Created in the 1960s by the Lyndon B. Johnson administration as part of the “War on Poverty,” 40 years later, Job Corps continues to enjoy strong bi-partisan support in Congress. It continues its mission to help young men and women fulfill their life’s potential, and it may just be part of your solution to meeting the demand for skilled labor in today’s transitional labor market

Since the early 1980s the percentage of the construction industry that has been dominated by unionized companies has decreased, that is until the last few years. Something has changed. Unions offer training programs, a ready supply of skilled labor, and a level playing field of wages and established fringe benefits.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor - Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are approximately 6 million citizens or legal residents of the United States between the ages of 18 and 64 who are actively seeking work, but who are unemployed. What happened?

It is estimated that there are over 24 million U.S. Military Veterans. More than 2 million of them are under 35 years of age, and many of those are in need of good paying jobs.

I recently had the opportunity to revisit Chicago, the home of one of my personal heroes, Byron Dalton. To most in the industry today, the name Dalton has little or no significance. But to some of us older die-hard plastering fanatics, Dalton could be considered the American patriarch of the plastering trade.

I was 14 years old and the tool I held uncomfortably in my hand had long ago been relegated to the bottom of a pick-up truck tool box; the dark and dusty graveyard where old trowels with rusted blades and popped rivets go to die. You see plasterers very rarely throw away their old trowels; they just put them out to pasture. A quality built trowel will serve its purpose for many years, even decades if cared for properly.

Online Blogs, Chat Rooms, and Community Forums; these cyber communities have become the modern version of the neighborhood bar, the office water cooler, and the campus coffee shop...

Have you ever been to an industry trade show? I usually attend several each year; the INTEX Expo, World of Concrete, and this year I had the opportunity to attend the Remodeling Show sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders at the Convention Center in Baltimore. You can always tell when a trade show is in town. Local restaurants and hotels are filled with small groups wearing matching shirts.

Plastering being one of the oldest of occupations, or as I am fond of calling it, the second “oldest profession” is represented in the United States and Canada by the Operative Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ International Association, which was chartered in 1864 and is the oldest of all the active building trades unions in North America.

“Some men must follow, and some command, though all are made of clay” ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I stood along the rail of an upper tier at the Nashville Convention Center, home of the 2009 AWCI Convention and Intex Expo trade show. I watched two middle-aged men approaching each other on opposing escalators, one going up, the other going down.

I know that it has been a while since I was a small remodeling contractor, but has the state of the art really fallen this far?

When I first began to learn how to plaster, if someone would have told me then that it would one day become necessary for me to learn to speak Italian, I would have chuckled and turned away.

As the director of a national training program for plasterers, I help develop and implement training criteria and curriculum materials for young people just entering the trade. So, nothing gives me greater pleasure than to witness young men and women, who’ve got a few years under their belt, excelling at the craft-especially in a down economy! 

Are contractors who pay their employees cash or who misclassify their workers as “subcontractors” for the purpose of avoiding taxes, worker compensation insurance cutting into your business?

Dimitris Spiliadis’ great-grandfather once owned a hotel in Constantinople, which was lost when the Turks invaded the magnificent and historic city (now known as Istanbul).

We’ve all watched and enjoyed the Discovery Channel television show “How It’s Made” and maybe even had a passing thought about how great it would be to have such a program showcase and explain to the general public what it is we do.

The plastering trade has, for thousands of years, passed down the knowledge and skill of the trade from one generation to the next. Except for the inclusion of modern machinery, the way and manner plaster is applied to a wall really hasn’t changed much since before the time of Christ.

Back in the 1980s, the term “Trickle Down Economics” was coined to describe a theory that if we gave incentives to business owners, they will in turn invest and expand their operations, thereby creating new jobs and greater opportunity for all. Economists and politicians are still debating if the policies of the ’80s helped or hurt the country.

He was born in a dusty little town in nowhere New Mexico, coming of age during the height of the Great Depression.

 The Glenwood Regional Medical Center in West Monroe, La., strives to maintain a first-class medical facility, both in terms of patient case and overall appearance.  

Introducing the newest category of products from Federal Brace, catering metal stud construction projects with support brackets for vanities, desks, counters and more.

Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, announced on Sept. 12 the launch of the new Leica iCON trades solution, which pairs the Leica iCON iCS20 and Leica iCON iCS50 sensors with industry-tailored construction layout workflows. The new solution complements the industry-leading Leica iCON build portfolio.

METALCON is hosting a series of insightful roundtable discussions, each facilitated by an expert member of the Metal Construction Association, at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31, at The Exchange area in the exhibit hall.

For the first time, the Metal Construction Association’s annual MCA Market Study is available for purchase by non-members. Previously only available to members, it is the most comprehensive study of the metal construction industry.

The Metal Construction Association is reinvigorating its MCM System Fabricator Certification program. Through the program, companies that fabricate metal composite material panels for architectural use can earn certification by meeting requirements for experience, services, MCM system performance and financial strength.

An explanation of a few "whys" of EIFS installation.

The proposed measure presents a ‘real chance’ for meaningful partnership but will require commitment to collaboration, Baroness Delyth Morgan tells the House of Lords

On July 16, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that the Portland Cement Association, which represents America’s cement manufacturers, will receive more than $2.4 million to lead a project that will improve both the quantity and quality of industry Environmental Product Declarations.

MTIdry formally announced a major milestone in its journey: the launch of its newly redesigned website and refreshed company identity. The transformation from Masonry Technology Inc. to MTIdry reflects its evolution beyond traditional masonry into a comprehensive provider of high-quality moisture management solutions for all cladding types – as well as below-grade basement waterproofing and retrofit applications.

The health hazards of respirable crystalline silica have been in the spotlight in mining, manufacturing and other industries. So, what is it – and what can be done to reduce worker exposure?

Petersen’s new PAC-4000 metal composite material provides design options for those wanting to add truly flat, colorful surfaces to building exteriors. The material is resistant to fire, impacts and water intrusion and can be curved for aesthetic appeal.

ATAS International introduced the newest panel series in its vast product offering at METALCON in Atlanta. The MetaFlex series offers the latest innovations in durable, stylish wall cladding solutions and includes nine panel profiles that are built for strength and designed for beauty, combining superior performance and modern aesthetics.

MetalWorks Torsion Spring ceilings are now available with Purewood real wood veneers.

When JBKnowledge conducted its 2018 Construction Technology Report, more than 60 percent of the nearly 3,000 construction pros reported still relying on spreadsheets as part of their estimating process.

UL Environment has certified a pair of new Environmental Product Declarations for CertainTeed’s Symphony mineral fiber and VOC Compliant Symphony fiberglass ceiling panels.

From eyesore to public amenity – that’s the journey an unusual site has taken alongside St. Paul, Minnesota’s Mississippi riverfront as just one element in the city’s efforts to turn a former industrial area into a new center for housing and outdoor recreation.

Recently completed, the Rusu-McCartin Boys & Girls Club stands as a multifaceted triumph for the community. Serving as a beacon of opportunity, the $15.5 million project not only supports the mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, but also serves as a cornerstone for the neighborhood’s revitalization efforts, bringing prosperity to Chicago’s Austin neighborhood and beyond.

In the face of spiralling demand, Kirsty Marrins reports on a sector that has taken the leap online to communicate across a pandemic

Bon’s line of contractor-grade hand tools and materials for the building trades has been expanded to nearly 6,000 products and includes more than 200 new items in the company’s 2013 Master Catalog.

The growing global market for the light gauge steel framing industry.

Last year, GOSH Children’s Charity decided it needed to bring all of its Christmas communications together under one theme – but as Rebecca Cooney finds out, the theme it chose turned out to be more relevant to Christmas in 2020 than expected

A new report highlights factors that stop many disabled adults from giving their time to good causes

Lowell, MA — A new online training course is designed to introduce Total Worker Health concepts to occupational safety and health professionals.

Ann Arbor, MI — Nearly 3 out of 5 workers who are hospitalized with traumatic injuries return to their jobs after being discharged, but many of them endure financial hardships and other issues, results of a recent study led by researchers from the University of Michigan show.

Washington – Sixty-seven law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty during the first half of 2014 – a 31 percent increase from the same period last year, according to a report from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund released July 22.

New York – A new report compiles accounts from 9/11 responders recalling their experiences responding to the attacks and, later, managing their World Trade Center-related health conditions.

Washington — Fatal motor vehicle crashes among law enforcement officers are on course for their lowest total since the 1980s, according to an analysis by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis.

Lansing, MI – Free videos offering safety tips and best practices for employers in the accommodations industry will be available to stream as part of a pilot program from the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Emmitsburg, MD — Sixty-two firefighters died while on duty in 2019 – the fewest since the U.S. Fire Administration began tracking such data in 1977, according to an annual report recently released by the agency.