The Mid-Atlantic LABORER Magazine

14217x2.qxp
10/4/2005
3:57 PM
Page 1
Articulos en espanol paginas 3, 5 y 8
LABORERS’ ON TIME AND SAFE
Remember P laying I t S afe...Has I ts R ewards
he "Laborers On Time and Safe" (LOTS) program is a safety-incentive program for members. Members
earn the awards by working hours without a lost-time accident and by maintaining an outstanding record
of on-time attendance. Mid-Atlantic LECET just changed all of the awards. Be sure to contact your Business
Agent to determine participation and see a brochure with the new awards items.
T
me
n Ti
rs O afe
e
r
o
b
La and S
oject
ific pr
spec employer
for a
ry
ing.
sored signato
stand
spon
or
good ception:
ay be anager rers in
Ex
m
t.
me
m
e sa
ess M to Labo ed projec
ogra
by th
Busin
ov
ds Pr
ble
Awar Union ly availa an appr projects
r
of
on
Safety a Local
he
n
”
is
ot
tio
.
time
“LOTS est of program the dura rred to ith them
a lostThe
sfe
t
w
er
requ e. The
s
an
ou
ov
e
.
ith
ed
rs tr ork hour
at th entativ
ted w ndance
earn
bore
w
es
urs lis time atte
ay be oval, La earned
repr
e ho
iring
pr
ds m
eir
ng th rd of on
acqu ked.
ki
Awar prior ap carry th
or
ds
w
co
or
war
With er, may
ed by anding re
e to l hours w uding
oy
earn
ta
tst
mulat
incl
empl
accu your to
can be an ou
urs,
not
ctured ntaining
from earn ho
ai
ds do
ds pi
n
cted
awar are dedu you ca
k
Awar nt and m
r
fo
l wor
which
ed in
accide
ce, al
ed in
cash urs cash ards for onsored.
ndan
urs
ho
e atte
The many aw project sp
k ho
on tim
Wor awards.
e
ion
pse in
r
m as ring th
l Un
othe ay clai
or la ed.
Loca siness
, du
nt
ur
ds
m
de
as
inci t are er
You ate awar
n Bu
tify yo
time
ic
d no cal Unio
lost that poin
dupl
Lo
urs an
nce a
to
ork ho award. ployer.
or
perie ated up
w
ex
n
an
u
tings
em
for
If yo accumul
ur ow
Mee 2 too 3
your
s
of yo eligible
rship
w
ack
hour
ts with
embe easee allo
ep tr you are d reques
Pl
ion M
ld ke
shou believe all awar
cal Un taken.
You
at Lo may be
rify
you
rs
ve
n
ne
in
tion
whe ers will
to w
enta
ag
ented the pres
Man
pres
of
ill be ctures awards.
Pi
ds w
e
CK!!
Awar e jobsite. ery of th
D LU
GOO
on th for deliv
weeks
fe
it sa
ying ds!
n pliats rewar
e
h
W has
...
360 hours
Embroidered Hat
800 hours
Mag-Lite Flashlight
T
1200 hours
Roadside Safety Kit
1600 hours
Laborers Hunting Knife
To update your address or if you wish to be removed from the mailing list for
all LIUNA publications please send a letter with your membership number to:
Laborers’ International Union of North America
Mid-Atlantic Region
12355 Sunrise Valley Drive
Suite 240
Reston, VA 20191
2000 hours
Three-in-One Jacket
PRESORTED STND
US POSTAGE
PAID
WASHINGTON, DC
PERMIT #3070
visit us on the web: www.malaborers.org
Summer/Fall 2005
MID-A
ATLANTIC LABORER
(SERVING MEMBERS IN PA, MD, VA, NC, WV AND D.C.)
Political Action
Attendance and
Participation at
Union Meetings
ORGANIZE
All of these add up to a
true UNION MEMBER!
LABORERS’ INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA
MID-ATLANTIC REGION
14217x2.qxp
10/4/2005
3:57 PM
Page 2
WELCOME
IN APPRECIATION
The cover photo....taken by photographer Clark Jones, captures just a
small portion of the volunteers joining in support of Unite-HERE at
their rally in Atlantic City, NJ. Thousands of striking casino-hotel
workers staged a peaceful rally to protest stalled contract talks with
seven casinos, it wasn’t long before the marchers took their protest to
the street.
JUSTIN E. MEIGHAN
MID-ATLANTIC LECET
DIRECTOR
Pacific Avenue, one of the city's major roadways, was shut down for
nearly two hours on Saturday after the group of about 10,000 people
— including members of the Laborers’ International Union of North
America, who had arrived by bus loads that morning, and casino
workers from other cities who came to support the members of Local
54 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees union — left
the sidewalk and began marching on the highway.
MAL
LECE
ET BOAR
RD OF TRUSTE
EES
Dennis L. Martire
Chairman
Laborers’ International Union
of North America
Gene A. Pinder
Baltimore/Washington
Laborers’ District Council
Paul A. Quarantillo
Laborers’ District Council of
Western Pennsylvania
Wade H. Stevens, Jr.
Philadelphia and Vicinity
Laborers’ District Council
Daniel L. Woodall, Jr.
Philadelphia and Vicinity
Laborers’ District Council
Gary O. Tillis
West Virginia Laborers’
District Council
Business M anager, J ohn M cManus R etires
STEPHEN J. LANNING
MAROC
DIRECTOR
TABLE OF CONTENTS
George P. Maloney
Co-Chairman
Helix Construction Services
Message from the Vice President
Are You a Union Member.........page 3
Stephen T. Kimball
Kimball Construction
Union Members Speak Out........page 4
Terrence M. McDonough
Keystone Contractors
Association
Social Security/Pension
Is your Future Secure...................page 6
Jonathan S. Deutsch
Constructors’ Labor Council
of West Virginia
MAROC......................................page 8
Jack W. Ramage
Master Builder’s Association of
Western Pennsylvania, Inc.
Joseph A. Barilotti, Sr.
Employing Bricklayers
Association
Wetzel E. Harvey
Neutral Trustee
MAR
ROC BOAR
RD OF DELEGATE
ES
Dennis L. Martire, Chairman
Laborers’ International Union of North America
Gene A. Pinder
Baltimore/Washington
Laborers’ District Council
Gary O. Tillis
West Virginia Laborers’
District Council
Paul A. Quarantillo
Laborers’ District Council
of Western Pennsylvania
Robert H. Myers
Virginia/North Carolina
Laborers’ District Council
Wade H. Stevens, Jr.
Philadelphia and Vicinity
Laborers’ District Council
Richard Yost
Eastern Pennsylvania Laborers’
District Council
fter 36 years as a member of Local 373, Business Manager John McManus
retired on February 1 of this year. He worked in the field as a brick
tender for various contractors until June of 1979, when he became a Field
Representative. Before taking over as Business Manager in May of 1997, he had
held the Recording Secretary, Secretary-Treasurer, and President's positions.
A
In his years in office, he was also a member of many different boards and committees. Some of these include: Trustee of Laborers’ Combined Funds and
Laborers’ Training Fund, member of Apprenticeship Committee, PA State
Building Trades Political Action Committee, International Foundation of
Employee Benefits Plan, and the Pittsburgh Workers Owner Council. In 2001,
he was elected President of the Pittsburgh Regional Building Trades, becoming
the first laborer to hold such a high position in a large Building Trades
association.
"Mac", as he is affectionately known, was very passionate about his job. He always fought on the members
behalf to improve working conditions, health care benefits, and the Laborers' standing in the workforce. He
has helped to make Local 373 one of the strongest locals in the Mid-Atlantic region. He will be sorely missed,
to say the least. All the best is wished for he and his family in his retirement.
West Virginia Laborers’
District Council........................page 9
Business M anager, L . D ennis M artire R etires
Eastern Pennsylvania Laborers’
District Council........................page 10
eanwhile, in Laborers’ Local 1058, Pittsburgh’s Local Union for
heavy- highway laborers, Business Manager Louis Dennis Martire has
stepped down almost 50 years after his initiation into the union.
Baltimore/Washington Laborers’
District Council.......................page 11
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Laborers’
District Council.........................page 12
Virginia/North Carolina Laborers’
District Council.........................page 13
Western Pennsylvania Laborers’
District Council........................page 14
In Appreciation.........................page 15
LOTS..........................................page 16
The Mid-Atlantic Laborer is the voice of building construction, environmental remediation, heavy and highway construction, industrial and
public sector employees across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and the District of Columbia.
The Mid-Atlantic Laborer is produced by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA).
MID-ATLANTIC LABORER
M
“I have been awed and inspired by his tireless commitment to improving
the lives of his members,” said LIUNA President Terence O’Sullivan. “He’s
been a warrior for working people for decades. He never backed down and
never backed up.”
Friends and adversaries alike honored Martire for his long career of service
to the Local Union culminating in a five-year term as Business Manager.
Allegheny County Director of Public Works Thomas Donatelli, who had to
face Martire at the bargaining table and grievance arbitrations, praised the
departing union leader. “When I started on this job, I was an industrial
relations neophyte,” Donatelli said. “Denny took me to school and taught
me how to deal with workers fairly.”
The widely respected Martire continues to serve as chairman of the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board. His
son, Dennis L. Martire, LIUNA Vice President and Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager, observed, “He worked for
the membership. He took great pride in making the lives of his membership better. He is a great union leader
and will be missed.”
MID-ATLANTIC LABORER
15
14217x2.qxp
10/4/2005
3:57 PM
Page 3
MESSAGE
FROM THE
VICE PRESIDENT
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA LABORERS’ DISTRICT COUNCIL
DENNIS L. MARTIRE
Paul Quarantillo
Business Manager
Western Pennsylvania Laborers' District Council
1101 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412-391-1712
Western P A B ids F arewell t o T wo G reat L eaders
wo other Western Pennsylvania Laborers Local Unions are witnessing a "changing of the guard.
Robert O'Donnell has retired as Business Manager of Laborers' Local 323 in Butler, Pennsylvania,
succeeded in office by Ralph Sarver. In neighboring Kittaning, Ronald Barrett has retired as Business
Manager of Laborers' Local 952, to be succeeded in office by Mark Toy. Brothers O'Donnell and Barrett
took office within weeks of one another in March of 1993 and were well-respected by their peers on the
Laborers' District Council. Vice President Martire added, “I want to personally thank Brother Barrett and
Brother O’Donnell for their dedicated service to the membership and I am confident that the new
leadership will continue their success.
T
Thank Y ou, A merican V eterans
ust before Christmas 2004, volunteers from the
Laborers' District Council of Western
Pennsylvania and its affiliated local unions visited
Pittsburgh's Highland Park VA Hospital to bring
Christmas cheer, holiday T-shirts and our deepest
gratitude to America's real heroes. Pictured on the
holiday visit are Jim Hull of Local 1451 and Geno
Manfredo of Local 1058.
J
Do Y ou J ust P ay Y our D ues, o r
Are Y ou a U NION M EMBER?
n this edition of the Mid-Atlantic Laborer,
we introduce a new feature, UNION
MEMBERS SPEAK OUT. It's a chance for
union members to speak their mind on an
important issue or question for our union.
LIUNA belongs to you, the union member,
and we want to hear what you have to say. So
I wanted to start off with a question I've been
thinking about a lot: What's the difference
between a union MEMBER and someone who
just pays their dues?
I
I learned from what my brothers and sisters
around the region had to say. They talked
about how a true union MEMBER attends
meetings and participates in union events. At
the end of the day the true union MEMBER is
the man or woman who appreciates how much
our fathers and grandfathers sacrificed to build
this union and get us the good wages and
benefits we enjoy today. The union MEMBER
is ready to step up and do their part to
improve their union and pass it on to the next
generation.
Extreme M akeover: H ome E dition - L aborers S tyle
his year the Western Pennsylvania Laborers partnered with the
nonprofit "Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh" to help the family of a
young local man fighting cancer and unable to afford necessary home
repairs. Combining a generous donation from the District Council with
over three hundred hours of volunteer labor by members of affiliated
Local Unions, our Keystone State brothers repaired faulty wiring,
replaced damaged doors and poured a new sidewalk for wheelchair
access. Hats off to our Keystone State brothers for their good works!
T
The union belongs to you, the union
MEMBER. But it won't survive without
your participation. Show leadership on the
job; come out to a picket or rally; tell your
neighbors about the benefits of union
membership; vote at a union meetings and
Political Elections; speak up about problems
you see. Don't just pay your dues. Be a union
MEMBER! We want to hear from you.
www.malaborers.org
Local 1058 members Joe Laquatra, Jr., Joe Guidy, Curt
Bevilacqua and Walter Schnelbach pose with Local
373's Dean Sedlar before pouring the new sidewalk.
14
VICE PRESIDENT
and
MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL MANAGER
MID-ATLANTIC LABORER
MID-ATLANTIC LABORER
Tu S olamente P agas T us C uotas, o
¿Eres T ú u n M IEMBRO D E L A U NION?
n esta edicion del Mid-Atlantic Laborer, hemos
introducido una nueva seccion, MIEMBROS DE
LA UNION HABLEN. Esta es la oportunidad para
que los miembros de la union nos comuniquen lo que
piensan o hagan preguntas sobre temas importantes a
nuestra union. LIUNA pertenece a ti, a los miembros
de la union, y nosotros queremos escuchar lo que tú
nos quieres decir. Por eso quisiera empezar con una
pregunta en la que hé estado pensando mucho: Cual es
la differencia entre un MIEMBRO de la union y
alguien que solamente paga sus cuotas?
E
Yo he aprendido mucho de lo que mis hermanos y
hermanas a lo largo de la region han dicho. Ellos han
hablado hacerca de como un verdadero MIEMBRO
atiende a sus reuniones y participa en los eventos de
su union. Pero al final del dia el verdadero MIEMBRO
de la union es el hombre o la mujer que aprecian el
sacrificio que sus antepasados hicieron para crear esta
union consiguiendo los buenos salarios, y beneficios de
los que ahora estamos disfrutando. Ese MIEMBRO de
la union esta listo a pararse y poner de sú parte para
mejorar sú union y pasarla a la siguiente generacion.
La union pertenese a ustedes los Miembros. Pero
la union no sobrevivira sin tú participacion.
Demuestra que eres un lider en tu trabajo; sale a
apoyar demostraciones o reuniones; cuentale a tus
vecinos acerca de los beneficios de ser un miembro
de la union; asiste a las reuniones de miembros; habla
acerca de los problemas que miras. No solamente
pagues tus cuotas. ¡Sé un MIEMBRO de la union!
3
14217x2.qxp
10/4/2005
3:57 PM
Page 4
LABORERS SPEAK OUT
VIRGINIA/NORTH CAROLINA LABORERS’ DISTRICT COUNCIL
Union M embers S peak O ut!... T he M id-A
A tlantic L aborer A sks...
W
Robert Myers
hat's the difference between a UNION MEMBER and someone who just pays their dues?
Business Manager
Virginia/North Carolina Laborers' District Council
6145 Airport Road
Roanoke, VA 24019
540-366-6745
“A UNION MEMBER is a person who not only pays dues but comes to the meetings, and
also comes out to support the union.”
Gail Tyree, Local 572, Virginia Beach, VA
Laborers E ndorse K aine f or G overnor o f V irginia
t may be a quiet political year in the rest of
the Mid-Atlantic Region, but Virginia is in the
midst of a hot Governor’s race pitting Lieutenant
Governor Tim Kaine against Attorney General
Jerry Kilgore. While Kaine is a long-established
friend of Virginia’s working families, Kilgore has
taken the low road with a series of mean-spirited
attacks against immigrant workers, many of whom
are LIUNA members.
I
“A UNION MEMBER attends membership meetings, participates, and demonstrates
leadership and a strong work ethic on the job site. The member who just pays dues is
simply taking what the union has fought to provide and he is not giving anything back!”
John Weaver, Local 824, State College, PA
“A UNION MEMBER is one who participates in union activities. A person who just pays
their dues is not connected with anything the union does and doesn't know how their
money is spent.”
Vincent Graveley, Local 332, Philadelphia, PA
Business Manager Bobby Myers along with Local 980
members Johnny Weaver and McDowell Myers join VA
candidate for Governor Tim Kaine before the start of
the annual Labor Day parade and festivities in
Covington, VA.
"As Mayor of Richmond, Tim Kaine helped to
create 76,000 new jobs, and as Governor he will
make sure that agencies charged with preserving
safe workplaces carry out their duties with workers
in mind," said Virginia/North Carolina Laborers’
District Council Business Manager Bobby Myers.
"Kaine supports workers in their right to organize
and form unions to get a fair chance."
From M ason T ender t o M asonry C ontractor
“A UNION MEMBER knows some of the history that has made our International Union
one of the strongest in the world today. 99.9% of card carrying members have suggestions
on what should or should not be done to better our union, but less than 5% of are
willing to commit one hour to attend a union meeting and voice their concerns where
it matters. To ensure our union's existence, we need to work and fight as hard as our
founding members did over 100 years ago.”
Dale Moon, Local 373, Pittsburgh, PA
In the next edition of the Mid-Atlantic Laborer… IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT
YOUR UNION, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Send your responses to Mid-Atlantic Laborer, 12355 Sunrise
Valley Drive, Suite 240, Reston VA 20191, or to info@malaborers.org. Feel free to include a picture.
4
MID-ATLANTIC LABORER
his year Davies Masonry became the newest entry in Tidewater Virginia's booming masonry sector,
and immediately signed a contract with the Laborers’ Union. But Davies is special for much more
than that, because the two brothers, Tom and Edward Davies, started out themselves as mason tenders.
Smart, hard working and full of energy, the Davies
brothers - employed by area giant Coastal Masonry rapidly moved from mason tending to bricklaying to
estimating at the union masonry firm. By the end,
Tom had been promoted to Vice President.
T
Why work union in right-to-work Virginia? "I
believe that through the union I get a more skilled
mason tender," said Tom Davies, "and I want my
employees to have good medical coverage and a
solid pension. When a man's working career is over
he should have something to show for it."
MID-ATLANTIC LABORER
Local
388
Mason
Tenders Gary Outlaw
(left) and Vince Senires
(Right) receive a visit
from Business Manager
Bob Fahey.
13
14217x2.qxp
10/4/2005
3:57 PM
Page 5
HABLEN LABORERS’
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA LABORERS’ DISTRICT COUNCIL
¡Miembros de la Union Hablen!... Pregunta El Mid-A
Atlantic Laborer…
Wade Stevens
Business Manager
Philadelphia Laborers' District Council
665 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123
215-684-2090
C
ual es la diferencia entre UN MIEMBRO DE LA UNION y alguien que solamente paga
sus cuotas?
"UN MIEMBRO DE LA UNION es una persona quien no solamente paga sus
cuotas sino que atiende a las reuniones y tambien sale a apoyar la union"
Gail Tyree, Local 572, Virginia Beach, VA
Philadelphia L aborers H onor N egro L eague
n Friday, April 15, 2005, the statue of a Negro
League Player was installed in the Philadelphia
Stars Negro League Memorial Park on Major League
Baseball's Jackie Robinson Day. The Philadelphia
Laborers' District Council along with the backing of
the Philadelphia Building Trades volunteered and
donated labor, supervision and equipment for this
project. Construction started in January 2005 at Belmont
and Parkside Avenues, the original location of the
Philadelphia Stars Ball Park. The Laborers are proud
and honored to have had our members be a part of such
a historical event in the City of Philadelphia. Our hats
go off to these members!
O
Pictured Left to Right: Anthony Walker, Berry Wilder, Jr.,
Daoud Shakir, Omar Griffin
Picured below left to right: Andrew Robinson, Wade Stevens, Jr, Sam
Staten, Jr., James Harper, Sr., Bill Dallam, Richard Legree, James Harper, Jr.
"¡UN MIEMBRO DE LA UNION assiste a reuniones de miembros, participa, y
demuestra fuertes eticas de trabajo. El miembro que solamente paga sus cuotas
simplemente esta tomando lo que la union a luchado para proporcionarle y él no
esta dando nada a cambio!"
John Weaver, Local 824, State College, PA
"UN MIEMBRO DE LA UNION es alguien que participa en las actividades de la
union. Una persona que solamente paga sus cuotas no esta conectado con nada de
lo que la union hace y ni siquiera saben como ni en que se ha gastado su dinero."
Vincent Graveley, Local 332, Philadelphia, PA
"UN MIEMBRO DE LA UNION sabe por lo menos algo de la historia que ha hecho
nuestra Union Internacional una de las mas fuertes en el mundo de ahora. El
99.9% de los miembros que cargan targetas de afiliacion tienen sugerencias en lo
que deben y no deben hacer para mejorar nuestra union, pero menos del 5% de
ellos han asignado una hora para atender a una reunion de la union y decir sus
preocupaciones donde son escuchadas. Para asegurarnos de la existencia de
nuestra union necesitamos trabajar y pelear tan duro como los miembros que la
fundaron 100 años atras."
Dale Moon, Local 373, Pittsburgh, PA
En la siguiente edicion del Mid-Atlantic Laborer…. SI TU PUDIERAS CAMBIAR ALGO EN TU
UNION, CUAL SERIA? Envia tus respuestas a Mid-Atlantic Laborer, al 12355 Sunrise Valley
Drive, Suite 240, Reston VA 20191, o envia un email al info@malaborers.org y si puedes por favor
envia tu fotografia.
12
5
14217x2.qxp
10/4/2005
3:57 PM
Page 6
SOCIAL SECURITY / PENSION -
BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON LABORERS’ DISTRICT COUNCIL
Retirement S ecurity U nder A ttack: L aborers F ight B ack
Gene Pinder
ocial Security and a pension are a retirement combination that can't be beat.
But this year, Wall Street investment firms, the White House, and the
Governor of California have teamed up for unprecedented attacks on workers'
retirement security.
S
Wall Street investment firms have always itched to get their hands on your
money in the Social Security Trust Fund, and this year President George Bush
has obliged them with a risky proposal to privatize your Social Security account.
Under Bush's plan, in place of Social Security's guaranteed benefits, workers
would be responsible for investing their trust fund contributions in the stock
market…and risk losing everything in an Enron-style disaster. In California,
Laborers and other workers protest
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed privatizing the widely admired
Schwarzenegger’s attacks on Retirement
California Public Employee Retirement Service (CalPERS) public employee
Security.
pension fund in much the same way.
But when workers are under attack, the Laborers fight back. Union pension fund trustees spoke out against the Bush
plan to privatize Social Security. With those trustees responsible for the sound investment of union members' retirement monies, Wall Street listened closely - and top tier investment firms like Waddell & Reed and Edward D. Jones
listened. Both dropped their endorsement of the risky scheme, which is losing support in the US Congress.
Schwarzenegger, dogged everywhere in California by the protests of angry workers, thought he could escape the heat
by hosting a lunch for big campaign donors in Washington, DC. But the food at his $10,000 per plate fundraiser lost
its flavor after picketing Laborers and other union members disrupted their meal with chants and songs. By April, the
"Governator" had had enough, and abandoned his attack on California workers' retirement security.
Business Manager
Baltimore/Washington Laborers' District Council
8600 LaSalle Road, Suite 114
Towson, MD 21286
410-823-8388
A N ew P owerhouse i n W ashington, D C
ith a membership that has doubled from only 1,300 active members in 2003 to over 2,600 today, Local
657 has emerged as a powerhouse, not just in the industry, but in Washington, DC's public affairs.
Under the leadership of Business Manager Gene Pinder, Local 657 worked with local politicians, community
leaders and church groups to negotiate a Project Labor Agreement to build the new Washington Nationals'
Major League Baseball stadium. Under the PLA all work building the stadium will be preformed union - and
many of them will be set aside for District residents. "Under the new leadership, I have seen the unity of
the new members," said member Theodore Harrington. "I have seen their involvement with the community
leaders, politicians, and faith-based groups. Members are now involved with committees such as disaster
relief, scholarship and sponsorship. The merger [of the two DC-area Local Unions] has strengthened Local
657's membership." Vice President Martire added “Since the merger, Local Union 657 is on the move. Gene
Pinder and all of the Agents are doing a fantastic job...”
W
Blockbuster L IUNA G rowth i n W ashington, D C A rea
n recent years Laborers Unions in Washington, DC and its Maryland and Virginia suburbs - long suffering
from declining membership and market share - have restructured and taken a newly aggressive stance
under new leadership. Those efforts are starting to pay off: the two new Local Unions, Laborers Local 11 and
Laborers Local 657, are reporting the fastest construction membership growth in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
I
Your Laborers Pension Means a Comfortable Retirement Tomorrow,
and Economic Muscle Today
Organizing A gainst t he O dds
ost union members don't rely on Social Security alone to finance their retirement. In their golden years, most
LIUNA members will enjoy the benefits of a LIUNA (or public, in the case of some employees) pension. For
many of us, that added income will be the difference between a secure and comfortable retirement and just surviving
in our old age.
M
ven more dramatic increases were reported by Local 11.
This small but dynamic union organizing in Northern
Virginia has nearly tripled its 2003 membership and now
reports more than 400 active members.
But your union pension doesn't just work for you tomorrow. It's working for you today. Some of this money is
invested in real estate development. You can bet that when UNION workers' pension money is used to finance
construction they will choose UNION construction contractors and create UNION jobs! And that's not all. Some of
this money is invested in stocks and bonds, and when companies find out that UNION pension funds are major
investors, they find a new respect for the rights of their workers!
Getting it done in a right-to-work state isn't easy, but the
members of Local 11 make it happen with hard work and
creative tactics. When anti-worker asbestos outfit USA
Remediation brought its brand of bad business to Arlington
Virginia - firing those who talked union and paying employees
with paychecks that bounced - they organized pickets and
protests, but they didn't stop there. Business Manager Hugo
Carballo worked with Virginia legislators to pass a law making Virginia State Delegate Adam Ebbin (with megaphone)
it a felony to distribute worker's paycheck without sufficient and Local 11 Business Manager Hugo Carballo (center
left) address workers picketing a USA Remediation site.
funds in the bank - punishable by jail time!
Converting this shuttered Chester, PA power plant into top-notch commercial
office space was a great business proposition… and because union pension funds
helped finance the project, the construction was performed 100% union
6
MID-ATLANTIC LABORER
E
MID-ATLANTIC LABORER
11
14217x2.qxp
10/4/2005
3:57 PM
Page 7
- IS YOUR FUTURE SECURE
EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA LABORERS’ DISTRICT COUNCIL
Richard Yost
Business Manager
Eastern Pennsylvania Laborers' District Council
1500 North Second Street, Suite G
Harrisburg, PA 17102
717-233-5547
Retired f rom t he T rade...
Union M embers f or L ife
hen Jerry Temarantz retired from his union office he didn't retire from the union
fight. Today he represents the Mid-Atlantic Region on LIUNA's National Retiree
Council, where he counsels Laborers' Union leaders about retiree issues and helps
organize retirees throughout the Mid-Atlantic states.
W
Brother Temarantz is not alone. Our region hosts no fewer
than seven chartered retiree councils, affiliated with four
West Virginia Local Unions (453, 543, 1149, and 1353),
one Virginia Local (980), one Washington, DC Local (657),
and one Pennsylvania Local (332). In each of the Councils,
retirees have chosen to stay active in their union affairs,
organizing social events, lobbying politicians, and Jerry Temarantz, LIUNA Retiree
Coordinator for the Laborers’
supporting picket lines.
Fifty Y ear H onor f or N ortheast P A L aborers
everal Eastern Pennsylvania Laborers have been
honored in the past year with their fifty-year pins.
Pictured are six proud Local 1174 members who received
their pins at a 2004 luncheon. Longtime Local 130 members
Leo Ciuferri and Paul Russin, two proud mason tenders,
were similarly recognized by their Local Union - as was
Edward Pall, who spent his active career with Laborers
Local 215.
S
Mid-Atlantic Region.
"The way to keep young after retirement is to keep active, and keeping active in your
union and in touch with your union brothers is one of the best ways to do it!" said
Temarantz. "I would urge every Local Union to organize a retiree chapter."
Pictured Left to Right - Former Local 1174 Business Manager James
Hartman, John Suranofsky, Joe Castronova, and Glenn Adams,
Eastern Pennsylvania District Council Business Manager Richard
Yost. Seated - John Toth, Mike Manning, and Angelo Christopher.
Local 1 30 M embers F ight t he P ower a t W ilkes - a nd W IN
embers of Laborers' Local 130 protested in front of Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, where open-shop
construction contractor, Power Builders, was paying substandard wages. Since the job actions there,
Wilkes has awarded no further work to the bad builder. From the left are Local Union members Harry Peck,
Reinhard Bolesta, Jr., Harry Pekar, Jack Matchko, Bob Pesotski, Patrick Ventre, and Lenny Sikora, Ahmet
Osman, and Dave Edwards.
M
Below - At the retiree chapter Local 657R Awards
Banquet, Assistant Regional Manager and Local
Union 657 Business
Manager Gene Pinder
presents an "Outstanding
and Dedicated Service
Award" to Brother
Thomas Milton and his
wife, Virginia.
Terence J. O’Sullivan, National Retiree
Council Coordinator, was an invited guest
and speaker at the retiree chapter Local
657R Awards Banquet.
10
MID-ATLANTIC LABORER
MID-ATLANTIC LABORER
7
14217x2.qxp
10/4/2005
3:58 PM
Page 8
MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL ORGANIZING COALITION (MAROC)
WEST VIRGINIA LABORERS’ DISTRICT COUNCIL
Selective D emolition W orkers R einstated a fter M assive D emonstration
Gary Tillis
hree fired Selective Demolition workers were hired back after more than fifty Laborers’ members arrived
to demonstrate at the jobsite. Demonstrators included volunteers from the nearby Laborers’ International
Union of North America (LIUNA) Headquarters in Washington, DC. These volunteers were encouraged to
join other members on the picket line during thier fight for equality.
T
Despite the heat and humidity, the Laborers’ made their voices heard loud and clear in the nation’s capitol.
With such a large public protest organized only two days after workers were fired by the company for
talking to their co-workers about forming a union, the company realized it had met its match. The reinstated
workers are committed now more than ever to organizing the company.
Selective Demolition employs one hundred laborers and continues to pay its workers among the lowest wages
in the industry.
Cleaning S ervice W orkers a t D ulles A irport C hoose L aborers
f you ever fly into Washington, DC's Dulles Airport, make sure to thank the cleaning service personnel who
keep the place spotless! Not only do they work hard and do a great job, but they are now proud members
of Laborers' Local 572.
I
After months of visits by organizers explaining the benefits
of union membership, the janitors - employed by Gali
Services - chose LIUNA representation. "With the
Laborers we will finally stick together and receive what
is fair. We finally believe we can make this a better place
to work," said Steward Sam Davies. This unit of 250
employees now enjoys some of the highest wages within
this industry.
Business Manager
West Virginia Laborers' District Council
One Union Square, Suite #5
Charleston, WV 25302
1-800-648-4831
DBE C ontractor G oes G ood
Highway S afety S igns U nion C ontract
fter a two-year quest, the West Virginia
Laborers' District Council has signed Highway
Safety, a DBE contractor, bringing in ten new
members.
A
there she came to appreciate what the Laborers had to
offer.
The company performs Traffic Control and Flagging
work in the heavy/highway sector. In West
Virginia there is a required percentage of DBE
(Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) participation
on most highway contracts, so registered DBE
contractors are a valued commodity! Highway Safety
President Lisa Booth acknowledged that aggressive
target fund support for her union-signatory
opponents helped bring her to the table, but once
Some DBE companies assume they can't afford to
operate union, but Highway Safety has found
otherwise. They have to pay prevailing wages
and fringe benefits on this work whether they
are union or nonunion - but under a LIUNA
contract they can provide better quality health and
retirement benefits to their employees without
increasing their costs. Better yet, Highway Safety
now has ready access to a highly skilled workforce
which can meet their needs as they grow from
"Disadvantaged" Business to Big Business!
Parkersburg P roject W ill A id A rea C ommuters
his multimillion dollar traffic bypass around the City of Parkersburg,
West Virginia will save considerable time for commuters traveling Route
50 between West Virginia and Eastern
Ohio. Local 1085 shop steward Allen
Kent reports that the Union Laborers of
C J Mahan have erected a total of eight
bridges on the project in the past couple
of years.
T
Los T rabajabores d e
Limpeiza d el A eropuerto d e D ulles
Escogieron a L aborers
i tu has llegado al aeropuerto de Dulles de Washington, DC, asegurate de dar las gracias al personal de
limpieza quienes mantienen el lugar impecable! No solamente trabajan muy fuerte, y hacen un excelente
trabajo, si no que ahora ellos tambien estan orgullosos de pertenecer al Laborers’ Local 572.
S
For Laborer apprentice Mary Ann
Davis it has been her first heavyhighway job and a great learning
experience. "All of the guys I worked
with were very helpful in showing me
the ropes."
Despues de meses de visitas pro nuestros organizadores que explicaban los beneficios y las ventajas de ser un
miembro de la union, los trabajadores empleados pro Gali Services eligieron la Representacion de LIUNA.
“Con los Laborrers nosotros finalmente nos uniremos y recibiremos lo que es justo. Finalmente creemos que
podemos hacer de este un lugar mejor para trabajar”, dijo Steward Sam Davies. Esta unidad de 250 empleados
ahora goza de loas salarios mas altos de esta industria.
8
MID-ATLANTIC LABORER
MID-ATLANTIC LABORER
9