From the desk of Tony Santos:

      I'd like to begin by saying congratulations and thank you to all participants in the Western States Brick, Tile, Marble, and PCC Apprenticeship Contest. Our apprentices made everyone proud to be a member of Local 3. Special congratulations to Mario Carbajal for placing 2nd in the tile portion of the contest. Good work all you guys, the competition was tough in every trade.

    All our coordinators and instructors are doing a great job. Again, congratulations to all.

    I hope everyone voted in the primary elections by the time this article comes out. Remember, voting is your right and privilege.

When you don't vote, you have given the opposition a better chance to win.

    I just read some literature prepared by Thomas J. Lawson UW-AFL-CIO Community Services Labor Liaison, on what to do when the paycheck stops. One of the most helpful things in this pamphlet was how to lower household expenses. Here are some examples:

    1. Lower phone bills by reducing long distance calls or making them at night or weekends.

    2. Consider cancelling extra phone features, such as caller I. D., text messaging and I tunes.

    3. Review and reduce internet/electronic needs and services.

    4. Conserve on energy and fuel costs, combine errands and shopping trips.

    5. Turn off lights, T.V. and appliances not in use.

    6. Cut back on use of power hogs, like hair dryers.

    7. Lower thermostat for heating and raise thermostat for air conditioning.

    8. Wash and dry full loads.

    9. Eliminate unnecessary car trips, car pool, take public transportation or walk to save gas.

    10. Adjust shopping habits, make lists, and use coupons.

 This pamphlet has about 44 pages of very helpful tips and information on public services to help you and your families. Feel free to contact me or our union office; we have a few copies left.

    I'd like to encourage everyone to come to the B.A.C. 3 9^th Annual Picnic on July 17. This has been a rough year for everyone. So it sure would be nice time for all of us to get together and have a little fun, laugh, talk, take some fun rides and do a little catching up with friends. This year the picnic is at Great America. I hope to see you there.

   The last thing I'd like to say is please, brothers and sisters, when you are asked to help on a picket line, do what you can. If you walk the picket line you get one month’s free dues. But, its also for a greater cause, it’s to protect our work for your brothers and sister’s in B.A.C.

        Thank You, Tony Santos