Job Site Tour Offers Food for Thought
Building Advantage has been visiting job sites all around Southeastern Wisconsin this summer to reward and thank union trades workers for their hard work and dedication, and to reaffirm the benefits of union construction.
The visits are meant to remind everyone that union contractors and trades people represent the best in the construction industry. We must strive to prove our excellence every day with hard work, ongoing skills development and training, and a positive attitude.
Contractors have really shown their support and appreciation for The Power of One Summer Tour. Mark Schmidt, CG Schmidt General Superintendent said, “We feel it is vital that trades people and management work as a team to promote our industry. The job site visits help remove the barriers between the office and the field. If we stand as one, we can promote union construction and the value that we bring with us.”
Building Advantage visited the trades workers from J.P. Cullen and nearly two-dozen subcontractors at the Milwaukee City Hall renovation project for the first job site lunch. Almost 100 trades workers were treated to lunch, a Building Advantage T-shirt and other items to help promote union construction.
Other events were held at the new River Renaissance condominiums on Water Street, Columbia St. Mary's Hospital on North Avenue, Northwestern Mutual's new building in Franklin and Wheaton Franciscan Hospital off 27th Street. So far the informational lunches have been attended by over 800 contractors and trades workers.
Although the events have been well-attended, there are real challenges facing our industry that threaten the union way of life. We must all work together to continue providing the first-class workmanship expected from union construction. Building Advantage and The Power of One initiative need you – contractors and trades people who set the highest standard of excellence by getting the job done on time while delivering high-quality construction.
John Topp, executive director of Building Advantage, spent time talking to each group about the challenges facing the union trades.
“Despite the strong construction market that we are seeing in Southeastern Wisconsin, nationwide, union workers only represent 13 percent of the industry as a whole,” Topp said. “Each person has the power to help change the direction of union trades, but we all need to work together to show that union trades represent the best.”
The Power of One means that every person on your crew has the ability to impact the overall success of your projects. Building Advantage exists to promote the work that union trades workers do as the highest standard of excellence.
The job site tour will continue through the fall and will visit several more job sites in Southeastern Wisconsin. If you would like to schedule a visit for your union job site, please contact John Topp at (262) 229-5959.
Visit buildingadvantage.org later this summer for job site tour updates and a complete subcontractor listing.
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