Critical Labor Issues Depend on 2nd Congressional District Race he West Virginia T2nd Congressional District race between Democrat Jim Humphreys and Re- publican Shelley Moore Capito will make a big difference for construction work- ers. At stake are prevailing wages, project labor agree- ments, a tumbling stock mar- ket and rising health care costs. With only a six vote Repub- lican edge in the House every seat is critical to maintaining VOLUME 11 NUMBER 10 Davis-Bacon protections in OCTOBER 2002 federal spending. “The current Republican ma- jority in the U.S. House of Volunteers from the trades help paint signs in support of Jim Humphreys 2nd Representatives attacks Davis- Congressional District Race at the Operating Engineers training facility. Bacon wage protections on collectively provided by the Na- which would have clearly de- The suspension of these rules every spending bill,” said tional Labor Relations Act. fined reasons why a contractor means criminal contractors Raymond “BB” Smith, ACT Bush has also suspended re- could be banned from bidding who mistreat workers and mis- Legislative Representative. sponsible contractor rules, on federal contracts. Continued on p. 4 Evidence of the attack can A PUBLICATION OF be seen in the debate over the ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT WILLOW ISLAND SITE THE AFFILIATED T A Homeland Security bill. CONSTRUCTION “They stripped out Davis- TRADES FOUNDATION Bacon protections and other TTwwoo PPainterainterss MemberMemberss longstanding workers right in The ACT Foundation is a division the Homeland Security bill,” of The West Virginia State said Smith. DieDie inin ManliftManlift AccidentAccident Building and Construction Trades moving the equipment to start what happened. Council, with offices in Charleston “To use that bill to attack wo members of and Clarksburg. Steve Burton, Painters District painting a new section with the The men worked for Uni- President; Roy Smith, Secretary- working families is wrong.” T Treasurer; Steve White, Director. boom extended 45 feet in the versal Inc. of Moundsville, a Senator Robert C. Byrd has Council 53 were killed air when the machine hit an painting subcontractor for pledged to stop the Republi- in a construction acci- Charleston - (304) 345-7570 incline making the manlift top- Almega, Inc. based in Pittsburg Clarksburg - (304) 624-0682 can power grab but in many dent at the Allegheny www.actwv.org heavy, which caused it to topple Pennssylvania. instances it is already too late. Energy’s Pleasants over. “We are deeply saddened by President Bush has already Power Station at Wil- OSHA is also investigating. this tragedy,” said Clarance destroyed or weakened sev- low Island on Friday, The accident occurred adja- Mitchell, Business Manager of eral laws designed to protect Oct. 4. Fred Burkle, 55, and Joe cent to the site where 51 work- Council 53. “Our thoughts go INSIDE workers. Spiker, 26, an apprentice, fell ers lost their lives in 1978 at the out to the families of these He signed an executive or- Trades News Pg. 2 45 feet to the ground when the Willow Island Power Station. members.” der banning project labor agree- Election Pg. 2 Genie Manlift they were oper- There were no witnesses to Contributions to the Burkle/ ments on all federal projects Amendment 1 Pg. 3 ating tipped over. the accident, according to Spiker Memorial Fund can be and any other project involv- Endorsements Pg. 3 According to a story in the Stanley Elliot, area director for sent c/o Painters DC 53, 2301 ing federal funds. Boilermaker Pg. 4 Parkersburg Sentinel, State OSHA in Charleston. It may 7th Ave., Charleston, WV The order stomps on the WV Works Pg. 4 Troopers suspect the men were be hard to determine exactly 25312 or call 304-343-8250. rights of workers to bargain PAGE 2 THE ACT REPORT OCTOBER 2002 Around the State Union Members Assist A new monthly news summary from local building and construction trades councils Labor-Friendly Candidates harleston Build- North Central is talking with CCing and Construc- Dominion Power and Ned he general elec- tion Trades Power to work on each Ttion is just around • The Charleston Building company’s Grant County the corner and many Trades, in conjunction with projects. building trades unions Iron Workers 301, and Plumb- “We think both of these com- are doing their part to ers and Pipefitters 625, have panies will support our local help labor-friendly agreed to help Kanawha workers,” said Natalie Stone, candidates. County School children light Executive Secretary for the The tasks are many includ- up Coonskin Park this holiday North Central WV Building ing voter registration, door- season. Trades. to-door campaigning, making Union members will super- “In return we will provide and placing signs, manning vise the kids while they build the highest quality work for phone banks and educating the displays. them.” members. Before this project can get • North Central has moved For example, the Mid-At- off the ground, construction to another office -- in the same lantic Regional Council of Car- materials are needed. building. According to Stone, penters (MARRC) is doing sev- “We are asking our contrac- the new office space is bigger, eral things to get the endorsed tors and suppliers to donate and has a conference room. candidates’ names out so the the materials and funding for • The leadership would like public can make an informed In the State’s tenth Senatorial District Mary Pearl this project,” said Mike to thank all of the members decision on November 5. Compton is in a tough race. Carpenter Local 1911 Matthews, Business Manager who participated in this year’s MARCC members have member Dexter Bragg is helping place signs in for the Charleston Building clay shoot. planned to go door-to-door in- Greenbrier County made by Painters District Trades. “Our members are the rea- forming the public in targeted Council 53. • Members of the Charleston son we are here,” said Darwin areas of Kanawha County of year. Parkersburg Area Labor Coun- Building Trades are joining Snyder. “We’re glad to pro- about endorsed candidates The labor council didn’t cil and Plumbers and Pipefitters forces with West Virginia vide an event where we can such as Jim Humphreys, who is waste any time getting started. Local 565 member. teachers and business leaders come together and have some in a fierce battle with Republi- A reception for the endorsed Everything is tied to poli- to support the Kanawha fun.” can incumbent Shelley Moore candidates was held in Sep- tics,” said Schaffer. “If you County Excess Levy. Parkersburg-Marietta Capito, for the 2nd district con- tember. aren’t active in the political The group has come together Building and Construction gressional seat. The members were able to process you have no influence as the Kids Education Yes or Trades The Carpenters also want to meet the candidates and the on issues that will without a KEY Committee. • The Parkersburg-Marietta ensure their members are fully leadership of the council pre- doubt affect you.” According to the literature, Building Trades office has a informed about the candidates. sented each one with a $250 Many of the locals around KEY is going to dispel rumors new home at 3100 Dudley Ave. “We invite candidates to campaign contribution. the state are doing their part to about the levy and spread the in Parkersburg. speak at union meeting, ac- The council has also sched- help the AFL-CIO endorsed word about how important it The new office has eight cording to Scott Brewer,” uled going door-to-door in se- candidates. Another good ex- has been since 1937 and will rooms instead of two like the Business Representative for lected areas in support of the ample is Iron Workers Local continue to be in the future. previous one, According to MARRC. endorsed candidates. 301, which had Jim Humphreys “The levy pays for school Sam Davis, Business Manager, “In addition to educating They are going to put up as a guest speaker at its Sep- repairs and vital support staff Parkersburg Marietta Building our members and the public signs and send a mailing to all tember meeting. that the regular budget will not Trades. about the candidates we are of the members with a list of Humphreys talked to the cover,” said Matthews. It also has a more central also going to make sure all of endorsed candidates. members about his agenda and North Central West Vir- location between the Interstate our members who wish to reg- “We will be available for disproved the myths that Capito ginia Building and Construc- and downtown. ister to vote do so.” anything a labor-friendly can- has been spreading with her tion Trades “It is the first building the The Carpenters are not the didate may need whether it be campaign commercials, ac- • North Central is currently Trades has ever owned and we only ones preparing for the pounding the pavement talk- cording to Bubby Casto, Busi- in negotiations to bring even love it,” said Davis. “It is election. Members of the ing about the candidates or ness Manager for Iron Work- more wind power construc- brighter and bigger with a Parkersburg Area Labor Coun- manning a phone bank,” said ers Local 301. tion jobs to its members. Continued on p. 4 cil are also very busy this time Dick Schaffer, President of the Continued on p. 4 OCTOBER 2002 THE ACT REPORT PAGE 3

Say Yes On One! WV AFL-CIO Endorsed Candidates

Dear Members: AMENDMENT ONE: 2nd: Jack Yost 27th: Virginia Mahan; The Executive Board of the West Virginia State Building and Vote Yes ! Randolph McGraw; Sally Construction Trades would like to take this opportunity to urge 3rd: Rick Altman; Tal Susman you to vote yes on Amendment One. U.S. Senate Hutchins We support Amendment One because it means good con- Jay Rockefeller 28th: Tom Campbell; Ray struction jobs and no tax increases. 4th: Scott Varner; Ken Canterbury (R) Amendment One guarantees prevailing wages so our local U.S. House of Tucker contractors have a level playing field to compete. Representatives 29th: Tom Louisos; David And Amendment One also has the West Virginia Jobs Act First Congressional Dis- 5th: Dave Pethtel Perry requirements, favoring local workers. trict: Alan Mollohan Equally important are provisions for public input and knowl- 7th: Paul Janes 30th: Bonnie Brown; Bobbie edge of all deals – before they are made. No secret economic Second Congressional Hatfield; Ray Keener; development deals allowed. District: Jim Humphreys 9th: Kenny Brown Priscilla M. Haden (R) The bottom line is Amendment One will give our local communities a tool that 46 other states have. Third Congressional 10th: Shuan Butcher; John 31st: Carrie Webster Too often we just don’t have the resources needed for water, District: Nick Joe Rahall Beary; John Ellem (R) sewer or other utilities to make an industrial site available to new 32nd: Jon Cain; Derek or expanding businesses. Amendment One will allow counties State Senate 11th: Bill Groves Walker to use the taxes earned from a new project to help finance the 1st: Ed Bowman project. 12th: Carroll Jett 34th: Brent Boggs If a company does not build, they get no break. 2nd: Larry Edgell The ACT Foundation had a big hand in defeating a similar 13th: Dale Martin; Brady 39th: Bill Hamilton (R) measure in 1998. Why? Because prevailing wage, local jobs, and 3rd: Jim Ball Paxton public input were not part of the deal. 40th: Mary Poling Too many economic development efforts promised to local 4th: Oshel Craigo 14th: Jim Ferguson workers instead go to low wage, out-of-state companies. 41st: Ron Fragale; Richard This time around it’s a different story. 5th: Thomas F. Scott (R) 15th: Margarette Leach; Iaquinta When you vote yes on Amendment One you are voting: Kevin Craig; Jim Morgan • Yes on new construction jobs that pay decent wages. 6th: Truman Chafin 42nd: Tom Coleman • Yes on revitalizing economically depressed areas. 16th: Susan Hubbard; Dale • Yes on creating new permanent jobs. 7th: Tracy Dempsey Stephens; Karen Nance 43rd: Mike Caputo; A. • Yes on adding to the tax base to fund our local schools James Manchin and other public entities. 8th: John Mitchell 17th: Richard Thompson; We hope you will tell your family and friends to vote yes on Don Perdue 44th: Barbara Evans Amendment One on Tuesday, November 5. 9th: Bill Wooton Fleischauer; Gene Claypole; Sincerely, 18th: Earnie Kuhn Nancy Houston 10th: Mary Pearl Compton Steve Burton, President Dan Poling, Painters Roy Smith, Secretary/Treasurer Ed Boone, Plumbers and 19th: Greg Butcher; Lidella 46th: Stan Shaver Steve Pigg, Asbestos Workers Fitters 11th: Randy White Wilson Hrutkay; Bill Wright George Pinkerman, Clyde Rose, Jr., Roofers 54th: Walter Duke (R) Boilermakers Randy Atkins, Teamsters 12th: Joe Minard 21st: Harry Keith White Leroy Hunter, Jr., Bricklayers Mike Matthews, 55th: Vince George (M) Dick Ullum, Carpenters Charleston BCTC 16th: John Unger 22nd: Rick Staton; Richard Mark Smithson, Cement Natalie Stone, North Browning 57th: John Doyle Masons Central WV BCTC 17th: Brooks McCabe Jim Ross, Electricians Bill Dean, Upper Ohio 23rd: Emily Yeager 58th: Dale Manuel Willard ‘Bubby’ Casto, Jr., Iron Valley BCTC House of Delegates Workers Sam Davis, Parkersburg- 1st: Joe DeLong; Randy 25th: Mark Wills What’s Amendment One? Mark Estlack, Millwrights Marietta BCTC Swartzmiller Ronnie Burdette, Operating Dale McCorkle, Tri-State 26th: Gerald L. Crosier See related story left. Engineers BCTC PAGE 4 THE ACT REPORT OCTOBER 2002 Local Boilermaker Wins National Competition est Virginia exam; the participants also had “Jerry worked hard during Only the top two 4th Year people at Local 667 for sup- W proves to be the hands on tests including weld- his training and it paid off,” Apprentices from each of the porting my effort to compete. best in the nation ing skill. said Jim Dingess, Boilermak- four areas of the country are Without their support I when it comes to “We are very proud of Jerry’s ers 667 Training Coordinator. eligible to compete at the na- wouldn’t have been able to do training skilled Boiler- winning effort,” said George Fulk took home a plaque, tional level. it,” said Fulk. makers. Pinkerman, Business Manager two crystal trophies and $1,000 Fulk and McWhorter placed Fulk is now a journeyman in Jerry M. Fulk of Boilermak- for Boilermakers Local 667. for his winning effort. first and second at the South- Boilermakers Local 667 and ers 667 has won the Boiler- “We always tell companies that “I was glad to win the com- east Area Competition to reach he passes his proven skill on to makers 15th National Appren- our union workers are the best petition,” said Fulk. “It reflects the Nationals. new recruits as an apprentice ticeship Competition. at their trade. This win drives well on my Local’s top notch “I would like to thank the trainer. The week-long competition, the point home.” training program and West held in Kansas City, Missouri, Fulk not only took the top Virginia as a whole in the Boil- included written tests on blue- individual honor but also took ermaker community.” ACT Foundation Non-Profit Org. 600 Leon Sullivan Way U.S. Postage print reading, math and weld- first place in the team competi- The competition is an an- Charleston, WV 25301 PAID (304) 345-7570 Permit # 1374 ing as well as other subjects. tion with his partner John nual showcase where graduate Charleston, WV 25301 This competition held in Sep- McWhorter of Local 105 in apprentices gather to see who tember was not just a written Ohio. is the best at their trade. 2nd District Congressional Race CONTINUED FROM P. 1 to make so far. it is within our means to elect a use tax dollars can continue to Humphreys, who is endorsed candidate that will protect win federal projects. by the WV AFL-CIO, has working families. This leaves honest contrac- vowed to fight for working “We have to do our part by tors at a disadvantage at the families if he is elected. volunteering, voting and urg- bid because they are not shav- “Support for Jim Humphreys ing our friends and families to Election ing cost by cutting corners or is critical,” said State Building vote for Jim Humphreys and CONTINUED FROM P. 2 “For us the most important avoiding taxes. Trades President Steve Bur- other supportive candidates.” “We pretty much help any reason for our action is to sup- The President has also ton. AFL endorsed candidate with port Humphreys in the 2nd dis- thwarted several attempts to “Look at the losses our pen- whatever they need,” said trict congressional race,” said strengthen the Davis-Bacon sion funds have had and the Casto. Casto. Act, which is the law that man- increases in our health premi- VVoteote The members of Local 301 “If the Republicans go un- dates prevailing wage on fed- ums. are also putting up signs, work- checked, Davis-Bacon laws eral projects. “Failed policies of the Bush ing phone banks and sending will be taken off federal jobs Capito has voted the Repub- administration have led to real !!! out mailings. and the state may follow.” lican party line on all of the problems for our members. important decisions she has had “This will be a close race and NoNovv.. 55 Around the State CABLE CHANNEL 9 CABLE CHANNEL 10 Steubenville, Follansbee & Wheeling, St.Clairsville & CONTINUED FROM P. 2 according to Steve Burton, proven successful. Wellsburg Moundsville friendly atmosphere.” Business Manager for Tri-State “We have drug tested more daily @ noon daily @ noon “There is also an extra office Building Trades. than 50,000 workers over the that we would like to let any of “Marshall University is plan- years,” said Burton. “In addi- WEST VIRGINIA WORKS SHOWTIMES the statewide union reps use ning an expansion project and tion, about 6,000 of our mem- so are the hospitals in the area,” bers have taken their personal New Station & Time while they are in town who WCHS 8 said Burton. “Our members will time to participate in OSHA WOAY 4 Charleston, WDTV 5 don’t already have a Oak Hill Clarksburg & hopefully get some additional training. Huntington, Parkersburg, Parkersburg office.” Sundays @ 11:00am Beckley, Bluefield Morgantown Tri-State Building and industrial work with the power “We thanked them for their Sundays @ 11:00am Sundays @ 11:00am Construction Trades plant expansions.” commitment to a safe work • Members can look forward • In its eleventh year the environment by giving each to some work in Huntington, LEAD program has been participant new $150 boots.”