Who speaks for you?

Journalists everywhere are on an eternal quest for that perfect authoritative source - the individual who or organization that speaks for some segment of society or industry.

In trade publications, like this one, we turn to industry organizations to express the viewpoints of various business sectors. If we want to know how workers feel about contract negotiations, we contact their union; if we want to know how nonunion contractors feel about a project-labor agreement, we contact the open-shop Associated Builders and Contractors; if we're curious about underground contractors' reactions to limited bidding on sewerage-district projects, we contact the Wisconsin Underground Contractors' Association and so on.

It might seem unfair to paint the entire industry with such a broad brush, but we're following the influence here, and insofar as they find strength in numbers, contracting organizations wield considerable influence. Associations are powerful lobbyists. Recently, contracting groups have recruited legislators with varying degrees of success against union mandates, for minority set-asides, in opposition to the federal inheritance tax and in support of payment-bond protections.

Contracting groups also set many of the standards for training. In many cases, associations' safety-training programs, for example, are the best game in town because they meet with OSHA approval.

So although it's true that we go to great lengths to make sure organizations speak for their communities, you'll find journalists, legislators, regulators and others tend to turn to associations when they're seeking industry perspective, input and approval. It's only natural.

That's why smart businesses insist that their associations reflect their interests. Contractors who want to make sure their industry groups feel their pain will keep association executives and elected leadership close at hand. Contractors will watch their trade associations' positions on issues closely and call for adjustment as the marketplace shifts.

The Daily Reporter invited 28 construction trade groups to share their overall missions and current activities with our readers. We've listed association leadership, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and Web sites.

We hope you'll study each of these associations and decide which best represent your interests. Our goal is to produce the most comprehensive list of Wisconsin construction influence groups. If we've missed your association, please contact me. Use your clout.

- Liz Oplatka

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