Avondale employeesselect representation,prepare for negotiationsNOW THAT THEY have union repre-sentation, the 4,200 Avondale shipyardworkers are signing up to gain strength.

“It’s been a long hard battle to wincertification,” said Intl. Pres. Charles W.Jones, “but the organizing process hasonly begun. In order to gain a fair con-tract at the bargaining table, we mustbargain from a position of strength.”

In December 1999, workers at threeAvondale locations – New Orleans, La.,Gulfport, Miss., and Tallulah, La. – wona six-year organizing battle when thenew shipyard owner, Litton Industries,recognized the union.

Litton also owns the Ingalls Shipyardin Pascagoula, Miss., where MetalTrades Department unions have repre-sented 10,000 workers since 1940. Boil-ermaker Local 693 represents thelargest unit at that shipyard.

The Metal Trades will also representAvondale employees, and newly-char-tered Boilermaker Local 1814, NewOrleans, hopes to represent a signifi-cant number of them.

In January, more than 60 percent ofAvondale workers attended a series ofmeetings sponsored by the Boilermak-ers union. Assistant Director of Orga-nizing Dave Bunch, who played a keyrole during the original organizingcampaign in 1994, said the primaryobjective of the meetings was to allowthe shipyard workers the opportunity

to elect their own representatives to thenegotiating committee.

Elected to represent the New Orleansyards were Calvin Williams, BruceLightell, and James Howard. DonLongmire was elected from the Gulf-port yard, and Steve Silk was electedfrom the Tallulah facility.

The meetings also allowed the work-ers a chance to learn more about theMetal Trades, the Boilermakers union,the new shipyard owner, and safetyand health issues. Most important, itallowed them to join a union and learnabout the negotiating process.

“Negotiations are approachingquickly,” said Bunch. “Employeeinvolvement and direction is the key to

R e p o rt e rthe Boilerm a k e r Vol. 39 No. 2Mar • Apr 2000

The Official Publication of the InternationalBrotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship

Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers, andHelpers, AFL-CIO

Charles W. Jones, Editor-in-Chief

S h i p y a rd workers line up to sign up

Avondale workers line up to sign up as members of the Boilermakers union. The Metal Trades Dept. will represent nearly 4,200Avondale employees in New Orleans, Gulfport, and Tallulah, with over half eligible for membership in the Boilermakers union.

Continued on page 3

1 9 9 9C o n g re s s i o n a l

S c o re c a rdSee which members ofCongress support ourlegislative agenda ON PAGES 7-10 of this issue of t h eR e p o r t e r, you’ll find a record of how allmembers of the U.S. Congress votedon what the Boilermaker LegislativeDepartment has deemed the most sig-nificant legislative votes of 1999, alongwith each legislator’s lifetime percent-age of votes supporting our agenda.Explanations of the issues in questionare provided with the voting records.

Study these pages and learn whoyour friends are in Congress. You maybe surprised by what you find.

In this election year, every candi-date will claim to be a friend of theworker who is looking out for middle-class American families. But you can’tbase your vote on campaign promises.You need to look at their votingrecords to determine which ones arejust talking and which ones really dosupport working families. B o i l e rmakers’ Maloney is

first Canadian elected toBCTD office in Wa s h i n g t o nROBERT A. GEORGINE a n n o u n c e dhe will retire as president of the AFL-C I O ’ s Building and ConstructionTrades Department (BCTD) effectiveApril 15. The BCTD’s General Board ofPresidents elected Edward C. Sullivan,president of the Elevator Constructors,to fill the remainder of Georgine’s term,which expires in July, and JosephMaloney, a 26-year member ofBoilermaker Local 128, Toronto,Ontario, to fill the vacant post of secre-t a r y - t r e a s u r e r .

Maloney is the first Canadian to beelected to this position. The BCTD ismade up of 15 unions representingthree million construction workers inthe U.S. and Canada.

“All Boilermakers are very proud ofJoe’s accomplishments,” said Intl. Pres.Charles W. Jones in response toMaloney’s election. “His hard workand dedication has been rewardedwith well-deserved recognition.”

Georgine has led the BCTD since1974. His announcement came one dayafter the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statisticsannounced that membership in con-struction unions had jumped by 131,000 in1999, the largest increase in decades.Georgine will remain chairman, presi-

dent, and CEO of the Union Labor LifeInsurance Co.

Sullivan has been president of theElevators International union since1998. He served 12 years as vice presi-dent of the Massachusetts BuildingTrades Council. In 1997, he received theGompers-Murray-Meany Award, thetop honor awarded each year for lead-ership of the labor movement in gen-eral by the Massachusetts AFL-CIO.

Maloney has been the director ofCanadian Affairs of the BCTD since1998. A graduate of Local 128’s appren-tice program, Maloney served his lodge

in various capacities, including busi-ness manager, until his 1991 appoint-ment as an International representativefor Eastern Canada. He is a 1993 gradu-ate of the Harvard Trade UnionP r o g r a m .

Maloney has also served as vice pres-ident of the Ontario Provincial Buildingand Construction Trades Council. He isa board member of the Multi-EmployerBenefit Council of Canada (MEBCO),and of Retrocom, a growth fund thatinvests in construction projects builtwith 100 percent union labor.

G e o rgine re t i res, Sullivan new BCTDp resident, Maloney elected sec-tre a s .

Robert A. Georgine is retiring after 26years as president of the Building andConstruction Trades Department.

Joseph Maloney, a member of L-128, isthe newly-elected sec.-treas. of theAFL-CIO’s Bldg. Trades Dept.

Continued on page 3

On Pages 7-10

O’Bannon credits L-374with helping him win INDIANA GOVERNOR Frank O’Ban-non, and his wife, Judy, attended Local374’s annual picnic on July 25, so theycould personally thank the unionmembers for their support. GovernorO’Bannon credits organized labor forhelping him win the 1996 governor’srace. He is grateful for their help andcontinued support.

BM-ST Chuck Vanover reports thatLocal 374 members are very active inpolitics throughout the state of Indianaand Illinois. Terry Lock is one of threeelected commissioners in PerryCounty, Keith Bauer has served fouryears on the Crawford County schoolboard, and Illinois residents Dick Her-rington and Stanley Long were electedto the Marshall and Calumet schoolboards, respectively.

Local 374 members also work as vol-unteers. “Our members work in theraces where they think they can do themost good, by working the phones,going door-to-door for the candidate,and putting up yard signs,” saidVanover. “We even get candidates tocome to the hall and speak.”

And their efforts have made a differ-ence. In the past few years, they’vemanaged to change the state legislaturefrom Republican control to Democraticcontrol. Governor O’Bannon is one oftheir friends, and has even appointedLocal 374 members to the state boilerand pressure vessel board. Local 374’sDirector of Training Rodger D. Burnettcurrently serves on that board. ❑

Indiana governor attendsLocal 374’s annual picnic

Indiana Governor Frank O’Bannon, center, and his wife, Judy, thank Local 374members for their support. L. to r., L-374 Business Manager Chuck Vanover, andAssistant Business Managers Mike Pittman and Paul Maday.

DEL LATHIM has been elected to a six-year term as a Port of Pasco commis-sioner. He is also currently serving asix-year term as a commissioner for thepublic utilities. His duties include lob-bying at both the state and federal level,and he is considering a run for the U.S.Congress in 2002.

“I am active in politics and I want toencourage all Boilermakers to do thesame,” said Lathim, who first joinedLocal 242, Spokane, Wash., in 1966. Headds that he is still an active memberbecause he enjoys welding and thecamaraderie of Local 242 members.

Lathim also serves as a consultingengineer for the Department of Energyand the U.S. Corps of Engineers. He hasinvented a “fish-friendly” turbine, whichis being tested at the Bonneville Dam.

“My new turbine will be installed inmajor dams all over the world, savingfish and increasing the power outputby as much as 50 percent,” said Lathim.“I lobbied Congress and got $65 millionper year to fund the research and devel-opment and prototype that we are nowtesting on the Columbia River.”

According to Lathim, these new tur-bines will replace the obsolete Kaplanturbine on the Snake and ColumbiaRivers, costing about $3 billion. Fiftypercent of the work should be awardedto Boilermakers. ❑

Community leader Lathimmaintains union tiesL-242 member is port commissioner andcommissioner for public utilities

Commissioner Lathim,a member of L-242, has invented a turbine that shouldbring more work for Boilermakers.

L. to r., Ind. Gov. Frank O’Bannon, L-374Bus. Mgr. Vanover, and Local 1 Bus.Mgr. John Skermont.

the Boilermaker Reporter2 Mar • Apr 2000

L E A P I S S U E S

R e p o rt e rthe Boilerm a k e r The Boilermaker Reporter is the official publi-cation of the International Brotherhood ofBoilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths,Forgers, and Helpers, AFL-CIO. It is publishedbimonthly to disseminate information of useand interest to its members. Submissions frommembers, local lodges, and subordinate oraffiliated bodies are welcomed and encour-aged. This publication is mailed free ofcharge to active members and retiredmembers holding a Retired Members Card.Others may subscribe for the price of $10 forthree years. Standard Mail (A) postage paidat Kansas City, Kan., and additional mailingoffices. ISSN No. 1078-4101.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:

The Boilermaker Reporter753 State Avenue, Suite 565Kansas City, KS 66101(913) 371-2640; FAX (913) 281-8104w w w . b o i l e r m a k e r s . o r g

Printed in the USA

A prize-winning newspaper

Mar • Apr 2000 Vol. 39 • No. 2

Charles W. Jones, International President and Editor-in-Chief

Jerry Z. Willburn, Intl. Secretary-Treasurer

International Vice PresidentsLawrence McManamon, Great LakesMichael S. Murphy, N o r t h e a s tNewton B. Jones, Southeast George Rogers, Central Don Lacefield, Western States Richard Albright, Western CanadaAlexander MacDonald, Eastern CanadaJim Hickenbotham, A t - L a r g eOthal Smith Jr., A t - L a r g e

Editorial staffDonald Caswell, Managing EditorCarol Dillon, Asst. to the Managing Editor

Maloney is co-chair of the NationalJoint Unionized Construction Alliance,a coalition of construction unions andunion contractors, and of the NationalSmart Card Committee, a joint busi-ness-labour initiative to introduce lead-ing-edge technology on worksites.

He thanked the members of Local128 for electing him to office in 1979,and for their continued support andconfidence. “Without them I would notbe where I am today.” He also thankedIntl. Pres. Jones for making him anInternational representative, and all theofficers and staff of the Brotherhood fortheir support.

Maloney said, “I am looking forwardto working with all the affiliates of thebuilding trades and to the challenge ofthe office of secretary-treasurer, which Iwill uphold in every capacity that isrequired.” ❑

G o rham cre d i t sB o i l e rmakers for hissuccess on the state levelEDWARD F. GORHAM, a 29-yearmember of Local 29, Boston, Mass., hasbeen elected president of the MaineAFL-CIO.

He previously served 22 years as thestate affiliate’s secretary-treasurer, afull-time position in which Gorhamalso served as a lobbyist. “Being in thepolitical end of the trade union move-ment, I got a better appreciation for theBoilermakers’ involvement in trying toget legislation passed that willimprove the life of union members andtheir families,” Gorham said. “Notevery union is as politically active asthe Boilermakers.”

Gorham also learned first-hand toappreciate the Boilermaker union’shigh regard for membership educa-tion. “Not every local or Internationalpromotes education of its members,”he said. “The Boilermakers take a sec-ond seat to no one.”

Gorham credits the Boilermakers forhis success on the state level. It wasthrough his attendance of the Boiler-makers’ summer institute at the Uni-versity of Wisconsin and classes Local29 sponsored him in at the Universityof Maine that got him involved on thestate level.

Gorham started his union career in1971, when Fred “Lucky” Hayessponsored his union membership intoLocal 29, while Ed Hancock wasbusiness manager. “I was raised in aunion household,” explainedGorham. “My dad was an electricianand my mom was a member of the

IBEW, working for the telephonecompany. But it wasn’t until I becamea member of the Boilermakers unionthat I truly appreciated the benefits ofbeing a trade union member.” ❑

3 Mar • Apr 2000the Boilermaker Reporter

N E W S M A K E R S

Edward Sullivan, president of the ElevatorConstructors, will finish Georgine’s termas Building Trades president.

Disability leads to earlyre t i rement – Lacefieldpicked to replace SloanJOHN P. “JACK” SLOAN JR. h a sretired as International vice presidentof the Western States Section for healthreasons. On medical leave since July 1,1999, Sloan was granted a RailroadRetirement Disability Pension. Heretired January 1, 2000.

“I wouldn’t be retiring if I hadn’t got-ten ill,” said Sloan. “But it got to thepoint where I wasn’t sure I could givethe members the service they deserve.”

And service is what Sloan provided.For nearly 40 years he served the mem-bers of the Boilermakers union.

In his letter announcing Sloan’s med-ical leave, International President CharlesW. Jones called Sloan “a friend and col-league . . . who worked hard to serve theinterests of our great International unionand more especially the interests of ourmembers and their families.”

A member of Local 104 (Seattle,Wash.) since 1960, Sloan served as busi-ness manager prior to his 1978 appoint-ment as assistant to the Internationalpresident. Assigned to work out ofInternational headquarters, Sloan’s pri-mary duties were in the Metal Tradesindustry section. He graduated from theHarvard Trade Union Program in 1979.

In 1980, Sloan became International vicepresident of the Southern Pacific Section,which was later merged with the North-west Section to become the Western StatesSection. He was reelected at each succeed-ing International convention.

During his 20-year term as an Inter-national vice president, Sloan served inmany capacities, including chairmanand administrator of the Western StatesConstruction Agreement, VacationTrust, and Joint Apprenticeship com-mittee. He also served as trustee on theNational Apprenticeship Board and the

National Pension Trust, and as presi-dent of the Pacific Coast Metal TradesDistrict Council from 1990 to 1999.

In a February interview, Sloan talkedabout how much he appreciated all thatthe Boilermakers union had done forhim since he became a member at 18years of age. He had nothing but praisefor the pension programs, but was espe-cially grateful for all the wonderful rela-tionships he developed over the years.“I miss everyone,” Sloan said. “I’ve beena Boilermaker all my life, and I plan tostay as active as my health allows.”

Sloan is surprised by how much bet-ter he feels since he stopped workinglast July. “I always thrived on stress,”Sloan pointed out, “almost to the pointwhere I felt I worked better understress. I never thought it affected myhealth. But since I’ve been forced tostop working, I can’t believe how muchbetter I feel. I want everyone to knowthat I am doing much better.” ❑

Jack Sloan retires fromWestern States IVP seat

successful negotiations and building asuccessful union.”

Bunch provided a brief overview ofthe Metal Trades Council at each meet-ing, and Intl. Vice Pres. Jim Hicken-botham opened the New Orleansmeeting with an inspirational speechabout the positive experiences he hasheld both as a union member and as aBoilermaker.

Former business manager of Local 693and now-Intl. Rep. Warren Fairleyanswered several questions about theLitton/Ingalls shipbuilders, based on histen-year relationship with these compa-nies. Fairley was impressed by the work-ers’ questions. He remarked, “TheAvondale employees have proven overand over again just how serious they areabout having a union at their shipyards.”

One of the biggest factors driving theorganizing campaign was the workers’desire for a safe work environment.Boilermaker Safety & Health SpecialistMilan Racic met with workers severaltimes throughout the campaign, andprovided an update of safety andhealth issues at the New Orleans andGulfport sign-up meetings.

According to Bunch, the unions willnegotiate one Metal Trades contract forall of the Avondale employees. The Boil-ermakers union will represent a largenumber of the 3,700 Avondale workersat the four New Orleans facilities – themain shipyard, Steel Sales, Algiers Ship-

yard, and Modular Construction. TheBoilermakers will also represent a signif-icant portion of the workers at the Gulf-port location, where Avondale employs420 workers, and at the Tallulah facility,with 110 employees.

The membership drive so far hasbeen a success. “The Avondale workersare lining up to sign up,” said Bunch.“They realize that they can’t vote forrepresentation at the negotiation table,or have a voice in contract negotiations,unless they are a union member.”

After waiting six years to get certifi-cation, the Avondale employees areready for the union. Ready for a con-tract. Ready for justice. ❑

Continued from page 1

Continued from page 1

Avondale workers line up to sign up

G e o rgine re t i re sf rom BCTD

Kudos to L-105 ON BEHALF OF the American Electric PowerService Corporation (AEP), I want to thank you(BM-ST Van Stephens) and the members ofLocal 105 (Chillicothe, Ohio) who made our Tur-bine Duct Revision Project a complete and totalsuccess. This project was very unconventional,in that it took place at our headquarters buildingin downtown Columbus, Ohio. What your mem-bers proved was this: no matter how large orsmall the project, or what the scheduledemands, the Boilermakers can get the job donesafely, on time, and within budget. The qualityand skills of the personnel on the project and thecooperation between Local 105, the contractor,and the owner were a model of the tripartiteconcepts to which we have all committed.

Congratulations, and thank you again.TH O M A S P. HO U S E H O L D E RManager Fossil & Hydro SupportAmerican Electric Power Company

L-29’s Gorham is electedpresident of Maine AFL-CIO

Betty Gorham congratulates her son EdGorham, a member of BoilermakerLocal 29, upon his election as presidentof the Maine AFL-CIO.

Two of five negotiating committee members representing Boilermakers at Avondaleshipyards meet with International representatives. L. to r., Calvin Williams, Intl. VicePres. Jim Hickenbotham, Bruce Lightell, and Intl. Rep. Warren Fairley.

Avondale workers in New Orleanselected, l. to r., Joe Howard, CalvinWilliams, and Bruce Lightell, torepresent them during negotiations.

Jack Sloan has retired as Internationalvice president of the Western States Area.

4 Mar • Apr 2000L O C A L N E W S

the Boilermaker Reporter

B a rge and ship will keepL-449 busy for two yearsTHE BAY SHIPBUILDING C o m p a n y ,where Local 449 (Sturgeon Bay, Wis.)has represented employees since 1948,signed two contracts in November1999, that should keep about 325 ship-yard workers busy for at least twoyears. According to a report in the D o o rCounty Advocate, both projects resultedfrom a growing demand for dredgework in U.S. harbors and channels, andreflect different styles the dredge indus-try uses to meet a growing demand forservices across the country.

Lake Michigan Contractors, Inc., hascontracted for the construction of a 24-inch cutter suction dredge, consistingof a 250-foot by 49-foot by 11-foot bargeplatform, along with an above-deckmachinery space and control house.The dredge will be built entirely withinBay Ship’s fabrication shop, and will belaunched with their floating dry-docknext spring. The dredge will be used towiden and deepen navigation channelsalong the southeastern U.S. coast.

The contract also includes the over-hauling and installation of a largeamount of dredge equipment that LakeMichigan Contractors will soon deliverto Bay Ship.

The second contract, with GreatLakes Dredge & Dock (the largestdredging contractor in the U.S.), callsfor a new 5,000 cubic meter hopperdredge. The 325-foot twin-screw vesselwill be powered by 10,000 horse-power. The hopper dredge has a pairof 30-inch drag arms that vacuum theocean floor at a depth up to 92 feet.Patrick J. O’Hern, Bay Ship’s vice presi-dent for customer services, says build-ing the dredge will “provide workactivity for the next two years.”

A September report by the U.S.Department of Transportation saysplans for deepening or maintainingharbors and channels will increase thedemand for dredging projects in thenear future. Businesses like GreatLakes Dredge and Lake Michigan Con-tractors will be competing for moredredging projects. Bay Ship – and themembers of Local 449 – will benefitaccordingly. ❑

Bay Ship signs two contracts

LOCAL D385,in Richmond, BritishColumbia, has negotiated into theircontract with Lafarge a clause requir-ing that all shutdown maintenancework at the cement plant be done byconstruction Boilermakers.

The plant typically has four to sixshutdowns a year, so this clause gener-ates thousands of man-hours of workeach year for construction Boilermakersfrom Lodge 359, Vancouver, B.C.

When Lafarge decided to expand theplant in Richmond by adding anotherkiln and cement mill, this clauseopened the door for International VicePresident Rick Albright to negotiate aBuilding Trades contract for the work.Kiln No. 3 has been completed, andCement Mill No. 3 is expected to beoperational in late March. These jobswere completed 100 percent union,with a great part of the work going toB o i l e r m a k e r s .

Albright believes the D385 programcan be used as a template to generatehundreds of thousands of man-hoursfor construction Boilermakers through-out Canada and the United States.

“Right now, small nonunion contrac-tors are getting the bulk of this work,”he says, “but Local D385 has shown ushow we can get this work, and they areto be commended.”

The supplemental maintenance pro-gram, as it is called, began in 1987. RobLauzon, then-president of D385 andnow business manager of CLGAWDistrict D11, was concerned thatLafarge was contracting out all theirmaintenance work – often to nonunioncompanies. With the help of Christo-pher Rositch, now-president of DistrictD11, and others, Lauzon got Lafarge toagree to use construction Boilermakersfor all maintenance.

They hammered out a programwhereby Lodge D385 members at the

plant act as lead hands, directing andinstructing the construction Boilermak-ers. Prior to a shutdown, managementmeets with D385 lead hands. Together,they plan the shutdown – decidinghow many Boilermakers will beneeded, how long the shutdown willlast, and how the work will proceed.They then call Lodge 359 to request theconstruction Boilermakers.

Rositch says the company’s initialskepticism disappeared as soon asmanagement saw the level of qualityand safety of Local 359 constructionBoilermakers. Safety is foremost.Before each shift, the Boilermakershold “tailgate” meetings at which theydiscuss safety concerns and how the jobis progressing. The onsite experience ofthe lead hands and the skill and profes-sionalism of the construction Boiler-makers combine for an unbeatablec o m b i n a t i o n .

Bob Banish, an assistant businessmanager with Local 359, says, “Thisprogram is great. It has provided manyman-hours of work for our members,often during their slow periods. I thinkevery cement lodge should look intoestablishing something like this.”

Locals D385 and 359 are negotiatingwith the Fuller Company, which man-ufactures most of the equipment at theRichmond plant, to have the companyprovide specialized training for Local359 members to expand their work.

They are also assisting other locallodges in developing similar programs.Rositch has given several presentationsexplaining how to implement the pro-gram. The Lafarge plant in Kamloops,B.C., a Tilbury Cement plant, and anInland plant in Edmonton are develop-ing similar programs.

For more information on this pro-gram, contact Albright at 780-483-0823or Rositch at 604-465-6191. ❑

Local D385 negotiates jobsfor construction membersMaintenance agreement generates thousands ofman-hours for Local 359 construction members

Oshkosh re c o g n i z e sb a rgaining unit, signscontract with Local 487IN OCTOBER1999, the Oshkosh TruckCorporation purchased KewauneeEngineering Corp., where Local 487,Kewaunee, Wis., has represented theemployees since 1957.

One week later, the new owners hadrecognized the bargaining unit, andLocal 487 members had approved anew contract with Oshkosh by a mar-gin of four to one.

The overwhelming vote may be areflection of the members’ optimisticoutlook toward their future relation-ship with the new owner.

“Oshkosh Truck came across as sin-cere and honest . . . I think the companywill go a long way,” Local 487 Presi-dent Gina Prudhomme told theKewaunee Enterprise.

The union’s relationship withKewaunee had not been as promising.Local 487 had several disputes withKewaunee, even working four yearswithout a contract.

“It has been an ongoing battle withKewaunee the last five years,” reportedIntl. Rep. Len Gunderson. “Brutalnegotiations ended last year with a con-tract that was not good, but it was the

best we could have hoped for under thec o n d i t i o n s . ”

According to Gunderson, Oshkoshintends to double the size of the com-pany and the work force. “When theybought MTM three years ago, theyincreased its work force by 300-plusemployees, and did the same withPierce Manufacturing,” said Gunder-son, referring to a wholly-owned sub-sidiary of Oshkosh Truck.

“The future can’t be any brighter asfar as I’m concerned,” he said.

Kewaunee Engineering Corp. fabri-cates heavy steel components, includ-ing cranes and aerial devices, with salesto the fire, construction, marine andindustrial lift, and forestry industries.

Oshkosh makes heavy-duty trucksfor military, fire, emergency, construc-tion, and refuse hauling operations.Company officials said that theKewaunee purchase will add to its ownfabrication capacity and increase itsleverage in buying raw steel used intheir product lines.

According to a report in the J o u r n a lS e n t i n e l, Kewaunee Engineering will berenamed Kewaunee Fabrications LLCand will operate as a wholly-ownedsubsidiary of Oshkosh Truck, whichexpects to post record sales of morethan $1.1 billion this year. Last year’ssales were reported at $902 million. ❑

Oshkosh Truck buys outKewaunee Engineering

Negotiating an agreement with Oshkosh Truck at Kewaunee Fabrications LLC,are L-487 committee members, l. to r., Rec. Sec. Harold Ebert, Sec.-Treas.Madonna VandenAvond, Vice Pres. Chad Kleckbusch, Pres. Gina Prudhomme,and Intl. Rep. Leonard Gunderson. Not pictured is comm. mbr. Mike Vincent.

WHEN BECHTEL C o n s t r u c t i o nstarted their Charlton combined cycleco-gen in January 1999, all the stackcompanies were busy, so bids on erect-ing the stacks went way over budget.Project Manager Roy Hanks turned togeneral foreman Ed Donahue and fieldforeman Tim O’Leary for suggestions.

Both pointed out that there weremore than enough stack-qualified localBoilermakers available to do the job,members of Local 29, Boston, Mass.

“All general contractors should con-sider local Boilermakers before theysub out these stack jobs. After all, mostlocals have many former NTL mem-bers and many members who haveworked on stack jobs,” said Donahue.

“Stacks are a specialty item,” headded. “But most contractors losesight of the talent they have in theirlocal Boilermakers. They should con-sider (using Boilermakers) as “Plan A”instead of “Plan B.” ❑

L-29 members perf o rm stack job

Pictured in the front row, l. to r., are stack foreman Danny White, Vinnie O’Neil,Robert Retkowski, and Alvin Corey. Back row, l. to r., are Brad Baily, Mike Bowes(4100 operator), general foreman Ed Donahue, and Roger Corey. Not picturedare Richard Doston and Roger Langlos.

YOU DON’T HAVE to work in an unsafe environment. There are laws to protect you. In Canada, Article 27 of the Occupational Health & Safety Act, addresses your

responsibility and right to work in a safe environment. If a worker in Canadabelieves there is imminent danger to his health or safety or that of another

worker at the work site, he can refuse to carry out the work. The workershall, as soon as practical, notify his employer at the work site of hisrefusal and the reason for his refusal.

In the United States, Standard Number: 1977.12 of the OccupationalSafety and Health Act outlines the exercise of rights under the Act.Under section (b)(2) of that standard, a worker is protected from job dis-crimination if he is confronted with a choice between not performingassigned tasks or subjecting himself to serious injury or death arisingfrom a hazardous condition at the workplace.

In addition to contacting the employer about the job danger, Boil-ermaker Safety & Health Specialist Milan Racic says to contact thejob union steward, too.

“It is important to get the union involved as soon as possible,”Racic explained. “The union can help make sure the job site is safe,and also ensure that the worker’s job is protected. A worker shouldnot be discriminated against in any way by the employer for refusingto perform a job the worker believes is unsafe.”

S t ru c t u re collapse kills two Local237 members, injures anotherKEVIN WINSLOW,43, a five-yearmember of Local 237, Hartford, Conn.,and Wayne Most, 38, a third-year Local237 apprentice, died Feb. 2, 2000, whenthe steelwork of a 45-foot high powerplant under construction in Milford,Conn., collapsed. Also injured was 13-year Local 237 member GeorgeScrivener Jr., 35.

Crane operator Robert Fitch, 62, wastrapped inside a crane’s cab for eighthours while rescue workers tried toreach him. Fire Captain Robin Tum-mins told an Associated Press writer that,“The building has collapsed on top ofthe crane, and the crane is on top of thebuilding. It’s almost like pickup sticks.”

L-237 BM-ST Tony DeFrancesco Jr.commends the Boilermakers on the jobsite for their role in the rescue effort.“They immediately reacted to the situ-ation and played a very important partin the eight-hour rescue effort,” he said.

Fitch lost one leg in the accident; doc-tors are trying to save his other. Atpress time, Scrivener was still in thehospital. According to an article in the

Manchester, N.H., Union Leader, inves-tigators are trying to determine thecause of the collapse. Crane inspectorsfrom the state fire marshal’s office arealso looking over the site.

DeFrancesco said this was the firsttime his local had lost a member to ajob-site accident. “This whole ordealhas been a traumatic experience. Wewill do all that we can to ensure that itnever happens again.”

Memorial funds have been estab-lished for Wayne Most at the FleetBank, ATTN: V.P. Bill Rivenberg, 235Main St., New Britain, CT 06051, andfor the Winslow children’s education atthe Webster Bank, 1120 Main St., New-ington, CT 06111.

The Boilermakers were building a544 megawatt natural gas-fired powerplant for Houston-based El PasoEnergy Corp. and Power DevelopmentCo. of Auburn, Mass., with El Paso hav-ing a 95 percent stake in the plant. Con-struction of the $235 million plantstarted in March 1999, and is scheduledfor completion by June 2001. ❑

5 Mar • Apr 2000S A F E T Y & H E A L T H

the Boilermaker Reporter

You have the right to work safely

Crane and hoist safetyBOILERMAKERS RIGsome of thelargest lifts made in construction.Loads weighing tens of thousandsof pounds are common. Every liftis dangerous. No one can predictwhen an accident will occur.

Accidents involving cranes killan average of 71 people a year.Within the last few months, at leastsix Boilermakers have been killedor seriously injured in crane acci-dents. Nothing suggests any ofthese men did anything to causethese accidents, but it never hurtsto review the basic safety proce-dures for working with cranes.

According to the OccupationalSafety and Health Administration(OSHA), 45 percent of deaths fromcrane accidents are caused by theboom or crane coming into contactwith energized power lines. Othermajor causes of crane accidentdeaths include overturned cranes,dropped loads, boom collapse,being crushed by the counter-weight, falls, and rigging failures.

It isn’t as easy as it looks

RIGGING MAY LOOK EASY, butit requires skill and experience.Don’t be fooled. Many peoplehave thought “anyone can do it”and ended up losing fingers,hands, or receiving even moreserious injuries. To preventrigging injuries, follow these tips:

1. Get your signals straight –Appoint one member of the crewto act as a signalman and instructthe crane operator not to acceptsignals from anyone else.

The signalman must not order amove until getting an “all ready”from each crew member. Eachworker, in turn, must be in theclear before giving an “all ready”to the signalman. If you must holdon to something to maintaintension (such as the chain, sling, orchoker), be sure your hands andfeet are out of the way of pinchpoints before giving your signal.

2. Protect your hands – If it isn’tpossible to release the chain, sling,or choker, be sure your hand isclear of pinch points. Keep yourhand far enough away so that afrayed wire or splinter on thechain can’t catch your glove andjerk your hand into a pinch point.

3. Watch out for rock and roll –It’s almost impossible to positionthe hook exactly over the loadcenter, so watch out for a swing orroll. Anticipate the direction of theswing or roll, and work awayfrom it. Never place yourselfbetween material, equipment, orother stationary objects and theload. Stay away from stackedmaterial that may be knocked overby a swinging load.

4. Stay out from under – N e v e rput yourself under a suspendedload, and keep out from under thecrane’s boom, too. The chances arethat nothing will break, but areyou willing to bet life and limbthat it won’t?

5. Set it down carefully – W h e nit’s necessary to guide a load, use atag line or hook. If you have towalk with a load, keep it as closeto the ground as possible.

Beforehand, look over the spotwhere the load is to be landed.Remove unnecessary blocks orother objects that might fly upwhen struck by the load.

When lowering or setting a load,keep your feet and all other bodyparts out from under it. Set theload down slowly. Then, if it rollson the blocking, it will shift slowly,and you’ll be able to get away.

6. Teamwork is the secret ofsafety – Teamwork is importanton any job to prevent injury toyourself or others, but on a riggingjob, this goes double.

Be careful of falling loads“IF IT IS in the air, it’s dangerous.”That’s a line that’s been around along time and is worth repeating.Even if the equipment you areusing seems to be in goodcondition, you never want to letyour guard down. You can protectyourself from falling loads byfollowing these simple rules:

1. A load that can be carriedclose to the ground can bestabilized by a person at each end.These individuals must stay in theclear at all times, and the groundsurface must be unobstructed andreasonably level. Taglines shouldALWAYS be used where neededand definitely when the load iscarried five or more feet above theg r o u n d .

2. On all lifting jobs, only oneperson should be in charge ofsignalling the crane operator. Ifyou are assigned the job ofdirecting the crane, follow thesebasic tips:

a . Stand clear and place yourselfwhere the operator can plainly seeyou and you can see the operator.

b . If you can’t see the load andanother person is signalling toyou, be sure that everyone is in theclear before you signal theoperator. Remember, it takes timeto relay signals.

c . Never permit a load to belowered, raised, or swung over aworker’s head. If the operator cansee the load, it is the operator’sresponsibility, without exception,to see that this rule is followed.

DON’T TAKE UNNECESSARY RISKS.A L W A Y S PLAY IT SAFE.

AND WHEN YOU ARE AT WORK,MAKE IT SAFE!

MAKE IT SAFEWorking safely with cranes, lifts

Michael Huthmacher – ‘Just a Boilerm a k e r ’by L-7 BM-ST F. Patrick Lyons

BROTHER MICHAELHuthmacher, amember of Local 7 (Buffalo, N.Y.) for 21years, died December 15, 1999, frominjuries suffered in an industrialaccident causing him to fall 30 feet. Anaccident that could have and shouldhave been prevented.

Who was Mike Huthmacher? “Just aBoilermaker,” as I heard him referredto, but like so many of us, he was ahusband, a father, a friend.

Just as he lived, his passing wentwithout much fanfare, but this is theway he would have wanted it becausehe was “just a Boilermaker.” Had hebeen a fireman or a policeman who waskilled in the line of duty, flags wouldhave been flown at half mast, bagpipeswould have played their mournfulsong, and thousands of his brotherswould have paraded in the streets.

For Mike, there were no parades, noflags to fly, or pipers to play, because,after all, he was “just a Boilermaker.” Justone of the truly elite. He will be missed.

Survivors include his wife, Marybeth

Koch Huthmacher; two sons, Justin ofPhiladelphia and Christian; adaughter, Jordan; his parents, Jacoband Doris Huthmacher of Clearwater,Fla.; two brothers, Mark of NewMexico and Keith of Pittsburgh; and asister, Lori Jo of Clearwater.

On behalf of the Huthmacher family,Local 7 extends our gratitude for theprayers and donations received by thefamily in their time of need. ❑

Forty-five percent of deaths fromcrane accidents are caused bycontact with energized power lines.

K N O W Y O U R R I G H T S

the Boilermaker Reporter6 Mar • Apr 2000

T A X E S

Tax breaks for foreignerscause U.S. corporationsto move overseasIF YOU’RE A TYPICAL A m e r i c a nworker making $45,000 a year, youpaid about 11 percent of your incometoward U.S. income taxes last year,maybe even more. That’s a pretty largebite out of the money you need to pro-vide your family food, clothing, shelter,healthcare, and transportation – not tomention saving for Junior’s collegeexpenses and your own retirement.

If you feel like your taxes are morethan you can afford, maybe you shouldmove to the Turks and Caicos. That’s astring of 30 small islands dotted across5,000 square miles of ocean, about 575miles southeast of Miami. They havehundreds of miles of sandy whitebeaches, one of the largest coral reefs inthe world, and access to the outsideworld through fax machines, tele-phones, and the internet. They acceptU.S. currency, and all of the 15,000 resi-dents speak English.

Best of all, though, if you live in theTurks and Caicos Islands and earn U.S.income, you don’t pay the full U.S. rate.Your rate is only seven-tenths of onepercent. For an income of $45,000, that’sa tax bill of about $315.

No wonder that in 1993, Texaco Inc.chose to move their offices to the Turksand Caicos.

Or at least the addresses for theiroffices. Texaco established a companycalled Texaco Capital LLC on the islandchain, and began selling stock. Nevermind that the “principal executiveoffices of its manager” never movedout of White Plains, N.Y. The offices ofTexaco Capital LLC are in the Turksand Caicos, so the company pays thelower income tax rate to the U.S.

If this sounds like a pretty good deal,that’s because it is. Anyone who livesoff of investment income earned fromstock in U.S. companies can move to theTurks and Caicos and avoid nearly allof their U.S. income tax. Businesseshave it even better. They can organizethe company in these islands and takeadvantage of the tax breaks withoutactually moving there.

Have we got a deal for you

HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? Congress hascut special deals in tax treaties with

countries around the world so thatwealthy investors get the kind of tax ratethat the average working person canonly dream about. Many of them pay noU.S. income taxes at all.

To justify lowering wages and ourliving standards, businessmen andpoliticians continually refer to “theglobal economy.” Global competitionbrought about by our “global econ-omy” means our workforces must getleaner, we must lay off more workers,we must get more done in less time,and we cannot expect to maintain suchhigh living standards when workers inother countries are willing to work forso much less.

But when wealthy investors begintalking about their own lives, theterm “global economy” takes on anentirely different meaning. A personliving in Thailand who earns moneyfrom U.S.i n v e s t m e n t spays less thantwo-tenths ofone percent inU.S. income tax.For $45,000 inincome, that’sless than $90.An Austrianinvestor payseven less – one-tenth of onepercent, orabout $45.

But if youwant the bestdeal of all, you’llhave to move tothe United ArabEmirates. If youhad lived therein 1990, youwould have paid$27 in income taxon $45,000 ofU.S. earnings.

And for thesewealthy investors, the news just keepsgetting better and better. From 1985 to1990, the amount of money that resi-dents of foreign countries earned fromtheir investments in the U.S. surgedfrom $17.5 billion to $79.4 billion, anincrease of 354 percent. The amountthey paid in income taxes went up,too, but not nearly as fast. It rose from$900 million to $2 billion – an increaseof 122 percent.

This amounts to a tax cut of 51 per-cent. Their earnings were more thanfour times as large, but their tax ratewas literally cut in half – from 5.1 per-cent to 2.5 percent.

For you, the story is quite different. Ifyour income in 1985 was about themedian income for that year, you wouldhave paid a rate of 11 percent. In 1990,assuming your income kept pace withthe rest of the country and you stillearned the median income, your tax ratewould still have been 11 percent, morethan four times what they paid that year.

Thanks to Congress, investors livingabroad escape paying billions of dol-lars in U.S income tax on their invest-ments in the U.S.

Why companies go global

WHEN U.S. CORPORATIONS m o v eoverseas, taking valuable jobs with

them, they oftencite the lowerwages they canpay in third-world coun-tries. Nike, forexample, paysAsian workersu n s p e a k a b l ylow wages,often as low asonly a few centsan hour. No onedenies thatlower wages area major reasonU.S. corpora-tions are mov-ing theirproduction tot h i r d - w o r l dc o u n t r i e s .

What corpo-rations and theU.S. govern-ment don’t talkabout is that

these companies also pay lower taxes.Often the only U.S. taxes they pay areimport duties on the products theyship back here for sale. NAFTA a n dother trade agreements threaten to takeaway even this small source of incomefor the U.S.

For example, take a look at Warnaco.This company makes men’s andwomen’s apparel, which are sold undersuch brand names as Christian Dior,Hathaway, Valentino, and Chaps in1,500 stores nationwide.

Warnaco grew out of the takeovermania of the 1980s. It was purchasedwith borrowed money – a lot of money.Between 1988 and 1992, they paid out$317 million in interest on their debtsout of earnings of only $336 million,leaving a profit of only $19 million onsales in the billions of dollars.

But a low profit margin didn’t stopWarnaco’s CEO Linda Wachner frommaking a killing. In the same period,she earned $8.5 million in salary andb o n u s e s .

In the takeover, Warnaco went pub-lic. Wachner got options on 1.3 millionshares for $4.67 a share. The companyloaned her $4.66 per share interest free.So she paid one cent per share of herown money – a total of $13,000 – to buyover $6 million worth of Warnacostock. By 1993, that stock was worthover $49 million.

She also had a deal with a company thatspun off of Warnaco, Authentic FitnessCorporation. Her income from AuthenticFitness was $4 million a year from 1990 to1992, excluding stock options.

Wachner’s income would be justanother example of absurdly high exec-utive pay except for one thing: W a r-naco and Authentic Fitness paid noU.S. income taxes during this period.

Warnaco’s total revenue from 1988 to1992 was $2.8 billion. The company’sprofit before interest and taxes was$336 million. Yet, they paid not a pennyin income tax to the U.S. government,and only $11 million to foreign govern-ments. Wachner received more insalary and bonuses from these twocompanies than they paid out in taxes.

Other companies have cut similardeals with the U.S. government. In fact,tax money paid by U.S. corporations isleaving the country at a growing rate.

For example, from 1968 to 1970, FordMotor Company paid $1.2 billion inU.S. taxes and $454 million to foreigngovernments. Nearly three of everyfour dollars paid in taxes stayed in theUnited States.

In the period 1990 to 1992, Ford paid$1.3 billion in foreign taxes and only$876 million in U.S. taxes. Three inevery five dollars went overseas.

Some of this increase comes fromlarger overseas sales, but most of itcomes from our lopsided tax structure.

Foreign-owned corporations payeven less in taxes than U.S.-ownedbusinesses that do business overseas. In1989, for example, an examination ofIRS tax records showed that 99 percentof U.S. businesses controlled byinvestors from Saudi Arabia paid noU.S. income taxes. Ninety-five percentof Irish-controlled businesses and 92percent of Panamanian-controlledbusinesses paid zero income taxes thatyear as well.

Some cases are especially infuriating.Carnival Cruise Lines, for example, isorganized in Panama, although it is runfrom its Miami office. Because the com-pany is Panamanian, they pay virtuallyno U.S. taxes, even though all but fourof their dozens of scheduled cruisesoriginate in U.S. ports and nearly alltheir passengers are from the U.S.

Who makes up for the taxes theydon’t pay?You and I do, of course. ❑

This is the third in a series of six articles onU.S. taxes, suggested by the book, A m e r i c a :Who Pays the Taxes. The subject for thenext article is “How Lobbyists Lower Taxesfor Their Clients While Raising Yours.”

Tips at Tax TimeTHE TAX LAWS may be stacked againstyou, but there are still some things you cando to keep your taxes down.

Save your receipts for tax deductibleitems, such as mortgage interest paid, childcare and medical care expenses, charitablecontributions, and real estate taxes.

Save for retirement. Financial advisors canshow you how IRAs, Keoghs, 401(k)s, andsome retirement plans can cut your tax bill.

Review your W-4 withholding so enough isheld out that you avoid a tax bill.

Get tax credit for classes you, yourspouse, or child take with the LifetimeLearning Credit or Hope Scholarship Credit.

Invest in a home – not only are mortgageinterest and real estate taxes deductible, butyou can exclude capital gains of up to$500,000 for the sale of your home.

Start saving for your child’s education withan education IRA and deduct $500 per benefici-ary per tax year.

Know your tax rights. Your options haveexpanded with recent changes. For exam-ple, if you are audited, the burden of proofrests with the IRS, not you.

Foreign companies in the U.S. pay lessin taxes than U.S. corporations – or you

The REALglobal economy

1. Foreign investors pay U.S. income tax atan average rate of 2.5 percent. You pay 11percent or more.

2. A growing number of U.S. companies arepaying more taxes to foreign governmentsthan to the U.S. government.

3. Foreign-controlled corporations in theU.S. pay lower rates than U.S.-owned busi-nesses – and a lot lower than yours.

4. Tax collectors are not ready to audit thebooks of multinational corporations usingcomplex schemes to avoid taxes.

5. Many longtime U.S. companies are shift-ing operations overseas, eliminating jobs inthe U.S., and cutting their U.S. taxes, soworkers end up paying even more.

Get online today withwww.IBB.workingfamilies.com

THE BOILERMAKERSand the AFL-CIO have joined forces to offer you a suiteof online services at our new portal: h t t p : / / w w w . I B B . w o r k i n g f a m i l i e s . c o m

Through this portal, you’ll have access to:

•the latest commentary by Intl. President C. W. Jones

•information from our legislative office

•national news and your local weather

•online shopping with union-friendlyb u s i n e s s e s

•an online auction service, and much more.

You’ll even be able to get your internet accessfrom w w w . I B B . w o r k i n g f a m i l i e s . c o m for only$14.95 a month.

The next time you go online, visith t t p : / / w w w . I B B . w o r k i n g f a m i l i e s . c o m to seewhat your union is doing on the internet.If you don’t already have internet access, call 1-800-806-2150 to set it up.

Technology is leading us to a new kind of world, and the Boilermakers areshowing the way.

L AST FA L L , Larry Kinginterviewed some “politi-cal analysts” re g a rd i n gthe likelihood that Hillary

Clinton could be elected senatorf rom New York. That interviewtells a great deal about how themajor news media appro a c hpolitical campaigns.

No one on the show discussed a sin-gle issue. There was not a word aboutwhether Hillary Clinton would try tostrengthen Social Security, or add a pre-scription drug component to Medicare,or support more funds for education.All they talked about was her hair style,the clothes she wore, and whether she“looked” like a real candidate.

When it comes to covering elections,the mainstream media provide almostno substance. George W. Bush, JohnMcCain, Al Gore, and Bill Bradley havebeen running for president for sixmonths now. How much do you knowabout where each of them stands?

Will Bush offer more money for edu-c a t i o n ? Does McCain have a plan tostrengthen Social Security? How willAl Gore respond to the growing prob-lem of workers’ rights violations? W i l lBill Bradley try to increase the mini-mum wage?

Mainstream journalists cover politi-cal races as though they are horse races.Every day we hear who is ahead, byhow many points, and who is gainingfast. But we rarely hear how the candi-dates stand on issues, how they havevoted in the past, and how we canexpect them to vote in the future.

The congressional scorecards pro-vided on the next four pages will giveyou what you can’t get from televisionor the newspaper – concrete knowl-edge of how each member of Congresshas voted on the issues most importantto Boilermakers in 1999.

Checking their voting records is theonly way to determine whether youshould vote for a candidate.

Politicians rarely change their spots.The issues they have supported in the

past, they will probably support inthe future. What they have opposedin the past, they will oppose in thefuture. Their speeches may be lovely,but it is how they vote that deter-mines how strongly they supportworking people.

These tables here list the recordof some key votes that occurred in1999. They also provide percent-ages indicating how often a memberof Congress voted in accord with ourpositions.

Pay close attention to these percent-ages, especially to the lifetime percent-age. The higher that lifetime percentageis, the more often that person has votedto help working people.

The lower that percentage is, themore he or she has voted against theinterests of Boilermaker members andour families.

Look up the voting records of both ofyour senators and your representative.Don’t assume you know how they havevoted. You may be surprised.

It is important that you base yourvoting decisions on real knowledge ofhow the candidates have voted on theissues, not campaign promises.

Social Security needs strengthening,Medicare needs a prescription drugcomponent, our workplaces need to besafer, and workers’ rights cannot beu n d e r m i n e d .

In this crucial election year, we can-not afford to support candidates whowill not support legislation that helpsworking families. ❑

the Boilermaker Reporter7 Mar • Apr 2000

L E A P I S S U E S

See how your senators votedKey votes for Boilermakers in 19991 . Budget/Final Passage – H.CON. RES. 68The Senate passedH.C.R. 68, the FY2000 budget resolu-tion, which failed to extend the life of Social Security orMedicare by a single day. Instead, this budget provides$800 billion in tax cuts to the wealthy. The measure wasopposed by the Boilermakers, and passed by a vote of55-44 on March 25, 1999.

For: 54 Rep., 1 Dem. A g a i n s t : 44 Dem., 0 Rep.

2 . Trade/Steel – H.R. 975 The Senate refused, on a cloture vote, to cut off a fili-buster in order to consider the bill H.R. 975. TheHouse passed this bipartisan bill by an overwhelmingmargin of 289-141. This legislation provides for areduction in the volume of steel imports, toughensimport monitoring, and imposes quotas that returnforeign steel imports to the 1997 pre-economic crisislevels. Boilermakers supported the House version,but cloture of the motion to proceed to the bill in theSenate failed by a vote of 42-57 on June 22, 1999.

F o r : 15 Rep., 27 Dem. Against: 39 Rep., 18 Dem.

3 . Patient’s Bill of Rights/Final Passage – S.1344The Senate passed a managed care bill whichexcludes over 100 million Americans, gives healthcare plans the final say on medical treatment deci-sions, and lacks important comprehensive patientprotections, such as patient advocacy, access to spe-cialist and clinical trials, continuity of care, and anadequate provider network. This bill protects the

insurance companies, not patients. The Boilermakersopposed this bill, but it passed 53-47 on July 15, 1999.

F o r : 53 Rep., 0 Dem. Against: 2 Rep., 45 Dem.

4 . Tax Cuts/Final Passage – S.1429The Senate passed S.1429, which wastes moneyneeded to reform Medicare and provide essential pre-scription drug benefits on a tax cut, which gives 76 per-cent of its benefits to the wealthiest 20 percent oftaxpayers, assumes devastating cuts in discretionaryprograms like education, and costs $2 TRILLION in itssecond decade – just as baby boomers’ retirement isstraining Medicare and Social Security. The Boiler-makers opposed this bill, but it passed on a vote of 56-43 on July 30, 1999.

F o r : 52 Rep., 4 Dem. A g a i n s t : 2 Rep., 41 Dem.

5 . NLRB/Funding – S.1650The Senate passed a motion to table (kill) an amend-ment that would have slashed funding by $25.5 mil-lion for the National Labor Relations Board, andredirect the funds to other organizations. Boilermak-ers supported the tabling motion, and it passed on avote of 50-49 on September 30, 1999.

For: 5 Rep., 45 Dem. Against: 48 Rep., 1 Dem.

6 . OSHA/Workplace Inspections – S1650The Senate failed to table (kill) an amendment thatredirects $17 million from the Occupational Safetyand Health Administration workplace inspections toOSHA compliance assistance programs. This cutwould mean reduced inspections at high-hazardworkplaces. The Boilermakers supported the motion

to table this anti-worker amendment, but it failed on avote of 44-50 on September 30, 1999.

For: 2 Rep., 42 Dem. Against: 48 Rep., 2 Dem.

7 . Minimum Wage – S.625The Senate passed a minimum wage bill increasingthe wage by $1 an hour over the next three years, to$5.50 an hour beginning March 1, 2000, $5.85 an hourbeginning March 1, 2001, and $6.15 an hour begin-ning March 1, 2002. This bill also contained excessivetax breaks for the wealthy, totaling $75.3 billion overten years. The Boilermakers supported a failed alter-native amendment, which would have increased theminimum wage by $1 an hour over a shorter period oftime. The Boilermakers opposed S. 625, but it passedby a vote of 54-44 on November 9, 1999.

For: 53 Rep., 1 Dem. Against: 1 Rep., 43 Dem. ❑

AlabamaSessions W R W W W W W 14% 6%Shelby W R W W W W W 14% 26%

AlaskaMurkowski W W W W W W W 0% 12%Stevens W R W W R W W 29% 26%

ArizonaKyl W W W W W W W 0% 3%McCain A A W W A A A 0% 7%

ArkansasHutchinson W W W W W W W 0% 6%Lincoln R R R R R R R 100% 100%

CaliforniaBoxer R R R R R R R 100% 89%Feinstein R W R R R R R 86% 83%

ColoradoAllard W W W W W W W 0% 0%Campbell W R W W W R W 29% 44%

ConnecticutDodd R R R R R R R 100% 83%Lieberman R W R R R R R 86% 80%

DelawareRoth W W W W W W W 0% 9%Biden R R R R R R R 100% 80%

FloridaMack W W W W W A W 0% 18%Graham R W R R R R R 86% 57%

GeorgiaCoverdell W W W W W W W 0% 14%Cleland R W R R R R W 71% 50%

HawaiiAkaka R W R R R R R 86% 91%Inouye R W R R R R R 86% 88%

IdahoCraig W W W W W W W 0% 6%Crapo W W W W W W W 0% 0%

IllinoisDurbin R R R R R R R 100% 100%Fitzgerald W W R W R W W 29% 29%

IndianaBayh R R R R R R R 100% 100%Lugar W W W W W W W 0% 3%

IowaGrassley W W W W W W W 0% 6%Harkin R R R R R R R 100% 85%

KansasBrownback W W W W W W W 0% 0%Roberts W W W W W W W 0% 0%

KentuckyMcConnell W W W W W W W 0% 26%Bunning W W W W W W W 0% 0%

LouisianaBreaux W W R W R W R 43% 66%Landrieu R W R W R W R 57% 53%

Key to Senate Votes

1 = Budget/Final Passage2 = Tr a d e / S t e e l3 = P a t i e n t ’s Bill of Rights4 = Tax Cuts/Final Passage5 = NLRB Funding6 = OSHA Workplace Inspections7 = Minimum Wa g e9 9 % = Jan-Dec 1999 Perc e n t a g eL i f e % = Lifetime Vote in Off i c e

R = R i g h tW = Wro n gA = A b s e n t

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ‘99% Life% 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ‘99% Life% 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ‘99% Life%

Continued on page 8

Check their voting re c o rd s

Key votes for Boilermakers in 1999

1. Trade/Steel – H.R. 975The House passed this bipartisan bill providing for areduction in the volume of steel imports. It alsotoughens import monitoring and imposes quotas thatreturn foreign steel imports to the 1997 pre-economiccrisis levels. The Boilermakers supported this bill andit passed 289-141 on March 17, 1999.

For: 91 Rep., 197 Dem. A g a i n s t : 128 Rep., 13 Dem.

2 . Social Security/Medicare – H.C.R. 68The House passed the FY2000 budget resolutionwhich fails to extend the life of Social Security orMedicare by a single day. Instead, this budget pro-vides $800 billion in tax cuts to the wealthy. The Boil-ermakers opposed this resolution, but it passed221-207 on March 25, 1999.

F o r : 217 Rep., 4 Dem. A g a i n s t : 2 Rep., 205 Dem.

3 . Tax Cuts – H.R. 2488The nation’s growing budget surplus provided agreat opportunity for Congress to pass legislation tostrengthen Social Security and Medicare, add pre-scription drug coverage to Medicare, and still provideworking families with targeted tax relief. Instead,H.R. 2488 called for a $792 billion, ten-year tax-cutpackage with most benefits intended for the wealthy;for example, a capital gains tax cut and estate taxrepeal. Estimates showed the cost of the bill could bal-loon to $3 trillion for the ten years following 2010, justas baby boomers’ retirement is straining Medicareand Social Security. The Boilermakers opposed thisbill, but it passed223-207 on July 22, 1999. The bill waslater vetoed by President Clinton.

For: 217 Rep., 6 Dem. A g a i n s t : 4 Rep., 203 Dem.

4 . China/ Normal Trade Relations – H.J. R. 57The House failed to pass H.J. Resolution 57, a resolu-tion disapproving the extension of normal trade rela-tions with China. The Chinese government has beencriticized for its abuse of workers and violations to

basic human rights through such venues as forcedlabor in the production of export goods. Boilermakersoppose violations of human rights and workers’rights both at home and abroad. We supported thedenial to extend normal trade relations with China,but the resolution failed 169-260 on July 27, 1999.

For: 71 Rep., 98 Dem. Against: 150 Rep., 110 Dem.

5 . Worker Health/ Ergonomics – H.R. 987The Chamber of Commerce and other businessgroups have mounted a very aggressive effort to stopOSHA from addressing the biggest job safety prob-lem in the workplace today – illness caused byergonomic hazards. Every year over 600,000 workerssuffer injuries caused by these hazards. H.R. 987 pro-hibits OSHA from issuing an ergonomics standarduntil yet another scientific review is completed, whichcould take approximately two more years to com-plete. The Boilermakers opposed this bill, but i tp a s s e d 217-208 on August 3, 1999.

F o r : 202 Rep., 15 Dem. A g a i n s t : 17 Rep., 191 Dem.

N O T E : Independent votes were not included in theDemocrat-Republican count. However, the onlyIndependent in the House supported the Boilermak-ers on all five issues. ❑

the Boilermaker Reporter8 Mar • Apr 2000

P A G E I D

the Boilermaker Reporter

P A G E I D

the Boilermaker Reporter8 Mar • Apr 2000

L E A P I S S U E S

MaineCollins W W W W W W W 0% 12%Snowe W R W W W W W 14% 29%

MarylandMikulski R R R R R R R 100% 91%Sarbanes R R R R R R R 100% 97%

MassachusettsKennedy R W R R R A R 83% 91%Kerry R W R R R R R 86% 89%

MichiganAbraham W W W W W W W 0% 34%Levin R R R R R R R 100% 80%

MinnesotaGrams W W W W W W W 0% 29%Wellstone R R R R R R R 100% 77%

MississippiCochran W W W W W W W 0% 6%Lott W W W W W W W 0% 6%

MissouriAshcroft W W W W W W W 0% 6%Bond W W W W W W W 0% 14%

MontanaBurns W R W W W W W 14% 20%Baucus R W R R R R R 86% 57%

NebraskaHagel W W W W W W W 0% 0%Kerrey R W R W R R R 71% 63%

NevadaBryan R W R R R R R 86% 71%Reid R R R R R R R 100% 86%

New HampshireGregg W W W W W W W 0% 9%Smith W R W W W W W 14% 11%

New JerseyLautenberg R W R R R R R 86% 80%Torricelli R R R W R R R 86% 88%

New MexicoDomenici W W W W W W W 0% 11%Bingaman R W R R R R R 86% 77%

New YorkSchumer R R R R R R R 100% 100%Moynihan R W R R R R R 86% 63%

North CarolinaEdwards R R R R R R R 100% 100%Helms W R W W W W W 14% 14%

North DakotaConrad R R R R R R R 100% 80%Dorgan R R R R R R R 100% 86%

OhioDeWine W R W W W W W 14% 31%Voinovich W W W R W W R 29% 29%

OklahomaInhofe W R W W W W W 14% 11%Nickles W W W W W W W 0% 6%

OregonSmith W W W W W W W 0% 0%Wyden R W R R R R R 86% 79%

PennsylvaniaSantorum W R W W W W W 14% 20%Specter W R W R R R W 57% 53%

Rhode IslandChafee W W R W R A V 40% 36%Reed R R R R R R R 100% 94%

South CarolinaThurmond W R W W W W W 14% 14%Hollings R R R R R R A 100% 91%

South DakotaDaschle R R R R R R R 100% 86%Johnson R R R R R R R 100% 82%

TennesseeFrist W W W W W W W 0% 9%Thompson W W W W W W W 0% 14%

TexasGramm W W W W W W W 0% 6%Hutchison W W W W W W W 0% 6%

UtahBennett W R W W W W W 14% 9%Hatch W R W W W W W 14% 9%

VermontJeffords W W W W R W W 14% 39%Leahy R R R R R R R 100% 76%

VirginiaWarner W W W W W W W 0% 11%Robb R R R R R R R 100% 74%

WashingtonGorton W W W W W W W 0% 14%Murray R R R R R R R 100% 83%

West VirginiaByrd R R R R R R R 100% 97%Rockefeller R R R R R R R 100% 86%

WisconsinFeingold R R R R R R R 100% 83%Kohl R W R R R R R 86% 71%

WyomingEnzi W W W W W W W 0% 6%Thomas W W W W W A W 0% 9%

Legend:Republicans = Italic Type, Democrats = Regular Type,Independents = Bold Type

Continued from page 7

How your senators voted1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ‘99% Life% 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ‘99% Life% 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ‘99% Life%

A l a b a m aC a l l a h a n 1 s t R W W W W 2 0 % 1 5 %E v e r e t t 2 n d R W W R W 4 0 % 2 6 %R i l e y 3 r d R W W R W 4 0 % 3 0 %A l d e r h o l t 4 t h R W W R W 4 0 % 4 8 %C r a m e r 5 t h R W R W R 6 0 % 6 0 %B a c h u s 6 t h R W W W W 2 0 % 1 5 %H i l l i a r d 7 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 8 6 %A l a s k aY o u n g A L R W W R W 4 0 % 5 3 %A r i z o n aS a l m o n 1 s t W W W W W 0 % 1 0 %P a s t o r 2 n d R R R W R 8 0 % 7 9 %S t u m p 3 r d W W W W W 0 % 1 0 %S h a d e g g 4 t h W W W W W 0 % 7 %K o l b e 5 t h W W W W W 0 % 7 %H a y w o r t h 6 t h W W W R W 2 0 % 1 0 %A r k a n s a sB e r r y 1 s t R R R W W 6 0 % 6 7 %S n y d e r 2 n d R R R W R 8 0 % 7 1 %H u t c h i n s o n 3 r d W W W W W 0 % 2 0 %D i c k e y 4 t h R W W R W 4 0 % 2 1 %

C a l i f o r n i aT h o m p s o n 1 s t R R R W R 8 0 % 8 0 %H e r g e r 2 n d W W W W W 0 % 5 %O s e 3 r d W W W W W 0 % 0 %D o o l i t t l e 4 t h W W W R W 2 0 % 2 6 %M a t s u i 5 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 7 6 %W o o l s e y 6 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 0 %M i l l e r 7 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 5 %P e l o s i 8 t h R A R R R 1 0 0 % 8 8 %L e e 9 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 1 0 0 %T a u s c h e r 1 0 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 6 7 %P o m b o 1 1 t h R W W R W 4 0 % 2 9 %L a n t o s 1 2 t h R R R R A 1 0 0 % 9 3 %S t a r k 1 3 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 3 %E s h o o 1 4 t h W R R W R 6 0 % 6 9 %C a m p b e l l 1 5 t h W W W W R 2 0 % 3 8 %L o f g r e n 1 6 t h W R R W R 6 0 % 7 1 %F a r r 1 7 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 8 3 %C o n d i t 1 8 t h R W W R R 6 0 % 6 2 %R a d a n o v i c h 1 9 t h W W W W W 0 % 7 %D o o l e y 2 0 t h W R R W W 4 0 % 5 0 %

See how your re p resentatives votedExplanation ofHouse votes

Dist 1 2 3 4 5 ‘99%Life%Dist 1 2 3 4 5 ‘99%Life%

Key to House Vo t e sD i s t = C o n g ressional District

1 = Tr a d e / S t e e l2 = Social Security/Medicare3 = Tax Cuts4 = C h i n a / N T R5 = Worker Health/Erg o n o m i c s

9 9 % = Jan-Dec 1999 Perc e n t a g eL i f e % = Lifetime Vote in Off i c e

R = Right Vo t eW = Wrong Vo t eA = Absent From Vo t e

Continued on page 9

T h o m a s 2 1 s t W W W W W 0 % 7 %C a p p s 2 2 n d R R R W R 8 0 % 7 3 %G a l l e g l y 2 3 r d R W W R W 4 0 % 1 9 %S h e r m a n 2 4 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 7 1 %M c K e o n 2 5 t h W W W W W 0 % 5 %B e r m a n 2 6 t h W R R W R 6 0 % 7 2 %R o g a n 2 7 t h R W W W W 2 0 % 1 4 %D r e i e r 2 8 t h W W W W W 0 % 2 %W a x m a n 2 9 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 8 8 %B e c e r r a 3 0 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 7 9 %M a r t i n e z 3 1 s t R R R R R 1 0 0 % 8 2 %D i x o n 3 2 n d R R R W R 8 0 % 7 8 %R o y b a l - A l l a r d 3 3 r d R R R W R 8 0 % 8 0 %N a p o l i t a n o 3 4 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 8 0 %W a t e r s 3 5 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 5 %K u y k e n d a l l 3 6 t h W W W W W 0 % 0 %M i l l e n d e r - M c D 3 7 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 7 7 %H o r n 3 8 t h R W W R R 6 0 % 5 0 %R o y c e 3 9 t h W W W R W 2 0 % 2 3 %L e w i s 4 0 t h W W W W W 0 % 1 5 %M i l l e r 4 1 s t W W W W W 0 % 0 %B r o w n 4 2 t h R R V V V 1 0 0 % 8 2 %C a l v e r t 4 3 r d W W W W W 0 % 5 %B o n o 4 4 t h W W W R W 2 0 % 1 1 %R o h r a b a c h e r 4 5 t h W W W R W 2 0 % 2 1 %S a n c h e z 4 6 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 8 1 %C o x 4 7 t h W W W R W 2 0 % 1 8 %P a c k a r d 4 8 t h W W W W W 0 % 5 %B i l b r a y 4 9 t h W W W W A 0 % 1 2 %F i l n e r 5 0 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 8 0 %C u n n i n g h a m 5 1 s t W W W W W 0 % 1 2 %H u n t e r 5 2 n d R W W R W 4 0 % 3 1 %C o l o r a d oD e G e t t e 1 s t R R R W R 8 0 % 8 5 %U d a l l 2 n d R R R R R 1 0 0 % 1 0 0 %M c I n n i s 3 r d R W W W W 2 0 % 1 4 %S c h a f f e r 4 t h W W W R W 2 0 % 1 9 %H e f l e y 5 t h R W W R W 4 0 % 2 1 %T a n c r e d o 6 t h W W W R W 2 0 % 2 0 %C o n n e c t i c u tL a r s o n 1 s t R R R W R 8 0 % 8 0 %G e j d e n s o n 2 n d R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 5 %D e L a u r o 3 r d R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 0 %S h a y s 4 t h W W W W W 0 % 2 4 %M a l o n e y 5 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 4 8 %J o h n s o n 6 t h W W W W W 0 % 3 3 %D e l a w a r eC a s t l e A L W W R W W 2 0 % 2 1 %F l o r i d aS c a r b o r o u g h 1 s t W W W R W 2 0 % 2 6 %B o y d 2 n d R R R W W 6 0 % 6 2 %B r o w n 3 r d R R R R R 1 0 0 % 8 3 %F o w l e r 4 t h W W W R W 2 0 % 1 5 %T h u r m a n 5 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 7 3 %S t e a r n s 6 t h R W W R W 4 0 % 2 9 %M i c a 7 t h R W W W W 2 0 % 1 2 %M c C o l l u m 8 t h W W W W W 0 % 2 %B i l i r a k i s 9 t h R W W W W 2 0 % 1 5 %Y o u n g 1 0 t h R W W W W 2 0 % 1 9 %D a v i s 1 1 t h W R R W R 6 0 % 6 2 %C a n a d y 1 2 t h W W W W W 0 % 1 0 %M i l l e r 1 3 t h W W W W W 0 % 1 0 %G o s s 1 4 t h W W W W W 0 % 8 %W e l d o n 1 5 t h W W W R W 2 0 % 1 4 %F o l e y 1 6 t h W W W W W 0 % 1 4 %M e e k 1 7 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 8 5 %R o s - L e h t i n e n 1 8 t h R W W R W 4 0 % 5 2 %W e x l e r 1 9 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 0 %D e u t s c h 2 0 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 7 1 %D i a z - B a l a r t 2 1 s t R W W R W 4 0 % 6 2 %S h a w 2 2 n d W W W W W 0 % 1 0 %H a s t i n g s 2 3 r d R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 0 %G e o r g i aK i n g s t o n 1 s t W W W R W 2 0 % 2 2 %B i s h o p 2 n d R R W R R 8 0 % 7 6 %C o l l i n s 3 r d R W W R W 4 0 % 1 9 %M c K i n n e y 4 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 0 %L e w i s 5 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 3 %I s a k s o n 6 t h W W W W W 0 % 0 %B a r r 7 t h R W W R W 4 0 % 2 9 %C h a m b l i s s 8 t h W W W R W 2 0 % 1 5 %D e a l 9 t h W W W R W 2 0 % 2 1 %N o r w o o d 1 0 t h R W W R W 4 0 % 2 0 %L i n d e r 1 1 t h W W W W W 0 % 5 %H a w a i iA b e r c r o m b i e 1 s t R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 8 %M i n k 2 n d R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 5 %

I d a h oC h e n o w e t h 1 s t R W W R W 4 0 % 3 3 %S i m p s o n 2 n d W W W W W 0 % 0 %I l l i n o i sR u s h 1 s t R R R W R 8 0 % 8 3 %J a c k s o n 2 n d R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 5 %L i p i n s k i 3 r d R R R R R 1 0 0 % 8 3 %G u t i e r r e z 4 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 5 %B l a g o j e v i c h 5 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 8 0 %H y d e 6 t h W W W R W 2 0 % 2 4 %D a v i s 7 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 5 %C r a n e 8 t h W W W W W 0 % 5 %S c h a k o w s k y 9 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 1 0 0 %P o r t e r 1 0 t h W W W W W 0 % 2 2 %W e l l e r 1 1 t h R W W W R 4 0 % 3 6 %C o s t e l l o 1 2 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 8 6 %B i g g e r t 1 3 t h W W W W W 0 % 0 %H a s t e r t 1 4 t h S W W W W 0 % 5 %E w i n g 1 5 t h R W W W W 2 0 % 1 2 %M a n z u l l o 1 6 t h W W W W W 0 % 5 %E v a n s 1 7 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 5 %L a H o o d 1 8 t h W W W W R 2 0 % 3 3 %P h e l p s 1 9 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 8 0 %S h i m k u s 2 0 t h R W W W W 2 0 % 3 3 %I n d i a n aV i s c l o s k y 1 s t R R R R R 1 0 0 % 8 8 %M c I n t o s h 2 n d R W W W W 2 0 % 1 0 %R o e m e r 3 r d R R R W R 8 0 % 6 0 %S o u d e r 4 t h R W W R W 4 0 % 2 6 %B u y e r 5 t h R W W W W 2 0 % 1 0 %B u r t o n 6 t h R A W R W 5 0 % 2 8 %P e a s e 7 t h R W W W W 2 0 % 1 9 %H o s t e t t l e r 8 t h R W W R W 4 0 % 2 1 %H i l l 9 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 8 0 %C a r s o n 1 0 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 8 0 %I o w aL e a c h 1 s t W W W W W 0 % 2 4 %N u s s l e 2 n d R W W W W 2 0 % 7 %B o s w e l l 3 r d R R R W R 8 0 % 3 6 %G a n s k e 4 t h R W R R W 6 0 % 1 7 %L a t h a m 5 t h W W W W W 0 % 2 %K a n s a sM o r a n 1 s t W W W W W 0 % 1 0 %R y u n 2 n d W W W W W 0 % 0 %M o o r e 3 r d R R R W R 8 0 % 8 0 %T i a h r t 4 t h W W W R W 2 0 % 1 7 %K e n t u c k yW h i t f i e l d 1 s t R W W W W 2 0 % 2 4 %L e w i s 2 n d R W W W W 2 0 % 2 0 %N o r t h u p 3 r d W W W W W 0 % 1 0 %L u c a s 4 t h R R W W R 6 0 % 6 0 %R o g e r s 5 t h R W W R W 4 0 % 2 9 %F l e t c h e r 6 t h W W W W W 0 % 0 %L o u i s i a n aV i t t e r 1 s t V V W W W 0 % 0 %J e f f e r s o n 2 n d R R R W A 7 5 % 8 2 %T a u z i n 3 r d W W W W W 0 % 1 0 %M c C r e r y 4 t h W W W W W 0 % 5 %C o o k s e y 5 t h W W W W W 0 % 0 %B a k e r 6 t h W W W W W 0 % 5 %J o h n 7 t h W R R W W 4 0 % 4 5 %M a i n eA l l e n 1 s t R R R W R 8 0 % 8 1 %B a l d a c c i 2 n d R R R W R 8 0 % 7 9 %M a r y l a n dG i l c h r e s t 1 s t R W W W W 2 0 % 7 %E h r l i c h 2 n d R W W R W 4 0 % 2 2 %C a r d i n 3 r d R R R R R 1 0 0 % 8 8 %W y n n 4 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 8 8 %H o y e r 5 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 8 6 %B a r t l e t t 6 t h R W W R W 4 0 % 1 9 %C u m m i n g s 7 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 8 9 %M o r e l l a 8 t h W R R W W 4 0 % 3 3 %M a s s a c h u s e t t sO l v e r 1 s t R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 0 %N e a l 2 n d R R R W R 8 0 % 8 1 %M c G o v e r n 3 r d R R R W R 8 0 % 8 1 %F r a n k 4 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 0 %M e e h a n 5 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 7 3 %T i e r n e y 6 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 5 %M a r k e y 7 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 0 %C a p u a n o 8 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 1 0 0 %M o a k l e y 9 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 7 8 %D e l a h u n t 1 0 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 5 %M i c h i g a nS t u p a k 1 s t R A R R R 1 0 0 % 8 5 %H o e k s t r a 2 n d W W W W W 0 % 5 %E h l e r s 3 r d W W W W W 0 % 1 2 %C a m p 4 t h W W W W W 0 % 7 %B a r c i a 5 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 7 4 %U p t o n 6 t h W W W W W 0 % 7 %

Michigan cont’d.S m i t h 7 t h W W W W W 0 % 1 4 %S t a b e n o w 8 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 8 1 %K i l d e e 9 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 8 8 %B o n i o r 1 0 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 0 %K n o l l e n b e r g 1 1 t h W W W W W 0 % 7 %L e v i n 1 2 t h W R R W R 6 0 % 7 6 %R i v e r s 1 3 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 8 8 %C o n y e r s 1 4 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 8 0 %K i l p a t r i c k 1 5 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 5 %D i n g e l l 1 6 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 8 1 %M i n n e s o t aG u t k n e c h t 1 s t R W W W W 2 0 % 1 0 %M i n g e 2 n d R R R W R 8 0 % 5 7 %R a m s t a d 3 r d W W W W W 0 % 5 %V e n t o 4 t h A R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 3 %S a b o 5 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 0 %L u t h e r 6 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 6 9 %P e t e r s o n 7 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 6 4 %O b e r s t a r 8 t h R R R A R 1 0 0 % 9 0 %M i s s i s s i p p iW i c k e r 1 s t W W W W W 0 % 5 %T h o m p s o n 2 n d R R R R A 1 0 0 % 9 8 %P i c k e r i n g 3 r d W W W R W 2 0 % 1 4 %S h o w s 4 t h R R R W W 6 0 % 6 0 %T a y l o r 5 t h R R R R W 8 0 % 4 9 %M i s s o u r iC l a y 1 s t R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 3 %T a l e n t 2 n d W W W W W 0 % 7 %G e p h a r d t 3 r d R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 2 %S k e l t o n 4 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 6 8 %M c C a r t h y 5 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 6 9 %D a n n e r 6 t h R R W R R 8 0 % 6 8 %B l u n t 7 t h W W W W W 0 % 1 9 %E m e r s o n 8 t h R W W W W 2 0 % 1 3 %H u l s h o f 9 t h W W W W W 0 % 5 %M o n t a n aH i l l A L W W W W W 0 % 1 4 %N e b r a s k aB e r e u t e r 1 s t W W W W W 0 % 7 %T e r r y 2 n d W W W W W 0 % 0 %B a r r e t t 3 r d W W W W W 0 % 7 %N e v a d aB e r k l e y 1 s t R R R W R 8 0 % 8 0 %G i b b o n s 2 n d R W W R W 4 0 % 3 0 %New HampshireS u n u n u 1 s t W W W W W 0 % 5 %B a s s 2 n d W W W W W 0 % 7 %New JerseyA n d r e w s 1 s t R R R W R 8 0 % 7 9 %L o B i o n d o 2 n d R W W R R 6 0 % 5 6 %S a x t o n 3 r d W W W W W 0 % 2 5 %S m i t h 4 t h R W W R R 6 0 % 7 1 %R o u k e m a 5 t h R W W W W 2 0 % 2 4 %P a l l o n e 6 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 8 6 %F r a n k s 7 t h R W W W W 2 0 % 3 6 %P a s c r e l l 8 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 5 %R o t h m a n 9 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 5 %P a y n e 1 0 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 2 %F r e l i n g h u y s e n 1 1 t h W W W W W 0 % 7 %H o l t 1 2 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 8 0 %M e n e n d e z 1 3 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 0 %New MexicoW i l s o n 1 s t W W W W W 0 % 1 1 %S k e e n 2 n d R W W W W 2 0 % 1 0 %U d a l l 3 r d R R R R R 1 0 0 % 1 0 0 %New YorkF o r b e s 1 s t R W R R R 8 0 % 5 9 %L a z i o 2 n d R W W W R 4 0 % 3 8 %K i n g 3 r d R W W R R 6 0 % 6 0 %M c C a r t h y 4 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 8 1 %A c k e r m a n 5 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 7 9 %M e e k s 6 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 1 %C r o w l e y 7 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 8 0 %N a d l e r 8 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 3 %W e i n e r 9 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 8 0 %T o w n s 1 0 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 7 7 %O w e n s 1 1 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 3 %V e l a z q u e z 1 2 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 3 %F o s s e l l a 1 3 t h W W W W W 0 % 0 %M a l o n e y 1 4 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 8 0 %R a n g e l 1 5 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 7 5 %S e r r a n o 1 6 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 8 3 %E n g e l 1 7 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 3 %L o w e y 1 8 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 7 6 %K e l l y 1 9 t h R W W W W 2 0 % 3 3 %G i l m a n 2 0 t h R W W R R 6 0 % 5 7 %M c N u l t y 2 1 s t R R R W R 8 0 % 7 5 %S w e e n e y 2 2 n d R W W R R 6 0 % 6 0 %B o e h l e r t 2 3 r d R W W W R 4 0 % 5 9 %

the Boilermaker Reporter9 Mar • Apr 2000

L E A P I S S U E S

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California cont’d.

How your re p resentatives votedDist 1 2 3 4 5 ‘99% Life% Dist 1 2 3 4 5 ‘99%Life% Dist 1 2 3 4 5 ‘99%Life%

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M c H u g h 2 4 t h R W W W R 4 0 % 5 2 %W a l s h 2 5 t h R W W R W 4 0 % 4 3 %H i n c h e y 2 6 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 0 %R e y n o l d s 2 7 t h W W W W W 0 % 0 %S l a u g h t e r 2 8 t h R R R A R 1 0 0 % 8 8 %L a F a l c e 2 9 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 8 1 %Q u i n n 3 0 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 5 8 %H o u g h t o n 3 1 s t W W W W W 0 % 3 3 %North CarolinaC l a y t o n 1 s t R R R W R 8 0 % 8 8 %E t h e r i d g e 2 n d R R R W R 8 0 % 7 1 %J o n e s 3 r d R W W R W 4 0 % 2 4 %P r i c e 4 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 7 6 %B u r r 5 t h W W W R W 2 0 % 1 9 %C o b l e 6 t h R W W R W 4 0 % 1 4 %M c I n t y r e 7 t h R R R R W 8 0 % 6 7 %H a y e s 8 t h R W W R W 4 0 % 4 0 %M y r i c k 9 t h A W W W W 0 % 1 0 %B a l l e n g e r 1 0 t h W W W R W 2 0 % 1 0 %T a y l o r 1 1 t h W W W R W 2 0 % 1 9 %W a t t 1 2 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 8 8 %North DakotaP o m e r o y A L R R R W R 8 0 % 7 4 %O h i oC h a b o t 1 s t W W W W W 0 % 0 %P o r t m a n 2 n d W W W W W 0 % 2 %H a l l 3 r d R R R R R 1 0 0 % 8 5 %O x l e y 4 t h W W W W W 0 % 8 %G i l l m o r 5 t h R W W W W 2 0 % 1 8 %S t r i c k l a n d 6 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 5 %H o b s o n 7 t h R W W R W 4 0 % 2 4 %B o e h n e r 8 t h W W W W W 0 % 7 %K a p t u r 9 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 8 8 %K u c i n i c h 1 0 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 5 %J o n e s 1 1 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 1 0 0 %K a s i c h 1 2 t h R W W R W 4 0 % 1 2 %B r o w n 1 3 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 3 %S a w y e r 1 4 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 7 4 %P r y c e 1 5 t h W W W W W 0 % 3 %R e g u l a 1 6 t h R W W W W 2 0 % 2 6 %T r a f i c a n t 1 7 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 8 0 %N e y 1 8 t h R W W R W 4 0 % 3 6 %L a T o u r e t t e 1 9 t h R W W W W 2 0 % 3 6 %O k l a h o m aL a r g e n t 1 s t R W W W W 2 0 % 2 %C o b u r n 2 n d R W W R W 4 0 % 2 8 %W a t k i n s 3 r d W W W W W 0 % 0 %W a t t s 4 t h W W W W W 0 % 7 %I s t o o k 5 t h W W W W W 0 % 5 %L u c a s 6 t h W W W W W 0 % 7 %O r e g o nW u 1 s t R R R R R 1 0 0 % 1 0 0 %W a l d e n 2 r d W W W W W 0 % 0 %B l u m e n a u e r 3 r d R R R W R 8 0 % 7 5 %D e F a z i o 4 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 8 8 %H o o l e y 5 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 6 7 %P e n n s y l v a n i aB r a d y 1 s t R R R R R 1 0 0 % 1 0 0 %F a t t a h 2 n d R R R W R 8 0 % 7 8 %B o r s k i 3 r d R R R R R 1 0 0 % 8 8 %K l i n k 4 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 5 %P e t e r s o n 5 t h R W A A A 5 0 % 1 1 %H o l d e n 6 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 8 1 %W e l d o n 7 t h R W W W R 4 0 % 4 5 %G r e e n w o o d 8 t h R W W W W 2 0 % 1 7 %S h u s t e r 9 t h R W W W W 2 0 % 1 4 %S h e r w o o d 1 0 t h R W W W W 2 0 % 2 0 %K a n j o r s k i 1 1 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 7 9 %M u r t h a 1 2 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 8 3 %H o e f f e l 1 3 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 8 0 %C o y n e 1 4 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 3 %T o o m e y 1 5 t h R W W W W 2 0 % 2 0 %P i t t s 1 6 t h A W W W W 0 % 0 %G e k a s 1 7 t h R W W W W 2 0 % 1 7 %D o y l e 1 8 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 6 9 %G o o d l i n g 1 9 t h R W W R W 4 0 % 2 6 %M a s c a r a 2 0 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 8 6 %E n g l i s h 2 1 s t R W W W R 4 0 % 4 3 %Rhode IslandK e n n e d y 1 s t R R A R R 1 0 0 % 9 3 %W e y g a n d 2 n d R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 5 %South CarolinaS a n f o r d 1 s t W W W R W 2 0 % 1 7 %S p e n c e 2 n d W W W R W 2 0 % 2 1 %G r a h a m 3 r d R W W R W 4 0 % 2 4 %D e M i n t 4 t h W W W W W 0 % 0 %S p r a t t 5 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 8 6 %C l y b u r n 6 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 8 8 %

South DakotaT h u n e A L W W W W W 0 % 5 %T e n n e s s e eJ e n k i n s 1 s t R W W W W 2 0 % 1 9 %D u n c a n 2 n d R W W R W 4 0 % 2 6 %W a m p 3 r d R W W R W 4 0 % 3 1 %H i l l e a r y 4 t h R W W R W 4 0 % 2 1 %C l e m e n t 5 t h R R R W W 6 0 % 5 7 %G o r d o n 6 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 6 9 %B r y a n t 7 t h R W W W W 2 0 % 7 %T a n n e r 8 t h R R R W W 6 0 % 4 8 %F o r d 9 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 7 6 %T e x a sS a n d l i n 1 s t R R R W R 8 0 % 7 1 %T u r n e r 2 n d R R R W W 6 0 % 6 2 %J o h n s o n 3 r d W W W W W 0 % 5 %H a l l 4 t h W W W W W 0 % 1 9 %S e s s i o n s 5 t h W W W W W 0 % 5 %B a r t o n 6 t h W W W R W 2 0 % 1 5 %A r c h e r 7 t h W W W W W 0 % 5 %B r a d y 8 t h W W W W W 0 % 7 %L a m p s o n 9 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 7 6 %D o g g e t t 1 0 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 7 9 %E d w a r d s 1 1 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 7 0 %G r a n g e r 1 2 t h W W W W W 0 % 0 %T h o r n b e r r y 1 3 t h W W W W W 0 % 5 %P a u l 1 4 t h W A W W W 0 % 2 6 %H i n o j o s a 1 5 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 8 1 %R e y e s 1 6 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 8 1 %S t e n h o l m 1 7 t h R R R W W 6 0 % 3 7 %J a c k s o n - L e e 1 8 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 7 6 %C o m b e s t 1 9 t h W W W W W 0 % 5 %G o n z a l e z 2 0 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 7 8 %S m i t h 2 1 s t W A W R W 2 5 % 5 %D e L a y 2 2 n d W W W W W 0 % 5 %B o n i l l a 2 3 r d W W W W W 0 % 7 %F r o s t 2 4 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 7 6 %B e n t s e n 2 5 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 6 7 %A r m e y 2 6 t h W W W W W 0 % 5 %O r t i z 2 7 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 7 1 %R o d r i g u e z 2 8 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 8 0 %G r e e n 2 9 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 7 9 %J o h n s o n 3 0 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 7 3 %U t a hH a n s e n 1 s t R W W W W 2 0 % 1 0 %C o o k 2 n d R W W R W 4 0 % 3 3 %C a n n o n 3 r d R W W W W 2 0 % 1 1 %V e r m o n tS a n d e r s A L R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 3 %V i r g i n i aB a t e m a n 1 s t W W W W W 0 % 1 3 %P i c k e t t 2 n d R R R W W 6 0 % 5 5 %S c o t t 3 r d R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 0 %S i s i s k y 4 t h R R R R W 8 0 % 7 3 %G o o d e 5 t h R W W R W 4 0 % 3 0 %G o o d l a t t e 6 t h W W W W W 0 % 5 %B l i l e y 7 t h W W W W W 0 % 5 %M o r a n 8 t h W R R W R 6 0 % 6 2 %B o u c h e r 9 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 8 0 %W o l f 1 0 t h W W W R W 2 0 % 3 1 %D a v i s 1 1 t h W W W W W 0 % 1 7 %W a s h i n g t o nI n s l e e 1 s t R R R W R 8 0 % 8 0 %M e t c a l f 2 n d R W W W A 2 5 % 5 1 %B a i r d 3 r d R R R W R 8 0 % 8 0 %H a s t i n g s 4 t h W W W W W 0 % 5 %N e t h e r c u t t 5 t h W W W W W 0 % 7 %D i c k s 6 t h W R R W R 6 0 % 7 1 %M c D e r m o t t 7 t h W R A A A 5 0 % 7 6 %D u n n 8 t h W W W W W 0 % 5 %S m i t h 9 t h W R R W R 6 0 % 7 1 %West VirginiaM o l l o h a n 1 s t R R R R A 1 0 0 % 9 3 %W i s e 2 n d R R R R R 1 0 0 % 8 3 %R a h a l l 3 r d R R R R R 1 0 0 % 8 8 %W i s c o n s i nR y a n 1 s t R W W W R 4 0 % 4 0 %B a l d w i n 2 n d R R R R R 1 0 0 % 1 0 0 %K i n d 3 r d W R R W R 6 0 % 7 6 %K l e c z k a 4 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 7 3 %B a r r e t t 5 t h R R R W R 8 0 % 7 9 %P e t r i 6 t h R W W W R 4 0 % 2 6 %O b e y 7 t h R R R R R 1 0 0 % 9 0 %G r e e n 8 t h W W W W W 0 % 0 %S e n s e n b r e n n e r 9 t h W W W R W 2 0 % 1 7 %W y o m i n gC u b i n A L W W W R W 2 0 % 1 0 %

Legend:Republicans = Italic Type, Democrats = Regular Type,Independents = Bold Type

the Boilermaker Reporter1 0 Mar • Apr 2000

P A G E I D

the Boilermaker Reporter1 0 Mar • Apr 2000

L E A P I S S U E S

Continued from page 9

New York cont’d.

How your re p resentatives votedDist 1 2 3 4 5 ‘99%Life% Dist 1 2 3 4 5 ‘99% Life%

Countdown toElection 2000

1. Register to Vote

2. Learn about the Issues

3. Vote in the PrimariesThese are the first three steps towardmaking a diff e rence in the elections.

THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS a re stillseven months away, yet candidates havebeen campaigning for what seems like ay e a r, and primaries have already been heldin many states.

With campaigns lasting this long, it istempting to forget about the elections. Butwe can’t aff o rd to do that. When we elect ap resident in November, we will also beelecting 435 re p resentatives, 33 senators,11 governors, and thousands of state legis-lators. Because the officials elected thisyear will use the census information toreassign legislative districts, they will havean enormous influence on the next decade.

The most-watched races will be in theHouse of Representatives. Right now, theRepublicans have a majority in the House,but only by five seats. This year’s electioncould easily erase that advantage.

The C o n g ressional Quart e r l y, a Wa s h i n g-ton-based publication that follows politicsv e ry closely, has published a list of what theybelieve will be the closest races in the Houseof Representatives this year. They list a totalof 99 House seats that could go either way.

Of these 99 seats, they believe 11 are lean-ing Republican, 31 are Republican-favore d ,13 are leaning Democratic, and 27 are Demo-c r a t i c - f a v o red. Any of these seats could goeither way if an opponent wages a goodcampaign, but the closest races will be in the17 districts for which the C o n g re s s i o n a lQ u a rt e r l y cannot determine a favorite.

Those districts are listed below. If you livein one of them, your vote this year will takeon great significance. If you have everwanted to be politically active, this year isyour chance to make a real diff e re n c e .

By getting active now, you may be able tobe a part of the team that elects a new mem-ber of Congress. For information on how toget involved, contact Boilermakers Legisla-tive Director Ande Abbott (703-560-1493).

Congressional District RacesHaving No Clear Favorite

C a l i f o rn i a 15th DistrictC a l i f o rn i a 27th DistrictC a l i f o rn i a 36th DistrictC o n n e c t i c u t 5th DistrictI l l i n o i s 10th DistrictK e n t u c k y 6th DistrictM i c h i g a n 8th DistrictM o n t a n a A t - L a rg eNew Jersey 12th DistrictNew Yo r k 1st DistrictO h i o 12th DistrictO k l a h o m a 2nd DistrictP e n n s y l v a n i a 4th DistrictPennsylvania 10th DistrictP e n n s y l v a n i a 13th DistrictUtah 2nd DistrictWa s h i n g t o n 2nd District

the Boilermaker Reporter1 1 Mar • Apr 2000

S T E W A R D S P A G E

ONE OF THE MOST i m p o r t a n tfunctions a steward performs isto prevent management from

intimidating employees. Supervisorsand guards are often trained in interro-gation tactics, which they use to getemployees to confess to mistakes orwrongdoing. Employees are particu-larly vulnerable in closed-door ses-sions, where the only witnesses aremembers of management and what theemployee says may result in harsh dis-cipline – even termination.

Fortunately, a 1975 Supreme Courtdecision gives workers the right tounion representation whenever theyare being interviewed as part of aninvestigation. The court’s decision inNational Labor Relations Board vs. J.Weingarten, Inc. set the followingworkplace rules for these interviews:

• The employee may request unionrepresentation before or during thei n t e r v i e w .

• After the employee has made thisrequest, the employer must do one ofthe following:

1. Grant the request and stop allquestioning until the union representa-tive arrives.

2. Deny the request and end theinterview immediately.

3. Give the employee a choice ofeither having the interview withoutrepresentation or ending the interview.

• If the employer denies the requestfor union representation and continuesto question the employee, it is commit-ting an unfair labor practice and theemployee may refuse to answer.

These rules have come to be knownas the W e i n g a r t e n r i g h t s .

Encourage your members toassert their We i n g a r t e n r i g h t s

CLEARLY, W E I N G A R T E N rights offerpowerful protection from intimidatinginterviews. The presence of a unionsteward can help in many ways.

The steward can act as a witness, toprevent supervisors from giving falseaccounts of the conversation. The stew-ard can object to intimidating or con-fusing questions.

The steward can offer advice to theemployee. A steward can help theemployee answer questions truthfully,so that management gets a clear under-standing of what happened. Stewardscan also help members avoid makingfalse admissions.

A steward can help keep temperscool. When tempers flare, the result isalmost always bad for the employee. Ifthe employee has in fact done some-thing he shouldn’t have, the stewardcan point out extenuating factors.

Unfortunately, many employeesnever benefit from their W e i n g a r t e nrights because they don’t know about

them. The company does not have to“read you your rights,” as police mustdo with accused criminals.

The members you serve need toknow their W e i n g a r t e n rights and beready to assert them when necessary.It’s your duty to educate them.

When do these rights apply?

W E I N G A R T E N R I G H T S apply onlyduring investigatory interviews. Aninvestigatory interview must meet twocriteria: 1) management questions anemployee to obtain information, and 2)the employee has a reasonable beliefthat his or her answers may result in dis-cipline or other adverse consequences.

You may be involved in an investiga-tory interview if you are being ques-tioned by management on any of thefollowing topics:

• absenteeism or lateness• accidents • compliance with work rules• damage to company property• drinking, drugs, or fighting• falsification of records• insubordination or poor attitude• poor work performance• sabotage, slowdowns, or theft• violation of safety rulesNot every question from your super-

visor evokes W e i n g a r t e n. A supervisormay speak to you about the proper wayto do a job. Even if he asks questions,this is not an investigatory interviewbecause it will not lead to discipline.

However, a routine shop-floor con-versation changes character if yoursupervisor becomes hostile because hedoesn’t like your answers. As soon ashe gets hostile, the meeting becomes aninvestigatory interview and theserights apply, because your answersmay lead to discipline.

When a supervisor calls an employeeinto the office to announce a warning orother discipline, W e i n g a r t e n does notapply, because management hasalready decided what to do and ismerely informing the employee. But ifthe supervisor begins asking questionsrelated to the discipline, then the meet-ing becomes an investigatory interview.

Yo u ’ re more than a witness

SUPERVISORS SOMETIMESsay thatthe steward’s only function at an inves-tigatory interview is to be a silent wit-ness. That is wrong. The steward hasthe right to counsel and assist theemployee. Legal cases since W e i n g a r t e nhave set these rights and obligations:

• When the steward arrives, thesupervisor must inform the employeeof the subject matter of the interview.He does not have to reveal manage-ment’s entire case.

• The steward can take the employeeaside for a private pre-interview con-ference before questioning begins.

• The steward can speak during theinterview, as long as he does notobstruct the interview or try to bargainover the purpose of the interview.

• The steward can interrupt to objectto a question or request a clarification.

• The steward can advise theemployee not to answer questions thatare abusive, misleading, badgering,confusing, or harassing.

• When the interview is over, thesteward can provide information tojustify the employee’s conduct.

When members know how to asserttheir Weingarten rights, the local union

is strengthened. A lodge that cannotprotect its members from intimidationwill also be weak at negotiation time.

Applying the We i n g a r t e n r i g h t s

SOMETIMES SUPERVISORS u s etricks to trick employees out of theirrights. The supervisor may imply thatif the steward is involved, the com-pany will act more harshly. This is anunfair labor practice. The supervisor isusing the threat of discipline to makethe employee give up his rights.

If the boss calls you at home to askquestions about any activity that mightlead to discipline, you still haveW e i n g a r t e n rights. You can refuse toanswer the questions until you consultwith your union representative.

Stewards can take the initiative inasserting Weingarten r i g h t s. If the stew-ard sees a worker being questioned, hecan request to be included in the meet-ing. If the meeting is an investigatoryinterview, the employee must beallowed to decide whether he wantsthe steward present.

W e i n g a r t e n rights do not apply tomedical examinations, urine tests fordrugs, or locker searches, unless thecompany asks the employee questions.

An employee who is asked to informon other employees may assert hisW e i n g a r t e n rights, because he may facediscipline if he refuses to answer theq u e s t i o n s .

Counselling sessions required by anemployer do not merit W e i n g a r t e n i fthe personnel representative gives firmassurance that the sessions will remainconfidential and will not be used fordiscipline. But if notes from the sessionare kept in the employee’s personnelrecords, or if other employees havebeen disciplined for what they said incounselling, then W e i n g a r t e n applies.

Stewards also have W e i n g a r t e nrights. If you are being questioned, youcan request that another steward or thechief steward be present.

Also, workers may choose whichsteward represents them, but only if bothstewards are equally available.

Limits to We i n g a r t e n r i g h t s

SOMETIMES, WORKERSget carriedaway and try to use W e i n g a r t e n r i g h t sin ways they don’t apply.

A worker cannot refuse to go to ameeting simply because he thinks an

investigatory interview may occur. Heor she must wait until the interviewactually begins to invoke W e i n g a r t e n.But if the supervisor says the meetingwill be an interrogation and disciplinemay result, W e i n g a r t e n a p p l i e s .

W e i n g a r t e n does not apply when thesupervisor gives out a warning slip formisconduct, announces discipline, or lec-tures a group of employees about job per-formance. The company must askquestions in order for W e i n g a r t e n to apply.

Weingarten guarantees union, notlegal, representation. You cannotdemand to have an attorney present.

If an employee asks for a stewardand the employer denies the request,the employee should end the interviewand not say another word. The com-pany can’t discipline an employee forasserting his W e i n g a r t e n rights.

However, if the employee continues totalk and confesses to wrongdoing, thecompany can take disciplinary action.The NLRB will not require an employerto make an employee whole for disci-pline resulting from a confession, even ifthe confession was taken in violation ofthe worker’s W e i n g a r t e n r i g h t s .

Putting it all into action

W E I N G A R T E N R I G H T S are a great toolfor protecting workers against intimi-dation on the job. These rights usuallygive the steward enough power toensure that the company does not useunfair interrogation techniques.

Faced with an investigatory inter-view, your members should be readyto invoke these rights. Here is samplelanguage the member can use:

“If this discussion could in any waylead to my being disciplined or termi-nated, or could affect my personal work-ing conditions, I request that my unionrepresentative, officer, or steward be pres-ent. Without representation, I choose notto participate in this discussion.”

Once those words are spoken, the mem-ber should not answer any questions untila union representative is present.

If the company violates the mem-ber’s W e i n g a r t e n rights, the stewardshould file an unfair labor practicecharge with the NLRB. Here is samplelanguage for the NLRB charge form:

“On January 26, 2000, the employerrefused the request of John Jones for aunion representative during an inves-tigatory interview.” ❑

JOHN MORRISONof Local D100,Cupertino, Calif., is a Star Steward. Anemployee of Hanson Cement,Morrison “has settled many griev-ances favorable to fellow members,participated in negotiating two con-tracts, and served as a member of thejoint union and company committeewhich oversees the labor agreement,”reports Intl. Rep. Michael Atchison.“He has always conducted himself ina professional manner and is a finegentleman and union brother.”

Do you know a Star Steward?WE’D LIKE TOinclude their name inour Star Steward’s column. Just drop usa line with the name of the steward,the local, the company, and a fewwords about why you think this stew-ard is so special. Send a photo if you

have one. We’d like the world to seewhat a good steward looks like.

Send info to this address:

Star StewardsThe Boilermaker ReporterBoilermakers International753 State Ave, Suite 570Kansas City KS 66101

Educating Your Members

Help members understand their rights on the job

John Morrison, D100, Cupertino, Calif.

★ ★ ★ Star Stewards ★ ★ ★Members have the right to union re p re s e n t a t i o nduring investigatory interviews

What aboutin Canada?W E I N G A R T E N RIGHTS APPLY t oU.S. workers only. In some cases,some provincial labour laws mayprotect a member’s right to unionrepresentation during an investiga-tory interview. However, to ensurethat your members enjoy this right,most Canadian lodges will have toincorporate it into their collectivebargaining agreements.

the Boilermaker Reporter1 2 Mar • Apr 2000

S E T T L E M E N T S

L-6 – Oakland, CAMI C H A E L GR A B O W S K I, B M - S Tof Local 6, Oakland, Calif.,reports contract ratification,effective July 15, 1999 toJuly 15, 2000, for ten Local 6members who performfabrication and repair workfor Advance Heli-Welders;effective November 15, 1999to November 15, 2001, for 60Local 6 members whomanufacture bulk trailersfor Beall Trailers ofC a l i f o r n i a; effective July 15,1999 to July 15, 2003, for tenLocal 6 members whomanufacture flo-bins forFabricated Metals, Inc.;effective May 31, 1999 toMay 31, 2003, for 20 Local 6members who manufacturesmall boilers for I n d u s t r i a lS t e a m; effective November1, 1998 to October 31, 2001,for 15 Local 6 members whomake Pole line hardware forthe Kortick ManufacturingC o m p a n y; effective July 16,1999 to July 15, 2003, for 25Local 6 members who makeheavy industrial equipmentfor March Metal Fab, Inc. ;effective December 1, 1999to November 30, 2002, forthree Local 6 members whomanufacture and repairunderground fuel tanks forTriangle, Inc. ofS a c r a m e n t o; and effectiveSeptember 1, 1999 toAugust 31, 2000, for 20 Local6 members who forge high-pressure pipe flanges for

the Western Forge andFlange Company.

D6 – Buffalo, IACLGAW DI V. DI R. CH A R L E SHU N T B A C H reports contractratification, effectiveJanuary 1, 1999 to October30, 2001, for 79 members ofLocal D6, Buffalo, Iowa,who produce P o r t l a n dCement at Lafarge.

M7–Grand Rapids, MI

IN T L. RE P. RO N LY O N r e p o r t scontract ratification,effective November 7, 1999to November 6, 2002, for 277members of Local M7,Grand Rapids, Mich., whomake plastic molding soldunder the Attwood name, forthe Attwood Corporation.Products include chairs andchair accessories, andmarine products and boata c c e s s o r i e s .

L-128 – To ronto, ONED W A R D FR E R O T T E, recordingsecretary of Local 128,Toronto, Ontario, Canada,reports contract ratification,effective September 1, 1999to August 31, 2002, for 12Local 128 members whowork on pressure vessels atArc Boiler Repairs;effective October 1, 1999 toSeptember 30, 2002, for 15Local 128 members whowork on pressure vessels at

Bas-Kim Industries, Ltd.;effective August 1, 1999 toJuly 31, 2002, for 60 Local128 members who work ondiesel locomotive cabs atDFD Steel Industries;effective June 2, 1999 toJune 1, 2001, for 50 Local128 members who work onpressure vessels at H o o p e rWelding Enterprises, Ltd.;effective April 15, 1999 toApril 14, 2002, for 30 Local128 members who work onpressure vessels at L e s e n aS t e e l; and effective July 1,1999 to June 30, 2002, for 60Local 128 members whowork on pressure vessels atO’Connor Tanks Ltd.

L-146 – EdmontonDE A N MI L T O N, BM-ST ofLocal 146, Edmonton,Alberta, Canada, reportscontract ratification,effective August 1, 1999 toJuly 31, 2001, for Local 146members at K v a e r n e rProcess Systems, Inc.;effective August 1, 1999 toJuly 31, 2001, at M a l o n e yIndustries, Inc. (Shops 1and 2); and effective August1, 1999 to July 31, 2001, atNatco Canada, Ltd.

D337 – Sandusky, OHIN T L. RE P. CA R E Y AL L E Nreports contract ratification,effective February 20, 2000to February 19, 2005, for 32members of Local D337,

Sandusky, Ohio, whoproduce crushed stone(aggregates) for theWagner Quarries Company.

D381 – Las Ve g a sIN T L. RE P. MI C H A E L AT C H I S O Nreports contract ratification,effective December 1, 1999to November 30, 2002, foreight members of LocalD381, Las Vegas, Nev., whowork at Chemical Lime i nIndustry, Calif.

D503 – Kamloops, BCRO B LA U Z O N, BM-ST ofDistrict Lodge D11, reportscontract ratification,effective November 1, 1999to October 31, 2003, for 27members of Local D503,Kamloops, BritishColumbia, Canada, whowork in the cement plant atLafarge Canada, Inc.; andeffective November 1, 1999to October 31, 2003, for sixD503 members who work inthe limestone quarry atPlateau Construction.

D505 – Winnipeg, MBRO B LA U Z O N, BM-ST ofDistrict Lodge D11, reportscontract ratification,effective November 1, 1998to October 31, 2002, for 15members of Local D505,Winnipeg, Manitoba,Canada, who work in thecement distributionterminal at Inland Cement.

New contract summariesA brief listing of recent agreements signed and ratified by Boilermaker local lodges

Prepared by the Research andCollective BargainingDepartment of the InternationalBrotherhood of Boilermakers

THIS ANALYSIS of the 24agreements outlined above isbased on information providedin the Contract Summary andTransmittal Report forms, andcovers approximately 1,001e m p l o y e e s .

Wage Increases

T W E N T Y - O N E f a c i l i t i e sreceived pay increases in 1999,averaging $0.46 per hour or 2.58percent. Nineteen facilities willreceive pay increases in 2000,averaging $0.41 per hour or 2.55percent. Twelve facilities willreceive pay increases in 2001,averaging $0.38 per hour or 2.46percent. Five facilities willreceive pay increases in 2002,averaging $0.31 per hour or 2.50percent. One facility willreceive pay increases in 2003and 2004, not enough tocalculate an average.

P e n s i o n

T W E N T Y - T H R E E f a c i l i t i e sparticipate in some type ofpension program. Eleven facilitiesparticipate in the Boilermaker-Blacksmith National PensionTrust, their contributions rangefrom $0.66 to $2.89 per hour.Average cents-per-hourcontributions are $1.45 for the first

year, $1.50 the second year, and$1.53 the third year.

Three facilities offer a 401(k),ten also have company-spon-sored plans. Three Canadianfacilities are participants inRegistered Retirement SavingsPlans (RRSP), which are simi-lar to IRAs found in the U.S.

Shift Differential

N I N E T E E N a g r e e m e n t sprovide for a second-shiftpremium, of which 16 report acents-per-hour premiumranging from $0.20 to $1.00. Theaverage is $0.54 per hour.

Nineteen agreements pro-vide for a third-shift premium,of which 16 provide a cents-per-hour premium rangingfrom $0.20 to $1.00. The aver-age is $0.68 per hour.

Of the remaining, two pro-vide a percentage of pay (notenough for an average), andone agreement provides aone-half-hour of additional payas a second-shift premium,and one hour of additional payfor a third-shift premium.

Sickness & A c c i d e n t

FOURTEEN a g r e e m e n t sprovide weekly sickness andaccident indemnity. Of these,four pay a set dollar amountranging from $230 to $448 perweek. Average rates are: firstyear – $339.25; second year –$344.25; third year – $348. The

remaining agreements providea percentage of the employee’searnings. The most common is66 2/3 percent found in fiveagreements. The length of timeoff ranges from 15 to 52 weeks.The most common is 26 weeksfound in four agreements. Thebulk of facilities in Canadaprovide short-term disability(STD), then long-term disability(LTD), and then the employeemay receive UnemploymentInsurance Commission (UIC)maximums until the age of 65.These amounts are paid on aweekly, monthly, or annualbasis and, therefore, anaverage is difficult to calculate.

Life Insurance/AD&D

T W E N T Y - T H R E Ea g r e e m e n t sprovide life insurance. In 20 ofthe agreements, there is a setdollar amount ranging from$10,000 to $60,000. The averagebenefit for the first year is$19,456. The remainingagreements use the annualwage as the benefit, or multiplywages by 2080 hours, for thebenefit amount.

Twenty-one agreementsprovide Accidental Death andDismemberment (AD&D) i n s u r-ance. In 18 of the agreements,there is a set dollar amountranging from $10,000 to $60,000.The average benefit for the firstyear is $24,861. The remainingagreements use the annual

wage as the benefit, double thelife insurance amount, or multi-ply wages by 2080 hours, forthe benefit amount.

V a c a t i o n

T W E N T Y - T W O a g r e e m e n t sprovide a one-week vacation. A l lagreements provide a two-weekvacation. Twenty agreementsprovide a three-week vacation.Nineteen agreements provide afour-week vacation. Tenagreements provide a five-weekvacation, and four agreementsprovide a six-week vacation.Seventeen receive vacation paybased on a percentage of theirannual wage.

Paid Holidays

ALL OF THEagreements providefor paid holidays. The number ofpaid holidays ranges from eightto 12. The average is 11.

Other Provisions

T W E N T Y - T H R E Ea g r e e m e n t sprovide funeral leave. Paid leavefor jury duty is found in 15agreements. Union leavelanguage is found in eightagreements. Fifteen agreementsprovide all or partialreimbursement for the purchaseof safety shoes. Four provide aseverance payment p a c k a g e ,and one agreement providespaid leave for those persons whospend two weeks at m i l i t a r ye n c a m p m e n teach year.

A summary analysis of these contract settlements

You don’t get what you deserve . . .. . . you get what you negotiate

UNION LEADERS, like these pictured here, work longhours to negotiate the best benefits they can forBoilermaker m e m b e r s .

Negotiating a three-year agreement for themembers of Local M7, Grand Rapids, Mich., at theAttwood Corp., are, l. to r., Rita Rosema, CindaHillabrandt, Ed Simpson, chairperson Pat Brady,and Sandy Johnston.

Negotiating a three-year agreement for themembers of Local D374, Grantsville, Utah, atChemical Lime, are D374 Pres. Lee Stokes (at left)and Vice Pres. Randy McFarland. Contractratification was reported in the Nov-Dec 1999 issue.

Negotiating a five-year agreement for Local D337members at Wagner Quarries in Sandusky, Ohio,are, l. to r., D337 Pres. Jeff Orticari, Vice Pres. MikeMcCormmick, IR Carey Allen, and Sec.-Treas.Roger Rogers. Photo by Joan Knally.

Negotiating a three-year contract for the members ofLocal 1600, St. Charles, Ill., at C & F Forge are, seated l.to r., CFO Greg Carlevato and plant mgr. KenLindstrom, standing l. to r., L-1600 CommitteemanAdan Morales and L-1600 Trustee Jesus Fernandez.Photo by Intl. Rep. Howard Cole.

Editor’s note: This settlement was reported in theJan-Feb 2000 issue of this paper, and was included inthat issue’s summary analysis of contract settlements.

Helping to negotiate athree-year agreementfor the members ofLocal D381, Las Vegas,Nev., is job stewardRandy Lathrop.“Brother Lathrop wase s p e c i a l l yinstrumental during thenegotiations,” reportsIntl. Rep. MichaelAtchison. “A specialthanks to him.”

the Boilermaker Reporter1 3 Mar • Apr 2000

L O C A L N E W S

Local S14 in Christmas parade

MEMBERS OF LOCAL S 1 4 ,Lewisburg, Tenn., participate in anannual Christmas parade.

In the photo above, Mr. & Mrs.Kenneth Tooley stand in the doorwayof the decorated Boilermaker mobileoffice. Kenneth is the chairman of Local

S14’s grievance committee. In the topphoto, Local S14 officers prepare theirfloat for the parade, l. to r., TrusteeSandra Thompson, Sec.-Treas. SueSmith, Pres. Kenneth Frazier, Intl. Rep.Don Bryant, and Vice Pres. MitchellMcCormick. ❑

AFL-CIO honors Beebe,Paris for community serviceJOHN A. BEEBE, a 35-year member ofLocal 374, Hammond, Ind., hasreceived the George Meany Awardfrom the Indiana State AFL-CIO at theannual Indiana State Conference onCommunity Services, November 17,1999, in Bloomington, Ind. The awardis a national recognition approved bythe AFL-CIO Executive Council and ispresented to an adult union memberwho has made a significant contribu-tion to the youth of their communitythrough scouting.

Terry Paris, a 28-year member ofLocal 524, East Chicago, Ind., receivedthe H. J. Noel Community ServicesAward at the same conference. Hisaward is the highest state honor the

Indiana State AFL-CIO Committee onCommunity Services can bestow on aunion member for community involve-ment. His union involvement includes:service as a shop steward at UnionTank Car; lobbyist for working menand women issues; and duties as thelocal secretary-treasurer.

Paris’ community involvementincludes service as: a member of thesupervisory committee of the LakesideFederal Credit Union; a member of theboard of directors for the CalumetProject, a grassroots coalition for eco-nomic and social justice in NorthwestIndiana; first vice president of the LakeCounty Fish & Game ProtectiveAssociation; a member of the IsaakWalton League of America (Griffith,Ind., chapter); and president of theNew Horizons Singles Club. ❑

Two Indiana Boilerm a k e r se a rn AFL-CIO service awards

Implanted in 1978, batteryfinally gets a re p l a c e m e n tW. A. “BILL” LOVE, a member of Local132 (Galveston, Texas) since 1943, had apacemaker battery that could havebeen featured in a commercial. It justkept going and going and going.

When he had to have his pacemakerreplaced, his doctor couldn’t find arecord on when it had been implanted.But Love knew. He carried a card withthe date on it. He’d had it installednearly 21 years earlier – on October 27,1978, one year after he’d retired.

According to pacemaker manufac-turer Guidant Corporation of St. Paul,pacemakers typically last five to sixyears. Love’s pacemaker set a record.

During his surgery, company offi-cials called the hospital to see if the

original pacemaker could be sent totheir office. It seems they didn’t evenhave a model of that make anymore.

Love has fully recovered from hissecond pacemaker surgery, is back toenjoying his retirement, and is lookingforward to another 21 years with hisnew pacemaker. ❑

Bill Love’s pacemaker lasts and lasts

L-132 retiree W. A. “Bill” Love justreceived his second pacemaker. Hisfirst one lasted a record setting 21 years!

John Beebe (r.), L-374, Hammond, Ind.,accepts the George Meany Awardfrom Indiana AFL-CIO Pres. Ken Zeller.

Terry Paris (l.), L-524, East Chicago, Ind.,receives the H. J. Noel Award from AFL-CIO Liaison David R. Sikes.

RETIREMENT HAS BEEN good forLocal 667 member Robert E. Heugel,and his son Harold L. Heugel is nowbeginning to enjoy the same leisure.

Robert joined the Boilermakersunion in 1944, and retired in 1984.Harold joined in 1969, and retired in1999. Harold sent us the picture at rightto show how well the father and sonteam are enjoying the retired lifestyleon their Boilermaker pensions.

Now that he’s free to do as he pleases,Harold took his wife, Ida Mae, and oneof their four grandchildren, MatthewNibert, for a ride on the Cass Railwaytrain, which climbs to the second-high-est point in West Virginia (Bald Knob –4,842 feet). While enjoying the view, hespotted fellow Boilermaker DavidHarra, a 22-year member of Local 105in Chillicothe, Ohio, who was vacation-ing with his family (Brenda, Mindy,and Jess Jackson).

The two had worked together, butnever got a chance to visit. Their chancemeeting allowed them to catch up on

old times and let their families get toknow each other.

It truly is a small world, after all. ❑

Retirement frees L-667’s Heugels

Above, l. to r., Harold Heugel and hissister, Nina Brumfield, with their father,Robert. Below, Harold, his wife, Ida Mae,and grandson, Matthew Nibert, with L-105 member David Harra and his family(Brenda, Mindy, and Jess Jackson).

JOHN L. SHIPLEY, at far right, presi-dent of Local D263 in Clark, Nev., pres-ents a “Can Do” award to Local D263member, Justin Ramsey, for his effortsas coordinator for the local’s in-plantorganizing program. Since the localstarted the program in 1997, they havebrought in 14 new members who workat Eagle-Picher Minerals. ❑

D 2 6 3 ’s Ramsey earns organizing award

It’s a girl!WE REPORT DEATHS, it seems only fairto report births as well. Mr. & Mrs.James E. (Jimmy) Troutt of Camden,Tenn., announce the birth of theirdaughter, Jesslyn Hope, on July 29,1999. Troutt is a five-year member ofLocal 455, Sheffield, Ala.

MRS. SUSAN PORTERwas trying tofigure out what to give her husband forChristmas, when an article in the Boil -ermaker Reporter caught her attention.The Boilermakers National Archiveswas in need of money to continue itswork. Mrs. Porter couldn’t think of abetter gift to her husband than makinga donation in his name to support thearchives – a monument to the membersof the Boilermakers union and thework they do. She sent in her check for$100, along with a note stating that shehopes someday she and her husbandcan visit the archives.

Intl. Pres. Charles W. Jones was sotouched by her contribution that hesent a personal note of thanks to her:“Each donation to the BoilermakersNational Archives is treasured, as itmakes the possibility of memorializingthe visual preservation and enhance-

ment of the Boilermaker history a real-ity. But a donation such as yours, onethat is given out of love for another, istruly a treasure in itself.”

Mrs. Porter is married to James Q.Porter, a 27-year member of Local 433in Tampa, Fla. ❑

Wife donates to archives asChristmas present to husband

College scholarshipsavailable for childre nof railroad workersTHE RAILROADCrafts ScholarshipFoundation provides financial aid tochildren who would be unable toattend college without financial assis-tance and who are dependents ofactive, retired, or deceased railroademployees represented by a railwaylabor organization.

Scholarship recipients are selectedby the Railroad Crafts ScholarshipFoundation’s Board of Directors attheir annual meeting held in May ofeach year. Applications for the2000/2001 school year must bereceived by April 1, 2000.

For information on fund-raisingactivities or for application forms,please write to John Mullen at 611 N.Broadway, Joshua, TX 76058. ❑

You can combine yourunion benefits with yourtax refund to buy a homeIT’S THAT TIME of year again. Taxforms are due April 15. But if you havea tax refund coming, this may be justthe time for you to combine that refundwith your union benefits to finance (orrefinance) a mortgage for your home.

As a member of the Boilermakersunion, you can participate in the Union

Privilege Program. This program offersmoney-saving benefits to union mem-bers only, including a mortgage pro-gram that offers special features forunion members.

Special union benefits

DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY w i t hunion members in mind, Union PlusMortgage and Real Estate offers com-petitive interest rates; low down pay-ments; strike, unemployment, and

disability benefits; and special optionsthat let qualified first-time home buy-ers put down as little as three percent.And members who use the mortgageand real estate portions of the programto purchase a home also receive a $350closing-cost credit, which covers thetypical cost of the applicant’s creditcheck and home appraisal fees.

The program also proves favorablewhen refinancing a home. With theUnion Plus Mortgage and Real Estateprogram, you can lock into a low rate,with no points, plus with the closing-cost credit, you save money on theapplication fee – usually your only out-of-pocket cost.

Applying for a loan

AS A UNION MEMBER, you can takeadvantage of this great program simplyby calling 1-800-848-6466. You cana p p l y for a mortgage loan over thephone, making buying, selling, and refi-nancing easier, and more affordable.

And don’t forget, the interest youpay on your mortgage loan makes agreat tax deduction for you, too.

For more information, call U n i o nPlus Mortgage and Real Estate at 1 -8 0 0 - 8 4 8 - 6 4 6 6. ❑

H&R Block discount helps members save on tax pre p a r a t i o nUnion Privilege and H&RBlock offer three greatways to save moneyWHETHER YOU’RE A d o - i t - y o u r-selfer or numerically challenged, we’vegot a solution to take care of your taxes.And, save you money, too.

H&R Block and Union Privilege areteaming up to bring union membersthree great ways to save money at taxtime. Get $15 off your in-office taxpreparation, 15 percent off your onlinetax preparation fees, or $5 off your pur-

chase of the tax preparation software,T a x C u t. Just choose the option that’sright for you and take advantage ofthese exclusive deals available only tounion members from H&R Block.

Save $15 at H&R Block off i c e s

FOR OVER 40 years, millions ofAmericans have trusted their taxes to theprofessionals at H&R Block. With con-venient offices across the country, thereis sure to be a location near you. Andnow you can save money, just by being aunion member. Just bring the coupon

printed here to H&R Block for $15 offyour in-office tax preparation fees.

For the H&R Block location nearestyou, call toll free, 1-877-653-0061.

Save 15% when you do yourtaxes online

WITH H&R BLOCK’Sonline tax pro-gram, union members can prepareand file their federal taxes right fromtheir computer and pay only $8.50.That’s a savings of 15 percent. Plus,state tax preparation is also availablefor only $4.95. It’s secure and easy touse. And, of course, your satisfactionis guaranteed. Just go to w w w . u n i o n -p r i v i l e g e . o r g and click on BenefitPrograms and then DiscountOfferings (code 857).

Save $5 on Ta x C u t s o f t w a re

IT’S EASY TO DO your own taxeswith the tax preparation software,T a x C u t , from H&R Block. Simply fol-low the steps and reference the tipsprovided and you’ll be done beforeyou know it.

Now union members can get $5 offwhen they purchase T a x C u t f r o mH&R Block. Just call 1-800-457-9525,and enter B500 to take advantage ofthese great savings. ❑

the Boilermaker Reporter1 4 Mar • Apr 2000

C O N S U M E R N E W S

UNION PLUSCREDIT CARDA credit card isa v a i l a b l e .For information call: 1 - 8 0 0 - 5 2 2 - 4 0 0 0

LEGAL SERVICEF ree and discountedlegal services. Includesa free consultation (upto 30 minutes).For information call: 1 - 8 0 0 - 4 5 2 - 9 4 2 5

LIFE INSURANCETe rm insurance isavailable for mem-bers; spouses andc h i l d ren may bei n c l u d e d .For information call: 1 - 8 0 0 - 8 9 9 - 2 7 8 2

DENTAL &VISIONO ffers pre d e t e rm i n e ddiscount fees for dentaland vision services andp ro c e d u re s .For information call: 1 - 8 0 0 - 2 5 7 - 8 3 5 2

M O RTGAGE & REALE S TAT EBuying, selling,refinancing madee a s i e r, more aff o rd a b l e .Special savings on re a lestate agent serv i c e s .For information call: 1 - 8 0 0 - 8 4 8 - 6 4 6 6

A C C I D E N TI N S U R A N C EWorkplace accidentaldeath insurance isa v a i l a b l e .For information call: 1 - 8 0 0 - 8 9 9 - 2 7 8 2

UNION FA M I LY$ AV E R SSavings on every d a yconsumer pro d u c t sand services –including Budget &Avis car rentals, DisneyWorld hotel stays,hearing aids, and more .

For information call: 1 - 8 0 0 - 4 5 2 - 9 4 2 5

For more information on thesemembers-only benefits, call

1-800-452-9425BOILERMAKERS UNION

PRIVILEGE BENEFITS

*Includes retired members. Parents andchildren of members and retired memberswith retired member cards are eligible forthe mortgage program and union family

savers directly; they are eligible for otherprograms through the Boilermaker member. Program restrictions may apply to membersoutside the continental United States. Phone1-800-452-9425 for clarification of eligibility

and more information on how you can apply.

The money-saving pro g r a m slisted below are available onlyto Boilermaker members and

their immediate families.*

Members Only

IN YOUR TIME of grief, you may notbe inclined to find the best price foryour loved one’s funeral. That’s whyconsumer advocate Lisa Carlson rec-ommends planning ahead.

The Federal Trade Commission hasregulated the funeral industry since1984, requiring funeral homes to pro-vide consumers with a general pricelist. But this “funeral rule” doesn’tinclude cemeteries, crematories, monu-ment dealers and providers, consumerpurchases of death care goods over theinternet, or purchases from a burial

provider. It also doesn’t set standardsfor advance funeral or burial contracts.Your best defense is to shop around.

Plan ahead, but don’t buy ahead.Prepaid funerals often end up costingsurvivors more money. Preselectedcaskets may no longer be available, soa more expensive casket is offered.Prepaid cemetery plots often includehidden fees.

And remember to ask your funeraldirector if they use Aurora caskets,made by members of BoilermakerLocal M300 in Aurora, Ind. ❑

Funeral rights – It’s okay to shop aro u n d

Members can turn to union to finance mort g a g e

MEMBER SAV I N G S:Down payments as lowas five percent, com-petitive interest rates,and expert guidancethrough the mortgageor refinancing process.REAL ESTATES E R V I C E S: M o n e y - s a v-ing options for buyersand sellers.HELP FOR FIRST-TIMEB U Y E R S: Down pay-ments as low as threepercent plus specialaffordability programo p t i o n s .

U N I O NM E M B E RM O R T G A G E& R E A LE S T A T E

1 - 8 0 0 - 8 4 8 - 6 4 6 6To be eligible, you must first call thistoll free number to register. Programavailable only to union members inthe U.S. and certain territories. Theprogram’s five percent and threepercent down payment option arenot available in all geographic areas.Your union has no involvement inloan decisions.

Save moneywhen youb u y, sell, orr e f i n a n c eyour home

Save $15 on your1999 income taxpreparation atH&R Block. Bring thiscertificate, along with all your tax information, toyour nearest H&R Blocklocation. code : 859

Take advantage of this specialo ffer negotiated just for unionmembers at H&R Block. Yo ucan save money on in-office taxp r e p a r a t i o n .

For the H&R Block locationnearest you, call toll free, 1 - 8 7 7 - 6 5 3 - 0 0 6 1 .

D N C L Garnett, MichaelN T L Becker, William J.N T L Dixon, GeraldN T L Harris, Lester L.N T L Havill Sr., JohnN T L Parker, ClarenceN T L Peterson, WilliamN T L Poland, Robert1 Beba, N.1 Rodenberg, Robert1 Stauffer, Ernest1 Stromberg, Roy5 Hassett, William6 Johnson, Willie7 Jarzynski, John E.7 Templeton, Robert1 0 McClain, Charles1 0 Montoya, Benito1 0 Muldrow, L.1 3 Gilmer, James1 3 Murray, William1 3 Neddoff, Abraham2 6 Ponsell, George2 7 Acuff Sr., Edgar2 8 Moos, Milton2 8 Pierce, Robert2 9 Staton, FrankD 3 7 York, Nallace4 0 Adelman, Clifton4 5 Matney, Howard4 5 Morgan, James4 5 Robertson, James6 0 Mayer, Larry6 9 Gray, J. D.7 2 Buss Jr., William7 2 Gilger, Steven

7 2 Koivisto, Anselmi7 2 Yung, John7 3 Morais, Frank7 3 Sampson, Joseph7 4 Lawrence, Carlson7 4 Wittge, Wesley8 3 Jackline, Wesley9 2 Farrell, Ralph J.9 2 Hill, Luther9 2 Jamosky, Leonard9 2 Ohls, Richard9 2 Patykula, Leo9 2 Trent, Donald1 0 1 Owens, Lowell1 0 1 Wiser, Roland1 0 4 Erickson, Arnold1 0 4 Pitchford, Homer1 0 4 Stiltner, Luther R.1 0 5 Presley, Ernest1 0 7 Shubert, Francis1 1 2 Stockman, L.1 4 6 Krill, Nick1 4 6 Legault, Richard1 4 6 Rose, Rolf1 5 8 Manes, Rayburn1 6 9 Bittner, Richard1 6 9 Sawdo, Roger1 9 3 Tarburton, E.1 9 9 Miranda, Edward2 4 2 Hoffman, Delbert2 4 2 James, Earl2 9 0 Allen, CabyM 3 0 0 Kinnett, Dana3 6 3 Martin, Thomas3 7 4 Harpenau, Casper3 7 4 Leach, Charles

3 7 4 Loehrke, Ronald3 7 4 Rebey, Pete3 7 4 Vance, Louis3 9 5 Kapla, Joseph3 9 7 Brink, John W.4 3 3 Blanton, Zoya4 4 3 Kornely, Anton4 5 3 Housley, Earl4 5 3 Sneed, Roscoe4 5 3 Tipton, Troy4 5 4 Hubbard, Louie4 5 4 Jacobs, Ross4 5 4 Lewis, Edgar4 5 4 Messer, George4 5 4 Pugh, Joseph4 5 4 Rice, James4 5 4 Smith, Roy4 5 5 Smith, Ernest5 0 0 Griffis, John5 0 0 McCarthy, George5 3 1 McPherson, John5 3 1 Williams, Garvin5 4 9 Morales, Raul5 9 2 Williams, Herbert6 2 7 Wisnieski, C.6 5 6 Hicks, Jim6 5 6 Lewis, John6 5 6 Orr, James6 5 6 Peppers, Charles6 5 6 Roberson, Deward6 9 6 Denowski, A.7 4 4 Ryglewicz, Stanley1 5 0 9 Kitzman, Gordon1 5 0 9 Liska, Charles1 6 2 6 Pitchford, Roy1 6 2 6 Williams, Ike

WITH DEEP SORROW the International Brotherhood records the death of these members as reportedto the Intl. sec.-treas.’s office, and extends its heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved families.

L O D G E & N A M E

the Boilermaker Reporter1 5 Mar • Apr 2000

I N M E M O R I A M

N T L Allen, Charles O. $ 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 0N T L Brown, Ovie 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 0N T L Harris, Lester L. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 0N T L Paul, Albert J. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 0N T L Sterling, Clyde T. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 0N T L Thomas, Milton E. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 0N T L Tillman, Walter R. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 0N T L Turnage, Floyd 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 0N T L Vaughan, David B. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 01 Shimkus, Anthony D. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 01 Singleton, Marcellus S. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 01 Tebo, Fred C. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 06 Dillard, Ray 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 06 Featherston, Jimmie L. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 06 Johnson, Estel 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 06 Wade, William H. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 06 Watkins, Roosevelt 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 01 3 Grogol Jr., Lawrence A. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 01 3 Noval, Peter D. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 01 3 Starling, Barry W. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 02 6 Poff, Ralph E. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 02 7 Dunn, Ralph F. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 02 7 Thomason, Raymond J. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 02 9 Staton, Frank J. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 03 7 Charles, Edward J. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 03 7 Decossas, Edward J. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 03 7 Distefano, Morris 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 03 7 Dudenhefer, Alvin M. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 03 7 LeBlanc, John W. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 03 7 Padilla, Michael O. 6 , 0 0 0 . 0 04 0 Beagle, Santford S. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 07 2 Gholston, Kendall W. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 07 2 Pacholl, Fred P. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 07 2 Simons, Tom E. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 08 3 Blew, David A. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 08 4 Weaver, Delbert M. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 08 8 Szewczyk, John Stanley 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 09 2 Davis, Ralph D. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 09 2 Patykula, Leo J. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 09 2 Valdez, Frank J. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 09 2 Wille, Russell C. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 01 0 4 Bergsma Jr., John 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 01 0 4 Clausen, Lawrence L. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 01 0 4 Masterson, Bobbie G. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 01 0 4 Morse, Isaac H. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 01 0 4 Pick, Donald E. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 01 0 4 Wolf Sr., Robert D. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 01 0 5 Adams, Matt 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 01 0 6 Richardson, Carlos 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 01 0 7 Drolson, Carl C. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 01 0 9 Phillips, David W. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 01 1 3 Ramsey, Arthur W. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 01 1 3 Spain, Altha A. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 01 3 2 Kunz, John R. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 0

1 5 4 Lydick, George 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 01 5 4 Rogers Jr., Charles C. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 01 8 2 Pearce, Eugene F. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 01 9 9 Beacham, Blaise R. 6 , 0 0 0 . 0 02 4 2 Thompson, James L. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 03 1 6 Netz, Edmund 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 03 7 4 Loehrke, Ronald P. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 03 7 4 Smick, Alan W. 2 9 8 . 8 83 7 4 Vance, Louis 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 03 7 4 Wujs, Benedict 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 04 3 3 Pearson, James C. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 04 3 3 Sturgis, Ira G. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 04 5 3 Tipton, Troy A. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 04 5 4 Bramlett, Clint A. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 04 8 7 Shaw, Melvin F. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 05 0 2 Mattson, Lee L. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 05 0 2 Surplus, Jimmy M. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 05 4 9 Dick Sr., Alfred H. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 05 4 9 Morales, Raul E. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 05 6 8 Hanson, LeRoy A. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 05 8 3 Laird, George W. 6 0 0 . 0 05 8 3 Perry, Thomas J. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 05 8 7 Clewis, Maurice E. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 05 8 7 West, Wilburn L. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 05 9 2 Leerskov, Robert A. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 05 9 2 Moore, William J. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 05 9 2 Sneed, Jesse C. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 06 2 7 Corkern, Virgel Q. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 06 4 7 Klinzing, Albert J. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 06 7 3 Myers, Rolland P. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 06 7 9 Edwards, Eugene D. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 07 4 4 Smith, David L. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 07 5 2 Carruthers, Marcel M. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 08 0 2 Curlett, John W. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 08 0 2 Downey, Joseph 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 08 0 2 Saunders, Eugene R. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 08 0 2 Toddy, Francis J. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 08 0 7 Wakeman, Richard D. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 01 2 3 4 Figures, Eugene J. 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 01 2 3 4 Kay, Johnny Joe 3 , 0 0 0 . 0 0

M o v i n g ? Tell us where . . .N a m e

New Address

C i t y

State or Province Z i p

Local Lodge No. Register No.(Also please notify the secretary of your local lodge.)

Mail form to:Publications Department

753 State Avenue, Suite 565

Kansas City, KS 66101

(Allow five weeks for change of address.)

THE DEATH BENEFIT PLANunder the Boilermaker-Blacksmith National Pension Trust has paid the ben-eficiaries of the following deceased members who were covered by the plan since the last issue of ourpublication. If you have not yet been furnished this information, contact your local lodge, secure the ben-eficiary forms, complete the required information and forward to the Administrative Office of the PensionFund, 754 Minnesota Avenue, Suite 522, Kansas City, KS 66101, at the earliest possible date. NOTE: Theseadditional death benefits can only be derived for members who worked under a collective bargainingagreement with an employer contributing to the Boilermaker-Blacksmith National Pension Trust.

L O D G E , N A M E & B E N E F I T

D E A T H B E N E F I T S

HENRY BROOKS, 53, a 30-year mem-ber of Local 92, Los Angeles, Calif.,passed away December 5, 1999.

Brooks, a resident of Rosemead,Calif., served 19 years as a local lodgeofficer. He was a dispatcher, businessrepresentative, local union president,and was serving his first term as Local92 business manager/secretary-treasur-er, when he lost his battle with cancer.

“Henry’s death came as a shock toall of us,” reports L-92 ABM DanPiraino. “He had just received a cleanbill of health in October. But right afterThanksgiving, he found out the cancerhad spread to fluid around his heart.He died just a few days later.

“Local 92, and all of southernCalifornia, lost a good friend,” saidPiraino. “We will miss him.”

Brooks is survived by his wife of 33years, Bobbi; his son, Chris; daughter,Jackie; three grandchildren; and a sis-ter and brother. ❑

Local 92’s Brooks passes away

L-242’s Pope bought AtlasB o i l e r, then worked as gasfitter for Habitat for HumanityPETER R. POPEjoined the Boilermak-ers union in 1951. He retired in 1984,but he never quit working. In fact, hewas one Boilermaker who worked upthe ranks to become an owner, whilenever losing site of what it meant to bea union member.

Pope first became interested in boil-ers at the age of 15, when he worked atSpokane Dye Works. When he joinedthe Navy at age 17, he wanted to con-tinue working with boilers so heenlisted as a boilerman. During hisservice, he was stationed on adestroyer tender in the South Pacific,where he serviced a number of ships.

When he returned home, Pope wentto work for Atlas Boiler & Equipmentin Spokane, Wash., where he joinedBoilermakers Local 242 in 1951.

In 1956, Atlas Boiler offered stockownership to its employees. Popeinvested in Atlas, and also got involvedin a boiler feeding mechanism com-pany. He eventually sold his stock in

the other company so he could buy thecontrolling interest in Atlas Boiler.

Pope kept Atlas Boiler a union com-pany until it closed upon his retire-ment in 1984. Never content to sit still,Pope became a licensed gas fitter afterhis retirement, and worked on over 60houses for Habitat for Humanity.

Jerry Lofton of the Asbestos WorkersUnion, is working as an investigatorfor a law firm in Oakland, where hemet Mr. Pope, who suffered fromMesothelioma. Lofton was soimpressed by Pope, that he called theInternational to let us know that Pope“is a really inspirational individual.”Lofton said it is rare for a union man tobuy the company and then keep it aunion company and stay a nice guy. Inhis investigations, he has spoken withpast employees of Atlas Boiler, likeCarl Higday, who said Pope was thefinest guy to work for.

Retired L-242 Bus. Mgr. Lynn Rawlinsagrees. He remembers Pope as “anemployer who treated his employeesfairly and always supported unionism.”

Pope passed away before this storycould be published, on January 2, 2000. ❑

Even retired, Pope stayed busy

JOHN “BARRY” JARZYNSKI, 84,who served Local 7 as business man-ager for 21 years, passed away on Jan-uary 10, 2000.

He joined Local 7, Buffalo, N.Y., in1934, following in the footsteps of hisfather, Frank (a 33-year member),and his brother, Leonard (a 35-yearm e m b e r ) .

“John was elected business managerin 1963 and retained that office until heretired in 1984, at the age of 69 years,”reported L-7 BM-ST F. Patrick Lyons.

“His contributions to Local Lodge 7will long be remembered.”

Jarzynski is survived by his wife of 63years, Cecelia; daughter, Judith; andson, John A. He was preceded in death

by his son, Dennis, an 18-year memberof Local 7. ❑

L-7 mourns passing off o rmer BM John Jarz y n s k i

the Boilermaker Reporter1 6 Mar • Apr 2000

C O M M E N T A R Y

IT IS Apresidential election year, andthat means we can expect to hearcandidates promise us the moon, the

stars, and even more, if we will onlygive them our vote.

Usually at least one of the candidateswill try to buy his way into the WhiteHouse by offering everyone a tax cut.This year is no exception. George W.Bush was the first one to jump on thatbandwagon, but he was quickly fol-lowed by others.

In the past, the promise of a tax cuthas been a very effective way to increaseyour percentage of the votes. In 1988,Bush’s father even managed to win thepresidency by going only halfway there– he promised no tax increase.

But this year the ploy doesn’t seem tobe working. Bush offered his tax cut inNovember. By January, the only peoplewilling to say they liked the plan werediehard Republicans backing Bush.Even voters in New Hampshire, whoare legendary for their aversion totaxes, ignored the plan, voting for JohnMcCain by a two-to-one margin.

In fact, when we look back over thelast few years, we discover the samething. In 1996, Bob Dole ran on a plat-form of cutting taxes. He lost. In 1998,congressional Republicans ran on a tax-cut platform. Democrats gained fiveseats in the House.

It looks like the American public issmarter about tax-cut proposals thansome politicians want to believe. Theonly effects most tax-cut plans wouldhave would be to reduce taxes for the

wealthiest Americans while threateningthe future viability of Social Security.

Take Bush’s plan, for example. Onthe surface it sounds good, but an in-depth analysis by economists at thenonprofit watchdog organization Citi-zens for Tax Justice (CTJ) shows itmainly benefits the rich, it actuallyraises marginal income tax rates forsome single parents, and it would take$1.7 trillion out of the U.S. govern-ment’s budget, threatening the futureof Social Security.

Even Mortimer Zuckerman, the con-servative editor-in-chief of U.S. News &World Report came out against the plan.In a February 21 editorial, he wrote,“[Bush’s] tax-cut plans would risk allour economic gains for a rerun of therecessionary 1980s.”

The problem with these tax cuts isthat they spend the surplus that gov-ernment economists are projecting overthe next ten years. So far, the only sur-pluses we’ve had are in the Social Secu-rity funds. Economists tell us that soonwe will see surpluses without countingthe Social Security funds, but those sur-pluses haven’t arrived yet.

And if we let politicians try to buyour votes with tax cuts, those surplusesnever will arrive. The projected sur-pluses are simply not that strong.

Over the next decade, the Congres-sional Budget Office projects non-SocialSecurity budget surpluses of $838 bil-lion, assuming that congressionalspending stays level, rising only withinflation. If you assume that congres-sional spending rises with populationgrowth as well as inflation, these pro-jected surpluses fall to only $399 billion.But it is likely that congressional spend-ing will keep pace with the growth ofthe economy. If it does, the non-SocialSecurity surplus disappears entirely.

The Bush tax cuts would cost $1.7 tril-lion over the first nine years (including$265 billion in added interest costs). As aresult, they would far exceed all reason-able projections of upcoming non-SocialSecurity surpluses. Congress wouldhave to dip into the Social Security trustfund to pay for the Bush tax cuts.

In fact, over the next decade, the Bushtax plan would use up between 41 per-cent and 78 percent of projected SocialSecurity surpluses. As CTJ DirectorRobert S. McIntyre says, “Gov. Bushmay somehow think he can have agiant tax cut for the well-off and protectSocial Security at the same time, but thefigures show he’s simply wrong.”

It is important that we not allow Con-gress to use our hope of surpluses toenact tax cuts that endanger SocialSecurity and Medicare. Instead, if wedo experience surpluses, we ought tobegin paying down the federal debt.

The federal debt is over $5 trillion,with $3.6 trillion in the hands of indi-vidual investors. As we pay off the fed-eral debt and these investors no longer

have U.S. Treasury notes to put theirmoney into, they will invest in the pri-vate sector – in other words, they willinvest in business. The increased busi-ness investment should help keep oureconomy growing.

In addition, in the event of an eco-nomic downturn, like the one we expe-rienced in 1990, we could use oursurplus to stimulate the economy. In1990, that was impossible, because westill suffered from the enormousdeficits brought on by the failed eco-nomic and tax policies of the Reaganand Bush presidencies.

The presidential campaign will go onfor another eight months. In that time, Ihave no doubt the subject of tax cutswill come up many more times.

Let’s not get fooled by election-yearpromises. Enacting a major tax cut nowwill only weaken Social Security later.None of us wants to retire only to learnour social insurance fund is bankrupt.Let’s keep a clear head about taxes. ❑

Voters are getting smarter abouttax cuts and the so-called surplus

Charles W. JonesInternational President

L - 5 ’s Highland on insuranceWHEN I JOINEDthe Boilermakersunion, I was told, “Take care of the oldtimers. They made this union what it istoday.” So, I would like to thank ourtrustees for doubling the retiree’sinsurance costs every year since Janu-ary 1998, and for taking away our den-tal, vision, walk-in drug benefits, andlife insurance.

H.D. (HA N K) HI G H L A N D, L-5 retireeEdgewater, Fla.

L - 2 9 ’s Gilcoin on drug testingI AM OUTRAGEDwith the positionthat the MOST trustees have taken onrandom drug testing. It must be (their)opinion that field construction Boiler-makers need to be constantly monitored.

WI L L I A M GI L C O I N, L-29Quincy, Mass.

L - 1 0 7 ’s Cartwright onsubsistence payTRAVEL AND SUBSISTENCEw e r eeliminated in the early 1980s as a way tobe more competitive and combat thenonunion sector. The economy haschanged since, and it’s time to fight to geta fair subsistence back to our members.

A majority of the work being donenow is covered under the NPGMA orthe NMA. Both of these clearly statethat no subsistence will be paid.

Why can’t these and other nationalagreements simply state that traveland subsistence shall be paid in accor-dance with the local labor agreementand allow each business manager tonegotiate subsistence?

This is an important issue to ourmembership in Wisconsin where liv-ing in motels is the norm. It is time theBoilermaker takes home his payinstead of leaving a large portion in thetown he just left.

MA R V I N CA R T W R I G H T, L-107Gladstone, Mich.

L - 7 4 4 ’s Meek: help re t i re e sI’M GLAD TO SEEthat some otherpeople are speaking out about helpingretirees. I pay $355 a month for myinsurance, and have half the coverage.I think retirees should pay $100 amonth. It seems to me that somethingneeds to be done.

I agree with what the Local 154brothers wrote, and also the Local 146brother on union pride. I’d like to seeall construction contracts expire at thesame time, to give us some leverage.

IK E ME E K

L-744 retiree

L - 1 5 4 ’s Dulemba on weldingI WOULD LIKE to respond to brotherRobert Baldwin’s (L-154) letter in the Jan-Feb issue of the Reporter. Iwholeheartedly agree that it takes both mechanics and welders tofinish a successful project in the boilermaker’s craft. However, I wouldlike to remind all Boilermakers that welding is a “tool of the trade.” Boiler-maker Local 154 currently runs, and has run for the past 20 years, a state-of-the-art welding school with an instructor who has been publicly hon-ored for his expertise. This school

is open to ALL members, not onlyapprentices. If a member of L-154wants to learn how to weld, L-154 willlearn ‘em.

DA V I D DU L E M B A

Local 154

L - 6 6 7 ’s Cross on accessinga n n u i t yI SUFFERED A MAJORheart attack inApril 1999, and applied for Social Secu-rity disability benefits in May. InNovember, the Social Security boardagreed with my doctor that I could nolonger work as a construction boiler-maker, but they denied me (disability)benefits. My appeal is pending.

I have had no money coming in sinceApril, except for one collection from mybrothers and sisters of Local 667 in Win-field, W.Va., to whom my family and Isay thanks and God bless to all of you.

When I called to get money from myNational Annuity Fund, I was told thatI would have to wait two years fromthe last date worked. Why should Ihave to wait when I can no longerwork at my trade?

JO S E P H W. CR O S S, L-667St. Mary’s, W.Va.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The annuity funduses the Social Security determinationto decide eligibility for disability distri-bution. If Mr. Cross’ appeal is success-ful, his eligibility may change.

L - 3 7 4 ’s Kyle on fund changesI HAVE READevery B o i l e r m a k e rR e p o r t e r since I got in the trade over26 years ago. In every issue it seems

that someone writes concerning thepension or the insurance, trying tomake it better for the members. But itseems to me that it falls on deaf ears.Instead of being so concerned abouthow the government spends tax dol-lars, how about being concerned abouthow the funds spend the members’hard-earned dollars? I say we need tofix our own house.

MI K E KY L E, L-374Derby, Ind.

L - 5 ’s Tolson on insuranceI AM A RETIREDBoilermaker fromLocal 5, New York, with 36 years ingood standing. Today, I find myselfwith no medical coverage. I can’t evenapply for Plan X because I retired oneyear too early. The most important rea-son for my early retirement was thefear of hurting myself or someone elsebecause I didn’t have it anymore. Iread in the newspapers how compa-nies let people go early for this reason.

I need help. I guess there are a lot ofother brothers in the same boat.

RO D N E Y TO L S O N, L-5 retireeBrooklyn, N.Y.

Got something to say?SE N D A L E T T E RT OT H EE D I T O R :

The Boilermaker Reporter753 State Ave. Suite 570Kansas City KS 66101FAX: (913) 281-8104E-mail: dcaswell@boilermakers.orgor cdillon@boilermakers.org

L E T T E R S T O T H E E D I T O R

Tax cuts being proposed by presidential hopefulswould rob Social Security to reward the rich

GOP tax-cut plans put atrisk all our economic gainsalong with Social Security

and Medicare.