Local 270. Laborers International Union of North America Feel the Power. A message from your Business Manager, Jim Homer

Transcription

1 Local 270 March 2010 Laborers International Union of North America Feel the Power Local 270 A message from your Business Manager, Jim Homer Editorial Staff: Jim Homer, Executive Officer Maribel Moreno, Managing Editor The busiest city in our counties for construction is Palo Alto. Stanford is continuing to build. We expect a 5 year hospital job to start there this year. Although the San Jose Airport project is nearing completion, there may be funds to build a poured in place concrete parking garage. A parking garage will start this month near Good Samaritan Hospital approx $15 million. The bay area should get busier with $400 million to build at San Francisco Airport and a $350 million tunnel for water project. The Caldicot Tunnel shared by Local 304 will also be starting this year, as well as Highland Hospital. Thanks to the volunteers joining our Field Representatives at the San Jose & Gilroy City Council meetings. We have 2 more possible projects; a 25 million dollar library in Gilroy and a stadium for the San Jose Earthquakes Soccer Team. According to projections by economists our unemployment rate should continue to go down slowly. The normal unemployment rate of 6% is not expected until The bay area has over 12% unemployed while construction is at 20-30% under and unemployed. I mention the out of area jobs because our local contractors work all over the bay area. This increase in spending stimulates our local economy which creates more work. The Northern California District Council has had discussions regarding our Laborers Master Agreement which expires in June We may enter formal negotiations next month if a agreement is not reached. Be prepared by saving your money. No one wants to interrupt what work we do have, but we will not take a cut in wages. Many members have asked why the vacation pay keeps getting smaller. At the September 2006 Convention, the delegates voted to increase the organizing fund contributions to $0.25 an hour. It has increased from $0.63 in 2006 to $0.82 in The money is being spent to organize more companies. This also enables us to control the market share which translates into more money for wages, benefits and more work. The more involved members are in helping the union change non union companies to union companies the better all construction workers do. If non-union workers understood this they would be union. We know union members work for non-union contractors. When members work with the union they can help organize the nonunion companies they work for. If the non-union continues to grow the union will become non existent and with it your pension & benefits. Unions only grow and become strong when the members get involved in the union. Unions set the wage for all workers. When unions are weak, wages for all workers go down. Toyota is closing it s only automobile union operation in the county Nummi in Fremont, Toyota does not care about workers so why would you buy a Toyota. Buy union made in USA products if you believe in supporting your families future. List of early endorsements from your Laborers Unions of California: Governor Jerry Brown: If Meg Whitman is elected you will lose prevailing wage and eventually your wages will be reduced. State Assembly Person: Nora Campos State Senate Anna Caballero

2 Page 2 Local 270 Joseph Corona, Secretary-Treasurer/Business Representative Hello Brothers and Sisters, 2010 is on its way and elections are coming up in the following months. We need your help to support the politicians that believe in the working people. We have a measure for the Santa Clara City residents to bring the 49ers which will create a $900 million dollar project for our area. As your Secretary-Treasurer, along with the clerical staff, we inform you ahead of time via mail and by a phone call before being suspended. We want to make sure we have your correct address and phone number. We want to in- form you of future events and important information will be sent to you. The 2010 Local 270 Scholarship Applications and District Council Scholarship Applications are almost due; one in March and the other in April. Make sure you call the office for upcoming classes at Local 270 and the San Ramon Training Center. I wanted to thank you for using the automated phone system and please continue to use it. This frees up the time of the clerical staff so that they can assist the members at the counter. We still have the six month and one year gifts that will be given to you when you pay your dues. Local 270 s money is invested in CDR s and United Labor Bank stocks which are low risk. Feel free to call me if you have any questions or concerns with your local. My cell phone is Local 270 Members Business Representative Reports Jose Francisco Mexicano, Business Representative Hello Brothers and Sisters, My name is Jose Francisco Mexicano and I am your Recording Secretary, Dispatcher, and Business Agent. I would like to start by thanking you once again for voting for me as Local 270 s Recording Secretary. I am the Local s Dispatcher and as your Dispatcher I hope that all of you are or will be taking classes here at the local or at the San Ramon Training Center. I know some of you are tired of us telling you this but you need to get training so that you can have a better chance at keeping a long term job. As a Business Agent, I cover the areas of Los Gatos, Cupertino, East San Jose, Downtown San Jose, and South San Jose. If any of you see a job that looks like it s non- union, please call me or any of the other agents. You, the members, are our eyes and you might spot a job that we might have not seen or know about. Thank you again for your support and let s keep working to keep our union strong. Fraternally, Jose Francisco Mexicano

3 Local 270 Page 3 Business Representative Reports Continued: Alfredo Quintana, Business Representative Dear Brothers and Sisters, I am Alfredo Quintana and I am responsible for dispatch at the Santa Cruz office and I am the Business Agent that covers the area of Santa Cruz County. Our priority is to seek new job opportunities and better benefits for our members such as the recent return of the Kaiser Healthcare Plan, which was one our commitments during the elections. It was obtained due to the hard work of Jim Homer, Business Manager of our Local 270 and the Board of Trustees. Currently, there are four very important projects in the Santa Cruz area which will provide jobs for our members. These projects are at the University of California Santa Cruz that includes the Health Center, Porter College, the Library, and the Biomedical Science Facility. There are also various projects in Aptos at the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County and Aptos Esplanade Sewer that also will provide jobs for our members. Remember that I am here to serve you and I assure you that I will continue to work hard to improve my work and service to our members. Fraternally, Alfredo Quintana Eduardo Gonzalez, Business Representative Hello Brothers & Sisters, I hope that 2009 was a good year for you and your family. The areas that I am currently covering are East & South San Jose, Morgan Hill, San Martin and Gilroy. Part of the stimulus package that the administration of President Obama has adopted to rebuild the economy is already in progress to repair roads and sidewalks. In my area work is starting at Santa Teresa High School, Andrew Hill High School, Evergreen High School and Overfelt High School. All contractors working on these projects must be Jesus Torres, Business Representative Dear Brothers and Sisters, My name is Jesus Torres, President & Field Representative. Once more it is a blessing to say hello to all of you. As you may know the areas that I cover are Alviso, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Los Altos Hills and Palo Alto. Brothers and Sisters, I believe that I should notify you about the projects that are taking place in my area at this moment. In the Stanford area, Turner Construction is working. The Hathaway and Dinwiddie project is 80% complete. Dome Construction is in the same area. This project is about 25% complete. We have many more companies like Lewis & TIbbits, West Valley, Antonio Ruiz, Top Grade and Preston Pipelines and others. I hope, Brothers and Sisters, that as soon the weather gets better we can have the opportu- union. At this time the biggest project in my area is Equinox. The General Contractor is Turner Construction. More companies are expected and there will be more work for our union members. Another project is the San Jose Police sub-station. Amoroso Construction has this project in Gilroy. RGW has the project rebuilding the bridge on Hwy 152. Although at present there is no activity due to the rainy weather, the work could resume in April As a Field Representative I am reviewing the status of the members especially with contractors who come from other counties because in this economy workers who are not union might be doing the work of our members. I invite the active members and retirees who are more involved in political activities to continue in our struggle, Life goes on and our struggle must continue for the welfare of our families. Fraternally, Eduardo Gonzalez nity to send more of you to work in my area. I also would like to inform you that it is very important to take classes. By preparing yourself you will make a big difference and you will have more opportunities to place yourself and to last with a good company. God Bless you all Fraternally, Jesus Torres

4 Page 4 A message from the office of the Dispatcher The direct line is ex 223 or 224 Members must be available for dispatch calls between the hours of 6:00am-9:00am Roll Call is the first Thursday of every month between the hours of 9:00am-12:00pm Please note that on Roll Call Day there is additional parking across the street at the Retiree Hall Monthly Dispatches November December January February Need Training? Please call the office for further information. Membership Meetings April 28, 2010 May 26, 2010 June 30, 2010 July 28, 2010 Laborers Local 270 would like to congratulate the following apprentices for becoming journeyman Clifford McClure Gerardo Trejos Juan Corona Christopher Barajas Ricardo Rodriguez Jose Perez, Jr Rolando Beltran Rene Cruz Phone Bank & Precinct the Labor Center of the South Bay Labor Council April Campaign kick off 9:00am-2:00pm 17 Precinct walk 9:00am-2:00pm 18 Phone bank 2:00pm-8:00pm 22 Phone bank 5:00pm-8:30pm 24-Precinct walk 9:00am-2:00pm 26-Phone bank 5:00pm-8:30pm 29-Phone bank 5:00pm-8:30pm May Precinct walk 9:00am-2:00pm 6-Phone bank 5:00pm-8:30pm 8-Precinct walk 9:00am-2:00pm 15-Absentee GOTV Precinct walk 9:00am-2:00pm 17-Phone bank 5:00pm-8:30pm 20-Phone bank 5:00pm-8:30pm 22-Precinct walk 9:00am-2:00pm 24 Phone bank 5:00pm-8:30pm 29-Precinct walk 9:00am-2:00pm June Phone bank 5:00pm-8:30pm 5-Precinct walk 9:00am-2:00pm 7-Ebd Meeting 5:00pm 8 Victory party at 8:00pm (Election Day) LT-Eduardo Gonzalez, Othon Rodriguez, Jim Homer, BM of NCDCL Oscar De La Torre & Joe Corona LB Jose Mexicano, Alfredo Quintana & Jesus Torres Union Hoilday/Office Closed May 31, 2010 Memorial Day July 5, th of July The Santa Clara & San Benito Counties Building & Construction Trades Council Dinner and Casino Night 2010 Contributions for Federal Candidates Eduardo Gonzalez, Oscar De La Torre & Jim Homer

5 Local 270 Page 5 Local 270 Retiree Corner Annual Retiree Banquet Business Manager Jim Homer congratulating a 50 year member. Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Corona congratulating a 50 year member. Rocco Davis, Pacific Southwest Regional Manager Special Guest Terence J. O Sullivan, National Retiree Council Coordinator Business Manager Jim Homer and Joe Corona congratulating a 50 year member TopL-Veronica Perez, Gloria Ceniceros, Jim Homer, Joyce Harris, Maribel Moreno & Kimberly Carrasco Bottom L-Eduardo Gonzalez, Jesus Torres, Joe Corona, Jose F Mexicano & Alfredo Quintana (Local 270 Staff) LT-Jesus Torres, Joe Corona, Jim Homer, Alfredo Quintana & Eduardo Gonzalez-MB Jose Francisco Mexicano

6 Page 6 Retiree Corner Continued: Sixty (60) year members Santos Elemen John C Sanchez Ralph Lopez John V Sanchez Adolfo Torrez Raul M Lopez Oscar Acosta Fifty (50) Year Members Activities for 2010 (Retirees) Every Wednesday: The Food Bank Albert Duarte Samuel M Ramirez Gregorio Aguilar Pedro Vega Cyril Giordano George Washington Nicolas Martinez John Ortiz Manuel Rodriguez Crisoforo Contreras Pedro Gaitan Encarnacio Moreno March 22 nd and returning the 23 rd to Reno NV cost $25.00 each Deep Sea Fishing May 27, 2010 May 6 Feather falls & Thunder Valley Casino Day Trip June: Annual steak luncheon ( Date to be announced) : Cost is usually $3.00 each November (date to be announced) : Our annual Tamale Feast the cost is usually $3.00 each December: The Local gives us our Christmas Banquet Other Casino Trips to be announced This year we are going to try to have trips to baseball and basketball games plus other activities. Every Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays retired members get together and play table pool On Wednesdays after the Food Bank we get together for refreshments and etc. When asked by the Local we go on picket lines and volunteer. Luis Aceves Dale Miholovich Rito Velazquez Roberto Gonzales Samuel Garcia Pedro Yanez Sr Chester Garner Cipriano Ventura Vincent J Pavllicevich Robert Campos Victoriano Beltran Alfonso Reyes Valentin Castillon Joe Leyva Raymond Pena Joe Fernandez Phillip Perez Buster Lunsford Victor Castanon W Houl Enrique Rivera John Diniz Elwood Troxel Condolences are extended from Local 270 to the families of the following members Gilberto Reyes- 11/20/1945-3/29/2009 Jose Hurtado 4/8/ /24/2009 Frank Cardenas -9/3/ /23/2009 Abundio Prudente 7/3/1977-1/19/2010 Jose Enriquez - 7/16/ /21/2009 Manuel C Paredes-1/18/1925-2/8/2010 Ronald Davis 8/14/1982-1/2/2010 Domingo Ramirez-3/8/ /13/2009 Jose Cabrera 6/4/ /6/2009 Peter Pietrangelo-2/8/1926-2/9/2010 Raul Reyes-10/14/ /4/2009 Bruno Islas-10/6/1927-2/24/2010 Francisco Martinez-12/28/1928-1/21/2010 Jesus Corral-9/3/1933-1/2/2010 Fulvio Zaffonato Jose Aguirre Amado Ramos Henry Beadle Silverio Lopez Manuel Reyes George Ramirez, Sr Carlos Cruz Raul Munoz John Davis

7 Local 270 Page 7 Local 270 Members in Action Proud to be Union

8 509 Emory Street San Jose, CA Laborers Local 270