Martin Mechanical Speaks Out

Since 1820, Missouri citizens—from early lobbyists and business owners to minimum wage workers--have been writing, calling, and now emailing their concerns to state representatives in Jefferson City. However, with the ease of 21st-century technology at our fingertips, the face-to-face political visit has fallen by the wayside. We decided to take back this civic responsibility at Martin Mechanical. On Tuesday, January 15th, Missouri contractors joined forces and went straight to the source in Jefferson City, meeting with six top-tier state officials across party lines. We believe the freedom to make our voice heard is the greatest privilege we have as Americans, especially at the state level of government.
Twelve contractors and MCA members, hailing from Kansas City all the way to St. Louis, convened at the State Capitol to discuss bills from the past session and potential upcoming voting concerns. We each brought our own individual views to the conversation, but as a group of successful, intelligent men and women with a common goal, we were able to exert more pressure and generate a diverse range of solutions. 
We prepared for the trip by reviewing all submitted legislation from the most recent session. We located and focused our energy on the three bills that most significantly impact our companies, employees, and other Missourians working day-to-day to make ends meet:

• Bill 91: The Prompt Pay Act (Mandating payment to contractors within 30 days)
• Bill 120: STEM for Contractors (Offering up to $10,000 in scholarships for contractors hiring interns and recent graduates)
• Bill 326: Statewide Mechanical Licensure (Streamlining the process for contractors to obtain a single qualifying license for all mechanical work across the state)

We then spent the afternoon walking the halls of the Capitol and meeting with carefully-selected individuals who have the power to make a difference after listening to our professional expertise. As in any negotiation, words mean something—and words delivered directly, in-person and face-to-face, have the most power. Drawing on our experience as company owners, presidents, and managers alike, we understood the necessity of making a clear and succinct case for our needs, focusing on this goal during our 5-10 minutes of fame with representatives. Our message was well-received (as well as can be expected in the complicated arena of politics), and the intimidation factor of thirteen united men and women in suits will always be more convincing than a party of one.
This experience reminds us that there is something to be said for working toward a greater cause in our industry, rather than just the lowest bid or equipment sale. Kansas City and St. Louis markets can be highly competitive, but in this case, community prevailed as we all worked together on behalf of our employees. We truly enjoyed the trip and the company, and we’d like to offer a big thanks to the representatives who listened to the MCA and Missouri contractors, each representing over 5,000 employees statewide. Reminding our representatives of the importance of fair and ethical labor practices—early, often, and repeatedly—will help keep our state and Constitution strong. 
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