THE LATEST CAUSE NEWS
CAUSE TO RE-SIGN HISTORIC AGREEMENET AT SPECIAL CEREMONY
LANHAM, MD, April 21, 2009
In celebration of the 25th year of the signing of the Contractors and Unions Seal of Excellence agreement, which brought labor peace to the mechanical construction industry in the Washington area, a gala celebration luncheon has been scheduled for Tuesday, April 28, 2009.
The event will be held in the auditorium at UAM, the United Association Mechanical Trades School, 8509 Ardwick-Ardmore Road in Landover, Maryland from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
CAUSE is the organization created to oversee the agreement. It is composed of representatives of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Greater Metropolitan Washington, Plumbers Local 5 and Steamfitters Local 602.
Highlights of the program will include a re-signing of the 1984 Memorandum of Understanding by the current leadership of the three organizations, signifying a re-dedication to the principles of the agreement, which include an ongoing commitment to excellence in the training of workers, the quality of the work product, labor-management relations, safety and the interests of the consumer and general public.
As a permanent marker of the event, the leaders will also unveil a specially designed work of art, which will be a focal point on the UAM campus henceforth. Nationally-recognized UAM is where apprentice and journeyman plumbers and steamfitters receive the training to produce the excellent quality of work as envisioned in the 1984 Memorandum.
"The 1984 Memorandum of Understanding, and the work done by CAUSE to implement it, has brought a quarter-century of peaceful, cooperative labor relations, with no strikes, lockouts or other work stoppages in the mechanical industry here in Washington," said John J. Dunleavy, executive vice president of Pierce Associates and Chairman of the CAUSE Trustees. "At the same time, through its support of UAM and other initiatives, CAUSE has helped stimulate a significant improvement in plumbing, heating and air conditioning quality, together with a safety and environmental record that are a credit to the industry," he added.
All living signers of the original Memorandum are expected to attend the event, along with area political, civic, entertainment and sports leaders.