Vol. 69, #10 October 2011 PAGE 6 For The Good & Welfare By Russ Burns, business manager Local 3 in action It’s hard to believe it’s already that govern our great union. The fall. Though Oct. 15 is typically the implementation of the Bylaws deadline most contractors shoot for Committee was an idea brought forth by PAGE 19 to wrap up their projects, many of our this administration to further improve districts have projects scheduled to run transparency between the decisions of through the winter, with several set to the Local 3 officers/Executive Board start. The big Antlers Bridge project in and the union membership as a whole. the Redding District is continuing, as I have received positive feedback about is the mining boom in Nevada District this committee and the decision to 11. Rail work continues in Utah, there form it. I think you will agree that the is tens of billions of dollars worth of changes the committee has made are infrastructure work in the Burlingame good ones. They came about through and Oakland districts and Yuba, Sutter thorough discussions and intense CONTENTS and Butte counties in District 60 are attention to detail. In other words, full of work as well. In fact, nearly every these men mean business. Report & Review ............................. 4 district is posting greatly improved Following the same lines of action, Health News .................................. 5 dispatches since this time last year, there is no time like the present to Semi-Annual Meeting ........................ 6 and that is always the best proof of how get involved in political races in your Public Employee News ...................... 8 we are doing. districts. However small these elections Credit Union ................................. 10 Even though it has been a volatile may seem compared to the presidential economy this year for our industry one in 2012, every single political office News & Notes ................................ 11 and the entire nation, in true Local held, from small local boards to state ATPA ........................................... 12 3 form, we have persevered. Our governors, has a direct impact on your Letters to the editor ....................... 12 Organizing Department signed several ability to keep working. We can only Organizing .................................... 12 new contractors (please see page 12 do so much through our skill sets, our Rancho Murieta ............................. 13 for details), our mobilized pressure negotiation tactics and our unity to Looking at Labor ............................ 14 against the anti-union Santa Cruz secure jobs. The truth of the matter is, Port District (SCPD) director gained we don’t get work unless there’s money Fringe Benefits .............................. 15 community-wide support and forced to fund the projects, and that funding If you build it, they will come ............ 16 the district to agree to come back to the comes directly from legislation. One of District Reports .............................. 18 table and our public-employee business the more notable races coming up is Resolution to amend the Bylaws .......... 24 agents won back some monies for our the one for San Francisco mayor. (We Meetings and Announcements ............. 28 members, and I don’t have to tell you have endorsed Leland Yee.) For details Swap Shop ................................... 31 how tough the current environment on how you can help us get more union has been for them. jobs on the books, call your district I was e-mailed a recent report office and visit the Politics Page at Operating Engineers Local Union No. 3 claiming that construction employment www.oe3.org. Our volunteer program, Russ Burns Business Manager fell in late summer in response to state Voice of the Engineer (VOTE), is and local governments cutting back offering great prizes again this year for Fred Herschbach President on infrastructure improvements and those who give a little extra to help the Carl Goff Vice President the Federal Stimulus funds all but whole (see page 4). Jim Sullivan Rec. Corres. Secretary drying up. We can focus on changing I’d also like to draw your attention Dan Reding Financial Secretary reports and the blame-game drama of to a business agent who is being Pete Figueiredo Treasurer so many politicians, or we can focus on highlighted this month for “giving a performing our work to the best of our little extra.” See who I mean on page 14. abilities, getting better trained when I’d like to close with a reference to Engineers News Staff we aren’t working and sticking together our Bylaws, Article 1, Section 2, page Russ Burns Editor Carl Goff Editorial Adviser to elect the right politicians. I hope you 7: “All members and their families Mandy McMillen Managing Editor choose the latter plan of action. and all working men and women [are Jamie Johnston Associate Editor Speaking of action, it was nice to encouraged] to actively participate Dominique Beilke Art Director see all of you at the last Semi-Annual in the political life of their respective Event. You can check out the rundown communities, and to register and vote.” and photos of the day on pages 5-7. As That is your part. We officers promise, usual, folks had a good time, and more as indicated in the Bylaws in the same www.oe3.org importantly, an affirmative vote was section, “to assist organized labor in Engineers News (ISSN 1069-2185) is published monthly reached by the membership on the every lawful way in the achievement of by Local 3 of the International Union of Operating resolution to amend the Bylaws. The all of its legitimate objectives,” which Engineers, AFL-CIO; 1620 South Loop Rd., Alameda, resolution will now move on for a vote includes but is not limited to improving CA 94502. Periodical postage paid at Alameda, CA in each district at the upcoming round working conditions, supporting union and additional mailing offices. Engineers News is sent of District/Special Called Meetings (see ideals and protecting and promoting without charge to all members of Operating Engineers page 28 for dates and locations). your rights and aspirations as working Local 3 in good standing. Non-member subscription price is $6 per year. POSTMASTER: Send address The Bylaws Committee has done men and women. We have done this changes to Address Change, 1620 South Loop Rd., an incredible job of maintaining and and will continue to do so. See you all Alameda, CA 94502. improving the important Bylaws at the meetings this month. 2 | Engineers News Talking Points By Fred Herschbach, president Remembering the Loma Prieta Which way is up? earthquake On a daily basis, it seems like we fix one problem and 10 more Member worked on repairs to I-880 in Oakland pop up. In this topsy-turvy world we live in, nothing is normal, It was 22 years ago this month when the 7.1 Loma or there seems to be a new normal. Is the unemployment rate Prieta earthquake rattled the Bay Area. Sixty-three going to be 9 percent? (In reality, it’s probably more like 15-20 people were killed, a 50-foot section of the Bay Bridge percent.) Is that normal? collapsed and $7 billion I just got off the phone with a member who I’ve known for worth of damage was 20 years. He is without a doubt one of the premier blade hands tallied as a result. we have to offer, and the company he works for just told him It’s a time that Retiree that he can no longer operate the blade because of excessive Alfred “Bud” Anderson wear-bar damage on the slide. He’s only put 40 hours on this will never forget. particular blade. Is that normal? The 48-year member I received an e-mail from another brother about the was one of the many comparisons between the everyday, middle-class American and operators who was Congress. For example, someone who serves our country for 20 dispatched to repair years receives 50 percent pay at retirement. Politicians, on the I-880 in Oakland, the site other hand, receive full pay after serving just one term. Other hit hardest by the quake. examples include the fact that members of Congress specifically When the earthquake hit, the uprights As the ground shook exempted themselves from the many laws they pass: They can’t that held up the top deck of I-880 violently on Oct. 17, be prosecuted for sexual harassment, and the new health-care separated and let the top deck fall. 1989, a 1.25-mile stretch reform laws don’t apply to them. Where is common sense any of the double-decker freeway collapsed, crushing cars on more? the road below. Another thing to consider: Why does Congress get to go Anderson went to work on a Caterpillar 973 and was on hiatus or vacation, or whatever they’d like to call it, when recognized by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) we’ve got millions of folks looking for work? And although I’ve of California-East Bay District for his efforts. He received said it plenty of times before, our infrastructure is in the toilet. a certificate for his “courage and dedication in going I’m not a college grad, but common sense proves that when above and beyond the line of duty during this sudden construction workers are employed, everyone gets a piece of and unprecedented time of need.” the pie. We buy things – clothes, barbeques, food and cars – As we reach the 22-year anniversary of the disaster, and taxes are generated. Parents have extra cash, so their kids we recognize Anderson again, as well as the many other play football, join cheerleading, etc., and they go on vacation. operators who responded to the call for help.