International Operating Engineer - International Union of Operating

International
Operating Engineer
Summer 2011
Digital
magazine
premieres
summer
2011
1
general officers
Vincent J. Giblin, General President
James T. Callahan, General Secretary-Treasurer
William C. Waggoner, First Vice President
Brian E. Hickey, Second Vice President
John M. Hamilton, Third Vice President
Patrick L. Sink, Fourth Vice President
Jerry Kalmar, Fifth Vice President
Russell E. Burns, Sixth Vice President
Rodger Kaminska, Seventh Vice President
Mark Holliday, Eighth Vice President
James M. Sweeney, Ninth Vice President
Robert T. Heenan, Tenth Vice President
Daniel J. McGraw, Eleventh Vice President
Daren Konopaski, Twelfth Vice President
Michael Gallagher, Thirteenth Vice President
Greg Lalevee, Fourteenth Vice President
Frank Hanley, General President Emeritus
Budd Coutts, General Secretary-Treasurer Emeritus
Features
9
IUOE Charity Fund helps members in need
Change of Address - Requests must be submitted
in writing to the IUOE Membership Department. Include your
new address, registration and local union number.
POSTMASTERS – ATTENTION:
Change of address on Form 3579 should be sent to:
International Operating Engineer • Mailing List Dept.
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Periodicals postage paid at Washington, DC/additional offices
Publications Mail Agreement No. 40843045
Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:
2835 Kew Dr.
Windsor, ON N8T 3B7
12
NTF Training, Safety & Health Conference
13
Local 150 resurrects antique steam shovel
Departments
4
Central Pension Fund........ 6
Education & Training.......... 10
Safety & Health News......... 16
Hazmat News........................ 18
Politics & Legislation..........
16
19
Around the Locals............... 20
Member Service................... 22
GEB Minutes.......................... 24
In Memoriam.........................28
Legal Briefs............................
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video
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international operating engineer
T
here was a time when Washington understood the plight of
working-class Americans and represented those who made
this country what it is. However, that has now given way to
serving and representing powerful special interest groups that possess a stranglehold on our nation’s capital. The effects of this grip
are crippling.
So what can be done to overcome the special-interest chokehold on
Capitol Hill and restore it to the middle-class ideals that are the backbone of our country?
Local 115 operators bring skill to BC Place
John M. Holliday III, Chairman
John T. Ahern, Trustee
Kuba J. Brown, Trustee
Terrance E. McGowan, Trustee
Bruce Moffatt, Trustee
Subscription Terms - $5 per year
Breaking the stranglehold on Washington
Summer 2011 • Volume 154, No. 2
James T. Callahan, Editor
trustees
The International Operating Engineer
(ISSN 0020-8159) (USPS 581900) is published quarterly.
International Union of Operating Engineers
1125 Seventeenth Street NW • Washington, DC 20036
Printed in the USA on union-made paper.
An IUOE perspective
photo
text
Two words – Political Action. We must engage every IUOE member to take political action, voice their needs and fight for job creation as
if our lives and the lives of our families depended on it, because in most
cases… it does.
Infrastructure Investment = JOBS
It is that simple. Investment in infrastructure will employ thousands of IUOE members, help restore the construction sector and resuscitate our nation’s economy. It’s been done before and worked. You
only need to dust off your history books or Google FDR’s New Deal in
the 1930s that led to more than 34,000 projects such as the construction
of airports, dams, bridges and other job-generating projects that helped
pull us out of the Great Depression. The same goes for Eisenhower’s
National Interstate and Defense Highways in Act in 1956 that paved
the way for 41,000 miles of our nation’s Interstate Highway System and
provided much-needed work for millions of men and women. Perhaps a
refresher course in American History should be mandatory for members
of Congress before setting foot in Washington?
Otherwise politicians will continue to bicker and fail our nation’s
working-class. This must change.
Education + Engagement = RESULTS
Education and engagement are catalysts for change. Consistent
with my belief that the IUOE must constantly improve every facet of
our operations, the International launched an initiative this year to more
effectively educate and engage our members in legislative and political
action on key priorities. There are several ways we are trying to accomplish this objective, many based on what we learned from our survey of
more than 100,000 members conducted last fall.
The IUOE has sought to increase our use of e-communications,
including this digital edition of the International Engineer. More than
70% of IUOE members regularly use the internet, so it only makes sense
to use it to effectively and efficiently communicate with members. As
part of this initiative, the International has and continues to seek members’ email addresses, which allows us to communicate with members
through our electronic activist program, the Engineers Action and Response Network (EARN). In the last nine months, we have taken the
email list from a few hundred to approximately 36,000 IUOE members.
That represents about 10% of the U.S. membership - it’s a good start,
but we have a long ways to go.
To cite an example of how the tool is used, when Senator John McCain prepared an amendment that would completely repeal Davis-Bacon
prevailing wages from federal law, we were able to generate approximately 3,000 emails from IUOE members to their Senators opposing the
amendment within three days. And as a result of this significant opposi-
tion generated by the IUOE, in addition to other similar efforts among other unions, the
amendment was never formally offered.
That’s the kind of action that makes a
meaningful difference in the livelihoods
of IUOE members and their families.
We must continue to build the EARN
program. Please encourage fellow operators to sign-up on the members-only
section of our website and participate in
our EARN program.
General President
Speaking of Davis-Bacon, there
Vincent J. Giblin
have been five votes in the House of Representatives this year regarding Davis-Bacon prevailing wages. We have
won all five of them. The application of Davis-Bacon prevailing wages to
federally-assisted construction projects is an important stabilizing influence in many U.S. construction markets. Davis-Bacon allows our contractors to remain competitive and protects the wages and fringe benefits
of IUOE members. For the record, every House Democrat and nearly 50
House Republicans voted in support of Davis-Bacon prevailing wages.
Click here for a detailed breakdown on how they voted
Another example of the IUOE’s efforts to educate and engage
members is the scheduling of meetings, in cooperation with our locals,
with select freshmen House Republicans in their districts, putting these
new representatives together with IUOE members (voters) to help put
a face on the myriad of problems facing working people and spelling
out the issues that matter to us. This serves as a wake-up call to these
representatives that partisan politics and the obstructionist policies that
are currently stonewalling jobs for operating engineers will no longer be
accepted as the national pastime in Washington if they want our support. In other words, show us your support or we’ll show you the door
when it comes time to vote!
Recently at Local 150’s district office in McHenry, IL, IUOE
scheduled a meeting with members and Republican Congressman Joe
Walsh. With support from the Tea Party, Walsh rode the Republican
wave into office in 2010 and had a record of voting against most laborfriendly legislation. As a result of our meeting with Walsh, the IUOE
succeeded in helping convince him to support our key priorities.
Since that meeting, Walsh has supported the IUOE on all five
Davis-Bacon prevailing wage and three Project Labor Agreement
votes this year. While we appreciate his support, much more needs
to be done to create jobs. As the unemployed members of Local 150
told Walsh, they need investments in a highway bill to put them back
to work, not more partisan politics. Congressman Walsh expressed
his support, but we’ll see what his record shows in September when he
votes on issues critical to the livelihoods of IUOE members.
The International is prepared to use all of the tools at our disposal
to engage politicians, including the technologies and strategies described
above, until a highway bill is signed that creates thousands of jobs for
operating engineers. However, in order for these initiatives to succeed,
your support, participation and vigilance are essential. Getting members
back to work is the IUOE’s top priority and a responsibility that I take
personally as General President, so please do your part and join me in taking back Washington and making it work for working-class Americans!
summer
2011
3
Transportation investments require IUOE mobilization
TransCanada pipeline projects hits important milestone
The unemployment rate in construction was still over 16% in
May. While the construction industry has suffered from depressionlike unemployment levels for more than two years, the nation’s roads
are crumbling, bridges are collapsing, and commute
times are rising.
The permitting process for a critical IUOE-supported project, the
Keystone XL Pipeline, a 1,700-mile crude oil pipeline from Alberta,
Canada to Texas, has reached an important milestone. The U.S. State
Department, the agency that would approve the project, released a
Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Keystone
XL, and there was an opportunity to comment on it that ended in June.
IUOE members sent 2,000 communications to the Department of
State to tell the regulators how important the project is to thousands of hardworking North Americans. See General President
Giblin’s comments on the permitting process here.
What can Congress do? Pass a highway transportation law that puts Operating Engineers back to
work at the same time rebuilding America’s infrastructure—the economic foundation of the country.
politics &
legislation
There are few things more important to the livelihoods of Operating Engineers than investing in
nation’s transportation infrastructure. These investments employ tens of thousands of Operating Engineers and other workers in the construction industry.
Half of all the direct jobs created with an investment
in highways are in construction.
American global competitiveness depends on
moving people and goods safely and efficiently. We cannot compete
with China and India when bridges are falling apart and bottlenecks
exist at virtually every key transportation hub in the nation. That’s
why even the U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports a higher level
of investment than the House Republican Leadership. It’s clear that
the House Republican Leadership is taking this country in the wrong
direction.
The Legislative and Political Department is working to increase
communication focused on issues that are critical to the livelihoods
of IUOE members and their families. The General President has
called for a higher level of communication between IUOE members
and elected officials, and there are several specific places where you
can make your voice heard.
Over the next several months, you may receive a phone call from
IUOE PHOTO GUIDELINES
IUOE appreciates the stories and photos we receive for The Operating
Engineer. There are photo requirements that must be met in order to
ensure the quality publication you deserve. We offer the following
requirements regarding traditional film and digital photo submissions.
TRADITIONAL FILM PHOTOGRAPHY
4 x 6 (or larger) glossy color prints on photographic film paper (from
photo finishing services, such as your local retail store developers).
Please do not send ink jet, color copier, or color laser prints – they
are not suitable for publishing purposes.
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
A 5.0 megapixel camera or higher is recommended for photos to be
published. Printing presses require a minimum of 300 dpi (dots per
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international operating engineer
the International Union that allows you to communicate directly with
your Member of Congress. You will receive an automated phone call
and be given a short overview of the issue. You might be asked to call
the U.S. Capitol Switchboard – or perhaps even
punch a button that allows you to connect directly
to your Representative’s or Senators’ offices.
Worksite fliers delivering important legislative
updates are also being distributed across the country. Look for them on your jobsite.
The effectiveness of the IUOE Engineers Action and Response Network (EARN) program continues to grow as more and more members sign
up for the service. This email-based communication tool gives you the ability to send a prepared,
timely message to your elected officials. It’s an
easy way to make the collective voice of Operating
Engineers heard in the Halls of the Capitol here in
Washington, DC.
Make sure you are plugged into the effort to save and create good
jobs for Operating Engineers. As General President Giblin said, “We
must engage every IUOE member to advocate for good-paying jobs.”
We need your help to turn the tide on the most devastating construction economy since the 1930s. Thousands of Operating Engineers are
making the calls, distributing the worksite flyers, and talking to their
friends, neighbors and co-workers about the importance of re-investing in American infrastructure. Add your voice to the message being
sent to Capitol Hill: create jobs now by passing a robust highway
transportation bill!
See a recent advertisement that was developed by the Transportation Construction Coalition (an alliance of groups, including the
IUOE, that push for transportation investments) that ran in Capitol
Hill news publications here.
inch) for color photographs-more commonly called “high-resolution”
photos. This means subjects should be photographed using the highest
quality setting on your digital camera, also known as the “fine/superfine” or “large” setting. Images should not be manipulated in any way
for size, cropping, color mode, quality of color, or sharpness. Download the images from your camera (only JPEG or TIFF formats are
acceptable) and submit digital photos on a CD to the attention of the
Communications Department or e-mail them to [email protected].
Photos submitted must include a typed description of each photo identifying who
is in the picture and what is taking
place. When staging photos such as
service awards, please group as many
recipients into each photo as possible.
By following these recommendations,
it enables the IUOE to better highlight
your local’s story and photos.
construction once they get the permit. Legal challenges, however,
are expected.
Find frequent updates on TransCanada’s Keystone XL project by
seeing the IUOE News section of the website.
Approval of the Keystone XL will:
•
Create 20,000 high-quality jobs during the pipeline’s construction phase, including about 4,000 IUOE jobs.
•
Spur more than $20 billion in new spending for the U.S.
economy.
•
Generate $6.5 billion in new personal income for U.S.
workers and their families.
•
Stimulate more than $585 million in new state/local taxes
in states along the pipeline route during construction.
•
Increase American energy security.
Because the project crosses the border with Canada, it needs
what is called a Presidential Permit. The Department of State
issues these permits and manages the environmental review for
the project. In order to approve the project, the State Department
needs to find it in the “national interest.” The project is now nearing the end of the review process. The Department of State has
committed to making a decision on the TransCanada pipeline
project by the end of 2011. It must keep to this timeline in order
to ensure that the project, if it is approved, goes forward. Additional delays will cost more money and increase the uncertainty of
the project, both of which could lead TransCanada to terminate it.
After assessing the comments it receives on the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement, the State Department
will release a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).
There will be 30 days to review and comment on the FEIS and
also a public hearing. The agency will then make a “national interest determination” for the project and issue the Presidential
Permit. TransCanada has purchased the pipe and is ready to begin
activism, technology & creating jobs:
Make the call to take the call
No one likes to be bothered by telemarketers at home. We
have all screened calls from telemarketers and political parties.
But, sometimes, it is critical to pick up the phone. Sometimes,
your job may depend on it. Take Local 324 as an example.
Local 324 has increased its use of phone calls to communicate
important issues to members, calling them to action and then
connecting them directly to their elected officials in Lansing. It’s
simple: Local 324 is using the latest technology to create jobs
through political activism. That is precisely what it will take in
this tough political environment. Several thousand phone calls
have been made to Michigan members on issues ranging from
Project Labor Agreements and prevailing wages, to supporting
the construction of key infrastructure projects.
At the federal level, the IUOE will utilize “Patch-Through”
and “Robo-Calls” to communicate developments on the
reauthorization of the Highway and Transit Bill, the largest jobcreation legislation in Congress for Operating Engineers. In
May, phone calls were made to a dozen Congressional Districts
around the U.S. with 6,500 members receiving the message.
Hundreds of operators took up the charge and called their
member of Congress to thank them for supporting Davis-Bacon
prevailing wages.
The only way politicians are going to develop the political
backbone to adequately fund transportation infrastructure is if
they feel the pressure by hearing from us, their constituents.
Every one of us! If you receive one of these calls, please take
up the IUOE charge and make your voice heard. Your job may
depend on it!
summer
2011
5
Central Pension Fund
Local 12 operators raise Hoover Dam bridge
Defined Benefit Plans:
Recovering steadily and increasing in demand
ecent studies show that defined
benefit plans, and especially
multiemployer plans like the Central
Pension Fund, are steadily recovering from
the global economic meltdown of 20082009; and the desire for their coverage in
the workplace is stronger than ever.
R
In May 2011, the Central Pension Fund
issued a special edition of the CPF REPORT
which documented the Fund’s recovery, and
also documented the superiority of CPF to
any 401(k) plan over the last 25 years. And
the REPORT documented this superiority,
even if CPF’s benefit accrual rate had been
at its currently
reduced rate over
the entire 25 year
period. You may
view the CPF Report by clicking
the cover of the
image below.
‘... multiemployer plans are steadily
recovering from the historic
economic downturn... because
they are designed to withstand the
harshest economic conditions.’
As expected, multiemployer plans are
steadily recovering from the historic economic downturn. This is because they are
designed to withstand the harshest economic
conditions. Their design provides the ability to protect accrued benefits while cutting
back on the rate of future benefit accruals,
thus slowing the growth of plan liabilities
and permitting time for plan assets to regrow.
In May 2011 a national survey of
multiemployer plans published by the
Segal Company, a national consulting firm
specializing in multiemployer plans, found that
for calendar year 2011, 66% of multiemployer
plans have been certified to be in “Green Zone”
or healthy status under the Pension Protection
Act, an increase from 54% in 2010, and 39%
in 2009. In 2008, before the global economic
collapse, 83% of plans had been in the “Green
Zone”. The steady improvement since 2009
is evidence of the structural resilience of
multiemployer plans. Survey results are
available at www.segalco.com/publicationand-resources/multiemployer-publications/
surveys-studies.
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international operating engineer
multiemployer plans, as
well as, their superiority
over 401(k) plans is more
important to workers today than ever before.
A December 2010
survey conducted by
Towers Watson, a worldwide retirement consulting firm, found that 60%
of new employees at
employers with defined
benefit pension plans
cited the pension plan as
an important reason they
chose to work for their
current employer, a sharp
increase from just 27% in
2009. Furthermore, 72%
of new employees said
the defined benefit plan
is an important reason
they will stay with their
employer, up from 51%
in 2009.
This demonstrated resilience
and recovery of
By comparison, just 20% of new
employees with only a 401(k) plan cited it
as playing a role in choosing their employer,
and only 28% said it was a reason they
would stay with that employer. The Towers
Watson survey results are available at
www.towerswatson.com/united-states/
press/3348.
In summary, while the consequences of
the economic events of 2008-2009 will be
felt for years to come, those events demonstrated that defined benefit pension plans
can withstand even the worst of downturns,
and it is such downturns that
remind workers everywhere
of the value of the retirement
security that only defined
benefit plans can provide.
T
hrough the combined skills of some 300 engineers and
1,200 construction workers, including about 25 operating
engineers from Local 12, the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge
now stands as the largest concrete-arch bridge in the Western
Hemisphere. The new landmark also features the highest precast
segmented columns in the world.
Click the screen below to see a time lapse
video of the construction of the bridge and click
the camera icon on the right to see more photos
of the project on IUOE’s FlickR photo stream.
The freestanding structure supports the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge 890 feet above the Colorado River. It will cut a
trucker’s travel time between Nevada and Arizona from an
average 30-minute trip over the dam to just six minutes.
However, motorists with more time on their hands may
want to stop at the visitor parking lot and use a walkway
across the bridge to view the dam from 1,700 feet down river.
At a cost of $114 million, the length of the bridge is
1,900 feet. The rugged terrain of the Nevada approach cost
more the $30 million for the two miles of road that will also
include construction of six new bridges. While the two miles
of the Arizona approach cost $21.5 million and includes one
of the largest bridges – 900-foot-long – in the state.
The combined costs of the total project are approximately $240 million, with both states and the federal government
providing funding. Work on the project began in late 2003
and was complete in late 2010.
summer
2011
7
Union Plus announces 2011
IUOE scholarship winners
A higher education is more important now than ever. But with working families
experiencing a distressed economy, escalating health care costs and tuition rising
faster than the rate of inflation, affording an education now is even harder. To
meet the growing need, Union Plus has awarded $150,000 in scholarships
to 130 students representing 43 unions, including five representing the
IUOE, in the 2011 Union Plus Scholarship Program.
Samantha Marshik (Local 49 - MN)
Samantha of Foreston, MN, whose father Bret Nitzsche is a member of Local 49, has been awarded a $500 scholarship.
“Head, Heart, Hands, Health” aren’t just the four tenets of 4-H clubs; they also are priorities of the nine-year member.
“Hands” and “Health” represent her chosen field: becoming a doctor of chiropractic medicine, with additional training
to treat horses, dogs and felines. “Head” represents her commitment to academics and plans for college. And “Heart”
represents her social conscience. She appreciates what unions like the IUOE have done for working families like hers. She
aspires to offer a program at her chiropractic clinic to benefit men and women in the armed services and their families.
Christina Scelfo (Local 94 - NY)
Christina of Howard Beach, NY, whose father Ralph Scelfo is a member of Local 94, has been awarded a $2,000
scholarship. She will enter medical school this fall and Christina appreciates what the IUOE has done for her family.
“Being part of the IUOE,” she says, “has provided my family with the assurance of a stable career and the benefits of
programs like pension and annuity.” She also appreciates what the IUOE has done for her: helping to pay for her
education with several scholarships. As a doctor, she plans to help the country move forward and provide the best
care possible to its citizens.
Chase Chamberlain (Local 351 - TX)
Chase of Stratford, OK, whose stepfather Larry Harrison is a member of Local 351, has been awarded a $4,000 scholarship.
He is graduating first in his class, with perfect test scores and plans to attend one of America’s top universities as a
political science major and then law school. But Chase feels responsibilities outside the classroom, too. His family has
sponsored a boy from Tanzania, and Chase says, “This experience has changed my life.” He is also a reading mentor for
younger children. Chase traces his social conscience to his stepfather’s IUOE membership. “Having a strong union has
resulted in improvement in policies, equipment and overall general working conditions,” he says.
Zachary Zurfluh-Cunningham (Local 513 - MO)
Zachary of Barnhart, MO, whose father Patrick Cunningham is a member of Local 513, has been awarded a $4,000
scholarship. Zachary was class president for all four years of high school. And when it comes to school spirit, he is a
leader who leads by example: he participated in two sports, school musicals, drum line and student council and cofounded his school’s debate club. Today this proud son of an IUOE member embarks on the next chapter of his life,
and it promises the same degree of involvement and achievement: college, the U.S. Air Force and a career as a nuclear
chemical engineer.
Uriah Markholt (Local 612 - WA)
Uriah of Mossyrock, WA, whose mother Sona Markholt is a
member of Local 612, has been awarded a $500 scholarship. “Union activism has been a part of my life ever since
I can remember,” says Uriah. Her great-grandmother and
grandfather were union members. “From an early age I
was taught the importance of social justice for all people.”
Her compassion for animals and people explains her career goal: becoming a veterinary technician and opening
an equine therapeutic riding center for individuals with special needs.
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international operating engineer
Union Plus Scholarship Program
Union Plus Scholarships are granted to students attending
two-and four-year colleges, graduate school or a recognized
technical/trade school. Since 1991, Union Plus has awarded $3
million in educational funding to over 2,100 union members
and their families. Recipients are selected based on academic
ability, social awareness, financial need and labor appreciation.
Visit UnionPlus.org/Education for applications and eligibility.
Understanding how IUOE’s National Charity Fund helps
T
he National Charity Fund was established as a separate non-profit
organization by the IUOE General
Executive Board in May 2007, growing out
of the previously established Disaster and
Hurricane Katrina Relief Funds. From the
start, its primary purpose has been to provide financial assistance to IUOE members
and their families facing a national or local
disaster. The Charity Fund is funded by the
International, along with donations received
from local unions and individuals and aims
to maintain $2.5 million in assets available
for distribution in the event of a disaster.
There are two circumstances in which
the Charity Fund pays member-related benefits. The first is when an IUOE member is
killed in a disaster. In that case, the Charity
Fund will make a payment to the member’s
family, generally in the amount of $50,000.
The second type of benefit is payable when a
member’s home has been destroyed or greatly damaged in some type of disaster. In that
case, the Charity Fund will pay the member
up to $20,000, depending upon the amount of
uninsured loss incurred by the member.
To understand how the Charity Fund
works, it is important to understand what is
meant by a “disaster.” As the General Executive Board has defined the purpose of the Fund,
a disaster is an act of God that has a substantial
national or local destructive impact, such as
tornados, floods, hurricanes, wildfires, bridge
collapses or gas line explosions. A disaster
can also be a terrorist act
such as the 9/11 attacks or
the Oklahoma City bombing. The Charity Fund is
not set up to provide general financial assistance to
members in need, nor to
give help when an individual has experienced some
property loss. Further, it is
not a death benefit fund for
members.
The Charity Fund is
designed to provide financial assistance as quickly
and as fairly as possible
when a member’s home has been damaged.
To that end, a Request for Assistance form is
available on www.iuoe.org. In cases where
there has been substantial damage to the
member’s home, the member completes the
form with their Business Manager, who verifies that they are in good standing. The form
is then submitted to the International’s Office
of Finance and Administration, along with
supporting evidence documenting the loss.
The claim is then reviewed by an outside auditing firm retained by the International. It is
that firm’s job to determine whether the claim
meets the guidelines for payment adopted by
the General Executive Board.
One of the most valuable features of the
Charity Fund is its emergency payment program. As soon as a claim has been submitted, it is reviewed by the Office of Finance
and Administration and the auditing firm. If
the damage and the need are demonstrated,
a $3,000 payment is sent to the member to
use for his immediate needs. The emergency
payment is made no later than 10 days after
the Charity Fund has received the request,
and it can go out as quickly as the same day
it is submitted. The member and his family
thus have some money in hand right away to
meet their needs.
The Charity Fund performs another important service in the face of disasters. If a
member dies in a disaster, the Charity Fund
provides financial help to the surviving family.
When the deceased member’s Business Manger submits a claim, the General President and
General Secretary Treasurer determine the appropriate amount to be paid, with $50,000 the
typical sum. The Office of Finance and Administration and the auditing firm then review
the claim to determine whether it satisfies the
General Executive Board’s guidelines. Once
the review confirms that payment is appropriate, the check goes out to the family.
Along with providing aid to members
and their families when a disaster strikes, the
Charity Fund is set up to serve broader charitable purposes. For the past two years, it has
made donations to Martha’s Table, a Washington, D.C. organization set up to provide
food and clothing for the homeless.
But by far the biggest general charitable
effort taken up by the Fund was in 2010 in
response to the earthquake in Haiti. The General Executive Board solicited contributions
from local unions to the Charity Fund for aid
to Haiti, with the promise that the Charity
would match all contributions received. When
58 local unions donated a total of $131,000,
the Charity Fund made an equal gift. The resulting $262,000 was given to Doctors without Borders, for its ongoing work in Haiti.
Since its inception, the Charity Fund has
disbursed approximately $1.1 million, with
over $800,000 going to IUOE members and
their families. It has responded to hurricanes in Texas; wildfires and gas explosions
in California; a Minnesota bridge collapse;
tornadoes in Alabama, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota and Missouri; and floods in Georgia,
Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Washington and Wisconsin.
summer
2011
9
Education & Training
Local 15 crane operators participate in GPS workshop
Local 139 develops crane simulator for erecting wind turbine
Local 15 (New York, NY) members attended a Global Positioning System workshop on May 14 at the local’s training facility. Attendees participated in classroom and field
exercises regarding the operation of GPS for surveying
applications and other technological advancements in the
industry, which helps enhance the skills of Local 15 operators and maintains their status as leaders in the industry.
Pictured (in no particular order) are: Richard Blackmore
Jr., Robert Cook, Margaret Downey, Mohamed Elramly,
Cory Emanuel, Michael Gillis, Eric Glaeser, Peter Malmendier, Brett Minnaugh, Christopher Morris, Robert
Phelan, Juan Rivera, Danielle Shelton, Joseph Tripiedi,
Vice President/Business Representative Robert G. Shaw
and Local 15D Business Representative Anthony LaRosa.
ocal 139 teamed with a Utah
manufacturer of crane simulators
to build a first-ever virtual world
where students learn specifically how to
erect the components of a wind turbine.
L
The simulator is owned by the union’s
Joseph J. Goetz Jr. Training Center, in Coloma,
WI. Built by GlobalSim, a Kongsberg
Maritime Company, the machine’s software
projects real-world scenarios such as two
cranes being operated independently, but
together, to lift the components into place.
Designed with a commitment to realism,
the simulator lets students get bumped around
if they drive their crane over uneven ground,
feel the wind blow against a crane boom
and see the shadow of turbine blades pass
over other objects. Equipped with a cab and
controls identical to those in a Manitowoc
Epic Model 2250 MAXER crane, along with
a second set of the controls, up to two crane
students can train simultaneously along with
a third individual learning to be a signal
person. With the second set of controls, an
instructor has the option of working with one
student at a time.
The simulator is enclosed within a
26-foot-long, 8-foot-wide trailer and can
be transported to locations off the training
center grounds.
Local 99 stationary engineer stewards hone skills
“We’re like a family that’s eager to help
each other,” said George Karellas, who has
been a Local 99 member for 40 years and a
shop steward for 10 years.
ance,” said Karellas. “A good shop steward should be close to their coworkers; give
good advice and be transparent.” Karellas
added, “A good shop steward also helps remove confusion in the workplace and helps
to find common ground between workers and
management. It’s so important for us to stick
together, especially with such heavy pressure
these days from politicians trying to bust
unions and spread misinformation.”
“It’s great to be able to help young people coming into the profession and also give
more experienced people advice and guid-
Local 99 Business Manager Mike Murphy said “a strong steward makes a strong
local union,” adding that the aim of the
Seventy shop stewards attended Local
99’s (Washington, DC) recent training at the
National Labor College, honing their skills
and learning new ways to guide their coworkers on the shop floor.
10
international operating engineer
training was to “make the stewards knowledgeable about the benefits and rights on the
job that we’ve negotiated in their contracts,
especially our health and welfare benefits
and our pension fund benefits, and to make
sure that they can directly transmit that
knowledge to the members who are working
on the sites.”
Training topics also included identifying grievances, understanding Weingarten
rights, organizational processes, how to file
a grievance, labor laws and an overview of
management rights versus workers’ rights.
Training center staff applied for and
received a $275,000 Green Energy Grant
from the State of Wisconsin in 2009 to
develop the simulator. Following a design and
testing period, the center put the simulator
into action and began offering wind turbine
erection classes in December, 2010.
“We’re pretty proud of what we have
accomplished here,” said Local 139 Training
Director Daniel Sperberg. “This simulator is
the only one of its kind and it’s like being in
the real thing.”
Sperberg said the simulator demonstrates
Local 139’s commitment to offer its members
the best possible training available. “We
continually strive to be in a leadership role
nationally as far as training is concerned,” he
said. “This simulator gives us the bleedingedge technology to achieve our goal.”
This story began about a decade ago when
the training center purchased a state-of-theart simulator from GlobalSim to teach Local
139 members how to operate a crane. But the
machine’s intended purpose as a training tool
was not realized because it was not set up
to run a class through. Instead, it was used
mainly as an interactive promotional device
at public events to showcase educational
opportunities at the training center.
With the Green Energy
Grant available, Sperberg
and
Crane
Instructor
Doug Stegeman saw an
opportunity to upgrade and
repurpose the simulator
to train students how to
operate a crane for use in
a green industry – wind
power. Stegeman discussed
creating
virtual
wind
turbine erection scenarios
with GlobalSim engineers.
In August 2010, he drove
the simulator back to the
­­­manufacturer and provided
photographs he had taken of
wind turbine components
being hoisted into place on actual jobsites.
The engineers incorporated those scenes into
the realistic graphics that students now see
on the rebuilt simulator’s 90-inch diagonal,
curved projection screen.
“We’re working with big cranes in this
industry to lift very heavy turbine components
hundreds of feet into the air,” Stegeman said.
“It is inherently a high-risk situation because
of that height. The training center can’t buy a
real-life big crane like the Manitowoc 2250.
But our students can establish a high degree
of confidence with these cranes by using the
simulator.”
GlobalSim has 15 years experience
manufacturing crane simulators.
Its
engineers put three years into developing
a high-fidelity working model simulator
specific to wind turbine erection, said Daniel
Olson, the company’s manager of operations.
“This effort included creating the software
and developing the models to a functional
capability and implementing actual crane
data. Those hours have been added upon
throughout the ensuing years as upgrades
and models have been enhanced.”
Jennifer Johnson, a journey-level
operator, is familiar with running other pieces
heavy construction equipment, but is learning
how to operate a crane. She said the simulator
boosted her confidence. “It’s a stepping stone
in learning how to operate a real crane and
it’s very realistic,” she said.
summer
2011
11
Complex project required skill of Local 115 operators
Training, Safety and Health Conference: a learning community
The retractable roof on BC Place stadium
is the largest of its kind ever built and requires 36 masts around the outer rim to
hold it up. Each mast is 14 storeys in height
and weighs 120 tons. Together, they will
hold up a cable network resembling 18
suspension bridges and made up of 35 kilometers of cable. The cable is 90mm (3.5
inches) in diameter - double that used in
gondola lifts.
he 2011 IUOE Training, Safety and
Health Conference, held July 18 21 in Newport Beach, CA, brought
together a community of IUOE instructors
and administrators who shared their knowledge and insight regarding best practices in
educating their local union members.
T
The crane operators’ work becomes
more difficult as the project progresses.
Cables will run from each outer mast to the
node in the centre, creating a cable suspension grid that will support the new retractable fabric roof. The lifts have to be done
between the increasingly narrow gaps between the cables.
“The incredible complexity and skill
level required for this job is a good reminder
for senior people in government and those
in positions of power in light of the diluted
craft training we’ve seen in this province,”
added Cochrane. “They often don’t realize
BC Place: by the numbers
220 tons approximate weight of each mast and its attachments
120 tons weight of the centre node alone
18,000 tons combined weight of all steel used in this construction
76,000 square metres area of fabric used to cover the roof
35 kilometres total length of all cabling
the importance of training.”
Each mast has been shipped to the construction site in three pieces. Those pieces
go into a rotator jig to hold them in place for
welding, assembly and finishing. The jig allows each mast assembly to
rotate slowly on its axis, so
that workers can access all
parts of the mast while it’s
being put together.
The building’s foundations are also being upgradinternational operating engineer
Workshops covered safety and health,
program administration and teaching as well
Wrapping up the week were roundtable
exchanges for instructors and administrators which provided ample
opportunities for collaboration and
discussion. At the conclusion of the
conference, everyone was left with
a strong sense of positive energy
and a commitment to challenge one
another to keep moving forward.
The dedication of the time and
resources that go into supporting all
IUOE training was on full display
during the week. Interactive workshops provided feedback from local union subject matter experts to
National Training Fund staff on new
courses and options for delivery.
Many workshops used a focus group approach for structured input in future course
as craft-specific content for H&P and stationary training programs. Two new master instructor courses also took place. Advanced
Teaching Techniques and a Multimedia Com-
“On many occasions, I witnessed first-hand this vital core of
IUOE administrators and instructors who play an integral role in
making our members the most
skilled tradesmen on every jobsite,” said General Secretary-Treasurer James T. Callahan. “These
individuals continue to lead the way in innovative teaching techniques and equipping future generations of operating engineers with
the tools they need to succeed.”
Visit www.bcplace.com for more information
The new roof is much
heavier than the previous
air-supported fabric roof,
so extra rebar and concrete
support is being added to the
existing concrete support pillars.
12
puter class will be added to the existing NTF
master instructor curriculum. There were several workshops devoted to using the Blackboard Learning System with brief demonstrations to review new features.
“You are the unsung heroes,”
said General President Vincent J.
Giblin during his opening remarks
at the conference while thanking participants for their service to
the IUOE. “It’s your dedication to
teaching someone who’s brand new
that make progress in this organization possible.”
“It shows the necessity of skilled craft
unions,” said Local 115 Business Manager
Brian Cochrane. “Only skilled operators
with top quality training on modern equipment are qualified for this kind of work.”
Almost all of the work will be done
from the inside of the building by four
massive cranes, including a 850-ton Manitowac mobile crane and operating engineer
brought in from Texas. That crane required
85 semi-trailer trucks to bring all the pieces
to Vancouver. The crane was then reassembled inside BC Place. It can lift 600 tons at
a time and will be used to hoist large sections of the roof from what used to be the
BC Lions’ playing field, up to the highest
points of the building.
development. The format allowed participants
choices within 23 separate subject areas to
match their interests. Several half day sessions provided an option to explore topics in
greater depth.
ed to meet higher seismic standards and allow
BC Place to operate as an emergency shelter
for the Vancouver area in case of an earthquake or other major disaster.
The outer plaza surrounding BC Place
will undergo a revitalization during the construction period as well. Almost 100% of
the old roof’s 720,000 square feet of Tefloncoated fiberglass fabric and inner liner will
be recycled, rather than going to a landfill. A
Minneapolis firm that specializes in recycling
industrial fabric materials will ensure it is cut,
patched, cleaned and repackaged for use as
tarps, farm and industrial coverings and an ice
rink liner for a nearby community.
“It’s been a good opportunity for members
who have been running the cranes, and shows
the importance of Red Seal [certification] mobility,” Cochrane said.
summer
2011
13
This steam shovel was used for
nearly 50 years in a concrete business
until it was retired. For the next 30,
it sat idle in a field, exposed to the
harsh New England elements until it
was discovered online by a group of
members who bought and donated the
decayed chassis to Local 150.
Restoring a piece of equipment
for which replacement parts have not
been made for decades is a tall task,
but in a little more than six months,
the shovel had a new lease on life.
Veteran mechanics and awestruck
apprentices alike spent time learning
about the machine and putting it back
together.
Today, the Erie Type B is running
like new on steam and can still move
dirt, one 3/4 –yard bucket at a time.
Local 150 resurrects
a ‘piece of history’
D
The Erie Type B, first manufactured in 1915, took the place of
other shovels by following the “Henry Ford model” of providing machines with mass-produced, easily interchangeable parts. Within five
years, Erie was the standard, enabling contractors to move 350 yards
of dirt a day.
“This steam shovel is just incredible to see in action,” said Sweeney. “This is where we came from. Many of the most seasoned operators have never seen one of these in working condition, so it is
something that is wonderful to be able to share.”
Members were excited to see a piece of history in action, and several retired members were present who had run one of these machines
during their career. Many attending members noted that the resurrected steam shovel gave them a sense of appreciation for how difficult
and dangerous their craft was for those who came before them.
“After you see what goes into moving dirt with one of these,
you realize just how tough some of the retirees had to be to spend so
many years on them,” added Sweeney. “The older guys just lit up
when they saw this machine running, and it was special to see how
excited the younger members were to talk about it with them.”
international operating engineer
Local 139 member Tim Galarnyk is on a
mission to warn people of America’s decaying
infrastructure.
And on Sunday nights, he has a worldwide
audience to do so when the 52-year-old operating engineer hosts “Inspector America,” which
airs on The History Channel.
“They (producers) asked me in October
2009 if I would host a show about crumbling
infrastructure - roads, bridges, dams, all of
that,” Galarnyk said. “They had seen me on
the air, talking whenever there was an accident
and we’ve been filming since June of last year.
“It’s been really a lot of fun. We’ve been to
Detroit, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Las Vegas, San
Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles.”
Galarnyk said that holding a Local 139
union card comes in handy on the show.
“When I go to these different sites and ask
them if I can run the equipment, they are reluctant. But then I produce my union card and
tell them I’m trained and it opens the door.
Like when we’re in Detroit, I’m sitting on a
backhoe, tearing down a building. I learned
that from the IUOE.”
Along with speaking to the country’s decaying infrastructure, Galarnyk is outspoken
in his belief about how to control the country’s
financial deficit. “There’s two ways to harness
an out-of-control budget,” he said. “Number
one, you can cut wasteful, unnecessary spending. Number two, you can repair, renovate, and
replace our infrastructure. When workers are
employed doing this, they’re paying taxes and
uring its annual family picnic held at its state-of-the-art
training site on August 7, IUOE Vice President and Local
150 President-Business Manager James M. Sweeney took
attendees back in time by proudly unveiling a recently restored,
fully operational 1925 Erie Type B Steam Shovel.
14
Operator hosts History channel’s “Inspector America”
that makes revenue for the government. For
every dollar the government invests in infrastructure, there’s more than $3 in trickle down.
“For example, if I’m running an excavator, I have to pay the guy with the fuel truck
and I have to buy tires and groceries and the
list goes on and on.”
Galarnyk has an extensive background
in training and safety. He joined Local 139 in
2004. For more than 20 years previously, he
served as corporate risk manager for Lunda
Construction Co. He left that company in 1999
to form his own business, Construction Risk
Management, a signatory to Local 139.
Kelly Vorrasi, a spokesperson for The History Channel, said Galarnyk was selected as
host for Inspector America through a casting
process conducted by the show’s production
company. The origins of the
program go back to 2009,
she said, when The History
Channel aired “The Crumbling of America” special.
the Mississippi River in 2007, which killed 13
people and injured 145.
“America’s infrastructure is in need of attention,” said Dirk Hoogstra, SVP of Development and Programming, HISTORY in a press
release regarding the show. “But this series
isn’t about pointing fingers. Local officials
all over the country are doing their best to fix
degrading infrastructures; some of which go
back to the turn of the last century and this
show can be an advocate for them. These
structures are living history and this series is
evaluating engineering technologies past and
present through a modern lens.”
According to the news release, each of the
cities Galarnyk visits, “… was built on unique
terrain with tools, technology, and materials of
an earlier era. Infrastructure is breaking… and
now is the time to pay attention.”
“That did well and it
formed the concept (of Inspector America),” she said.
Vorrasi said that at least
six episodes of Inspector
America will air this season. The premier episode
was filmed in Minneapolis,
site of the collapse of the
Interstate 35 Bridge over
summer
2011
15
Survival of the fittest
safety & health news
Prevention is the key to preventing heat illnesses
E
very year many workers become sick, disabled or die as a result of heat illnesses. Operating engineers who work in hot
environments such as construction, mines and boiler rooms are
at risk of heat stress, which can result in heat stroke, exhaustion or
cramps. Heat can also increase the risk of injuries through sweaty
palms, fogged-up safety glasses and dizziness. Burns may also occur
as a result of accidental contact with hot surfaces or steam. Workers
most at risk for heat stress are those 65 years of age or older, overweight, have heart disease/high blood pressure or are taking medications that may make their body more sensitive to extreme heat.
Prevention of heat stress in workers is important. Employers should
provide training so workers understand what heat stress is, how it affects their health/safety and how to prevent it. The following information is a guide to the symptoms of and how to treat heat illnesses:
Heat stroke
Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related disorder. It occurs
when the body becomes unable to control its temperature: the body’s
temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body
is unable to cool down. When heat stroke occurs, the body temperature
can rise to 106 degrees Fahrenheit or higher within 10 to 15 minutes.
Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not given. Symptoms include: hot, dry skin or profuse sweating, hallucinations, chills, throbbing headache, high body temperature,
confusion/dizziness and/or slurred speech. The following steps should
be taken to treat a worker with heat stroke: call 911 and notify their
supervisor, move the sick worker to a cool shaded area, cool the worker using methods such as: soaking their clothes with water; spraying,
sponging, or showering them with water; fanning their body.
Heat exhaustion
Heat exhaustion is the body’s response to an excessive loss of
the water and salt, usually through excessive sweating. Workers most
prone to heat exhaustion are those that are elderly, have high blood
pressure, and those working in a hot environment. Symptoms include: heavy sweating, extreme weakness or fatigue, dizziness, confusion, nausea, clammy, moist skin, pale or flushed complexion, muscle
cramps, slightly elevated body temperature, fast and shallow breathing.
Treatment for heat exhaustion should include: rest in a cool, shaded or
air-conditioned area, drink plenty of water or other cool, nonalcoholic
beverages, a cool shower, bath, or sponge bath.
Heat cramps
Heat cramps usually affect workers who sweat a lot during strenuous activity. Sweating depletes the body’s salt and moisture levels.
Low salt levels in muscles causes painful cramps, which may also be a
symptom of heat exhaustion. Symptoms include muscle pain or spasms
usually in the abdomen, arms or legs. Workers with heat cramps should
stop activity, sit in a cool place, and drink clear juice/a sports beverage.
Employers should:
•
Schedule jobs for cooler months or cooler parts of the day
•
Acclimate workers to hot work environments by exposing
them for progressively longer periods
•
Reduce the physical demands of workers
•
Use relief or extra workers for physically demanding jobs
•
Provide cool water or liquids to workers
•
Provide cool areas for use during breaks and rest periods
•
Monitor workers who are at risk of heat stress
•
Provide heat stress training
Workers should:
•
Wear light-colored, loose-fitting, breathable clothing
•
Gradually build up to heavy work
•
Take more breaks in extreme heat/humidity in a cool area
•
Drink enough water frequently
•
Avoid drinks with caffeine, alcohol and lots of sugar
•
Avoid protective clothing or equipment that may increase
the risk of heat stress
•
Monitor your physical condition and that of your coworkers
First Local 3 female crane operator shares her story
W
hen Colette “Miki” Coehlo cut
class in high school, it wasn’t
because she was bored or wanted to cause trouble. It was because she was
fascinated – with cranes. She wanted to
watch them – the ones her grandfather, Local 3 member David Puu, operated.
“It [crane boom] really is an extension of
your arm. You picture what you want to do
with your mind, and your hand does it,” said
Coehlo. Spoken like a true crane operator.
For the Local 3 retiree (since 2009), the
goal of being that operator was reached, but
the journey wasn’t an easy one.
She joined Job Corps in 1975, when she
was 18 years old, after hearing that the construction industry needed more women, due
to affirmative action. But women operators
weren’t exactly accepted with “open arms.”
She didn’t hear from Job Corps again about
any jobs.
She did hear of Local 3’s apprenticeship program but was told over the phone
that they were only accepting applicants
on Maui – they didn’t know she was from
Maui! She studied hard for the written and
manual dexterity tests and passed, but even
then, her entrance into the program wasn’t
a certainty.
“They only took the first 10 applicants
[who passed],” Coehlo said. “Doors opened
at 7:45 a.m., so I was there at 4:30 a.m.”
She had to master at least one piece of
equipment, and it’s not hard to guess which
one she chose. Even though she was told on
more than one occasion by her male contemporaries: “You’ll never be a crane operator,” she proved them wrong. She started as
an oiler “from the ground up” and remained
determined, even though, at times, “I wanted to quit.”
Coehlo knows now
that becoming an operator
is hard for any apprentice,
because “you start in the
trenches and do whatever
they ask,” but such tasks
were even harder for a
woman.
“I took a lot of crap,”
she said.
Heat syncope is fainting, light-headedness or dizziness that usually
occurs with prolonged standing, sudden rising from a sitting/lying position or dehydration. Treatment should consist of sitting/lying down in a
cool place and slowing drinking water, clear juice or a sports beverage.
“I was good, because I loved it. It is a
high to get in the seat,” she said.
Still, it didn’t get any easier from there.
After arriving on her first job, the supervisor
let her know right away that “we don’t want
you here, but we don’t have a choice.”
But Coehlo didn’t back down, and she
never let anyone
see her cry (even
though, at times,
she did).
16
international operating engineer
Local 3 Operator Colette Coelho, far right, with her “adopted” sister Wanda Sajulga (a member since
1981), left, and niece Malia DeVera-Igarta (a member since 2004).
She also keeps busy by volunteering to
cook meals at a local women’s shelter 25 to
30 days a month. “I like helping,” she said.
Coehlo also still watches cranes.
“It [crane boom] really is
an extension of your arm.
You picture what you want
to do with your mind, and
your hand does it.”
Despite the challenges, Coehlo persevered,
becoming the first female
crane operator in the union upon her initiation in 1977.
Heat syncope
In her retirement, Coehlo was asked
to be a crane trainer and “show them the
tricks,” she said.
“Every
day,
you have to prove
yourself,” she said
of being a female
operator. “Women
have a softer touch,
but they have to get
over their fear. Time
and time again, I’ve
seen it – they let
the fear take over.
If they get over it,
they can be excellent operators.”
“I miss operating a crane boom so
much. My heart goes… when I see them;
my fingers get itchy. I ate, slept and breathed
it [operating cranes],” she said. This is why
teaching seems the next, natural step.
She remembers what fun it was to operate the biggest crane on Maui. “I was trained
on bigger cranes, 150-ton, old-style conventional cranes. They’d [other operators] see
you sit in the seat, and they’d look two,
three, four times. Their facial expressions
were priceless.”
So is a passion about your profession.
Coehlo still has this passion and has passed
it on to her “hanai,” or “adopted,” sister
Wanda Sajulga (a member since 1981) and
her “hanai” niece, Malia DeVera-Igarta (a
member since 2004).
Her advice to young operators today,
struggling in the tough economy, is to “ride
it out.” Another testament to her tenacity is
that when she went through the slowdown in
the economy in the ’80s, she “drove tours in
Maui... You have to find a way to survive.”
Coehlo is definitely a survivor.
summer
2011
17
HAZMAT news
Innovative safety and health apps for smartphones
Social media refers to the use of webbased and mobile technologies to turn communication into an interactive dialogue. It
also includes numerous applications or better
known as “apps” for safety and health related
topics are available and many can be applied
in your work and personal life. One word
of caution, you should never use the apps on
your smartphone while driving, operating
equipment or performing other tasks.
Heat Index
Released by the DOL, available in Eng-
lish and Spanish, this app uses heat index data
from NOAA with the user’s location to determine protective measures. It also provides
signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses
and first aid steps to take in an emergency. It
is currently an Android only app and can be
downloaded at http://go.usa.gov/KFE.
CPR /First Aid
A CPR/First Aid app is available from
the American Red Cross (ARC) and the
American Heart Association (AHA). They
provide emergency care instructions and in-
The IUOE NTF National HAZMAT Program recently completed its second OSHA
3110 Fall Arrest Systems course, which
was held in conjunction with the two-day
NTF Rigging Safety course. The three-day
OSHA 3110 Fall Arrest Systems training
course covers fall prevention and protection
O
To get the ARC app, Android users can
go to https://marketlandroid.com and download the S.O.S. by ARC app. To download
the AHA app, iPhone users go to www.heart.
org/heartorg and search for CPR First Aid
app. Android users can download the AHA
app at http://android.market.com.
Arizona’s voters passed the amendment in
question on November 2, 2010. The amendment
limits the method by which employees can choose a
union to only a secret ballot election.
in the construction and general industry.
The NTF course included two days of
class instruction and a third day of hands-on
activities. Students were asked to inspect
fall protection equipment and scaffolds,
construct a controlled access zone (CAZ)
and erect scaffolds, inspect ladders and a
horizontal lifeline and then each student
was asked to properly don a fall protection
harness and was given the opportunity to
feel what it is like to be suspended in a personal fall arrest system (PFAS).
IUOE local instructors that wish to conduct fall protection training
or incorporate fall protection training into their existing training may use the
new Fall Protection and
Prevention material created
by the IUOE NTF National
HAZMAT Program.
The material includes a
student manual, instructor
manual and corresponding
PowerPoint presentations.
Instructors may order the
material by submitting a
proposal form and referencing M-49-2011.IN for the
18
international operating engineer
NLRB sues AZ over amendment limiting voluntary recognition
formation. The ARC app also features 9-1-1
dialing that auto-launches your location information while on the call with the emergency dispatcher. The AHA app allows you
to store medical information.
Training key in reducing high rate of fall fatalities
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Summary 2009, a preliminary total of
4,340 fatal work injuries were recorded in
the U.S. in 2009, with 617 workers dying
as a result of a fall in 2009. Approximately
half of all fatal falls occur in construction.
Legal Briefs
n May 6, Acting General Counsel of the National Labor
Relations Board Lafe Solomon sued the State of Arizona in federal district court in Phoenix seeking
to have a state constitutional amendment declared in conflict with the National Labor Relations
Act and therefore preempted by the Supremacy
Clause of the United States Constitution.
In January 2011, Solomon wrote to the
Arizona Attorney General advising that the
amendment conflicted with the National Labor
Relations Act because it precluded voluntary
recognition of unions by employers—an alternative path to union bargaining status which had been
lawful under the Act for many years; Solomon also cited
Section 8(f) of the Act, which specifically provides for voluntary
recognition in the construction industry.
Solomon notified the Attorney General that the NLRB had authorized litigation if necessary to prevent the constitutional amendment’s interpretation in conflict with federal law. He sent
similar letters to the Attorneys General of
three other states - South Carolina, South
Dakota and Utah - which had passed similar
amendments.
After attempts to resolve the matter
through discussion and negotiation failed,
the lawsuit was filed. The suit relies on precedent established in NLRB v. Nash-Finch Co.,
a 1971 case where the U.S. Supreme Court
upheld the NLRB’s authority to seek federal
court injunctions against state actions that conflict with federal rights.
Because voluntary recognition pursuant
to Section 8(f) is by far the most frequent way
union representation is established in the construction industry, this case is of particular interest to construction workers and their unions.
Procedural reforms in election cases proposed by NLRB
T
he National Labor Relation Board published a Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking on June 22, seeking to streamline
its procedures in representation cases, the proceedings by
which the NLRB conducts elections to determine whether
groups of employees wish to be represented by a union. As stated
in the NLRB’s press release describing the proposed rules, these
proposals would:
ƒƒ Allow for electronic filing of election petitions and other documents.
instructor manual and M-49-2011.ST for the
student manual.
IUOE local union instructors may also
request fall protection equipment to use
during their classes including fall protection
harnesses, lanyards and equipment.
For more information, please contact
304-253-8674 or [email protected].
ƒƒ Ensure that employees, employers and unions receive and exchange timely information they need to understand and participate in the representation case process.
ƒƒ Standardize timeframes for parties to resolve or litigate issues
before and after elections.
ƒƒ Require parties to identify issues and describe evidence soon
after an election petition is filed to facilitate resolution and eliminate unnecessary litigation.
ƒƒ Require employers to provide a final voter list in electronic form
soon after the scheduling of an election, including voters’ telephone numbers and email addresses when available.
ƒƒ Consolidate all election-related appeals to the board into a single post-election appeals process and thereby eliminate delay
in holding elections currently attributable to the possibility of
pre-election appeals.
ƒƒ Make review of post-election decisions discretionary rather than
mandatory.
The NLRB held a public hearing on the proposed changes on July
18-19 and comments on the proposed rules were due August 22, with
the NLRB allowing responses to the initial comments to be filed within 14 days after the initial comments were due.
IUOE local unions are active users of the NLRB’s election procedures, and any procedural reforms that curtail delay, avoid needless
litigation, and limit interference with employees’ right to vote for union
representation are welcome.
ƒƒ Defer litigation of most voter eligibility issues until after election.
summer
2011
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New tools online to compare health care quality
AR
Nationals Labor Night a grand slam for Local 99 members
The brutal heat and humidity in the nation’s
capitol and a loss by the Washington Nationals didn’t dampen the spirit of solidarity during the recent Labor Night at Nationals Park.
Almost 6,000 metro-area union members, including Local 99 (Washington,
DC) stationary engineers and their families, filled the stands at Nationals Park for
the 5th Annual Labor Night at the Nats.
The evening raised almost $10,000 for
the Community Services Agency’s Emer-
gency Assistance Fund,
which helps struggling families in financial crisis.
“Tonight is a reflection of
the solidarity and generosity
of those in the labor movement,” said Metro Washington Council, AFL-CIO President Josh Williams. “We all
have fun and the proceeds
go toward helping our fellow
union brothers and sisters in
need.”
For healthcare, however, our doctor was probably our only credible source for information, and that
meant going in for an appointment.
Otherwise, we have been “on our own”
as to the purchases for what is most
important: maintaining our health and
that of our loved ones.
Local 99 Business Representative Sam Redden on the field exchanging the line-up
with Nationals Manager Davey Johnson and umpires.
Union members and their
children took turns throwing out the
first pitch and performing a stirring
rendition of the National Anthem in
front of the Fairfax County Professional Firefighters and Paramedics Association Honor Guard, which presented
the colors.
Retired Local 99 Business Manager Lou Cernak took to the mic
to say “Play Ball”.
Among those participating in pregame rituals were Local 99’s Sam
Redden, who exchanged the line-up
card with Nationals Manager Davey
Johnson before watching the Nats
take the field and Local 99 retired
Business Manager Lou Cernak, who
delivered the “play ball” call.
Local 400’s Bird first
female vested miner
Local 400
(Helena, MT)
Operator Keri
Bird
became
the first female
vested miner in
the history of
the WRI-Absaloka mine.
20
international operating engineer
A
s consumers, we strive to
make informed decisions on
the quality of the products
and services we purchase whether it
is an automobile, mechanic or even
dish soap. Consumer magazines and
websites are plentiful to aid us in
our decision making.
Local 99 Business Manager Michael Murphy, his grandson Hayden and
Business Representative Sam Redden on the field.
Local 542 member erects massive tank
Local 542 (Fort Washington, PA) Operating Engineer Jim Lynch, second from the right
in the photo on the
right, recently erected a 200,000 gallon
Aqua Pa tank in Honeybrook, PA for the
Fisher Tank Co. He is
seen here with members of the Boilermakers. As a result of
the skill and training
of Lynch, the job had
zero accidents.
Finally, this situation is now starting to change. Medicare is leading the
wave by assessing health facilities on a
variety of quality measures. Below are
links to new and useful tools that now
allow you to compare healthcare facilities so that you can make appropriate decisions. Going forward as more
tools become available, they will be
highlighted in the Operating Engineer.
http://hospitalcompare.hhs.gov/
This tool helps you compare the quality of care hospitals provide. It provides
a list of U.S. hospitals including hospital
demographics (location, hospital type),
44 quality-of-care measures and data
on some Department of Veterans Affairs
medical centers.
http://www.medicare.gov/
homehealthcompare/
This tool helps compare the quality of
care that home health agencies provide. It provides a list of U.S. home health
agencies, including demographics, services provided and quality measures.
http://www.medicare.gov/
Dialysis/
http://www.medicare.gov/
NHCompare/
Use this tool to help you compare the
quality of care that dialysis facilities
provide. It provides a list of U.S. dialysis
facilities which
includes
services
provided,
q u a l i t y
measures, and
resources.
Use this tool to compare the quality of
care that nursing homes provide. A list
of U.S. nursing homes including demographics (location and type of facility)
and nursing home ratings, which contains health inspection reports, staffing
data, and quality measures.
summer
2011
21
Union Plus Scholarships
NEW online application now available!
“Having a strong local
union has resulted
in improvement in
policies, equipment
and overall general
working conditions.
This experience has
changed my life.”
Chase Chamberlain
N
early 2,100 students in union families have
received money for college through the Union
Plus Scholarship. The new application is
now available entirely online! You can complete the
application in stages and save your answers before you
submit.
Who can apply:
Current and retired participating union members, their spouses
and their children.
What kind of school is eligible:
Now
Apply
Online
!
The scholarship is open to students who attend or plan to
attend a U.S. college, university, community college, or a
technical/trade school. Students attending undergraduate or
graduate schools are eligible.
Scholarship amounts:
Recipients will receive $500 to $4,000.
Deadline to apply:
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
(11:59 pm Eastern Time)
Scholarship recipients announced:
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Details and online application available at:
UnionPlus.org/Scholarships
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480
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of Stratford, OK, whose stepfather
Larry Harrison is a member of IUOE
Local 351, has been awarded a $4,000
scholarship.
420
120
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Chase Chamberlain
360
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240
180
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UnionPlus.org/Scholarships
IUOE-FLY-SCHOL-L0811
international operating engineer