V41N4 | The Boilermaker Reporter

Week-long seminarprovides valuable infofor new officersSEVENTEEN NEW ConstructionDivision business managers wereinvited to attend a week-long educa-tional program in Kansas City, July 29-August 2, 2002.

Designed specifically for the con-struction lodge leaders, the programincluded a review of the Brotherhood’shistory, structure, service, policies, andprocedures, and provided an in-depthlook at the Construction Division; theNational Maintenance and ProjectAgreements; the MOST Program; theNational Apprenticeship Program; thepension, annuity, and health &welfarefunds; referral rules; financial report-ing; marketing; collective bargaining;organizing; communications; and timemanagement and strategic planning.

Invited to attend were NathanielBegay of Local 4, Page, Ariz.; Robert W.Hall of Local 11, Helena, Mont.; JamesW. Banford Jr. of Local 13,Philadelphia, Pa.; David L. Snead ofLocal 27, St. Louis, Mo.; Raymond J.Cushing Jr. of Local 28, Newark, N.J.;

Gerald L. Williams of Local 29, Boston,Mass.; James E. Porter of Local 40,Elizabethtown, Ky.; Edmond J. Hebertof Local 60, Peoria, Ill.; Herman J.Sullivan of Local 74, Houston, Texas;Gerald L. Bullock of Local 85, Toledo,Ohio; Ralph D. Havard of Local 110,Hattiesburg, Miss.; Mark Thompson of

Local 132, Galveston, Texas; MichaelAllen of Local 263, Memphis, Tenn.;Randy B. Robbins of Local 502,Tacoma, Wash.; William K. Adams ofLocal 531, Amarillo, Texas; John D.Kelly of Local 582, Baton Rouge, La.;and Clay Herford of Local 587, Orange,Texas. ❑

Illinois laboratory to use2,215-foot tube to studysubatomic particlesMEMBERS OF THE NATIONALTransient Lodge (NTL) are playing arole in the study of the physics of sub-atomic particles.

Working for CBI Services, Inc., theBoilermakers assembled a six-foot, six-inch diameter by 2,215-foot long decaytube. Scientists at the Fermi NationalAccelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Ill.,will shoot neutrinos through the tubeat nearly the speed of light.

The tube alignment was so criticaland tolerances were so tight that themembers may have felt at times likethey were part of a science experimentthemselves — as if they were workingunder a microscope as lab techniciansclosely scrutinized their work.

The experienced crew of NTLBoilermakers and superintendentLarry Hostetler made the project asuccess, reported CBI Project EngineerDave Craney. Not only did the jobmeet the customer’s standards, but itwas completed on schedule, with6,800 man-hours, and accident free.

According to Craney, the decay tubeis one of the key components of anongoing experimental project that willstudy the nature of subatomic parti-cles called neutrinos.

When the project is complete, thetube will be located in a 21-foot diame-ter tunnel, buried 200-feet below thesurface of the earth. Neutrinos will beshot through the tube at nearly thespeed of light. The particles will then

travel through the earth and strike ahuge detector plate in an iron mine innorthern Minnesota.

Neutrinos are a class of elementaryparticles with no electric charge. Oneof the key questions that the Fermi labhopes to answer is whether neutrinoshave mass.

Making up the crew were NTLmembers Steve Bauer, Dan Bird, RichCrum, Jay Foraker, Ken Forbes, TomGray, Earl Hamre, foreman LarryHostetler, Neil Johnson, RichardKoesling, Matt Maple, Tim Maple,Warren White, and Stan Zelhart. ❑

http://www.IBB.workingfamilies.com http://www.boilermakers.org

Reporterthe Boilermaker Vol. 41 No. 4 Jul • Aug 2002

The Official Publication of the InternationalBrotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship

Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers, andHelpers, AFL-CIO

Charles W. Jones, Editor-in-Chief

NTL members build big testtube for one-of-a-kind project

ABOVE: NTL MEMBERS use a crane andtemporary wheels to help set one of 56tube sections into place.

AT RIGHT: ALIGNMENT IS A CRITICALfac-tor as an NTL member welds togethersections of a 2,215-foot long decay tube.

Letters to Editor . . . . . . . . . .2

D208 members strikeWorkers not intimidated by threats . . . .3Domestic InsecurityBush, GOP weaken workers’ rights . .7Scholarships . . . . . . . . . .8-9Steward’s SourcebookKeeping records well organized . . .11

Local NewsHonoring the old and new . . . . . . .13

IN THESE PAGES

New business managersattend educational program

ONE OF THE MOSTpopular benefitsavailable to Boilermaker members isthe college scholarship program thathelps dependents of Boilermakers getstarted with their college education.These one-year grants reward thehard work and success of youngmembers of Boilermaker familiesand encourage members ofthe next generation ofcollege-educatedworkers to rememberthe union advantage.

Boilermaker scholar-ships are open to highschool seniors whowill be entering theirfirst year of a two- orfour-year academic pro-gram at a degree-granting,accredited college or universitywithin one year of their high schoolgraduation and are dependents ofBoilermaker members in goodstanding. A dependent may be ason, daughter, legally adoptedchild, or other dependent of an

active, retired, disabled, ordeceased member.

Winners are chosen based on avariety of criteria that includegrades, standardized test scores,extracurricular activities, and a writ-ten essay on an assigned topic. (Seepages 8-9 for 2002 winners.)

Applications for the 2003 awardswill be available from your local

lodge at the end of this yearand will be accepted fromJanuary 1 to March 31, 2003.Applications postmarkedafter the March 31, 2003,

deadline cannot be consid-ered. Contact your local to get an

application. The International willnot mail applications to individuals.

Some local lodges have their ownscholarship programs. Scholarshipsare also available through the UnionPlus credit card program and somestate and regional labor councils.

For information on their scholar-ship programs, contact these organi-zations directly.

Reporterthe Boilermaker The Boilermaker Reporter is the official publi-cation of the International Brotherhood ofBoilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths,Forgers, and Helpers, AFL-CIO. It is publishedbimonthly to disseminate information of useand interest to its members. Submissions frommembers, local lodges, and subordinate oraffiliated bodies are welcomed andencouraged. This publication is mailed freeof charge to active members and retiredmembers holding a Retired Members Card.Others may subscribe for the price of $10 forthree years. Standard Mail (A) postage paidat Kansas City, Kan., and additional mailingoffices. ISSN No. 1078-4101.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:

The Boilermaker Reporter753 State Avenue, Suite 565Kansas City, KS 66101(913) 371-2640; FAX (913) 281-8104

Web sites: IBB.workingfamilies.com and www.boilermakers.org

PUBLICATION AGREEMENT No. 40010131

Printed in the U.S.A.

A prize-winning newspaper

Jul • Aug 2002 Vol. 41 No. 4

Charles W. Jones, International President and Editor-in-Chief

Jerry Z. Willburn,Intl. Secretary-Treasurer

International Vice PresidentsLawrence McManamon, Great LakesMichael S. Murphy, Northeast

Newton B. Jones, Southeast George Rogers, Central

Don Lacefield, Western States

Richard Albright, Western CanadaAlexander MacDonald, Eastern Canada

Jim Hickenbotham, At-LargeOthal Smith Jr., At-Large

Editorial staffDonald Caswell, Managing Editor

Carol Dillon, Asst. to the Managing Editor

the Boilermaker Reporter2 Jul • Aug 2002

L E T T E R S


Retired 24 years, Comeaux isfeeling and looking goodI JUST WANTED to let you knowthat I’m still retired and feel good.It’s been 24 years since I retired. I’vebeen a Local 37 member for 55 yearsand worked for Dixie Machine andMetal Work from 1947 to 1978.

I’m now 84 years old and am sendingyou a picture of me. How do I look?

CURTIS T. COMEAUX, L-37 retireeMorgan City, La.

L-599’s Weaver wants a newslogan for settlements’ pageI ALWAYS ENJOY reading theReporter to see what’s going onaround the country. One thing thatdoes bother me is the slogan, “Youdon’t get what you deserve, you getwhat you negotiate.”

That makes us sound like a bunchof whiners begging for what we did-n’t earn. We are the ones wearing outour knees, breathing dirty air, work-ing outside and off the ground, etc., sowe deserve every nickel we can get.

EMERSON WEAVER, L-599Billings, Mont.

Editor’s Note: The slogan is intendedto convey the importance of negotiat-ing a union contract. No matter howhard you work, you only get whatyou can negotiate into the contract.

L-37 officers want terminalclause added to national fundsTOO MANY TIMES we have seen orheard of our brother members becom-ing terminally ill and told they have ashort time to live This occurs in everylocal all across the United States andCanada. More than ever at this criticaltime, their families are in need.

In these cases, the families haveenough problems coping with theimpending loss of their loved ones. Inthe meantime the bills continue to rollin, sometimes getting to the pointwhere the creditors want to repossesseverything they have.

We understand the Pension andAnnuity Funds have a clause that noone can receive benefits until they get aletter of award from Social Security;however, we feel there should be a ter-minal clause set up for those who arealready devastated by these events. Ifnothing can be done with the Pension,then may we suggest their Annuity beallowed them so that they can getthrough this tragedy without havingto worry financially as well.

We are asking the Board of Trusteesto reevaluate the Pension and AnnuityFunds for a terminal clause to help oursisters and brothers in their time ofneed before it’s too late.

DAVID HEGEMAN, Local 37 bus. mgr.MARCOS LOPEZ , Local 37 presidentNew Orleans, La.

L-290’s Mooney wants paperto recognize civil servants I HAVE WORKEDin a governmentshipyard for over 23 years and havebeen a union member for a good por-tion of that time (although notrequired). I have never read anythingin the Reporter pertaining to the dedi-cation of those who serve selflessly ascivil servants.

We are paid less than our privateindustry counterparts and put outequal or better quality workmanship.

W. MOONEY, L-290Bremerton, Wash.

Editor’s Note: As the official publica-tion of the Boilermakers union, theReporteris committed to publishingall stories submitted to us by ourmembers, local lodge officers, andInternational representatives and offi-cers. Unfortunately, we do not havethe resources to visit individual localsto try to find stories. If you want to seearticles about your local, your mem-bers, or any other topic published inthe Reporter, please send us the infor-mation, including photos if you havethem to the address given at the bot-tom of this page.

The most recent article of direct rele-vance to our members working in fed-eral government shipyards wasPresident Jones’s commentary in themost recent Reporter(May-Jun 2002),“We must build more Navy ships,” aplea to expand the U.S. Navy fleet.Expanding the U.S. Navy fleet wouldnot only make our nation safer, itwould also provide more jobs for ourmembers who work in government aswell as private shipyards.

Retired publications coordinatorstill enjoys reading the paperI’VE JUST FINISHEDreading theMar-Apr issue of the BoilermakerReporter. It is a superlative effort.You’ve succeeded in giving the mem-bers everything they need in attrac-tive, readable, succinct, and colorfulways. I would have been proud tohave put this out. And extra plauditsfor printing the names under the LEAPgroup photos. I hope the membersappreciate what you’re giving them.

PAT STRANDT, retired coordinator of Boilermaker publications (1984-1989)

Got something to say?WE WELCOME LETTERS on topicsof interest to our members and theirfamilies. Keep it short and sweet.Avoid profanity and personal attacks.

SEND A LETTER TO THE EDITOR:The Boilermaker Reporter753 State Ave. Suite 570Kansas City KS 66101FAX: (913) 281-8104E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]

Chattanooga Boiler praisesL-110 members for their prideand professionalismI WOULD LIKE to take this opportu-nity to commend the Boilermakersyou sent to the Enterprise GeneratingFacility. The pride and professional-ism in achieving the goal of a safeand quality job while maintaining atough schedule were evident in theway they performed at the site.

The Local 110 Boilermakers(Hattiesburg, Miss.) jumped right inwith our NTL Boilermakers with a“can do” attitude. Chattanooga Boiler& Tank would like to say thank youfor a job well done.

RANDY J. MURPHY, construction mgr.Chattanooga Boiler & Tank Co.

L-359’s experience, motivationimpresses Alstom Power Co.THOSE OF US at Alstom, involvedwith the April 2002 Tembec shut-down, would like to thank Local 359(Vancouver, BC, Canada) for the goodwork done for us during the shut-down. The crew was experienced andmotivated to perform a first-class job.

In life we tend to highlight the nega-tive, but I want to take this opportunityto accent the positive, professionalwork done by the Boilermakers.

K. M. WINDOVER , construction mgr.Alstom Power

Customer runs full-page ad tothank Local 146 membersWhen the Syncrude Project was com-pleted in Edmonton, Alberta, the ownerswere so pleased with the results that theynot only told the local lodge how theyfelt, they told the entire community byrunning the following as a full-page adin The Edmonton Sun:

Another monumental achievementThank you Horton CBI andBoilermakers Local 146 (Edmonton,Alberta) for your outstanding work-manship, productivity, and contin-ued dedication to safety. Your 50,000workforce hours have not goneunnoticed. We’re truly in awe of thePrimary Separation Vessel you’veerected. Many thanks from the entireAurora Project Team.AMEC, CEC, NORTH AMERICANCONSTRUCTION GROUP, UMACONSTRUCTORSLTD., AND SYNCRUDE

Good Job!Letters of Praise from Owners &Employers

LettersBoilermakers Write to the Editor

How to apply for a Boilermaker Scholarship

ON APRIL 14, while many Boilermak-ers were frantically trying to finish theirincome tax returns, leaders of LocalLodges 524 (East Chicago, Ill.) and 1255(Chicago, Ill.) were at the office of LocalLodge 524 in Hammond, Ind., attend-ing a class to sharpen their negotiatingskills in preparation for contract bar-gaining.

Conducted by International Rep.Howard Cole, the one-day class pro-vided information on all facets of col-lective bargaining, including strategies,responses, and methods used by man-agement and labor.

Local lodge leaders who attendedthe class described the session as

“worthwhile,” “a learning experi-ence,” and “a good example of ourInternational union providing itslocal leaders with the tools to do abetter job for our members.”

Local 524 members attending the ses-sion were President Johnnie L. John-son, Vice President Kenneth Scott, andnegotiating committee members MarioAuguand, Edward Carter, Keith High-smith, Kelly G. Hounshell, and ArlanD. Robinson.

Representing Local Lodge 1255 werePresident Allen Johnston and Secre-tary-Treasurer Robert Wilcox.

International Rep. Clayton Plummeralso attended the class. ❑

A REPORT IN the Financial Times saystop executives at the 25 largest U.S. com-panies to collapse in recent years earned$3.3 billion from sales of shares, payoffs,and other rewards while steering theircompanies into bankruptcy.

That’s an average of $132 million each,a pretty good salary for doing a bad job.

CEOs at companies that did not gobankrupt aren’t much different.

In 2001, average company profitsdeclined 35 percent and stock prices fellan average of 13 percent, yet CEO payrose seven percent —twice as fast as theaverage pay for hourly workers.

In addition, more than 1.7 millionworkers were laid off in 2001, accord-ing to Department of Labor statistics,while millions more have seen theirretirement nest eggs vanish in thestock market collapse.

But CEOs aren’t suffering, becausethey have risk-proofed their own retire-ment and job security.

A typical severance package pays theCEO three years of salary and bonus,and stock options often let CEOs profit

from sales of their shares even as theprice declines. They even freezeemployees’ 401(k) accounts while theyunload their own shares.

The corporate reform bill signed byPresident Bush makes minor changesto accounting rules, but does nothingabout the abuse of stock options.Attempts to include language regulat-ing stock options was defeated in boththe House and the Senate. ❑

Jul • Aug 2002 3the Boilermaker Reporter

N E W S M A K E R S


D208 members send strong message

MEMBERS OF LOCAL D208,Martinsburg, W.Va., went on strikefor one week to send a message totheir employer, Capitol Cement Corp.That message was the most basic andmost important message workers cansend an employer: We are willing toendure hardship to get a fair contract.

They had been working nearly ayear without a contract when, on

April 1, 2002, they decided they wereno longer going to work undermonth-to-month agreements. At 4:00p.m., on April 10, 2002, they voted tostrike. Within 30 minutes of their deci-sion, all 155 workers at the 24-hour-a-day operation were on strike.

“We planned the strike to demon-strate worker unity,” reports Intl. Rep.Raleigh Eversole. “Management

believed only the negotiating commit-tee and a few members were upsetwith their contract offer. We neededto send a message that the entiremembership was upset.”

Workers were upset with the compa-ny’s outsourcing and hiring of tempo-rary employees, company proposals tocut health care benefits, a weak pensionplan, and poor working conditions.

Trying to intimidate them, the com-pany mailed workers letters threaten-ing to terminate their health care ben-

efits. This tactic back-fired whenworkers made a public display ofburning the letters.

One week later, the afternoon shiftmarched to the plant gate with anunconditional offer to return to work.“This appeared to surprise them(Capitol Cement) just as the timing ofthe decision to strike obviously sur-prised them,” said Eversole.

The strike got good media attention,and workers are now negotiating withthe new owners, Essroc Cement. ❑

LOCAL D208 PRESIDENT Patrick Perkins reads a statement to the press concerningthe workers’ demands for a fair contract with Capitol Cement in Martinsburg, W. Va.

LOCAL D208 MEMBERS BURN letters from Capitol Cement to show they are notintimidated by company threats to terminate their health care benefits.

Working a year without a contract, Capitol Cementworkers go on strike in Martinsburg, West Virginia

Officers from Locals 524 and 1255 attendclass to prepare for contract negotiations

Boilermakers’ support forstrikers helps win battleLOCAL 219-O of the Communications,Energy & Paperworkers Union ofCanada (CEP) has emerged victoriousin its six-month strike against cementgiant Lafarge Inc. at the company’sBath, Ontario, facility, with the union’smembership ratifying a new agree-ment on June 15, 2002, by 77 percent.

The new four-year agreementincludes gains for the workers in wagesand pensions, the end to employmentof all scabs hired during the strike, anda resolution to the disputed issues ofovertime and subcontracting, includ-ing a commitment by the company tohire 17 percent more staff at the facility.

The strike by the local’s 65 membersbegan on December 5, 2001. Workersreturned to work July 2, 2002.

Lafarge Inc. is a subsidiary of LafargeGroup, based in Paris, France.

In addition to the support the CEPreceived from many Canadian unions,the union also gained the solidarity of

unions outside of Canada. In the U.S.,the International Brotherhood of Boil-ermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Black-smiths, Forgers & Helpers and thePaper Allied-Industrial, Chemical &Energy Workers International Union,both of which represent Lafarge work-ers, mobilized in support of the CEP.

In the United Kingdom, the GMBand the Transport & General WorkersUnion, which also represent Lafargeworkers, did likewise.

Like the CEP, these unions are affili-ated with the 20-million-strong Inter-national Federation of Chemical,Energy, Mine, and General Workers’Unions (ICEM).

“This is the best kind of union vic-tory,” said CEP Ontario Vice PresidentCec Makowski.

“Other employers should take noteof the priority our members and ourunion place on the hours of workissue,” said Doug Chisholm, localunion president. “This small groupstood up against a huge multinationalcompany and they won.” ❑

10%

0%

-10%

-20%

-30%

-40%

7%

-35%

-13%

StockPricesProfits

CEO Pay

Source: The New York Times

CEO Pay Up — Profits,Stock Prices Down

Rewarding failure: CEOsget rich from bankruptcies

CEP defeats cement giantwith multination campaign

LEFT TO RIGHT,Arlan Robinson, Keith Highsmith, IR-CDClayton Plummer, KennethScott, L-1255 Secretary-Treasurer Robert Wilcox, Mario Auguand, Ed Carter, L-1255President Allen Johnston, L-524 President Johnnie Johnson, and Kelly Hounshell.

GLENN HOLT HASretired as MetalPolishers Conference Director, effec-tive June 30, 2002. At the May meetingof the Metal Polishers AdvisoryBoard, Holt received his 55-yearmembership pin and enjoyed a cele-bratory dinner to commemorate hisupcoming retirement.

Holt has served Metal Polishers for55 years, ever since he helped organizethe shop he worked in at PittsburghPlate Glass Company in Kokomo, Ind.,in 1946, shortly after his discharge fromthe U.S. Army.

He had worked at the shop only afew months, but earned the respect ofhis co-workers by organizing the plantand getting the company to ratify theirfirst contract. As quickly as the first con-tract was ratified, in August 1946, Holtenrolled in Local 24 of the Metal Polish-ers, Buffers, Platers, and Helpers Inter-national Union and was electedchairman of the bargaining committee.

He held that position until 1964,when he became an International rep-resentative. He continued as an Inter-national rep. until 1976, when he waselected International vice president.

When International President JimSiebert retired in June 1984, Holt waselected International president, a posi-tion he held until October 12, 1996.

On that day, the Metal PolishersInternational Union voted at a specialconvention to merge with the Interna-tional Brotherhood of Boilermakers. Inaccordance with the merger agree-ment, Holt was named director of theMetal Polishers Conference, whichoversees all Metal Polisher lodges.

Along the way, Holt had time tomarry and raise five children — foursons, and a daughter. Three of hissons followed him into the Metal Pol-ishers union.

Holt also managed to find time tobecome a Bluegrass music star. He was

known as Chubby Lee and played withhis Ramblin’ Ridgerunners Band onWKMO radio in Kokomo.

Brother Holt continues to live inKokomo with his wife Marilyn, but he

has lost weight, given up playing andsinging on the radio, and is no longerknown as Chubby Lee. But now that hehas retired, all that could change. PerhapsChubby Lee will make a comeback! ❑

THE BOILERMAKERS UNION occu-pies an important place in the history ofNorth America, and we are working topreserve that history through the Boiler-makers National Archives, a museumlocated one block west of Internationalheadquarters in Kansas City, Kan.

National Archivist Tom Wands hasbeen collecting and restoring items fordisplay. He is also creating databasesfor a pictorial history and to recorddates of local lodge charters, names oflocal lodge officers, and biographies ofInternational officers.

You can help us continue the work ofthe archives through your donations.

To help raise much-needed funds, theNational Archives is offering the abovepictured gifts to donors.

Only U.S. funds can be accepted.Please make checks or money orderspayable to the Boilermakers Archives,indicate your gift choice on the memoline, and mail to:

Tom Wands, ArchivistBoilermakers National Archives753 State Ave., #570Kansas City, KS 66101All donations are tax deductible (less $1 for

each decal received; $5 for ornament; $7 for sou-venir watch; $10 for clock; $18 for sports watch;$20 for dress watch). Tax ID #48-114-537.

Window Decals

One for $2 Donation;Three for $5 Donation


N E W S M A K E R S

the Boilermaker Reporter


Conference Director Glen Holt retires

IN ONE OF HIS last official acts as Metal Polishers Conference Director, Glen Holt (r.)confers with International Vice President Othal Smith Jr. at the May 2002 meeting ofthe Metal Polishers Advisory Board. Holt retired in June, ending his 55-year career.

INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY-Treasurer Jerry Willburn presents a 55-year membershippin to Glenn Holt (r.), former International President of the Metal PolishersInternational Union and newly-retired Metal Polishers Conference Director.

Glen Holt calls an end to his 55-year career of servingworkers in the metal polishing industries

Archives needs support

10-inch Wall Clock$20 DonationSide 1 - 1893 logo Side 2 - Current logo

Men’s GoldDress Watch$40 Donation

Men’sSouvenir Watch

$15 Donation

Men’sSports Watch$30 Donation

Ladies GoldDress Watch$40 Donation

LadiesSouvenir Watch

$15 Donation

Christmas Ornament— $10 Donation

New Quality ControlCouncil to strengthenlabor movement in U.S.A NEW PARTNERSHIPbetween theInternational Brotherhood of Boiler-makers and the United Association ofJourneymen and Apprentices of thePlumbing and Pipefitting Industry (UA)could bring union representation tosome 70,000 Americans working in thefield of nondestructive testing (NDT).

Named the Quality Control Councilof the United States (QCCUS), the newpartnership is a coalition based on theQuality Control Council of Canada(QCCC), which has served the Cana-dian NDT industry for more thanthree decades.

Through collective bargaining, theQCCC and the Nondestructive Man-agement Association have mutuallyestablished and stabilized wages,hours, and working conditions in theNDT industry throughout Canada.

With the QCCUS, the Boilermakersand UA unions hope to organize tech-nicians and trainees in the field of qual-ity control throughout the U.S. Theseworkers ensure the safety and reliabil-ity of everything from river dams to air-planes to piping systems. They conducttests on materials and parts that can

weaken over time and they work indiverse fields and industries with avariety of state-of-the-art technologies.

Through the QCCUS, the unionswant to upgrade the NDT field throughthe establishment of training, qualify-ing procedures, and collective bargain-ing with the newly-formedNondestructive Testing Contractors’Association (NDTCA).

QCCUS organizing efforts havebegun at the top by focusing on signingcontractors. A number of NDTCA con-tractors became signatory to theQCCUS Nondestructing TestingAgreement when the council wasformed in November 2001. TheQCCUS also received a boost from itsCanadian counterpart, as many QCCCcontractors are active in both Canadaand the U.S., or are interested inexpanding their work into the U.S.

In March 2002, Boilermaker Organiz-ing Director Bill Creeden met withbusiness managers of the Boilermakersand UA locals who will be administer-ing the agreement. Both unions are nowrecruiting trained workers in hopes ofrepresenting a substantial portion ofAmerica’s 70,000 NDT technicians. Thenew council hopes to be as successful asits Canadian counterpart in establishingand stabilizing wages, hours, and work-ing conditions for NDT workers. ❑

Boilermakers, UA to jointlyrepresent NDT workers

ROTC presents flags toPurple Heart recipientsFOUR RETIRED MEMBERS of theBoilermakers union have received spe-cial recognition for their service duringWorld War II.

Conrad Dippel, who joined the Boil-ermakers in 1937, and 55-year mem-bers Peerless Jefferson, J.T.McCullough, and Billy Woods are allretired members of the National Tran-sient Lodge (NTL). They are also Pur-ple Heart veterans who make theirhome in Congressman Jim Turner’sTexas district.

In recognition and appreciation of alifetime of service, CongressmanTurner requested that a flag be flownover the Nation’s capital for each of thePurple Heart recipients.

In April 2002, members of the Cleve-land High School ROTC presented theflags, along with a letter of recognition,to each of the NTL retirees. (Woods’wife accepted on his behalf.)

Jefferson, who submitted the informa-tion for publication, knows of other NTLmembers who are also veterans, includ-ing Robert Cheney (55 years), CharlesCoburn (58), Clinton Crowell (62),Bryant Holmes (60), Richard Simons(60), and Ellis Steinhouser (45). ❑

NTL members receive specialrecognition as WWII veterans

the Boilermaker ReporterJul • Aug 2002 5

T R A I N I N G & E D U C A T I O N


Area job opportunitiesand youthful populationwill keep lodge growingON JUNE 12, NEARLY 300 people,including Navajo Nation PresidentKelsey Begaye, attended the dedicationceremony of Local 4’s new training cen-ter in Page, Ariz.

The 4,800-square-foot training centeris located just a stone’s throw awayfrom the reservation’s border. Ninety-eight percent of Local 4’s membershipis Navajo. Since it was chartered in1999, the lodge has grown to more than1,300 members, with 65 apprentices.

Intl. Pres. Charles W. Jones attendedthe dedication, remarking that this is thefirst time the Boilermakers have built atraining facility for Native Americans,although Native Americans haveserved as business managers across thecountry for years.

Local 4 Bus. Mgr. Nate Begay saidnearly half of the reservation’s popula-tion is under 25 years of age. He empha-sized how this facility will enable manyof these young people to learn a skillthat can help their communities.

Already the population in Page hasgrown since Boilermaker OrganizerGary Evenson first showed up outsidethe area’s power plants. Evenson spokeof a dream that grew from a modesttraining facility into a state-of-the art

school with 24 welding booths and a700-square foot classroom.

Before the dedication ceremony, PatSmith, who serves as coordinator of theBoilermakers National ApprenticeshipProgram, met privately with some of theLocal 4 apprentices. He told them thatBoilermaker work can be physicallychallenging, but financially rewarding.

“It’s a good, honest way to make aliving,” Smith said. “It’s hard and it’s

dirty, but it’s honest, and if there’s afuture in it for you, you will be able toretire and benefit from the labor youput out all these years, and it will serveyou well.”

The first class of 24 apprenticewelders completed the classroom por-tion of their studies just a few days afterthe facility’s dedication and the secondclass is already filled. These newwelders will have no trouble finding

jobs, as a power plant in nearbySpringerville needs 500 boilermakers tobuild a major addition — a project thatwill take up to five years to complete.

The training center also has jurisdic-tion at projects in New Mexico and ElPaso, Texas, plus the members canmake a great deal of money by workingfor contractors that pay workers anattractive per diem to travel the countryfrom job to job. Source: Arizona Daily Sun❑

Location, Location, LocationPROPERTY LOCATION is a key factorin a real estate purchase, and Local 374members are feeling very good aboutthe land they bought for a new trainingfacility in Dale, Ind., about 350 milessouth of their Hammond facility.

Bus. Mgr. Chuck Vanover believesthe new location will better serve bothmembers and clients. Plus, their plansto build another state-of-the-art train-ing facility will ensure that they con-tinue to produce the highly-skilledBoilermaker craftsmen Local 374 isknown for. The facility will be used totrain members in all weldingprocesses, from plate to orbital tubewelding. Jeff Schneider will serve asinstructor at the new facility. ❑

TWENTY-FIVE MEMBERS of Local 73,Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and Local203, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada,have completed the Canadian Boiler-makers Common Core Curriculum.

The National Apprenticeship andTraining Trust Fund Committeedeveloped the new course with inputfrom representatives of each local

lodge in Canada. “The course hasproven to be a very effective tool inpreparing our apprentices for any typeof work that a journeyman boilermakercould encounter in every aspect of thetrade,” reports Kent Oliver, bus.mgr./sec.-treas. of Local Lodge 73.

And contractors tend to agree. “Com-ments and progress reports received

from our contractors inform us that weare successful in selecting the elite fromthe large pool of apprentice applicationswe receive each year. Our apprenticesmake us proud,” said Oliver.

Brian Mikkelsen instructed the NovaScotia class of Scott Campbell, BradCurrie, Stefan Fiset, George Graham,Tony Leblanc, Adam MacDonnell,Rene Mackay, Derrick Middleton, ScottMikinnon, Glen Muise, Noel Peach,Billy Petite, and Dave Robertson.

Marcel Losier taught the NewBrunswick class of Jacques (Chico)Allain, Corey Crawford, StevenDalling, Kevin Glazier, Leon Hebert,Mario Leblanc, Stephane Leblanc, ChrisMoss, Allain Noel, Richard Theriault,Dana Vail, and Claude Vienneau.

Brad Currie and Claude Vienneauwere the top students of their class.Currie represented Local 73 at the 2001apprenticeship competition in Vancou-ver, and Allain Noel will representLocal 73 at the 2002 competition. ❑

Members of Locals 73, 203 in training

CANADIAN BOILERMAKERS Common Core Curriculum — Nova Scotia Class CANADIAN BOILERMAKERSCommon Core Curriculum — New Brunswick Class

LOCAL 4 INSTRUCTOR George Yellowman (with back to camera at right) speaks withvisitors following dedication of the local’s new welding center.

NEARLY 300 PEOPLE attend the dedication ceremony of Local 4’s new training facil-ity, located by the Navajo Nation in Page, Ariz.

Course prepares apprentices for work as journeymenboilermakers; two students compete nationally

L-374 breaks ground for new facility

L-4 training facility opens doors for Navajo Nation

LOCAL 374 BREAKS GROUND for a new training facility in Dale, Ind. L. to r., ABM JerryTempel, BM-ST Chuck Vanover, realtor Jerry Schue, Chamber of Commerce Pres.Becky Hochgesang, ABM Larry Seger, and Instructor Jeff Schneider.

L E A P I S S U E S




Budget deficit + trade deficitcould mean trouble ahead

PRESIDENT BUSH will soon have thedistinction of being the president whooversaw the largest one-year budgetreversal in U.S. history.

President Clinton’s final budgetended Sept. 30, 2001, with a $127 billionsurplus. Bush’s first budget as presi-dent will close out on Sept. 30, 2002,with a $165 billion deficit, according toprojections by the Office of Manage-ment and Budget (OMB).

Not only does Bush’s budget end afour-year string of surpluses, but hemanaged to move the country a total of$292 billion from the plus column to theminus column. Prior to this year, theworst downward shift was $80 billionunder President Reagan in 1983.

A July 24 article in the WashingtonPost reveals that White House politicalstrategists intend to blame the deficiton excess spending by Congress, butunexpected spending accounts for only$60 billion.

The bulk of the deficit has beencaused by lower revenue. The stockmarket is down, causing receipts fromcapital gains to be lower, the depressed

economy has lowered tax revenue, andBush’s tax cut for the rich took a $32 bil-lion bite out of tax revenues.

Bigger deficits are coming

BUSH SAYSthe deficit will shrink in2003 and will continue to shrink, butthey seem to be the only economists inthe world who have come to that con-clusion. Even the Republican SenateBudget Committee’s staff predicts adeficit of $194.4 billion in 2003. After2003, the Bush tax cut passed last yearwill take a larger bite out of tax revenueeach year, as new tax breaks for thewealthy are phased in. Over a ten-yearperiod, the Bush tax cut is expected toreduce revenue by about $2.7 trillion.

When the $165 billion budget deficitis added to the estimated $450 billiontrade deficit for 2002, the U.S. economygets a double whammy.

Budget deficits and trade deficits ofequal size have similar effects on theeconomy. Adding the two togetherputs a $615 billion drag on the economyin 2002. That is nearly double the worstprevious year, 1986, when Reagancombined a $221 billion budget deficitwith a $137 billion trade deficit. ❑

Bush budget creates$165 billion deficit

0

-$100

-$200

-$300

-$400

-$500

-$600

Trade Deficit Plus Budget Deficit1993-2002

(Billions of Dollars)

Until recently, growing trade deficits havebeen offset by shrinking budget deficits. Nowboth trade and budget deficits are growing.

Get smart about ALECTHE NAME SOUNDS innocentenough — American LegislativeExchange Council — but what thisgroup does is not innocent.

Known widely as ALEC, thisalliance was formed in 1973 by right-wing strategist Paul Weyrich, the manwho invented the term “Moral Major-ity.” Members include congressmen,senators, and the most powerful cor-porations in America.

Behind its facade of a bipartisan,good-government organization,ALEC pumps out anti-worker, anti-consumer, pro-privatization bills andspoon-feeds them to 2,400 mostlyRepublican state legislators. By work-ing behind the scenes, ALEC managesto get legislation enacted withoutdrawing attention to itself.

While legislators pay $50 for a two-year membership, corporate memberspay dues as high as $50,000 a year,plus $1,500-$5,000 fees to sit on taskforces that produce cookie-cutter billsthat can be introduced in a number ofstates with few changes.

Big Business and far-right contribu-tors such as Richard Mellon Scaifeaccounted for 97.9 percent of ALEC’s$5.7 million budget in 2000.

Those corporate investments arepaying off. ALEC-affiliated legislatorsintroduced 3,100 bills in 1999-2000,and 450 of them passed. Two ofALEC’s most publicized goals arekeeping wages low and privatizingretirement.

ALEC’s Commerce and EconomicDevelopment task force is beingchaired by a representative of McDon-ald’s this year. They have succeeded ingetting laws passed in Arizona, Col-orado, Louisiana, Mississippi, Utah,and Oregon that make it impossiblefor local communities to pass livingwage laws. Living wage laws are locallaws that mandate a much higher min-imum wage than the federal one.

Privatizing government services isanother ALEC goal. Their “PublicEmployees’ Portable RetirementOption (PRO) Act” is intended to getstate governments to abandon theirdefined-benefit pensions in favor of401(k)-style pensions. The 401(k)-styleplans are not as safe for workers asdefined-benefit plans, but they canearn a lot of money for investmentfirms, such as Fidelity Investments, anALEC member.

They also support privatizing SocialSecurity, Medicare, and Medicaid. ❑

Drug companies rewardRepublicans for passingpro-business drug billJUST HOURS AFTERthe House Waysand Means Committee approved aprescription drug bill backed by thepharmaceutical industry and the Bushadministration, many of those drugcompanies took part in a Republicanfundraiser at which some donors paid$250,000 each to hear President Bush.

According to CNN.com and TheWashington Post , GlaxoSmithKlinePLC, and the PharmaceuticalResearch and Manufacturers of Amer-ica — a lobbying organization fordrug companies — kicked in a quarterof a million dollars each.

Pfizer Inc. dropped $100,000 into theGOP campaign coffers and Eli Lillyand Co., Bayer AG, and Merck & Co.

gave $50,000 each to hear Bush’s parti-san speech.

The Republican prescription drugbill not only would force seniors intoHMO-type plans, but a senior withaverage drug bills would get virtuallyno benefit. ❑

Corporations get $1billion in governmentcontracts, pay no taxes AMERICAN BUSINESSES thatmoved their corporate headquartersto tropical island tax havens, or are inthe process of doing so, received morethan $1 billion in business from thefederal government last year, accord-ing to a report released by Congress-men Richard Neal (D-MA) and JimMaloney (D-CT).

These corporate parasites benefitfrom our nation’s infrastructure, tech-nology, education, protection from ter-rorists, and other services withoutpaying a dime of taxes. To add insult toinjury, they got more than $1 billion infederal contracts, most of which weredefense and homeland security related.

This corporate hypocrisy is outra-geous. Corporations shouldn’t benefitfrom America’s defense and home-land security resources if they’re notwilling to pay for it.

Reps. Neal and Maloney are cur-rently gathering signatures from otherlawmakers to try to force a vote ontheir bill that denies tax benefits to cor-porations that set up shop overseas.The Neal-Maloney Corporate PatriotEnforcement Act (H.R. 3884), the firstbi-partisan bill introduced in theHouse, currently has over 140 co-sponsors, and would save U.S. tax-payers $4 billion over ten years. ❑

Cheney’s Halliburtonpaid no federal taxesBush’s Harken Energy alsoused off-shore tax havens

WHITE HOUSE STAFF continue toclaim that President Bush stronglyopposes using off-shore accounts tododge taxes, but The New York DailyNews reports that Harken Energy setup an offshore subsidiary in the Cay-man Islands tax haven in 1989, whenPresident Bush sat on Harken’s boardof directors.

Vice President Dick Cheney’s for-mer company, Halliburton, was evenmore aggressive in using offshore taxhavens. An analysis of Halliburton fil-ings with the SEC indicates that whileDick Cheney was CEO of Halliburton(between 1995 and 2000) the numberof company subsidiaries in offshoretax havens rose from nine to 42.

Using such tax-avoidance schemes,Halliburton managed to avoid payingfederal income taxes in five of the sixyears that Cheney was CEO. In thesame period, the company got $2.3 bil-lion in federal government contracts.

Halliburton’s Income Tax Under Dick Cheney (Figures in parenthesis are reimbursements.)

2000: ($16 million)1999: $85 million1998: ($302 million)1997: ($167 million)1996: ($82 million)1995: 0Total: $482 million reimbursed. ❑

We can’t outspend richpeople & corporations THE AMOUNT OF MONEYAmeri-cans spend on influencing the federalgovernment is staggering. Lobbyistsalone spend about $6.5 million per daytrying to get members of Congress topass or defeat legislation and to getagencies to alter their rules.

Winning an election costs a fortune.In 2000, the average winner of a Senateseat spent $7.7 million. The averagewinner of a House seat spent $842,245.

And the White House is the mostexpensive home on the planet. It costGeorge W. Bush $187 million for theright to move in for four years.

Most of Bush’s donations came fromwealthy individuals from large, pow-erful corporations. Microsoft execu-tives, for example, collectively gaveBush more than one million dollars.

The system is clearly stacked to favorbig money. But unionized workers cangive politicians something that no richdonor can: votes.

Workers make up the vast majorityof people in this country. We can have asignificant impact on the coming elec-tions by making sure our friends, fam-ily, and co-workers register to vote,understand the issues, and vote forpro-worker candidates.

We were successful in mobilizingunion voters in the last election, but weneed to do even better this year. In 2000,the presidential race was decided by537 votes in Florida — a state with227,320 unregistered union voters.

What a different world it would be ifall union members had voted. ❑

Unions need to use ourfull grassroots power

Money SpentInfluencing Federal

Government(Projected for 2002)

Lobbyists $1,570 Million Ind. Donations $480 Million PAC Donations $82 Million Soft Money $309 Million Total $2,400 Million

That’s outrageous!News items we just couldn’t ignore


L E A P I S S U E S



IN THE WEEKSfollowing the attackon the World Trade Center, Presi-dent Bush and his cohorts in theRepublican Party wasted no time

finding ways to use that tragic event fortheir own political advantage.

Their first action was to sell copies ofa photograph of Bush making a phonecall from Air Force One, taken whileevents were still unfolding. The photowas part of a package GOPsupporterscould buy for $150, with proceeds fromsales going to support the RepublicanNational Committee (RNC).

Selling mementos of this tragic eventto raise campaign money is tasteless,but Bush’s cynical use of the war on ter-rorism to promote his personal legisla-tive agenda is outrageous. Since 9/11,Bush has linked every bill he supportsto the threat of terrorism —from fast-track trade authority to more tax cutsfor the super-rich.

The terrorists who struck on 9/11were not driven by economics, but byreligious fervor. But that didn’t stopBush from forcing the trade billthrough Congress by repeatedly claim-ing it was good for national security.

At Bush’s insistence, the fast-trackbill finally passed by Congress did notinclude any provision to protect U.S.businesses from dumping (when for-eign companies sell products cheaperin the U.S. than at home to drive outcompetition) or unfair foreign subsi-dies. Democrats tried to add provisionsthat would protect workers who losetheir jobs because factories move over-seas, but those provisions wereremoved or severely limited. Appar-ently, making America safer does notinclude making sure American work-ers have jobs and health care.

Immediately after passage of fast-track, Bush announced plans to estab-lish NAFTA-style trade agreementswith Chile, Singapore, Morocco, andfive countries in Central America.

Pumped up from the success of pass-ing fast-track, Bush is now using lastyear’s acts of terror to try to convinceCongress to do away with workers’rights, including our right to organizeunions and bargain collectively.

Bush wants HomelandSecurity to be nonunionREPUBLICANS ARE usually opposedto expanding the federal government,but 9/11 convinced Bush that heneeded to create a new agency — theDepartment of Homeland Security.This new department will take over theresponsibilities of dozens of offices inother federal agencies, including theFBI, FEMA, the INS, the State Depart-ment, and the Coast Guard.

In his proposal to Congress, Bushadded one provision to the Departmentof Homeland Security that otherdepartments don’t have:He wants it tobe nonunion. He claims that allowingDepartment of Homeland Securityemployees to belong to a union wouldthreaten national security.

Bush’s claim is an insult to all Ameri-can union members, who are amongthe most patriotic of all Americans. Col-lective bargaining does not threatennational security.

In fact, as Mark Hall, president ofAFGE Local 2499 in Detroit, Mich., tolda Capitol Hill press conference, being a

union member actually helps workersprotect the nation’s security.

Hall is one of two U.S. border patrolagents who were suspended for blow-ing the whistle on lax security proce-dures on the U.S.-Canadian border.They acted in an attempt to force theborder patrol to improve border secu-rity. When they were suspended fortrying to make America safer, theirunion supported them. The JusticeDepartment finally dropped discipli-nary actions against them because ofpressure from Congress and the federalOffice of Special Counsel.

“Our union has helped me and myfellow officers make this nation a betterand safer place,” he said.

Hall’s story proves that PresidentBush’s plan to deny collective bargain-ing rights to the 170,000 workers whowork for the new Department ofHomeland Security is ill-advised.

But Bush’s anti-union stance hasnothing to do with increasing nationalsecurity. Many people see it as paybackto unions for opposing his election in2000. Others point out Bush’s need tocover up government failures. Bushwas embarrassed by the reports thatsurfaced after 9/11, showing variousbranches of the federal governmenthad knowledge of the planned attackson the World Trade Center, but for dif-ferent reasons they all dropped the ball.With no union protection, workers areless likely to blow the whistle on fail-ures within his new department.

Bush’s executive orderprivatizes air traffic controlIN ANOTHER ATTACK on workers,Bush issued an executive order strip-ping the nation’s air traffic control sys-tem of its “inherently governmental”designation, opening the door to priva-tizing the system.

Sonny Hall, president of the Trans-portation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, called the action a “slap in the faceto the nation’s air traffic controlemployees who have performed withenormous courage and efficiency in themonths since the terrorist attacks ofSeptember 11.”

The U.S. has the world’s safest andmost efficient air traffic control system,but Bush and many of his colleagues inthe GOP believe that government serv-ices should be a for-profit enterprise.

Other countries have privatized theirair traffic control systems with badresults. Commercialized air traffic sys-tems in Canada and Australia are expe-riencing severe financial stress, andGreat Britain’s privatized National AirTraffic Services is a financial disaster.

Air safety advocates are concernedthat businesses are driven by profits.When businesses begin losing money,their first reaction is to cut personneland increase hours. That might beacceptable in a fast-food restaurant, butif a privatized air traffic safety systemcuts corners, they are putting at risk thelives of every passenger flying into andout of that airport.

The need for public safety demandsthat air traffic controllers remain a gov-ernment function. But Bush and theGOP seem intent on privatizing everyaspect of the federal government,including those offices whose only pur-pose is to protect the public.

Republicans introduce billsmeant to weaken unions A PAIR OF BILLS introduced byHouse Republicans would make thebusiness of organizing a union andmaintaining the union more difficult.

At a hearing on union organizing,Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-Ga., 10th),House Workforce Protections Subcom-mittee chairman, called for legislationprohibiting companies from certifyingunions based on card-check recogni-tion. Under current law, if a union getsa majority of the workers at a facility tosign cards saying they want to start aunion, the company can choose toimmediately recognize the union or itcan demand that the workers vote in asecret ballot election. Norwood’s billwould require that an election be heldregardless of the percentage of cardssigned or the wishes of the company.

Norwood claims he is looking out forthe interest of the workers, but that’shard to believe. Requiring elections inall cases merely forces the Departmentof Labor to pay for elections that aren’tnecessary or welcome, while increasingthe likelihood that companies willaggressively oppose unionization.

Subcommittee Ranking DemocratMajor Owens (D-N.Y., 11th) told themeeting that union certification elec-tions create a “one-sided electionprocess.” Employers are able to requireemployees to attend anti-union meet-ings during an election campaign, butunions cannot compel workers to listento pro-union arguments.

Norwood’s proposal to require secretballot elections also calls for limitationson collecting union dues and containsother provisions that weaken unions.

Meanwhile, Rep. Sam Johnson (R-Tex., 3rd) has introduced a bill thatwould impose additional penalties onlocal lodges that are late in filing reportsor in other ways violate the Labor Man-agement Reporting and Disclosure Act(LMRDA). The Labor Departmentalready has authority to audit unionfinancial statements on a random basis,to sue unions in order to force theircompliance with the LMRDA, and toimpose criminal sanctions againstunion officers for violations of theLMRDA, including fines up to $10,000and up to one-year imprisonment.

That’s not enough for Rep. Johnson,though. He wants to have anotherthreat to hold over the heads of locallodge officers — many of whom con-duct their union business without pay,on their own time, and with little or noeducation in accounting.

Statistics from the Department ofLabor suggest Johnson’s bill is not nec-essary. Only one out of 25 local lodgesfiles their forms late. The ones that dotend to be the smaller locals that cannotafford CPAs and other staff to assistthem. As of August 2001, only one-fourth of one percent of all unions withmore than $200,000 in annual receiptshad failed to file LMRDA forms thatwere due in March 2000.

By way of contrast, in 1990, PresidentBush was 39 months late in filing arequired report to the SEC for sales ofshares of Harken Energy Corp., wherehe was on the board of directors. Whenhe finally did file, he came under inves-tigation for habitually filing late (thiswas the fourth time) and for insider

trading, because he sold the stocksknowing that two months later thecompany would release a revised earn-ings report that would subtract $12 mil-lion from their earnings.

Making a stock trade based oninsider knowledge, such as Bushappears to have done, is punishable bya fine of up to three times the profitmade, plus four years in prison. But theSEC investigation was ended by Bush’sfather, who was president at the time.

Bush’s tax cut killed thesurplus, not terroristsBUSH’S MOST CONTEMPTIBLEuseof September 11 is the way he blamesthose terrorist attacks for his federalbudget deficit. Early this year, Bushbegan telling what has come to beknown as the “trifecta joke” at Republi-can fundraisers. Here’s one version.

Bush: “You know, I was cam-paigning in Chicago andsomebody asked me, is thereany time where the budgetmight have to go into deficit? Isaid only if we were at war orhad a national emergency orwere in recession. Little did Irealize we’d get the trifecta.”

Bush has told this “joke” to his finan-cial supporters in Charlotte, N.C.; DesMoines, Iowa; Atlanta, Ga.; Greenville,S.C.; Dallas, Texas; Philadelphia, Penn.;Albuquerque, N.M.; Columbus, Ohio;and Houston, Texas.

And every time, the audience laughs.Not only is this joke tasteless and

insensitive, it is based on a lie and isused to promote a lie.

When Bush began telling the joke inFebruary, news reporters combedthrough their notes and video footagetrying to find the speech during whichhe made this statement. No one wasable to do so, but they uncovered hun-dreds of times that Bush said he couldforesee no situation at all in which histax cut would create deficit spending.

He was always adamant about thatpoint, because his critics and disinter-ested economists said that his tax cutswould make deficits inevitable. Youmay remember that the Reportersaidso many times in 2000 and 2001.

So several reporters and news agen-cies asked the White House to identifywhen and where President Bush madethe remark. The White House did notrespond to any of these requests.

Now Bush is using this tasteless lie totry to convince the American publicthat Osama bin Laden is the reason thegovernment has spent the surplus andis racking up enormous deficits again,like those his father created.

Bush is hoping most Americans haveforgotten the surplus was already gonewhen terrorists struck last fall. In July2001, the Congressional Budget Officewas already predicting a deficit, basedon lower tax revenue because of therecession and Bush’s tax cut for the rich.

Terrorists didn’t kill the surplus;Bush’s tax cut did.

Bush’s joke is not funny. His budgetdeficit is not funny. His tax cut for therich is not funny. And there is nothingat all funny about his using the deathsof 3,000 Americans to raise money forhis political party and our fear of terror-ism to destroy workers’ rights. ❑

DOMESTIC INSECURITY

Bush and the GOP are using the war onterror to weaken workers’ rights

8 Jul • Aug 2002

The Boilermakers’ InternationalExecutive Council (IEC)Scholarship Committee has

announced its selection of scholarshipaward recipients for the International,three local lodges, and the CanadianFederation of Labour.

The committee awarded a total of$50,000 in grants — $38,000 to UnitedStates students and $12,000 toCanadian students — for theInternational’s program; $4,000 inlocal lodge awards; and $2,000 fromthe Canadian Federation of Labour.

IEC scholarship winnersTHE IEC COMMITTEE selected 19award winners from a pool of 118applicants for the International’sscholarship awards.

The amount of each grant is deter-mined by the Scholarship Committee.This year, the committee awarded one$5,000 grant, two $4,000 awards, five$3,000 awards, and 11 $2,000 grants,based upon the applicant’s high aca-demic achievement, leadership skills,participation in extra-curricular activi-ties, and performance on a 300-500word essay on this year’s topic:“Describe how the World TradeOrganization (WTO) and the NorthAmerican Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA) have impacted Americanand Canadian workers, particularlythose who work in higher-skilled,higher-paying manufacturing jobs.”

Jamie Fluhart, daughter of MarcFluhart of Local 169, Detroit, Mich.,earned the top award of $5,000.

Jennifer Branscum, daughter ofDale Branscum, Local 69, Little Rock,Ark., and Kiley Harper, daughter ofJames Harper of Local 455, Sheffield,Ala., will each receive a $4,000 grant.

Selected to receive $3,000 grantswere Shane Bair II, son of Shane Bair ofLocal 295, York, Pa.; Christ Fisk, son ofGary Fisk of Local 104, Seattle, Wash.;Leila Ford, daughter of Ronald Ford of

Local 199, Jacksonville, Fla.; KyleJensen, son of Roger Jensen of Local647, Minneapolis, Minn.; and DanaPeterson, daughter of Robert Petersonof Local 524, East Chicago, Ind.

The following 11 scholarship win-ners will each receive $2,000 grants:Nicole Cottingham, daughter ofDonald Cottingham of Local 105,Chillicothe, Ohio; Greta Hall, daugh-ter of Kevin Hall of Local 128, Toronto,Ontario; Christopher Harbord, son ofLarry Harbord of Local 359,Vancouver, British Columbia; AliciaJester, stepdaughter of MatthewCornett Jr. of Local 85, Toledo, Ohio;Elizabeth Lofts, daughter of StephenLofts of Local 191, Victoria, British

Columbia; Brooke Myers, daughter ofTim Myers of Local 128; MelissaMyers, daughter of Phillip Myers ofLocal 580, Halifax, Nova Scotia;Stephen Namiotka, son of LeeNamiotka of Local 13, Philadelphia,Pa.; Sara Schoening, daughter ofVictor Schoening of Local 359; VictoriaTkacz, daughter of Joseph Tkacz ofLocal 1704, Euclid, Ohio; and ZacharyWilson, son of Richard Wilson ofLocal 667, Charleston, W.Va.

IEC scholarship program SINCE 1988, WHEN the Internationalbegan the scholarship program, theBoilermakers union has awarded a

total of $476,000 to 172 children anddependents of Boilermaker members.This year, the scholarship committeewas again highly impressed by theexcellent grades earned by the scholar-ship applicants throughout their highschool years, by their many achieve-ment awards, by their participation inextracurricular activities, and by theirwell-written essays. All of the appli-cants deserve special recognition. Andso does the committee, who spentdays reviewing applications, readingthe essays, and making sure that eachapplicant complied with the scholar-ship application rules.


S C H O L A R S H I P W I N N E R S


JAMIE FLUHART — $5,000Daughter of Marc Fluhart, L-169

CHRIST FISK — $3,000Son of Gary Fisk, L-104

JENNIFER BRANSCUM— $4,000Daughter of Dale Branscum, L-69

KILEYHARPER — $4,000Daughter of James Harper, L-455

SHANE BAIR II — $3,000Son of Shane Bair, L-295

LEILA FORD — $3,000Daughter of Ronald Ford, L-199

KYLE JENSEN— $3,000Son of Roger Jensen, L-647

International announces recipientsof 2002 Boilermaker scholarships

Continued on page 9

DANA PETERSON — $3,000Daughter of Robert Peterson, L-524

BILLIONS OF DOLLARS in financialaid are available for college students.This aid comes from four majorsources — colleges, the federal gov-ernment, state governments, and pri-vate sources.

Dependents of Boilermaker mem-bers can apply for the InternationalScholarship and the Union PlusCredit Card Scholarship. Some of ourlocal lodges offer scholarships todependents of their members, too.Scholarship applicants are evaluatedaccording to academic ability, socialawareness, and appreciation of therole of the labor movement.

In the U.S., to qualify for most fed-eral, state, and college aid, an appli-cant must demonstrate need. Need isdefined as the difference between thecost of college attendance and howmuch you can afford to pay based onyour income and assets. A collegewill try to meet an applicant’s needs

by creating a financial package fromthe aid programs available.

To find out how much aid you areeligible for, you must complete thecollege’s financial aid form(s), andyou must reapply for aid every year(as soon as possible after January 1prior to the school year for which youwill need funding).

The U. S. Department of Educationhas the following major StudentFinancial Assistance (SFA) Programs:• Federal Pell Grants• Stafford Loans• PLUS Loans• Consolidation Loans• Federal Supplemental EducationalOpportunity Grants (FSEOGs)• Federal Work-Study• Federal Perkins Loans

Grants are financial aid you don’thave to pay back; work-study lets youwork and earn money to help pay forschool; loans are borrowed money that

you must repay with interest.Undergraduates may receive all threetypes of financial aid. Graduate stu-dents may receive loans and FederalWork-Study, but not Federal PellGrants or FSEOGs. Contact the finan-cial aid office at your school to find outwhich programs (if any) are available.

Call 800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243)to apply for federal aid. Contact yourstate higher education agency and askto receive all literature on scholarship,grant, work-study, and loan programs.

Corporations, associations, unions,religious organizations, and other pri-vate sources also award scholarshipsto a variety of students. Uncle Samalso offers two types of tax breaks forcollege education — the Hope creditand the Lifetime learning credit.

In Canada, students can apply forscholarships through schools, govern-ments, trade unions, companies, cor-porations, and individuals.

Need help with college tuition?Whether reapplying for aid or applying for the first time, don’t overlook these sources

Jul • Aug 2002 9

THE INTERNATIONAL’S scholar-ship committee also chose winners ofscholarships from three local lodgesand two from the CanadianFederation of Labour (CFL).

Local 146, Edmonton, Alberta,awarded $2,000 to Samantha Hindle,daughter of Alan Hindle, and $1,000to Robyn Coulton, daughter of BrianCoulton. Local 582, Baton Rouge, La.,awarded $1,000 to Joshua Phillips, sonof William Phillips.

For the fourth year, the CFL isawarding scholarships to applicantsfrom each affiliated union. This yearthey increased their awards to two$1,000 grants. The IEC ScholarshipCommittee selected Lavonne Neville,daughter of Kenneth Neville of Local359, Vancouver, British Columbia, andJulian Lee, son of Albert Lee of LocalD385, Vancouver, British Columbia, asthis year’s CFL scholarship winners.

Local Lodge 359 holds firstscholarship contest LOCAL LODGE 359, Vancouver,British Columbia, has announced thewinner of its very first Local LodgeScholarship Award.

Christopher Harbord, son of Local359 member Larry Harbord, will

receive $2,500 from Local 359 in addi-tion to the award he won from theInternational’s scholarship program.

The Local 359 ScholarshipProgram is available to dependentsof Local 359 members and is basedon the same guidelines as theInternational’s program, includingsubmission of an essay.

In addition to the scholarshipaward, the local presented $125 toeach of the other four applicants:Myanna Desaulniers, daughter ofReon Desaulniers; Nicole Graham,daughter of Greg Graham; AmandaLynch, stepdaughter of LukeMacMain; and Sara Schoening,daughter of Victor Schoening.

Local Lodge 13 names 24scholarship winners

LOCAL LODGE 13, Philadelphia, Pa.,announces the winners of 24 scholar-ship awards, each totaling $6,000, todependents of Local 13 members whoparticipated in the local’s annual com-petition. Winners were selected basedon the results of a college aptitude testadministered and graded by St.Joseph’s University. The grants will beawarded over a period of four years;$750 per semester for eight semesters.

This year’s winners are DustinBabcock, son of Kurt Babcock;Thaddeus Coleman, son of ThadColeman; Mary Gaughan, daughter ofRichard Gaughan; Katlyn Golden,daughter of Thomas Golden; ChristianGresko, son of Francis Gresko;Catherine Haney, daughter of John P.Haney; Jennifer Harris, daughter ofReginald Harris; Rebecca Hill, daugh-ter of William Hill Jr.; ChristopherJacoby, son of Joseph Jacoby Jr.; ShaunKeeney, son of Joe Keeney; JosephKelly, son of Edward Storz; Nicole

King, daughter of Jay King; DavidKondraski, son of David Kondraski Sr.;Timothy Murray, son of JosephMurray; Stephen Namiotka, son of LeeNamiotka; Katherine Noble, daughterof Philip Noble; Joseph Peters, son ofWilliam Peters; Brian Petrun, son ofSteve Petrun; Jamie Roos, daughter ofRichard Roos; Mary Cait Shaw, daugh-ter of William Shaw; Michael Shultz,son of Brian Shultz; Josette Simms,daughter of Larry Simms Jr.; PatrickStrain, son of Thomas Strain; and LauraWilson, daughter of Daniel Wilson. ❑


S C H O L A R S H I P W I N N E R S


SAMANTHA HINDLE — L-146 WinnerDaughter of Alan Hindle, L-146

This year’s committee included Intl.Vice Presidents Newton Jones (chair-man), Alexander MacDonald, andOthal Smith Jr. Assisting were attor-ney John Blake, representing the legalfirm of Blake & Uhlig, andAdministrative Secretary Tracy Buck.

Intl. Pres. Charles W. Jones is proudof each applicant, but concerned thatthe scholarship is not getting adver-tised as much as it should. “This year,we received 118 applications, which is32 less than last year. It is vital toadvertise the benefits of this programto our members so that each of theirchildren have an opportunity at thescholarship awards.” (See box onpage two for how to apply.) ❑

STEPHEN NAMIOTKA — $2,000Son of Lee Namiotka, L-13

VICTORIA TKACZ — $2,000Daughter of Joseph Tkacz, L-1704

SARA SCHOENING — $2,000Daughter of Victor Schoening, L-359

ZACHARY WILSON — $2,000Son of Richard Wilson, L-667

NICOLE COTTINGHAM — $2,000Daughter of Donald Cottingham, L-105

GRETA HALL — $2,000Daughter of Kevin Hall, L-128

CHRISTOPHER HARBORD — $2,000Son of Larry Harbord, L-359

ELIZABETH LOFTS — $2,000Daughter of Stephen Lofts, L-191

BROOKE MYERS— $2,000Daughter of Tim Myers, L-128

MELISSA MYERS — $2,000Daughter of Phillip Myers, L-580

ALICIA JESTER — $2,000Stepdaughter of Matthew Cornett Jr., L-85

Continued from page 8

LAVONNE NEVILLE — CFL WinnerDaughter of Kenneth Neville, L-359

CFL, local lodges award scholarships, too


S A F E T Y & H E A L T H


LAST AUGUST, 65 Boilermakerswere exposed to thallium whilegrit-blasting tubes at Teck-Cominco’s lead smelter in Trail,B.C. Some of them were so ill theycould not continue on the job.

This incident is a grim reminderthat blasting any surface mayrelease toxins from the surface.

But the biggest danger in sandblasting comes from crystalline sil-ica (quartz), the main ingredient inthe sand used for blasting.

To protect yourself from expo-sure to silica or other airborne tox-ins, you must use proper safetymeasures during abrasive blastingand drilling. Silica dust is releasedby sand blasting, by drilling inmost kinds of rock, and by dry-cutting masonry or concrete.

The HazardsIN THE LUNGS, silica scars airsacs and keeps oxygen from get-ting into the blood. Silica causessilicosis, which can kill you. Silicacan cause shortness of breath, andit increases your chance of gettingtuberculosis (TB) and lung cancer.

Many industrialized countrieshave restricted the use of silicasand for sandblasting.

You can get silicosis after five toten years of working withoutbreathing protection and engi-neering controls around silicadust. Or you can get silicosis aftera few weeks if you work in thickclouds of crystalline silica and youare not protected. (This happenedto tunnel workers who cutthrough hard rock and were notprotected.)

You can be in danger even ifyou do not see dust. Silicosis canget worse years after you areaway from the dust.

What You Can Do• Wet down dry materials andsurfaces before you work withthemor before you sweep them.Or use a HEPA vacuum. This willreduce some dust.• For abrasive blasting, replacesilica sand with safer materials.The U.S. government’s NationalInstitute for Occupational Safetyand Health (NIOSH) says do notuse sand or any abrasive with morethan one percent crystalline silica init. Specular hematite (iron oxide) isa good substitute; steel grit may bea good substitute also. (Scientistsare still checking whether steel gritis safe for this work.)• When doing abrasive blasting,you need to use a type CE abra-sive blasting respirator (positive

pressure/pressure demand, withan APF of 1,000 or 2,000). Thisrespirator provides air from out-side the blasting area. Respiratorsmust not be the main way youreduce exposures. There shouldalso be effective engineering con-trols and air sampling must bedone during the work. Use only aNIOSH-approved respirator. If arespirator is NIOSH-approved,chemical cartridges, particulatefilters, and the box it comes in willsay “NIOSH,” and self-containedbreathing apparatus will have aNIOSH label on the backpack.• When drilling in rock that maycontain silica, you may need arespirator . The type of respiratoryou need will depend on the silicaconcentration levels.• If respirators are used, OSHAsays you must have a full respi-ratory protection program. Thismeans proper selection and fittingof respirators, medical screeningof workers for fitness to wear arespirator, and worker training touse the respirators. Correct stor-age and cleaning of respiratorsand an evaluation of the programare also needed.• Do not eat, drink, or smokenear silica. Wash your handsbefore you eat, drink, or smoke.• Change out of your workclothes before you go home. Thislimits the dust you and your fami-ly are exposed to. OSHA hasrules about levels of silica (andother dusts). For more informa-tion, call your local union or anyof the following organizations:

• The Center to Protect Workers’Rights(CPWR)

Phone —301-578-8500Internet —www.cpwr.com

• The National Institute forOccupational Safety and Health

Phone —1-800-35-NIOSHInternet —www.cdc.gov/niosh

• Occupational Safety andHealth Administration (OSHA)

Phone —1-800-321-OSHAInternet —www.osha.gov

• Or go to www.elcosh.org. Ask to see CPWR’s hazard alert

on Safe Work with Power Saws. (Youcan get hazard alerts in English orSpanish.)

This article was adapted from anarticle prepared by The Center toProtect Workers’ Rights. CPWR is aresearch and development arm of theBuilding and Construction TradesDepartment (BCTD), AFL-CIO.

Edward C. Sullivan is president ofthe BCTD and CPWR and JosephMaloney is secretary-treasurer. ❑

MAKE IT SAFE

Safety tips in SpanishTHIS ISSUE’S SAFETY COLUMN, “Silica inAbrasive Blasting and Rock Drilling,” isalso available in Spanish.

CPWR has supplied us with a number ofsafety columns in both English and Spanish

that we can make available in camera-ready form to any lodge that believes theymay be useful.

For more information, contact the Boiler-maker Reporter at 913-371-2640.

HAZARD ALERT:Silica in Blasting and Drilling

Employers must complywith OSHA rules and regs.IT TOOK DECADES of struggle in theworkplace and lobbying in Washing-ton to get Congress to pass the Occupa-tional Safety and Health Act in 1970.

The Act created the OccupationalSafety and Health Administration(OSHA), which sets and enforces stan-dards, and the National Institute forOccupational Safety and Health(NIOSH), which conducts research.

OSHA regulations provide rights toworkers, but enforcing them is noteasy. If your employer were to illegallyretaliate against you for exercisingthese rights, it might take years beforeyou could win your case in court.

Before you exercise the rightsexplained here, discuss the matterwith your union. Our union retains asafety and health expert who canadvise you on the best way to proceed.

● You have a legal right to a work-place free of recognized health andsafety hazards. Occupational Safetyand Health Act Section 5(a) requires anemployer to provide a workplace freeof hazards that “are causing or arelikely to cause death or serious physicalharm to his employees.”

● You have a legal right to any infor-mation that your employer has aboutany exposure you may have had tohazards such as toxic chemicals ornoise. Code of Federal Regulations,Title 29, Section 1910.1020, further pro-vides that you also have a right to anymedical records your employer hasconcerning you.

● You have a legal right to complainto your employer about dangerousconditions. Code of Federal Regula-tions, Title 29, Section 1977.12(b)(2)protects you from being fired or disci-plined for complaining to youremployer about safety hazards.

● You have a legal right to file com-plaints with OSHA and requestOSHA inspections . OccupationalSafety and Health Act, Section 8(f)(1)also applies to safety complaints toother government agencies, such as afire department.

● You have the legal right to respondto questions from an OSHA inspectorand point out hazards to the inspector,including telling the inspector aboutpast accidents or illnesses and inform-ing the inspector if your employer hastemporarily eliminated hazards duringthe inspection (Code of Federal Regula-tions, Title 29, Section 1903.10).

● You have a legal right not to be dis-criminated against for exercising yourhealth and safety rights. OccupationalSafety and Health Act Section 11(c)(1)protects you from any kind of discrimi-nation by your employer for exercisingyour health and safety rights, anythingfrom being harassed to being fired.

● You have a legal right to refuse towork or to walk off the job because ofworkplace hazards. Section 7 of theNational Labor Relations Act (NLRA)protects your right to engage in “con-certed activities,” which are actions bytwo or more workers or by one workerwhose action is endorsed by otherworkers. If your concerted activity isbased on a good-faith belief that thecondition is hazardous, your concertedaction is protected even if it turns outyou are wrong about the danger (say, if

you refuse to work because you smellwhat you believe is a toxic vapor, but itturns out to be a nontoxic vapor).

Furthermore, Code of Federal Regu-lations, Title 29, Section 1977.12(b)(2),protects you from being compelled towork under conditions that place youin imminent danger of death or seriousphysical harm, even if the action is byonly one individual with no supportfrom other workers. However, OSHAdoes not protect you if investigationshows your concern is unfounded.

Before you refuse to perform unsafework, you must ask your employer toeliminate the hazard and you should bewilling to accept an alternate assign-ment. If possible, you should contactyour union to better understand thenature of the hazard and your rights.

● You have a legal right to informa-tion and training about hazardousmaterials you work with, includingMaterial Safety Data Sheets. Code ofFederal Regulations, Title 29, Section1900.1200 places the responsibility forproviding information, training, andsafety equipment on the employer. TheMSDS for your job site must be avail-able in your workplace. Your employeris responsible for providing trainingabout hazardous substances in yourwork area, what you can do to protectyourself, and proper use of protectiveand safety equipment.

● You have a legal right to informa-tion about injuries and illnesses expe-rienced by you and your co-workers.OSHA Recording and Reporting stan-dard (29 CFR 1904)requires mostemployers to keep a yearly log of allwork-related injuries and illnessesrequiring more than first aid or result-ing in lost workdays, restricted duties,or transfer to another job. You canrequest access to your employer’s logsfor the past five years.

Where to find help

THESE RIGHTS can be valuable toolsin keeping you and your co-workerssafe. However, they are not easy toenforce. The International retains asafety and health expert who canadvise you on the best ways to ensurethat your employer complies with allOSHA regulations. He can also assistyour lodge and your employer indeveloping safety programs to mini-mize injuries.

Contact Milan Racic through theDepartment of Collective BargainingServices: 913-371-2640.

For more information on safety andhealth issues in the workplace, visit theAFL-CIO Safety & Health Toolbox(http://www.aflcio.org/safety/info.htm). ❑

You have a right toa safe workplace

Safety Sources in CanadaTHIS PAGE OUTLINES rights forU.S. workers, citing the section offederal law that protects each right.

Canadian workers enjoy thesame rights, for the most part.

In Canada, worker safety is pro-tected by many different federal andprovincial laws, so it is more diffi-cult to generalize. Your local unionis your best source for informationspecific to your area.

You may also get information atHuman Resources DevelopmentCanada’s web site at:http://info.load-otea.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/~oshweb/overen.htm#select

the Boilermaker ReporterJul • Aug 2002 11

S T E W A R D ’ S S O U R C E B O O K


IMAGINE THAT YOU have threebig, complicated grievance cases tobe heard at step three of the proce-dure. You are walking down the hall-

way to meet with your local lodgeofficials, your International representa-tive, the company human resource peo-ple, and the grievants.

You have done your research, andyou are well prepared. For each case,you have 10 to 25 individual pieces ofpaper — documents, notes, letters, affi-davits from eyewitnesses —which youare carrying in file folders.

Just as you are going in the door tothe meeting, you drop all of your fold-ers, mixing all of the papers for all threecases together on the floor. You benddown to pick them up and realize thatthe only way you can tell which case adocument belongs to is to read it.

And suddenly it hits you: Straighten-ing up this mess would be so much eas-ier if each document had an easilyreadable number in the upper right cor-ner showing which case it belongs to.

Information doesn’t organizeitself — that’s your job

IN PROCESSINGa grievance, it is notuncommon to end up with a great bigstack of paper work. Letters, informa-tion requests, notes from step one andtwo meetings, witness statements, andgrievance forms are just some of themany kinds of documents that will findtheir way into the grievance process.And the person who must keep track ofall that paperwork is you.

It isn’t an easy job. To do it right,you’ll need to develop a systematicmethod for tracking this paperwork, orit will overwhelm you. Once youdevelop a good system, you’ll discoverthat it not only helps you win griev-ances, but it also provides valuableinformation for your negotiating com-mittee when they sit down to negotiatethe next contract.

Let’s get down to basics

● File folders are your friends. Use aseparate folder for each grievance inprocess. In the folder include the griev-ance form, the Steward’s Fact Sheet,and other supporting documents.

● Paper clips and staples are also yourfriends. Fasten together documents

that need to stay together. While you’reat it, invest in a staple remover. You’lloften need to separate stapled docu-ments for one reason or another, andjust ripping them apart gets messy.

● Make copies of notes that you take ina notebook or steno pad so you can putthem in the grievance folder. You maywant to refer to them when your note-book isn’t handy. Don’t throw awaythe notebook, though. It never hurts tohave the original on file somewhere.

● Use a different page in your note-book for each issue. When you go backlooking for something in your notes,this added level of organization willhelp you find it much faster than if youhave to read each page in its entirety toknow what is there. You might have toprovide evidence or give testimony in acase six months to a year later in arbitra-tion, so you’ll want to be able to findthings in your notes quickly.

Keeping notes this way also helpsyou keep the issues separate in yourhead. When you write down one thing,then turn the page to write down some-thing else, the movement betweenthese two writing actions works like adivider in your brain, separating thetwo events in your memory. This is oneof the devices memory experts use toremember long lists of items.

● Put a date and time on everything.Be sure to specify a.m. or p.m., or use24-hour “military” time to avoid confu-sion. Knowing the time can help jogyour memory or someone else’s mem-ory regarding a particular conversationor event. In addition, a person’s mem-ory of an event will change over time. Ifyou end up with conflicting statementsabout a particular event, knowingwhich description came closest afterthe event can help you determinewhich one is more accurate.

● Put a tracking number on everypiece of paper associated with a griev-ance. When you’re handling more thanone grievance at a time, it is easy to mixthe papers from one case with thosefrom another. Numbers will help youkeep track of papers that might get lostor misplaced. A group of papers or asingle witness statement lying loose atthe union office can now be identifiedand routed back to the steward or filewhere it belongs.

If your grievance procedure makesyou wait to assign a number, use aworking number on the document.Always put the tracking number in thesame location on the page (such as theupper right corner) and do it in pencil,so you can easily change it to the “offi-cial” file number later.

● Keep the records in the same orderwithin each folder. Using the sameorder for each file makes finding docu-ments much easier when you revisit acase six months down the road. Formost cases, the date order is important,but you may find another system thatworks better for you. Either way is fine,but be consistent. On big files, you mayneed to make an index. This can be justa handwritten page in the front of thefile folder telling you what is in it.

Sample IndexGrievance 2002-45Grievance formStewards Fact SheetStatement from grievantStatement from witness #1- 4 pagesStatement from witness #2- 3 pagesMemo from supervisor to employeesCopy of employee’s attendance recordCopy of accident reportCopy of OSHA 300 logCopy of disciplinary write up from HRCopy of info requestData from company on similar write ups

Your index is a working documentthat organizes information and helpsensure your file is complete. Files canget big very fast, and you need to keeptrack of all documents in the file. Theindex allows you to double-check tomake sure all of the items are in thefolder. Making an index will also helpyou identify any documents youhaven’t yet put in the file and areas youhave not yet investigated.

● Sticky notes can be used like indextabs to “earmark” items in a file forquick reference. Say you’re at step twoof the case used in the sample aboveand you need the grievance form withthe supervisor’s answer, the memofrom the supervisor to the employees,and witness statement number two.Digging through the entire file to find

these takes time and can make youappear to be unprepared. A sticky noteattached to each of these documents,like an “ear,” will help you find theseitems quickly so you remain in charge.

Find a system that works foryou and your local

THE SUGGESTIONS GIVENhere canhelp you come up with your ownmethod. Take suggestions. Learn fromothers. No single method is foolproof,but people have devised some veryhelpful systems through their manyyears of handling grievances.

In the end, whatever system worksfor you is the best one, but the basiccomponents of the system should beconsistent for everyone in your local.

For example, if you don’t alreadyhave one in place, your local shouldestablish a tracking-number system.You don’t want to have every stewardmaking up his or her own numberingsystem. Likewise, that number shouldappear in the same location on everysteward’s documents. Systems are notsystems unless they are consistent.

Grievances should be given num-bers as early in the grievance process aspossible. Doing so not only helps youprocess your grievance, if you everneed to look back at past grievances,you’ll be able to keep them separateeven if the grievance was solved veryearly in the process.

Grievances won at the step one andtwo levels are very important. They canbe used as precedents for future griev-ances, and they might be used in con-tract negotiations.

You won’t always be there. Files thatare self-explanatory or which are basedon a system everyone uses will be help-ful even if you aren’t around to answerquestions. ❑

Keeping grievance information well organized notonly wins cases, it can help win good contracts

Stilley’s knowledge of labor agreementskeeps L-199’s work sites safe, productive

CHARLES E. “EDDY” STILLEY, a 22-year member of Local 199, Jacksonville,Fla., has been named a Star Steward byLocal 199 members Danny Warren andWayne Deville. In their nomination,they praised Stilley for the professionalway he represents members at theFluor Brandy Branch JEA job.

“He has repeatedly shown how aprofessional, knowledgeable stewardshould handle himself in the line offire,” wrote Warren and Deville. “Hisknowledge of the agreements wework under, common work practices,and labor laws have kept our work siteboth safe and productive. He is also anexcellent liaison between the com-pany and the men.”

L-169’s Larry Grassel is proactive, makessafety a priority, & stays on top of the job

LARRY GRASSEL, a 26-year memberof Local 169, Detroit, Mich., has beennamed a Star Steward by Local 169BM-ST John A. Marek. In making thenomination, Marek said, “Larry is thebest steward our local has to offer. Heis very proactive, and safety on the jobis a priority for him. The last three

projects where he was the job stewardwere completed with zero lost-timeinjuries, and that’s no small matterconsidering they totaled 250,000 Boil-ermaker man-hours.”

Marek said Grassel always repre-sents Local 169 in a professional man-ner and works to the best of his abilityto assure that all job site conditions aremet for his fellow brothers and sisters.

“He stays on top of the work beingdone to make sure pre-job assign-ments are followed and he alwaysstrives to assure a successful Boiler-maker project,” Marek said.

We all have our particular talents,Marek explained, “Some are terrificwelders, some have great leadershipskills. Larry has a talent that makeshim a wonderful steward that benefitsmembers of Local 169.”

Do you know a Star Steward?

DROP US A LINEwith the name of the steward,the local, the company, and a few words aboutwhy you think this steward is so special. Send aphoto if you have one. We’d like the world to seewhat a good steward looks like.

Send info to this address: Star Stewards, TheBoilermaker Reporter, BoilermakersInternational, 753 State Ave, Suite 570, KansasCity KS 66101

★ ★ ★ Star Stewards ★ ★ ★

L-199’s Eddy Stilley and L-169’s Larry Grassel

The Steward’s Sourcebook

Good records help the steward and the local

Don’t let the paperwork of handling agrievance overwhelm you. Develop asystem that keeps it in order.


R E T I R E E N E W S


Local 69, Little Rock, Ark.DON R. JONES, BM-ST of Local 69,Little Rock, Ark., reports presentationof pins for continuous years of mem-bership to the following members:

50 Years — Buddy Bryant, BraxtonByrd, R. E. Cassidy, Joe Giles, RexHammons, Leo Hensley, LawrenceMcIntire, Vernon Nicholson, JohnSharp, and Arvil Tucker;

45 Years — Harold Brown, Clyde

Burson, William Kelly, Harry Rupe, J.D. Woodall, and Thomas Wooten;

40 Years — Bobby Kelly, HowardKemp, and Walter Woodall;

35 Years — J. P. Brown, NormanCarter, William Daly, Vero Greer,Jimmy Holland, and Eugene Tedder;

30 Years — Willie Ashley, JerryBurks, Martin Felkins, ThomasHamilton, Edgar Hensley, DonaldHerold, Billy Tackett, Emanuel Vincent,and Jeff Wooten;

25 Years — Jerry Bartlett, BobbyLayton, Tommy Self, Clarence Sublett,and Eugene Thomas.

Local 1, Chicago, Ill.JOHN SKERMONT, BM-ST of Local1, Chicago, Ill., reports presentation ofpins for continuous years of member-ship to the following members:

45 Years — Eugene Forkin Jr.; 30 Years — Rollin Jerred, Thomas

Mooney; 25 Years — Fred Rub.

Local 7, Buffalo, N.Y.F. Patrick Lyons, BM-ST of Local 7,Buffalo, N.Y., reports presentation ofpins for continuous years of member-ship to the following members:

60 Years — Ernest J. Choyne; 50 Years — Charles S. Brown,

Eugene G. Principe, Charles Suda; 45 Years — Grover T. Grinsell,

Robert E. Shannon, Joseph T. Stocklosa; 35 Years — Gordon J. Collins, Leo J.

Gabriel, James J. Kirchmeyer; 30 Years — John A. Battaglia, Joseph

T. Motak Sr.

Local 433, Tampa, Fla.EDGAR “CRAB” LARISCY, BM-ST ofLocal 433, Tampa, Fla., reports pres-entation of pins for years of continu-ous membership to the following:

50 years —Louis Novak; 45 years —Jesse Wood; 20 years — Joe Wood and Dana

Wood. ❑

HONORSBoilermakers earn membership pins

ABOVE: MEMBERS OF LOCAL 433, left to right, JesseWood, Joe Wood, Dana Wood, and Louis Novak.

LEFT: THE THIRTY-NINE members of Local 69 whoreceived membership pins at their annual picnicrepresent nearly 1,500 years of membership in theBoilermakers union.

EACH YEAR, RETIRED members ofLocal Lodge 69, Little Rock, Ark., areinvited with their families to attend agathering, affectionately known as“The Old Timers Picnic.” Active mem-bers pay a nominal fee to attend;retirees and their families get to attendat no cost.

“In the past a member catered thesepicnics, but since his passing, we do thecooking ourselves and we have a greattime,” said Local 69 BM-ST Don Jones.

This year they combined a fish frywith a barbeque. The local also handedout “grab bags” and T-shirts to theretired members and held a raffle.Prizes included Boilermaker watches.

Jones is proud of the gathering thelocal sponsors each year. “It’s a goodway for our members to get togetherand reminiscence about the differentjobs and stories they have shared.”

During the gathering, Jones also dis-tributed membership pins. ❑

RETIRED MEMBERS and their families attend Local Lodge 69’s annual gathering.

Retirees enjoy barbeque, raffle, and reminiscing

AFTER THE BARBEQUE, Local 69 members and families participate in a raffle.

Local Lodge 69 holds old-timers picnic

L-169’s WilliamsGLENN WILLIAMS, an18-year member of Local169, Detroit, Mich., hasretired while working forOscar Boldt, one of threeBoilermaker contractorsat a project in Covert,Mich. Williams had beenon the project since Nov.2001 and completed hislast day on June 29.

Employees of all threecontractors — Boiler-makers and other trade

union members — par-ticipated in a lunchorganized by Local 169Steward Dan Southwell.Jonathon Davis of Local37, New Orleans, La., didthe cooking. Many otherworkers brought dishes.

“This is a blessing towork a job your finalday and be sent off toretirement with acheer,” said Southwell.“Everyone at Covertwishes him a long andhealthy retirement.” ❑

Photo courtesy of the DetroitBuilding Tradesman.

Retirement parties make news

L-73’s SutherlandWHENJAMES Suther-land,a 33-year member ofLocal 73, Halifax, NovaScotia, Canada, com-pleted his final job, fellowcrew members gave hima retirement cake.

Pictured l. to r. are Car-lin Connors, Sutherland,Everett Mauger, RayMacIntosh Sr., and ScottCampbell. ❑

JOE AND AUDREY WOLSCHLAGspent their 40th wedding anniversaryin New York City. But instead of tour-ing the city and seeing some shows,they spent their time helping disasterworkers by volunteering at groundzero — the site of the World Trade Cen-ter collapse, which occurred six monthsearlier on Sept. 11, 2001.

Joe, who joined Local 60 (Peoria, Ill.)in 1976 and retired in June 2001, told areporter with The News-Gazette that9/11 “makes people think what every-body should have been thinking ever

since World War II, that we’re part ofthe world and we can be attacked.”

He said, “It has made some peopleopen up their eyes, and it has broughtout the best in a lot of people.”

The Wolschlags traveled with agroup under the leadership of SusanWarsaw, a University of Illinoisemployee who was making her thirdtrip to New York City to help workersclean up the WTC. Volunteers helpedby cooking meals, filling out forms, andoffering medical support. ❑

Couple volunteers at groundzero on 40th anniversary

THERE’S NO SECRET to getting astory about your local or one of yourmembers into the BoilermakerReporter. All you have to do is sendus the information, photos if you havethem, and your address and/or phonenumber in case we have questions.

We do the rest. Don’t worry about making the

story sound good or getting the gram-mar correct. That’s our job. Just sendus the basic information. If you

include photos, write the names andtitles of people in each photo on a sep-arate sheet of paper (not on the back ofthe photo). Double-check spelling ofnames. For digital photos, send thedigital file, not a computer print-out.

The Boilermaker Reporter753 State Ave, Suite 570Kansas City KS 66101913-371-2640913-281-8104 (FAX)E-mail: [email protected]

Union Label Week

Sept. 2-7, 2002Look for the union label on everything you buy.


L O C A L L O D G E N E W S


Federal audit finds cashbalance plans aremiscalculating pensionsMILLIONS OF WORKERS may beshortchanged up to $200 million ayear by companies that calculate theirretirement checks incorrectly, accord-ing to the U.S. Department of Labor’sinspector general.

DOL auditors found that nearlyone-fourth of companies that haveswitched from traditional pensionplans to cash balance plans miscalcu-lated benefits for workers retiringearly, underpaying them as much as$55,629 each. Many workers willhave to challenge their employer’scalculations in court in order to gettheir full pension benefits.

The ERISA Industry Committeehas challenged the DOL’s findings,and the Labor Department’s Pensionand Welfare Benefits Administration(PWBA) has downplayed the serious-ness of the problem. But Congress-man Bernie Sanders (VT-Ind.) hasintroduced a bill (H.R. 4778) thatrequires the PWBA to work with theInternal Revenue Service to do a bet-ter job of protecting retirees’ moneyin cash balance plans. The bill has 43cosponsors.

What’s the problem?IN TRADITIONAL PENSIONS, ben-efits are based on a worker’s averagesalary in the last few years beforeretirement. For most workers, theseare their highest paid years.

Cash balance pensions let workersmove retirement money to a newemployer if they change jobs, butbenefits are based on their entirecareers, not just the last few, so theformulas are completely different.

When a company with a traditionalplan switches to a cash benefit plan,workers near retirement lose the ben-efit of their higher wages, and theyare too close to retirement to build alarge enough cash balance to makeup the difference. ❑

Get what you’re dueMAKE SURE THEfigures used tocalculate your benefits — such assalary, years of service, and interestrates — are correct. Your plan’ssummary description will providethe interest rates.

If your payout is significantly lessthan what you expected, you mightwant to have an actuary double-check the calculations.

L-531 members honorretiring Bus. Mgr. AdamsTHE END OF JUNE marked theretirement of Local Lodge 531 Busi-ness Manager/Secretary-TreasurerGary Adams. He served the local fornine years in that position.

Local 531 members presentedAdams a commemorative plaque atthe June meeting. As a retirement gift,they gave Adams a jacket embroi-dered with the Boilermaker emblemover a red, white, and blue map ofTexas, with a Route 66 sign to desig-nate the lodge’s location.

Adams started in the trade as anapprentice in 1965 and became thethird graduate of Local 531’s appren-tice program. When he retired at age55, he had the oldest active registernumber in the local.

Adams is a second generation Boil-ermaker. HIs father retired as super-intendent for Missouri Valley Inc. in1984. His nephew, Dale Dunham,was a welding instructor at theNational Apprentice Training Center

until his untimely death in April ofthis year. ❑

Send us your stories!

OUTGOING PRESIDENT Gary Cookston swears in the newly-elected officers of Local656, l. to r., Robert Gilbert, R. C. Smith, Steve Travis, Larry Ezell, R. E. Burgess Jr., James P.Culbertson, Charles Miles, Edward Smith, and Larry Rollins.

LOCAL 656 Vice Pres. Larry Ezell swears in new members William Fleming, CharlesMonroe, Eric Grier, and Eric Sartin.

THE JULY UNION meeting for mem-bers of Local Lodge 656, Chattanooga,Tenn., was filled with new businessand good times.

The meeting started with a hot dogdinner and included the swearing inof four new members and the newly-elected local union officers.

Sworn in to represent the Local 656membership were President James P.

Culbertson, Vice President Larry Ezell,Secretary-Treasurer R. E. Burgess Jr.,Trustees Larry Rollins, Edward Smith,and Steve Travis, Inspector R. C.Smith, and Committeemen RobertGilbert and Charles Miles.

Local 656 members also welcomedfour new workers into their member-ship: William Fleming, Eric Grier,Charles Monroe, and Eric Sartin. ❑

Son of L-263 member releases CDFifteen-year-old Dustin Evans singsgospel and classic country

DUSTIN EVANS,15-year-old son of Local 263member Rodney Evans, Memphis, Tenn., hasrecorded his first CD, “One Life.”

Released in January 2002, the CD is available for pur-chase at his website (www.dustinevans.net), where youcan also listen to samples of his songs.

Dustin has been performing gospel and country &western songs since he was nine years old, and in Junehe performed at the Loretta Lynn Talent Show. ❑

L-656 swears in newofficers, members

Workers get shorted whentheir pensions change

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14 Jul • Aug 2002the Boilermaker Reporter

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LEGALRESOURCES


I N M E M O R I A M

NTL Combs, Marshall A.NTL Gerald C. JacksonNTL Lane, VernonNTL McLarty, MarionNTL Swearingen, Leo1 Cooley, Lester1 Dickerson, James1 Pulizzi, James1 Seydel Sr., Guy1 Spencer, Michael6 Vallejo, Gregorio6 Vega, Joseph10 Abundiz, Manual10 McCormick, Ralph A.10 Nadrchal, Charles13 Eschenbach, John13 Giosia, Robert13 Smith, Richard26 Ciucevich, Walter27 Buchanan, Paul E.

27 Nickelson, Raymond27 Osborne, Joseph27 Peterson, Johnnie28 Hughes, David28 LaConti, Edward “Pudgy”(Reported in V41 N1 as Laconti, Edward)30 Draper, William37 Acosta, Santos37 LeBlanc, Joseph40 Moore, Anthony40 Smith, Wallace45 Eller, Richard W.45 Gambitsky, Joseph47 Bergman, WilliamD54 Bugera Jr., Michael72 Garrett, Robert E.72 Jensen, Louis72 Orville C. Thompson74 Moody, James83 Ramsey, Floyd T.92 Byng, Richard

92 Doll, Herman92 Estell, Ronald92 Hagan, William92 Hall, Wesley L.92 Johnson, Ernest L.94 Hellen, Floyd E.101 Kadrmas, Dorman104 Betts, Arthur104 Mikulich, Philip104 Toner, Walter107 Schneider, Louis112 Johnson, Wade128 Cushman, Roy132 Glass Jr., Oneid132 Turner, Grady146 Bergeron, Dwayne146 Meters, Grant146 Wilkerson, Stanley154 Sprohar, Zeb158 Gerard, George169 Seat, Arthur

179 Gaultier, Lawrence271 Belair, Michel271 Taraniuk, JerryD338 Brown, Duane363 Buschschulte, Wilfred363 Coryell, Russell363 McMillin, Charles374 Corlew, Lucian374 Fisher, John C.374 Kasubjak, Michael374 Moore, Charles374 Scott, Ruel L.D375 Deckard, Ralph 453 Hadley, Ralph454 Jenkins, John487 Doperalski, Norbert487 Kuehl, Vernon487 Kust, Roger502 Bacarro, Ben513 Kennedy, Claude530 Fleschute, Alfred A.531 Bryan, Billy549 Black, Warren549 Daniels, Frank

549 Fercovich, Frank549 French, Melvin N.549 McDonald, Fred577 Borel, Joseph I.582 Callender, Robert592 Massey, Paul619 Calaluca, Charles619 DeGelormo, Anthony J.627 Kelley, William636 Gratkowski, Wallace647 Hedberg, Gunnar647 Myers, Dennis647 Smith, Glenn656 Brazzel, Dalton W.656 Morrow, Veston O.667 Horton, Homer667 McCormick, Billy667 Sams, William687 Jenkins, Thomas744 Johannes, William904 Monroe, Paul1088 Huston, Charles H.1603 Alton, William1603 Rosia, Joseph


NTL Bonner, Paul R. $6,000.00NTL Daniels, Richard A. 6,000.00NTL Denmon, Carlton R. 6,000.00NTL Fehlhafer, Winifred 6,000.00NTL Garris, Wilson H. 6,000.00NTL Reed, Robert W. 6,000.00NTL Schneble Jr., William J. 3,000.00NTL Sutton, Ralph 6,000.00NTL Williams, James J. 6,000.00NTL Wood, Clyde 6,000.00NTL Zellner, Jim K. 12,000.001 Brookshire, Sherman 6,000.001 Pulizzi, James 6,000.005 Webb, Berlin 6,000.006 Bradford, Homer 6,000.006 Brookins, S.D. 6,000.006 Combs, Marshall A. 6,000.006 Feri, Augustine 6,000.006 Jones, Milton 4,500.006 Lincoln, John W. 6,000.006 McCormick, Ralph A. 6,000.006 Stover, Henry E. 6,000.006 Vega, Joseph 6,000.0011 Carter, Ronald L. 490.0013 Blackwell, William D. 6,000.0013 Osman, Raymond G. 6,000.0026 Evans, Douglas H. 6,000.0026 Holland, David M. 11,513.4526 Jones, Roger W. 6,000.0026 Kroscavage, James B. 9,102.2326 Sapp, Addin F. 6,000.0026 Smith, Robbie B. 6,000.0027 Battles, Kenneth W. 6,000.0027 Boesing, Jos J. 6,000.0027 Bradley, Charles H. 6,000.0027 Crabtree, Cleo G. 6,000.0027 Dickson, Jack Dean 6,000.0027 Ecker, Roland William 6,000.0027 Lewis, Robert E. 6,000.0027 Siebert, Felix J. 6,000.0028 Gerard, Maurice L. 5,000.0028 Hughes, David C. 1,967.2929 Birolini, Olivo J. 4,500.0030 Draper, William K. 6,000.0030 Howard, Leonard L. 6,000.0030 Newcomb, Howard E. 143.0037 Cooper, Albert O. 6,000.0037 Murla, George 3,000.0037 Percle, Lloyd H. 6,000.0040 Rice, James D. 6,000.0040 Wilson, Willard Gene 6,000.0045 Smith Jr., Columbus 6,000.0060 Meyer, Gerald D. 6,000.0072 Lavadure, Robert M. 6,000.0072 Milligan, Kermit M. 6,000.0072 Schneberk, William A. 6,000.0072 Simons, Victor E. 6,000.0072 Thompson, Orville C. 6,000.0092 Hagan, William E. 6,000.0092 McLaren, Robert A. 6,000.0092 Van de Brake, Martin J. 6,000.0092 Wesbecher, George A. 6,000.00

96 Pineda, Rosendo 6,000.00101 Baker, Frank W. 6,000.00101 Rose, Frank E. 6,000.00104 Aahl, Albert E. 6,000.00104 Ballenger, Albert 6,000.00104 Bode, Dee C. 6,000.00104 Brock, Clyde E. 6,000.00104 Carr, Alvin Max 6,000.00104 Ficek, G. P. 6,000.00104 Green, Daniel 4,500.00104 Horrobin, Jack 6,000.00104 Luder, Orville A. 6,000.00104 Mattingly, Donald L. 6,000.00104 McBane, Walter J. 6,000.00104 Mikulich, Philip A. 6,000.00104 Murfitt, Ronald P. 6,000.00104 Odell, Verne J. 6,000.00104 Poznanski, Michael 6,000.00105 Findley, Harold 6,000.00105 Taylor, John L. 6,000.00107 Bailey, Newreal L. 188.20107 Klingbeil, Richard S. 6,000.00107 Kluth, Wayland R. 6,000.00107 Olejniczak, Roger T. 6,000.00110 Hillman, Don F. 6,000.00112 Gibbons, James C. 6,000.00113 Franklin, Claude 6,000.00117 Ekstrom, Edward A. 6,000.00124 Murphy, William E. 6,000.00132 Franciskovich, John C. 6,000.00132 Strimple, George 6,000.00151 Waldron, Robert F. 6,000.00154 Carte, Willard S. 6,000.00159 Stockunas, Carl L. 6,000.00169 Gerard, Francis L. 6,000.00169 Grigg, Bob G. 6,000.00169 Wimmer Sr., Clifford T. 6,000.00177 Charlier, Orville Joseph 6,000.00182 Day, Forrest L. 6,000.00182 Romano, Louis 4,500.00193 Morrell, Amos 4,500.00199 Sasser, Byant C. 6,000.00263 Brackey, Charles F. 6,000.00263 Ditto, Everett E. 6,000.00271 Sigler, Gerald M. 6,000.00288 Webb, Harold 6,000.00305 Cooley, Hilery R. M. 3,000.00316 Varimbi, John C. 6,000.00363 Critchfield, Larry L. 6,000.00

374 Biever, Aloysius J. 6,000.00374 Corlew, Lucian C. 6,000.00374 Fisher, John C. 6,000.00374 King, William R. 6,000.00374 Manis, George E. 6,000.00374 Mitchell, Melvin H. 6,000.00374 Quisenberry, John G. 6,000.00374 Reams, Rubin Carroll 6,000.00374 Scott, Ruel L. 6,000.00374 Seydel, Guy A. 6,000.00374 Williams, James R. 6,000.00433 Cosper, William A. 6,000.00433 Howard, Charles 6,000.00433 Oakes, Arthur L. 6,000.00433 Peters, Thomas E. 6,000.00433 Powell, Tommy E. 6,000.00433 Roberts, Jerome W. 6,000.00433 Smith, Curtis T. 6,000.00433 Watson II, George R. 6,000.00453 Blizzard, Floyd H. 6,000.00453 Solla, Roberto A. 406.84454 Fischer, Clyde D. 6,000.00454 Owens, Herman R. 6,000.00455 White, Lyle D. 6,000.00500 Clinton, John R. 6,000.00500 Muller, Donald J. 6,000.00531 McDonald, Thomas V. 6,000.00549 Chadderton, Robert E. 6,000.00549 Hellen, Floyd 6,000.00549 Lotspeich, Duane L. 6,000.00549 Simpson, Eugene D. 6,000.00568 Richardson, William A. 6,000.00582 Richardson, Andrew J. 6,000.00587 Egins, Lastee 6,000.00

587 Solly, William H. 6,000.00587 Spencer, James W. 6,000.00592 Lauderdale, Paul F. 6,000.00647 Bossert, Edward B. 6,000.00647 Johnson, Bert M. 6,000.00647 Myers, Dennis L. 6,000.00647 Pratschner, Richard 6,000.00647 Revermann, Lawrence 6,000.00647 Sabrowsky, Nestor H. 6,000.00647 Schrieffer, Erik W. 5,110.49651 Marquis, Leonard J. 6,000.00667 Boggess, William E. 6,000.00667 McCormick, Billy 6,000.00667 McCormick, Michael A. 56.10667 McDavid, Ernest W. 6,000.00667 Sayre, Charles K. 6,000.00667 Schneider, Robert P. 4,974.12679 Price, Marvin 6,000.00744 McCarthy, Bernard F. 6,000.00802 Baker, Samuel H. 6,000.00802 Bolgunas, John P. 6,000.00802 Crawley, Roland W. 6,000.00802 Morris, Sam 6,000.00802 Speller, Howard E. 6,000.00802 Subers, Thomas B. 4,500.00807 McRae Sr., William F. 6,000.00823 Mohr, Richard C. 6,000.001086 Melinsky Sr., Thomas 6,000.001212 Lund, Kester E. 6,000.001248 Barnes, Melvin 6,000.001509 Brost, Duane W. 6,000.001509 Plakut, Leo M. 6,000.001670 Balazia, Joseph S. 6,000.001670 Gargan, Harold W. 6,000.00

Moving? Tell us where . . .Name

New Address

City

State or Province Zip

Local Lodge No. Register No.(Also please notify the secretary of your local lodge.)

Mail form to:Publications Department

753 State Avenue, Suite 565

Kansas City, KS 66101

(Allow five weeks for change of address.)

WITH DEEP SORROWthe International Brotherhood records the death of these members as reported to the InternationalSecretary-Treasurer’s office, and extends its heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved families.

THE DEATH BENEFIT PLANunder the Boilermaker-Blacksmith National Pension Trust haspaid the beneficiaries of the following deceased members who were covered by the plansince the last issue of our publication.

IF YOU HAVE NOT yet been furnished this information, contact your local lodge, secure the beneficiaryforms, complete the required information and forward to the Administrative Office of the Pension Fund,754 Minnesota Avenue, Suite 522, Kansas City, KS 66101, at the earliest possible date. NOTE: These addi-tional death benefits can only be derived for members who worked under a collective bargaining agree-ment with an employer contributing to the Boilermaker-Blacksmith National Pension Trust.

LODGE, NAME & BENEF I T

D E A T H B E N E F I T S

LODGE & NAME

Labor mediator and former L-104president dies in car accidentWALTER B. “BARNEY” TONER, oneof the nation’s first federal labor media-tors, died June 18, 2002, of injuries froma car accident. He was 91.

Toner joined Local 104, Seattle,Wash., in 1942. He began his career byloading goods onto ships and workingon U.S. 2 through Stevens Pass. He

became a labor organizer and thenserved as local lodge president beforejoining the Federal Mediation and Con-ciliation Service in 1951.

During his 27 years as a mediator,Toner helped to resolve labor disputes atthe Boeing Co., Weyerhaeuser Co., andnumerous other major employers. ❑

Bush can’t revive the economy bygiving more tax breaks to business

Larson & Sons donatesstatue to Finkl Forge, bothBoilermaker employersTHE A. FINKL & SONS CO.’s forgingfacility in Chicago, Ill., has a new addi-tion, thanks to Charles E. Larson &Sons, Inc.

Owner Phil Larson designed andoversaw the building of a metal sculp-ture called “Our Father’s Hands.” It isdedicated to fathers and their skills.Over the years, Larson has developeda close working relationship with theFinkl company. He donated the statueto them so it could be displayed in abusy industrial section of Chicago.

Both Finkl & Sons and Larson & Sonsemploy Boilermakers who belong tothe same local lodge in Chicago.

Local 1247 was chartered in 1945. Thelodge has represented workers at Lar-son & Sons since 1966 and at Finkl &Sons since 1951.

Finkl & Sons is one of the largest cus-tom die steel forgers in the U.S. Thesteel production facility in Chicagoproduces die blocks for the closed dieforging industry, plastic mold and die

casting die steels, custom open dieforgings, and forge shop and steel millrepair parts. Among their products areO-rings for solid-fuel rocket boosters.

Finkl & Sons has been in businesssince 1879 and has been cited by theDepartment of Energy for being one ofthe most energy-efficient forge compa-nies in the business. In 2001, theyearned an FIA safety award. ❑

IN A TWO-WEEKperiod in July, theU.S. stock market lost $1.41 trillion invalue, as stock prices dropped anaverage of 20 percent. There is no

better evidence that the American pub-lic has lost faith in corporate America.

It’s not surprising investors have lostfaith in the stock market and in corpo-rations. Over the past nine months, onebillion-dollar corporation after anotherhas gone bankrupt after revelationsthat they have been grossly overstatingtheir financial strength.

What the executives of these compa-nies did is almost too much to believe.They cheated the U.S. government outof tax revenue by banking offshore,falsely inflated the price of their stockwith accounting tricks, then cashed intheir stock options while share priceswere sky-high, leaving shareholdersand employees holding the bag whenthey bankrupted.

It is difficult for the average person tounderstand how these things can belegal. They sound an awful lot like com-mon, everyday swindles.

What these corporate executiveshave done sounds like an elaborategame of “Three-Card Monty.” Theiraccounting tricks confuse investors,and by the time anyone figures out it’sall a scam, the corporate executiveshave disappeared with the cash andfled to their bankruptcy-protectedhomes in Texas and California.

Now, while the economy continues tostruggle and working people worry theymay lose their jobs and their pensions atany time, President Bush tells us the wayto revive the economy is to give more taxbreaks to these white-collar thugs.

No, thank you, Mr. President. Thathuge tax cut for the rich that yourammed through Congress last year is abig part of the problem.

We don’t need more giveaways tocorporations. We need the kind of gov-ernment spending that will create good-

paying jobs for American workers. Andwe need true corporate reform.

Polls show that 82 percent of Ameri-cans want Congress and the presidentto enact “strong laws” to keep corpora-tions from concocting elaborateschemes that allow them to avoid pay-ing any taxes, while they steal workers’retirement funds.

Paul Sarbanes’ corporate responsibil-ity bill that Bush reluctantly signed inJuly is a start toward ending corporateabuse, but it doesn’t go nearly far

enough. It doesn’t touch on the mainsource of the problem —stock optionsthat allow and encourage corporateexecutives to artificially inflate the priceof stock, then cash out and run off withthe money.

And it doesn’t recognize the truenature of what these executives havedone. President Bush keeps referring tothese actions as “corporate irresponsi-bility.” That’s sugar-coating it. This isfraud and theft. The corporate execu-tives of Enron, WorldCom, and allthose other corporations should berequired to pay back their windfallprofits from their stock options so thatthe workers who made them possiblewill have something to retire on.

The handful of arrests for fraud thathave been made are good, but theyare merely symbolic. Hundreds ofexecutives are getting away with rankthievery.

And Bush seems content to let themget away with it. In fact, he is going tohelp them get more.

Part of the problem is that Bush andhis cronies are too deeply involved in

this quasi-criminal behavior to wanttrue corporate reform.

One of Bush’s first appointees, Secre-tary of the Army Thomas White, wasvice chairman of Enron Energy Ser-vices (EES) from 1998 through May2001. Under his tenure, EES was afraud, bleeding money while coveringup its losses with accounting tricks.

Before White left Enron to join theBush administration (at the recommen-dation of Enron CEOKen Lay), he alsoplayed a central role in Enron’s effortsto rip off electricity consumers duringthe California power shortage.

At the very least, Bush should askWhite to resign as Secretary of theArmy. But that would create a problemfor him. If he goes after White, he mighthave to do something about Vice Presi-dent Dick Cheney, who was CEO ofHalliburton when they engaged in sim-ilar accounting tricks. Cheney cashed instock options for $59 million in 2000 —money very clearly made throughaccounting tricks and behavior thatlooks a lot like fraud.

And then there’s the president him-self. In 1989, while he was on the boardof Harken Energy Corporation, thecompany used an accounting trick tomake themselves look better off finan-cially than they really were. Then Bushsold 212,000 shares of stock for $880,000,just two months before Harken admit-ted the truth and the stock price fellfrom $4 a share to $1 a share.

Does this sound like insider tradingto you? The SEC thought so, and beganinvestigating Bush. But his father wasthe president of the United States at thetime, so they quietly dropped the inves-tigation. But the investigators took thetime to inform Bush’s lawyer that theirdecision “must in no way be construedas indicating that [George W. Bush] hasbeen exonerated.”

Bush has claimed he did not person-ally fudge the books and had no ideathe company was in financial trouble,but E. Stuart Watson, another Harkendirector, told the Dallas Morning News,“You bet we were [informed].”

As members of the audit committee,Bush and Watson were briefed by thecompany treasurer and the inside andoutside auditors.

With this history of corporate “irre-sponsibility” so prevalent throughoutthe Bush administration, it is no sur-prise that they want to sweep the recentbankruptcies and revelations of corpo-rate misconduct under the rug.

Their plan to revive the economy isno surprise, either. Bush invited 200people to the economic summit — cor-porate executives, lobbyists for corpo-rations, and Republican leaders, withtwo token workers who had agreedahead of time to parrot what the Bushadministration wanted them to say.

Democratic congressional leaderswere not included. Labor unions werenot included.

Most important, the workers whohad been cheated out of their retire-ment savings by corporate accountingtricks were not included.

And no one was surprised when this“economic summit” concluded that theway to revive the economy is to givemore tax breaks to the rich.

For Bush, the economic slowdown isnot a problem to be solved. It’s justbusiness as usual. ❑


C O M M E N T A R Y

CHARLES W. JONESInternational President


L-1247 Vice Pres. Jim Green (l.) and Pres.Wendell Baunstark show the front view(above) and side view (at right) of a metalsculpture designed by Phil Larson.

His tax cut and corporate greed weakened theeconomy and destroyed faith in corporations

What President Bush calls“corporate irresponsibility” isreally corporate greed and

white-collar thuggery.

L-1247 members play role inbringing art to industrial sector

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V41N4 | The Boilermaker Reporter