Engineering Inc. - May/June 2003 - 53

ONE ON ONE Engineering Independence Key to Project Quality Gerr y Salontai
on Unionization, Government Competition, Infrastructure Investment similar
staffing requirement on improve effective management quality, and maximize
timely the engineer may interfere with approaches. project delivery and
cost the engineers' obligations. effectiveness. Professional organizations
also In my experience, many should support their members Q. TEA-21
reauthorization union contracts contain provi- and take a firm stance
regarding represents an opportunity to sions that deter union field rep-
anything that may threaten the invest hundreds of billions resentatives
from rejecting the engineers' ability to use profes- of dollars in new
spending in workmanship of another mem- sional judgment, or prevent our
the nation's surface transpor- ber. This provision is a potential ability
to preserve and protect tation system. Given the tight conflict with the
engineers' public health, safety, and Gerr y Salontai is president and
budget situation in the states, duties to accept or reject the welfare.
CEO of San Diego-based how important is this new work performed. Q.
Kleinfelder Reducing government investment, both for our Q. Clearly, the
industry has competition and promoting industry and for stimulating Q. As
you know, employees a compelling case to make in more outsourcing by
govern- the economy in general? of several ACEC member firms preserving
the independence of ment agencies remain major A . Reauthorization of have
been the target of union- engineers and their representa- priorities for
ACEC. How TEA-21 is obviously critical to organizing efforts. Legitimate
tives. What, in your view, problematic has government the integrity of our
transpor- concerns have been raised over should the industry do to
competition been for your firm? tation system and the health of the impact
such action would respond to the union effort? A . Currently there are many
the economy. Based on reports have on the role of professional A .
Preserving the independ- situations that show cause for published by the
Federal engineers and their represent- ence of engineers and their
concern. At the federal level, Highway Administration atives. Can you
comment on representatives is tantamount most notably with the Corps of
and AASHTO American this issue, particularly as it to ensuring project
quality. Engineers, we see continued Association of State Highways relates
to professional standards, Unionization efforts are attempts to provide
services and Transportation Officials , and the impact of unionization
sometimes a response to a normally performed by the there are significant
needs for on the role engineers play in the perceived breakdown in the
private sector. State budget crises capacity expansion and construction
process? relationship between manage- have caused many public maintenance,
and the invest- A . Engineers hold para- ment and employees. It is agencies
to undertake more ment will bring jobs and mount the ability to preserve
important that companies work in-house. Because of this, collateral value
to the states and and protect public health, safety, embrace teamwork and
trust we are seeing projects staffed communities where we work. and
welfare. Situations relative between management and with personnel that
have less Timely reauthorization to unions may make the employees, value
employees, experience than the agency approval will be critical. It is
engineers' role in accomplishing and maintain open lines of would find
with outsourced important to have reauthoriza- this difficult and could
adversely communication at all times. personnel. tion complete when TEA-21
affect the quality and long-term Management must continue We support ACEC's
efforts to expires in September. This way performance of a project. to pay
employees competitive promote outsourcing. I see the there will be no
delays in surface The engineer is nearly always compensation and benefits,
role of government as weighted transportation investment or its bound by
contract to provide dedicate adequate resources for to planning and
oversight, with impact as a much-needed eco- independent judgment. In
education, training, and career the private sector playing the nomic
stimulus. In addition, doing so, the engineer must be development, and
provide larger role in the execution of many states are seasonal in their
allowed to put properly trained opportunities. ACEC and other projects.
The public-private project lettings and a late pas- staff and the correct
technology professional organizations can partnership, if done well, can
sage won't allow them to take to use on each project. A system help
educate their members and provide enough jobs for every- advantage of the
2004 summer that imposes a seniority-based or provide tools to help firms
one, spur innovation, ensure construction season. l June 2003 ENGINEERING
INC. 5 3 May
Engineering Inc. - May/June 2003

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