fall 2009 1

Operatorsbuild nation’s

largest coal-fired power plant

Operating EngineerOperating EngineerInternational

fall 2009

international operating engineer2

Vincent J. Giblin, General PresidentChristopher Hanley, General Secretary-Treasurer

William C. Waggoner, First Vice PresidentBrian E. Hickey, Second Vice President

Gary Kroeker, Third Vice PresidentJohn M. Hamilton, Fourth Vice President

Patrick L. Sink, Fifth Vice PresidentJerry Kalmar, Sixth Vice President

Russell E. Burns, Seventh Vice PresidentJames T. Callahan, Eighth Vice PresidentRodger Kaminska, Ninth Vice President

Mark Holliday, Tenth Vice PresidentJames M. Sweeney, Eleventh Vice President

Robert T. Heenan, Twelfth Vice President

Frank Hanley, General President Emeritus Budd Coutts, General Secretary-Treasurer Emeritus

John M. Holliday III, ChairmanJohn T. Ahern, Trustee

Mike Gallagher, TrusteeKuba J. Brown, Trustee

Glen D. Johnson, Trustee

g e n e r a l o f f i c e r s

t r u s t e e s

The International Operating Engineer(ISSN 0020-8159) (USPS 581900) is published quarterly by the:International Union of Operating Engineers 1125 17th Street, NW - Washington, DC 20036Printed in the USA on union-made paper.

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departmentsd e p a r t m e n t s

Politics & Legislation ......... 6

Central Pension Fund ....... 10

Education & Training ......... 12Safety & Health News ........ 14

Canadian News ................... 18

Hazmat News ....................... 20

Around the Locals ............... 22

Member Service .................. 24

GEB Minutes......................... 26

In Memoriam ........................ 29

Fall 2009 - Volume 152, No. 3Editor - Christopher Hanley

Local 12 completing Hoover Dam bridge

Local 406 builds new Twin Span bridge

4NTF holds training conference

Local 49 begins work on pipeline project

t ON THE COVER:From the left are Local 520 Trustee/Crane Operator Chad Goldschmidt, Financial Secretary/General Foreman Steve Wolff and Operator Derek Galle at the $4 billion Prairie State Energy Campus project.

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fall 2009 3

Healthcare reform is needed NOWAn IUOE perspective • General President Vincent J. Giblin

The national debate over healthcare reform has been heated, acrimonious and simply nasty, fueled in large part by far-right-wing talk radio and television per-sonalities who disseminate false information and who

egged on like-minded zealots to pack congressional town hall meetings in late summer to shout down any meaningful discus-sion of the issue.

These disruptive tactics probably reached their zenith during the president’s television address on the subject when a previously little-known congressman from South Carolina shouted out epithets chal-lenging the president’s truthfulness. His actions were crude, rude and totally classless – and the facts put the lie to his shouted accu-sations. All he proved was the truthfulness of Abraham Lincoln’s maxim that “it’s better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt.”

Be that as it may, we want to cut through all the partisan rhetoric and disinformation to lay out for your review and thought certain facts about healthcare in the U.S. and about proposed reforms of the system. It’s a given that all citizens are impacted directly and daily by the state of healthcare. Common sense tells any reasonable person that the overall healthcare system in the U.S. is in dire need of cor-rective action.

Healthcare costs far too much, which means far too many can-not afford it. Exclusionary practices such as denying coverage for pre-existing conditions and withdrawing existing coverage abound. Simply put, the healthcare system is broken and needs fixing.

So we wholeheartedly support healthcare reform. Our goal is a healthcare system that affords quality care at affordable prices for all U.S. citizens, which, for all intents and purposes, is exactly what the president’s plan would do.

While most of us in the Operating Engineers have decent, union-negotiated healthcare benefits for ourselves and our families, we know too well how expensive healthcare is and how the costs keep rising year after year after year. How many times have our members had to dedicate a sizeable portion of any wage increase to maintain-ing their health and welfare benefits?

What we need to rein in costs is a cap on out-of-pocket expenses, deductibles and co-pays. We also need to make the private insurance companies more user-friendly in terms of costs and overage.

We want to make it perfectly clear that there is nothing in the president’s proposal or any reform proposals being put forth that would force IUOE members or their employers to give up their ex-isting healthcare plan. Nothing.

We want an “employer mandate” as part of any reform that will require all large employers – 50 or more workers – to provide health-care benefits for their workers or to pay a comparable fee to help defray the cost of making coverage available to them.

We do not want any kind of tax on healthcare benefits.

We want a system that ends discrim-ination against people with pre-existing conditions. Over the last three years, 12 million people were denied coverage directly or indirectly through high premiums due to a pre-existing condition. Under the president’s plan, it will be against the law for insurance companies to deny cover-age for health reasons or risks.

We want a system that prevents insurance companies from dropping coverage when people are sick and need it most. The president’s plan prohibits insurance companies from rescinding coverage that has already been purchased except in cases of fraud. A recent congressional inves-tigation found that over five years, three large insurance companies can-celled coverage for 20,000 people, saving them from paying $300 mil-lion in medical claims - $300 million that became either an obligation for the patient’s family or bad debt for doctors and hospitals.

Today, there are over 47 million citizens with no coverage, mostly because it is cost-prohibitive, and another 27 million who are under-insured. As a result, those who do have insurance pay an additional hidden fee of about $1,100 to cover the costs of providing care for the uninsured.

We want a system that protects Medicare for seniors. The presi-dent’s plan will extend new protections for Medicare beneficiaries that improve quality, coordinate care and reduce beneficiary and program costs. These protections will extend the life of the Medi-care Trust Fund to pay for care for future generations.

Those are the basics from our point of view that must be included in any reform of healthcare in the U. S. Obviously, healthcare is a complex issue and we can’t address every aspect of it here. But if we can get these basic tenets, we will be heading in the right direction. Rest assured the IUOE will do all in its power to make this happen.

Healthcare reform can get done if certain segments in Congress stop trying to politicize the issue and instead look at it as a humani-tarian issue that will benefit all U. S. citizens. This debate is not about the 2010 or 2012 elections, it is about extending much-needed relief and help to every U. S. citizen – relief and help they desper-ately need.

In the meantime, we urge you not to buy into the distortions and outright lies being promulgated such as “death panels,” “socialized medicine” and “insurance for illegal immigrants.” None of those statements is true. Check the facts.

“...nothing put forth would force IUOE members to give up their existing healthcare plan.”

international operating engineer4

Local 542’s Heenan elected general vice president

The IUOE General Executive Board unanimously elected Local 542 (Phil-adelphia, PA) Business Manager Rob-

ert T. Heenan as an International vice presi-dent, effective July 1, 2009. He was elected to fill the vacancy created with the retirement of General Vice President/Local 138 Business Manager William Duffy.

Heenan becomes the first Local 542 mem-ber ever elected a general vice president. He joined Local 542 in 1948 after his discharge

from the U. S. Army and served as a business agent and collection manager for the Welfare and Pension Fund. He was elected business manager in 1992.

He also serves as a trustee of the IUOE General Pension Plan. Heenan is a vice presi-dent of both the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council and the Pennsyl-vania AFL-CIO. In 1999, he was appointed to the Pennsylvania Appeals Board (Prevailing Wage Act). IUOE Vice President Robert T. Heenan

Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge nears completion

Through the combined skills of some 300 engineers and 1,200 construction workers, including

about 25 operating engineers from Local 12, the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge will be the largest concrete support arch in North America.

By the end of 2010 when the total proj-ect is complete, the freestanding structure will support the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge 890 feet above the Colorado River. It will cut a trucker’s travel time between Nevada and Arizona from an average 30-minute trip over the dam to a mere six minutes over the bridge.

Yet motorists with more time on their hands may want to stop at the visitor park-

ing lot and use a walk-way across the bridge to view the dam from 1,700 feet down river.

At a cost of $114 million, the length of the bridge will be 1,900 feet. Some four miles of four-lane highway will also be added from the Nevada and Arizona sides.

The rugged ter-rain of the Nevada ap-proach will cost more the $30 million for the two miles of road that

will also in-clude construction of six new bridges.

The two miles of the Ari-zona approach will cost $21.5 million and include one of the largest bridges – 900-foot-long – in the state.

The combined costs of the total project will be about $240 million, with both states and the federal government providing funding. Work on the project began in late 2003.

This computer rendering of what the Hoover Dam bypass bridge will look like when com-pleted near the end of 2010 is courtesy of the Federal Highway Administration.

Operators lower a segment of the arch support to be positioned. Some of the supports are in place as the new bridge takes shape.

fall 2009 5

Blackboard Learning System debuts at training conference

The unveiling of the Blackboard Learning System as a new tool in the National Training Fund’s edu-

cational efforts highlighted it’s Training and Safety & Health Conference in July with over 250 local union training instruc-tors and administrators in attendance.

The four-day event featured six instruc-tor training-oriented workshops given three times per day for the first three days, and finished with instructor and administrator exchanges on the last day.

In his keynote address to the conference, IUOE General President Vincent J. Giblin detailed for the participants a strategic plan to expand the capabilities and resources of the National Training Fund, as well as a funding formula to support the NTF’s train-ing regimen.

“With this strategic plan and expanded program, we have a resource vital to our members’ futures and to our future mem-bers,” Giblin said.

“Training imparts skills, skills help our

members get and keep jobs, and it is the skilled engineers who give us the ad-vantage over the non-union element who would take our work and erode our hard-won gains,” he added. “With this new train-ing plan, we will be uniquely equipped to afford our members every opportunity to enhance their skills and their careers.”

Conference work-shops included: Best Practices in Instructional Design, developing lesson plans and course syllabus; Overview of the Blackboard Learning System, a demo of Blackboard’s features with an emphasis on the training clearinghouse; Multimedia Technology, using graphics, videos and ani-mations in classroom presentations; Safety and Health Update, latest standards and current issues; Effective Strat-egies for Learning, four different views from different locals on teach-ing techniques; Union Education, content and delivery options for ex-isting and new members; E-Learning for H&P and Stationary Instructors, using NTF training materials and a demonstration of on-line equipment course; Update on Apprenticeship Regulations, summary of new rules affecting registered apprenticeship programs; OECP, overview of struc-ture and administration for crane op-erator certification; Roadway Safety Aware-

ness Program, common hazards in highway road construction and methods for simple preventative measures.

Other courses taught during the confer-ence included Green Buildings for Station-ary Engineers, developing training materials

for green technology; IAQ , indoor air qual-ity teaching strategies and delivery options on newly revised course; Safety and Health Training at Jobsite, developing materials and delivering short training segments for tool-box talks, and Training Standards Project, update on performance standards for heavy equipment operation.

Vendors from Manitowoc, John Deere, Globalsim, Cranesmart, Topcon, Gray Wolf, ATP and DAC presented their latest prod-ucts in equipment, education materials, and simulation packages at the Tuesday night vendors’ event.

A conference attendee uses one of the many simulators available during the vendor reception.

IUOE Training Conference attendees listen to General President Giblin’s opening remarks regarding the importance of training.

Attendees review materials during a conference workshop.

Training Standard workshop participants in a breakout session.

international operating engineer6

Construction stimulus money starting to take effect

IUOE employment is getting a significant boost from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act – the so-called “stimulus bill” passed by Con-gress and signed into law by President Obama February 17. While setbacks

and delays have stalled some projects – and left too many IUOE members on the bench – thousands of projects funded by the legis-lation are moving forward. Virtually all hoisting and portable local unions in the U.S. have reported an increase in work opportunities connected to the legislation, which emphasizes just how important public policy can be to the livelihoods of Operating Engineers. Like it or not, the decisions of elected officials oftentimes can determine whether Operating Engineers are employed or unemployed.

In a hearing July 31 on the 160-day progress report on con-struction spending, House Transportation and Infrastructure Com-mittee Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN) announced that nearly half of the money to be spent on transit and highway investments from the Recovery Act been put out to bid. That amounts to over 5,000 projects in 50 states. Over 3,500 projects are under contract, representing about one-third of highway and transit spending, and projects representing 22 percent of highway and transit spending from the stimulus are underway, totaling almost $8 billion. Ober-star said that “while I am encouraged by what federal, state, and local governments have already accomplished, more must be done.”

States and local governments are responsible for implement-ing major pieces of the construction package in the stimulus bill. Much of the stimulus’s effectiveness depends on their performance. Because of their key role in the recovery of the American economy, Chairman Oberstar conducted a performance review on each of the states, ranking them in order of effectiveness in getting stimulus dollars on the street and employing construction workers. The top three states were Wyoming, New Hampshire, and Oklahoma; the three states that have been the slowest at getting stimulus dollars working for the American economy, workers, and their own states are Florida, Hawaii and South Carolina.

The most important element of infrastructure investment in the stimulus is job creation! The first signs of life in the construc-

tion industry are just appearing now. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Department of Labor’s num-ber crunchers, has identified a sub-stantial increase in employment in the “highway, street, and bridge” construction sector of the economy. Over 67,000 jobs have been created in the last three months in that part of the construction market. That’s a 26% increase in employment. Many of those jobs are going to Operating Engineers. But, as Chairman Ober-star said, “more must be done.”

politics &legislation

Stimulus, pipeline create jobs for operatorsCanada - U.S. pipeline approved, work beginsOn August 20, the U.S. State Department gave final permit ap-

proval to Enbridge Inc.’s Alberta Clipper Pipeline Project, a $3.7 billion crude oil pipeline from Alberta, Canada to Superior, WI. The pipeline is nearly 1,000 miles long (over 1,600 km) and will carry 450,000 barrels per day of crude oil from Western Canada’s tar sands to refineries in the Midwest of the U.S. The pipeline eventually could expand capacity to deliver as much as 800,000 barrels per day.

In the midst of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, this massive construction project will employ hundreds of members of Local 49 and Local 139 in the U.S. and similar num-bers in Canada. Altogeth-er, the project will employ roughly 3,000 construction workers. Around 500 new jobs also will be created at re-fineries in the U.S. to accom-modate the crude from the tar sands. Construction work is being done by Global Pipe-line Partners, a partnership of Michels Corp. of Browns-ville, WI, Precision Pipeline of Eau Claire, WI, and U.S. Pipeline of Houston. The project will be built in four spreads in the U.S.: Neche, ND to Viking, MN; Viking to Clearbrook, MN.; Clearbrook to Deer River, MN, and Deer River to Superior, WI.

In late July, General President Giblin wrote to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, seeking approval of the “Presidential Permit” required for the pipeline – the final step in a long environmental permitting process, saying that “…the pipeline project would pro-vide a tremendous boost to… skilled heavy equipment operators.” He urged the secretary to “…complete the final review as soon as possible so that we do not lose the remainder of the construction season…” Construction began almost immediately once the project received its final approval. (see related article, page 8.)

The State Department had been reviewing the project since 2007 and issued its Final Environmental Impact Statement in June. The Department found that the addition of crude oil pipeline capacity between Canada and the U.S. will advance a number of strategic in-terests of the U.S. These included increasing the diversity of available supplies among the United States’ worldwide crude oil sources in a time of considerable political tension in other major oil-producing countries; shortening the transportation pathway for crude oil sup-plies, and increasing crude oil supplies from a major producer other than an Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) producer. A group of American environmental organizations vowed to fight the project in court. Virtually all of the pipeline will be in existing Enbridge pipeline right-of-way, minimizing environmental impacts, which smoothed the way for final permit approval from the State Department. Environmental groups argued that the pipeline will increase greenhouse gas emissions, and that the necessary per-mits should be denied. The Obama Administration rejected those arguments, and gave the final go-ahead to the project.

fall 2009 7

The American health care system is broken. It costs too much, covers too few, and excludes far too many. Americans pay twice as much per capita as other ad-vanced industrialized nations for health care, yet have shorter life expectancies and higher infant mortality rates. The system must be fixed – NOW!

Health care reform is absolutely necessary to control continuously spi-raling costs to avoid bankrupting vi-tal federal government programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and veterans’ benefits; union-negotiated health and welfare plans – for too long now, too much of too many workers’ scheduled pay raises go to maintaining health care benefits; those employers provid-ing health care to their workers, and individual purchasers of health care.

Progressive health care reform helps ALL working families, including operating engineers with strong health insurance plans, by:

Reining in runaway health care costs

Any reform has to start out by cap-ping out-of-pocket expenses, deduct-ibles and co-pays. Pressure in some form has to be ap-plied to the private insurance compa-nies to get them to offer compre-hensive coverage at affordable rates, to force the private in-surance companies to be competitive, and to make them be more consider-ate of health care consumers’ needs. By doing this, costs for everyone can be stabilized.

Make your voice heard for health care reform

Contact your members of Congress and tell them it’s time for meaningful health care reform! All you have to do is call 1-877-264-4226 and you will be put in touch with the office of your respective legislators. You can also email your members of Congress by visiting and registering for the members-only section of www.iuoe.org. After you register, click on Engineers Action and Response Network (EARN), and send a prepared email directly to your legislators. It’s simple, all you have to do is participate.

Making health care available for everyone

Today, there are 47 million Americans without health insur-ance and another 27 million un-derinsured. Democratic reform plans in Congress cover almost everyone in the United States – except illegal immigrants! No health care subsidies can go to illegal immigrants. Today, every American family with health care coverage pays a “hidden health charge” of $1,017 more a year in insurance premiums to pay for the uninsured!

No coverage denials, cancellations

Prohibiting denial of health care coverage because of pre-existing conditions and cancellation of coverage, practices insurance compa-nies routinely use today simply because they don’t want to pay for treatments.

Include ‘employer mandate’Requiring all companies to pay

their fair share for health care, com-

monly referred to as the “employer mandate.” Health care reform will allow union employers to compete equally for contracts with companies that now don’t provide health care in-surance to their workforce – but will have to under meaningful reform or pay a “fair share” fee.

Contacting your legislators: made easy.

international operating engineer8

From left to right, Local 49 members Larry Gunderson, Terry Johnson, Ryan Karulak, Joe Chastan and Eric Walde-marsen discussing the Enbridge Pipeline project at right-of-way just east of Grand Rapids.

Local 49 members busy helping build 1,000-mile pipeline

When a young Joe Chastan started work-ing pipelines in northern Minnesota with IUOE Local 49 two decades ago,

he couldn’t imagine even owning a mobile phone. Fast forward to this summer, his cell has barely stopped ringing. Serving now as the 49ers Bagley, MN business agent, Chastan had been fielding up to 200 calls a day from anxious operators inquiring about jobs on the Enbridge Pipeline project.

“It’s a good feeling to see this many 49ers back to work, especially after the economic downturn,” said Chastan. “The Enbridge Pipeline will directly employ 3,000 people though North Dakota and Minnesota, including hundreds of operators from Local 49. It’s pumping hundreds of millions into these rural econo-mies.”

When complete, the 1,000-mile Alberta Clipper line will bring oil from Canada, through North Da-kota and Minnesota to Superior, Wisconsin. Three different contractors are building the more than 300-mile U.S. end of the job: U.S. Pipeline of Houston, Texas, Michaels Corporation and Precision Pipeline, both from Wisconsin.

Local 49 estimates that the job will require hundreds of side-booms, more than 90 track- and rubber-tire backhoes and “lots” of specialty work.

“Laying this pipeline has been a lot of hard work - 10-hour days, six days a week - but our guys have met the challenge. They’ve been well-prepared,” said Local 49 Business Manager/IUOE Trustee Glen Johnson. “They’re proud to be on the job, especially those who live in the area.”

For almost two years, Tim Halling, a 49er working the Michaels Corporation portion of the project, has been stacking the cylindrical steel slated for the job.

“This is great for northern Minnesota, and great to be working close to home again,” said Halling, who’s been on jobs all around state, far from his wife and family. “I typically operate forklifts, skid steers, scrapers and dozers on traditional building jobs. It’s great seeing how the directional drills and sidebooms of a pipe-line project work.”

Like more than 4,000 49ers, Halling spent parts of the last several off-seasons upgrading

his skills and certifi-cations at the union’s training facility, spe-cifically taking pipe-line classes to prepare for this project.

“Years ago, it used to be learn as you go for a lot of guys,” Halling said. “These days, you can’t just jump on equipment and expect to get a job. But after tak-ing these classes, it’s no longer how do I, but I can do it, just tell me what you need.”

“These projects need highly skilled operators. The ter-minology and the work on a pipeline job is much different than the work and terminology on a highway heavy job,” said Gary Lindblad, director of Local 49’s Apprenticeship and Training Program. “Therefore, those with the proper training and certification will be in a much better position to be hired and advance on these types of jobs.”

Local 49’s Robert Dewey operating backhoe at Deer River site, which places the bevel machine in the end of each section of pipe.

At the Deer River site, Local 49 Operator Cory Strandlien moves a section of pipe into position for beveling, while Local 49’s Keith Bigalk provides direction for placement.

fall 2009 9

JNESO, District Council 1 nurses volunteer in GuatemalaFor six years now, nurses from Jersey Nurses Economic Security

Organization ( JNESO), IUOE District Council 1’s West Jersey lo-cal have worked with the Children of the America’s Medical Mis-sion Organization in Guatemala.

In January of this year, several Registered Nurse members of the District Council 1 of the IUOE, traveled to Guatemala to volun-teer at a health clinic in the rural town of Santa Cruz del Quiche, teaming with volunteer doctors to offer care.

They provided around-the-clock care to treat adults and children with a variety of ailments and injuries – including repairing clubbed feet and cleft lips, treating hernias and other internal wounds, and

performing much-needed gyneco-logical surgeries. The nurses also brought much-needed supplies and equipment to the area.

IUOE JNESO District Council 1 Registered Nurses doing volunteer humani-tarian work in Guatemala take time for a photo with other medical personnel volunteering in the region. From the left, front row, are Chris Pease, RN; Teri Horvath, RN; JoyLynn Davis, RN; Dr. Davida Grossman, and Simone Zapp, ultrasonagrapher. Standing in back, same order, are Kathy Graziano, RN; Carol Muller, RN; Peg Ward, RN; Jane Hughes, RN; Alex Brandwine; Cheryl Lloyd, CRNA; Dr. Warren Brandwine, and Dr. Buzz Cortese.

In addition to training, pipeliners must work safely on the job. Prior to ground breaking, IUOE national pipeline training coordina-tor Mike Gavlock helped lead a three-day training event in northern Minnesota.

“You have to walk the walk before you talk the talk,” he told the group of about 100 on the first day. “More than two decades of working pipeline projects has prepared me to tap into my own personal experi-ences as examples of what to do and how to do it.”

Between segments on safety awareness and improving commu-nication, Gavlock relates his compelling and heart-wrenching stories

in soft tones, telling of unfortunate worksite mishaps he wished had dif-ferent endings.

“This is all about waking ‘em up to realize how important safety is on these types of jobs,” he exclaimed.

The IUOE is a leader in pipeline safety training, investing $4 million teaching more than 1,000 workers in 30 pipeline training classes nationally last year. For 2009, the International is on pace to offer even more classes.

From safety to environmental concerns, workers must also be aware and considerate of the land on which they operate. Much of the pipeline

weaves through private property, leaving workers with only the space purchased from landowners to navigate without trespassing.

“There are rules in place to protect landowners, and we have to respect those bound-aries,” said Chastan.

Despite all the obstacles, long hours, high-tech know-how and rounds of certifica-tion, it’s all worth it for 49ers to know the Enbridge project has provided a steady stream of work after months of un-certainty.

John Ringeison, a 49er, operating a loader in the Grand Rapids yard where pipe is being coated with concrete.

Safety Officer Mike Hampton overseeing assembly of a marsh buggy in Cohasset.

Mechanic Ken Hron, a 49er, working on a marsh buggy in Cohasset.

international operating engineer10

While the national debate over reform of the U.S. health care system continues, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are also considering how to provide relief to the U.S.

pension system from the severe impacts of the 2008-2009 global investment crisis.

Both the advocates and opponents of health care re-form agree that when it comes to health care, America is not what it used to be --- and the same is certainly true of pensions.

The root cause of the problems in both health care and pensions is the same: both systems have his-torically been employer-based, and employers have been abandoning both systems in droves.

As the cost of health care and health insurance continues to rise uncontrollably, employers are drop-ping coverage or requiring employ-ees to pay a larger and larger share of the cost; as the funding costs of defined benefit pension plans go up, employers are ter-minating those plans and leaving employees with risky 401(k) savings plans --- if anything at all.

The global meltdown of 2008-2009 has made both health care reform and pension relief even more urgent. While the final contours of health care reform are far from clear at this point, the contours of pension relief are quite clear. And unlike health care reform, pension relief will not require a penny of federal support. The only question is whether Congress will have time before the end of this year to debate and enact both health care reform and pension relief.

The pension relief needed by both single-employer plans (maintained by corporations) and multiemployer plans (maintained jointly by labor and management), simply requires extending the time periods over which plans may recognize the extreme investment losses of 2008-2009.

Pension plans set their level of benefits based upon expectations, called actuarial assumptions, of the rate at which their assets and liabilities will grow over time. It is not required that benefits be adjusted up or down ev-ery year as investment returns fluctuate. The actuarial as-sumptions take into account the normal ups and downs of investment markets over time. When, however, invest-ment markets are hit by the equivalent of an economic tsunami as in 2008-2009, the actuarial assumptions go

out the window.

The events of 2008-2009 were unparalleled since 1929. To al-low plans to adjust to this historic event, Congress needs to permit plan actuaries to apply more flexible rules to phase these historic losses into their asset and liability projec-tions. This can be simply accom-plished by modifying the rules for both the amortization and actuarial smoothing of the 2008-2009 losses, to permit them to be phased into plan projections over longer periods

of time --- retaining the current rules for all other years.

While all workers have been injured by the deterioration of the health and pension sys-tems in the United States, those with the protection of union rep-resentation have been able to retain a greater level of security than those without that protection. And in the coming months, the In-ternational Union of Operating Engineers will be working diligently to assure that Congress adopts the necessary legisla-tion to preserve meaningful health care and pension security for all.

Central Pension Fund

Congress considers pension relief as well as health care reform

‘And unlike health care reform, pension relief will not require a penny of federal support.’

fall 2009 11

Job Corps building bright future for youth & IUOE locals

In the throes of one of the most chal-lenging job markets in our nation’s history, America’s youth are finding it

harder and harder to get their foot in the door. For high school grads and college grads alike, the prospects have been slim at best. But for those interested in a future as a skilled tradesman, it doesn’t have to be, thanks to the Job Corps.

Established in 1964, Job Corps is the nation’s largest in-residence educational and career technical training program for youth ages 16 – 24. The program has educated and trained more than two million young Ameri-cans, preparing them for success in our na-tion’s workforce.

An early supporter of the program, the IUOE became the first trade union to pro-vide vocational training by establishing a program at the Jacobs Creek Job Corps Center in Bristol, TN in 1966. More than 40 years later, the IUOE National Training Fund continues to successfully train students in the fields of heavy equipment operation, asphalt paving, heavy equipment mechanics and stationary engineering. The NTF’s mis-sion is to produce highly skilled graduates with pre-apprentice and/or entry-level skills that enable them to pursue a career as an op-erating engineer.

The NTF Job Corps training program is based on the IUOE’s apprenticeship model, a proven formula that has produced tens of thousands of highly-skilled operating engi-neers. Today, the Job Corps program con-tinues to provide training to students in ac-cordance with national standards established by both the NTF and the Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship.

IUOE’s National Training Fund Job Corps students and instructors at the Jacobs Creek Center in Bristol, TN. Pictured front row, kneeling from the left, are Duke Brandon and Malique Turner. Second row, same order, are Lead Instructor Michael Pedigo, Ryan Noriega, Andrew Ollis, Efran Mendoza, Travis Ferguson, Drew Ste-vens and HEO Instructor Paul Hale. Third row, from left to right, are Donnie Gaither Jr., Lynn Wilson, Dallas Eis, Eric Limerise and John Geas III.

In essence, the NTF Job Corps program provides an excellent alternative to the traditional college curricu-lum and conventional vo-cational school training, as well as a fresh start for high school dropouts. It is help-ing build a brighter future for America’s youth.

Students can obtain cer-tain licenses/certifications and skills such as Commer-cial Driver’s License, Fork-lift certification, OSHA 10 training certification, CFC safety certification and pipe-line and crane oiler training. Job Corps students also are taught employability skills, career success standards and basic financial management. Collectively, the program provides students with a well-rounded curriculum.

NTF Job Corps assists IUOE local unions through its Direct Referral Program, which gives locals the opportunity to refer eligible applicants for training through the NTF Job Corps program. Locals utilizing the direct referral system are not required to accept the graduates into their apprentice-ship programs. All Job Corps graduate rec-ommendations are made by IUOE instruc-tors who are local union journey persons and are based on the graduate’s technical skills, employability skills and ability to achieve the standards required of a journey person.

For IUOE local unions, the NTF Job Corps program serves as an excellent re-source for recruitment needs. It is managed by IUOE members, who also conduct the training. The program provides local unions

with the opportunity to request specific skills training and to offer input for the training requirements. It is offered to IUOE local unions free of charge!

For more information regarding the NTF Job Corps program, please visit http://www.iuoe.org/Training/JobCorps/tabid/118/Default.aspx.

HEM Instructor Randall Hamilton, far right, demonstrates replac-ing a radiator and exhaust system for Job Corps students (from the left) Brian Nelson, Oscar Thomas and Kristin Schaffer.

Job Corps students Keron Lewis, left, and Eric Lemerise, right, inspect the condition of radiator removed from D-7 Dozer.

Job Corp student Efran Mendoza demonstrates the correct bucket loading technique.

From the left, Job Corps students Duke Brandon, Malique Turner, Lynn Wilson and Dallas Eis are taught motor grader operation safety by Lead Instructor Michael Pedigo, far right.

international operating engineer12

education training&NTF announces 2009-2010 pipeline training schedule

November 9 - 25, 2009 LocaL 181 - boston, KY

November 9 - 25, 2009 LocaL 428 - casa Grande, aZ

December 7 - 24, 2009 SaT - Iuka, mS

December 7 - 24, 2009 LocaL 428 - casa Grande, aZ

JaNuarY 4 - 22, 2010 SaT - Iuka, mS

JaNuarY 4 - 22, 2010 LocaL 3 - rancho murieta, ca

JaNuarY 25 – FebruarY 12, 2010 SaT - Iuka, mS

JaNuarY 25 – FebruarY 12, 2010 LocaL 3 - rancho murieta, ca

FebruarY 22 - marcH 12, 2010 LocaL 841 - Terre Haute, IN

FebruarY 22 - marcH 12, 2010 LocaL 3 - rancho murieta, ca

MARCH 15 - APRIL 2, 2010 LocaL 841 - Terre Haute, IN

MARCH 15 - APRIL 2, 2010 LocaL 3 - rancho murieta, ca

APRIL 12 - 30, 2010 LocaL 49 - Hinckley, mN

APRIL 12 - 30, 2010 LocaL 3 - rancho murieta, ca

APRIL 12 - 30, 2010 LocaL 825 - middletown, NY

maY 3 - 28, 2010 LocaL 49 - Hinckley, mN

Pipeline Regional Training Classes

November 2 - 20, 2009 LocaL 139 - coloma, WI

November 30 – December 18, 2009 LocaL 139 - coloma, WI

JaNuarY 4 – 22, 2010 LocaL 542 -bernville, Pa

JaNuarY 4 – 22, 2010 LocaL 12 - Las vegas, Nv

JaNuarY 25 – FebruarY 12, 2010 LocaL 542 -bernville, Pa

JaNuarY 25 – FebruarY 12, 2010 LocaL 12 - Las vegas, Nv

FebruarY 22 – marcH 12, 2010 LocaL 324 - Howell, mI

marcH 15 – aPrIL 2, 2010 LocaL 324 - Howell, mI

Side Boom Training Classes

JaNuarY 4 - 9, 2010 LocaL 132 - ravenswood, Wv

JaNuarY 11 - 16, 2010 LocaL 132 - ravenswood, Wv

JaNuarY 18 – 23, 2010 LocaL 132 - ravenswood, Wv

FebruarY 1 - 6, 2010 LocaL 513 - Silex, mo

FebruarY 8 - 13, 2010 LocaL 513 - Silex, mo

FebruarY 15 – 20, 2010 LocaL 513 - Silex, mo

marcH 1 – 6, 2010 LocaL 17 - Lake view, NY

marcH 8 – 13, 2010 LocaL 17 - Lake view, NY

marcH 15 – 20, 2010 LocaL 17 - Lake view, NY

John Henry Rock Drilling Classes

fall 2009 13

Local 15 conducts GPS training sessionLocal 15 (New York, NY ) conducted a training session on the

latest Trimble Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) surveying instru-ments at its training facility. The all-day training session, conduct-ed by John Lewis of Keystone Precision Instruments in Allentown, PA, is part of the on-going training offered through the Institute of Design and Construction of Brooklyn, where Local 15 members can earn an Associate Degree in Building Construction Technology through the retraining program.

Robert Shaw, Local 15 vice president, emphasized to the par-ticipants that being in the forefront of the latest technological developments in instrumentation is essential for members to ob-tain. Charles Gambino, recording-corresponding secretary, told the trainees that survey instruments have developed enormously from the days of the plumb bob and steel tapes during his nearly 50 years as a member of the local.

Shown at the Local 15 GPS training session are, from the left, instructor John Lewis, Jose Luis Ruiz, Dana Senko, Damien Murray, William Bailey, Anthony Motayne, Mike Chasin, George Harris, Recording-Corresponding Secretary Charles Gambino, Vice President Robert Shaw, Jack Sellars, John Connelly and Lee Harris.

Local 953 sponsors steward training programLocal 953 (Albuquerque, NM)

sponsored a comprehensive steward training seminar August 18, 2009 for its stewards at BHP Billiton surface and underground coal mines. The stewards represent approximately 700 coal min-ers at the BHP Billiton coal mines. The training offered a session geared to the newly appointed stewards and another session for experienced stewards that reviewed many of the federal laws that affect collective bargaining agreements. The training was facilitated by Interna-tional Representative Dave Miller, Lo-cal 953 Business Manager Pat J. Vigil and President Barry Dixon.

Stewards and officials participating in the Local 953 Steward Training course included, standing, from the left, Nino Ortega, International Representative David Miller, Business Manager Pat Vigil, Harry Pete, Leslie John, J.D. Arnold, Christopher Roop, Charlie Gomez, Bruce Victor and Mike Harjala. Sitting, same order, are President Barry Dixon, Josh Ortega, Steve Felkins, Dean Sanchez and Craig Watson.

Please visit www.iuoe.org for more information on the NTF’s 2009 - 2010 pipeline training schedule.

JaNuarY 4 - 9, 2010 LocaL 66 - New alexandria, Pa

JaNuarY 11 - 16, 2010 LocaL 66 - New alexandria, Pa

JaNuarY 18 – 23, 2010 LocaL 66 - New alexandria, Pa

JaNuarY 25 – 30, 2010 LocaL 66 - New alexandria, Pa

FebruarY 8 - 13, 2010 LocaL 139 - coloma, WI

FebruarY 15 - 20, 2010 LocaL 139 - coloma, WI

FebruarY 22 - 27, 2010 LocaL 139 - coloma, WI

marcH 1 - 6, 2010 LocaL 139 - coloma, WI

Vacuworxs Pipe Lifter Classes

FebruarY 22 - 27, 2010 LocaL 841 - Terre Haute, IN

marcH 1 - 6, 2010 LocaL 841 - Terre Haute, IN

marcH 8 – 13, 2010 LocaL 841 - Terre Haute, IN

marcH 15 – 20, 2010 LocaL 841 - Terre Haute, IN

marcH 22 – 27, 2010 LocaL 841 - Terre Haute, IN

marcH 29 – aPrIL 3, 2010 LocaL 841 - Terre Haute, IN

Bending Engineering Classes

international operating engineer14

safety & Health News

New Roadway Safety Plus Training Program released

The Roadway Safety Awareness Training Program, produced under grants from the Occupational Safety & Health Administration and the Federal

Highway Administration, provides an overview of com-mon hazards in highway and road construction and simple prevention measures.

The program was developed by a consortium of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Laborers’ In-ternational Union of North America, American Road & Transportation Builders Association, National Asphalt Pavement Association, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Texas Transportation Institute, CNA Insurance and FOF Communications.

The program is designed to orient new workers to safety as they arrive on the jobsite and to educate all road and highway construction workers on jobsite hazards and how to eliminate or avoid them. The program contains Trainee Booklets, Toolbox Pamphlets, an Instructor Manual and other printable materials. The instructor can use profes-sionally narrated speech, training and printed materials in three languages: English, Spanish and Portuguese.

The new Roadway Safety Plus version 9.0 has a number of new features such as a video with a step-by-step navigation of the program. Other features include:

New ModulesNight work Risk; HiViz; lighting and flagging•Disaster Response•

Expanded Runover/Backover Plus•

New Interactive DemosAt least 15 new interactive demos: trench

calculators, high visibility clothing evaluator, heat stress, ergonomic evaluators, and inter-active demos describing setup and display of work zone setups.

New QuizzesModules now have short student pre- and

post-module quizzes. Quizzes can be used with or without a computer-based Audience

Response System, where responses can be saved to the computer hard drive and displayed interactively for trainee discussion and/or instructor evaluation.

New Instructor Setup Screen New setup screen allows instructors to control which mod-

ules play and in what order and use of the program options.

The new Roadway Safety Plus Program can be download-ed at www.workzonesafety.org or copies can be obtained by contacting the IUOE Department of Safety and Health at erussell@iuoe.org or 202-778-2672.

October 19-25, 2009 marks the fourth annual Drug-Free Work Week. The national public awareness campaign demonstrates the correla-

tion between drug-free workers and workplace safety, increased productivity, improved personal health and family stability by educating workers and encourag-ing those with alcohol/drug problems to seek help.

The campaign is a result of the Department of Labor’s Drug-Free Workplace Alliance, a cooperative agreement focused on improving safety and health in the construc-tion industry through drug-free workplace programs. This alliance is composed of the IUOE and other trade unions, government agencies and employer associa-tions from the construction industry.

Union members and employers are encouraged to visit www.dol.gov/workingpartners for a variety of edu-cational materials and resources, such as brochures, presentations, articles, fact sheets and posters. These mate-rials may be used to educate those in your home, at your union or at your workplace. The website also provides information about the nature, symptoms and treatment of alcohol and drug addiction.

fall 2009 15

Local 406 members work on flood control projectLocal 406 operators also are busy working for Boh Brothers on a Corps of Engineers job aimed at flood control for East Jefferson Parish. Known as the Hero Pumping Station project, it will increase the pumping capacity of the station. In addition, Local 406 members are erecting a flood wall to protect the area.

ABOVE: Ricky Hernandez, left, and Norwood “Bubba” Ballon, center, are shown with Local 406 Financial-Recording Secretary Roy L. Serpas Jr. Member Fred Bra-quet, background, is an equipment inspector on the job.

LEFT: Local 406 crane operator Elvis Aucoin at the B&G Service pumping station.

Local 406, Boh Brothers team up for Twin Spans project

Local 406 (New Orleans, LA) members working for Boh Brothers Construction were an integral part of the team that completed the westbound span of the new Twin Spans bridge

over Lake Pontchartrain connecting New Orleans and Sidell, LA 110 days ahead of schedule. It opened for traffic in early July. The eastbound span is scheduled to open in August 2011.

Construction of the Twin Spans at a cost of $803 million was ne-cessitated after Hurricane Katrina severely damaged the original spans four years ago. The project is the largest public works job ever let by the

Louisiana Department of Transpor-tation and Development. More than 40 Local 406 operators and appren-tices have been working the project. From the beginning of the work, Boh Brothers has been emphasizing pro-ductivity and safety on the job.

The new spans will have increased elevation of 30 feet, 21 feet higher than the old spans, with an 80-foot high section to allow for marine traf-fic. Each span will be 60 feet wide, consisting of three 12-foot lanes and two 12-foot shoulders, shear keys, reinforced concrete walls and the use of high-performance concrete. All

these factors will increase the spans’ resistance to storm surge and corro-sion; the spans are designed for a 100-year life.

Local 406 officials join operators working the Twin Spans job. From the left are Business Agent Peter Babin IV, Financial Recording-Corresponding Secretary Roy L. Serpas Jr., Lance Talamo, Lyndale Campbell, Jimmy Ellison, John Maxwell and Allen Boudreaux.

Pile driving rigs operated by Local 406 members are shown in the accompanying photos.

international operating engineer16

Operators providing manpower for construction of PSEC power plant

As Chad Goldschmidt takes his seat in the cab of his long boom crane, the Local 520 op-erator peers across the sun ris-

ing along the skyline of cranes that can be seen for miles, which neighbors f rom nearby communities now refer to as the “crane farm.”

“Not many people can lace up their boots, go to work and make history, but that in essence is what we’re doing here,” said Goldschmidt, who also serves as a Local 520 trustee.

And history is exactly what Goldschmidt and 165 other operating engineers represent-ing Local 520 and more than 20 other IUOE

locals are making in southern Illinois with the Prairie State Energy Campus (PSEC). The 1,600-megawatt power plant is currently the largest power plant under construction in the United States.

“Projects of this magnitude not only em-ploy a large number of our members, but also allow us to reach out to other locals for quali-fied help,” said Local 520 Business Manager Ron Johnson. “The PSEC project gives oper-ating engineers from many locals an opportu-nity to gain valuable large-project experience.”

With a price tag of more than $4 bil-lion, the plant will be fueled by coal from a mine being constructed in tandem with the new generating plant. Once completed in 2012, the facility will generate enough power to serve 2.5 million households over a nine-state span.

Ownership consists of eight not-for-profit public power utilities and the world’s largest coal company, Peabody Energy.

“Prairie State is a significant contribu-tor fueling the struggling economic engine,” said Prairie State Generating Company, LLC President and CEO Peter DeQuattro. “We expect over 2,700 workers at peak construc-tion, and the Operating Engineers are an im-portant part of our team.”

The PSEC contract was awarded to Bechtel, which broke ground on the project in 2007. To date, the project is 24% complete overall, with the Unit 1 Boiler and Turbine Structures complete and 130,000 cubic yards of concrete installed. Completion of Unit 1 is targeted for mid-2011, with Unit 2 following eight months later.

Ralph Griebel and Blake Birkner are Local 520 forklift opera-tors on the $4 billion PSEC project in Illinois.

Pictured front row, from the left are: IUOE International Representative Jeff Aboussie, Local 520 Treasurer/Business Representative Mike Parkinson and Business Manager Ron Johnson. Back row, same order, are Local 520 Operator Derek Galle, Financial Secretary/General Foreman Steve Wolff and Trustee/Crane Operator Chad Goldschmidt.

fall 2009 17

PSEC by the numbers:

2,700 construction workers employed to build the plant

42,000 tons of steel

4,500 miles of linear footage of mining

1,200 miles of electrical cable (stretching from St. Louis, MO to El Paso, TX)

120 miles of piping

165,000 cubic yards of concrete (filling more than 50 Olympic-size swimming pools)

1,600 megawatts of power (serving 2.5 million homes across nine states)

“The residents in the surround-ing farming communities refer to the project as the ‘crane farm’,” says, Bruce McKenzie, Bechtel field superinten-dent. “In addition to all the earth-moving equipment that will be used, the project will utilize 15 heavy-lift, long-boom cranes which can be seen for miles. These cranes have the capac-ity to lift equipment weighing up to 600 tons for installation in the plant.”

The community is seeing much more than just cranes. An economic impact study by the University of Il-linois estimates that over 30 years, PSEC will contribute $22.6 billion into Illinois in ongoing economic benefits. The PSEC project will create a peak employment of construction workers of more than 2,700 to build the plant and approximately 500 per-manent, high-paying, skilled positions between the power plant and mine for commercial operation.

“PSEC is uniquely positioned among major industrial projects under construction in the U.S. today. It’s a fully funded project which means it will not be slowed down or cancelled due to the economic slowdown in the country,” said Charlie Duckworth, Bechtel’s labor relations man-ager. “Bechtel wanted to pro-mote the project, the area, the local unions, and good paying, union craft jobs into 2012.”

Aside from the sheer size, cost and economic impact of the project, the PSEC proj-ect also stands as a testament to what can be accomplished when labor and management work together. This harmoni-ous relationship is rooted in an emphasis on skilled labor and safety.

“The entire project team - craftsmen, superintendents, engineers and managers - strive for ‘Zero Accident Per-formance’ every day,” explains Dave Ross, Bechtel site man-ager. “We encourage everyone to make safety one of their core values. One of the pro-cesses we use to support our commitment to safety is the ‘People Based Safety (PBS) team’ a craftsmen-owned team empowered to help ev-ery employee on the project understand the importance

of safe work practices. Local 520 Op-erators Ryan Batson, Kent Brickey, Ed Bryan and Jerry Phillips are important members of our PBS team.”

“Safety is a top priority on the PSEC jobsite, the concept of the PBS team is a prime example of labor and management working together to provide a safer work place,” add-ed Local 520 Business Manager Johnson. “We are proud to be a part of this team.”

“As steward, I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with members from Local 520 and other opera-tors from across the nation,” said Goldschmidt. “It is gratify-ing as an operating engineer to know that even though there are challenges on a job of this size, there are good skilled union craftsmen from not only the IUOE, but other labor organizations that can come together with management and make a project of this magnitude successful.”

For more information visit www.prairiestateenergycampus.com.

Local 520’s Lester Robison operates a dozer on the PSEC project.

Dozer and roller operators Mike Dietz, left, and Don Rakers are part of the team of 165 operators building the new power plant.

ABOVE: Local 520 Business Manager Ron Johnson, Treasurer/Business Repre-sentative Mike Parkinson and Bechtel Labor Relations Manager Charlie Duckworth.

INSET: Local 520 operators Ryan Stolte, Don Fadler and Lance Miller.

international operating engineer18

IUOE to launch new membership system, website tools

This fall marks the implementation of some exciting initiatives on the information technology-front for the IUOE and its 400,000-plus members. Perhaps the

most anticipated of these initiatives, is the launch of the Inter-national’s new membership management system – Personify – this November.

The web-based system, developed in conjunction with soft-ware developer TMA Resources, brings a new level of innova-tion and functionality to the management of IUOE membership records. In order to ensure accuracy of member information, the

system allows IUOE locals and their mem-bers to instantly update their contact informa-tion through a secured, members-only section of the International’s web-site, www.iuoe.org.

In addition, the sys-tem will be made avail-

able to IUOE locals to supplement or, at their discretion, replace their current systems. Bridging the gap between the Internation-al and its locals in terms of membership information is integral to the successful implementation of the new membership man-agement system. For more information regarding this initiative, please contact Director of Information Technology Don Chism at dchism@iuoe.org and include the word “Personify” in the sub-ject line.

In a prior issue of the IUOE magazine, the International an-nounced it had rede-signed and expanded www.iuoe.org. The member section now offers information on companies and organizations, through Union Plus, that offer discounts to union members on things such as ATT phone service and Dell computers, as well as assistance with health care services, scholarships and much more.

CLocal 793 leads in training, celebrates 90th anniversary

Local 793’s Dave Healey, director of training and operations at the Operat-ing Engineers Training Institute of Ontario in Oakville, operates one of the simulators at the campus. The OETIO is a world leader in the development and use of simulators as teaching tools. There are now four simulators on site at the Oakville campus, including a concrete pump simulator, a tower crane and two mobile crane simulators.

anadian News

Local 793 recently held a family day in Morrisburg, celebrat-ing its 90th anniver-sary. Attendees in-cluded, from the left, Business Manager/IUOE Trustee Mike Gallagher, Jackson Turcotte and his fa-ther Victor, an operat-ing engineer.

A family picnic was also held in Oakville honoring the local’s an-niversary. Operators and their families turned out for a day of fun that featured a barbecue, games and activities. The finale was a tug-of-war between crane and heavy equipment operators. The heavy equipment operators prevailed.

fall 2009 19

IUOE family members awarded Union Plus scholarshipsA higher education is more important now than ever. But with

working families experiencing a distressed economy, escalating health care costs and tuition rising faster than the rate of inflation, affording an education now is even harder. To meet the growing need, Union Plus

provided $200,000 in scholarships to 133 students from 41 unions this year, including five recipients representing the IUOE. Since starting the program in 1991, Union Plus has awarded $2.8 million in educational funding to 1,813 union members, spouses and dependent children.

Jeffrey J. Artus (local 139 - wisconsin)

Jeffrey has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship. He has faced more challenges than most young men his age. There was the 2001 house fire that destroyed most of his family’s belongings. There were also the cold, snowy days work-ing on a nearby farm, milking cows and doing other work. All in all, it’s combined to form a young man with a strong backbone, mind and character. He credits his work ethic to his father, Jeffrey A. Artus of Local 139, and grandfather who are IUOE members and shared their own stories of hard work and achievement. “My parents raised us with an emphasis on honesty, integrity and the importance of helping others,” Jeffrey says.

Jonathan Pfluger (local 150 - illinois)

Jonathan, son of Local 150’s Steve Pfluger, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship. It isn’t surprising that he spends a lot of his time looking ahead. As the third-ranked graduate in his high school

class, he has a bright future in front of him. And one of the biggest needs Jonathan sees in the world right now is the increasing energy crisis. “My desire is to work in

alternative energy,” he says. “I aspire to leave my impact on the world.”

Molly Tullis (local 234 - iowa)

Molly has been awarded a $1,500 scholarship. From her stepfather, Local 234 member Myron Kunze’s skill and high professional standards, Molly learned to take pride in workmanship. From his IUOE membership she learned that, for a group to be strong, everyone has to do his/her part. When Myron died suddenly this year, it was devas-tating for Molly, her mother and their family. But she has decided to pursue her dreams. “You can’t just go through the motions,” her stepfather used to say, “you have to work for it.” Molly is determined to fulfill her destiny no matter how much hard work it takes.

Gary Schmidt Jr. (local 513 - missouri)

Gary has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship. Often you hear today’s youth don’t appreciate all they’ve been given in life. But no one would say that about Gary. Because both of his parents are disabled, money is tight. “I can’t go out and spend money like some of my friends,” says Gary. “But I have a home, and parents who love me and that’s

worth more than material items.” And he knows that a loving family isn’t his only blessing. “If my dad, Gary Sr., wouldn’t have been an member of Local 513, our family would not have had enough money to get by on, nor would

we have health insurance. Being a union member has made a difference in all our lives.”

Lizette Ramirez (local 547 - michigan)

Lizette has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship. “I hope to fulfill my goal of becoming a leader in global health.” She isn’t waiting until graduation to make a positive difference in the world. Lizette has taught Bible school, volunteered at inner city soup kitchens, raised money for charity and visited nurs-ing homes. She has done all this while maintaining excellent grades. It’s the kind of opportunity her father, Rigoberto Ramirez of Local 547, and mother were hoping for when they moved to America, and

the kind of achievement their union memberships have made possible. “Because my parents are union members,” Lizette says, “I can plan to attend college, have stable employment and build my future.”

Learn more about Union PlusPlease visit www.unionplus.org/scholarships for

information on eligibility and to download an appli-cation for the 2010 scholarship awards. Recipients are selected based on academic ability, social aware-ness, financial need and appreciation of labor.

Union Privilege offers the Union Plus benefits, which help union members and their families save money and also provides the Union Safe benefits, which assist union members during difficult times.

international operating engineer20

news

hazmat

HAZMAT to release new training curriculum

IUOE Master Instructors who conduct HAZWOPER and/or OSHA Con-struction Outreach courses will be

able to order new training curriculum in September 2009. The National HAZMAT Program will begin distribu-tion of its new 40-hour HAZWOPER, OSHA 10-hour Construction Outreach and 30-hour OSHA Construction Outreach student manuals and instructor guides.

IUOE Master Instructors will continue to order training material as they have done in the past, only now instructors will be able to order either 10- or 30-hour Construction Out-reach manuals instead of one manual that was previously used for both courses.

Instructors may order the new manuals for review or for their training classes by referencing the following manual numbers on their proposal forms. The instructor guide may be ordered by noting the request in the comments section of the proposal form; otherwise a student manual and instructor guide will be sent.

M-5-2009 40-hr HAZWOPERThe new materials include a matching instructor guide, student manual, and PowerPoint presentations. These new manuals feature lesson plans, individual student activities, exercises, and group activities; the instructor guide includes the answers. The previous version of the HAZWOPER manual will not be available after Octo-ber 1, 2009.

M-18-2009 OSHA 10-hr Construction OutreachThe new materials include a student manual and instruc-tor guide that will include lesson plans, exercises, and

individual student activities and group activities; all the answers are completed in the instructor guide.

M-68-2009 OSHA 30-hr Construction Outreach The new materials include a student manual and instruc-tor guide that includes lesson plans, exercises, and indi-vidual student ac-tivities and group activities; all the answers are com-pleted in the in-structor guide.

The National HAZMAT Pro-gram is also re-leasing the follow-ing new training curriculum begin-ning September 2009 with the appropriate manual numbers:

M-15-2009 HAZWOPER 8-hr SupervisorThe new materials include a matching student manual, instructor guide, and PowerPoint presentations and may be used to satisfy the supervisor training requirements found in 29 CFR 1910.120.

M-59-2009 Confined Space 16-hr WorkerThe new materials include a matching student manual, instructor guide, and PowerPoint presentations and will provide a 16-hour base of training for local unions to con-duct confined space training.

M-60-2009 Working with Avian InfluenzaThe new materials include a matching student manual, instructor guide, and PowerPoint presentations and are designed to address operating engineer specific hazards during an avian influenza outbreak.

M-22-2009 Radiation Worker Safetyand RDD Disaster ResponseThe new materials include a matching student manual, instructor guide, and PowerPoint presentations and will provide an awareness level of training for response to a radiation or radiological dispersal device (RDD) or dirty bomb event.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact the National HAZMAT Program at (304) 253-8674 or email hazmat@iuoehazmat.org.

fall 2009 21

Five Steps to Safer Health Care

2

43

5

1Ask questions if you have doubts orconcerns.Ask questions and make sure you understand the answers. Choose a doctor you feelcomfortable talking to. Take a relative or friend with you to help you ask questions andunderstand the answers.

Make sure you understand what willhappen if you need surgery.Make sure you, your doctor, and your surgeon all agree on exactly what will be done duringthe operation. Ask your doctor, “Who will manage my care when I am in the hospital?”Ask your surgeon: Exactly what will you be doing? About how long will it take? What willhappen after the surgery? How can I expect to feel during recovery? Tell the surgeon,anesthesiologist, and nurses about any allergies, bad reaction to anesthesia, and anymedications you are taking.

Talk to your doctor about which hospital is best for your health needs.Ask your doctor about which hospital has the best care and results for your condition if youhave more than one hospital to choose from. Be sure you understand the instructions you getabout follow-up care when you leave the hospital.

Get the results of any test or procedure.Ask when and how you will get the results of tests or procedures. Don’t assume the results are fine if you do not get them when expected, be it in person, by phone, or bymail. Call your doctor and ask for your results. Ask what the results mean for your care.

Keep and bring a list of ALL the medicines you take.Give your doctor and pharmacist a list of all the medicines that you take, including non-prescription medicines. Tell them about any drug allergies you have. Ask about side effectsand what to avoid while taking the medicine. Read the label when you get your medicine,including all warnings. Make sure your medicine is what the doctor ordered and know howto use it. Ask the pharmacist about your medicine if it looks different than you expected.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in partnership with American Hospital Association American Medical Association

Pub No. AHRQ 04-M005

international operating engineer22

aroun

d the locals

Pewaukee • WI

Local 139

Shawn Schmitt learned about unions from the perspective of a boy. He was age 6, when his dad, Dennis Schmitt, came home from work one day driving a yellow, 50-ton truck crane instead of the family pickup. Shawn, his brother, Troy, and sister, Michelle, each took their turn sitting in the opera-tor’s seat of this new machine that dad brought home.

On that day, Shawn learned that dad ran a crane for a living and he was a member of a union called the Operating Engineers Local 139. He learned that Local 139 existed to benefit its members, to provide for their welfare and for the people in their families – people like Shawn.

Shawn later found out that his grandfather, Earl Schmitt, was a crane operator, too. Grandpa had handed down the trade to dad and, along with that, a firm dedication to their union.

While Earl Schmitt passed away in 1982 and Dennis retired in 2005, Shawn, at age 36, is in his prime as an operator. He is living a family legacy as a person committed to his craft and to the principles of his union.

“I love running a crane. I love the challenge,” he said during an interview at his home near Manitowoc, Wis., that included his father. “Every day is a different scenario with different conditions. Nothing is ever the same. I don’t get bored with it.

“You’ve got to have your ‘A’ game on when you’re running crane. You’re always doing the math, either in your head or on paper. You’re thinking and planning how to do your work well and how to be safe.

“When I was an apprentice, the old man said, ‘you’re going to every union meeting. Even when you’re working away from home, you’re going.’

“I owe everything to dad and he owes everything to his dad. Dad was al-ways saying, ‘If it wasn’t for the Operators, we wouldn’t be living the lifestyle we do. You’re not going to get rich, but you’re going to earn a good, honest living if you give them a good day’s work.’”

Shawn Schmitt began his career immediately after graduating from Lin-coln High School in Manitowoc. He started out as an oiler, working under the direction of his father for two years.

Dennis Schmitt said he was harder on his son than on any other operator he trained during his 37 years as an active Local 139 member. He took that

approach because he wanted his son to have the highest standards. “The first job I got him on, he said, ‘That doesn’t look too hard. Let me try it,’” Dennis said. “Well, it was hard-er than he thought. I told him he had to understand how the crane worked, first. Then I had him run the line up and down, during grease time or lunch. He just got better and better.”

Dennis appreciated the time with his son because he worked away from home for much of

his early days as an operator.

Shawn Schmitt’s growing opera-tor skills caught the attention of CR Meyer. While working on a project at Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh, they assigned him a crane of his own – a model 5299 50-ton American. Follow-ing in his father’s footsteps, who worked for CR Meyer for 15 years, Shawn contin-ues to work for that contrac-tor on projects throughout Wisconsin.

Earl Schmitt joined Local 139 in 1953. He had owned an earth-moving business and ran a crane most of his working days. “I’m not sure how he got signed up,” Dennis said. “But once he got in all he ever preached to me was the union. He recognized early on, the value of the pension and health fund. He got it. He saw the value not just to the member, but to his family, too.

“And dad was right. When Grandma (Olive) died in 2006 at age 93, she had his insurance right up until the day she died.”

Dennis and Shawn Schmitt grew up in Manitowoc, in the shadow of the factory where the city’s namesake cranes are built. In the days before computer modeling, such as in January 1969, Grandpa Schmitt tested the cranes. He was among the first to operate a Manitowoc 4000 model.

“I know he was probably one of the best operators around,” Dennis Schmitt said. “He loved Manitowoc cranes and he understood how the cranes worked. He was very mechanically inclined. He had a welding shop for a while and once welded a crane boom together for a friend.”

One of the last major projects Earl Schmitt worked on was construction of the nuclear generating station in Kewaunee, WI, a job on which he was a Local 139 steward.

In 1978 he was named an Operating Engineer of the Year. His son earned the same honor from Local 139 20 years later.

As if he couldn’t get enough of operating a crane while on the job, Shawn bought a 1958-model Manitowoc 2000 in 2005. Working with his dad, he restored and repainted the crane, the boom of which is visible from Inter-state 43, just south of Manitowoc.

Shawn Schmitt said, “I thought, ‘I live in Manitowoc. I run a Manitowoc crane. I might as well own a Manitowoc crane.’”

Shawn and Dennis Schmitt on the track of Shawn’s Manitowoc 2000 crane they rebuilt.

For Schmitt family, operating is in the bloodline

Earl Schmitt is shown brandishing a sign on the picket line for a Local 139 job dispute decades ago.

fall 2009 23

The repair shop with several California locations is trying to take away Local 3 members’ wage and benefit package, a package that has been in place since 1959. The company’s efforts started after the members’ contract expired May 15.

In a strong show of solidarity, every Road Machinery employee voted in favor of Operating Engineers Local 3 as their collective bargaining repre-sentative in an election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). This is just the latest sign that the workers refuse to give in to Road Machinery’s attempt to take away their union health benefits and pension

Alameda • CA

Local 3A long road ahead... for Road Machinery, that is!

Local 3 volunteers rally at Fresno’s Road Machinery facility.

Volunteers from Local 3 pose for a photo in front of Road Machinery’s West Sacramento facility.

– benefits Road Machinery agreed to when it took over the Fresno, Sacra-mento and San Leandro facilities nearly a year ago. Road Machinery also is seeking to cut the wages employees now receive.

In true union form, Local 3 held solidarity rallies in front of Road Machinery facilities in Fresno and West Sacramento to show the company the broad community and labor support for these Local 3 mechanics. Despite this support, Road Machinery refuses to bargain in good faith and consequently, the union has filed federal charges and is boycotting the company.

IUOE appreciates the local news stories and accompanying pho-tos we receive for The Operating Engineer. As a result of the IUOE making the transition from a tabloid newspaper, with mostly black and white photos, to a full-color magazine there are photo submis-sion requirements that must be met in order to ensure the quality publication you deserve. In light of the widely embraced use of digital photography, we offer the following requirements regarding both traditional film and digital photo submissions.

TradiTional Film PhoTograPhy4 x 6 (or larger) glossy color prints on photographic film paper

(from photo finishing services, such as your local drug or retail store developers). Please do not send ink jet, color copier,

or color laser prints – they are not suitable for publishing purposes.

digiTal PhoTograPhyA 4.0 megapixel camera or better is recommended

for photos to be published. Printing presses require a minimum

of 300 dpi (dots per inch) for color photographs-more commonly called “high-resolution” photos. This means subjects should be pho-

tographed using the highest quality setting on your digital camera, also known as the

“fine/superfine” or “large” setting. Images should not be manipulated in any way for

size, cropping, color mode, quality of color, or sharpness.

Download the images from your camera (only JPEG or TIFF formats are acceptable)

and submit digital photos on a CD to the attention of the Com-munications Department or e-mail them to jbrady@iuoe.org or jbrown@iuoe.org.

Photos submitted must also include a typed description of each photo identifying who is in the picture and what is taking place. We also ask that when staging photos such as service awards, group as many recipients into each photo as possible. By following these rec-ommendations, it enables the IUOE to better highlight your local’s story and accompanying photos.

iuoe PhoTo guidelines

international operating engineer24

s e r v i c e

Local 15 Diamond Pin recipients, honored for their 50 years of service are shown with IUOE General President Vincent J. Giblin, seated center left, front row, and Local 15 Business Manager/IUOE Vice President James T. Callahan, seated center right, front row. They included Allen Abbate, Daniel Amoruso, Vincent Ballarano, Joseph Bencivenga, Raymond Benson, Allen Berge, Mario Bragaglia, Gildo Caprara, James Carucci, Vincent Cella, Sean Connelly, John DeRoss, Reinaldo Diaz, Steven DiGiacomo, Louis Dini, Emilio DiPonio, Colonel D’Oyley, Dominick Eugene, Kenneth Faljean, Aleth Francois, James Funaro, Steven Gillman, Philip Glessner, Guy Green, Michael Hickey, Timothy Higgins, Roland Jarl, Kevin Johns, John Kirby, Thomas Kwiatkowski, Robert Lang, Charles Lebron, Charles Lovdahl, Anthony Maggio, William Martin, Calogero Marullo, Christian Mezzacappa, Lawrene Mirro, Michael Moniz, Edward O’Connor, Pio Pellegrini, Craig Peterson, Thomas Pettigrew, Edward Reinle, Juan Rivera, Edward Rodden, Michael Salerno, Paul Salerno, Antonio Seminatore, Robert Simione, Ralph Solimine, Kenneth Sutherland, Christopher Thomas, Michael Thomas, Richard Tinyes, Louis Venditto, Anthony Viera, Stephen Weber, Gerwyn Williams and Michael Zarrillo. Local 15C Diamond Pin recipients included: Dennis Brady, Donald

Cooke, George Crichlow, Steven Dick, Robert Doherty, Henry Edwards, James Elefonte, Santino Garufi, Bernard Genaud, Todd Horton, Giuseppe Marullo, Harry Miller, Peter Panettiere, Ross Parrino, Felix Prince, Juan Rivera, Kevin Roster, Keith Shepard, Michael Telatnik, Vincent Trimarco and Robert Vazquez. Local 15D Diamond Pin recipients included: Raymond Beccarelli, Nelson Breining, Edwin Brown, Diane Bryant, Stanley Cole, Edward Collins, James Corcoran, Henry Czechowicz, Christopher Daniels, Michael DeGudicibus, Larry Greishaber, Daniel Harris, Thomas Higgins, Robert Marks, Robert Olson, Bruno Palmieri, Perry Pettinato, Donald Quigley, Donovan Rowe, Kenneth Safranek, John Trach, Charles Uihlein and Steve Vandenbos.

Local 15 Gold Card recipients, seated above with IUOE General President Vincent J. Giblin, far left, IUOE Vice President/Local 15 Business Manager James T. Callahan, far right, and Local 15 officers, standing, were honored for their 25 years of service. Pictured are Edwin Beyer, Michael Castellano, John Cetin, Angelo Cozzi, William Curley, Nicholas DiNapoli, Salvatore Galascio, Attilio Gandolfi, William Hernon, Max Hubauer, Robert Kabula, John Lifrieri, Edwin Margherita, Joseph Marinelli, Joseph Martucci, William Montegari, William Morelli, Brian Murphy, Peter Murray, Michael O’Keefe, Henry Raucci, Joseph Russo and Donato Zonzoni. Local 15C Gold Card recipients included: William Childers, Samuel Conzolazio, John Mahony, Accutsio Maniscalco, Leon Martin, Angelo Mascioni, John Musella, John Pineiro, Ben Rotello, Dan Sullivan, John Tosto, Frederick Wacha and Johannes Wendler.

New York • NY

Local 15

Providence • RI

Local 57

Local 57’s Rocco Potenza, right, is congratulated by Business Manager Jim White on the occasion of his 64 years as a member of the IUOE. He was initiated in August 1945.

fall 2009 25

Miami • FL

Local 487

A ceremony was held by Local 487 honoring its members for their years of service. Pictured from left to right are President James Allbritton, 50-year honoree Al Wood and Business Manager Gary Waters.

40-year service pin recipients, from left to right, include President James Allbritton, Pat Wetzel, Ryan Holland, Clarence Raford, Robert Shannon and Business Manager Gary Waters.

35-year award recipients, from left to right, include President James Allbritton, Jorge Valdes, Elwyn Carver, Dave Dryden and Business Manager Gary Waters.

35-year award recipients, from left to right, include President James Allbritton, Phil Gambill, Brain McCabe and Business Manager Gary Waters.

30-year award recipients, from left to right, include President James Allbritton, Mark Waters, Timothy Hutchins, Gregory Johnson, Scott Singer, Mark Schaunaman and Business Manager Gary Waters.

25-year award recipients, from left to right, include President James Allbritton, Phil Ray Sirota and Business Manager Gary Waters.

15-year award recipients, from left to right, include President James Allbritton, Faustin Leonce, Jame Malone, Robert Garren, Vilbert Green and Business Manager Gary Waters.

10-year award recipients, from left to right, include: President James Allbritton, Russell Rivenburg, Lonis Chatman, David Chatman and Business Manager Gary Waters.

fall 2009 29

Death Benefits paid May 2009Local 3San Francisco, CADarrell AdamsRaburne BabbGary GalloWarren HeinbachPaul T. KamiyaThiel E. LippincottArthur MedinaSatoru MurakamiEwell PaxtonRobert S. RathboneZ.T. ReedJ.T. RichardsonRay L. SmithGeorge SongerJames F. StanhopeClarenc Torgelson

Local 4Boston, MAJack E. EddyWilliam MeadeJohn E. Sousa Jr.

Local 9Denver, COGeorge D. PetersCarl Wilfong

Local 12Los Angeles, CAJames W. CrouseWilliam E. Lancaster

Local 14New York, NYSamuel Tangredi

Local 15New York, NYRichard K. DunbarJohn W. GlenMichael Licata

Saverio MontuoroRobert Roma

Local 17Buffalo, NYRaymond BarrettAlbert A. Ezzo Jr.Donald R. MetzLester Rosenthal

Local 18Cleveland, OHEdward C. DressSteve HrybWilliam M. JordanJohn A. KuzminQuiller C. PerkinsCharles W. ReynoldsArthur G. SchneiderRobert SeahornRalph L. StevensCharles W. Stiles

Local 20Cincinnati, OHDouglas C. Taylor

Local 25Brooklyn, NYJoseph Depete

Local 37Baltimore, MDClayton Burger

Local 39San Francisco, CADewey Byrd

Local 49Twin Cities, MNHerbert FoxHenry R. GomezClarence L. Seaburg

Oliver Sorenson

Local 66Monroeville, PAElmer H. BellottiGeorge F. BetzVincent CentraOscar MarkerMax L. PhillipsCharles Piovesan

Local 68Newark, NJLibero Mancini

Local 87Inactive LocalJulius A. Egger

Local 94New York City, NYEdward Enright

Local 98Springfield, MARalph Goodreau

Local 101Kansas City, MOLawrence L. GastRobert HowardWilliam A. LedeboerOren F. Williams

Local 106Albany, NYDean P. KenneyJoseph LomioFrank E. SweeneyCharles F. Wysocki

Local 115Vancouver, BCA.N. Bourdin

Ian R. ScottClifford B. Worthington

Local 132Charleston, WVJack E. HarperJ.R. PayneJoseph A. PerrieRoland E. Wingrove

Local 150Chicago, ILJack D. DoleRalph O. ReichelRussell W. SidersAngelo TartagliaArthur Taylor

Local 181Henderson, KYJay RollinsMendel J. Speer

Local 286Renton, WAWilliam G. Giovannetti

Local 302Seattle, WADale MasonEdward M. Sullivan

Local 310Green Bay, WIDonald J. Pieczynski

Local 317Milwaukee, WIFrederick C. ParentDewayne Tatum

Local 324Detroit, MIJohn T. FaulkJohn FlynnGeorge H. HayesHazen Schwerin

William C. VolkeningEarl R. Weber

Local 340Amarillo, TXClarence E. Sanders

Local 347Inactive LocalW.H. Clements

Local 351Phillips, TXR.C. Jinkins

Local 370Spokane, WAA.B. Carson

Local 406New Orleans, LAL.C. Drummond

Local 407Lake Charles, LAGeorge E. Schultz

Local 410Inactive LocalGary Clapper

Local 428Phoenix, AZLowell R. Rohrig

Local 450Houston, TXWilliam J. Schmidt

Local 478Hamden, CTOtis I. Antworth

Local 501Los Angeles, CAJoseph R. KrummesCarmelo C. Stornello

Local 513Saint Louis, MOLarry E. PoffGrover L. Sprinkle

Local 520Mitchell, ILLemuel DuclosDale Reising

Local 542Philadelphia, PAElwood BryfogleJames A. MontoroAlfred Short Jr.W.D. Twilley

Local 543Inactive LocalO.G. Johnson

Local 545Syracuse, NYDonald ClarkGeorge McCormickSalvatore B. Spatorico

Local 547Detroit, MIFrederick H. Mertens

Local 564Freeport, TXNolen E. George

Local 571Omaha, NEAlbin Urbanski

Local 612Tacoma, WARobert E. CanfieldLeo Sterrenburg

Local 647Wichita, KSRussell L. May

Local 701Portland, ORMarion B. MeglassonJay L. Vess

Local 793Toronto, ONGerald W. GilmourEnzo Timordidio

Local 825Springfield, NJJames P. GleasonJoseph Morozowski

Local 832Rochester, NYJohn Derue

Local 835Philadelphia, PAPaul E. Hartstein

Local 841Terre Haute, INDwight Allen Jr.

Local 891New York, NYArthur Bezman

Local 912Columbia, TNWilliam W. Prince

Local 917Chattanooga, TNMilton K. Watring

Local 965Springfield, ILLester B. MarrEdward OllechThomas PayneJames A. Volk

in memoriam...in memoriam...

Death Benefits paid June 2009Local 2Inactive LocalRaymond E. Seck

Local 3San Francisco, CAGeorge T. AshworthGordon BedfordRay DavisRamon EnsunsaEdward F. GomezCharles W. HaymartRoy E. HutchinsonJ.E. JarvisThiel E. LippincottNorman McDonaldLeo W. MechamMarvin MillerFred T. MorenoJames C. NickolsWilliam J. PastorelliSerapio QuinonezBruce RoddaWilliam SalisburyCharles C. SampsonCharles V. ShawBob VaughnGerald WamboltFrank WeeksW.C. WildeJohn WilliamsDonald Wood

Local 4Boston, MAFrank D. BelsitoArmando PuccettiJohn RuscitoEdgar Worster

Local 9Denver, COGuy PinkmamRobert D. SharbondaBob Witt

Local 12Los Angeles, CAJohn L. BrummerEdward J. GerardTony P. MartinezHeber B. Pfunder Jr.Billy J. Scott

Local 14New York, NYLawrence J. AndersonJohn J. Mullins

Local 15New York, NYMax DonnerHenry J. JackstoRudolf Kikel

John J. NoordzyWilliam StantonPascal ZummoLocal 17Buffalo, NYKenneth BoehmDonald R. Legg

Local 18Cleveland, OHEugene AdamsLeo W. AlexanderMathias BatlinerAnthony CherryWilliam R. ConradAngelo DagataCharles F. DevoreStanley GodlewskiEverett HendersonJay D. HermanHoward V. HillJohn HutsenpillerWendall L. JacksonJoseph R. KrackerPaul P. MathewsRichard McDanielEarl P. MiehlsRonald E. MitchellWayne MyersJames G. RahmesRoy E. RoyseRalph E. SmithNorbert E. Stadler

Local 37Baltimore, MDRoy S. AshleyFred Kolomyic

Local 49Twin Cities, MNElvin BlumkeGeorge ChiltonArthur J. HansonRoger IdekerMerle E. JamesHenry J. LaplantRaymond LaskaRobert A. LinderRoger NelsonAlvin L. NormanOrville L. SmithClarence J. Valentyn

Local 57Providence, RIKellard C. Jansen

Local 66Monroeville, PAE. Bush Jr.Leonard CallenFrederick J. DickGeorge Franchock

Doyle K. HughesPaul E. JohnstonStephen D. KosankoRaymond LamisonRaymond MaliceHarold R. SeanorRobert R. Sweeley

Local 68Newark, NJRalph DandreaWilliam DeckerCharles Perkalis Jr.

Local 98Springfield, MAWilliam J. Ocker

Local 101Kansas City, MOEverett BurnettRobert DentPhilip L. DowdenWilliam R. Thomas

Local 103Indianapolis, INVernie DehavenRobert R. Frazier

Local 106Albany, NYGordon Randall

Local 115Vancouver, BCRoy E. FedderlyNorm HansenDenis HarneyRichard M. HarrisonFrank KeirWilliam M. LesopoyRobert J. LoudonD.D. MillerDonald NordinClifton H. ParkerPatrick J. RabbittCharles Wheat

Local 138Hempstead, NYJoseph T. McCormickPatrick MoonLawrence W. MuseGuerriero RazzanoA.C. Schnepf

Local 139Milwaukee, WIArthur J. DessartAlbin R. HerbeckCletus MunzHerman J. PlahetkaFlorian Rhode

Jack TiteraDave E. Voss

Local 148East Saint Louis, ILEugene R. AllisonHarry H. Brenningmeyer

Local 150Chicago, ILGlen A. BruceLaverne BuckmasterRudolph H. GluszekAlvin W. HakkoRonald C. HarlowRonald E. HarrisWilliam J. HessWilliam L. HodesWilliam P. HurleyJames M. MatzkeGlen MichaelMelvin G. MillspaughRaymond F. SemonesMilton E. ShirleyAmos L. Sims

Local 181Henderson, KYHayward R. BashamCornelius Chester Jr.Harlan EstesR. W. PratherBerlin Sloas

Local 234Des Moines, IAJames L. Briggs

Local 280Richland, WAWayne Stolle

Local 286Renton, WAJ.S. Causey Jr.Alf E. Sealey

Local 302Seattle, WAClifton M. AndersonGeorge H. ConwellEdward H. DaroJoseph R. DennisC.L. HarringtonFleming A. MoellerPaul C. Rorick

Local 312Birmingham, ALGiles W. Efurd Jr.William V. HallCurtis T. Lipham

Local 317Milwaukee, WIRobert MaasAnton J. PuchJoseph J. Willms

Fred Witte

Local 318Marion, ILRobert E. CohoonJustus DuckworthDavid Hill

Local 324Detroit, MIJohn T. FaulkGeorge E. Flager Jr.Dale D. KentDon MakowskiDonald E. PickensDennis N. Weier

Local 340Amarillo, TXClarence E. Sanders

Local 351Phillips, TXJames H. Zink

Local 369Memphis, TNJames W. Crawford

Local 370Spokane, WAJohn A. DrakeRobert A. JohnsonDelus V. MaynardPaul B. Pincock

Local 399Chicago, ILMichael J. KelschWalter Korzin

Local 400Helena, MTMerle H. Vick

Local 406New Orleans, LARichmond C. HathornJim D. MartinJoe H. Thibeau

Local 407Lake Charles, LAMarcus E. BatesGeorge E. Schultz

Local 409Buffalo, NYEugene J. Ryan

Local 428Phoenix, AZLeon A. FrameWilliam G. PowellLloyd A. Stearns

Local 463Niagara Falls, NY

William RicottoneRoy E. Stern

Local 478Hamden, CTVincenzo Federico

Local 513Saint Louis, MOPhilip BloodworthElvis R. GilmoreCharles H. GivensWesley HamptonDonald Jackson

Local 520Mitchell, ILElwood Warner

Local 537Inactive LocalLloyd L. Williams

Local 542Philadelphia, PAGerald F. ColeJames J. GilronanNicholas Sabatine Jr.John L. Weber

Local 545Syracuse, NYClifford BuckLloyd R. MacDougall

Local 564Freeport, TXL.W. BatkeH.S. HansonL.C. WhiteWilliam D. Wood

Local 612Tacoma, WAJohnny L. KaelinGust LovstromWayne E. Smith

Local 627Tulsa, OKGerald B. EllisCharles A. HefleyEmmett PateThomas J. Wright

Local 649Peoria, ILHarold E. CrumleyRobert Geddes Jr.

Local 701Portland, ORLeland R. CummingsMax C. DorlandWesley A. DuboisElbridge L. FleshmanRichard C. JonesKenneth D. Rogers

Local 775Inactive LocalFred L. Peabody

Local 793Toronto, ONNiels Hansen

Local 825Springfield, NJJames M. AssiniFrank BenedettiAaron J. BrockJohn FerraraLeonard R. HullRonald F. JonesJoseph LacavaEarl T. NauDominick PascaleToreno PaulinoJay V. ZanettiSteve Zarutskie

Local 832Rochester, NYJoseph Benvenuto

Local 841Terre Haute, INLawrence L. CulrossRichard JacobsJames A. Tuttle

Local 882Vancouver, BCRobert C. Anderson

Local 907Inactive LocalEdward Raczka

Local 912Columbia, TNLindon R. BakerJohn W. BurlesonJ. D. RinksHardin F. Voss

Local 917Chattanooga, TNHarold Stewart

Local 926Atlanta, GAHoyt B. Singleton

Local 955Edmonton, ABHarvey J. MurphyWilliam R. Neid

Local 965Springfield, ILRussell A. Goodwin

fall 2009 29

international operating engineer30 international operating engineer30

Death Benefits paid July 2009Local 2Inactive LocalDelmer Wehmeyer

Local 3San Francisco, CARobert BatesLewis H. FitzsimmonsJohn FrancisBritton M. FraserGene GarewalJohn GoehringTony A. GomesJ.W. HarbisonMax E. KayLeonard MortensenGeorge PoliWilliam H. RodemakerRobert RowanErnest M. RoyatColeman SealRodney SohnGayle TaylorW.C. Wilde

Local 4Boston, MALouis A. BarufaldiEugene A. BertuzziMyron LewoczkoJoseph H. MadoreRichard RossiManuel H. Sylvia

Local 6Inactive LocalEdwin O. Hamilton

Local 9Denver, COJohn C. AutobeeMarshall J. BlantonM.G. Buswell

Local 12Los Angeles, CADonald D. AarthunHowell S. AllenIgnacio M. BaizTheodore C. BarrBob BebekLewis CardaJulian CastorenaWilliam CollierAlex R. ConnellRobert CortLuis CortinasArthur R. CresseCharles CrowAugust CrucilStuart CuthillW.H. DancliffAlan F. DiamondWilliam C. DickesonWilliam E. Dodge

Peter R. DozierHarold W. EckhardtDavid ElmerPaul F. FarrisRobert V. FeldtOrval K. FickRaymond E. FitzgeraldG. FitzwaterDonald M. FloresManuel FrancoEusebio A. GarciaHerbert L. GarringerJesse R. GistWillis I. GreenCornelius C. GriessHarold W. GrowcockM. G. HagarHarry E. HarperLouis HaumontLester E. HensonArchie C. HillMelvin C. HuntNephi JensenClarence JohnsonWilliam L. JonesRaymond H. KramerLowell R. LambRoyal D. LeavittWilliam E. MachetteNorman V. MayfieldJames G. McCoyClarence McMahanLester NetterPhilip OrtizJohn ParraOscar L. RobbinsJack M. RobertsFrancis R. RockwellR. RockwellBill C. RossGalen RushJohn J. ScheelBill SiebuhrAubrey G. SimmonsLorenzo R. SotoCoe StottLloyd A. TalbottWeldon G. TankersleyJohn W. TaylorConrad F. TrujilloMarvin M. WaganerDennis W. WhartonWillard W. WhiteD.R. WilliamsMyron WinegardJon WolffWoodrow WoodsRobert A. Zimmerman

Local 14New York, NYAlbert OrlandoDomenic SantopietroThomas SchuetteJohn Tinley

Local 15New York, NYPatrick J. Mulligan

Local 17Buffalo, NYHarold BeamerDavid E. BrunnerWilliam J. LivingstonThomas H. Young

Local 18Cleveland, OHCurtis BennettCharles W. FiteDonald E. KennardRaymond LalinskyJosef LasarenkoEarl LohrCharles PhillipsDonald R. VanfossenWilliam T. Waits

Local 19Inactive LocalWalter Azar

Local 25Brooklyn, NYCharles W. Garner

Local 30New York, NYRaymond CarneyJohn J. GeistWilliam C. O’Leary

Local 36Inactive LocalRobert L. Finberg

Local 37Baltimore, MDMichael A. Harvey

Local 39San Francisco, CAWarren G. HoltJohn W. LofftusHarry Simmons

Local 49Twin Cities, MNReuben BenzFloyd R. CarlsonThomas L. DevaneyWalter L. EckerSidney D. KonerzaAlbert W. LarsonRobert Rakstad

Local 66Monroeville, PAJames R. BowersCharles E. Green

Richard M. HarrisAlexander E. JerryCarl RinehartHubert J. SartoriJ.R. SchafferRussell Slagle

Local 068Newark, NJJames T. FitzgeraldJohn R. McCreary

Local 77Washington, DCJoseph Sikora

Local 89Inactive LocalHarold D. Conrath

Local 095Pittsburgh, PAEdward Kogovsek

Local 099Washington, DCJoseph J. Tevis

Local 103Indianapolis, INRufus O. SadlerJames A. Wright

Local 106Albany, NYGeorge DupuisHoward L. Jordan

Local 115Vancouver, BCStanley A. BlairJoseph DubePete DurhamJames M. ElderStanley N. EricksonJohn A. FindlayJames J. McFadyenEdward McRobbieJohn ShusterSidney A. SmithPeter StrobikiPatrick ThurstonArchie J. Turnbull

Local 123Coffeyville, KSC.E. Owens

Local 137Briarcliff Manor, NYDominic A. Richichi

Local 139Milwaukee, WIFranklin C. HaffemanClarence J. LipskeMark B. PeterikArthur Wirsing

Local 147Norfolk, VADaniel H. BookHerman L. Coffey

Local 148East St. Louis, ILDelbert F. KochMelvis G. McFarland

Local 150Chicago, ILStanley DelehantyCharles A. HallWilliam G. Lammel Jr.Alvin MillerMelvin G. MillspaughJames MinogueWalter P. PantleJohn PoparadStephen H. RingoldCarl W. Werner

Local 181Henderson, KYClaude ConnerBenney E. RankinDonald L. Willis

Local 280Richland, WACecil Osborne

Local 300Inactive LocalVincent Hanneman

Local 302Seattle, WANeill F. CanfieldPaul J. PadieLawrence PottsW.F. SeebartClarence Watson

Local 310Green Bay, WIRobert M. ReimerMax Woller

Local 317Milwaukee, WIHerbert A. BarberClarence KastenMax KielWilliam J. Linski

Local 324Detroit, MIGary L. BrewerJames CornellFrank RapotecEdgar Smith

Local 347Inactive LocalNadine Clark

Local 351Phillips, TXT.E. BalesLonnie Jones

Local 370Spokane, WADewayne K. Smalley

Local 375Inactive LocalHelmer Lasell

Local 382Inactive LocalLynn Herring

Local 406New Orleans, LADallas BreauxLemuel DrakeAlton Sanchez

Local 407Lake Charles, LAB. G. Young

Local 428Phoenix, AZFrancis N. DrouillardMyrth M. Yeary

Local 478Hamden, CTAlbert MullerRobert M. Rice Jr.

Local 501Los Angeles, CAWilliam L. Hoxie

Local 537Inactive LocalMark J. BeiermanEugene A. Lutz

Local 542Philadelphia, PAJames J. GilronanJoseph W. Kiah Jr.Glenn D. LuseJohn McCoolJohn Scavilla

Local 545Syracuse, NYClayton CasselmanRaymond Cotton

Local 547Detroit, MIHoward C. BartlettJohn SelowRichard Q. Studer

Local 564Freeport, TXHoward D. Locke

David E. LydicCarl A. Robinette

Local 612Tacoma, WATheodore R. Palmer

Local 649Peoria, ILOliver J. Haynes

Local 653Mobile, ALRobbie D. Andrews

Local 660Inactive LocalSterling H. Wilson

Local 675Inactive LocalLouis Perrotta

Local 701Portland, ORGeorge McCannHerman J. McKinney

Local 793Toronto, ONRonald BishopLloyd G. Simpson

Local 825Springfield, NJRobert E. CampisCharles ChevalierLeon HarrisonEverett HendersonFrederick H. HulsePreston KortrightJoseph P. OravskyHarold RandolphCharles M. Schino

Local 832Rochester, NYRussell L. BagneLyle Wilcox

Local 891New York, NYMatthias R. Cann

Local 912Columbia, TNSamuel A. CoferAmos Wilkinson

Local 917Chattanooga, TNMorris CarrDonald Givens

Local 965Springfield, ILLelen E. Davis

Death Benefits paid August 2009Local 3San Francisco, CAPualii AkiWilliam R. BrunettiEdward CareyRobert FerreiraJ. W. HarbisonDavid KapuleEmil O. LowderCharles MahaffeyMosside MazzoniCarrol Smith

Local 4Boston, MARoger B. LevasseurSylvester A. Ray

Local 12Los Angeles, CARaymond J. BarnesRaymon GalvanJoe A. SilvaGeorge D. Utter

Local 15New York, NYJohn BekiarisWilliam J. ReillyAlvin A. Shapiro

Local 18Cleveland, OHEugene AdamsFrank E. BeslWilburn BrockJames R. Homan Jr.Kenneth E. KegleyHarold L. LacyButler R. Pelfrey

Local 25Brooklyn, NYLeon F. Matlack Jr.

Local 37Baltimore, MDJohn P. Vonstein

Local 49Twin Cities, MNReuben BenzWilliam L. CiskovskyMike B. Fabish Jr.Edward J. KiegerEmil W. KonuRichard G. LarsonErnest C. NelsonLyle R. NelsonEugene E. NielsenRichard J. ReimerWallace Stofferahn

Local 57Providence, RIFrank Altieri Jr.

Local 66Monroeville, PARobert E. BlauserRobert L. CampbellJames H. FeeRobert B. GrayMelvin E. HanesJoseph Vukovich

Local 68Newark, NJJoseph M. CiannilliJohn SteflickAndrew Zabala

Local 70Saint Paul, MNJames Richardson

Local 95Pittsburgh, PAJohn S. Manius

Local 98Springfield, MAJoseph F. LetalienAntoine Patrie

Local 101Kansas City, MORufus W. Bailey Sr.Mylo J. BrownRichard J. Hutley

Local 103Indianapolis, INJack D. Carter

Local 106Albany, NYGeorge D. AbbottJ. Carll

Local 115Vancouver, BCJames HickeyJohn Hunchuk

Local 137Briarcliff Manor, NYVincent J. Pisani

Local 138Hempstead, NYRobert MarinoJoseph Rizzo Jr.Richard Schmalenberg

Local 139Milwaukee, WIRobert J. CrossmanLaverne FullerRichard L. KindermanGordon KrugerCletis MesserNorbert SchaeferDonald Smies

Local 147Norfolk, VAJames E. Pittman

Local 148East Saint Louis, ILKenneth D. Welch

Local 150Chicago, ILDale W. BennettVernon DownenDon D. ElliottCharles A. HallJoe R. HartleyJohn LohmanAlvin MillerJames D. NelsonJack NewtonGerald NicholsNorman F. PeschkeCharles E. StreuStanley I. Swieca

Local 181Henderson, KYWalter Ross Jr.

Local 286Renton, WAAlbert A. Pigort

Local 302Seattle, WAFrank A. CasadHarold L. FaderJames R. GuffeyErwin J. LorenzNick LukinDavid D. RasleySam Stornelli

Local 317Milwaukee, WIMax KielPhilip Steffen

Local 324Detroit, MIClark I. BlissettThomas P. BoydJames CornellThomas FornicolaJohn GrantThane U. HallEugene F. JonesLee B. KreinerDwain J. LinebaughJohn OlsonMorris E. RothGene R. WiegAlbert F. Wiese

Local 351Phillips, TXE.D. Musgraves

Local 369Memphis, TNRaymond Rutledge

Local 370Spokane, WAEdward A. LehnertBill C. Rosenberger

Local 399Chicago, ILRobert F. Eschmann

Local 400Helena, MTLynn V. Spackman

Local 406New Orleans, LABobby AaronAlton Sanchez

Local 407Lake Charles, LADevitt DuplechinNolan KelleyDempsey Malone

Local 428Phoenix, AZGoff J. LawsonMichael E. McConvilleTherrel L. MortimoreDan ParsonsHoward A. Stephens

Local 487Miami, FLThomas J. McCann

Local 501Los Angeles, CAHenry G. Marvin

Local 513Saint Louis, MOEugene MaurathRobert Oliver

Local 520Mitchell, ILWilliam R. Adams jr

Local 542Philadelphia, PAWillie G. BurrisJames R. MackCharles W. Umstead

Local 545Syracuse, NYEarl C. Adams

Local 547Detroit, MIHoward Wolff

Local 571Omaha, NEEarl F. Smith

Local 627Tulsa, OKBobbie E. Kimball

Local 649Peoria, ILJ. Gilbert HospelhornBilly V. Prather

Local 701Portland, ORFrank E. Blair

Local 793Toronto, ONCalvin ArmstrongLloyd G. Simpson

Local 825Springfield, NJRoland J. BeresfordSamuel L. Brucato Sr.Frank FalcicchioLeon HarrisonJohn K. HunterJohn F. Lafferty Jr.

Local 832Rochester, NYRussell L. BagneRichard Sharp

Local 841Terre Haute, INJames CotaMax I. Strahl

Local 891New York, NYAnthony Pepitone

Local 917Chattanooga, TNRonald Hatfield

Local 955Edmonton, ABRichard Waller

Local 965Springfield, ILArthur M. Bell Jr.

fall 2009 31

Manna observes 100th birthday, 73 years with Local 15

There’s no denying that Fred Manna Sr. knows about longevity. He recently registered two very significant, personal achievements: he

marked 73 years as a member of Local 15 in June, and he celebrated his 100th birthday on August 27, becom-ing the first member of the New York City local to at-tain 100 years of age.

Manna was initiated into Local 130A of the Operat-ing Engineers on June 1, 1936 and was transferred into Local 15A on March 8, 1937, when the local was granted a charter in the International.

But it’s not just Fred Sr. who has deep roots with the Operating Engineers. Those roots run throughout the Manna family tree, with eight family members following Fred Sr. into the trade.

He is the proud father of six children, 13 grandchil-dren and 14 great-grandchildren. His first wife, Theresa, passed away in 1975 and he has been married to Jenny for the past 32 years.

Two of his children, Gerry and Fred, five grandchildren, Jerry, Joseph, Michael, Vincent and Vinnie, have fol-lowed Fred into the construction indus-

try and are now proud members of the Operating Engineers. A sixth grand-son, Kenny, is currently enrolled in the Local 15 Apprenticeship Program and hopes to continue the family legacy.

Brother Manna was feted in recognition of his achievements and years of service during a Local 15 membership meeting in early July, where IUOE Gen-eral President Vincent J. Giblin presented Manna with a framed Proclama-tion making him “a Local 15 Honorary Executive Board member and Hon-orary Assistant to the General Presi-dent for any and all historical matters in honor of his perse-verance, longevity and loyalty to the brotherhood of the International Union of Operating Engi-neers and Local 15.”

From the left are IUOE General President Vincent J. Giblin, Fred and Jenny Manna Sr. and Local 15 Business Manager/IUOE Vice President James T. Callahan with a proclamation presented by the General President in honor of Manna’s achievements.

Fred Manna Sr. and his wife, Jenny, follow-ing the Local 15 membership meeting where he was honored for his 73 years of service.

Pointof View

Kneeling, left to right, are Gerald Manna Jr. and Joseph Manna. Standing, same order, are Kenneth McCorie, Fred Manna, Jr., IUOE General President Vincent J. Giblin, Fred Manna Sr. Local 15 Business Manager/IUOE Vice President James T. Callahan, Jenny Manna, Vincent Medeglia, Michael Bugtiegieg, Vincent Manna and Gerald Manna, Sr.

international operating engineer32

Union Plus—helping union families get ahead.

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Going back to school? Sending your childrento college? Learn more about the scholar-

ship opportunities available to you as an IUOEmember. Union Plus supports working families by providing these scholarships to help you focuson your studies instead of your tuition bill.

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For more details, visit

www.iuoe.org�

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