USDJ__TAUC

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Summer 2009

DEVELOPERS JOURNAL www.usdevelopersjournal.com

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATION OF UNION OF TOWERS CONSTRUCTORS ERECTORS Representing U Itnion 's UCpontractors To You for 40 years THE MAGAZINE FOR CONSTRUCTION EXECUTIVES

The Association of Union National Association ofConstructors Tower Erectors organizations representation and a voice in Washington, DC. The association has roots back to 1969, when it was founded as the National Erectors Association (NEA). The association’s progression from the NEA to TAUC was more an adaptation to a changing landscape than a drastic change implemented by the association as there were gradually less union steel companies among its membership; and by 2007, TAUC became the official name of the association.

TUAC President Robert Santillo honoring James Mirgliotta with the Spirit of Union Construction Award at the TUAC Leadership Conference, May 7, 2009.

Representing Union Contractors for 40 Years Produced by Jacob Skeeters & Written by Shelley Seyler The Association of Union Constructors (TAUC) is the premier national trade association representing the 21st Century union construction industry. TAUC consists of more than 2,500 union contractors, local union contractor associations and vendors in the industrial maintenance and construction field. The association’s members demonstrate union construction is the best option because it is safer and more productive, yet it provides a higherquality and cost-competitive product.

Members are required to be signatory union contractors; TAUC also has affiliate members who are local employer organizations based in cities around the country that provide services to TAUC members. Recognizing the value in TAUC’s services, affiliate members pay dues hold seats on TAUC’s board, giving local

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“The evolution was a natural one because we found that the pool of pure union steel erectors was not growing. As the industry started to transition, we still represent a number of union steel erectors, but the evolution is a result of growth and a change in the metrics of membership,” explains Stephen Lindauer, CEO of TAUC. Beginning in the construction industry in high school, Lindauer cites his experience as a bridge repair assistant in upstate New York as the “best education I received because it taught me what I didn’t want to do my whole life.” Moving to DC, Lindauer attained his Master’s in labor relations from American University in 1981 and worked for Associated General Contractors for six years where he served as director of collective bargaining.

Lindauer landed at TAUC 21 years ago. “We have a great staff, great people, who are very passionate about what we do. It is more than a job. It is a way of life.”

Networking is one of the most important services TAUC provides its members. TAUC invites all members and affiliates to its annual conference to participate in on-going dialogue about industry issues.

The association is especially good at devel-

oping long-standing relationships with industrial business owners.“Our staff is really good at that. It is standard operating procedure. We can’t be there just talking to ourselves, we have to engage the owner community, because they are who we service. If we aren’t listening, we can’t deliver on their concerns,” explains Lindauer.

In addition to having mutually beneficial relationships with industrial business owners, the association works hard to collaborate with labor representatives. In the late 1960’s, the association formed a committee to explore the possibility of negotiating national agreements with international building trades unions. In 1971, this gave birth to the first national labor management organization in the construction industry, the National Maintenance Agreements Policy Committee (NMAPC). Though they are legally separate entities, the two enjoy a long-standing relationship and signatory members of NMAPC are also members of TAUC. This close collaboration allows TAUC to stay plugged in to the “pulse of the union construction industry.”

“These are opportunities for business partnerships and cooperation,” he says. The association is trying to build bridges, knowing that cooperation among those who have like-interests can only benefit the entire industry.

“It is a very fractured business and one of our goals is to, in a non-threatening way, partner with [them].

There is resistance because people think you are trying to play in their sandbox…but we need to see that there is a greater good here to serve the industry.”

Stephen Lindauer, CEO

In previous years, government relations were not a major focus. TAUC has recently made a point to increase its focus on this aspect of its programming.

“We are really ramping up our government relations

component,” says Lindauer.

Naturally, one of the most pressing issues facing TAUC members today is the economy and the effects of President Obama’s stimulus package. TAUC, in coordination with other union associations, is running a focus campaign to channel infrastructure stimulus money to union projects.

TAUC is also busy working on pension reform, educating congress on the risks the current laws pose to its members. “At the end of the day, the law could potentially put a lot of contractors out of business,” says a concerned Lindauer. Current regulations allow members to contribute to pension benefits for workers health and welfare; “everyone expects pensions and it’s a major hit financially,” he explains.

With e-newsletters and other forms of communications, TAUC keeps its members informed on developments in the federal government that have implications for union contractors.

TAUC is also getting ready to launch its newest technological advancement: a work opportunity reference key. It is a detailed database that will help industrial business owners locate our contractors for upcoming work. It will be yellow pages of sorts. With more than 900 profiles already complete, TAUC plans to launch the W.O.R.K. tool this summer.

As the association continues to build bridges with like-minded organizations, the construction industry is certain to be better for it.

COMPANY AT A GLANCE Established : 1969 TAUC Members : 2,500 CEO : Stephen Lindauer

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