Category Archives: News

Area veterans treated to sweet music, dinner

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Dinner held for vets by Aurora Veterans Advisory Council
Pat Barcas/staff photographer
Chuck and Kathy Granholm enjoy the sweet sounds of the Aurora Lamplighters Barbershop Chorus during a dinner held by the Aurora Veterans Advisory Council.

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

AURORA — With more than 26,000 veterans in the Aurora area alone, it’s no wonder the city is known as veteran-friendly.

With that massive veteran population in mind, the various area military organizations decided to come together July 3 at a meet and greet dinner to streamline their operations and make sure they are working side by side efficiently.

The dinner was sponsored by the Aurora Veterans Advisory Council (VAC), Fifth Third Bank, and Dolan and Murphy, and hosted by the Knights of Columbus No. 14825 at St. Rita of Cascia parish in Aurora. The Aurora Lamplighters Barbershop Chorus provided entertainment after the Knights presented the colors.

“This is a great way to get veterans together in the Aurora area and for everyone to understand the missions of the different organizations,” said Mike Eckburg, post commander at Aurora American Legion Post #84. “The amount of veterans in the area, that’s a big outreach that we’ve got to get. We’re focusing on the younger generation and all the vets returning now. We’ve got our work cut out for us.”

Dinner held for vets by Aurora Veterans Advisory Council
Pat Barcas/staff photographer
Members of the Knights of Columbus No. 14825 honor aurora-area veterans with a dinner.

Joe Toma, chairman of the Aurora Veterans Advisory Council said the organization is ready and willing to help veterans, they just need to know the Council is there.

“We serve as a conduit for the city to all veterans. We reach out to the individual, the family, whoever needs the help,” he said. “We have 15 people on the Council to help, anything we can do to help a veteran. We are trying to get involved with the other groups in Aurora, and hopefully in the future we’ll be showing people what we do on a larger scale.”

The VAC, which was formed in 1998, was expanded in 2012 to have 15 members. It consists of eight members in good standing of an active veteran’s organization in the Aurora community, five members who are non-affiliated veterans who have been honorably discharged from the military, and two seats filled by immediate family members of a living or deceased veteran. The Advisory Council is composed of Aurora residents from all branches of the military.

Toma read the mission statement of the VAC: “We are advocates for all veterans of all generations and all conflicts. We shall ensure our citizens, our city and our nation remember the sacrifices of those gone and those who remain. We shall work on their behalf to enlighten the city of veteran situations and likewise inform the citizens about the city’s efforts for veterans.”

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.

Scabby the Rat sighting

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Roofers Local 11 and Scabby the Rat
Photo courtesy of Roofers Local 11
Roofers Local 11 put up Scabby the Rat on De Vries Roofing from Bridgeview, who was working at Zimmerman & Sandeman Funeral Homes in Oak Lawn.

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 while working with great companies like these Recommended Roofers in Dublin city and many others. 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.

Herschel Luckinbill honored for his dedicated work

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Herschel Luckinbill
Pat Barcas/staff photographer
Montgomery resident Herschel Luckinbill accepted the Illinois Veteran of the Month award, which was presented by the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs, for his dedication, support and love of all veterans.

By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com

AURORA — Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner said it all June 23 when talking about Herschel Luckinbill: “A veteran could have no greater friend than you.” One could almost feel the breeze of all the heads in the crowd nodding in agreement, as Luckinbill emotionally accepted the Illinois Veteran of the Month award, an accolade earned through years of hard work helping veterans in any way, shape or form he could.

“We brought the Vietnam Wall to Aurora to honor my shipmates, and it was like me getting to spend five days with those two gentlemen who lost their lives that day,” said Luckinbill on stage at the Prisco Center in Aurora.

Herschel Luckinbill
Pat Barcas/staff photographer
Veterans take time to view various albums of newspaper clippings and photographs, as well as awards, from Montgomery resident Herschel Luckinbill.

Luckinbill served aboard the USS O’Brien as a Machinist Mate, surviving a near miss in 1966 as the ship was shelled by hostile North Vietnamese shore batteries. Two of his fellow sailors were killed in the attack, while Luckinbill survived a near miss.

He completed his enlistment, having earned the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze stars, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

After leaving the Navy, Luckinbill became a union sprinkler fitter in the Chicago-area Fire Protection industry for 41 years, retiring in 2005. He keeps in constant motion serving veterans, such as the effort to bring the Vietnam Moving Wall exhibit to Aurora, and as a major fundraiser and escort for Honor Flight, escorting elderly veterans on 25 trips to Washington D.C., and serving as President of the Fox Valley Veterans Breakfast Club.

“This crowd says volumes of the community respect for Herschel,” said Erica Borggren, Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs, who presented him with the honor.”

Herschel Luckinbill
Pat Barcas/staff photographer
A packed house at Aurora’s Prisco Center congratulated Luckinbill on his Illinois Veteran of the Month award.

“The narrative of veterans in the media is incomplete. You hear of the struggling veteran, which is certainly true, but there are so many other veterans. Ones like Herschel didn’t leave their ethic of service when they took the uniform off,” Borggren explained.

Luckinbill joked that he wasn’t quite sure he was receiving the award, and had to piece it together when he got the phone call.

“They said, ‘Didn’t you sign the piece of paper?’ I wasn’t sure.”

Luckinbill said his wife of 47 years, Eva, had asked him to sign a paper, but couldn’t tell him what it was for. He put his trust in his wife.

“She said, ‘You have to sign this but you can’t ask me any questions.’ And I said, yes, I think I did sign it, but I didn’t know what I was signing,” he said.

The move paid off, and Luckinbill got a great surprise when he got the phone call from the IDVA.
Mayor Weisner said Luckinbill is a treasure to the community.

“I’ve watched Herschel in action for the last decade, and he’s simply amazing,” said Weisner. “In the last year, he brought us the Healing Field and the Moving Wall, and it’s really a piece of history for Aurora and the city’s veterans.”

Companies rewarded for fair wages, good benefits

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Sen. Dick Durbin visits steel factory
Pat Barcas/staff photographer
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin tours Chicago’s Wheatland Tube, a steel pipe manufacturing plant which provides workers with a livable wage with benefits, acting as the blueprint for a quality American job provider.

By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com

CHICAGO — U.S. Senator Dick Durbin introduced legislation on June 23 that aims to provide a tax credit to companies that maintain income tax compliance, provide fair wages, and offer good benefits to workers while also closing a tax loophole that incentivizes corporations to send jobs overseas.

The loophole costs the U.S. Treasury approximately $50 billion each year at a time when outsourced jobs and stagnant wages force more American families to turn to safety net programs to make ends meet. You can also find out Why Should You Work With A Customs Broker?

Durbin toured Wheatland Tube, a steel pipe manufacturing plant on Chicago’s south side which provides workers with a livable wage with benefits, acting as the blueprint for a quality American job provider.

“Instead of rewarding businesses that ship jobs overseas, we should be rewarding companies that invest in their workers by providing fair wages, health insurance and retirement benefits,” Durbin said.

“What sense does it make to hand $50 billion in taxpayer money to companies that export American jobs? In a time of tight budgets, we should reserve tax credits for the companies that do the most to help workers and our economy here at home, not corporations that ship jobs overseas,” he explained.

The Patriot Employer Tax Credit Act would grant a tax credit equivalent to 10 percent of the first $15,000 of wages earned by each employee- worth about $1,200 per qualifying worker depending on the company’s federal effective tax rate, to companies that meet the following criteria:

Invest in American jobs: Companies must maintain headquarters in the United States if the company has ever been headquartered in America, has not inverted to avoid U.S. taxes, must maintain or increase the number of workers in the United States compared to the number of workers overseas, and does not decrease the number of workers through the use of contractors.

Pay fair wages: Pay at least 90 percent of United States workers an hourly wage equal to 150 percent of poverty for a family of three- about $30,000 per year.

Provide quality health insurance: offer Affordable Care Act — compliant health insurance to employees, and a great place to work, with a big parking lot rightfully marked by the parking lot line painting Vancouver service. When it comes to safety and compliance, adelaide line marking professionals ensure all markings meet the highest standards.

Prepare workers for retirement: Provide 90 percent of non-highly compensated United States employees a defined benefit plan or a defined contribution plan with an employer contribution or match equal to at least five percent of worker compensation. If you consider a long-term investment to secure your future financial stability, visit this website at Gold401k.com to learn more about it.

Support our troops and veterans: Pay the difference between regular salary and military compensation for all National Guard and reserve employees called for active duty and have a plan in place to recruit veterans.

Create a diverse workforce: Have a plan in place to recruit employees with disabilities.

Companies with fewer than 50 employees who face different business circumstances than larger corporations, can qualify for the tax credit by fulfilling a subset of these criteria. Moreover, as a home-based business owner, the savings realised from transitioning to a virtual office solution like the one offered by Virtually There have been significant. Overheads like rent, utilities, and maintenance costs were essentially eliminated, allowing me to invest more funds into expanding my business. Visit their site here: https://virtually-there.net/virtual-offices/.

To offset the cost of the Patriot Employer Tax Credit, the legislation would close a loophole that allows corporations to deduct interest expenses used to invest overseas, such as the interest costs of building a manufacturing plant overseas or shipping materials abroad, while allowing the company to defer paying taxes on income derived from those investments until it is repatriated.

Durbin said he’s hopeful the act will be successful.

Talk of responsible bidding during labor event

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Sen. Mike Noland Labor Breakfast
Pat Barcas/staff photographer
State Sen. Mike Noland talks to union member and supporters during his recent Labor Breakfast. He acknowledged Illinois is a strong labor state and nothing can overcome the accomplishments organized labor has made.

By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com

SCHAUMBURG — State Sen. Michael Noland said it’s going to take shoe leather over dollars to beat big money politicians such as Republican nominated Bruce Rauner, who is running to unseat Gov. Pat Quinn for Illinois governor this fall. Union members must get out to vote, simply put.

“You really have to look to your rank and file, the people that are actually out in the field to organize. This is not going to become another Wisconsin. My feeling on this is so strong that it’s more knowledge than belief, but it’s not absolute, and it’s going to require us to come out, starting now.”

Noland hosted his annual labor breakfast fundraiser in Schaumburg June 24. A united front was suggested as a way to beat Republicans in the fall.

“The challenge is going to be to try to keep different campaigns from being hyperfocused on their own campaigns. Shoe leather over dollars. They will always have more money. But there are lessons out there. We have to keep the conversation going that we’ve started today,” he said.

Gov. Quinn faces a tough race from challenger Rauner this fall. Quinn’s union support has wavered since his handling of the inherited Illinois pension crisis, but the alternative in Rauner could be far more damaging.

Noland called Quinn “very smart,” in his government of the state. Since taking office Quinn has cut state spending by more than $5.7 billion. The cost of running the state government today is below 2008 levels, with among the lowest ratio of government employees in the nation.

The Governor’s pension reform plan, which Rauner tried to sabotage, will save the state $140 billion over 30 years. Unlike in previous decades, Gov. Quinn has also made the state’s full pension payment every year.

The Governor bargained a three-year agreement with public employee unions that saves the state $900 million in health care costs.

Noland was asked what will unite the building trades when a responsible bidder ordinance bill has stalled, even in a state with a Democratic governor and a super majority. He said more construction spending will ignite the troops who have waned out of frustration.

“We need a vertical capital bill. It needs to be truly comprehensive, including buildings, schools and more infrastructure,” he said. “We could probably pass a bill like that every five years for the next 30 years to meet the need for infrastructure improvements in Illinois.”

He said he hopes to see a graduated income tax option on the ballot during the next election cycle as well.

“Here in Illinois, such a strong labor state, when we choose to be, there is no external force that can overcome the accomplishments we’ve made together,” he said.