FACILITY HAS WATER TOWER AND HIGHWAY BRIDGE ON SITE PAINTERS COUNCIL 53 OPENS NEW TRAINING CENTER NEAR WESTON ainters District crete floor. Gundrum, a 12-year veteran of will have 24 dormitory-style Council 53-JAC From cables rigged beneath the Joint Apprenticeship rooms to allow extended stays PisP currently retrofit- the bridge, containment tarps and Council’s training staff. for those in training. ting a former fac- safety techniques will be installed Training covers a number of Among those providing sig- tory building in in exactly the same manner as areas including a wide variety of nificant support are vendors like Lewis County into a they would on a “real job”. paint applications such as spray- Sherman-Williams Paints, gen- state-of-the art ap- “It’s much better to train in a ing and rolling, dry wall finish- eral contractor A.J. Vauter and prenticeship and controlled environment before ing, wall paper, sealers and var- the Department of training facility. they get outside where things are nishes, and of course safety. Highways. The location, near Weston, not so controlled,” explained Another area of the building Continued on p. 3 had a ready-made training envi- ronment on site. “When we saw the 150-ft tall water tower just behind the main building, we were immediately attracted to the facility,” said VOLUME 18 NUMBER 1 Don Gundrum, Apprenticeship JANUARY 2009 Coordinator/Instructor. “We will use that tower to provide the skills and safety training our members need to be productive workers. It is a real bonus to what is a great building.” Inside the 96,000 square foot steel and metal building staff has A PUBLICATION OF sectioned off large open spaces THE AFFILIATED to providing very specific work CONSTRUCTION environments in which people TRADES FOUNDATION can train. One area contains a 65-foot long steel highway bridge sal- The ACT Foundation is a division LEARNING AT THE new Painters DC 53 training center near Weston are apprentices of The West Virginia State vaged from Ripley, then trans- Building and Construction (from left) Celeste Bivetto, Morgantown; Rachel Oliveto, Shinnston; Karen Novasat, Trades Council. Steve Burton, ported and reassembled eleven Fairmont; and Cindy Kelley, Philippi. The facility will train painters from West President; Dave Efaw, Secretary- feet above the building’s con- Virginia, Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky and Maryland. (Photo by Joy Stalnaker.) Treasurer; Steve White, Director.

Charleston - (304) 345-7570 Toll Free - (800) 930-9675 2009 WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATIVE www.actwv.org SESSION STARTS IN FEBRUARY he 2009 legisla- through April 11. have health care. On public works construction tive session ACT and the State Building Health care costs remain one projects, money is allowed in TT Trades are working on a num- of the largest problems in the each contract to pay for worker INSIDE starts a month later I ber of measures to improve nation. One factor is uncompen- health care. However, some Tri-State Pg. 2 than usual. That’s because the state con- health care, crane safety and sated care - people without in- contractors don’t have health Sheet Metal 24 Pg. 2 stitution calls for a month delay construction job site safety. surance or money to pay for care plans. Unemployment Pg. 3 when there is an election for Another attempt will be made health care. Hospitals must of- The Trades proposal is to IBEW Local 596 Pg. 3 Governor. to pass a bill requiring contrac- ten shoulder this expensive bur- make each contractor show their Free Choice ACT Pg. 4 The session will still last 60 tors on public works projects to den and pass the cost onto those workers won’t show up on un- days running from February 11 show most of their employees who have insurance. Continued on p. 4 PAGE 2 THE ACT REPORT JANUARY 2009 500 THOUSAND STUDENTS REACHED IN 13 YEARS TRI-STATE BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL SPONSORS EDUCATIONAL SHOW embers of the be addressed, and the best way program. “He wrote that he still experi- testing for building trades mem- M building trades to address those problems is at One young man had been enced some bullying, but now bers. take pride in their an early age.” near suicidal over the bullying had the skills to deal with it.” “We pick up the tab for unions as commu- Garry Boothe, a retired busi- treatment he received, and found The Tri-State Building Trades “Character Counts” and are glad nity-oriented orga- nessman from Wayne, West Vir- help through the “Character sponsors Boothe’s work as part to do it,” said Burton. “We get nizations sponsor- ginia, designed and presents Counts” message. of their Labor Education And tons of letters from parents, ing scores of char- “Character Counts”, named be- “I got a letter thanking me for Development program. In ad- school officials and others thank- ity and service cause Boothe believes charac- teaching him that no one could dition to the educational program ing us for the sponsorship. That’s projects throughout ter issues like respect for others, make him feel bad without his in the schools, LEAD organizes something we feel very good the year. honesty, and trustworthiness are permission,” explained Boothe. safety training and certified drug about.” The Tri-State Building and what define successful people. Construction Trades Council Boothe uses several perfor- points with particular pride to a mance talents to draw his young free educational event for grade audience into the show - long schools about drug awareness enough to pick up on the mes- and safety sponsored for the past sage. He employs various magic 13 years. tricks, ventriloquist “dummies” According to Steve Burton, and unique balloon animals he Business Manager for the Coun- creates on-the-spot. Boothe’s cil, the “Character Counts” pro- show is sold to the students as a gram has reached over 500,000 reward for participation in char- children in 32 counties in West acter development programs in Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio the schools. with an entertaining and fun pre- “You build character in chil- sentation about a serious mes- dren, and they’ll have the skills sage. they need to stay away from “I would venture to say we’ve bad behaviors,” said Boothe. had the program is every el- “Good choices reinforce them- ementary school in our three- selves when positive and fun state service area,” said Burton. things happen as a result.” “Illegal drug use, abuse of pre- Bullying and the sometimes BOOTHE PERFORMS HIS “Character Counts” program, funded by the Tri-State scription drugs and alcohol tragic effects of bullying are also Building Trades, for an eager audience at the Matewan Elementary School in abuse are problems that need to addressed by Boothe during the Matewan, WV. LOCAL UNION OPERATES IN FOUR STATES SHEET METAL LOCAL UNION 24 JOINS ACT heet Metal resents Sheet Metal Workers in Local’s South Point, OH office industrial HVAC, metal roofing School which has training in S Workers Local five West Virginia Counties; along with fellow Business Agent and siding, and industrial lagging South Point and Columbus. 24 starts the new Cabell, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo, Charlie Whitt. work (cover insulation with light The Columbus area has about year off as mem- and Wayne as well as Kentucky, The Local is headed by Busi- gauge metal). 120 apprentices in their four year bers of the Affili- Ohio and . ness Manager Michael More Finley also serves as Record- program that also has a one year ated Construction Based in Dayton, Ohio the and has three bargaining areas; ing Secretary for the Tri-State pre-apprentice component. Trades and the WV local has around 1800 members Dayton, Cincinnati, and Colum- Building and Construction “We’re glad to be part of the State Building and and in addition to the WV terri- bus. Trades Council. WV State Building Trades and Construction tory covers 27 counties in Ken- Finley works in the Columbus In addition to his other duties ACT,” said Finley. Trades Council. tucky, 50 Ohio Counties and area. Finley is a Trustee on the Sheet “We’ve seen the good work According to Jim Finley, four in Indiana. Finley sees a wide variety of Metal Workers Local 24 Co- that has been done and want to Business Agent, the Local rep- Finley works out of the work including commercial and lumbus area Apprenticeship be a part.” JANUARY 2009 THE ACT REPORT PAGE 3 PA W ORKERS GET $85 MORE PER WEEK AVERAGE WV UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY BENEFITS LOWEST IN REGION any states tary-Treasurer Roy Smith. since the 1980’s and sooner or payments shows West Virginia’s pain caused by economic down- M face a budget According to Smith a close later the fund will go broke if we unemployed workers receive the turns. crisis and that is examination has been made don’t fix it.” lowest weekly amount in the re- Average Weekly Unem- being reflected in about Trust Fund revenue and Smith supports increasing the gion. ployment Benefit Amounts, 2nd their Unemployment expenses. $8000 wage base each year, The average West Virginia Quarter, 2008 Insurance Trust Current law requires employ- similar to the way the benefits are receives more than $85 per week PA $328.77 Funds. ers to pay into the Unemploy- figured. less than those on unemployment OH $295.13 Fortunately West Virginia is in ment Trust Fund for the first But employer groups would in . Compared to MD $294.10 good financial shape currently, $8000 of wages for each em- rather freeze or lower benefits. Ohio, West Virginians get $50 KY $291.49 but officials are pointing to built ployee. These groups claim West less per week. Even Virginia pays DC $289.15 in flaws to the unemployment in- The benefits a worker can get Virginia’s benefits are better than more, on average $32.39 per VA $275.51 surance program that will lead to are calculated each year at two- surrounding states based on the week more. WV $243.12 problems if not addressed. thirds of the average wage. formula used to calculate ben- Having a solvent fund is im- Source: National Employ- Governor Manchin recently “As wages increase the maxi- efits. portant for both employers and ment Law Project web site Re- put together a task force to look mum benefit goes up as it But research from the Na- employees. sources section - http:// into the Unemployment Insur- should,” explained Smith. “But tional Employment Law Project The unemployment insurance www.nelp.org/site/issues/ ance program and included the payments going in have been shows the opposite. program helps keep a health category/ former Building Trades Secre- fixed at the first $8000 of wages Looking at average weekly economy and ease the financial unemployment_insurance/

ELECTRICAL WORKERS 596 HOLD training on weekends, while PAINTERS working 6,000 hours on the job WEEKEND RIGGING CLASS CONTINUED FROM P. 1 before becoming a journeyman Rick Hackney, Business Man- painter. ager and Secretary/Treasurer for The apprentices are men and IUPAT Council 53, said the In- women between 18 and 50 years ternational Union is very inter- of age, whose starting pay is ested in the new center and has about one-half the journeyman’s provided “early support”, do- wage. nated materials, and expertise to As a journeyman, each union the project’s design and devel- painter earns around $22 an opment. hour for commercial work and “The really big support they $28 an hour for industrial work. provide is sending members to In addition benefits such as a participate,” said Hackney. health and pension are valued “When we are done, this will around $10 per hour. be the most lifelike training facil- Council 53 is working with ity in the entire country.” various state agencies to recruit Training started in December new painters. and more than 100 workers per Four women from the West year will come from a five state Virginia Women Work program service area surrounding West in Fairmont recently signed on Virginia. as apprentices following a pre- “Our goal is to make this true- sentation a Council 53 represen- to-life training which will insure tative made to the group. 86 MEMBERS OF Electrical Workers Local 596, Clarksburg, spent their weekend more productive, more qualified “We can teach skills, but the to be trained and certified in rigging during a class held January 10 and 11. workers,” noted Hackney. student has to have the right at- Business Manager Darwin Snyder brought in instructor Dennis Collett from the Each successful apprentice titude. Crane Institute of America, Inc., Sanford, , to put together the two day will complete 432 classroom That’s the bottom line,” ob- event. hours at the facility, attending the served Gundrum. PAGE 4 THE ACT REPORT JANUARY 2009 EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT TOPS LABORS’ NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA trengthening to bargain for a better life with a fair chance to get one. not have a union. “The Employee Free Choice S the middle better wages and benefits. The Employee Free Choice They are 59 percent more Act means long-term shared class by removing According to the AFL-CIO Act will level the playing field that likely to have health care and prosperity,” said Dave Efaw, barriers to workers the Employee Free Choice Act, today leaves all the power in the four times more likely to have a Secretary Treasurer of the WV joining a union is a will: hands of corporations. pension. State Building Trades. key to rebuilding · Put real teeth in the laws Big Business and their front Communities with strong “It’s essential to rebuilding the the economy. meant to bar companies from in- groups are preparing an all-out, unions have higher standards of middle class and ensuring the That is why the AFL-CIO is timidating, harassing - even firing $200 million propaganda and living for everyone. survival of the American Dream.” making passage of the Employee - workers who want to form lobbying war to block it. Free Choice Act its top legisla- unions. In 2007, the U.S. House

tive agenda in passed the ACT Foundation Non-Profit Org. 600 Leon Sullivan Way U.S. Postage DID YOU KNOW? measure and Charleston, WV 25301 PAID (304) 345-7570 Permit # 1374 this year. · How many Employers illegally fire at least one worker for union it had major- Charleston, WV 25301 Thanks in activity during organizing campaigns? 25% ity support in large part to · The number of Employers that hire consultants or union-bust- the Senate, the efforts of ers to help them fight union organizing drive? 75% but a minority union volun- · How many Employers force employees to attend mandatory killed it with a teers, work- closed-door meetings against the union? 92% filibuster ing families · The percent of Companies that threaten to close the plant if the emboldened won a strong union wins the election? 51% by President victory on · Companies that actually close their plants after a successful George W. Nov. 4, send- union election? 1% Bush’s prom- ing Barack Source www.EmployeeFreeChoiceAct.org ise to veto the Obama to the legislation. White House. · Allow workers to form President elect Obama has However, winning an election a union when a majority sign pledged to sign the Employee isn’t the end of the fight. cards indicating that’s what they Free Choice Act if Congress Now, our elected leaders desire. passes it. need to tackle the worst eco- · Make it easier to bargain The impact on our communi-

nomic crisis since the Great De- the first contract. ties and the economy could be 1925 Murdoch Avenue 600 Leon Sullivan Way, Suite 101 pression. · Fix a broken system that significant. Parkersburg, WV 26102 Charleston, WV 25301 Restoring a workers’ freedom allows the 60 million workers Union members make 30 per- (304) 485-1421 fax 485-1487 (304) 344-0194 fax 344-0195 toll free 1 888 524-1421 toll free 1 800 450-8530 to form unions will allow them who say they would like a union cent more than workers who do [email protected] [email protected]

LEGISLATIVE als will be made to modernize the of Crane Operators,” said City government projects as our prevailing wage laws,” said law. Charles Parker, Training Direc- well. Steve White, ACT Director. CONTINUED FROM P. 1 Tower cranes are not specifi- tor for Operating Engineers Lo- A number of County Commis- “The low wage salesmen never compensated care rolls. cally listed in the current law. cal 132 apprenticeship and sions have already passed reso- give up.” The Contractors Association A new proposal will include training program. lutions in support of the measure. A debate about Unemploy- of WV has been strongly op- tower cranes as a licensed cat- Another safety measure pro- “Illegal drug usage has no ment Insurance is also being dis- posed to the measure and has egory. posal will be to expand the Al- place on dangerous construction cussed. been able to defeat it for the last In addition some old terms cohol and Drug Free Workplace sites,” said ACT’s Wayne Making sure infrastructure few years. such as small and large telescop- law that requires contractors to Rebich who has led the effort to funding from Washington is used Another legislative issue will ing boom cranes will be changed have a plan in place meeting cer- educate county commissioners effectively and allows local union be a revision of the crane op- to fixed-cab and swing-cab tain standards including drug on the topic. workers job opportunities will erators certification law. The cranes following industry stan- testing. While passing new laws is one also be under review. law was passed in 2001 and has dards. Currently contractors on all part of the Trades efforts, de- Various proposals on chang- proven to be a valuable part of “Our changes are all meant to state funded projects must have fending the rights of construction ing our legal system, the way improving job site safety. keep us current with the national a plan. workers and working families is judges are elected, and disclo- In order to keep up with standards set out by the National A bill proposed by the Trades equally important. sure of political ad financing may changes in the industry, propos- Commission for the Certification will seek to include County and “We expect another assault on also come up.