All posts by Carol Ciesielski

Jun 18 2019
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Worker and Taxpayer Protection Campaign

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The Association supported a media campaign spearheaded by the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers of NJ Local Nos. 4 & 5.  MLV Strategies is a political affairs media strategy and communications firm who created the campaign in efforts to elevate awareness of Misclassification and the Underground Construction Economy in New Jersey.

The first step of the campaign was to poll NJ voters.  The key findings of the poll that took place from June 5th – 13th, 2019 stated that “An overwhelming majority of New Jersey voters support new regulations and enforcement measures to protect construction workers from mistreatment at the hands …

May 30 2019
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Building for Fire Safety: Public Forum – IMI’s Dan Siteman Sits on Panel

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On March 6, 2019 NJ Senator Loretta Weinberg hosted a panel of fire safety, material and building professionals, and citizen activists to discuss how NJ can improve resident and firefighter safety with regards to light frame multifamily (Type V) construction.

Legislation under consideration; S854 sponsored by Senator Shirley Turner, Senator Kip Bateman and Senator Weinberg and S1261 sponsored by Senator Brian Stack; which include:

Limiting the size of large-scale wood housing by requiring open space between wood apartment/condo buildings Requiring masonry firewalls between buildings Requiring upgraded commercial NFPA 13 fire suppression, including sprinklers in the attic spaces Requiring a fire-watch…
May 28 2019
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2019 BAC ADC of NJ Statewide Apprentice Contest

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On May 4, 2019, the BAC ADC of NJ Statewide Apprentice Contest was held at the IMI/BAC Bordentown Training Center.   Apprentices from Local Nos. 4 & 5 competed against each other within their level of 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th year.  After the contest, lunch was provided by Masonry Contractors of New Jersey.  This year’s FIRST PLACE winners were 1st year Apprentice Darren Darby of Local 4, 2nd year Apprentice Daniel Wall of Local 4, 3rd year Apprentice Brian Faggiano of Local 5 and 4th year Apprentice Michael Fasulo of Local 4.  Thank you to all who attended to show …

May 07 2019
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We support the CMU Check-Off Resolution

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In October 2018, the US Senate passed the Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education and Promotion Act, providing authorization for the concrete masonry products industry to develop its own commodity Check-Off program to support industry initiatives.   The CMU Check-Off will fund programs to promote our industry to regain and grow market share. The Masonry Contractors of New Jersey Board of Directors voted unanimously to support the CMU Check-Off Resolution.  Contact NCMA President Robert Thomas (rthomas@ncma.org) directly to support the Resolution.

 

THE VISION of the CMU Check-Off :

Create the future path where concrete masonry is the product of …

Apr 24 2019
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Public Works Contractor Agrees to $150,000 in Back Wages

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Public Works Contractor Who Underpaid Employees Agrees to $150K in Back Wages Following Labor Department Probe

As released by the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development on April 24, 2019.

TRENTON – An Iselin construction contractor has agreed to pay back wages totaling nearly $150,000 to 13 laborers who claimed they were expected to kick back part of their pay to a crew leader while working on prevailing wage jobs.

Fine Wall Corp. and its principals—Umukant Shah, Mrudula Shah, and Ronak Shah—also agreed to pay $64,699 in penalties and $37,060 in fees, as part of a settlement brokered by …

Apr 05 2019
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Contractor Pleads Guilty to Falsifying Records to Cheat Workers Out of $200,000 by Not Paying Prevailing Wages

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Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced that an Ocean County construction contractor pleaded guilty today to purposely not paying prevailing wages on a government contract valued over $75,000. As part of his criminal activity, the contractor falsified payroll records for the public contract to cover up the fact that he paid most of his employees only a fraction of the wages required under the Prevailing Wage Act, while not paying others at all. It is believed that many of the defendant’s employees were undocumented immigrants and he took advantage of their status.

Albert Chwedczuk, 45, of Toms River, N.J., pleaded …

Apr 03 2019
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2019 Supplier of the Year

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Congratulations to Cladding Concepts International; a division of Belden Tri-State Building Materials; on being awarded 2019 Supplier of the Year at the New York City Construction Awards held at the New York Builders Expo on March 12, 2019.

Joe Rice of Belden Tri-State Building Materials announced their prestigious recognition as the 2019 Supplier of the Year at the New York City Construction Awards.   Joe noted, “The projects recognized were facade and specialty projects that were supplied through our Cladding Concepts division.  The panel used our corporate Belden family name and I am very happy because everything we do is a …

Mar 11 2019
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2019 Flashing Classes

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On Tuesday, February 26th, 2019, in Fairfield, Masonry Contractors of NJ held a flashing class in cooperation with the International Masonry Institute and NJ BAC.  Flashing manufacturer and supplier Association Members Krando Metal Products, GCP Applied Technologies and Hohmann & Barnard, as well as flashing manufacturers and suppliers York Manufacturing, WR Meadows, and Metro Building Solutions provided supplies and supplemental instruction for the Flashing Certification Class.                    

IMI’s Dan Siteman provided a seminar on codes, standards, specifications, and details.  Regional Sales Manager for York Flashing Danielle Jackson and BAC Local No. 4 instructor Manny DaSilva led a session on York’s 304 …

Sep 12 2018
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September 12, 2018 – Richard Tolson Testifies at Hudson County Freeholder Committee Hearing

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Richard Tolson, Director of the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Administrative District Council of New Jersey, testified at the Freeholder Public Resources Committee Hearing on July 25, 2018, alleging that some of Hudson County’s most prominent developers are engaging in illegal hiring practices.   It was reported that many contractors and subcontractors around the county have routinely violated labor laws.   “These practices have become the model for how to develop here,” said Richard Tolson.

As a result of the hearing on July 25th, the Board adopted a Resolution.  The Resolution and transcript of the meeting were sent to nine separate government entities …

Sep 06 2018
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August 8, 2018 – On the Job Grout Training

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On Wednesday, August 8th, Dan Siteman, IMI, together with NJ BAC Training Coordinator, Bob Alesandro and NJ BAC Local 5 Instructor Ren Engelhardt, mobilized and delivered jobsite grout training.

As reported by Dan Siteman:  “The next innovation of the built environment is not a new material or application, but the implementation of more stringent quality assurance.  More often, designers and specifiers are requiring a basic level of competence, even specialized training for project applications.  The International Masonry Institute (IMI), partnered with the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC), develops unequaled training programs at our National Training Center in …