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±±±±±±±
MEETING CANCELLED (See Box
above):
If you have any
questions please contact the union hall at 207-426-9555.
President George W. Bush is
intent on privatizing SOCIAL SECURITY.
He is a smooth salesman and he is raising fear among the young that
the benefits will not be there when they retire (while
simultaneously attempting to outmaneuver older Americans by assuring
them that it will not affect their current benefits). It is the
opinion of the District Council that our President is engaged in
a "dog and pony show" designed to reward his deep-pocket comrades in
the financial world. We want our members to remain aware that there
are two sides to every story and to peel the onion before drawing
any conclusions on this vital issue. To review some of those
reasons and see how this argument will impact you
It was a great surprise to receive a two-page handwritten letter accompanied by a beautiful photo album of Boston's PRUDENTIAL CENTER being built in the 1960's from one of the all-time great iron workers PAUL HADLEY of Local 7. To read a typewritten copy
of Paul's letter
According to the PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, while it's not a done deal, condos could rise from the site of the former City Gulf Station, off Broadway in downtown Providence. It's a small triangle of land operating as a parking lot, but if the market conditions are right and the Holiday Inn's conversion to a Hilton moves forward, it could become a 27-story condo complex, according to Joseph R. Paolino Jr., the former mayor of Providence, who co-owns the lot with The Procaccianti Group.
To read the rest
of the PROVIDENCE JOURNAL story
PROVIDENCE -- A joint venture of Providence and Boston developers plans to build a $90-million, luxury condominium tower on Westminster Street in the city's business center. The 32-story tower would be the first skyscraper built in the Financial District in 20 years, since the Fleet Center opened across Westminster Street from the project site.
To read the rest
of the PROVIDENCE JOURNAL story
THE BOSTON GLOBE IS REPORTING THAT: In the closing weeks of the 2002 campaign for governor, Shannon O'Brien suggested the state help its emerging companies rather than chase big out-of-state firms she described as "distant dinosaurs." Soon afterward, the Democratic candidate had a dinosaur problem. Republicans dressed in dinosaur costumes hounded her at campaign stops. A political ad charged her with "dinosaur thinking." Her opponent, Mitt Romney, ridiculed the remark in a speech by noting, "There are 13 Fortune 500 dinosaurs located in Massachusetts." A little more than
two years later, Romney has his own "dinosaur" problem as takeovers
shrink the state's Fortune 500 list, gobbling up signature companies
and costing Massachusetts thousands of jobs....
ACCORDING TO THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD, Mercy Hospital has won state approval to relocate to the banks of the Fore River, a move that will modernize the hospital and make it a gateway landmark for Portland. The hospital, one of the state's busiest, hopes to break ground this fall and complete the $70.7 million project by early 2008. After more than seven years of planning, "this clears the way for us to roll up our sleeves and make it happen," said Eileen Skinner, president and chief executive officer of Mercy Health System of Maine.The project is just the first phase of a $160.7 million hospital project, the state's largest in at least a decade. At the heart of a 28-acre campus between the Fore River and St. John Street, a new 130,000-square-foot building would house services for pregnant women, newborns, cancer patients and people having outpatient surgery. A medical office building is planned next door. Eventually, Mercy wants to build a 200,000-square-foot facility for the rest of its operations, such as the emergency room and the intensive care unit. To read the
remainder of this Portland Press Herald story
Notified Meeting Tonight @ 5PM
For MapQuest Directions to
either location
Columbus Center, a half-billion-dollar residential and commercial complex slated for a four-block stretch over the Massachusetts Turnpike in the Back Bay and South End, drew more sustained criticism than any other recent development project in Boston. But no one is complaining about the effect it will have on the city's critical groundwater problem. The 1.3-million-square-foot complex, including a 35-story tower, won't contribute to the lowering of the water table, which protects the thousands of vital wood piles that support buildings in the South End, Back Bay, and lower Beacon Hill. In fact, Columbus Center will be
the first big project in Boston to incorporate an extensive
rainwater collection and groundwater replenishment system, according
to project and city officials....
2/17/05
2/15/05
We received a (faxed) letter this morning from General President
Joe Hunt announcing the retirement of our General Treasurer
Dennis Toney, effective February 28, 2005.
Sixth General Vice-President Walter Wise has been tapped to replace Dennis. As more information becomes available we will be updating this important development. In the meantime, the District Council wishes to extend our heartfelt thanks to Dennis for his many years of service to our organization. We also send out best wishes and congratulations to Walt Wise. Walt is one of the hardest-working individuals in our organization and is a great choice to head up this important position. JH
2/15/05
Voice@Work Quote of the Week: Speaking at the annual meeting of the labor and employment law section of the New York State Bar Association with AFL-CIO General Counsel Jonathan Hiatt, New York University Law School professor Samuel Estreicher, who is also a management attorney with the New York law firm Jones Day, told the meeting he "largely" agrees with Hiatt that "there is a problem" with the Bush NLRB rapidly changing precedent. According to the Daily Labor Report, Estreicher “sharply criticized” members of the Republican-controlled NLRB “for unilaterally undertaking reversals of precedent without allowing for public participation," asking, “What gives them the wisdom to overturn precedents without input or participation from the people affected by the statute?” To read more about
what's going on in the lives of working people
Editor's note: The
acronym NLRB used to stand for National Labor Relations
Board. One of their main responsibilities was to protect the
rights of workers to engage in concerted activity to improve their
working conditions. A MANAGEMENT attorney is asking this question:
“What gives them the
wisdom to overturn precedents without input or participation from
the people affected by the statute?”
You're already on the
computer! You think the nation's CEO's are taking pay cuts? Think again. The devil is in the details (well, they're in the boardrooms too...). There are individuals who are raking in MILLION$ while workers and their families continue to take beatings across the country. Companies don't even have to show profit for these clowns to cash in. Just lay off one-third of your work force and reap the "just" rewards of being a BIG BUSINESS BOSS!
To review a comprehensive list
of what these BIG BUSINESS BOSSES are making around the country
while workers rights are being trampled
2/15/05:
A Patriot Ledger story ran about the anti-worker/anti-union attitude of Wal-Mart.
As many of you probably know by now, the United Food and
Commercial Workers union suffered a crushing blow when Wal-Mart
said it will close its store in that Canadian community nearly
six hours north of Montreal and leave about 200 people out of
jobs. Critics say Wal-Mart was simply cracking down on the
union, which had succeeded in securing the first unionized
Wal-Mart outlet in North America. The company, however, says
the store would be uneconomical. The war isn't over yet. The
union has launched efforts at several other locations in Canada,
where labor laws make it easier for them to win local
certification drives than here in the U.S.
Critics say the pending shutdown in Quebec is just the latest example of a blatant anti-union campaign aimed at cutting off any foothold labor organizers might get in the retail giant's massive empire. Peter Derouen, a spokesman for the Easton-based Local 791 of the UFCW, says many Wal-Mart workers are reluctant to get involved in an organizing drive because they're afraid of getting fired. The constant turnover at big chains like Wal-Mart also make it tough to wage such campaigns.... To read the entire story
2/14/05
Longtime Local 7 and Local 7 JAC employee extraordinaire, ELLIE CATALANO, was recently feted for her many years of great work by her former co-workers and friends at Bella's restaurant in Norwell, MA. Joining Ellie in the festivities was her husband, Pat, former Local 7 Business Agent and one of the local's great guys. Here's hoping that Ellie's retirement is a long, healthy and prosperous one, as it is well deserved! Thank you for everything, Ellie (you too Pat!) 
To see some pictures of Ellie's retirement celebration
JH
2/7/05:Updated
Dennis Carey, LU37's FS/T, has forwarded a
number of important announcements for his members to the council's
attention.
2/3/05
An ASSOCIATED PRESS story ran in the
BOSTON HERALD touting Massachusetts Governor MITT ROMNEY, who
filed legislation Tuesday
to allow the state to invest $261 million to expand Hanscom Air
Force Base in Bedford and the U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center in
Natick. The bonds, which need the approval of the state Legislature,
are intended to create new jobs and persuade the Pentagon to spare
the two facilities in the upcoming base closure process. Romney
estimated the expansion could add up to 4,200 new jobs to the two
facilities.
Why?
2/2/05
By June of 2006, you will not be allowed on a public works project unless you have completed the OSHA 10 HOUR course. Don't wait, the strength of this council has, and always will be our ability to put out the most highly educated, skilled and knowledgeable iron workers as is humanly possible! The class is informative and makes our jobsites safer with each member who receives their accreditation. Call your local union now to see when the next available class is being held. 
For pictures of Local 7's latest OSHA 10 Hour
journeymen class
JH
2/2/05
According to the BOSTON HERALD, Foxwoods is planning a $700M expansion. This should put a smile on the faces of Ed Reilly and Mike Ruggieri as well as their respective members!
To read the complete BOSTON HERALD story
JH
2/2/05
Now that the Patriots are in line to win their
third Super Bowl in four years, the yahoos have to come up with a
way to tear New England down a notch.
2/2/05
2/1/05
Many people enjoy a good snowstorm from time to
time. Few ever take the time to ponder the negative impact it has on
the families of building trades members who lose work during, or in
the immediate aftermath of, a storm.
2/1/05
Privatizing Social Security will mean huge
benefit cuts and less security for working families—but for Charles
Schwab, privatizing Social Security may mean millions of new
customers to bail out what Business Week Online called the
“ailing” company.
2/1/05
Remember, this is the guy who claims to represent 80% of the construction industry when he's spreading his propaganda to any media source that will listen. Remember also, that our contention remains that the primary purpose of the ABC's "union of companies" (do as I say, not as I do!) is to reduce or eliminate the ability of their employees to organize. The ABC knows too well that employees who organize improve their terms and conditions of employment. Unfortunately for the ABC, however, too many of the supporters who finance or join the ABC's employer-union have a history of unlawful or illegal conduct. Too many construction firms have underbid honest employers by paying “under-the-table” wages, hiring illegal aliens, misclassifying employees as independent contractors, etc. This behavior costs taxpayers money and our taxpaying members their jobs. Once again we say "SHAME on you ABC."
To read a full transcript of
"the ABC's of whining and weeping" as it appeared in the
Patriot Ledger
Note the eloquent response of Mike Monahan of IBEW Local 103 that also ran in the story. Mike knows what's going on and did a great job summarizing what the ABC's true intentions are in the little space he was afforded.
2/1/05
Local 7 apprentice and journeymen upgrading instructor Victor Birch has taken the time to get himself certified as a post tensioning expert. He is now trying to pass the latest technological advances in that part of our industry to our members. It is important for our members to be on the cutting edge of all aspects of our industry. Victor also took the time to express his personal feelings as to why this training is so important.
To read Victor's thoughts on post tensioning
training and WHY it's so important to our future
2/1/05:
Why?
|
MITT ROMNEY - NO FRIEND TO
WORKERS - UNION or NON-UNION!!
Yes, Scuz, some people pay off their bets! If you don't
believe it
To view the pictures
Greg
Beeman, president of the Massachusetts chapter
told the Patriot Ledger that
"...their (the ABC's anti-PLA)
billboard message targets South Shore commuters, in part, because of
the amount of union activity in the area. He cited a series of
recent school projects in Milton, as well as a pending high school
project in Quincy, that he expects will be done with union workers.
The group is paying about $14,000 for the billboard near the South
Bay shopping center above the southbound side of the Southeast
Expressway through mid-February, Beeman said. He said the group is
ramping up its lobbying efforts because state and local officials
are embarking on a long waiting list of school building
projects...."
To
view pictures of Victor's last upgrading class
