History and Background
In recent years, many working families have begun to see the opportunity for economic security as a distant dream. Careers that once offered fair wages, modest benefits related to insuring health and financial well-being, and job advancement through skills training appear to be a fading reality. While no industry has been immune from lax enforcement of current wage and hour laws, increasing misclassification of employees as independent contractors or decreasing job skills and safety training, the mission of the Construction Career Collaborative (C3) is to focus on the well-being and advancement of those who choose to make a career in commercial construction.
A 2001 discussion paper by the International Labor Organization concluded that inadequate labor practices centering on wage and hour, training and benefits have been the cause of significant deterioration in the construction industry’s image, employment prospects and skill requirements over the last 30 years. Recent data shows that the average entry age of a construction worker is 29, the average age of the current worker is 47, and up to 20% of the industry’s current workforce will retire within the next several years.
Coupled with estimates that by 2030 nearly half of what will be the built environment does not currently exist and with an expected 25% growth in the construction workforce, we believe that now is the time to ensure that the next group of craft workers, and by extension a significant portion of our middle class, has an opportunity for a sustainable career in commercial construction.
A 2001 discussion paper by the International Labor Organization concluded that inadequate labor practices centering on wage and hour, training and benefits have been the cause of significant deterioration in the construction industry’s image, employment prospects and skill requirements over the last 30 years. Recent data shows that the average entry age of a construction worker is 29, the average age of the current worker is 47, and up to 20% of the industry’s current workforce will retire within the next several years.
Coupled with estimates that by 2030 nearly half of what will be the built environment does not currently exist and with an expected 25% growth in the construction workforce, we believe that now is the time to ensure that the next group of craft workers, and by extension a significant portion of our middle class, has an opportunity for a sustainable career in commercial construction.
Who we are
Construction Career Collaborative - C3 is an alliance that brings together companies, organizations, and individuals committed to enhancing career opportunities and bolstering the security of the middle class family. By creating “owner demand” of the requirements needed for growing and maintaining a qualified workforce, C3 will serve as the platform for commercial and institutional building owners, educational institutions, commercial construction firms and affiliated organizations to establish and enforce standards in skills and safety training.
There is currently very little motivation to provide skill and safety training due to the fact that in many cases the fundamental employment relationship does not exist. This has caused great damage to the image of the craft worker, and a deterioration of what was once considered a great career opportunity. C3 is a labor neutral alliance that is uniquely qualified to coordinate the efforts of all interested parties to bring not only good jobs, but great careers to the middle class worker.
Owner demand for skilled craft workers on all commercial projects will necessitate that employers ensure all employees meet the standards of an “hourly employee” and that they have achieved the required training. C3 will be working with certified training organizations, i.e. high schools, community and junior colleges and trade associations, to ensure that necessary and required training is available for all who need or wish to attend. Accredited employers of C3 will adhere to the following principles:
There is currently very little motivation to provide skill and safety training due to the fact that in many cases the fundamental employment relationship does not exist. This has caused great damage to the image of the craft worker, and a deterioration of what was once considered a great career opportunity. C3 is a labor neutral alliance that is uniquely qualified to coordinate the efforts of all interested parties to bring not only good jobs, but great careers to the middle class worker.
Owner demand for skilled craft workers on all commercial projects will necessitate that employers ensure all employees meet the standards of an “hourly employee” and that they have achieved the required training. C3 will be working with certified training organizations, i.e. high schools, community and junior colleges and trade associations, to ensure that necessary and required training is available for all who need or wish to attend. Accredited employers of C3 will adhere to the following principles:
- Participate in and support industry craft training programs, leading to portable credentials for the craft worker.
- All craft workers will complete established OSHA training.
- Provide worker security by payment of unemployment taxes; provide workers’ compensation insurance; contribute to social security.
- Pay by the hour with applicable overtime in lieu of piecework payment.
Our Principles
Craft Training: Through developing craft training standards based on national best practices for the commercial construction industry and leveraging existing resources, C3 will promote and support craft training.
Safety Training: Through the development of a standardized, portable, commercial construction safety awareness course, C3 will positively impact the safety, health, and well-being of the craft worker.
Industry Awareness: Through the development of an accreditation process, educational seminars and presentations educate owners, developers, architects, contractors, and the community on the benefits of providing for the health and well-being of the commercial construction craft worker.
Safety Training: Through the development of a standardized, portable, commercial construction safety awareness course, C3 will positively impact the safety, health, and well-being of the craft worker.
Industry Awareness: Through the development of an accreditation process, educational seminars and presentations educate owners, developers, architects, contractors, and the community on the benefits of providing for the health and well-being of the commercial construction craft worker.
MILESTONES
April, 2018 --- C3 participates in D. E. Harvey 2018 Safety Forum
January, 2018 --- Launch of C3 Craft Training Endorsement Program
January, 2017 --- C3 launches the "Safety Training - 12 Month Module" series
October 4, 2016 --- C3 launches the biweekly news letter.
September, 2016 --- C3 hires a Compliance Manager
May, 2016 --- C3 participates in Tellepsen's Safety Stand Down at TCH The Woodlands
April, 2016 --- C3 participates in the D. E. Harvey 2016 Safety Forum
March, 2016 --- C3 Craft Training Committee and Safety Committees begin regular meetings
February, 2016 --- C3 participates in the Carl Wunsche Career Day
January, 2016 --- Two new projects, PKF of Texas and GHP Interior Office buildouts.
October, 2015 --- New Database now available for all C3 Contractors and Specialty Contractors.
October 1, 2015 --- C3 now has 83 Accredited Employers and 25 Project Participants.
September 21, 2015 --- C3 has its 5th annual Golf Tournament
September 1, 2015 --- C3 Membership continues to grow with 79 Accredited Employers and 23 Project Participants
August 12, 2015 --- Third Town Hall Event for Contractors
August, 2015 --- Hines supports C3's mission
August, 2015 --- C3 Board of Directors welcomes Jim Furr to the board
July 8, 2015 --- Second Town Hall Event for Specialty Contractors
July, 2015 --- Zachry Industrial becomes C3's first interiors project
July, 2015 --- C3 holds the first Spanish Orientation for the TCH The Woodlands Project
June 16, 2015 --- First Town Hall Event for Specialty Contractors
June, 2015 --- C3 Board of Directors welcomes Tony Mansoorian to the board.
July, 2015 --- First new C3 non-beta projects launched
April, 2015 --- Hired second full-time employee
January, 2015 --- C3 Board of Directors approves its 52nd contractor as an Accredited Employer
May, 2014 --- C3 becomes a 501(c)(3) organization.
April, 2014 --- Sixth Beta project completed: St. Mary's Seminary Borski Center Renovation, Brookstone, Arch Diocese.
February, 2014 --- 5,000 C3 5 Hour Training Units have been delivered. We reached this goal 2 years early!
January, 2014 --- Hired first full-time Executive Director.
July, 2013 --- C3 becomes a Texas Not-for Profit Corporation.
July, 2013 --- C3 Board was formally established and met on July 9.
2012 --- Fifth Beta project: Cabir Phase III for MD Anderson construction by Vaughn.
2012 --- Fourth Beta project: Pavilion for MD Anderson construction by McCarthy.
2012 --- Third Beta project: Multi-Phase Project for Texas Children's construction by Bellows.
2012 --- Second Beta project: Mid-Campus Admin Building for MD Anderson construction by Linbeck.
2012 --- First Beta project: Zayed Building for MD Anderson construction by Vaughn.
April, 2018 --- C3 participates in D. E. Harvey 2018 Safety Forum
January, 2018 --- Launch of C3 Craft Training Endorsement Program
January, 2017 --- C3 launches the "Safety Training - 12 Month Module" series
October 4, 2016 --- C3 launches the biweekly news letter.
September, 2016 --- C3 hires a Compliance Manager
May, 2016 --- C3 participates in Tellepsen's Safety Stand Down at TCH The Woodlands
April, 2016 --- C3 participates in the D. E. Harvey 2016 Safety Forum
March, 2016 --- C3 Craft Training Committee and Safety Committees begin regular meetings
February, 2016 --- C3 participates in the Carl Wunsche Career Day
January, 2016 --- Two new projects, PKF of Texas and GHP Interior Office buildouts.
October, 2015 --- New Database now available for all C3 Contractors and Specialty Contractors.
October 1, 2015 --- C3 now has 83 Accredited Employers and 25 Project Participants.
September 21, 2015 --- C3 has its 5th annual Golf Tournament
September 1, 2015 --- C3 Membership continues to grow with 79 Accredited Employers and 23 Project Participants
August 12, 2015 --- Third Town Hall Event for Contractors
August, 2015 --- Hines supports C3's mission
August, 2015 --- C3 Board of Directors welcomes Jim Furr to the board
July 8, 2015 --- Second Town Hall Event for Specialty Contractors
July, 2015 --- Zachry Industrial becomes C3's first interiors project
July, 2015 --- C3 holds the first Spanish Orientation for the TCH The Woodlands Project
June 16, 2015 --- First Town Hall Event for Specialty Contractors
June, 2015 --- C3 Board of Directors welcomes Tony Mansoorian to the board.
July, 2015 --- First new C3 non-beta projects launched
April, 2015 --- Hired second full-time employee
January, 2015 --- C3 Board of Directors approves its 52nd contractor as an Accredited Employer
May, 2014 --- C3 becomes a 501(c)(3) organization.
April, 2014 --- Sixth Beta project completed: St. Mary's Seminary Borski Center Renovation, Brookstone, Arch Diocese.
February, 2014 --- 5,000 C3 5 Hour Training Units have been delivered. We reached this goal 2 years early!
January, 2014 --- Hired first full-time Executive Director.
July, 2013 --- C3 becomes a Texas Not-for Profit Corporation.
July, 2013 --- C3 Board was formally established and met on July 9.
2012 --- Fifth Beta project: Cabir Phase III for MD Anderson construction by Vaughn.
2012 --- Fourth Beta project: Pavilion for MD Anderson construction by McCarthy.
2012 --- Third Beta project: Multi-Phase Project for Texas Children's construction by Bellows.
2012 --- Second Beta project: Mid-Campus Admin Building for MD Anderson construction by Linbeck.
2012 --- First Beta project: Zayed Building for MD Anderson construction by Vaughn.
