Helping the community – 1 meal at a time

Giving Back to the Community

Members of the Lake County Building & Construction Trades Council, Great Lakes Construction Association and the Northeastern Illinois Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, participate in another year of Giving Back to the Community April 15, insert, by giving away 150 Easter ham dinners to local families in the Waukegan Public School District 60. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer

Jennifer Rice Managing Editor

By Jennifer Rice
Managing Editor
Thursday, April 20, 2017
Email Jennifer Rice at: jen@foxvalley
labornews.com

WAUKEGAN — Waukegan Mayor-elect Sam Cunningham felt right at home alongside union members and signatory contractors as they all came together April 15 to distributed Easter dinners to local families.

Giving Back to the Community

Union members and contractors, along with teachers and staff of Waukegan Public School District 60, took part in Giving Back to the Community April 15 outside Whittier Elementary School. Lake County union members and signatory contractors purchased enough hams, along with several sides and dessert, for 150 families to have an Easter dinner. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer

“What [organized labor] is doing today is going to put them in the focal point in our community,” Cunningham explained. “This allows the public to see why it’s important to have organize labor.”

The Lake County Building and Construction Trades Council, Great Lakes Construction Association and the Northeastern Illinois Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO teamed up, as they have in the past, to purchase 150 Easter dinners for residents of Waukegan Public School District 60. It was part of their Giving Back to the Community project.

Pete Olson, president of the Lake County Building and Construction Trades Council said the event allows the community to see unions for what they really are — a supportive and integral part of the community.

It’s also a way to show their appreciation to the Waukegan Public School District for work awarded to signatory contractors, which have put many union members to work.

“It also shows we’re here to support each other, like we were when the teachers went on strike a few years ago,” said Olsen. “We’re all under the umbrella of the Northeastern Illinois Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO.”

Giving Back to the Community

If local families were unable to drive to the donation spot, transportation was provided by the school district and buses were sent to them at various pick-up points. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer

Giving Back to the Community

After local families received their dinners, they were treated to doughnuts and coffee. If needed, they were helped back to their vehicle with their items. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer

Giving Back to the Community

Pete Olson, president of the Lake County Building Trades chats with volunteers Sue and Jamie Boller with Boller Construction. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer

The distribution site was at Whittier Elementary School from 10 a.m. to noon. For families unable to find transportation, the school district used school buses to pick up residents at certain destination pick-up spots.

Great Lakes Construction Association Executive Vice President Tim Marabella said he loves helping out in his community. “I really love that aspect of my job,” Marabella explained.

Signatory Contractor Boller Construction provided a box truck to pick up the dinners. Family members Sue and Jamie Boller welcomed residents, offering them doughnuts and coffee. Fellow family member Matt Boller, along with Local 150 Training Director Bryan Sorensen, worked inside the box truck getting the hams ready.

“We are big supporters of the Great Lakes Contractors Association,” Matt said. “Whenever they need help, we’ll jump at it.”

Any extra meals were distributed to various community organizations, including Most Blessed Trinity Parish.

Federal judge strikes down Lincolnshire’s ‘Right to Work’ ordinance

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A federal judge recently struck down a controversial right-to-work law in Lincolnshire aimed at organized labor, ruling that federal law preempts the local ordinance. The judge issued a summary judgment in the case, siding with four unions that filed the federal lawsuit in early 2016 challenging Lincolnshire’s ordinance.

Fox Valley Labor News
Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017

Local 150 lawsuit strikes down local ‘Right to Work’ law

ROCKFORD — In a decision issued Jan. 7, United States District Judge Matthew Kennelly found the local “right to work” law passed by the Village of Lincolnshire in 2015 is pre-empted by federal law, and that only states and territories have the authority to such laws. Local 150 and three other plaintiffs were granted summary judgment, with the court ruling on the merits without need for a full trial.

The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) permits States and Territories the authority to regulate union security agreements via “right to work” laws. Arguing that local units of government have no authority to pass such laws, four unions filed a federal lawsuit against Lincolnshire in early 2016.

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The plaintiffs were the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Locals 150 and 399, the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters and the Laborers District Council of Chicago and Vicinity.

Judge Kennelly concluded the NLRA “does not permit local subdivisions to regulate union security agreements.” Additionally, Kennelly found Lincolnshire has no authority under federal law to regulate union hiring halls or “dues checkoff” agreements between unions and workers they represent.

“We have long argued that local governments simply are not empowered to pass these laws, and we are pleased with Judge Kennelly’s decision,” said IUOE Local 150 President-Business Manager James M. Sweeney.

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“This was a political attack against middle class workers, and we will always take up the fight on behalf of workers who depend on decent wages and benefits to support themselves and their families,” Sweeney added.

The Mayor of Lincolnshire requested the Village Board consider a Right to Work Ordinance that was drafted by the Illinois Policy Institute. Dec. 14, 2015, despite overwhelming public opposition and significant doubt cast upon the legality of the ordinance, the Village Board chose to pass the anti-union partisan policy, which lowers wages and living standards for all workers.

In March 2016, the Northeastern Illinois Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, endorsed a boycott of all non-union businesses in Lincolnshire for passing Right to Work ordinances.

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At the announcement of the boycott, Northeastern Illinois Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO President Patrick Statter said the labor movement stood in solidarity against the ordinance and strongly encouraged the public to use their purchasing power to send a message to the Village of Lincolnshire.

“Lincolnshire officials have continuously supported Gov. Bruce Rauner and aligned themselves with his anti-worker agenda; while at the same time, attacking Unions and working people,” Statter stressed at the time of the boycott.

The International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150 is a labor union representing 23,000 working men and women in Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. Local 150 represents workers in various industries, including construction, construction material development, public works, concrete pumping, steel mill service, slag processing and others.
-Local 150

Giving back to the community

Giving back to the community

Braving plummeting temperatures and stiff winds Nov. 19, the Lake County Building and Construction Trades Council and the Lake County Contractors Association provided complete turkey dinners to 100 deserving families in Lake County as part of their Giving Back to the Community event. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer

Jennifer Rice Managing Editor

By Jennifer Rice
Managing Editor
Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016
Email Jennifer Rice at: jen@foxvalley
labornews.com

GRAYSLAKE — For the second time this year, union members and signatory contractors in Lake County joined forces to give back to their communities.

Braving the plummeting temperatures and stiff winds Nov. 19, the Lake County Building and Construction Trades Council, the Lake County Contractors Association and the Northeastern Illinois Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO provided complete turkey dinners to 100 deserving families in Lake County.

“We’re going to continue to build on our efforts, and reach out to families in need,” explained Lake County Contractors Association Executive Vice President Tim Marabella.

Giving back to the community

The parking lot of the Lake County Housing Authority became a one-stop Thanksgiving dinner shopping spot Nov. 19 when the Lake County Building Trades and the Lake County Contractors Association gave back to their communities by giving away turkeys and all the trimmings for a complete Thanksgiving day dinner. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer

“People don’t understand the aspect of what unions give back to the community. They see us doing construction, but they aren’t aware of all the things we do behind the scenes to help our communities,” he added.

The Lake County Housing Authority was responsible for contacting families throughout Lake County and informing them of the opportunity to receive a turkey dinner. When distribution started at 10 a.m., there were 30 people deep at the check-in table.

For Easter earlier this year, both organizations, along with the Northeastern Illinois Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, provided complete ham dinners for 100 families.

Family members Sue and Jamie Boller from Boller Construction in Waukegan welcomed residents and offered them doughnuts and coffee, which was perfect to ward off the cold weather. Husband Bob Boller worked inside the delivery truck, organizing food items.

Giving back to the community

A banner lines US Highway 45 in front of the Lake County Housing Authority where union members volunteered Nov. 19 by giving way complete turkey dinners to deserving Lake County families. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer

“We made sure the families grabbed some doughnuts and coffee before they got their turkey so we didn’t have extra. We absolutely don’t need them,” Marabella joked.

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Patrick Statter, president of the Northeastern Illinois Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO and UFCW 881 recorder was instrumental in purchasing the turkeys and side dishes from Mariano’s of Lake Zurich.

Lake County Building Trades President Pete Olson said the goal of both organizations was to show a presence with their community, “which we achieved,” Olson said.

Turkey dinners that were not picked up did not go to waste. Union members found deserving organizations that welcomed the dinners.