Reporter the Boilermaker Jan • Feb 2003 Vol. 42 No. 1 · Local 108 for hall dedication I WANT THE MEMBERS and officers of Boilermakers Local 108 to know how honored and privileged

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Reporterthe Boilermaker

Local NewsBoilermakers are hard at work . . . . . . . . .5SettlementsA brief listing of recent agreements . .11

Local NewsL-4 apprentice earns crown . . . . . . . . .13In Memoriam . . . . . . . . . .15

IN THESE PAGES

Vol. 42 No. 1 Jan • Feb 2003

The Official Publication of the InternationalBrotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship

Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers, andHelpers, AFL-CIO

Charles W. Jones, Editor-in-Chief

Good safety plan helps L-359 membersfinish overlay safely, ahead of scheduleTHEY LOOK LIKE THEYcould walk on the moon — andthey almost could. Boilermakers doing maintenance on theKivcet boiler at Teck Cominco’s lead smelter in Trail, BritishColumbia, wore protective gear that looked like space suitsbecause they perform a similar function — they protectevery part of the body from contact with the outside andhave their own air supply.

That’s the kind of protection you need when the environ-ment you’re working in may contain thallium, a toxin thatcan enter the body through the nose, mouth, or even the skin.

The suits aren’t easy to work in, but they were a necessarypart of an aggressive safety strategy adopted by Teck Com-inco, Welding Services, Inc (WSI), and the Boilermakers whoperformed the tube overlay. That hard-line safety strategypaid off. The job came in on schedule and with no healthproblems from thallium exposure.

The Trail job shows that even serious safety hazards can beovercome when the owner, contractor, and Boilermakerswork together to identify hazards and develop and imple-ment safety programs that minimize risks.

Experience is a tough teacherTHE 2002 OVERLAYjob stands in sharp contrast to whathappened in 2001. That year, while performing the samekind of maintenance, dozens of Boilermakers and othertradesmen became ill, victims of over exposure to thallium.Some required medical care. The job was temporarily shutdown after the cause of the health issues was determined tobe thallium exposure.

No one wanted to see that happen again in 2002. Not onlydid the exposure cost Teck Cominco and the contractormoney, but also some Boilermakers were reluctant to return

Safety plan puts Boilermakersback in the saddle on Trail job

Continued on page 6FULL BODY PROTECTION and breathing pack is needed whenworking in some highly-toxic atmospheres. Photo courtesy WSI.

U.S. is only industrializednation without universalaccess to health careSPENDING ON HEALTH CAREincreased at the fastest rate in a decadein 2001, rising 8.7 percent — nearlythree times as fast as wages. Spendingon prescription drugs led the rise,jumping 15.7 percent. Experts say thisyear’s increases will be even greater.

These increases — and the growingnumber of Americans who have nohealth insurance — have promptedmany policymakers to once again con-sider the possibility of a taxpayer-sup-ported, universal health care program.

The U.S. is the only industrializednation that does not guarantee all of itscitizens access to health care. Nearly 15percent of our citizens (42 million peo-ple), mostly in working families, haveno health care insurance.

The system is collapsing

THE CALL FOR UNIVERSAL accessis not restricted to liberals. One of themost conservative Senate Democrats,John Breaux (LA), advocates a com-plete overhaul of health care delivery,saying, “The system is collapsingaround us.” He is not exaggerating. In2001, U.S. spending on health care

Rising medical costs revive talkof national health care program

Cost forces Americans to foregohealth care and prescription drugs

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

Residents of countries with universal healthcare plans report fewer problemsIN A SURVEY conducted by the Harvard School of PublicHealth & the Commonwealth Fund, Americans were far morelikely to report having trouble paying medical bills, foregoingmedical care, or failing to fill a prescription because of costthan residents of four countries with universal health careplans — New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the UnitedKingdom. Among low-income respondents, the differenceswere even greater than those pictured here.

% reporting troublepaying medical bills

% who have avoidednecessary medicalcare because of cost

% who did not fill aneeded prescription

because of cost

United States

New Zealand

Australia

Canada

United Kingdom

Continued on page 3

Source: HealthAffairs

IVP Newton Jones thanksLocal 108 for hall dedicationI WANT THE MEMBERSand officersof Boilermakers Local 108 to knowhow honored and privileged I feel tobe named in the dedication of yournew hall. Your new facility is amongthe finest union hall/training centers Ihave seen in all my 30 years of travelwith our union. Every member shouldbe proud not only of the quality of thefacility itself, but also of the positivemessage it conveys to Boilermakercontractors and the industry ownerswho rely upon us to maintain theirindustrial facilities.

I recall my first visit to Local 108shortly after I became Internationalvice president for the region in January1994. The times were as bad as I haveever known them for Boilermakers inthe Southeast. Our members had a lotto be mad about and Local 108 Boiler-makers proved that they were not shyabout speaking their minds.

I remember vividly the messagedelivered by the members in atten-dance at that meeting.

Nine years later, and the officers andmembers of Local 108 have once againgiven me a message. This time, theyhave given me a piece of their hearts. Iwill always feel privileged, proud, andhonored by this very special expres-sion, and I will always be grateful.

As a team, the Southeast Interna-tional staff and our business managershave worked hard to improve theworking lives of our members in theSoutheast Section over the past nineyears. It has not been easy, but we haveaccomplished much of what weneeded to accomplish for both ourcraft and for our craftsmen. Still, thereis a lot more to do.

Local 108 BM-ST John Helvin is astrong leader with a great team in theofficers and members of BoilermakersLocal 108. I thank each of you for thisvery special honor.

NEWTON B. JONES, Southeast SectionInternational Vice President

Five more workers on L-203Granite Lake job identifiedIN THE LAST issue of this paper was astory on Local 203 members building a520-foot penstock for M&M Engineer-ing Limited at Granite Lake in centralNewfoundland. We finished this job onschedule with no lost-time accidents,working 25,300 man-hours.

I want to identify five more workersfrom this project not named in the orig-inal article: Local 203 members ClaytonParsons, Jamie Hachett, John Joy, LeeHickey, and carpenter Jim Kendell.They came onto the job after it started,but their contributions helped makethis job a success.

HAROLD FUREY, L-203 presidentSt. John’s, Newfoundland

Spouse of Local 11 memberstarts online group for wivesRE: DOYENS’ letter in the Nov-Dec2002 issue. I, too, am a Boilermaker’swife and would like to see a column inthe paper for the wives.

I have been married to a boilermakerfor two years. It can be hard. I work fulltime, and I am a Girl Scout leader andsecretary for my son’s wrestling club. Ihave all the responsibilities of my hus-band and myself, with the duties ofbeing a landlord to boot. My husband

works out of state. At times the kidsand I don’t see him for months.

I started an online group for us at theaddress below and would appreciateinput from any wife out there.

L. CHRISTIANSEN , wife of L-11’sJeff Christiansen, East Helena, Mont.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/boilermakerswives

Adams knows how lucky he isI RETIRED IN JULY 2002, after 37years as a Boilermaker, and my heart isfull of appreciation, thankfulness, andhumility. I started as an apprentice in1965, and ended my career as the busi-ness manager of Local 531 (Amarillo,Texas). Brothers and sisters, it doesn’tget any better than that!

I am thankful to all the men whotaught me the trade and all the broth-ers and sisters I have worked with allthose years. I am thankful for our Inter-national and for our national funds, forwithout them my retirement wouldnot have been possible.

I am thankful to the members ofLocal 531, past and present, for theymade many of my accomplishmentspossible. And I thank all the contrac-tors that employed me.

My heart is full and I am humblebecause I know how very, very fortu-nate and lucky I am.

GARY ADAMS , L-531 retiree

Escue thanks national fundsoffice staff for their helpI RECENTLY RETIRED after 29 yearsworking out of the NTL and Local 455,Muscle Shoals, Ala. I want to say alarge thank you to the ladies in thehealth and welfare and pensiondepartments in Kansas City. Withouttheir enthusiastic, courteous, friendly,expert help, all us Boilermakers wouldbe lost. I can’t thank these girls enough.

With much appreciation, I wishthese ladies a Happy New Year.

MICHAEL H. ESCUE

Waverly, Tenn.

Deem has suggestions forapprentice program I WOULD LIKE to write about theapprenticeship program’s newrequirements. To get your foot in thedoor, you must have a welding certifi-cate from a reputable company. Insome cases these certificates are valid,but in some they are false. The localshave to start screening these compa-nies because it’s not fair to the Com-mon Arc Program.

I also think the first thing that shouldbe taught and should be mandatory inthe Apprenticeship Program is a classon union ethics. We have few condi-tions left. I would hate to see nonunioncompanies knocking on our door asthey have no conditions.

STEVEN D. DEEM, L-667Clarksburg, W.Va.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Welding certifi-cates are not required to enter theapprentice program, but new appren-tices with certifiable skills advancemore quickly. BNAP Director PatSmith reports that very few certificateshave been found to be false.

Life on road good for Greens WHEN EDWARDGREEN and I werefirst married, he joined Local 374, Ham-mond, Ind., in 1952. He later joined theNTL. We started traveling as Boiler-makers in 1952 in a 27-foot trailer. Ourfirst baby arrived in 1953, so we bought

a 38-foot trailer. We continued travel-ing all over the U.S. and had two morechildren. We bought a 40-foot Spartanand traveled east to west and north tosouth. There were times when our kidswent to five or six different schools in ayear. In 1967 we added another boy toour family. Our family turned out wellliving on the road, but that in itself is agreat education.

We made lots of good Boilermakerfriends over the 30 years we traveledworking for CBI, Graver, and PittsburgDes Moines. Ed has been retired for 20years, and we sure do appreciate theBoilermaker pension.

ESTHER GREEN, wife of NTL retiree Edward D. Green, Mayfield, Ky.

Retiree sends his best wishesMY WIFE AND Iwant to wish every-one at the International organization,and all the great Boilermakers, a verygood year. I got my card in the early1940s. The International has taken careof us since I retired 40 years ago.

ROMAULD AND JEANE HEITZKEYGreen Bay, Wis.

L-5’s Nieh grateful for unionsFAIRNESS IS HARDto find in the realworld. Each day I went to work grate-ful for the union. Without unions itwould be hard for the average personto make good wages and benefits andhave long-term security. A union isone of the ways that low- and middle-class people can be assimilated into theAmerican way with a better standardof living. With the attitude of “a fairday’s work, a fair day’s pay,” “no com-plain and no explain,” and “alwaysworking a little harder if I can,” Ifinally retired in May 2002 at age 55.

I want to thank Boilermakers Local5, New York, N.Y., and the Boilermak-ers International (with their greatvision on the pension plan) for givingall Boilermakers the opportunity toenjoy life in a worry-free environment— at least financially.

HO KING NIEH, L-5 retireeNew York, N.Y.

Coleman questions rise inH&W hours requirementTHE HEALTH & WELFARE Fund hasreally put it to us by raising the hoursto qualify for health insurance to 1,100hours. What is the purpose of knock-ing many of us out of insurance? Ifmore money is needed, the hourly con-tribution should be raised. This wouldbe understandable.

A. PAUL COLEMAN , NTLCincinnati, Ohio

H&W rate rise draws fireI AM A MEMBERof Local 26, Savan-nah, Ga. We received a raise inNovember, and on December 2 wewere sent a letter that they wanted$0.50 an hour back — $0.25 fromAnnuity and $0.25 from wages — topay towards our health insurance. Theway I see it, everyone is getting theirsexcept for the working Boilermaker.

DONNIE SPAULDING, L-26Brunswick, Ga.

the Boilermaker Reporter2 Jan • Feb 2003

L E T T E R S

Reporterthe Boilermaker

Jan • Feb 2003 Vol. 42 No. 1

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

Jerry Z. Willburn,Intl. Secretary-Treasurer

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

Newton B. Jones, Southeast George Rogers, Central

Don Lacefield, Western States

Richard Albright, Western CanadaAlexander MacDonald, Eastern Canada

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

Editorial staffDonald Caswell, Managing Editor

Carol Dillon, Asst. to the Managing Editor


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

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the Boilermaker ReporterJan • Feb 2003 3

N E W S M A K E R S


THE CASE FOR NATIONALHEALTH CARE

Americans spend more . . .

. . . get less for their money . . .

. . . and want to see change.

accounted for 14.1 percent of our grossdomestic product (GDP) —the highestrate in the world and nearly one fullpercentage point higher than the previ-ous year.

Yet the U.S. trails other industrial-ized nations in the most basic measuresof health care, such as life expectancyand access to physicians and hospitals.

The difference is that health care isconsidered a right in those countries,while in the U.S. it is a commodity, to bebought and sold on the open market.Only those who can pay for health careare entitled to get it.

Not only does this approach leavemillions of children without access tohealth care, but the costs of doing busi-ness —advertising, sales forces, etc. —drive up prices. That is why America’slargest publicly-funded health careplan —Medicare —is more efficientthan private plans. From spring of 2001to spring of 2002, premiums for privateinsurance plans rose 11.7 percent, thebiggest increase since 1990.

Medicare’s costs rose only 7.8 per-cent, even though it increased its sched-ule of payments to hospitals, homehealth agencies, and nursing homes.

Lack of access is devastating

FACED WITH LARGE premiums,many workers try to get by withoutinsurance — a losing proposition.Numerous studies show that peoplewithout medical insurance have longerillnesses and shorter life spans, largelybecause they cannot afford medical care.

With rising copays and deductibles,even families with insurance some-times forego treatment for financialreasons. A 2002 study by the HarvardSchool of Public Health found that 24percent of American families havegone without medical care they neededbecause they couldn’t afford to pay forit. Twenty-six percent had avoided fill-ing a prescription because of cost.

Twelve percent of households hadbeen contacted by a collection agencyfor unpaid medical bills, and medicalbills are the primary cause for 40 per-cent of all personal bankruptcies.

These shocking statistics are why 57percent of Americans believe ourhealth care system needs majorchanges, while nearly one-fourth (23percent) believe that there is so muchwrong with the current system weshould completely rebuild it.

With so much support for change, itis surprising that health care reform got

almost no attention in the 2002 electionraces. The 2004 elections may be a dif-ferent story. Democrats may use theissue to differentiate themselves fromRepublicans.

Many businesses supportuniversal health care

AS RISING HEALTHcare costs eataway at profits, many businesses arebeginning to see the value of a nationalhealth plan. Kate Sullivan, director ofhealth-care policy for the U.S. Chamberof Commerce, told the Wall Street Jour-nal, “Business realizes, more than everbefore, a universal coverage plan ofsome sort is in their best interest.”

Most Americans with health insur-ance get it through their employer. Thispiecemeal system has proven to bevery inefficient, both in providinginsurance and in keeping costs down.

Health care insurance premiumshave been rising more rapidly thanwages and inflation for two decades.They are expected to rise another 14percent in 2003. Businesses will try topass these increases along to employ-ees, negating wage increases.

Whether all this support for univer-sal health care will translate into a realprogram is moot. In 2000 and 2002,President Bush and other Republicansgot millions of dollars from the healthcare and insurance industries, dona-tions that will not be forgotten. ❑

Joe Stinger, admin assistant toInternational president, retiresRailroad division directorcelebrates 35-year careeras Boilermaker & union rep.

JOSEPH A. STINGER, administrativeassistant to International PresidentCharles W. Jones and director of theBoilermakers’ Railroad Division,retired Jan. 1, 2003.

Stinger began his Boilermaker careerwith the Monongahela Railroad inNov. 1967, joining Local 747, McKeesRocks, Pa., in Jan. 1968.

In March 1968, he began two years ofmilitary service, completing one tourof duty in Vietnam with the elite Air-borne Rangers as a team leader andplatoon sergeant.

After his honorable discharge,Stinger returned to work at the Monon-gahela Railroad and earned his teach-ing certificate from the University ofPittsburgh. He supplemented his rail-

road income by teaching evening col-lege courses and substituting at thehigh school level during his vacations.

Stinger was elected general chairmanof the Eastern Region in 1977, and wasreelected in 1981. In 1983, he became anInternational representative, attendingthe Harvard University Trade Programin 1984, the same year he was electedsupervisor of the Henry Clay Town-ship and appointed director of the Boil-ermakers Railroad Division.

In 1985, he became an asst. to the Intl.pres. and was named admin. asst. toIntl. Pres. Jones in 1996. He retired Jan.1, 2003, and will continue to serve theInternational as a consultant.

Stinger is one of 14 children ofPhillip and Mildred Stinger. Hisfather, now deceased, was a coalminer and president of one of the firstUnited Mine Worker local unions inWestern Pennsylvania.

He and his wife, Vivian, plan to pur-chase a travel trailer and tour the U.S.and Canada. Their daughters, Amandaand Nicole, will graduate this yearfrom the University of Kansas. ❑

JOSEPH A. STINGER retires as railroad dir.and admin. asst. to Intl. Pres. C. W. Jones.

$45004000350030002500200015001000500

0

14%

12%

10%

8%

6%

4%

2%

0

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

Annual expenditures on health care

1 - Germany2 - France3 - Canada4 - United Kingdom5 - United States

Nations with nationalhealth care plans spendless on health care thanthe U.S., yet have moredoctors and hospital beds.

All statistics are from 1998. 1 2 3 4 5

Averageacute

care daysper year

Acutecare bedsper 1,000

people

Annualvisits perphysician

Physiciansper 1,000

people

Per person As a percentage of GDP

MORE THAN HALFof Americans believe major changes are needed inour health care delivery system, and one-fourth want it completelyrebuilt. Fifty-five percent say providing health care for the uninsuredshould be government priority; 43 percent say priority should be pre-scription drugs to low-income seniors.

SUPPORT FOR A NATIONAL healthcare plan is growing —even amongconservatives — but President Bushstill wants nothing to do with it.

In his state of the union address, heflatly rejected the idea, and his propos-als for reforming Medicare and provid-ing prescription drug coverage forseniors suggest that he would prefer toprivatize the most successful healthcare program in American history.

According to the Washington Post, theWhite House is finalizing a Medicarereform bill that would give Medicarebeneficiaries incentives to leave thegovernment program and join HMOs.Under his plan, the only way seniorscould get the prescription drug benefitwould be to join an HMO.

This proposal is supported by aRepublican faction who believe that the

private marketplace is the best andmost economical place for handling thehealth care of the nation’s elderly. Thisbelief is not supported by recent trendsthat show the cost of private health careinsurance is rising faster than Medicarecosts. Last year, private insurance pre-miums rose 10.5 percent compared toMedicare’s 7.8 percent.

When a similar plan was introducedin 1997 as Medicare+Choice, about fivemillion of Medicare’s 40 million benefi-ciaries joined up. Within a year, someHMOs dropped out, complaining thatMedicare wasn’t paying them enough,leaving their patients without medicalcare coverage of any kind.

A subsequent study by the GeneralAccounting Office showed thatMedicare+Choice was more expensivethan traditional Medicare. ❑

Bush’s drug plan would putMedicare patients in HMOs

Major changes needed

Complete rebuild needed

All other responses

Health care for uninsured

Drugs for low-income seniors

All other responses

Health careContinued from page 1

FIVE MEMBERS OFLocal 1, Chicago, Ill., brought 200 years of work experienceto an outage at the Midwest Generation Fisk. Pictured, l. to r., are 40-year mem-bers Jim Patterson, Art Adams, and Ken Malecki, 39-year member SylLopaczynski, and 41-year member Gary Metcalfe. Working for AP COM, theyhelped bring the job in on time and under budget. ❑

Together, these membershave 200 years of service

WORKING FOR WOODLEY-Griggs Boiler Repair LLC, these Local 83 mem-bers, Kansas City, Mo., are replacing 54-year-old ductwork at Internationalheadquarters in Kansas City, Kan. Pictured, l. to r., are Chris Kattou, apprenticeNick Scherman, and John Malone. ❑

Local 83 repairs boiler atInternational headquarters


L O C A L N E W S

the Boilermaker Reporter


Local 92 earns praise forwork at Moapa EnergyI WOULD LIKEto extend my appre-ciation, on behalf of FluorConstructors International andmyself, for the exceptional work per-formed on the Moapa Energy FacilityProject by the members ofBoilermakers Local 92 (Los Angeles,Calif.), for the leadership of Local 92and the International union, and forthe outstanding cooperation and pro-fessionalism exhibited since the startof this project.

The efforts of Local 92 membersand their leadership prove that laborand management can work togetherto provide an owner with a high qual-ity project on time and on budget.

The original execution strategy forthis project called for FluorConstructors International to subcon-tract the erection of four heat recov-ery steam generators (HRSGs). Earlyin the project, a decision was made todirect hire this portion of the work.The critical nature of this work can-not be overstated.

In early meetings, we emphasizedits importance and the need for thecooperation of Boilermakers Local 92in supplying qualified journeymen,welders, foremen, and general fore-men. The cooperation we receivedwas outstanding.

Boilermaker productivity on theMoapa Energy Facility Projectexceeded our expectations, and trulyreflected what highly-skilled crafts-men — when provided with theright tools, directions, and plans —can achieve.

The foremen and general foremenprovided by Local 92 performed anoutstanding job. In this regard,Boilermaker general foreman ChuckColbert deserves special recognitionfor his work on the project. His abili-ty, experience, and manner in whichhe interfaced with FluorConstructors’ supervision on theproject were exceptional.

The cooperation and level of profes-sionalism received went beyond thephysical bounds of the project.

A project like the Moapa EnergyFacility Project cannot be accom-plished without cooperation betweenmanagement and labor. Differencesbetween management and labor overcontract interpretation and craft juris-diction can and do exist. If these dis-putes are not handled in the propermanner, they can become disruptiveand impact productivity.

In order to resolve disputes, theremust be mutual respect and coopera-tion between management and labor.In this respect, the cooperation andprofessionalism exhibited by Local 92and its business representatives andstewards was exceptional.

In addition, the effort of theInternational union, in particular Intl.Rep. Tony Gallo, was exceptional andgreatly appreciated. When circum-stances required that an Intl. rep. bepresent at the jobsite, Mr. Gallo wasthere as soon as he could make thenecessary arrangements.

As a result of the efforts of Local 92and Intl. Rep. Gallo, disputes werepromptly addressed and work pro-ceeded smoothly.

In addition, grievances that rose onthe project were handled promptlyand resolved at the jobsite level. Thiscould not have been accomplishedwithout mutual respect and coopera-tion and the development of an effec-tive labor management relationshipon the project.

In late August 2002, Duke EnergyNorth America elected to defer con-struction of the Moapa EnergyFacility Project until conditions anddemand for additional generation inthe western region improved.

On December 10, 2002, FluorConstructors International, Inc.,ceased all new construction activitiesfor this project.

In looking back over the last 14months of construction, it is appar-ent that this project was one whichboth Fluor ConstructorsInternational and the SouthernNevada Building and ConstructionTrades Council and its affiliatedlocal unions can truly be proud.

A significant part of this can beattributed to the efforts of Local 92and its members.

Hopefully, in the not too distantfuture, we will all return to completethe Moapa Energy Facility Project.

MARK VISLAY, site managerFluor Constructors

Local 85 members excel atDetroit Edison projectsGEM INDUSTRIAL extends our sin-cerest appreciation to the Local 85Boilermakers (Toledo, Ohio) whowere instrumental in making ourrecent projects at the Detroit EdisonMonroe Power Plant a success. Wereit not for their efforts, we could nothave completed this project withinsuch a tight schedule and with anexceptional safety record.

The Unit 4 waterwall project,which started more than a week late,finished ahead of the originalplanned schedule. During that timeframe we completed more tube andpanel replacements than ever beforeand successfully passed the hydrotest without a single leak.

The Unit 4 ID fan duct interfaceproject, which worked two shiftsfor 26 weeks, included over 390tons of structural steel and over18,000 linear feet of welding. Thiswelding was performed almostexclusively with the use of MIGwelding procedures. Special appre-ciation goes to those Boilermakerswho were not daunted by the use ofsuch time-saving procedures.

GEM also commends the Local 85Boilermaker apprentices. Their per-formance has been exceptionalthroughout all of the work we havedone on these projects. TheBoilermakers of Local 85 should beproud that their finest traditions andwork ethics are being successfullypassed on to the next generation ofjourneymen.

GEM Industrial is very apprecia-tive of all the fine work performedand the hard efforts of all thoseinvolved. We can all be proud of ajob well done

ROBERT DZIERZAKSenior Project Manager

Good Job!Letters of Praise from Owners &Employers

LOCAL 263 MEMBER Reggie Lewisbecame the first minority Boilermakercontractor in the Memphis area whenhe started his new company, LewisMechanical Contractors (LMC).

“For years, Local 263 has relied heav-ily on other crafts’ contractors to giveBoilermakers employment,” reportsLocal 263 BM-ST Michael Allen, Mem-phis, Tenn. “Now we have a dedicatedBoilermaker contractor.”

Lewis, a 22-year member, plans topursue every possible angle to get Boil-ermakers jobs. Specializing in boilererection, repair, and vessel work, heplans to target the Memphis area so he

can put as many of the 230 Local 263members to work that he can.

With Memphis job opportunities atWilliams Refinery, Cargill, Hershey,DuPont, Witco, Nike, Fed-Ex, and Coors,Allen expects LMC and the union togrow. This should also strengthen Local263’s apprenticeship program.

“We are very hopeful that this unionwith LMC will further the opportunityfor the city to experience why the Boil-ermakers’ reputation for many years ofgood, quality, and safe work ethicsstands out,” said Allen. “LMC isdevoted to its slogan: quality workdone by skilled craftsmen.” ❑

L-263 member is Memphis’ firstminority Boilermaker contractor

NORMAN HILL, president of the A.Philip Randolph Institute, recentlyvisited International headquarters,where he met with InternationalPresident Charles W. Jones andAdministrative Assistant Joe Stinger.During his stay, he toured theBoilermakers National Archives,where he was impressed by theunion’s extensive history.

The A. Philip Randolph Institute, anon-profit union-affiliated organiza-tion, was founded in 1965 by A. PhilipRandolph (1889-1979) and BayardRustin (1912-1987) as an organizationof black trade unionists to fight forracial equality and economic justice. It

is a senior constituency group of theAmerican Federation of Labor andCongress of Industrial Organizations(AFL-CIO). ❑

Norman Hill visits headquarters

L. TO R., IP C. W. JONES, Randolph Inst.Pres. Norman Hill, and AAIPJoe Stinger.

OWNERS OF THE G. M. ShrumHydro Electric Dam wanted stay ringvanes profiled on their turbine.Interior Industrial Constructors Ltd.was hesitant to take on the job,because that type of work had neverbeen done before. But members ofLocal 359, Vancouver, B.C., Canada,convinced them they could do thework. And they did.

Eight Local 359 members hand-gouged the square, five-inch thickedges of 22 vanes to reduce and elimi-nate the vibration and turbulence thatoccurs as the turbine turns.

“Our members did a great job, andboth the contractor and owner werevery pleased,” reported Local 359 Bus.

Rep. Bob Banish. “We know we willnow get to do the rest of the units.”

Interior Industrial project managerPeter Schemanauer is proud of theproject. He wrote Banish, stating that,“The project required precision hand-gouging that was completed to toler-ance and on budget. The hand-gouged method of reprofiling the stayvanes had never been attempted anddisplayed a high-skill level of theLocal 359 members employed here.”

Working at the hydro electric damproject were Local 359 members JohnDwulit, Les Haugen, Lloyd Moores,Richard Nitsch, Miles Robinson, SeanRode, Peter Schemanauer, andNicholas Squires. ❑

Local 359 members try new technique


L O C A L N E W S


Boilermakers are hand-gouging stay ring vanes toreduce vibration and instability as turbine spins

CLOSE-UP VIEW of square edges reprofiledby L-359 members to reduce & eliminatevibration and turbulence on a turbine.

L-359 MEMBERStry a new technique —hand-gouging stay ring vanes — at ahydroelectric dam in Hudson Hope, B.C.

NEARLY 900 Boilermakers from allacross the country have worked thispast year-and-a-half for AlbericiConstructors at Georgia Power’s PlantBowen, near Cartersville, Ga.

Their dedication to safety hasreduced the contractor’s year-to-datecumulative-recordable rate from morethan three to 2.5, pushing Alberici tothe top of Southern Company’s list ofconstructors. Southern Company isthe parent company of Georgia Power.

Boilermakers have worked hardbuilding two new Selective CatalyticReduction (SCR) units and installingthe balanced draft conversion forGeorgia Power. And they just finishedtwo six-week, back-to-back outages tobring the units into operation.

This spring, Plant Bowen will beginusing the SCR units to reduce emis-sions produced by the coal-fired,steam-generating power plant.

At its peak, 550 craft personnelworked two ten-hour shifts, six days aweek. Over the last 18 months, 875Boilermakers worked at Plant Bowen.

Local 454 in Chattanooga, Tenn.,served as the primary local; however,Boilermakers came from all over thecountry to work this project, includingmembers of the following lodges: theNational Transient Lodge; Local 4,

Page, Ariz.; Local 26, Savannah, Ga.;Local 37, New Orleans, La.; Local 199,Jacksonville, Fla.; Local 263, Memphis,Tenn.; Local 453, Knoxville, Tenn.;Local 455, Sheffield, Ala.; and Local687, Charleston Heights, S.C.

And the job has been far from easy.For example, in September, the crewswere drenched by massive amounts ofrain brought on by two hurricanes.They lost 40 percent of the workdaysduring the first two weeks of outage,yet most of the craftsmen chose to stayon site and continue working.

Kenneth W. Robuck, vice presidentand general manager for Alberici’ssoutheast region, credits theBoilermakers for this project’s success:“Plant Bowen experienced great team-work, and there is no doubt that iswhy this team met its goal.”

Following are notable statistics forthe two outages:● First outage started Sept. 14 with twomilestone dates: gas tight by 10/23,fully operational by 11/1● Second outage started with twomilestone dates: gas tight by 12/11,fully operational by 12/27● 137,000 man-hours worked in onemonth, including Alberici’s subcon-tractors, without a recordable injury

● Roughly 30,000 man-hours per weekfor 12 weeks● Two 4100 Manitowoc Ringer Cranesused to handle ductwork pieces disas-sembled and moved

● 300 tons of demolished steel andduct material on SCR Unit #3● Nine major lifts of ductwork andassociated new support steel. ❑

Alberici credits teamwork for job’s success

BOILERMAKERS WORKING at Georgia Power’s Plant Bowen lifted several heavy unitsin order to build two SCR units, including this 58-ton BCD duct, which measures 28feet by 52 feet by 16 feet. Other lifts included ducts weighing 50 and 69 tons each.

L-454 serves as primary local for 18-month project

ASSOCIATED MECHANICAL, Inc.(AMI) just completed a project at theKansas City Board of Public Utilities’Nearman Power Plant using membersof Local 83, Kansas City, Mo.

“AMI was exceptionally pleasedwith the production and positive atti-tudes that these craftsmen presentedon this project,” reported AMI QualityControl Manager Doug Davis. “Itmakes me proud to have been a mem-ber of Local 83 for the past 25 years.”

During the 17-day project, around135 Boilermakers worked 34 ten-hourshifts. They replaced 272 lower archtubes and 210 super heat panel looptubes for a total weld count of 1,018.

“The welding was 100 percent radi-ograph inspected, with a rejection rateof only 0.53 percent,” said Davis. “Nowelds were cut out, and only minorrepairs were needed.”

Local 83 members also changed outall the air heater baskets on twoLungstrum air heaters, replacing sealson both air heaters and the sectorplate on one. In addition, theychanged out the cloth on ten expan-sion joints and rigged and placed sup-port beams for scaffold installation inthe boiler’s firebox.

Project Manager Tim Locke said,“The customer was quite pleased withboth the quality of the workmanshipand the productivity of theBoilermakers. The outage was short-ened four days on the start due to aheader problem at another plant, butthe completion schedule date was stillmaintained.”

JoLynn Locke and Darrell Wrightjoin Tim Locke and Doug Davis inoffering, “thanks for a job well done”to the Boilermakers of Local 83. ❑

L-83 members have near-perfect welds

TWO LOCAL 83 MEMBERS, Mike Hendrickson (l.) and Bobby Dill (r.), add new superheat element loop tubes at the Nearman Power Plant in Kansas City, Kan. Of the1,018 welds, only 0.53 percent were rejected and those required only minor repairs.

Radiograph inspection results are better than 99percent for over 1,000 welds at power plant project

to an environment they no longertrusted to be healthy.

Boilermakers Intl. Vice Pres. forWestern Canada Rick Albrightexplained, “The thallium exposureserved as a wake-up call. Our unionmust be pro-active in ensuring that ourmembers are provided a work environ-ment where worker health and safety isguaranteed.”

Albright brought BoilermakersHealth & Safety Specialist Milan Racicto Trail, where he met with representa-tives of Teck Cominco, Welding Ser-vices, Inc., and Local Lodge 359.

Relying heavily on Racic’s consider-able expertise, all parties worked to cre-ate a safety plan that includedmandatory use of protective equip-ment, strict adherence to safety rules,and constant monitoring of the work-ers’ thallium levels. While many ofthese protective measures had been inplace in 2001, they were strengthenedin the 2002 safe work plan.

“Boilermakers often work near toxicchemicals,” Racic said. “But properplanning, training, and monitoringhelp avoid dangerous exposures.”

The safety regimen they establishedwas more rigid than most craftsmenwere used to. At first, some were skep-tical, but they soon realized that with-out these precautions, they riskedexposures to dangerous levels of thal-lium and perhaps other toxins.

Local Lodge 359 Business ManagerCarl Ellsworth said, “These rules weretough, but they were necessary. Boiler-makers on the job realized that if theydidn’t stick with the plan, they riskedserious injury.”

Sticking to the plan paid off. In 2002,no tradesmen became ill from thalliumexposure, and the job was completedahead of schedule.

The difference between 2001 and2002 was clear to Teck Cominco.“What was different was that all of theissues were on the table,” said MarkEdwards, manager of environment,health, and safety. “We had a muchbetter understanding of the hazardspresented by the thallium, and every-one was working together on gettingthe work done safely.”

How the job went bad, andhow it got turned aroundTHE CHAIN OF EVENTS that led toand followed from the 2001 thalliumexposure illustrate how quickly a goodjob can go bad — and how difficult itcan be to get it back on track.

The 56 Boilermakers hired by Gen-eral Electric Welding to perform main-tenance on the lead smelter in 2001 didnot expect anything out of the ordi-nary. It was a typical job of sandblast-ing tubes then overlaying them. Manyof the workers had done the same job atTrail in previous years.

But after only a week into the job,many of them began to complain of flu-like symptoms — sore throat, chest,and lower back. Some complained ofnausea and diarrhea. A few were sosick that they reported to the hospital.

With so many affected so soon afterstarting the job, they suspected their ill-ness might be work-related. The B.C.Workers Compensation Board (WCB)was called in. They inspected the jobsite twice, reviewing respirator and airsupply equipment. They found noth-ing of concern and indicated workcould proceed. Unsatisfied, workerspressed the issue, demanding that the

environment be tested and found safebefore they would return to work.

Tests conducted on the boiler scaleafter the job was shut down by TeckCominco identified some of the sec-tions had levels of thallium as high as30 percent. The sandblasting was put-ting that thallium into the air these menbreathed.

Ordinarily, workers in such an envi-ronment would take measures to limittheir exposure to the tasteless, odorlessmetal that is a byproduct of lead smelt-ing. But thallium had not been detectedat significant levels in any of the testsconducted prior to starting the work, sothe company had not included it on theMSDS for the job.

Working with safety gear that pro-vided more than adequate protectionfor lead, cadmium, and arsenic expo-sure, the workers were unaware theyshould be taking special precautionswith respect to thallium. As a result,they were breathing in the thallium.This was the same safety gear worn byBoilermakers during two previousboiler tube weld overlays. The work in2001, however, was conducted in adifferent area of the boiler than in pre-vious years.

Given urine tests, 65 workers werefound to have elevated thallium levels.The company immediately shut downthe job. Three days later the WCBordered the job remain shut down untilan investigation could take place.

Public attention quickly focused onTeck Cominco’s failure to put thalliumon the MSDS and the WCB’s failure totest the air or the workers to determinethe cause of the illness.

Teck Cominco said that they hadused recycle dust as the sole basis fortheir hazard assessment. If the boilerscale had been analyzed, the extent ofthe high levels of thallium would havebeen recognized immediately. Thal-lium levels in both the recycle dust andin the ambient air readings were deter-mined to be low, while readings fromthe scale were significantly higher.

During the investigation of the thal-lium exposure, Teck Comincoembarked on an independent third-party audit of its health and safety sys-tems. The audit indicated that thecompany generally has excellenthealth and safety programs in place.Teck Cominco is taking action on theaudit’s 11 recommendations toimprove the system.

The WCB has never offered anexplanation for their initial unwilling-ness to test the air or the workers todetermine the cause of their illness.While their final report laid all theblame on Teck Cominco (fining thecompany $270,000), the WCB alsoissued orders against the prime con-tractor and some of the subcontractors.

The persistence of the craftsmen indemanding a safe work environmentkept more workers from exposure.Additional health protection measuresallowed the 2001 job to be completedwithout significant exposures.

In 2002, with the company, the con-tractor, and the union workingtogether, the job was completed with-out incident. IVP Albright told TeckCominco and WSI, “If you give theBoilermakers a work environmentwhere our health and safety is guaran-teed, we will guarantee you a job doneright the first time, on or ahead ofschedule, and without any trouble.”

Teck Cominco and WSI did just that,and the Boilermakers of Lodge 359made good on Albright’s promise. ❑

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




Strict safety programmakes a big differenceContinued from page 1

THIS ALERT REQUESTS theassistance of managers,supervisors, and workers in theprevention of deaths that occur inconfined spaces. Confined spacesmay be encountered in virtuallyany occupation; therefore, theirrecognition is the first step inpreventing fatalities. Since deathsin confined spaces often occurbecause the atmosphere is oxygendeficient or toxic, confined spacesshould be tested prior to entryand continually monitored.

More than 60 percent of confinedspace fatalities occur amongwould-be rescuers; therefore, awell-designed and properlyexecuted rescue plan is a must.There are no specific OSHA rulesthat apply to all confined spaces.

BackgroundTHE DEATHS OF workers inconfined spaces constitute arecurring occupational tragedy;approximately 60 percent of thesefatalities have involved would-berescuers. The National Institutefor Occupational Safety andHealth (NIOSH) describes aconfined space as one that haslimited openings for entry andexit, unfavorable naturalventilation, which could containor produce dangerous aircontaminants, and which is notintended for continuousemployee occupancy. Confinedspaces include storage tanks,compartments of ships, processvessels, and tunnels. If you workin a septic tank, sewage digester,pumping/lift station, sewagedistribution, holding tank, silo,vat, duct, utility vault, reactionvessel, boiler, pipeline, pit, orsimilar type of structure orenclosure, you are working in aconfined space.

RecommendationsNIOSH RECOMMENDS THATmanagers, supervisors, andworkers be made familiarwith the following three steps:

1. Recognition — Workertraining is essential to therecognition of what constitutes aconfined space and the hazardsthat may be encountered in them.This training should stress thatdeath to the worker is the likelyoutcome if proper precautions arenot taken before entry is made.

2. Testing, evaluation, andmonitoring — All confinedspaces should be tested by aqualified person before entry todetermine whether the confinedspace atmosphere is safe forentry. Tests should be made foroxygen level, flammability, andknown or suspected toxicsubstances. Evaluation of theconfined space should considerthe following: methods forisolating the space by mechanicalor electrical means (i.e., doubleblock and bleed, lockout, etc.), the

institution of lockout-tagoutprocedures, ventilation of thespace, cleaning and/or purging,work procedures, including useof safety lines attached to theperson working in the confinedspace and its use by a standbyperson if trouble develops,personal protective equipmentrequired (clothing, respirator,boots, etc.), special tools required,and communications system to beused. The confined space shouldbe continuously monitored todetermine whether theatmosphere has changed due tothe work being performed.

3. Rescue — Rescue proceduresshould be established beforeentry and should be specific foreach type of confined space. Astandby person should beassigned for each entry wherewarranted. The standby personshould be equipped with rescueequipment including a safety lineattached to the worker in theconfined space, self-containedbreathing apparatus, protectiveclothing, boots, etc. The standbyperson should use this attachedsafety line to help rescue theworker. The rescue proceduresshould be practiced frequentlyenough to provide a level ofproficiency that eliminates life-threatening rescue attempts andensures an efficient andcalm response to any emergency.

Helpful NIOSH publicationsNIOSHHAS PUBLISHED thefollowing documents whichcontain further information: • Criteria for a RecommendedStandard .... Working in ConfinedSpaces, DHEW Publ. No. 80-106.• Guidelines for ControllingHazardous Energy DuringMaintenance and Servicing, DHHSPubl. No. 83-125.

For more information, contactthe NIOSH Director of SafetyResearch at 1095 WillowdaleRoad, Morgantown, WV 26505;or call 1-800-35-NIOSH (1-800-356-4674).

DON’T TAKE UNNECESSARY RISKS.ALWAYSPLAY IT SAFE.

AND WHEN YOU ARE AT WORK,MAKE IT SAFE!

MAKE IT SAFEWorking safely in confined spaces

YOU MAY NEED to wear a self-contained breathing apparatus(like those worn by fire fighters) towork in oxygen deficient areassuch as silos or pits.

NIOSH offers tips to preventoccupational fatalities inconfined spaces

Jan • Feb 2003 7the Boilermaker Reporter

L E A P I S S U E S



How we see . . .

The state of the union under BushWhat’s up What’s down

Stock marketFrom Dec. 29, 2000 to Sept. 30, 2002, the total market value ofall U.S. stocks has dropped 38%.A total of $6.65 trillion has disappeared from portfolios.Many Americans have had to postpone retiringbecause ofstock portfolio losses.

Public confidence 67% of Americans are worried about the economy, accordingto an ABC News poll in January.73% said the economy was getting worse or staying the same.A CNN poll showed 91% believe Congress and the presidentneed to focus on the economy.55% said Bush is not paying enough attention to the economy.

Education fundingWeeks after signing his “No Child Left Behind” Act, Bush’sbudget for 2003 cut programs in the act by $90 million.The White House draft budget for 2004 is more than $6 billionshort of what these programs need.

Pension protectionIn December, Bush rescinded a 1999 pension rule that keepscompanies from changing their pension plans to cash-bal-ance plans. Typically, employees over 40 lose money when adefined benefit pension is changed to a cash-balance plan.

Employer-provided health care insuranceThe percentage of small businesses offering their employeeshealth benefits dropped from 67% in 2000 to 61% in 2002.At the end of 2001, another 1.4 million Americans were withouthealth insurance compared to 2000.

Funding for homeland securityLast August, Bush vetoed a homeland security package fund-ing port security, border patrol, customs information systems,local first responder equipment, and other weak areas.In January, the Senate rejected amendments adding first $5billion, then $3 billion, for state and local emergency respon-ders, the FBI, and security at airports and power plants.

Wealthy families and largecorporations are big winnersIN HIS STATE-OF-THE-UNIONspeech, President Bush outlined a leg-islative agenda filled with windfalls forthe wealthy and corporations, but withno viable solutions for the problemsfacing America’s working families.

Bush listed economic recovery andaccess to health care as his two highestpriorities for the coming year, but theproposals he put forward will do littleto create jobs or make health care moreaffordable.

Tax cuts help rich not workersTHE CENTERPIECE of Bush’s plan foreconomic recovery is to make the taxcuts already scheduled for 2004 and2006 (passed in 2001) effective immedi-ately. He claims these cuts will reducetaxes for the average family of four withan income of $40,000 by over $1,000.

But the Congressional Budget Officeand tax-watchdog groups do not agree.Citizens for Tax Justice calculates thesavings for such a family would be

about $289. One-third of taxpayerswould get nothing from the tax cuts,while the richest one percent wouldhave their taxes reduced over $30,000.

Bush also claims that these tax cutswill stimulate the economy, loweringunemployment, but it is difficult to findan economist who backs this claim.Throughout the entire 20th century,only one tax cut stimulated the econ-omy to a measurable degree.

Bush made the same argument forhis tax cuts in 2001, saying they wouldlift the country out of its recession.Instead, the nation has lost over onemillion jobs since July 2001, and theunemployment rate has risen from 4.5percent to six percent.

In the meantime, the federal budgethas shifted from surpluses under Clin-ton to record-high deficits under Bush,partly because of the tax cuts of 2001. Ifhe passes more cuts this year, thosedeficits will go even higher.

Bush’s plan to end the income tax onincome from stock dividends is tailor-made for those who live off stock divi-dends, but does nothing for mostworkers. Workers hold the majority of

their stock in pension funds. They donot enjoy income from their dividends,just increases in their retirement sav-ings. When they retire, they will have topay tax on their pension income,including what they have earned fromstock dividends.

Health care plan benefits healthcare industry, not patientsBUSH’S SOLUTION for the high costof health care is to limit how much aninjured patient can win in a malpracticelawsuit and to privatize Medicare. Nei-ther proposal will make health caremore affordable for the average person.

The cost of malpractice insurance isonly a small part of health care costs.There is no evidence that frivolous law-suits are driving rates up, but even ifthey are, the solution is to make it moredifficult to file and win frivolous law-suits — not to punish patients withlegitimate complaints against incompe-tent, reckless doctors.

Bush’s Medicare proposals are astudy in deceptive packaging. Hepledges to commit $400 billion over the

next ten years to “reform andstrengthen” Medicare.

What he does not say is that his ideaof reform is to take patients out of thestandard fee-for-service Medicare andput them in HMOs. A similar experi-ment in 1997 failed miserably. HMOsturned out to be more expensive thanstandard Medicare. Unhappy withMedicare’s payment schedule, many ofthem simply dropped their patients,leaving them temporarily withoutMedicare of any kind.

Bush also promises a prescriptiondrug benefit for Medicare, but onceagain fails to point out that in order toget it, patients will have to join HMOs.

Don’t get Bush-whackedONE-THIRD of Bush’s state-of-the-union speech focused on Iraq. War is aterrible prospect, but we cannot let ourfear of war make us drop our guard. Ifwe do, Bush will pass more of his pro-corporate agenda in 2003, and we willsee even higher unemployment, biggerbudget deficits, and more corporatecrime. ❑

Bush’s agenda offers nothing to working families

Unemployment6% in November and December—the highest since 1994. When Bush took office, it was at a 40-year low of 3.9%.8.6 million Americans are looking for work, more than thecombined population of ten states.1.7 million jobs have been lost since January 2001.Bush has the worst job creation record in the last 58 years.

PovertyUp for the first time since 1993.In 2001, 1.3 million Americans who had been getting by slippedbelow the poverty line.11.7% of Americans were below the poverty line in 2001, upfrom 11.3% in 2000.

BankruptciesUp 23% since 2000and now at the highest rate in history.In 2001 and 2002, companies with combined assets of $626 bil-lion filed for bankruptcy —more than the total value of all cor-porate bankruptcies in the previous ten years.

HomelessnessPersonal bankruptcies are also at an all-time high, puttingmore families in danger of losing their homes.In 2002, requests for emergency shelter rose 19% —thelargest increase since 1990.

Health care costsInsurance premiums for employers rose 12.7% betweenspring 2001 and spring 2002.The Consumer Price Index for medical care rose 4.8%in 2001and 5.1% in 2002 —the biggest increases in five years.Prescription drug prices went up 15.7% in 2001.

Serious crimeUp 2.1% for 2001 —the first increase in ten years, reversing adownward trend that started in 1991.Robberies were up 3.7%.Murders were up 2.5%.The upward trend is expected to continueinto 2003.

8 Jan • Feb 2003the Boilermaker Reporter

N E W S M A K E R S


1990 — Eric Smith

ERIC SMITH WAS our onlywinner in 1990. The son ofLocal D435 member Richard P.Smith, Helena, Mont., Smith isnow in his fourth year of med-ical school in Seattle, and is cur-rently applying for hisresidency. He is a graduate ofthe West Point Military Acad-emy, where he was trained inmilitary intelligence. He spentfour years at Ft. Irwin and oneyear in Tucson, Ariz.

“Eric always wanted to be adoctor, and the Boilermakerscholarship is helping him ful-fill that dream,” said Smith. “Iam very proud of my son.”

1992 — Brian KlemBRIAN P. KLEMWAS one offour scholarship winners in1992. The son of Local 105member Eric P. Klem, Chilli-cothe, Ohio, Klem graduatedin 1996 from the Purdue Uni-versity (home of the Boiler-makers), where he received hismechanical engineeringdegree in just four years.

“The scholarship was atremendous help because wehad to pay out-of-state fees,”

said Klem’s mother. Klem, theson, grandson, and great-grandson of Boilermakermembers, is working at Trade-line Fabricating where he pro-grams and operates aCincinnati 707 laser machine.

1993 — Bryan BilyeuBRYAN BILYEU, ONE of thetop four winners in 1993, grad-uated from the MassachusettsInstitute of Technology (MIT),with both a Bachelor’s andMaster’s Degree in electricalengineering. The last four yearshe has worked as a hardwaredesign engineer for Teradyne.

“The scholarship definitelyprovided a financial relief thatfirst year,” said Bilyeu. “I onlyhad to work during the summerand not during the school year.”

Bilyeu is the son of Local 549member Dale Bilyeu, Pitts-burg, Calif.

1995 — William HenryWILLIAM HENRY, SON ofLocal 28 member Adrian L.Henry, Newark, N.J., was oneof our top four 1995 winners.According to his mom, thescholarship was a big help get-ting him into college.

Henry is a graduate of Geor-gia Tech and is now doingcomputer work in Atlanta.

1997 — Angela BauerANGELA BAUER, daughterof Local 1 member, FrankBauer, Chicago, Ill., was one ofour top four 1997 winners.After graduating from NotreDame as a mechanical engi-neer, she signed up to workone year with Habitat forHumanity in San Juan, PuertoRico, through Notre Dame’sSocial Concern Program. Sherecently extended her assign-

ment for one more year so shecan finish the project she isworking on.

Putting four childrenthrough college, Bauer’s fathersaid her scholarship reallyhelped him out. “WhenAngela, my youngest, gradu-ated, I got to retire,” he said.

2000 — Erin Mowrey

ERIN MOWREY, daughter ofLocal 85 member, JohnMowrey, Toledo, Ohio, wasone of our 2000 winners.

Now a junior at the Witten-berg University in Springfield,Ohio, Mowrey has earned thenickname, “Energizer Bunny,”because she just keeps going . . .and going . . . and going.

In addition to her studies —she is a double major in eco-nomics and music with a minorin management — Mowrey

has started a women’s golf club(for which she serves as presi-dent), has been credited for get-ting varsity women’s golfadded at Wittenberg, and hasmade her professional musicdebut as a harpist.

“ Icannotbelieve I receivedsuch an opportunity to playwith so many gifted musi-cians,” said Mowrey.

Invited to perform with theDayton Philharmonic Orches-tra just ten days before concertswere scheduled to begin, shecelebrated her 21st birthdayplaying with a professionalorchestra after only four yearsof studying the harp.

But music isn’t Mowrey’sonly interest. While still in highschool, she contacted the ath-letic director at Wittenberg, let-ting him know of her plans toattend the University and herinterest in establishing awomen’s golf team. With hisencouragement, she formedthe club her freshman year. Ayear later, 16 club memberswere playing in tournaments.

In January 2003, the schoolannounced that it was addingwomen’s golf as a varsity inter-collegiate sport after two yearsas a club sport, creditingMowrey for recruiting playersand forming their club.

And when Mowrey gradu-ates next year, she plans tokeep going . . . to law school. ❑

Scholarship winners — Look at us now!

BRIAN KLEM used his scholarship at Purdue University, graduating in1996. Now he is a mechanical engineer, programming andoperating laser machines for Tradeline Fab.

BRYAN BILYEU took his Boilermaker scholarship to MIT in 1993,where he earned a B.S. and an M.S. in electrical engineering. He isnow a hardware design engineer for Teradyne.

ANGELA BAUER, who won in1997, looks over structuralplans for houses she is helpingto build in Puerto Rico forHabitat for Humanity.

ERIN MOWREYmakesher professional music debut as a harpistwith the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. Photo by Jim Dexter.

For dependents of InternationalBrotherhood members

A TOTAL OF $50,000 will be awarded inone-year grants to high school seniorswho will be entering their first year ofacademic study at a degree-granting,accredited college or university withinone year of their high school graduation,and are the son, daughter, legally-adoptedchild, or dependent of a Boilermaker memberin good standing. Scholarships are basedon academic record and performance ona written essay. Applications must bepostmarked between January 1 andMarch 31. Contact your local lodge foran application and guidelines.

BoilermakerScholarships

One-year grants help dreams come true for Boilermaker dependents

S INCE THE International Scholarship Program was formed in 1988, the Boilermakersunion has awarded a total of $476,000 to 172 children and dependents of Boilermakermembers. These one-year financial grants help students with their first-year college

expenses. Here’s a look at what some of our past recipients are doing now. See for yourself howthe Boilermakers’ International Scholarship Program has helped to make dreams come true.

Shiptoski collects andrestores railroad artifactsPAUL SHIPTOSKI, a member of Local906, Donora, Pa., has obtained a loco-motive bell for the BoilermakersNational Archives.

Estimated to have originated in theearly 1900s, the bell weighs around 200pounds and still works. It came from theNew York Central Line and was used onseven different steam locomotives.

“Whenever a locomotive is discon-tinued, the parts are removed andreused on other locomotives,”explained National Archivist TomWands. “The number of the locomotivethat carries the bell is engraved onto thetop of the bell. This bell has seven num-bers on it.”

Shiptoski worked 26 years in heavyconstruction before starting the Boiler-makers apprenticeship programthrough Local 13 last year. He has beencollecting railroad artifacts for over 20

years and is on the lookout for moreartifacts for the Boilermakers’ museum.He has restored items for museums andthe national park service and hascabooses and signs in his yard. He even

remodeled a Reading Railroad cabooseto house his wife’s flower shop.

He also collects train whistles. EveryNew Year’s Eve, he fires up an air com-pressor and blows every one of them tobring in the New Year. ❑

LOCAL 647 RETIREE Roger Cook creates art objects like those pictured here whilereenacting 18th century blacksmithing at area renaissance fairs and craft shows.

PAUL SHIPTOSKI (r.), ACQUIRED this steam locomotive bell for the BoilermakersNational Archives. Pictured, l. to r., are Intl. Sec.-Treas. Jerry Willburn, Railroad Div. Dir.Joe Stinger, Archivist Tom Wands, and Intl. Pres. Charles W. Jones.


N E W S M A K E R S


L-906 member gets bell for Archives

Hobby takes Roger Cookback to the 18th centuryROGER COOK RETIRED in 1996 afterworking 26 years as a constructionboilermaker. Despite back injuries,Cook just couldn’t keep still, so hetook up a hobby — blacksmithing.

Cook travels to renaissance fairs,craft shows, and other various gather-ings to reenact 18th century black-smithing. He likes to make art objects,

including fireplace sets, roses, min-nows, spoons, forks, and leaf clusters.

He recently met with third-yearapprentices at his home local, Lodge647 in Ramsey, Minn., where hedemonstrated blacksmithing and forg-ing techniques by making chain links.

For the past two years, he hasserved as president of the NorthernBlacksmiths Guild. ❑

Source: Local 647 ApprenticeshipCoordinator Tom Will.

ROGER COOK demonstrates blacksmithing techniques to third-year apprentices.

IT TAKES HEAT ANDmuscle to use 18th century blacksmithing and forging techniques.

Local 647 retiree takes up blacksmithing

Retiree donates time to labor museum

RETIRED INTL. REP. Gary Meyer (l.) looksover a steam engine tractor, above,before going out for a spin (top right).

Historic steam enginefarm tractor takes 107years to make round trip A HARRISON JUMBOsteam engine,built in 1895 for an Indiana farmer bythe Harrison Machine Works inBelleville, Ill., has finally made its wayback home, where it is on display at theBelleville Labor & Industry Museum.

Retired Intl. Rep. Gary Meyer is amuseum board member who is devot-ing his free time to collecting andrestoring artifacts from Belleville’slabor and industrial past.

Included in the museum’s displayare 22 stoves dating back to the late1800s. By 1877, Belleville had becomethe stove capital of the nation with 20manufacturers making stoves there.

Today, Boilermaker members inLocal Lodges S4, S7, S16, and S60 arestill making stoves and related items inBelleville at Empire Comfort Systems,Peerless Premier Appliance, andRoesch Enamel & Manufacturing. ❑

Lodge uses communityevent to raise awareness MEMBERS OF LOCALS234, Dickson,Tenn., have made a connection thatmany local unions overlook: unionorganizing and political organizingcomplement each other very well.

And they take both activities veryseriously. They have formed a LEAPcommittee that not only educatesmembers, but also educates the com-munity on political issues while alsoinforming them about the union.

During Dickson’s three-day October-fest, Local S234 LEAP members tookadvantage of the crowds, distributinginformation on candidates that the localsupports and discussing union organiz-ing with festival participants. They wona few converts —both for the candidatesand for the union.

L-S234 members have also formed awomen’s caucus (membership is notrestricted to women) to focus on work-place issues, community functions, andpolitical activities. Caucus membersplan to begin publishing a local lodgenewsletter soon.❑

Three-day seminarprovides intense trainingfor local lodge leadersOVER 60 MEMBERS from 13 locallodges attended a leadership-trainingseminar, sponsored by the SouthernIllinois Industrial Council (SIIC) onOct. 17-19, 2002, in Collinsville, Ill.

The three-day program includedpresentations from representatives ofthe AFL-CIO, the Department ofLabor, and experts in the fields ofsafety, grievance, arbitration, andduties of the secretary-treasurer.

In his opening remarks, LenBeauchamp, director of research andcollective bargaining services, talkedabout the structure of theInternational and the services provid-ed by each department.

Guest speakers, Gregory Beckerand David Galanti of Becker &Galanti, P.C., an AFL-CIO designatedcounsel, spoke to the local lodge lead-ers about worker compensation cases.

The International’s safety and healthspecialist, Milan Racic, recounted expe-riences he has had involving disputesbetween labor and management overworker safety. He outlined ways toidentify and correct workplace hazardsusing the grievance procedure and out-side sources such as the OccupationalSafety & Health Administration andstate and federal laws.

While most of the delegates attend-ed a session conducted byBeauchamp on the investigation,analysis, and presentation of griev-ances, including an exercise identify-ing the “Seven Tests of Just Cause,”13 local leaders attended a specialbreakout session on the duties of thelocal lodge secretary-treasurer.

Conducted by SIIC office secretaryJackie Judy, this afternoon sessioncovered such topics as maintenance ofrecords, membership reports, book-keeping, payroll tax withholding, andquarterly audits. Department of Laborrepresentative Margaret Sheridan alsodiscussed the government reportingresponsibilities of a local lodge secre-tary-treasurer.

Intl. Rep. Jim Pressley andBeauchamp’s assistant, Pam Dumler,assisted Beauchamp during the rest ofthe seminar, focusing on how toresearch and write grievances and howto prepare for and effectively identifycomponents of an arbitration case.

According to Dumler, this was avery intense training program thatgave the local lodge leaders anadvanced understanding of the arbi-tration process.

“This seminar enables those whoattend to be more effective in theirgrievance presentations and betterprepared if their case goes before anarbitrator,” she said. ❑


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


Local 363 graduatesapprentice class

ON OCTOBER 1, 2002, Local Lodge363, E. St. Louis, Ill., welcomed aroomful of graduate apprentices intothe brotherhood. These new journey-men participated in the local’s four-year apprenticeship program, andattended additional training tobecome licensed to remove asbestos.Many are already certified asCommon Arc Welders.

BM-ST John Passiglia Jr. says he isproud to have these gentlemen asqualified journeymen members ofLocal Lodge 363.

“This graduating apprentice classwent through the four-year programby going to class in the evening andworking with very little time off,” saidPassiglia. “They are qualified to do allphases of Boilermaker work and Local363 is extremely proud of them.” ❑

SIIC trains leaders

MEMBERS FROM 13 lodges attend a three-day leadership-training seminar, spon-sored by the Southern Illinois Industrial Council in Collinsville, Oct. 17-19, 2002.

THE OCTOBER 1, 2002 graduate apprentice class of Local 363: Pictured, front row, l.to r., instructor Robert Taylor, William Mulconnery, Tim Underhill, and Sam Stassi.Back row, l. to r., Coordinator Larry McManamon Jr., Chris Gilreath, Tony Rankin,James Irwin, Jack Keuss, Nathan Jones, Clayton Stinson, Jeff Smith, Brian Emmons,John Critchfield, Kevin Pasbrig, Brent McQueen, Lacey Hartman, Robert Gorman,Chas Batton, Mike Marcacci, Trey Baur, Danny Clubb, and Joe Wallace.

Lodge adds asbestos training to four-year curriculum

Lodge S234 combinesunion organizing andpolitical organizing

MEMBERS OF LOCALS234, Dickson, Tenn., distribute campaign literature duringOctoberfest. L. to r., are Eddie Whitefield, Corey Madden, and Don & Cheryl Brazzell.

MEMBERS OF LOCALS234’s (Dickson, Tenn.) Women’s Caucus include, l. to r., DarrellHamilton, Media Hayes, Dawn Gentry, Glenda Hamilton, Cheryl Brazzel, KathyStallings, Don Brazzell, and Jeff Hamilton.

IN OCTOBER 2002, members of the political action committee (PAC) for Local 13,Philadelphia, Pa., presented a $10,000 check to Pennsylvania gubernatorial candi-date Ed Rendell, who went on to win the Nov. 5 election. Pictured, l. to r., are L-13Pres. Wm. Hill, retired member James “Hicks” Banford, BM-ST James Banford Jr.,Rendell, and PAC members John Gushue, Mark Strachan, Jim “Needles” Heron,and William Morgan. ❑

Local 13 supportsRendell for governor

L-5 – New York, N.Y.JERRY CONNOLLY JR., BM-STof Local 5, New York, N.Y.,reports contract ratifica-tion, effective Oct. 1, 2002 toSept. 30, 2003, for five Local5 members who work in theshop at the Delta WeldingCorporation, and effectiveNov. 1, 2002 to Oct. 31, 2005,for five Local 5 memberswho perform light manu-facturing making burnerigniters at the FrederickCowan and Company, Inc.

M10 – Milwaukee, WIINTL. REP . DAVID LAWRENCE

reports contract ratification,effective Nov. 1, 2002 to Dec.31, 2005, for 75 members ofLocal M10, Milwaukee, Wis.,who plate various productsfor S.K. Williams.

L-79 – Lake Charles, LAINTL. REP. DENNIS KINGreportscontract ratification, effec-tive Oct. 6, 2002 to Oct. 5,2005, for 43 members ofLocal 79, Lake Charles, La.,who produce heat exchang-ers for Ohmstede, Inc.

S106 – Compton, CAINTL. RE P. HENRY JUAREZ

reports contract ratifica-tion, effective Nov. 9, 2002to Nov. 8, 2006, for 106members of Local S106,Compton, Calif., who workat the Wolf Range Co .

D132 – Lee, MAINTL. RE P. ROCCO DEROLLO

reports contract ratifica-tion, effective Jan. 1, 2003to June 1, 2005, for 35 mem-bers of Local D132, Lee,Mass., who work withstone at OldcastleArchitectural, Inc.

L-158 – Peoria, ILINTL. REP. JAMES PRESSLEYreports contract ratifica-tion, effective Oct. 28, 2002to Nov. 30, 2005, for 18members of Local 158,Peoria, Ill., who work in theproduction and manufac-turing of display racks atJohn Best & Sons, Inc.

L-159–Mountain Top, PAINTL. REP. ROCCO DEROLLO

reports contract ratifica-tion, effective Nov. 4, 2002to Nov. 3, 2005, for mem-bers of Local 159, MountainTop, Pa., who work for theKeystone Forging Co.

D209 – Speed, ININTL. REP. CAREY ALLENreports contract ratifica-tion, effective Dec. 14, 2002to Dec. 14, 2006, for 157members of Local D209,Speed, Ind., who producePortland Cement for theEssroc Cement Corp.

D229 – Springfield, MOINTL. REP. CAREY ALLENreports contract ratifica-tion, effective Nov. 1, 2002to Oct. 31, 2005, for 35 mem-bers of Local D229,Springfield, Mo., who pro-

duce lime at theMississippi Lime Co .

D342 – Plattsburgh, NYINTL. REP . ROCCO DEROLLOreports contract ratifica-tion, effective Dec. 1, 2002to Nov. 30, 2005, for mem-bers of Local D342,Plattsburgh, N.Y., who workat the Malone QuarryDivision of GraymontMaterials, Inc.

D364 – Paris, ONINTL. REP . ED MATTOCKS

reports contract ratification,effective Dec. 1, 2002 toNov. 30, 2006, for ten mem-bers of Local D364, Paris,Ontario, Canada, who workwith sand and gravel forLafarge Canada, Inc.

D381 – Las Vegas, NVINTL. REP . MICHAEL ATCHISON

reports contract ratifica-tion, effective Dec. 1, 2002to Nov. 30, 2006, for sevenmembers of Local D381,Las Vegas, Nev., who workat Chemical Lime.

D408 – Dundee, MIINTL. REP. CAREY ALLENreports contract ratification,effective Dec. 11, 2002 toDec. 11, 2007, for 118 mem-bers of Local D408, Dundee,Mich., who make PortlandCement for Holcim US, Inc.

D494 – Burlington, ONINTL. REP. ED MATTOCKS

reports contract ratification,

effective Dec. 1, 2002 to Nov.30, 2007, for three membersof Local D494, Burlington,Ontario, who prepare bulkcement for shipment viatruck, rail, and water atEssroc Canada, Inc.

D503 – Kamloops, BCROB LAUZON, BM-ST forCement District Lodge D11,reports contract ratifica-tion, effective Aug. 1, 2002to July 31, 2006, for 27members of Local D503,Kamloops, B.C., who makelime products for Graymont(formerly Continental Lime).

L-582–Baton Rouge, LAINTL. REP. DENNIS KINGreportscontract ratification, effec-tive June 2, 2002 to June 2,2003, for 21 members ofLocal 582, Baton Rouge, La.,who manufacture heatexchangers at Ohmstede ofLouisiana’s St. Gabriel plant.

L-748 – Worcester, MAIN T L. REP . ROCCO DEROLLO

reports contract ratification,effective Nov. 24, 2002 toNov. 23, 2005, for membersof Local 748, Worcester,Mass., who work at TuthillEnergy Systems.

L-1234 – Chicago, ILINTL. REP . HOWARD COLEreports contract ratifica-tion, effective Dec. 11, 2002to Dec. 11, 2006, for 140members of Local 1234,Chicago, Ill., who make

thermostat controls at ITTMcDonnell & Miller.

L-1600 – St. Charles, ILINTL. REP. HOWARD COLE

reports contract ratification,effective Nov. 15, 2002 toNov. 14, 2005, for 20 mem-bers of Local 1600, St.Charles, Ill., who forge prod-ucts at C & F Forge, andeffective Nov. 21, 2002 toNov. 20, 2005, for 62 Local1600 members who makeexplosive powder and paintpigment at Toyal, Inc.

L-1610 – Wheeling, WVINTL. REP. ROBERT HEINE JR .reports contract ratification,effective Jan. 1, 2003 toDec. 31, 2004, for membersof Local 1610, Wheeling,W.Va., who work at theWarwood Tool Co.

L-1851 – Springfield, MAINTL. REP . ROCCO DEROLLO

reports contract ratifica-tion, effective Oct. 1, 2002 toSept. 30, 2004, for membersof Local 1851, Springfield,Mass., who work atSpalding Sports.

You don’t get what you deserve . . .. . . you get what you negotiate

UNION LEADERS, like these pictured here, work longhours to negotiate the best benefits they can forBoilermaker members.

RIGHT: Negotiating athree-year contract forLocal 1600 members atC&F Forge, are, front, A.Morales, back, l. to r., J.Fernandez, and IR Cole.

BELOW: Negotiating athree-year contract atToyal for L-1600 membersare, l.to. r., front, T. Fatagante, N. Williams, P. Shiner,back, B. VanHoose, M. Porras, K. Skory, B. Stevenson.


S E T T L E M E N T S


NEGOTIATING A FOUR-YEARcontract for Local D209members at Essroc Cement are, l. to r., IR Allen, M.Landers, J. Carver, D. Gill, M. Campbell, D. Sisson.

NEGOTIATING A FOUR-YEARcontract for Local 1234members at ITT McDonnell &Miller, are, front, l. to r.,R. Smith, IR H. Cole, F. Swaitko, back, l. to r., C.Burge, G. Arrigoni, K. Keafer, D. Franks, E. Sanders.

NEGOTIATING A THREE-YEAR contract for LocalD229 members at Mississippi Lime are, l. to r., C.Stufflebean, S. Medlock, D. Lloyd, and IR C. Allen.

Prepared by the Research andCollective Bargaining Departmentof the International Brotherhoodof Boilermakers

THIS ANALYSISof the 23agreements outlined below isbased on informationprovided in the ContractSummary and TransmittalReport forms, and coversapproximately 1,707employees.

Wage IncreasesSEVENTEEN facilitiesreceived pay increases in2002, averaging $0.44 perhour or 2.52 percent.Sixteen facilities willreceive pay increases in2003, averaging $0.47 perhour or 2.79 percent.Seventeen facilities willreceive pay increases in2004, averaging $0.45 perhour or 2.88 percent. Eightfacilities report wageincreases in 2005, averag-ing $0.43 or 3.00 percent.Two report an increase in2006; not enough to calcu-late an average.PensionALL THE FACILITIES partic-ipate in some type of pen-sion program. Eight facili-ties participate in theBoilermaker-BlacksmithNational Pension Trust. All

have a cents-per-hour con-tribution, ranging from $0.30to $3.25 per hour in the firstcontract year. Averagecents-per-hour contribu-tions are $1.07 in the firstyear, $1.10 in the second,and $1.12 in the third year.

Eleven facilities offer a401(k); ten have company-sponsored plans; one has aprofit sharing plan,Individual RetirementAccount (IRA), and theRegistered RetirementSavings Plan in Canada(RRSP). The RRSP is similarto IRA's found in the U.S.Shift DifferentialTWENTY agreementsreport a second-shift pre-mium with a cents-per-hour premium ranging from$0.10 to $1.05. The averageis $0.46 per hour.

Seventeen agreementsprovide for a third-shift pre-mium with a cents-per-hour premium ranging from$0.15 to $1.05. The averageis $0.52 per hour. Sickness & AccidentSIXTEENagreements pro-vide weekly sickness andaccident indemnity. Ofthese, all pay a set dollaramount ranging from $170to $650 per week, the

average rate for the firstyear is $304.33. The mostcommon duration of timeoff is 26 weeks found in sixagreements. Life Insurance/AD&DTWENTY agreements pro-vide life insurance, 18 ofwhich have a set dollaramount ranging from$4,000 to $60,500. Theaverage benefit for thefirst year is $23,222. Theremaining agreementscalculate a benefit basedon annual salary.

Nineteen agreementsprovide Accidental Deathand Dismemberment(AD&D) insurance, 17 ofwhich have a set dollaramount ranging from$10,000 to $60,500. Theaverage benefit for thefirst year is $24,941. Theremaining agreementscalculate a benefit basedon annual salary.VacationALL OF THE agreementshave a vacation policy.Twenty of the agreementsprovide a one-week paidvacation. All provide atwo-week and a three-week paid vacation.Twenty-one agreementsprovide a four-week paid

vacation, and 14 agree-ments provide a five-weekpaid vacation. Two agree-ments provide a six-weekpaid vacation, and oneprovides seven weeks ofpaid vacation. Of theabove agreements, fivereceive vacation paybased on a percentage oftheir earnings.Paid HolidaysALL OF THE agreementsprovide for paid holidays.The number of paid holidaysranges from eight to 13. Theaverage is 10.5.Other ProvisionsALL OF THEagreementsprovidefuneral leave. Paidleave for jury duty is found in19 agreements. Union leavelanguage is found in 17agreements. Eighteenagreements provide all orpartial reimbursement forthe purchase of safetyshoes, and 19 agreementsprovide all or partialreimbursement forprescription safety glasses.Six agreements providepaid leave for those personswho spend two weeks atmilitary encampmenteachyear. Five provide aseverance paymentpackage.

A summary analysis of these contract settlements

NEGOTIATING A FIVE-YEAR contract forLocal D408 membersat Holcim US Inc., are,front to back, JoeGeyman, Ken Lama,Tim Tipton, GaryGilbert, Ron Burgrave,and IR Carey Allen.

New contract summariesA brief listing of recent agreements signed and ratified by Boilermaker local lodges


L O C A L N E W S


L-92 celebrates 110th year

Lodge members witness elected officers’ installationIN 2002, THE MEMBERS of Local Lodge 92, Los Angeles, Calif., celebrated the110th anniversary year of their charter. They also elected new officers for athree-year term. Pictured above, Intl. Rep. John Yeatts (back to camera) installsthe new officers, l. to r., Rec. Sec. John Rea, Trustee Sterling Neal, Inspector KenHansen, Vice Pres. Dan Piraino, Pres. Jim Collins, BM-ST Ed Marquez, TrusteeChairman Greg Smith, and Trustee Don Hyatt. ❑

Cheuvronts have beenBoilermakers since 1942

Boilermaking is a familyaffair for the CheuvrontsFOUR GENERATIONS OF theCheuvront family have worked asBoilermakers and been members ofLocal 667, Charleston, W.Va.

The family tradition began in 1942,when Charles (one of four sons ofCharles and Helen Cheuvront) joinedLocal 667. Within 12 years, all three ofhis brothers had joined the local — Joein 1952, Don in 1953, and Jim in 1954.

It gets a little difficult to follow fromthis point forward, because each ofthese four brothers had sons whojoined the union, as well as sons-in-law, grandsons, grandsons-in-law,and now a great-grandson.

Charles, who is now retired,received his 60th year membershippin in September 2002. His son,Kenneth G., is also retired. Kenneth G.has three sons; Steve and Randy areinactive members, but Ron and grand-son, Matthew, are still working.

Joe, who passed away in 1981, hadtwo sons, Rick and Kenneth C., whoare still working. Rick’s son, KennyW., and son-in-law, Pat, are working.Kenneth’s son, Joe, and son-in-law,Jason, are also working.

Don, who is retired, has three sons;Bud, Mike, and Danny are all stillworking.

Jim, who is retired, has two sons,Larry and Garry, who are still work-ing, and a son-in-law, Kenny Wilson,who is inactive at this time. ❑

Local 128 lends a helpinghand to Local 680 membersToronto local arrangesfor welding test, helpsmembers find workWHEN DAN LANGLOIS, businessmanager of Local 680, St. Catharines,Ontario, couldn’t make arrangementsfor his members to take the CanadianWelding Bureau test, he called Local128, Toronto, to see if they could help.

Local 128 Bus. Mgr. Ed Power did-n’t hesitate. He asked Local 128 weld-ing instructor Gord Craig to see whathe could do. Within one week, Craighad scheduled five testing dates for 40Local 680 members. He also arrangedto let Local 680 members use Local128’s welding facility, where he

helped them prepare for the test.“Our local wasn’t registered with

the Canadian Welding Bureau, andwe were unable to use the Port Wellerwelding school,” explained Langlois.“After a month passed and I stillcould not make test arrangements, Icontacted Ed for some help.”

But L-128’s help did not stop there.“When they learned that our mem-

bers had been laid off from the ship-yard in the summer and fall of 2002,Local 128 reached out once again andhelped find work for our members,”said Langlois. “I want to thank EdPower and all the brothers of Local128 for their outstanding show ofunity, progress, and protection.” ❑

L-1, Chicago, Ill., presentsmembership pinsJOHN SKERMONT, BM-ST of Local1, Chicago, Ill., reports presentationof pins for continuous years of mem-bership to the following:

35 Years – Harry Dexter;

30 Years – Donald Kitchen, RudolfStonitsch; and

25 Years – Daniel Berg, TimothyCraddock, Frank Koteles,Jeffrey Murphy, MichaelMurphy, Robert Papineau,James Shue.

L-83, Kansas City, Mo.,presents membership pinsROGER ERICKSON, BM-ST of Local83, Kansas City, Mo., reports presen-tation of pins for continuous years ofmembership to the following:

60 Years – Chester F. Adams;

55 Years – Charles E. Forbes;

50 Years – Donald L. Dennis,Lawrence C. Green, HenryHollingsworth, Jack Metz;

45 Years –Warren G. Barker, JerryR. Horseman, Charles S.Lauffer;

40 Years – Rutherford B. Mills Jr.;

35 Years – Roger D. McQuitty;

30 Years – Thomas J. Goslin,Steven P. Harmon; and

25 Years – Donnie Dwyer, DavidW. Miller, Ronald E. Robinson.

L-374, Hammond, Ind.,presents membership pinsCHARLES H. VANOVER, BM-ST ofLocal 374, Hammond, Ind., reportspresentation of pins for continuousyears of membership to the following:

35 Years – William Gidley, ThomasL. Miller, Dennis R. Miner,Wayne R. Rogers, Edwin E.Siminski;

30 Years – Clarence I. Cronin Jr.,Gary H. King, Joseph S. Pawlik,James R. Roberts;

25 Years – Daniel R. Adams, BruceA. Adkins, Lanny J. Eaton,Donald M. Epple, Duane K.Gehlhausen, Roger L.Gehlhausen, James D. Gilbert,Dallas W. Kennedy, Davis S.Klos, Albert R. Lawrence, DavidL. Meyer, Gregory P.Mitcheltree, Michael T. Neu,Daniel L. Smith, Tod Struzik,Dan Tillema, Michael Timbrook,Charles R. Vaal, Keith M. Wash,Lloyd Whitelow Jr.;

20 Years – Thomas N. Begle,Raymond L. Brosseau, GregoryK. Brumfield, Kenneth T. Ernst,Dale W. Feix, Kevin A. Hauter,Jerry L. Howard, Earl D.Huffman, James B. Miller,William A. Mitchell, Bernard A.Moon, Mark R. Muszynski,David L. Reed, Michael E. Riley,Gregory E. Rogier, Mark D.Snedeker, Mary K. Thomasson,Randy R. Webster;

15 Years – Robert K. Allen, GregoryG. Johnson, Frank J. Reich.

L-667, Charleston, W.Va.,presents membership pinsGEORGE PINKERMAN, BM-ST ofLocal 667, Charleston, W.Va., reportspresentation of pins for continuousyears of membership to the following:

60 Years – Charles Cheuvront.

HONORS

CHARLES CHEUVRONT,c., receives his60-year membership pin from L-667BM-ST George Pinkerman (r.) and L-667 Pres. Sammy Doolittle (l.).

Boilermakers earn membership pins

MORE LOCAL 83 service pins: 60 - Chester Adams; 55 - Charles E. Forbes; 50 -Donald Dennis, Lawrence Green, Henry Hollingsworth, Jack Metz; 45 – WarrenBarker; 40 – Rutherford Mills; 35 – Roger McQuitty; 30 – Thomas Goslin.

LOCAL 83 MEMBERS receive service pins: l. to r., Steven Harmon (30), CharlesLauffer (45), Jerry Horseman (45), L-83 officers Pres. Larry Horseman, BM-ST RogerErickson, and Rec. Sec. Randy Cruse, Ronald Robinson (25), Donnie Dwyer (25),and David Miller (25).

MEMBERS OF THE Cheuvront family have been Boilermakers since 1942. Pictured infront, l. to r., are Local 667 members (with the year they joined the union): Kenneth C.(1972), David (1970), Donald (1953), Charles (1942), James A. (1954), Kenneth G.(1966), and Larry (1976). Back row, l. to r., Matthew (2000), Pat Neal (2002), Joe W.(1999), Jason Axley (2002), Ronald (1976), Donald (1978), Garry (1989), Daniel(1990), Kenneth W. (1997), Kenneth Wilson (1976), and Michael (1979). The insetphoto is of Joe Cheuvront, who joined the union in 1952 and passed away in 1981.


L O C A L N E W S


Local 4 apprentice isMiss Western NavajoLAUREN DOUGI, 19, an apprenticeout of Local 4, Page, Ariz., wascrowned Miss Western Navajo on Oct.22, 2002, at the Western Navajo NationFair in Tuba City, Ariz.

Dougi will serve a one-year term asMiss Western Navajo as she continuesher apprentice training through Local4. She is a member of the first appren-tice class to receive instruction at Local4’s new training facility, passing theCommon Arc test for plate welding inAugust 2002.

Contest requirements for the MissWestern Navajo competition includebeing single and possessing both mod-ern and traditional skills and talents.Dougi competed in modern skills andtalents by sewing pajamas and per-forming a western dance. Her tradi-tional competition included corngrinding and singing a Navajo song. ❑ L-4 APPRENTICE Lauren Dougi receives

her crown as Miss Western Navajo.

Sewing storage tip leadsto television appearanceANN WARD, THE WIFE of retiredmember Kenneth Ward, Local 627,Phoenix, is enjoying a taste of fame inher hometown of Holbrook, Ariz.

She has been sewing since she wasin high school making clothes, quilts,home-decorating goods, crafts, andgifts. Her welding caps — a soft capwelders like to wear under theirhoods — has made her well-knownamong Boilermakers who workedwith her husband, and with her son,Michael, also of Local 627. But her rib-bon storage idea is gaining her nation-al fame through a televised show anda published book on sewing hints.

Last year, Mrs. Ward appeared on apopular sewing show, Sewing WithNancy Zieman, on the PublicBroadcast Station (PBS), where shedemonstrated how she stores ribbonsand trims. And now her tip appears in

the 20th anniversary edition ofZieman’s book, “Sewing with Nancy’sFavorite Hints.”

“Using yards and yards of trims, Idevised an easy way to keep themorganized using a gallon-sized zip-clo-sure bag,” Mrs. Ward explained in aninterview with the Holbrook Tribune.

She places the trims in the lowerhalf of the bag and stitches aroundthem to form a pocket around eachtrim. Additional trims are placed inthe upper portion of the bag, andpockets are stitched around them. Shethen snips off the lower corners of thebag to create an opening for the trimto feed through and at the top, thetrim feeds through the zip-closure top.

She has been encouraged to submitmore sewing tips that could lead toher winning a trip, but she’s not sureshe wants to do any more traveling.After all, before her husband retiredtwo years ago, she traveled with himthree times from coast to coast whilehe worked at various power plants. ❑

A tribute to Arthur CrosbyARTHUR S. CROSBY, 80, passed awayOct. 23, 2002. A 55-year Boilermaker, heserved 15 years on Local 28’s executiveboard and was the last charter officer toretire from Local 28, Newark, N.J.

His four sons, and many of hisnephews and grandsons, followed inhis footsteps, all becoming members ofLocal 28. His son, John, served as vicepresident and spent 21 years as a boardmember; his nephew, Robert, is cur-rently serving as trustee and is a 12-yearmember of the local’s executive board.

His son, Richard, who worked as aboilermaker until a 1984 pool accidentleft him a paraplegic, wrote the follow-ing poem as a tribute to his father:

A Tribute To A BoilermakerBy Richard Crosby

An honor student in elementary schoolA baker, a fighter, a BoilermakerA jack of many trades, our Dad

A true champion in so many waysHe fought when younger in the ringFought for his country in World War IIFought his whole life for true values

He was a strong man, stern at timesBut only out of love to keep his children in lineHis handshake and word better than a contract

A unique heart with genuine concern for othersTook care of his dad, mom, sisters, & brothers

In times of sickness and bad healthA loyal man to family and friendsHis wife, in-laws, strangers, grandchildren,

daughter, and sons

Always there willing to help anyone

His whole life he loved and stood by his childrenand wife

If you needed a shoulder to cry on he was therefor you

If you needed just someone to talk toIf you needed a ride, a job, a loanAnything he could do, he’d just pick up a phone

His final battles he fought with dignity and prideRough they were, but he took them in strideNever giving up, never looking behindJust kept on forward towing his line

He worked the steel through heat and coldHe was a man with a heart of goldOur dad, proud we are to say this and any dayWe wouldn’t want it any other way

No one in this entire human race could ever takehis place

ARTHUR CROSBY (r.) meets with Intl. Pres.Charles W. Jones at the 1996 convention.

Manager shares workers’distress over plant closingInterstate Forge closes, 140members of L-1162 lose jobs

WHEN INTERSTATE FORGEclosedtheir doors in November, no one wasmore deeply affected than plant man-ager Jaye Wirsbinsky. As he put it in aletter he wrote to employees, “In myprevious life, I was a forge shopemployee. I was a member of 1162.

“My father retired as a member ofthat local, as did other relatives andmany friends. I don’t think that we willever find a company to work for whereso many of the employees share somuch as we did here.”

Members of Local 1162, Milwaukee,Wis., have represented employees ofInterstate Forge since 1950. Originallycalled Interstate Drop Forge, the com-pany had been in business for 82 years;for 52 of those years, Local 1162 repre-sented their workers.

Wirsbinsky says Interstate was“always a success story.” He credits theworkers for that success. Not only didthey work hard, but in the 1980s, whenthe company needed to buy a 2,500 ton

forging press to remain competitive,union members accepted concessionsin wages to help them pay for it.

The company took off, growing from40 employees to over 200 employees,and the company shared their wealthwith the workers.

“Everyone had job security andmade a good living,” says Wirsbinsky.

Five years ago, Citation Corporationbought Interstate, an event that Wirs-binsky calls “the beginning of the end.”

Local 1162 Sec.-Treas. DonaldMadisen says Citation Interstate Forgeis moving their jobs to a nonunionplant in Novasota, Texas. “Many fineworkers are losing jobs they havespent their lives at,” said Madisen.

“We have all enjoyed the hard-earned union benefits and the oppor-tunity to earn a living wage, but whenthe bottom line is profit or greed, theunion worker is the first to go.”

Wirsbinsky ended his letter, “I amvery proud to have been associatedwith all of you. You can be very proudof what we did here. Walk with yourheads held high.” ❑

Wife of Local 627 retireeis enjoying the limelight

Brotherhood Buildingsees its first weddingDonna Russell and CarlOliver exchange vowsduring lunch hourDONNA RUSSELL, daughter of andexecutive secretary to InternationalPresident Charles W. Jones, wedCarl Oliver, an instructor at the

Boilermakers National ApprenticeProgram Training Center, onNovember 27, 2002, in the lobby ofthe Brotherhood Building.

Standing over a tiled replica of theBoilermaker seal, the two became manand wife in witness of family, friends,and several Brotherhood Buildingworkers during the noon hour. ❑

JUDGE ROBERT L. SERRA (back to camera) joins Donna Russell, daughter of Intl. Pres.C. W. Jones, and Carl Oliver in holy matrimony. Standing at left is Donna’s maid ofhonor and sister, Doris Cobb. Pres. Jones is pictured between his daughters.

L-128’s Nickles is 40th of1,400 marathon runnersDANA NICKLES, 43, has only beenrunning for one year, yet he finished hisfirst marathon race in less than threehours and 20 minutes, earning the rightto run in the Boston Marathon.

Before he took up running as a wayto keep in shape, Nickles used to com-pete nationally in Tae Kwon Do. Nowhe runs an average of 50 miles a week.

Nickles, a 25-year member of Local128, Toronto, Ontario, competed in theCasino Niagara International

Marathon, Oct. 27, 2002, in Buffalo,N.Y., and Niagara Falls, Ontario.

He finished 40th of 1,400 startingrunners, with a race time of threehours, four minutes, and 46 seconds.

Nickles is the stepson of retired L-128member Doug Janson.

His brothers are also Local 128members — 28-year member Dennis(Pipe) Nickles, seven-year memberCraig Seward, and six-year memberMike Janson. ❑

Members-only discountshelp you bring the 21stcentury into your homeWHETHER YOU CONSIDERyourselfa novice or a computer whiz, buying acomputer is not easy.

First, you have so many decisions tomake. What brand should you buy?Laptop or desktop? How much mem-ory do you need? How much storage?What about connecting to the Internet?Should you get anti-virus software?

And then there is the cost. Althoughbigger, better, and faster computers areavailable for less and less each year,you’re still going to lay out quite a bit ofmoney for a reliable computer systemthat has everything you want. How doyou know you’re getting a good deal?

Union Plus members-only discountscan help ease price anxiety. Two of themost reliable computer brands on themarket offer discounts to Boilermakers.

IBM offers ten percent discounts onselected computers and accessories.

Dell offers five to ten percent dis-counts on selected systems.

You can plug into these discountsthrough the Union Privilege web site athttp://www.unionprivilege.org. ChooseComputers & Tech under the MemberBenefits column to check out year-round discounts and promotionals.

And this brief shopping guide cananswer some of your questions aboutwhat kind of computer to buy.● First, decide what you want to dowith your computer. For example, doyou want it for simple word processingor do you need it for a broad range oftasks like spreadsheets, access to the

Internet, and multimedia applications?Knowing exactly what you want it forhelps you buy the right equipmentwhile avoiding paying for features thatyou never use.● Stick with reputable brand names.Off-brands may not be compatible withyour other equipment or software.● Learn the lingo. Knowing the namesof the basic components of a computersystem and what they do will help youunderstand the sales literature. PCmagazines and your local library aregood sources of basic information.● Ask your friends about systems andsuppliers. They’ll speak your lan-guage, and what’s worked for themmay work for you.● When comparing prices, make surethe systems are comparable. A com-puter with a 6gb hard drive is alwayscheaper than one with a 16gb drive.● Make sure the computer will operatethe software you need and is compati-ble with other equipment.

● Check the cost of consumables. Alow cost printer may have a toner car-tridge that is expensive to replace.● Make sure you can upgrade as yourneeds change and new hardware andsoftware become available. ● If software is pre-installed, be sureto get the original media containing theprogram (e.g., CD or floppy) in caseyou need to reinstall. ● Don’t buy pirated software. All soft-ware should come with disks, instruc-tion books, and licenses.● Shareware is software offered tousers on a trial basis. Manuals maycome on a disk or as a download. ● Anti-virus software is essential ifyou will be using the Internet or email.Viruses work without the user’sknowledge, copying themselves toother users. Most viruses eventuallyharm your computer or destroy files. ● Make sure the goods are in stockbefore you pay, or get the retailer togive you a firm date when they will be.You might make your purchase subjectto the computer being available by acertain date. ● Before taking delivery of your com-puter, open the boxes to make sure allthe components are actually there. ❑

14 Jan • Feb 2003the Boilermaker Reporter

C O N S U M E R N E W S


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PERSONAL LOANSAvailable for credit-qualifiedmembers. Call: 1-888-235-2759

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LIFE INSURANCEFor members, their spouses, andchildren. Call: 1-800-899-2782

ACCIDENT INSURANCECall: 1-800-899-2782

HEALTH SAVINGSSave on prescription medicines,hearing, dental, and vision care.

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FLOWER SERVICE Call: 1-888-667-7779

NORTH AMERICAN VAN LINES Call: 1-800-524-5533

Go to our web site for more information:

www.unionplus.org

BOILERMAKERS UNIONPRIVILEGE BENEFITS

*Includes retired members. Programrestrictions apply to members outside thecontinental United States. Phone 1-800-

452-9425 for clarification of eligibility.

The money-saving programslisted below are available onlyto Boilermaker members and

their immediate families.*

Members Only Buy a new home computer ata discount with Union Plus

Make your next computerpurchase a happy occasion

THANKS TO UNION PLUS, you cansave 15 percent every time you sendflowers. With Union Plus Flower Ser-vice, you can have flowers deliveredanywhere in the world, satisfactionguaranteed.

Special offers

• 15% discount per order (minimumorder $34.99) • 100% satisfaction guarantee • Additional savings for online orders • Wide selection of expertly designedfloral arrangements, green and bloom-ing plants, and wreaths • Same-day service (if ordered beforenoon in recipient’s time zone) • International service (with three-daydelivery guarantee) • A “talking bouquet” offers access to atoll-free 800 number message.

Two ways to order By phone: 1-888-667-7779Order online at

www.unionplus.org/benefits/gift/frame.cfmUnion Plus developed this program

in partnership with the Flower Club. ❑

MEMBERS OF THEInternational Brotherhood of Boilermakers can buyCarhartt® items through Red Tail Outfitters for less than suggested retail prices.

Buy online through a hotlink on the Boilermakers’ site at www.boilermakers.org.To get your discount, when you check out, enter the promotional code: IBB2002. Oryou can order by phone: 1-877-USA-WORK, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

BOILERMAKERStraveling through or working in Sarnia, Ontario, can get adiscount on a single room at the Airport Motor Inn, 1716 London Line Sar-nia, Ontario (519-542-5511). You will need to show your union card to get thediscounted rate. ❑

More discounts for Boilermakers only

Send flowers for less with yourmember-only discount

CONGRESS MADE several changes ineligibility rules for the Earned IncomeCredit (EIC) for tax returns filed in2003. Some workers previously ineligi-ble for the EIC and Child Tax Creditmay now qualify. ● Families with one child who earnedless than $29,201 in 2002 (or less than$30,201 for married workers) are eligi-ble for a credit of up to $2,506.

● Families with two or more chil-dren who earned less than $33,178(or less than $34,178 for marriedworkers) in 2002 are eligible for acredit of up to $4,140.● Workers without a qualifying childwho earned less than $11,060 in 2002(or less than $12,060 for married work-ers) are eligible for a credit of up to $376● Investment income limit = $2,550.

Earned income creditrules get easier for 2002

A Few Terms● Speed is measured in megahertzor gigahertz. Computer games, mul-timedia, and desktop publishingrequire a faster computer. Word pro-cessing and spreadsheet softwarecan run on less powerful computers.

Your computer’s performance levelis determined by a combination ofvariables: the central processing unit(CPU); the motherboard; the amountof level 2 cache (high speed memory);RAM; and the internal hard drive. ● RAM is random access memory,the working “area” of your com-puter. It is measured in megabytes orgigabytes. Check the specifications ofthe software you intend to use tomake sure the computer has enoughRAM to operate it efficiently.● Storage is measured in megabytesor gigabytes. Make sure the hard diskhas sufficient storage capacity tohold all of your files and programs.

Intl. Marx, Frances T. $6,000.00NTL Antoon, Mitchell J. 6,000.00NTL Byrd, Billy R. 6,000.00NTL Cheney, Robert E. 6,000.00NTL Heck, Marvin H. 6,000.00NTL Magee, Duane W. 6,000.00NTL Smoak, Alton Andrew6,000.00NTL Stroud, Robert J. 6,000.00NTL Thompson, Preston B. 6,000.001 Favia, William 6,000.001 Kuh, Leonard C. 6,000.001 Petralia, Nick 6,000.006 Aquilina, Charles J. 6,000.006 Chiavola, Louis G. 6,000.006 Collins, LeRoy 6,000.006 Kortum, Fred 6,000.006 Prapro, Wasyl 6,000.006 Rodriguez, Ventura A.6,000.006 Steiner, Albert 6,000.006 Yandell, Carey A. 6,000.0013 Carney, Charles G. 6,000.0013 Marini, Steven 6,000.0013 Marshall, James L. 6,000.0013 Rudel, Derald J. 1,258.7627 Wallace, Clark W. 6,000.0028 Gibney, Edward P. 11,000.0029 Dube, Lionel A. 6,000.0029 Grafton, Walter R. 6,000.0030 Daves, John C. 6,000.0037 Sewell, Billy D. 5,350.7637 Triola, Joseph Samuel 6,000.0040 Oliver, David R. 130.9040 Sampson, John K. 6,000.0060 Cassidy, Edwin E. 2,000.0072 McLean, Eugene W. 6,000.0074 Gill, Doyle G. 6,000.0079 LeDoux, Alpha J. 6,000.0083 Ramsey, Floyd Thomas6,000.0083 Turnage, Douglas R. 6,000.0085 Gaytan Sr., David 3,000.0085 Lewis, Ray D. 6,000.0085 Schwab, Ron 450.0092 Burton, Wayne S. 6,000.0092 Dorler, Edward J. 6,000.0092 Killeen, James R. 6,000.0092 Larson, Albert L. 6,000.0092 Waits, Jack Carlos 6,000.00101 Cannon, Eddie 6,000.00104 Davis Jr., John R. 6,000.00104 McMasters, Neil R. 4,620.85104 Melum, Donald W. 6,000.00104 Powels, David J. 5,774.25104 Richardson Sr., John P.6,000.00104 Snyder, Earl C. 6,000.00105 Reck, Joseph R. 6,000.00105 Wheeler, Vernon 6,000.00108 Bogue, Jimmie R. 6,000.00108 Scogin, James E. 6,000.00112 Helveston, Wilton E. 6,000.00112 Stagner, Earl Berlon 6,000.00113 Townsend, Charlie W. 6,000.00124 Campbell, John W. 6,000.00132 Smith, Robert C. 6,000.00154 Bolli, Marvin W. 6,000.00154 McGee, Robert L. 1,306.95154 Miller, James J. 6,000.00154 Newman, Lawrence D.6,000.00169 Brady, Carl B. 146.33182 Davis, Billy J. 6,000.00182 Finch, Donald W. 6,000.00182 Lemon, Grant E. 6,000.00182 Mitchell, Leonard A. 12,932.32

182 Walker, Kenneth S. 6,000.00193 Ashe, Charles W. 6,000.00193 Bowman, Robert A. 1,159.98199 Batten, James R. 6,000.00204 Duldulao, Randolph 7,833.01237 Moras, John G. 2,449.04300 Filipovits, Louis 6,000.00305 Gaspard, John 6,000.00305 Williams, Lawrence 6,000.00363 Dutton, Harry W. 6,000.00363 Padgett, Otis F. 6,000.00374 Bridwell, William E. 6,000.00374 Thomas, Chester M. 6,000.00433 Banta, Perry J. 6,000.00433 Rego, Vinicio Y. 6,000.00449 Gray, Joseph J. 6,000.00487 Hansen, Wilburt J. 6,000.00549 Boone, Robert G. 6,000.00549 Evans, Warren F. 6,000.00577 Parks, Harding C. 6,000.00582 Blackwell, Felix E. 6,000.00582 Callender, Ellis L. 6,000.00582 Felker, Larry P. 457.04582 Temple Sr., Hiram C. 6,000.00582 Thames, Howard 6,000.00587 Bussell, Johnnie 6,000.00599 Featherly, Chester 6,000.00627 Walters, Cary L. 6,000.00636 Wright, Lester E. 6,000.00647 Peka, Leo 6,000.00647 Whitman, Edward C. 3,000.00647 Zoller, Vale H. 12,000.00651 Barthelemy, Marie T. 6,000.00744 Jamnik, Frank T. 6,000.00744 Preece, Thomas J. 6,000.00752 Labrecque, George R. 6,000.00752 Wells, Henry E. 6,000.00802 Creshine, Oliver T. 6,000.00891 Howey, Robert E. 6,000.001086 Mara, Francis J. 6,000.001162 Kalas, Norbert F. 6,000.001191 Williams, George S. 6,000.001248 Slowik, Michael S. 6,000.001509 Schultz, Vern G. 6,000.001592 Hill Sr., Clyde V. 6,000.001592 Stelmach, Joseph 6,000.001600 McMullin, Doyle L. 6,000.001670 Koshar, Elizabeth Ruth6,000.00

IF YOU HAVE NOT yet been furnished this informa-tion, contact your local lodge, secure the benefici-ary forms, complete the required information andforward to the Administrative Office of the PensionFund, 754 Minnesota Avenue, Suite 522, KansasCity, KS 66101, at the earliest possible date. NOTE:These additional death benefits can only bederived for members who worked under a collec-tive bargaining agreement with an employer con-tributing to the Boilermaker-Blacksmith NationalPension Trust.


I N M E M O R I A M

Correction: Richard H. Chilton ofLocal 30 is alive and well. Hisname was incorrectly included inthe Memoriam column of theNov-Dec 2001 issue.

NTL Adams, Maurice L.1 Petralia, Nick6 Hayes, Bernard6 Joseph, Leroy C.13 Carney, Charles

13 Dercole, August J.19 Butler, Dana27 Harty, Levi30 Bumpass, William E.37 Pichon, Fred F.37 Triola, Joseph60 Williams, James Lee72 Schuette, James L.72 Walker, Kyle73 Baker, Lindsie79 Lebleu, James

79 Plaisance, Paul D.80 Rivers, James J.92 Castaneda, Tim J.92 Moore, Earl W.92 Salas, Alfred G.104 Snyder, Earl110 Batchelor, Warren A.112 Miller, Willie F.128 Adams, John A.128 Baumer, Albert128 MacDonald, Willard J.

128 Myette, Charles132 Kraus, Wilmer S.146 Piche, Norbert146 Robillard, Peter C.195 Skeeters, Park199 Batten, James237 Scrivener, William L.305 Nunez, Aba343 Perez, Ben374 Becich Jr., Daniel374 Topper, Chester A.443 Lubeck, Donald455 Palmer, Richard W.455 White, C. J.

483 Sutton, Donald C.531 Adams, William A.582 Blackwell, Felix582 Callender, Ellis587 Crocker, Gaston A.627 Armitage, Dennis C.656 Boyd, Thomas G.667 Priestley, Lenvil735 Digrigorio, James801 Keen, Franklin900 Sickels, James W.1062 Sippola, Nestor1274 Geronimo, Frank1274 Gideon, Michael


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

LODGE & NAME

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

LODGE, NAME & BENEF I T

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

Moving? Tell us where . . .Name

New Address

City

State or Province Zip

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

Mail form to:Publications Department

753 State Avenue, Suite 565

Kansas City, KS 66101

(Allow five weeks for change of address.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Window Decals

One for $2 Donation;Three for $5 Donation

Archives Needs Support

10-inch Wall Clock$20 DonationFront - 1893 logo Back - Current logo

Men’s GoldDress Watch$40 Donation

Men’sSouvenir Watch

$15 Donation

Men’sSports Watch$30 Donation

Ladies GoldDress Watch$40 Donation

LadiesSouvenir Watch

$15 Donation

Christmas Ornament— $10 Donation

Before retiring, Moceriserved 22 years as Local363’s business managerANTHONY R. MOCERI, 86, a retiredbusiness manager of Local 363, East St.Louis, Ill., died Nov. 19, 2002, followingcomplications from a heart ailment.

Moceri joined Local 363 in 1942,and was elected business manager in1966, a position he held until his 1984retirement.

He was secretary of the Great LakesArea Apprenticeship Program, and amember of the Illinois Boiler Board, theSouthwestern Illinois Leadership Coun-cil, and the labor advisory committee forIllinois Senator Charles Percy.

In 1998, Local 363 named its newhall in his honor. His nephew, JohnPassiglia Jr., currently serves as Local

363’s business manager and secre-tary-treasurer.

Moceri’s survivors include his wifeof 48 years, Vera Passiglia Moceri, ofCreve Coeur, Mo. ❑

Local 363 mourns passingof Anthony R. Moceri


C O M M E N T A R Y


Enron & deregulation still haunt us

If a foreign power conspired to artifi-cially raise the price of electricity,costing our country $40 billion, dam-

aging the national economy, and forc-ing millions of Americans to dowithout electricity during “rollingblackouts,” someone in Washingtonwould be calling for their heads.

But when U.S. corporations do it,that’s another matter. In the case of theCalifornia energy crisis of 2000-2001,the federal agency charged with over-seeing the production and transmis-sion of electrical energy just looked theother way.

And now they are recommendingthat we should deregulate the electricpower industry throughout the rest ofthe country, opening the door for thesame kinds of abuses in every state.

Something doesn’t smell right.When California began experiencing

shortages in electric power in 2000, theFederal Energy Regulatory Commis-sion (FERC) said they could do noth-ing. Shortages were an inevitable resultof California’s attempt to deregulatethe electric power industry. Faced withno guaranteed profit, power producersfailed to increase capacity. When a hotsummer increased demand beyondcapacity, utilities ran out of juice, caus-ing blackouts and putting power pricesout of reach.

That’s what they told us, and mostpeople bought it. When the weathercooled, the shortages eased some-what, only to come back evenstronger in 2001.

While California struggled to find away to provide electricity to all its citi-zens, a problem that had neveroccurred before deregulation, Presi-dent Bush blamed the state’s high envi-ronmental standards. But as early asMay 2001, some investigative journal-ists were already pointing out that theenergy crisis was not being caused by atrue shortage of energy, but by manip-ulation of the market.

Gregory Palast, writing in Britain’s theObserver, pointed out that in December2000, when the prices of natural gas and

electricity were ten times what they hadbeen the previous year, two “powerfulmerchants” had simply blocked theflow of natural gas into California tobump the price up. On the other side ofthe state line, it was selling for one-tenthCalifornia’s price. In 2000, similar artifi-cial shortages had been responsible forexcess charges of at least $6.2 billion —all of them perfectly legal under thenewly deregulated power market.

As Palast put it, California didn’t runout of energy, it ran out of government.

We now know that Palast hit it full onthe nose. During 2002, investigationsinto the power shortage revealed that ahalf-dozen companies conspired inter-

nally and sometimes with other com-panies to artificially raise energy prices.They may not have caused the originalshortage (the jury is out on that), butthey clearly made it worse while rack-ing up significant profits.

Internal Enron memos detailednumerous price-gouging strategieswith clever names like Death Star andRicochet, as though Enron’s energytraders were playing arcade gamesrather than cheating California con-sumers out of $40 billion.

In fact, energy traders continue todefend their actions by saying theywere not committing crimes, but weremerely “gaming” the rules to increaseprofits in legal ways.

Legal? It’s difficult to see how. Ricochet referred to buying energy in

California where prices were capped,then moving it across the state line andselling it back to California at a higherprice, because out-of-state sales werenot capped. As one memo explained,by using Ricochet, Enron could buy onemegawatt in the state for $250 andeventually sell it back for $1,200.

The memo went on to counsel that“[t]his strategy appears not to presentany problems, other than a public rela-tions risk arising from the fact that suchexports may have contributed to Cali-fornia’s declaration of a (power) emer-gency yesterday.”

The aptly named Death Star involvedEnron traders creating phantom con-gestion (too much power for the grid)by providing false data about howmany megawatts they intended totransmit to California’s grid manager,known as the ISO.

ISO rules provide payment to relievecongestion, so Enron could collectmoney simply by agreeing to not trans-mit power that they had no intention oftransmitting. A December 2000 memogloats, “The net effect of these transac-tions is that Enron gets paid for movingenergy to relieve congestion withoutactually moving any energy or reliev-ing any congestion.”

What was FERC doing while Enron“gamed” California consumers for bil-lions of dollars? Looking the other way.An anonymous FERC official told theLos Angeles Times, “Everybody knewthat people were engaging in some ofthis activity. It’s just that the commis-sion was in its laissez-faire phase.”

Laissez-faire: let them do it. Laissez-faire capitalism — now

called market capitalism —is based ona belief that the government should notregulate business at all. They say, “Letthe market decide.”

That is the philosophy behindderegulation.

You don’t need a Ph.D. in economicsto see the limitations to that philoso-phy. Without regulations, unscrupu-lous businesses will take advantage ofpowerless consumers. The law of thejungle would prevail.

If that weren’t obvious, we shouldhave learned it from Enron’s games inCalifornia.

But FERC doesn’t seem to have got-ten the message. They didn’t try to stopEnron or any of the other “gamers”during the energy crisis, and they havebeen unwilling to impose penalties onthem now that the truth is public.

Even worse, despite everything thathappened in California, FERC contin-ues to push for deregulation. Theywant all states to completely deregulatetheir power industries. They say thatderegulation, not more regulation, willprevent such abuses in the future.

Are you beginning to wonder howthese people on FERC can be so stupid?

Perhaps it would help you to knowthat FERC members all come frominside the power industry. FERC is aperfect example of the fox guarding thehen house.

Enron is gone — a victim of its owngreed. But the problems within theenergy industry that allowed theirprice manipulation in California arestill with us.

Further deregulating the powerindustry nationwide will only openthe door to more abuses like we sawin California.

We don’t need less regulation; weneed better regulation.

We need a national energy planthat has the goal of ensuring that allAmericans have access to cheap, reli-able, safe power.

Not a plan intended to maximizeprofits for oil, gas, and power-tradingcompanies. ❑

FERC didn’t learn from California’s crisis

California didn’t run out ofenergy, they ran out of

government

Canada’s health care system: bruised but not brokenBuilding Trades lobby forhealth care funding, notprivatization or user fees

OVER THE PASTdecade, right-wing ideologues, the medicalestablishment, and the pharma-

ceutical conglomerates have all pursueda relentless campaign to convince Cana-dians that Canada’s health care systemwas on the brink of total collapse.

Their preferred solutions to this per-ceived crisis included wholesale privati-zation, the introduction of user feesleading to a two-tiered system (one forthe rich and one for the rest of us), and de-listing of previously covered procedures.

This crisis is the direct result of rap-idly increasing costs of equipment anddrugs, coupled with stagnant andsometimes decreasing federal andprovincial government funding forhealth care.

Recently, two major reports on thestrength and deficiencies of the Cana-dian health care system offered a widearray of recommendations. The reportof the Standing Senate Committee onSocial Affairs, Science, and Technology(the Kirby Report) and the report of theRoyal Commission on the Future ofHealth Care in Canada (the Romanow

Report) offered a clear road map to cor-rect the shortcomings identified in thecurrent system.

The Canadian Building Trades, onbehalf of their affiliated unions, submit-ted a brief to these two committees urg-ing the federal government to maintainand enforce the five principles ofCanada’s health care system enshrinedin Canada’s Health Act — public admin-istration, comprehensiveness, universal-ity, portability, and accessibility.

They argued that a continued erosionof the publicly-funded health care sys-tem, coupled with the uncertainty andstrains in the funding and coverage ofmulti-employer benefit plans are a sig-nificant threat to the overall well-beingof our members. They concluded thatan adequately-funded health care sys-tem based on these five principlesshould, and must, be the highest policypriority of all governments.

Both the Kirby and the Romanowreports concurred with the BuildingTrades’ view that what the CanadianHealth Care System needs is adequateand secure funding and not massiveprivatization and user fees. Their con-tinued support of the five principles ofCanada’s Health Act confirms thatCanada’s system, while badly starvedof financial resources and in need of

enhanced administrative and deliveryefficiency, does not require the majorsurgery called for by right-wing “pri-vate is better” ideologues.

The Canadian Building Trades andits affiliates are pressing for implemen-tation of health care recommendationscontained in the Kirby and Romanowreports. Report highlights follow.

The Kirby Report● An additional $5 billion per year is needed toavert the emergence of a parallel private healthcare system. Additional revenues could beraised through a national health care insurancepremium based on taxable income. Premiumswould range from $0.50 to $4 a day.● $1.3 billion of the new funding should expandcoverage to include prescription drug and homecare expenses, and guarantee payment from thepublicly-funded medicare system for immediatetreatment in another province or in the U.S.● Calls for major changes in the funding,structure, and operation of the country’shospital and doctor system. Includes incentivesfor operating the system more efficiently andeffectively, and recommends appointment of ahealth care commissioner to monitor progressof health care reform.● Warns that without an additional $5 billion infunding, governments could no longer denyCanadians the right to purchase private health

care insurance, opening the door to a parallelprivate health care system.

The Romanow Report● Concludes that Canada’s health care systemrequires a federal cash infusion of $15 billionthrough 2005-06, and an additional $6.5 billionfor insured health services.● Recommends establishment of 1. A ruraland remote access fund to improve timelyaccess to care in rural and remote areas ($1.5billion over two years); 2. A diagnosticservices fund to improve wait times fordiagnostic services ($1.5 billion over two years);3. A primary health care transfer to supportefforts to remove obstacles to renew primaryhealth care delivery ($2.5 billion over two years);4. A home care transfer to provide afoundation for an eventual national home carestrategy ($2 billion over two years); and 5. Acatastrophic drug transfer to allow provincialdrug programs to expand and improve coveragefor their residents ($1 billion in 2004-05).● Recommends examination of drug patents toreduce costs; consolidation of native healthfunding; coordination of waiting lists to reducewait times; and establishment of a health councilto set benchmarks for care and ways to measureperformance; a Canadian health covenantoutlining responsibilities of citizens, healthproviders, and governments; and an electronicdatabase of personal health records. ❑

CHARLES W. JONESInternational President

Documents

Reporter the Boilermaker Jan • Feb 2003 Vol. 42 No. 1 · Local 108 for hall dedication I WANT THE MEMBERS and officers of Boilermakers Local 108 to know how honored and privileged