By: DAVID G. GREINEDER, IOM, ABC PENNSYLVANIA DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
In “normal” times, ABC of Pennsylvania holds a ‘Free Enterprise Day’ in April to advocate for policy issues important to the commercial construction industry. As we are all aware, COVID-19 continues to impact our business practices. While the Capitol Building in Harrisburg re-opened to the public in time for the spring session, gatherings are still restricted. Therefore, ABC conducted our first-ever “Virtual Free Enterprise Week,” where ABC members participated in Zoom calls with legislators serving on the House Labor & Industry Committee to educate them on House Bill 536, which would reform the journeyperson-to-apprentice mandate.
The Zoom calls were customized to each Chapter, themed to The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and featured speakers within the Chapter’s region. All total, ABC of Pennsylvania held calls with 11 legislators. In the Keystone Chapter, Zoom meetings were held with Reps. Kate Klunk (R-York); Mike Jones (R-York); Dawn Keefer (R-York); and Barb Gleim (R-Cumberland).
I want to thank the ABC Keystone members who stepped up to participate and engage with legislators on this issue. As you know, ABC has been advocating for changes to the ratio mandate for decades, and we are closer than ever to getting much-needed reforms. We received critical feedback on our messaging which will help us adjust and become more effective. This effort is a prime example of how sharing your stories and the impact that ratios have on your business makes a difference. We can’t do it without you!
Please be on the lookout for future ways to get involved on this issue. Along with ratios, the advocacy team has been hard at work advancing our mission in Harrisburg. If you have any questions about legislation or ABC’s position on an issue, please contact David Greineder, IOM, at davidg@abcpa.org or Austin Cawley at austin@abcpa.org.
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Posted April 26, 2021
