The new home of the University of
Connecticut football team was built by Local 35 members.
L.U. 35 (i),
HARTFORD, CTThe Huskies will be kicking off the 2003 season on August 30, 2003,
at Rentschler Field in East Hartford. Built 100 percent union under a project
labor agreement, the $90 million project came in on time and under budget. The
38,000-seat stadium is a state-of-the-art facility that will assist the Huskies
move to Division 1A Big East Football.
Job well done to our local brothers who worked on this project: Steward Bruce
Silva, general foreman, Tony DiBenedetto, Scott York, William Moriarty, Chris
Rusconi, Al Bacchiochi, Daryn Trudeau, Sean Nolan, Leroy Lawrence, Mohamed
Sugulleh, John OSullivan, Ted Dubiel, Steve Nelson, Hector McIntosh, Jorge
Grados, Kevin Riley, Steve Gosselin, Tom Rutka, Fred Priester, Mike Stawecki,
Jim Frye, Terry Anderson, Charlie Strickland, Jamie Lamitie, John Lachnicki,
Andre Batista, Pete Mascaro, Fred ONeil, Mike McMerriman, Matt Chapman, Lloyd
Hyman, Larry Puchalsky, Kevin Steffano, Jason Strycharz and Erostmus Simpson.
With the members of Local 35 and McPhee Electric, Ltd. LLC working together,
this stadium is a project we can be proud of.
Local 38 members lobbied on Capitol Hill. Pictured from left to
right; Organizer Dennis Meaney, Organizer Ron Ols, Pres. Thomas Whittaker, U.S.
Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Bus. Rep. Michael Armstrong and Bus. Mgr. Sam Chilia.
L.U. 38 (i), CLEVELAND, OHWhile at the National Building Trades Construction
Conference this year in Washington, D.C., we had the opportunity to meet with
our U.S. Congress Representatives Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, Dennis Kucinich, Steve
Latourette and Sherrod Brown on Capitol Hill.
We discussed legislative issues key to labor. Right wing Republicans have
introduced a host of anti-worker legislation like the 80-hour, two-week work
period. This would reduce incomes, make employee schedules less predictable and
increase work hours by making overtime cheaper and take money out of workers
pockets.
The far right is also withholding billions of dollars in federal construction
dollars while trying to strip Davis-Bacon (prevailing wage) coverage from these
projects. They are also not extending unemployment benefits. Thats because
their plans could include getting you to beg for a job for $10 an hour and
eliminating the middle class.
They have allocated $80 billion dollars to rebuild Iraq. What about us?
Never before has it been more important to replace elected officials who
think workers are second-class citizens. Educate yourself on the issues that
affect your job and vote for pro-labor candidates.
L.U. 47 (lctt,mo,u&uow), DIAMOND BAR, CATwo sets of negotiations were
recently concluded. Our members who work for RMI-Utility Services at the city of
Vernons electric utility unanimously ratified a new agreement. Their wages will
increase 23 percent over the next three years. Linemens wages are now $35/hr.
and will be $39/hr. by the end of the agreement. Improvements were made to the
pension plan. A pilot program for 4/10 work shifts was negotiated. The company
is looking for linemen.
Our Bear Valley Electric members ratified a new agreement. Over the next
three years all classifications will receive an 11 percent increase. Lineman
classifications will receive an additional 11 percent over the same period.
Lineman wages are currently $32.87/hr. and will be $37.63 by the end of the
agreement. The company will take to its board of directors a new pension that
could allow earlier retirement with more pay.
Thanks to all our veterans for past service and current reserve members who
were called to service during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
California is looking at re-regulating its electric utilities. Legislation
has been introduced and we are watching it closely.
L.U. 48 (c,em,i,rtb,rts&st), PORTLAND, ORUnion workers in Oregon received
good news from a Multnomah County Judge in Portland. The largest anti-union
activist in Oregon has been ordered to stop using funds from charities and his
signature gathering business. This, along with a $2.5 million racketeering
verdict against him has severely crippled his efforts to destroy unions in
Oregon. This battle has been ongoing for the last 10 years.
Work is still extremely slow in this area. The books are full for all
classifications. The work at Intel has bottomed out with no ramp-ups coming in
the near future. Work downriver towards the coast may pick up but not soon.
Oregon still leads the nation in unemployment with over 7.5 percent out of work.
Union meetings have been lively, as many have been out of work for a long
period of time. Working together to solve the issues instead of pointing
fingers, which is so easy to do, will get the job done, and gets us back to work
sooner. As a union we need to display our solidarity to the public as an example
of what is the true meaning of Brotherhood.
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