Welcome to Local 378's 2010 website!
Hello to all. I hope this letter finds you in good health.
This November, the Ironworkers will have a big fight ahead of us against Meg Whitman. She is not good for us or the labor movement. Let’s show her that we will not stand by and let her take away union wages. Our industry will need your help to defeat her. Please get involved this year and vote with your pocket books. We cannot let her beat us! I know the Ironworkers and we will not go down without a fight.
Recently, we have hired our Political Coordinator, Mahdis Fathi who is very knowledgeable and experienced in the election process. She will be working with us to organize and assist our local union in the upcoming election. Please get involved with the upcoming phone banks and precinct walks for this election. Letters will be sent out to our membership asking for election support.
Recently, our Pin Ceremony event was held on July 16th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Concord, CA. There were over 400 members in attendance. The ceremony was a great day for our local. Thank you to Richard Zampa Sr., Donald Zampa, and Fred Burton who assisted with the pin ceremony tremendously. Thank you for the blessings and invaluable words spoken at this year’s event. Thank you to Suvan Karayek the bagpiper who played a lovely rendition of Amazing Grace. We apologize to those of you who wished to receive a different service pin. Please realize that our estimations were based on years of service on record. We are looking into alternate solutions for the next ceremony.
It is not news to any of us that the financial mess of last year has impacted all of our investments across the board. The financial information concerning the Pensions investment performance for the 2008-2009 plan year was forwarded to the benefits advisor and it was calculated that the Pension Plan has been classified from the “green” status of 80% funded (estimated) to the “yellow” status. This means that the fund is still solvent but that contribution increases will be necessary next year to keep the fund strong. There will be notices mailed to everyone, which is required by the Federal Government. These notices will use the term “endangered” to describe our Pension. The fund will continue to provide benefits and there is nothing to be worried about for now. There will be talk about what actions will be taken to correct the funding shortfall. These actions may include 3 different ways to go about it.
#1 Increase retirement age; Golden 85 increased to 90.
#2 Decrease the benefit $105 credit down to possibly $100/$95/$90 for future credits earned or increase the amount we put into the Pension with our hourly contribution. The only solution to this problem Local 378 will support is the contribution increase.
Another Trustees meeting will be held again later this month to discuss further details.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
· On Saturday, September 11th, the annual Ironworkers picnic will be held at the Waterfront Park in Martinez so come out and enjoy the day with us.
· Open Enrollment will be held on Saturday, October 9th. This is a great opportunity to meet and talk to your health care providers. For the first 100 members and/or their spouse, Kaiser Permanente will provide free flu shots! As always, there will be food and drinks for everyone.
Best wishes your brother Ironworker, Emilio Rivera
President/Business Agent’s Report by Bobby Lux
Without a doubt, the 2010 mid-term elections held in November are critical to the interest of the members of Local 378
In the state of California, the office of Governor is up for election and it is our responsibility as union members to ensure that the Democratic candidate is elected.
The Democratic candidate running for Governor of California is Jerry Brown. The Republican candidate is Meg Whitman.
Jerry Brown is running on a platform that supports the middle class agenda. Examples of this include a guarantee for good jobs, good schools and solid retirement plans.
On the other hand, Meg Whitman is running on a platform that supports the “Wall Street Agenda”. For example, eliminate jobs, cut pensions and rollback your rights to overtime pay. Meg Whitman intends to spend $150,000 million dollars to buy your vote.
As the President of Local 378, I challenge you to step up to the plate and contact your Business Representatives for events that support the upcoming elections. There will be phone banks, precinct walks, rallies and leaflet distribution that your time and energy will be needed for.
Together we can take back the Governor’s office in Sacramento. Let’s put California back on a path to prosperity. Let’s win in 2010 and elect a Governor who supports Jobs and Families. Make sure you are Registered to Vote and VOTE FOR JERRY BROWN.
In closing, I would like to remind you and your family to attend the 2010 Annual Iron Workers Picnic held on Saturday, September 11, 2010 at the Martinez Waterfront Park. To purchase tickets for the picnic, please call the union hall.
Good Luck Work Safe
Bobby Lux
Business Agent’s Report by Jason Gallia
Hello everyone, hope everyone had a great 4th of July.
We have a big election in November that Union Labor must win. If you have relocated or plan to move soon, it is very important that you update your contact information at the hall and Trust Fund. We will need this information from you to get voter information out to our members before the election. We need your help at phone banks and precinct walks. For more information contact the hall.
Remember always carry your dues receipt.
Attend your Union Meetings and work safe.
Jason Gallia
Business Agent’s Report by Jeff McEuen
Hello Brothers and Sisters. Hope all of you had a great 4th of July holiday and things are going well for you and your families.
It looks like the work picture is picking up a little in our area. We have a few jobs that were good for us winding down like Solyndra and Valero but we have some others just starting up like the OI glass plant in Tracy, the Antioch Bridge retrofit and the Windmills near Rio Vista. It’s also that time of year for the bleachers to change out at the Coliseum. The first change should be in the first weekend in August.
Another job we’ve been tracking and I’ve mentioned in other reports is the Russell Cities Power Plant a 600 mega watt facility to be located in Hayward that will create over 600 UNION JOBS. Well it looks like it’s finally going to break ground, scheduled for dirt work to proceed on September 1st. That puts Iron Workers to work around the first part of 2011. I know that seems a long way off from now but considering this job has been on the books since 2001 its great news to me and for Local 378.
Just a reminder about our ANNUAL LOCAL 378 PICNIC, hope to see all 378 members (active and retired) at the Martinez Waterfront Park on September 11th. Anyone interested in being in the 2nd Annual Ray Martin Horseshoe Tournament contact me and get signed up early. A $5.00 buy in per person is required and teams will be drawn randomly. All proceeds go to the top three teams. GOOD FOOD, GOOD FRIENDS and a GOOD TIME.
Always fighting for you and your union,
Jeff McEuen
Honorary Withdrawal
If a member takes an Honorary Withdrawal he would need to be current with his membership dues first.
If the member is only going to be gone for 6 (six) months there is no advantage to him taking a Withdrawal, as when a member returns from a Withdrawal he pays a $200.00 Withdrawal card deposit and 3 (three) months dues at the time of his return. Six months dues for the year 2010 is $237.00 and to come back after 6 (six) month from a Withdrawal it would cost $318.50. It would cost the member an additional $81.50 for the six months they were out.
If the member were going to be out longer than 9 months, it would be beneficial to the member to take a Withdrawal.
How does the Honorary Withdrawal affect the member’s California Pension?
Basically, there is no advantage and the only affect to the pension would be if the member were out for 2 (two) years, or more, he would than have a break in service and could possible suffer when he retired.
If a member has not vested prior to taking a Withdrawal and he was out longer than 2 (two) years, he would lose the time that he had already accumulated. In other words he would not be eligible for a pension and would have to start over to vest.
How does the Honorary Withdrawal affect the member’s International membership?
When a member takes an Honorary Withdrawal it in effect stops his membership. If the member came back and worked only 4 years he would not qualify for Honorary Membership and would not be able to lower his monthly dues to $8.40 per month if he were injured and unable to work. He would continue to pay full Journeyman dues.
How does Honorary Withdrawal affect Lifetime Membership?
When a member takes an Honorary Withdrawal he would have to be a member again for 20 continuous years to qualify for the Lifetime Disability Membership and be on social security, or he would have to be a member for 25 continuous years to qualify for a Lifetime Old Age Membership. So in essence he would have lost out on becoming a Lifetime member if he takes an Honorary Withdrawal.
State Building and Construction Trades Council
Endorsement for November State Races
Governor: Jerry Brown
Lt. Governor: Gavin Newsom
Controller: John Chiang
Treasurer: Bill Lockyer
Attorney General: Kamala Harris
Insurance Commissioner: Dave Jones
Superintendent of Public Instruction: Tom Torlakson
Board of Equalization, Dist. 1: Betty Yee
Board of Equalization, Dist. 2: Chris Parker
Board of Equalization, Dist. 4: Jerome Horton
Senate Dist. 12 (Merced): Anna Caballero
Senate Dist. 15 (Santa Maria): John Laird
Senate Dist. 34 (Santa Ana): Lou Correa
Assembly District 5 (Sacramento): Richard Pan
Assembly District 15 (San Ramon): Joan Buchanan
Assembly District 36 (Lancaster): Linda Jones
Assembly District 80 (El Centro): Manuel Perez
The board also endorsed the $11 billion water facilities bond that will appear on the November ballot.
IN MEMORIUM
We were notified of the following death since our last Local Line. Our fellow Iron Workers will be sorely missed.
Clarence Anderson Book#536227 Passed 5/2/10 Age 91
Jack Self Book#475540 Passed 6/6/10 Age 84
William Bowles Book# 734527 Passed 6/25/10 Age 84