Masonry Magazine March 1979 Page. 9
'79 MCAA CONFERENCE REPORT
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Dwelling on expansion joints, he said that improper installation at the outset causes most of them to fail, especially in the case of panels. He recommended measures to correct problems.
Skaggs concluded the presentation with slides of various tuckpointing projects in which he has been involved and the bidding of such jobs. He displayed and explained the tools of his trade, and offered them up for examination by interested individuals.
Women In Construction
A timely development in the construction industry today is Title 41, Part 60.4 (more commonly referred to as "Women In Construction") promulgated by the federal government. This second segment of the Industry Workshops was explored in detail by Merlin Taylor, assistant to the president of the International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftsmen (BAC) and executive director of the International Masonry Apprenticeship Trust (IMAT), Washington, D.C.
Taylor recommended that the MCAA, in concert with the BAC, endorse equal employment opportunities for women in construction. He encouraged that every effort be made "leaving no stones unturned" to try to encourage women in minorities into construction through such programs as Outreach, pre-job training, apprenticeship and upgrading.
He suggested that each Member of MCAA send out a written EEO policy for their individual firms to all businesses, suppliers and others that they do business with, including all recruitment agencies. This, in effect, puts such senders on record endorsing EEO.
Taylor further encouraged every MCAA member present to become involved, if they are not already, in some form of pre-job training geared specifically to women.
President's Reception and Trade Show
At 2 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, the colorful Ruby Red Marching Band belted out its toe-tapping musical selections as a backdrop for the annual President's Reception, which was held in the Grand Ballroom of the Atlanta Marriott. The relaxing social hour was an enjoyable prelude to the principal event of the afternoon-the official opening of the '79 MCAA Educational Trade Show in the spacious Conference Center of the Marriott.
This year's Show enjoyed exceptional attendance for its three-day run. In an informal canvass following the Show, the exhibitors, including many nationally known firms serving the masonry industry, indicated their satisfaction with the impressive turnout of visitors and expressed their eagerness to again display their products and services at the 1980 Show scheduled for Dallas, Texas.
Two MCAA Management Institutes Held
"An Overview of the Masonry Industry," the title of the first of two MCAA Management Institutes held at the Conference, was presented on Sunday afternoon, March 4. The featured speakers represented the four major associations in the masonry industry the Brick Institute of America, National Concrete Masonry Association, Portland Cement Association, and National Association of Brick Distributors.
John P. "Jay" Gleason, president of the Brick Institute of America, McLean, Va., gave an update on BIA's activities. He briefly touched on BIA's new Government Relations Department, created about 18 months ago. "The number of legislative and regulatory issues with which we have had to cope has increased dramatically as well as in their complexity," he said. "A number of the major governmental issues on which we have worked this past year have been with MCAA and our sister members of the Masonry Industry Committee (MIC).
"For example, the MIC has aggressively been opposing the FMHA, HUD and DOE thermal efficiency standards-and quite effectively. I must emphasize that we are very active in this area and working very closely with MCAA."
BIA also is continuing its long-standing efforts on manpower development through the creation of curriculum materials and by encouraging young people to become bricklayers, Gleason said. He added that the BIA is now "expanding our act" in this area.
In energy-related projects, Gleason said the BIA is participating with NCMA in calibrated "hot box" tests in the PCA laboratories as well as a dynamic energy study to get further data on the effects of mass on heating and cooling loads. It is also attempting to secure federal funds for further research into thermal inertia, solar energy, fireplace.
Leo Nazdin, director, Department of Jurisdictional Disputes, LIUNA, Washington, D.C., urged MCAA Members to instill in their workers a "high work ethic."
Merlin Taylor, assistant to the president of BAC and executive director of IMAT, Washington, D.C., encouraged MCAA members to endorse equal employment opportunities for women in construction.
James F. Richardson, first vice president, BAC, Washington, D.C., warned that "non-union competition ignored can and will destroy the masonry industry."
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