparts. The picture isn't much rosier for women with law or medical degrees.

Misclassification: One of the big problems in the construction industry involves misclassification of workers for Workers Comp insurance. Some companies pay their workers "off the books", or with 1099's and this helps them avoid Workers Comp and unemployment insurance.

Gov Patrick: Signed special Executive Order to combat misclassification of workers (see above). Both union and non-union contractors who play by the rules should appreciate the fact that the Governor is serious about enforcing laws on workers comp, unemployment, etc. Recently the Attorney General won $110,000 settlement from Air Safe Contracting of Wrentham for violating prevailing wage laws.

Serious $$$: Analysts have looked at the numbers, and say that the global market for plumbing fittings and fixtures will exceed $55.5 billion by 2010. Europe is the largest plumbing fittings and fixtures market in the world, followed by the United States and Asia-Pacific. The Asia-Pacific market is the fastest growing region in the plumbing market.

Money & Happiness: A study described in the The Boston Globe says that making more money can make you a little bit happier. But if you want to significantly increase your happiness, use money for generosity give it away. Those who do this (even those who don't have much money) report far greater levels of happiness.

Safe Water: The MWRA continues to get very high marks for its work upgrading the metro-Boston water and sewer system. DEP safe drinking water regulations require that distribution storage facilities be covered to protect the quality of treated drinking water. MWRA is working on a system-wide program to eliminate open storage reservoirs and replace them with covered tanks.

Settled: In a recent issue, we mentioned the suit between the new Institute of Contemporary Art on the waterfront, and its now defunct GC, Macomber. Macomber filed a $6.6 million suit, claiming that the ICA had made changes which delayed construction and pushed up costs. Final settlement: $2.2 million to Macomber.

Credit Cards: US households received 5.3 billion offers for new credit cards in 2007.

Union Clout: The restaurant workers union in Boston Unite Local 26 has signed an agreement with the Starwood Chain (which controls the Westin and Sheraton hotels, among others) saying that "all major construction work involving contracts in excess of $2,000" shall be done by union contractors.

Building Chief Fired: The head of New York City's Building Department was fired in late April, as a result of problems with inspections and accidents on NYC construction sites. The city also announced a $4 million plan to hire specialized engineers to inspect "high risk construction sites." A crane accident earlier this year occurred after an inspector said he had inspected the site, but had not.

Best Wishes: Bill Hite, the national head of the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA), announced in an open letter to all union officials that he has blood cancer and will undergo six months of treatment. Hite is a strong and effective leaderŠand a visionary who understands the importance of working closely and cooperatively with contractors.

Golf: Our PHCC of Greater Boston Golf Outing happens on June 5 at the Pembroke CC. With funds raised last year, we were able to award over $26,500 in scholarships to sons and daughters of Local 12 members. To become a sponsor, or play at our outing, call our office: 978-777-8764.

2008 GREATER BOSTON PHCC SCHOLARSHIP RECEIPENTS

Congratulations! To all the recipients--who received a total of over $26,500 in scholarships. The highest award, $3,000, went to Nick Venturelli, son of E.H. Marchant Co. employee Steve Venturelli. Nick received a single "A-" during 4 years at BC High--all his other grades were "A." Nick turned down Harvard and will attend Yale in the fall. All these young people are smart and energetic, and deserve recognition. Support our Golf Outing--so we can support students next year!

See a PHOTO GALLERY of Award Winners & Their Families

SCHOLARSHIP RECEIPENTS & SPONSORING COMPANIES

Michael Arsenault - Milford, J. C. Cannistraro
Kate Blanchard - Framingham, E. M. Duggan, Inc.
Arley Donovan - Carlisle, American Plbg. & Htg.
James Downing - Bridgewater, J. C. Higgins Corp.
Jennifer Downing- Bridgewater, J. C. Higgins Corp.
Erin Gallagher Lexington, J. C. Higgins Corp.
Meagan Gillis Tyngsboro, E. M. Duggan, Inc.
Karlye Kennedy Byfield, Kennedy Mechanical
Whitney Knight- Buzzards Bay, E. M. Duggan, Inc.
Matthew Lyons - Scituate, Hamel & McAlister
David McCarthy - Woburn, P. J. Dionne Co., Inc.
Lorraine McElligott - Boston, Emerald Isle Plbg. & Htg.
Patrick O'Toole, Jr. - Pembroke, E. M. Duggan, Inc.
Anita Petrilli - Braintree, E. H. Marchant Co.
Mary Polleys - Pembroke, P. J. Kennedy & Son
Amanda Richman - Sharon, Richman Corporation
Sarah Robbio - Malden, Classic Plumbing & Heating
John Shaughnessy - E. Bridgewater, J. C. Higgins Corp.
Adam Smith - Weymouth, Hamel & McAlister
Leah Strickland - Abington, William Collins Co.
Katlin Sullivan - Marblehead, J. C. Cannistraro
Stephen Taylor - Plymouth, E. H. Marchant Co.
William Thompson - Medway, E. M. Duggan, Inc.
Nicholas Venturelli - Plymouth, E. H. Marchant Co.
Dan Wall - Walpole, E. M. Duggan, Inc.
Tom Wall - Walpole, E. M. Duggan, Inc.
William Wall - Walpole, E. M. Duggan, Inc.