LOCAL NEWSVOLUME III, 2014

ThE OffICIAL PUbLICATION Of LAbOrErS’ LOCAL 110

INSIDE Projects in our area ...............................1Keeping Up with the Times ...................3EMLDC Scholarship recepients .............5 business Manager’s Message ...............6

-1-

Area Projects

Eagle Credit UnionPictured above are

Mike Crane & Tim reeves working for

Waddell Concrete

Pictured left is the Garavelli restaurant

relocation job site.

Above budrovich Excavating perfoms earth-work on the Quicktrip project site

in the area.

Above & below Midwest Mole Co. working on MSD’s Maplewood

Tunnel project.

The Lemay Aquatic Center is an on-going project in the area. Pictured above right and below left, Nathan Edwards, Miguel Chavez & Wayne Earp working for Westport Pools.

below right Daniel Petty operates a lull.

-2-

Record Level of Republican Legislators Elected in 2014Not since 1981 has the Missouri House of Representatives been so dominated by one political party as it is right now. Voters elected 117 Republicans to seats in the 163-member Missouri House of Representatives on November 4. With defection of one Democratic-elected representative, Linda Black of the 117th district in Bonne Terre, the day after the election, Republicans now have the second largest majority that a political party has ever had in the Missouri legislature.

Republicans padded their already sizable majorities in both the House and Senate on election day by adding seven new House members (117) and one additional senate seat (25); that of former senator and Laborer Ryan McKenna. Republican candidates defeated five incumbent Democratic House members and won two open seats previously held by Democrats. Both state legislative chambers have veto-proof majorities which could make the final two years of Governor Jay Nixon’s term difficult for him. It takes 109 votes to override a governor’s veto in the House and 23 to override the governor in the Senate. No incumbent senators were defeated, rather Republican candidates won two of the three open seats up for election this year. With that large of a majority in the Republican Party, will union members see more and more anti-worker legislation like right-to-work and changes to the prevailing wage law? The answer is “yes”. Some legislators may feel “encouraged” by their new, larger majority to try again. But the real question is whether or not these bills can pass. Laborers and other union members have successfully fought these types of bills in the past and will continue the fight in the up-coming legislative session starting in January. One of the keys to the Laborers’ success has been to work with those Republican officials who want to work with the Laborers and aren’t so dead set on trying to punish working men and women.

Economic Development Still An IssueThe Republican agenda for the 2015 legislative session is likely to focus on economic development issues. Public opinion polls taken

just before the election showed voters still view economic development/ job creation as the number one issue facing the state and country. With that in mind, Missouri legislators are likely to reform some of the tax credit laws that currently exist. Legislators are torn between issuing tax credits to spur development, but not to the point of crippling the state’s budget by reducing revenue. Lawmakers are also likely to bring up bills dealing with the courts and lawsuits (Tort Reform). Some lawmakers would like to limit the

amount of money that could be awarded in court cases and limit the number and types of lawsuits that can be filed, in particular against businesses. Another pressing issue that may be debated is municipal court reform. This stems from news accounts and protests that have occurred in St. Louis County over the amount of money some public bodies are generating for their budgets by imposing hefty fines and court costs.

Locally, What Happened In Your Community?

Across Missouri, elections were held to choose new county officials. Voters decided on candidates from county executives/presiding commissioners to county clerks. One of the higher profile races was for St. Louis County Executive, where Democrat Steve Stenger barely beat Republican Rick Stream by less than 1-percent.

Elsewhere, St. Charles County voters reelected Steve Ehlmann-R, to his third term as county executive. In Jefferson County, Ken Waller-R, was reelected to a second term and helped lead a Republican landslide in a previously Democratic leaning county. Dan Atwill-D, was reelected Boone County presiding commissioner, former state senator John Griesheimer-R, was reelected to a second term as Franklin County presiding commissioner. Another former legislator, Clint Tracy-R, was reelected presiding commissioner of Cape Girardeau County and Sam Bushman-R, was unopposed in his race to again be Cole County presiding commissioner.For a complete listing of all the county office elections, check out your county’s website.

The Missouri house ChaMber will have a near reCord nuMber of republiCan represenTaTives when

The General asseMbly GaThers This January.

When the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) announced plans that it would spend an average of $60-million per year during the next five to six years on rehabilitating the aging sewer infrastructure in St. Louis City and County using the cured-in-place pipe or CIPP process of pipe reconstruction, it caught the attention of contractors and how they could tap into this line of work or expand the work they already had. CIPP is a process of creating a new pipe inside of an existing sewer, water line or pipeline by relining the structure.

This much work also got the attention of Laborers’ Union officials and the potential for members to work. Past research done by

MSD on its construction contracted work found more than 70 percent of the sewer district’s contract work is done by members of the Laborers’ Union working for contractors.

One of those contractors looking to capitalize in the St. Louis market is SAK Construction. SAK Construction, along with Insituform, Inc., a division of Aegion Corporation, are two Missouri- based companies that specialize in the CIPP process of pipe rehabilitation and also are two of the largest contractors that specialize in the CIPP method in the country. Both are signatory to agreements with the Eastern Missouri Laborers’ District Council and to National Maintenance Agreements.

With MSD putting out this much work over the course of several years, both SAK and Insituform, along with other local companies, would be looking to hire Laborers willing to learn the CIPP process. SAK approached the Laborers about a year ago about how

the union might be able to assist in the effort of recruiting and helping training

individuals interested in this type of work.

“SAK wanted to work with the Laborers to create a strong pool of skilled workers who could meet the demand we foresee developing for CIPP construction,” said Jack Boatman, SAK Senior Vice President of Governmental Affairs. “Our company has a long standing working relationship with the Laborers and I just thought they (Laborers) were the logical choice in getting a training program started.”

Boatman approached Laborers’ Training Center Director, Musial Braungardt, about the possibility of starting a class for apprentice Laborers in the CIPP process and the prepatory work involved in getting sewer lines ready for this rehabilitation method. “I realized this is a new relatively new technology, but it sure seemed like the CIPP process is something public bodies are using more and more,” said Braungardt. “Our training program likes to keep up with new technology, like this, so I said let’s try it and see what happens.”

What “happened” was a week-long course this fall for five apprentices and one training instructor in the CIPP method of pipe rehabilitation taught at the Training Center in High Hill. “In doing some research on this method, I actually found that our Minnesota Training Center has been teaching a class on the cured-in-place-pipe method of construction,” said Braungardt. “Rather than start from scratch in developing course work for a training program, I contacted Minnesota to see if we could use their program here in Missouri.” Minnesota, up until recently, was the only Laborers training program that offered training in this field of construction.

LAbOrErS TrAINING CENTEr….KEEPING UP WITh NEW TEChNOLGY AND ThE OPPOrTUNITIES fOr LAbOrErS

-3-

saK Crew posiTions The Cipp liner in plaCe inside a Manhole.

John Meier on lefT waTChes as an apprenTiCe GeTs hands-on TraininG

usinG a Television CaMera To view and video Tape The inside of a sewer.

-4-

John Meier, a senior instructor for the Minnesota Training program who teaches the class, accepted Braungardt’s invitation to come to Missouri and help to get a program started here. “I was highly impressed with the contractors and the apprentices who participated in the class,” said Meier. “Often in Minnesota, we have participants who know nothing about this process and very little about sewer work. But in your class (in Missouri) members were somewhat familiar with the process. The class went very well.”

Most of the Laborers SAK and Insituform have hired in the past have had little experience in the CIPP method and were trained by the companies themselves. “The training we provide to individuals at High Hill gives these members a ‘head start’ on the work they will be performing,” said Braungardt. “These apprentices can walk away after taking the training with some confidence in what they are doing and the contractors who have hired them, have workers who have some knowledge of the process and they are able to mold into productive employees.”

The week of training involved some coursework and safety instruction, but was more about seeing first-hand how the cured-in-place pipe rehabilitation process works. Apprentices were shown how sewers are cleaned and televised as the first part of the CIPP process. The trainees were then hosted by SAK at their plant in O’Fallon where they store the tubing that will be used in the process.

“The equipment and materials used in the CIPP process is all very expensive,” said Meier. “It was very helpful and saved some moeny that SAK took

our class to their plant and out into the field to see first-hand the process.”The CIPP process basically creates a new sewer inside an old one without the traditional excavation. A sewer is first inspected, cleaned and televised before the process starts. Often, this type of work is subcontracted to other companies. One of the training components involved apprentices uses cameras inside a sewer. “This give the apprentice ‘hands-on’ experience that is used in the field,” said Braungardt.

Once the sewer is cleaned and televised, a liner is inserted into the sewer from a manhole. The liner is pushed through the sewer using high pressure water. Once the liner is completely in place, hot water or steam is pumped into it. The heat causes the resins that are inside the liner to harden; creating a new “pipe” inside the sewer. After the water has been drained and the liner cooled, a video-controlled cutting tool is lowered into the new CIPP pipe. The cutting tool travels along the liner looking and feeling for dimples where lateral sewers connect from homes and businesses to the public sewer. Cuts in the liner are made allowing the lateral sewer to connect to the newly relined pipe.

The process is less disruptive to the public because very little if any excavation is involved on the surface. “That is one of the selling points of this process,” said SAK’s Boatman. “We can repair a leaking, old sewer line without tearing up someone’s street or yard.”What is next for this process? “This training, like all training, is expensive,” said Braungardt, “but from the reaction we received from both the apprentices and the contractors, I could see the Training Center holding more of these classes in the future.”

Meier said the number of CIPP classes taught annually at the Minnesota Training Center ranges anywhere from one to six, based on demand. But he said the center usually holds two to three classes a year. Braungardt said he would like to have another class sometime in 2015, perhaps in the spring, but it all depends upon the contractors needing workers. With MSD’s projection of work, that would seem too obvious.

Meeting the needs of members and contractors, that is what the Training Center and the Laborers are all about!

sTeaM esCapes The Manhole afTer iT is puMped inTo The liner. The heaT froM The sTeaM MaKes The resins inside The liner harden, CreaTinG a new pipe inside an

old one.

-5-

Nine high schools seniors, all relatives of Laborers, received some help from the Eastern Missouri Laborers’ District Council this year toward their goals of furthering their education after high school graduation. Each of the nine received a $1,500 Opportunity Scholarship from the District Council.

The $13,500 in scholarships awarded this year brings the total the Council has given to 85 deserving students to more than $146,000 during the 9 years that the Opportunity Scholarship program has been in existence.

Students receiving scholarships this year included:Katelyn Louis, Local 42 going to the University of Missouri-ColumbiaPaige Casson, Local 110 going to Murray State University in KentuckyCailyn Hoelting, Local 660 going to the University of Missouri-ColumbiaErica Anderson, Local 662 going to the University of Missouri-ColumbiaAndrew Naeger, Local 829 going to Missouri University of Science and Technology in RollaKatie E. Karl, Local 830 going to the University of KansasEmma Rogers, Local 840 going to Missouri State UniversityMicha Willis, Local 955 going to Drury University in Springfield, MOAlexandra Wampler, Local 1104 going to Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla

The awarding of scholarships is based on several factors; the student’s individual academic record, school and community involvement, letters of recommendation and their willingness to pursue a higher education degree. Eligible students may receive up to two District Council Opportunity Scholarships while in school. Scholarship winners can choose to either attend a college or university or enroll in a technical school to further their education.

To be eligible for a scholarship, a student must be a legal dependant of a Laborer in good standing with his or her Laborer’s local.

Once again, the Laborers of Eastern Missouri displayed their support to help those less fortunate

by contributing more than one and one/half tons of food during its annual Food Drive conducted from August 1 to October 1. The value of the donated food items was estimated at nearly $12,000. In addition to the food, nearly $4,000 in cash contributions were also received and turned over to Operation Food Search.

“All of you (Laborers) are shining examples of what’s

best in our community and we’re grateful for your continued, compassionate support,” said Judith Coyman of Operation Food Search, pictured at left with Don Willey (Laborers’ Local 110), Greg Jones (Laborers’ Apprenticeship Program) and Gary Elliott (EMLDC Business Manager)

In light of incidents in St. Louis County, food donated during the Laborers’ Local 110 picnic was immediately distributed to food banks and agencies serving residents of Ferguson and the surrounding communities. And, in central Missouri, donations received at the Training Center in High Hill were given to Agape Ministries and distributed to needy individuals in the surrounding areas there; Warrenton & Wright City.Every dollar received by Operation Food Search can provide upwards of nine meals to deserving individuals.

Laborers’ Food Drive Again Delivers BIG Numbers

EMLDC Scholarship Recipients

A Message from business Manager, Don Willey

-6-

The Officers and Staff of Local 110 would like to extend our holiday greeting to all of our great Local 110 members and friends. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your families.

The 2014 construction year has been the best of the last five years; man hours and membership have been on the increase. The skills that were in demand this year were Laborers that can finish concrete, lay storm sewers and water mains, run a boring machine, locator, and having a CDL Class A or B is always a plus for your resume.

We are seeing the winter weather slow down the work and the calls for laborers to the hall. Please take advantage of your training school in High Hill during slower times to learn new skills to better your career as a laborer.

A word about health care costs, and what members can do to keep these costs down, aside from exercising, eat healthy and have annual checkups with your doctor. On the jobsite, a laborer needs to uphold the contract he or she works under; be honest and fiscally responsible to themselves and the contractor they work for, and work safely. The Welfare Fund is funded directly from your annual raise per the contract you are working under. When a laborer cuts deals to trade overtime for working through lunch for a half hour straight time to go home early, they are shorting the Welfare Fund and their family out of needed revenue, which only creates a greater need to take more money out of your pocket (your next raise) to pay the costs of health care.

Another problem we hear of are members claiming work related accidents to the Welfare Fund instead of the employers insurance (Workman’s Comp). The problem with this activity is that its fraud (you are stealing from your fellow laborers) and the least of your problem will be getting stuck paying for all medical bills for this incident. The inverse of this activity is getting hurt on your time and claiming the injury at work. Again this is theft by fraud and

it will increase your employers cost of bidding new work. The best policy is “HONESTY and SAFETY”, work and play safe and make your medical claims where they belong. If you get hurt on the job report it immediately to your boss and co-workers. If you get pressured by a Foreman or Superintendent to make a false claim, call a Business Agent for help right away, don’t wait. You don’t want to wind up with bigger problems than just getting hurt.

In the Political corner we are in the worst shape for this coming year 2015. We will continue to fight the attacks against working families in this state, but to be more effective in our defense of working families we have to expand our voice by working in coalition with other groups, like the Faith Labor Alliance, Jobs with Justice and LiUNA’s Latino Outreach program. There are not enough Union workers in Missouri to win this ongoing attack against working families. This is the reason why the Local, District Council and the LiUNA Midwest Region sponsored a Health Fair at St. Cecilia’s Church, to reach out to the Latino community. We need all the friends we can get for this ongoing fight.

We have selected an Event Manager to run the LiUNA Event Center and hope to have him on board sometime in January. The plan is to make this building self-sufficient financial by generating enough revenue to pay for all the costs incurred in operating a building this size. Any extra revenue will go to the general fund for future Union events and needs.

In closing I would like to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family.

Fraternally yours,

Don Willey Business Manager Laborers Local 110

4532 S. Lindbergh blvd.St. Louis, MO 63127

PRSRT STDU.S. Postage

PAIDSt. Louis, MOPermit No. 256

LOCAL NEWSThE OffICIAL PUbLICATION OfLAbOrErS’ LOCAL 110

Union Meetings held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.

Local 110 Info

The Eastern Missouri Laborers’ District Council, Midwest Region Health & Safety along with Laborers Local 110 recently conducted a Community Health Fair for Latino-Americans in south St. Louis City. Nearly 100 residents of the neighborhood surrounding St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church turned out for the event.

Laborers’ staffed information tables to help answer questions individuals had regarding employment, health care and voting. “It was very encouraging,

the number of families that came to the event,” said Local 110 Business Manager Don Willey. “Hopefully, those that came away from the fair with a good experience and a positive impression about the Laborers’ Union and what it can do for them and how we help in the community.”

The Laborers’ Midwest Health & Safety program provided nurses who checked residents for diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure and vision. Individuals were also offered free flu shots.

laborers ouTreaCh efforTs