The Time Is Right

FEBRUARY 2007
The Time Is RightA Strategic Plan
In Place
President’s
Page
The Time is Right—
A Strategic Plan In Place
T
he January issue of The Ironworker contained statistical
data from General Treasurer
Wise clearly indicating a loss in
membership and an even greater
loss of market share. As your General
President, I am telling you that this
trend stops now.
As I said in last month’s issue, the
cornerstone of the plan to take back
our market share is accountability
at every level. We have developed a
list of “key performance indicators”
JOSEPH HUNT
(KPIs) listed on the following pages
General President
that will be used to help measure a
local union’s ability to:
Provide its membership with the
highest standard of Apprenticeship
and Training;
Have in place a Market Recovery
Program to increase job opportunities for its members;
Have its membership
The boom we are experiencing
receive the necessary
throughout North America is
information to make
giving us an unprecedented
good Political Action
opportunity to grow even in
decisions to help elect
the toughest of areas, and we
friends of labor and procannot allow any local union to
tect and enhance our labor laws;
maintain status quo. If we do
Provide every memnot grow, we die.
ber the necessary tools
to improve our Workforce Productivity so we maintain our standard of being the very
best at what we do;
Provide additional training and
oversight to make sure Local Union
Operations and Standards are
what our membership expects and
deserves.
After you have taken the time to
read through the KPIs, you will understand how they will provide a very
comprehensive indication of how well
your local union is functioning, and
how it compares to other locals.
Accountability will be at every lev-
’’
’’
el. I will make certain our staff provides every local union the necessary
support to achieve the performance
targets, and every local union officer
with the means to grow membership
and market share. Some areas have
more obstacles to overcome in order
to grow, for example, right to work
states or areas with huge influxes of
cheap labor. Therefore, we are having
in-depth research done for every local
union to establish a baseline of membership and union density, providing
a clear picture of whether a local is
losing or gaining market share. The
boom we are experiencing throughout
North America is giving us an unprecedented opportunity to grow even in
the toughest of areas, and we cannot
allow any local union to maintain
status quo. If we do not grow, we die.
Every member will know how well his
or her local is performing based on
market share, increase or decrease.
In February, local union officers
from all over North America will
gather for our first annual Strategic
Planning Meeting. The main topics
will be the KPIs, market share, and
membership baselines for each local
union. A rollout of a new Probationary Member program, making it easier to recruit new qualified members,
will also take place. The Probationary
Member program will be mandatory
and monitored by the General Treasurer’s office through a random audit
process. After the rollout, the entire
program will be posted in The Ironworker allowing every member to
understand exactly how it works.
I say it again, with a plan now in
place to back it up, our losing membership and market share stops now.
Fraternally,
Official Publication of the
International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers
INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS
JOSEPH J. HUNT
General President
Suite 400
1750 New York Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20006
Office: (202) 383-4810
Fax: (202) 638-4856
RICHARD WARD
Fifth General Vice President
5964 Dayton Boulevard
Chattanooga, TN 37415
Office: (423) 870-1982
Fax: (423) 876-0774
Email: rjw1943@comcast.net
MICHAEL FITZPATRICK
General Secretary
Suite 400
1750 New York Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20006
Office: (202) 383-4820
Fax: (202) 347-2319
FRED MARR
Sixth General Vice President
1350 L’Heritage Drive
Sarnia, Ontario N7S 6H8
Canada
Office: (519) 542-1413/1414
Fax: (519) 542-3790
WALTER WISE
General Treasurer
Suite 400
1750 New York Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20006
Office: (202) 383-4830
Fax: (202) 383-6483
ROBERT J. SPILLER
First General Vice President
2106 Washington Road
Suite 400
Canonsburg, PA 15317
Office: (724) 745-5893
Fax: (724) 745-5863
GORDON STRUSS
Second General Vice President
P.O. Box 319, 122 Main Street
Luck, WI 54853-0319
Office: (715) 472-4250/4251
Fax: (715) 472-4253
EDWARD C. McHUGH
Third General Vice President
2849 Andrea Drive
Allentown, PA 18103
Office: (610) 776-1063
Fax: (610) 776-1660
GEORGE E. KRATZER
Fourth General Vice President
Franklin Square Office Center
8401 Claude Thomas Road
Suite 37
Franklin, OH 45005
Office: (937) 746-0854
Fax: (937) 746-0873
EDWARD J. WALSH
Seventh General Vice President
505 White Plains Rd.
Suite 200
Tarrytown, NY 10591
Office: (914) 332-4430
Fax: (914) 332-4431
Email: ironworkdc@aol.com
JAY HURLEY
Eighth General Vice President
191 Old Colony Ave.
P.O. Box 96
S. Boston, MA 02127
Tel: 617-268-2382
Fax: 617-268-1394
E-mail: Jay7@gis.net
JOE STANDLEY
Ninth General Vice President
1660 San Pablo Ave., Suite C
Pinole, CA 94564
Office: 510-724-9277
Fax: 510-724-1345
RONALD C. GLADNEY
General Counsel
Bartley, Goffstein, L.L.C.
4399 Laclede Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63108
Office: (314) 531-1054
Fax: (314) 531-1131
Headquarters Office:
(202) 383-4868
Headquarters Fax:
(202) 638-4856
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENTS
Apprenticeship and Training
Tel: (202) 383-4870
Fax: (202) 347-5256
Magazine
Tel: (202) 383-4864
Fax: (202) 347-2318
Computer Department
Tel: (202) 383-4886
Fax: (202) 383-4895
Mailroom
Tel: (202) 383-4855
Fax: (202) 638-1038
Davis-Bacon Department
Tel: (202) 383-4865
Fax: (202) 347-2318
Maintenance and Jurisdiction
Tel: (202) 383-4860
Fax: (202) 347-1496
Department of Ornamental,
Architectural & Miscellaneous
Metals (DOAMM)
Tel: (630) 238-1003
Fax: (630) 238-1006
Organizing
Tel: (202) 383-4851
Fax: (202) 347-1496
Ironworkers Political
Action League
Tel: (202) 383-4805
Fax: (202) 347-3569
LU/DC Staff Retirement and
Shopmen’s Pension Fund
Tel: (202) 383-4874
Fax: (202) 628-6469
Safety
Tel: (202) 383-4829
Fax: (202) 347-5256
Shop Department
Tel: (202) 383-4846
Fax: (202) 783-3230
1750 New York Ave., N.W. • Suite 400 • Washington, D.C. 20006 • (202)383-4800
www.ironworkers.org E-mail: iwmagazine@iwintl.org
Volume 107
February 2007
Number 2
C O N T E N T S
Features
2
6
8
15
Key Performance Indicators
New Officer Seminar Held at the National Labor College
D.C. Friends of Ireland Honors General Secretary
Mike Fitzpatrick
Iron Workers Inducted into the Illinois Labor History
Secretary’s “Union Hall of Honor”
Departments
9
10
17
32
IMPACT
Departmental Reports
Local News
Official Monthly Record
On The Cover
At our First Annual Strategic
Planning meeting in February 2006,
Key Performance Indicators will be
introduced.
EDITOR: Tadas Kicielinski, 1750 New York Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20006
ASSISTANT TO THE EDITOR : Nancy Folks
THE IRONWORKER
ISSN:0021163X Published monthly, except for a combined July-August issue, for $5.00 per year by the International Association of Bridge,
Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers, 1750 New York Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20006. Preferred periodicals postage paid at
Washington, D.C. and additional mailing offices. Printed on union-made paper. Postmasters: Send change of address to Ironworker- 1750 New
York Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20006
Canada Agreement Number 40009549.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BRIDGE, STRUCTUR
KEY PERFORMA
District Council: _________________________________
The following Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), when used in conjunction with a local union’s
Result Area
Apprenticeship
&
Training
2
Goal
Indicator
Local Union
Performance
Measure
Performance
Target
1. To increase
recruitment to
address attrition
and growth.
The number of apprentices
and organized members to
meet growth requirements.
(Note: Attrition includes
actual graduation rates,
deaths, retirements, etc.).
Number exceeds
attrition rate by
at least 5%.
2. To ensure that
the local union
apprenticeship
program meets or
exceeds minimum
quality standards.
The local union apprenticeship program is certified
under the Ironworker Apprenticeship Certification
Program (IACP).
Yes – the local
program is certified.
3. To provide contractors with
certified welders.
The local union apprenticeship program is certified under the Ironworker Welding
Certification Program and/or
has an equivalent process in
place to certify welders.
Yes – the program
is able to provide
certified welders
to meet contractor
needs.
4. To provide
contractors with a
skilled workforce.
The percentage of apprentices and journeymen certified under the appropriate
certification programs (e.g.,
Scaffold, OSHA 10, Post-tensioning, Sub Part R, etc.).
100%
5. To reduce barriers
to entrance into
the apprenticeship
program.
The local union’s apprenticeship standards indicate approaches such as open enrollment, slot-ins, competencybased training, etc.
Revised standards
that indicate
approaches to
reduce barriers.
THE IRONWORKER
A L, ORNAMENTAL AND REINFORCING IRONWORKERS
NCE INDICAT ORS
Local Union: _______________________________
market share baseline, will give an accurate assessment of a local’s strengths and weaknesses.
Result Area
Goal
Market
Recovery
6. To increase
union density.
Indicator
Organizing/marketing program
in place and being implemented
to increase job opportunities,
wages and benefits for members.
Note: Establish a baseline for
each local focusing on number
of members, percentage of work
(based on density), number of
contractors, number of man
hours, etc. CLRC to assist with
data collection. Work with district council president to develop
an organizing/marketing program.
Political
Action
Performance
Target
Yes – a program
has been submitted, approved by
the district council
president and is
being implemented.
Market recovery
fund being used
– Yes or No.
7. To secure more
work for our
local union and
our contractors.
Establishment of a market
recovery (or target) fund.
8. To have
members vote
in local, state/
provincial
and national
elections.
The percentage of members
registered and voting in local,
state/provincial and national
elections.
100% of eligible
voters registered
and voting.
Establish a position for a
political coordinator to assist
with political action activities.
Political coordinator
position established
– Yes or No.
FEBRUARY 2007
The use of the IMPACT-Trac and
IMPACT-Direct job tracking
systems.
Local Union
Performance
Measure
Systems used at
least on a weekly
basis.
3
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BRIDGE, STRUCTUR
KEY PERFORMA
District Council: _________________________________
The following Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), when used in conjunction with a local union’s
Result Area
Workforce
Productivity
Local
Union
Operations
and
Finances
4
Goal
Indicator
Local Union
Performance
Measure
Performance
Target
9. To provide
owners with a
drug free work
force.
The percentage of members
participating in an approved
substance abuse program (i.e.,
IMPACT program or equivalent).
100%
10. To provide
contractors with
skilled foremen.
Foreman training courses being
conducted for apprentices,
journeymen and contractors.
100% of graduating
apprentices
complete the course
and at least 1 course
for journeymen held
each year.
11. To provide
contractors with
a work force
with positive
work attitudes
and behavior.
Implementation of the Ironworker
Code of Conduct.
Ironworker Code
of Conduct and
Survival of the
Fittest training
in place and
implemented.
12. To ensure the
local union
remains solvent
and financially
viable.
Yearly audit and completion of LM
reports.
Note: Implementation will include
“Survival of the Fittest” to focus
on positive attitudes and behavior.
Adequate reserves.
THE IRONWORKER
A L, ORNAMENTAL AND REINFORCING IRON WORKERS
NCE INDICAT ORS
Local Union: _______________________________
market share baseline, will give an accurate assessment of a local’s strengths and weaknesses.
Result Area
Local
Union
Operations
and
Finances
FEBRUARY 2007
Goal
Indicator
Performance
Target
13. To have the
staff in place
and trained to
successfully
operate the
local union.
Local union officers receive
the training required to do
their jobs.
100% of new officers
attend the training
conducted by the
International.
14. To ensure
active and
informed
participation of
members and
contractors in
the local union.
Increase in the number of
members attending local union
meetings and an internal and
external communications
plan in place (e.g., newsletter,
website, letters).
Annual increase
in the number of
members attending
meetings and a
communications
plan in place
and actively
implemented.
15. To participate
in labormanagement
programs.
Local union contribution to
IMPACT and involvement in
local contractor associations
and/or labor/management
groups.
Full 1% contribution
to IMPACT and
participation in local
labor/management
groups.
Local Union
Performance
Measure
5
General President Joseph Hunt and General Secretary Mike Fitzpatrick address the participants.
New Officer Seminar Held at the
National Labor College
G
eneral President Hunt welcomed
the new local union officers from
the United States and Canada to
the New Officers Seminar held at the National Labor College January 7-12, 2007.
The goal of the newly designed seminar
is to prepare local officers to operate their
local unions effectively. What the new officers did not know was the seminar was
going to be one of the most successful
training events ever held for local union
officers.
The focus of the seminar was on the
primary roles and responsibilities of
local union officers. During the five-day
seminar there were a series of speakers
representing both labor and management, including General Secretary Mike
Fitzpatrick and General Treasurer Walt
Wise. Topics discussed during the seminar included:
· Roles and Responsibilities of Local
Union Officers
· Managing Finances – Local and
International Perspectives
· Effective Organizing
· IMPACT Initiatives and Tracking
System Demonstrations
· Shop Department Overview
· Marketing Your Local Union
6
· Safety and Health Overview
· Local Union District Council (LUDC)
Pension Plan
· Managing Pension Funds – Local and
International Perspectives
· Operating Successful Apprenticeship
Programs
· Architectural and Ornamental
Department Overview
· Effective Communication Skills
· Introduction to the Local Union
Membership System
· Update on the AFL-CIO, Special
Agreements and the Ironworker Website
· Legal Responsibilities of Local Officers,
Labor Law and Job Actions
· ABCs of Collective Bargaining
· Maintenance and Jurisdiction
· Reinforcing Department Overview
· Davis-Bacon Overview
· Political Action Activities
· General Secretary’s Office – Update
on Policies and Procedures
· Using the Ironworker Constitution and
the Local Union Officer’s Desk Reference
The key to the success of the seminar
was in the interaction between the presenters and the participants. Sessions
allowed time for activities, case studies,
role plays, questions and discussions.
Participants were able to ask questions
relating to their local unions – better preparing them to fulfill their responsibilities as local officers.
One of the highlights of the seminar
was the negotiating exercise. Participants
were given background information and
then some were assigned to represent
labor, while others represented management. For several hours the teams negotiated until an agreement was reached.
Following the exercise the teams reported their results and discussed effective negotiating. It was reported that the
discussions continued during dinner and
well into the evening. When asked about
their favorite session, one of the participants commented, “Negotiations – the
role playing was great!”
Each day the participants met from
8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. In the evening,
hands-on sessions in a computer lab focusing on the IMPACT tracking systems
(IMPACT Trac and IMPACT Direct) and
the local union membership system were
conducted.
The seminar was evaluated for college credit by the National Labor College.
Given the focus of the seminar and the
amount of time spent in sessions, particiTHE IRONWORKER
pants will be able to receive three credit
hours toward a degree from the college.
When asked to evaluate the seminar,
one of the participants commented, “As a
business agent, I felt that the roles and
responsibilities, managing finances and
effective organizing were important.
These sessions open your eyes to the reality of your duties as an agent.” Another
said, “All of the sessions were very informative. I was very pleased with all of the
speakers and presenters.”
Based on the success of this seminar,
plans are already underway to design and
develop more professional improvement
courses and activities for local union officers allowing us to strengthen our local
unions and better meet the needs of our
signatory contractors.
Participants work in small groups.
IRON WORKER NEW OFFICER TRAINING
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
Name
General Treasurer Walt Wise
conducts a session on managing
local union finances.
Kevin J. McKinnon
Yancy Grawien
Mike Martin
Roger G. Maack
Kevin Furlong
Ellis Hinkle
Patrick Buck
Phillip Vaughn
Edward J. Lariviere III
Larry Oberding
Douglas R. Smith
Ron Starkey
Cesar Cabrera
John A. Rocha
Jason Gallia
Gene Rustick
Tim DeMinter
Phillip Shirks
Eddie Albritton
Robbie Hunter
Ernesto Penuelas
Johnny O’Kane
David Whitmore
Keith A. Hughes
Timothy G. Litman
William V. Sherer II
Harry Tostowaryk
Jim McNeil
Kevin Libby
Troy J. Gaughan
Ben Schmitz
Allen Peltier
Kurt Grezinski
Thomas Graff
Local
7
8
8
10
17
22
25
29
37
44
86
147
229
377
378
383
383
384
387
433
433
433
498
549
550
550
720
736
769
787
808
811
811
848
City, State
Boston, MA
Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee, WI
Kansas City, MO
Cleveland, OH
Indianapolis, IN
Detroit, MI
Portland, OR
Providence, RI
Cincinnati, OH
Seattle, WA
Ft. Wayne, IN
San Diego, CA
San Francisco, CA
Oakland, CA
Madison, WI
Madison, WI
Knoxville, TN
Atlanta, GA
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Rockford, IL
Wheeling, WV
Canton, OH
Canton, OH
Edmonton, AB
Hamilton, ON
Ashland, KY
Parkersburg, WV
Orlando, FL
Wausau, WI
Wausau, WI
Charleston, SC
Participants at the 2007 New Officer Seminar.
FEBRUARY 2007
7
John J. Sweeney,
Vice Presidents
Chairman
Paul Berry
Edwin D. Hill
Paul Bond
Joseph J. Hunt
Andrew Bradley
Ed Kelly
Kevin Brennan
Kathleen Kelly
Dana A. Brigham
Paul Kelly
Kevin P. Collins
Sean Kelly
Brendan Connors
Joel Manion
Maurice J. Cullinane Edward J. McElroy
Jack Dempsey
Jerry O’Connor
John C. Donohue
Sean O’Pappas
Bill Edwards
Ted Pappas
Mike Fitzpatrick
Edward C. Sullivan
John J. Flynn
Edward F. Sullivan
Joyce Flynn
Michael J. Sullivan
Robert E. Gleason Patricia M. Sweeney
Bill Harrison
Kathy Power van Helden
John Harrison
James A. Williams
James J. Kennedy, Jr.,
President
Terence M. O’Sullivan,
Executive Vice President
James A. Grogan,
Secretary-Treasurer
Michael Brennan,
President Emeritus
Terence J. O’Sullivan
President Emeritus
Rev. Allen P. Novotny, S.J.,
Chaplain
1625 Eye Street N.W.
Box 1 - Lobby
Washington, DC 20006-4001
(202)682-7998
Winter 2007
Michael Fitzpatrick To Be Honored
On March 14, 2007
M
ichael Fitzpatrick
started his Ironworker
career when he
became an apprentice
member of Local
Union No. 6, Buffalo, New York,
in 1960. After serving his
apprenticeship, Brother
Fitzpatrick served as President
and then became Business Agent
of Local Union No. 6, Buffalo,
New York in 1973. He served in
that post until 1983, when former
General President Lyons appointed him General Organizer. That
same year, he was elected
President of the Western New
York and Vicinity District
Council and served in this position until late September 2003.
In February of 1999, former
General President West appointed
him Eighth General Vice
President. On March 12, 2001,
Brother Fitzpatrick was appointed
General Treasurer by General
President Hunt and on June 1,
2001, he was appointed General
Secretary by General President
Hunt. In August 2001 and
8
August 2006, he was elected as
General Secretary by the
Delegates to the 40th and 41st
International Convention.
Brother Fitzpatrick served as
Vice President of the New York
State AFL-CIO. He also served
on numerous committees in the
State of New York including the
New York State Energy Research
and Development Authority and
the Buffalo City Downtown
Development Corporation, and in
this capacity he was able to help
secure numerous jobs for not only
the Ironworkers but also for other
building tradesmen. He has
served as the Chairman of the
Finance and Budget Committee
for the County of Erie and during
his tenure they maintained a balanced budget. He has also been
involved with the funding of all
public works including the library,
correctional facilities, and social
services.
Mike’s grandfather was born
in Kilkenny and his grandmother
in county Claire. They arrived in
this country in the late 1800’s
and were married in Elmira, New
York.
Mike’s grandfather’s occupation was listed as “Iron Worker”
on an old Bureau of Vital
Statistics document.
He is married to Nancy, has
five children: Michael, William,
Nancy, Noelle and Maureen and
four grandchildren: Allison,
Matthew, Conor, and Nell.
THE IRONWORKER
Impact Holds Two Collectively Bargained
Workers’ Comp Seminars
In Pennsylvania
Workers’ compensation insurance is
a top priority for ironworkers and their
contractors. Keeping that insurance
effective and affordable also is a top
priority.
IMPACT, the Ironworker Manage–
ment Progressive Action Cooperative
Trust, is working with ironworkers
and contractors to bring collectively
bargained workers’ comp (CBWC)
programs to those states where the
legislature has given CBWC the green
light.
“Eight or nine states allow these
programs in their labor code,” explains
Steve Rank, IMPACT’s Western Region
Director. The state of California has had
a successful program for nearly four
years. “After seeing the performance
in California, you can’t find a good
reason for not doing it,” Rank says.
Under a CBWC program, the traditional
problems often associated with the
workers’ comp system disappear,
particularly the long delays before
workers receive their checks, he says.
“Our goal is to improve the delivery;
avoid the confusion, avoid litigation
and reduce costs,” says Rank.
William Ligetti, executive director of
the Ironworker Employers Association
of Western Pennsylvania, notes that
insurance is one of a contractor’s
highest costs of doing business, but
often the least understood. CBWC
won’t help every contractor, but it
will be useful for many, he says. Ligetti
says that CBWC may not reduce a
contractor’s direct costs, but it could
reduce supplemental costs such as
litigation.
To help labor and management
representatives learn more about
the benefits of the CBWC programs
allowed in Pennsylvania, IMPACT
hosted insurance seminars in Pittsburgh
on January 30 and in Philadelphia on
January 31.
FEBRUARY 2007
9
During each
of the seminars,
four panels of
experts detailed
specific issues,
followed by open
discussion.
In addition to
success stories
from California
CBWC programs,
attendees also
learned about
the role of the
union program
administrator
and the nurse
case manager.
Kevin Gregerson,
administrator of
the Minnesota
CBWC program
discussed the
successes of that state’s program.
Development and administration of
CBWC programs, along with elements
of the alternative dispute resolution,
were other agenda topics.
Officials from SeaBright Insurance
Co., one of several firms participating
with IMPACT, led discussions about
statistics and performances of CBWC
programs.
Labor and management partic–
ipants also considered establishing
Pennsylvania CBWC programs,
including approval and participation
of employers and insurance carriers,
election of medical providers,
selection of mediators and arbitrators,
and development of addendum to
collective bargaining agreements.
Darlaine Taylor, vice president
of Century Steel Erectors, Inc. in
Dravosburg, Penn., said utilizing an
ombudsman for both the worker and
the employer was a beneficial part of a
negotiated workers’ comp program.
“The level of trust really needs to
be elevated between an injured worker
and the employer. The ombudsman
process will help this,” she said. The
IMPACT program is timely, says Taylor.
“I know this concept has been around
for a long time, but I’m willing to give
it a try.”
IMPACT is a joint labor-management
trust formed under Section 302 (c)
(9) of the Labor-Management Act.
IMPACT is a non-profit, tax-exempt
organization under Section 501 (c) of
the Internal Revenue Code.
The primary mission of IMPACT
is to expand job opportunities for
union ironworkers and their signatory
contractors through progressive
and innovative labor-management
programs. A 22-member labormanagement board of trustees
governs IMPACT. Each of IMPACT’s
10 regions is represented by one
labor trustee and one management
trustee.
THE IRONWORKER
9
DAVIS-BACON / WAGE COMPLIANCE
as provided by IMPACT
by Christopher Burger
“Organize or die” is an old labor
expression we’ve been hearing a lot
of in recent years. It actually dates
back to at least the 1960s. The
original meaning still holds true
today as we still have to convince
ironworkers that joining a union is
the best way to provide for themselves and their families–no matter
what the employer thinks. As our
41st convention brought home, we
must change our union density by
bringing in new members to regain
our power in the workplace–just
for survival alone, let alone moving
forward to fight for higher wages
and benefits and better and safer
conditions.
So when we think about dealing
with Davis-Bacon prevailing wage
law, are we keeping our eye on
the ball? Even Davis-Bacon public
work has to be looked at in terms of
the costs and benefits to the goal of
organizing all ironworkers.
As noted in a recent convention issue, I have been brought
on as the new Wage Compliance
Administrator, part of a program
provided by IMPACT. Along with
my experience as a union member,
organizer, shop steward, etc., my
most recent work has been as a
prevailing wage investigator in the
“fair contracting” labor-management arena.
Our first goal, naturally, is to
improve our ability to keep ironworker prevailing wages up-todate with the Department of Labor
(DOL) and to protect our classifica-
tion on public works. We have been
overhauling our system in our office
and hope to increase communication with locals and the DOL and
other federal and state agencies.
It’s been awhile in coming but the
DOL has very much modernized
and streamlined the process, which
frees up our energies.
What our office needs most from
locals are: (1) Your current wage
and fringe benefit sheet, and (2)
Your collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with a signature.
Without the “John Hancock,” the
document will have no legal standing with the government when it
comes time to update wages. When
you have a new CBA or a wage
update, please send a copy to both
the DOL and our office.
When DOL wage surveys (now
also online) are conducted in your
region, locals must get the required
information as soon as possible to
the DOL before the cut-off date in
order to get your rates established
as the prevailing wage. We will continue to work with you in alerting
you to the process.
Local union officials are also
encouraged to work with me
regarding complaints they may
receive about contractors who do
not appear to be complying with
prevailing wage law, state or federal. Recent huge developments
in techniques bringing contractors
who cheat on wages to justice are
now available to us. Additionally,
local union officials should report
situations involving invitations to
bid on construction projects having
government money involved that do
not seem to have prevailing wage
requirements attached.
We need to think bigger and ask
ourselves if the work we do with
Davis-Bacon is helping our goal of
rebuilding our union membership
back to the levels once enjoyed.
One way that can be explored is
to not over-rely on often weak and
slow government channels when it
comes to wage cheaters. In many
cases, it is ideal to integrate wage
complaints of non-union workers
with an organizing campaign, making full use of the workers themselves in handbilling, bannering and
other tactics. Bernie Evers, executive director of the International’s
Organizing Department, can assist
you in pursuing such techniques.
Davis-Bacon, like any other part
of the union construction industry,
is not an island existing outside of
union power and union density. As
our union returns to an organizing
focus, prevailing wage compliance
will be enhanced. And likewise, as
we use prevailing wage in new and
fresh ways, we should see union
numbers climb as part of a rebirth
of our union.
I want to encourage all locals
to take full advantage of the new
energy we are putting into this program. Contact me at the IMPACT
Davis - Bacon / Wage Compliance
Office at (202)383-4865 for advice
and assistance.
“IRONWORKERS’ JOB LINE”
is now available on the web
please visit www.ironworkers.org
to find out which locals need workers, type of work, and who to contact.
10
THE IRONWORKER
SAFETY AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT REPORT
by Frank Migliaccio
“THINK ABOUT IT”
This month’s article is being
written with the assistance of
Harmon, Inc. Each year I receive
a calendar from Harmon with
many great photos of ironworkers
performing their work in a safe
manner. This year is no different, with the exception that they
added to each month a section
called “Think about it.” The calendar has bullet points concerning
both injury and fatality statistics. I
would like to give each ironworker
reading this article something to
“THINK ABOUT.”
you know a fatal injury
· Did
occurs every 5 minutes, and a
disabling injury occurs every
1.6 seconds? Construction workers aged 35 to 44 were the most
likely to be involved in a fatal
accident, while workers aged 25
to 34 were the most likely to be
injured.
are the leading cause of
· Falls
injuries, both on and off the
job, and kill more than 300 construction workers every year.
In 2006, union ironworkers had
their lowest year ever with 13
fatalities—nine of these fatalities came from falls. This is two
fatalities less than in 2003,
when we had 15 fatalities.
26 construction work· About
ers die each year while using
aerial, lifts and more than 60
workers are killed by falls from
scaffolds. Twenty percent of
those falls are in construction.
In 2006, we lost two union ironworkers, one from an aerial lift
accident and the other from a
fall from scaffold.
FEBRUARY 2007
are 25, 000 injuries
· There
and as many as 36 fatalities
per year due to falls from the
stairways and ladders used
in construction. Slips, trips,
and falls caused 352 fatalities
and another 32, 460 injuries in
2003.
hats were worn by only
· Hard
16% of those workers who sustained head injuries, and not
wearing a hard hat is OSHA’s
most cited personal protective
equipment (PPE) violation.
About 60% of workers with eye
injuries wore no eye protective
equipment. Nearly 11, 000 eye
injuries each year force workers
to miss work. Construction has
a much higher rate of eye injuries than any other industry.
In construction, 25% of injuries
are back injuries—the second
highest rates of back injuries
of any industry—and 77% of
workers with foot injuries
were not wearing safety shoes
or boots.
death caused by a motor
· Avehicle
crash occurs every 12
minutes, and a disabling
injury occurs every 13 seconds.
In 2006, i r onwor k er s lost
one of t hei r own when the
c om pany truck he was riding
in overturned en route to the
shop.
·
140 construction workers
· About
are killed by electricity yearly,
and more than 90 of them are
not electricians. The leading
causes of electrocutions are
contact with overhead power
lines, power tools with bad
wiring, and metal torching live
wiring. Electrocution by power-line contact was the most
common type of crane fatality. Forklifts are involved in
100 workers deaths and about
20, 000 serious workplace injuries each year.
If you ar e a Hi s pani c or Latino worker, you experience a
disproportionate number of
work-related fatalities.
So when you are working at your
job site or doing some fixing up
around the house, just remember:
“THINK ABOUT IT.”
This article was written, with the
permission of Harmon, Inc., using
some of their statistics. I would
like to thank them for allowing
all ironworkers to gain this information.
11
APPRENTICESHIP & TRAINING DEPARTMENT REPORT
by Mike White
National Fund Announces
2007 Instructor Training
Program
G
eneral President Hunt, in
writing a message to those
attending the Apprenticeship
Competition held in September of
2006 said, “Our great international
union is built on the skills of our
members. During this competition you will see some of the most
highly skilled apprentices from
our local unions across the United
States and Canada. Each time
we hold the competition the skill
level of our outstanding apprentice
competitors improves. This is a
result of their dedication to excellence and our continuing efforts to
strengthen our apprenticeship programs. As you watch these competi-
12
tors, please remember that you are
watching the future of our union.”
We would not be able to produce
outstanding apprentices without
outstanding apprenticeship programs—and the key to effective
an apprenticeship program is the
preparation of skilled coordinators
and instructors. One of the primary
methods for preparing these coordinators and instructors is through
the annual Ironworker Instructor
Training Program.
The Twenty-Third Annual
Ironworker Instructors Training
Program will be held at the
University of San Diego, San Diego,
California from July 15, 2007
through July 20, 2007. It will be an
exciting year with the third annual
Apprenticeship Coordinators meeting along with a number of new
and revised courses.
The coordinator’s meeting is
open to all current apprenticeship
coordinators and will be held
during July 13-14. The objective of
the meeting is to update coordinators on practices and procedures
for operating an effective apprenticeship program. This year the
coordinators attending the meeting
will receive the new Ironworker
Apprenticeship Coordinator’s
Guide. The new guide contains ten
“how to” modules focusing on the
major roles and responsibilities
of apprenticeship coordinators. In
addition to the guide, participants
will receive a companion CD-ROM
containing a number of important
documents and photos. The photos
are from a number of local unions
and show not only physical facilities, but the use of mock-ups, wallmounted training aids, tool and
equipment storage, etc. All apprenticeship coordinators are encouraged to attend and should use the
forms being sent to local unions for
the Instructor Training Program to
register.
In 2007, we are also offering a
number of new and revised courses.
Some of the courses include:
of the Ironworkers – The
· History
20-hour course has been updated
to include the new content in the
History of the Ironworkers.
Training for Ironworkers
· F– oreman
During 2006, the 20-hour
train-the-trainer course was held
around the United States and
was very well received. We will
offer the course in San Diego,
primarily for those locals who
have yet to have instructors
trained to conduct the course for
their apprentices, journeymen
and local contractors.
THE IRONWORKER
APPRENTICESHIP & TRAINING DEPARTMENT REPORT continued
· C OMET Train-the-Trainer – The · Hoisting and Rigging Tech–
20-hour course provides material
niques and Applications – The
and skills to participants enabling
them to deliver the Construction
Organizing Membership Education
Training (COMET) program
for ironworkers. Bernie Evers,
executive director of Organizing
for the International, will conduct
the course.
Ironworkers: Survival of
· Union
the Fittest – Offered for the first
time last year, the 10-hour course
will be offered again due to strong
interest in strengthening the
work attitudes of apprentices.
Welding Techniques
· Advanced
– The new course 20-hour offered
by Lincoln Electric will focus on
the latest in welding processes
and equipment.
Plasma Cutting and
· Hand
Gouging – The new 10-hour course
conducted by ESAB will focus on
hand plasma cutting and gouging.
revised 10-hour course will
combine two previous courses and
will be based on the new rigging
and cranes training packages.
Wall Coverings and
· Ornamental
Glass Railing – The revised
20-hour course will combine
three previous courses, include
classroom and hands-on sessions,
and be based on draft versions
of the new architectural and
ornamental training package.
Concrete for App–
· Reinforced
renticeship Programs – The new
20-hour train-the-trainer course
prepares ironworker instructors to
go back to their locals and teach
reinforcing. The course uses
dynamic teaching techniques
to introduce the Reinforcing
Concrete for Ironworkers training
package now available from the
National Training Fund.
Steel Erection – the
· Structural
Planning – The
· Educational
new 20-hour course replaces two
20-hour course is offered by
structural courses, will involve
classroom and hands-on sessions,
and will be based on draft versions of
the new structural training package.
FEBRUARY 2007
the National Labor College for
those working on their bachelor’s
degree. In order for the college
to send a faculty member to San
Diego to conduct this course, we
need at least 12 participants. So
if those attending the program in
San Diego in July are interested
in this course, sign up early. On
June 1, we will make the final
decision regarding the course
based on the number enrolled.
Complete details regarding these and all of the other
courses are being sent to local
union apprenticeship coordinators. Locals are encouraged to
review the course catalog, select
courses for those coordinators
and instructors attending, and
to register early. We expect that
a number of the new courses will
fill up fast – so sign up early.
This year’s program promises
to the best ever! Coordinators,
instructors, labor and management JATC members, contractors and business representatives interested in attending
should look for the registration
information sent out from the
Apprenticeship and Training
Department. You may also contact
the Apprenticeship and Training
office at (202) 383-4889 for more
information.
See you in San Diego!
13
IRONWORKER WINS DREAM HUNT APPEARS ON ESCAPE TO THE
WILD TV SHOW – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23 ON VERSUS NETWORK
Aaron Datzko, a 30-year-old ironworker and 10 year member of Local 25 in Central Michigan, eats, sleeps and breaths to hunt. “It’s a
great rush, even just sitting in a blind. If I didn’t get to hunt or fish, I don’t know what I’d do,” Aaron said. As a hardworking union
worker, a husband, and a father to his two-year-old son, Aaron was limited to hunting on Michigan’s overcrowded public land. That
was until his dream of getting away to a prime hunting location where the
bucks are legendary came true in December 2006.
While bowling on league night with his wife and buddies, Aaron was taken by
surprise when a man, joined by a cameraman, approached him while he was
preparing to bowl. That man happened to be Escape to the Wild host, Marc
Pierce, claiming to be a bowling scout. Anxiety about bowling in front of a
scout didn’t stop Aaron from bowling a strike, nor was he disappointed to
discover that Marc was not a scout, but was there to take him on the whitetail
hunt of his dreams in the cold province of Saskatchewan, Canada.
The next day, Marc and Aaron headed to Smeaton, Saskatchewan to spend a week hunting with Jim Shockey’s Adventures in the
thick, boreal forests where the big bucks roam. Unlike the congested public land where Aaron usually hunts, hunting pressure is
virtually non-existent on the expansive land owned by the Canadian government in northern Saskatchewan. In fact, most of the deer
live and die without ever seeing or smelling a human being. Perhaps that’s because it’s so cold. Before heading out to the blind
where he spent sunrise to sunset in temperatures of -15 to 10 degrees, Aaron was surprised with a brand new Tikka T3 .300 WinMag
along with ammunition from Winchester and plenty of gear to fight the cold from Beretta USA. “It was really cold,” Pierce said.
“Aaron was a trooper. He was incredibly committed, passing over dozens of animals, waiting for that monster buck.”
According to Aaron, hunting in the Saskatchewan is a whole different story than hunting on state land in Michigan. “I was seeing
deer most of the time [in Canada]. It was pretty exciting.” Unfortunately, Aaron missed his shot at the monster 10-point he’d been
waiting for, while he and the cameraman waited for the deer to move into a position where they’d both have a shot. However, he did
take home a handsome 7-point on the last day of the trip.
“It was great—a once in a lifetime deal. To pay for a trip up in Canada like that—I don’t think I’d ever be able to do that,” Aaron
said. Back in Michigan, Aaron sets, lifts, bolts and welds iron at Whaley Steel in Detroit. His work days are long, especially since he
commutes 2 hours and 20 minutes each way from his home in Omer, Michigan.
Aaron’s episode of Escape to the Wild airs Friday, February 23, 2007 at 8:30pm (EST)
Escape to the Wild
Schedule on Versus Network
Fridays 8:30-9:00 pm (EST)
Sundays 10:30-11:00 am (EST)
January 12, 17
January 19, 24
January 26, 31
February 2, 7
February 9, 14
February 16, 21
February 23, 28
14
South Africa - IBEW electrical worker flies half-way across the globe to stalk impala, zebra, warthog, and wildebeest.
Idaho Falls – UA pipe-fitter travels to the majestic Rocky Mountains for non-stop fly-fishing.
Ontario – SMWIA sheet metal worker escapes to the Great North for the moose hunt he has long dreamed of.
Quebec – IAMAW machinist fulfills his lifelong dream of hunting Canadian caribou.
Alberta – IAFF firefighter and avid waterfowler hits the big migration as thousands of ducks and
geese funnel south through the Alberta skies.
South Dakota – IUPAT painter journeys to the golden fields of South Dakota for fast flying quail action.
Saskatchewan – IronWorker leave’s Michigan’s crowded public land for the woods of Saskatchewan
– Home of the big bucks.
THE IRONWORKER
Local 1 President Robert Boscovich, Illinois Labor History Society President Larry Spivack, General President Joseph Hunt and Local 63
Business Agent Richard Rowe attended the Illinois Labor History Society Union Hall of Honor dinner. The program honored the great
history of the Iron Workers Union.
Iron Workers Inducted Into the Illinois Labor
History Society’s “Union Hall of Honor”
by Richard Rowe
On December 10, 2006, the
International Association of Bridge,
Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing
Iron Workers was inducted into the
Illinois Labor History Society’s “Union
Hall of Honor.” The year 2006 marks the
110th anniversary of the Iron Workers
International, as well as the centennial
of the great labor war between the Iron
Workers Union and the American Bridge
Co. Two Iron Worker individuals were
also inducted, George W. Geary, “the
Father of the Iron Workers Union,” and
charter member of Local 1 (Chicago) and
Iron Worker Historian Richard Rowe
from Local 63 (Chicago).
The Illinois Labor History Society is an
organization dedicated to preserving the
heritage of the American working class
and their struggle for dignity through
their unions. Over sixty individuals and
organizations have been inducted into
their “Union Hall of Honor” since its
inception. Past recipients have included
labor leaders Eugene Debs, Mother
FEBRUARY 2007
Jones, Joe Hill, A. Philip Randolph, Peter
J. McGuire, authors Studs Terkel and
Upton Sinclair, and many others.
Di s ti ngui s hed l abor hi s t or i an
William J. Adelman started the evening’s
festivities with a slide show and lecture
on the history of the Iron Workers
Union. Readings from Studs Terkel’s
book “Working” and poems by poet Carl
Sandburg followed.
Chicago Federation of Labor President
Dennis Gannon introduced keynote
speaker, Iron Worker General President
Joseph Hunt. General President Hunt’s
call for a unified and strong labor
movement was well received by the more
than 200 labor leaders in attendance.
Illinois Labor History Society President
Emeritus Leslie O’Rear formally inducted
the Iron Workers into their “Union Hall
of Honor.” President Hunt accepted the
award on behalf of all ironworkers and
stated “…the plaque will hang proudly in
a prominent place at headquarters.”
At the beginning of the Twentieth
Century, our union was struggling for
recognition. American Bridge was the
largest steel erector in the world and they
were adamantly opposed to unionism.
Our union was successful in forcing the
American Bridge Co. to sign a contract in
1903 guaranteeing all of their work would
be performed union. When the contract
expired in 1905, American Bridge Co.
banded together with several other steel
erectors and formed an organization
called the National Erectors Association
or NEA.
The sole purpose of NEA was to crush
our union. On May 1, 1905, the NEA
declared an “open shop” policy for all
of its affiliates. By 1906, our union was
engaged in a violent and costly labor war
with the NEA contractors. The labor war
lasted several years and would eventually
lead to the Iron Workers being accused
of dynamiting the Los Angeles Times
building in 1910. Iron Worker General
Secretary / Treasurer J.J. McNamara
was accused of masterminding the
15
dynamiting plot. He and his brother J.B.
McNamara were arrested and stood trial
for the crime in 1911. The following year
46 of our International and local union
officers were arrested and put on trial for
dynamite transport conspiracy charges.
The lengthy trials put a severe financial
hardship on our union and we were
nearly destroyed.
The NEA of the 1900s is not to be
confused with the National Erectors
Association of today (now called TAUC:
The Association of Union Contractors).
Today’s NEA is a friend of the Iron
Workers Union and was formed by
General President John H. Lyons, Jr. in
the early 1960s to aid the Iron Workers
in jurisdictional disputes.
George W. Geary, “the Father of the
Iron Workers Union,” was also inducted
into the “Union Hall of Honor.” George
W. Geary founded the Bridge Builders
Mutual Association in the late 1880s.
This benevolent association originally
consisted of twenty members and was
formed in order to give fallen ironworkers
a decent burial. By 1890, the group
had grown and became the Bridge and
Construction Men’s Union of Chicago
and sought recognition, the eight-hour
day, higher wages and better working
conditions. George Geary’s skills as an
ironworker brought him to different
cities in search of work. Wherever he
traveled, he noticed ironworkers were
forming benevolent associations and
fledgling unions for their own protection.
As he traveled, Geary also noticed he
often worked for the same employer,
the American Bridge Co. Geary knew if
ironworkers were ever going to receive
recognition from American Bridge they
had to speak in one strong and united
voice. George W. Geary called for our
founding convention to take place in
Pittsburgh, Penn. on February 4, 1896.
At that convention, Geary was named the
first organizer of the new International
Association of Bridge and Structural
Iron Workers.
Iron Workers Local 1 President
Robert Boskovich accepted the award
posthumously for George W. Geary. More
can be read about the founding of our
union, the great labor war with the NEA,
the McNamara Affair and the Dynamite
Chicago and Vicinity District Council President Eric Dean expressed
his appreciation on behalf of Chicago area ironworkers.
16
Conspiracy Trials in the book A History
of the Iron Workers Union 1896-2006.
Copies of the book can be ordered for
$35.00 through IABSORIW, c/o MOSAIC,
4801 Viewpoint Place, Cheverly, MD
20781.
The final inductee of the evening
was Local 63 Business Agent and Iron
Worker Historian Richard Rowe. Brother
Rowe was inducted in recognition of
his research into the history of the Iron
Workers Union and as a teacher of Labor
History. Rich is a graduate of the George
Meany Center and has degrees in Labor
Education and Labor History. Recently he
has edited A History of the Iron Workers
Union and wrote the final chapter of
the 1896-2006 edition. Rich teaches the
History of the Iron Workers Union at our
annual apprenticeship training seminar
held at the University of San Diego. He
also teaches labor history at his home
local and other locals in the Chicago
District Council.
The evening ended with every one
singing a rousing rendition of “Solidarity
Forever.”
General President Joseph Hunt addressed the attendees and thanked
the Illinois Labor History Society for their recognition.
THE IRONWORKER
Local 63’s (Chicago) 21st Pin Party
25 Year Members
30 Year Members
First row, left to right: Louis Casillas, James Collins, Joseph Schuch
Jr., Billy Ketchum, Christopher Cook, Mitchell Harrington, Hector
Heredia, Robert Trevino, Arthur Scroggin, and Brian Nelson. Second
row, left to right: Walter Zabierek, Ronald Kelty, Steven Coleman,
Beau Heide, Michael Hauffe, Jeffrey Mitacek, William Mielzynski,
Mark Standley, Eric Dean, and Mark Corona.
First row, left to right: Anthony Soltero, William
Cavanaugh, James Amundson, and Scott Coleman.
Second row, left to right: Joseph Anast, Robert Anderson,
Stanley Wojcicki, Daniel Gundlach, and Daniel Butz.
35 Year Members
40 Year Members
First row, left to right: Philip Montalbano, Joseph Urso, Thomas Mach, Michael
Kosinski, Rollie Clark, James Douglas Sr., Thomas Dombek, Joseph Haras,
Thomas Raucci, Daniel Loftus, Steve Walenga, and Clyde Starks. Second row,
left to right: Charles Wieczorek, John Staar, Richard Rowe, Douglas Mika, Ownd
Maloney, Charles Crawley, Michael Hayes, Michael Japczyk, John Bell, Eugene
Grant, Steve Lucas, Wally Ritch, Lino Schinter, and Bruce Madiar.
First row, left to right: Frank Szczepaniak,
Robert Flowers, Russell Sprenger, Daniel
Coffman, and Donald Holt. Second row, left
to right: Donald Florek, Richard Traver,
James Tully, and Richard Beckett.
45 Year Members
50 Year Members
First row, left to right: Burton Wedow, Franz Reitmeier, William
Colby, Raymond Mussatto, Gregory Machak, and Joseph Schuch
Sr. Second row, left to right: Robert Mohr, Richard Schoon,
Melvin Lawson, Steve Canty, Stephen Horodny, and William
Voss.
First row, left to right: Charles Mussatto, Henry Lichte, Francis
Miller, and Albert Pagliuco. Second row, left to right: Roy
Williams, Richard Shivley, and Allen Hathaway.
FEBRUARY 2007
17
Local 63’s (Chicago) 21st Pin Party, continued
55 Year Members
60 Year Members
First row, left to right: Leonard Japczyk, William Norman,
and Robert Bach. Second row, left to right: James Morton and
Robert Berger.
First row: John Novak. Second row, left to right:
James Dinsmore and Francis Shea.
Local 92 (Birmingham, Ala.) Apprenticeship Training Program Graduates
First row, left to right: Derrick Daniels, Bradley Floyd, John Bryant,
Dustin South, Kenneth Evans, and Tyler Smiley. Second right, left
to right: David Miller, Charles Guthrie, Todd Johnson, Cary Wright,
Adam Lawley, Wesley Hacker, and Lamar Wilson.
Business Agent Larry Smith, Apprentice Coordinator John
Clement, Outstanding Apprentice Kenneth Evans, FST/
BM R.P. “Beaver” Nix, Apprentice Instructor Bart Maddox,
Apprentice Instructor Donnie Perry, and Apprentice
Instructor Tony Ledbetter.
Local 808 (Orlando, Fla.) Annual Holiday Retirement Party
18
THE IRONWORKER
Local 84 (Houston) Pin Presentations
30 Year Members
25 Year Members
Luann Prall and Charles Sieck with Local Union 84 officersBusiness Manager/FST Ed Vargocko, Executive Board
Member Stanley Anderson, and Trustee Doug Patterson.
Scott McCormick, Jimmy McCarthy, Eric Harvey, and Charles
“Pat” Hail with Local Union 84 officers - President Charles
Sieck, Vice President Luann Prall, Business Manager/FST
Ed Vargocko, Executive Board Member Stanley Anderson,
and Trustee Doug Patterson.
40 Year Members
45 Year Members
Charles Carter, Anthony Daigle, Loy Higgins, Arnold Honey, Ernest Mendoza,
Amos Mouser, John Reel, Wilber Shunka, and Floyd “Red” Wallace with Local
Union 84 officers - President Charles Sieck, Vice President Luann Prall,
Business Manager/FST Ed Vargocko, Executive Board Member Stanley
Anderson, and Trustee Doug Patterson.
Virgil Patterson with Local Union 84 officers - President
Charles Sieck, Vice President Luann Prall, Business
Manager/FST Ed Vargocko, Executive Board Member
Stanley Anderson, and Trustee Doug Patterson.
50 Year Members
Hollis Edmonson and Jake Marones with
Local Union 84 officers - President Charles
Sieck, Vice President Luann Prall, Business
Manager/FST Ed Vargocko, Executive Board
Member Stanley Anderson, and Trustee
Doug Patterson.
FEBRUARY 2007
55 Year Members
65 Year Members
Henry Hawn, Archie Bickley, and Harrel Crabb
with Local Union 84 officers - President Charles
Sieck, Vice President Luann Prall, Business
Manager/FST Ed Vargocko, Executive Board
Member Stanley Anderson, and Trustee Doug
Patterson.
Virgil Forehand and Jack King with
Local Union 84 officers - President
Charles Sieck, Vice President
Luann Prall, Business Manager/
FST Ed Vargocko, Executive Board
Member Stanley Anderson, and
Trustee Doug Patterson.
19
Local 401 (Philadelphia) Honors Retirees
Members with 25 Years of Service or More: Kneeling, left to right: Business Agent Charles Roberts, Business Agent George
Shepherdson, Business Manager Joseph Dougherty, Penn. State Senator Christine Tartaglione, President Edward Sweeney, James
Moran (honoree), and Executive Board Member Michael Casey. Standing, left to right: James Fitzpatrick (50 years), Trustee
Stephen DeMarco, Daniel Bargas (honoree), Matthew Wnek (honoree), Joseph Falco (50 years), Billy Joe Pyle Jr. (honoree), John
O’Brien Jr. (50 years), Thomas Kendorski (honoree), Don Tomalino (honoree), William Siemion (honoree), Frank Jones Sr. (65
years), Thomas Higgins (honoree), Howard Harris (50 years), Business Agent Owen McMullen, Charles Shultz Jr. (honoree),
Conductor Harry Graham, Executive Board Member David Cirone, Recording Secretary William O’Donnell, Executive Board
Member Francis O’Donnell, Executive Board Member Christopher Prophet, Vice President Francis Joyce, and Executive Board
Member John Joyce.
Local 22 (Indianapolis) Apprenticeship Graduation Banquet
First row, left to right: Instructor Allen Hartman, Instructor Rick New, President Ellis Hinkle, FST Ron Stinson, Apprenticeship
Secretary Susanne Marshall, Apprenticeship Coordinator Tom Mauser, Business Manager Jeff Stinson, and Business Agent Earnest
Thompson. Second row, left to right: Lance Walton, Jeff Stinson Jr., Jeremiah Correa, Khristopher Garner, Daron Howard, Mark
Starlin, Travis O’Neal, Dustin Catt, Donald Payton, Bub Sosbe, Rodney Lee, Instructor Nickolas Savory, Mark Breedlove, Instructor
Terry Harmon, and Executive Board Member Roland DeCastro. Not shown: Outstanding Apprentice Steven Sanqunetti.
20
THE IRONWORKER
Local 439 (Terre Haute, Ind.) Accepts New Membership
On September 5, 2006, Fourth General Vice President George Kratzer presented the obligation of membership to 11 new members
from the Clark County, Ill. Highway Department. The new members are the first members of the 439S (shop division) of Local
439. First row, left to right: Sergeant-at-Arms Don Wishmier, Trustee Gabe Boone, Conductor Brent Thompson, Executive Board
Member Tom Ramsey, Jeff Lawson, John Whitaker, Trustee Shane Smith, Executive Board Member Rick Stepp, President Mike
Jones, and Executive Board Member Jeff Setzer. Second row, left to right: Trustee Steve Hauger, retired Business Manager Calvin
Boone, International Representative Rick Clukey, Jason Scott, Rhett Herrington, Brett Higginbotham, Scott Wilhoit, Roy Sweet,
Gary Lewis, Robert Roan, Secretary Rhonda Cooper, Gene Kannmacher, Brad Burns, Amos Morgan, Business Manager Bill Pirtle,
VP/Recording Secretary Kent Tingley, Fourth General Vice President George Kratzer, and Organizer Tom Grable.
Local 580 (Tulsa, Okla.) 2006
Graduates Apprentices
2006 Graduates: Fernando Adames, Kurt Bazzurro,
Benjamin Burgos, Christopher Calaitges, Daniel
Clemente, Nicholas Clyne, Scott Coy, Dwayne Dacres,
Vincent Delprincipe, Adebanjo Fajemisin, Dennis
Glasgow, Eugene Gubenko, Chandlar Gunness,
Christopher Harris, Thomas Kilcullen, Michael
Mensah, Keno Miller, Michael Morales, Leroy Neil,
Elton O’Garro, Julio Reyes, Saida Rivera, Victor
Rodriguez, Steven Samatas, Lincoln Samuels,
Hans Victor, William Wilson and Sylvan Wiltshire.
Instructors: Scott Bavolar, James Bleck, Richard
Costante, Robert Maguire, Peter Marcyan, Gene
Matthews, Brendan McCormack, John Mescall, Dennis
Milton Jr., Eli Negron, Gary Nelson, Steve Ramputi,
and John Rauchfuss. Coordinator: Richard Falasca.
Graduating Apprentices of
Local 790 (San Francisco)
From left to right: Apprentice Coordinator
Erik Schmidli, Paul Ruiz Jr., Jesus Islas, Jose
Vazquez, and FST/BM Steven Fox.
FEBRUARY 2007
Local 401 (Philadelphia) Apprentice Graduations
Kneeling, left to right: President Edward Sweeney, Business Manager Joseph
Dougherty, and Vincent Black. Standing, left to right: Apprentice Coordinator
Frank Marsh, Josh Cashman, Patrick Walsh, Fred Ewing, William Leggett, Larry
Pascale, Joe Stone, Rob Sweeney, Joe Gatto, Bill Gillen, Patrick Walsh, Chris
Hannah, Frank Geist, Anthony Fantozzi, Patrick Heenan, Mike Gedraitis, Sean
Cannon, Apprentice Instructor Rondal Couser, Mike McAleer, Jason Clark, and
Artie King.
21
Local 11 (Newark, N.J.) Awards Dinner
25 Year Members
Seated, left to right: Bret Torppey,
Kevin Griswold, Tom Mell, Joe
Johnson, Howard Killen, Dave
Anderson, Kevin Markowski,
Jose Rivera, Joe Dametz, Jim
Leslie, and Matt Finn. Standing,
left to right: Financial Secretary/
Business Agent Joe Hickey, Pat
Ruane, President Mike Ruane,
Jay Foote, Walt Jelinsky, Ray
Woodall, George Warburton, and
Business Manager Bill Mullen.
30 Year Members
Seated, left to right: Jim North, Frank Klemm,
Sam Simone, Dominick Via, John Kociyan,
Bill Lawson, Joe McGrath, Mark McGrath,
Ed McGrath, Tim Hickey, and Danny Tafro.
Standing, left to right: Ken Moll, Ed Rue, Dave
Friedman, Ted Baryiewski, Marty Williamson,
President Mike Ruane, Ken Tuscano, Jose Soto,
Tom Rowland, Sam Mell, Financial Secretary/
Business Agent Joe Hickey, Harry Prather, Gary
Secallus, and Business Manager Bill Mullen.
35 Year Members
Seated, left to right: Charlie Donnelly, Russell Ball, Frank Mizer, Tony Abate, Pete Gassert, Paul Glaab, Larry Billings, Ken Lalley,
Jim O’Grady, Bob Conway, Bob Carbone, Pete Knauer, Dennis Ryan, Jim Kennedy, and Ken Carolan. Standing, left to right: Gary
Michaux, Bill Griswold, John Rich, John Crystal, Bill Ryan, Chuck Kozel, Tom Ryan, Vinny Petruziello, Joe Burzinski, Frank
Stanek, Bill Knudson, Joe Turpack, Louis Ferrari, Joe Hickey, Ray Lloyd, Anthony Pontrelli, Jim Bodino, Paul Hughes, President
Mike Ruane, Tony Kupris, Frank Cook, John Danielson, Vollie Wright, Al Simpkins, Joe Popek, Jose Soto, Harold Kinney, Gary
Ugaro, Gary McManus, Joe Landers, Mike James, Pat Cianicullo, Charlie DeJohn, and Bill Mullen.
40 Year Members
Seated, left to right: Robert Ruane, Frank Klemm
Sr., Dave Mell, Mort Kelleher, Ed Barker, and Norm
Gramlich. Standing, left to right: Financial Secretary/
Business Agent Joe Hickey, Tom Edgley, Tom Kellett,
Robert Hornung, President Mike Ruanne, and
Business Manager Bill Mullen.
22
THE IRONWORKER
Local 11 (Newark, N.J.) Awards Dinner, continued
45 Year Members
Seated, left to right: Bob Everton, Herb
Neander, Tom Naso, Frank Dowd, Frank
Rowland, Hubert Green, Ralph Grisi,
George Woodall, Larry McGrath, and Carl
Conover. Standing, left to right: Financial
Secretary/Business Agent Joe Hickey,
President Mike Ruane, Sal Dattillo,
Angelo Naso, Jim Norris, Tom Piller, Frank
Golomb, Tom Opanowicz, Joe “BM” Curran,
and Business Manager Bill Mullen
50 Year Members
Seated, left to right: Tom Gibbons, Joe Griswold,
Ray Heaney, Enoch McMahan, George Cole, Pat
Ruane, and Frank Jelinski. Standing, left to right:
President Mike Ruane, Financial Secretary/
Business Agent Joe Hickey, Frank Tully, Tony
Giorgio, Harry McFadden, Bill Mason, Jack
Philbin, Jim Leslie, and Business Manager Bill
Mullen.
55 Year Members
Seated, left to right: Frank Rice, George Rice, Al
Hess, Bernard Carnivale, Al Malnak, John Torppey,
and Charles McFadden Sr. Standing, left to right:
Financial Secretary/Business Agent Joe Hickey, Mike
Gorman, Business Manager Bill Mullen, President
Mike Ruane, Ed Philbin, and Jack McGrath.
60 Year Members
Seated, left to right: Sam Mell, Walter Kenny, and
Ed McGrath. Standing, left to right: Financial
Secretary/Business Agent Joe Hickey, President
Mike Ruane, and Business Manager Bill Mullen.
FEBRUARY 2007
23
Pins Presented at Local 477 (Sheffield, Ala.)
30 Year Members
35 Year Members
40 Year Members
45 Year Members
Owen McGee and Dennis
Bretherick.
Thomas Thrasher
Donnie Carson and
James Williams.
Lawrence Kimbrough, Russell Mitchell,
and Johnny Henson.
50 Year Members
55 Year Members
Neler K eeton, L.C. Jones, and
Horace James.
Clarence Legg, Malcolm King, Evan Ganus, J.C. Fowler,
and Paul Bowling.
2006 Graduating Class of Local 67 (Des Moines, Iowa)
Apprenticeship Program
First row, left to right: LaQuetta Ward, Arlo Wanatee, Leon Bear Jr., and Jay
Bear Sr. Second row, left to right: Frank Harlan, Chris Colby, Shayne Kaster,
Andy Harkin, and Jesse Blum. Third row, left to right: FST/BM Steve Ruepke,
President Mike Alitz, Instructor Nick Franklin, Apprentice Coordinator James
Watt, and Instructor Phill Anctil.
24
65 Year
Members
Thomas McMurtrey
55 Year Pin
Brother Carl Harless, Local 384 (Houston)
receives his 55-year membership pin from
President Douglas Sexton and Business
Manager Steve Kirkland.
THE IRONWORKER
Local 380 (Champaign, Ill.) Honors Members and Apprentices
Outstanding Apprentice
from Class of 2002 Chris
Fluegge.
Outstanding Apprentice
from Class of 2003
Jeremy Ochs.
Graduating Apprentice Class of
2004 Tim Zoch and Rodney Cole.
Not pictured: Jared West
Outstanding Apprentices from
Class of 2005 Larry Morgan and
Charles Black.
Graduating Apprentice Class of 2003
Jeremy Ochs and Michael Parrish.
Not pictured: Don Spencer and Brent
Vinson.
Outstanding Apprentice
from Class of 2006 Adam
Alvis.
Graduating Apprentice Class of 2006, left to right,
Aden Harper, Adam Alvis, Toby Brown, Joe Denno,
and Nate Evans. Not pictured: David Budnovich,
Carl Calton, Doug Earl, John Neuner, and Jade
Tavenner.
25 Year Members
30 Year Members
Left to right: Ken Oyer, Richard Kinder, Keith Roderick, David
Benningfield, and Greg Kite. Not pictured: Michael Boothe,
Eric Bradford, David Freeman, Trenton Gabbard, William
Grimes Jr., Gene Hart, Robert Lenover, John Low, Stanley
Melecosky, Robert Miner, Walter Peacock, Clyde Pool, James
Schroeder, Marty Sigler, Robert Smith, and Harold Wiles.
Left to right: Timothy O’Neill, Chester Culbertson, Danny
Schaub, Denny Fendley, Keith Gaesser, Walter Hatfield, David
Frerichs, Stephen Lain, and Duward Ramert. Not pictured:
James Albers, Mario Biava, Hobart Dixon, Kenneth Downs,
David Gravely, Gregory Harbin, Robert Johnson, Edward Krauss,
William Parsons, Steven Sheehan, John Shilts, Edward Spencer,
and William Wilhelm.
FEBRUARY 2007
25
Local 380 (Champaign, Ill.) Honors Members and Apprentices, continued
35 Year Members
Left to right: Wayne Hill, Brian Diskin, John
Benningfield, Mack Brown, Wendell Perry,
Jack Roderick, Harlin Park, and Wallace
Bell. Not pictured:
David Allen, John
Carter, Merle Cook, Charles Dubois, Robert
Gabbard, Marion Hazel, Ronald Lingafelter,
Charles Newell, Gary Pulliam, Jack Sandlin,
Delmar Schantz, Stephen Shumate, and
John Stultz.
40 Year Members
First row, left to right: Carl Carter, Lloyd
Carter, David Hester, Gene Combs, and
William McQueen. Second row, left to right:
Cyril Diskin, Riley Carter, William Bohlen,
Harold Dobbs, David Ash, and Don Spencer.
Not pictured: Jack Anderson, James Carlton,
William Curtis, Thomas Elbs, John Hill,
Glen Hutton, David Jeffers, Lawrence Long,
Larry Payton, Robert Porter, Charles Snider,
Bernie Stabler, and Phillip Stultz.
50 Year Members
Not pictured: William Grimes Sr., Harold Henson, Robert Lutz, Jack Myers, and Norman Spencer.
45 Year Members
55 Year Members
Left to right: James Depratt, James Marshall,
and Bobby Benningfield.
Left to right: Wilbur Spencer, James Lockwood,
and Edwin Anderson. Not pictured: Charles
Garner
26
60 Year Members
Donald Cox Sr.
Not pictured: Kenneth
Jordan, Loel Pfoff, Tracy
Stevenson, and Jesse
Swinford.
THE IRONWORKER
Local 111 (Rock Island, Ill.) Member Awards
10 Year Members
15 Year Members
25 Year Members
First row, left to right: FST/BM Michael
Wilcher, Richard Storjohann, Shane
Spangler, and Kyle Hendircks. Second
row, left to right: Travis Stewart, and
President Michael Ortega. Not pictured:
Dennis McFate, Jason Awalt, Trent
Bevans, and Bill Green.
First row, left to right: FST/BM Michael
Wilcher, Jay DeValkenaere, Scot Lind, and
President Michael Ortega. Not pictured:
Brian Jasper, Rick Meirhaeghe, Mike
Muntean, Chris Peterson, Gary Schultz,
and Don Welsh.
First row, left to right: Tom Green,
Dave Stoller, Jeff Hartman, and Larry
Lind. Second row, left to right: FST/
BM Michael Wilcher, Dave Pence, Greg
Benischek, Bryon Keltner, Bill Pontzius,
President Michael Ortega, and Bud Felts.
Not pictured: Randy Finch, Gary Gentz,
Jay Hamann, and Tom Hanson.
30 Year Members
35 Year Members
40 Year Members
First row, left to right: Steve Schuey,
Phil McNaught, Paul Lowe, and Ron
Noll. Second row, left to right: FST/BM
Michael Wilcher, Dan Dugan, Larry
Atkins Manuel James, and President
Michael Ortega. Not pictured: Dick
Duncan, Dave Hilgendorf, Kevin Karau,
George Melvin, Mark Spooner, Dave Star,
Dave Steinbeck, and Jeff Littrell.
First row, left to right: FST/BM Michael
Wilcher, Mike Carlson, Jim McGimpsey,
Mark McLuaghlin, Randy Schaeffer,
Evin Kohler, and President Michael
Ortega. Not pictured: Steve Dugan, Ken
Foor, Frank Meirhaeghe, Robert Riley
Dick Carson, and Jackie Simpkins.
First row, left to right: FST/BM Michael
Wilcher, Mike Lanier, Gary Pangburn,
Ralph Newberry, Gary Langan, and
President Michael Ortega. Not pictured:
Jim Bevans and James Heikes.
(No picture
available)
45 Year Members
50 Year Members
55 Year Members
60 Year Members
Not Pictured: Maurice
Gavin,
Leo
Gotchel,
Walter Scott, and Bernie
Schoonover.
First row, left to right:
FST/BM Michael Wilcher,
Jo h n H a r t m a n , a n d
President Michael Ortega.
Not pictured: Jim Huskey
and Herman Crow.
First row, left to right:
FST/BM Michael Wilcher,
Ted Wilcher, and President
Michael Ortega.
First row, left to right: FST/BM Michael
Wilcher, Bill Santee, “Boomer” Gavin, and
President Michael Ortega. Not pictured:
Howard Weeks.
65 Year Members
Not pictured: Wayne Lucas.
FEBRUARY 2007
27
Local 21 (Omaha) Pin Party
20 Year Members
25 Year Members
Left to right: President/Organizer Ron Oates, Brian Amundsen,
Dave Johnson, Dave Monjarez, Jeff Dewitt, Edward Bailey, and
Business Manager Mike Baker.
Left to right: President/Organizer Ron Oates, Dave Thompson,
Brad Hofeling, Ace Anderson, Alan Pieper, Don Zeisler, and
Business Manager Mike Baker.
30 Year Members
35 Year Members
Left to right: Steve Iverson, Mike Scoles, Ronnie Rydberg, Jim
Borrenpohl, Bill Biede, Dennis McGraw, President/Organizer
Ron Oates, Jeff Whisler, Donny Rowley, Morgan Vanover,
Reverend Mike Reed, Vyrl Blum, Tim Dewitt, George Macht, Leo
Dewitt, Doug Kruger, Ron Mehser, Roy Bleich, Pat Duffey, and
Business Manager Mike Baker.
Left to right: Fish Boy Frank Briggs, Pat Obrien, Bill Pilant,
Phil Drickey, Ed Olsufka, Harold Debrie, President/Organizer
Ron Oates, Bob Harris, Rodney Mather, Jim Drake, John Nun,
Roger Shoenrock, Joseph Whisler, Ron Munstermann, Mark
Kowal, Bob Oates, Dan Caskey, Dave Oldenburg, Joe Fleck,
Roger Beargeon, Fred Wetzel, and Business Manager Mike
Baker
40 Year Members
45 Year Members
Left to r i g h t: P r e s i d e n t / Or g a n i ze r R o n Oa t es, Fr ank
Urzendowski, Bill Harden, Jerry Bailey, Dave Barnes, Mike
Mcdonald, Red Jensen, and Business Manager Mike Baker.
Left to right: Norm Frederking, Bill Mcdonald, Ward Bailey,
Harley Goings, Jack Bursovsky, Doyle Leroy, Donald Uhe,
President/Organizer Ron Oates, Leonard Lyons, Ed Micheels,
and Business Manager Mike Baker.
28
THE IRONWORKER
Local 21 (Omaha) Pin Party, continued
50 Year Members
55 Year Members
60 Year Members
Left to right: President/Organizer Ron
Oates, Gary Albers, John “Blackey”
Porter, Edward Jergens, Harold Dutcher,
Jo Huettner, Herb Blum, Gordon
Mcdonald, Jerry Henriksen, Dave Price,
and Business Manager Mike Baker.
Left to right: President/Organizer Ron
Oates, Leonard Frecks, Clarence Porter,
Paul Nagel, Rich Kowal, Lester Debrie,
Jerry Conway, Kaj Laursen, and Business
Manager Mike Baker.
Left to right: President/Organizer Ron
Oates, Mark “Junior” Bermel, Keith
Knight, Jimmy Huff, Claude Reid, and
Business Manager Mike Baker.
Outstanding Apprentice Troy Sauter
Local 89 (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) Graduation Class
Kneeling, left to right: Cody Knepper, Troy Sauter, Chris Ermer, and Matt Borchardt.
Standing, left to right: Trustee Sean Freeman, Louis Carr, Instructor Zach Gorman,
Instructor Don Knepper, Instructor Jeff Usher, and Apprentice Coordinator Terry Usher.
Local 591 (Shreveport, La.)
Honors Longstanding Members
First row, left to right: Bobby Davis, C.W. Grubbs,
Leo Dennington, M.E. Lyles, S.A. Wellborn,
Wesley Griffin, Robert Tyler, and Billy Lawson.
Second row, left to right: Clarence Hill, Odis
MC Williams, Martin James, Bobby Gilmer,
Marshall House, Joe Russell, Frankie Thomas,
and Ray Akes. Third row, left to right: Harb
Thomas, Tommy Hill, Dowl Carter, Bruce Terrell,
Russell Shelton, Ray Carter, and BM/FST Robert
Troquille.
FEBRUARY 2007
29
Local 25(Detroit) Honors Members for Years of Service
New Retirees
25 Year Members
First row, left to right: Glen Delorey, Marty Hill, John Nusselt,
John Miller, Larry Puchalsky, and Michael Fry. Second row,
left to right: Mark Miller, Jim Dietz, Bruce Callow, Chuck
“Shooter” Beatty, Don Joyner, Dale Fisher, Dave Hamilton, and
Mike Seagraves.
First row, left to right: John Vingsness, Tom Sego, Scott Bruce, John McKinnon,
Steve Smolinski, Dennis Rappuhn, and Mike Vaughn. Second row, left to right:
Charles Foce, Bob Sabaitis, Douglas Woods, Ed Walsh, and Paul Smith. Third
Row, left to right: James Wright, Ken Anderson, Richard Daniels, and Keith
Reddmann. Fourth row, left to right: Ken Knurick, Mark Rushlow, Chris Lee,
Dave Zimmerman, Harvey Weglarz, and George Young.
30 Year Members
First row, left to right: Bruce Callow, James Dietz, Dale
Fisher, and Gary Keys. Second row, left to right: Bob Couts,
Tim Rushlow, Terry Jankowske, and Dennis Fortune.
35 Year Members
Left to right: Jim Eddy, Steve Gulick, John Kelly, Jim Hayes,
Robert Gorte, and Clyde Fisher.
40 Year Members
45 Year
First row, left to right: Richard Lamphier, Joe Chavis,
Members
Grant Smith, David Gonzalez, Edmund J. LaLonde, Frenchy Left to right: John E.
Lamothe, Cecil Kline, and Marcel Pronovost. Second row, left Bradley Jr., and Walter
to right: Joe Wojcik, Roy Cottongim, John Kilroy, Ray Manyen, Hembree.
Garry Johnson, Carl Larson, and Edward McCraw Jr.
55 Year Members
First row, left to right:
Franklin West, Bob Vaughn,
and Marion “Buck” Riley.
Second row, left to right:
Leonard Stanfield, Ralph
Walker, Walter Cox, Horace
Brake, and Fred Cook.
30
50 Year Members
First row, left to right: Bill Palmer, Masil
Miller, J. B. Cline, Harold Gumtow, Henry
“Hank” Johnson. Second row, left to right:
Whilden Perry, Jerry Smith, Robert
Duncan, Jack Baldwin, and Bill Crews.
60 Year
Members
Left to right: Louis
Burr, Don “Squirt”
Allen, Howard
Peschke, George
Goodison, and
Eugene Pichan.
THE IRONWORKER
Local 700 (Windsor, Ontario) 60th Anniversary Celebration
25 Year Members
30 Year Members
35 Year Members
40 Year Members
45 Year Members
50 Year Members
FEBRUARY 2007
55 Year Members
31
OFFICIAL MONTHLY
RECORD
L.U. Member
No. Number
Name
Claim
Number
Amount
APPROVED DEATH CLAIMS FOR NOVEMBER 2006
1
752685 MANGOGNA, VINCENT P.
93996
2,000.00
97 839639 SMITH, WILLIAM H.
94010
2,000.00
502 364424 POLLOCK, BENJAMIN
94060
2,000.00
1
931369 WEILER, BRETT H.
93975
2,000.00
97 432319 SPURVEY, ALPHONSE
94011
2,000.00
502 1256557 WOJNAR, LEONARD M.
94061
1,750.00
3
182426 GILLESPIE, BOE W.
94049
2,000.00
111 830458 WOOD, LOREN J.
93980
2,000.00
506 348851 WISDAHL, RALPH W.
93988
2,000.00
3
433631 HANNA, ROBERT L.
94071
2,000.00
118 432554 DAWES, JAMES W.
94032
2,000.00
512 536461 TREADO, CLIFFORD
94062
2,000.00
3
922595 THOMPSON, JAMES E.
94050
2,000.00
135 390863 SPOONEMORE, FORREST
94083
2,000.00
518 1313092 BELKNAP, ARTHUR J.
93989
1,400.00
5
811670 MUSANTE, ROBERT L.
94051
2,000.00
136 593717 PELLEGRINI, ROCCO A.
94002
2,000.00
521 482426 EVANS, ROBERT
94064
1,750.00
6
394489 JIMERSON, RAYMOND A.
93997
2,000.00
201 566517 HEISTON, JOHN B.
94056
2,000.00
535 1275191 HARRIS, LLOYD J.
94093
1,750.00
6
368081 MOSHER, ROBERT L.
93998
2,000.00
229 1166222 GLEDHILL, CHARLES P.
93981
1,750.00
550 479384 WENDLING, KENNETH K.
93990
2,000.00
6
609334 ZAKEN, CHARLES L.
94025
2,000.00
301 493001 SEARLS, CALVIN L.
94085
2,000.00
580 1081582 O LEARY, MARTIN J.
93991
1,750.00
8
982075 MARRA, MICHAEL J.
93976
2,000.00
321 343423 BECK, CLIFTON
94033
2,000.00
580 1319939 SEPE, MICHAEL
94039
1,150.00
9
363784 NAGY, STEVE
94072
2,000.00
361 687131 DONNELLAN, JAMES
94018
2,000.00
584 532275 DOSS, CLYDE E.
94063
2,000.00
10 135820 BENNETT, RAYNARD W.
94052
2,000.00
361 1291293 GARRAMONE, JOHN M.
94086
1,400.00
597 264342 SIMMONS, ELBERT D.
93992
2,000.00
11 1316136 LAWSON, JAMAL
94026
4,600.00
361 588832 KLARMANN, FREDERICK W. 93982
2,000.00
623 1205483 ALLEN, ALAN N.
94040
1,750.00
11 480191 MOONEY, JAMES P.
94073
2,000.00
373 1286456 MC CLAIN, SEAN
94003
1,750.00
625 685550 TOTTEN, ABRAHAM K.
94094
2,000.00
15 479424 BURKE, P J.
93977
2,000.00
377 1323396 HYDE, JERRY A.
94004
1,150.00
700 853379 FERGUSON, KENNETH W.
94047
2,000.00
16 778010 HOLTZNER, WILLIAM F.
93978
2,000.00
383 427620 SLOMINSKI, JULIUS P.
94034
2,000.00
704 473690 WARREN, JAMES L.
93993
2,000.00
17 405185 BOMMER, RAYMOND G.
93999
2,000.00
387 471289 GRAHAM, CARROLL D.
94019
2,000.00
704 778382 WATERS, MARION
94041
2,000.00
17 786645 DOCKERY III, SAMUEL E.
94027
2,000.00
387 348706 SLATON, W E.
94035
2,000.00
711 625927 CAMPAGNA, HERMAN
94068
2,000.00
17 267499 INGERSOLL, LESTER E.
94028
2,000.00
395 948690 GRUBE, JOHN R.
94005
2,000.00
712 1269262 GABAT, DOMINADOR S.
94048
1,750.00
21 1224941 SUTTON, CLARENCE
93979
1,750.00
396 802490 HADLER, ROBERT E.
93983
2,000.00
721 469806 FERLATTE, CLEMENT
94069
2,000.00
22 788113 SINN, MICHAEL
94012
2,000.00
396 591086 MORTON, EARL W.
94087
2,000.00
721 579851 KINGSLEY, HAROLD
94096
2,000.00
29 942955 VAN LOO, GEORGE H.
94013
2,000.00
396 684427 SYMNS, JOHN W.
93984
2,000.00
721 746967 MAC ISAAC, JOHN
94097
2,000.00
33 592723 WHITE, ALVIN E.
94074
2,000.00
397 1204077 MCCLELLAND, CLAUDE B. 94088
1,750.00
726 510751 CHAFINS, SPENCER
94042
2,000.00
36 366472 POSH, LOUIS J.
94014
2,000.00
401 1348820 HENRY, DAVID T.
500.00
732 290869 SHAVER, VICTOR L.
93994
2,000.00
40 372881 JOCKS, HARVEY
94075
2,000.00
401 898776 MOONEY, JOSEPH P.
94090
2,000.00
736 992279 DITNER, JAMES L.
94099
2,000.00
40 769722 LEARY, JEFFREY F.
94076
2,000.00
401 728905 SMITH, ROBERT G.
94091
2,000.00
736 992282 KOEHLER, KEITH M.
94098
2,000.00
40 860271 MURPHY, WILLIAM R.
94077
2,000.00
402 776143 LUKE, JOHN P.
93985
2,000.00
736 582136 MONTGOMERY, BLAINE
94100
2,000.00
94089
40 1214610 PALMENTA, JAMES
94078
1,750.00
405 320464 DOUGHERTY, WILLIAM J.
94057
2,000.00
736 639543 O NEILL, DANIEL J.
93995
2,000.00
40 580024 PALMQUIST, LEO
94079
2,000.00
405 612345 GORDON, JOSEPH J.
94006
2,000.00
765 1317446 TURPIN, MICHEL
94070
1,400.00
55 767517 BEE, LUTHER G.
94053
2,000.00
416 593682 BONILLA, RUDOLPH
94036
2,000.00
798 931383 GARDNER, JOE C.
94043
2,000.00
55 352438 TATRO, ROBERT J.
94055
2,000.00
416 852734 REEVES, JOHN A.
94058
2,000.00
808 175633 LYNES, MARVIN
94024
2,000.00
55 612250 WALTERS, ROBERT C.
94029
2,000.00
417 686668 WEEDEN, JOSEPH
94020
2,000.00
808 796733 SENN, WILLIAM R.
94044
2,000.00
60 552736 LAFLAMME, CHARLES W.
94015
2,000.00
420 863181 WASIK, ANTHONY F.
94037
2,000.00
824 1284582 BIGELOW, DARREN L.
94065
1,750.00
60 253934 SMOKE, LEO
94080
2,000.00
433 475715 ALLEN, ROBERT J.
94059
2,000.00
824 1154853 POTTER, PATRICK
94066
1,750.00
63 659160 HARNED, RON
94081
2,000.00
433 662936 LONG, JOHN R.
94021
2,000.00
63 587593 STANCZUK, STANLEY
94082
2,000.00
433 539325 PIERCE, HOBERT H.
94022
2,000.00
67 649043 BENNETT, ROBERT D.
94016
2,000.00
440 629982 SUNDAY, ROBERT T.
94023
2,000.00
67 393800 WHEATLY, THOMAS D.
94030
2,000.00
455 467996 KOKULAK, ALEX
94007
2,000.00
75 425490 WILLIAMS, ROBERT C.
94031
2,000.00
469 327446 ROBINSON, WILLIAM D.
93986
2,000.00
84 442674 HAMMOCK, ARTHUR W.
94000
2,000.00
473 294678 BANKS, LESTER G.
94092
2,000.00
84 718429 THOMPSON, BEMAN L.
94001
2,000.00
473 343104 ESTES, HOWARD
93987
2,000.00
89 1343222 BESLER, THOMAS M.
94017
500.00
492 512194 HARRIS, PAUL B.
94008
2,000.00
97 382365 KOHLS, ELMER
94009
2,000.00
502 370473 ABRAHAM, ALBERT
94038
2,000.00
32
TOTAL DEATH BENEFITS PAID:..................232,850.00
DISAPPROVED DEATH CLAIMS FOR NOVEMBER 2006
36 506278 WEISS, WILLIAM W.
94045
IN ARREARS
301 665839 SEARLS, MELVIN L.
94046
IN ARREARS
416 1354343 REDSTEER, ARNOLD W.
94095
NOT 12 MOS
MEMBER
THE IRONWORKER
General
Treasurer’s
Page
Changes To Meet Ironworkers
Needs of Today and Tomorrow
T
wo major changes affecting our International Old Age and Disability pensioners, adopted by the delegates of the 41st
International Convention, became effective on
January 1, 2007. As contained in Circular Letter No. 833, Article XXV, Sections 1-15 entitled
“Old Age and Disability Pensions” was deleted
and replaced with that of “Lifetime Honorary
Member.” This amendment to our constitution
will affect our existing members classified as
“pensioners” and future retirees in two ways.
First, it eliminated the payment of the annual Old Age and Disability Pension check
starting in 2007. This applies only to the annual check received from the Old Age and Disability Pension Fund and has no effect on any
pension received from a local union or district
WALTER WISE
council pension fund.
General Treasurer
The Old Age and Disability Pension Fund
was established in 1964 at a time when few
local unions or district councils provided pensions. Today, pension funds have grown and
shoulder the responsibility for retirement income.
The benefit provided by the
An increased membership is necInternational’s Old Age and
essary to provide the stability and
Disability Pension Fund
security for a retirement with dignity. has decreased from $600
per year at its inception to a
It is one of the many reasons orgameager $16.54 in 2006 and
nizing is paramount to our survival,
would continue to decrease
as we all have a stake in its success.
to zero, as more “baby boomers” become pensioners. In
the General Treasurer’s
Report of The Ironworker (October 2006, page
124), a detailed explanation was given as to
why this action became necessary. The Old
Age and Disability Pension Fund assessment
of $1.50 per month was rolled over into the per
capita tax to offset the costs of lifetime membership.
All assets of the Old Age and Disability
Pension Fund were disbursed to the nearly
19,000 participants and their final check was
mailed to the local unions in January 2007 for
distribution.
Second, with the closing of the Old Age and
Disability Pension Fund, the member classification of “Pensioner” was replaced with the
new classification of “Lifetime Honorary Mem-
“
’’
ber.” The criteria for application as a lifetime
member remains the same as the “pensioner”
requirements: Twenty-five (25) years of continuous membership and at least sixty-five (65)
years of age or twenty (20) years of continuous
membership with documented permanent disability sustained from working at the trade.
The new lifetime member gold card was
mailed directly to all former pensioners. Lifetime members will be entitled to the following
benefits of membership:
1. Lifetime members are no longer responsible
for the payment of any dues or assessments
levied by the International Association.
2. The “Lifetime” card serves as the member’s
receipt that they are and will remain a
member in good standing of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers.
3. Lifetime members will automatically maintain their eligibility for the International
Death Fund Benefit and will receive an increased benefit from $2,000 to $2,200.
4. A lifetime member’s right to attend and participate in local union meetings and elections remain the same as those enjoyed as a
pensioner or honorary member under their
local union bylaws.
These changes will ensure the continued
participation of our retired members in their
union, and guarantee their eligibility in an
improved Death Benefit Fund. Unfortunately,
the elimination of the Old Age and Disability
Pension Fund illustrates the vulnerability of
retirement benefits when faced with a growing retiree population and a shrinking active
membership. The growth of our market share
is a requirement for growing our membership.
An increased membership is necessary to provide the stability and security for a retirement
with dignity. It is one of the many reasons organizing is paramount to our survival, as we
all have a stake in its success.
1750 New York Ave., N.W.
Suite 400
Washington, D.C. 20006
Local Union 5 (Washington, D.C.)
at the Newseum Project
in Washington, D.C.