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| Around The Region |
Laborers' Rally/Testify in Support of Keystone XL Pipeline Throughout the week of September 26th, LIUNA members stood together to support the approval of a project that will create good paying jobs for Laborers from South Dakota to Texas. Estimated at $7 billion dollars, the proposed Keystone XL project is a 1,661-mile pipeline that will stretch from upper Alberta, Canada to Port Arthur, Texas. It would deliver oil from one of America's most trusted allies and reduce the country's dependence on oil from countries that wish the United States harm.
At each site, hundreds of Laborers from throughout the Midwest Region turned out to give voice to the fact that unlocking jobs that pay family wages and benefits in a bad economy to build infrastructure to import oil from a friendly neighbor definitely serves our nation's best interest. "We have families who are at risk of losing their homes at a time when there aren't a lot of construction jobs to go around," said Ron Kaminski, Business Manager of LIUNA Local 1140, based in Omaha. "The only reasonable thing to do is put men and women to work by building this pipeline. It's good for working people, and it will be good for our country." "The proposed Keystone XL pipeline will have a huge impact on the economy through the tens of thousands of construction and manufacturing jobs it will create," said Reno Hammond, Business Manager for the Southwest Laborers' District Council. "This project is entirely paid for with private sector dollars, is shovel ready and will be a lifeline for American workers and the American economy." The U.S. State Department is expected to issue its final decision by the end of the year.
Delegates representing the Midwest Region joined with 1600 delegates from across the United States and Canada for the 24th International Convention of the Laborers' International Union of North America in Las Vegas, NV, September 11th - 15th.
General President Terrance M. O'Sullivan and General Secretary-Treasurer Armand E. Sabatoni were re-elected by unanimous acclamation and each addressed the convention, imparting their vision for LIUNA and its more than 500,000 members.
Vice President John F. Penn Unanimously Elected With a unanimous vote, Midwest Region Delegates elected LIUNA Vice President and Midwest Regional Manager John F. Penn to a five year term. INLDC Business Manager Frank DeGraw led the Caucus meeting, and SWILDC Business Manager Glyn Ramage, EMLDC Business Manager Gary Elliot, Local 54 Business Manager Randy Robinson, and International Representative David Hayes, nominated and seconded the nomination.
TORNADO DEVASTATES JOPLIN, LABORERS' RESPOND
On June 9, more than 50 LIUNA members traveled to Joplin to lend a hand with relief and clean up efforts in the wake of the disaster. Coming from states including Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas, the Laborers assisted fellow union members and other residents who were affected by the tragedy. "Just like many other folks in this community, we had members of our Union suffer from this disaster," said Gary Speegle, a member of Laborers' Local 107 in Tulsa, who helped organize the effort on behalf of the Laborers. "We're here to do whatever we have to do to take care of our family members, because that's what Unions are all about." Stacey Salmon, former Local 319 and District Council Business Manager who lost his own mother to the tornado was humbled with the outpouring of support he has received since the tragedy. "Since day one everyone from the Regional Office to the District Council to the other Locals in the area have been incredible, but today, I'm overwhelmed," said Salmon as he and dozens of Laborers' cleared the rubble of what was once his Mothers' home. "Today I have 50 or so of my brothers arm in arm with me helping me to move on. It's hard to explain how blessed we feel to be a part of this family" The Laborers' cleared the property of several of their members as well as assisted the community at large with clean-up efforts. "Clean-up, demolition, it's dirty work but it's what we do," said Gary Speegle, "We're the Laborers."
Thousands Rally In Indianapolis
Workers urge pipeline OK By Leslie Reed WORLD-HERALD BUREAU LINCOLN — The proposed Keystone XL crude-oil pipeline will bring jobs to Nebraska and increase U.S. energy independence, union workers said at a rally Wednesday. About two dozen union members with pipeline training, many from the Omaha area, joined union officials and lobbyists at a rally Wednesday at Lincoln's downtown Holiday Inn. Later, they went to the State Capitol to talk to lawmakers about the issue. The line, which would carry tar-sand oil from Canada to Gulf Coast refineries, would pass through groundwater-rich areas of the Sand Hills in Nebraska. The U.S. State Department is deciding whether to approve the pipeline because it would cross an international border. Several bills have been introduced in the Nebraska Legislature raising concerns about the pipeline. Ron Kaminski, business manager for the Laborers Local 1140, estimated the pipeline would create about 500 jobs in Nebraska for specially trained pipeline construction workers affiliated with his union. He predicted 80 percent of those jobs would go to Nebraskans, with the remainder going to residents of western Iowa and South Dakota. He said he based his estimates on a project labor agreement between his union and pipeline developer TransCanada Inc. They do not include members of other participating unions who would be hired to operate heavy equipment, drive trucks or weld pipes. Opponents of the pipeline project, however, dispute those job estimates. The National Wildlife Federation, for example, estimates only 10 to 15 percent of pipeline construction jobs will go to local workers. They also argue that the environmental risks of the project outweigh the number of jobs to be created. “A few temporary jobs are not worth the risk to the Sandhills and Ogallala Aquifer, Nebraska's most precious natural resource,” said Jane Kleeb, executive director of Bold Nebraska, an opposition group. Kaminski, who arranged the union laborers for a similar pipeline built in 2009, said he is confident about his job figures. Shawn Howard, a Calgary-based spokesman for TransCanada, estimated that it will take about 1,500 construction workers to build five sections of pipeline passing through Nebraska, plus another 300 workers to install five pump stations. He said he could not estimate how many Nebraska workers would be hired to build the pipeline because it would depend upon which construction companies win the contracts to build each section of the pipeline. He acknowledged, however, that his company has signed project labor agreements with a number of U.S. unions, including the Laborers Local 1140, to hire their workers. Kaminski said his union already has established a facility in Omaha to train workers in the skills needed to build pipelines as well as skills for building ethanol plants, biodiesel plants and wind turbines. Several workers interviewed at Wednesday's event said they'd already completed their training. Darrell Weinbrandt of Silver City, Iowa, about 20 minutes from Omaha, sat with his friends, Terry White of Omaha and Mark Heyen of Bellevue. He said they're eager to get to work on pipeline jobs that pay $16.50 an hour or more, depending on a worker's skills. Contact the writer: 402-473-9581, leslie.reed@owh.com
PROTECT YOUR PAYCHECK!
For that reason, the U.S. Government spends a large portion of our national budget on defense. As private citizens, we invest in security systems and weapons to protect our homes and families. We even pay companies to prevent the theft of our identities. So, it makes sense that as Laborers we will do whatever it takes to protect our livelihoods. For decades, the enemies of trade unionism have been growing and have become more vocal than ever in the media, and now they are gaining in power and influence in government. Their agenda is simple: weaken the American Labor movement and lower worker salaries once and for all. And their arsenal is considerable. Presently, in the statehouses of Indiana and Missouri (two very strong union states) corporate fat-cats are licking their chops at the introduction of so-called “Right to Work” legislation and after that, the gutting of prevailing wage laws is next. Right to Work? Prevailing Wage? If you don’t know what these laws are, you are not prepared to protect your livelihood. Throughout 2011 your Local Union will be providing you with crucial information about these laws and more in an effort to help you make informed decisions about the issues that affect your paycheck and your ability to earn it. The best way to arm yourself and protect your livelihood and your family in this fight is by educating yourself about the labor movement and the laws that make union wages possible. It’s your Paycheck. Protect it!
John F. Penn
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Because the proposed pipeline crosses the Canadian/US border, the Obama administration must first approve the project on the basis of national interest. Public hearings sponsored by the U.S. State Department were held in Pierre, SD; Atkinson, NE; Lincoln, NE; Topeka, KS; Midwest City, OK; Austin, TX and Port Arthur. 
On the evening of May 22nd, an EF5 tornado ripped through the middle of Joplin, MO, leaving a swath of devastation 8 miles long, thousands homeless and 162 dead. Members of Laborers Local 319 were personally affected by the tragedy, some losing their homes and even loved ones. 
It’s a dangerous world out there. 