From Steve Kantoniemi’s Desk:

Members, there is a little hope and light in that long dark tunnel of NO WORK!!!! The program the Building Trades use for keeping track of jobs that are currently under construction, or in bidding phase, planning, design, and conception is, SBCTC~ Projects Plus Summary Reports, (Dodge Reports ). As of June 23^rd 2009 Projects Plus had listed, for San Francisco County. 160 projects at all phase’s (start, bidding, and planning) in the amount of 4.1 plus Billion dollars in construction projects. In the June 26^th issue of San Francisco Business Time’s had the San Francisco residential development pipeline-2009. This article showed residential projects in San Francisco of 60 units or more that are under construction, approved, or in planning, 15 in construction phase, 40 in approved stage, and 64 in planning, a total of 119 Projects. If you want to see a list of these projects with names and addresses you can pick up a copy of SF Business Times /June 26-July 2, 2009, pages 12 and 13. Web-site (sanfranciscobusinesstimes.com) As of Sept. 17^th 2009 SBCTC ~ Projects Plus Summary report for San Francisco County had listed 593 projects in all phase’s (start, bidding, and planning ), to the amount of 23.8 plus Billion dollars in construction projects, a 19 billion dollar jump from June 2009, to September 2009. That is one BIG JUMP in a short time frame. However, keep in mind, projects that are in planning may not get approval or funding, and may not happen.



As of 6/23/2009 Projects Plus, Summary Report for San Mateo County, had a total of 79 Construction Projects in various stages, totaling almost 650 Million dollars in Construction work. As of 9/17/2009, Projects Plus, Summary report for San Mateo County, had listed 340 Projects, in various stages (start, bidding, planning) Totaling almost 4.1 billion dollars in Construction projects. That shows a 3.45 billion dollar increase in construction projects. Again, to go from 650 million dollars in construction projects in June 2009, to almost 4.1 Billion dollars in construction projects for the month of September 2009, showed a huge jump in construction projects. Again, the report showed construction projects that are in all phase’s of work (Start, Bidding, Planning). San Mateo County is made up of many cities. They are, Atherton, Belmont, Brisbane, Burlingame, Colma, Daly City, Emerald Hills, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Moss Beach, Pacifica, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Mateo, South San Francisco, and Woodside.



As of 8/28/2009 SBCTC ~ Projects Plus, Summary Report for Marin County, had a total of 167 Construction Projects in various stages of development. These 167 projects came to a total amount of about 2.85 Billion dollars in Construction Projects for Marin County. Marin County is made up by the flowing Cities, or Zip codes, they are. Belvedere, Corte Madera, Fairfax, Kentfield, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Muir Beach, Nicasio, Novato, Olema, Point Reyes Station, Ross, San Quentin, San Rafael, Sausalito, Stinson Beach, Tiburon, and Woodacre.



All Building & Construction Trades Councils use SBCTC~ Projects Plus to keep track of projects that are current and soon to start. Through joint efforts between the Unions and the Building & Construction Trades Councils, we Present and Argue and Appeal issue’s as to why all Public Works and Prevailing Wage Projects should have PLA (Project Labor Agreement) or PSA (Project Stabilization Agreement). A Public Works PLA and PSA in general mean the project will be all Union, or if you are a non- union contractor you will have to hire through the Local Union Hall. Although we are in a severe economic depression and work shortage, Northern California and the Bay Area in general have more work and projects in the construction market than most states and cities in the entire nation. The current problem with the work here is that so many non-union General Contractors, and non- union Sub-Contractors come from out of the area, or from another state entirely. These out of state companies know where the work is or will be and when it will start because there are other Data Systems similar to Projects Plus that give them the information. They come in and under bid our local General Contractors who usually hire Union labor. These non-union companies end up winning the job or project, then start subbing-out to any contractor who will do the job the cheapest. This creates a kind of wave effect that forces our Union Contractors to bid lower so they can compete and try to win projects. They will probably be forced to cut back on manpower just to make it through without a loss on that construction project. This is one of many reasons why we are where we are. Be thankful for the many PLA and PSA Projects that are currently started and being worked on, and the ones that will be here in the near future.



In closing I can only tell you this. It is going to get better, there is work that is going start, and a lot of work in planning, but until you see a bunch of big holes in the ground, and crane’s in sky, it is still going to be rough & tough out there trying to find work or a job of any kind. Keep your head up and do not lose hope, do what you feel you have to do to get by and take care of your family and yourself. There are many Pickets going on with all Building Trades and Unions, do what you can to support them. Here is something from the Sacramento Sierra Building & Construction Trades Council.

                     “Are You For Real”

As a union person and family, you have been blessed with a decent standard of living. Your brothers and sisters who passed this way ahead of you, because of their devotion and dedication, fought long and hard to attain the unparalleled living standard. You can help build upon their foundation or you can destroy all their efforts.



Picketing has been described by the U.S. Supreme Court as the working man’s means of Communication. When you see a picket it’s a message to you that some fellow workers are engaged in a labor dispute. It’s YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT to decide how you will respond to the picketing message. Under the laws of our land today, your union cannot help you make that decision. Only YOU can make the decision as to what side you are on.