The Michigan Construction Industry Skilled Trades Conference will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at those locations. 

"This event is essentially an effort to put what we do and who we are, front and center with our state lawmakers, their staff, and the people who run our state's government," said Patrick Devlin, secretary-treasurer of the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council. "One of the best kept secrets out there is that we completely self-fund our training programs, with no handouts from the government. And our training programs are without question that best in the business."

The event will be held complete with interactive displays, craft and training demonstrations, knowledgeable staff and handouts depicting the work of the 15 building and construction crafts and their employers.

"We need to bring sunshine to our own training programs, we have a lot to be proud of, but it's our responsibility to get the message out," said Mike Crawford, executive director of the National Electrical Contractors Association - Michigan Chapter. "This May 9 is going to be a big event, It's an important event. It's an opportunity to tell Lansing House and Senate members about how we train our workforce. It's time we get to work to show our best and brightest."


Union 4 Life golf outing slated

A Union 4 Life Golf Tournament to benefit research for the treatment and cure of breast cancer at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center will be held Saturday, June 17 at the Eagle Crest Golf Resort, 1275 S. Huron St. in Ypsilanti.

The entry fee is $100, or $400 for per team. Included are green fees, cart, lunch and dinner. Please make checks payable to Union 4 Life, and mail the checks to AAEJATC, 13400 Luick Dr., Chelsea, MI 48118. The address is for the Ann Arbor Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Center, whose apprentices spawned Union 4 Life in 2012.

For more information contact Golf Outing Committee Co-Chairmen Mike Cobb (517) 937-4212, Matthew Charles, (810) 599-0529 or e-mail John Salyer at Local 252's Training Center, jsalyer@aaejatc.org. The event is open to anyone who would like to participate.


Unions getting more election wins in U.S.

Union penetration in the U.S. workplace is at an historic low, but labor is winning small victories.

Unions prevailed in 72 percent, or 991, of representation elections in 2016, the highest win rate in recent history, according to National Labor Relations Board data analyzed by Bloomberg BNA.

Their success, said Maria Somma, an organizing director with the United Steelworkers, is the focus on organizing smaller units of workers and staying committed to the core membership.

Unions have won more than 60 percent of all representation elections in each of the past 12 years, the data show.