Vol. 71, #4 April 2013 For The Good & Welfare By Russ Burns, business manager PAGE 4 Pension changes keep Fund solvent PAGE 12 Rule of 85 still intact It was great to see you all at the Pension and retires at age 60, he or Semi-Annual last month at the Solano she will receive the actuarial value County Fairgrounds. Everyone of the earned benefit only. It will no seemed to have a good time, with longer be subsidized. If the member many dressed in green to celebrate works until age 65, there will be no the St. Patrick’s Day holiday. Check reduction. The same rules hold true out our spread on pages 4 and 5, and for vested inactive participants who CONTENTS make sure to look through our online are no longer in the industry. galleries at www.oe3.org for photos I presented a Power Point Semi-Annual .................................. 4 that didn’t make it here. presentation at the Semi-Annual Looking at Labor ............................. 6 While the Semi-Annuals are that explained all of these changes ATPA ............................................ 6 always fun, they’re also a good place in detail. If you missed it, the Unit 12 ......................................... 6 to get caught up on what’s going on information is now online. You Rancho Murieta .............................. 7 with your union. This time, a big part should also receive a letter from us Public Employee News ...................... 8 of that was about our Pension. and one from the Trust Fund Office Credit Union ................................. 10 Please make note: The Rule of with more details. If you still have Fringe Benefits .............................. 11 85 is still intact! There are a lot of questions, call the Trust Fund Office The Crescent City project ................ 12 rumors out there that this benefit at (800) 251-5014 or the Fringe Joining the ranks ............................ 14 was taken away, but they are simply Benefits Service Center at (800) Organizing .................................... 15 rumors. In fact, there were no 532-2105. Political Perspective ........................ 15 big changes to any of the service As you can see, attending the pensions at all. There were also no No longer a pipe dream .................... 16 Semi-Annual is a good way to find changes to any benefits for current Members prepare for pipeline boom ..... 18 out what’s happening with Local 3 Retirees or anyone who chooses to District Reports .............................. 19 and distinguish the facts from simple retire before July 1. Meetings and Announcements ............. 26 rumors. If you haven’t been to a Our Pension did certify in the Health News ................................. 30 Semi-Annual recently, please plan to Red Zone this year, and that has led Swap Shop .................................... 31 join us for the next one in September. to some changes to ensure it remains Details will be printed here as the solvent now and for another 74 years event gets closer. and longer. If we stay on track, the Operating Engineers Local Union No. 3 Another thing I ask you all to do Plan changes that we made may allow Russ Burns Business Manager is to help us guard our work. Other Carl Goff President us to certify in the Green Zone by 2025. Our Pension is very important trades are actively stealing it, so if Dan Reding Vice President to us, so we only made changes that you see this happening, get off your Jim Sullivan Rec. Corres. Secretary were necessary and tried to keep equipment and object. Call your Pete Figueiredo Financial Secretary them as minimal as possible. district office and report this when Steve Ingersoll Treasurer The only major change that will you see it. Don’t be afraid to stand affect all Plan participants is a limited up for what’s rightfully ours, because Engineers News Staff 1 percent reduction in benefits if you don’t now, it may be too late Russ Burns Editor payable under the husband-and-wife later. Carl Goff Editorial Adviser form of payment, but that’s only about I get calls from members who Mandy McMillen Managing Editor a $10 reduction for every $1,000 say they have called their hall but Jamie Johnston Associate Editor received per month. Also, there will nothing happens. If this is the case, Dominique Beilke Art Director be no reduction in the future-benefits let me or the officer in charge of that percentage of 1.25 percent, as long as area know who you talked to and when you made the call. If someone www.oe3.org the future investment return on the Pension’s assets meets our expected did drop the ball, I guarantee you, Engineers News (ISSN 1069-2185) is published monthly 7.5 percent annual return. If not, there will be consequences! by Local 3 of the International Union of Operating it’s now a limited reduction to just 1 I want to thank you all again Engineers, AFL-CIO; 1620 South Loop Rd., Alameda, percent – a 0.25 percent difference. for your support and dedication in CA 94502. Periodical postage paid at Alameda, CA and additional mailing offices. Engineers News is sent The Early Retirement Subsidy keeping Local 3 strong. We are the without charge to all members of Operating Engineers was also eliminated, meaning that if largest construction trades local in Local 3 in good standing. Non-member subscription a participant joined Local 3 later in the United States, and we want to price is $6 per year. POSTMASTER: Send address life, doesn’t qualify for any service make sure it stays that way! changes to Address Change, 1620 South Loop Rd., Alameda, CA 94502. 2 | Engineers News Report & Review By Carl Goff, president Thanks to the membership Thirty years ago this month … I want to thank the many a plaque for his recent retirement In the April 1983 edition of Engineers members who attended the and years of service as a Local 3 News, levee work was all the rage in the last Semi-Annual Event on St. representative and officer and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta with Dutra Patrick’s Day, March 17, at the we introduced new Treasurer Construction and Manson. Solano County Fairgrounds. Many Steve Ingersoll. This Semi-Annual families represented their Irish meeting was a reunion for several “The Paula Lee was working on Twitchell Island heritage by donning green, and it former Local 3 officers, including … barging material from Basalt Quarry and was good to see! former treasurer Norris Casey, off-loading inside the levee, building a pad with It was also good to see so former financial secretary Darrel dozers,” the article said. “Dutra Construction many members getting properly Steele and former presidents is actively engaged in the extensive levee informed about what’s going on Jerry Bennett and Bob Miller. It is work.” with their union. Remember, a testament to the long-standing the best way to get accurate value of this union that former According to the article, Manson Construction’s information about your union officers stay involved year after dredge, the Viking, was also working, “moving business is to get involved by year into their retirements. from island to island placing rock and material staying in communication with The input we continue to on top of the levees.” your union hall, attending your receive from Retirees, actives and regular quarterly District and apprentices alike is invaluable. At the time, the influx of work was in response Semi-Annual Meetings, reading Generation upon generation to an anti-recession bill that released $24.2 your Engineers News and visiting of Local 3 members continue million in projects for California, a paltry our website at www.oe3.org. Get to come out to these events, number compared to the $34 billion slated for the facts, not the rumors. support their union and share construction projects this year. This last meeting was their thoughts. We are the biggest particularly important, as Business and best construction trades Today, three decades later, several of the Manager Russ Burns discussed the local in the country because of dredges mentioned in the article, including Pension status in a Power Point your contributions, so keep them the Paula Lee and the Viking, are still working, presentation. Please note that by coming! noted Dredging Rep. Dave Harrison. Our the time you receive this, you will I also want to thank all the dredging members’ participation has improved, have gotten a letter in the mail from behind-the-scenes folks who and the members on that long-ago job would be the union regarding your Pension, make our Semi-Annual Meetings pleased to know that their industry continues and you can go online to the possible, including Human to be well-represented. Local 3 recently won a Local 3 Members Only website to Resources Trainer/Researcher battle against the non-union dredging company review the slideshow for yourself. Jim Foord, Maintenance Salt River Construction. Harrison filed a bid The Trust Fund Office will also Superintendent Dave Rogers, protest against the deceitful company and won, be sending out a more detailed Secretary Becky Fisk, Job enabling signatory Vortex Marine Construction letter written by our attorneys Placement/Office Systems to get the project. (For more on this story, see and actuaries to be compliant Coordinator Toni Mendes, page 25.) with the notice requirements per Fringe Benefits Director Charlie the Pension Protection Act (PPA). Warren and the Public Relations If you have questions or need Department. There are countless clarification, please call the Trust others worthy of thanks who have Fund Office at (800) 251-5014 or helped in the past and will help in the Fringe Benefits Service Center the future. at (800) 532-2105.