(ISSN 0023-6667) Workers Memorial Day to remember The Duluth AFL-CIO observance on April 23. as she returned to work from Central Labor Body will join The pancake, sausage, juice lunch at the Duluth Clinic in labor organizations around the and coffee breakfast begins at Superior. She called 911 and world in observing Workers 7:00 a.m. in the basement of could be heard begging him not Memorial Day next week. The the Duluth Labor Temple and to shoot her. He had boxed her official Day is always April 28, runs until 9:00 a.m. About 9:15 vehicle in with his and when which is the anniversary date a.m. a short memorial service she finally tried to run for the of the signing of the federal and tree planting takes place building he shot her once in the Occupational Safety and outside the building near 21st head with a .30-30 rifle. A co- An Injury to One is an Injury to All! Health Act, which created Avenue East. worker witnessed the tragedy. WEDNESDAY VOL. 112 OSHA as part of the This year there are four Her husband took his own APRIL 18, 2007 NO. 20 Department of Labor. workers who will be remem- life shortly after he shot her In Duluth a free Solidarity bered during the ceremony. when sheriff’s deputies Breakfast always precedes the Shelby Adolphson, 41, a approached him in Poplar. Workers Memorial Day obser- member of USW Local 9460, A fundraiser to help her and vance. Preparation for the is still in serious condition in her children will be held breakfast requires it be held on Miller Dwan’s rehabilitation Sunday, April 22nd from 1:00 Monday morning so this year unit after being shot March to 5:00 p.m. at the Billings Park the Central Body will have its 21st by her estranged husband Civic Club, 3903 North 18th Avenue in Superior. A Shelby Adolphson Central Body screening Benefit Account has been set up at Wells Fargo banks. for mayor May 10 Donations can be dropped off Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body delegates at their April at any branch or mailed to 12 regular monthly meeting overwhelmingly voted to conduct Wells Fargo, 230 W. Superior screenings for this year’s Duluth mayor’s race before their next St., Duluth, MN 55802. regular monthly meeting. Mayoral screenings will take place at Two members of 6:00 p.m., Thursday, May 10, Wellstone Hall, Duluth Labor Ironworkers Local 512 will Chad McKenna, second from left, was hired as NEALC Temple. Possible endorsements in the race could be brought up also be remembered after they field coordinator at an Executive Board meeting of the new at the monthly meeting that will immediately follow screenings. died in falls on the job last year. labor council April 4th. Iron Range reps in attendance At the April 12 meeting, which had well over 50 delegates Arne Fliginger, 45, of included Gerry Knaeble (USW), Joe Moren (Education from two dozen unions in attendance, debate over holding Wyoming, MN fell while tak- MN, Retirees), and Ida Rukavina (AFSCME). screenings at such an early date was lengthy. With filings not ing down a crane at Minne- opening until July 3 and not closing until July 17, a May screen- apolis Carlyle condos in Chad McKenna hired as ing and possible endorsement are unprecedented for the CLB. November. His 22-year old With Mayor Herb Bergson once again earlier this month say- son, also a member of field coordinator for NEALC ing he will not seek another term, candidates have been jumping Ironworkers Local 512 wit- The newly created North East Area Labor Council (NEALC), into the race quickly. Meg Bye, Greg Gilbert, Don Ness, Charlie nessed the fall. AFL-CIO has hired Chad McKenna as its first field coordinator. Bell, and Jim Pratt have declared their intentions to run. A num- Mike Rathjen, 30, of Big His hiring brings years of discussion to the action stage. ber of other candidates are also expected to run. Bye and Gilbert Lake, MN, fell at the Two “We’ve hired a good, young staff person in Chad, to further were at the April 12 meeting and addressed delegates. Harbors Ore Docks Dec. 6. the interests of working families in northeast Minnesota,” said The argument that won the vote at last Thursday’s Central Andrew “Andy” Reed, 24, NEALC President Alan Netland. “We had good candidates to Body meeting was that with such a crowded field the September of LaPrairie, MN died Oct. 12, pick from and were able to hire someone who is a great fit for 11 Primary Election will be critical. If the Central Body were to 2006 at United Taconite in the criteria we had established for the job.” wait until filings close to conduct screenings, it would histori- Forbes when an electrical panel “I’m honored to officially be part of the great labor move- cally take place at their August 9 meeting. That would be only a exploded. A Mine Safety and ment in this region,” McKenna said. “Many of the things I’ve month before the Primary, not enough time to run an effective Health Administration report done so far in my life should help me coordinate the efforts of campaign for any possible choice they may make. issued April 11th said a failure the labor bodies in the seven counties. Solidarity work is so Screenings are open to any member of an affiliated local by the company to provide important to organizing drives, workplace issues, legislative pol- union, but only official delegates named by their affiliated local working over-current protec- icy, and electoral politics.” unions will be allowed to vote on an endorsement, which would tion caused the explosion. The McKenna, 24, is a Prior Lake, MN native, who graduated in require two-thirds of the voting members. system should be examined May 2006 from UMD with a marketing major and a political sci- Local unions can submit their list of delegates to the Central and tested but that wasn’t done. ence minor. While at UMD he was an organizer and co-chair of Body prior to the May 10 meeting if they want to make changes. Many of the electrical control MPIRG (MN Public Interest Research Group) and involved in They should be on union letterhead, signed by the chief officer, rooms also serve as lunch the highly successful, annual, Free Democracy Summit. See Mayoral screenings...page 19 rooms for workers. “MPIRG is a grassroots, student-driven organization that The explosion and fire that empowers and trains young people to become engaged in envi- killed Reed was so powerful ronmental, social and economic justice issues,” McKenna said. WHAT’S INSIDE THIS ISSUE? that copper was said to have Upon graduating he went to work as a field organizer for the Whole bunch of stuff going on.....page 2 vaporized. His death was DFL Coordinated Campaign in the 8th Congressional District Opinions anyone?.....page 3 attributed to smoke inhalation. Duluth’s WMD observance working 85 hours a week, mostly outside Duluth. Workers Memorial Day a fight.....page 4 “I traveled much of the NEALC in that job, especially around has also been remembering Aitkin, Grand Rapids, Ely, and the North Shore,” McKenna said. Construction a risky way to make a living.....page 5 U.S. military personnel who That position ended following the election last November. He Color Earth Day Blue Green....page 6 have died in the Iraq War, now then went to work for the Citizens Federation as Outreach Unions win safety equipment fight...page 7 about 3,300. Coordinator, a position he will retain until he moves to the Organizer murdered....page 8 NEALC job. The Citizens Federation is the former Senior Railroads hazardous to workers, public...page 9 Federation-NE that has been doing a lot of labor’s advocacy work on public policy around health care, minimum and living Labor exhibit in Superior....page 10 wages, housing and more. Sharla Gardner joins council candidates.....page 11 McKenna will attend a 5-day AFL-CIO training session April Carpenter’s Keith Norris knew what to do....page 12 23-27 in Washington DC with 80 other new staffers. He will go Compound in cement cancerous.....page 13 to work with the NEALC upon his return. A small room in the 9-11 recovery workers health concerns ignored.....page 14 Duluth Labor Temple will serve as his office once it is set up with phone lines and a computer. McKenna’s expertise with Mesothelioma study on Iron Range.....page 16 computers and being able to create activist lists was a strong OSHA no poster boy for safety.....page 18 See Chad McKenna...page 19 Trades supporting troops again.....page 20 Help Stamp Out Hunger with NALC May 12 Debbie Haglin benefit By Yvonne Harvey, Director nationwide drive raised 70.5 has been 158,610 pounds of A fundraiser to benefit Debbie Community Services million pounds of food for food. Please be generous and (Siemsen) Haglin, a member of Everyday many hungry local food shelves, food banks set out non-perishable food by AFSCME Local 66 employed by St. Americans make impossible and pantries feeding the hungry your mailbox for your Letter Louis County Health & Human choices between the essentials NALC President William Carrier and volunteers to pick Services, will be held Sunday, April of living—paying utilities, rent H. Young noted that the up on Saturday, May 12, 2007. 29 at Mr. D’s Bar & Grill in West or mortgage, purchasing need- upcoming summer months “are With your help we can exceed Duluth. ed medications, or buying a particularly critical time for 200,000 pounds for our local Debbie was diagnosed with food. Each year since 1993, millions of children whose food shelves that serve the hun- Hodgkins disease in 1993 and since the National Association of school lunch programs are sus- gry people in our community. then with Myelodysplastic Syndrome Letter Carriers (NALC) spon- pended until fall and their fam- Help us Stamp Out Hunger! and leukemia. She is waiting for a sors its Annual National Food ilies must find alternate sources With an effort this enor- bone marrow transplant. Drive on the second Saturday of nutrition.” mous--just think that’s a 100 The spaghetti dinner will be from in May, the 12 this year, to help This year the Twin Ports tons that has to be moved a 4 to 6 p.m. at a cost of $10 for adults, alleviate hunger in America. area NALC Food Drive couple of times--volunteers are $5 for children 12 and under. Doors The NALC Food Drive has Committee has set a goal to needed on the day of the food open at 3:00 p.m. for the silent auction, raffles, and door prizes. become the largest single vol- collect 200,000 pounds of drive. If you are willing to help Live music will be provided by Rock Garden. unteer event in America each food. This includes donations to sort food or pick food up If you can’t attend, checks made out to “Debbie (Siemsen) year. In the first 14 years it col- received in Duluth, Proctor, with the carriers, pickup trucks Haglin Benefit” can be mailed to Donna Swanson, 6359 Maple lected over 765 million pounds Superior, Cloquet, Two are always needed, contact Grove Rd., Cloquet, MN 55720. Any Wells Fargo Bank will of food to feed hungry people. Harbors and Silver Bay. Our Yvonne Harvey at 728-1779. also take donations. Last year, the one day highest total locally--to date-- 7th Senate District DFL proudly presents: Health forum Don’t forget now... The Citizen’s Federation The Solon-Munger Dinner will host a health care forum in UAW Local 349 Rally--Saturday, April 21, AFSCME’s meeting hall on 9 to 1, Eichorn Motors, Grand Rapids Saturday, May 12 Sunday, April 22 from 1 to 3 as Lake Superior College part of the Cover the Uninsured Shelby Adolphson Fundraiser--Sunday, Week. Visit www.coverthe- April 22-1to 5, Billings Park Civic Club, With Special Guest uninsured.org for more infor- 3903 North 18th, Superior Speaker Al Franken mation about the effort or call Chad McKenna at the Citizens Silent Auction 6:00 p.m. Federation, 727-0207. I.U.O.E. Local 70 Dinner, Program follow Monthly Arrowhead Regional Meeting RSVP ASAP to: Edwards for Tuesday, May 8, 2007, 5:00 P.M. Terri Griffiths Prez meeting Duluth Labor Center, Hall B 525-3809 Rep. Jim Oberstar will be Dick Lally, Business Manager (651) 646-4566 [email protected] holding a meeting for support- ers of John Edwards presiden- Paid for by 7th Senate District DFL tial bid in the Duluth Labor Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 10 Temple’s Freeman Hall (B) on Sunday, April 22 at 11:00 a.m. Retirees’ Luncheon The meeting will allow FREE Family Edwards supporters to strate- Tuesday, May 1, 1:00 p.m. gize for building momentum for his campaign here. He is the Baja Billy’s--Fitger’s Mall Law Clinic former U.S. Senator from Steven J. Running North Carolina, who was John Child Support Thursday, April 26 Heat & Frost Insulators Local 49 Magistrate Kerry’s running mate in the 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. 2004 presidential campaign. ~Notice of Nomination~ Min No Aya Win Clinic Midwest School At our next regularly scheduled meeting, Friday, McKnight Room May 11, we will accept nominations for one Joint (East Entrance Door #5) Women Workers The Midwest School for Apprenticeship Committee member. 927 Trettel Lane Women Workers will take ~Dick Webber, Business Manager Bill Thompson Cloquet place July 29-Aug. 2 at the Falsani, Balmer, University of Iowa. Union Peterson & Quinn Women: Power Through Poli- Focus On tical Action info is at www. A New Hotel Is Opening & continuetolearn.uiowa.edu/ Fathers Families laborctr/html/ msww.htm And We Need Good Jobs _ Custody Issues The Sheraton will be opening in Downtown Duluth in _ Parenting Time IIBBEEWW 3311&224422 May. They are now hiring staff for their full service _ Child Support Issues hotel. UNITE HERE, the Hotel and Restaurant work- Megan Prebelich RReettiirreeeess’’ ers’ union, will be asking the hotel to allow their workers Attorney, Indian Snacks/Beverages Provided! to freely and openly choose to become union members. Legal Assistance LLuunncchheeoonn To apply for a job at the Sheraton go to the MN Panel will Sponsored by: Tues., April 24 Workforce Center, 320 W. 2nd St., Suite 205, Duluth. also include: FDL Human Services Keep in mind union members have average wages and Jeff Tibbetts 1:00 p.m. Fond du Lac Carlton County Office of Child benefits 33% greater than their non-union counterparts. Community Support & Collections Mexico Lindo Advocate 915 Cloquet Ave. UNITE HERE!Duluth Frank Goodwin For information call Members & Their Fond du Lac 2027 W. Superior St. 218-728-6861 Men’s Advocate (218) 878-3725 or 384-9568 Guests Welcome! [email protected] www.unitehere.org PAGE 2 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2007 Commissioner Keith Nelson’s damaging remarks an outrage By Alan Netland, President, Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body Unfortunately, as depress- On Thursday night, April 12, the Duluth AFL-CIO Central ing as this issue is to put Labor Body, at its regular monthly meeting, unanimously moved together there is so much more to go on record expressing its outrage regarding slavery com- that didn’t get included because ments made by St. Louis County Commissioner Keith Nelson, at of lack of space. Couple more a County Board meeting on February 27 of this year. ads and it would have been a Nelson’s comments have been well documented and need not 24-page paper that our finan- be repeated here. If there are any citizens of St. Louis County cial sheet desperately needs. who are not yet familiar with his remarks, they may be viewed The bottom line is a com- at www.youtube.com. Simply enter “Slavery in St. Louis mon theme in many of the sto- County?” and you can hear the words spoken directly by ries about why workplaces are Commissioner Nelson. The site has over 8,500 hits. so dangerous. The corporate When initially questioned about his comments, the Duluth bottom line has so much sway News-Tribune reported that Mr. Nelson denied making them. in their disregard for worker Subsequently he has complained that they were taken out of con- safety that our U.S. Dept. of text. To that complaint, we would challenge Commissioner Labor that should be regulating Nelson to provide us a context in which his words were appro- safety could care less under priate. GOP business leadership. See On April 10, when confronted by members of Duluth’s if we make the point minority community, Commissioner Nelson issued an apology Then on Monday the dead- so unapologetic as to render it a non apology. After complaining liest shooting rampage and long and bitterly about how personally offended HE was by his mass murder in U.S. history treatment since he made the remark, and after effectively declar- occurred at Virginia Tech ing that he cannot be held accountable for remarks made after University. The first of 32 peo- 12:00 noon, because he suffers from diabetes, and will not snack ple shot to death was a worker, during County Board meetings, Mr. Nelson took refuge in the a professor. No amount of safe- words so often used by the truly unapologetic “IF I said any- ty regulation could prevent that thing to offend.” Using the conditional word “if” indicates to us without making the whole that contributed to the year’s spark ignited it and it exploded. that Commissioner Nelson still does not take ownership of his country millions of closed and total of 47. It’s a non-union It was too expensive to replace remarks. He still does not understand how inciteful, how hurtful, well guarded communities. mine but those workers asked it or many others like it in use. and how otherwise damaging they were. Some tragedies can be the United Mine Workers The view of workers as At the meeting of the whole, directly following the County averted, however. Union to investigate for them expendable commodities in the Board meeting, a motion was made to issue a letter of apology Take the 12 preventable after a lighting strike was pursuit of profit, goes beyond on behalf of the entire board. The motion died for lack of a sec- deaths in the West Virginia blamed for the “accident.” the workplace. It’s this govern- ond. Later, a motion was made to develop a code of conduct for Sago Mine tragedy of last year Bulkhead seals to keep ment’s view of soldiers as well. St. Louis County Board members. This motion passed with two methane out, a two-way com- Each year my union, The Commissioners voting “no” - Dennis Fink and you guessed it, munication system to talk to Newspaper Guild, gives out the Keith Nelson. ~NOTICE~ trapped miners, real rescuers Heywood Broun Award for Organized labor certainly has had its share of historical blem- Next issues of Labor World (ICG had contracted those reporting. Lisa Chedekel and ishes regarding racial injustice and intolerance. It has also, how- are May 9, 23; June 6, 27; operations out and that compa- Matthew Kauffman of the ever, in the past half century, been a proud coalition partner in ny wasn’t even on site), faulty Hartford Courant won it this July 11, 25; Aug. 8, 29; the civil rights movement. Reverend Martin Luther King was ventilation, self-contained self- year with a series about shot while supporting members of AFSCME on that dark day in LABOR WORLD rescue units, spare oxygen sup- Defense Department decisions April, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. The Duluth AFL-CIO (ISSN#0023-6667) is published plies, and safe areas. That’s a to send mentally ill soldiers Central Labor Body, and its 16,000 represented members in the semi-monthly except one issue in lot of things going against back to fight in Iraq, with little December (23 issues). Duluth area, will not sit idly by when elected leadership in our The known office of publication is those miners. See the report at or no treatment. community make such ill-informed, hurtful, and racist com- Labor World, 2002 London Road, http://www.umwa.org/press PAI said in “Mentally Unfit, ments. Room 110, Duluth, MN 55812. releases/mar07/031507.shtml Forced To Fight,” “the Henry Banks, Portia Johnson, Rev. Denita Williams, and Periodicals postage is paid at Take the British Petroleum reporters found senior military Wayne Patterson, the Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body Duluth MN 55806. tragedy in Texas City last year. officials sent troops into com- stands shoulder-to-shoulder with you in demanding a heartfelt POSTMASTER: Investigators say like most bat, despite clear evidence of Send address changes to: apology from Commissioner Nelson -- an apology that clearly Labor World, 2002 London Rd., “accidents” everything is done bipolar disorder, depression, shows an understanding of the effects of his comments. Room 110, Duluth, MN 55812 after rather than taking care of suicidal episodes and Post Anything less ought to be unacceptable to all the citizens of St. problems beforehand. Loom- Traumatic Stress Trauma. And 6 7 Louis County. Let this unfortunate statement however, become a ing disasters were evident at fewer than 1 in 300 see a men- catalyst to spark a truly constructive dialogue about race rela- (218) 728-4469 that and many other petro- tal health professional before tions in our County and in our City. FAX: (218) 724-1413 chemical plants over some- being deployed. Treatment in [email protected] thing called a blowdown drum. the field is anti-depressants and www.laborworld.org Press Associates Inc. says a return to combat.” What’s In Your Gangbox? ~ ESTABLISHED 1896 ~ Owned by Unions affiliated with the OSHA told BP 13 years ago it See you Monday morning Weather-proof trade data and Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body should replace it. When it April 23 for Workers Memorial safety decals for crane signals, Subscriptions: $22 Annually broke down it let loose the Day as we remember Mike rigging, welding, pile driving, Larry Sillanpa, Editor/Manager equivalent of an entire tanker Rathjen, Arne Fliginger, Andy drill press & other data from: Deborah Skoglund, Bookkeeper truck of gasoline into the refin- Reed, and Shelby Adolphson, Board of Directors ery area. The gas vaporized, a who is still fighting for life. President/Treas. Mikael Sundin, “Quote, Unquote” 5739 Rose Road Painters & Allied Trades 106; Duluth, MN 55811 V.P. Paul Iversen, BMWED 1710; "It is possible that nearly half the workers would Sec. Marlys Wisch, CWA 7214; 218-729-7282 Tom Selinski, IBEW 242; not even be aware that a union organizing campaign [email protected] Laurie Johnson, AFSCME Co. 5; was going on." www.duluthdecal.com Lynette Swanberg, MN Nurses; ~Secretary of Labor Elaine Choa, April 12, to National Assn. Data & reference charts for Mike Kuitu, Operating Engineers 49; Al LaFrenier, UNITE HERE! of Women in Construction trade show in Maine on the Bush all trades at a worker’s fin- Shane Sweeney, BCTWGM 167G Administration’s opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act gertips. Great for apprentices! Bob Jones, Millwrights Local 1348 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2007 PAGE 3 Workers Memorial Day will shine more light on Bush’s terrible record by Mike Hall the job. were sent ergonomic hazard • Addressing long-ignored law. www.aflcio.org/blog Along with remembering alert letters following inspec- but long-recognized hazards • Developing a workplace [email protected] fallen workers, Workers tions. But some of those that have received little atten- standard for the 9 million It’s been more than 30 years Memorial Day every year ergonomic alerts are from as tion. health care workers and since Congress passed the offers a chance for us to focus far back as 2002 and the fol- • Fighting the ergonomic responders who face the threat nation’s first comprehensive on how much more needs to be low-ups do not include a re- hazards that still cripple and of a flu pandemic. workplace health and safety done to ensure workers’ jobs inspection to determine if the injure more workers than any A few days before Workers law—the 1970 Occupational don’t kill and maim them. hazard was corrected but relies other workplace hazard. Memorial Day, we will release Safety and Health Act, champi- At rallies, memorial servic- upon the employers’ report. • Protecting Latino and Death on the Job, the 2007 edi- oned by unions and their allies. es, marches and meetings, OSHA did say inspections immigrant workers who are tion of the AFL-CIO’s compre- Since then, safety and health workers also will spotlight the could occur if the agency is not being killed on the job in hensive, state-by-state, occupa- activists have continued to Bush administration’s failed satisfied with the response. record numbers. tion-by-occupation analysis of fight for new and stronger and flawed safety policies and Workers and their unions • Preventing coal mine the most recent job safety sta- workplace safety protections record. Working closely with have fought and won many sig- deaths that more than doubled tistics. The 16th edition also that have saved thousands of its corporate friends, the nificant safety battles. But con- last year. will examine the Bush admin- lives and prevented many, administration has withdrawn sidering the Bush administra- • Bringing the protection of istration’s record, actions and many more injuries. dozens of important new safety tion’s years of inaction, there is the OSH Act to the millions of funding for job safety since Despite the progress, every rules and favored voluntary much more to accomplish, workers not covered by the taking office in 2001. year, thousands of workers still compliance—telling employ- including: are killed on the job, while mil- ers “police yourself”—over • Passing and enforcing MnDOT one of few employers lions more are injured or made tough new protections and tough, new penalties for com- to observe Workers Memorial ill. On April 28, the AFL-CIO enforcement. panies that repeatedly break union movement, workplace The most recent example job safety laws. Today, weak With Workers Memorial Day falling on Saturday, April 28 safety activists and even the occurred last week when the penalties serve as little deter- this year Minnesota Department of Transportation District 1 will global union movement will Occupational Safety and rent. observe it on Thursday, April 26 said John Bray, Special observe Workers Memorial Health Administration (OSHA) • Revising out-of-date and Assistant to the District Engineer in Duluth. MnDOT has recog- Day to honor the men and announced it finally would fol- inadequate workplace health nized Workers Memorial Day for a number of years, one of the women killed and injured on low up with employers who and safety standards. few employers that does. As part of their observance District 1 workers are asked to wear their official Workers Memorial Day lapel pins on April 26. This Workers’ Memorial Day we remember... Other District observations on April 26 will include: • Displaying a Workers Memorial Day message to the motor- Ironworker 512’s Mike Rathjen & Arne Fliginger ing public on portable message signs in Duluth and Virginia; 2. Displaying Workers Memorial Day posters at all facilities; Andrew Reed, a Forbes electrical supervisor 3. A special Workers Memorial Day audio message from Lt. USW 9460’s Shelby Adolphson Governor & Transportation Commissioner Carol Molnau will be played over the public address systems during the early after- noon in Duluth and Virginia. Following her message, a moment and their families. of silence will be observed to remember and pay tribute to trans- As we remember all portation workers who have lost their lives while serving the users of Minnesota’s highways. workers who have been 4. A special Workers Memorial Day News Release will be victimized by their distributed by District 1 to all news media in the region. employment, we renew our fight for strong Proven leadership for workplace safety and health protections, and our Union’s future! world peace, so nations’ ELECT resources can be used to help people. Workers Mike Unions lead the Memorial Day Arezzo struggle for better 2007 working conditions, Business Manager dignity, and respect on Organize/Mobilize IBEW Local 31 the job for all workers. For Safe Jobs! As a 20-year member of our local union I realize what Join us for a free breakfast 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., Monday, needs to be done to improve the lives of all our members. April 23, in the Duluth Labor Temple's Wellstone Hall. I’m hardworking and will be accessible to all members. A Memorial Ceremony at 9:15 a.m. will remember all our + IBEW Local 31 Vice President brothers and sisters who have lost their lives, been injured + IBEW Local 31 Job Steward and/or fallen victim to disease as a result of workplace + Completed U-W Madison hazards or the Iraq war. We’ll call on Congress to not jeopard- Business Manager Training School ize workers’ lives by destroying our workplace safety rights. I’d appreciate your vote in our mail-in ballot election that will be held in May. Thank You! Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body Paid for by Mike Arezzo on his own behalf PAGE 4 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2007 Construction workers face high job risks By Michael Kuchta more likely to be killed on the Construction workers also ST. PAUL (Feb. 18, 2007) - job than workers in general. have one of the highest rates of WORKERS’ More workers are killed on A total of 5,702 workers workplace injuries and illness- construction jobs than in any suffered fatal injuries on the es. They suffer more than 11 MEMORIAL other occupation, according to job in 2005, according to pre- percent of all injuries, even the latest workplace fatality liminary statistics. Of those though they make up only 6 figures from the federal Bureau deaths, 1,186 (or 20.8 percent) percent of the workforce. DAY of Labor Statistics. were from construction acci- In Minnesota, there were Construction fatalities dents. 8.6 reported injuries or illness- accounted for more than 1 in 5 Nationally, there were 48 es per 100 full-time equivalent In memory of the deceased members of the workplace deaths in the U.S. in fewer construction deaths in construction workers in 2004, 2005. In addition, construction 2005 than in 2004. the most recent year for which Duluth Federation of Teachers, Local 692 workers were nearly 3 times In Minnesota, however, complete statistics are avail- construction deaths increased able. That compares with a rate from 16 in 2004 to 25 in 2005. of 5.3 cases for workers in gen- We have all benefited by their In North Dakota, construc- eral, according to the state I want to help tion deaths decreased from 5 to Department of Labor and contributions to the union, $ you save money. 0; in South Dakota, they rose Industry. $$ from 3 to 6. About 44 percent of Minne- Nationally, there were 11 sota construction injuries are to education deaths per every 100,000 con- serious enough to require time (218) 728-6803 struction workers in 2005. That off from work, a work restric- and to the community. Call me today! compares with the overall tion, or a job transfer. On aver- You may qualify for workplace fatality rate of 4 per age, these injured workers are money-saving auto 100,000. Three other occupa- off the job for 10 days, the insurance discounts. Jerome E Siljendahl Agency Duluth 2002 London Rd Ste 200 tional categories – agriculture, Bureau of Labor Statistics says. (218) 728-6803 Bus Duluth, MN 55812 mining and transportation -- The bureau has not released had higher fatality rates. similar injury figures for North Federation of Teachers Laborers accounted for 26 Dakota or South Dakota. percent of construction deaths, From the Lakes and Plains Local 692 © 2000 American Family Mutual Insurance Company and its Subsidiaries the bureau says. Carpenters Regional Council of Home Office - Madison, WI 53783 z www.amfam.com accounted for 10 percent of the Carpenters magazine. NA-16942 construction deaths. Unions have worked hard to improve jobsite safety. As we’ve found out the hard way, politicians are able to legislate it away. Know who it is that you’re voting for! from your friends in the 19 affiliates of the -?@JGI@C & Iron Range Building Trades Council N<AF@EK?<D@CC@FEJ Contact us - we can direct you to high quality 8IFLE;FLIE8K@FE contractors who use highly skilled, area workers. N?F?FEFIK?FJ< President John Grahek, 1-218-741-2482 Recording Secretary Dennis Marchetti N?F?8M<=8CC

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LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2007 PAGE 5 Color Earth Day Blue Green at UMD “Environmentalists and 1:00 p.m., 70 Montague Hall. the Blue-Green Alliance, will In Remembrance Labor: On the Same Page At The event is free and the together explain one of the Last” is the title of an Earth public is invited. most significant environmental Day presentation by The Margrete Strand Rangnes, developments in the past of Our Fallen Center for Advocacy and of the Sierra Club’s Responsi- decade, the emerging alliance Political Leadership at UMD ble Trade program, and David between the environmental Saturday, April 21 from noon- Foster, Executive Director of movement and organized labor. Brothers & Sisters “Margrete Rangnes and It’s so sad that each year we David Foster are two of the have workers who were victimized by international leaders in the Carlton County Central their jobs to remember. entire blue-green movement,” according to CAPL Director Through the good work of Unions the Wy Spano “They have been at Labor Body, AFL-CIO numbers of those who are remembered the forefront of changing the have been greatly reduced. political dynamics of environ- mentalism and their story is a Identifying risks to your safety and fascinating one.” Rangnes, a native Norwe- health is the first step in reducing the gian, became involved in glob- alization issues as a student large number of avoidable workplace opposed to Norway joining the European Union in 1994. In deaths and injuries that occur. 2004, after seven years with Public Citizen’s Global Trade WORK SMART Watch, she joined the Sierra STAY SAFE REMEMBER Club. She co-facilitates the Our Paid for by the Mary Murphy Volunteer Committee, 5180 Arrowhead Rd. Hermantown, MN 55811 World Is Not For Sale Network, the premier interna- tional network on World Trade Organization (WTO) issues. IN MEMORIAM... Foster, was the United To our Brothers of Iron Workers Local 512, Steelworkers District 11 Direc- tor from 1990-2006. His whose deaths occurred while on the job responsibilities included nego- Winston Churchill, White Pine, MI, tiating with many of the coun- Load of hoisted iron fell-- try’s largest steel, iron ore and Leo Podvin, U.S.Steel, Duluth Works, Fall-- aluminum companies. He co- Orlen Rehbein, Ironwood, MI, chaired the USW’s initiative to Fall from sheeting scaffold-- establish a global network of aluminum unions. He chaired Hank Shields, Fall-- the USW’s Task Force on the Leroy LeClaire, Cooley Taconite, Fall during Environment and authored its Too many of our members have had installation of grinding mill-- 2006 policy statement. In 2004, Ron Wiski, Silver Bay, Fall-- he was awarded the Jane their lives cut short, or the quality Bob Weideman, Blatnik High Bridge, Fall-- Lehman Bagley Award from Reino Hendrickson, Eveleth Taconite, Fall the Tides Foundation for his of their lives severely affected, by during installation of overhead door-- work building labor/environ- Guy Axtell, Grand Rapids’ Blandin, mental coalitions in the U.S. the materials they use and condi- Hit by falling piece of iron-- Kenneth Maki, Hibbing, Fall from building-- tions they work under every day. Joe Parendo, Head injuries from fall, spent 25 years totally disabled-- We take Len Pistilli, Mt. Iron Minntac, Crane ball fell-- John Puttonen, Hoyt Lakes, Burns Safety from furnace explosion-- Johnny Carlson, Soo Locks, Fall-- Jeff Anderson and Charles Sarasin, Fall at Supports Duluth’s 16,000+ Quinnisec, MI-- Hard-Working Men & Women John Casper, Crushed by boom of Organized Labor. Workers’ in Aurora-- Darryl Roe, John Zager and Roy Salo, Heart failure on job Memorial Robin Sutter, Fall at University of Minnesota, Nicholson Hall Day Arne Fliginger, Fall from crane at Minneapolis Carlyle condos Mike Rathjen, Fall at the Two OTE very Harbors Ore Docks Jeff Anderson seriously. Iron Duluth City Council At Large On November 6th, 2007!

Workers Visit Painters & Allied www.votejeffanderson.com Local 512 for more information! Trades Local 106 Duluth, MN. Prepared and paid for by Jeff Anderson for Duluth, P.O. Box 385, Duluth, MN 55801 William Leino, Treasurer Leading the Way to Safety thru Training PAGE 6 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2007 Labor finally beats Bush’s DOL over All your safety needs under one roof employer-supplied safety equipment (PAI)--Under pressure from hand, including sending it out died while the rule has been in a lawsuit filed by the United for comments and drafting it, limbo. We expect a strong final Food and Commercial Workers but it hadn’t written it yet. rule this November.” and the AFL-CIO, the Bush Despite the further delay, Hansen’s million-plus- Labor Department has finally both the union and the federa- member union includes hun- agreed to issue a new federal tion were glad workers will dreds of thousands of workers rule forcing all businesses to now have their firms furnish in meatpacking, poultry pro- buy personal safety equipment the personal protective equip- cessing and construction, who for their workers. ment--gloves, goggles, hard- are particularly vulnerable to The personal protective hats and the like--at company injuries and especially in need VIKING INDUSTRIAL NORTH equipment (PPE) rule will take expense, not their own. UFCW of the goggles, gloves, metallic 4730 Grand Avenue, Duluth, Minnesota 55807 effect in November, almost and the AFL-CIO went to court aprons and hardhats to protect eight years after a federal safe- on Jan. 3 to force Bush’s DOL themselves. But unless those (218) 624-4851 Toll Free 800-232-1367 ty panel told the Labor to act, and the judge ordered it workers have been exposed to FAX (218) 624-4788 [email protected] Department a nationwide rule to do so a month later. specific hazards for which is needed --not just rules that “This is a victory for work- OSHA issued protective equip- covered specific workers in ers who have suffered need- ment rules, their employers did specific industries. lessly while awaiting action by not have to buy them the safety That’s also more than four the Bush Administration,” said equipment. Now they will. years after DOL first promised UFCW President Joe Hansen. “We applaud the decision to it would take the last step and “According to OSHA’s own finally issue a final rule on write the promised rule. It had estimates, 400,000 workers employer payment for their done everything else before- have been injured and 50 have employees’ protective equip- ment” said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. “This rulemak- ing has taken far too long.” But Sweeney also made clear that issuing the personal protective equipment rule was one thing AFSCME Council 5, AFL-CIO and enforcing it was another-- and that he doesn’t trust Bush’s Mike Buesing, Council 5 President Labor Department to do that. “We will be monitoring the Eliot Seide, Council 5 Executive Director Department of Labor’s actions to make sure they honor this commitment and issue a strong, protective rule,” Sweeney warned. Increasing workplace safety will improve all of our lives ZENITH ADMINISTRATORS, INC. 2520 Pilot Knob Road, Suite 325 Mendota Heights, MN 55120 651-256-1900 750 Torrey Building Duluth, MN 55802 218-727-6668 We Remember with sorrow and pride on On Workers’ Memorial Day we ask all workers Workers’ Memorial Day to Remember Those Who Have Fallen on the our City of Duluth job, and to... Employees who have died For the in the line of duty. RIGHTS Mayor Herb Bergson and Councilors of the Russ Stover, President LIVING! Laurie Johnson, Greg Gilbert, Garry Krause, Tim Little, Don Ness, Jim Stauber, Russ Stewart, UFCW Local 1116 Roger Reinert Steve Gilbertson, President

LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2007 PAGE 7 Mexican organizer beaten to death Remembering Working Families by James Parks the target of break-ins with a new life. www.aflcio.org/blog files and equipment destroyed. FLOC has asked the AFL- wishing you the Santiago Rafael Cruz, 29, Cruz had worked for FLOC CIO and Rep. Marcy Kaptur’s best each work day an organizer for the Farm for more than four years in the (D-Ohio) office to request the Workers’ Labor Organizing Committee U.S. heading up the Monterrey U.S. State Department press was found bound and beaten to office for less than a month, the Mexican government to Memorial death April 10th in the said a FLOC organ- conduct a thor- Monterrey, Mexico office. izer. ough and speedy day... FLOC opened an office He was full of investigation to renewing our next to the U.S. Consulate life, a great organiz- bring the killers to commitment there in 2005 to help members er. He had just got- justice. to safe jobs coming to North Carolina as ten close to the In a statement guest workers in processing church. He had on its website, their visas, to fight corruption become a born- FLOC says: Peg in the recruitment process and again Christian only “Since our to develop leaders and train some months ago breakthrough Sweeney members. The office has been and was looking for Santiago Rafael Cruz agreement in St. Louis County Commissioner F District 5 North Carolina in Paid for by Peg Sweeney Volunteer Committee 2004, FLOC has had to battle against anti-union hostility in Workers’ Memorial Day the South’s “right-to-work” environment. We have put up “A day to remember fallen with constant attacks in both the U.S. and Mexico—includ- and injured workers” ing having our office burglar- ized and broken into several times and a number of other attempted break-ins. Now the Don L. Bye attacks have come to this.” ATTORNEY To donate money to help transport Cruz’s body back to 1000 Torrey Building Mexico City or help pay for his funeral and other expenses, Duluth, MN 55802 send a check payable to: FLOC, c/o Santiago Tragedy (218) 733-0745 Fund, 1221 Broadway St., Toledo, Ohio 43609. LSALMA~~Celebrating 25 Years of Supporting Labor & Cooperative Labor/Management Safety Committees OUR MISSION: "To establish and maintain mutually beneficial relationships between organized labor and employers in the Western Lake Superior Area by promoting open communication, trust, honesty and respect through joint training and education.” LSALMA supports the safety of all workers through Labor Management Safety Committees W e A p p r e c i a t e Y o u r and sends our condolences to the families who P a t r o n a g e ! have lost loved ones to industrial accidents. The only Reef worth steering LSALMA's ANNUAL MEETING & DINNER into has on Wednesday, May 23 will focus on Health Care Issues. The Guest Happy Hour 4-7 p.m. Speaker will be former U.S. Senator David Durenberger, a national leader on health care issues. His appearance is sponsored by the City 7 Days a week of Duluth, ALLETE/Minnesota Power, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1116, St. Luke's Hospital and SMDC. Tuesday is karaoke night Mark your calendar for our 18th annual Golf Outing July 11 Live bands Friday & Saturday, 9 to 1 a.m., and... Tony Orman The largest game room in town! Executive Director [email protected] We can set-up small employee parties Visit us at www.LSALMA.org THE REEF LAKE SUPERIOR AREA LABOR MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, INC. In the Labor Temple, 2002 London Road, Duluth PAGE 8 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2007 Railroads weak at protecting workers, public from hazardous materials WASHINGTON (PAI)-- ble liquids and pesticides,” said Training In Hazmat And The problem isn’t just acci- ties should “assemble citizens The nation’s railroads have CRS Executive Director Rail Security: Current Status dents, such as the fatal release and associated organizations to taken weak or no action to pro- Patricia Abbate. “This amounts And Future Needs by NLC fac- of chlorine near a Graniteville, assert their right to know about tect either their workers or to 1 million tons of hazardous ulty members Ruth Rutten- S.C., school in 2005 that killed risks.” communities from fatalities material being transported berg, Brenda Cantrell and BLE-member engineer and • Preventive measures and injuries due to explosions across the nation every day. Maria Luzo, is the second prompted the first report. It’s should include “upgrading and of hazardous materials shipped It’s time for the railroads to major union report on rail secu- also the terrorism threat. The securing cars and infrastruc- on rail lines, a recent National start investing more time, ener- rity. Earlier, the Teamsters Rail NLC report noted that from ture--rail yards, tracks, bridges Labor College report says. gy and resources into a system Conference, which includes 1988-2003 “there were 181 and tunnels--against the threats The report by the Massa- that will bring the industry’s both BMWE and BLE, sur- acts of terror worldwide of hazmat incidents, accidental chusetts-based Citizens for safety up to the standards of the veyed rail workers. involving railroads and related or premeditated.” The report Rail Safety, demands more 21st century,” she added. The NLC report said the targets.” Those figures do not also demands rail lines “mini- security on rail lines and in “Just one 90-ton rail car of nation’s first responders--Fire include the train bombing in mize the use of cars for chemi- yards, discontinuing storage of chlorine, involving an accident Fighters, police and EMTs-- Madrid or attacks on the cal storage, replace cars in poor hazardous materials in unat- or act of terrorism, could create also lack the training and data London subways. condition, where possible re- tended tank cars, and mandato- a toxic cloud 40 miles long and about hazards. It said railroads NLC recommended training route hazmat shipments to ry training of both rail workers 10 miles wide and kill as many do not supply the information. and preventive measures: avoid rail transport through and first responders in haz- as 100,000 people in 30 min- “Citizens in rail communi- • “Organize and stage rigor- major population centers” ban ardous materials recognition utes,” the NLC report says. ties generally know little about ous joint training exercises trains from leaving terminals and response. It also demands House Homeland Security the hazmats moving through with fire, police, dispatchers “without proper paperwork” railroads tell communities what Committee Chairman Bennie their towns and do not know and emergency medical per- and “hire more rail police.” hazardous materials being Thompson (D-Miss.) told con- what to do should there be an sonnel at hospitals” along with Thompson and other speak- shipped through, and fines and ferees he intends to get the gov- emergency. Rail hazmats often “critically needed awareness, ers urged those measures, but proposes large penalties for ernment to devote more money run through densely populated preparedness, prevention and they face opposition from the firms that don’t comply. and effort to security threats to areas. And there are few emergency response” training railroad industry, which has “Railroads transport more modes of transportation forums that bring together rail for rail workers. earned record profits, Abbate than 1.7 million shipments of besides airlines, the main focus workers, emergency respon- • “Require rail carriers to warned. hazardous materials every year, of Bush’s Homeland Security ders and citizens to learn about develop a worker training pro- And while the report did not including 100,000 tank cars Department. Other speakers and plan for rail hazmat inci- gram and train all of their rail mention it, in one notable case with toxic materials such as were Fire Fighters, Locomo- dents. There are very few joint workers within one year.” the GOP Bush administration chlorine, anhydrous ammonia, tive Engineers, and Mainte- training exercises,” the report • “Training must include joined the CSX railroad’s suc- cyanide compounds, flamma- nance of Way Employees. adds. specific knowledge of what cessful suit against a local hazmats are transported emergency ordinance. That through one’s community. law banned tank cars full of Railroads should provide regu- hazardous materials--such as 733-0100 lar information” about their chlorine--from running on a KOLAR hazmat shipments, but do not, rail line that sweeps within two the report said. And communi- blocks of the U.S. Capitol. www.kolarnet.com A U T O M O T I V E G R O U P RailroadRailroad WWorkers...orkers... On Workers’ Memorial Day When Others Won’t...KOLAR Will We honor and remember our brothers and sisters in rail labor who have lost their lives or suffered serious injuries. 4781 Miller Trunk Hwy., Duluth, MN You Shall Not Be Forgotten! HUNEGS, LENEAVE & KVA S In Memory... Attorneys at Law Representing Railway Labor Of our departed members, and Practicing in All Aspects of who have died as a result of work- Labor Law for over a Half Century related accidents, injuries or illnesses. ...In Their Honor This Workers’ Memorial Day

HUNEGS, LENEAVE & KVA S 900 Second Avenue South, Suite 1650 Minneapolis, MN 55402 612-339-4511 1-800-328-4340 ~Investigators~ Arnie Flagstad Clyde Larson Superior, WI. Duluth, MN Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 11 715-394-5876 218-348-3091 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2007 PAGE 9 Exhibit features Superior’s labor tradition A two-phase exhibit on the sands of men were employed in early 1800s, but their influence history of Superior’s labor street and sewer projects, the spanned the nation by the end movement will be created at shipyards and railroads. In fact, of the century. He begins his the Douglas County Historical the flourishing expansion of account of Duluth’s labor Society, 1101 John Avenue. railroads played an enormous movement in 1889, with what Labor will be the first interpre- part in our nation’s economy he describes as “the bloodiest tive exhibition in the new loca- and subsequent need for labor- strike in Duluth’s history.” tion of the DCHS. ers. Immigrants, arriving in That is a point to begin The first phase, entitled “All droves filled that need, and Superior’s labor story as well We Ask is $2 a Day,” will focus companies took advantage of as local strikes paralleled on two strikes before 1900 and them paying low wages. strikes taking place across the open on May 1, with round- Dr. Richard Hudelson country, such as the Haymarket table discussions and speakers points out in his book “By the Strike in 1886 and the Pullman beginning at 5:30 pm. It will be Ore Docks: A Working Strike almost a decade later in funded by a donation from the People’s History of Duluth”, 1894, led by the American Superior Federation of Labor labor unions existed since the Railroad Union (ARU). and the Wisconsin Labor History Society. Wis. Labor History Conf. 8 hours for work... The second, larger exhibit, The 26th Annual Conference of the Wisconsin Labor History expanding on strikes and the Society will be Saturday, April 28 at UW-Madison. people who led them, will open American Labor, U.S. Foreign Policy and War: From the 8 hours for rest... September 4th. ‘Cold War’ to the ‘War Against Terrorism’ is the theme for the Superior has a very rich conference that has a $25 registration fee. 8 hours for what we will... labor history. As one of the Registration may be made at www.wisconsinlaborhistory. largest cities in Wisconsin in org. For more information contact WLHS President Ken That doesn’t seem unreasonable does it? the 1880s and 1890s, thou- Germanson at 414-449-4767, ext. 124. In Northern Minnesota we know too many lives that have had those last two “8 hours” cut short or ruined by those first “8 hours.” Mesothelioma and other terrible diseases are found here at much higher rates than elsewhere, killing workers and destroying families. Why are answers so hard to come by? All Thrifty White and White Drug Seth Oliver and his associates will be touting how good they are for the local economy when they go asking for taxpayers dollars for another project. Don’t tell that to members Pharmacies are participating pharmacies of Carpenters #361 and Laborers #1091, who were picketing his project at the old Western Bank on Grand Ave. Oliver hired non-union Dan Johnson for your prescription health plan. Construction, who he also used in remodeling the old We can fill your 90 day supply and for convenience we offer Proctor middle school. Johnson is not interested in what the our Ready refill™ program for automated refills. We can fill two unions have to say as he drives down wages and bene- your medication order in 3 or 4 days instead of 10 to 14 as fits using non-union labor from outside the area. you are accustomed to seeing using traditional mail order. WE ALSO OFFER: USED CAR LOANS AT • Free mail out service NEW CAR RATES • Free in town delivery • 30 day private charge accounts • Free blood pressure checks e appreciate area • Order your prescriptions by Wworkers, your phone, 24 hours a day Pharmacists Lowell Jaques and commitment to this • Many convenient locations in Cindy Doe and Manager Debbie region and share your Minnesota and North Dakota Isakson are ready to help. dedication to quality! • 122 years of pharmacy service in the upper Midwest

Ⅲ Quality 4-Color Printing Your local White Drug Pharmacy is more reliable Ⅲ In-House Creative Design than mail order. We are always available to answer Ⅲ Computer Forms & Checks your questions face to face with a local pharmacist. Ⅲ Union Contracts • 1997 and newer vehicles • As low as 5.95% APR* For a listing of all locations visit www.thriftywhite.com • 48-month term • Ask about 1996 and older financing. Ⅲ Letterheads & Envelopes Ⅲ Color & High Speed Copies Ⅲ Gathering & Stitching Pinetree Plaza Ⅲ Laminating Inside Super One Foods Your neighborhood credit union 114 West Superior St. • Duluth, MN 55802 Cloquet, MN Hermantown: 218-729-7733 • Duluth: 218-728-3850 218-722-4421 • Fax 218-722-3211 www.hermantownfcu.org 218-879-6768 • 1-800-967-3421 * A.P.R = annual percentage rate, rates based on past credit history, includes HFCU Auto Pay Discount. Store hours: Mon-Fri 9am - 8pm • Sat 9am - 5:30pm • Sun 11am - 5pm PAGE 10 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2007 AFSCME’s Sharla Gardner to run for Duluth City Council, District 3 Laurie Johnson will well represented for labor by along with a host of other can- Russ Stewart and I don’t want didates including mayoral run again, Tony to lose that on the Council,” hopefuls Greg Gilbert and Meg Cuneo a first timer Gardner told delegates at the Bye, and council candidates AFSCME Local 66 Central Body meeting April Jeff Anderson and Tony Cuneo. Executive Board member and 12th. “And we need another The 3rd City Council Duluth AFL-CIO Central woman that supports labor on District includes Park Point, Labor Body delegate Sharla the Council.” Downtown Duluth, the East Gardner announced her inten- Laurie Johnson, a staff rep. and Central Hillsides, tions to run for 3rd District for AFSCME Council 5 and Observation Hill, and the west- Duluth City Council. also a CLB delegate, is the only ern side of Chester Creek. That seat is currently held woman on the City Council, Also announcing his inten- by outgoing councilor Russ representing the District 1. She tions to run for City Council Stewart, who attended announced she would run again At-Large last week was Tony Gardner’s April 5 press confer- this year and expects to be Cuneo. He has worked closely ence in City Hall. Gardner has challenged again by Todd with labor in the past as a chair been a strong campaign worker Fedora, who she beat in her of MPIRG at UMD, and with for Stewart in the past. first election. America Votes and the Young “The 3rd District has been District 1 is the Lakeside Voter Project. He is involved Surrounded by family, co-workers, and fellow union mem- area of eastern Duluth. with real estate and other busi- bers, AFSCME Local 66’s Sharla Gardner announced April Gardner said she was born ness ventures now. 5th that she is running for Duluth City Council District 3. and raised in a union household Chad McKenna, recently in Duluth and has never known hired as field coordinator for anything different. the North East Area Labor This nation has a terrible history of death, “I will be a voice for labor, Council (see page 1), is one of you know that, I’ll always be Cuneo’s campaign leaders. injury and illness in the workplace. there for you,” she said. About the one opponent that All working Americans owe a debt of has surfaced in her race, Dan Hartman, a 24-year old UMD gratitude to Unions for their efforts graduate who was Student Association president, Gardner in making work safer and more bearable. said she is glad young people are stepping forward to run but she feels she has a good chance Laurie Johnson read ac- of winning. She said she has Andrew &Bransky, PA counts of her first victory in already established a strong a city council race to fellow campaign committee. Central Body delegates last Hartmann was in attendance Tim Andrew ~ Aaron Bransky week in announcing. at the Central Body meeting Tony Cuneo Representing Unions and their Members Our Best Interests Are Best Protected By Safe Worksites 302 W. Superior St. Suite 300 Training Is The Key To Safety Duluth, MN 55802 218-722-1764 Twin Ports-Arrowhead Chapter of the In Remembrance NATIONAL ELECTRICAL of Fallen Workers, CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION APi Electric Bergstrom Electric Please Work safely Hibbing, MN Superior, WI APi Electric DECO, Inc Johanson Electric Wilson-McShane employs over 150 Duluth, MN Baxter, MN Cloquet, MN professionals who administer funds APi Technologies Duluth Electrical Kantor Electric throughout the Midwest. We provide Duluth, MN Contracting Inc. International Falls, MN stable, high quality and responsible third- AEC Electric Duluth, MN Laveau Electric party administration services for Taft- International Falls, MN Electric Systems Wrenshall, MN Hartley negotiated benefit funds. Agate Electric Duluth, MN M. J. Electric Two Harbors, MN Electrical Systems Iron Mountain, MI APS Technology Brainerd, MN North Country Wilson-McShane Group Energy & Air Systems Electrical Services Wilson-McShane Duluth, MN Superior, WI Laporte, MN CCoorrppoorraattiioonn Belknap Electric Great Lakes Energy Nylund Electric Since 1969 Superior, WI Duluth, MN Duluth, MN Matt Winkel - President Belknap Tel-Com Hart Electric Polyphase Electric Duluth, MN 3001 Metro Drive, Suite 500 2002 London Road, Suite 300 Superior, WI Hibbing, MN Bloomington, MN 55425 Duluth, MN 55812 Benson Electric Hoffmann Electric Seppala Electric 1-800-535-6373 1-800-570-1012 Hibbing, MN Superior, WI Brainerd, MN 3100 Broadway, Suite 805 1313 Berry Blvd. Benson Electric Holden Electric Service Electric Kansas City, MO 64111 Louisville, KY 50215 Virginia MN Baxter, MN Superior, WI 1-866-756-3313 1-888-522-3501 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2007 PAGE 11 Training helped Carpenter apprentice know how to help At 51, Keith Norris, a first him. It rolled three times and tions Manager Mike Peterson tim couldn’t see because of year apprentice with Carpen- came to stop upright, the and the victim’s family said facial trauma and cars were fly- ters Local 361, is a reliable guy. engine still running. that kept Mike Nobis alive. ing by on the highway. Keith So when he called his employ- “I pulled over and ran to the A good part of Nobis’ face gave him comfort and kept him er Legacy Custom Homes say- vehicle, didn’t see a driver, but was gone. Part of his lip and safe until help arrived.” ing he’d be late Dec. 16 there was blood everywhere,” half his moustache were later As part of the Carpenters because he needed to take a Norris related. “I shut off the found outside the vehicle. Apprenticeship Program, shower it was a curious call. engine and yelled ‘where are Rescue crews had a difficult apprentices are given First Only about half way through you’ figuring he couldn’t have time inserting a breathing tube Aide Training. Norris said he the day after he returned to gone anywhere. I went around because of his injuries and he had some training but it was 20 work did his co-workers find to the back and he was just needed a helicopter to get him years ago. At a benefit for out why. He had been covered coming to behind the back seat. to the hospital. He was blind, Nobis, Norris was embarrassed with blood. As he tried to crawl out I could could hardly hear and bleeding by the thanks he received for At 7:00 a.m. that morning as see how bad his head injuries profusely. Last rites were what he did. he was driving to work from were and I knew I needed to given, but Nobis is now recov- “It seems like all I did was his home in Floodwood on keep him still and calm so he ering. talk to him to keep him calm as Highway 73 north of Crom- wouldn’t go into shock.” “Keith stopped to aide best I could,” said Norris. “I well, an SUV started spinning That he did and Cromwell someone he didn’t know in didn’t want him to struggle or out of control as it approached Ambulance Service Opera- need,” said Peterson. “The vic- end up in a worse situation.” Since then Norris has thought about the accident and the Carpenter’s Local 361 Ap- importance of stopping to help. prentice Keith Norris helped “In this case it was an SUV save a car crash victim’s life. sitting on all four tires, still running,” Norris said. “I saw what happened but think of INTERSTATE everyone else that would have SPUR driven by in just seconds if they hadn’t seen the accident. No one might have ever known State Rep. David Dill is endorsed by: that someone was still in the 4DuluthIron RangeBuilding Building and Construction & Construction Trades Trades vehicle bleeding badly. It’s 4 important to stop and help any IronDuluth Range Building Building &and Construction Construction TradesTrades 4 Iron Range Labor Assembly 4 USWA District 11 way you can.” Iron Range Labor Assembly - MN AFL-CIO Peterson said many people 4 Minnesota Association of Professional Employees U.S. Steelworkers of America, District 11 would not do what Norris did 4Minnesota Farmers Union - PAC just because they’d be afraid of 2700 W. Michigan St. 4 DFL HousePaid for Caucus by David Dill Endorsed for 6A Committee; JoAnne 4 Pagel,Associated Treasurer, P.O.Contract Box 293, Orr, Loggers MN 55771 and Truckers being sued. He said maybe GAS - DIESEL 4 Norris doesn’t think he did GROCERIES International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers 633 anything that remarkable but 4 Minnesota School Board Association "House Legislator of Year 2004" the Nobis family knows he did. OPEN 24 HOURS Paid for by the David Dill for 6A Committee, Terrie Hoff, Treasurer, P.O. Box 293, Orr, MN 55771 In Memory... Of our many members who 5,702 killed by job injuries in 2005 have died 50,000 workers die each year from  
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International Association of Heat & Frost GOOD JOBS I SAFE JOBS Insulators and WorkerWORKERSs MEMORIAL Memorial DAY•APRIL Da 28y MinnesotaAFL-CIO Asbestos Workers April 28, 2007 AFL-CIO Local 49 PAGE 12 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2007 Protection against cancerous compound in cement in works Our jobs are very important, but (PAI)--The Laborers, the Teamsters and the AFL-CIO nothing is more important than Building and Construction Trades Department won federal agreement to inspect and protect construction workers against a getting home to our families safely. cancer-causing compound, hexavalent chromium, found in one of the most-common types of cement, Portland cement. I’ll work hard in the Senate on workplace The April 10 pact will order OSHA inspectors to make sure safety issues for working families. employers follow proper safety procedures--such as having proper washing facilities and protective equipment for workers- -against “hex chrome,” as it is called. Building Trades President Edward C. Sullivan said OSHA Senator Yvonne also must show which construction sites use Portland cement, so that the agency and BCTD can monitor exposure. Hexavalent Prettner Solon chromium is not only cancer-causing, but it’s a toxin to workers’ skin, eyes and lungs, BCTD said. Construction workers who Minnesota Senate District 7 F AFL-CIO & DFL Endorsed handle cement laced with the compound can also contract a career-ending disease, allergic contact dermatitis, it added. Paid for by the Prettner Solon Volunteer Committee, Elaine Hansen, Treasurer The Bush regime previously settled a long “hex chrome” law- suit with the Steel Workers and environmental groups. They sued because Bush’s government deliberately did not want to write a rule against the compound. Bush’s people finally moved Education Minnesota supports after the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia ordered them to do so, under threat of contempt of court. the labor community But that order excluded construction work, even though the unions and BCTD argued for protecting their workers, too. So they sued in 2006 to bring construction workers under the “hex Education Minnesota’s 70,000 members are educating the next chrome” protection standard. generation of Minnesota workers. “When wet, Portland cement is highly caustic and can cause cracking and thickening of skin when workers are exposed,” We support the labor community in its efforts to make BCTD safety and health director Pete Stafford said. Long expo- workplaces safe for all. sure to hex chrome “can cause severe caustic burns and can dam- age the skin so much that the worker requires skin grafts or even limb amputation,” he added. Inhaling dry Portland cement, with hex chrome in it, causes lung damage. (GXFDWLRQ0LQQHVRWDLVDQDI¿OLDWHRIWKH$PHULFDQ)HGHUDWLRQRI7HDFKHUVWKH1DWLRQDO(GXFDWLRQ$VVRFLDWLRQDQG$)/&,2

9LVLWZZZVFKRROV¿UVWRUJWR¿QGRXWKRZ\RX Thank You! can support public education in this state. ...to everyone who makes safety their top priority. Construction workers die from work-related illnesses Proud to be a union contractor and injury 8 to 12 years earlier than white-collar workers. LAKEHEAD Painting Co. We’re working to change that as we... “Serving the upper midwest since 1965!” Fight For The Living! FREE ESTIMATES! Superior, Wisconsin (715) 394-5799 Northern Wisconsin Building MOURN FOR THE DEAD, & Construction Trades Council FIGHT FOR THE LIVING, President Norm Voorhees, Ironworkers Local 512, (218) 724-5073 Vice President Dan Westlund, Jr. Secretary-Treasurer Larry Anderson AND STAY ALERT Boilermakers Lodge 107 Laborers Local 1091 (262) 798-1267 (218) 728-5151 FOR SAFETY FIRST! Bricklayers Local 2 Millwrights & Machinery Erectors (715) 392-8708 or (715) 835-5164 Local 1348-- (218) 741-6314 Carpenters Local 361 Operating Engineers Local 139 Cement (218) 724-3297 (715) 838-0139 Cement Masons, Plasterers & Painters & Allied Trades Local 106 Masons, Shophands Local 633-- (218) 724-6466 (218) 724-2323 Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 11 Electrical Workers Local 14 (218) 727-2199 Plasterers & (715) 878-4068 Roofers, Waterproofers Local 96 Electrical Workers Local 242 Shophands (218) 728-6895 (218) 644-1096 Insulators Local 49 Sheet Metal Workers Local 10 Local 633 (218) 724-3223 (218) 724-6873 Iron Workers Local 512 Teamsters Local 346 America’s Oldest Building Trades Union • Est. 1864 (218) 724-5073 (218) 628-1034 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2007 PAGE 13 Bush Administration ignoring health needs of 9-11 recovery workers By Mark Gruenberg Twin Towers collapsed: ammo- eases, the disabled Sferazo told That money would go to the extended to the other victims. PAI Staff Writer nia, asbestos, particulates, a U.S. House subcommittee. city Fire Department, which “Individuals who are now NEW YORK--Last year, other cancer-causing agents. Thousands of workers are lost 343 union Fire Fighters, suffering from 9/11 health John Sferazo, an Ironworker “I saw Mike’s two young sickening and dying from such and their priest, in the attacks, effects were responding to an from Local 361 in Brooklyn, children--they were no more ailments, witnesses added. The and to Mt. Sinai Hospital, act of war against this nation. who helped clean up debris than 8 years old--trying to group, including city medical which treats other first respon- The government is responsible from “The Pile”--the wrecked climb in the coffin to say good- and civic officials, testified the ders--but not those who dug for assisting them...especially World Trade Center after the bye to Daddy,” Sferazo said, Bush government harmed them into The Pile later, nor the kids for those who aided New York terrorist attacks that killed with tears in his eyes and a twice in the aftermath of 9/11: nor the community residents, in its time of need but now live more than 600 unionists and choked-up already raspy voice. Once by saying the air was safe who are treated at Bellevue in other states,” declared Linda 3,000 people overall--went to The rasp in Sferazo’s voice to breathe at “Ground Zero” Hospital which gets nothing. Gibbs, NYC’s deputy mayor the wake of Pile co-worker. is from the ailments he con- without masks and then by Bush officials told lawmak- for health and co-chair of its Sferazo got to the wake tracted as one of thousands of shortchanging programs to deal ers they are concentrating on World Trade Center health when only “Mike’s family and workers from around the coun- with their medical problems. documenting data of long- panel. The city wants a perma- close friends were there,” he try who spent months picking An NYC study, released last range health effects of 9/11, so nent dedicated fund to help pay says. Mike died of respiratory through and sorting the debris. year said 681,000 people could future claims are legitimate and victim’s health care costs. ailments contracted by breath- They loaded it onto trucks and be affected. That includes Pile victims who become ill in com- Besides the money, the con- ing in toxic gases and debris ferries and carted it off to the workers, lower Manhattan resi- ing years will really have been tinuing victims of 9/11 want from the cleanup of the ruins-- Staten Island landfill, without dents, school children and sickened by toxins. recognition of their ills, espe- ailments like those that afflict any protection for their bodies workers in nearby buildings That’s not good enough, the cially by a government that Sferazo and thousands of other and especially their lungs. where toxic debris and gases unionists and other witnesses told them it was safe to work workers and New York area Now they’re paying the price. wafted into rooms and heating, told the mostly sympathetic on The Pile without breathing residents after 9/11 attacks “I’m typical of the others ventilation and air conditioning subcommittee. The city report apparatus or even masks. Sferazo saw a heart-rending who stayed 29-32 days at the systems. estimates that between $250 That’s why Sferazo and the scene which brought home the site. My medical conditions The federal government’s million and $393 million will others hold the Bush govern- lasting impact of the attacks, are reactive airway disease, response to their plight? A be needed to treat all the future ment responsible for their ills. not just on the workers who restrictive airway disease, Bush budget proposal for $25 victims. The compensation “If I am to be the voice of died 9/11, but on those who are sinusitis, continual lung infec- million this year for follow-up fund, open only to families the responder,” the now-dis- sickening, dying and will con- tions, post-traumatic stress dis- study of the victims--just who lost kin in the terrorist abled Sferazo rasped, “then I tinue to die from the toxic com- order, anxiety, depression, enough for two of the three attacks, and which is now am outraged by the lack of binations unleashed when the sleep apnea” and gastric dis- treatment centers for them. closed, should be reopened and responsibility and loss of obli- gation this administration has towards us. We are clearly Workers’ Memorial Day being shown that we are expendable.George Bush came April 28, 2007 to the Trade Center and told us ‘We will never forget.’…Well, Observed Monday, April 23 we feel he forgot.” Please join us Monday, April 23 at the When was the Duluth Labor Temple for a free last time you breakfast (begins 7 a.m.) and a were on a roof? memorial (9:15 a.m.) remembering Did you think workers who have lost their lives in about getting workplace accidents. The day is a remembrance but also a call to renew down safely? our fight for strong safety and health That’s every protections for workers. day at work for us. Eliot Seide, Executive Director We’re Mary Theurer, Northern Director serious Eric Lehto, www.afscmemn.org Organizing Director about Local Unions “In the Public Service” in Northern Minnesota: SAFETY! #66--City, county, schools, others~~Alan Netland, President UNION #695--MnDOT~~John McGovern, President REPRESENTATIVES #718--Minnesota DNR~~Darryl Arola, President Marsh Stenersen #1092--Moose Lake Regional Treatment Center~~Diane Firkus, President Sarah Lewerenz #1123--Two Harbors Municipal~~Mitch Ekstrom, President Ken Loeffler-Kemp #1934--St. Louis County Jail Essential~~Dan Marchetti, President Laurie Johnson #2980--MN State Agricultural Employees~~Janet Nelson, President John Westmoreland #3558--Non-Profits~~Todd Kneebone, President Bob Buckingham #3801--UMD Clerical & Technical~~Denise Osterholm, President #3802--Silver Bay Veteran’s Home~~Susan Larson, President Give Us A Call RoofersRoofers #3887--Moose Lake Corrections~~Lance LaFrenier, President 1-218-722-0577 #4001--MN State Colleges/Universities~~Mary Falk, President LocalLocal 9696 PAGE 14 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2007 Unions have fought hard for years to improve We value our workers’ safety much more than the excellent quality of their work working conditions for all American workers. Our efforts have resulted in huge Thanks For improvements in safety since Working Safely! OSHA became law in 1970. Still, nearly 6,000 U.S. workers a year LAKEHEAD CONSTRUCTORS INC. are killed on the job, and every Twin Ports year attempts are made to gut Twin Cities Virginia, Minnesota Minnesota and federal OSHA to improve companies’ profit margins. 91 Years of Service! Mourn for the Dead 1916 - 2007 but continue to General Contractors, Engineers Fight for the Living! and Equipment Rental Specialists SHEET METAL WORKERS LOCAL 10 WW hen you are considering Our members work where your final resting in an unsafe industry! place will be, wouldn’t it We need the right to refuse give you comfort to know unsafe work and protection it was in a Union Cemetery? from discrimination for reporting injuries, illnesses and unsafe conditions! Teamsters We need a system of oversight Local 346 and coordination on represents multi-employer projects! workers at We need an Office of Calvary Construction Safety, Health and Education at OSHA! and Duluth Building & Construction Trades Council Oneota Boilermakers Lodge 647 ~ 724-6999 Millwrights & Machinery Erectors cemeteries Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 1348 ~ 741-6314 Local 1 ~ 724-8374 Operating Engineers Local 49 Carpenters Local 361 ~ 724-3297 ~ 724-3840 Cement Masons, Plasterers & Painters & Allied Trades Local 106 NOTHING Shophands Local 633 ~ 724-2323 ~ 724-6466 BUT THE Electrical Workers Local 242 Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 11 ~ 728-6895 ~ 727-2199 BEST FOR Elevator Constructors Local 9 Roofers, Waterproofers Local 96 ~ (612) 379-2709 ~ 218-644-1096 YOUR FAMILY! Insulators Local 49 ~ 724-3223 Sheet Metal Workers Local 10 ~ 724-6873 Iron Workers Local 512 ~ 724-5073 TEAMSTERSTEAMSTERS Sprinkler Fitters Local 669 Laborers Local 1091 ~ 728-5151 ~ (701) 281-1514 Teamsters Local 346 ~~ 628-1034 LLOCOCALAL 346346

LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2007 PAGE 15 Studies will look at high incidence of mesothelioma, airborne ore here The Minnesota Department asbestos. The other would a study in 2003, the first to ever larger numbers of people. the late 1980s. Between 1988 of Health (MDH) is proposing assess the health impact of spe- conclusively document the The new study will focus on and 2005, 136 cases of two new health studies on cific types of airborne mineral occurrence of mesothelioma in the same group of workers, mesothelioma were diagnosed workers’ health concerns in fragments generated by ore Minnesota mine workers. comparing workers who devel- in men who live in that part of northeastern Minnesota. processing activity on the east When that study was con- oped mesothelioma with those the state – more than twice the One would focus on the end of the Iron Range. ducted, MDH identified 17 who did not, in an effort to expected number. health of mine workers in the MDH proposed the new cases of mesothelioma in a determine what aspects of their Some of the elevation in region and mesothelioma, a mine worker study after receiv- group of 72,000 people who jobs placed them at risk. men can be explained by the rare, fatal form of cancer seen ing reports of additional meso- worked in Minnesota’s iron MDH investigators suggest- fact that over 5,000 people almost exclusively in people thelioma cases in a group of mining industry between the ed that the 17 original mesothe- once worked at an asbestos who have been exposed to mine workers who had been in 1930s and 1982. MDH has lioma cases were most likely ceiling tile factory in Cloquet. since identified 35 additional caused by exposure to “com- However, officials say that It says a lot about some employers cases of mesothelioma in that mercial” asbestos, which doesn’t account for all of the when unions can only get a safety group. MDH officials say it can includes a variety of products additional cases. It’s not clear committee through the collective take as long as 40 or 50 years to and materials including materi- how many of the 136 cases develop mesothelioma follow- als used in plumbing, carpen- have occurred in men who bargaining process. Their grieving ing exposure to asbestos. try, boiler operation, and main- were among the 72,000 mine comes because of more paperwork and The earlier study concluded tenance work. workers included in the 2003 hearings. Ours is for workers killed, that the original cases were The new study would focus study. The new study will most likely caused by exposure on possible past exposure of attempt to clarify that. injured, or made sick by their jobs. to forms of asbestos that are workers to taconite dust, as There has been no elevation found in a variety of industrial well as potential exposure to in mesothelioma rates among USW Local 1028 settings, and are not unique to commercial asbestos. women on the Iron Range. Affiliated with: the mining industry. The relationship between The second MDH study Minnesota Health Commis- respiratory disease and mining would assess the health risks ME Electmetal sioner Dianne Mandernach work has been a continuing associated with airborne miner- Lerch Bros. (Allouez) said the workers studied may concern on the Iron Range, al fragments from ore mined in Duluth Steel Fabricators also be at risk for other where unusually high rates of some areas on the east end of Cutler-Magner (Salt) asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma have been the Range. The risk assessment Township of Duluth (Police) lung cancer and asbestosis, reported among male residents will assist in setting airborne which potentially affect much in the general population since exposure limits designed to protect the general public from any potential health effects We will continue to fight for safer associated with those materials. Congratulations to Labor World on your 107th Anniversary! MDH plans to seek federal workplaces as we remember those that funding for the mesothelioma Keep up the good work fighting for the workers of the study from the National Institute for Occupational weresta tkillede and k eorep injureding them ionnfo rthemed job!. Safety and Health (NIOSH) and other sources. Once fund- ing is obtained, the study is David TOMASSONI expected to take three years to complete, at a cost ranging from $750,000 to $1 million. Tom RUKAVINA The mineral fragment study is expected to take a year once animal study data becomes Tony SERTICH available from the EPA. Paid for by the Rukavina Campaign Committee, Mary Anderson, Chair; the Citizens for Anthony “Tony” Sertich; Rick Puhek, Chair, 1210 NW 9th Avenue, Chisholm, MN 55710 Paid for by the Rukavina Campaign Committee,and the 6930 Tomassoni Hwy. Campaign; 169, Virginia P.O. Box MN;29, Chisholm, the Citizens MN 55719 for Anthony "Tony" Sertich, Rick Puhek, Chair, 1210 NW 9th Avenue, Chisholm, MN 55710; and, the Tomassoni Campaign, P.O. Box 29, Chisholm, MN 55719 BUY ONE GET ONE

[ work injury ] FREE It happens in an instant. One minute you’re Buy One Pair of Glasses working—earning a wage. Next minute you’re and Get One Free! Single Vision • Bifocals standing around wondering what to do next. Trifocals • Rx Sunglasses Statistics show that in Minnesota more than Even Progressive No-Line 150,000 workers are injured on the job each and Flat Tops! year. And that’s only the ones we hear about. If you’re injured on the job you need proven 130 W. Superior St. statistics working for you. We have over 35 Duluth, MN 55802 OPTICAL 218-727-5384 years of trial experience and a team approach 800-535-1665 DULUTH • SUPERIOR • MOOSE LAKE to personal injury cases. Fact is, OUR SUCCESS cuzzo.com GRAND RAPIDS • CLOQUET • AURORA IS NO ACCIDENT. *Must be of equal or lesser value: select from special collection of frames and plastic lenses. Up to a $258.95 value. See store for details. PAGE 16 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2007 In the U.S. in 2003, 1,126 construction workers died on the job, far outdistancing the transportation/warehousing industry, The struggle for which was second with 805 fatalities. In Minnesota that year there workplace safety were a total of 72 work fatalities with 10 of them in construction. saves lives! Every one of our members knows how dangerous their job is and expects their union to do all it can to make their jobs safer. It's the most important thing we can do for their families. Safe working conditions are our chief concern. In Memory Of Our Fallen Brothers And Sisters

Carpenters National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 114 Merged Local 361 Duluth, Two Harbors & Silver Bay Hermantown, Minnesota Please join us Saturday, May 12 for our National NALC Food Drive! Call Yvonne Harvey at 728-1779 to volunteer, and Teamsters Joint Council 32 leave non-perishables near your mailbox that day. Minnesota • Iowa North and South Dakota Remembering... Our Sisters & Brothers... We honor those who have died in the Members of UNITE HERE! Local 99 workplace. We remember them as we Hotels and Inns continue to fight for workplace safety. Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Radisson Duluth 200 W 1st St, Duluth, MN 505 W Superior St, Duluth, MN EXECUTIVE BOARD 722-1202 727-8981 Holiday Inn Hibbing Park Hotel 1500 Highways 11 & 71, 1402 E Howard St, Hibbing, MN DANIEL L. FORTIER AFFILIATED LOCAL UNIONS International Falls, MN 262-3481 President 283-8000 The Lodge Giants Ridge, Biwabik, MN 1-877-442-6877 SUSAN E. MAUREN Local 4 Doug Rubbelke, President Secretary-Treasurer Local 90 Claudia Pettit, Secretary-Treasurer Restaurants & Eateries Pickwick Porter’s Top of the Harbor Local 116 Dean Cypher, Secretary-Treasurer 508 E Superior St 207 W Superior St 505 W Superior St PATRICK M. RADZAK 727-8901 727-6746 727-8981 Vice President Local 120 Brad Slawson, Sr., President Grandma’s in the Park Greenery Timbers Hibbing Park Hotel 207 W Superior St Giants Ridge Local 160 Wayne Perleberg, Secretary-Treasurer 1-800--262-3481 727-3387 Biwabik MARK C. RIME The Spot Restaurant U.W.S. Cafeteria 1-877-442-6877 Recording Secretary Local 238 Gary Dunham, Secretary-Treasurer Int’l Falls, MN UW-Superior Campus Riverfront Bar & 283-2440 394-8102 Grill Local 289 Dan Bartholomew, Secretary-Treasurer Holiday Inn DANIEL BARTHOLOMEW International Falls Trustee Local 320 Sue Mauren, Secretary-Treasurer Pubs and Taverns 1-218-283-4451 Local 346 Pat Radzak, Secretary-Treasurer All American Club North Pole Bar Hanson's Outpost LAWRENCE YOSWA 1931 W Michigan St 5606 Raleigh St Hwy 53 & 18 St S Trustee Local 421 Dave Baker, President 727-9419 624-9841 Int’l Falls-283-9200 City of Ranier O’Gilby’s Bar Twins Bar Local 471 Dave Laxen, Secretary-Treasurer Municipal-Ranier, MN 511 E Fourth St 501 E 4th St BRADLEY SLAWSON, SR. 286-3343 722-9139 727-3871 Trustee Local 638 Mark Rime, Secretary-Treasurer Fifth Avenue Lounge Reef Bar Viking Bar & Lounge 505 W Superior St 2002 London Rd 412 3rd St-Int’l Falls Local 749 Randy Knudtson, Secretary-Treasurer 727-8981 724-9845 283-4000 Kom-On-Inn Rustic Bar V.F.W. Post #2948 Local 792 Larry Yoswa, Secretary-Treasurer 332 N 57th Ave W 401 N Central Ave 236 3rd St-Int’l Falls 283-8777 Local 970 Dan Fortier, Secretary-Treasurer 624-3385 624-7463 Midway Bar Sneaker’s Bar Note: Local 974 Tom Tweet, Secretary-Treasurer 1909 W Superior St 207 W Superior St If town is 727-9956 727-7494 not listed, Local 1145 Brad Slawson, Sr., Trustee Moose Lodge #1259 T-Bonz Bar establishment Moose Bldg-Int’l Falls 2531 W Superior St 283-3615 727-9582 is in Duluth We Thank You For Your Patronage!

LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2007 PAGE 17 Under this administration don’t use OSHA as safety’s “poster boy” by Mike Hall and enforce the law. But under agency’s help, “without cita- workers on how to contact the impaired. That information is www.aflcio.org/blog the Bush administration, tion or penalty.” “nearest office of the not on the new poster. The last time the Occupa- employers receive special The previous safety poster Department of Labor.” No- An OSHA spokeswomen tional Safety and Health attention and assistance while clearly told workers: To file a where on the new poster— told The Hill that two phone Administration designed a workers take a back seat. complaint, report an emer- which was mandated by the numbers had changed, but did workplace poster to tell work- The Hill newspaper reports gency, or seek OSHA advice, 1970 OSHAct to provide infor- not address why the safety ers about their health and safe- the Bush OSHA has redesigned assistance or products, call 1- mation for workers—does it agency didn’t simply include ty rights under federal law, it the workplace safety poster— 800-321-OSHA or your nearest tell how to contact OSHA. the new telephone numbers or was aimed solely at employees and confusingly moved the OSHA office. Along with listing the a direct message to workers on and clearly told workers how to toll-free hotline number for OSHA stripped the regional regional office phone numbers, how to contact the agency. contact the safety agency. workers to call to a new section numbers from the new poster. the old poster told workers how Says Peg Seminario, AFL- Makes sense. After all, OSHA’s that tells employers how they By regulation, the safety poster to file a complaint online or via CIO director of Health and mission is to keep workers safe may call OSHA to get the must include information for teletypewriter for the hearing Safety: “This poster is sup- posed to be about workers’ rights…This administration has really focused a lot of effort in reaching out to employers instead of focusing on what it should, enforcing the law.” In an e-mail to the newspa- per, a spokesman for the House Education and Labor Committee, which is expected to hold oversight hearings on OSHA later this year, said: “The original purpose of this poster was to provide information for workers about their rights. Compared to the original, the new poster makes it easier for employers to learn about OSHA’s ‘voluntary com- pliance assistance’ for employ- ers, instead of making it easier for workers to use their rights to ensure a safe workplace.” Francis Lightner Donald King John E. Somers Since the Bush administra- Hydro-Electric Operator Utility Lineman Utility Lineman tion took office, it has shifted February 16, 1940 April 1, 1954 June 11, 1971 OSHA and the Mine Safety and Health Administration Louis Saelens Robert Hinkley Kenneth L. Meints (MSHA) toward employer Maintenance & Construction Laborer Utility Lineman Sr. Elect - Maint. & Construction consultation and “voluntary March 31, 1943 November 12, 1959 January 14, 1972 compliance.” Both agencies Fred Griener Tom Brown have moved away from strong Teddy E. Burgraff workplace safety enforcement Utility Lineman Inside Wireman Utility Maintenance & Repairman June, 1943 April 13, 1979 and development of new safety August 13, l963 standards. At OSHA and Roy Martini Howard Bluhm Joseph W. Stattelman MSHA, Bush appointees Utility Lineman Head Utility Lineman Utility Lineman stopped several new workplace April 16, 1947 October 14, 1964 August 13, 1981 safety standards that were in the regulatory pipeline under Walter S. Johnson Charles A. Erickson Jeff Rowe the Clinton administration. Utility Operator Maintenance & Construction Utility Lineman December 20, 1948 According to the 2006 AFL- February 9, 1965 October 1, 1990 CIO report Death on the Job: George E. Dion Roy Paulson Roger Whiteside The Toll of Neglect to be Utility Lineman Construction Lineman Utility Lineman released on Workers Memorial June 28, 1950 August 20, 1965 October 1, 1990 Day, April 28 “Under the Bush administration….[i]mportant Richard J. Adamson Lowell Kramer Kenneth W. Graves standards close to completion Utility Lineman Utility Lineman Cable Splicer at the end of the Clinton admin- April 5, 1951 November 25, 1968 September 19, 1997 istration—including a standard Toivo Sillanpaa Harlan W. Lehto on employer payment for per- Leslie R. Beach sonal protective equipment— Utility Lineman Maintenance & Construction Linestaker April 15, 1953 June 19, 1970 July 4, 1999 have been withdrawn or delayed repeatedly by the Bush Dewey R. Harmon Kenneth Hamren Kerry Roe administration.” Dozens of Maintenance & Construction Helper Utility Electrician Sappi Maintenance Electrician OSHA and MSHA standards September l8, 1953 May 19, 1971 November 11, 2003 were pulled from the adminis- tration’s regulatory agenda, including MSHA standards on mine rescue teams, self con- tained self rescue devices and escape ways and refuges which may have helped to prevent the Sago Mine fatalities. (Visit http://blog.aflcio.org/ 2007/03/04/oshas-not-the- poster-boy-for-safety) PAGE 18 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2007 Chad McKenna hired by NEALC...from page 1 Mayoral screenings....from page 1 point in his being hired. Carlton County, and Duluth). Committee is comprised of the and sent to Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body, Room “The leadership of the Minnesota has six ALCs. individuals previously named 110, 2002 London Road, Duluth, MN 55812. They could be NEALC has been very up front Staff positions and programs and Craig Olson (Painters & faxed to 218-724-1413. on what needs to be done and are funded by a 25 cent per Allied Trades), John Rebrovich Here is a listing of the number of delegates a local is entitled on expectations,” McKenna, capita increase to the (USW), Mary Theurer to, which is dependent upon how many members are affiliated: who will get married this July, Minnesota AFL-CIO that was (AFSCME), Jim Brown 50 members or less = 2 delegates; said. “I look forward to the voted upon last year at a special (IBEW), Marie Pechek (MN 51 to 100 = 3 delegates; challenges ahead.” convention. Nurses), Joe Moren (MN AFL- 101 to 200 = 4 delegates; Area Labor Councils are In other NEALC business at CIO Retirees), Bob Oswold 201 to 400 = 5 delegates; part of the AFL-CIO’s “New the April 4 meeting Eileen (Carlton County CLB), Al 401 to 700 = 6 delegates; Alliance” initiative, the first Zeitz Hudelson (University Stanaway (Iron Range Labor 701 to 1,100 = 7 delegates; reorganization of the labor fed- Education Association) was Assembly), and Larry Sillanpa One additional delegate for each additional 500 members or eration since it was founded in elected secretary-treasurer. (Duluth CLB). any fraction thereof above 1,100. 1955. The North East ALC is Gerry Knaeble (United The next meeting of the Adding to the intrigue of the mayor’s race is that the Duluth comprised of seven counties Steelworkers), Brent Pykkonen NEALC Executive Board will DFL Party will hold its convention Saturday, April 28 to con- (Carlton, Cook, Itasca, (Operating Engineers), and Ida be Tuesday, May 15 at the sider endorsements in municipal and ISD 709 school board Koochiching, Lake, Pine and Rukavina (AFSCME) were USW union offices in Eveleth. races. All local elections are non-partisan but Bill Miller, Duluth St. Louis), and three central elected as trustees. DFL Chair, says endorsements are offered “to candidates whom labor councils (Iron Range, The NEALC Executive the party believes will support their values and positions.” Auto Accidents Medical Malpractice Workers’ Compensation Wrongful Death

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LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2007 PAGE 19 Area Building Trades Unions join effort to help deployed military families This region’s Building & have been gone from home for lies. “It will make their job of Among area suppliers who Building Supply, Hermantown Construction Trades unions are a long time. Over 500 families serving their country easier,” have joined Operation Support Lumber, Daugherty Hardware, teaming up with VFW Posts, in the 148th Fighter Wing and Padora said. “This is outstand- and will supply materials and L&M Supply, and Home military units and building the Army National Guard in ing to have the Trades as an equipment at a discount are Depot. material’s supply companies in Duluth alone are directly asset.” Proctor Builders, Campbell’s For information on Opera- “Operation Support” to help affected “with more on the tion Support contact Jim area military families with horizon” according to John Renaud at 218-348-8289. deployed members with main- Dorin of 194th Cavalry. If you are a member or tenance problems they may “The troops and Guard retiree of a Building Trades have at home. members leave behind spouses union or have construction “ I thought I could do some- and loved ones that have to try skills you’d like to volunteer thing about this issue so I just to keep the family and home call Craig Olson at 218-724- started it up,” said Jim Renaud, together by themselves during 6466 to be put on that list. a member of VFW Post 6320. their deployment,” Renaud You can also call Yvonne “The response has been great.” said. “Having Building Trades Harvey, AFL-CIO Community “As soon as we were members volunteering their Services Program Director, at informed of the effort, our skill and labor will really help a 728-1779 if you have projects members voted unanimously to lot of families that need it.” or would like to help. endorse it,” said Craig Olson, Olson said if unions find out “It’s a great relief when the President of the Duluth a water heater has gone out in a community steps up to help,” Building & Construction deployed military family said Michele Nies of the Trades Council. “We have a home, a replacement will be Minnesota Military Family long history of supporting our found at a supplier and a Craig Olson, President of the Duluth Building & Construc- Assistance Program. troops and their families.” plumber from a union in that tion Trades Council, led a press conference for Operation At a Labor Temple press area will be sent to do the job. Support in the Labor Temple April 12th. conference April 12th Olson Mark Vavra of the 148th said the Northland Vietnam said when members are going Veterans Memorial was an all- to be deployed, they don’t volunteer effort of Duluth worry about what will happen Building & Construction to them overseas, it’s “what’s Trades Council unions. Opera- going to happen to my family tion Homefront, a Younkers when I’m gone?” home makeover contest, was “There probably isn’t anoth- another, but nothing like er program like this out there,” Renaud’s program he said. said Vavra. “The question is Renaud said many Army often asked ‘how can we sup- and National Guard members port our troops?’ This is how.” from Cloquet, Grand Rapids, Dennis Padora, Comman- Hibbing, Bemidji and Duluth der of VFW Post 6320, said bases, as well as full-time mili- Operation Support will take tary personnel from the region, away a lot of worry for fami- Everyone expects to return home safely from work.

IIn Minnesota, Workers’ Compensation laws are Sadly, very complex and are subject to frequent changes by the not legislature. Filing a claim requires you to follow exacting procedures and may create large volumes of paperwork. everyone If you have a job-related injury or chronic illness does. (such as lung disease), call our office for experienced legal help. Because, before you can get your benefits, you have to get through the Workers’ Compensation system. Please help us by watching We’ve helped thousands of injured workers find their way. for our members as you travel through work zones. Thank You! The membership of LABORERSLABORERS LocalLocal 10911091 Duluth, MN/Superior, WI & Surrounding Counties

PAGE 20 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2007