Newsletter - May 2007
As anticipated, Refractory has been very strong in 2007. In February over 140 Refractory Specialists were employed at 4 Bay Area refinery locations. BAC 3 was able to dispatch members, from all trades, who had completed BATC Training Classes conducted by Local 3 last Fall. Refractory Contractors have reported working over 90,000 man-hours in the past 3 months.
Currently, a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) is being negotiated for $800 million in capitol improvements at Conoco Phillips. Chevron has $1 billion in capitol improvements in the planning stages. We expect Chevrons projects to also be covered by a Union only PLA.
Local 3 will again be conducting BATC Classes in the Fall of 2007 to cover these future projects. All members will be notified of scheduled Classes and all members are invited to attend.
Tile Negotiations
Tile negotiations have come and gone. With the final result being a 4 year contract involving a $5.75 increase for the tile layers and $4.00 increase for the tile finishers to be added to the total package in yearly increases.
Tile Layers
Year 1 $0.50 increase ($0.40 on wages, $0.05 training, $0.05 IMI)
Year 2 $1.50
Year 3 $1.75
Year 4 $2.00
Tile Finishers
Year 1 $0.50 increase ($0.40 on wages, $0.05 training, $0.05 IMI)
Year 2 $1.00
Year 3 $1.15
Year 4 $1.35
With the way our economy is going right now, with the rise in gas and energy costs, health care, food and clothing, the slump in the housing market, and the reduction of hours reported to Local 3 it was difficult to settle the contract we have stability in the industry through 2010. Thanks to the negotiating committee Al Acker, Mike Bennett Jr., Mario Delgado, Bob Edwards, Shawn Haycock, Dave Jackson, Gary Peifer and David Sheppard, Ray Keen and John Mason from International Union. Local 3 offers appreciation to the committee for their help, along with numerous members of the local for their suggestions. Any questions regarding the negotiations can be answered by any member of the committee and copies of the new agreement will be available soon from the office or your area union representative.
Fun Times
Mark your calendars for the BAC Local 3 Family Picnic Day at Great America in Santa Clara, CA. Saturday July 21, 2007.
Our Special day includes park admission, lunch, a parking pass, and wristband for unlimited soda all day at the park.
Watch your mail in May for more details and a reservation form the cost will be $20.00 per person, maximum of six tickets. Additional tickets at $40.00 each.
Call the office for more details and rate information for Embassy Suites and the Holiday Inn if you want to spend the night.
Also on tap is the San Jose Grand Prix. July 27-29 in San Jose, CA. Union members can save 15% off the public admission price. For more information visit www.scbtc.org (group code:TRADES05)
From the desk of Mario Delgado
Dear Brothers and Sisters of Local 3, Bricklayers, Tile layers and Allied Craftworkers of Northern California.
This month's contribution was brought to you by me, newly appointed union representative for the South Bay area. I am a Tile Setter by trade, going on 7years, 5 of those with the local. I am married to a wonderful and loving wife for 13 years and have three children, 2 daughters 13 and 8 and a son who is 18 months. I was appointed by Dave Sheppard in the interim so that we do not lose representation in the South Bay. I strongly believe in the Union principle of giving workers a voice in regards to pay, safety, benefits on the job and a voice within their Local Union. I may not have been actively involved before but I sure have opened my eyes and mind now to know what a Union is all about. I may be inexperienced for being in the role of a Business Agent, but I can promise you this, my heart will be in it and I will represent all crafts within our jurisdiction.
The threat of non-union contractors is very real. Non-union has always been at the outskirts of the bay area, but in recent years, non-union contractors and developers have grown increasingly bold, and have ventured deeper into the bay area, to do bigger and bigger jobs, before you know it they will start taking the high-rise projects that traditionally have gone to the Union construction trades.
Whatever the motivation of non-union contractors is, they are clearly taking up a bigger share of construction work. The Union's share of construction work has gone from a high of 80 percent in the year's right after World War II, to less than 18 percent today. Make no mistake about it, there is work out there, all being taken by the non-union shops we are trying to organize.
One of my more important duties as a union representative is to communicate and organize the non-union workers, talk to them about their job conditions, providing them information about our benefits regarding health, pension, training, etc. I always have to be careful to let them know that my issue is not with them but the employers. As a good portion of them are undocumented workers. Most are scared to say anything or to be hurt on the job. Mainly they are afraid to lose their jobs. Most of them are sending money back to family members at home. There are those who brush off the suggestions of the need for health insurance in case of injury or illness. One individual recently told me "What do I need that for? I make $25.00 and get gas pay. Best deal of my life. There is nothing you could say that will change my mind" I get discouraged sometimes but I won't let that bring me down. I know I won't have immediate success but I have a job to do.
I will be working as hard as I can for you, the members, in the coming months until our new officers have been elected and the newly appointed union reps chosen by our President. During that time I will attempt to organize the non-union workers out there, monitor job sites (union and non-union) for compliance in safety regulations, collective bargaining agreements, etc. most importantly to serve you the members. If you have any questions about anything related to the Union or your worksite, please do not hesitate to call me or any of the other union representatives. If I do not know the answer, I will get one for you. My cell number is 510-918-7808 and email is mdelgado@bac3-ca.org
One Final note,
To all members of Local 3, there are those who say our local is fine the way it is, there are those who think we need minimal or drastic changes, and there are those who think we need a whole new vision. Remember, this is your Union. You need to make it strong. You need to keep yourself informed of all Union activities, you need to educate yourself. But most importantly you need to be involved. Remember that a Union is only as strong as it's members.
In solidarity,
Mario Delgado
Union Representative
Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, Local 3 |
