Knutson Construction Services’ Post

Justice for Labor Workers   Last week, Mehri & Skalet filed a $29.2 million settlement agreement and preliminary approval papers on behalf of New York City Fire Prevention Inspectors (FPI) against the City of New York. Spearheaded by attorney Mike Lieder, it represents a crucial step forward in our ongoing pursuit of justice.   FPIs, who for decades have been primarily people of color, perform vital and often risky work, all while the city systematically pays them less than building inspectors, who are primarily White. This case sheds light on the deeply rooted anti-Black history within the FDNY that spans decades and is a key victory in our collective journey to overcome this history. And while the pay gap may have been racially motivated, the settlement benefits all FPIs, regardless of race.   This moment is even more poignant because it coincides with the 60th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech and the March on Washington, where labor and civil rights groups united to demand equality and justice. Following Labor Day weekend, there's much to reflect upon. We find ourselves in a time when the spirit of unity and progress is more important than ever.   This achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the attorneys and paralegals at M&S, our co-counsel, Valli Kane & Vagnini, LLP, who worked tirelessly on this case, and, most importantly, our courageous clients who stood up to bring about meaningful change.   #RacialEquity #LaborDay #CivilRights #MarchOnWashington #CivilRights

Albert Aronov, AIA, head of the education studio at RKTB, shares his insights on designing for safety in K-12 schools in a recent article by Interiors + Sources Magazine. In it, Mr. Aronov emphasizes the importance of traffic flow and circulation in K-12 schools for occupant safety. Learn more below. #safetydesign #occupantsafety

Last month former President Barack Obama gave an interview and when asked for career advice said, "Just learn how to get stuff done." This should strike everyone as a simple and obvious truth. In my government management career I'm considered an outsider "hired gun" brought in to reform and improve dysfunctional organizations. Doing so always requires instituting (usually with people kicking and screaming) cultural change so "stuff can get done" despite years of claims "nothing can be done" or "but we've always done it this way." This morning when I was in the Whitfield County Courthouse on another matter, I ran across these employees working on removing and installing new carpet in our courtrooms. When frayed carpet tearing at the seams made our courtrooms a tripping hazard, our Buildings and Grounds staff planned a Normandy Invasion style course of action. They acquired necessary equipment and materials, rescheduled other tasks, and when most judges would be out of town at a conference, swooped in to "get stuff done" by tearing out and installing new carpet. Better still, they did the work in house at a speed, price, and quality far superior than anything we could expect with a contractor. I wish I could take credit for the phenomenal work our employees do. But my contribution is limited to raising standards and expectations, supporting staff, and freeing them and their talent to "get stuff done." Credit is also due our elected Board of Commissioners who are intelligent, educated, and accomplished and thus have no need to show how important they are by trying to manage operations, screw things up, and in the process prevent dedicated County employees from "getting stuff done." #county #counties #localgovernment #whitfieldcounty #whitfieldcountycares #organizationalculture #organizationalchange #organizationalleadership #organizationalmanagement #employeeengagement #employeeappreciation #employeedevelopment #employeespotlight #employeerecognition #employeemotivation #employeemanagement #employeesatisfaction

Regulation 14 of The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations states that every window or other transparent or translucent surface in a wall or partition and every transparent or translucent surface in a door or gate shall, where necessary for reasons of health and safety: ·       be of safety material or be protected against breakage of the transparent or translucent material; ·       be appropriately marked or incorporate features so as, in either case, to make it apparent. These laws and regulations are relevant to commercial and public-sector buildings, as well as schools and educational institutions. It applies to duty holders, directors, managers, or headmasters in cases where there is a lack of glass risk assessment or no permanent documentation of glass types or enhancements. #Health #Safety #Law #Legislation #Everywindowneedablind

#UTOmbuds supports Graduate & Professional Student Appreciation Week at UT Knoxville with this 90-minute workshop: GPSAW - Dignity: A Key to Constructive Conflict Management April 5 10am–11:30am Zoom/Virtual Office of Ombuds Services (ombuds@utk.edu) Register & Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/eCZHgk-5 We all have an inherent value (dignity) that drives our need to matter and belong. Attending to feelings and experiences of dignity is crucial to building relationships of trust and mutual understanding. Violations of dignity are often the root cause of anger, resentment, mistrust, and destructive conflict. In this session, you will explore the importance of dignity in workplace relationships; discuss how to honor dignity & avoid violations; and strategize ways to uphold the dignity of yourself and others. This interactive workshop includes self-reflection, breakout discussion, and action planning activities. In celebration of GPSAW, priority for session seats will be given to graduate and professional students.

Design: It’s no secret building users perform better when they feel safe, and when they have access to nature. Applying principles of Crime Prevention Through Environment Design (CPTED) is something in Stantec we do every day. #stantec #aiports #transit #schools

Are you in the management team at a UK school or college? Preparing for the summer holidays? Are your school's lone workers prepared? Essential safety tips to keep them protected during this period: https://lnkd.in/dTNVMP9c #MyTeamSafe #SchoolSafety #LoneWorkers

I am pleased to announce the publication of my new book, The Way We Build: Restoring Dignity to Construction Work, published by the University of Illinois Press. It is a narrative of the past, present and future of construction work and the people who make up the industry.  I spent over forty years in construction, as a carpenter apprentice, journeyman, foreman and superintendent, and then as a labor leader culminating in my leadership of the 25,000 member New England Regional Council of Carpenters from 2005 to 2017. Since my retirement, I’ve been a fellow at Harvard Law School’s Center for Labor & a Just Economy. This is my third book and I write as both participant and observer. There is very little written about labor relations in construction. I hope to fill that vacuum by recounting the story of when construction trades provided unionized workers a route to the middle class and a sense of pride and dignity often denied other blue-collar workers. Today, union members still earn wages and benefits that compare favorably to those of college graduates. But as union strength has declined over the last fifty years, a growing non- union sector offers lower compensation and more hazardous conditions, undermining the earlier tradition of upward mobility. Revitalization of the industry depends on unions shedding past racial and gender discriminatory practices, embracing organizing, diversity, and the new immigrant workforce, and preparing for technological changes. I “I have known Mark Erlich to be one of the most creative and innovative leaders in the building trades. The Way We Build reflects Erlich’s deep personal understanding of construction work as well as his ability to analyze the past and offer solutions for the future.” - Marty Walsh, former US Secretary of Labor and Mayor of Boston 

I took a day away from student facing duties yesterday to brush up on some skills. Marketing is key component of an effective career offer in schools. If they can't see it, they can't be it. Another example of how careers work in school is #somuchmorethantalkingaboutjobs #SoMuchMoreThanTalkingAboutJobs The Priory Learning Trust

"Discover 'Fair Housing for Maintenance' – a comprehensive guide to fair housing laws and compliance for on-site and management-level maintenance staff. Earn 3 CEU's! Register 3 attendees and get 1 spot FREE! Don't miss out on this opportunity. 🏡 Register at https://lnkd.in/gcXYwFnW #FairHousing #Compliance #CEUs #ProfessionalDevelopment"