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The article reports that health insurance remains one of the most important benefits for union construction workers, but as costs continue to spiral, more collective bargaining agreements must tilt money to health and welfare benefit funds than to workers' take-home pay. For nearly 15,000 workers in the 12 Southern California locals that make up the plumbers' union's District Council 16, increases under the current five-year pact that would have gone to wages were shifted to health and welfare and pension funds, leaving paychecks stagnant.

The article focuses on the controversy raised by two construction contractors, San Francisco, California-based Bechtel Group Inc. and Pasadena, California-based Parsons Corp., supported by Halliburton Co.'s Kellogg Brown and Root (KBR) Inc. unit for the Iraq reconstruction contract USAID. As the war in Iraq advanced into its second week in March 2003, the U.S. Congress was deciding to use more than 75 billion dollar to pay for the conflict, that is, for Iraq reconstruction and U.S. domestic security. Meanwhile, a Corps of Engineers contract with KBR to extinguish oil well fires in Iraq was raising controversy. The firm claimed in its announcement that it had significant experience in fighting oil well fires in Kuwait set during the 1991 Gulf War. But Terry Farley, former president of Bechtel Construction, which Kuwait Oil Co. hired to manage fire suppression then, indicates KBR and Halliburton may have overstated their role. INSET: SPENDING BILLS INCLUDE:.

This article reports that members of the plumbers' union General Executive Board were expected to choose William Hite to succeed ousted General President Martin J. Maddaloni at a December 5th board meeting in Palm Springs, California. The plumbers' constitution designates the current assistant general president, Hite, to serve as acting president for five days. During that time he must convene a meeting of the six-member board to nominate and vote on a new president who will serve the remaining two years of Maddaloni's term. Sources expect Hite to be elected president. The new president must then name a new secretary-treasurer and a new assistant president who must be approved by the board. Patrick Perno, who succeeded Maddaloni as chairman of the union's pension funds, is thought to be Hite's choice for the number two slot.

Reports the failure of the State Apprenticeship Agency to promote apprenticeship opportunities in California. Importance of apprenticeship for workers training; Increase in the need of construction jobs; Basis of apprenticeship program.

Presents news from the United States as of February 2001. Projects of the Department of Transportation; Contractor rules; Candidates floated for agencies; California powerplant reviews.

Reports news on construction policies in the United States. Issue on how to protect against floods in the Sacramento area; Government funds for flood control, beach and dredging projects; Request from some contractor groups regarding the extension of compliance date for the revised respiratory standard; Emission standards for certain off-road construction equipment.