INDUSTRY UPDATES

Federal PLA proposal fuels debate across local industry

Project Labor Agreements would be required on federal projects worth $35 million+

In Milwaukee and throughout the country, Project Labor Agreements are negotiated because they work. PLA’s maintain competition for work and increase efficiency and collaboration which keeps project costs down. These agreements also benefit our community by hiring local workers, negotiating fair wages and benefits, ensuring safety and training standards, and creating more opportunities for veterans, women and people of color to begin careers in the trades.

Read commentary from Chris Mambu Rasch, Building Advantage's Executive Director and Emily Prtizkoff, Executive Director at the Wisconsin Building Trades Council in an article from the Daily Reporter.

"Despite the name, the Act will have a substantial, positive impact on the construction industry. In general, the Act incentivizes: 

1. the construction of utility-scale renewable energy projects; 
2. the use of union labor on these construction projects; and 
3. the use of American-produced steel, iron, and manufactured products for these construction projects. 

In other words, the Act’s goal is to build energy infrastructure using local union labor with American-made materials."

A 31-story apartment tower in Milwaukee’s Third Ward will move forward following the finalization of a $109 million project loan from Ullico Inc.

Hines, a global developer, is part of the luxury rental trend in Milwaukee alongside other projects like the Couture and the recently completed Ascent tower. Pension fund financing has helped both the Hines project and the Couture get off the ground. 

The tower is expected to be completed by the summer of 2024 and will have 333 apartments.

This past Labor Day, President Biden and national and local labor leaders spoke about the growing popularity of unions and their importance in building and maintaining America's middle class. Roughly 71% of Americans approve of unions, the highest approval rating since 1965.

INDUSTRY EVENTS

WRTP|BIG STEP's Cheers to Careers Fundraising Event - Sep 29th 

Join us for a night of cocktails created and mixed exclusively by our celebrity amateur mixologists. They’ve been cooking up delicious one-of-a-kind libations to raise funds for WRTP | BIG STEP, and they’re ready to share them with you at this exclusive event.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available for WRTP|BIG STEP's annual Cheers to Careers fundraising event benefiting local career seekers. 

Building Advantage Construction Career Fair - November 1st 

Building Advantage’s annual career fair gives local students the opportunity to explore the different union construction trades with hands-on activities. We're thrilled to host this year's event at Fiserv Forum on Tuesday, November 1st. Sponsorship opportunities are still available which include an event booth. 

The Daily Reporter Newsmakers Event - October 12th 

Join us on Wednesday, October 12th at the Harley Davidson Museum to celebrate 2022's Construction Newsmakers. 

Our workforce development partner, WRTP|BIG STEP, will be honored as 2022's Workforce Development Organization of the Year.

Do you have an upcoming Career Fair or Hiring Event? 

Send us the event information and we can share the details on our social media, website and newsletter.