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Vol. 69, #2 February 2011 SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 2011 9 a.m. Registration • 1 p.m. Meeting Solano County Fairgrounds, Vallejo, California PAGE 11 For The Good & Welfare By Russ Burns, business manager Banding together There is yet another new the Best Practices Committee (see development regarding California’s page 9 for Letters to the Editor about high-speed rail. As reported earlier, this committee), your input and your PAGE 16 work on the 65-mile section of the willingness to cut costs when possible project beginning north of Fresno (using generic drugs, when available, was approved in early winter, but etc.). This local works best when we new federal funds to the tune of $616 all work together. million were recently added to the We have also had to cut more staff initial $4.15 billion. Now, workers to reduce costs, and while this was can significantly extend construction, and always is a painful task, it was a which means more jobs, and we can necessary one. However, I assure you once and for all clear up the notion that service to the membership will CONTENTS that this project is under-funded. never be compromised. As I’ve said California has more high-speed-rail before, while the union is a family, it Job generates energy and employment .. 4 funding than any other state, a is also a business. Therefore, we must Unit 12 ......................................... 6 testament to our ability to utilize make some tough choices to keep this Fringe Benefits ............................... 7 these funds. This new funding was organization strong. Public Employee News ...................... 8 actually re-directed from other states, More positive political develop- News & Notes ................................. 9 thanks to the political lobbying of ments affecting us include the federal labor-friendly politicians. Your votes Letters to the editor ........................ 9 Framework Agreement on Tax Cuts got candidates with a pro-union Credit Union ................................. 10 and Unemployment Insurance, which agenda elected, proving yet again that secures tax relief through cuts and It’s about dam time......................... 11 politics is powerful when it comes to credits, extends unemployment Pin recipients honored ..................... 12 project funding. benefits and invests in workers. Again, Rancho Murieta ............................. 14 Speaking of politics, I am writing this agreement comes directly from Semi-Annual Meeting ....................... 15 this just as newly elected California President Obama, who we helped Gov. Jerry Brown finalizes the New vessel, new crew ...................... 16 elect in 2008. state’s budget. Again, it was labor’s Four contractors team up ................. 18 As we look ahead, we are hopeful mobilization that lent him to winning that an upswing in work hours will District Reports .............................. 20 in November, and now the ball is in occur this spring. Economists don’t Meetings and Announcements ............. 27 his court to see if his promises to us predict any massive economic Health News ................................. 30 come to fruition. improvements for at least another Swap Shop ................................... 31 Brown’s current budget calls for year, but if you read through this massive spending reduction to offset month’s district reports and featured California’s $25.4 billion deficit. To jobs, you’ll see that some big jobs Operating Engineers Local Union No. 3 close the gap, he plans to restructure have started, such as Burlingame Russ Burns Business Manager government operations by returning District 01’s Transbay Terminal and Fred Herschbach President power to cities, counties and schools. Utah District 12’s gas pipelines, and Carl Goff Vice President He also plans to reduce take-home pay for state employees not currently some are on the horizon, such as Jim Sullivan Rec. Corres. Secretary Rohnert Park District 10’s Russian Dan Reding Financial Secretary covered in a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) – just another reason River gravel-skimming project. There William Kalani Mahoe Treasurer for folks to get organized within unions is even a whisper of a few private jobs for better protection. Brown will let out there, which is always good news. Engineers News Staff voters decide how to handle taxes in I want to thank you all for banding Russ Burns Editor a proposed Special Election in June. together to keep this union moving Carl Goff Editorial Adviser More on this will be addressed by our forward and on the cutting edge. You Mandy McMillen Managing Editor Political Department. Stay tuned. put labor-friendly politicians in office Jamie Johnston Associate Editor We all know Brown has some tough and keep them there, you stay in Dominique Beilke Art Director decisions to make, but he has hit the touch with your union hall and you ground running. He is confronting the let us know what you see and hear issues of this economic mire head-on, in the field. For those of you who www.oe3.org yet leaving the economy’s backbone – have hibernated this winter, now is the time to get trained, get informed Engineers News (ISSN 1069-2185) is published monthly infrastructure – intact. by Local 3 of the International Union of Operating Local 3 understands the repercus- and get going to your union meetings Engineers, AFL-CIO; 1620 South Loop Rd., Alameda, sions of the current market economy and in particular, the Semi-Annual CA 94502. Periodical postage paid at Alameda, CA on our livelihoods, and we too have had Meeting March 20 at the Solano and additional mailing offices. Engineers News is sent to tighten our budget, as you all know. County Fairgrounds. These meetings without charge to all members of Operating Engineers Local 3 in good standing. Non-member subscription New health-care-reform laws and low are about union business, but they price is $6 per year. POSTMASTER: Send address work hours have taken a toll on our are also about your families and your changes to Address Change, 1620 South Loop Rd., Health and Welfare funds, but we’re union friends coming together. See Alameda, CA 94502. taking a proactive approach to combat page 15 for details. I hope to see you the deficit, including the solutions of there. 2 | Engineers News Talking Points By Fred Herschbach, president in the Brown sworn in as We need to be diversified California’s 39th I am looking forward to the first time, we had almost full employment. quarterly round of district meetings. The Pension Fund was bringing in governor Please come to the meeting in your between 30 million and 38 million respective district. The schedule is hours. Often, the contractor just needed He’s done it before, but that was 28 printed on page 28. Ask questions a body. If you could start a machine, years ago. California Gov. Jerry Brown and get answers. If we don’t have the you could work. When I broke into this was sworn in Jan. 3, making him one of answers, we will find them and get back business in the mid ’70s, the brothers only two to serve three gubernatorial to you. This is your union. Get involved. who took me under their wings taught terms. (The other was Earl Warren.) It will only make Local 3 stronger. me to, at the very least, start a machine Brown delivered his inaugural I was happy to see the Letters and make it move. In today’s working address with “seasoned” wit and to the Editor we received from the environment, things have obviously wisdom, declaring the year ahead membership about the Best Practices changed. No longer will a contractor will “demand courage and sacrifice,” Committee article in the December tolerate an operator who can only run reported The Sacramento Bee. issue of Engineers News (read them one piece of equipment. You really He also claimed that after honestly on page 9). Of all the funds that I sit need to be proficient on at least five to assessing the state’s financial on as a trustee, the Health and Welfare eight pieces. You won’t be the best at all condition and making “tough choices,” Trust Fund is the most challenging. It of them, but you need to be able to be “investments in the private sector is a constant moving target. There are productive on them. will accelerate, and our economy will a lot of unknowns that accompany the The retirees who started this union produce new jobs …” Fund, such as work hours; investments; did just that. One day, they were on Business Manager Russ Burns, Vice the number of people filing claims any President Carl Goff, Financial Secretary a crane, the next day, they were on a given month; the cost of prescriptions dozer and another day, maybe they Dan Reding, Political Director Mark at the time; vision care; dental services Kyle and Sacramento District Rep. were rolling asphalt, and so on. You being utilized; hearing aids; and more. may be the best crane hand, and that’s Rob Carrion attended the event along Currently, the biggest unknown is with several labor representatives. all you do, and that’s OK, but most of the impact of the new federal health and us need to be able to operate more Kyle commented: “It’s encourag- welfare program – the Patient Protection than one piece. To be successful in this ing to see a new administration that’s and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Two business, we must be diversified. If willing to tackle the tough problems of pieces of this legislation in California you need some training, please utilize this state, and even more encourag- passed: SB900 establishes a California the training site in your state. Our ing to know the governor and his staff health-benefit exchange, and AB1602 training sites offer excellent classes but will listen to Local 3 and the rest of enacts the California PPACA.

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