Vol. 38 No. 2 the Boilerma k e r Mar • Apr 1999 The Official Publication of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers, and Re p o rt e r Helpers, AFL-CIO

IN THESE PAGES Local 73 sets turnaround record

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0 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 NACBE safety index Shows decline; L-204 earns national safety award ...... 3 Shipbuilding news Commitment to Puget Sound local union workers; Justice at Avondale Campaign . . 4 Equal pay alert ...... 6 LEAP Issues Local 73 sets a turnaround record at the Irving Oil Refinery, earning the project name “Operation Quarterhorse ‘98,” due to their speed, agility, and teamwork. Time to get some real work done ...... 7 Members’ speed and Se t t l e m e n t s ...... 10 agility earn project name What will Congress do now? ‘Operation Quarterho r s e ’ With impeachment out of the members. Others suggest that they will Le t t e r s ...... 12 accomplish a great deal, because both MEMBERS OF LOCAL 73, Halifax, way, they can get some rea l political parties and the president will Nova Scotia, Canada, working for work done – if they choose to want to show the American people that Delta Catalytic Industrial Services, Ltd., they are not just gossip hounds, but have completed the biggest turnaround FOR MORE THANa year, our federal that they truly care about the welfare of in the history of the Irving Oil Refinery government has been at a virtual stand- the citizenry and are willing to work in Saint John, New Brunswick. still while House Republicans tried to hard to pass the laws we need. An explosion in the charge furnace remove President Clinton from office. The citizenry, meanwhile, are very on June 9, moved the turnaround date The 105th Congress was the least pro- cautious. We would like to believe that forward, prompting the project man- ductive Congress in decades, unable to both parties can come together in the ager – Fluor Daniel Wright Ltd. – to pass any laws of great import – in fact, spirit of bipartisanship and solve some obtain components from Canada, as barely able to pass a budget so the gov- of the significant issues our nation faces well as the U.S., in order to complete ernment could continue its work. if we are to remain a world leader – the project in as short a time as possible, Now the House has had its say, the keeping Social Security and Medicare with final assembly completed on site. Senate has rejected their charges, and solvent without reducing benefits, Local 73 members earned the project Washington observers are wondering SF E A W Div. Dir. Othal improving air and water quality with- name “Operation Quarterhorse ‘98,” what Congress will do next. Smith’s stepdaughter is first out overburdening some businesses due to their speed, agility, and the Some pundits are predicting that runner up in Miss USA Pageant . . and communities, reducing the grow- 13 tremendous amount of teamwork Congress will accomplish very little, ing wage gap which threatens to shove involved in completing this record- because the impeachment process has setting turnaround. ❑ induced so much animus among its Continued on page 7 Local 667 members win settlement with Brown and Root in W. Virginia Labor law violator pays $775,000 in back pay and other expenses

WHEN BROWN & ROOTrefused to hire union members at their Rhone- Poulenc construction job, Local 667 fought back. The Charleston, W. Va., local started a picket line. Unemployed Boilermakers did something different. They applied for jobs. When Local 667 members were denied work because of their union affiliation, the local filed unfair labor practice charges. Nine years later, Brown & Root agreed to settle, ending the lengthy These Local 667 members fought back and won. They each received a $12,500 legal battle by paying the 47 workers back-pay settlement check from Brown & Root after a judge ruled the nonunion $625,000 in back pay, promising not to contractor used discriminatory hiring practices. violate workers’ union rights in the future, and paying attorney’s fees and Poulenc gave Brown & Root a $30-mil- companies to use local workers, the organizing costs to the union. lion contract to perform construction nonunion company from Houston The victory was long in coming, but work at its Institute, W. Va., chemical began hiring low-wage workers from sweet nonetheless. In 1989, Rhone- plant. Despite promises from both Continued on page 2 the Boilermaker Reporter 2 Mar • Apr 1999 N E W S M A K E R S L-667 members win $775,000 Tra n s p o r tation Dept. announces settlement from Brown & Ro o t expansion of Southeast corri d o r Continued from page 1 in back pay to the workers (after taxes, each received a check in the amount of High-speed trains will run According to the department’s out of state. According to a report in the $12,500) and $150,000 to the union for fr om the nation’s capital to December 1 news release, the Southeast Charleston Gazette, this change began a legal expenses. Local 667 BM-ST Ron High-Speed Rail Corridor should pro- trend that saw DuPont and Union Bush said he was happy to reach the set- Jacksonville, Florida vide comfortable and reliable travel Carbide turn over construction and tlement, but is saddened that West THE U. S. DEPARTMENT o f while relieving congestion in this rap- maintenance work once performed by Virginians ultimately lost out when it Transportation announced an extension idly growing area. in-house, unionized workers to Brown came to jobs they could have had. of the Southeast High-Speed Rail High-speed trains already demon- & Root contractors. Bush said, “Everyone knows how Corridor in December 1998, which is strate on the Northeast Corridor how To stop this trend, Local 667 joined bad West Virginians need work. projected to serve an urban population train travel can be safe, reliable, econom- forces with the Charleston Building and Unfortunately, hundreds of out-of- of 20.6 million persons by the year 2005. ical, and comfortable. Trains on the Construction Trades Council to organ- state workers were brought in by The continuation and expansion of Northeast Corridor travel at speeds of ize the Brown & Root workers. Building Brown & Root to take jobs local work- the successful public-private partner- 125 mph and will ultimately travel at Trades members picketed the job site, ers could have done. ship to extend the Southeast High- 150 mph in certain segments. and members of Local 667 filed job “Both companies (Rhone-Poulenc and Speed Rail Corridor will link Currently, California, Florida, Illinois, applications. Brown & Root) said local workers would Washington, D. C., Richmond, Va., Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Brown & Root refused to hire or inter- be hired. But when Local 667 members and Raleigh, N. C., to Columbia, S. C., New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, view the Local 667 members because applied for the jobs, they were turned Savannah, Ga., and Jacksonville, Fla. It Virginia, and Washington are investing they had put on their applications that down. Our members are highly skilled, will also link Charlotte and in upgrades to existing rail corridors in they were “volunteer union organiz- productive employees and we believe Greensboro, N. C., to Spartanburg and order to provide improved passenger ers.” In addition, Brown & Root’s fore- the only reason they were denied Greenville, S. C., and Atlanta and rail service. man told an employee that “. . . if the employment was because of their union Macon, Ga. The Federal Railroad Administration union gets in here . . . we’ll all be out of a membership,” explained Bush. States and cities along the route will (FRA) is actively engaged in several job.” Based on these violations of the Director of Organizing Bill Creeden work with private railroad companies public-private partnerships in order to National Labor Relations Act, the union said, “I’m pleased to see our members and the federal government to gradu- defray implementation costs. The FRA filed unfair labor practice charges finally get some compensation for ally upgrade existing railroad rights-of- is also working with the private sector to against Brown & Root. Brown & Root’s actions. It’s a shame way to speeds of 110 miles per hour and develop a high-speed, non-electric loco- In April 1994, Administrative Law our labor laws allow companies to drag greater. Plans are also underway for a motive by the year 2000, as well as a new Judge Robert G. Romano ruled against these cases out for so long, but we new Intermodal Terminal at Five Points satellite-based, train control system and Brown & Root and ordered them to aren’t going to give up just because in Atlanta to link high-speed rail with a an innovative grade-crossing protection ❑ stop these unfair labor practices. He they stall us. When our members’ regional transportation system. system. ordered them to offer employment and rights are violated, we don’t quit until make the applicants whole for any we get justice for them.” losses of earnings they may have suf- The action taken at Local 667 was fered had they been considered for hire part of a Fight Back campaign, the inno- and hired without discrimination. vative organizing program initiated by NEWS IN BRIEF Brown & Root appealed the decision, President Charles W. Jones and devel- but on December 18, 1998, agreed to set- oped by Connie Mobley and IVP tle the case. Brown & Root paid $625,000 Newton B. Jones. ❑ Gr eenspan: Strong economy demand higher pay and consequently driving up consumer prices. Although do e s n ’ t end job insecurity consumer prices have increased only L-549 members rec e i v e THE STRONGEST JOB market in moderately in recent months, ISR’s decades hasn’t brought job security to latest data could fuel speculation of a U.S. workers, Federal Reserve Board return of wage-based inflation. Chairman Alan Greenspan told a meet- nearly $72K settlement ing of the American Council on Doctors unionize Ag r eement adds written third-party arbitrator who remanded Education. FOLLOWING A GROWING t r e n d , selection proc e d u r e for the case back to the two parties. Rapid change in the economy, physicians at New York City’s Lincoln Through negotiations, Chevron including the threat of production Hospital chose union representation head mechanic position agreed to a written selection procedure moving overseas and technological with SEIU Local 1957/United Salaried for the head mechanic position and to advances, keeps workers worrying Physicians and Dentists, February 11. MEMBERS OF LOCAL 549, pay a monetary settlement of about the future of their jobs. The unit of 280 doctors began organ- Pittsburg, Calif., who work in the in- $71,838.29 to the bargaining unit for The fed chief based his remarks on izing in November 1997, after Lincoln plant unit at Chevron, have negoti- past damages. the results of a survey of 405,593 Hospital, a public facility, began con- ated a settlement agreement for a Chief Steward Val Parik reports that employees which shows that 37 per- tracting services from St. Barnabas 1994 grievance concerning the selec- each member of the bargaining unit cent of workers are concerned about Hospital, a private facility that tion process for the head mechanic (including ten nonunion employees) losing their job, compared with only recently had slashed its staff by 40 per- p o s i t i o n . The grievance had gone to a received their share of the monetary 12 percent in 1981, though unemploy- cent, prompting concerns about qual- award in September 1998. ❑ ment is only half what it was then. ity of care there. The study, by Chicago-based In recent years, doctors, dentists, International Survey Research (ISR), college professors, and other profes- suggests that dissatisfaction with cur- sional and technical occupations once C O R R E C T I O N rent pay has started to swell and work- thought beyond the need for unions ers may soon begin demanding higher have begun organizing for the same wages. Economists often have argued IN V38 N1, THE CALCULATIONS in “How much bigger can two more years make reason all workers have always union- that very tight labor markets give rise ized – to protect their interests your pension check?” were incorrect. The article should have referenced members to inflation, prompting workers to electing to retire at 55 after 30 years of service, and not 25 years as reported. It also through collective bargaining. should have stated an increase of $549.04 per month, or a monthly pension benefit of $2 , 3 7 8 . 5 2 . The correct calculations follow: The Boilermaker Reporter is the official publi- A Boilermaker whose contributions total $65,000* and who elects to retire at 55 after 30 years of the Boilerma k e r cation of the International Brotherhood of service will receive a basic benefit of $1,829.48 per month, based on the following formula: Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers, and Helpers, AFL-CIO. It is published $65,000 x 48.25% (current pension factor) = $3 1 , 3 6 2 . 5 0 bimonthly to disseminate information of use Less age reduction of 30% (1/2% x 60 months) = -9 , 4 0 8 . 7 5 and interest to its members. Submissions from Re p o rt e r members, local lodges, and subordinate or Annual benefit $2 1 , 9 5 3 . 7 5 affiliated bodies are welcomed and encour- Mar • Apr 1999 Vol. 38 • No. 2 Divided by 12 = $1,829.48 per month aged. This publication is mailed free of charge to active members and retired If this typical Boilermaker works 1,700 hours over each of the next two years and receives pension Charles W. Jones, International President members holding a Retired Members Card. contributions of $2.10 per hour, retiring at 57, the monthly pension benefit would be $2,378.52, an Jerry Z. Willburn, Intl. Secretary-Treasurer Others may subscribe for the price of $10 for increase of $549.04 (more than 30%), calculated as follows: three years. Standard Mail (A) postage paid International Vice Presidents at Kansas City, Kan., and additional mailing Additional contributions ($2.10* x 3,400 hours) = $7 , 1 4 0 . 0 0 Lawrence McManamon, Great Lakes offices. ISSN No. 1078-4101. Michael S. Murphy, No r t h e a s t Add to previous contributions = 65 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: $7 2 , 1 4 0 . 0 0 Newton B. Jones, Southeast George Rogers, Central The Boilermaker Reporter $72,140 x 48.25% = $3 4 , 8 0 7 . 5 5 753 State Avenue, Suite 565 Jack Sloan, Western States Kansas City, KS 66101 Less age reduction of 18% (1/2% x 36 months) = -6 , 2 6 5 . 3 6 Richard Albright, Western Canada (913) 371-2640; FAX (913) 281-8104 Annual benefit $2 8 , 5 4 2 . 1 9 Alexander MacDonald, Eastern Canada ww w . b o i l e r m a k e r s . o r g Divided by 12 = $2,378.52 per month Jim Hickenbotham, At - L a r g e * The figures given here are based on a typical Boilermaker’s trust balance and hourly contribution rate. To get Editorial staff a more accurate picture of your own situation, recalculate the benefits based on the contribution rate for your Donald Caswell, Managing Editor Printed in the USA local lodge, your age, etc. Carol Dillon, Asst. to the Managing Editor A prize-winning newspaper the Boilermaker Reporter 3 Mar • Apr 1999 N E W S M A K E R S Local One, Hayes Mechanical pres e n t Kudos to Local 40 pr oject perfo r mance award to ComEd fr om Wes t l a k e IN APPRECIATION OFand recog- LOCAL ONE, Chicago, Ill., and Hayes nition for exemplary work per- Mechanical Inc. presented a project per- formed by members of Boilermakers formance award to Commonwealth Local 40 (Elizabethtown, Ky.) during Edison (ComEd) in recognition of zero a recent shutdown, this commenda- accidents during the Collins tion is being extended to Generating Station economizer header Boilermakers Local 40. replacement and vestibule repair job. Recently, we did modifications to a On December 7, 1998, L-1 ABM stripping column in our plant. As in all Robert Schwartz and Hayes Pres. chemical manufacturing facilities, Richard Mooney presented the equipment downtime is a critical National Association of Construction issue. The downtime associated with Boilermakers Employers’ (NACBE) this column work idles two-thirds of award to Emerson Lacey, ComEd our facility. In preparing this work Fossil Division vice president. scope, management accepted the time Local One and Hayes Mechanical present a NACBE award to ComEd’s Fossil Division frame of 42 hours in which to complete Mooney told Lacey and his staff that for the Collins Station repair job. Front, l. to r., Hayes Asst. to the Pres. Richard the award represents the concerted the required work, with the column VanDerway, Hayes Vice Pres. Robert Bolek, and Collins Station Plant Mgr. Mike Bales. being the critical path. Craftsmen from efforts of the tripartite philosophy of Standing, l. to r., Fossil Const. Mgr. Greg Kern, Hayes Pres. Richard Mooney, Fossil Vice ComEd, Hayes Mechanical, and Local Pres. Emerson Lacey, Hayes Const. Mgr. Larry Grieff, Fossil Safety Dir. Carlos Diaz, L-1 Local 40 performed the work. The One in their continued emphasis on ABM Robert Schwartz, Collins Station Boiler Process Spec. John Mulligan, and Fossil entire job responsibility, consisting of safety. ❑ Site Const. Spec. Don Schiereck. preparing for vessel entry, column modifications, deblanking and work- site cleanup, was placed upon the Boilermakers from Local 40. Both customer and contractor The entire job was completed in 25.5 hours. Needless to say, everyone in the entire plant was extremely commend Local 92 for job well done pleased that we could resume pro- duction 16.5 hours, or 40 percent, Ap p r entice graduates ahead of schedule. pr ove success depends As supervisor for the column mod- ifications, we found your member- on training, education ship to be OSHA compliant and safety conscious. Their skills and pro- A CREW OF LOCAL92 journeymen, ficiency in their craft were apparent. Los Angeles, Calif., have earned kudos Job attitude and willingness to work from both the contractor and customer with plant personnel in meeting spec- for a job well done. ARB and Fiber-Can ifications for job completion were both wrote to Local 92 Business very good. The productivity of your Representative Eddie Marquez com- members was second to none. In mending the crew for their superior terms of work quantity and work skill and craftsmanship. quality, nothing was found to be lack- Marquez notes that the crew was led ing. It was a pleasure to work with by recent apprentice graduates Joey your people on this job. Collins, foreman, and Bob Traister, gen- The efforts of your members help eral foreman. He said, “The key to us to meet our goals, remain competi- Boilermaker success depends upon tive, and provide local jobs. Upon job training and educating journeymen completion ahead of schedule, terms through upgrades and apprentice pro- such as “fantastic,” “excellent,” grams, and this project is a perfect “great job,” and “outstanding effort” example.” The crew, working for ARB, were used to describe your members’ erected a new papermill for Fiber-Can ❑ This Local 92 crew, headed by recent apprentice graduates Joey Collins, foreman, efforts. You have our compliments in Riverside, Calif. and Bob Traister, general foreman, earned kudos for a job well done from ARB and and those of our superiors as we say, Fi b e r - C a n . “Thank you, job well done.” DON WIT T I G , maint. specialist DOU G NIE W O E H N E R , plant mgr. Local 204, Honolulu, earns NACBE’s CHA R L E S MEH L ,op. mgr. PVC national safety award NACBE safety index shows decline in injuries That means the deciding factor had to Hawaii local has no lost- 83 . 0 2 be the compensable injury accident rate 100 time accidents, zero in determining the award winners. Compensable Injury Rate 90 compensable rate For the second time in the award’s Lost-Time Injury Rate nine-year history, the winning local 80 58 . 4 3 THIS YEAR’S NATIONAL s a f e t y lodge had a zero lost-time injury rate award went to Local 204, Honolulu, and a zero compensable injury rate. 70 57 . 3 8 Hawaii, of the Western States Section. Local Lodge 69, Little Rock, Ark., was 54 . 0 4 John Erickson, executive director for the first lodge to set this record by 60 the National Association of working accident free in 1995. Locals 69 43 . 7 1 Construction Boilermaker Employers and 204 are the only lodges to achieve a 50 (NACBE), presented the award at the perfect accident-free rating since combined Boilermaker Construction 33 . 8 9 NACBE began recording its safety 40 30 . 7 0 Division and Winter Business index in 1990. 28 . 7 1 Managers Conference meeting at the Erickson has seen a steady decrease 30 24 . 2 0 Crown Plaza, North Miami Beach, Fla., in the lost-time injury rate since the March 1-5. safety award’s program began in 1991; 20 Erickson told the conference dele- however, for the first time in the 13 . 5 4 gates that Local 204 had close competi- 8. 4 2 award’s history, the lost-time injury 10 7. 2 4 6. 9 6 tion this year with the other area 3. 6 4 rate in 1998 increased (from 1.04 in 1997 2. 5 8 2. 3 0 1. 0 4 1. 2 3 winners – Local 60, Peoria, Ill., of the to 1.23 in 1998). But the compensable 0 Great Lakes Area; Local 28, Newark, injury accident rate (which includes the N.J., of the Northeast Section; Local 79, number of injuries on a job that do not 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Lake Charles, La., of the Southeast result in lost-time) is still on the decline, Section; and Local 592, Tulsa, Okla., of from 28.71 in 1997 to 24.20 in 1998. The Since the National Association of Construction Boilermaker Employers (NACBE) began the Central Section. Each lodge had no accompanying graph reflects the his- calculating its annual NACBE Safety Index in 1990, the national average for lost-time injury lost-time accidents. tory of NACBE’s safety index from rates has dropped 90.91 percent, from 13.54 in 1990 to 1.23 in 1998. The compensable injury In fact, Erickson reported that 30 of 1990 through 1998, showing a drop in rate has also dropped 70.85 percent, from 83.02 in 1990 to 24.20 in 1998. This reduction the 56 construction lodges had a lost- the lost-time injury rate from 13.54 in means less Boilermakers are being injured on the job. Less injuries means Boilermaker time injury rate of zero in 1998, with 17 1990 to 1.23 in 1998, and a drop in the contractors and owners can be more competitive as they save millions of dollars in direct of those lodges qualifying for the compensable injury rate from 83.02 in and indirect injury costs. NACBE safety awards competition. 1990 to 24.20 in 1998. ❑ the Boilermaker Reporter 4 Mar • Apr 1999 S H I P B U I L D I N G SW Marine Team and Metal Trades Council sign labor agreement in Puget Sound Agreement symbolizes pany’s intent to use organized labor in Puget Sound. He also spoke of his life- commitment to local long respect for organized labor, which union workers he learned from his father while grow- ing up in a small town in Indiana. REP. NORM DICKS(D-6th WA) has In December 1998, USMR signed a joined company and union leaders in letter of intent to purchase PacShip, signing an agreement to preserve jobs which recently signed its first labor in Puget Sound, Wash. contract with the Puget Sound Metal Rep. Dicks and Intl. Rep. and Metal Trades Council. PacShip has facilities Trades Council Rep. Tom Kendall in San Diego, Calif., as well as the Puget joined members of the Southwest Sound area. Marine Team – United States Marine PacShip will join USMR’s family of Repair (USMR) President and CEO B. shipyards, which includes Southwest Edward Ewing and Pacific Ship Repair Marine, Inc. (located in San Diego and and Fabrication (PacShip) Vice San Pedro, Calif., and Ingleside, Texas), President Jim Coleman, at an official San Francisco Drydock, Inc., and the signing ceremony in October 1998, Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock where they signed a giant labor agree- Corporation (NORSHIPCO) in The Southwest Marine Team and the Metal Trades Council sign a labor agreement ment to symbolize their commitment Norfolk, Va. USMR is America’s to preserve jobs in Puget Sound, Wash. L. to r., Rep. Norm Dicks (D-6th WA), USMR to local union workers. At the cere- largest non-nuclear ship repair, conver- Pres. and CEO B. Edward Ewing, Intl. Rep. and Metal Trades Rep. Tom Kendall, and mony, Ewing announced his com- sion, and modernization company. ❑ PacShip Vice Pres. Jim Coleman. Avondale defies OSHA inspectors, DOL’s alien Shipyards. They are working in the Technologies advertises 800 slots for worker res t r i c t i o n s U.S. on H2B visas, in apparent defiance shipyard welders and pipefitters. They of the Department of Labor’s orders for promise $13.50 for those who are not cer- them believe they will illustrate serious Avondale’s use of H2B workers. tified, and $18.00 for those with certifica- JUSTICE AT AVO N D A L E violations of health and safety regula- The DOL had given Avondale per- tions. The average wage of Avondale’s tions over a period of several years. mission to bring in 100 alien “welder- domestic workforce is $9.45 an hour. THE STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE a t The disputed records cover the years trainers” for assignment to its new Avondale drew criticism two years Avondale continues. The New Orleans 1995 through 1998. The complaint ask- facility in Tallulah, not the main yard in ago for bringing in foreign workers. shipyard, where workers voted five years ing for the records was filed by the New Orleans. However, observers esti- One group of Scotsmen complained ago to organize, is still refusing to recog- Metal Trades Council of New Orleans. mate over 300 alien workers are being that they were not being paid what nize and negotiate with the New Orleans It alleged 65 safety and health charges, employed at the main yard, not as they’d been promised, and that their Metal Trades. Lately, they’ve been refus- including a charge that Avondale does trainers, but as welders, structural fit- wages were so low and expenses for ing to cooperate with Occupational Safety not accurately report work-related ters, and pipefitters. In fact, that is how staying in the company facilities so and Health Administration (OSHA) injuries and illnesses. they are being recruited. high that they couldn’t afford to return inspectors as well as hiring foreign work- After a two-week OSHA inspection National Technologies Inc., the to Scotland. Union activity at that time ers in apparent defiance of Department of last fall, Avondale barred further access Morgan City welding contractor that is convinced the Department of Labor to Labor restrictions. by federal safety inspectors on October handling the hiring, testing, and hous- scale back Avondale’s access to alien 26th, and denounced OSHA’s informa- ing of the alien workers, advertises for workers. However, Avondale appears Judge rules Avondale must give tion requests as a “fishing expedition.” people who are “looking for a secure, to be ignoring the DOL restrictions. OSHA inspectors rec o rd s It took ten weeks for a federal magis- well-paying welding, structural fitting Even as National Technologies buses trate to throw out Avondale’s claims. or pipefitting job with a company in were bringing in the alien workers, a ON JANUARY 23, 1999, Avondale lost America’s most interesting city . . . his- committee of Louisiana legislators and what should be the final round in its Senator Kennedy calls for Navy toric, exciting New Orleans” on its web members of the media who showed up battle to stonewall OSHA over access to investigation site (h t t p : / / w w w . p e t r o n e t . n e t / n a t t e c h /) . for a scheduled tour of the facility as employee accident, illness, and injury They offer dormitory style living in a part of a “roving committee meeting” records when a federal district court AVONDALE’S BEST CUSTOMER i s “beautiful apartment” across the river were denied entrance to the shipyard. judge in New Orleans refused to block the U.S. Navy. The terrible fact that U.S. from “Bourbon Street and the Super The company said the tour was can- OSHA’s request. taxpayers may be paying for Dome” for “$70 to $75 weekly, no up- celled owing to “security concerns.” The judge’s action clears the way for Avondale’s attempts to keep the union front money.” For more information on efforts of OSHA inspectors to take possession of and OSHAinspectors out of their ship- The AFL-CIO’s Campaign for Justice the Campaign for Justice at Avondale, the disputed personnel records. yard has not gone entirely unnoticed. at Avondale reports that National contact 410-263-7134. ❑ Reportedly, the Solicitor for the U. S. On January 11, 1999, Sen. Edward Department of Labor has been con- Kennedy (D-MA) released a letter to tacted by Avondale to work out details Navy Secretary Richard Danzig, urg- for “unrestricted access” to the records. ing the Department of the Navy to A week earlier, a federal magistrate investigate Avondale’s wages, safety Todd Pacific Shipyard gets had ordered the company to make the practices, and dealings with the Navy. records available, sweeping away com- In his letter, Kennedy cites depressed $100 million contract pany claims that access to the records wages, deplorable safety standards, would violate the privacy of its workers. and the company’s active opposition to Members of Locals 290 Up to 200 additional workers will be Workers at Avondale have been trying workers’ efforts to organize and asks hired over the five-year contract, with to get these records into the hands of the Navy to “take immediate steps to and 104 will repair U.S. work scheduled to begin in April on the OSHA inspectors, because many of investigate Avondale Industries’ con- Navy aircraft carriers USS Abraham Lincoln, and subsequent duct and implications for the Navy’s work to be conducted on the USS Carl relationship with Avondale.” TODD PACIFIC SHIPYARDS has been Vi n s o n and USS John C. Stennis. Newport News Specifically, Kennedy wants an item- awarded a $100 million, five-year Navy U. S. Representative Norm Dicks (D-6th ized review of Avondale’s requested contract that will bring 200 additional jobs WA) said the contract to maintain and buys Avondale reimbursements for legal fees and to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in repair aircraft carriers is an important activities. If that review finds that Bremerton, Wash., where Local 290 repre- boost to the Kitsap County economy. NEWPORT NEWS Shipbuilding has Avondale has been improperly reim- sents employees. “I am proud that our local maritime announced that it is buying Avondale bursed for union-busting activities, he The contract consists of a series of industry could work together and step for- shipyard, where workers have been recommends that the Navy take action options for maintenance repair on three ward to meet the needs of the Navy while fighting for a union contract for more to recover those costs. aircraft carriers, including non-nuclear hull creating new job opportunities as well,” than five years. Workers at Virginia- Kennedy wants Danzig to arrange a machinery and electrical maintenance. said Dicks. based Newport News have been mem- meeting with top officials at OSHA and Workers from Todd Shipyard, where Todd Pacific Shipyards has been build- bers of the Steelworkers since 1978. the NLRB “to ensure that the Navy is fully Local 104, Seattle, Wash., represents nearly ing and repairing ships since 1916, and has Workers at Avondale are hopeful the briefed on ongoing legal proceedings 400 employees, will work side-by-side with emerged as a strong regional shipyard with merger will mean an end to Avondale’s involving Avondale, and is prepared to the Puget Sound employees to ensure that the capability to attract both national and anti-union policies. The New Orleans take any action that may be appropriate.” the U. S. carrier fleet is “Navy ready.” international repair construction contracts. Metal Trades, which includes the The carriers may be dry-docked at Chartered in 1892, Local 104 has repre- Boilermakers, won an election at Avondale defies Department of Puget Sound for up to ten months each sented Todd employees since 1947. Local Avondale in 1994, but the company has Labor on alien workers with additional short-term maintenance to 290 was chartered in 1910, and has repre- used a variety of legal maneuvers to be conducted on board the vessels at the sented Puget Sound employees since 1978. avoid negotiating a contract. IN RECENT WEEKS,Mexican workers have begun appearing at Avondale Everett homeport facility. the Boilermaker Reporter 5 Mar • Apr 1999 S H I P B U I L D I N G Lawsuits charge 18-high profile, major U. S. clothing retailers with sweatshop conspiracy Mo r e than $1 billion sought from 18 high-profile defendants for using indentured servants while producing goods ‘Made in USA’

TWO FEDERAL CLASSaction law- the Northern Marianas, USA” label. suits were filed January 13 in California These lawsuits allege that American and Saipan against 18 high-profile U.S. consumers are deceived into believing clothing manufacturers and retailers they have purchased a product made accusing them of violating federal law by American workers protected by U.S. by engaging in a “racketeering conspir- labor laws, that guarantee a decent acy” using indentured labor. wage and a clean, safe work place. But Damages are being sought from a the manufacturers, many of them for- group of retailers that includes The eign-owned, avoid paying U.S.-level Gap, Tommy Hilfiger, The Limited, wages as well as import duties. J.C. Penny, Sears, and Wal-Mart. Last year alone, the federal govern- According to the lawsuits, these com- ment estimated that Saipan-based con- panies purchase garments from con- tractors and U.S. retailers avoided tractors who use indentured servants, more than $200 million in duties that predominantly young women from would have been paid for the same Asia, to produce clothing on the island clothing if it were manufactured in of Saipan, a part of the Northern China or the Philippines. Some Mariana Islands, a U.S. common- Chinese garment interests have moved wealth in the South Pacific. their textile operations to Saipan virtu- Their foreign-owned garment con- ally “lock, stock, and barrel,” in large To ensure they stay until their debt is Companies in Lawsuit tractors in Saipan are also charged with part to avoid U.S. duties and quota paid, the companies often put them up failing to pay overtime and allowing restrictions. The federal government in barracks surrounded by inward- The Gap, Inc. (Banana Republic, Old intolerable work and living conditions. estimates that this increase in Chinese pointing barbed wire. Their move- In the last five years, contractors in apparel production in Saipan allowed Navy) ments are strictly supervised by Cutter & Buck, Inc. Saipan have received more than 1,000 China to exceed its import quota by 250 guards, and they are subject to lock- citations for violating U.S. percent in 1997 alone. Dayton-Hudson Corp. (Target, downs or curfews. Complaints about Mervyn’s, Marshall Fields) Occupational Safety and Health Since 1996, over 200,000 apparel the conditions are met with threats of Administration (OSHA) standards, industry jobs have been lost in the con- J. Crew Group, Inc. termination, physical harm, and sum- J.C. Penny Company, Inc. many of which are capable of causing tinental United States. mary deportation. death or serious injury. Nordstrom, Inc. The lawsuits were filed on behalf of Retailers ref u s e Sears Roebuck & Company more than 50,000 workers from China, Go v e r nment agencies The Limited, Inc. the Philippines, Bangladesh, and res p o n s i b i l i t y criticize practices OshKosh B’Gosh, Inc. Thailand. The workers were allegedly Jones Apparel Group, Inc. ALTHOUGH SAIPAN’Sgarment fac- drawn to Saipan with the promises of CONDITIONS IN THEMarianas have The Gymboree Corp. tories are owned predominantly by high pay and quality work in the United generated a host of highly critical The Associated Merchandising Corp. Chinese and Korean companies, qual- States. Instead, they found themselves reports from federal agencies and con- The May Department Stores ity-control inspectors from The Gap, working up to 12-hour days, seven days gressional oversight. One recent report Company (Famous-Barr, Filene’s, The Limited, and other U.S. retailers a week, often “off the clock” without on the Marianas from the U.S. Foley’s, Hecht’s, The Jones Store, allegedly oversee the manufacturing receiving any pay or overtime. Department of the Interior sharply crit- Kaufmann’s, Lord & Taylor, L.S. process. They have refused to exercise In a third lawsuit, four labor and icized “the heavy and unhealthy Ayres, Meier & Frank, Robinson’s their power to mitigate the intolerable human rights groups (Sweatshop dependence upon an indentured alien May, Strawbridges) working and living conditions. Watch, Global Exchange, Asian Law worker program and on trade loop- The Dress Barn, Inc. More than 90 percent of garment Caucus, and UNITE) have accused the holes to expand its economy.” Lane Bryant, Inc. industry jobs in the Marianas are held retailers and manufacturers of using Garment production in Saipan con- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. by foreign “guest workers.” Foreign misleading advertising and trafficking tinues to increase, already exceeding Tommy Hilfiger USA, Inc. workers make up more than half of the in “hot goods” manufactured in viola- that of Malaysia and Jamaica. Warnaco Group, Inc. estimated total Marianas population of tion of U.S. labor laws. Although 11,000 is the legal limit on 70,000. Workers are lured to the islands Together, the three lawsuits are seek- foreign garment workers, recent esti- What does indentured with promises of a good job and a new ing more than a billion dollars in dam- mates exceed 15,000, and more facto- life by recruiters who charge fees of labor mean? ages, disgorgement of profits, and ries are being built. from $2,000 to $7,000. To get work, they unpaid wages. The plaintiffs are represented by a AN INDENTURED SERVANTis a often must sign “shadow contracts” “To allow such squalid conditions to coalition of law firms, including labor term which refers to someone waiving basic human rights, including persist on American soil is both Milberg Weiss Bershad Hynes & who agrees to work for a specific the freedom to date or to marry. patently unlawful and morally repre- Lerach LLP – class action specialists employer to pay off a debt. Once in the Marianas, they are hensible,” said Al Meyerhoff, one of with principal offices in New York and Indentured servants have no free- required to work for less than the local the lead attorneys. “Saipan is San Diego. The firm has successfully dom, usually live on the property of $3.15 per hour minimum wage, making America’s worst sweatshop.” litigated numerous consumer lawsuits the person holding the indenture, the repayment of their recruitment fee against such companies as R.J. and are often treated like slaves. Made in USA? virtually impossible. The crowded, Reynolds (“the Joe Camel” case), Throughout the third world, poor unsanitary factories and shanty-like Prudential Insurance (for life insurance families sell children into indentured housing compounds they work and fraud), and Lincoln Savings (for servitude to raise money for the rest GARMENTS MADE IN Saipan may live in are in flagrant violation of fed- carry a “Made in the USA” or “Made in defrauding depositors). of the family. Some people voluntar- eral law. In some factories, the heat is so This article was adapted from informa - ily sign these contracts to flee extreme extreme it can cause workers to faint. tion provided by Sweatshop Watch. ❑ poverty or political persecution. Small banks, as well as big, prep a r e for Y2K All banks must be Y2K progress toward year 2000 readiness in and snowstorms. He said that banks of November 1998. Another round of Y2K all sizes are required to complete all compliant by June examinations are currently underway. testing and implement all system IF YOU’VE READ anything lately According to Kenneth A. Guenther, changes by June 30, well ahead of the about banks preparing for the year exec. vice pres. of the Independent date change. 2000, you may have gotten the impres- Bankers Association of America, The Brotherhood Bank & Trust has sion that large banks have a greater “Community banks, like large banks, are been working on the Y2K problem chance at success than small banks. But tackling this national problem aggres- since October 1997. They reached full according to an article in the U S A sively. Their small size means they have Y2K compliance during the first quar- T o d a y, the size of a bank or savings fewer Y2K problems to deal with.” ter of 1999; however, they will continue institution has nothing to do with its Guenther also pointed out that com- testing to assure compliance into the potential to be ready for the year 2000. munity banks tend to use affordable, year 2001 and beyond. As regulator of the banking and thrift off-the-shelf software that is easy to The International offices are already industries, Edward W. Kelley Jr., gov- upgrade or replace and that small Y2K compliant. Work in the ernor of the Federal Reserve System, banks are in a better position to covert Boilermakers national funds office is adeptly to manual systems, as they did proceeding; testing will occur later this said that 97 percent of all banks and ❑ thrifts were rated satisfactory in their last winter during New England’s ice year. the Boilermaker Reporter 6 Mar • Apr 1999 E C O N O M I C S Equal pay Working Women Want ale r t Equal Pay Equal pay for women – it matters to men, too!

QUAL PAY IS ABOUT pared with only 42 percent of such women. Men in jobs usually or pre- $3,500, men were 41 percent of the basic justice and fairness – families in 1977. dominantly held by women – sales, be n e f i c i a r i e s . service, and clerical positions, for and basic family econom- •Another analysis found that imple- •Differences are greater for working example – are also victims of pay bias. ics. More wives – and more menting equal pay for work of mothers: In 1977, mothers worked For these men, equal pay for women equal value nationwide would mothers – work for pay full time in one-third (34 percent) translates into higher pay for them. than ever before, and they are working of dual worker families with chil- raise women’s wages by 13 percent E ❑ more. Their earnings are essential to dren. By 1997, wives were working •A recent study of several states’ – and men’s by one percent. family support. Pay discrimination full-time in more than half (53 per- efforts to reduce pay discrimina- costs women a lot – but it robs hus- cent) of such families. tion in state employment found To get more information on equal that women and men had bene- bands and families, too. pay – and to make your voice heard fited from wage adjustments in at – call the Working Wo m e n Wom e n ’ s wages make a least 12 states. In Iowa, for exam- Mo r e wives are working ple, where wage adjustments for Working Together Network at 1- big diffe r ence to working affected workers averaged about 88 8 - 9 7 1 - 9 7 9 7 . for pay fa m i l i e s •In 1977, wives were working for pay in just over half (54 percent) of •Sixty-four percent of working married couple families. By 1997, women in the AFL-CIO’s Ask A wives in two-thirds (66 percent) of Working Woman Survey said they Wives Working for Pay such families worked for pay. provide half or more of their fam- ily’s income. Yet one-third of •Among married couples, the working women said their jobs do As a percentage of married couple families biggest growth in women’s paid not provide equal pay. African employment has been in families American women are especially 1977-1997 in which both husband and wife hard hit: Half said they want work (“dual worker families”). In equal pay but don’t have it on 1977, both spouses worked in half their jobs now. No n - of married couple families. By 1997, that proportion had grown to •Women’s work is the bridge out of No n - Wor k i n g 61 percent. Between 1996 and 1997 poverty for many married couple Wor k i n g Wor k i n g Wor k i n g Wiv e s alone, the number of dual worker working families. A 1997 Labor Wiv e s Wiv e s Wiv e s 34 . 4 % families rose by 345,000, while the Department analysis found that 7.7 53 . 9 % number of families with only the percent fewer white families, 11.4 46 . 1 % 65 . 6 % husband working fell by 144,000. percent fewer African American families, and between nine percent •Families with children also are and 25 percent fewer Hispanic working more. Seventy-one per- families (depending on immigrant cent of married couple families status and country of origin) are with children were dual worker poor because both husbands and 1977 1997 families in 1997, a steep rise from wives are working. 54 percent in 1977. And working more hours Working men deserve •Wives are working more: Women equal pay, too Dual Worker Couples worked full time in 57 percent of MEN HAVE ANOTHER STAKEin the dual worker families in 1997, com- battle for equal pay: Many get lower As a percentage of married couple families pay because of discrimination against with children 1977-1997 Re c o r d steel imports crush U.S. mills 80.00%

Asian financial crisis adds 1997 import levels. Through 75.00% to global excess capacity November, imports from Indonesia were nearly six times as high as they 71.1% 67.97% 68.9% U.S. STEEL IMPORTS for 1998 were through the same period in 1997. 70.00% exceeded 41 million net tons, accord- The dumping margins of Brazil and ing to the American Iron and Steel Japan are high enough to immediately 64.7% Institute. That is an increase of more slash imports of these products, said 65.00% than 30 percent over steel imports in Commerce Secretary Daley, and spec- 61.1% 1997, which was itself a record year. ulation abounds that Asian countries Some 10,000 American steelworkers are dumping steel in U.S. markets 60.00% because of serious economic problems have lost their jobs due to the surge in 54.3% in their own countries. However, in steel imports over the past year. A half- 55.00% dozen bills have been introduced in the second half of 1998, imports from Congress to establish steel quotas, begin Russia, Korea, and China began to soar as well. a new investigation, or amend existing 50.00% Dumping refers to the practice of trade law, with the Commerce 1977 1981 1985 1989 1993 1997 Department expected to issue final selling products to foreign markets at dumping determinations sometime lower rates than the products earn at during the second quarter of 1999. home. Dumping is banned by trade The flood of imported steel is com- agreements as an unfair practice To join the ing from several sources, but industry because it has the capability of driving Working Women Working Together Network analysts have singled out imports companies out of business even from Indonesia, Japan, and Australia though they are offering their prod- call toll-free as showing the greatest increase over ucts at a reasonable price. 1- 8 8 8 - 9 7 1 - 9 7 9 7 the Boilermaker Reporter 7 Mar • Apr 1999 L E A P I S S U E S What will our Co n g r e s s do now?

With the impeachment over, they can get some real work done, but they’ll need guidance. We’ve got to tell them what we need, what we want, and what we won’t put up with – and we’ve got to make sure they listen

Continued from page 1 We must educate our elected repre- depreciation method for companies gave up on legislation last year after a sentatives on all of these issues. They that install clean air equipment. Tax futile effort to craft a consensus bill on millions of hard-working Americans cannot learn the workers’ viewpoints incentives would hasten the speed with deregulation. Now Representative into poverty, and finding a way to anywhere else than from the workers. which private industry updates their Schaefer (R-6th CO) is retired. The new ensure that everyone in this country We need to use the only power a voter equipment, creating jobs while improv- chair is Representative Joe Barton (R- has access to adequate health care. has – we need to phone them and write ing our air quality. 6th TX) who may pick up where That is the real work of Congress. them and let them know where we President Clinton has pledged to Schaefer left off. What we saw last year was an aberra- stand on all of the key issues. “work closely with industry and The Boilermakers worked hard as tion, an event that has only occurred Congress during the upcoming year on part of the Alliance to Protect Electricity once before in American history. What Charter and Build legislation to reward companies taking Consumers (APEC) to kill the bill in the we will see this year is the norm. early, voluntary action to reduce their 105th, and we will be monitoring the Congress has no reason to avoid its THE “CHARTER AND BUILD” greenhouse gas emissions or increase activity closely in the 106th. The new real work this year. Throughout 1999 Program will provide the Navy with carbon sequestration.” subcommittee chair in the House wants and into 2000, we can expect to hear the ability to modernize its auxiliary to move forward on this issue. politicians tell us again and again how fleet. This legislation is needed because Independent Contractors The President is interested in push- they are working together in a biparti- the current fleet of supply and special ing deregulation because of the envi- san way to give us the representation mission ships is quickly reaching the CONGRESSMAN JERRY KLECZKA ronmental aspects. The Department of we elected them to provide. We need to end of their useful life. (D-4th WI) plans to introduce a bill to Energy is crafting its own bill, which hold them to their words. Charter and Build allows the auxil- ensure that independent contractor sta- may lend some momentum to the Many difficult issues still face the iary ships to be purchased over a longer tus is voluntary and that workers have issue. It remains to be seen whether all nation. Some of them are explained period of time rather than being pur- labor law protection when becoming parties can agree on a comprehensive briefly on these pages. We must work chased for a lump sum upon order. an independent contractor. bill that can make its way out of com- to get these issues discussed in our This program would create thousands Last year, Senator Kit Bond (R-MO) mittee. union halls, written about in our news- of jobs for American shipyard workers introduced an anti-worker misclassifica- While we remain opposed to a fed- papers, and debated in Congress. and enhance our nation’s strategic tion bill. His bill would give employers eral mandate, most action is occurring For over a year now, television, radio, defense capabilities greater latitude in misclassifying work- on the state level. We are telling our and newspapers have been all-Monica, ers as independent contractors, rather locals to get involved on the state level all-the-time. They have ignored these Clean Air Equipment Fast Tax than employees, thereby avoiding their and carefully examine worker protec- bread-and-butter issues, the types of Write Off current obligations under the tax code tions, reliability, worker safety, costs to issues that most significantly affect and the labor and employment laws. consumers, tax revenues, stranded working families, issues that hit us CLEAN AIR ISin the best interest of all costs, and universal coverage. where we feel it most – in the wallet and Americans, yet not all companies are Davis-Bacon the bank account. complying with the air emissions laws. WE EXPECT THATa straight up or Federal Retirem e n t We must turn them around and get Those who do spend the money neces- down vote to repeal Davis-Bacon this them talking about what matters most sary to comply are financially penal- Coverage Correc t i o n year will not occur. Instead, we expect to us – being able to provide for our ized when they compete with the GOP to circumvent Davis-Bacon by WE HAVE SEVERALmembers at the families, for our parents’ retirements, companies who resist installing effec- amending money bills; i.e., school con- Portsmouth Naval Shipyard whose and our children’s futures. Issues like tive environmental control equipment struction. We have requested that the agencies placed them in the wrong the ones discussed here. or install equipment that barely meets Building and Construction Trades retirement system nearly 14 years ago. The issues discussed below are existing code. Such financial inequities Department develop education materi- They are now facing financial burdens expected to be brought before Congress can make the difference between a als for all crafts. and will have less take-home pay in the in 1999. The Legislative Department company staying in the U.S. or moving future because of the correction proce- off shore. will track these bills and others, and Electric Dereg u l a t i o n dures inflicted on them. H.R. 416 will issue periodic alerts when impor- We are working with several organi- would provide comprehensive relief tant votes on them are coming up. zations and a law firm to develop the THE CHAIR of the Energy and Power for thousands of federal employees. concept of a tax credit or accelerated Subcommittee of House Commerce Continued on page 8 the Boilermaker Reporter 8 Mar • Apr 1999 L E A P I S S U E S strengthening of the existing Social 32 states during 1998. Legislatures Legislative issues for 1999 Security system. It is America’s most nixed them in 28 states, and voters in important and comprehensive family four states faced ballot initiatives, protection system, the foundation of which they soundly rejected. Continued from page 7 of greenhouse gas emissions from these retirement income for workers and We also expect more attempts to gut countries is growing far more rapidly their families, and the principal insur- OSHA and limit worker protections by H.R. 416 was marked-up in the than emissions from the U.S., yet they Government Reform and Oversight ance against family impoverishment underfunding other agencies in the will be free to continue to pollute. due to death or disability. Department of Labor. Committee on February 3, 1999. H.R. Considering that China has the 416 is expected to pass the House. Last largest population of any country in the An t i - W orker Legislation That’s not all, folks year, identical legislation was passed world – five times the size of the U.S. – unanimously in the House. and that developing nations have WORKERS CAN EXPECTto again THESE ARE NOT ALLof the issues we However, the real battle is in the larger, more rapidly growing popula- play defense against business-backed can expect to take action on in the com- Senate, where they believe the House tions than developed countries, it anti-worker bills that died in the last ing year. As happens every year, bills bill is too generous and would cost too seems ridiculous to relieve them of any Congress. The “TEAM Act” would will be introduced that we don’t know much. The Senate is expected to intro- restrictions indefinitely into the future. amend the National Labor Relations about yet as new circumstances evolve. duce their version sometime this Act to legalize company unions. Keep current on the issues that affect month. Last year, the Senate’s version Pr otecting Multi-Employer Another bill to let employers force Boilermakers and our families by read- never made it out of committee. Pension Benefits workers into taking compensatory time ing this newspaper, visiting our web off (not overtime) is expected; this bill site at h t t p : / / w w w . b o i l e r m a k e r s . o r g, Global Warm i n g / K y o t o WE WILL PUSH heavily to change a strikes to the heart of one of our most attending local lodge meetings, and Pr otocol provision in federal pension law that cherished worker protections – over- discussing issues with your fellow hurts our Building Trades members. time after 40 hours. members and coworkers. IF THE KYOTO PROTOCOLis ratified Section 415 of the U.S. tax code, origi- New versions of paycheck deception, The Legislative Department is by the U.S. Senate, electric power gen- nally written to limit the ability of high- the bill designed to further limit unions’ always ready to answer your questions erating companies will have to signifi- ranking executives to take large political involvement, are expected to or send you information regarding cantly reduce their consumption of pensions, is now hurting our members be introduced. They will target union upcoming legislation. Contact Director domestic coal and increase the con- who retire early and whose pension dues rather than paycheck deductions, of Legislation Ande Abbott at 2722 sumption of foreign gas. funds are well-off. as a way to weaken those unions who Merrilee Drive, Suite 360, Fairfax VA Economic models have shown that Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) wants to get involved in politics. Workers 22031, Phone: (703) 560-1493. ❑ more than one million American jobs sponsor a bill doing away with that defeated paycheck-deception efforts in could be lost, household energy costs penalty if a representative can be found could increase by more than $1,000 to introduce a parallel version in the annually, and the U.S. economy could House. lose hundreds of billions of dollars each We are looking into the possibility of Paycheck Deception Initiatives year in Gross Domestic Product. using the Social Security bill or the tax The protocol will devastate the U.S. bill as a vehicle to move this legislation. have been defeated in the 32 states colored blue economy and will do little or nothing to stabilize the atmospheric concentra- Social Security tions of carbon. Affiliates of the Building and Construction Trades A WIDE RANGEof bills have been Department are working on a draft introduced in Congress which include energy policy. The Republicans are everything from partial privatization to viciously opposed to implementing benefit reductions to wholesale dis- this treaty, but some are linking the mantling and replacement with issue to electricity deregulation. mandatory Individual Retirement The Kyoto Protocol calls for all indus- Accounts. trialized nations to reduce their carbon We agree with President Clinton’s emissions to below what they were State of the Union message to put the producing in 1990. Although air-clean- federal budget surplus to work for ing technology has gotten much better working families by using it to in the intervening nine years, the grow- strengthen Social Security and to reject ing U.S. population prohibits us from plans to replace Social Security – or any making this reduction without greatly part of it – with private investment THE MOST RECENT BALLOT DEFEAT for a paycheck deception initiative came in altering our economic landscape. accounts. Oregon on November 3, 1998. To date, voters have defeated paycheck deception pro- Although the goal of this protocol is The AFL-CIO has convened a policy posals in four ballot initiatives. In 28 other states, similar initiatives have been defeated valuable – the reduction of green house work-group to address both the real in the legislatures or through legal action in the courts. Paycheck deception initiatives gas emissions – its implementation is economic issues raised by the funding seek to add further barriers to union participation in politics. Unions are already more inadequate. Developing countries such problem and the political atmosphere regulated than any other group, but that isn’t enough for our enemies, who recognize as Mexico and China are not required which surrounds it. Our union is com- that union members vote in greater percentages than other workers. They want to bar to reduce their emissions. The amount mitted to the preservation and us from educating our members, their families, and the public on legislative issues. What do workers want? Social Security THE RESULTSof a poll conducted by every worker’s retirement. Although Peter D. Hart Research for the AFL- union members are more likely to have CIO show that union members ranked a retirement pension than nonunion Social Security: their concerns about Social Security workers, Social Security still pays a sig- A critical issue in elections for union members and pensions as the most important nificant portion of their retirement issues in the 1998 elections. earnings. Without Social Security, very That really shouldn’t be a surprise. few workers would be able to retire Second Most Important Most Important Social Security is the bedrock for nearly with dignity. ❑ Is s u e s : 41 %

Retirement/Social Security 21 % Demand Two out of three 40 % Education 21 % that they elderly Americans rely on So c i a l 34 % Economy/Jobs 16 % protect Se c u r i t y for most of their income 28 % Health Care Social rely on Social Security for 20 % 66% 21 % Security half or more of their income. Taxes 15 % 17 %

first! Of these . . . Crime/Drugs 15 % 16 %

rely on Social Security for 90 Moral Decline 6 % 30% percent of their income 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% rely on Social Security for When union members were polled in a post-election survey, 67 percent chose the 18% above issues as being the most or second most important issues. Of those, 41 percent all of their income put retirement and Social Security at the top of their list. Source: Peter D. Hart Research for AFL-CIO Source: Social Security Administration the Boilermaker Reporter 9 Mar • Apr 1999 L E A P I S S U E S GOP tax cut prop o s a l L-549 members support rew a r ds the wealthy California Governor Davis Davis campaign promises include promoting job-site safety Most benefits go to best-off Medicare, programs designed to pro- and protecting union wages and training programs tenth of all taxpayers tect working families, while providing significant tax cuts only for the very IN ANSWER TOPresident Clinton’s wealthy, who can afford to retire with- GRAY DAVIS has been state-of-the-union address promise to out these programs. elected governor of use 60 percent of the budget surplus to House Ways and Means Committee California, thanks in keep Social Security viable, the Chairman Bill Archer (R-TX) released large part to the efforts Republican Party (GOP) proposed a figures on February 16 that confirm of union members like ten per cent across the board tax cut. CTJ’s analysis. His figures demonstrate the members of Local They claim they can reduce everyone’s that the more income a person has, the 549 in Pittsburg, Calif. taxes and still have enough to keep greater the role income taxes pay in his Not only will Davis’s Social Security solvent. overall tax payments. election affect all work- When Citizen’s for Tax Justice (CTJ) For workers making less than ing people in California, analyzed the GOP plan, they came to a $100,000 a year, federal income tax rep- but construction work- different conclusion. Their analysis of resents only 38 percent of their total tax ers will be particularly the ten percent income tax rate cut as burden. For those making over affected because so proposed by GOP House and Senate $100,000 a year, however, income tax much of the construc- leaders shows that the plan would makes up 75 percent of the burden. tion industry is con- reduce federal revenues by more than a The reason for the difference is that trolled by state boards trillion dollars over the next decade. many federal taxes are regressive. and commissions. That would be one trillion dollars the Social Security taxes, for example, are Local 549 BM-ST Fred U.S. government would be unable to collected only for the first $64,800 a Fields said Davis earned spend on the many programs wage earner makes. That means that Local 549’s support, not American families have come to the worker making $35,000 a year pays because of his political depend on, including Social Security. Social Security taxes all year, but his affiliation, but because Meanwhile, 62 percent of the pro- boss, making $136,000 a year stops pay- of his philosophy under posed tax cuts would go to the best-off ing Social Security taxes in June. Thus which he will make tenth of all taxpayers. The majority of the worker pays six percent of his appointments that affect taxpayers – 60 percent – would see wages toward Social Security, but his the members’ liveli- California Governor Elect Gray Davis, at left, thanks savings of less than $99 a year, while boss only pays three percent. hood, such as those to Business Manager Fred Fields for Boilermaker Local the one percent of taxpayers making The federal income tax is the most the Department of 549’s support in his election victory. more than $300,000 would see a reduc- progressive federal tax on the books. Industrial Relations, tion of over $20,000. As your income increases, the percent- whose division enforces requirement so nonunion contractors CTJ director Robert S. McIntyre age of your income that you pay in and interprets the laws, rules, and reg- could continue to pay low wages on explained, “The proposed ten percent taxes also increases, in large steps. An ulations of the California Labor Code. publicly-funded jobs. The last two gov- income tax rate cut is billed as an even- across-the-board cut of the federal Workers in California have three big ernors also greatly weakened handed tax cut, but that’s not the case at income tax provides more benefit to reasons to celebrate Davis’s election – California’s Occupational Safety and all. In fact, this plan would reduce the those with higher incomes. safety, wages, and training. Davis has Health Act in California by underfund- federal government’s most progressive Meanwhile, this tax cut would eat promised the Building Trades that he ing the program so badly that it became tax, the income tax, while leaving other, away at what President Clinton is call- will promote job site safety and protect ineffective. generally regressive taxes in place. That ing a surplus. That so-called surplus is union wages and training programs The California Building Trades have approach, by definition, has to favor actually all Social Security money. during his term in office. Field says, “If been struggling for 16 years to maintain the best-off taxpayers at the expense of Congress has no business using it for we compare the Gray Davis adminis- their apprenticeship programs while everyone else.” anything other than making sure the tration with the Pete Wilson adminis- nonunion contractors have waged a CTJ’s analysis concludes that spend- Social Security program stays strong. ❑ tration, Davis could look like a real legal battle to eliminate union competi- ing more than a trillion dollars on tax labor hero.” tion by diluting the concept of a univer- Sources: Citizens for Tax Justice and the cuts is irresponsible because it would According to Fields, the last two sal training system that produces Institute on Taxation & Economic Policy jeopardize such government pro- Californian governors tried to lower highly-skilled workers. ❑ grams as Social Security and Microsimulation Tax Model, Jan. 20, 1999. the prevailing wage (Davis-Bacon)

thing. Congressman Shimkus seems sincere in his commitment to support How does the International decide workers in the future. In fact, his 1998 vote record is better than several Democrats. We did not endorse those which candidates to support? De m o c r a t s . We must attempt to stay non-parti- Sure, we look at their voting records, but sometimes members told us Shimkus wanted to san as much as we can. It is true that that isn’t enough – as this member’s letter and the discuss our issues. The Washington most Democrats are good on worker Legislative Department’s response illustrate legislative office began contacting issues and most Republicans are very Shimkus’s office, and his voting record poor. However, we must reach out to improved during 1998. Shimkus has anyone who shows improvement on I RECEIVEDthe Sep-Oct issue on Legislative Director Abbott res p o n d s promised to do better in the future, our issues and honestly tries to work November 6 and read with interest the with us. I can promise you this – either I AM SORRY your B o i l e r m a k e r saying he will work for many of our election recommendations (which by issues rather than simply vote for we continue to see improvement in then were three days too late). Reporter arrived three days after the Shimkus’s performance, or we support election. The paper went to press on them. He has also joined the On page seven, I noted with interest Republican party’s labor caucus, a his opponent in the next election. the endorsement for Republican October 19 – we were obviously anx- Under the circumstances, the LEAP ious for our members to receive the group that meets with labor represen- incumbent Congressman John tatives to discuss our issues. committee decided to support him this Shimkus in my Illinois 20th congres- paper before they voted Nov. 3rd. time and re-evaluate his performance When making recommendations for In addition, he has kept his word on sional district. On page ten, under voting for many of our issues: he has before the next election. “House Scorecard,” Congressman public office, we consider a number of The chore of the legislative office is to factors, including whether or not a can- taken an active role in trying to change Shimkus had a 50 percent 1998 voting Section 415 of the tax code (which gain a House of Representatives that will record on labor issues and a lifetime didate has been accessible and whether provide enough votes to win on issues or not he or she has voted correctly on penalizes workers’ pensions for early record on labor and working family retirement), and he has supported such that benefit our members and retirees. issues of 38 percent. our issues. Our committee debated I understand that we will never get more on Congressman Shimkus than worker issues as Davis-Bacon prevail- If I had received this issue before ing wage rates, and ensuring workers 100 percent approval of our recom- the election, I would have been quite on any other candidate. mended candidates from our own Congressman John Shimkus was voices are not silenced by the confused since there was a “Paycheck Deception Act.” members. However, you should know Democratic candidate in this race. elected in 1996 to serve in the 20th that the list is far from being arbitrary. District of Illinois – formally held by a We must get 218 votes in the House Surely there is some sort of explana- and 51 votes in the Senate in order to There is a great deal of thought, discus- tion. Rather than endorse a candidate friend of workers, Richard Durbin, sion, and research that goes into each who maintained a score of 80 percent pass our issues. The labor movement with a lifetime record on labor issues must draw votes from both recommendation. of 38 percent, wouldn’t it have been each year or higher on worker issues. We strive to be fair and non-partisan It is true that Shimkus, a Republican, Republicans and Democrats to get a better to make no recommendation at majority of the votes on most of our in our selection while keeping the all? As an elected leader in this local, I has a lifetime voting record of 38 per- interests of Boilermakers, their fami- cent. During his first year, he voted issues. We do have some Democrats need some sort of answer to take to that vote wrong on worker issues and lies, and our retirees in mind while my membership. with big business 70 percent of the time considering each candidate for office. and 30 percent with workers. But in we must pick up Republicans to offset CHU C K GOO D I N , L-486 president AND E ABB O T T 1998, several Illinois LEAP committee their votes. It is also important that we Litchfield, Ill. give candidates a chance to do the right Legislative Director the Boilermaker Reporter 10 Mar • Apr 1999 S E T T L E M E N T S New contract summaries Ra i l r oad members A brief listing of recent agreements signed and ratified by Boilermaker local lodges settle with Amtrak

DNCL – National L-6 members who forge maintenance at the Le h i g h effective Feb. 1, 1999 to Jan. of the agreement. flanges at Western Forge Portland Cement Company. 31, 2002, for 11 members of Contract adds new Cement Lodge ov e r time prov i s i o n , The contract also and Flange. Local 106, Cincinnati, Ohio, establishes a labor who work at the CHA R L E S HUN T B A C H , CLGAW D78 – Quanah, TX Jo s e p h wage increases, and productivity council, Division director, reports S8 – Equality, IL Honhorst Company. op p o r tunity for grow t h which will give employees contract ratification, ef f e c - INT L . REP . NIC K ADA M S re p o r t s a voice in work practices, tive Jan. 16, 1999 to Jan. 14, INT L . REP . GAR Y MEY E R SR. contract ratification, S106 – Compton, CA INTL. REP. ALAN SCHEER safety, training, workplace 2002, for seven members of reports contract ratifica- effective August 1, 1998 to reports contract ratification quality, etc. Scheer the National Cement Lodge tion, effective July 1, 1999 to July 31, 2004, for 137 INT L . REP . HEN R Y JUA R E Z on January 14, 1999, believes the council’s who produce Portland June 30, 2004, for 234 mem- members of Local D78, reports contract effective through provision for contracting Cement at the La f a r g e bers of Local S8, Equality, Quanah, Texas, who ratification, effective Nov. December 31, 1999, for work will present an Co m p a n y in Waukegan, Ill. Ill., who work at Co a l produce sheetrock 9, 1998 to Nov. 8, 2000, for Boilermakers employed by opportunity for Miners Inc. (wallboard) at the Ge o r g i a 170 members of Local S106, the National Railroad membership growth. L-5 – New York City Pacific Corporation, Gypsum Compton, Calif., who Passenger Corporation The contract also M24 – Kokomo, IN Division, in Acme, Texas. produce commercial (Amtrak). Increases will be includes a new provision INT L . REP . ROC C O DEROL L O an d cooking stoves, stove tops, retroactive to Jan. 1, 1995. for compensatory time, L-5 ABM Jack Mellon, New INT L . REP . JER R Y HUN T re p o r t s S100 – St. Louis, MO and cooking pots at the The contract covers called “Bank Time,” in York City, N. Y., report contract ratification, Wolf Range Company. members of Lodge 51, which an employee can contract ratification effective Dec. 16, 1998 to INT L . REP . GAR Y MEY E R SR. Indianapolis, Ind.; Lodge choose to be paid effective Nov. 1, 1998 to Dec. 17, 1999, for 85 members reports contract L-128 – Toro n t o 197, Albany, N.Y.; Lodge compensatory time off in Oct. 31, 1999, at Fr e d r i c k of Local M24, Kokomo, Ind., ratification, effective Jan. 6, 651, Somerville, Mass.; lieu of the overtime Cowan & Co., Inc., where who produce unfinished 1999 to Jan. 5, 2002, for ten JIM TIN N E Y , secretary- and Lodge 1032, premium. Through bank Local 5 members cabinets at Cannon Valley members of Local S100, St. treasurer of Local 128, Cumberland, Md. time, an employee would manufacture electronics Woodwork, Inc. Louis, Mo., who work in a Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Through the negotiating be paid straight-time for for industrial boilers, and building supplies reports contract ratification, sessions, the employees overtime worked, with the effective Jan. 1, 1999 to L-37 – New Orleans warehouse at the Th r e e effective Sept. 1, 1998 to were able to reach an overtime premium going Dec. 31, 2000, for Local 5 States Supply Co., Inc. Aug. 31, 2002, for 14 L-128 agreement with Amtrak, into a compensatory time which settles their members at Qu i c k w a y INT L . REP . DEN N I S KIN G members who produce bank. Employees may not Metal Fabricators, Inc. reports contract L-101 – Denver, CO pressure vessels and November 1994 Section accrue more than 40 hours ratification, effective Jan. 1, fabricate structures at Gr e a t Six notice. In addition, the in the compensatory bank agreement includes a pro- L-6 – Oakland, CA 1999 to Jan. 1, 2000, for 24 FRE D STE E L E F E N , Local 101, Lakes Fabricating; effective time. Compensatory time members of Local 37, New Denver, Colo., reports Sept. 1, 1998 to Aug. 31, 2002, rated $400 signing bonus, off can then be taken in continued cost-of-living MIC H A E L GRA B O W S K I , bus. Orleans, La., who fabricate contract ratification, for 66 L-128 members who eight-hour segments (ten adjustments, and a mgr./sec.-treas. of Local 6, tank and heat exchangers effective Jan. 1, 1999 to perform pressure vessel hour segments for periodic wage increase of Oakland, Calif., reports at the Gulf Engineering Co., Dec. 31, 2001, for 22 fabrication at Kel-Gor Ltd.; employees working the 13.25 percent over the life contract ratification, in Harahan, La. members of Local 101 who effective Sept. 1, 1998 to four-day, ten-hour shift). effective July 15, 1998 to produce tanks at Ea t o n Aug. 31, 2002, for four L-128 members who produce July 1, 2001, for 20 L-6 Metal Products. Exchanger, Ltd. Twenty 39 members of Local 486, S56 – S. Pittsburg, TN pressure vessel structures members who fabricate employees work in the Litchfield, Ill., who produce at the MacKenzie Black steel at the Di a m o n d INT L . REP . GAR Y DON BRY A N T fabrication unit at Alberta farm equipment at L-104 – Seattle, WA Fabricating Co.; and Manufacturing Corp.; reports contract ratification, Exchanger, producing HP Worksaver, Inc. effective Aug. 14, 1998 to effective July 16, 1998 to effective Jan. 25, 1999 to CHU C K HUG H E S , business heaters and exchangers. Aug. 14, 2002, for 15 July 15, 2001, for 75 L-6 Dec. 31, 2003, for 48 representative of Local 104, L-146 BM-ST Dean members of L-128 who L-661 – Florence, N.J. members who produce members of Local S56, S. Seattle, Wash., reports Milton reports contract commercial cooking fabricate structural steel at Pittsburg, Tenn., who work at contract ratification, ratification, effective Jan. 1, INT L . REP . MIC H A E L SHA F F E R equipment at Heat and th e United States Stove Co. effective Sept. 30, 1998 to Pro-Mart Industrial 1999 to Dec. 31, 2001, for 22 Products Ltd. reports contract ratification, Control, Inc.; effective May Oct. 1, 2002, for 45 Local 104 L-146 members who work effective Feb. 9, 1999 to Jan. 18, 1998 to May 17, 2001, for D69 – Waco, TX members who produce in fabrication at Melloy and 31, 2003, for 45 members of 25 L-6 shop members who miscellaneous steel L-146 – Edmonton Associates Ltd. Local 661, Florence, N. J., work at the Pa c i f i c INT L . REP . NIC K ADA M S fabrication at Wayron, Inc. who work in production and INT L . REP . JOH N ROW E re p o r t s Galvanizing Co.; effective reports contract in Longview, Wash. maintenance at D. C. union recognition and L-199 – Jacksonville Sept. 1, 1998 to Aug. 31, ratification, effective April Fa b r i c a t o r s , currently 2001, for two L-6 members ratification of a first 1, 1998 to March 31, 2003, INT L . REP S . DEN N I S KIN G an d performing Navy contract L-106 – Cincinnati contract between who manufacture tools at for 40 members of Local Mike Peterson report work for the Sea Wolf members of Local 146, Terry Steel and Supply, D69, Waco, Texas, who INT L . REP . RON LYO N re p o r t s contract ratification, su b m a r i n e . Edmonton, Alberta, In c . ; and effective Sept. 1, work in production and contract ratification, effective Dec. 17, 1998 to 1998 to Aug. 31, 1999, for 25 Canada, and Al b e r t a Dec. 16, 1999, for 24 L-677 – Kingston, PA members of Local 199, A summary analysis of these contract settlements Jacksonville, Fla., who INT L . REP . ROC C O DEROL L O produce dryers at reports contract Ir v i n g t o n - M o o r e . Prepared by the Research and are 15 facilities which participate in indemnity. Of these, 11 pay a set Va c a t i o n ratification, effective Jan. Collective Bargaining 13, 1999 to Jan. 12, 2002, for the Boilermaker-Blacksmith National dollar amount ranging from $100 to TW E N T Y - F I V E agreements provide a Department of the International members of Local 677, Pension Trust. Their contributions $300 per week. Average rates are: one-week vacation. Thirty-one L-242 – Spokane, WA Brotherhood of Boilermakers range from $0.25 to $2.50 per hour. first year – $204; second year – agreements provide a two-week Kingston, Pa., who work at Average benefits are: first year – $207; – third year $209. The THIS ANALYSIS of the 33 vacation. Twenty-seven agreements LYN N RAW L I N S JR., bus. the R & H Manufacturing $1.43; second year – $1.44; third year remaining agreements provide a provide a three-week vacation. mgr./sec.-treas. of Local Co m p a n y . agreements outlined above – $1.45. These reflect annual percentage of the employee’s (excluding the Amtrak settlement) is Twenty-two agreements provide a 242, Spokane, Wash., increases of about one percent. earnings. The length of time off four-week vacation. Nine agreements based on information provided in the Eleven facilities offer a 401(k), nine ranges from 13 to 52 weeks. The reports contract ratification, L- 9 0 3 – W est Point, MS Contract Summary and Transmittal provide a five-week vacation, and one effective Nov. 16, 1998 to have company-sponsored plans, two most common is 26 weeks, found in agreement provides a six-week Report forms, covering a total of have profit sharing plans, and one nine agreements. Canadian Nov. 15, 2002, for 90 approximately 2,222 employees. va c a t i o n . INT L . REP . MIK E WIL S O N an d participates in the Boilermakers agreements are covered under Short members of L-242 who work L-903 Pres. Robert Shaffer, Wage Increases National Annuity Trust. Three Term Disability (26 weeks at $384 Paid Holidays at E-Z Loader Boat Trailers. facilities participate in Canada’s per week), or Long Term Disability West Point, Miss., report ALL OF THE agreements provide for TW E N T Y - T H R E E facilities received Registered Retiree Savings Plan, ($1,000 per month until age 65). contract ratification, paid holidays. The number of paid pay increases in 1998, averaging which is similar to the 401(k) plan. L-398–E. Strou d s b u r g effective Aug. 1, 1998 to $0.45 per hour or 3.13 percent. In Life Insurance/AD&D holidays ranges from four to 12. The July 31, 2003, for 610 Local 1999, 26 facilities will receive pay Shift Differential average is ten. TW E N T Y - F O U R agreements provide INT L . REP . MIC H A E L SHA F F E R 903 members who produce increases averaging $0.52 per hour or TWENTY-SIXagreements provide life insurance. In 22 of the Other Provisions reports contract ratification, boilers and repair parts at 2.94 percent. Twenty-three facilities for a second-shift premium. Their agreements there is a set dollar THIRTY-TWO agreements provide effective Jan. 1, 1999 to Babcock & Wilcox. will receive pay increases in 2000, cents-per-hour premium ranges amount ranging from $10,000 to funeral leave. Paid leave for ju r y averaging $0.46 per hour or 2.82 from $0.10 to $1.00. The average is $25,000. The average benefit for the Dec. 31, 2002, for 35 du t y is found in 26 agreements. percent. Nineteen facilities will $0.35 per hour. first year is $16,114. members of Local 398, East Union leave language is found in 13 S1994 – Harri s b u r g, IL receive pay increases in 2001, Twenty-six agreements provide for Seventeen agreements provide Stroudsburg, Pa., who work agreements. Sixteen agreements averaging $0.51 per hour or 2.97 a third-shift premium. Their cents- Accidental Death and provide all or partial reimbursement in the office and clerical unit SFEAW DIV . DIR . OTH A L percent. Seven facilities will receive per-hour premium ranges from $0.10 Dismemberment (AD&D) for the purchase of safety shoes. of Patterson Kelley Co. SMI T H reports contract pay increases in 2002, averaging to $1.00. The average is $0.40. The insurance. In 15 of the agreements Four agreements provide paid leave $0.36 per hour or 2.92 percent. Three remaining agreements pay on a there is a set dollar amount ranging ratification, effective Nov. for those persons who spend two facilities will receive pay increases in percentage basis or provide full pay from $10,000 to $50,000. The 9, 1998 to Dec. 9, 2003, for weeks at military encampment L-486 – Litchfield, IL 2003, not enough to average. for a reduced shift. average is $22,467. members of Local S1994, each year. Two provide a se v e r a n c e The remaining agreements Pension payment package,and three have INT L . REP . JAM E S PRE S S L E Y Harrisburg, Ill., who work in Sickness & Ac c i d e n t multiply wages by 2080 hours for the a Cost of Living Adjustment reports contract construction, erection, and TH I R T Y - O N E facilities participate in THIRTEEN agreements provide benefit amount. some type of pension program. There (COLA) clause. ratification, effective Oct. demolition at La n e weekly sickness and accident 15, 1998 to Oct. 15, 2001, for Erectors, Inc. the Boilermaker Reporter 11 Mar • Apr 1999 L O C A L N E W S Local 199 dedicates building at annual picnic

Mrs. Kelley holds a plaque she received at the dedication of the Local 199 sub-office Local 199 Bus. Rep. B. R. Davis Jr., Mike Hales, and Billy Horne enjoy eating raw in honor of her late husband, Elliott Nathan Kelley. Attending the dedication oysters at the local’s annual picnic. ceremony are Kelley family members, l. to r., L-199 member Gary Kelley, Jennifer Kelley, L-199 member Mark Kelley, Mrs. Kelley, L-199 member Jerry Kelley, and L-112 member Jimmy Kelley. Not pictured is L-199 member Shannon Kelley. Names Panama sub- Ala., where some of Kelley’s family maintain their union membership of fice for Elliott Kelley today. In 1976, Kelley transferred his membership to Local 111 in Panama MEMBERS OF LOCAL 1 9 9 , City, Fla., which consolidated with Jacksonville, Fla., held a building dedi- Local 199 in 1985. cation ceremony at their annual picnic, Kelley served several years as a Local naming their Panama City sub-office in 199 assistant business manager. During honor of Elliott Nathan Kelley, a long- his office term, he was instrumental in time member and former assistant establishing the Local 199 sub-office in business manager. Attending the cere- Panama City. In 1998, Local 199 mem- mony was Kelly’s widow and several bers overwhelmingly voted to honor of his family members and friends. Kelley by renaming this office complex Six generations of Kelleys have the Elliott Nathan Kelley Memorial belonged to the Boilermakers union. Building. ❑ Elliott Kelley joined Local 746, Panama Local 199 members and families at the annual picnic and building dedication ceremony in Panama City, Fla. City, Fla., in 1943, when he began his Boilermaker career at the Wainwright shipyard. In Sept. 1945, Local 746 con- solidated with Local 112 in Mobile, Mobile L-112 celebrates Labor Day

AT LEFT:Over 40 participants representing Local 112 threw candy from this float as they rode through L-73 celebrates Mobile in the annual Labor Day parade. BELOW: Family members join active 25 years and retired Local 112 members at Mobile’s annual Labor Day parade. L. CHARTERED IN 1973, members of to r., L-112 BM David Klug, Lydia Klug, Local 73, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Mattie Smith, Reynolds R. Smith, Dean Canada, celebrated their 25th anniver- Gilley, and Leroy Gilley. sary in 1998. Business Representative Kent Oliver reports that over the years one thing has not changed, and that is their goal: “to make our union better and stronger and something we can all be proud of.” One change the members can anticipate in 1999 is more work. Oliver predicts his local will be included in new construction proj- MEMBERS OF LOCAL112, Mobile, ects over the next few years as the Ala., participated in the 1998 Labor Natural Gas Industry moves into Day parade. Family members joined their area. Oliver also commends the both active and retired members by charter members for their initiative riding in the Boilermaker van or on a and foresight in starting Local 73, float and throwing candy to the parade and all the members who work to spectators. ❑ better “our union.” Business Manager David Klug said there were over 40 participants repre- senting Local 112 at the parade, which traveled the streets of downtown Local 1 ret i re e Mobile celebrating Labor Day. ❑ honors veterans KEN GRUDIS,a 36-year member of Local 40’s Local One, Chicago, Ill., and a mem- ber of VFW Cantigny Post 367, par- Joseph Cecil ticipated in Joliet, Illinois’s salute to Veterans Day. Grudis joined mem- ret i re s bers of area veterans and ROTC groups in a march across the JOSEPH F. CECIL,pictured in center of Jefferson Street bridge to the Will photo at right, a 37-year member of County Courthouse after first meet- Local 40, Elizabethtown, Ky., receives ing at the Bicentennial Park, where his final paycheck from foremen Bill VFW commanders solemnly rang a Grumbley (l.) and Glen Williams. black bell to recognize the contribu- Before Cecil left his last job site on tions of men and women who served December 22, 1998, he also received a in the armed forces. retirement collection from the union Grudis, a veteran of World War II, members at a NOx conversion of Karn retired as a Boilermaker in 1994. ❑ #2 in Essexville, Mich., where he tube welded and helped new tube welders out of Local 169, Detroit, Mich. ❑ the Boilermaker Reporter 12 Mar • Apr 1999 L E T T E R S T O T H E E D I T O R Our only hope is our vote over the past 25 years, I see lots of local to sign their book and then wait lowing that some silly lawmaker has things that I wish that I could do differ- in a motel room hopeful of getting a written up: OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES ently, but the one thing that I would job puts a financial burden on a mem- Citing Sections 201 (b), 202 (c, d, e), take an oath to support the not change is the type of work that I ber who is already on the road trying 203 (a) (1) (A, M, N, O), and 204 (b) (1) Constitution of the United States. Do chose to do. My union and my broth- to make a living. (A, B, F) of the Trade Act of 1974, they support all the people they repre- ers are a very important part of my life. We rely on the International to help Subheading 96031840.14 of the sent, or do they shut their doors to I would also like to say that I am our brotherhood. Why can’t they Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the labor unions? very pleased with my pension, and come up with an equal and uniform United States, Section 311 (a, b) of the This question comes after reviewing with the short time frame that the way for locals to run their B-lists? I North American Free Trade the voting records and finding that trustees took to make sure that I know more members in my local Agreement Implementation Act, and some of our representatives never vote received everything that I had coming would travel if this could get worked Section 332 (g, h, l) of the Tariff Act of for labor. Surely the bills labor sup- to me. In the past I heard some nega- out. I also realize our members have to 1930, President Clinton has made it ports aren’t so bad that we can’t even tive statements made by one of our help police these B-lists by pulling easier to buy imported brooms! Except get at least one vote from these people! retirees about his pension. Now that I their names off any list once they get a whisk brooms. Are these members of Congress fulfill- have gone through this retirement job so the other locals don’t waste time I wonder how that is printed up? ing the obligations of their oath? process myself, I can assure you that and money trying to call them. I think GER A L D GRI S C O , L-1 retiree The only hope we have as union we are paid by the amount we pay in the 15- or 30-day call-back is good. If Chicago, Ill. members is to vote. We can’t outspend as an individual. So if a person is not you don’t check in, your name gets our enemy, but we can outvote them. happy with his pension, maybe it is dropped. This is an important prob- L- 6 0 ’ s Gum on the rew a r ds of Let us go forth as union families, because he or she didn’t pay in much lem, and I hope you will look into it. being a Boilerma k e r encouraging everyone we meet to reg- for some reason. CLY D E A. GRA F F , L-647 ister and vote. Solidarity forever. Thanks again for everything. See Bismarck, N. D. I WOULD LIKEto express my appre- STA N L E Y COM B S , L-40 retiree you on the big one. ciation for all of the Boilermakers Jeffersonville, Ky. DWA Y N E KEN T , L-455 Co n s t r uction Division Joe around the country whom I have Dover, Tenn. Me r edith res p o n d s worked with, especially the ones from L- 3 5 9 ’ s Grace: surf in solidarity my home local, Lodge 60 (Peoria, Ill.). YOU STATE INyour third paragraph SOME MONTHS AGO, my local TV Local D414’s Burns h i r e I also appreciate the pension and the that “our members have to help police annuity that have been managed for news showed a brief blurb about a ap p r eciates political coverage these B-lists by pulling their names off leaking gasoline pipeline in Nigeria, me over the years and the patience of DEAR PRES. JONES: Thank you very any list once they get a job so the other the people in the pension department which blew up and killed 700 people locals don’t waste time and money in that country. The news said that the much for your interest in Oklahoma who helped me get my pension start- politics. A number of our members trying to call them.” It is exactly for ed. I could not have done it alone. I local people were stealing gasoline this reason that some locals have rules from a ruptured pipe, owned by would not have voted if they did not will miss everything about the read our Re p o r t e r . Thank you very requiring “B-Listers” to re-register in Boilermakers; but, after 40 years and Chevron of Nigeria. person. I am aware of one local dis- Later that night, CNN added that much for the foresight you are gifted with a very good pension, it is time to with to be such a grand leader. patcher who called over 100 telephone retire. If you take the jobs, you will be the local people were very poor and numbers on the B-List, and the indi- that gasoline was expensive there. I WIL M E R BUR N S H I R E , D414 rewarded with a good living and a Pryor, Okla. viduals were either not at the number good retirement. was left with the impression that those or did not return the call. If Nigerians should be ashamed of them- EAR L GUM , L-60 retiree L- 3 7 4 ’ s White on job well done Boilermakers had been more diligent E. Peoria, Ill. selves for stealing from the Trans- in notifying locals about their avail- National Corporations (TNCs). I WOULD LIKEto thank the ability, the “re-register in person rule” L- 3 7 4 ’ s DuFault wants early A while later I did an Internet search Boilermakers of Local #374 for a job would not have been implemented in on Chevron and Nigeria. It came up well done during the fall outage at those locals. ret i r ement penalty adjusted with a series of BBC reports on the Tanner Creek Power Plant in Although the local referral offices IF A MEMBERhas to have 42,000 wh o l e picture. This conflict is actually Lawrenceburg, Ind. have to comply with uniform referral part of an ongoing battle between a hours to receive full pension benefits There was a lot of demolition work, standards, each local joint referral at 60, then gets penalized 15 percent tin-pot military dictatorship in league heavy rigging, and welding to do in a rules committee has the authority to with large oil companies vs. the local for retiring at age 55, why not adjust minimum amount of time. However, negotiate rules, such as confirmation that penalty by giving a credit of one peasants. The oil companies are with foremen Ron Brown, Mitch of availability, that apply to local cir- allowed to “rent” the Nigerian mili- percent for every 1,000 hours they Wood, Larry Schmitt, Mark Snedeker, cu m s t a n c e s . have over the 42,000 hours? tary whenever the locals protest and Jim Rink, and Gary Hamblin, this job demand some sort of compensation WIL L I A M L. DUFAU L T SR., L-374 was completed on time. L- 1 5 4 ’ s Talbot wants early Schererville, Ind. from their own national resources. Also, this job would not have been On one occasion the military arrived such a success without the hard work ret i r ement option in co m p a n y boats and co m p a n y he l i c o p - Editor’s Note: A year of pension credit of the following: I AM WRITINGto support a change in equals 1,200 hours. There is no penalty ters, and opened fire on protesters. • The welders for their .0025% weld the retirement age. There appears to be This is a classic “rape and run” tech- if a member retires at age 65 with 1,000 rejection rate a swell of sentiment existing between unbroken hours. nique; i.e., the TNCs buy off the local • The B & W safety team the rank and file members who sup- strongman who in turn sells out on his Members can also retire early with- • Superintendents Craig Haney and port this belief. I strongly propose that out penalty if they are 62 years of age country. He gets rich, the TNCs get Joe Dana union management look into the bene- rich, and the locals get shot. and have at least 25 years (30,000 • The Boilermakers from Locals 105, fits assured by accepting this modest hours) of pension credit, or are age 60 This article is meant to point out the 40, and NTL. change in the current retirement poli- value of the Internet. We’re no longer with at least 30 years (36,000 hours) of Thanks again for a job well done. cy . pension credit. solely dependent on any one media’s, GEO R G E W. WHI T E , L-374 gen. foreman Having been a boilermaker for the government’s, or corporation’s slant as Other early retirements will require Hammond, Ind. past 31 years, I have seen the detri- a reduction, because the chances are to what is going on in the world. The mental effects to the health and wel- TNCs are already global; isn’t it time the member would receive pension L- 6 4 7 ’ s Graff wants uniform list fare of dedicated brothers over the benefits for a longer time. For example, we started boycotting some of the years by the prolonged intensive worst TNCs in support of the workers I AM WRITING in response to L- a member with at least 15 years of pen- work. I have seen men who have sion credit and 1,000 hours of work in on a global basis? Surf in solidarity. 433’s Lee Devereaux’s letter in the strived to maintain solid principles KER R Y GRA C E , Lodge 359 Sep-Oct 1998 issue about the rude covered employment could retire at and high ideals in the work force by age 55, but would only receive 49 per- Surrey, B.C., Canada response he often gets when calling toiling for 30 to 40 years. These good other locals looking for work. We all cent of the pension he would have hard working, proud men have had received if he was 65 years of age. L- 4 5 5 ’ s Kent says thanks realize how busy these local represen- their retirement years cut short tatives can get when work breaks, but An early retirement reduction of one- I JUST WANT to say thank you to all because of the pressure and stress half of one percent for each month that being rude doesn’t help them find placed on them by working exorbitant my brother and sister Boilermakers for good people or help us looking for a the member is younger than age 60 all the phone calls and financial help hours and demanding physical sched- with 30 years, or age 62 with 25 years, is job to make a living when times are ules as they approach their golden that I have received since I had to slow in our home local. also applicable. If a member has 25 retire. It sure means a lot for a man to years. Unfortunately, as a current years of service, but wishes to retire at As Lee said, every local has different brother accrues the qualified number know that he is not forgotten about B-list rules. Having to drive to another age 55 instead of 62, he would receive just because he is gone. As I look back of working hours for retirement, he 58 percent of his pension. If a member may not meet the required retirement has 30 years of service, but wishes to age, thus requiring that he work retire at age 55 instead of age 60, he another four or five strenuous years. would receive 70 percent of his pension. Wor k e r s Many boilermakers nearing the retirement guidelines of 30,000 hours Tell your fellow members Memorial Day and 60 years of age, should be given the opportunity to exercise the option what you think! of early retirement. Honor the millions of Americans SE N DL E T T E R ST OT H EE D I T O RT O : WIL L I A M E. TAL B O T , L-154 who have lost their lives while Freedom, Pa. The Boilermaker Reporter 753 State Ave. Suite 570 working to feed their families. Grisco: No clean sweep Kansas City KS 66101 FAX: (913) 281-8104 IF YOU THINK the North American E-mail: [email protected] April 28th Free Trade Agreement is good for the or [email protected] working people, kindly read the fol- the Boilermaker Reporter 13 Mar • Apr 1999 H I G H L I G H T S S m i t h ’s stepdaughter is first runner up

MORGAN TANDY HIGH, stepdaughter of Othal Smith, director of the Stove, Furnace, Energy, and Allied Appliance Workers (SFEAW) Division, has earned the title of First Runner Up in the 1999 Miss USA® Pageant. She is pictured above as winner of the Miss Tennessee pageant with her mother, Charlotte (l.), Smith, and sister, Carrie. In the 1999 Miss USA® Pageant, High also won the evening gown competition (see center photo). In the photo at far right, High extends her congratulations to Kimberly Ann Pressler as she is named Miss New York USA 1999. ❑ New options for Medicare beneficiaries Ar chaeologists will Most recipients can choose between new plans or Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) dig at the site of the and Medicare Part B (medical insur- keeping their existing coverage ance), you must not have end-stage Ludlow Massacre renal disease, and you must live in the MEDICARE BENEFICIARIEScan now insurance policy, commonly known as geographic service area the health plan Pr oject hopes to reveal what choose from a variety of options for “Medigap;” and a number of managed covers. All health plan choices may not the daily life of a miner was like receiving health care. These options care plans (such as Health Maintenance be available in your area. complement the original Medicare plan Organizations or HMOs). In November 1998, Medicare recip- THIS SUMMER, archaeology stu- and make health care choices for Additional managed care plans and ients received a copy of the publica- dents will learn field work by dig- Medicare beneficiaries similar to those other options may become available in tion, “Medicare & You,” which ging up the site of one of the most available to individuals not in Medicare. the future, such as preferred provider explains more about the health plan violent episodes in labor history – A small number of people, who will organizations, private fee-for-service options and provides the telephone the Ludlow tent colony, near receive specific notices from their cur- plans, Medicare savings accounts, and number of the state health insurance Trinidad, Colo. rent health plan choice, will be required religious fraternal benefit society plans. assistance program. On the morning of April 20, 1914, to make a change, but most Medicare Managed care plans differ in cost, This agency can answer questions on Colorado National Guard Troops recipients will have the choice of keep- benefits offered, and choices of doctors, the health plan choices available in opened fire on a tent colony of 1,200 ing their benefits exactly the same or hospitals, and other health care your area and help you decide if a plan striking coal miners and their fami- choosing one of the new plans. providers; however, each managed is right for you. You can also find a copy lies at Ludlow, Colo. The miners Medicare health care choices now care plan provides all Medicare cov- of “Medicare & You” and a list of the were striking for better pay and include the original Medicare plan, ered services. plans in your area on the Internet at: working conditions. An exchange which has not changed; the original To be eligible for the new Medicare ww w . m e d i c a r e . g o v . ❑ of gunfire continued into the Medicare plan plus a supplemental health plan choices, you must have evening, when the colony was set aflame. When the smoke cleared, 18 to 20 of the colony’s inhabitants Health & Wel f a r e board makes announcements were dead, including two women and 11 children. Adds PPO Info Line, upgrades mastectomy benefits for national fund participants The Ludlow Massacre was the most violent and best known THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES of the available to plan participants 24 hours a the First Health Network providers. episode of the 1913-1914 Colorado Boilermakers National Health & day, seven days a week. (See the box below for an illustration Coal Field Strike, and a seminal Welfare Fund announce the This expanded service allows partici- of money saved by a Boilermaker par- event in U.S. Labor history. The establishment of the First Health PPO pants to locate network providers any- ticipant who utilized a First Health deaths of women and children Info Line and expanded medical and time medical services are required. To provider.) shocked the nation, and led to sev- surgical benefits for mastectomies. locate the nearest First Health Network eral reforms in labor relations that Provider, simply call the PPO Info Line Limitations modified to turned corporate management poli- Just call 1-800-331-8761 at 1-800-331-8761. comply with law cies away from direct confrontation Participants can increase their med- with strikers to more negotiated set- BEGINNING DECEMBER1, 1998, a ical benefits and save money by using A NEW FEDERAL LAW r e q u i r e s tlements. Today the United First Health PPO Info Line became group health plans which provide Mineworkers of America (UMWA) medical and surgical benefits in maintain the Ludlow site as a monu- connection with a mastectomy to ment to the struggle of organized Boilermakers save money when they provide benefits for certain labor in America. reconstructive surgery. Although many historical works use a First Health Network provider This covers reconstruction of the exist about the Coal Field Strike, little breast on which the mastectomy is is known about the everyday lives of PARTICIPANTS IN THEBoilermakers National Health & Welfare Fund can increase their performed, surgery on the other the striking miners and their fami- medical benefits and save money by using a First Health Network provider. To locate a breast to produce a symmetrical lies. The archaeological research at provider near you, call the new First Health PPO Info Line at 1-800-331-8761. appearance, prosthesis, and physical Ludlow is dedicated to understand- Following is an illustration of money saved by a Boilermaker participant who utilized a complications of all states of ing these everyday lives. First Health provider. mastectomy, including lymphedema. The field school is a joint project of The Boilermakers National Health the University of Denver, Fort Lewis Hospital Claim Costs Using First Health Provider Out-of-Network Costs & Welfare Fund already provides College, and the State University of Billed Charges $6 , 5 5 4 $6 , 5 5 4 benefits for mastectomies and recon- New York at Binghamton. PPO Rate $4 , 2 6 0 N/ A structive surgeries, subject to certain Undergraduate or graduate stu- Sa v i n g s $2 , 2 9 4 N/ A limitations. dents interested in taking part Fund Co-Pay $3,834 (90%) $5,243* (80%) Effective January 1, 1999, the plan should contact: Mark Walker, Patient Co-Pay $4 2 6 $1 , 3 1 1 has modified these limitations to Department of Anthropology, 2130 Savings to Patient $8 8 5 $0 comply with this new law. South Race Street, University of Denver, Please direct any questions about Denver CO 80208. Phone 303-871-2406; * Assumes deductible has been met this coverage to the Administrative email m a r k w a l k @ d u . e d u. Or contact Dr. NOTE: Because Medicare has its own rules and contracts with health care providers, the First Office at 913 342-6555. ❑ Dean Saitta at the same address (phone Health Medical Network is not available to individuals for whom Medicare is the primary payor. 303-871-2680; email ds a i t t a @ d u . e d u ). ❑ the Boilermaker Reporter 14 Mar • Apr 1999 C O N PS AU MG E RI DN E W S Union Member Flower Service offe r s Members Only The money-saving prog r a m s savings and convenience with new web site listed below are available only You can save money and time by ordering online • expertly designed floral arrange- to Boilermaker members and ments; and their immediate families.* UNION MEMBERS who order floral In addition to the extra savings, the • the “talking bouquet” option, which arrangements through the Union Flower Club web site offers details includes an offer to send a personal Member Flower Service may now regarding floral selections, pricing, voice greeting along with the floral UNION PLUS place those orders online and receive ordering procedures, and the company ar r a n g e m e n t . CREDIT CARD additional savings, thanks to a new itself. Members may view floral Of course, members who prefer A credit card is web site link. arrangements on the site and place using the telephone still have the av a i l a b l e . The new Flower Service web site, their orders directly online using a option of calling the program’s toll-free For information call: which comes complete with an online credit card. number at 1-888-667-7779 when plac- ordering form, is located at ww w . f l o w e r - Other Union Member Flower Service ing their floral arrangement orders. The 1- 8 0 0 - 5 2 2 - 4 0 0 0 club.com/unionpriv/ and can be reached advantages include: added online ordering capability sim- either directly or through a link on Union • a wide selection of floral arrange- ply makes the process even easier and LEGAL SERVICE Privilege’s web site under the Union ments, green and blooming plants, more convenient. Fr ee and discounted Member Flower Service section (see wreaths, and gift baskets; So don’t wait. To have flowers or gift legal services. Includes ww w . u n i o n p r i v i l e g e . o r g / b e n e f i t s / f l o w e r . h t m ) • same-day service (if ordered before baskets delivered by the Union a free consultation (up .Members who order floral arrange- noon in recipient’s time zone); Member Flower Service – anywhere in to 30 minutes). ments online receive the 15 percent • international service (with three-day the country or the world – just call the union-member discount plus an addi- delivery guarantee); toll-free number or log onto the web For information call: tional $2.00 off the program’s service and • an unconditional 100 percent satisfac- site – today! ❑ 1- 8 0 0 - 4 5 2 - 9 4 2 5 transmission fee. tion guarantee; LIFE INSURANCE Ter m insurance is Breaking free from debt available for mem- bers; spouses and How to gain control on all your debts, then total the total ch i l d r en may be amount, including any amount above in c l u d e d . of your finances and and beyond your required payments, preserve your credit which you can afford to pay each For information call: month on all your bills. Then start pay- 1- 8 0 0 - 8 9 9 - 2 7 8 2 FEELING OVERWHELMEDby debt? ing as you can afford each month to get If so, you’re not alone. Millions of your debt level down. DENTAL SERVICE Americans have money problems. And • Consolidate your debt. Millions of Of fers pred e t e rm i n e d most are middle-income wage earners, Americans are still paying interest rates discount fees for with jobs and families, who simply of 18 to 21 percent on their credit cards Neither form of bankruptcy is a and similar amounts on bank loans. To desirable alternative and neither erases dental services and want to pay off what they owe. pro c e d u re s . The good news is that there are ways avoid paying extra interest, you might debts such as taxes, alimony, or child of digging out of financial difficulties want to consider consolidating your support. You’re still obligated to pay For information call: without resorting to drastic measures. debt by transferring higher-rate bal- those items, regardless of the state of 1- 8 0 0 - 2 5 7 - 8 3 5 2 The trick is to act before you’re too ances to a lower-rate credit card or by your finances. deeply in debt. combining them all into one low-inter- MO R TGAGE & REAL est loan. This will leave you with just Bankruptcy and cred i t ES T ATE one payment each month and you’ll A financial check-up THERE ARE SEVERALdrawbacks to save money in finance charges. Buying, selling, declaring bankruptcy, but the most HOW DO YOU KNOW w h e t h e r • Seek debt-management counseling. refinancing made important is that it gives you a bad you’re headed for financial trouble? If If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your ea s i e r , more affo rd a b l e . credit rating. Put simply, a bankruptcy you answer yes to three or more of the financial troubles and need advice as to Special savings on rea l notation on your credit report means following questions, you most likely do how you might best pay off your bills, estate agent servi c e s . you most likely won’t be approved for have a debt problem that will require counseling may be the answer. a standard bank loan, an auto loan, or a For information call: action on your part: Nonprofit organizations, such as the home mortgage – at least for the seven 1- 8 0 0 - 8 4 8 - 6 4 6 6 • Do you routinely spend more than Consumer Credit Counseling Service, to ten years that a bankruptcy filing you earn? can offer advice and may be able to remains on your credit record. And you • Can you afford to pay only the mini- help you and your creditors arrange a AC C I D E N T probably won’t be considered a good mum, or less, on your credit cards each payment plan that you can handle. IN S U R A N C E candidate for renting or even some mo n t h ? Call 1-800-388-2227 to find the office Workplace accidental forms of employment until the bank- • Do you juggle other bills to keep up nearest you. ruptcy notation is gone, either. death insurance is the minimum monthly payments on av a i l a b l e . credit cards? Understanding bankruptcy Of course, if you’re like most people, • Have you reached the credit limit on you probably would not feel comfort- For information call: your credit cards? A FINAL SOLUTION to financial trou- able living without most forms of credit 1- 8 0 0 - 8 9 9 - 2 7 8 2 • Do you find yourself borrowing for bles – and one that is on an upswing – is for as long as ten years. But even if you regular day-to-day expenses like gro- to file for bankruptcy. In fact, a record do choose to tough it out through bank- UNION FAM I L Y ce r i e s ? 1.35 million Americans filed for bank- ruptcy, it still doesn’t guarantee freedom $AV E R S • If you lost your job, would you have ruptcy last year. from money troubles afterwards. You’ll But even though declaring bank- still most likely have to pay higher rates Savings on everyd a y difficulty paying next month’s bills? consumer prod u c t s • Have you taken money from your ruptcy may seem like an easy way out, for lower loan amounts, at least until you savings account to cover your credit it is still considered a drastic measure re-establish your credit record. and services – card bills? that is reserved for drastic circum- Finally, since many people who file for including Hertz car • Would you have a tough time getting stances. Plus, it can be costly and com- bankruptcy often find themselves back rentals, Disney Wor l d by if you didn’t have credit cards? plicated, which is why professional in the same place within a few years, hotel stays, hearing counseling is advised. only without bankruptcy as an option aids, and more. Healthier alterna t i v e s Two kinds of bankruptcy exist. The (Chapter 7 bankrupts must wait six years first is Chapter 7 bankruptcy, also before they can file again), it’s often bet- For information call: TO GAIN BETTER CONTROLof your known as “liquidation;” the second is ter to learn how to avoid running into 1- 8 0 0 - 4 5 2 - 9 4 2 5 finances, consider the following Chapter 13 bankruptcy. money problems in the first place. op t i o n s : Under Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you Additional organizations and For more information on these • Take inventory. The average lose all assets that are not exempt in resources you can turn to for help members-only benefits, call American carries month-to-month bal- your state, including your home in in c l u d e : ances on five to six credit cards. With most states. Exempt property may • Bureau of Consumer Protection that many credit cards, it’s easy to lose include such items as work-related Office of Consumer & Business 1-800-452-9425 track of how much you owe. To find out tools and basic household furnishings, Education, which features advice for BOILERMAKERS UNION your total debt, gather copies of your among others. The rest of your prop- consumers at the Web address PRIVILEGE BENEFITS most recent statements and make a list erty may be sold by a court-appointed ht t p : / / w w w . p u e b l o . g s a . g o v . Phone: (202) of all your cards, total balances due, official or turned over to your creditors. 32 6 - 3 6 5 0 . *Includes retired members. Parents and interest rates and required minimum children of members and retired members This filing stays on your credit report • National Center for Financial with retired member cards are eligible for monthly payments. If you owe money for ten years. Education (NCFE), which offers the the mortgage program and union family on a car or student loan, call your lender Chapter 13, or “reorganization” Do-It-Yourself Credit Repair and savers directly; they are eligible for other for a current balance. And be sure to bankruptcy, allows you to keep most of Improvement Guide for $10 plus $2 programs through the Boilermaker member. find out what interest rate you’re pay- postage and handling. To order, send a Program restrictions may apply to members your assets by paying your debt back outside the continental United States. Phone ing, if you don’t already know. through a court-approved payment check to NCFE Credit Guide, Box 1-800-452-9425 for clarification of eligibility • Devise a payment plan. Add up the plan. But this declaration still shows up 34070, San Diego CA 92163. To order by and more information on how you can apply. minimum required monthly payments on your credit report for seven years. credit card, call (619) 239-1401. the Boilermaker Reporter 15 Mar • Apr 1999 I N M E M O R I A M WITH DEEP SORROW the International Brotherhood records the death of these members as reported to the Intl. sec.-treas.’s office and extends its heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved families. Founders of Cement union pass away LODGE & NAME S5 6 Matthews, Johnny 10 5 Christy, James R. 72 Griffin, James A. 10 7 Drzewiecki, Z.F. NT L Napper Jr., Wylie Hutchinson and Jens also In 1984, the United Cement, Lime, 72 Judd, Paul L. 10 8 Boyd, K. C. Gypsum and Allied Workers NT L Thomas, James H. 72 Marquez, Fred G. 10 8 Hatley, Larry W. Local D6 charter members 1 Altman, Joseph E. International Union (formerly known 72 Williams, Theodore 10 8 Johnson, Curtis L. as the National Council of United 1 Gradek, John J. 73 Burbine, Emerson 11 2 Bryant, Thomas J. WILLIAM HUTCHINSON a n d 1 Logan, Gary M. 73 Mitchell, Merton H. 11 3 Jurus Jr., Louis N. Wilfred Jens, founding members of Cement Workers Union) merged with 1 Powers, Jesse 73 Morrisey, Gerald E. 12 6 Spanier, Jack the National Council of United the International Brotherhood of 1 Rodway, James W. 74 Johnson, Willie B. 12 8 Annesley, John C. Cement Workers Union and charter Boilermakers, and Local 6 became 5 Gambitsky, Edward 74 Symms, Robert V. 12 8 Larocque, Joseph R. known as Local D6 (the D indicating 6 Booth, Byron R. members of Local D6, Buffalo, Iowa, 79 Burr, Walter L. 12 8 Maloney, Michael have passed away. that the local is part of the 6 Creamer, George T. 79 McCollister, William 12 8 Ste. Croix, Kerry Boilermakers’ CLGAW Division). 6 Denison, Walter E. 79 Vincent, Abel E. 13 2 Reck, Louis Both Hutchinson and Jens were born 6 Hurlburt, Edwin A. in 1910, and worked at Dewey Local D6 Vice President Dan Kemp 79 Watkins, Percy R. 13 8 Durand, Andre reports that Hutchinson passed away 6 Lacer, Harold P. S8 2 Daucher, Ronnie M. 14 6 Campbell, Albert G. Portland Cement, where in 1936 they 6 Rohrs, Howard A. played an active role in the formation of on December 26, 1998, and Jens passed 83 Admire, William K. 14 6 Drader, George E. away January 11, 1999. He said that 7 Caplick, Joseph L. 83 Geer, Jess K. 14 6 Nielsen, Paul R. the National Council of United Cement 7 Evoy, James G. 84 Trinkle, Eugene 15 4 McAvoy, John F. Workers and the chartering of Local 6. both members “will be sorely missed 7 Stroh, Everett W. 85 McLane, David G. 15 4 Smith Jr., George E. Both men served the union in vari- and fondly remembered for their self- M7 Forward, Stanley R. 85 Part, William 16 9 Hon, Cecil D. ous capacities in the following years. less contributions, wise counsel, and 9 Weishaar, William C. 92 Carl, David E. 17 4 Warpehoski, John generous hearts.” 10 Buttrum, Edgar J. 92 Chevrier, Antonio D1 7 4 Sheehan, James W. 10 Jasmann, Robert E. 92 Hoops, Robert 17 5 Wells, Kenneth E. 43 3 Hair, Leroy C. 58 2 Burns, Paul C. 80 1 Campbell, James H. 11 Chism, Harold G. 92 Kovach, Frank 18 2 Hagadorn, Larry C. 44 5 Broutin, Kressie L. 58 7 Silvernail, Arthur R. 80 1 Schomber, Herman 11 Dascher, Eugene P. 92 Selcer, Leo A. 19 3 Haddle, Woodrow 44 9 Hawkey, Charles C. 58 7 Williams Jr., Joseph 80 2 Dicave, John 13 Barnosky, Felix S. 92 Smart, Elmer E. 19 9 Lord, Albert T. 45 3 Giles, Tommy R. 59 2 Blaire, Homer D. 80 2 Fiander, Frederick N. 13 Brochet, Nicholas 96 Morse, John A. 20 4 Higa, Seiichi 45 5 Brown, Roy M. 59 2 Tiffey, Sherman C. 10 8 0 Lagowski, Anton 26 Beckham, Earl R. 10 0 Stegall, Bird R. 21 0 Lovett, William A. 45 5 Owens, Robert L. 59 5 Hulsewek, Sydney 10 8 6 Kornokocich, Paul 26 Evans, Hanry E. S1 0 0 Strickland, Alan D. S2 3 0 Cosey, Willie 45 5 Purnell, Ronald C. 61 9 Marshall, Francis D. 11 4 7 Lukie, Edward V. 27 Baker, Joe W. 10 4 Arndt, John A. 32 9 Bonarrigo, Jay 46 3 Luhr, Chester A. 64 7 Durst, Ralph K. 12 1 2 Mathews, Lilmon E. 27 Keilty, Joseph R. 10 4 Brown, Earl C. 32 9 Holton, Merv 48 0 Alexander, Jerry B. 66 7 Kridle, Roger A. 12 5 2 Kelly, Raymond J. 27 Tsolainos, Deborah 10 4 Chinella, Frank 35 3 Ford, Edward B. 48 7 Blahnik, Ernest 67 9 Harding, Farris J. 15 0 9 Johnson, George W. 27 Watterson, Thomas 10 4 Earles, Roger L. D3 5 7 Harris Jr., James D. D4 9 4 Biehn, Ken 68 4 Crotts, Roger L. 15 0 9 Kulinski Jr., John H. 28 Berkey, George W. 10 4 Forde, Charles J. 36 3 Campbell, Raymond 50 0 Dodge, Donald J. 68 7 Belcher, Thomas 16 0 0 Christensen, Harold 28 DiLorenzo, Aldo A. 10 4 Griffith, Denver D. 36 3 Hartung, Robert L. D5 4 7 Hugo, Alfred C. 68 7 Grooms, Ernest R. 16 0 0 DeBates, Henry F. 28 Erickson, Edwin H. 10 4 Kuberka, Michael A. 36 4 Bogosian, Victor 56 8 Craig, Eugene P. 69 6 Dunse, Greg W. 16 2 0 Fultz, George H. 29 Johnson, Michael A. 10 4 Roberts, Haywood A 37 4 Beech, William E. 56 8 Garrett, Anson E. S6 9 9 Chespeck, Joan 16 6 7 Lumberson, Michael 35 Burkhardt, Robert 10 4 Simpson, Frank 37 4 Dull, Jack L. 57 7 Haggstrom, Cliff C. 74 4 Brown, Dave 16 6 8 Beagle, James A. S5 4 Watson, Charles O. 10 5 Chambers, Donald 37 4 O’Brock, Joseph R.

D E A T H B E N E F I T S IF YOU HAVE NOT yet been furnished this information, contact your local lodge, secure the beneficiary forms, complete the required information and forward to the Administrative Office of the Pension Fund, THE DEATH BENEFIT PLAN under the Boilermaker-Blacksmith National Pension Trust has 754 Minnesota Avenue, Suite 522, Kansas City, KS 66101, at the earliest possible date. NOTE: These paid the beneficiaries of the following deceased members who were covered by the plan additional death benefits can only be derived for members who worked under a collective bargaining since the last issue of our publication. agreement with an employer contributing to the Boilermaker-Blacksmith National Pension Trust.

LODGE, NAME & BENEFIT 72 Rhine, Dewiel L. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 11 3 Young, Wendell 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 56 8 Garrett, Anson E. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 72 Straw, John H. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 11 7 Liljander, Carl H. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 58 2 Burns, Vernon E. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 In t l . Evans, Winifred M. $3 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 72 Weed, Leon O. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 12 4 Brown, Robert 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 58 2 Watson, Robert D. 86 3 . 8 3 NT L Banos, Joseph R. 6, 0 0 0 . 0 0 74 Johnson, Willie B. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 12 4 Greene, Emmett G. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 58 7 Anderson, Bobby G. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 NT L Brown, Huey P. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 83 Admire, William K. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 13 2 Mancillas, Eugenio G. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 58 7 Bergeron, Lenics 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 NT L Cornell, Timothy W. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 83 Lister, James 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 15 4 Stocks Sr., William T. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 58 7 Broussard, Andie 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 NT L Dolan, Otho E. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 83 Scott, Lonnie Zeno 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 15 4 Swegman, Bernard 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 58 7 Nash, Paul A. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 NT L Fussell, William C. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 85 Hensley, Clyde 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 15 9 Strobel, Joseph 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 58 7 Perkins, Anderson 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 NT L Hayes, Aubrey H. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 92 Carl, David E. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 16 9 Dodson, Willard L. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 59 2 Robinson, Earl N. 83 2 . 0 0 NT L Holt Jr., Buril O. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 92 Chevrier, Antonio P. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 16 9 McLaughlin, Donald J. 13 8 . 5 2 62 7 Richardson, George L. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 NT L Landry, Riley J. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 92 Clack, Raymond D. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 18 2 Jones, Steven 22 0 . 5 0 64 7 Beasley, Ronald A. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 NT L Napper, Wylie J. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 92 Graves, Richard G. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 19 3 Dipietro, Alfonzo C. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 64 7 Etheridge, Brandon J. 18 . 0 0 NT L Thomas, James H. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 92 Herrera, Epifanio 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 20 4 Higa, Seiichi 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 64 7 Etheridge, Brandon J. 18 . 0 0 NT L Vann, Otis A. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 92 Knight, Kenneth K. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 20 4 Iida, George S. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 64 7 Olofson, John H. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 NT L Wade Sr., Leonard D. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 92 Kovach, Frank 1, 5 0 0 . 0 0 23 7 Argetsinger, Steven E. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 66 7 Hurlow, James L. 55 8 . 4 3 1 Altman, Joseph E. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 92 Olness, Julian E. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 23 7 Wohlforth, Edmund R. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 66 7 Jennings, Randy R. 55 1 . 3 8 1 Gradek, John J. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 92 Smith, James M. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 26 3 Edwards, Jesse L. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 67 9 Morgan, William J. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 1 Kilty, George M. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 92 Wade, Lloyd R. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 32 9 Bezotsky, John C. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 67 9 Strickland, James C. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 5 Errichiello, Frank 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 10 4 Beilke, Charles W. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 35 7 Walker, Howard E. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 69 6 LaPierre, Wesley 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 6 Alonzo, Angelo M. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 10 4 Brandolini, Mario 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 36 3 Campbell, Raymond O. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 69 6 Smith, Peter F. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 6 Baca, Conrad A. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 10 4 Brown, Earl C. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 36 3 Miskell, Charles O. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 69 7 Oestreich, Arnold M. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 6 Clausen, Leo M. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 10 4 Chinella, Frank 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 36 4 Bogosian, Victor 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 72 9 Eisenhauer, Harry T. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 6 Gobert, John W. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 10 4 Clark, Howard E. 30 4 . 2 5 37 4 Dull, Jack L. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 74 4 Jones, Paul 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 6 Howard, Clifford W. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 10 4 Forde, Charles J. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 37 4 Fulk, Bert 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 74 4 Redman, Norman R. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 6 Hurlburt, Edwin A. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 10 4 Frick, George W. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 37 4 Hembree, Clyde C. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 74 8 Sliwoski, Charles E. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 6 Jolliff, John R. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 10 4 Gardner, Delbert A. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 37 4 Mericle, Paul M. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 80 2 Armstrong, Robert 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 6 Lacer, Harold P. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 10 4 Griffith, Denver D. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 37 4 Socci, Peter L. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 80 2 Catania, Edmond 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 6 Maggini, Alfonso 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 10 4 Johnson, Henry M. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 43 3 Haire, LeRoy C. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 80 2 Gans, Charles S. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 6 Sharp, Edward E. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 10 4 Lambert, George E. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 43 3 Howell, George E. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 80 2 Henderlite, Charles W. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 6 Shelton, Jack W. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 10 4 Shepperd, Leslie 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 43 3 Lariscy, Robert B. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 80 2 Johnson, David T. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 6 Upchurch, J. W. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 10 4 Simpson, Francis M. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 43 3 Sierra, Mario P. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 10 8 6 Leitch, Clarence L. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 7 Knott, Raymond 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 10 5 Chambers, Donald A. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 43 3 Smith, Clyde W. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 10 8 6 Sczerbowicz, Joseph G. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 13 Baer, John F. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 10 5 Christy, James R. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 45 3 Buell, Paul E. 1, 5 8 8 . 0 6 15 0 9 Kulinski Jr., John H. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 13 Barnosky, Felix S. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 10 5 Rainey, Don E. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 45 3 Vaughn, Wallace C. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 15 0 9 Maloney, Stanley M. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 13 Brochet, Nicholas 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 10 5 Sorrell, Amos 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 45 4 Harper, John L. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 15 0 9 Newkirk, Gordon 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 13 Dunn, Alfred L. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 10 7 Walker, Kenneth J. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 45 4 Hill, Eugene 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 15 0 9 Schwader, Leroy A. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 13 Jurus, Louis N. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 10 8 Hatley, Larry W. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 45 4 Knight, Earl E. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 16 0 0 Christensen, Harold B. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 13 Oshetskie, Charles J. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 11 2 Brown, Walter R. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 45 5 Privett, Roy L. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 16 0 0 DeBates, Henry F. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 13 Shupp, Robert L. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 11 2 Bryant, Thomas J. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 50 2 Verebi, Steven 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 16 7 0 Bouga, William E. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 26 Quinnelly, Robert T. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 11 2 Olney, John R. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 50 3 Simpson, Billy T. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 16 7 0 Davis, Edward A. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 27 Manning, Richard A. 90 7 . 0 3 11 3 Goff, Loyd L. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 54 9 Cooper, Milton L. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 16 7 0 McDaniel, Randall L. 1, 0 7 7 . 1 3 27 Wyatt, Flynn 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 28 Berkey, George W. 8, 0 0 0 . 0 0 28 Liberty, Norman R. 8, 0 0 0 . 0 0 29 Cobb, Stephen A. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 29 Rees, Charles M. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 Mo v i n g ? Tell us where . . . Mail form to: 37 Mohrmann Sr., Eugene 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 40 Durbin, Bernard S. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 Na m e 60 Warren, John M. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 Publications Department 69 Price, Bennie E. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 New Address 69 Pritchett, Ivison 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 753 State Avenue, Suite 565 72 Dahn, Peter J. 3, 9 9 6 . 0 6 Ci t y 72 Jackson, Dorman H. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 Kansas City, KS 66101 72 Kilness, Jarvis 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 72 Knutson, Bert I. 1, 0 0 0 . 0 0 State or Province Zi p 72 Krout, Jesse E. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 Local Lodge No. Register No. (Allow five weeks for change of address.) 72 Messner, Martin 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 (Also please notify the secretary of your local lodge.) 72 Parker, Lester E. 3, 0 0 0 . 0 0 the Boilermaker Reporter 16 Mar • Apr 1999 C O M M E N T A R Y Do n ’ t give up on political action We must participate in the process if we want to raise the retirement age, and to reduce cost-of-living adjustments. see our government work for us, not against us We can expect to see the usual bat- tles over budget allocations for the VENTS IN WASHINGTON all protections for working people and Department of Labor, the over the past six months have give free reign to corporations. Occupational Safety and Health E discouraged many Americans. The new Speaker of the House, Administration, and other agencies Voters sent a clear message to Dennis Hastert, has never been a that protect workers and their families. Washington in November, but it was friend of labor. He consistently votes We can also expect more attempts to ignored. The Republican majority in against our objectives. His record on limit workers’ participation in the the House chose to spend months bela- Boilermaker issues is only five per- political process. boring their case for the president’s cent; the AFL-CIO rates him at zero. These are issues we must be pre- removal, despite clear signals that the If we stop paying attention to him pared to oppose vocally, vehemently, Senate would not convict. Their col- and his colleagues, we may be in for and with solidarity. Even more impor- leagues in the Senate could have ended a sad surprise. tant, though, are the issues we’d like to the matter quickly, but they chose We can expect to see an effort to fed- see Congress take action on. instead to drag it out for weeks, only to erally mandate the deregulation of the If this Congress ever puts the Clinton Charles W. Jones end up where they began. electric power industry nationwide. scandal aside and gets back to govern- International President Meanwhile, the business of running Not only would that threaten ing the nation, we have a lot of work our country was ignored. For most of a Boilermaker jobs, but it would threaten we’d like to get done. We’d like to see demand that Congress find a better year now, no one in Washington said the availability of electric power. In a Neil Abercrombie’s (D-1st HI) Charter way to reduce greenhouse emissions, much about the issues that affect work- totally free market, the big consumers and Build program get underway. This one that spreads the burden of provid- ers and our families every day of our – factories owned by large corpora- program provides a way for American ing cleaner air across our entire econ- lives – issues like tions – would get shipbuilders to build supply and spe- omy, instead of forcing one sector to Social Security lower rates and cial mission ships for use in the U.S. make all the sacrifices. and Medicare, more reliable Navy’s auxiliary fleet. It would create It’s time for Congress to get And we must provide a means to trade policies, service, but the thousands of jobs for American ship- back to the business we elected secure the future of Social Security and wo r k p l a c e average con- yard workers while strengthening our them to do – the business of Medicare without weakening or com- safety, and sumer would defense system. promising the social benefit our coun- health care. go v e r ning our country. be left out in We must also address Article 415 of try gains from these programs. There is It has seemed the cold. the U.S. Tax Code, which limits the no doubt that they must be adjusted to like no one in We can amount of pension benefits some work- account for our country’s changing Washington cares what the average expect another attempt to make it eas- ers can make in retirement, regardless demographics. Our challenge is to working American wants or needs. In ier for businesses to classify workers as of how much money is in their pension make sure that Congress enacts modi- times like these, it is easy to become so independent contractors, stripping fund. This unfair regulation singles out fications that secure the future of these disgusted with Congress that we write them of protection under the National workers in multiple-employer pension programs without sharp reductions in them off and stop paying attention to Labor Relations Act and other federal plans such as the Boilermaker- benefits or the wholesale privatization what they are doing. laws protecting workers. Blacksmith National Pension Trust. of the trust funds. That would be the worst thing we We can expect to see attempts to pri- This unfair limit must be eliminated. It’s time to remind Congress of what could do. vatize Social Security, a ploy that We must change the way we are we elected them to do. We must con- Our old nemesis Newt Gingrich is enriches stockbrokers, but does not attacking the problems of air pollution tact our senators and representatives gone, along with his buddy Bob guarantee Social Security benefits will and global warming. Current policies and talk to them about these issues. Livingston, but the House of be waiting for you when you retire. We ask Americans who work in coal-fired Get them moving. Get them working. Representatives is still being run by a can expect to see proposals to require power plants to sacrifice their jobs in We cannot give up the fight simply group of anti-labor conservatives, peo- sharp cuts in Social Security benefits, to an effort to solve a problem that is because last year they decided to drag ple who would love to do away with international in scope. We must us through the mud. ❑

Guest Editorial

judgments. And at the federal level, a Washington tackles the minimum wage no-politics approach to the minimum wage will not go forward without their agreement. by Oren M. Levin-Waldman fronted by sudden and large increases omy’s output per worker). This would Between 1983 and 1997 (the years for in labor costs, and those who earn the ensure that wage increases reflect real which numbers are available), the WE HAVE A STRANGE WAYof set- minimum wage would not see its pur- economic growth and are in line with median wage in the country’s lowest- ting our minimum wage in this coun- chasing power repeatedly eroded. what the economy can afford. Better wage industries increased more or less try. Every increase requires an act of This is what voters in the state of yet would be an index that would steadily from $4.70 an hour to $7.29. Congress, which means another Washington have just had the good allow the minimum wage to rise with But minimum wage workers, rather debate over the wisdom of even hav- sense to inaugurate at the state level. In the productivity gains of minimum- than sharing in the fruits of their indus- ing a minimum wage. deciding to remove this issue from the wage work itself. tries’ productivity gains, were kept at Those who point out that it is impos- political arena once and for all, they It wouldn’t even be hard to create the same $3.35 per hour wage year sible for families to survive at the cur- have set a precedent that I hope the such an index. Most minimum-wage after year and then at the same $4.25 rent wage are pitted against those who nation follows. workers are employed in the lowest- for another five years. If the index I’m believe that raising it will do more But I’d like to suggest a variation. wage sector of the economy (essen- proposing had been in place since harm than good. The measure the tially, the food 1983, their wages today wouldn’t be And the battle drags on for so long voters passed in service and retail much higher than they are, but they that by the time Congress finally does Washington sales indus- Linking minimum wage would have gotten to this point less manage to act, inflation has eroded the will get their tries), and the pa i n f u l l y . value of the new minimum wage, leav- state’s mini- raises to productivity gains would median hourly If the minimum wage had first been ing it insufficient to live on, and the mum wage up be less painful and political than wage in that brought up to a more reasonable level fight must begin all over again. to $6.50 over our current system. sector fairly and then indexed to their productivity, It also gets steadily fiercer, for the the next two ac c u r a t e l y the results would have been fairer still. longer the battle drags on, the larger years, and from indicates what pri- The states, Justice Brandeis once the increase needed to bring the mini- then on tie it to increases in the vate industry thinks its productivity said, are the laboratories for democ- mum wage to an acceptable level, and Consumer Price Index (CPI). gains have been. If each year we were racy. In Washington state’s laboratory, the greater the shock is bound to be to But there are problems with linking to measure the percentage increase in voters have decided to take the politics that sector of the economy that hires minimum wage levels to the CPI. the median wage of the country’s low- out of the minimum wage. To the other most minimum-wage workers. Studies have shown that the CPI over- est-wage industries, and then automat- Washington, that should look like a There is, however, a way out of this states the rate of inflation, and increas- ically raise the minimum wage by the first step in exactly the right direction. endless political loop. If we were to ing wages at a rate greater than the same rate, we would have an economi- institute a mechanism for automati- actual inflation rate will exacerbate cally sound mechanism. Oren M. Levin-Waldman is a resident scholar cally adjusting the minimum wage, inflationary pressures. Equally important, this index would at The Jerome Levy Economics regularly and incrementally, Congress A better index would link the mini- be very appealing to employers – Institute of Bard College. This article is distrib - would no longer be forced to revisit the mum wage to productivity (the econ- based as it is on their own economic uted by The American Prospect Sy n d i c a t e . issue, employers would not be con-