Construction Wages and Working Conditions Task Force

Official Task Force Charge from the Board of Trustees

Austin Community College District
Construction Wages and Working Conditions Task Force
Charge to the Task Force

The Austin Community College District Construction Wages and Working Conditions Task Force, was created by Resolution at the October 6, 2014 regular Board meeting. As the Board considers construction and renovation projects, the Task Force will serve in an advisory capacity to the ACC District Board of Trustees.

To accomplish its purpose, the Task Force will provide community input to the Board from organizations representing interests in the construction industry related to wages and working conditions. By examining the impact of various initiatives related to wages and working conditions, the Task Force will examine and attempt to ascertain the feasibility, and effect on capital construction projects, of:

  1. Hiring local workers from certified local training schools;
  2. Having ACC provide the training and certification of such workers, using both English and Spanish language curriculum;
  3. Having Workers Defense Project’s worksite monitors on ACC properties;
  4. Requiring a minimum starting wage of $15 per hour for any trade on Construction Projects;
  5. Tying a Wage Floor to an agreed-upon index;
  6. Seeking Better Builder certification through the Workers Defense Project for all projects funded through the 2014 Bond Program.

Duration of Committee – The Task Force will report the results of its work to ACC Trustees at the February 16, 2015 work session.

Support – The ACC District will provide staff support and other resources to serve the Task Force’s informational and administrative needs as necessary.

Membership – ACC Trustees will appoint seven to thirteen (7 to 13) Task Force members comprised of representatives from the Workers Defense Project, the Associated General Contractors of America, the ACC Administration, (including both Finance and Human Resources perspectives), Central Texas Building Trades, and others that the Board may deem appropriate for the purpose.

The Task Force shall elect two co-chairs, one who is a representative of the labor community and one who is not.

Regular attendance is expected and necessary to provide representation, thorough discussion, and provision of an advisory report to ACC Trustees.

Charge (PDF)

Membership

Member Appointed By
Local Labor Community (Four Voting Members)
Ms. Stephanie Gharakhanian
Director of Research and Policy
Workers Defense Project		 Trustee Nan McRaven
Mr. Thomas (TJ) Dodd
Plumbers & Pipefitters Local Union 286
Central Texas Building Trades Association		 Trustee John-Michael V. Cortez
Mr. Bob Batlan
Austin Interfaith		 Trustee Mark Williams
Mr. Matt Gonzalez
Organizer
Southwest Laborers' District Council Local Union 753		 Trustee Guadalupe Q. Sosa
Local Construction Industry Community (Four Voting Members)
Mr. Phil Thoden
President
Austin Chapter of Associated General Contractors of America		 Trustee Allen H. Kaplan
Mr. Scott Stites
Pre-Constructin Manager
Bartlett Cocke General Contracots		 Trustee Jeffrey Richard
Mr. Robert Lee
Principal
Land Development & Construction (LD&C)		 Trustee Dr. Betty Hwang
Mr. Gabe Ornelas, Jr.
Vice Chancellor
Raba Kistner Consulting, Inc.		 Trustee Dr. Victor H. P. Villarreal
Statistician/Econometrician (One Voting Member)
Dr. Sean Banks
Programmer Systems Analyst
Center for Experience and Effectiveness
Analytics and Health Economics		 Trustee Dr. Barbara P. Mink
Local Architect/Engineering Community (One Voting Member)
Mr. Scott Beardsless
Principal
Fluger Associates Architects		 ACC Board of Trustees Officers
ACC as Owner (Three Voting Members)
Mr. Ben Ferrell
Executive Vice Chancellor, Finance and Administration
Austin Community College District		 ACC Board of Trustees
Ms. Gerry Tucker
Vice-President, Human Resources
Austin Community College District		 ACC Board of Trustees
Mr. Bill Mullane
Executive Director, Facilities and Construction
Austin Community College District		 ACC Board of Trustees
Ex-Officio Resources (Two Non-Voting Participants)
Mr. Jeffrey Travillion
Officer, Workforce Development and Organizational Effectiveness
Public Works Department, City of Austin		 ACC Board of Trustees
Ms. Elaine Hart
Chief Financial Officer
City of Austin		 ACC Board of Trustees
Resource Staff
Mr. Anthony Owens
Director, Procurement and Materials Management
Austin Community College District		  
Ms. Denise Cheney
Attorney
Bickerstaff, Heath, Delgado, Acosta, LLP		  

Photos from Meetings

Construction Wages and Working Conditions Task Force Meeting Schedule (PDF)

Meeting documents:

February 16, 2015

February 11, 2015

February 10, 2015

February 4, 2015

January 28, 2015

January 21, 2015

January 8, 2015

December 15, 2014