1. No category

Plumbers & Gasfitters
Local Union
No. 5, U.A.
Local 5 Pipeline
DECEMBER 2014
Local 5
Leadership
Tim Haley
President
Jim Killeen
Business Manager
Financial SecretaryTreasurer
Jack Taylor
Assistant Business
Manager
Joe Short
Business Representative
Organizer
Janice Boismenu
Recording Secretary
Jeff Guido
Vice President
Cedric Gooden
Inside Guard
Dan Garrison
Hugh Riddell
Jim Stacho
Calvin Perry
Executive Board
Chris Biondi
Bill Garity
Mike McKenzie
Finance Committee
Mike Bell
Percy Jackson
Scott Caudill
Examining Board
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 6
Now that power has changed
hands in the Senate, there are
two scenarios for what is likely to
get done in Washington over the
next couple of years: not much,
and nothing at all.
political interest to resist giving
the GOP any legislative victories
to claim, and to keep the distinctions between the two parties as
sharp as possible in the run-up to
2016.
The new Republican majority
was elected with no agenda beyond stopping President
Obama’s .
The consequences of running an
agenda-free campaign are about
to come home to roost for the
GOP.
Their leader, Mitch McConnell
(R-KY), preoccupied with his
own reelection, has resisted setting out any grand goals, “There
are some obvious things. We’d
be voting on the Keystone pipeline” as well as several modifications to the Affordable Care Act,
McConnell said at a campaign
stop Friday just before the election. “A number of things that, I
think, there’s a majority in the
Senate for.”
It was enough, electorally, for
Republicans to say they were
against whatever President
Obama was for.
But “voting on” legislation is not
the same thing as enacting it.
Republicans will be short of the
60 votes needed to overcome
filibusters by a Democratic minority that is expected to feel
little incentive to compromise.
The Republicans would have to
have even more – 67 votes – to
override a presidential veto.
Welcome to the real world GOP.
That is why the goal most often
mentioned by this year’s Republican candidates-repealing Obama­
care - remains out of reach.
The 2016 electoral map will be a
hostile one for the GOP-almost
the exact opposite of this year’swith 23 Republican-held seats on
the ballot, many of them in states
carried twice by Obama.
Senate Democrats are expected
to hunker down. It is in their
Republicans find themselves with
neither a program nor a clear
chain of command among congressional leaders, the half-dozen
aspiring presidential candidates in
Congress and the various governors and former officeholders
who also think they should be
the party’s 2016 standard-bearer.
Republicans have set themselves
up for anarchy.
The hard part is about to begin.
Because Republicans didn’t run
on an agenda other than antipathy toward all things Obama,
they created a policy vacuum-and
it’s about to be filled by a swirl of
competing and contradictory,
proposals. Potential presidential
candidate Senator Cruz (TX)
would like to abolish the IRS, the
EPA and the Education Department, chip away at banking regulations and hold umpteen more
votes on eliminating Obamacare.
Cruz was quoted in The Washington Post as saying that the first
order of business for a GOP
Senate should be launching more
hearings into President Obama’s
“abuse of power.” He’s also
pushing an effort to use parliamentary maneuvers to repeal
Obamacare with a simple majority
-the sort of provocation that
would quickly return Washington
to government-shutdown crises.
Cruz, in a USA Today op-ed, also
said he wants to pursue a flat tax,
kill the Export-Import Bank, audit
the Fed and block comprehensive
immigration reform.
On the opposite side is Sen. Rob
Portman (OH), a George W. Bush
administration veteran who wants
to “come to the table” with
Obama on wide-ranging energy
legislation, free-trade deals, bipartisan tax reform and a return to
responsible budgeting rather than
stopgap spending bills. For this to
happen, Portman notes in National
Review, “all we are missing is leadership.”
Without leadership, it’s every Republican for himself. Sens. Marco
Rubio (FL) and Rand Paul (KY),
prospective presidential candidates
both, have dueling tax plans.
House Majority Leader Kevin
McCarthy, reports Politico’s Jake
Sherman, “seems willing to pass
small-bore bills on issues ranging
from energy to health care to taxes.” By contrast, Heritage Action,
which influences congressional
conservatives, wants the opposite:
Republicans should “focus on the
big things” such as repealing
Obamacare, rather than finding
common ground on spending
bills.
The Republicans take the reins in
January and Mitch McConnell will
become Majority Leader. The last
two men who found themselves in
McConnell’s situation - Trent
Lott and Tom Daschel - say he
will soon learn how much more
XXX— Continued on page 2
LOCAL 5 PIPELINE
Page 2
Spotlight On Local 5 Bylaws
Section 15. Effective January 1,
2012, the dues of each member
of the Local who has not
reached age 65 by December 31,
2011, shall be no less than twenty-six dollars ($26) per month.
Effective January 1, 2013 the
minimum monthly dues of such
members shall increase to twenty-seven dollars ($27) per
month. Effective January 1,
2014 the minimum monthly
dues of such members shall
increase to twenty-eight dollars
($28) per month. Effective
January 1, 2015 the minimum
monthly dues of such members
shall increase to twenty-nine
dollars ($29) per month. All
members not working under a
Local 5 Collective Bargaining
Agreement, or outside of Local
5’s territorial or trade jurisdiction, or for the District of Columbia or Federal Government,
shall pay the minimum dues set
forth for all members in this
Section.
Section 16. Those members
retired prior to January 1, 2002
and meeting requirements of
one of the following categories
shall have their dues reduced:
Category One: A continuous member of the Local
Union for the last 25 years
who is permanently retired
and receiving pension benefits from the PLUMBERS
& PIPEFITTERS NATIONAL PENSION
PLAN, “PPNPF” or
Category Two: A member
in good standing, who due to
a permanent physical disability
is unable to work. The member must be eligible for one
hundred percent (100%) disability benefits from Social
Security (and drawing pension
from the PPNPF).
Years of Service
These members in one of the
preceding categories shall pay
nineteen dollars ($19) per
month for stamp. All members
retiring on or after January 1,
2002 and meeting the criteria of
category #1 or #2 as outlined
above shall pay twenty-two dollars ($22) per month for a dues
stamp.
We send our congratulations
to the following members
who received “years of service” recognition awards for
the fourth quarter of 2014 October, November and
December 2014:
Section 17. The dues of
each member who has reached
age 65 by December 31, 2011
but after December 31, 2006
will not be less than twenty-four
dollars ($24) per month. The
dues of each member who
reached age 65 by December 31,
2006, but after December 31,
2001, will not be less than twenty-three dollars ($23) per month.
The dues of each member who
reached age 65 by December 31,
2001 shall not be less than nineteen dollars ($19) per month.
Richard L. Lehr
—Continued from page 1XX
We hope you are able to spend the holiday with your
loved ones. We say a prayer for and give our thanks to
our service men and women serving our country away
from their families. After seven long years, we give
thanks for our improved employment opportunities.
The Officers and Staff at Plumbers Local No. 5
Wish You a Safe and
Happy Holiday Season
And a Happy New Year!!!
Jim, Jack, Joe, Debbie, Willa, Brenda and Diane
difficult it is to be the leader of
a fractious majority than the
organizer of a block party.
“Minority leader is a lot easier.
It’s much more defense, trying
to stop things you don’t like,”
said former senator Trent Lott
(R-MS).
Former senator Thomas A.
Daschle (D-SD) noted that as
majority leader, “you must
work with the minority leader,
the speaker, the president and
your caucus. The latter is
sometimes hardest of all, because there are some who believe they can do the job better
than you can. And almost immediately, there is the next
election.”
Yes. There is that. Pass the
popcorn. This should be entertaining.

 Sixty-five Years 
 Fifty Years 
Wilfred G. Chaisson
William A. Coplin
Raymond C. Luskey
Clifford J. Rease
Bobby L. Viands
 Forty Years 
Gregory C. Duncan
Willie L. Noonan, Jr.
 Thirty-five Years 
Kenneth E. Allen
Robert L. Billmyer, Jr.
Charles R. Harris
 Thirty Years 
Antonio P. Colevas
Timothy T. Haley
Leon L. Harper Jr
Michael N. Meisinger
Kenneth Reantoquio
Bryan Ross Sr
Larry R. Slater
Rockwood G. Summerfield, Jr.
Kurt Walter
 Twenty-five Years 
Charles T. Blank
John M. Groenwoldt
Donald W. King
Gary R. Meese
Leslie L. Raley
Volume 1, Issue 6
Page 3
Christmas Gift Cards
2014 Guidelines for
Gift Cards

Must be an initiated member of U.A. Local 5 in
good standing.

Hours worked under
C.B.A. associated with the
U.A. since June 1, 2009.



Newly reinitiated members who have no hours
worked under the CBA
since returning are ineligible.
Need to be on the out of
work book between November 12, 2014 and December 10, 2014.
Cards available beginning
December 15, 2014. The
last day for pick-up of gift
cards will be December
30, 2014.
DC Waiver Information

Cards may be picked up
between 8:00 a.m. & 4:00
p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Wednesday, December 24, 2014
when cards will be available until 12 noon.

The office will be closed
Thursday, December 25,
2014 in observance of the
Christmas holiday.

Cards will be available on
a first-come, first-served
basis until gone.

Not eligible if working
out of town.

Not eligible if receiving
Workers Compensation.

Apprentices who are on
Mr. Taylor’s out of work
list and meet all of the
above guidelines are also
eligible.
Classes to assist with filling
out Waiver Application: December 5, 2014 and January
2, 2015 at 4 p.m. in “A”
Building at the UA Mechanical Trades School. Please call
Jack Taylor at (301) 8997861, ext. 1015 to sign up.
The class is free, but DC
does charge $175 for the
waiver. If you currently hold
a DC License, please contact
Jack. He is compiling a list of
DC licensed journeymen.
Applications are avail at:
www.local5plumbers.org
Training Classes
You will also need:
Virginia Continuing
Education
Feb. 20, May 1, Aug. 21,
2015
DC Waiver Application
Dec. 5, 2014 , Jan. 2, 2015
Med Gas 40-hour Course
Dec. 4, 9, 16, 23, 2014 and
Jan. 8, 13, 20, 27, Feb. 5,
Test Date: Feb. 12, 2015
It is imperative that you get a
DC Journeyman’s license by
either testing for it or obtaining a waiver. We are approaching the enforcement
phase which means anyone
doing plumbing work in the
District of Columbia must
carry a DC Journeyman license. Don’t be left behind!

Classes are provided to
members in good standing free of charge.
Member’s standing is
checked.
Welding
Open most nights at 3 p.m.
during regularly scheduled
classes.

Interested members
should call the school at
(301) 322-8810 to sign
up for classes.
Customer Service
March start date scheduled
by number of participants.

Classes are offered on a
first come, first served
basis.
Rigger II Certification
Requirements: Current Rigger I
working with Rigger II. Letter
from Employer Required.
April 2, 9, 16, 23, 2015

Classes are subject to
cancellation based on
poor participation, so
don’t wait until the last
minute to sign up.
OSHA 30 Course
Feb. 17, 19, 24, 26, Mar. 5, 6,
10, 12, 17, 19, 2015
1.
2.
Two (2) 2” X 2” photos
(Not digitally generatedcan use passport photo
from CVS, etc. (Print
name on back of photo.)
Copy of Government
Issued Photo ID
3.
Formal Designation Certificate (in packet) – must
be sealed in envelope
from Hall.
4. Contact the Hall for certificate (301) 899-7861.
5. Certificate of Completion (of Apprentice Program) – obtain from the
UA Mechanical Trades
School at (301) 322-8810
if you do not have original certificate. Certificate will only be issued
if you obtained a completion certificate
when you came out of
your time. Members
who failed to obtain an
Apprenticeship Completion Certificate upon graduation will not
be issued a certificate
now.
6. Certificate of Moral
Character (in packet) –
must be completed by
persons who are in a
position to testify to your
morality, cannot be related to the the people
listed on your form.
7. Certificates will be provided for members in
good standing.
Fair Warning:
The names of members who owe excessive
assessments will be published
in the January 2015
newsletter. $19,898.00 is still outstanding in Burial
Assessments. 346 members owe more than $25 each
totaling $15,921.00.
I don’t mind fruitcakes. They’re the
one thing during the holidays I’m not
tempted to eat. - Melanie White
LOCAL 5 PIPELINE
Page 4
Fireproof Your
Christmas Tree
Buy Union
Please remember to support
union shops as we prepare for
the holidays:
Poultry Products
Banquet
Butterball
ConAgra
Draper Valley
Easy Entire
Farmland Special Select
Turkey
Holly Farms
Hormel White Chicken Chunk
House of Raeford Farms
Jane Family Foods
Maple Leaf Farms
Nature’s Best (Copack) Earth’s
Best
Sanderson Farms
Smithfield
Tyson
Ham Products
Armour
Ashley Farms
Best Choice
Black Forest
Boar’s Head
Daisyfield
Farmland
Harry & David
Kirkland
Ridge Creek
Rosewood Farms
Haviland
Perfect Choice Honey Ham
Schwann’s
Smithfield
Sugardale Foods
Up Country
Gimbals Fine Candies
JellyBeans
Cherry Hearts
Scotty Dogs
Jelly Belly’s Candy Co.
Jelly Bellies - also made in a
non-union plants in Chicago/
Taiwan
Chocolate Dutch Mints
Chocolate Temptations
dimples
Goelitz Confections
Goelitz Gummi
Pet Rat
Pet Tarantula
Sweet Temptations
Halloween Candy Corn
Licorice
Malted Milk Balls
Chocolate Coated Nuts, and
Sours
Sunkist Fruit Gel Slices
Also, check out “How to Buy
American” at:
American Licorice
Black & Red Vines
Strawberry Ropes
Save even more when you
choose to “pay now” when
you reserve online at Avis,
Budget and Hertz.
Sconza Candies
Jawbreakers
Chocolate Covered Cherries
Chocolate
Frito-Lay
chips and snacks
Nestle
Nestle Treasures
Laffy Taffy
Kathryn Beich specialty candy
Baby Ruth*
Butterfinger*
Pearson’s Nips
Famous Old Time Candies
(gourmet chocolates)
Pearson’s Candy Co.
Salted Nut Roll
Nut Goodie
Mint Patties
Bun Bars
Kraft
snack products
Anabelle’s Candy Company
Boston Baked Beans
Jordon Almonds
Rocky Road
U-Nos
Look
Big Hunk
Abbazabbz
Yogurt Nuts & Fruit
Orville Redenbacher
Popcorn
How to Fireproof a
Natural Christmas Tree:
www.howtobuyamerican.com
There’s just no sense sending
our hard-earned money overseas.
Planning a trip? Need a
rental car? Save up to 25%
Union families get discount
car rental rate quotes and can
make rental car reservations
online or over the phone.
Support your fellow union
members who work for Alamo, Avis, Budget, Hertz and
National.
Rental Car Quotes &
Reservations
Alamo: 1-800-462-5266
(reference contract I.D. #
7015700)
Avis: 1-800-698-5685
(reference union I.D. #
B723700)
Budget: 1-800-455-2848
(reference union I.D. #
V816100)
Enterprise: 1-877-222-9711
Hertz: 1-800-654-2200
(reference union I.D. #
205666)
National: 1-800-227-7368
(reference contract I.D. #
5029562)
Dollar: 1-800-800-4000
(reference CD#: TB7546)
.
Thrifty: 1-800-847-4387
(reference CD#:
0010231364)
2 gallons hot water
2 cups clear Karo syrup
4 ounces Clorox bleach
½ teaspoon 20 Mule Team
Borax
2 ounces kitchen vinegar
2 ounces liquid Woolite
Get a saw and make a fresh
cut an inch up from the base
of the tree trunk; a straight
cut is fine, but a V-cut at the
base will speed up absorption.
Find a large bucket or container holding 3 to 5 gallons
fluid. Add above ingredients
and stir lightly to mix well
while not creating soap.
Stand your tree trunk in the
solution in a protected place
where the wind won’t topple
the tree. A garage makes for
perfect storage.
Leave the tree for 3 to 5 days,
checking the container every
other day to make certain
there is adequate fluid at all
times. Fir trees may run out
of fluid before the fifth day,
in which case you will have to
make another batch.
On the 6th day, remove the
tree from the container; saw
through the trunk a second
time near the base, then
move the tree indoors for
Christmas display. Secure the
trunk in the tree stand, then
fill the reservoir with the preservative from the container.
For as long as the Christmas
tree remains in the house, the
reservoir of the tree stand
should be filled with your
homemade preservative.
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 6
Page 5
Life Members
Membership News
We send our congratulations
to Brother Donnie Powell
and wife Betty who recently
celebrated their GOLDEN
wedding anniversary with a
trip to Las Vegas. We wish
them many more years of
happiness!
We send our congratulations
to Brother Joseph Taylor III
and his wife Joyce on the
birth of their fourth son Jason
Bishop. Baby Jason made his
appearance on October 14,
2014, weighed in at 5 pounds,
5 ounces and measured 18inches E-E. We wish them
many years of happiness!
We are happy to report that
Joseph Taylor (Life Member)
is well down the road of recovery after his valve replacement surgery in October. It’s
not every month you have
valve replacement surgery and
celebrate the birth of a greatgrandson. Good news all
around for Brother Joe!
We send get well wishes to
Brother Joseph Proctor Jr.,
who had back surgery several
months ago and is just now
beginning to get around well.
I know you all join me in
sending healing prayers to
Brother Joe!
A little bird told us Brother
Alex Bell was feeling under
the weather. Hope this finds
you feeling better, Alex.
The Year 1890 in History
Idaho and Wyoming are
admitted as the 43rd and
44th states
The Music Hall in New
York (now known as Carnegie Hall) has its grand opening and first public performance, with maestro Peter
Ilyich Tchaikovsky as the
guest conductor
Cy Young pitches and wins
1st game
1st baseball tripleheaderBoston vs Pittsburgh
Congress establishes Yosemite National Park
1st pro baseball game, New
York Metropolitans beat
Washington Nationals 4-2
in 5 innings at Polo
Grounds in New York City
1st 100 yard dash under 10
seconds (John Owen 9-4/5
seconds, Washington D.C.)
1st Army-Navy football
game, Score: Navy 24, Army
0 at West Point
The Eiffel Tower was completed.
Plumbers & Gasfitters Local
Union No. 5 was chartered
SAVE THE DATE! Our
125th Anniversary Gala is on
track for April 18, 2015 at the
at the Marriott Wardman
Park. Tickets are $90 each,
$50 for Life Member plus one
guest. Music by the Radio
King Orchestra and Free
Spirt. Additional details to
follow and ticket sales date to
to be announced.
Minimum Dues Increase
On January 1, 2015. See
“Spotlight on Local 5 Bylaws” (page 2) for complete
details.
Christmas Party
The annual Christmas Party is
at the union meeting on December 10, 2014. Plan to
attend and catch up with old
friends!
Life Members are the heart of Plumbers Local No. 5. They
remained loyal to us through both the good times and the hard
times, through both success and disappointment. They represent what is best in our union, and by their steadfast loyalty,
they have demonstrated to all of us the true spirit of brotherhood and solidarity.
We send our congratulations to Brothers Raymond Luskey and
Wilfred Chaisson who were recognized at out November 2014
Union Meeting for attaining Life Membership. Pictured above,
left to right: Brother Roy Chaisson, Life Member Wilfred
Chaisson, Brother David Chaisson, Life Member Ray Luskey.
Brother Tom Chaisson is pictured behind his father, Wilfred
Chaisson. Four of Brother Wilfred’s sons followed him into
the trade, while Brother Ray represents the last in a long line of
Luskeys who served Plumber Local No. 5. We thank them for
their hard work and loyalty.
Calendar
Wednesday, December 17, 2014 - Executive Board Meeting at
3:00 p.m. at the Union Hall. **Note Date Change**
Thursday, January 1, 2015-New Year’s Day (Paid Holiday)
Wednesday, January 14, 2015 - Monthly Union Meeting at 5:00
p.m. at the U.A. Mechanical Trades School.
Monday, January 19, 2015 - Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015 - Executive Board Meeting at
3:00 p.m. at the Union Hall.
Wednesday, February 11, 2015 - Monthly Union Meeting at
5:00 p.m. at the U.A. Mechanical Trades School.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015 - Executive Board Meeting at
3:00 p.m. at the Union Hall.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015 - Monthly Union Meeting at 5:00
p.m. at the U.A. Mechanical Trades School.
Wednesday, March 25, 2015 - Executive Board Meeting at 3:00
p.m. at the Union Hall.
LOCAL 5 PIPELINE
Page 6
PAGE 7
Volume 1, Issue 6
Reminders

The Medical Fund requires coordination of benefits with Medicare eligible retirees and eligible dependents. It is important
that you and/or your dependents enroll for Medicare at age 65, or if disabled prior to age 65, when you are eligible for Medicare coverage. Be sure to enroll in both “Part A” and “Part B” of Medicare. Failure to do so will result in lower medical protection and greater out-of-pocket expense. Refer to “Coordination with Medicare” in the medical plan’s Summary Plan Description.

Your medical coverage is under a reserve account. In order to qualify to use the reserve account, you must:

Remain available for work in covered employment on a daily basis. You must remain in the geographical jurisdiction covered by the Union unless you are working under a United Association or UA Local collective bargaining agreement outside the Union’s geographical jurisdiction (working as a Traveler).

Sign the referral book every thirty days. Cannot refuse more than two jobs in covered employment.

Cannot work at the trade for employers not signed to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, or to any United Association
or U.A. local union collective bargaining agreement.

Some of you let your assessments get way out of hand. Please do not put us in the position of telling your family there is no
death benefit for you upon your death because you are too far in arrears in your assessments. Currents assessments are available at the end of each monthly article, our website www.local5plumbers.org , or by calling the Union Hall.

125th Anniversary Gala Celebration is coming on April 18, 2015 at the Marriott Wardman Park, 2660 Woodley Road,
NW Washington, DC 20008. Tickets are $90 each, $50 for Life Member plus one guest. Music by Radio King Orchestra and Free Spirt. Additional details to follow. Ticket sales date to be announced. Mark your calendars!
Special Order of Business
The Special Order of Business at our December 10, 2014 Union Meeting will be:
 Vote on the Finance Committee’s Report.
 Vote on Bylaw proposal to authorize Organizer.
The Special Order of Business at our January 14, 2015 Union Meeting will be:
 Vote on the Finance Committee’s Report.
The Special Order of Business at our February 11, 2015 Union Meeting will be:
 Vote on the Finance Committee’s Report.
Current Assessments Due: Death 1189 and Michael A. Collins Assessment (2014).
Proudly serving the
Washington, DC Metropolitan
Area Since 1890
5891 Allentown Road
Camp Springs, MD 20746
Phone: (301) 899-7861
Fax: (301) 899-7868
http://local5plumbers.org
Plumbers & Gasfitters
Local Union No. 5
Presort
Standard
U.S. Postage
Paid
Southern, MD
Permit No. 139