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PAINTERS & ALLIED TRADESLABOR MANAGEMENTCOOPERATION INITIATIVE2012 LMCI Finishing Industries ForumIn late October, the Painters and Allied Trades Labor Management Cooperation Initiative(LMCI) held its 8th Annual Finishing Industries Forum (FIF) in Las Vegas. From the very start,attendees were put on notice that this year’s event was about how cooperation from both sidesof the bargaining table is crucial to the success of the unionized finishing trades.“The markets that have shown signsof growth in these difficult times are thosewith a strong, proactive labor/managementrelationship,” said Kevin LaRue,LMCI administrator, in his openingremarks. “We have said it before that inorder for you, both labor and management,to prosper, you must find ways towork together and, in some cases, findcompromise to achieve growth.”The inaugural FIF was held in 2005and heralded as a neutral venue forunion leaders and IUPAT signatory companyowners to meet and not only settlesome issues they may have in their marketwith each other, but to also formnew strategies to improve their marketshare (i.e. amount of work) back home.The first event hosted just over 300attendees and it has grown every yearafter that. This year was no exceptionwith over 500 union and business leadersin attendance.The two-and-a-half day event featuredspeakers who are experts on the constructionindustry with a strong emphasison covering industry forecasts. As theeconomy continues to improve in boththe United States and Canada, employersand labor leaders alike wanted toknow where to prioritize their efforts ingaining more projects and thus morehours for IUPAT members.The first guest speaker of the eventwas Rusty Sherwood, senior consultantwith the FMI Corporation. Foundedin 1953, FMI is the largest provider ofmanagement consulting and research tothe engineering and construction market.Mr. Sherwood presented data froma recent study conducted by FMI onmainly the drywall industry, but includedsome insight on the construction industryoverall.Of the many key points he presented,a few in particular resonated loudly withthe contractors in the room, includingthat one of the more interesting longtermeffects of this brutal recession wasthat most of the under-performing constructionfirms have been “weeded out”of the markets in which we work. Theresult being that the competition fora skilled workforce is more competitivethan ever. Clearly, the implicationsare that if the unionized workforce isgoing to thrive over its non-union rivals,we must continue our training beyondapprenticeship and evolve with changingtechnology and practices on the jobsites.“The good news is that futuredemand for skilled labor is going togrow,” said Sherwood. “The outlook isquite positive if you’re willing to adapt.Understanding that your destiny is ultimatelyresting in the hands of the generalcontractor out there, and that theymay have new and unmet needs nowOver 500 union and business leaders attended this year’s Finishing Industries Forum,an industry event where workers and company owners in the finishing trades meetto trade ideas and solutions to build a better presence in the construction industry. Theevent was hosted by the Painters and Allied Trades Labor Management CooperationInitiative.20October-december 2012 • J ournal