WWW.KCLABORBEACON.COM V OLUME 24 N UMBER 1; J ANUARY 20, 2016 THE LABOR BEACON WORKERS, UNIONS FACE BIG LOSS AT SUPREME COURT See IF CASE page 17 WASHINGTON (PAI)—Workers and public sector unions faced sharp questions about union dues, agency fees and what they’re used for – or not used for – at the U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 11. And if the questions and comments from the jus- tices, particularly “swing vote” Justice Anthony Kennedy, are any indication, the unions face another big, 5-4 loss when the jurists decide the top labor case of their 2015-16 session. A decision is due before the end of June. The case, Friedrichs vs. California Teachers Association et al pitted a handful of dissident California teachers – funded and backed by the anti-worker anti-union radical right National Right to Work Committee – against California, its teach- ers unions, the Obama administration and their union and non-union allies. Technically, the issue is whether state laws that let unions representing public workers collect “agency fees” strictly to pay only for contract negotiations and enforcement – such as grievances – violate the dissident workers’ constitutional free speech rights. But the real issue, which RTW and its backers denied when the justices quizzed them, is whether public worker unions can survive a big loss of rev- enue as not just present “free riders” refuse to pay, but everyone else does, too – and can get away MO AFL-CIO BOYCOTT “If you’re receiving the benefit of some- thing, why is it hurting your 1st Amendment right to speak?” Justice Sonia Sotomayor Congratulations to Plumbers local 8, 65 Years Service Pin award recipients. From L-R are, Leonard Nuccio, Bill Sanderson, Craig Mullins, Business Agent, Leroy Bradley, President Retirees Club, Matt Harris, Business Agent and Chuck Tarpley, Business Manager. See page 14 for more pin award recipients. By JAMIE HAZELRIGG Labor Beacon Correspondent Mike Louis, President of the Missouri AFL-CIO is asking the Missouri AFL-CIO Executive Board to join forces in boy- cotting one of Missouri’s (and arguably one of the Nation’s) greediest billionaires; David Humphreys and his family of Joplin Missouri, and his multi- million dollar company, Tamko Building Products. Mr. Humphreys and his family have notoriously used Tamko Building Products to attack labor allies in Missouri by donating copious amounts of money against pro labor Republicans across the State and against working families to push their anti-worker agenda forward. Promoting Right to Work, destroying prevailing wage, pay- check deception, and tax cuts for the wealthy are just a few of the issues that Mr. Humphreys sup- ports, all of which would be a travesty for the middle class of Missouri. In just the past few months, the Humphreys family has donated $1 million to an ad The above billboard appears near I-29 and Parvin Road and is bought and paid for by a millionaire named Dave Humphreys who owns Tamko Building Products. Mike Louis (at left), President of the Mo. State AFL-CIO wants to boycott Tamko Products and it’s anti-union owner by hitting the greedy B^$&@% where it hurts. See MO AFL page 5
Transcript
WWW.KCLABORBEACON.COM VOLUME 24 NUMBER 1; JANUARY 20, 2016
THE LABOR BEACONWORKERS, UNIONSFACE BIG LOSS ATSUPREME COURT
See IF CASE page 17
WASHINGTON (PAI)—Workers and publicsector unions faced sharp questions about uniondues, agency fees and what they’re used for – ornot used for – at the U.S. Supreme Court on Jan.11.
And if the questions and comments from the jus-tices, particularly “swing vote” Justice AnthonyKennedy, are any indication, the unions faceanother big, 5-4 loss when the jurists decide thetop labor case of their 2015-16 session. A decisionis due before the end of June.
The case, Friedrichs vs. California TeachersAssociation et al pitted a handful of dissidentCalifornia teachers – funded and backed by theanti-worker anti-union radical right National Rightto Work Committee – against California, its teach-ers unions, the Obama administration and theirunion and non-union allies.
Technically, the issue is whether state laws thatlet unions representing public workers collect“agency fees” strictly to pay only for contractnegotiations and enforcement – such as grievances– violate the dissident workers’ constitutional freespeech rights.
But the real issue, which RTW and its backersdenied when the justices quizzed them, is whetherpublic worker unions can survive a big loss of rev-enue as not just present “free riders” refuse to pay,but everyone else does, too – and can get away
MO AFL-CIO BOYCOTT
“If you’rereceiving thebenefit of some-thing, why is it hurting your 1stAmendmentright to speak?”
Justice SoniaSotomayor
Congratulations to Plumbers local 8, 65 Years Service Pin award recipients. From L-R are,Leonard Nuccio, Bill Sanderson, Craig Mullins, Business Agent, Leroy Bradley, President RetireesClub, Matt Harris, Business Agent and Chuck Tarpley, Business Manager. See page 14 for more pinaward recipients.
By JAMIE HAZELRIGGLabor Beacon Correspondent
Mike Louis, President of theMissouri AFL-CIO is asking theMissouri AFL-CIO ExecutiveBoard to join forces in boy-cotting one of Missouri’s (andarguably one of the Nation’s)greediest billionaires; DavidHumphreys and his family ofJoplin Missouri, and his multi-
million dollar company, TamkoBuilding Products.
Mr. Humphreys and his familyhave notoriously used TamkoBuilding Products to attack laborallies in Missouri by donatingcopious amounts of moneyagainst pro labor Republicansacross the State and againstworking families to push theiranti-worker agenda forward.
Promoting Right to Work,destroying prevailing wage, pay-check deception, and tax cuts forthe wealthy are just a few of theissues that Mr. Humphreys sup-ports, all of which would be atravesty for the middle class ofMissouri. In just the past fewmonths, the Humphreys familyhas donated $1 million to an ad
The above billboard appears near I-29 and Parvin Road and is boughtand paid for by a millionaire named Dave Humphreys who ownsTamko Building Products. Mike Louis (at left), President of the Mo.State AFL-CIO wants to boycott Tamko Products and it’s anti-unionowner by hitting the greedy B^$&@% where it hurts.
See MO AFL page 5
Page 2Page 2IBEW 124 FACING HARSH REALITIES WITH HEALTH CARE
Terry Akins , Business Manager forIBEW Local 124 is very concernedabout the state of health care in theconstruction industry. “Here at IBEWLocal Union 124 health care haseaten its share of our raises ever since2002. Leadership at our hall is con-stantly working outside the box tokeep health care affordable to ourmembers. We have actuaries, whoproject each year how much revenueis going to come in versus how muchexpenses are going togo out. They have pro-jected deficits for thepast several years. Ifwe had done nothingbut simply throwmoney at the problem,our health care contri-bution rate would bemuch higher than it isright now. Instead, wehave instituted changesin the plan that haveallowed us to maintainmanageable raises toour contribution rate,”Akins stated.
Among those changes were mandat-ing health risk assessments to main-tain lower deductibles, changinghealth care provider networks andchanging the prescription drugprovider. Each of those moves savedtheir Plan hundreds of thousands ofdollars annually. All the same, med-ical inflation is outrunning them inthe race to keep costs down.
When averaged across all members,an IBEW Local 124 electrician worksabout 1,700 hours in a year. A jour-neyman currently $8.70 per hour fortheir family health care coverage.That translates to $14,790 per year.The average Journeyman pharmacycosts went up 12% in 2014 and 19%
in 2015. Overall, medical inflationwas up by more than 8%. Akins statedthat despite large rises in costs, mem-ber’s contributions only increased by4.3%.
Akins adds that while they havefound ways to beat the projected actu-arial estimates of shortfalls for thepast 7 years, the future is fraught withobstacles. “Last year was the perfectstorm for our fund,” Akins added.
“Medical inflation washigher than expected.Our fund paid out anumber of substantialclaims, which is whywe have it, and whileour income was up, ourprojected man-hourswere overstated due totraveler’s contribu-tions, which wereresponsible for about4% of our man hours in2014. We always recip-rocate their contribu-tions back to theirhome locals, but the
actuary didn’t initially recognize theimpact of those hours.”
“By August 31, 2016 we could befacing a $5.6 million spend-down ofour reserves. Our focus will be tominimize the impact of this deficit onour member’s contribution rate. Theother trustees and I plan to look atseveral options as there is no singlething that will bridge this kind ofgap,” Akins promised.
Few of the options available to lead-ership at this stage are going to bereceived with joy by the members.“We have to look at all options,”Akins said. “We will do everything inour power not to reduce benefits.Trying to fix this with a simple rate
increase would cost over $1.50 perhour, and that’s not going to beacceptable to anyone. So what do wehave in our tool box? Increaseddeductibles? A palatable increase tothe contribution rate? Lifestylecoaching for at-risk members ordependents? Incentives for going tothe gym? Third-party reinsurance forlarge claims? Negotiate with ourprovider network for better rates?
Partner with other unions for a prima-ry care network that gives us exclu-sive discounts? A little bit of all of theabove? These will all be looked atand in the end we will do what is bestfor the entire membership. I see othercrafts struggling with the same issuesand I’m optimistic that in communi-cating with them on best practices, wecan help each other to find a waythrough this.”
NEW UNEMPLOYMENT BILLREDUCES YOUR NUMBER OF WEEKSTO 13. STARTED JANUARY 1, 2016
The recent adoption of HB 150,the bill that cuts unemployment to13-weeks, the lowest in the country,will create quite a hardship formembers of the construction indus-try and specifically members ofIBEW Local Union 124. TerryAkins, Business Manager for Local124 stated, “It is hard for most peo-ple to understand the effect this willhave on our industry. When ourmembers are laid off, temporary
employment is nearly impossible tofind. We operate an exclusive hiringhall and when members are out ofwork, they have to sign up and waitfor their turn to go to the next job.They can’t go to an employer out-side of our trade and say “I amlooking for a job, oh but by the way,I have to leave immediately if I getcalled for a job by my Hall. Who’sgoing to hire them?” The new lawtook effect January 1st, 2016.
Terry Akins
It is interesting how politics can worksometime. A little over a year ago, FrankWhite, one of the most popular Royalsplayers to ever play here in Kansas City,ran for the Jackson County Legislature.His opponent was none other thanSherwood Smith, a decorated firemanand a longtime member of FirefightersLocal 42. Sherwood gave it a good runbut it was Frank White! At the end of theday Sherwood had no chance. Well time
goes by and now a little over a year later,Sherwood is right back in the game.Mike Sanders, a three-term JacksonCounty Executive and a very popularleader of the County decided he has hadenough of political life and steps down asCounty Executive.
This is where things got interesting, thecharter is very specific on how this situa-tion is handled. First the CountyExecutive position is given to someonewho will hold that position until they canappoint an interim County Executive.The choice was former legislator FredArbanas. Fred held that position until thelegislature unanimously appointed FrankWhite, who was sworn in Monday,January 11th. Frank will remain in thatposition until a primary is held thisAugust and a General election inNovember. Who ever wins the electionwill remain in the seat until the end ofMike Sanders term which expires in 2018(two years).
It is widely assumed by political prog-nosticators that the job is Frank Whites.This leaves Frank’s position on theCounty Legislature open. The way thiswill work is the Jackson CountyDemocratic committee will nominatethree names and pass them along to theLegislature who will then vote for one ofthose names.
Page 4Page 4
Brad StephensFinancial Service RepresentativePrincor Registered RepresentativeFinancial AdvisorRetirement Network For UnionMembers100 Sunset View Dr., Ste. 1Butler, MO 64730(866) 220-7832
FRANK WHITE NEW COUNTY EXECUTIVE
Frank White addresses the crowdafter being sworn is as the newJackson County Executive
COUNTY DIVERSIFIES QUICKLY
Theresa Galvin and Crystal WilliamsSeveral women have served on
the Jackson County Legislaturesince it was first formed in 1973,but none has every been chosenby her peers to serve as theLegislative Chair -- until now.During their first meeting of thenew year, the county's Legislatorsunanimously elected CrystalWilliams (2nd District At-Large)to serve as the body's chair-woman for 2016.
"We just made history today,"Williams said moments afterLegislator Dan Tarwater III (4thDistrict) handed her the chairper-
son's gavel. "Never before has theLegislature had a woman aschair, let alone a woman as chairand vice chair.
The Legislature also unani-mously selected Theresa Galvin(6th District) to serve as the vicechairwoman.
"Theresa and I intend to contin-ue working to improve servicesfor all our constituents and tosupport the work of JacksonCounty's employees," saidWilliams.
Page 5Page 5BRAND NEW YEAR, SAME OLD STORY: HOUSE GOP ATTACKS WORKERS, AGAIN
WASHINGTON (PAI)—It may bea brand new year, but the Republicanmajority on the House Oversight andGovernment Reform Committee issticking to the same old story:Attacking the nation’s workers andtrying to take their rights away.
And this time, brushing aside panelDemocrats and the AmericanFederation of GovernmentEmployees, they’re extending theirassault to the private sector – by ban-ning project labor agreements onfederal construction contracts – too.
By party-line votes, the panel onJan. 13 approved several anti-workerbills. One would make it almostimpossible for Senior ExecutiveService federal managers – thosewho are just below Cabinet level butabove the career civil service – tocontest discipline.
The SES members would haveonly five days’ notice of the potentialdiscipline and only seven days tomarshal evidence in their defense. Ifthey did, the agency involved mustrule on the issue within 21 days, andits decision would be final. Dueprocess would disappear.
Another measure the panelapproved would extend probationfor new federal workers from oneyear to two. And the measure thathits private workers would ban agen-cies from signing project laboragreements on large constructionprojects. President Barack Obama(D) signed an executive order in2009 encouraging contracting offi-cers to use PLAs.
All this went through on party-linevotes. All of it irked AFGE. Theinformation technology bill was
especially nettlesome, acting AFGELegislative Director JacquelineSimon wrote to lawmakers, in lightof recent data breaches and hacks offederal computers.
“This legislation is designed tooverturn a decision that found feder-al agencies do not have ‘sole andexclusive’ authority regarding issuesinvolving IT security, because it is amatter concerning conditions ofemployment and is negotiable if thematter is not otherwise inconsistentwith the law or an applicable rule orregulation,” she explained.
“As recent victims of the Office ofPersonnel Management data breach-es, federal employees fully under-stand the importance of securingfederal IT systems. However, federalagencies should not have unbridledauthority to punish federal employ-ees for any use of agency IT sys-tems.”
The 2-year probation bill passedeven though “there is little if anyevidence” that it would improveworkers’ performance, Simon said.She called its impact on all federalworkers “indiscriminate” and addedworkers’ “competent supervisors”are in better positions to knowwhether new workers are passing orfailing probation.
“Of course, the bill’s supporters arenot interested in improving the per-formance of the federal governmentbecause their measure is actuallydesigned to be punitive:Unnecessarily lengthen the time dur-ing which federal employees are at-will, thus leaving them bereft of dueprocess and more vulnerable to poli-tics and favoritism,” Simon conclud-ed.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1campaign targeting Republican members of theMissouri House of Representatives who voted againstthe proposed Right to Work legislation last September.Around town you will see Billboard like the one abovethat chastise these good Republican Representativesfor voting on the side of working people.
Louis has taken the proper steps to request assistancefrom the National AFL-CIO to put the Humphreysfamily and Tamko Building Products out of business,however, without any response, it is inevitable that theMissouri AFL-CIO will have to trudge forth on theirown. Louis is not only requesting 100% support fromthe entire Executive Board to move the boycott for-ward, but will be forwarding the resolution to theNational AFL-CIO and to every State Federation in thenation, hoping that they will jump on the bandwagon insupport of obliterating Tamko Building Products.
The Missouri AFL-CIO plans to combat TamkoBuilding Products through sophisticated social mediaevents, and eventually, as funds allow, through the useof billboards and radio. As stated in his request, Louisis looking forward to “…working hard to make thisboycott one of the most successful boycotts ever.”
MO AFL-CIO WANTS A BOYCOTT
Remember this faceand name, DavidHumphreys, he wantsto take away7 yourright to make a goodliving.
House speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellwill work together to pass anti-working family legislation during the2016 congressional session.
Page 6Page 6
HEALTH CARE NEWSKAISER FOUNDATION POLL SHOWS DEMS, INDEPENDENTS SUPPORTSINGLE-PAYER HEALTH CARE, BUT IT’S NOT MAKE-OR-BREAK ISSUE
WASHINGTON (PAI)—A newKaiser Foundation health care pollshows a majority of respondents –except for Republicans – support sin-gle-payer government-run healthcare. But the Medicare-for-all plan isnot a make-or-break issue in evaluat-ing presidential hopefuls.
The survey, in late December, cov-ered a wide range of health careissues, including satisfaction, or lackof it, with the Affordable Care Act.As might be expected, virtually allthe responses split along partisanlines, with independents leaningtowards the Democrats on single-payer and towards the GOP on oppos-
ing the ACA.The poll is notable because single-
payer government-run health care,also called “Medicare For All,” is akey cause of Sen. Bernie Sanders,Ind.-Vt., the top challenger to formerSecretary of State Hillary Clinton forthe Democratic presidential nomina-tion.
All the GOP hopefuls oppose boththe ACA, which they insult as“Obamacare,” and single-payer. Theywant to return consumers to the “pri-vate market” – the little-regulatedgreed and voraciousness of thenation’s health insurers. They have no
ACA replacement. In the poll, Democrats backed
Medicare for all by an 81 percent-15percent margin, and independentsbacked it 60 percent-34 percent.GOPers opposed it, 30 percent-62percent. Overall, single-payer wonby a 58 percent-35 percent margin,with the rest undecided.
The catch was that voters don’tmake single-payer’s enactment a toppriority. Kaiser pollsters asked justthe Democrats – 58 percent of whomstrongly supported single-payer –whether a candidate’s stand on theissue would be the key to their votenext year. Only 5 percent answeredyes. Another third said it would be astrong factor in their vote.
The findings haven’t stopped thecoalition of union supporters of sin-gle-payer, who have again unitedbehind HR676, the single-payer leg-islation by veteran Rep. JohnConyers, D-Mich., and a companionsingle-payer bill that Sanders hasauthored.
The Louisville-based All UnionsCommittee for Single-Payer HealthCare lists 22 unions, led by theSteelworkers and National NursesUnited, as outright single-payer back-ers. It adds 44 state labor federations,151 central labor councils and more
than 400 locals also back single-payer. State fed supporters includethose in union-heavy California, NewYork, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Missouri,Minnesota, Michigan, New Jerseyand Oregon, but not Illinois. Theyalso include feds in Texas, NorthCarolina and Florida, large stateswith low density.
And Chicago-based Physicians for aNational Health Plan reported thatSteelworkers Vice President TomConway strongly backed single-payerat a conference there at the end ofOctober, and said the ACA is inade-quate in many respects.
“This country can’t sustain this kindof --- system much longer,” Conwaysaid. He said the ACA “for us has notbeen helpful at all,” and that compa-nies use health care as an excuse tocut benefits and lock out workers:One year and counting for a lockoutat Sherwin Alumina and six monthsand counting at AlleghenyTechnologies Inc.
There, 2,300 steelworkers in sixstates have been locked out and thefirm wants 300 percent increases inhealth care premiums and no retireecoverage. “It’s just a brutal place outthere in the health care world,”Conway said.
HOUSE GOP MAJORITY CURBS CLASS ACTION SUITSWASHINGTON (PAI)—At the
end of what one House Democratcalled “Chamber of CommerceWeek” in Congress, the House’sGOP majority rammed throughlegislation to curb class actionsuits and to throw open asbestos’victims medical records and pay-ments.
The virtual party-line votes onJan. 8 also tossed out Democraticattempts to kill or weaken thosetwo schemes, which were com-bined in one bill. Another frustrat-ed Democrat said the KochBrothers – right wing energybarons who fund anti-worker cru-sades, legislation and GOP politi-cal operatives nationwide – wel-come the Republicans’ asbestosplan.
The AFL-CIO, which hasworked for years to try to solve the
asbestos exposure mess and toassure excellent compensation forthe thousands of victims, stronglyopposed the GOP measure, espe-cially the asbestos section,Legislative Director Bill Samueltold lawmakers.“The AFL-CIO is well aware that
the system for compensatingasbestos disease victims has had itsshare of problems, with victimsfacing delays and inadequate com-pensation and too much moneybeing spent on defendant andplaintiff lawyers,” he said.
The House bill “does nothing toimprove compensation forasbestos victims and would in factmake the situation even worse. Inour view, the bill is simply aneffort by asbestos manufacturerswho are still subject to asbestoslawsuits to avoid liability for dis-
eases caused by exposure to theirproducts,” Samuel added.
The legislation, HR1927, faces aneventual loss. Even if the GOP-runSenate votes for it, DemocraticPresident Barack Obama’s Officeof Management and Budget saidhis top staffers would recommendhe veto it because hampers accessto the federal courts and “threat-ens the privacy of asbestos vic-tims.” The House passed the mea-sure, 211-188, with 16 Republicansjoining all 172 voting Democratsagainst it.
The class action curb says anyclass of people who file suit mustsuffer identical harms in identicalways from identical products. Theasbestos bill was rolled into theclass action bill.
The class action bill’s practical
effect would be to shut tens ofthousands of workers and con-sumers out of court suits againstcompanies whose products injurethem or who perpetrate frauds onthem. The asbestos bill harmsasbestos victims by opening manyof their records.
Given weak federal labor law,workers turn to class action suitsagainst firms that harm them –such as the now-dead class actionagainst Walmart for sexual paydiscrimination.
And the asbestos manufacturers,or their successor companies, havetied up victims in court suits foryears, as they evade paying bil-lions of dollars in damages to vic-tims – shipyard workers, con-struction workers and others –who contracted cancer from thesubstance.
Page 7Page 7
WHEN YOU NEED HELP MAKE USYOUR FIRST CALL! 816-471-1966
PERSONAL INJURYAUTO ACCIDENTS
WORKERS’ COMPENSATIONTRAFFIC / DUI
“The choice of a lawyer is an important decisionand should not be based solely upon advertisements.” bhplawfirm.com
KANSAS CITY TO START NEW FAITH AND LABOR ALLIANCE
Kansas City’s clergy and labor lead-ers are taking cues from St. Louis asthey work to form the Faith LaborAlliance on this side of the state, anorganization that meets monthly todiscuss key workers’ issues in thecommunity from the faith and laborperspectives, with the goal of build-ing a stronger relationship betweenthe faith and labor community. A jointproject of Missouri Jobs with Justiceand the Labor Movement ofMissouri, this organization allows anopportunity for faith leaders to learnabout anti-worker legislation andhow they can use their voice andleadership in the community to speakon behalf of workers, and also anopportunity for labor leaders to listento the concerns and interests of faithleaders.
The camaraderie between labor andclergy provides an education for bothfaith and labor leaders, creates anopen dialogue, strengthens support
for labor, adds a stronger moral voiceto the Labor Movement, providesstronger community engagement instopping anti-worker legislation, andbuilds the movement for economicjustice locally and statewide.
In St. Louis, faith and labor leadershave found that the monthly breakfastmeetings have been refreshing andare ecstatic about the alliance that hasbeen formed. The monthly meetingshave led to an increase in the faith
community’s involvement in work-ers’ issues and have led labor andclergy to stand together in support ofissues such as better working condi-tions, restoring health and pensionbenefits, and educating the communi-ty on the constitutional right to orga-nize and collectively bargain.
The first Kansas City Faith LaborAlliance breakfast meeting will beheld on Thursday, February 25th 7:30a.m. at Argosy Casino. Deacon Mike
Lewis and Greg Davison, SheetMetal Workers #2 have been selectedas the Chair and Co-Chair of theorganization. The Faith LaborAlliance will meet every 4thThursday of each month.
The success seen in St. Louis bringsno doubts that a Faith Labor Alliancein Kansas City will create even moresupport for Labor in the community,needed now more than ever.
Greg Davison THE LABOR BEACON-SPANNING 60 YEARS30 Years Ago: January 1986WORKERS PREPARE TO
BATTLE AGAINST PUSH FOR RTW
Workers prepare to surge theCapitol on January 8th to jointogether to fight off Missouri leg-islators who are pushing for com-pulsory open shop in Missouri,also misleadingly known as “Rightto Work”. The rally, sponsored bythe Right to Truth committee,takes place on the opening day ofthe 1986 Missouri legislative ses-sion.
40 Years Ago: January 1976WOMEN OFFERED PRE-TRAINING IN CONSTRUCTION
Women are offered an eight-week Pre-Training Program in
Construc-tion for the first time bythe Builders’ Association ofMissouri. The program will pro-vide classroom, shop, and on-the-job training in painting and lath-ing. The trainees will be paid$2.30 an hour and will learn con-struction basics such as measur-ing, blueprint reading, safety, andbecome acquainted with basictools and techniques.
50 Years Ago: January 1966ALL OF LABOR SUPPORTS
THREE CONSTITUTIONAMENDMENTS
Organized Labor in Kansas Cityand all of Missouri stand united insupport of three Amendments tothe Missouri Constitution regard-ing pensions for county employ-ees, school levy tax, and a fairreapportionment for State
Legislature. The Amendmentshave been endorsed by theBuilding & Construction TradesCouncil, the Central LaborCouncil, Labor’s Educational andPolitical Club-Independent(LEPCI), and Teamsters JointCouncil Local #56.
60 Years Ago: January 1956KC TO HOLD JOINT MISSOURI AFL-CIO
CONVENTIONS
Kansas City is the confirmedlocation for the biggest and mostimportant Labor gathering ever tobe held in Missouri, the merger ofthe Missouri Federation of Laborand the Missouri CIO. The JointMissouri AFL-CIO Conventionsare to be held April 9, 1956.
Page 8Page 8
Attorney Keith Mark has risen to thetop in both his vocation (law) and hisavocation (hunting).
Keith, and his longtime law partner,Leah Burkhead, have been represent-ing union members for over 25 years.With the addition of Keith’s sons,Zach and Jacob, Mark & Burkheadenjoys the reputation as being the lawfirm that “works and fights the hard-est” for their union member clients.
In the hunting world, Keith hasteamed up with WWE legend ShawnMichaels to host one of the most pop-ular shows on the Outdoor Channel,“MacMillan River Adventures.”
If you have been injured in a workaccident, car wreck, slip and fall orhave been the victim of medical ornursing home malpractice, you cantrust Mark & Burkhead.
Ralph StubbsTEAMSTERS
LOCAL 41"In my experience as aunion member and officer,there is no finer Worker'sCompensation attorney inall the Missouri-KansasRegion than Keith Mark ofthe Mark & Burkhead LawFirm."
Ron JohnsonTEAMSTERS LOCAL 541
“Keith is a man of his wordwho seeks justice for hisclients and protects themwhen they have suffered anon the job injury. Local 541recommends Keith to anymember that is injured onthe job.”
ATTORNEYS AT LAWPractice Areas:
Workers’ Compensation and Personal Injury Claims
MARK & BURKHEAD
Keith Mark, Leah Burkhead, Zach Mark, Jacob Mark
“UNION APPROVED”
To contact Mark & Burkhead call:
913-677-1010
Tom PriceUFCW Dst. 2
Since 1994, Local Two hasreferred its members in theKansas City area, inSpringfield, and in otherMissouri cities throughoutthe local’s jurisdiction tothe law firm of Mark &Burkhead for counsel inworkers compensationcases.
Page 9Page 9
MILLWRIGHTS LOCAL 1529 CLASS SCHEDULEMillwright 2016 Training Schedule*Day Classes-Apprentices take priorityJANUARY Week 1*(01-04-2016/01-08-2016)7:00-3:30 Intro toWelding 40 hours* (01-04-16/01-05-16)7:00-3:30 Millwright16(osha) 16 hours* (01-04-16/01-08-16 )7:00-3:30 Intro toMillwrighting 40 hoursWeek 3* (01-18-16/01-22-16)7:00-3:30 Intro to
40hoursSafety Saturdays/Open WeldJanuary(01-30-16/01-30-16)7:00-3:30 Construction FallProtection 8hours(01-30-16/01-30-16)7:00-3:30 RoughTerrain Fork truck 8hoursFebruary(02-13-16/02-13-16) 7:00-12:30 Open Weld5hours<non-safety>(02-20-16/02-20-16) 7:00-3:30 First Aid 8
hours(02-20-16/02-20-16)7:00-3:30 Intro to Bim 8hours<non-safety>(02-20-16/02-20-16)7:00-3:30 Rough TerrainForktruck(02-20-16/02-20-16)7:00-3:30 Fall Protection8hoursMarch(03-12-16) 7:00-12:30Open Weld 5 hours<non-safety>(3-19-16)7:00-3:30Hazcom 8hours(3-19-16) 7:00-3:30 Intro
FRINGE BENEFITSTIC INTERNATIONAL6405 METCALF, SUITE 200OVERLAND PARK, KS 66202PHONE (913) 236-5490
Kevin B. O’Neill Publisher
The Labor Beacon Newspaper isprinted and published by theJefferson City News Tribune.Kevin O’Neill is the Publisher. Ifyou would like to get in touch withthe Beacon or forward any news orinformation go to the following:kclaborbeacon.com/ call 816-820-5930 or write to KC Labor Beacon
6320 Manchester Ave 46BKansas City, MO 64133
ENDORSEMENTSWe are the only labor paper in this town that is offi-
cially endorsed by all of the Major Labor Councils inthis area.
Endorsed by the Greater Kansas City LaborCouncil AFL-CIO; The Greater Kansas CityBuilding and Construction Trades Council; and theTri-County Labor Council of Eastern Kansas
The Labor Beacon is published bi-weekly by LaborNews, Inc., 632o Manchester Ave. Kansas City, MO64133. Single subscriptions cost $25.00 per year.Unions pay 75 cents per month for one issue and$1.25 per month for both issues. Group rates areavailable by contacting the publisher.
Periodicals postage paid at Kansas City, MO, andat additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the aboveaddress.
USPS 290-200
Page 10Page 10
CARPENTERS DISTRICT COUNCIL NEWSKC BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVESDENNIS JOYCE, Director of Jurisdiction and Research
FRANK ANDERSON, Millwright Representative
JOE AVILA, Representative
RONNIE CRISS, Representative for Southern Jackson,Cass and Bates Counties in Missouri
DAVE EARLEY, Representative for Downtown andMidtown Kansas City, MO
MIKE GAVOLI, Representative for Millwright shops andJohnson, Henry and St. Claire Countiesin MO
KIM GILLIHAN, Representative for shops and Platte,
Clay and Ray Counties in MO.
JOE HUDSON, Representative, ContractorDevelopment and Politics
ROCKY KLOTH, Floor Laying Representative
GERALD SHROPSHIRE,Representative for Eastern Jackson,Lafayette, Saline and Carroll Countiesin MO
DAVE WILSON, KEITH WINN, Representatives for Wyandotte,Leavenworth, Johnson, Miami and LinnCounties in KS
To reach the Representative on call, orto be added to the out of work list,please call (816)931-3414.You may also visit our website atwww.carpdc.org
• Local 315: ThirdWednesday of the month7:00 P.M. at the newCarpenters TrainingCenter located at 8955East 38th Terrace, acrossfrom Arrowhead stadiumand Kaufman Stadium offI-70.
• Local 1127: SecondWednesday of the month7:00 P.M. at the newCarpenters TrainingCenter located at 8955East 38th Terrace, acrossfrom Arrowhead stadiumand Kaufman Stadium offI-70.• Local 1529: FirstWednesday of the month7:00 P.M. at the newCarpenters TrainingCenter located at 8955East 38th Terrace, acrossfrom Arrowhead stadiumand Kaufman Stadium offI-70.• Local 1181: Last
Tuesday of the month5:30 P.M. at the newCarpenters TrainingCenter located at 8955East 38th Terrace, acrossfrom Arrowhead stadiumand Kaufman Stadium offI-70.• Local 777: FirstWednesday of the month7:00 P.M. at the Word of Life Church303 East Pearl StreetHarrisonville, MO 64701• Local 1445: 2ndWednesday of the month6:30 P.M. at the newCarpenters TrainingCenter located at 8955East 38th Terrace, acrossfrom Arrowhead stadiumand Kaufman Stadium offI-70.• Local 110: 3rd Thursdayof the month8:00 P.M. at the localaddress (Dues Collection5:00-7:00 P.M.)310 South Belt Highway
St. Joseph, MO 64506• Local 918: 3rd Mondayof the month6:30 P.M- NewMembers/7:00 P.M.-Regular Meeting710 Moro StreetManhattan, KS 66502• Local 945: 2ndThursday of the month7:30 P.M.- RegularMeeting230 West Dunklin StreetJefferson City, MO 65101• Local 1925: 2ndWednesday of the month6:00 P.M. at the localoffice404 Tiger LaneColumbia, MO 65203• Local 978: 1st Thursdayof the month7:30 P.M at the TrainingCenter4639 West Pfeiffer CourtSpringfield, MO • Local 311: 3rd Thursdayof the month7:30 P.M. at the local
office719 ½ South Main StreetJoplin, MO 64801• Local 201: 1st Thursdayof the month6:00 P.M. at the NewCarpenters TrainingCenter
Frequently CalledNumbers• Health &Welfare/Pension(Wilson-McShane)816/756-3313• CarpentersApprenticeship:816/471-0883• Carpenters DistrictCouncil of St. Louis &Vicinity (Kansas Cityoffice): 816/931-3414• Kansas City CentralDues Collection:816/931-7265
Meeting held at 11:00 am the 3rdWednesday of March, June, September
and December.ELECTRICAL
CODE OF EXCELLENCE
TRAININGWill be held the SECOND Tuesday of
each month from 8 AM - 11 AM.
IBEW 124 NEWS CANDIDATES LEARN A LOT FIRST TIMERUNNING. BUT MOST NEVER RUN AGAINThere is an aspect of our politics that I
believe is a very great tragedy.Candidates who do not succeed in theirelection abandon further involvement incampaigns.
The timeline for a lost candidate is anold one. 1) Recruit candidate 2) Traincandidate 3) Support candidate. 4)Candidate loses. 5) Abandon candidate.6) Candidate abandons politics.
Today, it’s too often, “All Or Nothing”,when it comes to running campaigns. Ifthe campaign fails, it’s nothing forevermore. The candidate is worn out, disap-pointed, even grieved. Then they’regone. We have forgotten one very impor-tant, even vital, truth. Political victorytakes time to achieve. Often, a very longtime.
For races at every level, it can take agreat deal of time for candidates, and theelectorate, to come together in message,goals and momentum. There are obsta-cles that must be overcome. One obsta-cle is that the electorate never heard ofthe person that’s running. They don’tknow anything about them. They’re new.A campaign mailer can be of little help.Commercials andads are, by nature, snippets of informa-tion.
Another obstacle is the ability of theperson to acclimate to being a candidate.We’re often guilty of taking a completeamateur and throwing them to the politi-cal wolves. They may be a good personand would make a wonderful representa-tive or office holder. But perhaps theirability to adjust to the rigors of cam-paigning is severely lacking.
Political campaigns are what I like tocall “Sausage Grinders”. They will eatyou alive if you’re not ready for all thebarriers to success. Many new candi-dates don’t know that. But they find out,and very suddenly.
Candidates have a lot of brand newexperiences when it comes to campaign-ing. Some adjust, some don’t. Othersdive right in and sacrifice everything.Then when it doesn’t pan out, they disap-pear, never to be heard from again.
We should look afresh at our system ofchoosing people to run. It can take yearsto recruit, train and equip and person tobe a candidate. In many cases, the candi-date has never even worked on a cam-paign before. They’re a total greenhorn.
Candidates need to know that it maytake more than one election cycle beforevoters will give them serious considera-tion. It may also take more than onecycle for supporters to realize that aswell.
There is so much to learn, so much toabsorb, so much to apply. That cannot bedone in a three month campaign.Chances for winning a short campaignare poor. But chances for losing a goodperson because of a short campaign fail-ure are very high. In a lot of cases, 100%.
Let us think differently about candi-dates and their needs before launchingthem out into the dark world of politicswith a broken headlight. If they lose,they are the only ones who are left afterit’s over.Reggie Marselus
Page 11Page 11
PIPEFITTER LOCAL 533 NEWSSPECIAL ORDER
OF BUSINESS At the Membership meeting onTuesday, February 2, 2016 at 7:00p.m., Pipefitters Union Hall at 8600Hillcrest Rd., Kansas City, MO,Lower Level. The upcoming Thirty-Ninth Convention of the UnitedAssociation to be held in San Diego,California, beginning on August 1,2016. NOMINATIONS for 13 dele-gates to the Convention and for oneTrustee for each of the followingfunds: Pension, Health & Welfare,and Savings whose term expires in2016 will be accepted. NOMINA-TORS Only eligible Pipefitters ingood standing, as provided in theLocal Union 533 By-Laws and theUnited Association Constitution,who has paid dues through themonth of November 2015 prior to7:00 p.m. on February 2, 2016 areeligible to nominate candidates torun for the Trustee positions andDelegates to the U.A. Convention.Any member who owes or has paid areinstatement fee (a late paymentpenalty) one year prior to the date ofthe election will not be eligible tonominate candidates or to vote at theelection. NOMINEES Candidatesmust be in good standing as indicat-ed for nominators for two years priorto the date of the election and mustaccept nominations at the meeting.The ELECTION will be conductedTuesday, March 1, 2016 from 11:00A.M. to 6:00 P.M. at the Union Hall,Lower Level at 8600 Hillcrest Rd.,K.C., MO. The election will besupervised by the ElectionCommittee appointed by thePresident. Voting will be done bysecret ballot. Only eligibleJourneymen members, as providedin the Local Union 533's By-Lawsand the United AssociationConstitution, who are in good stand-ing, who have paid dues through themonth of December 2015, may vote.In the event of a tie vote and a runoff election is necessary, the run offelection will be April 5, 2016.CURRENT DEATH BENEFITNUMBER IS AT N48
POLAR PLUNGE KANSASCITY Please join us at LongviewLake Saturday, January 30, 2016 tobenefit Special Olympics Missouri.Anyone interested in signing up,please contact Ron Talley at the
Business office at (816) 523-1533.2015 COURTESY TAX STATEMENTSLocal 533 business office will bemailing members information about2015 dues, work assessments, etc.paid by you to Local 533 for tax pur-poses. This is a courtesy provided byyour Local Union and is NOT ALEGAL DOCUMENT. The YearEnd Statements cannot be createduntil we have all of the December2015 hours reported by the contrac-tors. The Year End Statements willthen become available and mailed bymid February 2016.MCA/PFAC SCHOLARSHIP AWARDSLetters for scholarship applicationswill be mailed to the active journey-man pipefitters. For members whosesons and daughters will be graduat-ing from high school in 2016 andinterested in applying for theMCA/PFAC scholarship, please callthe MCA office at (913) 948-9200 orto receive an official applicationform, please write to theMCA/PFAC, 10955 Lowell, Suite1050; Overland Park, KS 66210.We ask that you pick up an applica-tion soon, because other documentsare required to accompany the com-pleted application forms by April 18,2016.WEBSITE www.local533.comTRANSAMERICA INVEST-MENT REMINDER Bob Burks is at the Union Hall everyTuesday afternoon from 1:00 p.m. to4:30 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00p.m. the first Tuesday of eachmonth, during regular MembershipMeetings. He is available to meetindividually with members who havequestions or who need assistancewith their Transamerica portfolios.If you wish to discuss your portfolio,stop by and visit with Bob, or givehim a call at 913-451-3546 to sched-ule an appointment.SICK COMMITTEE AND DEATH NOTICESTo report death notices, or if youknow of a member who is ill orinjured, please contact Skip Hedgesat [email protected] UPDATES Please notify the business office ofaddress, telephone number or benefi-ciary changes, including emailaddresses, mobile numbers andpager numbers. These updates arecritical in case of emergencies.Please note that our business officewill always notify members of emer-gency calls from their families, but
we are dependant upon members toupdate our office with current con-tact information. Please send yourupdated information to thePipefitters Business office at 8600Hillcrest Rd., Kansas City, MO64138 or call us at (816) 523-1533.PIPEFITTERS FRINGE BENEFITSQuestions or information regardingthe Health & Welfare or LocalPension Funds should be directed toWilson-McShane at (816) 361-0206,fax number (816) 444-4275, 8600Hillcrest Rd., Suite A, Kansas City,Missouri 64138. Wilson-McShanecan also be reached at (816) 756-3313, toll free (866) 756-3313, 3100Broadway, Suite 805, Kansas City,Missouri 64111. Questions regardingthe National Pension call 1 (800)638-7442. United AssociationWebsite: www.ua.orgFraternally,Scott A. Forbes, Financial Sec'y-Treas.RETIREESThe Pipe Fitter Retirees will meet onJanuary 20, 2016 to celebrate byenjoying outstanding company andgreat food. All of Local 533’sretirees, wives and widows are invit-ed to attend these meetings/lunches,and may bring a guest if desired.The luncheon is held at 12:00 noon.Please bring a meat or covered dishplus a salad and/or a dessert. Pleasealso provide your own table service.Doors open at 11:00 A.M. Pleasejoin us and see some old friends, ormake new ones! Should we havethreatening or bad weather, pleasecall the Pipefitter Business Office at(816) 523-1533.PresidentBBill EvingerVice President-Bill Benson,Treasurer–David SmothermanPIPEFITTERS CONTINUINGEDUCATION CLASSESJourneypersons interested in contin-uing education classes should con-tact the Training Center for details.For a full list of classes offered, con-tact the Training Center at (816)761-8800. For updates visitwww.facebook.com/pftc533 Call to register for the followingclasses:• Red Cross: First Aid/CPR Training– One day classes held in January,February & March. Call for dates.• Backflow Recertification –February 19• OSHA 10 – Starting January 12PIPEFITTERS APPRENTICE-SHIP PROGRAMApplications for the ApprenticeshipProgram are available on the firstMonday of each month, if that
Monday is a holiday, applicationswill then be available on the follow-ing Monday. An application can bepicked up at the Training Centerfrom 8:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M. onthe specified Monday only. An appli-cation can be returned to theTraining Center Monday throughFriday from 8:00 A.M. until 4:30P.M. The recruitment, selection,employment, and training of appren-tices during their apprenticeship,shall be without discriminationbecause of race, color, religion,national origin, or sex. The PipeFitters Local 533 EducationalTraining Fund will take affirmativeaction to provide equal opportunityin apprenticeship and will operatethe apprenticeship program asrequired under title 29 of the Codeof Federal Regulations, part 30.Anyone interested in informationregarding the Training Center or theApprenticeship Program may call forinformation at (816) 761-8800 orcheck the Training Center web site atwww.pftc533.com.Note: the following article wasprinted in the UA Journal and writ-ten by Emma Lamphear, daughterof Terry Lamphear, who is a mem-ber of Pipefitters local 533.Emma’s essay garnered her aScholarship from the UAScholarship Fund.
Industrial tug of war seems tomake the world go round; whenit isnot ripping it apart that is. Theeconomy can violently shift at theturn of a dime, but thanks to theunions, far fewer people are devas-tated when this occurs. Thanks tothe unions, so many retain theirhomes and have built new livli-hoods. Overall, unions provide anincalculable number of benefits, butthe primary being fair benefits andbetter livelihood for employees.Through their ability to stabilize theworkforce while simultaneously giv-ing the “working man” a voice, theyhave created the middle class. Thisinstitution has kept the economy incheck and become a concrete part ofour society today.
For my family, the union meant ajobfor my grandfather working onthe railroad. In his time, employ-ment was hard to come by, let alonea job with decent benefits and suit-able working conditions. He tellsstories of hunting for his familybefore he was able to find work, thedread he felt when he could notbring anything home that night, andthe cold nights he spent in the woodsunable to face the family he tried so
See LOCAL 533 page 12
Page 12Page 12LOCAL 533 NEWS CONT...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14hard to support empty handed. This first job oppor-tunity, through the Brotherhood of the LocomotiveEngineers and Trainmen, subsequently led to the lifeI am so greateful for today. He was employedthrough the railroad and worked hard for many yearsto build his life from there. This led to a brightfuture, which included the birth of my father. Hehas created the opportunities I have been blessedwith through his choice to become a union pipefitter.
My father ‘s job has provided my family with sup-port, stability and allowed us to flourish. As a child,I remember the first time my father was laid off. Iremember the panic associated with it, and I remem-ber being confused as to why no one else was asscared as I was that he had lost his job. My dadexplained to me that I didn’t need to worry, that evenif he had to go out of town, he would have a jobthrough his union. He explained how the unioncame about, and after countless history classes, Ihave discovered the value of the union in an histori-cal as well as a personal sense.
For the United States as well as the world, unionshave provided benefits unheard of before their estab-lishment. They give the working man a voice, asuitable environment to work in, a fair salary andcountless opportunities. Unions single handedly cre-ated the middle class and thus have incalculably sta-bilized and stimulated the economy more than wecan possibly imagine. To me, unions are a necessitynot only in the historical context of the masseswhom they have benefited, but here, in my homewhere I have a roof over my head, food to eat and afuture to look forward to, and I have the institutionof the union to thank for that.
MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS:Second Monday of each month at8:00pm 1000 E. 10th StKansas City, MO 64106EXECUTIVE BOARDMEETINGSSecond Monday of each month at7:00pm 1000 E. 10th StKansas City, MO 64106JATC MEETINGSFirst Wednesday of each month at8:30am 105 W. 12th AveNorth Kansas City, MO 64116KANSAS CITY OFFICE (Hours: 6:30am to 5:00pm M-F)1000 E 10th StKansas City, MO 64106(816) 842-8917www.ironworkers10.comBusiness Manager: David ColemanAgent: Daniel RoachAgent: Shannon ChambersSecretary: Patti MichaelsSPRINGFIELD OFFICE1948-C South GlenstoneSpringfield, MO 65804(660) 815-7765Agent: Jimbo Riley
TOPEKA OFFICE2730 SW 57th St #9Topeka, KS 66609(785) 438-0099Agent: Tony DelichBENEFITS OFFICEWilson- McShane Corporation3100 Broadway, Suite 805Kansas City, MO 64111(816) 756-3313www.ironworkers10benefits.comTRAINING CENTER105 W. 12th AveNorth Kansas City, MO 64116(816) 595-4110Director: Brian GarrettSecretary: Alexa PhefferAPPLICATION/APPRENTICESHIPINFORMATIONApplications are taken in-personMonday through Thursday betweenthe hours of 8:00am and 10:00amonly. Applicants must have a validdriver’s license, birth certificate,high school diploma or GED (a tran-script is acceptable), and a 20 dollarmoney order. For more informationgo to www.ironworkers10.com andclick on the “Apprenticeship” tab.
THE MOKAN IRONWORKERSApprenticeship program is essential-ly a three year program. (It could belonger due to the time of applicationor accrual of hours worked.) Itrequires 4800 hours of on-the-jobtraining, as well as 600 hours (200per year) of classroom/shop training.JOURNEYMAN UPGRADEThe weld shop continues to remainopen the first Saturday of eachmonth for new certifications as wellas continuity verification, but will beclosed in September due to theLabor Day weekend. Please call thetraining center to assure booth space.Testers must arrive by 9:00am.LOCAL 10 NEWSShirts: The new t-shirts are in.$12.00 without pocket, $15.00 with.LEADERSHIPFinancial Secretary/ Treasurer/Business ManagerDavid ColemanPresidentBrian GarrettRecording SecretaryJoe Eckstein
Vice President/ Business Agent(Springfield) Jimbo RileyBusiness Agent (KC) Daniel RoachBusiness Agent (KC)Shannon ChambersBusiness Agent (Topeka)Tony DelichExecutive BoardBob GinningsCraig KamphefnerTravis PembertonWilliam RoachDave SouthernTrusteeRobert Kanatzar, IIITrusteeJeff KiddTrustee/ OrganizerKevin KuritzConductorJoe CovingtonSergeant-at-ArmsJosh Hall
IRONWORKERS LOCAL 10 NEWS
SAVE THE DATESCURT DOUGHERTY
FUNDRAISER
Join the Greater Kansas CityBuilding & ConstructionTrades Council to support there-election of IBEW #124member and IndependenceCity Councilman CurtDougherty in the 2nd District.The fundraiser is being held atthe Building Trades Council,located at 400 S. Main,Independence, Missouri 64050from 7:30-8:00 a.m. onTuesday, February 9, 2016. Contributions can beaddressed to: Citizens to Elect CurtDougherty 16003 E. Cogan LaneIndependence, Missouri 64050
38TH ANNUAL KANSAS STATEAFL-CIO COMMUNITY
SERVICES CONFERENCE
Mark your calendars for the38th Annual Kansas StateAFL-CIO CommunityServices Conference on June
8-10, 2016 at the Drury PlazaHotel in Wichita, Kansas.Hosted by theWichita/Hutchinson LaborFederation of Central Kansas,AFL-CIO the conferenceteaches about the importanceof the partnership between theAFL-CIO and the United Way,and answers questions such asWhy Should Union Membersconsider supporting the UnitedWay and How Does theUnited Way benefit the LaborMovement? For more information on thisevent, contact:Mario Cervantes AFL-CIO Community ServiceLiaisonUnited Way of the Plains (316) 267-1321 Ext. [email protected]
MAGIC CAMP
Do you believe in MAGIC?Well, NAWIC does, and soshould you! The NationalAssociation of Women inConstruction (NAWIC) partnerwith the Kansas City
Construction Industry to hostMentoring a Girl inConstruction (MAGIC) Camp,a FREE summer camp thatoffers high school age girls aunique opportunity to learn in
about construction in a fun,hands-on environment.Journey level tradeswomenand instructors will teachcampers the basic skills ofsafety, carpentry, concrete,painting, plumbing, electrical,and welding. Camp activitiesalso include a field trip to aconstruction site, tool demon-strations, and more. Thisyear’s camp will be held June6-10 at the The Builders’Association Training Center.More information can befound at kcnawic.org.
Page 13Page 13SHEETMETAL WORKERS LOCAL #2 NEWS
Sheet Metal, Air, Rail andTransportation Workers’ Local Union No. 2Physical address:2902 Blue Ridge Blvd., Kansas City,MO 64129Mailing Address:P.O. Box 300378, Kansas City, MO 64130Phone: (816) 254-8021Toll-free: (888) 340-8021Fax: (816) 254-0018Web site: SheetMetal2.orgUnion Car for SaleWe will be accepting sealed bids for
the vehicle. All bids must be sealedand be from members of LocalUnion No. 2. We will begin accept-ing bids on February 1, 2016.Anyone who is interested in viewingthe vehicle may contact the UnionHall and speak with Jay Lind. Bidswill be opened by the trustees duringthe week of February 25, 2016.All bids MUST be submitted by theclose of business February 26, 2016.
No late bids will be accepted. The
HIGH bidder for vehicle will beaccepted. We are asking that all bid-ders submit their best bid, not multi-ple bids.The successful bidder will berequired to be the purchaser of thevehicle. Only Members of LocalUnion No. 2 are eligible to submitbids.2011 Ford Escape 115,000 Miles-Silver- Minimum Bid $7500.00SAVE THE DATESheet Metal Workers Local 2Bowling TournamentSaturday, February 27, 2016, atSterling Lanes, 11216 Highway 24,Sugar Creek, Mo., beginning with a12:30 p.m. registration and 1 p.m.game time.The cost is $10.00 per player.SAVE THE DATESheet Metal Workers Local 2 Fishing TournamentSaturday May 14th, 2016Bunk House Available Friday,Saturday nightsFishing Tournament Fee:
Osage Bluff Marina-Truman Lake,Warsaw, Mo$35.00-Includes “Bunk House (2)Nights, Food, Beverages”MO KAN HEALTH AND WEL-FARE FUND INFORMATIONWatch the mail for several mailingsand information regarding Mo KanHealth and Welfare FundAnnual Claim FormsSummary Annual ReportNew User and Existing User infor-mation for Screening InstructionsMo Kan Health Screenings-2016Tuesday January 26, 2016 Kansas City,Mo Union Hall 2:00-6:00Thursday January 28, 2016 Kansas City, MoUnion Hall 3:00-6:00The current DEATH BENEFITnumber is 901. Keep up to date onthe Memorial Page of the Local 2Web site, www.SheetMetal2.org.Obituaries are listed, when available(links provided.) Please rememberyour fellow Union brothers whohave recently passed away.APPRENTICE FUND NEWSEnrollment Instructions – All stu-dents must enroll two weeks inadvance of scheduled class. Adeposit of $100 is required at enroll-ment, which will be fully refundedupon course completion. Depositwill not be returned for incompleteclasses. Send deposit or bring toJATC for classes desired, 9703 E.53rd Street, Raytown, MO 64133. Areminder letter and/or e-mail will besent the week before the class. Aminimum of eight students isrequired for each course; classesmay be cancelled due to low enroll-ment, and deposit applied to futureclass or refunded. Students will benotified of cancellations onSheetMetal2JATC.org, Facebook(under Sheet Metal Workers Local#2 – JATC) and by e-mail. Call theJATC at (816) 353-0038, with anyquestions or to enroll.RECENT RETIREESJanuary 1, 2015 Martin SchmeltzDave JoiceKANSAS CITY-AREA RETIREES NEWSThe next Kansas City Local No. 2Retirees Club meeting will be heldWednesday, February 10, 2016. Any and all Local 2 retirees are
invited to join the Kansas CityRetirees’ Club! Dues are $12.00 peryear. Monthly luncheons are held at
the Kansas City Union Hall the sec-ond Wednesday of the every monthat Noon, unless there is a specialouting planned. Luncheon meetingsfeature a $25.00 attendance prize!Come join the club for some goodfellowship, food and fun.Upcoming meetings:February 10, 2016Chili Dinner-Provided by the ClubPlease bring your favorite side dishfor Chili!!March 9, 2016Corned Beef and CabbageBob Eslinger, PresidentKansas City Local No. 2 RetireesClubTOPEKA-AREA MEMBER NEWSArea 6 Office Location:Mark Shughart, BusinessRepresentative5990 SW 28th Street Suite F,Topeka, KS 66614Phone: (785) 608-0978Mark’s Kansas City Direct Line:(816) 836-6523E-mail: [email protected] who will be performingwork at Lawrence, Tecumseh orJeffrey Energy Centers, POWER-SAFE is a special Required Class forMembers. Anyone who has alreadytaken this class, must take a requiredrefresher class after ONE YEAR.Contact Mark Shughart for moredetails.TOPEKA-AREA RETIREES NEWSOur next meeting will be held onWednesday, February 3, 2016, at theI.B.E.W. Union Hall, 1620 NWGage, Topeka. Meeting starts at10:00 a.m. and all Local 2 retireesare welcome to join us for the meet-ing and fellowship. Jim Dodge, PresidentST. JOSEPH-AREA RETIREES NEWS
The St. Joseph-Area Retirees Clubbreakfast is held the first Tuesday ofevery month at 8 a.m., at St. JosephFrontier Casino. Come spend sometime with old friends and make somenew ones. There is always an extrachair, so come and join us for break-fast each month! Upcoming meetingdates:, February 2, 2016St. Joseph Frontier Casino, 777Winners Circle Take I-29 North to229 North exit; then Highland Ave.Exit 7
George Beckwith, PresidentRandy Norris, SecretarySt. Joseph-Area Local No. 2 RetireesClubUNION DUES AND INFORMATIONPlease be sure to pay your dues inadvance. Per the Constitution duesare to be paid by the 1st day of themonth. Failure to pay dues couldresult in suspension. Members arenot allowed to work unless they arepaid up as outlined in theConstitution. Please make sure to putyour membership number on thememo line.Annual Union information paper-work will be mailed out shortly afterthe first of the year. Please be sure tomake sure that all of your informa-tion is up to date, address, phonenumbers, beneficiary card, and expe-rience and qualification cards.MEETING DATES January 19 Executive Board Meeting
#This is a photo of a 2011 Ford Escape. Notthe one we are selling.
Page 14Page 14PLUMBERS LOCAL UNION #8
Membership Meetings: 2nd Wednesday of each month at 5:30PM, 8600 Hillcrest Road (Lower Level)Kansas City, MO 64138Executive Board Meetings:2nd Wednesday of each month at 4:00PM prior to membership meeting, 8600Hillcrest Road (Upper Level) KansasCity, MO 64138Retiree Club Meetings:4th Wednesday of each month at 10:00AM, 8600 Hillcrest Road (Lower Level)Kansas City, MO 64138Retiree’s Executive Board Meetings:2nd Wednesday of each month at 3:30PM, 8600 Hillcrest Road (Upper Level)Kansas City, MO 64138Business Office:8600 Hillcrest Road, Suite IIKansas City, MO 64138
Telephone: (816) 363-8888Fax: (816) 363-8890Website: http://plumberslocal8.comEmail address: [email protected] for sale: hats, lapel pins, writingpens, patches, winter stocking caps, t-Shirts, sweatshirts, button up shirts, andmoisture wicking t-Shirts.Employee Benefit Office:8600 Hillcrest Road, Suite 1Kansas City, MO 64138Telephone: (816) 361-0666Fax: (816) 523-6816Lisa Ogrizovich – AdministratorStacy Kuhl – AdministrativeAssistant/Sr. Claims ProcessorKelli Adney – Claims ProcessorEmployee Benefit Office:8600 Hillcrest Road, Suite I
Kansas City, MO 64138Telephone: (816) 361-0666Fax: (816) 523-6816Training Center:9876 Hickman Mills DriveKansas City, MO 64137Telephone: (816)761-8800Fax: (816) 761-8801Richard “Frank” Murray, Training Coordinatorwww.plumberslocal8trainingcenter.com BANK OF LABOR: (Vacation SavingsAccounts for members of Plumbers &Gas Fitters LU #8)756 Minnesota AvenueKansas City, KS 66101Telephone: 913-321-4242For 24 hour service regarding yourBank of Labor Vacation SavingsAccount, please call 855-245-2267.
To prevent the closing of your accountand delaying the receipt of your money,please leave a minimum of $5.00 in youraccount at all times.
FIVE YEAR APPRENTICESHIPPROGRAM:The Training Center takes applicationsfor the Apprenticeship program the firstMonday of each month from 8:00 AM to4:00 PM. If the first Monday is a holi-day, it will be the following Monday.Applications can only be picked up thatMonday, but may be returned anyMonday through Friday between 8:00AM to 4:00 PM. If you know anyoneinterested in applying for the apprentice-ship, please have them call the TrainingCenter and ask for the information linewhere they can get additional informa-tion about the program.
NEED PLUMBING SERVICE WORK ?
or visit www.plumbers911.com We offer the best plumbing service in the KC Metro!
Call us for any of your plumbing needs 24/7!
CALL 816-326-8643
60 YEARS OF SERVICEBack Row-Craig Mullins. Leroy Bradley, Matt Harris, Chuck TarpleyFront Row-Jimmy Holden, Zeke Amador Sr., Michael Lombardo, FrankieRoberts
PLUMBERS LOCAL 8 PIN AWARDS
Page 15Page 15
55 YEARS OF SERVICE:Back Row- Craig Mullins, Leroy Bradley, Matt Harris, Chuck TarpleyFront Row- Larry Moody, Walter Rainey
50 YEARS OF SERVICEBack Row- Leroy Bradley, Matt Harris, Craig Mullins, Chuck TarpleyFront Row-Gary Mullins, William Monahan, Lyle Gifford
35 YEARS OF SERVICEBack Row-Craig Mullins, Leroy Bradl;ey, Matt Harris, ChuckTarpley. Front Row-Aaron Green, Tony Smith, Marvin Woods
45 YEARS OF SERVICEBackrow- Louis Roberts, Leroy Bradley, Craig Mullins, Matt Harris,Chuck Tarpley; Middle Row- Robert Oxler Jr., Ed Hon, Front Row- Charles Mercer, William Wheeler, Ed Wiesing
40 YEARS OF SERVICEBack Row-Leroy Bradley, Craig Mullins Middle Row-Tedd Cassidy,John Gryczkowski, Matt Harris, Chuck Tarpley Front Row- DavidDerr, Russell Nolan, Michael Jonas
30 YEARS OF SERVICEBack Row-Ray Thomas, Jr., Leroy Bradley, Craig Mullins Middle Row-Bruce Compton, Matt Harris, Chuck Tarpley Front Row- Charles Spencer, Jeff Hines, John Harvey, JamesRodriguez, Doug King, Jess Buck
Page 16Page 16
Missouri Maverick VS WichitaThunder tickets available for Local12 Members, Retirees, Spouses andChildren at the Hall. (Tickets forGirlfriends, Friends Etc can be pur-chased for $25.00 each.) Game isSaturday, January 30, 2015 at 7:05pm. Call, email or text to reserveyour tickets!!!
MEMBER INFOCongratulations to Brother MikeEngel on his retirement. BrotherEngel started in the trade in January1979 and retired from the industryon January 7, 2016.
Congratulations to Local 12 mechan-ic, Bryan Wright and his wife,Anna on the birth of a daughter,Lillian Lee. Lillian was born onNovember 23, 2015
Congratulations to Local 12 mechan-ic, Bryant Gish and his wife,Stephanie on the birth of a daughter,Sydney Paige. Sydney was born onJanuary 4, 2016.
2015 Vacation Reminder-2015vacation dates are to be submitted tothe Local 12 office by Jan 31, 2016.You can submit by phone, email([email protected]), fax (816-313-5645) or in writing.
Apprentice NewsApprentice Spring Orientation meet-ing will be on Thursday, January 21,2016 at 5:00 pm. This meeting ismandatory
CPR Classes will be taught byInstructor Randy Mazigian. ContactLocal 12 to register for the class.
NEIEP CERTIFIED SIGNAL PER-SON AND RIGGER LEVELS 1AND 2 (CSPR-1/2) PROGRAMFOR CRANE RIGGING AND SIGNALINGIUEC members may earn their certi-fication card through NEIEP’sCertified Signal Person and RiggerLevels 1 & 2 (CSPR-1/2) program,which was designed specifically tomeet the needs of the elevator indus-try. For more information aboutNEIEP’s Rigging and Signalingtraining or the ANSI-accreditedCSPR-a/2 program, please contactTim Daly, Certification Director,IUEC Local 12, 6320 ManchesterAve. #44, Kansas City, MO 64133.816-358-1312 or [email protected]
RETIREESCondolences to the family of Local12 Retiree, Dennis Lyon. BrotherLyon passed away on December 30,2015. Brother Lyon started in thetrade in May 1971 and retired inDecember 2003.
RETIREE’S BIRTHDAYSGary Linnenkamp January 3James Hoff January 6Ed Ridder January 6Richard Ogden January 7Mike Sharpsteen January 8Larry Goodman January 9Jack Theis January 10Homer Jennings January 14Doug Keith January 17
Mervyn Morain January 19Sheridan Warren January 22James Linn January 31
Kansas City Monthly RetireeLuncheon- at 11:30 amPhil Zeller is the contact in regardsto the monthly KC retiree luncheons.He can be reached via [email protected] or ofcourse the Local 12 office with anyquestions.
January 28, 2016Golden Corral8800 NW Skyview Ave.Kansas City MO(NE corner of I29 and 152 Hwy)
February 25, 2016Golden Corral19120 Northwest Valley View RoadIndependence, MO 64057
March 31, 2016Ryan’s Cafeteria10810 W 75th StShawnee, KS 66214
Wichita Monthly RetireeBreakfast-The breakfast starts at7:30 am on the 1st Tuesday of everymonth. Retirees are encouraged tobring their significant others.Contact Billy Geier at 316-943-3507for any other info. SpearsRestaurant, 4323 West Maple,Wichita, KS
Items for Sale- It's going to startgetting cooler outside!!! Local 12beanies and black hoodies withIUEC Local 12 logo in red are avail-able at the hall.
Committee Members-If you areinterested in being on theEntertainment (Picnic, RetireeDinner, Golf Tournament, Float Trip,Etc) PAC, Resolutions or BudgetCommittees contact the Local 12Office.
Personal Information ChangesNotify the office of any addresschanges, phone number changes,new spouse, change of beneficiary,job changes, etc.
IUEC Local #12Elevator Constructors6320 Manchester Avenue – Suite 44Kansas City, MO 64133(816) 358-1312 -- Kansas City (816) 898-2217 – Eric Rogers’s cell (816) 898-2213 – Ray Ducharme’s (816) 313-5645 -- Fax [email protected] -- e-mail address
I U PAT D . C . 3 N E W SDistrict Council #3 Delegate Meeting-Oncea month (first Thursday of each Month)Beginning at 5:00pm.
Painters and DrywallFinishersLocal Unions2014, 2015, 2012Local 2012-meets 2nd Tuesday of everymonth at 5:30 pm
Local #2014 meets the 2nd Monday, 5:30pm, 3301 Van Buren, Topeka, KS and the 3rdSaturday in Witchita, 8:00 am
Local #2015 meets the 2nd Monday, 5:00pm, 1540 Barnes Ave., Springfield, Mo.
Local #558 meets the 2nd Wednesday, 5:30pm, 9904 E. 62nd St., Raytown, Mo.
Local #558 Topeka- Meets 2nd Mon., 5:00pm, first month of each quarter.
Local #558 Wichita- Meets 3rd Monday,5:00pm.
Local #820 meets the 2nd Wed. Olathe DeafClub at 1:30 pm and 4:00pm
For all questions regarding CommercialPainting, Drywall Finishing, Glazing,Floorlaying and Industrial Painting (CAS)Apprenticeship programs or regarding Health& Safety Classes, please contact:
Dan HinkDirector of TrainingDistrict Council 3 Painters and Allied TradesTraining Fund
105 W. 12th Ave. North Kansas City, MO 64116(w) 816-595-4136(c) 816-392-1970www.iupatdc3training.com
For Health and Safety questions, call DanHink at 816-471-0800 Ext. 309.
For questions concerning Painters orGlaziers fringe benefits call Wilson &McShane, 3100 Broadway, KCMO 64111, at816-756-3313.
YOUR IUPAT D.C. 3 STAFF REPRESENTATIVES
Todd DoreeBusiness Manager/Secretary-Treasurer
Kevin BaylessBusiness Representative
Frank CarpenterDirector of Servicing
David CoxBusiness Representative
Demetrio GarciaBusiness Representative
Kenny NicholsBusiness Representative
James WoodsonDirector of Organizing
Jessica PodholaDirector Governmental Affairs
ELEV. CONST. LOCAL 12 NEWS
Page 17Page 17
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1with it. Justice Elena Kagan estimat-ed that thousands of union contractsand 10 million workers could beaffected.
The dissidents, represented byRTW-hired attorney Michael Carvin,argue that anything a union does,including bargaining contracts andhandling grievances, is “political”and thus forcing dissidents to payagency fees for those functions vio-lates their free speech rights.
“Many of these things” from classsizes in schools to staffing of firedepartments “are matters of publicconcern” where the Constitution’s 1stAmendment and its free speech rights– including a ban on governmentcoercion of individuals to “speak” viaagency fees – trump everything else,Kennedy told California SolicitorGeneral Edward Dumont.
“Many teachers disagree” with theunion on various issues, Kennedycontinued. “The agency fees requirethat they subsidize unions on theissues they disagree with. The unionis making these teachers compelledriders” on its policies.
If the dissidents win, every state andlocal government would in essencebecome a so-called “right to work”shop, where anyone could use theunion’s services, but not pay for
them.The contest inside the courtroom
was mirrored by demonstrations out-side, as unionists from AFSCME, theService Employees, National NursesUnited and other unions convergedupon the court to show the impor-tance of the case to their rights andlivelihoods. A smaller group, mar-shaled by the right, waved “We ♥teachers” signs. One California “reli-gious teachers association” sidedwith the RTW crowd (see separatestory).
Inside, “with the agency fees,unions can do things they can’t dowithout them,” such as train workersto be more effective, Justice SoniaSotomayor told Carvin.
“If you’re receiving the benefit ofsomething, why is it hurting your 1stAmendment right to speak?” to beasked to pay for it, Sotomayor added.“They (unions) don’t have the right todemand that the other side subsidizethem,” Carvin retorted. He gave vir-tually that same answer to JusticeElena Kagan.
“Their burden of justification ismuch higher, because they can’t pos-sibly show that abolition of theagency fees would lead to demise ofunions,” Carvin told reporters after-wards.
Justice Stephen Breyer commentedthat “six people inside a room bar-gaining on wages, hours and workingconditions is pretty far” from barringpeople from exercising their freespeech rights. Carvin saw no differ-ence.
Breyer, Kagan, Sotomayor andJustice Ruth Bader Ginsburg repeat-edly made the point that dissidentsstill have their own rights to speak upin public forums and whenever theywant, against unions’ policies. Policyadvocacy is different from collectivebargaining, Breyer said.
By contrast, Justice Antonin Scaliatold Dumont: “The problem is thateverything that is within collectivebargaining is done within the politicalsystem,” and thus comes under the1st Amendment and its free speechsafeguards.
“There are deep public policy impli-cations,” Dumont admitted in reply.“But we’re trying to do two thingshere: Run a government and run aworkplace.”
California and other states, headded, decided the best way to run aworkplace is to work cooperatively
with the one union – at each agency –which a majority of its workers votedin. Agency fees help fund that cooper-ative work, Dumont said.
David Frederick, speaking for theCalifornia Teachers Association, andits union allies, told the court thatoverriding – throwing out – the 1997Abood case, which legalized the cur-rent agency fee system “would sub-stantially disrupt established labor-management relations and collectivebargaining agreements in half of thecountry.” Those are the states that donot have so-called “right to work”laws.
“We’re talking about a service fee”for the unions “to provide services” toall their covered workers, union andnon-union, Frederick added. Thatdrew yet another comment fromKennedy: “You’re comparing themwith a whole group of persons whohave their own views, who arecoerced or compelled” to back otherviews, via the agency fees.
“I can understand that argument”for keeping the agency fees “if theunion is destroyed” without them, butnot otherwise, Chief Justice JohnRoberts said.
IF CASE IS LOST EVERY STATE AND LOCAL GOV. BECOMES A RTW SHOP
ROOFERS LOCAL 20 NEWSPlease visit us at www.rooferslo-cal20.com
MEETING SCHEDULEMeeting Dates:
Jefferson City Area – February5, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. Carpenters& Joiners Hall located at, 230 WDunklin, Jefferson City, MOService Pin Night!
Springfield Area – March 11,2016 at 5:30 p.m.Painters Local #203, 1540 N.Barnes Ave. Springfield, MO Service Pin Night!
St. Joseph Area – March 9, 2016at 6:30 p.m. IBEW Local #545,421 S. 8th Street, St. Joseph, MO Service Pin Night!
Kansas City Area - January 25,2016 at 6:00 p.m. Roofers Local#20, 6321 Blue Ridge Blvd.,
Health & Welfare Funds OfficeMichelle 816-313-9427Kira 816-313-6235
Joe LogsdonFinancial Secretary/Business Agent
Paul PostBusiness Agent
Kevin KingBusiness Manager816-313-9420
Page 18Page 18TEAMSTER RETIREE NEWS
OFFICERSPresident-Charlene GeorgeVice-President-John Malicoat Secretary-Helen JoplinTreasurer-Linda LewisTrustee-Carolyn JohnsonTrustee-Charles EaganTrustee-Jerry SkinnerOFFICE HOURSMonday-Friday 10:00am – 2:00pm. Messages left on machine will bereturned ASAP. We will be closedMonday, January 18th in observanceof Martin Luther King, Monday,February 15th in observance ofPresidents’ Day and Friday March25th in observance of Good Friday.Monthly Luncheons4th Wednesday of each month.11:00 am – Social Time12:00 noon – Buffet LunchPlease bring a covered dish ordessert to share. Fried chicken will be provided.Door prize drawing held at each lun-cheon. Please RSVP by noon theMonday before.Argosy CasinoFirst Tuesday of each month @11:30 am. $13.00 for lunch includinggratuity. No RSVP required.BREAKFAST/LUNCHCITY-YRCFirst Monday of each month,Corner Café4215 Little Blue PkwyIndependence, MO I-70 and exit 17ROAD-YRCLast Friday of each month8:00 am- Ranch Café501 E. WalnutRaymore, MO 58 Hwy E. between 71 Hwy & 291JACK COOPERThird Friday of each month7:30 am- Corner Café4215 Little Blue PkwyYRC RETIREES LUNCHFirst Tuesday of each month,11:30 pm- Pop’s Café15015 E US Hwy 40DUES - 2016Please check your YellowMembership card. In order to saveour special secretary additionalwork, please mail in your 2016 dues.Any questions, give our office a call.HARDSHIPS WE CAN HANDLE.MISSOURI DRIVERS’ LICENSEIf your license is coming due forrenewal, you need to familiarizeyourself with the Highway SignRecognition Sheet. This shows allthe signs that you may have to iden-tify. This sheet is available. Call theoffice and we’ll mail a copy to you.Frequently Called Numbers
Teamstar – 1-800-808-3239 Medicare – 1-800-633-4227Central States Pension – 1-800-323-5000Social Security – 1-800-772-1213Teamster Retirees Club – (816) 921-6244HEALTH & SERVICES Dental ServicesDuensing Family Dentistry101 E 23rd Ave. North KC, MO(816) 842-3314 www.duensingfamilydentistry.com HEARINGFree Hearing TestBelton Hearing Call CenterSeveral area locationsCall Toll Free 1-800-828-4494ATTORNEY SERVICESHager Law FirmFree consultation regarding Power ofAttorney, Trusts, Wills, BeneficiaryDeeds, and POD transfers.Avoid ProbateCall (816) 523-8400CHIROPRACTIC SERVICESDr. Dennis GutshallTeamster Building4501 Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd.(816) 923-0500UNITED WAY211 Get Help, Give HelpIf you need assistance, please call211VISION SERVICESGerry Opticalseveral area locations(913) 362-8822 main office20% discount for all TeamsterRetirees (you must ask for discount)O.H. GERRY OPTICALCOMPANY Gerry Optical wouldlike to offer the Teamster Retirees a20% discount on exams, framesand/or prescription lenses. A retireemust ask for the discount at the timeof the exam or when placing anorder. Call (913) 362-8822 for thenearest location. You might want tocut out the above location informa-tion to keep for future reference.COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMSTeamster Retirees Food PantryOur Food Pantry is and will continueto be one of Kansas City’s finest.We continue to assist Teamsters whohave experienced hardships and arein need of food. Teamster Retireesdon’t want to see anyone go hungry.We are very organized in keepingthis a first rate operation. Groceriesare purchased from AssociatedGrocers who are members ofTeamsters Local 944 and YRC pro-vides us with not only a Local 41driver but also a YRC pup to pick upthe groceries and delivery them tothe hall. At that time, officers,agents and staff from Local 41,Local 838, Local 541 and Local 955unload the pup and carry everything
downstairs to the pantry for us. It isquite an operation! Our Locals inthe Kansas City Teamster Buildinghave been supportive over the 34years of this operation and areinstrumental in keeping up on target.The sales of our Teamster hats,shirts, jackets etc., support ourefforts in this endeavor.NEEDED – We need paper towelsand toilet paper in our FoodPantry!!! Any questions, contactJeanette Eagan at our office.Ronald McDonald House - POPTABS-Keep ‘em Coming!The Ronald McDonald House is aplace for the parents and families ofseriously ill children to stay whiletheir child receives medical help atChildren’s Mercy Hospital. Our poptabs are converted into money whichgoes to support the efforts of thiswonderful organization.WELCOME NEW MEMBERS William Hubbs/ Regina Local 41 USF HollandJerry Thomas/CarolynLocal 955 Fleming FoodsGary Waggoner/EvelynLocal 41 RoadwayJANUARY BIRTHDAYSRobert BrownKenneth BrownDavid RossBruce BrooksJamie RiceGlen TroutCurtis WagnerGary SimoneauJohn PetersonLewis EllisBill VelesquesMichael FalesFrankie RuthCharles ZimmermanLaura ZimmermanBilly BillsWilliam EastlandThurman LuckyBetty MartinMary McPheetersJames StewardJess Mayo Jr.Harold ShepardRoosevelt HallDoris HendersonTim WilliverLeta SimoneauPat BrownMary HopkinsTerry LogemanJudy ReiterYvanne HoskinsonBetty ZanetelloErma BoggessCarolyn ThomasFEBRUARY BIRTHDAYSBruce McLainBertha UptegroveThomas HuntPat NeaseLinda Barnett
Penny PetermanAlfred PiontekHerbert NeaseMichael OdomElizabeth NoblitCharlene GeorgeDonald HarveyVirgil HolmesJames StangelRoy RoperJames MinzeyDale MyersRalph SmithWayne LightSharon PiontekMary KisnerRachelle OdomWanda FrancoJoy SmithMARCH BIRTHDAYSJohn HoaglandMichael SouthJames McPheetersHomer ParsonsBertie ShewmakerCraig DanielsVirginia DunnJames HuntPaul StrangeTerry MusickLois HartsellJohn NolandBart KidwellBilly ThompsonWayne HarclerodeRonald RouseMartin ClarkJohnnie ParkerGeorge RingerRalph AllenFreeman LightIra WallerRene LopezWillie GreenRonald SchlagleThomas SchmidtVernon BealLastranda DavisTheresa LuckyBetty HoaglandGary LewisAudrey RaganDonna BrownDoris CowinMESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT – CHARLENE GEORGEFirst of all, I want to give a specialthank you to our Executive Boardfor the tremendous job they did in2015. Our club would not be what itis today without them. We wish allof our members a Healthy,Prosperous and Happy New Year.We had the largest group of atten-dees at our Thanksgiving dinnerever. The food was wonderful, ourRetirees out did themselves with thecooking. Everyone enjoyed them-selves. See TEAMSTERS page 19
Page 19Page 19
The Christmas Party was a huge suc-cess also. Everyone enjoyed them-selves. Not only was the menu great, butthe door prizes were fabulous as well.Thanks to our Trustee, Jerry Skinner.He called on the various companies whoparticipated and gave the gifts. Ourbrother went above and beyond to obtainthem for our members and guests.Thanks Brother Jerry, what a wonderfuldeed. I want to also extend a special thanks toour calling committee which is headedup by Helen Joplin. They stay in touchwith our members on a monthly basis.Without them, our closeness to ourmembers would not work. Some of ourmembers have no family and look for-ward to the call, not only to remind themof the luncheons but just to stay intouch. THANKS AGAIN.I want to thank Charles Eagan for all hishelp opening the Retirees club for mem-bers of all the Locals in the building dur-ing special meetings at any time day ornight. He also handles our PoliticalAction items.Please make sure and browse the photosof our Thanksgiving & ChristmasParties. More pics in the next newslet-ter.CENTRAL STATES PENSION I want to take this opportunity to addressnot only our Teamster Members but alllabor women and men who are recipi-ents of this wonderful Labor BeaconNewspaper. YOU JUST MIGHT BENEXT!
We want to share all of the variousnews with you that reflects our CentralStates Pension Rally dates. Just checkwith our Teamster Retiree Office 816-921-6244.The following was compiled by CarolynJohnson:Dear Brothers and Sisters:As you may know by now, the
Teamsters Central States Pension Plan isunder attack! In December of 2014, theMultiemployer Pension Reform Act waspassed by Congress allowing for thereduction of earned pensions by as muchas 60%. This bill was passed in thedead of night with no discussion ordebate whatsoever. It completely over-rode a 1976 bill which prohibitedCongress from being able to undercut orreduce the pension benefits earned byTeamsters already retired. If Congress is able to do this to one ofthe largest pensions in the country, beaware that your pensions could be next!!In this day and age not only are ourunions under attack, but now Congressis going after our earned pensions.Please join with us in defending ourright to the pensions we have earned bywriting or calling your Congress personand let them know how you feel aboutthis. We must stand together and supporteach other in this matter, or they willcome for your pension next!
Below is a letter we have sent toPresident Hoffa and Senator McCaskill,and a sample letter for you to use to
voice your concern. Please help us getthe word out.James P. Hoffa, General PresidentInternational Brotherhood of Teamsters25 Louisiana Ave. NWWashington, D.C 20001-2130Dear President Hoffa,The Teamster Retirees Club of KansasCity is, as all members of Central StatesPension Fund are, extremely concernedabout the passage of the OmnibusSpending Bill of 2014 which effectivelyeviscerates ERISA and our pension earn-ings. We are providing the enclosed letter toour retirees to send to our U.S. Senatorand Congressperson in Missouri andKansas, and in as much as this is anelection year, we thought you would per-haps send this as an example to the otherretirees clubs that are in Central Statesso that they, too, could appeal to theirown Representatives in Congress.We appreciated the letter that was sent toSecretary of Treasury Jacob J. Lew fromyour office and hope that your effortsand the efforts of the pensioners ofCentral States will result in the repeal ofMPRA.In Solidarity,Charlene George, President Teamsters Retirees Club of Kansas CityJanuary 3, 2016Dear Senator McCaskill,First, let me thank you for your longrunning support of the working person.You have always been a champion for usand we appreciate it.I am writing to you today regarding thepassage of the Multiemployer PensionReform Act of 2014. As you know, thisbill, passed in the dead of night with nodiscussion or debate whatsoever andattached to the Omnibus Bill signed intolaw by President Obama, has completelyeviscerated ERISA, the private pensionlaw enacted to make sure Congresscould not undercut or reduce the pensionbenefits earned by employees alreadyretired.As a Teamster retiree, my pension inCentral States was guaranteed to me. Myentire working years, I knew that at theend of that time I would be able to retirewith a comfortable income afforded tome because of my sacrifice during myworking years. By this I mean some ofthe money that I earned would bedeferred until I retired and then startedcollecting it. With the passage of thisbill, my retirement will be reduced byover 60 %!! This is nothing short oftheft of earned wages.
Little by little, government agencieshave allowed religiously-affiliated hos-pitals, schools, and social services orga-nizations to jeopardize their employees’retirement security by allowing them toconvert their federally-guaranteed pen-sion plans to uninsured “church plans”
solely to save money; employers havereplaced traditional pension plans withinsecure do-it-yourself savings planssuch as 401(k)s that provide inadequateincome and further increase incomeinequality; and now they have trainedtheir sights on one of the largest pensionplans in the country.
We need your help! Please join insupport of one of the bills currentlybeing proposed to overturn this hugeinjustice! This assault on our pensionwill ultimately lead to such great hard-ships that we will no longer be includedas part of the middle class, but put manyof us into poverty. And as you know,without a middle class, our way of lifefor everyone is at risk.
I appreciate your time in reading this,and pray you will move heaven andearth to rectify this unconscionableinjustice.Sincerely,Sample LetterDear Senator (name),Dear Representative (name)
I ask that you support “KeepOur Pension Promises Act” (KOPPA),Senate Bill 1631. This would repeal the“Multi Employer Pension Reform Act of2014 (MPRA) which was enacted at theend of the last Congress. The “KOPPA”act would ensure that pensioners willcontinue to get their full benefits.
I ask that you support the com-
mon worker who has worked tirelesslytheir entire adult life to earn a decentpension, only to have their pensionreduced by MPRA. I ask you to supportthe elderly retiree who lives pensioncheck to pension check. Please give usthe consideration that you gave to WallStreet, Banks, the Auto Industry, andlarge employers. We need assistancefrom you and others in our country’sleadership roles. Please support “KeepOur Pension Promises Act “, Bill S.1631 and H.R. 2844.
ADDRESSES FOR MISSOURI AND KANSAS MEMBERS OF CONGRESSSenator Claire McCaskill730 Hart Senate Office BuildingWashington, D.C 20510Senator Jerry Moran521 Dirksen Senate Office BuildingWashington, D.C. 20510Representative Emanuel Cleaver2335 Rayburn House Office BuildingWashington, D.C. 20515Representative Kevin Yoder215 Cannon House Office BuildingWashington, D.C. 20515The following was provided by GloriaDaniels:We have a chance to correct the wrong
TEAMSTERS RETIREES NEWS CONTINUED.........
MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY COMMITTEE TO PROTECT PENSIONS
Retirees should be respected for our many years of union service, not labeled asoutsiders. The clock is ticking on the July 1st CSPF member to educate themabout this looming threat. Unless this pension theft timetable is delayed, allCSPF membwers will have to vote in a rigged election on these cuts soon.Under the present rules, a non-vote will be counted as a yes vote. this is unde-mocratic and un-American and it stacks the deck against retirees. Membersdeserve to hear all sides of this issue! We need a contact list of all of ourretirees to have a fighting chance to stop these pension cuts. Where does Local41, Teamsters Joint Council 56,MOKAN Conference and the IBT stand on pen-sion justice. WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?
RALLY FOR PENSION JUSTICETHE 2ND SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH
BEFORE LOCAL 41 UNION MEETINGSFEB. 13TH, MAR. 12TH, APR. 9TH, MAY 14TH, JUNE 11TH, 2016BRING A SIGN, A WHISTLE AND WEAR YOUR ‘STOP PENSION
CUTS’ T-SHIRTFollow us on Facebook@Missouri-Kansas City Committee to Protect
Pensions/ email address [email protected]? Call Wes Epperson 816-392-0021 or Dave Scheidt 913-568-1217
See TEAMSTERS page 22
Page 20Page 20THANKSGIVING LUNCHEON DOOR PRIZE
THANKSGIVING PARTY PICTURES
CHRISTMAS PARTY PICTURES
that was done to the Central StatesPension Fund cuts, when the law waschanged on the 2014 Omnibus Bill.Now we have to come together and getthese bills out of committee so they willbecome law.2 Bills in the Senate of the 114 congressS-2147-Senator Rob Portmans Bill"Pension Accountability Act" has 2 co-sponsorsS-1631-Senator Bernard Sanders Bill"Keep Our Pension Promises Act"(KOPPA)has 12 co-sponsors2 Related Bills in the House ofRepresentatives of the 114 congressH. R. 4029-Rep David Joyce Bill"Pension Accountability Act"has 10 co-sponsorsH. R. 2844-Rep Marcy Kaptur Bill
"Keep Our Pension Promises Act"(KOPPA)has 35 co-sponsorsWE NEED THESE BILL OUT OFCOMMITTEE;if we can't get these bills out of commit-tee they will die, and so will we.Ask ALL of the Senators and House ofRepresentatives across the United Statesto Co-sponsor these 2 bills.google: house.gov click on repre-
sentative to get their names. Go to theirweb site and email them asking forthem to co-sponsor our bills ---435 Rep.google: senate.gov click on senatorsto get their names. Go to their web siteand email them to co-sponsor our bills--100 Senators.Email them, tell how much cut you aregetting and how it affects you, yourfamily, community. Give us time tofind a better plan for our Pension
TEAMSTERS NEWS CONTINUED...
Page 21Page 21
CWA NEWS
CWA ENDORSES SEN. BERNIESANDERS FOR PRESIDENT
WASHINGTON - Citing the need fora candidate who will break with pol-itics-as-usual and fight for America’sworking people, the Communica-tions Workers of America (CWA)voted Thursday to endorse U.S.Senator Bernie Sanders for presidentin the 2016 election. With 700,000members, CWA is one of the largestunions in the U.S.
The decision followed a 3-monthdemocratic process, including hun-dreds of worksite meetings and anonline vote by tens of thousands ofCWA members on which candidateto endorse.
“CWA members have made a clearchoice and a bold stand in endorsingBernie Sanders for President,” saidCWA President Chris Shelton. “I amproud of our democratic process,proud of CWA members, and proudto support the candidate whose visionfor America puts working families
first. Our politics and economy havefavored Wall Street, the wealthy andpowerful for too long. CWA mem-bers, like voters across America, aresaying we can no longer afford busi-ness as usual. Bernie has called for apolitical revolution – and that is justwhat Americans need today.”
CWA’s 700,000 members representa cross-section of America’s workers,working in industries spanningtelecommunications, airlines, mediaand broadcast journalism, healthcare, public service, and manufactur-ing. The top issues motivating theendorsement of Senator Sanders –taking on the big banks and WallStreet, providing our children withdebt-free higher education, gettingbig money out of politics, rebuildingthe labor movement, stopping job-killing trade deals, affordable healthcare, and retirement security – reflectthe priorities cited by our membersand all working Americans nation-wide ahead of the 2016 election.
CWA LOCAL 6360 NEWS2016 is here and the Network
operations Center is workingthrough a surplus, there are rumorsof consolidations of CustomerService Technicians, plenty of newfaces in the Premise Technicianranks.
The weather is always a factor inJanuary, wear the proper clothing tostay warm. Remember your safetyis your responsibility. Put yourcones out, wear your hardhat andsafety glasses, and always strap yourladder to the pole. Your Union haslittle wiggle room when it comes tosafety infractions.
Lan tel is very busy with work.The work these members perform isvery difficult and Local 6360 appre-ciates those members fo their hard
efforts. If you notice any new inde-pendent contractors performing dropwork please notify the hall withinformation so we can address it.The Lan.tel bargaining agreementlimits the amount of independentcontractors. The Lan.tel contract isdue to expire September 30, 2016 soplease contact the hall with any bar-gaining proposals you might have.
Our meetings are the 1st Thursdayof the month at 7:00 pm. We inviteyou to attend and to see friendswhile their. It is important that youget involved and informed aboutwhat your department and otherdepartments are facing in the yearahead.Tom Gebken1st Vice President (Outside)
DISPATCHERS SIGN CONTRACT
Pictured above: Three of the ten 911 dispatchers, now proud members ofLocal 6360, on duty at the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office in Lee’sSummit, Missouri. Becky Karney (back, left), Theresa Hunter (center), andSusie Wynn (front).
Just recently for the first time ever, the Jackson County Sheriff’sDepartment has signed a three year contract with Communication Workersof America (CWA) Local 6360 for representation of the Department’s 911Dispatchers. There are a total of 10 dispatchers in the bargaining unit.
Jeff Hayes, Vice President of Local 6360, is very excited about the newcontract. “The County was very good to work with. We will be representingall of the 911 Dispatchers with the County so it is perfect.”
WHO WE AREWe started as telephone operatorsand linemen....not any more.Now we're 700,000 strong:Telecom workers, journalists, flightattendants, broadcast workers, healthcare workers, public service work-ers, information technology workers,cable TV workers, factory workers,airline ground workers, typogra-phers...more.WE TAKE ON THE BIGFIGHTSWe're not afraid of challenges, orchallenging environments. We're thebiggest union in union-hostile Texas.We stood up to Chris Christie inNew Jersey. Our WashTech local isagitating at IBM. We stopped GE'sJack Welch from putting all his fac-tories on a barge.We're in the thick of labor's fightagainst fast-track.
Recently we joined together withother local unions to help fight theTrans Pacific Pact that would be ter-rible for our call centers.RETIREE BENEFIT CONTACT INFORMATION
District 6 Retiree Outreach Benefit Representative isKevin Kujawa 314-965-9024Retiree Benefit Plan Contact Numbers:AT&T 877-722-0020Verizon 855-489-2367Avaya 800-526-8056Luccent POS 800-872-7136BlueCross OK 800-661-0083HMO Medicare 888-232-4111Western Electric-Ruth Marriott atCWA TNT office, Washington, D.C.202-434-1100URGENT NOTICE IF YOU GO ON DISABILITY
If you go on disability for any rea-son, or know that you will need tobe on disability, please notify theunion hall as soon as possible.There are numerous examples ofemployees being threatened withdisciplinary action, including termi-nation, for being out because theDisability Center has denied theirclaim. The union can help makesure you are receiving the propertreatment from the companyu if weknow about your disability early. If
See CWA page 22
Page 22Page 22CWA 6360 NEWS CONT...you wait until received the Letter oftermination, even if your doctor hasnot released you, it will be too late.LOCAL 6360 OFFICERSPresidentJOE BLANCOExecutive Vice President TODD APPLEBYSecretary/TreasurerJAY MCVEY1st Vice President (OUTSIDE)TOM GEBKEN2nd Vice President(OUTSIDE)JEFF HAYESIst Vice President(INSIDE)FORREST MASON
2nd Vice President(INSIDE)STEVE FLANDERSAs a convenience to our members,we are publishing the followingphone numbers. If you have anyquestions just call the number listedfor your answers.UNION HALLOffice 816-561-6360Fax 816-474-7684UNION MEETING1ST THURSDAY OF THE MONTHSTEWARDS MEETING4TH THURSDAY OF THE MONTHWE'RE CWAwww.cwa-union.orgCWA LOCAL 6360 OFFICE6415 Universal Ave.Kansas City, MO 64120-1326
Membership cards were shippedto everyone in December. It is veryimportant that you send the cardsback to the hall with your currentinformation.
Recently the Network Technicianswere notified that AT&T declared asurplus. This is not unusual for thisgroup as they have had several sur-pluses. I just wanted to point outthat our contract language is verydistinct in this area and very sel-dom do people go off payroll underthese circumstances.
Over the past several years thebuilding located at 8th street indowntown Kansas City has gonethrough significant downsizing.The building which used to employover 200 people on each floor isdown to about 80 people in thewhole building. The company hastransitioned from the TDM networkto an IP network (internet basedprotocol) which takes fewer peopleto operate.
The company will be holdinggroup meetings in the future withthose in the surplus areas to explainall of their options. the past 6 yearswe have faced a surplus every quar-ter and during each of these sur-pluses enough volunteers steppedforward who wanted to go thatnone of those in danger of losingtheir jobs lost them. There are atremendous number of steps beforelayoffs actually take place.PREMISE TECHS; There havebeen several additional tasks addedto the Premise Techs tasks includ-ing installing Direct TV. District 3& 9 have added monies to theirTechs compensation but that hasnot happened here as of yet. TheGeneral President has ClaudeCummings as the point person forthis issue and hopefully their willbe a conclusion to this very soon.Joe BlancoPresident
WELCOME STEELWORKERS LOCAL 12561
A big welcome to Steelworkers local 12561 who has recentlycome on board as the newest Labor Beacon Subscriber. The abovephoto was taken at the Locals December meeting and includesEmil Ramirez on the far left. Emil is the USW District 11Director.
The Local is made up of members that work at Kansas Gas Serviceand Missouri Gas Energy and meet the first Thursday of the monthat the IAM Union hall at 9404 Grandview Rd, Kansas City, MO.
Below are the officers for Local 12561:
USW District 11 Director EmilRamirez Appointed to FederalReserve Bank Advisory Council
(Jan. 13) – UnitedSteelworkers (USW)District 11 Director EmilRamirez has beenappointed to the Econ-omic Advisory Council(EAC) of the FederalReserve Bank of KansasCity, Mo.
Ramirez will serve athree-year term with theEAC, which meets twicea year with the Federal ReserveBank president to review mattersrelating to the local economy.
“I look forward to this opportuni-ty to promote working familyissues in our discussions of theregional economy,” Ramirez said.
The Bank and its branches in
Denver, Oklahoma Cityand Omaha serve aseven-state district thatincludes Colorado,Kansas, Nebraska, Okla-homa, Wyoming, north-ern New Mexico andwestern Missouri. USWDistrict 11 representsmembers in Kansas,Missouri, Iowa, Neb-raska, Wyoming, Iowa,Minnesota, North Dakota
and South Dakota.The USW is the largest industrial
union in North America, represent-ing workers in a range of industriesincluding metals, mining, rubber,paper and forestry, oil refining,health care, security, hotels, andmunicipal governments. For moreinformation, go to www.usw.org
NIBARGER NEW PRESIDENT OF USW OIL SECTORKim Nibarger, longtime safety
and health division chief for theSteelworkers, and an expert in thatfield, will be the new chair of theunion’s Oil Sector, which is the oldOil, Chemical and AtomicWorkers, Steelworkers PresidentLeo Gerard announced.
Nibarger, a former local unionpresident among workers at theShell refinery in Anacortes, Wash.,succeeds Gary Beevers, who
retired Dec. 1. Nibarger will alsohead the Oil Sector’s bargainingteam. Nibarger was a refineryworker for 17 years at Shell.
Nibarger’s appointment is notablebecause safety – or lack of it –among refinery workers has been akey issue in USW bargaining withthe “Seven Sisters,” the nation’s oilcompanies, throughout his tenurein the top safety posts, first atOCAW and then the Steelworkers.
BRICKLAYERS AND ALLIED CRAFTWORKERS LOCAL #15REPRESENTING THE FOLLOWING TROWEL TRADES:
TIC International(913) 236-5490
toll free-800-542-4482BRICKLAYERS AND ALLIED CRAFTWORKERSLOCAL 15 RETIREE CLUB meets 9 am on the firstTuesday of the month at the local office 632 West 39thStreet KCMO. Come visit and reminisce with otherretirees, help plan or participate in upcoming events andactivities, volunteer for the good and welfare, or just comefor the coffee and company. We hope to see you soon.
In the above photo are the all of the new Journeymen who attended the 2015 AwardsBanquet. L-R, Colby Shelkop, Dan Quintero, Jared Jasperson, Colin Brock, Kiefer CronkStanding, Drew Tersiner
BAC Local 15 was awarded the 2015 Award for Best CraftProject in the Restoration division for their work on theCountry Club Christian Church here in Kansas City, MO.The contractor was C&M Restoration who employed 18 BACmembers on the $3.2 million dollar project.
BAC Local 15 took anaward for Best BrickProject as well for theirwork on the SaintThomas AquinasChurch in Omaha.The contractor, KehmContractors employed40 members of BACLocal 15 on this $1.6million dollar project.This work was securedthrough the MarketRecovery program.Congratula-tions to everyone whoworked on these projects.
