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An Ode To Inspiration:
Daniel Libeskind , Architect for
the New World Trade Center Freedom Tower and Author/Attorney Samuel Cook
Headline the ABC Expo at Ashman Court Hotel October 5th
By Robert E. Martin
The Associated Builders & Contractors is an organization dedicated to freedom in the workplace, freedom in America, and creating jobs for Americans.
With those purposes in mind, the
Saginaw Valley Chapter of ABC is presenting an undeniably
appealing inspirational EXPO featuring Daniel Libeskind,
architect and Master Planner for the World Trade Center site in
New York City, along with A. Samuel Cook, a well-known labor
attorney representing Fortune 500 companies and author of Freedom in
the Workplace, for an expansive program that will take place on
Wednesday, October 5th at Ashman Court
Hotel in Midland.
Certainly no other building project in
America is more important today in terms of symbolizing the ideals of
freedom than the Freedom Tower & Ground Zero Memorial for the
World Trade Center Site.
Master Planner Daniel Libeskind
determined that this project will rise to 1.776 feet as a clear
statement of the power and meaning of this important project.
And to organizers of this event, no other keynote speaker could be more significant in terms of representing the unique challenges that the Saginaw Valley currently faces, as well as embodying the ingenuity that man can summon to overcome obstacles.
The author James Joyce once wrote
"art works on many levels". In terms of architecture, Libeskind not only
must construct a monument to the memory of those fallen during the
atrocity of 9/11; he must reaffirm values of strength & freedom while
constructing a building that reflects the economic viability and
individual potential inherent within the unborn promise of future
generations to come.
No easy task, but then nothing worthwhile
ever is.
As Libeskind writes, "The sky will be
home again to a towering spire 1776 feet high (the date America declared
its independence) featuring the Antenna Tower with gardens. Why gardens?
Because gardens are a constant affirmation of life. A skyscraper rises
above its predecessors, reasserting the pre-eminence of freedom and
beauty, restoring the spiritual peak to the city, creating an icon that
speaks of our vitality in the face of danger and our optimism in the
aftermath of tragedy. Life victorious."
Indeed, a key reason Libeskind was able
to secure the World Trade Center design competition in February 2003 is
because he is well known for introducing a new critical discourse into
architecture, coupled with a multi-disciplinary approach.
As event co-sponsor Darius Gueramy
of Midland's Red Road Design notes, "The tri-city area faces
similar challenges in terms of rebuilding communities that tie together
the need for innovative industry that not only creates new economic
opportunities, but attracts creative minds to the area by the uniqueness
of what it offers in terms of quality of life."
"This EXPO provides a unique opportunity
to bring people from all over the tri-cities together so that they might
become excited and inspired by their untapped potential."
ABC in the Saginaw Valley
The Saginaw Valley Chapter of ABC encompass an impressive membership roster of 160 pivotal area businesses, including such firms as AT Frank, Banning Construction, Bierlein Environmental Services, Wolgast and Wolohan Lumber.
According to Gerry Ostrander,
Director of Member Services for the Saginaw Valley Chapter, one of the
pivotal roles of ABC is to "build a bridge with the community in terms
of educational and apprenticeship programs."
Presently ABC members are developing
apprenticeship programs and working with Delta College and
architects to train and educate future generations of electricians,
plumbers, and millwrights.
"We are building a foundation of freedom
based upon competition," she explains. "There are a lot of young people
disillusioned with the future and not necessarily eager to pursue
college academics who discover they can build viable and challenging
careers through our apprenticeship programs."
As an alternative to college academics,
the ABC apprenticeship programs again form a significant 'bridge' within
the community. Last spring 40 people graduated from the 5-year
apprenticeship program and currently 70 individuals are enrolled.
Jamin Bunn is one such individual currently enrolled and studying to become a millwright.
"I found out about this program through
Bierlein, where I've been employed for eight years," he explains. "A
millwright deals with machine repair, and when I first started with
Bierlein I'd always wanted to get involved with a trade. For me it
represents a great step forward, so I thought I'd seize the opportunity
and make the best of it."
According to Jamin, class consists of two
18-week semesters. "You go once a week for four hours from 5:30-9:30 at
night and they cover everything and anything mechanical, varying from
gearboxes to motors to alignments, pumps, and agitators. The word
'millwright' is a broad term."
Currently five other guys are in his
class and Jamin notes that Bierlein has encouraged many employees to
enter the apprenticeship program.
"The most challenging thing is constantly
learning. There are so many specialty pieces of equipment out there, and
you need to know the specifics of each machine and how they operate in
different fields," concludes Jamin.
"I'm learning every day and always doing
something different. It makes you a valuable asset to the company and I
would recommend this program to anybody. It's something you can take
with you."
Freedom in the Workplace A. Samuel Cook is a graduate of Princeton University and the University of Maryland Law School and is the author of Freedom in the Workplace. As part of the ABC Expo to be held at Ashman Court Hotel in Midland on October 5th, he will be speaking at a luncheon from 12:00 noon until 1:00 PM.
Cook was national general counsel to
ABC from 1970 to 1986 and his clients have included Fortune 500
companies as well as county and municipal governments. Specializing in
labor management relations he has represented management interests for
ABC since 1962.
Cook has been chosen as one of the Best Lawyers in America (Woodward & White) and is a prolific author and public speaker in his field. His latest landmark book is the untold story of the Associated Builders & Contractors endeavors and merit shop construction's phenomenal half-century-long crusade to defeat compulsory trade unionism in America. Recently Mr. Cook spoke with The Review in advance of his appearance at the October 5th expo. Review: What do you feel are the more significant contributions that ABC has fostered within the American workplace and economy? Cook: The 'merit shop' is what ABC stands for and what that means is that each job should go to the lowest qualified bidder regardless of whether they are affiliated with a union. It's about management and labor working in harmony together and unfortunately that policy is directly contrary to the building & construction unions who want what I call compulsory unionism on all jobs. They have used every type of violence and coercion and illegal activity, including physical attacks and arson to force ABC members to join their union. It's illegal to organize in that manner, as opposed to a secret ballot election of the eligible construction workers conducted by the National Labor Relations Board in a fair fashion and with a majority vote putting the union in or out. Review: Obviously, the impact that trade unions have forged within the Michigan economy are significant, not only from a historical perspective, but in the sense of setting equitable standards for safety in the workplace. Do you feel that trade unions have served a useful role and what are the directions taken that have fostered your opposition to them? Cook: There was an American statesman by the name of Samuel Gompers who founded the American Federation of Labor between the craft unions. He was an immigrant cigar maker who wanted the crafts to be followed exactly and traditionally and he wisely noted that 'no lasting gains will come from compulsion'. Gompers believed in volunteerism in union membership - that it was a choice - just as ABC does today.
He believed in keeping out of politics,
as opposed to the AFL/CIO of today. At the bottom of my thinking
is the notion that should an employer not treat a worker fairly and
non-discriminatorily, giving them decent wages for a job well done,
there is a solution to that problem by filing grievances and litigating
a worker's civil rights. My thinking hasn't changed on that. The point
is that ABC handles its people very well, plus I represent a lot of
other non-union manufacturers that also look out for the interests of
their craftsmen.
Review: Let's talk about merit shop construction and its record over the past 50 years. Can you give me some examples of companies that have succeeded not only economically, but also in terms of improving the state of life within their communities? Cook: In 1950 the building construction trade unions levied strict craft restrictions. A carpenter could not paint and a painter couldn't use a hammer and nail. Back then the building construction unions controlled 85 percent or more of all major industrial, government, and academic building construction in America.
Today, as a result of the major
revolution in construction in America, largely due to ABC's fighting and
composing compulsory unionism, only 14.7 percent of that construction is
under union control today.
ABC has 45 chapters and 23,000
members and I find it interesting that back in 1960 governmental unions
were almost non-existent. Presidents like Truman & Roosevelt opposed
unions in government, but Kennedy brought them into the government and
today 37.2 percent of government workers are unionized.
When he was president, Bill Clinton
issued an executive order that required unions & management in the
federal government to be 'co-partners in the total operation of the
government, sitting at the bargaining table as partners in all issues of
working conditions and policy of operations'. Few people know that, but
fortunately G.W. Bush rescinded that Executive Order.
Review: Perhaps the strongest argument for merit-based approaches is that it compensates individuals based upon their ability & performance and reduces the costliness of compensating mediocrity�. Cook: Not to mention issues of flexibility. For instance, a carpenter can do rough painting and a painter can use a hammer and nail, which goes across the board in terms of multi-skilled mechanics. Because of increased productivity workers can be compensated well. Moreover, ABC keeps their workforce all year long. With union operations in lean months workers may or may not be called for work because politics & seniority enter into the picture. Review: What about abuses of companies like Enron & Worldcom? Are there minimal legal standards that all companies need to follow in order to retain their integrity? Cook: Definitely. I'm not a tax lawyer, but if we didn't have labor laws protecting workers and their right to organize, I think we would have problems. I think management is not all kind and loving and without these laws, some managers would abuse their labor force, simply out of cold-blooded human nature. Review: NAFTA has been a hot button since the national debate over a decade ago between Ross Perot and Al Gore. Critics point out that while there is nothing wrong with free trade, NAFTA in essence undermines the notion of United States sovereignty by circumventing environmental standards and labor law and in essence reducing American workers to the employment status of those in third world countries. What are your thoughts on NAFTA? Cook: That's getting a little out of my field in some ways, but from a union point of view and also one of management, it's a question of being competitive.
With the steel industry you had the big
three companies acting as a group and they literally negotiated jointly
for cost increases and passed on the raise across the board to the
customer. This also affected industries using their steel. I think
that's what precipitated NAFTA.
Japan and other countries began to build
autos at lower prices, so from both a worker and free enterprise point
of view everybody seems to be losing out.
I hate hypocrisy by anybody. George
Meeny, the old AFL/CIO president was approached back in the '70s by
organizers that felt his own union wasn't fair in certain areas. He
fired the ringleaders and was charged with an unfair labor practice when
they tried to bargain and he refused. The NLRB had to force him to
bargain with these workers. Any time the unions own staff tried to
unionize, they objected and fought it all the way.
Finally, back in 1973 I filed the largest
unfair labor practice charge in the history of the NLRB. I joined the
building trades department in Washington, all 17 international craft
unions, and all state, regional and local divisions across America in
one lawsuit that made national headlines when we won.
The labor board dragged its feet and it
took over a year and a half for the charge to be heard. The unions got
so nervous they acted like a temporary restraining order had been
issued, so started behaving. The result was that we got an order against
the entire state of Michigan's building trades organization in 1974 to
stop these practices, so ABC has been quite active and successful in
Michigan.
*
In addition to members' booths and
exciting exposition, there will be seminars on Education in the
Construction Industry and Top Ten Ways to Survive a Building
Project, along with the luncheon with A. Samuel Cook and the
Libeskind presentation.
The 2005 ABC Expo runs from
12:00 noon until 5:00 PM at Ashman Court Hotel in Midland,
and the Evening with Daniel Libeskind 'Breaking Ground'
presentation will take place at 7:00 PM at Central
Intermediate Auditorium in Midland.
For more information, phone
989-832-8879 or go to
www.abcsvac.org.
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