Tag Archives: Union

Holmes doesn’t want a world with no skilled labor

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Sen. Linda Holmes
Pat Barcas/staff photographer
Sen. Linda Holmes thanked the leadership and members of unions for their dedication to the workforce, which impacts lives everywhere.

By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com
View speech at Fox Valley Labor News YouTube Channel

AURORA — As the still yet unresolved Illinois pension issue drags on, State Sen. Linda Holmes said she’s going to bat for organized labor in the state.

“It’s a simple black and white issue. A group of people collectively bargained. Promises were made. They did their part. You don’t break a promise. It’s that simple. It was a matter of what is right, and what is wrong,” she said. “I will be back at the table negotiating, and will continue to fight on your behalf simply because it just makes sense. It economically makes sense that we’re out there supporting you, and you guys are making a good living wage.”

Holmes, who is running unopposed this fall, hosted her annual labor breakfast Aug. 28 at Pipers Banquets in Aurora. She is vice-chair of the labor committee in Springfield and said a non-resolution of the pension crisis means people simply don’t know what to count on.

“I was the one dissenting vote on the Pension Conference Committee. The toughest part for people is not knowing,” she said. “It’s a very scary thing, especially if they are close to retirement. That’s the terrifying part. I can ensure you as this comes up again, I will make sure to be an active voice in this.”

She offered a big thank you to her working constituents as the Labor Day holiday approached.

“I celebrate working men and women who made this country what it is. What we’re doing is celebrating what you do because it impacts every minute of our day,” she said.

She imagined a world without skilled labor.

“Think of how we would function without your part in what you do. From the minute we wake up, looking at the alarm taking electricity to function, to taking a shower thanks to plumbers and pipefitters, to the house you live in, putting a roof over your head, all the construction that goes into building that house — think of how every one of you affects every little bit of our daily life, and what would we do without that,” she said. “I don’t want to live in a world without a skilled plumber, or skilled electricians.”

Holmes said a big problem now is people think modern infrastructure can be achieved without using skilled labor.

“Do you really want your houses built, your roads built, your bridges built without someone who is skilled in their trade? We absolutely don’t,” she said.

Labor scholarship helps send student to Drake University

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Woodruff Johnson & Palermo Labor Scholarship
Jennifer Rice/staff photographer
Mitch Feltz was awarded a $2,500 scholarship made possible by the Woodruff Johnson & Palermo Labor Scholarship. He is attending Drake University to study journalism. Feltz is pictured with his mother Lisa, and attorneys Jay Johnson, left, and Casey Woodruff, right.

By Jennifer Rice
Managing Editor
Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014
Email Jennifer Rice at jen@foxvalleylabornews.com

AURORA — Coming from a working class family, Mitchell Feltz (Mitch to his friends) understands and appreciates the value of hard work — something his father Dale exemplifies as a member of Teamsters Local 673.

And because Dale is a union member in the Fox Valley, his son was able to apply for, and be awarded, a $2,500 Woodruff Johnson & Palermo Labor Scholarship. (The law firm was not involved in the selection process for scholarship recipients.)

The injury law firm created the scholarship in 2012 to give back to organized labor and to the Fox Valley community — which has helped make the firm the largest injury law firm in the greater Fox Valley area. For more information, you can read more here.
Because the scholarship is a labor-minded scholarship, in order to be considered, one of the criteria was Mitch had to have a parent who is a union member.

Dale hasn’t known anything other than working in a union. In his younger years, he worked at Barber-Greene in Aurora, then quickly moved to Caterpillar. In 1988 he started with Colonial Bread and with the Teamsters. The company is now called Cement Transport Company, which is owned by Kennedy Trucking, and it’s keeping him very busy.

“With all the cement paving going on I-90, I’m driving all the time,” he explained. He’s “100 percent for union,” because they help blue-collar workers. And now being in a union is helping his son, Mitch.

The younger Feltz started classes at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa Aug. 25. He wants to study journalism. Even though it may be 300 miles from his hometown of Bristol, he’s got lots of friends already there, and those friends are upperclassmen from Marmion Academy.

In his junior year at Marmion, an upperclassman talked of going to Drake. “He had great things to say about Drake,” Mitch explained.

An overnight orientation at Drake sealed the deal for him. “It was a really neat experience. I had a freshman take me around the campus and I got a wonderful perspective from students who have already been there,” Mitch said.

During his journey to find the right college for him, Mitch also looked at other colleges like Marquette and Loyola, but Drake overruled them all.

Mitch’s mom Lisa also like Marquette, due to its closeness to home, but she stressed it was a choice her son had to make.

“He had to make this commitment and with that comes tuition. He knew he had to strive to get some scholarships because we can’t financially help him fully with college,” Lisa added.

Mitch said he was “relieved and overjoyed” to hear he was the recipient of the Woodruff Johnson & Palermo Labor Scholarship.

Attorney Casey Woodruff said the law firm is always excited to learn who the recipient is. “We’re always pleased to see the benefits of being a union member.”

Even though Mitch played football and ran track at Marmion, he won’t be pursuing sports at Drake, but you’ll be sure to find him on some intramural leagues at college.

Labor and scouting, a brotherhood of unity, leadership

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UA General President William P. Hite
Pat Barcas/staff photographer
Save the date for Jan. 20, 2015, when UA General President William P. Hite will be awarded the AFL-CIO George Meany Award in Chicago.

By By Robert F. Melko
Plumbing Council of Chicagoland and 2015
Labor & Scouting Event Chairman
Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014

CHICAGO – We all know how important sewer line replacement and plumbing services are. I am pleased to announce the Boy Scouts of America Chicago Council has partnered with the Plumbing Council of Chicagoland to honor UA General President William P. Hite as the recipient of the AFL-CIO George Meany Award on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015 at the Sheraton Hotel & Towers in Chicago. Information can be found at chicagobsa.org/union and questions can be directed to the Plumbing Council of Chicagoland at 312-263-6612 or by email at sj@plumbingcouncil.org. The Home Plumbing News US news can be helpful as well.

There is a growing skills gap crisis facing the construction trades sector and the many other critical fields relating to our industry including engineering and manufacturing. The latest economic figures estimate nearly 1.6 million new skilled workers will be needed over the next decade in order to replace our retiring workforce.

Yet finding eager and qualified apprentices to enter into our construction trades presents our industry with quite a challenge. Recruitment numbers in the Chicago and surrounding suburban counties are at an all-time low. By my own estimate as the UA Local 130 Joint Apprenticeship Committee Co-Chair, our plumbing apprentice numbers are significantly down by more than two-thirds this year. Plus, our efforts to reach kids at the high school level are often thwarted by well-intentioned yet uninformed guidance counselors trying to boost their college acceptance rates even though 75 percent of these students never complete their degree, despite the astronomical costs of a higher education. Thinking “outside the pipe” is our only viable option in this matter.

The Boy Scouts of America has a long standing relationship with the American Labor Movement. These two entities share many common goals, including the pursuit of preparedness, economic justice and the value of hard work. This is especially valid when it comes to training the next generation with the critical science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills and apprenticeship education needed to boost our nation’s competitiveness. It’s also evident in the merit badges of our diverse labor trades and their ability to foster a genuine interest in construction industry careers among today’s youth and tomorrow’s construction leaders.

Unfortunately, too many of our current union leaders and business labor partners have lost touch with the Boy Scouts. Many of our merit badges and skilled labor lessons have simply been collecting dust. Our involvement in Boy Scouts career days and STEM exploration events are almost non-existent. And our mentoring of today’s Boy Scouts could use some work.

But all of that can change by partnering and exploring new avenues of learning. By working together, we can have a profound impact on our nation’s economic prosperity.

Through the joint efforts of the Plumbing Council of Chicagoland and the Boy Scouts of America Chicago Area Council, we are re-kindling a spark that will hopefully ignite a much needed flame for the construction trades and in turn close the skills gap shortage.

UA General President William P. Hite
Photo courtesy of the Plumbing Council of Chicagoland
Plumbing Contractors Association of Chicago Director Brian Wilk (Bishop Plumbing) leads a delegation of local Boy Scouts around the UA’s Instructor Day training facilities at Washtenaw College in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The AFL-CIO Executive Council established the George Meany Award in 1974 to recognize union members who have made a significant contribution to the youth of their communities by volunteering in the programs of the Boy Scouts of America. The award is named for the AFL-CIO’s first president, who demonstrated strong support to Scouting.

The George Meany award has not been bestowed upon a Chicago labor leader for many decades. But if this event reaches the level of success and notoriety I know it will, UA General President Hite — who is a former Boy Scout and Sea Scout and native of the Chicago area, will be the new start of a long list of labor leaders to receive this prestigious recognition. More importantly, it will re-connect our construction trade industries with the Boy Scouts of America in a profound way that will benefit both organizations.

Already, we are seeing how this skilled labor and scouting event will reap rewards. The local Boy Scouts Council in Michigan recently invited by the Plumbing Council of Chicago to attend the UA Instructor’s 61st Annual Training Program at Washtenaw College in Ann Arbor. Not only did the scouts present the colors at the opening ceremony, but they toured the campus facilities and spoke directly with contractors, instructors, union leaders, industry professionals and apprentices as they participated in hands-on training to explore plumbing and pipefitting as potential career options. Tellingly, one of the scouts even commented, “this was the best event I have ever been forced to attend.”

The launch of this inaugural event and re-discovered partnership with the Boy Scouts will allow us to maximize our already successful Boy Scout merit badge programs in Plumbing, Welding and American Labor. I am excited to announce the research of an HVAC merit badge is currently in the works. You can also hop over to this web-site for the best HVAC services.

I would like to invite everyone interested in learning more about the genuine partnership between the Boy Scouts of America and our construction trades to support our inaugural “Celebration of Labor and Scouting Unity” gala in Chicago for Hite. Tickets, commemorative book ads and sponsorship opportunities are ready for purchase.

Robert Baden-Powell, a lieutenant-general in the British Army, writer, and founder of the Scout Movement said, “The secret of getting successful work out of your trained men lies in one nutshell — in the clearness of the instructions they receive.” And to that, I would respond, “Let us clearly instruct today’s scouts into becoming tomorrow’s apprentices. They represent our future. All we have to do now is to show them the way.”

Patching roofs and patching hearts of foster children

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National Roofing Week
Pat Barcas/staff photographer
As part of National Roofing Week, July 6 to 12, several roofing companies came together to donate their time/supplies to make repairs on the roof of the Lydia Home Association in Chicago, a foster care home that houses about 50 youth. The experts from https://thewarwickroofers.com/ is whom one should contact to get their roof fixed.

By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com

CHICAGO — It was a little rainy, but at least it wasn’t sweltering hot on the roof of the Lydia Home Association in Chicago July 8. According to this content, as part of National Roofing Week, July 6-12, the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) gathered volunteers to repair the aging roof of the facility for abused children as for more serious problems like mold, they need to get professionals like Mold Remediation Manalapan to solve this problem.

“This roof was definitely on borrowed time,” said Rod Petrick, owner of Ridgeworth Roofing Co. His company helped out on the rehab of the roof. Get a Roofing Company in Omaha and their expert contractors to help you get started.

“It could probably use a full replacement in the future, but this is a typical Chicago roof, it might have six or eight layers on it. It’s definitely not a one day job,” Petrick added.

The roofers battled rain and clouds, but succeeded in patching up the rough spots of the roof.  A website about centennialroofingplus provides the best advice on patching roofs after storms and the steps to fixing damages. Four companies participated in the charity project: Ridgeworth Roofing, Nations Roof, Bennett and Brousseau Roofing, and Karnak Roofing Products donated the supplies.

The Lydia Home Association is dedicated to helping troubled children and their families with a variety of services, including housing for at-risk children. The facility has been located off Irving Park Road for about 100 years, and was an orphanage that turned into foster care that houses about 50 youth at a time, from first grade to high school age.

National Roofing Week
Pat Barcas/staff photographer
During National Roofing Week, a Nations Roof employee seals the gaps around a roof vent pipe atop the Lydia Home Association building.

Dr. David Anderson, executive director of the Lydia Home, said a main goal of the home is to acclimate troubled youth for their next phase of life and that’s why they get houses using estate agents just for this purpose. He comes from a background as a bricklayer, and said the trades are invaluable for the kids.

“Most kids go into the trades. They can be invaluably helpful to the kids and we find great success there,” he said during a tour of the home to NRCA executives, who are in Chicago this week for the annual mid-summer meeting.

Anderson transitioned from bricklayer to psychologist, and started as a teacher at the home, which has an $8 million per year operating budget. It relies on some state funding, but is tuition-based.

He recalled a session in a classroom setting where students were talking about gunshots.

“About 75 percent of the class had been shot. Kids were showing off bullet wounds. This is major trauma, and it’s definitely an interesting group of kids. They have nowhere else to go, and we all have the capacity to give back and help them,” he said.

With the rainy summer, patching up the old roof couldn’t have come at a better time, according to Jim Whitfield, national director of operations for Safe Families for Children, an organization that operates in the Lydia Home, and which acts as a safety net for families in crisis.

“Our budget every year is ‘just enough.’ We don’t have enough for major fixes like this. We had a few offices where there was seepage coming through the roof already, and this was just a really opportune time for them to come out and help us. We really appreciate it,” said Whitfield.”

Park District awarded $2 million grant

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Fox Valley Park District
Photo courtesy of Fox Valley Park District
Gov. Pat Quinn announces the award of a $2 million grant to the Fox Valley Park District for expansion of fitness facilities at the Prisco Community Center. FVPD Executive Director Nancy McCaul, left of Quinn, said it will address many of the residents’ wishes.

By Fox Valley
Park District
Thursday, July 10, 2014

AURORA — The Fox Valley Park District has been awarded a $2 million grant by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) for fitness center expansion and improvements at the Prisco Community Center near downtown Aurora.

Gov. Pat Quinn announced the grant award June 7 outside the Prisco Center as part of the Park and Recreational Facility Construction (PARC) program, which provides state funding for renovation/construction of indoor recreation facilities, funded by the Governor’s Illinois Jobs Now! construction program.

These funds are part of Governor Quinn’s agenda to create jobs, provide more recreational opportunities, and drive Illinois’ economy forward.

“It’s important that everyone in Illinois has a place to be active and take on a healthy lifestyle,” said Quinn.

“Investing in parks and recreation is investing in our residents and helps us come together as communities. Parks enrich our lives and help make us healthier — a priceless combination,” Quinn explained.

The project will essentially create a new fitness center in Prisco and triple the current space (about 1,500 square feet) to more than 5,000 square feet on two levels.

The added space will allow for greater group and senior fitness facilities, renovated locker rooms, accessibility improvements and increased early childhood classroom areas for the Creative Play Preschool program.

Fox Valley Park District
Photo courtesy of PDC 30
During his announcement, Gov. Quinn, center, acknowledged PDC 30 and various other labor leaders for their important role in ensuring these projects are completed on time, by highly skilled workers, trained and experienced in their craft.

It also meets growing demands at both ends of the demographic spectrum, bringing early childhood/youth programming and senior/active adult programming to an area where such opportunities are needed.

A recent District-wide survey of residents indicated a high demand for adult fitness, as well as early childhood programming.

“We’re thrilled to move forward with this project that will address many of our residents’ wishes,” said Executive Director Nancy McCaul.

“We are thankful to the state for the funding assistance, and to our residents for their input that guides our planning. It’s essential that we meet the fitness needs across all age groups in our communities, and this project will allow us to do that,” McCaul explained.

Centrally located — just north of downtown Aurora — the Prisco Center is a hub of activity for many, with a total population of 58,889 residents living within a two-mile radius.

“With this latest project, the Park District is helping our communities and residents maintain a high quality of life,” said Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner.

The PARC grant will cover 75 percent of the approved project cost, with a maximum grant award of $2.5 million. With the overall project cost estimated at $2,666,485, the Park District’s match will be approximately $666,621.

Completion of the project is targeted for 2016.

Scabby the Rat sighting

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Laborers' Local 149 and Scabby the Rat
Jennifer Rice/staff photographer
Laborers’ Local 149, left, were picketing Bruce Davis Construction in the east side of Aurora for paying substandard wages and benefits.

Scabby the Rat sighting

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Laborers' Local 288 and Scabby the Rat
Photo courtesy of Laborers’ Local 288
Members of Laborer’s Local 288 picketed various locations against Miller Concrete out of West Chicago. They were protesting for not meeting area standards.

Roofers Local 11 answer call to help campers with disabilities

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Roofers Local 11 volunteer at Shady Oakes camp
Pat Barcas/staff photographer
After a plea from a Shady Oaks camper to help repair their dining hall roof, Roofers Local 11 completed the $20,000 job for free. Shady Oaks doesn’t have a budget for improvements and maintenance to their buildings. Hire the best services for home improvement – they serve all of St. Louis

By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com

HOMER GLEN — Shady Oaks is a not-for-profit summer camp for people with disabilities located in Homer Glen, which opened in 1947. Its roughly 40 acres provides lush lawns, rolling hills and activity buildings for the campers.

One of the most essential buildings, the dining hall, needed a new roof with single slope. It was at the end of its life span, deteriorated from a long life and battered from this year’s harsh winter.

“The paper was starting to come up, and we were getting leaks,” said Scott Steele, executive director at the camp.

A resident, Dave Swanson, wrote a letter to the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers Roofers Local 11 asking for help. You can also learn more here on getting the right kind of experts to take a look at the kind of treatment your roof requires. They responded by coming out in April for an assessment. June 28, a group of about 20 roofers came out bright and early and installed a new roof on the dining hall — free of charge. You can also pop over to these guys and get your roof issues checked.

Several organizations donated labor, shingles, flat material, a crane, trucks, and safety equipment, including Ridgeworth Roofing Company, Bone Roofing Supply, GAF Roofing supply corporation, and the Chicago Roofers’ Joint Apprenticeship and Training Corporation. When it comes to your gutter, one must have a look at the Seamless & Guards breeding ground for pests and know how to prevent such a menace.

The roofers arrived at 6:30 a.m., battled the heat and humidity, but managed to finish by around 10 a.m., with hamburgers, hot dogs and steaks cooking on the grill for breakfast.

Roofers Local 11 volunteer at Shady Oakes camp
Pat Barcas/staff photographer
To beat the heat, roofers started working at 6:30 a.m. on the Shady Oaks dining hall roof. The harsh winter weather deteriorated the roof to the point it was leaking.

Rod Petrick, president of Ridgeworth Roofing Company, said the roofing replacement project would normally cost around $20,000.

“This is a great charity project we’re involved with here, and it’s for a great cause,” he said.

Shady Oaks got its start in the 1940s, when there were little or no services available in the area for people with disabilities. A group of dedicated parents of children with cerebral palsy came together to form The Parents Association for Cerebral Palsy Children Inc.

According to Shady Oaks, the association purchased 30 plus acres of land in Homer Township, in the hopes of building a summer camp, which specifically served people with cerebral palsy and similar disabilities. Shady Oaks Camp for Individuals with Cerebral Palsy opened in 1947.

In recent years, the group has grown to not only accept children and adults with Cerebral Palsy but all disabilities. The Parents Association is a not-for-profit organization, which is dedicated to the welfare of individuals with disabilities. It is an inter-racial, non-denominational, charitable organization chartered by the State of Illinois.

Steele said the camp has an operating budget of about $250,000 to $300,000 per year, with most of the expenses incurred during the eight week camp period. The budget does not include improvements and maintenance to the buildings, electrical and plumbing, and septic fields.

“All of our money goes toward running the camp, which is why we appreciate charity work such as this so much,” he said. “This is an essential building for us that the campers use everyday. We should get 25 years out of this roof, and it would not have gotten done without these volunteers.”

Information given on new Illinois laws for employers

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Aurora University discusses social media
Pat Barcas/staff photographer
Attorney Penelope Lechtenberg informed the public at Aurora University about social media, free speech and Northwestern University football players unionizing.

By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com

AURORA — Addressing the changing rules of labor in today’s society, attorney Penelope Lechtenberg, partner with Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in Rockford, talked at Aurora University June 25. She talked about social media, free speech, and the Northwestern University football players unionizing.

It was found by the National Labor Relations Board earlier this year that Northwestern players are more likely employees rather than non-employees. The decision is being appealed, but Lechtenberg said the decision carries a lot of weight behind it.

“It’s very interesting and it took me by surprise. I don’t know why I didn’t see this coming, but it’s fascinating,” she said.

Lechtenberg said players who have been awarded a scholarship to play are compensated and work 20 to 50 hours per week. They also generate millions in revenue. They were found to be employees eligible for unionizing.

“Is there an overwhelming community of interest between these people? The questions this opens up are endless. It has the potential to change college athletics,” she said.

Also on topic was social media — specifically whether employees can openly complain about employers online. A recent ruling said talking about working conditions on a social media platform such as Facebook is protected speech.

“If it’s just a person randomly saying horrible things, then they are likely to be disciplined. But if you complain about a specific thing about your workplace, and others join in, this is discourse. This is protected. It’s a fine line and it’s evolving,” said Lechtenberg.

What about screaming at your boss, using profanity, and . . . getting away with it?

A May 2014 case saw employee asking about pay at an auto dealership. The conversation got heated, he raised his voice, used profanity, and was terminated for being belligerent. The outcome was surprising.

“The NLRB found this profane outburst as protected,” said Lechtenberg. “The employee was protected because the outburst was in the context of discussing his terms and conditions.”

Lechtenberg represents management in labor and employment-law matters before federal and state courts and administrative agencies. They include OSHA, National Labor Relations Board, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Citizenship and Immigration Services.

On the looming immigration front, Lechtenberg said Illinois employers need to get their I-9 tax forms in order.

“There will be a lot more audits going on now. There is a huge workplace compliance push, and the penalties for incorrect I-9s are huge,” she said.

Food pantry gets largest corporate donation

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Mariano's donates to Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry
Pat Barcas/staff photographer
Mariano’s store manager Victor Karlson presents a $10,000 donation to Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry Executive Director Marilyn Weisner and Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry Board President Lynn Flores.

By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com

AURORA — When the phone rang at the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry and Executive Director Marilyn Weisner received the news that a $10,000 donation was coming soon, she said she was speechless.

“Literally. I was so surprised. This is the largest corporate donation we’ve gotten. It’s an incredibly wonderful donation,” she said.

The generous donation came courtesy of The Roundy’s Foundation, chartered in 2003 under the Roundy’s corporation, which operates 174 retail grocery stores and 110 pharmacies under the Pick ’n Save, Rainbow, Copps, Metro Market and Mariano’s retail banners in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois.

The Roundy’s Foundation mission is to support organizations working to relieve hunger and helping families in crisis due to domestic abuse, neglect and other at-risk situations. The check presentation was made June 27 at the newly opened Mariano’s grocery store in Aurora, 3025 E. New York St.

Store manager Victor Karlson said business has been great for the new store, which also regularly donates to the Northern Illinois Food Bank.

“This is fantastic. Who doesn’t like giving things away? Mariano’s is big in being part of the community. And it’s amazing what the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry does,” said Karlson.

He said Mariano’s doesn’t rely on advertising, but more word of mouth and posts on social media.

“People come in, they really like the store, then they tell your friends. It’s worked for us,” he said. “There are still people that don’t know we’re open over here in Aurora, but word is spreading.”

All Mariano’s stores are staffed by members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UWCF) Local 881 union. Karlson said the local workers are happy and have more job stability than non-union shops.

“We have hired over 400 employees from the area for our 11 stores. It’s good for the local economy, and we are fair, paying a market wage. Our jobs provide more job stability and security, and employees are happier. This makes a better experience for the customer. It’s just how we operate,” he said.

Weisner said the pantry is currently serving an ever growing number of 1,000 families per week.

“With this kind of support, we can continue meeting that need,” she said.