For several years now, workforce development has been ABC Massachusetts’ top priority.  We have developed the Merit Apprenticeship Program, the Building Mass Careers website, and now we are about to graduate the first students from Building Mass Careers’ pre-apprenticeship program.

With so many of us facing a serious shortage of qualified workers, I hope you will consider hiring one or more of these new graduates. They are a diverse group of over 30 young people, including veterans, minorities, women, inner-city as well as suburban youth. 

Their interests run the gamut from electrical, plumbing and carpentry to HVAC, sheet metal, pipefitting and flooring, but they all share two things.  One is a readiness to work and the second is to pursue a career – not just a job – in construction. 

Since April, 20 of these students have undergone a very rigorous program that has taught them the skills that you, our members, wanted us to offer in this new program.  They include OSHA certification, leadership and work ethic, general construction education, hot work and hoisting.  Another 11 have been in a slightly less comprehensive program that includes OSHA 10, leadership and work ethic training.

We greatly appreciate those members who have already hired program participants.  We encourage other employer members to recruit from this pre-apprenticeship pool within the next few weeks to honor our commitment to these young people who have been fully vetted and have shown great determination to secure a career in the industry. 

Please reach out to Sophir Jeune at (781) 273-0123 or sophir@abcma.org to take on an apprentice.  I know the staff at ABC is looking forward to hearing from you almost as much as you’re looking forward to meeting these dedicated, talented young people who are eager to help fill your workforce needs.

June 8, 2018 - United Rentals: Despite rising construction wages (they increased 3.8 percent over the last year), contractors continue to have trouble recruiting enough skilled workers to meet their workforce needs. Pre-apprenticeship programs could be one way of filling those vacancies. They’re designed to introduce people — usually from groups under-represented in today’s construction workforce — to the industry and to build their skills so they can meet the entry requirements for apprenticeship programs.

Pre-apprenticeship programs are offered in many different forms throughout the country. Some are sponsored by trade associations or craft unions, while others are connected with community colleges or high school vocational training. Local community organizations may participate by helping with candidate recruitment and/or providing some of the soft skills training that’s usually part of pre-apprenticeship programs.

Preparing and prescreening in Massachusetts
​
Associated Builders and Contractors of Massachusetts started its pre-apprenticeship program this year. Greg Beeman, president and CEO, said the program promises dual benefits: It will help its members find solid apprenticeship candidates while offering minorities, women and members of other disadvantaged groups a chance to learn about the career opportunities in construction and gain entry into the industry.

Recently, the Massachusetts high court issued a decision clarifying the breach of contract standard as applied to construction contracts and revising the standard applied to claims where a contractor might not have completed all of its work but nonetheless deserves to be paid (known as “quantum meruit”).  This case has the potential to tangibly reshape the landscape of construction litigation in Massachusetts.
 
In G4S Technology LLC v. Massachusetts Technology Park Corporation, the Supreme Judicial Court decided a case involving the construction of a high speed fiber-optic network.  The owner, Massachusetts Technology Park Corporation (or “MTPC”), contracted with the general contractor, G4S Technology LLC (or “G4S”), for the construction of a network spanning western and central Massachusetts.  After various change orders, the dates of substantial and final completion were extended.  The project was completed seven months after the adjusted date of substantial completion, and the general contractor subsequently submitted several requests for equitable adjustments to the owner, seeking additional compensation and extensions of time for the dates of substantial and final completion.  The owner denied these, and the matter ended up in court. 

On July 1, 2018, changes to the Massachusetts Equal Pay Act (the “MEPA”) went into effect. Under this new law, it is illegal for companies of any size to pay male and female employees differently for equal work. If an employee successfully claims that you paid her less than her male counterpart for doing comparable work, she may be entitled to double her lost wages, plus reimbursement of her attorney’s fees. 

To insure compliance with the law, at a minimum, you should immediately:

1. Delete questions concerning prior earnings from Employment Applications and from your list of questions asked of applicants for employment, their past employers or references (Section 7 of a Guidance on this topic provided by the Office of the Attorney General is attached) Once an offer of employment containing wages and benefit compensation has been given to applicant, you may request wage history.
2. Provide equal pay to men and women for "comparable work." "Comparable work" is work requiring a substantially similar skill set, effort and responsibility performed in similar working conditions.
3. Do not prohibit hourly employees from notifying co-workers of their wages or benefits.

Violations of this Act may result in employers paying double damages and attorneys' fees. But, employers who have engaged in a good faith pay equity audit prior to a claim being filed against them may take advantage of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Act and avoid damages.

Should you have questions regarding this new law, contact Rob McGovern, ABC MA's Director of Public Affairs, at Rob@abcma.org and we can refer you to one of our many qualified affiliate attorneys. 

According to Jordan  Brady immediately put everyone at easy and they headed to the backyard, where he spent over an hour with the winners.  They each got individual time with Brady and it was totally relaxed and casual…or as relaxed and casual as you can be in the presence of the greatest quarterback of all time! 
 
Beyond some great conversation, photos and autographs, Jordan’s bucket list afternoon included throwing balls with Brady and the chance to catch a pass from the five-time Super Bowl champ.  Tirone, who played football in college at Western New England University, said hearing Brady do snap counts and fire off one of his perfect passes to him was something he will never forget.   “It was just awesome.  I ran a pretty deep seam route with dress clothes and socks, caught the ball and then  got “tackled” by a sprinkler head! Tom seemed to get a kick out of that.”
 
Jordan’s ’s Instagram post summed it up nicely: “It was a pretty incredible Monday with Tom Brady.  His play on the field has spoken for itself year after year and he is truly an unbelievably genuine down to earth guy off.”  Safe to say Tirone was impressed. 
 
And who knows, down the line, we could see TB 12 reconnecting with Jordan  for some insurance expertise as his post-football business ventures grow!  In the meantime, Jordan  is looking forward to hanging his newly-autographed Brady jersey in his office at DeSanctis Insurance in Woburn, just upstairs from the ABC Office.  ABC Members with any insurance needs…. or Brady questions…. can reach Jordan Tirone at 781-569-0134 or jtirone@desanctisins.com.   We can attest that he is equally knowledgeable and enthusiastic on both topics!