Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2010 - (Page 17)

WHO OWNS THE GREEN ROOF? By Tiﬀany Finley AS THE GREEN ROOF WARS IN CHICAGO HEAT UP, WE TAKE THE INDUSTRY PULSE ON THE ISSUE n Chicago, a turf war broke out last year, with unionized roofers maintaining they have a right to some of the green roof installation work being undertaken by landscape contractors on public and commercial buildings in the windy city. Two disputes went to the National Labor Relations Board (Labor Board) in the United States and in both instances, the Board, ruled in favor of the landscape contractors over roofers. The first case involved Moore Landscapes, Inc., (Moore) a commercial landscape construction and maintenance firm in business in the Chicago area since 1948. Moore initially filed charges with the Labor Board last summer alleging that the International Union of Operating Engineers and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters had violated the National Labor Relations Act by threatening to picket if the Moore assigned the installation of modular green roofs to its roofers – represented by the Union of Roofers, Waterproofers, and Allied Workers. In the past, Moore Landscapes had given all of its green roofing work to its landscapers – represented by the Operating Engineers and Teamsters’ unions. The Labor Board found in favor of the landscapers on grounds that included “employer preference and past practice” in September 2009. The second dispute was similar. Filed last July by Paul F. Pederson Company (Pederson Co.), a commercial landscape construction and maintenance firm operating in the Chicago area since 1994, it involved the installation of modular green roofing systems on two Chicago public I schools. Here again, the employer had historically assigned this type of work to unionized landscapers, not roofers. During the dispute, the unionized landscapers threatened to picket the job site if the work was awarded to the unionized roofers. Last November, the Labor Board again ruled in favor of landscape contractors based on factors that included “employer preference and past practice, area and industry practice, and economy and efficiency of operations.” It was deemed more efficient to use the unionized landscape employees instead of the roofers as it “will prevent idle time since these employees have the skills and experience to perform all aspects of the work” in question, which would result in idle time for landscapers and potentially higher costs for the owners of the building. Despite the rulings, the turf war is far from settled, say some, as the rulings do not address other related issues such as liability should, for instance, a leak develop post-green roof installation. The question of the long-term implications of several contractors and experts working on a single green roof project, therefore, remains. While some companies are filling their staff out with roofers and landscapers alike, others maintain the stance that they are equally or more qualified than the next. Could acquiring a Green Roof Professional (GRP) certificate round out the workforce’s expertise? We recently polled some industry experts to get their opinion as to who “Who owns the green roof?” LIVING ARCHITECTURE MONITOR WINTER 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2010

Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2010
Contents
Laying Roots for Green Jobs
Outstanding Student Design
Passing of a Legend
New Federal Stormwater Guidelines From EPA
Partnering Science with Service
On the Roof with...Eden Brukman, Reg. Arch., LEED(R) AP
The Leaf Effect
Who Owns the Green Roof?
Planting the Federal Inventory
Curb Appeal
Maintenance Matters
Professional Development Update
Professional Calendar
Congratulations New GRPS
Welcome New Corporate Members
Green Roof Energy Calculator
Doing No Harm

Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2010