MCAA Regional Report, Region C
Words: Syed Abbas
Michigan - Edwin Davenport
Ohio - Greg Schuerman
West Virginia - No State Chair
Economic Conditions/Forecasts
Michigan
Michigan is in a one state depression. Most economists are saying it will be 2011 before we begin to ascend.
Ohio
The status of work in Ohio is still relatively good. School work still is going strong and industrial work is being done at a steady pace. Residential work has slowed down.
West Virginia
No state chair.
Market Conditions and Expansive Initiatives
Michigan
We continue to lose market share to the metal stud and precast concrete industries. The Chinese and Middle Easterner's continue to be the masonry industry's best friends by keeping steel and energy prices high. We need to learn how to come together and take advantage of these opportunities.
The Masonry Institute of Michigan is working diligently to maximize its resources through its Masonry Alternative Design (MAD) process to generate additional masonry.
We are on the edge of our seats for the launch of the RAM Bentley engineering software which IMI and NCMA have co-funded. David Biggs, P.E. is acting as their consultant for this work. The projected launch date is August 1, 2008 for the highbred version of this software.
MIOSHA, BAC, Laborers and MIM are working together to revise the current wall bracing standard. This is a very active group.
Ohio
The school work is expected to last another couple years. After the school work is complete, it will be very interesting to see where the work will be.
OSHA still has their attention on fall protection, struck by, caught between and electrocutions. They are still looking at silica dust as it pertains to masonry.
West Virginia
No state chair.
Workforce Development
Michigan
The union is still the best organized training available. They are doing a pretty good job and beginning to get forward thinking. We are not training sufficient workers mostly due to the negative economic conditions. With workers leaving the trade due to many reasons, we are about to face "the perfect storm" with regard to worker availability.
Ohio
The training and recruitment of apprentices is mostly done through the unions.
West Virginia
No state chair.
General Conditions
The entire rust belt has been affected by uncertainty created by the domestic auto industry. The latest contract seems to have helped. We will now have to see how long it takes for the ship to right itself.