Ironworkers News

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1/31/05: Why listen to the ABC's self-serving propaganda about PLA's when we have proof of their effectiveness all over our council?

AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS (PLA's) HAVE MEANT FOR DEVELOPERS AND GENERAL CONTRACTORS IN RHODE ISLAND WAS RECENTLY PUBLISHED IN THIS WEEK'S Providence Business News UNDER THE TITLE "Construction partnerships back unions."

Say you’re planning to build a large manufacturing facility, or transform an old mill into a mix of condos and retail space. You need the job done well, on time and as cost-effectively as possible. Would you commit to using all-union labor?

Amgen did for its $500-million plant in West Greenwich. So did Brown University, for its $70-million science building. And the Pawtucket Water Supply Board, for a $60-million job.

In the four years since Rhode Island’s construction unions and a group of union-friendly contractors created the 21st Century Labor Management Partnership, it has secured nine such commitments – known as project labor agreements – for major projects, and helped to maximize union involvement in several others....

To read the entire story JH

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1/31/05: Downtown Providence, RI Development News...

Last week, the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority was planning to discuss further its decision to award the purchase of The Westin Hotel in Providence to Cranston-based Procaccianti Group. The Procaccianti Group has been selected to purchase The Westin for $95.5 million and build an additional tower at a cost of approximately $50 million.

To read the full story which ran in this week's PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS JH

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1/26/05: Meet Chris Santini of Meticulous Metals

I had a great conversation this morning with one of the most talented young members in the District Council. That member is Chris Santini and he has a lot to be proud of when it comes to being a skilled craftsman. If you visit his website I am confident that you will share my feelings.

To visit the METICULOUS METALS website and see Chris's handiwork JH

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1/26/05: Did you notice the ABC's anti-PLA billboard in Dorchester, MA? The only words that come to mind are TYPICAL TACTICS...

It is a typical tactic of the Associated Builders and Contractors (“ABC”) to attempt to capitalize on bad press for any reason. In this case, they try to juxtapose the word "union" with anything bad, in an effort to send the subliminal message that unions are bad. Unions are as American as it gets, and the ABC knows it. In fact, the ABC is nothing more than a union of employers who unite to improve the terms and conditions by which they seek to profit. This is what a union does!

Ironically, however, their primary purpose for organizing 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 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. SHAME on you ABC.

An example of the ABC's extremist supporters is Greg Hyatt, a former top official of the Massachusetts chapter of the ABC and former Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate, who was recently profiled in THE BOSTON GLOBE as a down-and-out attorney with an outrageous website.

To read that story JH

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1/25/05: An update from LU474 member and Maine resident Paul Waggoner on possible development in Portland, MAINE Paul Waggoner of Local 474, who lives in Brunswick, Maine, brought another interesting story to our attention (see his past sharing of information with the council on 1/10/05). It ran in yesterday's Portland Press Herald.

To read the entire story JH

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1/25/05: Did you see the interesting story on the now completed and occupied MANULIFE project in Boston? District Council contractor affiliates, including Bart-Lund Steel, Boston Steel, Aztec Steel, Permasteelisa, Capco Steel, AJ Steel, MRS, Blackhawk Metals, Daniel Marr & Son and JD Steel combined their considerable efforts and knowledge to build the world headquarters for Manulife Financial Corporation in the South Boston Seaport District.

The sustainable state-of-the-art technology that was used in the construction of this building warranted a story in THE BOSTON GLOBE. We should be proud of all the members and their employers who played such a significant role in the completion of this structure.

To read the entire BOSTON GLOBE story JH

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1/24/05: Read the story behind the story on the proposed $500 million COLUMBUS CENTER in BOSTON, MA The proposed $500 million Columbus Center could be one of the largest construction projects in Boston, and would be a welcome addition to the skyline for our members. It would tie Bay Village, the Back Bay, and the South End together on air rights over the Mass Turnpike.

To read an interesting story regarding this development from Tom Keane of the BOSTON HERALD JH

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1/18/05: Rally to Save Working Families' Social Security If President Bush's plan to privatize Social Security becomes law retirees will see their benefits tumble and Wall Street firms would enjoy a whopping $940 billion windfall over 75 years. While the Securities Industry Association, a coalition of financial services disputes this claim, it still admits firms would reap as much as $279 billion over 75 years from fees. Don't let Wall Street profit while working Americans see retirement benefits cut.

For more information on the rally JH

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1/17/05: Attacks on workers escalate across the country - These are the pals of the New England REPUBLICAN Governors - Let's not forget it! Jan. 13—Some 50,000 state workers in Indiana and Missouri saw their rights to negotiate wages, health care and working conditions eliminated when newly elected Republican governors signed executive orders Jan. 11 unilaterally rescinding their bargaining rights and contracts.

The attack on workers’ rights at the state level follows the Bush administration’s four-year assault on federal workers, including the administration’s unilateral take back of the bargaining rights of hundreds of thousands of employees. Recent decisions by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)—now controlled by President George W. Bush’s appointees—also have begun to erode the legal guarantees of private-sector workers to form unions.

To read the entire story JH

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1/17/05: An update from recent retiree Lamar Wells We recently received a letter from Local 7 member Lamar Wells. Lamar tells us that his son, Erin, who was prominently featured in a previous edition of The Column for his work with the Pine Street Inn (homeless shelter) after gathering over 250 winter blankets, was successful in earning the rank of Eagle Scout due in great part to this valuable community service. Erin is now a sophomore at Brigham Young University in Utah, and he is majoring in International Relations with a 3.75 grade point average. Erin recently visited Local 7 and had his picture taken with BA Eddie Wright. Good luck and Happy New Year to the Wells family.

To view a a larger shot of this photo of Erin Wells and Local 7 BA Eddie Wright JH

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1/17/05: The "ANCHORS AWAY" PARTY for Don "Spyder" Lockhart was a big hit

Many of Spyder Lockhart's friends showed up at the Quincy Elks to see him off to active duty in the Seabees.

To view some photos taken at the party JH

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UPDATE! 1/17/05: Local 37 members perform above and beyond at Brayton Point!

Local 37 iron workers did a tremendous job erecting an American S-40 stiff-leg derrick at the Brayton Point power plant in Fall River, MA. To stand up the derrick, they had to erect a 2250 in the air due to many structural impediments and the confined space of the existing plant. While putting the 2250 together in the air was a tough chore, it was an even greater challenge dismantling it when the job was complete, as they had to remove the luffing boom in one 160 ft. piece, a task that took over 17 hours. 177,000 lbs. of pedestal steel also had to be erected to support the derrick and the gang from Capco Steel did a tremendous job, as usual.

To view some photos of the Brayton Point job JH

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UPDATE! 1/15/05: REMINDER : Only FIVE (5) days left for Local 7 Apprentice Program sign-ups Local 7 previously announced the times and dates for their annual APPRENTICESHIP SIGN-UP. NOTE: There are only FIVE (5) sign-up days left!

for specific information (times, location, requirements, etc.) regarding the final FIVE days of the 2005 SIGN-UP period for Local 7. NOTE: This is the only sign-up period for calendar year 2005! JH

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REMINDER...1/13/05: ANCHORS AWAY PARTY for Don "Spyder" Lockhart TOMORROW (FRIDAY @ 4 PM) Everyone welcome!

One of Local 7's finest, Don "Spyder" Lockhart, is heading overseas in defense of our country as part of his service to the Seabees. Friends of Spyder are holding an ANCHORS AWAY PARTY at the QUINCY ELKS @ 254 QUARRY STREET - Tomorrow - FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2005 at 4 PM

For Mapquest directions to the QUINCY ELKS - 254 QUARRY STREET - QUINCY, MA JH

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UPDATE! 1/13/05: REMINDER : Only six (6) days left for Local 7 Apprentice Program sign-ups Local 7 previously announced the times and dates for their annual APPRENTICESHIP SIGN-UP. NOTE: There are only six (6) sign-up days left!

for specific information (times, location, requirements, etc.) regarding the final six days of the 2005 SIGN-UP period for Local 7. NOTE: This is the only sign-up period for calendar year 2005! JH

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UPDATE! 1/13/05: George W. Bush has a personal plan for YOUR social security account. Are his ideas in YOUR best Interest? Only you can decide that, and you can only make that decision based on the facts.

Excerpt from an AFL-CIO Alert: "President George W. Bush, his Republican allies in Congress and corporate chiefs are on an ideological trophy hunt to destroy Social Security—the most important family security effort in America’s history. Their privatization plans to replace guaranteed benefits with risky private accounts would fatally undermine Social Security, cut benefits drastically, most likely raise workers’ retirement age—and saddle our children with $2 trillion in debt. Now is the time to fight back...."

To read the entire alert, or to see how you can respond JH

To learn more about Social Security JH

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UPDATE! 1/11/05: The VERMONT WORKERS' CENTER prides itself on "Fighting for Workers' Rights"

Workers from a variety of industries in Vermont are doing a phenomenal job at banding together and getting the message out that Vermont's workers deserve higher wages and benefits and safer and/or better working conditions. The Iron Workers District Council of New England is proud to be associated with the VWC, but their mission only succeeds if our members from Vermont (and anyone they can enlist to join) participate.

For a list of their upcoming plans and events JH

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UPDATE! 1/11/05: Read today's BOSTON HERALD story about the Fan Pier project- a vital link for our members' future success! re!

Scott Van Voorhis writes: "Drastic action is needed to push Fan Pier - the long-stalled centerpiece of Boston's waterfront redevelopment efforts - back onto track, a growing number of city power brokers say. But exactly what should be done to revive the $1.2 billion plan could prove as contentious as the years-long debate over what should go on the South Boston site...."

To read the entire story JH

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UPDATE! 1/11/05: IN MEMORIAM: Many District council members have passed on in the past six months. Without the monthly newsletter (which we hope to have back in circulation shortly) we never get the chance to pass this information along:

To view the list of deceased members JH

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UPDATE! 1/10/05: National AFL-CIO launches “The Strengthening Our Union Movement for the Future” website:

As part of the ongoing discussion about how to strengthen America's union movement for the future, the AFL-CIO has launched a new website to solicit comments from, and provide updated information for, union members and allies.

For more information JH

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UPDATE! 1/10/05: Thanks to Paul Waggoner of IW LU474!

Paul Waggoner of Local 474, who lives in Brunswick, Maine, brought an interesting story to our attention. It ran in yesterday's Maine Sunday Telegram and is about about an interesting and aggressive plan to bring a huge development to Portland, Maine. We will be keeping our eye on this idea as it could lead to a number of good jobs for highly qualified and knowledgeable Maine tradesmen and women.

To read the entire story JH

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UPDATE! 1/10/05: Reminder: The Massachusetts AFL-CIO Scholarship test is scheduled for February 2, 2005 - Students must sign up with their school by this FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2005, to take the test!!

Would it surprise you to learn that the combined amount of scholarships given out by Massachusetts AFL-CIO affiliates in 2004 alone was $842,355.00? That's a lot of savings for hard working union members with kids in college, not to mention a great investment in future generations by the working class families that make up the AFL-CIO.

To follow up, or to visit associated links regarding the Massachusetts AFL-CIO scholarships
JH

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UPDATE! 1/7/05: UNION CONTRACT CANCELLED BY A U.S. JUDGE! Remember who appoints the judges! THE POLITICIANS THAT WE PUT IN OFFICE (OR TRY TO KEEP OUT OF OFFICE!!)

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- "Airline workers' woes are piling up as carriers seek to cut costs Machinists at US Airways, the nation's seventh-largest carrier, were facing pay cuts of up to 35 percent and the loss of thousands of union jobs yesterday after a bankruptcy judge -- for the first time in US airline history -- terminated a labor agreement..."

To read the entire sickening story JH

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UPDATE! 1/7/05: What's Bernie Evers been up to? Former Local 7 Organizer Bernie Evers, who left to spearhead our International Union's organizing program from Washington, DC, has been extremely busy. The exploits of our International's organizing program were recently featured in AMERICA @ WORK on the national AFL-CIO Website. The story reads, in part:

"In March 2003, workers spearheaded a campaign to form a union with the Iron Workers at JD Steel, a reinforcing iron subcontractor for such projects as water treatment plants, sports stadiums, performing arts centers and parking lots. As a subcontractor, the company often received public funds. To draw attention to the campaign, the union activists focused on educating elected officials across Arizona about JD Steel and the workers’ issues...."

To read the entire story JH

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UPDATE! 1/6/05: Local 7 Apprentice sign-ups Local 7 has announced the times and dates for their annual APPRENTICESHIP SIGN-UP. NOTE: They are being held in the next two weeks (January 10-23).

for specific information (times, location, etc.) regarding this two-week 2005 SIGN-UP period for Local 7. JH

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UPDATE! 1/4/05: Social Security needs to be shored up, NOT privatized! HANDS OFF THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM—"Instead of privatizing Social Security, President George W. Bush should shore up the nation’s most successful family protection program by requiring the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share into the system," said AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney.

To read more about SOCIAL SECURITY JH

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UPDATE! 1/3/05: How can you assist the unfortunate victims of the horrific Southern Asian TSUNAMI?

for IDEAS & ANSWERS. JH

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UPDATE! 1/3/05: ORGANIZING is the lifeblood of any organization and persistence is the key to organizing! The past two decades have brought a sea of change to Las Vegas. But one thing had always remained the same: The Aladdin Resort & Casino was the only non-union hotel on the strip -- and the big prize for labor and its lawyers.

That changed on Dec. 3, and attorney Richard McCracken is still celebrating.

To read WHY JH

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UPDATE! 1/3/05: Read an updated point of view on last week's BOSTON HERALD Vacancy Rate stories (Which we highlighted on 12/29/04) The Boston Herald's Scott Van Voorhis ran a follow-up story to last week's vacancy rate stories in the city of Boston. He elicited thoughts and responses from top real estate people about the possibility of developers changing the end use of their projects from commercial to residential in order to meet the growing appetite for Downtown Boston condo living. As stated in our 12/29/04 update, "...It's important that we remain ever-mindful of how our ability to work is enhanced or diminished by the decisions made in so many other sectors of society...."

To read that BOSTON HERALD story JH

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UPDATE! 1/2/05: Harry Agganis Arena slated to open on Monday January 3rd at Boston University! Boston University has long provided union iron workers and other building tradesmen and women with a number of work opportunities. One of the most recent, was the $225M STUDENT VILLAGE, which includes the $97M HARRY AGGANIS ARENA. On Monday, January 3, 2005 the arena will open with a hockey game between Boston University and The University of Minnesota.

To read a BOSTON GLOBE story about the arena JH

To see pictures of the Agganis Arena being built story JH