What have the unions done with the "training fund" they collect from members? Some of these union that only now have gotten involved do not provide bi-lingual safety education to their members. They like to collect dues, but only pay attention when the bodies begin to stack up. The unions have safety all wrong. 100 years ago safety start from the bottom up, today safety start in the board room. The unions will now use this latest strike as a means to gain membership, "See what we did for you?".

Tom Czehowski had the opportunity to forge a partnership with the City Center contractors at the beginning of the project and he refused! He is now trying to save face with this new ineffective requirement. The ironworkers who have died contributed to their own deaths by not following the rules already in place. Their ancient way of thinking will continue to kill their union members. Hitting decking will not prevent deaths. The major projects already require 100% fall protection above six feet. If this rule is applied as it should be by the ironworker subcontractor, deaths will be prevented. The addition of nets and/or decks will not prevent falls! Employers, by law, can not allow employees to fall more than six feet. Ironworkers want to reply on the outdated practices in 29CFR1926, Subpart R. (It took them 8 years to agree on this "new" standard that still allows employees to fall more than six feet.) It is no secret that ironworker subcontractors that have embraced the 100% tie-off, like LPR, have fewer accidents and they do not kill their employees when the employee use that method of protection. The AGC does not represent the contractors of Las Vegas. When an organization's dues are based on their annual total volume of business and memebrs must pay for training offered, it is clear to see where the AGC's interests lay.
Until owners and the upper management of the general contractors decide enough is enough, we will not real progress in the construction safety arena. Far too many contractors do not require basic OSHA 10-hour training for supervisors and foremen. No one is held accountable for their behavior. Several supervisors were recently fired because they allowed the wrong size rebar to placed in the upper floors of one City Center hotel. When was the last time a senior superintendant was fired over an employee injury? Too little too late, again.