L-374 Members Build Base for Floating Casino IVP George Rogers
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Vol. 47 No. 2 the Boilermaker Apr • Jun 2008 The Official Publication of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers, and Helpers, AFL-CIO http://capwiz.com/boilermaker Reporter http://www.boilermakers.org IN THESE PAGES L-374 members build base for floating casino Workers combine six barges in “This was a great job for Local 374,” reports Lake Michigan project L-374 BM-ST Paul Maday. “And there is already talk of other casino expansions on the lakefront using MEMBERS OF LOCAL 374 (Hammond, Ind.) have the same barge-type foundation. You know the old completed the base for a 350,000-square-foot gam- adage — ‘bigger is better’? Well, it’s true, with talk ing and entertainment facility on Lake Michigan. of other casinos now wanting to expand, using as Harrah’s all-new Horseshoe Casino Hammond will many as eight barges for their foundations. We are be triple the size of the company’s current facility, and in the process of confirming with the gaming com- the largest casino and entertainment destination in Construction members meet . 2 Chicagoland, when it is completed. See CASINO, page 15 LEAP holds 40th conference . 7 Shipyard nets big contract . .14 Barges serve as the floating foundation of Harrah’s new Horseshoe Casino Hammond on Lake Michigan in Indiana. PAID PAID IVP George Rogers retires U.S. POSTAGE Permit No. 100 Non-Profit Org. Long Prairie, MN Central Section lodges will be International President Newton B. Jones praised represented by IVPs May, McManamon Rogers’ many years of service, stating, “George has contributed greatly to our union, to our trust funds GEORGE ROGERS and lodges, and to the lives of our members. He has retired May 1 as Inter- been a great friend of the Boilermakers, and a great ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED ADDRESS SERVICE national vice president friend of mine. We will miss his daily contribution to of the Central Section, a our union, but I am happy to report that he has vol- position he has held since unteered to be on call to assist the organization in any Feb. 1996. way that he can.” “I have truly been Rogers began his career in 1964 as a Boilermaker blessed to serve as an offi- helper at Todd Shipyard & Construction. He helped cer of Local Lodge 132, convert old Navy escort ships into sea/land contain- the National Transient erized cargo ships during the summers and between Lodge, and the Inter- semesters while attending the Texas Lutheran College national union,” Rogers in Sequin, Texas. said. “A lot of my work In 1966 he joined Local 132 (Galveston, Texas) while was performed in the attending the North Texas State University in Denton. South Central States Area He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education George Rogers retires as — a most difficult area to in 1970, and began a teaching career while still working International vice president be a union worker [due at the Boilermaker trade in the summer months. From of the Central Section. to anti-union sentiment 1971 to 1976, he taught biology, math, and human and the prevalence of anatomy and physiology, while coaching football, right-to-work laws]. But I’ve tried to treat others like basketball, baseball, and track for the Galveston Inde- I would like to be treated, and I have made many pendent School District. But he left the education field, friendships and acquired many fond memories that I 753 State Avenue, Suite 565 753 State Avenue, Kansas City, 66101 will carry with me forever.” See ROGERS, page 4 2 - the Boilermaker Reporter IN THE NEWS Apr • Jun 2008 Construction Boilermakers meet March conference keys on trol emissions from power plants and Abe Breehey, Assist. Dir. of Govern- elections, national funds, other industrial processes. From bag ment Affairs, said CO2 capture and houses and precipitators for particu- sequestration (CCS) hold the promise coal technology late matter, to scrubbers for sulfur diox- for “huge amounts of work for our con- BOILERMAKERS ATTENDING THE ide, to selective catalytic converters for struction Boilermakers.” annual Construction Division confer- nitrogen oxide, environmental systems Breehey spoke about climate change ence in Marco Island, Fla., March 2-7 have been a staple of Boilermaker work and how it might impact trade, legisla- found plenty of information to digest. for decades. Now, Branscum said, the tion, and policy in the United States. From the national elections, to major emphasis is to find methods to control “Regardless of who our next presi- changes at our national funds office, carbon dioxide. dent is, we’re going to see a climate to the future of coal, and more, lodge The panel reviewed various change bill get passed and signed by leaders heard about changes that are approaches being tested by industry, the president,” he said. “Our priorities unfolding and will impact their locals universities, and the government to are to bridge the environmental goals and their members. capture and sequester CO2. Among to achieve carbon reduction with the the technologies examined were amine development of the new technologies. IP Jones calls work solutions and chilled ammonia meth- The risks are that if you demand too ods of CO2 extraction following com- much reduction too fast, utilities may outlook “phenomenal” bustion; coal gasification, including try to achieve them by fuel-switching IN HIS OPENING remarks, Intl. Pres. underground gasification; methane to more expensive natural gas — or by Newton B. Jones said, “The outlook for and other commercial product devel- closing older, dirtier coal plants rather our union and for Boilermaker crafts- opment from coal; pumping CO2 into than upgrading them, causing a loss of men over the next eight-to-10 years oil and gas wells to enhance extraction; Boilermaker work.” is phenomenal. It’s a great time to and permanently storing CO2 in brine- The Boilermakers are taking the lead grow this organization and to rebuild saturated aquifers deep below the before Congress in identifying labor’s our skills. ground. Panelists discussed the equip- issues related to climate change policy “We’re going to lose a lot of people IP Newton Jones discusses the ment that would be involved in the and legislation. Breehey has testified through attrition,” he cautioned. “And future of coal. various capture methods and the juris- before a congressional committee to there appears to be some difficult eco- dictional issues that may arise among that effect. The Boilermakers support nomic times ahead. But that doesn’t “ The outlook for our union the crafts. the Bingaman-Specter bill that would mean we won’t have a lot of good work Branscum said some of the technol- control carbon emissions through a cap available to our members.” He said and for our Boilermaker ogy being discussed could become and trade policy. adding new apprentices and signing commercially available within the next up workers through the MOST recruit- craftsmen over the next four or five years, resulting in substan- Conference explores Web- ment program are essential goals. eight-to-10 years tial new environmental work for Boil- based referral concept “A key issue on the horizon is global ermakers. However, the high cost of warming,” he added, “and how that’s is phenomenal. It’s a great these technologies, as they exist today, TRAVELING BOILERMAKERS or going to impact Boilermaker work. present a major challenge to the indus- “boomers” often drive hundreds There is a lot of opposition now to time to grow this tries that would use them. of miles to put their names on job coal-burning boilers. In some cases referral lists, IP Jones told the confer- those opposing coal have stopped the organization and to ence. Not only is the process costly — construction or permitting of some of especially with high gas prices — but it those units.” rebuild our skills.” is also time consuming, he said. Cana- Jones said both of the Democratic dian Boilermakers have resolved the candidates for president support — IP Newton B. Jones problem by creating a Web-based sys- tem that allows workers to sign up via investing in clean coal technology. “If ing on board early will hopefully mean the Internet. this country wants to be energy inde- that we have a seat at the table for our On March 4, Jayne Clemance of JBS pendent, you cannot ignore 200-300 issues,” he said. “From an organiza- Systems demonstrated how that system years of coal reserves.” tional standpoint, it made good sense might be adapted for American Boiler- Reporting on membership and for us to endorse the senator.” makers. IP Jones, Intl. Vice Presidents finances, Intl. Sec.-Treas. Bill Creeden Jones said some local leaders and Joe Maloney, Ed Power, and George said, “We had 5,034 initiations and members “may have a different opin- Rogers, and Intl. Sec.-Treas. Creeden reinstatements in the first six months ion. And we respect that.” Several Boil- participated in the presentation. of this fiscal year, but the membership ermakers expressed their support for An online referral system would overall is flat. The attrition rate is run- Sen. Hillary Clinton during the political allow workers to enter and update ning about the same. So we’ve got to action portion of the meeting. information by using a computer or initiate at least 2,500 people a quarter to Both Jones and Dir. of Govern- other device that has Internet con- stay even.” ment Affairs Bridget Martin praised GAD Dir. Bridget Martin says labor nectivity. Boilermakers would create Creeden said most of the Brother- the Democratic candidates seeking the must help define John McCain. hood funds are in the black, including party’s nomination, noting that either the General, Construction Division, Obama or Clinton would be a superb NTD, and Consolidated funds.