b"Conventionwasagoodexampleofhisinterestintheaffairsofthis Associationandits members.Withcertaintythatwespeakforall of themembersofMidwestRoofingContractorsAssociation,weexpressour '-._,.-sinceresorrowathispassing.Hiscontributionstotheroofingindustry weremanyandwillbeoflastingimpact.Ourindustryhaslostoneof itsgreatfriendsandleaders. BONDEDBUROVERDOWSTYROFOAM TheLloydA.FryRoofingCompanyhasannouncedthat,effective February1,1969,it willnolongerissuebondsinconnect ionwithBUR applicationsoverDowStyrofoaminsulation. Inanswertoourinquiry,J.E.Blum,Managero ftheBond edRoofing Departmentofthecompany,explainedthatthecompany'sactionwastaken afterseriousdefectsdevelopedinroofinginstallationswhichcombined theapplicationofDowStyrofoamroofinsulationandFryBURmaterials. Thedefects,whichhaveariseninthepasteighteenmonths,are,inMr. Blum'swords,11 unlikethosewhichwenormallyencounter.11Thecompany hasdeterminedthattherearecertainelem intheentireconstruction ents oftheroofingsystemaboutwhichithaslimitedknowl edge,andhas undertakenanintensiveinvestigationoftheinter-actionandresulting effectsofthevariouscomponents.Att h istime,theinvest igationhas notbeencompletedandfinalconclusionshavenotbeenreached.Mr.Blum indicatedthathewouldadviseusoftheoutcomeoftheinvestigation. NRCA-NBSCONFERENCEONROOFINGTECHNOLOGY -._,NRCAhasjustannouncedplansforaConferenceonRoofingTechnology tobeheldattheNationalBureauofStandardsinGai thersburg,Maryland . TheconferencewillbeheldattheSheraton-SilverSpringsHotelon TuesdayandWednesday,April29and30.Th oseofyouwhoaremembers ofNRCAshouldhavereceivedtheprogramandregistrationmaterials. ThosewhoarenotmembersshouldcontactNRCAat151 5N.HarlemAvenue, OakPark,Illinois60302regardingreservations.Theprogramparticipan ts andtopicsareoutstanding.Everyonewhocanshouldtrytoattend. LABORNEWS TheLaborDepartmentreportsthattheaveragegaininwagesand fringebenefitsnegotiatedinthefirsth alfof1S6.Swasareco.rd6.B9o, farabovethe5.6%annualincreasesnegotiatedinlaborcontractsduring allof1967.Wagesaloneincreasedby5.2%ascomoaredwith5%fora ll of1967. TheBureauofLaborStatisticsreportsthathourlywagescalesof unionizedbuildingtradesmenrose5.5%duringtheyearendedJ une30 ,1968. Theincreaserangedfrom4.2%forplasterersto6.3%forelectricians. Indicationsarethattheincreasesforthecomingyearwillbeevenh igher. Acaseinpoint:Bymid-1969,theincreasesforbuildingtradesm inthe en Detroitareawillbe:forabricklayer,$8.25anhour(29.9 % increase) ;a carpenter,$7.86(31.9%);anelectrician,$8.50(33.6%);aplasterer,$7 . 67 (33.2%);aplumber,$8.51(27.8%);andalaborer,$5.65(18.4%) . '-'TheCommerceDepartmentreportsthatcontinuedcostconstruction increasesattheannualrateof3%to5%couldresultinbuyerspayingup"