Fall 2008

In thisissue:

Fall 2008 Class Schedule

LIUNA Endorses a “Build America” Candidate

Astrid Wolin Retires

Apprenticeship Graduates

What to Expect at a Health Fair

Laborers Help Neighborswith that cleanup would have required several days as well as the use of an excavator.

Farmers and their families stated that this group was the first to engage in cleanup efforts and all were grateful for the help. - Pete Lahmann

On April 26, the Thurston-Lewis-Mason Counties Labor Council sponsored a cleanup day in the

flood-ravaged Boistfort Valley. As usual, Laborers were on the scene, ready to lend their skills to the effort.

During the flooding in December of 2007 debris from the surrounding hills choked the Chehalis River, fouling farmers’ fields with branches, logs, stumps and other material. Fields are adversely impacted as the debris can make planting and harvesting next to impossible.

Aside from the group of Laborers, apprentices, and NWLETT instructors present, approximately 200 people from diverse backgrounds came to-gether to help; it was determined that the sticks didn’t really care who picked them up. Seven properties were iden-tified and crews were dispatched to meet with the farmers.

Cleaning times varied greatly; one crew finished in about two hours’ time and then moved on to the next field, while another had so much to contend

Skill & Pride

A publication of the Northwest Laborers-Employers Training Trust Fund, serving Washington, Northern Idaho, and Utah.

Published quarterly by the

Northwest Laborers- Employers Training

Trust Fund

800.240.9112

E-mail: nwlabor@nwlett.org Website: http://www.nwlett.org

Director:Mike Warren

Assistant Director:Tom Reed

Editor:Kim Hart

Board of Trustees

Chairman:David J. Letinich

Interim Secretary: Monte Geiger

Labor MgmtBob Abbott Don Carrell

Dale Cannon Monte Fairweather

Don McLeod Mark Perry

Rick Seidel Doug Peterson

Kim Williams Carl Stewart

The trustees of the fund serve without compensation. They are

appointed by their respective organizations and meet quarterly to

review and set policy.

Skill & Pride

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TRAINING IS A LABOR AND MANAGEMENT

PARTNERSHIP.

LEGAL NOTICE TO ALL PARTICIPANTS: The Northwest Laborers-Employers Training Trust Fund, identification number 91-1283259, provides training and retraining for those in the industry and those already in the industry.

The Northwest Laborers-Employers Training Trust Fund admits students of any gender, race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, administration policies or other school-administration policies or other school-administered programs. For information about any existing or anticipated future courses of study sponsored or established by the plan, including any prerequisites for enrolling in such courses and for a description of the procedure to enroll in such courses, please contact: Mike Warren, NWLETTF, 27055 Ohio Avenue, Kingston, Washington 98346.

WE TRAIN PARTICIPANTS OF ANY RACE, COLOR, GENDER, NATIONAL AND ETHNIC ORIGIN.

LIUNA – the Laborers’ International Union of North America – endorsed Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States following a 10-month membership-based process that culminated in a unanimous vote of the Union’s General Executive Board.

“The men and women of LIUNA, who go to work every day building and servic-ing America, will support a candidate that will stand up for working families. Senator Obama is that candidate,” said LIUNA General President Terence M. O’Sullivan. “He will fight for good jobs and a stronger economy, he will fight for the necessary resources to build our basic infrastructure, such as highways, bridges, dams and schoolhouses, and he will lead our country forward with health care reform and true retirement security.”

O’Sullivan said, “Senator Obama offers the promise of a new day in American politics, a day in which millions more working voters participate in the process and a day in which the voices of working people rise above corporate money in Washington, D.C.”

O’Sullivan said Obama’s honesty, integrity and leadership will bring about the change America needs to move the country in the right direction. “As a charis-matic leader, Senator Obama will unite America around the politics of change and America certainly needs a change from the Bush Administration,” said O’Sullivan. “We look forward to joining together in communities around the country between now and November, to reach out to working families and put their issues in the forefront of a plan for change. Citizens of this country will feel the power of Obama’s commitment to improving the lives of working men and women.”

O’Sullivan praised the full field of contenders for the Democratic Presidential nomination. “Every candidate for the Democratic nomination made the case on behalf of America’s working families,” he said. In particular, O’Sullivan said that Senator Hillary Clinton has waged a campaign that raised issues that matter to working families. “Senator Clinton has been a friend of this Union

LIUNA Endorses Illinois Senator for PresidentOBAMA:

Source: www.liuna.org

and a warrior and champion for working people. She has stood up for the hard working men and women of this nation and we know she will continue to fight the good fight. LIUNA thanks her for her spirit and her passion throughout this campaign and for her dedicated service to the country.” LIUNA will work to make its endorsement mean-ingful by mobilizing its half-million members through an unprecedented member outreach and mobilization program that will use member-to-member contact on jobsites and in homes, communication through direct mail, robo-calling, text-messaging, e-mail and web-sites.

“We will make sure that every member knows the issues,” said O’Sullivan. “That includes not just Senator Obama’s work on behalf of working families, but John McCain’s record during his 26 years in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. We respect his service to this country, but John McCain has worked to under-mine the family-supporting Davis-Bacon Act, has tried to negate the work of proud Labor-ers by supporting the creation of a helper sub-classification, and has supported trade agree-ments that ship good jobs overseas. He has also attacked working people, good paying jobs and secure retirement by attacking pensions and health care plans and with his persistent opposi-tion to investing in the highways, bridges, waterways and other basics that working Ameri-ca depends on,” continued O’Sullivan.

A key part of LIUNA’s voter registration effort – Make a Call to Build America – began May 29th when more than 12,000 members were contact-ed by fellow members in a nationwide “virtual” voter registration phone-bank. The effort con-tinued on July 10th with the next Make a Call to Build America night, and was followed by two

more evenings during the summer, with a goal of increasing voter registration by 10 percent, particularly in key battleground states.

LIUNA’s endorsement process is built around en-dorsing with at least 60 percent of member sup-port. The Union did not make an endorsement during the primaries because, according to sev-eral Peter D. Hart Research polls of members, Senator Clinton and Senator Obama remained nearly even in support – but the polls repeatedly showed that more than 60 percent of members want a Democrat in the White House.

OBAMA continued

Boistfort Valley cleanup

A note from your Apprenticeship Coordinators

We want you to succeed! We will work with you and help you. You are responsible for your obligations; here are some guidelines to

make your apprenticeship proceed smoothly.

nReport OJT hours weekly.Your upgrades in pay are determined by your work and classroom hours. If you do not turn in hours in a timely manner, you may be late in getting your pay upgrade. Pay upgrade is not retroactive for your failure to turn in hours. Hours over 60 days late will not count towards your upgrade. Send in report monthly when not working.

nAccept any and all jobs offered for dispatch.You must take any job call; you may not quit a job for any reason.

nSign the out-of-work list (OOWL) when not working. Learn the rules for the OOWL at your local. Learn and understand what is required to keep your membership in good standing. You cannot be on the OOWL or dispatched for a job if you are not in good standing. Follow these rules to stay current on the OOWL. Stay on the list until dispatched for work.

nAttend classes when scheduled.You must have 80 hours of classroom instruction for each 1,000 OJT to receive an upgrade. Work with your coordinator if there is a particular class you would like to take. Call your coordinator when you are laid off so you may attend a class when you are not working. This may prevent you from having to leave a job to attend class.

nKeep your phone number & address current.If you have a change, you must notify all three of the following: NWLETT Apprenticeship Program, your

local union, and Zenith Administrators. Without your current information you may miss something impor-tant. You may want to inform your credit union and all employers so that you receive financial state-ments and W2 forms.

nPractice a good work ethic.Arrive before the start of your shift, keep busy during work hours, and don’t stop until the end of your shift. If an emergency arises, call in and tell your employer what has happened. Dress for success. In construction you must have leather boots for good ankle support. Baggy clothes, watches, rings, necklaces, piercing jewelry, et cetera can all snag and be ripped from your body; for safety, wear proper clothes and leave the jewelry at home.

nWork safely.You are responsible for your own safety and the safety of those around you. If you are not sure about something, ask questions.

nDon’t do drugs.Substance abuse testing is a regular part of the construction industry. You may be required to test pre-employment for each contractor and randomly once employed. This includes alcohol abuse. Failure of a substance abuse test will result in disciplinary action and/or termination from the apprenticeship program.

Remember that you are an apprentice and are there to learn. Ask questions! Your apprenticeship coordinator can help with questions about apprenticeship. Your business manager or field rep-resentative can help with questions about your local; the journeyperson you work with can help with questions about the job process.

On May 29, NWLETT staff and representa-tives from nearly all local unions and councils came together at the Kingston

site to bid farewell to Office Manager Astrid Wo-lin, who retired after 26 years of service.

“The lady with the accent” witnessed many changes during her career with the Laborers, and consistently went above and beyond what her position required.

“Astrid is a true professional. Her attention to detail and sense of humor will be sorely missed,” said Director Mike Warren.

An Icon Retires

FALL 2008KingstonAsbestos Supervisor40 hours12/01/08 - 12/05/08

Asbestos Worker40 hours09/15/08 - 09/19/0809/29/08 - 10/03/0810/20/08 - 10/24/0810/27/08 - 10/31/0811/10/08 - 11/14/08

Asbestos Worker EN ESPAÑOL40 hours11/03/08 - 11/07/08

Concrete Basic80 hours09/15/08 - 09/26/0810/13/08 - 10/24/0811/10/08 - 11/21/08

Concrete Basic EN ESPAÑOL80 hours12/01/08 - 12/12/08

Concrete Cutting & Coring40 hours11/10/08 - 11/14/08

Concrete Patch & Repair40 hours12/15/08 - 12/19/08

Concrete Specialist80 hours09/29/08 - 10/10/08 10/27/08 - 11/07/08

DOE Soil Erosion16 hours10/15/08 - 10/16/08

General Construction80 hours09/15/08 - 09/26/08 10/13/08 - 10/24/08 11/10/08 - 11/21/08

Grade Checking80 hours10/13/08 - 10/24/08

Hazardous Waste Worker80 hours10/06/08 - 10/17/08 12/08/08 - 12/19/08

High Scaling80 hours09/22/08 - 10/03/08 Hoisting & Rigging40 hours12/08/08 - 12/12/08

Laborers, Our Heritage40 hours09/29/08 - 10/03/08 11/03/08 - 11/07/08 Mason Tending80 hours09/29/08 - 10/10/08 10/27/08 - 11/07/08 12/01/08 - 12/12/08

OSHA 1012 hours10/13/08 - 10/14/08

OSHA 3040 hours11/17/08 - 11/21/08

OSHA 50040 hours09/22/08 - 09/26/08

OSHA 50224 hours10/28/08 - 10/30/08

OSHA 760040 hours12/01/08 - 12/05/08

Pipe Gravity80 hours09/29/08 - 10/10/08 11/10/08 - 11/21/08Pipe Pressure80 hours10/27/08 - 11/07/08 12/01/08 - 12/12/08

Pipeline Safety80 hours09/15/08 - 09/26/08

Road Excavation40 hours12/15/08 - 12/19/08

STP Unit HH: Heavy Highway Construction Supervisor20 hours09/22/08 - 09/24/08

STP Unit 5: Planning & Scheduling20 hours09/24/08 - 09/26/08

STP Unit 6: Understanding & Managing Project Costs20 hours10/06/08 - 10/08/08

STP Unit 7: Accident Prevention & Loss Control20 hours10/08/08 - 10/10/08

Traffic Control Supervisor24 hours09/16/08 - 09/18/08 10/21/08 - 10/23/08 11/18/08 - 11/20/08

Traffic Control Supervisor REFRESHER8 hours09/15/08 10/20/08 11/17/08

Tunnel Safety40 hours12/15/08 - 12/19/08

For a description of classes offered, visit us on the web at www.nwlett.org and click on the

“Course Descriptions” link.

The site has the most current listings for all classes, including refresher and recertification

classes held at local union halls.

UTAHL-295 Salt Lake City 801.972.5380

WASHINGTONL-238 Spokane 509.328.6660

L-242 Seattle 206.441.0470

L-252 Aberdeen 360.533.5658

L-252 Bremerton 360.377.1313

L-252 Olympia 360.357.6460

L-252 Port Angeles 360.457.6929

L-252 Tacoma 253.383.1493

L-276 Bellingham 360.733.0900

L-292 Everett 425.259.5077

L-292 Wenatchee 509.662.9762

L-335 Vancouver 360.695.3318

L-348 Pasco 509.547.7553

L-440 Seattle 206.329.1540

L-614 Yakima 509.452.4332

L-791 Longview 360.423.5690

L-901 Mt. Vernon 360.336.6159

TO SIGN UP FOR CLASS CALL YOUR LOCAL UNION’S

BUSINESS MANAGER.

CLASSES September to December 2008

Pasco SpokaneConcrete Cutting & Coring40 hours12/15/08 - 12/19/08

Laborers, Our Heritage40 hours12/08/08 - 12/12/08

Transit & Level40 hours12/01/08 - 12/05/08

UtahBasic Concrete 240 hours09/29/08 - 10/03/08

Concrete Basic40 hours11/10/08 - 11/14/08

Confined Space Awareness8 hours10/24/08

First Aid / CPR8 hours11/04/08

Forklift Safety16 hours11/20/08 - 11/21/08

General Construction40 hours10/27/08 - 10/31/08

General Construction 2 40 hours09/15/08 - 09/19/08

Hoisting & Rigging40 hours12/01/08 - 12/05/08

Mine Safety REFRESHER8 hours09/20/08

Mine Safety24 hours10/08/08 -10/10/08 OSHA 1012 hours09/25/08 - 09/26/08

OSHA 3040 hours12/08/08 - 12/12/08

Pipe Gravity40 hours10/13/08 - 10/17/08

Scaffold User8 hours10/23/08

Transit & Level40 hours12/15/08 - 12/19/08

SatsopBlueprint Basic40 hours10/13/08 - 10/17/08

Elevation Control40 hours10/20/08 - 10/24/08

General Construction80 hours09/29/08 - 10/10/08

Grade Checking80 hours11/10/08 - 11/21/08 12/01/08 - 12/12/08

Concrete Basic80 hours10/27/08 - 11/07/08

General Construction80 hours10/27/08 - 11/07/08

Hazardous Waste Worker80 hours11/10/08 - 11/21/08

Patrick Helsper

The Northwest Laborers-Employers Training Program is proud to announce the latest graduates of the apprenticeship program. These men and women have completed some 4,000 hours of intense hands-on and on-the-job training and are now considered Journeymen Construction Craft Laborers.

Congratulations, Graduates!

Local 238Ryan Brown Adam CastleRoy Houghton

Steven KimberlyEric Sexton

Linton Williams

Local 252 TElijah Burns

Trevor DeFazioBrent MearnsJesse Sleeman

Joshua E. Walker

Local 242Jesse BallentineBruce Bronson

Eduardo Calderon Chavez

Ty Loren ChonzenaMatthew Courter

John DingerMario E. Gomez

Jeff A. HillErin Hoeft

Moises HuizarMichael Jellesed

Jeremiah JohnsonRichard KelleyJohn Kilgore

Joseph LarsonSergio Macias Marin

Spencer MarecleMichael McConaghy

Jose MedinaRuben StephensonJohn V. Williams

Local 252 O

Local 440Bryan BellesDaisy Casey

John FastnachtAaron Francisco

Christopher GarzaGary HarrisRobin HontzJamel James

James R. JohnsonCynthia Levy-

OstrovkinDaniel McKenney

Nicole NelsonLuis Nieves

Leonard SimsVictor Tate

William WardWilliam

Weatherspoon

Local 276Christopher Lossing

Christopher Neil

Local 252 ATanner Harris

Local 295James MunnKevin Phillips

Jesus A. SandovalIsmael TapiaJoshua Webb

Local 292 EJuan EscalanteRobert HartmanHeidi Laidlaw

Micheal DeGreaveMonique Weir

Richard WoodlynWill Smith, Jr.

Local 335James Birkenfeld

Chad Rhodes

Local 348Aaron Palomarez

Travis Parsons

Local 614Jacob Riddle

Local 791Collin Booth

Local 901Nathan Dekay

Aaron EastwoodKevin Grenier

For more information on the health and safety issues that af-fect Laborers, please visit the following sites:

Laborer

James Hust of Local 238 in Spokane was working as a hod carrier when co-workers told him about the Apprenticeship program.

“The wages and benefits were appealing to me,” he says. “Also, I was very happy to take all of the useful classes provided.” He joined the pro-gram in September of 2005.

When asked to expand on those benefits he feels he has received, he replies, “I have found steady work with good benefits a very advanta-geous effect of participating (in the program)...in addition, the training one receives from work-ing in construction is also applicable to life at home.

“I feel that everything is ‘paid for’ by union income, and therefore may not exactly qualify as a ‘bonus,’ but with that being said, I truly ap-preciate all the services provided...especially all the food in Kingston!”

James says he has worked mainly as a mason tender, but has also gained experience in pour-ing concrete for curbs and gutters as well. He states that he will most likely continue in ma-sonry work because “...it is a fast-paced job that keeps me interested in moving myself.”

Although he says that his main challenge work-ing as a Laborer is learning how to maintain decent joint and muscle flexibility while work-ing long hours with heavy material, he still does not hesitate to recommend the Apprenticeship program to anyone who is considering it.

“If you plan on working for your living, do it the right way and get trained, and then make sure to get compensated for your training...go union, go pro!”

Spotlight on Apprentices

James Hust

“Go union, go pro!”

- James Hust, Local 238

Staying ahead of the curve when it comes to your health should be a goal for everyone. Early detection and prevention are key elements to warding off disease. It starts with knowing the ins and outs of your health status.

The Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund of North America (LHSFNA) wants to help LIUNA members and their families stay informed, which is why it supports health fair screenings across the U.S. and Canada.

LIUNA health fairs are designed with Laborers and their families in mind. Whether held at your local’s annual picnic or at a leadership conference, nurses are onsite to screen participants’ blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol. Par-ticipants can also find many take-home brochures and pamphlets that educate on various health concerns. Tips on smoking cessation, cancer awareness, BMI charts and more are available at the health fair tables.

“A lot of members only go to a doctor when they are sick, so they have no idea what their health status is,” says Andrew Goode, the LHSFNA’s Occupational Health Nurse. “Health fairs help us educate. We can say, ‘I know you feel fine, but you need to see someone.’ There are a thousand excuses not to go to the doctor, but the truth is, if you have a problem and you’re not dealing with it, you may be causing irreparable damage. Putting it off doesn’t help.”

Screenings at health fairs are always one-on-one. During a session, the nurses will explain what the results mean and what can be done to improve the results. For example, if a participant has high blood pressure, the nurse may discuss the scope of hypertension and, in addition to advising the participant to see his/her doctor, suggest stress management strategies and other related tips. They can also encourage those already under a physician’s care to continue taking their medications.

Health fairs are for Laborers and their adult family members. Participants can learn how to better prevent disease by making wise lifestyle choices. For exam-ple, “we push for smoking cessation, because that is something they can alter. It’s a modifiable risk-factor,” notes Goode. “Older members, who have long ten-ures in physically demanding jobs, can learn how to better manage their health, so that they can enjoy a well-deserved retirement.

“It’s not just about your health. It’s about the overall picture,” Goode adds. “As a Laborer, your work is already physically demanding. Your body is stressed, and you do not want to add poor health to that.”

Source:Jennifer E. Jones/Lifelines Online, www.lhsfna.org

What to Expect at a Health Fair

For more information on the health and safety issues that affect Laborers, please visit the following sites:

Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund of North America:www.lhsfna.org

OSHA:www.osha.gov

Laborers’ Health & Safety

Kingston, WA800.240.9112

Spokane, WA509.467.5239

West Jordan, UT 801.280.7195

Northwest Laborers - Employers Training Program

OF AMERICA

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