Volume 8, No. 1 The Official Publication of the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council January 2003

inside . . . Reports FromOur Affiliates ................. p14

Extension to Prop BBPLA Approved ............... p10

The Babe and theBathwater ....................... p6

(continued on page 12)

(continued on page 13)

� Proposal will Create Thousands of Construction Jobs Across the Southland

Construction Underway at HaynesPower Plant in Long Beach

Craftworkers Join Elected Officialsto Spruce Up Banning Park

Gov. Gray Davis andother elected officialsjoined more than 50

craftmembers and othercommunity volunteers Jan. 4for Volunteer Day at BanningPark in Wilmington.

The effort was part ofDavis’ plan to get out the wordthat the state could use somehelping hands. With a loomingstate budget crisis, Davis toldvolunteers that communitywork was one of the best waysto help the state governmentget through this rough period.

“We thought the best wayto celebrate our election wasnot to have a fancy ball, but towork in the community,” saidDavis. “This is a wonderfulopportunity to give back to thecommunity and send a

Volunteer Efforts Include Re-Painting and Re-Planting

message about the important rolevolunteerism plays in makingCalifornia great.”

Volunteers scraped, brushed(continued on page 8) To help avert future

energy crises in LA, theDepartment of Water andPower is investing

hundreds of millions in powerplant construction – and the latestproject is now underway at theHaynes Generation StationRepowering Project in LongBeach.

The $200 million-plus projectwill increase electrical capacitywhile reducing pollution andcosts. Craft members will spendthe next two years installing twonew dual-fired CombustionTurbines, two Heat RecoverySteam Generators (HRSGs), onesteam turbine generator, associ-ated pollution control systems,and associated balance of plantequipment.

“This new construction work

will benefit the whole of LosAngeles,” said John Dennis,Power Engineering Manager forthe LA DWP. “Enhanced fuelefficiency will save millions and

also save the environment. It’s awin-win.”

The primary fuel is naturalgas, but the Turbines would be

By Adam LancasterBTN Staff Writer

On Jan. 7 Gov.Gray Davisannounced“Build California,” a major

new initiative that will createthousands of construction jobsaround the state by speeding upthe use of $21.5 billion inconstruction bond money.

Davis was at a schoolconstruction site south ofSacramento when he outlined hisplan to accelerate bond projects,create construction and otherjobs and pump billions of dollarsinto the economy earlier thanplanned.

“This is a very substantialstep to creating jobs in 2003 andproviding projects the voterswanted,” said Davis. “Weestimate these bonds will create

around 300,000 jobs, and we’d likeas many as possible of those jobs tobe created in 2003.”

In November voters across thestate approved dozens of bondmeasures totaling tens of billions ofdollars. The money was intended tophased in over several years.However, Davis’ plan calls for moreof the money to be spent now –helping to jump start the economyand provide thousands of muchneeded new jobs.

“We’re very supportive of theGovernor’s plan,” said RichardSlawson, Executive Secretary of theLA/OC Building Trades Council.“This will have a tremendousimpact on the economy. It willcreate a flow of money that willlead to thousands of new jobs. It’s agreat way to help California recoverfrom this federal recession.”

Slawson estimates that theDavis plan means more than $15billion in investments for LA and

Orange Counties, which wouldtranslate into some 20,000 newconstruction jobs.

The state Building Tradeshave been actively lobbying Davisto invest in California as the bestway to improve the falteringeconomy. In a letter earlier thismonth, Bob Balgenorth, Presidentof the State Building and Con-struction Trades Council, pointedout the economic benefits ofinvesting in road construction. Forexample, for every $1 billionspent more than 26,000 jobs arecreated and more than $2.8 billionis contributed to the stateeconomy.

“The Governor has listened tous and understands the benefits ofinvesting in construction,” saidBalgenorth. “Although it is earlydays the initial proposal lookspromising. More investment willimprove our schools, our roads,and also create more jobs toimprove our economy.”

The money in questionincludes the state’s largest ever

school bond – aDavis-backed $13billion measure tobuild new schoolsand modernizeothers thatincludes $11.5billion for K-12schools. SchoolsthroughoutCalifornia willalso get $9.4billion from 90local school bondmeasures ap-proved inNovember. Voters also approved a$3.5 billion in bonds to pay forwater projects.

“We vigorously support thisplan and the Governor’s commit-ment to creating new jobs,” saidArt Pulaski, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, California LaborFederation. “Gray Davis hasrealized that the best way to createjobs is to invest in infrastructure.We need more schools, morehousing, and more roads for a

California to have a strongeconomy.”

Davis is also wrestling withthe state’s budget crisis, trying todevise ways to close a $35 billiondeficit. But before he spelled outthose plans Davis’ proposal,dubbed the “Build California”initiative, focused on how tostimulate the state’s economy andcreate 500,000 jobs in the nextfour years – something that would

Davis to Spend Billions CrDavis to Spend Billions Creating Jobs in 2003eating Jobs in 2003

Gov. Gray Davis explains his job creation planat a press conference in Sacramento

When completed the Haynes Power Plant in Long Beach willproduce enough electricity to power 1.5 million homes.

Building Trades News is publishedmonthly by the Los Angeles/OrangeCounties Building and ConstructionTrades Council, 1626 Beverly Blvd.,Los Angeles, CA 90026-5784phone: (213) 483-4222

(714) 827-6791fax: (213) 483-4419

Executive Editor, Richard SlawsonEditor, Cherri SendersAdvertising Director, Lou Siegel

(310) 398-6662

Officers of the Council:Richard Slawson, Executive-SecretaryAl Lewis, PresidentErnie Brown, Vice PresidentWilliam Waggoner, TrusteeRed Kirkconnell, TrusteePhillip Morris, TrusteeHerb Barton, Sergeant-at-Arms

Council Affiliates:Heat & Frost Insulators Local 5Boilermakers Local 92Bricklayers Local 4Electrical Workers Local 11Electrical Workers Local 40Electrical Workers Local 45Electrical Workers Local 441Elevator Constructors Local 18Operating Engineers Local 12Iron Workers Local 416Iron Workers Local 433Iron Workers Local 509Laborers District CouncilLaborers Local 300Laborers, Gunite Workers Local 345Laborers Local 507Laborers Local 652Laborers Local 802Laborers Local 806Laborers Local 882Laborers Local 1082Painters District Council 36

Painters Local 52Painters Local 95Painters Local 256Painters Local 286Glaziers Local 636Painters Local 686Painters Local 775Tradeshow & Signcraft Local 831Resilient Floor Local 1247Painters Local 1595Painters Local 1798Civil Service 1991Painters Local 9254

Plumbers Local 78Steam & Pipe Fitters Local 250Plumbers Local 345Plumbers & Fitters Local 398Plumbers & Fitters Local 494Plumbers & Fitters Local 582Road Sprinkler Fitters Local 669Sprinkler Fitters Local 709Plumbers & Fitters Local 761Plasterers-Cement Masons District CouncilPlasterers-Cement Masons Local 755Plasterers Local 200Cement Masons Local 500Cement Masons Local 600Roofers & Waterproofers Local 36Roofers & Waterproofers Local 220Sheet Metal Workers Local 105Sheet Metal Workers Local 170Teamsters Join Council #42Teamsters Local 396Teamsters Local 420Teamsters Local 692Teamsters Local 952Teamsters Local 986Tilelayers Local 18

‘Deja Vu AllOver Again’

by Richard Slawson, Executive-Secretary

F R O M T H E E X E C U T I V E - S E C R E T A R Y

PAGE 2 Building Trades News

Unions Protest at LA TimesCraft members have

continued their protestsoutside the Los AngelesTimes building indowntown LA.

For more than threemonths now members ofIronworkers 433, joinedby other concernedunion members, havebeen demonstratingagainst the TribuneCompany’s decision toaward a $1.2 milliondollar seismic retrofitcontract to non-unionworkers.

By doing so theyhave broken with atradition that usually sees projects ofthis type awarded to the craft union withthe most skilled workers.

“If allowed to stand, the Times’action could set a dangerous precedent,”said Ironworkers 433 Business Rep.Steve Skinas. “This decision will throwskilled union workers out of work andrisk safety standards at work sites acrossthe Southland.”

Skinas also raised safety concerns

about the project – for those working onthe job, in the building and in nearbyareas.

“This is on an earthquake seismicretrofit project where only the mostqualified contractors and craftsmenshould be used,” explained Skinas. “It’sanother example of a multi-million dollarcorporation being more concerned aboutprofits than safety.”

Would you rather give all of yourincome to a millionaire and depend onhis taking care of you and your family orwould you like to have a decent pay-check, spend your own money and haveyour family decide on expenditures? Thisis the recurrent question in Washington,DC and states around the country. AsYogi Berra once said, “It’s deja vu allover again.”

The economic battle currently goingon in Congress over the BushAdministration’s proposed budget andtax cuts, as the conservatives like to say,is all about your money. The problem isthat when they tell you that its yourmoney, they leave out the fact that theirtax plan will give back more of “their”money to the richest 1% of America!

Democrats and Republicans eachhave their own plan, but while they arebattling, 38 or more states are being cutout of their fair share of the money thattheir citizens send to the federal govern-ment. In small states like “No Rights AtWork” Mississippi, corporations arebeing awarded federal dollars on amassive scale, while California, Wash-ington, Oregon and the northeastern

states are being ignored. California can’teven get assistance on its health servicesshortfalls.

But, the conservatives continue tobroadcast through America’s “unbiased”media that the government is the problembehind America’s troubles and only therich can truly save the economy. This is arestatement of the “tickle down” theorythat was pedaled during the “Raygun”presidency. Put all of the money in thehands of the millionaires and they willinvest it into business, create more jobsand hire all of us poor slobs who theythink don’t know what to do with ourmoney. Of course history tells us that therich don’t hire us, they limit their pur-chases and in many cases they invest inforeign businesses. The richest Ameri-cans, generally chief executives of majorcorporations and heirs to great fortuneshave hoarded their money and passed iton to their own.

The other side of the argument isfrom the progressives. People who aresupportive of working people having theopportunity to negotiate decent wages andbenefits, paying their fair share of taxes tosupport our county’s defenses, and

applying the kind of consumerism thathelped the great American economy withbroad-based buying.

Trickle down didn’t work, but ifBush has anything to do with it we will bemaneuvered more and more in thatdirection. Throughout the 1950s, ’60s and’70s, American working families’ wagesand benefit plans increased and theeconomy benefitted from the discretion-ary income that was available to theexpanding middle class. We boughthomes, cars and other “luxury” itemscoming out of America’s factories. Thesepurchases drove our economy andallowed us to rebound from recessions.We also paid for our retirements throughSocial Security and negotiated retirementplans, which guaranteed that we couldprovide for ourselves in our old age.

However, there was one other thingthat was different — the richest Ameri-cans paid a much higher percentage ofthe cost of government. In the ’70sAmericans making over $1 million paidas high as 70% income taxes. It wasunderstood that those who benefitted themost would pay the most to keep Americastrong. Today, that tenet has beenrecycled, rolled-over and spun until theaverage, middle income American thinksthat a flat tax is fair.

When Newsweek magazine calledPresident Bush a “High Roller” this weekthey probably meant he was willing to betAmerica on helping his rich friends, andhimself, accumulating even more of thewealth in the country. Already 1% of therichest Americans control 40% of thecountry’s wealth. This is not enough,apparently, because they want more.

The latest Bush administrationproposal to eliminate the taxes paid onstock dividend is another step in dividingthe country into two extremes — the richand the poor. Bush’s claim that it is unfairto tax dividends is based on the lie that itis “double taxation.” Corporations aretaxed just as individuals who own abusiness are taxed on their profits. Whenthey pay out their profits to others fortheir services, those who receive thepayment pay taxes as well. Except that inBush’s proposal the elimination of taxeswould allow 60% of the untaxed divi-dends to go to the richest 10% of Ameri-cans.

We need to let our Congressmenknow that we oppose this proposed raidon our government. Call your Congres-sional office today and say that youoppose Bush’s tax plan and the elimina-tion of the tax on dividends. It’s a simplemessage that will have a huge impact.

3AParsaHervation

JANUARY 2003 PAGE 3

PAGE 8 Building Trades News

8AUnionBank

and painted walls, fences and rooms allover the park. A garden area was com-pletely renovated and planted with over 100plants, rocks and fixtures. The basketballcourt was completely re-striped with brightpaint that was hardly dry before teenagerswere playing pick-up games.

The Painters District Council 36,Laborers Local 802, Steam fitters Local250, and Ironworkers State Council all hadnumbers of volunteers who gave theirSaturday for the community.

“This was a great opportunity to getinvolved in our community,” said ArtGuzman, Business Rep. for UA 250. “Ourmembers felt it was important to help outand give something back.”

All together, some 100 volunteersincluding youth groups and communityassociations’ members, worked together toimprove and beautify Banning Park.

Gov. Davis was joined by other stateofficials including Steve Westly, StateController; Jack O’Connell, State Superin-tendent of Schools; and John Garamendi,State Insurance Commissioner, who allpitched in for the day.

Los Angeles city council memberJanice Hahn, whose district the event wasin, also volunteered at the event. “I thinkit’s important for the community to knowthat the governor of California came toWilmington,” she said. The next step, shesaid, will be to request some of the Prop. 40funds that were slated to help improveaging parks for her district.

Volunteers(continued from page 1)

Hundreds of volunteers spent the dayrenovating Banning Park including (aboveleft) Insurance Commissioner JohnGaramendi, Superintendent of PublicInstruction Jack O’Connell, Gov. Gray Davis,State Controller Steve Westly, and (belowleft) LA City Councilmember Janice Hahn.Unions at the event included Laborers Local802 with Hahn (top right) , UA 345 (bottomright), and (left) Painters District Council 36with Westly and Art Pulaski, head of theCalifornia Labor Federation.

JANUARY 2003 PAGE 9

9ACantrellGreen

The experiences of the last few yearshave changed the landscape and therelationship between workers, unions,employers and investment experts forever.

We will never accept “Business asUsual” in the investment markets again.

While we have the fiduciary duty tooperate our trusts and protect the interestsof our workers, we’re not really theexperts…our trust advisors are.

In the past we looked to our experts tohelp us navigate the complexities of thefinancial markets. We looked to them toexercise the appropriate due dilligence.Sometimes we did that to our detriment.

The six trillion dollars in union pensionfunds are a sacred trust for America’sworking families. We must not squanderthese monies on faulty strategies, nor canwe allow government or companies to everinvade these funds as we saw in this lastyear.

Briefly, let’s examine just a few of theevents of the last two years that haveshaken not just equity markets, but the veryfoundations of our economy and ourgovernment.

Executive compensation became anobscene embarassment even for Wall Street.In a decade CEO pay went from 80 timesthe pay of the average workers to almost500 times that pay level. Does anyonereally think the CEOs deserve that kind ofmoney while workers’ wages actually

Corporate Scandals Mean ‘No More Business as Usual’for Union Pension Funds

declined in terms of buying power?Companies like Enron, Adelphia, GlobalCrossing, WorldCom, ImClone and othersmanipulated their stock, cooked the books,mislead their own employees and ripped offtheir own companies for billions of dollars.

The top executives of the 25 largestcompanies to go bankrupt looted $3.3billion for themselves. Instead of protectingtheir own shareholders and employees theytreated their companies like personal piggybanks. Meanwhile pension funds andretirement goals of thousands of Americanworkers were wiped out. The lifelong hopesand dreams of honest working familieswere trashed by these corporate crooks.

Since January 2001 the nation’scollectively bargained pension funds,covering 5 million workers, lost $240billion! Here in California, the CaliforniaPublic Employees’ Retirement System(CalPERS) and the California StateTeachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS)lost a combined $830 million.

Despite the tidal wave of corporatefraud, the Bush administration continues todrag its feet on prosecuting these crooks.The Sacramento Bee headline said recently,“Why aren’t they in the slammer?” Movingat a snail’s pace, Bush and his JusticeDepartment show no enthusiasm for goingafter crooks, particularly since many ofthem, including the President and Vice-President, have been guilty of much the

same manipulation.And, finally, we are beginning to learn

that that worst is not over yet. The press isnow revealing that in addition to outrageouspay and stock rip-offs, many large compa-nies have given their executives massivefree “loans.” Adelphia’s $263 million loantops the list but companies like BearStearns, Provident Financial, First VirginiaBanks, HealthSouth, Microsoft and othershave allowed executives to secretly walkaway with millions of dollars. If a uniontried to secretly loan money to its officers,they’d all go to jail. We’re still waiting forthe cell door to slam shut on these CEOs.Clearly, events of the last two years showthat no one was watching the hen house asthe corporate foxes ransacked the place.Where were the analysts, the experts, thefinancial advisors upon whom we place ourcollective futures? For unions, we have arenewed public trust to protect.

Recent polls have shown that supportand trust for unions have risen to 50percent, the highest levels since 1984.Conversely, 39 percent view corporationsnegatively – the lowest level in nine years.AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, stoodon the steps of the stock exchange in NewYork City and challenged corporateAmerica and the Bush administration fortough new changes in corporate gover-nance.

This election, we worked hard to elect

people to Congress who would give thiscrisis more than the shameful lip-servicemouthed by President Bush. Unfortunately,Bush did well in the election and our jobwill be much more difficult. We did wellhere in California, but the next two yearswill be tough. We support initiatives suchas that proposed by California TreasurerAngelides to use our power in large pensionfunds to advance social agendas andworker’s rights.

Until our own advisors ask the rightquestions and alert us to games played bycompanies we’ll use whatever avenues areavailable to use to protect our members andtheir pensions. It’s not business as usualanymore. We will not sit back and watchpassively as the futures of America’sworking families disappear into the pocketsof greedy CEOs. This new, more aggressiveapproach is not just about protectingunions. It’s also about preserving andenhancing the American middle class.

Institutions must step forward whorepresent the best this country has to offer:the sweat and blood of ordinary workingpeople who add real value to this nationevery hour, every day, year in, year out.

Only America’s unions can do that. Ibelieve that we are up to the task. I believethat our financial experts will be as well.

(This article was experpted from aNov. 12 speech at a San Francisco PensionFunds Forum by Robert Balgenorth)

PAGE 10 Building Trades News

2003 Primary Election Results for theBuilding & Construction Trades Crafts

The following are unanimously endorsed candidates forthe Mar. 4 Los Angeles City primary election:

Los Angeles City Council:District #2 ....................... Wendy Greuel (Incumbent)District #4 ....................... Tom LaBonge (Incumbent)District #6 ....................... Tony CardenasDistrict #8 ....................... Bernard ParksDistrict #10 ..................... Martin LudlowDistrict #12 ..................... Julie KorensteinDistrict #14 ..................... open

Los Angeles Unified School District:District #1 ....................... Genethia Hudley-Hayes (Incumbent)District #3 ....................... Caprice Young (Incumbent)District #5 ....................... David Tokofsky (Incumbent)District #7 ....................... Mike Lansing (Incumbent)

Los Angeles Community College District:District #1 ....................... Sylvia Scott-Hayes (Incumbent)District #3 ....................... Mona Field (Incumbent)District #5 ....................... Georgia Mercer (Incumbent)District #7 ....................... Warren Furutani (Incumbent)

With a unanimous vote,the Los Angeles UnifiedSchool District Board ofEducation decided last monthto extend the project laboragreement (PLA) coveringconstruction work underProposition BB, a $2.4 billionbond approved by LosAngeles voters in 1997.

When work began onconstruction funded byProposition BB the BuildingTrades were able to negotiatea PLA for the project. Eachyear the efficiency of the PLAis reviewed by the Board ofEducation with the option of extending it.That led to the vote Dec. 10 when onceagain the Board voted in favor of extendingthe PLA for another twelve months.

“I was very pleased that this PLAextension was agreed on,” said BoardMember Julie Korenstein. “It’s a wonderfulpartnership between the district and laborthat ensures the work is done in a timelymanner while providing well paid jobs andgood benefits. PLAs are a benefit for thewhole community.”

Building Trades members were out inforce at the meeting to put forward the casefor Project Labor Agreements. Time andtime again, PLAs have shown that they arethe best way to manage complicatedconstruction projects – delivering facilitieson time and on budget. They also provideliving wages, good benefits and safe

working environments.“The quality of the work done under

the bond was evident to the board,” saidJohn Hall, Business Rep for UA PlumbersLocal 78. “Their vote to extend the laboragreement ensures that the work will getdone by trained local craftspeople at a largesavings to the taxpayer.”

The next fight for the building tradeswill be to get a similar PLA for the recentlyapproved Measure K. In November, LosAngeles area voters agreed to fund $3.5billion in school construction.

“The PLA for Prop BB was the firsttime we had such an agreement betweenlabor and education in more than 16 years,”added Korenstein. “I hope the board andlocal unions can build on that with MeasureK.”

Extension to Prop BB PLA Approved

This elementary school proposed for downtown is justone of the radical new designs planned by the district.

Send check and order form to the LA/OC Building Trades Council,1626 BeverlyBlvd., LA 90026 Attn: Hilda or call (213) 483-4222 for more information

Stay up-to-date on LA and Orange Counties’latest construction news.

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JANUARY 2003 PAGE 11

11AFirstAmericanTrust

With the price of college tuitioncontinuing to go up, the city of LA haslaunched a new initiative to encouragemore Los Angeles high school students togo to college by finding out about the largenumber of college financial aid programsavailable.

Called “Free Cash for College Day,”Feb. 1 has been designated as the day forvolunteers to help graduating seniors andtheir families complete financial aid formsat all LAUSD high schools.

“Our future depends in part on nurtur-ing our greatest resource: our people,” saidLos Angeles Mayor Hahn, one of thebackers of the program. “We need toprovide Angelenos with an opportunity toreceive a college education so that they canattend college and have a fair shot ofgetting a job after they graduate. We canunleash the potential of our diverseworkforce and equip our students andfamilies with the skills to succeed.”

In addition to the mayor, Free Cash forCollege Day has the support of Los AngelesUnified School District (LAUSD) Superin-tendent Roy Romer, the Los AngelesChamber of Commerce and civic leadersfrom business, education, labor, commu-nity-based organizations and government.

According to the latest governmentreports, Los Angeles now has the highest

Need Help Paying for College?City Sponsors Programs Explaining Financial Aid ProgramsBeginning Feb. 1

proportion of low-educated adults of anymajor metropolitan area in the UnitedStates. One in ten adults in Los Angeleslacks a high school diploma. Researchreveals that lack of information anddifficulty with the financial aid applicationforms serve as principal barriers to studentsaccessing and completing their highereducation.

“I am delighted to partner with MayorHahn on this project,” said SuperintendentRoy Romer. “On Free Cash for CollegeDay, every high school senior and his or herfamily can go to their local high school toget more information about financial aid forcollege.”

“Every child deserves access to thefinancial aid available to him or her,” addedRomer. “We hope that this project will helpclose the gap between those who qualify forfinancial aid and those who actually receiveit.”

A new report from the College Boardshows the average college graduate willearn $1 million more over a lifetime thansomeone with just a high school diploma.Last year, 1.1 million new jobs for collegegraduates were created while more than 2million non-degree jobs were eliminated.

Currently, there are record amounts offinancial aid that are available this year forhigher education – $1.2 billion in Califor-

nia alone through the historic Cal Grantprogram. Cal Grants provide up to nearly$10,000 per year of college in free grant aidto qualifying families. A family of fourmaking up to $66,000 would qualify for CalGrants, which just last year were madeguaranteed entitlements to every qualifyingstudent in the State of California – a greater

education investment than even the GI Billafter World War II.

For more information about Free Cashfor College Day, or to volunteer a Saturdayto help families in your community, pleasecall (213) 978-0721 or visitwww.lafreecashforcollege.org

Los Angeles Mayor Jim Hahn “cuts the red tape” to college financial aid with(l-r) LAUSD Board Member David Tokofsky, LAUSD Board President CapriceYoung and Los Angeles City Councilmember Jan Perry.

PAGE 14 Building Trades News

14AFensten &Gelber

14BMillerKaplan

A F F I L I A T E R E P O R T S

could send across the street to a jobsite. Itseems it should be an easy task to open theborders and let everyone go where thecontractors need the manpower.

However, keeping in mind we still havetwo different collective bargaining agree-ments with distinct differences in wagesand benefits, would it be practical orequitable to allow the contractors the abilityto hire anyone they choose at will? Shouldwe allow contractors to send members tojobsites without regard to differences inwages and fringe benefits? Should contrac-tors be allowed to have freedom of move-ment without regard to wage differencesand taking responsibility for their actions?If we did, how many sheet metal workers atthe higher wage rate would be employed?Before we allow carte blanche freedom ofmovement, doesn’t it make more sense togo back to the table and negotiate areasonable, equitable wage and fringebenefits package for everyone? We need toestablish some form of parity for manpowercosts for our contractors, level the playingfield and eliminate the obstacles that tookso many years to build which drove ourlocal unions and contractors apart.

Once we achieve a level playing field,we will be able to enjoy the fruits of ourlabor. Then and only then will we be able toopen our jurisdictional boundaries allowingthe free movement of manpower sodesperately needed and wanted by bothmanagement and labor.

In closing, I would like to answer the

question I posed at the beginning of thisarticle. How are we doing with the merger?I think we can all see that there are someunresolved issues still ahead of us. In myhumble opinion, mergers at best can bedifficult. The International Associationbelieves that a merger was in the bestinterest of the membership and the twolocal unions. And, despite the time it maytake or the amount of work that is involvedin making sure of the merger’s success,your officers will do what ever is necessaryto make it happen for the future of ourunion, our industry and for our member-ship.

Operating Engineers 12150 E. CorsonPasadena CA 91103(626) 792-8900(626) 792-9039 (fax)William C. Waggoner, Bus. Mgr

Special Precautions forOperators Working in Tunnelsand Mines

By Victor Esparza, SafetyRepresentative

The digging of tunnels is not new.Dating back to the ancient times of Romansand Egyptians, methods of constructingtunnels were devised using tools andtechniques. Many are still in use today. The

(continued on next page)

Sheet Metal Workers 105464 S. Lucas Ave.Los Angeles CA 90017(213) 481-2050(213) 481-0246 (fax)Roy Ringwood, Bus. Mgr/President

One Year Later – Merger UpdateBy Brad Rooker, Vice President/Business Rep.

It has been a year now since the SheetMetal Workers’ International Associationmerged our two great local unions into one.So how are we doing so far? Have weresolved all of the problems and issues thatcome with a merger? Probably not! Oneyear later, I would like to talk about just acouple of the merger issues that exist.

I know, in the eyes of some of ourmembers and a good number of ourcontractors, that progress is moving slowerthan anticipated. Although it did not takelong for General President Sullivan tomerge the membership, all of the intricatedetails involved in dovetailing a completelycohesive merger together between the unionand the contractors takes time and patience.In some cases even years.

As an example, let’s take a couple ofunresolved working rules and examine theroad blocks and pitfalls confrontingcomplete and satisfactory resolve.

1. Two different out of work lists.2. Free movement of man power.

Combining the “out of work” lists ofCorona and Los Angeles can be compli-cated. How do you determine who wouldbe at the top of the list and who would be atthe bottom? How do you determine whogoes on the list first since both lists havesomeone in the number one spot? Do youestablish the order on the list according tothe date a member reports out of work?What if more than one, perhaps several,members report out of work on the sameday? Should we use the date and time that amember reports out of work? That maywork after the initial purging of the two outof work lists, However, time of day was notused in both local unions to establish amember’s place on the out of work listbefore the merger and would not resolvethe problem of merging the two current outof work lists today. The fact is that there arenot equal numbers of unemployed memberson each list also creates a problem. As youcan see, the job of dovetailing the out ofwork lists into one must be thought outcarefully and done equitably for all.

One of the most compelling reasons forthe merger of the two local unions was thefree movement of manpower in SouthernCalifornia where cities blend togethereasier than water in a rain barrel and, thecost of services and goods are virtuallyidentical regardless what side of theImperial Highway you are standing on, itdid not make any sense that a contractor onone side of Imperial Highway would berestricted by the number of employees he

JANUARY 2003 PAGE 17

17AAmalgamatedBank

17BAFL-CIOHousingTrust

MINUTES OF THE LA/OC BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADESCOUNCIL’S DELEGATES’ MEETING DECEMBER 5, 2003

(continued on next page)

ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS ANDQUORUM: The meeting was called to orderat 5:00 P.M. by President Alan Lewis, at theBuilding Trades Council Auditorium, andcalled for the Pledge of Allegiance.

CREDENTIALS: No new credentialswere received for this month.

MINUTES: President Alan Lewisrequested a motion to approve the minutesfrom the November 14, 2002 meetingminutes.

Moved, seconded and concurred toapprove the November 14, 2002 Delegatemeeting minutes.

EXECUTIVE BOARD MINUTES: Itwas moved, seconded and carried toapprove the Executive Board Minutes ofDecember 04 , 2002. Bricklayers’ Local #5Business Manager and Delegate Phil Morrisasked that the attendance announcement inthe Executive Board Minutes be corrected.With no objections the minutes were cor-rected.

COMMUNICATIONS: The followingcommunications were received by theCouncil:

* Letter from Jay Hansen, State BuildingTrades Council Legislative Director, regard-ing Senate Bill 972, modifying the

application of SB 975 in regard to certain lowincome housing developments.

* Letter from State Treasurer PhilipAngelides, thanking the Building TradesCouncil and the Crafts for their support andendorsement in the November election.

* Letter from Debra Holmes, Secretaryof “Friends of the Centrailia District Schools,Committee for Measure H, thanking theCouncil and the Crafts for their endorsementand support of the Bond measure to buildnew school facilities.

* Letter from Los Angeles UnifiedSchool District Superintendent Roy Romerthanking the Council and the Crafts for theiroverwhelming support for Measure K, the$3.3 billion School Construction Bondmeasure that passed on November 5th.

* Letter from California Governor GrayDavis, thanking the Council and the Craftsfor their friendship and support during thevery difficult campaign he waged for re-election. He stated that now that the electionis over it’s time to look to the future of ourgreat State and hope to continue to work withthe Crafts on many issues.

* Letter from LA United, signed by LosAngeles Mayor James Hahn, thanking theCouncil and the Crafts for their supportin keeping LA together and defeating thesecession movement.

* Letter from LA City Councilman TomLaBonge asking for our support in the March2003 City Council election where he is

seeking re-election.* Letter from Robert

Vinson, candidate forthe LA City Councilin the 12th Districtasking for oursupport andendorsement.

* Letter fromTony Cardenas,candidate for LA CityCouncil in the 6th Districtasking for our support andendorsement.

* Update from the State Federation ofLabor AFL-CIO reviewing the legislativeagenda and successes that were gainedin working with the legislature and thegovernor over the past year.

* A Memoriam from the State BuildingTrades Council informing that RogerHamilton, the former Heat & Frost Interna-tional Local #5 Business Manager andInternational Representative, had passedaway on December 2nd and provided thefuneral services information.

ORGANIZING COMMITTEEREPORTS: Executive Secretary Slawsonreported that the Demonstration at the LATimes’ Building was successful, with about35 Craft workers, Representatives and otherUnion members participating. He said thatthe Times’ management hadn’t responded,

however, the demonstrators hadreceived many supportivecomments from passers by. He

said that the Iron Workers andthe Electricians had thanked

everyone for assisting.Slawson also

commented that theinflatable rats

should be hewithin about 4weeks. He said

that he wouldsend a notice to the

Crafts when they are received.

REPORT OF EXECUTIVE SECRE-TARY RICHARD SLAWSON: ExecutiveSecretary Richard Slawson began his reportby informing the Delegates about a proposed“Liquified Natural Gas” Terminal, whichwould handle 160 thousand cubic meters ofnatural gas in a liquid form per day, in LosAngeles Harbor by the Mitsubishi Corpora-tion. He said that he had been contacted byButterfield Communications earlier this yearand their representatives informed him thatMitsubishi had wanted to build the plant.They had also committed to build the projectUnion, Slawson said.

The Executive Secretary talked about theprocess that the project will have to gothrough. He said that it is expected to take a

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year, and will require a full EnvironmentalImpact Report, approvals from the SouthCoast Air Quality Management District, theCoastal Commission, the U.S. Corps ofEngineers and the City of Los Angeles. Thecompany filed a request for an applicationwith the Port of Los Angeles yesterday, hesaid, and asked for our support during theprocess. Slawson said that the project isexpect to cost between $350 and $390million and would employ approximately 500Craft workers. He said that he will beinforming the Crafts about upcomingmeetings or hearings that the Building TradesCouncil is notified of through the permitprocess and asked that the Crafts participateby attending the meetings.

The Executive Secretary next reportedthat the Painters’ District Council, with theassistance of the Van Borg Law Firm, wassuccessful in getting a Prevailing Wagedetermination from the Chuck Cake, theDirector of the Department of IndustrialRelations, on Santa Clarita ShoppingCenter/Library Project. He said that theCity of Santa Clarita had assisted thedeveloper, TCP Management, by entering intoan agreement where the City provided over$3.5 million for the construction of a Libraryand offsite improvements in and around theLibrary and the Shopping Center.

The City eventually purchased theLibrary Building and improvements for $5.1million, he said, when the developer hadcompleted the project. During the project thePainters’ Apprenticeship Compliance Trust

and the Department of Industrial Relationshad requested compliance documents forboth apprenticeship requirements andPrevailing Wages, Slawson said, and theTrust requested the Public Works determina-tion.

Slawson said that the lawyers handlingthe case had advised the Building TradesCouncil that since the determination hadcovered the entire project all of the CraftUnions should review the contractorscertified payroll records for their work on thejob. He said that the lawyers are nowinvolved in defending an appeal of the publicworks determination by the City of SantaClarita, however, it is expected that theoriginal determination should be upheld sincethe appeal is to Chuck Cake, who made theoriginal determination. He commented thatthe Painters’ compliance department andrepresentatives had done an excellent job inpulling the information together on theproject.

The Los Angeles County USC/MedicalCenter Project has been bid, the ExecutiveSecretary next reported and the low and onlybidder is a joint venture of McCarty Con-struction, Clark Construction and HuntConstruction. He said that the IBEW Local#11 Business Manager, Marvin Kropke andthe Local’s representatives had met with theCounty Supervisors’ office at the same timeas the Building Trades Council had spoken toSupervisor Molina’s office to request that aProject Labor Agreement and/or a Labor Lawenforcement program be utilized for theMedical Center Project.

After meeting with staff of the Supervi-

sor, and because of President Bush’s Execu-tive Order banning the fed’s funding ofprojects that an agency requires a ProjectLabor Agreement, Slawson said that thediscussion revolved around ways to imple-ment the goals that each side brought to thetable without affecting the federal fundingthat the County needs to build the Project.

He said that it was decided to simplyplace the goals in the bid specifications andleave it up to the bidders to adopt a mecha-nism to accomplish the goals. The languageplaced in the bid specification, titled aMemorandum of Common Interest; requiredthe enforcement of Prevailing Wages, the fullutilization of Apprenticeship, payment ofbenefits for all Craft employees and thehiring of local residents, he said.

The Executive Secretary continued,saying that now that the joint venture hassubmitted its bid, and if they have respondedproperly, the contract award should be madewithin a few weeks and we will begin adiscussion about a Project Labor Agreement.McCarthy, as the lead contractor, he said, haslabor agreements with some of the CraftUnions and has worked with Project LaborAgreements on large projects before. He saidthat all of the Crafts covering the project areawill be notified to attend any negotiationsthat are held with McCarthy.

Slawson then told the Delegates aboutthe new Labor Law enforcement require-ments that have been approved in AssemblyBill 1506 that was signed by Governor Davis.

He said that when the voters in Califor-nia passed Proposition 47, the SchoolConstruction Bond, on November 5th therewas a requirement that had been adopted by

the State Legislature that demands that anypublic school district requesting an allocationof Prop 47 bond funds must show that theyhad established an approved Labor Compli-ance Program.

Each of the districts, he said, have theoption of creating their own Labor Compli-ance Program, however, it’s expected thatbecause so many school districts throughoutthe State had not previously invested inenforcement they will need assistance. Hecommented that the various Labor/Manage-ment funded compliance groups have anopportunity to not only educate schooldistricts’ personnel about their options, but aswell to create a program that will fulfill theAB 1506 requirements.

The Executive Secretary said that twoschool districts had already asked forinformation from the Crafts on their optionsin establishing the required Labor Compli-ance Program and with Business Representa-tives from the IBEW with one district and theLaborers’ Business Representatives withanother district.

He commented that he had met with thedistricts and one of them had asked how theCrafts could provide a Labor ComplianceProgram and we had suggested that aProgram be made a part of a Project LaborAgreement to cover the projects funded withthe Propostion 47 Bond funds or otherprojects. He said that the Building TradesCouncil will be providing a sample projectlabor agreement to school districts that wouldlike assistance and he asked that the Craftswho know school board members anywherein Los Angeles or Orange County ask them tomeet with us to discuss the Prop 47 require-

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ments. This is an opportunity to assistworkers, fair contractors, students andtaxpayers if we take advantage of it, he said.

The Executive Secretary providedinformation about recent proposed designchanges for the completion of the 710Freeway through South Pasadena and theother cities along the route.

He said that at a meeting last month withelected officials, Metropolitan TransportationAgency representatives, Caltrans manage-ment and other interested parties, includingOperating Engineers’ Local #12 and Labor-ers’ D.C. and Local #300 representatives, itwas suggested that the best option that wouldpossibly two massive 50' diameter tunnelstaking the freeway roadbed and traffic underSouth Pasadena. He commented that eachtunnel would contain three lanes and haveentrance and exit access lanes along theunderground route.

He said that after 30 years of battlingwith the City of South Pasadena, variouselected Assembly members, State Senatorsand U.S. Congressmen over the completionof this vital connection, he is concerned thatif everyone who has supported the freewaychanges direction to this radical design itcould undermine the Record of Decision thathad been approved by the U.S. Secretary ofTransportation in 2000. He commented thatany decision on a change of design will stilltake review by all of the agencies in our areaand the federal government.

The 710 Freeway Coalition has been adriving force behind the project for over 8years and the Crafts should continue tosupport the group, he said, since this comple-tion of the freeway will not only create jobsbut will reduce gridlock and air pollution forevery citizen. He said that as informationcomes out he would keep the Crafts in-formed.

The Executive Secretary’s last item wasan update of the LAUSD’s Belmont Learn-ing Center Project. He said that the LAUSDSuperintendent, Roy Romer, had announcedthat the latest finding of an earthquake faulthas assured that the school cannot becompleted. Romer, he said, has met with

Union representatives, and every otherinterest group about the findings that wereannounced last month explaining the processthat the District had gone though in trying todetermine if the site was safe. Romer hadsaid that when they were running tests to seeif the old old wells on the site would re-pressurize the geologist observed that therewas a possible fault that showed up on thesoundings that were taken, he said. After

6,000 feet of trenching was done, Slawsonsaid, it was indicated that the fault randirectly under the buildings that had alreadybeen constructed and they would have to betorn down and only 12 acres of the almost 50acre site was usable for school construction.

He said at this point the District will betrying to find a buyer for the entire site torecoup some of the $150 million that hadbeen expended to date. He said that thisproject was not funded with Prop BB fundsand this will allow the District to continue tobuild other proposed new schools in thesurrounding area - at least 5 new schools areprojected to be built.

Executive Secretary Slawson thanked theDelegates for attending the meeting andwished everyone a Merry Christmas and aHappy and Prosperous New Year.

DELEGATES’ REPORTS:Delegate Matthew Isrel, Laborers’ Local

802, reported on a Babcock & WilcoxConstruction project at the ARCO Refinery.He said that B&W had begun work and hewould like to have a pre-job conference withthem.

REPORT OF COUNCIL BUSINESSREPRESENTATIVES

Skip Henke:L.A.U.S.D.: Negotiations have been

completed and a tentative agreement has beenreached. Ratification vote by the affiliates isscheduled for today, December 4, 2002.

The tentative agreement provides for athree year term with a 5% wage increase inthe first year and wage re-opener in thesecond and third years.

There are also several language changesas well as the creation of a “WorkplaceConcerns Committee” to meet quarterly todiscuss work related problems.

The negotiating team did a great job andis unanimously recommending the agreementbe accepted.

L.A. County: Several County depart-ments are planning to implement some workassignment changes as cost saving measuresin light of severe budget shortfalls.

The LAC-USC Medical Center isproposing to curtail the 9/80 alternate workschedule and go back to a 5/40 work schedule.

The Internal Services Department isproposing to discontinue stand-by assign-ments for specific craft classifications thathave been in place.

County wide a hard hiring freeze is in

place and no new hiring is allowed unlessapproved by the C.A.O. Also, there are stillconsiderations of possible layoffs.

L.A. City: Errors made in dues andagency fee deductions earlier this year will becorrected in the payroll period endingDecember 14.

Retroactive pay for bargaining Unitemployees is still scheduled for payment inJanuary 2003.

L.A. Housing Authority: Negotiationswill begin shortly on a Successor Agreement.

Sun Valley Re-Powering Project:Progress meeting followed by a “mark-up”meeting for jurisdiction of work on the steamturbine generator will be held at 10:00 A.M. -December 10, 2002 - Tuesday - at the jobsite.Keiwit Construction is the General Contrac-tor.

Antelope Valley Area Meeting: To beheld on Friday the 13th of December 2002 inLancaster.

Jim Adams:Santa Ana Unified School District: As

mentioned last month a pre job for the firstmajor project under the Project StabilizationAgreement with the District was held sinceour last Delegates’ meeting. The project camein under original estimates by approximately$4 million with Swinerton Builders being thelowest bid at $24.3 million. This is the firstpre job that we have had with the District,and with the SAUSD it is made very clear theAgreement is in place and will be adhered to.The political aspect of the District continuesto be a battle...

Rancho Santiago Community CollegeDistrict (RSCCD): Since Measure E wasapproved by the voters in November, I havemet several times with the Chancellor of theDistrict and have had conversations withsome of the Trustees regarding the upcomingwork to be accomplished.

County of Orange: Unlike Santa AnaUnified, the County of Orange continues tdobe at least a challenge. We have had twomeetings during the month regarding soiltesting and building inspecting included inthe agreement. Additionally, the UnionSecurity Clause has recently became orcontinues to be an issue. There is a meetingscheduled next week with the County andJohn Wayne Representatives to discuss theirinterpretation of “the seven day provision.”

WELFARE OF THE COUNCIL:(Raffle winners):Tony Olea, Laborers’ #300John Spalding, Operating Engineers’ #12Rick Rogers, IBEW #45John Ibarra, Operating Engineers’ #12Hart Keeble, Iron Workers’ #416Joe Solis, Bricklayers’ #4

ADJOURNMENT : There being nofurther business to come before the Del-egates, it was moved, seconded and carried toadjourn. The meeting was adjourned in thememory of Roger Hamilton. The meeting wasadjourned at 6:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,Richard N. SlawsonExecutive Secretary

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