The Builders' Association: The Builders' Association presents united voice

The Builders' Association is a full-service construction trade association comprising nearly 850 general contractors, subcontractors and material or service suppliers engaged in the commercial and industrial building industry.

Our ranks have nearly tripled in recent years, and the reason for that growth is simple. We have developed, and we will continue to develop, services of real value for our members.

Our members belong to The Builders' Association for reasons other than the fact that our services are worth more than their cost of membership. They know, for example, that they can do a great deal more for themselves and their industry as an organized group than they can as individuals.

With the aid of the association's first-class professional staff, members are represented as a strong and united voice on issues of importance to their industry. They are joining together in cost-saving insurance pools. They are educating and training their office and field personnel.

The Builders' Association is a full-service organization both in the range of services offered and in terms of those we serve. Whether your company is large or small, old or new, the association is here to serve your needs. Your labor policy is your business. Our business is serving our members. And with offices and plan rooms in Kansas City, Jefferson City, Columbia and Springfield, The Builders' Association's facilities are ideally located to meet your needs.

Regardless of your labor policy, your company is affected by a wide variety of state and federal laws and regulations, and can be affected by corresponding labor problems. Such problems may involve wage and hour laws, alleged OSHA violations, workers' compensation claims or family leave obligations.

The Builders' Association's labor relations staff is available to counsel members on these and other specific labor problems, and we keep our members informed of their rights and obligations under existing and proposed labor laws and regulations.

In addition, The Builders' Association staff and committees negotiate more than 25 collective bargaining agreements with the basic trades throughout our geographical area. Staff is actively involved in the interpretation and administration of those contracts and in helping member contractors resolve job site disputes. Wage and fringe benefit administration concerning the various contracts is also available through the association.

Whatever your particular labor problem, the three labor relations attorneys on The Builders' Association staff are available to provide help. The early and successful resolution of labor-related problems can result in substantial savings in terms of legal costs and costs associated with delays in construction.

The Builders' Association workers' compensation insurance and health insurance programs have become two of our primary services to employers interested in saving on their insurance costs.

The Builders' Association Self-Insurer's Fund is a self-funded work comp pool that was established to provide a cost-saving, service-enhanced work comp program for the membership. BASIF has grown to be one of the largest self-funded work comp pools in the country by offering attractive advance discounts and year-end dividends to contractors who are able to maintain favorable loss experience. This program alone saves many contractors far more than their cost of membership in the association.

Following the overwhelming success of our work comp program, The Builders' Association Health Insurance Plan was developed. The plan offers member employers an alternative to traditional health insurance arrangements. Its overall objective is to provide comprehensive, quality health care coverage at an affordable price.

In addition, the association's 401(k) plan and trust provides participating employers and their employees an excellent tool for building their retirement savings. Flexible pre-tax employer contributions are an effective means of distributing a company's benefit dollars and helping ensure that key employees are retained.

Maintaining a safe workplace is of critical importance to contractors and their employees. Helping our members maintain that focus on safety is a fundamental goal for the association. To that end, five full-time certified safety specialists are on staff to conduct job site safety surveys and to provide safety training in the areas of first aid, CPR, Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations and a variety of other safety-related subjects. Also, members are kept up to date on all important safety developments and OSHA regulatory changes through our safety bulletins.

As you well know, the skill level of your work force directly affects your company's ability to produce quality work on time and within budget. Your employees' level of construction education can easily make the difference between making a profit and taking a loss. The Builders' Association Education and Training Program is designed to enhance the skill levels of all your employees and maximize your opportunities to realize a decent profit.

The Builders' Association Education Center trains more than 2,500 persons in the basic trades in the Kansas City, Jefferson City and Springfield areas each year. And the many management training programs from the Supervisory Training Program to The Builders' Association Management Academy are second to none.

The comfortable and well-equipped plan room facilities, including electronic plan rooms, in all four of The Builders' Association offices provide contractors with the maximum number of projects for bid throughout Missouri and eastern Kansas. These facilities have plan-size and spec-size copiers for reproducing just what you need, and members can check plans out overnight.

Members are kept up-to-date on upcoming projects through the weekly Plan Room Brief and are advised of changes to plans and specifications as they are made. Also available are the names, addresses and phone numbers of contractors bidding on projects.

The opportunity to network with other contractors, subcontractors and suppliers is an important by-product of membership in The Builders' Association. In addition to your listing in the Membership Directory and Buyers Guide and the Web site, and your ability to advertise in those publications and in Modern Builder magazine, there are numerous ways to personally share information about your company with others in the industry.

Through various membership meetings, educational seminars, golf tournaments and social events, you will be afforded the opportunity to establish friendships and business relationships that we hope will last a lifetime.

The Builders' Association is built on a strong tradition of service to the construction industry. Our longevity and growth are testimony to the value of these services to our membership. Our strength and ability to effectively represent our industry are based on active involvement by the quality contractor, subcontractor and supplier member firms that make up the association.

(Judy Malone is manager of the Springfield office of The Builders' Association of Missouri.)