Newsletter - July 2007
Brothers and Sisters
We are pleased to announce that the receivership has been lifted following the recent election and the officers listed below have been installed and will be at the August Chapter Meetings to speak with all in attendance on issues that are affecting Our Union. A forth coming Local #3 Newsletter will serve to recap issues discussed at Chapter meetings and provide the forum to relate current events in detail to all members. With the conclusion of the election, Field Representatives have returned to the staff and are working diligently to restore coverage of our 46 counties thus insuring issues are handled in an efficient manner. The Refractory Maintenance Contract Negotiations have been successfully concluded resulting in a six (6) year agreement with a total increased value of $18.15 and positive language changes toward workers in our industry.
ELECTION RESULTS - June 2007
Tom Spear, President
Dave Jackson, Secretary/Treasurer
Gary Peifer, Vice-Chairman
Troy Garland, Vice-Chairman
Manuel "Manny" Sears, Vice-Chairman
WOMEN AT WORK
Imagine the scene. A room filled with hundreds of women from all trades, with calluses on their hands, smiles on their faces, and stories in their hearts. I recently had the pleasure of spending two days with like-minded women, each of them strong, independent, and impressive in their own way. On May 19 and 20, along with six other female BAC members from CA, OR, and WA, I attended "Women Building California", a conference for women in the trades at the Los Angeles Convention Center
.
The emphasis of these conferences is to get women more involved. The conference serves as a way of feeling connected to other women; to get more involved in your job, your union, and even your neighborhoods. Some of the workshops presented were:
ยท Surviving and Thriving in Apprenticeships
ยท Leadership Skills - on the job and in the Union
ยท Know Your Rights
ยท Speed Mentoring
Working in a male dominated world can, at times, present very unique challenges. It is clear that these women want to be challenged, inspired, and respected for their contributions to the workforce.
Watching these women emphasizes the fact that you can never really know someone until you can see things from their perspective. Sometimes it is the smallest of circumstances that teaches you how important each one of us is in shaping our environment. As the English statesman Edmund Burke once said, "Nobody makes a greater mistake than he who did nothing, because he could do only a little."
Thank you to all the tradeswomen who through hard work, dedication, and loyalty make all of our lives better. I would also like to thank the IUBAC and BAC Local 3 for sending us to this conference, and all the men who stand by our sides, understanding, accepting, and supporting us.
Andrea Atteberry
Mason, Local 3 California
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