Wage-fringe hikes up 4.3% in 2002
The trend of ever-increasing construction wages and fringes continued in 2002, as rates for all U.S. workers rose by 4.3 percent from 2001.

According to the Construction Labor Research Council, the year-to-year 4.3 percent jump was the highest since 1983. However, that's not saying much, considering that the average annual wage-fringe increase over the five years ending Jan. 1, 2003 has been 4.06 percent.

The CLRC said that with the construction industry at the beginning of the contract cycle, it is already known that wage-fringe levels should be little changed in the next two years.

The average wage-fringe rate for all construction crafts in the U.S. is now about $35 per hour, the CLC said.

Home repair group seeks volunteers
Christmas In Action of Oakland Co. Inc. is looking for a few more elves.

Last year, more than 1,200 volunteers gave a day of their time to provide free home repairs to low-income, elderly and handicapped residents of Oakland County. This year's effort on Saturday, April 26 is expected to attract as many volunteers - but the more, the merrier.

Volunteers install new roofs, furnaces, water heaters, build handicapped ramps, complete plumbing repairs, and upgrade faulty electrical services to allow these people to live in their homes safely.

"We don't do a Band-Aid," said the group's president, Norma Okonski, a social worker for Waterford Township. "We make lasting improvements to homes."

For more information, and to download a form to sign up and help, go to the group's web site, www.twp.waterford.mi.us/cia. Or call (248) 618-7433.

Toyota wants a PLA - in the heart of Texas
A tip of the Hardhat goes to Toyota Motor Corp.

Despite some built-in obstacles, the Japanese automaker, said the Engineering News Record, wants to build its next U.S. manufacturing plant in San Antonio, Texas. And, "unlike other foreign automakers that chose the South for its nonunion labor," the ENR said, "the Japanese company plans to build its $800-million plant using a project labor agreement."

Project labor agreements typically utilize union work rules and set uniform wage and benefit standards in exchange for a ready supply of workers.

The ENR said there was surprise at Toyota's decision among the locals. "This is not a labor community," said a spokeswoman for nonunion contractor H.B. Zachry Co.

"There is plenty of labor in San Antonio, but not plenty of union labor," said Jack Dysart, president of Lyda Builders Inc. Exceptions are unionized mechanical, electrical and sheet metal trades, "but most of those are weak," he added. "I think if they use a PLA, there will be a lot of San Antonio contractors not interested in the job," Dysart said.

Toyota said it has successfully worked with building and construction trade unions before and expects to do so on this project. The plant is expected to build 15,000 Tundra trucks per year beginning in 2006. At peak construction, there will be 2,100 workers on the job.