|
The primary purpose of
ICE and its affiliate entities is to engage in labor relations matters
with the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC)
and its constituent local unions. The contractor members and
officers of ICE are committed to working in harmony with the BAC to
further the collective bargaining process, to enhance work opportunities
for members of the union and to increase business opportunities for
union contractors. The union and ICE work together in the
management of joint industry promotion, training, research and health,
welfare, pension and savings funds.
Since its inception,
ICE’s officers, Executive Director, and members of its Board of
Directors have sat with officers of the BAC on the boards of the
International Health and Pension Funds and the International Masonry
Institute (IMI), as well as served on industry-wide joint committees.
In addition to making
appointments, ICE has had a role in the development and administration
of many of the national and international agreements with the BAC,
including the Special International Masonry
Industry Agreement (also known as the ICE Agreement) and the
National Refractory Agreement, which have been effective means for our
contractors to operate outside of local areas where they are currently
signatory to a local BAC agreement. ICE’s Executive Director also serves
as management-side representative on the IMI Dispute Settlement Plan.
ICE is recognized as
an integral part of labor/management efforts in the unionized masonry
industry. In 1998, the BAC Executive Council passed a resolution
recognizing ICE as effective partners, supporting the development of ICE
chapters, and urging all BAC Locals and affiliates to “be prepared to
work with signatory contractors and ICE to make such new institutions
successful and effective.”
ICE has been
instrumental in the establishment of the Joint Refractory Industry
Committee with the BAC to identify and address important issues in the
refractory sector of our industry. ICE staff, board members and
affiliates have been working with union representatives on an increasing
number of BAC, Building Trades and joint task forces and committees to
address the industry’s most critical needs, covering important subjects
like Skills Shortages, Health and Safety, Reciprocity of Benefits and
Apprenticeship and Training. A broader part of its membership has been
given the opportunity to have their voices heard through the BAC
Labor/Management Craft Committees, These new labor/management
committees, which began as labor only committees, will guide the union
and IMI on craft/market-specific efforts. In short, the management
voice is now being heard more clearly than ever, and it is producing
real and tangible results. |
