Cheryl Adams Has the Christmas Spirit! Everyone Paying Premiums, Deductibles, and Co-Pays
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(ISSN 0023-6667) Two Superior workers killed in Clearbrook Tragedy struck the small Mussatti was a native of record locally. It does not have town of Superior, Wisconsin Michigan’s Upper Peninsula a unionized workforce here but for the second time in and had lived in Superior for has been very good in employ- November when two more the past five years. ing union construction firms. workers were killed. They were part of a crew of Enbridge reportedly has the Steve Arnovich, 35, and 19, and were evidently in a world’s longest crude oil and David Mussatti, 27, employees company vehicle parked clos- liquids pipeline. of Enbridge Inc., were killed in est to the explosion. The fire- While Superior, with a pop- Clearbrook, Minnesota when a ball consumed their vehicle. ulation of 27,160, grieves over pipeline they were working on No other injuries were reported the deaths of two more work- An Injury to One is an Injury to All! caught fire. Arnovich was a among the other workers who ers, national media reports WEDNESDAY VOL. 113 Superior native and part of a fled the fire. were interested in the effect of DECEMBER 19, 2007 NO. 12 well known family in that city. The pipeline, located 25 the pipeline fire on crude oil miles northwest of Bemidji, prices. About 15 to 20 percent had developed a leak a few of U.S. crude oil comes via the weeks ago and workers were Enbridge pipeline. It is refined performing permanent repairs into gasoline and heating oil. on the 34-inch, buried line. On November 1, Scott and Leaking fumes may have Joe Kimmes III, Paul Cossalter, caused the fire. and Harold “Tim” Olson were Enbridge, formerly known killed in the Village of Superior as Lakehead Pipeline in the at a landfill from toxic gas. Twin Ports, is a Canadian com- (See a related story on oil pany that has a good safety refinery hazards on page 15.) AFSCME, City have contract It took 18 months, was played out in the media like a soap opera, impacted local elections, and probably made enemies for life for some of the parties involved, but in the end AFSCME Local 66 and the City of Duluth, through a mediated collective bargaining process, have a contract. AFSCME members voted on the tentative agreement on Thursday, Dec. 13 until 6:00 p.m. City councilors took their vote only one hour after the employees’ voted and approved it unan- imously. AFSCME has not given their vote count other to say it was close in high turnout. The contract was the last of five the city has with its bargain- Cheryl Adams (in Santa hat) and residents of the Benedictine Health Center made and ing units and covered over 500 workers, by far the largest union. donated 21 blankets and dozens of pairs of warm booties to the Community Services AFSCME members will get a backpay check of one percent Program that Director Yvonne Harvey will be able to give to needy families this week. for 2007, and 3 percent increases in 2008 and 2009. They will be join all other city employees in a single health plan that has Cheryl Adams has the Christmas Spirit! everyone paying premiums, deductibles, and co-pays. Language change concerns over full time workers being shifted to part time There will be a lot of warm for years,” said the Aurora res- “Last week we had to just were resolved. people this holiday season ident. “I wanted to keep things about force her to go to the Workers had spoken of the possibility of a strike but ended up thanks to the efforts of Cheryl going.” emergency room to take care of taking a contract they weren’t happy about, without striking. Adams, an LPN member of She decided it could be a herself because she was really Mayor Herb Bergson’s chief administrative officer, John Hall, AFSCME Local 3558 at fun activity for residents at ill and it seemed to be heart told councilors in asking them to approve the pact, “It is a good Duluth’s Benedictine Health Benedictine and she had no trouble. She was worried about contract. It required making unprecedented concessions by the Center. trouble finding volunteers. everyone else as usual.” employees.” Adams has a knack for Adams donated fabric and While the blankets were the Hall, a retired member of the Duluth Police Union, had con- crafts and decided this holiday kits and soon she was getting efforts of a large group of folks tentious negotiations with his old union and Fire Fighters Local season that she would use those donations for more material working together, Adams made 101. DPU had voted down their tentative agreement achieved skills to make polar fleece from resident’s families, and all the booties herself. through binding arbitration in March by a 93-21 margin, citing a blankets and booties for people the BHC Family Council. The blankets have a wide lack of trust with administration. in need. On Monday, Dec. 10 “We started in August on variety of patterns that will she donated 21 of those blan- Wednesdays but that was appeal to many different age kets and dozens of pairs of music day here and the resi- groups, something Harvey is WHAT’S INSIDE THIS ISSUE? booties to Duluth Community dents love the music so we seeing more of in her work. Netland re-elected.....page 2 Services Program and Director switched to Saturdays because “Before, everything we did Mesothelioma studies need funding.....page 3 Yvonne Harvey. they wanted to help and we got was for kids,” Harvey said. “This is an incredible gift more done,” said Adams. “I’d “It’s not like that anymore. “Independent contractors” scam widespread.....page 4 that will be appreciated by like to thank my co-workers We’ve even started a program Dems are now the fiscal conservatives.....page 6 many families,” said Harvey. “I Linda Lane, Doreen Trader, where kids are able to shop for Superior Fed to merge with NEALC?.....page 8 was just thinking this morning Chris Wick, Erin Engstrom and something for their parents. Sen. Jauch/Trades have educational lunch.....page 11 how I was going to fill all the Sue Claus. They were great They really appreciate being Bush DOL regulating unions to death.....page 12 requests for help that we’ve volunteers.” able to experience the joy of been getting. What a wonderful AFSCME Local 3558 giving.” Nightwork is carcinogenic.....page 13 effort by Cheryl and President Michelle Fremling is “My oldest son saw them More women leaders needed in unions.....page 14 Benedictine residents.” the Health Unit Coordinator in and he said ‘I want one for Refineries dangerous...pg. 15 Adams said she and her Adam’s unit. She says Adams Christmas’ and he’s forty- Ciresi endorsed......pg. 16 husband, Steve, who passed has been incredible at helping three,” said Adams. Maybe Labor history bill.....pg. 18 away last spring, were always others throughout her 18 years next year. Adams said every- involved in projects. at BHC. one feels so good about the US Bank unionized...pg. 19 “He was always donating “Cheryl is always doing effort that it’ll continue. Writers strike...pg. 20 things and finding ways to help things for staff members and “Next year we’ll double our Stagehands settle...pg. 21 others and we did it together residents,” said Fremling. output,” Adams said. Who’s The Grinch?...pg. 23 HappyHappy HolidaysHolidays & AA GreatGreat 2008!2008! Jim Brown (IBEW 242), Bruce Lotti (USW 1028), Netland re-elected Central Body president Marie Pechek (MN Nurses), Scott Dulas (NALC 114), Alan Netland won re-elec- capital basis, Netland received ties. He is a social worker for Brent Pykkonen Craig Olson (Painters & tion easily Dec. 13 in a rare, 13,056 votes to challenger Sam St. Louis County. He has been (Operating Engineers 49), Allied Trades 106) contested election for president Haddad’s 345. Retiring president of the Central Body Laura Laaksonen Assistant Sgt-Arms Theresa of the Duluth AFL-CIO Cen- Secretary Ellen Hanson since 1998. (UNITE HERE 99) Gunderson (USW Local 9460) tral Labor Body. received one write-in vote. Haddad’s full time job is as Trustees: was unable to attend. With votes counted on a per Haddad, a member of a Teamster Local 320, heavy Stagehands Local 32, stood equipment operator for St. and congratulated Netland, a Louis County. Oops! We member of AFSCME Local 66, All the other 13 positions on when ballots were tabulated at the Central Body’s Executive forgot Gov. the end of a short December Board were uncontested. Richardson holiday party meeting of the Minnesota AFL-CIO Presi- Central Body. dent Ray Waldron attended the In the last Labor World a list Netland is president of his Dec. 13 meeting and did the of Democratic presidential can- local union and the AFL-CIO’s honors of swearing in Netland didates for 2008 left off New North East Area Labor and: VP Beth McCuskey Mexico Governor Bill Council, which covers Lake, (Duluth Teachers), Richardson. Cook, St. Louis, Carlton, Pine, Sec. Terri Newman (CWA The list had the union Itasca, and Koochiching coun- 7214), Treas. Sheldon endorsements of the candidates Christopherson (Operating as well, but Richardson has not Engineers 70), Reading Clerk secured any at this time. Minnesota AFL-CIO President Ray Waldron, right, swears Larry Sillanpa (MN News in the new officers of the Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Since that Nov. 28 issue ‘Tis the Guild), Sgt-Arms Lori Hillary Clinton has picked up Body Dec.