Landscape Architect Articles

LCN Labor Issues August, 200408-01-04 | News

Florida Offers Certified Landscape Contractor Program

The state of Florida does not require licensing of landscape contractors. In an effort to achieve a benchmark of competencies that government agencies, landscape architects, companies and individuals can bank on when choosing qualified landscape professionals, the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA) now offers a Florida Certified Landscape Contractor (FCLC) program. In Florida this certification is the only standard for measuring the knowledge of practicing landscape contractors. The program was designed to promote professionalism and raise the standards of Florida’s landscape industry.

The certification is now being included in many of the specifications of a number of state and local agencies, requiring that anyone bidding on particular jobs hold FNGLA’s FCLC designation.

Requirements

The program is designed for owners, managers and supervisors of landscape contracting, landscape management or design build firms, as well as government agencies, parks departments and developers. Those qualified to sit for the FCLC exam must have a minimum of three years of experience in the horticulture/landscape industry with one of those years in Florida.

Worker Visa Program Debate Continues

The Department of Homeland Security stopped accepting worker visa applications in March 2004, shutting down the H-2B program for the remainder of this fiscal year (it begins again in October). Fears that the program would end up going over its annual limit fueled the decision. A bi-partisan bill was quickly introduced by Senator Edward Kennedy to raise the cap by 40,000 workers. The next day, another bill was introduced to exempt certain repeat visa holders. Neither bill was accepted. Negotiations are still ongoing, but unfortunately the revisions have alienated the business community and have not addressed the concerns raised by the objecting senators.

Lawn care professionals’ use of the H-2B program for the season beginning October 1, 2004 through September 30, 2005 may be in for some big problems. Most landscape professionals working with H-2B workers use agents, and they will be under tremendous scrutiny to make sure there are no errors. The U.S. consulate office has issued written notice encouraging people not to circumvent the process, warning they will face severe consequences, including fines up to $10,000 and being barred from using the H-2B program for one to five years.

Some sectors believe there are enough unemployed people and college students in the U.S. to meet this work demand without importing foreign workers.

CLCA Works Hard at Washington D.C. Legislative Conference to Reform Workers’ Compensation

During the Construction Industry Legislative Conference Day (April 27 at our nation’s Capitol) CLCA members educated lawmakers about the “real world” impact of workers’ compensation and other important labor issues.

The day opened with a presentation by Mike Strech, the California Building Industry Association’s director of risk management and insurance. Strech’s speech described increasingly successful efforts to lure insurance companies back into the California market, which should result in lower workers’ compensation insurance rates.

Attendees also heard from Dan Walters, an influential columnist for the Sacramento Bee, who reported that he was surprised by the workers?EUR??,,????'??? compensation success of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Other speakers included Curt Augustine, deputy secretary for legislation for the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, and Steve Sands, Contractors State License Board registrar.

Spanish Website Launched
by Exmark

A new bilingual website (www.exmark.com) accommodates Spanish speakers with tech support, service tips and answers frequently asked questions in Spanish. Exmark has offered Spanish language telephone customer service since mid-2000 and has also produced Spanish language versions of its “Driving in the Safety Zone.”

Spanish language safety and maintenance videos and maintenance check lists will be augmented by additional technical and education documents later in 2004.

For more information, visit www.exmark.com and click on the “Para Espa?????ol” button on the top left side of the page to access the Spanish version.