2021 First Quarter Newsletter
Annual Business Meeting Highlights
This year’s UMCA Annual Business Meeting was held on January 28 at the Little America Hotel. Due to COVID-19 restrictions and the need to limit capacity, only contractors attended.
Included in the President’s report were updates on the three UMCA primary objectives: Education, Political Action and Labor Relations. Among other things, these updates highlighted a successful legislative session, exciting training for both the ConTech Roadshow and MSCA Sales Basecamp (coming this fall), and an amendment to the state Plumbing Board statute requiring that it include two union representatives.
As you might expect, the Treasurer’s report showed significant change from previous years. Throughout 2020, the staff and board members actively monitored income and expenses as compared to the budget, and cuts were made. Some of the numbers reported were:
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- Total income for 2020 was $618,327. Largely due to overall work hours being down, this was 21% below budget and 22% below 2019 revenue.
- Total expenses for 2020 were $623,735. While this was roughly 20% below budget, it still left us with a net loss of -$5,407.
- As of January 25, assets in the invest reserve account came in at $1.7M, representing returns of 8.5% over the course of the past year, 5.8% over the last three years, and 3.2% since inception.
Also presented at the meeting were updates on the Utah Career Center, Utah Pipe Trades Health and Welfare/Pension, Drug Free Workplace, MCAA, and UA Local 140. Representative Robert Spendlove concluded things with an informative presentation on the 2021 Economic Outlook of Utah.
A Busy Session for the Utah 2021 Legislature
The 2021 Legislative Session has officially wrapped up. Even with the challenges and restrictions related to COVID-19, it proved to be another interesting year on Utah’s Capitol Hill. There was no shortage of controversial topics this session, as bills ranged from the elimination of Concealed Carry Permits to Porn Filters, Mug Shots, Police Reform, and a name change for Dixie State University.
Despite the pandemic, the economy was improving faster than predicted, so the Utah legislature had $1.2 billion in one-time funds to spend after addressing the $23 billion budget. Legislators allocated nearly $1.2 billion to infrastructure projects, $400 million for education spending, and $50 million for affordable housing and homelessness. They also passed a $100 million package of tax-relief bills involving families with children, veterans, and older residents receiving Social Security.
With a bill that passed late the last night of session, the governor, mayors, and local health departments will have their emergency powers restricted. Additionally, the statewide mask mandate will be lifted April 10th (the mandate will still apply to gatherings of over 50 people), and a new timeline for when Utah’s COVID-19 restrictions apply to businesses, events, and schools has been laid out.
The construction industry is consistently a key driver to states economy, and as such, there are always legislative “tweaks” with which we must contend each session. From that standpoint, there was no blood in the water this time around, but the UMCA was actively involved in several issues. The issues tracked this session were: https://umca.com/state/
Labor Relations Update
The UMCA and UA Local 140 Labor-Management Committee met in early March to continue discussions on common industry issues and focus on growing the signatory market share.
We want to extend a quick thank you to all of the contractors that took the time to forecast their labor needs throughout 2021. The “Labor Projection Spreadsheet” has become a very valuable tool that will inform and help Local 140 to better man your projects as the construction industry booms.
Please note: There has been a new “Manpower Request” form posted on the UMCA server with the out-of-work list. To help Local 140 effectively man your projects in a timely manner, please utilize this form when requesting labor. Additionally, as the out-of-work list continues to dwindle, the Local will pare it down so you can see who is truly “available for work.”
Lastly, the UMCA and Local 140 have been working on and finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that addresses Local 140 members performing “non-covered” work, such as estimating and designing piping systems. The MOU will reduce the employer’s liability and afford Local 140 members the opportunity to perform non-covered work without taking a withdrawal from the union. Members will also still receive pension credits. For more information about this, please contact Robert Bergman.
MCAA/NECA/SMACNA
White Paper to Help Determine Project-Specific Loss of Productivity Related to COVID-19 and Other Impacts
There is no question the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the construction industry as a whole, including the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) trades. The Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA), National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), and Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA) have aligned the MEP trades in a collaborative effort to bring to you and the construction industry the white paper linked below: “Project-Specific Loss of Productivity Analysis Methodologies”
[button size=”medium” style=”primary” text=”View White Paper” link=”https://www.mcaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Project-Specific-Loss-of-Productivity-Analysis-Methodologies-2021_LR.pdf” target=”_blank”]
Quarterly Contractor Spotlight
KOH Mechanical Contractors
Established in 1985, we at KOH have been a family-owned, family-oriented company from the very beginning, priding ourselves in quality craftsmanship, safety, and our ability to always complete projects as scheduled. We are grateful for our employees, as they have helped us expand our company from a New Construction-oriented company to one that now has Pneumatic Tube departments as well as Plumbing and HVAC services.
In the last 10 years we have further expanded upon our company’s experience in the Medical Construction field, successfully completing projects with Primary Children’s University, St Marks, Lone Peak, Logan Regional, LDS, Timpanogos, Spanish Fork, and Riverton Hospitals. We have also developed strong, ongoing relationships with college campuses, completing projects with University of Utah, UVU, SLCC, and BYU.
We are thankful for our partnership with the UMCA and the relationships we have developed with its other members. Taking advantage of our ability to work side by side with other industry leaders has helped KOH become who we are today.
For more information about KOH, please visit kohmechanical.com/
CCI MECHANICAL, INC.
CCI Mechanical, Inc. is built to be the Single Source provider for your mechanical systems.
Founded in 1961 as a Design-Build mechanical contractor, CCI specializes in the design, installation, service and maintenance of commercial and industrial projects and is the Design-Build leader and innovator throughout the Intermountain region.
CCI is a subsidiary of EMCOR Group, Inc. (NYSE: EME), a Fortune 500® leader in mechanical and electrical construction, industrial and energy infrastructure, and building services for a diverse range of businesses. The firm provides all its comprehensive services in-house, and employs estimators, engineers, designers, CAD and BIM operators, controls and automation specialists, energy and commissioning specialists, sheet metal workers, plumbers, pipe fitters and control technicians. We also have a full-service department to provide service/maintenance, as well as 24/7 emergency service.
As a member of your team, we offer you the following:
- A consistent focus on constructability, energy efficiency and cost control.
- A commitment to utilizing lessons learned with innovative thought to provide the best solutions for your facility.
- An opportunity to gain perspective from engineers, installers, fabricators, technicians and energy specialists toward any system design idea.
- A Design-Build partner that is committed to the project’s success along with the team’s common goals.
- A superior level of talent and expertise with the proper attitude for successful engagement.
- An extensive level of experience in a variety of commercial and industrial building types and proven history of matching proper systems with unique facility uses.
- A professional, forward-thinking and courteous staff.
- An uninterrupted commitment to the efficient life of your building.
For more information about CCI please visit ccimechanical.com/
2021 Reminder: Contractor License Renewal
All current active contractor licenses will expire on November 30, 2021. (The DOPL system opens up for license renewals approximately 2-3 months prior to the renewal deadline)
Utah Career Center Education Summit
PLEASE SEE CLASS SCHEDULE HERE FOR DATES AND TIMES
If you would like to attend any of the classes, please contact the Utah Career Center at: (801) 295-6198
The SMACNA Utah Golf League
Invites UMCA members to play their first round of the season at Davis Park on Thursday, April 15. For more information visit smacnautah.org/
2021 UMCA Event Schedule
SAVE THE DATE
June 25, 2021 8:00AM
UMCA Golf Tournament
Park City Golf Course
September 30, 2021 4:00PM
UMCA Trap Shoot
Wasatch Wing & Clay
December 16, 2021 6:30PM
UMCA Holiday Celebration
Utah Museum of Fine Arts
