Setting the Bush Record Straight on Jobs stimates range put the rally together with less what is going wrong in Ameri- Bush is now on track to be- Efrom 700 to 1,200 than a weeks notice, and despite ca.” come the first president since people who together rain and cold the event was very According to Millne Bush re- the Great Depression to preside in Huntington’s Harris successful. peatedly says the country is in a over net job losses during his Riverfront Park to ask According to Tim Millne, recovery. However, the work- term. President George W. secretary-treasurer of the Labor ing families who attended the Construction workers are Bush one question: Council and assistant business rally have a different reality. among the hardest hit. While “Where are the jobs?” manager for the WV Laborer’s Speakers talked about the the nation’s overall unemploy- Either number puts the count District Council, “Our message need for better employment ment remains high at 5.6 per- of those opposing Bush greater was heard throughout Hunting- opportunities and the hardship cent in early 2004, more than than those showing support ton, most of West Virginia and caused by plant closings, 9 percent of all construction during Bush’s April 2nd visit even across the country. Dif- down-sizing and cut-backs. workers were jobless during to Marshall University. ferent people representing dif- Over the past three years, those months, according to the The Southwestern District ferent agendas came together to America has lost 2.6 million U.S. Bureau of Labor Sta- Labor Council, AFL-CIO, make their voices heard about private-sector jobs. President tistics. The elimination of ‘Respon- sible Contractor’ rules was one of the first actions Bush did when he came to office. Out- lawing project labor agree- VOLUME 13 NUMBER 4 ments, eliminating Davis- APRIL 2004 Bacon protection from Home- land Security spending and cutting important infrastructure spending have all added up to bad news for construction workers and their families. “Working families are tired of being lied to by Bush. We need a President who will fight A PUBLICATION OF for us,” added Millne. THE AFFILIATED The rally started at Hunting- ton’s Harris Riverfront Park CONSTRUCTION and after speeches from a wide TRADES FOUNDATION variety of groups the crowd then marched to the Marshall The ACT Foundation is a division HUNTINGTON MAYOR David Felinton (right) along with Tim Millne (center) and WV AFL-CIO of The West Virginia State President Jim Bowen welcome rally participants. “Mayor Felinton chose to be with working Campus across from where the Building and Construction folks instead of the President,” said Millne. “He’s the kind of politician we need.” President was to speak. Trades Council. Steve Burton, President; Roy Smith, Secretary- Treasurer; Steve White, Director. More Than 200 Supporters At Charleston - (304) 345-7570 Toll Free - (800) 930-9675 www.actwv.org Longview Public Hearing upporters of the developers GenPower who want ers have answered the call,” said The meeting was not without S$950 million Long- to build the project north of Darwin Snyder, president of the some opposition but the topic Longview Power Morgantown. Trades Council. “We’ve called had more to do with environ- Plant made their The large majority of the 200 on local workers at least ten mental issues than what the PSC INSIDE voices heard loud supporters on hand came from times, and each time they have came to hear. Election Nears Pg. 2 and clear at a March members of the North Central answered our call.” “Our folks outnumbered any Bricklayers Win Pg. 2 31st public hearing in WV Building Trades. “The dedication of our mem- opposition,” said Ed Boone, Pile Drivers Pg. 3 front of the Public Union construction workers bers continues to amaze me. Business Manager, Plumbers Marmet Lock & Dam Pg. 3 Service Commission. came to speak in support of the Almost everyone spoke at the and Pipefitters Local 152. “But Labor & Management Pg. 4 The PSC is considering an project during two meetings that hearing; even people who have it still made me mad to sit and Workers’ Memorial Day Pg. 4 application from the 600-mega- lasted until late in the evening. never spoken in public before,” listen to the Sierra Club and watt coal-fired power plant “Once again our local work- said Snyder. Continued on p. 4 PAGE 2 THE ACT REPORT APRIL 2004

Primary Election Nears WV AFL-CIO uesday, May 11 is ber of Commerce vowed to Many doctors have attacked Tprimary election defeat state judges with mas- McGraw, believing he is re- Endorsements day in West Virginia. sive advertising campaigns. sponsible for all of the states Justice of the Supreme Stephens Of the many important con- McGraw was pictured as problems. Some have sent letters Court of Appeals 17th: Richard Thompson; Don tests the race for Supreme one of those targets on the to patients; others posted flyers, Warren McGraw Perdue Court is key for workers. cover of Forbes, a national some illegal, in their offices. 18th: Earnie Kuhn Justice Warren McGraw is business magazine. Insurance companies have U.S. House of Representa- seeking re-election to the Su- “We must do whatever we blamed raising rates on Mc- tives 19th: Greg Butcher; Lidella Wilson Hrutkay; Jeff preme Court of Graw as well. First Congressional District: Eldridge; Bill Wright Appeals and “You have to Alan Mollohan has the backing “WE MUST DO WHATEVER WE CAN wonder about 21st: Third Congressional of every labor TO SUPPORT JUDGE MCGRAW.” these Doctors organization who believe the District: Nick Joe Rahall 22nd: Richard Browning; STEVE BURTON, PRESIDENT plus a variety of insurance com- Eileen Schlager WV STATE BUILDING TRADES Attorney General other groups. panies in their 23rd: Emily Yeager Darrell McGraw His primary tales about why 25th: Michael Magann opponent has been picked by can to support Judge Mc- insurance premiums have gone State Senate big business as their best Graw,” urged State Building up,” said Roy Smith, State 27th: Virginia Mahan; Kevin chance to defeat McGraw who Trades President Steve Burton. Building Trades Secretary 1st: Andy McKenzie (R) Maynus; Sally Susman; has a reputation for caring “We need to have someplace Treasurer. 2nd: Jeff Kessler Clyde McKnight, Jr.; John Wooton about workers and their fami- to turn to for fairness and if “What business wants is to 4th: David Mullins lies. business has their way the take away our right to a jury, 28th: Tommy Scarles 5th: Bob Plymale The race received national Supreme Court will be off- and that is about as un-Ameri- 29th: Tom Louisos attention when the U.S. Cham- limits to working families.” can as you can get.” 7th: Bruce Hobbs 30th: Bonnie Brown; Bobbie 8th: Margaret Workman Hatfield; Mark Hunt Bricklayers Win Three 10th: Anita Skeens Caldwell 31st: Carrie Webster 11th: Shirley Love 32nd: Jon Cain, Sr.; Curtis International Awards 12th: Bill Adler Robinson; Brian Casto (R) eroy Hunter, Jr., This award was for work on Bricklayer Locals 5 & 9. 14th: Jon Blair Hunter LBricklayers Dis- the Clay Center in Charleston. “We were very excited to 34th: trict Council of WV, The third award, the Dis- work on the Clay Center. The 15th: Bruce Lee Bennett 35th: Sam Argento recently returned from trict Council received on Bricklayers set the marble, 16th: Gregory Lance Bal Harbor, Florida behalf of Jeffory Ball, Brick- stone, granite and did the 39th: Bill Hamilton (R) House of Delegates where he picked up layers Local 9. Ball won the fancy brickwork.” 40th: Mary Poling three awards. IMI 2003 Craft Award for The competition includes 1st: Joe DeLong 41st: ; Tony The International Masonry Outstanding Craftsmanship all of the United States and 2nd: Jack Yost Institute (IMI) gave the a- in Stone Masonry. Ball was Canada. According to Hunt- Barberio; Richard wards. recognized for his work on er, there were over 400 nomi- 3rd: Orphy Klempa Iaquinta; The first award presented the addition of Sacred Heart. nations this award cycle. This 4th: Ken Tucker 42nd: Diane Parker to the WV District Council “These awards prove what is the largest number of en- 5th: Marikay “Casey” Corliss 43rd: Mike Caputo; Tim was the Western Pennsyl- we’ve been saying all along: tries the IMI has ever had. Manchin; Linda 7th: John “Shorty” vania Golden Trowel Award. the quality of workmanship “This is the first time in my Longstreth Bricklayers Local 15 won and workers in West Virginia recollection that West Vir- Bumgardner (R) 44th: Barbara Fleischauer; this award for its work on the cannot be beat,” said David ginia has received any awards 9th: Jeff Lewis Life Science Building at Carte, Business Agent for of this caliber,” said Hunter. Gene Claypole; 10th: Patrick Radcliff; Steven West Virginia University. Charlene Marshall Whitehair; The award category was Early Voting Starts April 21 46th: Stan Shaver (R) “Higher Learning and Edu- Take advantage of new rules that allow early voting. 53rd: Jerry Lynn Burton cation Projects.” The election is May 11 but you can start voting as early as 13th: Dale Martin; Brady 54th: Walter Duke (R) Best Brick Project, 2003, April 21. Just see your county clerk for details. Don’t be Paxton Region 5 was the 2nd award caught out of town on election day. 16th: Susan Hubbard; Dale 57th: Rod Snyder the District Council received. APRIL 2004 THE ACT REPORT PAGE 3 Pile Drivers Hold Training Marmet Lock & he demand for Pile performed for a small group of tors’ productivity and market- TDrivers has been members. ability” says Dick Ullum, Dam Project This time however, the District Manager of the Mid- high for the past year. ederal funding has for the area by improving trans- But supply of local skilled Carpenters purchased a large Atlantic Regional Council of been pulled from portation. It currently takes more workers has not kept up. To quantity of sheet piling and z- Carpenters, West Virginia F the Marmet Lock and than six hours for a barge to get meet that challenge the West piling and constructed a twenty District. Dam pro-ject. through.” Virginia Carpenters put toget- foot circular template that is According to Carpenter At least 200 union construc- In contrast it only takes 45 her one of the largest training very similar to that which may Apprenticeship Coordinator tion workers will lose their jobs, minutes for barges to travel ventures they have attempted. be used on an actual piling job. Odie Parkins the course would and commerce will be nega- though Winfield. On April 5th, 40 members While the class alone does not have run nearly as smooth- tively impacted. Unless Congress is able to re- of the WV District of the not make an experienced pile ly without the help of the In a March 22 letter to local appropriate funds, the project United Brotherhood of Car- driver, it will ensure that every- Operating Engineers Training workers, James Hansen, Project will shut down June 1st and will penters came to Parkersburg one in attendance has a basic Program. Executive for the general con- begin again October 1st when a for a week long session. understanding of the work. With the help of Operator tractor Kokosing/Fru-Con LLC, new federal fiscal year starts. Service Representative Everyone had hands-on Coordinator Dave Mullins, said current funding for the How long the money will last for Scott Brewer, an accomplished time working with H-beams, and instructor Gary McCale, project is $16 million short for next year or the year after is Pile Driver himself developed Z-piling, and sheet piling. the Carpenters were able to the year. unknown. the curriculum to introduce This was performed with produce the class with some Next year is $22 million short, “At this rate the improvements interested members and hone both pneumatic and vibratory of the best operators avail- or almost half of the $52 million that are so badly needed won’t the skills of those already adept hammers. able. needed. ever be complete. If work could at the task. Members from all locals in “Throughout the entire Hansen explains that peak proceed without all the delays, it From the basic rigging skills the state were in attendance, planning and scheduling of employment at the site for 2004 would take 5 or 6 years,” said needed for the job to the actual from Wheeling to Huntington. the class the Operators helped and 2005 would be “approxi- Burdette. application of driving piles, the “We hope contractors notice out as much as they possibly mately 330 to 400 personnel. The crisis in spending can be forty hour course introduced the emphasis we put on this could, it really shows how With the current funding, the linked to the policies of President members to the work in a training, it’s all in an effort to training programs can work anticipated employment will be George Bush and Republican controlled environment. make our members more pro- together and how much train- reduced by a minimum of 200 control of both the U.S. Senate Previously, rudimentary Pile ductive and efficient and will ing means to all of the trades” personnel.” and House. Driving training had been therefore increase the contrac- said Parkins. According to Ronnie Bur- “Our members were count- dette, Business Manager of ing on these jobs,” said Gary Operating Engineers Local 132, Tillis, Business Manager for the the Marmet Lock and Dam WV Laborers District Council. project is a key infrastructure “The Bush Administration is project for the state. “This job so busy giving tax breaks to rich needs to be done for the state and contributors they’ve forgotten nation,” said Burdette. the working person. We’re “Not only does the project spending billions on infrastruc- create good jobs for local work- ture overseas but cutting projects ers now, it will lead to more jobs here, it’s just not right.”

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Charleston - M-F 8:30 – 4:30, Sat. 9:00 am to Noon 344-0194 or toll free 1-800-450-8530 Parkersburg - M-F 8:30 to 4:30, Thursday until 6:00 pm. MEMBERS FROM CARPENTER Locals 3, 302, 476, 604, 899, 1207, and 1159 listen to 485-1421 or toll free 888-524-1421 veteran pile driver Scott Brewer. “I start and end with safety,” said Brewer. PAGE 4 THE ACT REPORT APRIL 2004 Labor & Management Get Things Done eing union is be- Steve Ellis, owner of ELCO coordinate the volunteer labor tractors who made this project ment group. At Camp Happy B ing community Mechanical Contractors, is also and worked with a number of happen,” said Matthews. Valley, the Salvation Army’s minded. on the board. crafts. “It’s great to see the kids campy near Teays Valley, the A perfect example is a re- Together they teamed up to Ronnie Russell with May- playing on the playground. group has updated cabins, cent volunteer effort in March make sure the playground nard C. Smith Company co- They have this opportunity installed lighting, and even built by the Kanawha Valley Build- equipment project got done. ordinated with the many local because of contractors and new structures. ers Association and the Ellis coordinated the con- general contractors involved workers working together.” “When people hear the Charleston Building Trades. tractor’s side. He was able to including Wiseman Construc- The Salvation Army play- word union they should think Labor and management get all the supplies, materials, tion, RC Contractors, BBL- ground project is just the latest about the many positive contri- joined together to put in play- and equipment donated for the Carlton, Plott and Holbrook in a history of volunteer work butions made by both labor ground equipment at the Salva- project. “I called local com- and Agsten Construction, to done by the Labor-Manage- and management,” said Ellis. tion Army on Charleston’s panies, like Pfaff & Smith for help with the layout and instal- ACT Foundation Non-Profit Org. West Side. the concrete, to help us out and lation. 600 Leon Sullivan Way U.S. Postage Charleston, WV 25301 PAID Mike Matthews, Business they responded without ques- City Electric and Stealth (304) 345-7570 Permit # 1374 Manager for the Charleston tion,” said Ellis. Electric also played important Charleston, WV 25301 Building Trades also sits on the According to Matthews, roles according to Ellis. Board of Directors of the Scott Brewer and Odie Parkins “We appreciated all of the Salvation Army. with the Carpenters helped crafts efforts and the con-

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A LONG LIST of volunteers from both labor and management made the Salvation Army’s playground project possible. “Just another way we contribute to our community,” said Jim Cerra with the Kanawha Valley Builders. Longview union workers on this project. ACT will have an expert Workers’ Memorial Day CONTINUED FROM P. 1 witness on hand to testify about n April 28th at This day is set aside by the ment. Workers’ Memorial Day others go on about issues they a study ACT had done to detail O6:00 PM, join the unions to remember workers will help focus greater attention have already lost before state and the positive economic impact of West Virginia AFL-CIO who have suffered and died on workplace conditions and federal environmental agencies.” the project. at the Veterans’ Me- because of workplace hazards. further our efforts to enact job On April 27 the PSC will There is still time to send your morial, State Capitol This is also a day to renew the safety legislation. begin a three day evidentiary statement of support to: Ms. Complex, in Charles- fight for safe workplaces. For further information, call hearing in Charleston. Sandra Squire, Executive Sec- ton, to observe the Stronger job safety laws 304.344.3557 or visit www. Representatives of the North retary, PSC, P.O. Box 812, 16th annual Workers’ must be passed in order to wvaflcio.org and follow the link Central WV Building Trades will Charleston WV 25323 - men- Memorial Day. insure a safer work environ- on the Action Update page. be testifying about the use of local tion Longview Power.