S T E A M F I T T E R S L O C A L U N I O N “WE DO IT RIGHT—THE FIRST TIME” 6 0 2 602 JOURNAL February 2015 8700 ASHWOOD DRIVE, 2ND FLOOR, CAPITOL HEIGHTS, MD 20743 NOMINATION AND ELECTION NOTICE NOMINATION NOTICE Nominations will be accepted at the “Notified Meeting” to be held before the regular, May 5, 2015, meeting at 5:30 p.m. at the U.A. Mechanical Trades School, located at 8509 Ardwick-Ardmore Road, Landover Maryland. Nominations will be accepted for President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Business Manager/Financial Secretary Treasurer, Assistant Business Manager, Business Agent, Business Representative /Organizer, Inside Guard, Executive Board (4 members) Examining Board (5 members), Finance Committee (3 members) all for 3 year terms. Nominations will also be accepted for Medical Fund Trustee (1 member), Pension Fund Trustee (1 member ) and Retirement Savings Fund Trustee (1 member), all terms will be six years (OLJLELOLW\IRU2IÀFHLQ/RFDO8QLRQ²6HF SDJH IURP WKH &RQVWLWXWLRQ RI WKH 8QLWHG$VVRFLDWLRQ No member shall be eligible to be nominated for RIÀFH LQ DQ\ /RFDO 8QLRQ XQOHVV KHVKH VKDOO EH D journeyman member of the United Association and the Local Union in good standing for at least a period of two (2) years immediately prior to the election. Any journeyman member who owes or has paid a reinstatement fee within a period of two (2) years immediately prior to the date of the election VKDOOQRWEHHOLJLEOHWREHQRPLQDWHGIRURIÀFHLQDQ\ Local Union. Sec 161( c), page 106 from the Constitution of the United Association 1RPHPEHUZKRKROGVDÀQDQFLDOLQWHUHVWLQDQ\ business directly connected with the Plumbing and 3LSHÀWWLQJ ,QGXVWU\ PD\ UXQ IRU RU KROG D 8QLRQ 2IÀFH 120,1$7,21352&('85( OO QRPLQDWLRQV IRU ORFDO RIÀFH PXVW EH LQ $ writing, giving the full name of the nominee to the Recording Secretary when the President has recognized the member presenting the nomination. 3OHDVHQRWHDPHPEHUPD\EHQRPLQDWHGIRU RQO\ RQH RI WKH RIÀFHV DV VHW IRUWK LQ 6HFtions 100 and 122(a) of the UA Constitution and Article IV, Section 2(b) of the Local Union By-Laws. $ QRPLQDWLQJ PHPEHU FDQ QRPLQDWH RQH DQGRQO\RQHFDQGLGDWHIRUHDFKRSHQRIÀFH &DQGLGDWHVPXVWDFFHSWWKHQRPLQDWLRQDWWKH time made, either in person or, if absent, in writing. $Q RIÀFHU KROGLQJ DQ RIÀFH WKDW LV QRW XS for election is not eligible for nomination to some other Local Union Office unless he/ VKHÀUVWUHVLJQVWKH2IÀFHKHOG6XFKUHVLJQDWLRQ PXVW EH LQ ZULWLQJ DQG ÀOHG ZLWK WKH Local Union prior to the mailing of nomination notices. )URP2IÀFHRI/DERU0DQDJHPHQW6WDQGDUGV 6HFWLRQ RI WKH /0'5$ provides that perVRQV ZKR KDYH EHHQ FRQYLFWHG RI VSHFLÀHG FULPHV PD\ QRW VHUYH DV RIÀFHUV RI D XQLRQ IRU \HDUV after the conviction or after incarceration for the offense whichever is later unless the sentencing court imposes some lesser period of at least 3 years. The VSHFLÀHG FULPHV LQFOXGH UREEHU\ EULEHU\ H[WRUWLRQ embezzlement, grand larceny, burglary, arson, narcotics violations, murder, rape, assault with intent to NLOODVVDXOWZKLFKLQÁLFWVJULHYRXVERGLO\LQMXU\RU a felony involving misuse of position with a union or a trust fund. All candidates will be required to sign an acknowledgement verifying that they are eligible to run in accordance with section 504 of LMDRA. cal Trades School, 8509 Ardwick Ardmore Road, Landover, MD 20785. Please bring a manpower listing with you. Please plan to attend. (/(&7,21127,&( 813$,''8(6$66(660(176 $ VHFUHW EDOORW HOHFWLRQ WR ÀOO WKH 2IÀFHV UHIHUenced above will be held on Monday, June 1, 2015, from 12:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at the U.A. Mechanical Trade School, 8509 Ardwick-Ardmore Road, Landover Maryland. (OLJLELOLW\WR9RWHDW/RFDO8QLRQ(OHFWLRQ 6HF SDJH IURP WKH &RQVWLWXWLRQ RI WKH 8QLWHG$VVRFLDWLRQ (a) No member shall vote at any election of any description unless he has been a member in good standing in the Local Union where the vote is being taken for a period of one (1) year immediately prior to the date of the election. Any member who owes or has paid a reinstatement fee within a period of one (1) year immediately prior to the date of the election shall not be eligible to vote in any Local Union election. All results will be announced at the regular Tuesday, June 2, 2015, Meeting which will be held at the U.A. Mechanical Trades School, 8509 Ardwick Ardmore Road, Landover, Maryland. IN EVENT OF A TIE In the event of a tie, a run off election will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2015 from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., at the U.A. Mechanical Trades School, $UGZLFN$UGPRUH5RDG/DQGRYHU0DU\ODQG results will be announced at the July, 2015 Meeting. The Executive Board has begun bringing members before the Board for outstanding amounts due. Please check your receipts or call one of the Secretaries in the Hall to get the status of your Death Assessments. Don’t wait until you have a letter to appear before the Executive Board or are being pulled from your job to get your assessments caught up. $77(17,21$335(17,&(6 Your yearly initiations are now due. Please make 68%67$1&($%86(,668(6 We are still holding our Substance Abuse sessions on Thursdays in the hall at 4:30 p.m. This issue still seems to be a problem for a lot of our members. Please call ahead to make sure the session is being held. Remember there is no cost to attend, all are welcome. The Hall does not need to know who is attending. We encourage anyone who is need to join in. %,*:,11(5 Timmy “Pops” Christian was the winner of the 5DIÁH DW WKH )HEUXDU\ 8QLRQ 0HHWLQJ Timmy donated his winnings to “Charity Begins at Home”. 6<03$7+< There have been no deaths since the last newsletter. THE CURRENT DEATH IS NO 1509. ANY MEMBER NOT PAID THROUGH 1509 IS IN ARREARS. From Joe Savia, Sr., Business Manager Look for the Union Label! payment prior to March 1, 2015. This is a good time to check on your assessments as well. 6+2367(:$5'6)25(0(1 MEETING Just a reminder there will be a Shop Steward/ Foreman Meeting on Tuesday, March 3, 2015 before the Union Meeting, at 4:30 p.m. at the UA Mechani- BUY UNION RETIREES CORNER Our next meeting will be Wednesday, March 4, 2015 11 am U.A Mechanical Trades School 8509 Ardwick Ardmore Road Landover, Maryland 20785 ALL RETIREES ON MEDICARE PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND TO DISCUSS $20 medical copay, $400 deductible & prescription drug program OTHER TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED 1. Retirees Spring Calendar 2. Local 602 Special Events Bull Roast - March 28 Awards Dinner - May 9 3. Retirees Breakfast Club Montgomery County, Wed., March 11 IHOP, Germantown, Maryland Exit 15 off 270 Coffee and lunch will be served at meeting! Please rsvp to Bernie Thornberg, 301-949-1788 or [email protected] by Wednesday, February 25th From Kevin Sullivan, Business Agent The other day I was talking with a friend about whether Labor Unions were necessary in today’s market. Both of us agreed on the formation and necessity of Labor unions in the 19th century. During that time, the Industrial Revolution produced an expansion in manufacturing capabilities. As workers moved away from agricultural work to factories, they worked very long hours with low pay in unsafe conditions. Even young children were forced to ZRUNLQIDFWRULHV'XULQJWKLVGLIÀFXOWWLPHRIODERU transition, the government did little to limit these injustices. Workers began to organize for better rights DQG VDIHU FRQGLWLRQV VR LQLWLDWLQJ WKH IRUPLQJ RI labor unions. Labor unions provided workers, as a group, with WKH EHQHÀW RI QHJRWLDWLQJ SD\ DQG ZRUNLQJ FRQGLWLRQV ZLWK WKHLU HPSOR\HU DV D JURXS JLYLQJ WKHP more power than if they were to negotiate individually. Labor unions were successful in improving working conditions, increasing wages, and securing KHDOWK DQG UHWLUHPHQW EHQHÀWV IRU 8QLRQ :RUNHUV In the 20th century, the United States government began to take actions by passing labor laws. With Union Labor backing laws such as the Fair Labor Standards Act (1938), Labor-Management Relations Act (1947), Equal Pay Act (1963), Civil Rights Act (Title VII – 1964), and Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA – 1970) laws were enacted requiring employers to ensure all employees’ rights were protected along with safe working conditions. My friend was a grocery store worker represented by a UFCW Union. He had got into job site trouble where he was facing disciplinary action. I do not know what the charge was (stalking females) or KRZHJUHJLRXVLWZDV,GRNQRZWKDW,QRZÀQGP\self defending Unions from the attacks of a disgruntled ex union member. The disgruntled employee feels the Union did not represent him well, that the unions are more concerned with collecting dues, and the International leaders are out of touch with the membership. It is a tough argument to defend whether it is with a former union member or a non union worker. I can say however, at Local 602, we do a good job representing our membership. Those that have never been part of a union perceive the Unions as the protectors of the screwed up and unproductive worker. Those that are looking to tear Unions down feel that Unions do very little for people who work hard. You can be an unproductive worker with high seniority and still maintain your job for years. Maybe other unions operated like that DQG KDYH FDVW D EDG VKDGRZ XSRQ XV ZH DUH QRW them. None the less, these preconceived notions are just another front we are up against Brothers and Sisters. I cannot speak for other Unions but, I believe, we as a Union hold ourselves to a higher standard through our training and an instilled work ethic that must be held to, year to year and job to job. Yes, unions are necessary. My disgruntled union busting friend also debated that Labor Unions are too costly, forcing companies to seek cheaper labor in other countries. I asked my friend “Are you kidding me with this? Do you really think that if unions ceased to exist, that business would pay workers better wages on their own initiative? Do you think they would continue to provide good health insurance? The fact that companies are relocating to other countries in order to circumvent fair labor practices, health standards, and pay foreign workers pennies on the dollar tells you everything you need to know. They would rather invest in someone else’s country than their own to save a buck. Do you really think that if unions vanished, those companies would bring their business back on U.S. soil and suddenly change their minds and pay great salaries and hourly wages? No, they will continue their current practice of getting away with spending as little as possible on their workers, and as much as possible on the executives. Yes, unions are necessary Earlier I had mentioned that Unions did a lot on their own without government assistance. It is better today, but even with federal laws enacted the funding of enforcement has been stripped away. A portion of our union dues helps the Local Building Trades to hire their own people to police Davis Bacon worker misclassification and licensing requirement making it harder for the open shop to cheat in getting jobs and their workers out of wages due. Yes, unions are necessary to protect workers rights and public safety. Yes, Unions do provide KLJKZDJHVDQGIULQJHEHQHÀWVIRUWKHLUPHPEHUV,Q fact, they drive up wages for EVERYONE, because if a union employer on Main Street is paying $25/ hour, but an open shop employer is paying only $18/ hour for the same work, where do you think the best workers will want to be employed? To be competi- tive for attracting the best workers, the open shop may then consider paying a little more as well. Hell, that $18/hour may be an increase from the $12/hour they used to pay! Besides, it’s no secret that unions SURYLGHJRRGEHQHÀWVVXFKDVKHDOWKLQVXUDQFHDQG retirement, so their workers won’t be dependent on government assistance when they get older. However, the open shops that provide little to no benHÀWV WKHLU ZRUNHUV ZLOO EH VXFNLQJ RII WKH WHDW RI public assistance for the rest of their lives. Yes, we still need unions. Brothers and Sisters this is what we are up against. The General Public has a negative perception of us and the politicians enact laws yet strip IXQGLQJ RI HQIRUFHPHQW :H DUH RQ DQ LVODQG RXU 8QLRQFRQWUDFWRUVDQGXVÀJKWLQJWKHEDWWOHWRJHWKHU Remember that daily when we walk onto the job. Do your individual part in representing Union Labor well, for we must do our part in displacing the myth that Union members are a bunch of overpaid slackers. Yes, unions are necessary! Chris Madello, Organizer/Business Rep I hope that everyone is enjoying the New Year so far and looking forward to the promise that a fresh year may bring. I also hope that you all have included something particular about our Local Union when you came up with your “New Year’s Resolutions” last month. Whatever those resolutions may be, I hope that you all are constantly thinking of ways that may help improve something that is so important to us all and has a direct impact on our lives in many ways. I know all too well, how busy our lives can be and how many different things can come up in even a single week. We all experience the pressures of everyday life and while we juggle our families, work, school, friends and a little time for ourselves, we often let other things slip by us. The things that we let slip, aren’t typically on the forefront of our minds, but that doesn’t exactly make them unimportDQW7KH PRVW REYLRXV RI WKH LWHPV ZH 6WHDPÀWWHUV ignore when we juggle all of the things in our lives, is our health and that is something we all have to do a better job keeping an eye on, but that is not the only thing that most of us do not pay attention to. While it is not quite as important as your health, one of the most common things that a majority of us do not pay much attention to, is the amount of money that is being contributed into each of our fringe benefit plans for all of the hours that we work. Of course we all pay attention to our paychecks and ensure that we aren’t working any hours that we aren’t compensated for, but it’s not quite as easy for us to keep track of the other type of compensation we receive for the hours that we work. 7KHUHDVRQZK\LWLVGLIÀFXOWIRUXVWRNHHSWUDFNRI this is because most of the companies that we work IRUGRQRWOLVWWKH´)ULQJH%HQHÀW&RQWULEXWLRQVµRQ our paystubs, so in most cases we do not have the opportunity to view them on a weekly basis. The only option that we have of tracking the rate RI )ULQJH %HQHÀWV &RQWULEXWLRQV WKDW DUH PDGH RQ our behalf is to view our quarterly report of hours WKDWZHUHFHLYHIURPWKH%HQHÀWV2IÀFH7KLVGRFXment lists the amount of hours that were contributed on your behalf by the contractor or contractors that you worked for, during the three month period of the report. While this report allows you to keep a running record of the amount of hours you have compiled, it also allows you the opportunity to verify that the hours that the employer contributed are accurate and that you have been compensated for all of the hours you worked during this period. 7KHPRVWHIÀFLHQWDQGDFFXUDWHPHWKRGRIWUDFNing the amount of hours that should be contributed RQ \RXU EHKDOI LV WR VDYH DOO RI \RXU SD\VWXEV DW least for a few months anyway. Then you can compare the hours that you worked from you paystubs to the quarterly report that you receive from the EHQHÀWV RIÀFH DQG HQVXUH WKDW WKH\ PDWFK 3OHDVH keep in mind that the employer is only required to contribute to the Fringe Benefit Funds on actual hours that are worked, which excludes any of the Holiday’s that are reserved in our Agreement or any Vacation that you may be receiving. In the event that the hours do not match, you VKRXOG FRQWDFW WKH %HQHÀWV 2IÀFH WR SURYLGH WKHP with the documentation (pay stubs) of the hours that you worked. They will then make contact with the Contractor who is liable for those hours and ensure that the hours that have not been contributed on your behalf are recovered. The reason why it so important to ensure that the proper amount of hours have been contributed to these funds on your behalf, is because they directly affect the amount of Pen- sion Credits you earn, the amount of money that you compile in your Retirement Savings plan and/or your Medical Eligibility. Please keep in mind that almost all of the discrepancies made by contractors to contribute the correct DPRXQWRIKRXUVWRWKH)ULQJH%HQHÀW)XQGVRQ\RXU behalf are made by unintentional errors and much like anything else, those errors must be reported so that they can be resolved. Again, I know that you are busy, but please do your best to keep an eye on these contributions. From Dan Loveless, Assistant Business Manager %URWKHUVDQG6LVWHUV :RUN: The past several months have not been to kind to us in terms of job opportunities. With the RQVHW RI 6SULQJ ZH DUH FRQÀGHQW WKDW WKLV F\FOH LV coming to an end. On Friday the 13th of February, Kevin Sullivan and I will be attending a Pre-Job meeting with various Building Trades’ representatives and we hope to come away from that meeting with starting dates, bulk of workload, number of crafts needed and other pertinent information on the Competitive Power Ventures Co-Gen project. This project will, in all likelihood, employ approximately 200 members. From the meetings attended thus far, we have learned that this project will be looking for 7,*6WLFN ZHOGHUV DQG SLSHÀWWHUV RI DOO VNLOO VHWV We have not been told if they intend to use the RMD Mig process but, as was stated before, we will get the information we gather back to the membership as quickly as possible. Please also note that this project will not require members to have a TWIC Card. 2QFHDJDLQZHDUHKDYLQJDKDUGWLPHIXOÀOOLQJWKH requests of our contractors for orbital welders. This is a skill set in high demand and members who are capable of performing this skill are hardly ever out of work. The beauty of this skill set is that it is one of the least physically demanding of all the many things that we do. It is generally not performed in environments where the temperature may be as ORZDVGHJUHHVRU\RXPD\EHÀJKWLQJDPSK wind. These factors alone should make most members line up for classes. Looking back, I wish I had WDNHQXSWKLVVNLOOVHWZKLOHRXWLQWKHÀHOG,·GKDYH saved myself a fortune in shirts and burn salve. So, seriously think about learning this skill. Speak to the training department and get other members to call as well, so that the formation of a class can be justiÀHG,IDFODVVLVVWDUWHGSOHDVHGRVHHLWWKURXJKWR FRPSOHWLRQLWUHDOO\ZLOOKHOSWRNHHS\RXHPSOR\HG 3DUWLFLSDWLRQ LQ WKH 1HZVOHWWHU Every Friday, or Monday after the Union meeting, Sandy asks us to have our newsletter turned in so that we can get it published and distributed to the membership on WLPH (YHU\ PRQWK DOO RI WKH RIÀFHUV FRQIHU ZLWK each other as to what their subject(s) is/are going to be so that the newsletter does not become redunGDQW0RUHRIWHQWKDQQRWZHKDYHGLIÀFXOW\WU\LQJ WR ÀJXUH RXW WRSLFV WKH PHPEHUVKLS ZRXOG OLNH WR VHHDGGUHVVHG:KHQ,ÀUVWWRRNRIÀFH,DVNHGWKLV and I am going to take this opportunity to ask again: please send topics you would like to have discussed in the newsletter to us and we will gladly include it in subsequent newsletters. Please email your ideas, thoughts and/or questions about possible newsletter topics to: [email protected] . 2XW RI :RUN /LVW For those of you who are out of work, it is necessary for you to sign the book every 30 days. If you are not on the list after 30 days, we will assume that you have gone back to work and we will no longer seek employment for you. If you do go back to work, please remember to pick up a referral within 24 hours of being hired. This is a requirement per the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. 62/,'$5,7< President, John P. Sullivan One Hundred Twenty Nine Years Old $W RXU QH[W UHJXODU PHHWLQJ RQ 0DUFK ZH ZLOO VZHDU LQ RXU ÀUVW \HDU DSSUHQWLFHV :H ZLOO DOVR EHREVHUYLQJRXUWKDQQLYHUVDU\DVDVHSDUDWHSLSHÀWWLQJWUDGH2QSDJHRI7KH(YHQLQJ6WDU0DUFK LWZDVUHSRUWHGWKDW´7KHVWHDPÀWWHUVRIWKH'LVWULFWRI&ROXPELDRUJDQL]HGODVWHYHQLQJIRUWKHSXUSRVH RI IRUPLQJ DQ DVVHPEO\ RI WKH .QLJKWV RI /DERU DQG HOHFWHG RIÀFHUVµ 2QH ZHHN ODWHU D SXEOLF QRWLFH was placed on page 1 of the Evening Star, “NOTICE – THE STEAMFITTERS OF the District are requested to meet at 2142 Pennsylvania ave. n.w., SATURDAY, March 13th at 7:30 p.m. By order of the Ex. Committee”. It was “signed” by James H. West (Master Workman) and Fred J. Vaux (Recording Secretary). The original structure at 2142 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. is still standing and begs for a historic marker honRULQJRXUKXPEOHEHJLQQLQJV,WLVZKHUHZHÀUVWPHW,WZDVRULJLQDOO\WKHKRPHRIWKH9DX[IDPLO\,WKDGD meeting room in its basement that, until a few years ago, housed the Froggy Bottom Pub. Bro. Justin Bateman has determined that it is now part of the property controlled by George Washington University and that it is likely protected from demolition because it is within a historic preservation area. I beOLHYHWKDWLWLVRXUGXW\WRUHPHPEHUWKHULVNVWDNHQDQGWKHVDFULÀFHVPDGHE\RXUDQFHVWRUV7RWKDWHQGZH will form a temporary historical committee. It is my hope that the apprentice student council will step forward and embrace this project. On a completely different note, I ask that all of our members prepare to help support a community service project being discussed at the Northern Virginia Labor Federation. We are hoping to collect student level band instruments to put into the pipeline of several organizations that deliver them to area bands…stay tuned. YOU WORKED HARD FOR YOUR MONEY SO LET YOUR MONEY WORK HARD FOR YOU. INVEST IN AMERICAN MADE/UNION MADE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. What’s New in Training by Sean Straser, Training Director During the recent application period, 553 applications were taken. Interviews have begun and will continue through April. If you know an applicant who has not received a letter yet, be patient. The trustees have many interviews to conduct have not decided how many they intend to accept this year. The Training Center will be accepting resumes for a full time welding instructor. Please submit your resume and qualifications to me at [email protected] with “Welding Instructor” in the subject line. We are also accepting resumes for part time and substitute instructors for welding, pipefitting and HVAC/R. Please send those resumes to [email protected] with “Resume” in the subject line. The Blood Drives have been rescheduled for Monday March 23 in Virginia and Wednesday March 25 in Maryland. Upcoming Journeyman Training classes: Journeyman Welding started Saturday February 7, 2015, OSHA 10 hr. Safety Awareness March 7, 2015 and the CFC class Tuesday March 3, 2015-Union Hall. We are trying to finalize dates for a MD journeyman HVAC test review class. We will offer two new training classes Aquatherm pipe fusion and CPR. Anyone interested in any of these classes needs to contact the Training Center office to sign up. The Energy Management class is in jeopardy of being cancelled this year for lack of participation. Unfortunately, this is not the first class recently that we have had to cancel due to lack of participation. Brothers and sisters, the school is free to use. Take the classes and keep up to date with technology and processes. There are several upcoming projects with Cove Point being the most prominent that will be using new welding technology. Initially, the project has begun hiring small numbers, but nearly 150 welders are anticipated for this project. If we as a local wait until this summer to begin training for this, it will be too late. We need to be proactive! The calls for welders will need to be filled when they are placed. The contractors will not have the luxury of waiting until we are ready. The calls may have to be filled with travelers. After seven years of less than stellar employment, are we willing to let these calls be filled with travelers or are we going to fill the jobs ourselves? These new welding processes and technologies are here to stay. Jobsite welding is changing. Are you going to be one of those who are ready and prepared for this project? Or are you going to be one of those who are left wondering why you aren’t qualified for the job? Are you ready for it? KEEP AMERICA WORKING! BUY AMERICAN AND LOOK FOR THE UNION LABEL. NEXT REGULAR MEETING Tuesday March 3, 2015 at the UA Mechanical Trades School 8509 Ardwick Ardmore Road, Landover, MD 20785 5:30 p.m. 602 JOURNAL Steamfitters Local 602 8700 Ashwood Drive, 2nd Floor Capitol Heights, MD 20743
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