Issue 2 - 2012 by International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers

EN FRANĂ&#x2021;AIS! p. 21

BAC ISSUE 2 / 2012

National 9/11 Memorial and Museum:

B U I LT T O R E M E M B E R

in this issue

Journal BAC

on the cover

9 14

Local 1 MI member and apprentice coordinator Tom Ward testifies before the Senate HELP Committee on silica exposure and the urgent need for more stringent safety standards on April 19th in Washington, D.C.

Ground Zero – Remembering, Rebuilding, Moving Forward

3 MEMBERS AT WORK

1 3

P R E S ID E N T ’S M E S S A G E /M E N S A J E D E L P R E S ID E N TE M E M B E R S AT WO R K

Ground Zero – Remembering, Rebuilding, Moving Forward

L E G IS L ATIV E & P O L ITIC A L U P DATE

Jobs and November Election Are Focus of Building Trades Conference • “The Stronger Your Voice Is, the Stronger My Voice Is” Rep. Donna Edwards to BAC Legislative Lunch • New Oklahoma Law Puts Kibosh on Cheating Out-of-State Contractors • President Obama Signs Bill to Fund Jobs, Keep College Loans Affordable • ALEC Update • Pennsylvania Locals Consult on Issues and Candidates • Is the Eastern U.S. Prepared for Future Earthquakes? • Massachusetts Senate Candidate Elizabeth Warren Tours Local 3 Training Center

S A F E TY

Local 1 Michigan Member Testifies on Capitol Hill on Silica Safety • Safety and Health Surveys Highlight Partnership Priorities, Opportunities, Progress • Did You Hear That? Masonry r2p Partnership Makes Hearing Protection a Priority • Stay Safe Working in the Sun: Tips for Recognizing and Preventing Heat Illness • Safety Pays, Falls Cost. The best in the business play it safe. N E WS IN B R IE F

Making Strides One Brick at a Time • Affrunti Elected to Chicago Cook County Building Trades’ Executive Board • Trendells’ Road Trip Yeilds Treasure Trove of Plastering Tools for BAC and IMI • National Labor College – Tailor Made for BAC Members • BAC Spreads Labor of Love for Diabetes Research IM I

International Masonry Institute Creating Jobs

18 IMI

International Masonry Institute Creating Jobs C A N A DA

Local 1 Nova Scotia Signs Reddick Brothers Masonry • La section locale 1 de Nouvelle-Écosse signe un accord avec Reddick Brothers Masonry LO CA L C O M PA S S IN TE R N ATIO N A L F U N D S

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Supreme Court Upholds Health Care Reform • IPF Turns 40, Reaches Two Billion Dollars in Benefits Paid • Don’t Put Off Checking Your 2011 IPF Statement R E TIR E E S

Local 4 New Jersey Veteran Receives French Legion of Honor Medal IN M E M O R IA M

p r e s i d e n t ’s m e s s a g e

J A M E S B O L A N D , P R E S I D E N T, I N T E R N AT I O N A L U N I O N O F B R I C K L AY E R S A N D A L L I E D C R A F T W O R K E R S

That Fighting Spirit

onventional wisdom holds that U.S. political campaigns don’t really start in earnest until after Labor Day (Labour Day in Canada). Whether or not that’s accurate, I respectfully suggest there would be wisdom in our taking a few moments during the upcoming holiday, a day that is rooted in decades of sacrifice, perseverance and activism, to reflect on those who came before us and on the future direction of the labor movement and our respective nations. This fall’s presidential election in the U.S. will decide not only our economic future, but the fundamental vision of America – we’ll have a choice between an America that honors working people and values the contributions of skilled union trades workers to our communities and our economic growth, or an America that openly disparages many of the ideals that inspired the first Labor Day observance and those that followed. Labor Day is a reminder that no one handed us the rights and benefits we enjoy as BAC members. They were fought for and won. No one gave North America a pass some 70 years ago when tyrants threatened our democratic way of life. We fought back and won with the help of patriots like Brother William Tomko (page 29) who epitomizes that fighting spirit. And when terrorism raised its ugly scepter a little more than a decade ago, we responded first with force in the Middle East and Afghanistan, and later, with a moving national memorial built with skill and pride by the members of Local 1 New York that is helping a nation heal and move forward (page 3).

Four years ago, when the nation’s financial stability nearly caved in, we fought back with similar resolve. While much, much more remains to be done, it appears we’re making headway. July saw the passage, with bipartisan support, of President Obama’s transportation construction and infrastructure bill (page 7) that will create or save more than 2.8 union construction jobs. IMI’s success at responding to substantial shifts within the construction industry (page 18) is already yielding dividends in the form of jobs for our members. BAC’s campaign to convince government officials in the eastern U.S. to take earthquake preparedness more seriously by investigating older masonry structures for needed seismic retrofitting is on a fast track in Maryland, where state buildings are being reviewed (page 8). At a time when the non-union is clamoring for weaker safety regulations, a labormanagement Masonry Partnership with BAC, ICE and IMI is working together to strengthen safety on the jobsite (page 10). And for the first time in a long time, we are seeing an upward trend in the number of BAC hours worked reported. Although I doubt any of us are satisfied with the rate or pace of this economic recovery, given the deep hole we had to dig out of, we are headed in the right direction. Let’s keep our principles and priorities in mind as we head into the fall election season and keep that fighting spirit alive and strong on Labor Day and every day.

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mensaje del presidente

Ese Espíritu de Lucha

a sabiduría popular sostiene que las campañas políticas en EE.UU. no comienzan en serio sino hasta después del Día del Trabajo. Así esto sea o no exacto, yo sugiero respetuosamente que sería sensato tomarnos unos minutos durante el día feriado que se avecina, un día arraigado en décadas de sacrificio, perseverancia y activismo, para reflexionar sobre aquellos que nos precedieron y sobre el rumbo futuro del movimiento sindical y de nuestras respectivas naciones. Las elecciones presidenciales de este otoño en los EE.UU. decidirán no solo nuestro futuro económico, sino la visión fundamental de Estados Unidos – tendremos la opción de elegir entre unos Estados Unidos que honran a la clase trabajadora y valoran los aportes de los trabajadores de los sindicatos de oficios calificados a nuestras comunidades y a nuestro crecimiento económico, o unos Estados Unidos que abiertamente menosprecian muchos de los ideales que inspiraron la conmemoración del primer Día del Trabajo y de los que siguieron. El Día del Trabajo nos recuerda que nadie nos regaló los derechos y beneficios de los que disfrutamos como miembros del BAC. Se luchó por ellos y se alcanzaron. Nadie le dio a Norteamérica un salvoconducto hace alrededor de 70 años cuando los tiranos amenazaban nuestro estilo de vida democrático. Dimos la pelea y triunfamos con la ayuda de patriotas como el Hermano William Tomko (página 29), quien personifica ese espíritu de lucha. Y cuando el terrorismo esgrimió su horrible cetro hace poco más de una década, nosotros respondimos primero con fuerza en el Medio Oriente y en Afganistán, y luego, con un conmovedor monumento conmemorativo nacional construido con habilidad y orgullo por los miembros del Local 1 de Nueva York, que está ayudando a una nación a sanar y a seguir avanzando (página 3).

Hace cuatro años, cuando la estabilidad financiera de la nación por poco se derrumba, nosotros dimos la pelea con la misma determinación. Si bien falta mucho, muchísimo más por hacer, todo parece indicar que estamos progresando. En julio se aprobó, con apoyo bipartidista, el proyecto de ley de construcción e infraestructura de transporte del Presidente Obama (página 7) que creará o salvará más de 2.8 empleos de la construcción. El éxito del IMI en responder a cambios sustanciales dentro de la industria de la construcción (página 18) ya está produciendo dividendos representados en puestos de trabajo para nuestros miembros. La campaña del BAC para convencer a los funcionarios gubernamentales en el este de los EE.UU. de tomar más en serio la necesidad de estar preparados para terremotos investigando viejas estructuras de mampostería para hacerles las refacciones sísmicas necesarias va a pasos acelerados en Maryland, donde se están revisando los edificios del estado (página 8). En momentos en los que los no sindicalizados están clamando por regulaciones de seguridad más laxas, una Sociedad de Mampostería de trabajadores y empleadores con el BAC, el ICE y el IMI está trabajando conjuntamente para fortalecer la seguridad en el lugar de trabajo (página 10). Y por primera vez en mucho tiempo, estamos viendo una tendencia al alza en el número reportado de horas BAC trabajadas. Si bien dudo que alguno de nosotros esté satisfecho con la tasa o el ritmo de esta recuperación económica, dado el profundo hueco del que tuvimos que salir, estamos encaminados en la dirección correcta. Mantengamos en mente nuestros principios y prioridades a medida que nos aproximamos a la temporada de elecciones del otoño y mantengamos vivo y fuerte ese espíritu de lucha el Día del Trabajo y todos los días.

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The Official Journal of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (issn 0362-3696)

Journal BAC

issue 2, 2012

Executive Board James Boland President

Henry F. Kramer Secretary-Treasurer

Ken Lambert

Executive Vice President

Gerard Scarano Executive Vice President

Timothy Driscoll Executive Vice President

Regional Directors N O RT H E A S T

Al Catalano

IU Regional Director, Northeast 22 Glendale Avenue Delmar, NY 12054 (518) 439-8296 SOUTH

Ken Lambert

IU Executive Vice President 620 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20004 (202) 383-3934 N O RT H C E N T R A L

Steve Bailey

IU Regional Director, North Central 60 Gailwood Drive, Suite D St. Peters, MO 63376 (636) 794-4878 WEST

Dave Sheppard

IU Regional Director, West P.O. Box 261 Nine Mile Falls, WA 99026 (509) 465-3500 CANADA

Craig Strudwick

IU Acting Regional Director, Canada 2100 Thurston Drive #3 Ottawa, ON K1G 4K8 (613) 749-0028 Editorial Staff: Connie Lambert, Yin Yin The Journal (ISSN 0362-3696) is published quarterly for $1.50 per year in advance, postage paid, for the U.S. and Canada ($1.75 per year in all foreign countries belonging to the Postal Union) by the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers. Periodicals class postage paid Washington, DC, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Journal, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, 620 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20004. Canadian Postmaster: Send address changes to PO Box 503, RPO West Beaver Creek, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 4R6 Published for Bricklayers, Stone Masons, Plasterers, Tile Layers, Marble Masons, Cement Masons, Mosaic and Terrazzo Workers, Finishers, Pointers, Cleaners, and Caulkers.

members at work

Ground Zero - Remembering, Rebuilding, Moving Forward

Local 1 NY members installed the granite and pavers that comprise extensive portions of the National September 11 Memorial in lower Manhattan, including two granite-lined reflecting pools that echo the contours of the North and South towers of the former World Trade Center.

Photo by Joe Woolhead

he National September 11 Memorial at the World Trade Center, which opened last year on the 10-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, features a grove of trees and two massive reflecting pools fed on all sides by 30-foot waterfalls. Rimming the two acre-sized reflecting pools, which are set within the footprints of the iconic twin towers, are bronze panels inscribed with the names of the 2,983 victims of the attacks of September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993. The pools are fed by 30-foot waterfalls, the largest man-made falls in the country. The memorial’s design, titled “Reflecting Absence,” was selected from more than 5,000 entries as part of a 2003 international competition.

Photo by Joe Woolhead

Local 1 New York stonemasons, employed by BAC signatory contrac-

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members at work tors Port Morris Tile (Bronx, NY) and Berardi Stone Setting (White Plains, NY), skillfully installed the beautiful Jet Mist granite that lines the pools. They are enormously proud of their role in contributing to the construction of this place of honor and national significance. As Richard Pues, Jr., a fifth-generation stonesetter, Local 1 member and Berardi Stone Setting foreman told the Danbury (CT) News-Times* last fall, “…working on that sacred ground is an honor… It’s definitely one of the biggest and one of the proudest jobs I’ve ever been involved with.” During construction of the memorial, Local 1 members set 3,500 pieces of Jet Mist granite to create the foundation walls, which are edged with 80 pieces of weir stone to ensure a seamless flow of water. Members also installed 185,000-square feet of cut-to-size square and cobblestone pavers to complete the plaza pathways around the pools. Verde Fontaine granite was used to construct 144 benches and solid steps, adding color and texture to blend in with the surrounding oak trees. Port Morris Tile Vice President Anthony Vespa extends a great deal of credit for the project’s successful outcome to the firm’s Local 1 workforce.

Photo by Joe Woolhead

The names of the victims of the WTC attacks of 1993 and 2001 are inscribed on bronze panels that frame the edges of the memorial’s granite-lined reflecting pools.

“Having such highly trained and experienced specialty craftworkers was essential to handling the technical safety and

security requirements of a project of this magnitude and immense national importance,” Vespa said. Local 1 NY President Jeremiah Sullivan, Jr. agreed. Although no assignment is taken for granted, “high-profile, historic, and large, complex projects are typically constructed by union members,” Sullivan said. “When it comes to masonry, we have the workforce at the ready, we’re able to meet deadlines, we exceed safety standards, and deliver the highest quality work.” At the World Trade Center site, construction of the 110-story skyscraper – One World Trade Center, also known as the Freedom Tower – is nearing completion. As visitors to the memorial reflect past losses, the soaring tower is a reassuring symbol of a nation’s resolve and determination to rebuild and move forward. To learn more about the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, visit www.911memorial.org.

Local 1 stonesetter and Berardi Stone Setting foreman Richard Pues, Jr. is proud of his work on the 9/11 memorial and the nearby Freedom Tower, on which he helped lay its 20-ton Adirondack granite cornerstone on July 4, 2004. The same quarry would later yield the granite for the twelve dozen benches that now dot the memorial plaza. Pues’ work on the Freedom Tower, which will open in 2013, was especially meaningful as his father, retired Local 1 stonesetter and Field Representative Richard Pues, Sr., did the stone work on the World Trade Center Plaza in the mid-1970s. 4

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*To see the September 9, 2011 article about Brother Pues in the Danbury NewsTimes, go to www.newstimes.com/local/ article/Danbury-man-works-on-sacredground-at-ground-zero-2161549. php#ixzz1re7rrPWH.

legislative & political update

Jobs and November Election Are Focus of Building Trades Conference

ith construction unemployment hovering around 15%, a presidential election on the horizon and the sudden death of BCTD head Mark Ayers fresh in the minds of union leaders who gathered in Washington, D.C. for the Building and Construction Trades Department’s Legislative Conference, the mood was subdued yet purposeful.

BCTD President Sean McGarvey set the tone in his keynote address on April 30th, shortly before welcoming President Barack Obama to the program. Looking ahead to November, McGarvey said, “Thank God we had the steady hand of Barack Obama at the helm when not just our nation, but the entire globe, was on the verge of economic collapse… We haven’t agreed with every decision he has made, but the overall results are hard to argue with. Businesses have created nearly 3.7 million private sector jobs in the past 23 months; the U.S. auto industry has added nearly 160,000 jobs, which means many of our members are back at work re-tooling and maintaining U.S. auto plants; American manufacturers have added 334,000 jobs in the past two years, meaning many of our members are at work building and modernizing manufacturing plants… And President Obama’s middle-class tax cuts are providing tax relief for 160 million workers to help strengthen the economy. At the Department of Labor, Davis-Bacon enforcements are on the rise; as are new initiatives to stem the practice of misclassifying workers and abusing federal visa programs.” McGarvey also called on Congress to pass the stalled transportation infrastructure bill that would fund construction and transit projects and create millions of jobs for building trades members (see update on the bill’s passage and signing, page 7), a sentiment that was echoed by virtually every speaker who followed. Before taking the stage, Obama met with the BCTD’s Governing Board of Presidents, including BAC President James Boland, taking the occasion

BAC Endorses Obama

Photo by Bill Burke / Page One

BAC President James Boland greets President Barack Obama at the BCTD Legislative Conference on April 30th. The President expressed his gratitude to Boland earlier that morning for BAC’s endorsement of his re-election.

n April 24th, the five-member Executive Board of the International Union voted unanimously to endorse President Barack Obama for a second term, based on the Union’s regularly conducted telephone surveys of members and their ongoing support for the President and his economic policies. BAC President James Boland noted, “President Obama took office at a time when America’s economy was falling off a cliff. His leadership

and policies – the Recovery Act and his commitment to rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, stronger oversight of Wall Street and the financial sector, expanding opportunities for veterans, reviving the American auto industry, and his support of Project Labor Agreements and prevailing wage protections… helped pull us back from the brink,” Boland went on to say that BAC would stand with the President “in the challenging months ahead as he has stood by us.”

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legislative & political update to warmly thank Boland for BAC’s endorsement the week before. In his remarks, Obama acknowledged the recession’s unacceptable toll on the nation’s 2.5 million union construction workers. “Members of the building trades have suffered more than most. That makes no sense at a time when there’s so much work to be done,” said the President, referring to the huge number of roads, schools, bridges and public buildings “in desperate need of repair. The worst part about it is, we could be doing something about it,” he added, chalking up another job creating measure in the grip of congressional gridlock.

Photo by Bill Burke / Page One

Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD), center, was guest speaker at BAC’s recent Legislative Luncheon. From left, Local 1 Maryland/Virginia/DC Secretary-Treasurer Pete Bryant, Local 1 MD/VA/DC life-member Lou Pedri, Rep. Edwards, BAC Executive Vice President Gerard Scarano, and Local 1 Field Representative Nino Cruz.

The President also pointed to antiunion trends in Wisconsin, Ohio, and Michigan to curb collective-bargaining rights. “What’s their big economic plan in addition to tax cuts for rich folks? It’s dismantling your union,” he said.

“The Stronger Your Voice Is, the Stronger My Voice Is”

Obama’s remarks drew cheers throughout and a spirited standing ovation as he concluded. Attendees spent the remainder of the Conference lobbying their respective members of Congress on Capitol Hill, attending educational workshops on topics such as Davis-Bacon enforcement, pension reform, and hydraulic fracturing technology, and hearing from a diverse roster of speakers that included Republican Congressmen Jon Runyan (NY) and Michael Grimm (NY), and Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis.

Rep. Donna Edwards to BAC Legislative Lunch

n May 1st, the International Union hosted its annual working lunch for more than 100 BAC Local/ADC officers and staff attending the BCTD Legislative Conference. This year’s speaker, U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards, a Maryland Democrat who represents constituents in two counties that border Washington, D.C., told BAC officers, “Your job is not to be a Democratic or Republican advocate but the best

advocate possible for the workers you represent.” When organized labor does that, she added, “It makes me a better Democrat…The stronger your voice is, the stronger my voice is.” Edwards, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, underscored the need for her House colleagues to pass the stalled transportation infrastructure bill to create union construction jobs (see update, page 7).

New Oklahoma Law Puts Kibosh on Cheating Out-of-State Contractors

s a follow-up to PR Campaign Wins Back BAC Work in Oklahoma (Issue 3-2011), the Journal is pleased to report that on May 25th, an Oklahoma bill requiring all contractors to provide employer identification numbers when bidding on public construction projects was signed into law, bringing much needed relief to state contractors that have been severely undermined by unethical outof-state contractors in the past few years.

Effective November 1st, the measure will increase penalties levied against out-of-state contractors that fail to register and crack down on employers that intentionally misclassify workers as independent contractors instead of 6

employees to avoid paying workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance, and Social Security. The bill’s genesis and eventual enactment is due in large measure to a comprehensive education and public relations campaign initiated by Local 5 OK/AR/TX/NM and masonry contractors throughout the state, alarmed by the growing loss of public construction work to fly-by-night, out-of-state contractors “who are underbidding local subcontractors by cheating the system,” says Local 5 President Ed Navarro. “Hundreds of our members and contractors spoke up and took actions. We wrote letters to the state legislators regarding the issue and worked closely

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with media to expose the unfair competition. We are glad that our voice was well heard by the business community, legislators, and general contractors.” On March 6th, Local 5 officers organized members and state masonry contractors to bring the issue to the attention of a Senate hearing at the State Capitol, where they proposed a registration law requiring all contractors to register and prove they are legitimate prior to doing any work or even bidding on work. “It’s a huge success for our members,” says Local 5 President Ed Navarro. “Together we made it happen. With the new law’s protection, BAC contractors will enjoy fairer business competition in Oklahoma.”

legislative & political update

ALEC Update

n his previous “President’s Message”, BAC President James Boland criticized the rise of the secretive group called the American Legislative Exchange Council or ALEC, which has introduced more than 1,000 “model” bills in state legislatures written by and for ALEC’s corporate members that run the gamut from targeting the rights of unions and union members to suppressing voting rights.

SHFWire photo by Chelsea Boozer

Gridlock on “Pause”

President Obama Signs Bill to Fund Jobs, Keep College Loans Affordable

ollege students, construction workers and one union president, BAC President James Boland, joined President Obama at the White House on July 6th for the signing of a bill that will channel more than $105 billion over the next two years into badly needed construction and transit projects, creating or saving upwards of three million jobs. The new law also provides relief for millions of college students by preventing the

interest rates on new student loans from doubling. President Boland remarked after the bill signing, “Finally getting this legislation through Congress and on to the President’s desk required a rare display of bipartisanship. History has proven that rebuilding our infrastructure not only puts union construction workers back to work but also revs up the Main Street economy. It was a well deserved win but we don’t intend to stop here.”

Shortly after the publication of the last Journal, Wal-Mart announced that it had ended financial support for ALEC, joining a growing list of companies, including Coca-Cola, Proctor & Gamble and Amazon that have broken ties with the unscrupulous organization. The massive corporate exodus from ALEC’s ranks promises to have a considerable effect on its revenues, of which more than 80% come from corporate contributions. In related news, Senate Democrats in New York held a hearing on June 14th to explore the extent of the group’s legislative impact in the state. Making that objective more difficult, however, is ALEC’s registration as a charitable rather than a lobbying organization, thus limiting transparency and vital information about its operations.

Pennsylvania Locals Consult on Issues and Candidates

fficers of BAC’s three Pennsylvania Locals – 9, 5 and 1 Pennsylvania/Delaware – met on June 11th in Harrisburg to discuss state and local issues affecting BAC members and to confer with elected officials and political candidates.

From left, Local 1 PA/DE President Dennis Pagliotti, Local 9 PA 2nd Vice President Tom Auman, Local 5 PA President Lester Kauffman, candidate for State Auditor General and current State Representative Eugene DePaquale, and BAC Executive Vice President Gerard Scarano, Northeast Regional Director Al Catalano, and Government Relations Director Jean-Paul Itz.

Joined by BAC Executive Vice President Gerard Scarano and Government Relations Director Jean-Paul Itz, the Local officers exchanged views with State Representatives Gene DiGirolamo (18th Legislative District) and Ed Neilson (169th Legislative District), an IBEW member, and State Representative Eugene DePasquale, now a candidate for State Auditor General. They also discussed strategies for mobilizing members for the November 4th election, and plan to meet again in late August.

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legislative & political update

Is the Eastern U.S. Prepared for Future Earthquakes?

he years he spent working with his tools and later as a Local Union officer in the San Francisco Bay area shaped BAC President James Boland’s conviction that everyone, regardless of where they live, deserves to benefit from the types of earthquake preparedness policies that have helped save lives and preserve the architectural heritage of communities up and down the West Coast. The Virginia-based 5.8 earthquake that rattled most of the eastern U.S. last August, says Boland, “was quite a wake-up call for many elected officials in the central and eastern U.S. It was also a call to action for our industry, because what’s the first thing you usually see in the news after an earthquake? A pile of bricks. And yet, a significant body of research and real-life examples confirm that when you combine seismic events and masonry, properly reinforced masonry holds up very well during an earthquake. We need to get that message out there.”

At left, Dr. Gilbert Mosqueda, an associate professor of engineering at the University at Buffalo, with President Boland at the February Executive Council meeting. Dr. Mosqueda discussed his research, which focuses on determining seismic danger and appropriate retrofit techniques to older buildings in New York City, which both he and BAC hope will yield adaptable models for other major cities.

Joining forces with IMI and noted seismic experts, Boland has met with federal, state and local officials, urging them to conduct a serious review of older, unreinforced buildings now, rather than waiting until consequences are more dire.

to direct state’s Department of General Services to create the Task Force on the Seismic Reinforcement of State Buildings to address these very issues. As a result of its deliberations, in which Boland and IMI participated, the Task Force is drawing up plans to inspect all Maryland state buildings for seismic vulnerabilities.

President Boland’s exchanges with Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley on this topic, for example, led O’Malley

Boland has urged the federal government to take similar action with federally owned or leased buildings and toward

that end, will meet in August with senior representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA, which oversees the National Earthquake Reduction Program. “A robust seismic retrofitting plan is not only good public policy, but a welcome source of work for BAC members. If we do nothing and go into another seismic event unprepared, we know masonry will get a black eye and worse, people will die,” says Boland.

Massachusetts Senate Candidate Elizabeth Warren Tours Local 3 Training Center On April 27th, Democrat Elizabeth Warren, candidate for the U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts currently held by Scott Brown (R-MA), toured Local 3 Massachusetts/Maine/New Hampshire/Rhode Island’s Apprentice Training Center in Dorchester, MA, where she discussed training opportunities with instructors and pre-apprentices. Warren observed the trainees during their craft-training sessions, consulted with them on jobsite safety issues, and even put on gloves to gain some hands-on work experience.

Boston Globe

Massachusetts Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren picks up a bricklaying tip from pre-apprentice Rodney Johnson during her tour of the Local 3 MA/ME/NH/RI training center in Dorchester, MA. 8

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“I’m a daughter of a maintenance man who has lived an American Dream. And the lesson I take from that is that great opportunities were forwarded to me. In this race right now, I am worried that these great opportunities are being taken away,” Warren told reporters after the tour. “I wouldn’t be in Washington to represent the millionaires and big corporations. I would be there to represent working families.”

safety

Local 1 Michigan Member Testifies on Capitol Hill on Silica Safety

ocal 1 Michigan member and apprentice coordinator Tom Ward’s quiet yet powerful account of his father’s five-year struggle and premature death from silicosis at age 39 when Tom was just 13, added a powerful dimension to the tragic mosaic of countless U.S. workers who have died, been injured or become ill due to health or safety hazards on the jobsite, including exposure to silica dust.

Brother Ward’s remarks came during his testimony before the full Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pension’s (HELP) hearing on April 19th on Capitol Hill called, “Time Takes Its Toll: Delays in OSHA Standard Setting and Its Impact on Worker Safety.” His personal narrative helped underscore BAC’s and the AFL-CIO’s stance that now is the time to cast aside unconscionable bureaucratic delays that have prevented the rulemaking process for a stronger OSHA silica standard from moving forward (see previous Journal article, Issue 1, 2012, “Silica Rule Update”). Ward testified, “Working men and women don’t have to die from exposure to silica. There are simple and cost-effective solutions to prevent exposure to silica dust on the job. Without a stronger standard in place including dust control provisions, however, there is nothing to compel employers to provide these simple and relatively inexpensive tools. We must act together now so our children and grandchildren are not victims.”

Committee Chairman, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), responded to the oftenexpressed concerns of industry stakeholders that stricter OSHA regulations would kill jobs, saying “OSHA doesn’t kill jobs; OSHA keeps jobs from killing workers.” For video of Brother’s Ward testimony, go to http://bit.ly/ M7Lzkl.

Local 1 MI’s Tom Ward, far right, shows an earlier family photo to, from left, U.S. Senator and HELP Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA), AFL-CIO Safety and Health Director Peg Seminario, and Celeste Monforton of United Support for Memorial and Workplace Fatalities. Ward’s father was 39 when he died of silicosis.

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safety

Safety and Health Surveys Highlight Partnership Priorities, Opportunities, Progress Through their participation in the Masonry Research to Practice [r2p] Partnership, BAC, IMI and the International Council of Employers of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (ICE) are working with manufacturers, researchers, government, and other stakeholders to make BAC jobs safer and healthier. This section of the Journal presents an update on the Partnership’s work, highlights a new campaign to prevent falls in construction, and includes reminders of simple steps to prevent work-related hearing loss and work safely in hot weather. For background on the Partnership’s work and its broader role in improving safety and health in the construction industry, visit www. masonryr2ppartnership.org.

rgonomics, silica, hearing loss, eye injuries, skin disease, and emerging issues (see “The Hidden Dangers of Cell Phone Towers” in Issue 1, 2012 of the Journal) were the subject of contractor and member surveys and discussions at the 2012 Labor-Management Craft Committees earlier this year. The survey results created a baseline for measuring the Partnership’s efforts to make jobs safer and the discussions focused attention on opportunities for improvement.

Preventing Eye Injuries 99% of Contractors said they provide eye protection How frequently is it provided/used? 74% 80%

Always Most of the Time

16% 10%

About Half the Time

4% 6%

Rarely

3% 4%

Never

1% 1%

Not supplied

Not Sure/ Depends

2% 0%

Not sure Contractors

About Half the Time

Never Not Sure/ Depends

Don’t like wearing/ nuisance

14% 16%

Rarely

47% 18%

Safety/ comfort

23% 21%

Not supplied

3% 8% 3% 0%

Not sure Contractors

44% 71% 3% 8% 0% 3% 6% 0%

Craftworkers

Contractors’ and members’ responses to questions about how frequently gloves are used were very similar, with 57% of contractors and 55% of members saying gloves are worn “always” or “most of the time.” However, when asked why gloves are not worn all of the time, contractors were more likely than members to say that it depends on the task or they are not required for the work being performed. Members were much more likely to raise concerns about not being able to feel their work or the tool they are using. 10

27% 29% 18% 12% 0% 2% 10% 0%

Craftworkers

As reported to the Craft Committees, there is general agreement between BAC members and contractors on the most significant hazards, how frequently safety interventions (such as personal protective equipment, safer equipment, etc.) are used, and what is limiting their use. These findings are significant because they indicate that both sides agree on the starting point for improving safety and health.

Why isn’t it used? Depends on task/not required

29% 20%

57%

Nine out of 10 contractors and members surveyed said eye protection is worn most of the time or always. Both groups raised durability and visibility issues as items for the Partnership to investigate.

How frequently is it provided/used?

Most of the Time

45%

Don’t like wearing/ nuisance

66% of Contractors said they provide gloves

28% 35%

Depends on task/not required Safety/ comfort

Protecting Your Skin

Always

Why isn’t it used?

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Where do you find safety and health information? Since one of the biggest challenges to making worksites safer is getting the latest information into the hands of members and contractors, both groups were asked where they go to find safety and health information. Members identified toolbox talks and the BAC Journal as the primary sources, while contractors said they often rely on suppliers, manufacturers and their insurance companies for information, including materials for toolbox talks. The majority of the contractors surveyed said they regularly hold toolbox talks and roughly four out of five believe they have a positive impact on a project’s safety perfor-

safety Ergonomics – Preventing Aches, Pains & Injuries Have used or worked on one or both types of scaffolds: Mast Climbing

41% 59% 28%

Adjustable Tower

51%

Contractors

Each of BAC’s six Labor-Management Craft Committees met in February to review the results of the Masonry Partnership’s safety and health survey of BAC members and contractors and discuss next steps. Pictured above is the Tile/Marble/Terrazzo Craft Committee in session.

mance. These results reinforce an earlier recommendation from a Craft Committee discussion that the Partnership should develop toolbox talks that are easy to access and use. In response, IMI expanded the “Toolkit” posted on its website to include a section dedicated for toolbox talks.

“These toolbox talks not only reflect our industry’s safety priorities,” says IMI President Joan Calambokidis, “but also save our contractors from having to go to multiple sources for this information and are a cost effective way to quickly share information.”

23%

Most of the Time

32%

Not Sure/ Depends

14% 13%

About Half the Time

14% 23% 15% 18%

Rarely Never

Most of the Time

23%

About Half the Time

19% 15%

Always

3% 4%

Contractors

15% 16%

Rarely

24% 28%

Never

26% 28%

Not Sure/ Depends

1% 0%

The right hand tool for the job and the worker Greatest Influence Comfort

28%

Durability

27% 21%

Cost

Vacuums 44%

Always

Mast climber and adjustable scaffolds position workers levels that help reduce their risk for back, neck and shoulder injuries – between knee and shoulder height. Fifty-nine percent of members and 41% of contractors said they have worked on or used a mast climbing scaffold on a project. In terms of adjustable tower scaffolds, 51% of craftworkers and 28% of contractors said they have worked on or used one.

Familiarity

Silica – Use of Dust Controls Water

Craftworkers

2% 0%

Craftworkers

When asked what steps are taken to control silica dust, contractors and members said that water and vacuums are used to varying degrees. Both groups said water is used most often, and almost half of contractors and 44% of members said that vacuums are used about half the time or more. To help identify effective controls, the Partnership is supporting a CPWR project to test commercially available vacuum systems for high-exposure tuckpointing operations. The Partnership is also providing input into the content of a new website on silica that CPWR is developing to help contractors and workers understand the hazard and control the dust.

Union/Trainer Recommended

Importance of Design to Reduce Injuries Extremely Not at all Not too Somewhat

60% 8% 7% 25%

Sixty percent of members surveyed described purchasing hand tools that reduce the risk of injury as “extremely” important. With the help of the Craft Committees, the Partnership is developing tool selection criteria, defining what “ergonomic” really means when it comes to hand tools, and identifying the best hand tools for each trade. “One of our plans is to increase the use of the “best” hand tools in our training programs,” says ICE President Fred Kinateder. “The thought is that if workers learn with the best tools, they will be more likely to purchase and continue to use them throughout their careers and experience fewer injuries.”

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safety

Did You Hear That?

Masonry r2p Partnership Makes Hearing Protection a Priority

f you find yourself frequently answering “no” when asked “did you hear that” you may be suffering from hearing loss. Hearing loss can be caused by a one-time exposure to an extremely loud noise, such as an explosion, or gradually by prolonged exposure such as that which occurs daily on construction sites. One study of construction workers, found that among bricklayers, for example, roughly 58% suffered from noise-induced hearing loss and another study documented that the risk of hearing loss increases the longer a person works in construction. Discussions with the BAC LaborManagement Craft Committees and surveys of BAC members and contractors undertaken by BAC, ICE and IMI through the Masonry Research to Practice [r2p] Partnership, found that although BAC contractors routinely provide hearing protection only 30% of members said that it is “always” used. In addition, the surveys found that many members do not realize they should use hearing protection even when they are not engaged in the noise-producing task. Take these simple steps to prevent hearing loss: 1. Wear hearing protection provided by your employer – if your employer

Use the Right Hearing Protection Noise is measured in decibels. The decibel scale is not linear. Each increase of 3 decibels doubles the noise, meaning that 100 decibels is almost 10 times as loud as 90 decibels. OSHA says workers should not be exposed to more than 90 decibels on average over an 8-hour work shift (and NIOSH recommends 85). To prevent hearing loss, use low noise equipment, move away from the noise, or use the right protection: 9 Ear plugs (disposable, reusable, or custom molded) 9 Canal caps (can be quickly put on and taken off ) 9 Ear muffs (easy to use, fit and keep clean) Check the Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) on the product or packaging label. The University of Washington School of Public Health suggests the following for most activities: Bricklayer: Masonry Restoration: does not provide hearing protection ask for it. OSHA says, “Your employer is responsible for selecting, fitting, and maintaining hearing protective devices and must provide them to you at no cost and train you on their use... Neither portable music player headphones nor hearing aids are substitutes for hearing protective devices.” 2. Follow the directions for using the protection provided.

Check Your Hearing Take the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders test “Ten Ways To Recognize Hearing Loss” at www.nidcd.nih.gov/ health/hearing/pages/10ways.aspx. Or use this simple self-test: 1. In the morning turn on your TV or car radio so it is just barely loud enough for you to hear. Without changing the sound level turn it off. 2. At the end of the workday, turn the television or car radio back on without adjusting the sound. 3. If you need to turn the sound up, you may have suffered some hearing damage. 12

22 decibel NRR 26 decibel NRR 3. Use hearing protection whenever you are in a noisy situation – on the job or at home – even if you are not the person generating the noise. If you have to raise your voice to talk with a co-worker who is 2 to 3 feet away, you probably need hearing protection, and if you are using one of the following tools, you need protection: Chipping gun, Grinder, Circular saw, Hand power saw, Concrete joint cutter, and Large power tools.

Hearing Protection

97% of Contractors said they provide hearing protection How frequently is it provided/used? 42%

Always

30%

Most of the Time

27% 19%

About Half the Time

Never Not Sure/ Depends

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Depends on task/not required

56% 56%

Safety/ comfort

13%

8% 29%

Don’t like wearing/ nuisance

23% 14% 17%

Rarely

Why isn’t it used always?

Not supplied

18% 11% 0% 4%

11%

Not sure

3% 0% Contractors

11% 0%

Craftworkers

safety

Stay Safe Working in the Sun:

Tips for Recognizing and Preventing Heat Illness

s work increases in the summer so do the temperatures and the risk of heat related illnesses. Working in high temperatures, high humidity, and/or in direct sun can lead to illnesses ranging from a heat rash to life threatening heat stroke. Know the Warning Signs 9 Heat Rash: clusters of red bumps that appear on your neck, upper chest, or in the folds of skin. 9 Heat Exhaustion: weakness, thirst, heavy sweating, a headache, nausea and/or dizziness. 9 Heat Stroke: confusion, very high body temperature and hot, dry skin or very heavy sweating, fainting, and/or seizures.

Take Precautions OSHA recommends three simple steps: Water, Rest and Shade 9 WATER: Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink water. A good rule of thumb is to drink 4 cups of water every hour. It is best to drink a small amount of water every 15 minutes. 9 REST: Rest breaks help your body recover. 9 SHADE: Resting in the shade or in air-conditioning helps you cool down.

If you or one of your co-workers shows any signs of a heat-related illness let your supervisor or foreman know immediately – don’t wait. If you suspect a co-worker has heat stroke – it is an emergency – call 911. If you can, move the person to a shady area, loosen their clothing, and give them water (a little at a time) and, if available, an ice pack to help them cool down. To learn more, go to OSHA’s Campaign to Prevent Heat Illness: www.osha.gov/SLTC/ heatillness/index.html or CPWR’s Construction Solutions website: www.cpwrconstructionsolutions.org, click on “Masonry, Tile, Cement & Plaster” and select a work task to learn more about heat and other hazards and solutions.

Safety Pays, Falls Cost. The best in the business play it safe.

very year thousands of construction workers are injured or killed after falling from a height. During 2010 alone, more than 10,000 construction workers were injured and another 255 were killed due to a fall. Two out of three fatal falls occurred among workers employed by contractors with ten or fewer employees. If these numbers don’t get your attention, consider this: every number represents someone just like you and could have been prevented. “Making sure that our members receive the training and equipment to prevent a fall has always been a priority for our

Union,” says Executive Vice President Gerard Scarano. “The good news is that now this issue has a national focus and I’m pleased to report that BAC is playing a role in the campaign.” Launched on April 26, 2012, the Campaign to Prevent Falls in Construction represents the first time government, labor unions, employers, researchers and other stakeholders have joined forces to address this leading cause of construction injuries and deaths.

said NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D. “Safety is everyone’s business and this campaign will provide the knowledge and tools to help contractors and workers stay safe on the job.” Toward that end contractors are being asked to:

“Through the partnership effort among stakeholders, we believe we can make great strides in addressing this preventable cause of many workplace injuries and fatalities,”

Contractors and workers can find information on how they can play a role in preventing falls at the Campaign’s website, www.StopConstructionFalls.com. This website, contains posters, handouts, training materials, and information on how organizations can join the campaign. But what is really capturing attention is the site’s interactive Construction Fatalities Maps, which provide a visual representation of the scope, magnitude, and geographic distribution of fall- and other work-related deaths in our industry.

9 PLAN ahead to get the job done safely; 9 PROVIDE the right equipment; and 9 TRAIN everyone to use the equipment safely.

To learn more, visit the campaign website, sign up to get alerts, and “Like” the Stop Construction Falls Facebook page. Most importantly, play it safe. Work safely and use fall protection.

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news in brief

Making Strides One Brick at a Time Article by Ed McMenamin reprinted below with permission of Suburban Life Publications: www. mysuburbanlife.com/features/x219194911/ Making-strides-one-brick-at-a-time

im Aikens [39-year member and President of Local 56 Illinois of the Administrative District Council 1 of Illinois] graduated from York Community High School on a Friday in 1972. The following Monday, he was working as a Local 56 apprentice for an area mason. The career decision was quick, but one that lasted. “My dad was a union house painter,” said Aikens, 57. “He didn’t really want me to go into that. So I sought another trade, and one of the families that lived in the neighborhood, (the) dad was a mason contractor.” His mason apprenticeship took three years, and in 1975, he was a trained union member – known as a journeyman – and started taking jobs. Days would begin early at 7 a.m. “Your foreman directs you where you’re going to go,” Aikens said. “He places you within various areas of the project. You move all day long. It’s repetitive and it’s heavy material, and you just go. Normally, you take a coffee break at 9:30 or 10 a.m., for 10 minutes. It’s pretty regimented; you go back to work. At 11 a.m., you take a half-hour lunch. And at 3:30 p.m., you’re done.” Once set to a specific task for the day, the work can be repetitive. But the different jobs are varied, from welding to using the saw, to putting down the first bricks that set a layout to placing bricks “one on top of two” on the line. “There’s a vast realm of work,” he said. “And the bricklayer — he can do it.”

Tim Aikens, President, Local 56 IL in his office in Elmhurst, IL.

But good luck returned, and he got in with a new contractor who provided him with steady work for the next 20 years. “I was with him from ‘81 to 2000 and I never missed time,” he said. “I worked year-round.” Aiken moved his way up to foreman, and then superintendent of several projects, he said, including an expansion of the DuPage County Jail housing.

“It was a very, very good living and selfgratifying, and the member service form the union provided very good benefits,” he said. “I always loved it and if I had to go back to laying brick on the wall tomorrow, it wouldn’t bother me in the least bit because you miss it.” In the last several years, Aiken has transitioned into union work and is now the president of the Bricklayers Local 56, based in Elmhurst.

Affrunti Elected to Chicago & Cook County Building Trades’ Executive Board

alph Affrunti, who had served as Secretary-Treasurer of Local 67 Illinois and Tile Representative of Administrative District Council 1 of Illinois since 2009 and was also Terrazzo Craft Vice President of the BAC Executive Council, was elected SecretaryTreasurer of the Chicago & Cook County Building Trades in February and took office March 6th.

He found steady work with a contractor for about eight years, he said, doing mainly commercial and industrial projects. And he started a family. Then the early 1980s recession hit. “It was really hard times in ‘81, work was really slow,” he explained. “I was off for quite a while. I did whatever I could to survive. I ran out of unemployment, ran out of health insurance.” 14

Photo by Paul Iwanaga

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Affrunti joined former Local 89 IL (which eventually merged with Local 67 IL) with past service credit for his previous membership in the Finishers International Association, becoming a journeyman terrazzo mechanic one year later. He became Secretary-Treasurer of Local 67 in 2000, serving until its merger with Local 21. Affrunti’s multi-faceted contributions to the Union were warmly acknowledged at the February Executive Council meeting by BAC President James Boland and other Council members. Pictured at the recent national Building Trades Legislative Conference in Washington, DC, from left, are Administrative District Council 1 of Illinois SecretaryTreasurer Mike Lowery, Brother Affrunti, and BAC Secretary-Treasurer Henry Kramer, a member and former officer of Local 74 IL.

news in brief

Trendells’ Road Trip Yields Treasure Trove of Plastering Tools for BAC and IMI

uring a trip to Syracuse, New York last fall with his father, IPF Board of Trustees member and former Tile Contractors Association of America President John Trendell stopped to visit his 91-year-old uncle, Albert “Bert” Trendell, a retired Union plasterer. When John and his dad, Frank, arrived, Bert led them to his workshop, where he had carefully laid out an impressive collection of plastering tools he had used during his career, including many he had personally fabricated for specialty use like cornice work. He also had tools that belonged to John’s grandfather (another lifetime Union plasterer) – some more than 100 years old! When Bert asked his nephew whether someone at the Union would be interested in having the tools for historic purposes or display, John put the question to IMI National Apprenticeship and Training Director Steve Martini. Without hesitation, Martini said, “Yes!” The affirmative response paved the way for another Trendell “road trip”, this time to the BAC/IMI John J. Flynn International Training Center in Bowie, MD. John, accompanied by his father and brother Bob (a former BAC tilesetter), his Uncle Bert and Bert’s son, Doug, arrived at the Flynn Center just before the December holidays to meet with Martini.

At last count, at least 10 Trendell family members representing five generations have been involved in the BAC trades as craftworkers or contractors. In December, two generations traveled to the Flynn Center, where IMI’s Steve Martini, center, gratefully accepted Bert Trendell’s collection of plastering tools. Flanking Martini, from left, are Bert, Frank, John and Bob Trendell. (Doug Trendell traveled with the group but is not pictured).

“During our meeting, Bert showed us many of the different tools he used throughout his career, in addition to giving a brief description and tutorial on each tool’s specific use,” said Martini, who also led the group on a tour of the Center’s facilities. Afterward, John remarked, “Everyone was really impressed with the different craft work stations and the many new and different materials our trowel trades use today.” “As Steve’s [Martini] retirement date approaches, we will certainly miss his dedication to our craft and to the training it takes to keep our industry current and competitive, while not forgetting the importance of the people who came before us,” added Trendell,

who also serves as Co-Chair of the BAC Labor-Management Tile/Marble/ Terrazzo Craft Committee. Martini is equally gracious about the contributions of John and his family to the BAC crafts. “The hand-made tools donated by Bert are being stored at the Flynn Center with other BAC craftworker memorabilia for eventual display. Besides educating us about the use of these tools, John’s uncle and father shared some great stories from the ‘old days’ about wages and working conditions. For more than a century the Trendells have given a great deal to our industry as craftworkers and contractors – they’re an inspiring BAC family success story.”

In photo at left, retired Union plasterer Bert Trendell, right, presents a float to IMI National Apprenticeship and Training Director Steve Martini, just one of an impressive array of hand-made plastering tools, pictured in photo at right, recently donated to the Flynn Center.

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news in brief

National Labor College – Tailor Made for BAC Members

ust before Dr. Paula Peinovich, the President of the National Labor College (NLC), was scheduled to speak to the BAC Executive Council late last year, she found herself searching for the meeting room. As she later told Council members, “I got into an elevator and the person getting out started to critique how the tiles had been laid on the elevator floor and how they were off-kilter. I knew I was in the right place.” After nearly two and a half years at the helm of the NLC, Peinovich, who hails from a family of union school teachers, is clearly in the right place. “Her excitement about the academic vitality of the NLC, about being a part of the labor movement, and about increasing career paths for union members is infectious,”

says BAC President James Boland, who serves on the NLC Board of Trustees. Adds Boland, “We know from regular member surveys that almost a third of BAC members have either graduated from college or have some college under their belts. For those who have completed close to two years or more, the NLC’s online degree programs, including one in Construction Management, are an affordable, convenient way to gain the credits they need to graduate and broaden their career options.” Boland encourages members with fewer college credits or those who want to get started on a college track to check out the equally affordable, online BAC University, a program developed by the IU in partnership with Washtenaw Community

“For those who have completed close to two years or more, the NLC’s online degree programs, including one in Construction Management, are an affordable, convenient way to gain the credits they need to graduate and broaden their career options.” BAC PRESIDENT JAMES BOLAND College (WCC) that grants 25 college credits to members who have completed a BAC apprenticeship program plus WCC’s Construction Supervision program. For more information and links to the National Labor College and BAC University, go to www.bacweb.org, select “Training, Education and Safety ”, then click “Education”, or contact the BAC Education Department at 1-888-8808222 ext. 3111 or askbac@bacweb.org.

 National Labor College is the only higher education institution committed to educating union members and their families, and union leaders and staff. • Fully Online Classes • Federal Financial Aid Available • Most Transfer Credits Accepted • Fall, Spring and Summer Semesters • Rolling Admission • Bachelor’s Degrees, Certificates, and More Call an Admissions Counselor at 1-888-427-8100 or visit www.nlc.edu/start

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news in brief

BAC Spreads Labor of Love for Diabetes Research

n partnership with the AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department (BCTD), BAC athletes took to the field in the annual Softball Slam held this year at Orioles Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland on May 19th and 20th. The Slam is part of BCTD’s Labor of Love annual fundraising campaign to advance the mission of the Diabetes Research Institute to find a cure for this disease that affects 25.8 million people in the U.S. After 26 consecutive years, BCTD announced that Labor of Love had raised a total of $45 million for diabetes research. Besides the Softball Slam, the 2012 activities featured a benefit golf tournament and a special “Labor Night” for union members when the Orioles took on the visiting Red Sox that included discount rates at the newly renovated Hilton Baltimore, built under a Project Labor Agreement. Staff members of the International Union, the International Pension Fund (IPF) and the International Masonry Institute (IMI) and their families and friends joined IU officers in participating in two full days of Labor of Love activities. The Captain of BAC’s softball team, BAC Executive Vice President Gerard Scarano, said, “We really enjoyed the games with brothers and sisters from the building trades. Our team showed tremendous spirit on the field and more importantly, in fighting on behalf of all those who suffer from this debilitating disease.”

IPF’s Rose Fitzpatrick displays an impressive batting stance.

Members and supporters of the BAC softball team, the Bricklayers. Kneeling, from left, Jill Lehman, Jessica Kimball and Olivia McClung; middle row from left, Justin Weller, Tim McTavish, Jean-Paul Itz, BAC Executive Vice President and team Captain Gerard Scarano, Monetta Walton, Ward McClung, Dan Smith, Susan Flaherty, Patricia Stallings, and retired Local 1 MD/VA/DC officer Tom McQuaid; back row from left, Brian Doherty, Mike Di Virgilio, Luke Lamar, Dave Elcano, Steve Nelms, Justin Elcano, Bob Arnold, BAC Secretary-Treasurer Henry Kramer, retired BAC Executive Vice President Gerald O’Malley, and Rose Fitzpatrick. From left, BAC Secretary-Treasurer Henry Kramer and Executive Vice Presidents Tim Driscoll and Gerard Scarano.

Away from his duties as Tool Sales director, Ward McClung morphs into BAC’s power pitcher on the mound.

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imi

International Masonry Institute Creating Jobs

s the construction industry continues to adjust to a new, post-2007 “normal,” the union masonry industry is also evolving to maximize job opportunities in a changing industry. Those changes include the rise in building enclosure contractors who take on the responsibility for the entire floor or wall system, including all the products that control moisture, vapor, air and thermal transfer. New products, now more than ever before, compete with traditional brick masonry. Structural systems for the support of a building and the resistances of wind and seismic forces are more complex than ever before. The growth of sustainable, green building is not just a trend, but a shift in philosophy to greater control of building performance. And finally, the very way that construction is commissioned and delivered, is changing from the old design/ bid/build system to design build, building information modeling and integrated project delivery. The quote, “if you don’t like change, you will really not like irrelevance,” has never been truer. Our masonry products and systems, combined with the infrastructure of training, research, technical services, education and marketing give the BAC and IMI a unique ability to stay ahead of these changes. Masonry has a great future in this economy, and by maximizing our advantages we can continue to maintain and even grow market share. While the entire construction economy, including masonry, declined during the recession, the market share of masonry (when you include all of our masonry products and trades) has grown. There is potential for growth in the unionized masonry market if craftworkers and contractors are open to new technologies and systems since BAC and IMI offer the opportunity for training in those areas with our traditional products as well as new products. Improving our Skills to Meet Market Demands – Building a Better Product IMI upgrade programs, developed at the John J. Flynn Center, IMI’s National Training Center, efficiently train members in a modular format. Grout Certification

Members of Local 1 MN/ND review blueprints with Tom Nagy and Mark Wickstrom of IMI at a recent session of Supervisor Certification Training (SCP) gives members the skills for working on Building a Better Industry structural masonry jobs. In fact, many Thanks to the leadership of BAC architects and engineers require in project President and IMI Co-Chair James Boland, specifications that anyone working on the union masonry industry is leading these projects be an IMI Certified Grout the way to safer buildings by encourMechanic. Flashing upgrades, rain screen aging more seismic inspections. After a training, autoclaved aerated concrete certimeeting between President Boland and fication, OSHA required safety training, Governor Martin O’Malley, the State of are just a sample of the training available Maryland established a task group that is to BAC members to maximize employnow developing the model for inspecting ment opportunities. For members wishing all state buildings. IMI-supported to become foremen or supervisors, IMI’s research at the University at Buffalo, Supervisor Certification Program (SCP) Buffalo, NY, is modeling and testing gives the skills and understanding of legal performance of multi-wythe brick and human resource issues as well as masonry structures with wood frames. jobsite management. For our contractors, These initiatives will lead to development IMI’s Contractor College Certification of retrofit techniques that lead directly to program is more necessary than ever. With more jobs for BAC members. Certificate programs in Structural IMI structural initiatives are leading to Masonry, Health, Safety and Legal Issues, more masonry projects, and research Estimating and Project Management and through the University of Illinois on many more, contractors gain the ability to hybrid masonry design opens new compete in a changing marketplace. IMI’s opportunities. With new, IMI sponsored Sustainable Masonry Certification software, and appropriate research, Program, the only subcontractor training masonry / steel and masonry / concrete program recognized by the United States structural systems are more economical Green Building Council (USGBC), allows than ever, giving building owners the BAC contractors greater opportunities to incentive to use even more masonry. get jobs that employ our members.

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imi Building a Better Delivery System Building Information Modeling, or BIM, changes the way that we design and manage the construction process. Used properly, all design decisions and changes are communicated to all parties and progress moves smoothly. To ensure that masonry wall sections, floor sections, enclosure systems, structural properties and more are included in BIM, IMI is working with a broad industry coalition to develop a road map to maximize our opportunities and make masonry as simple as possible for designers to choose. Building codes and standards continue to be a high priority for IMI. Recent successes for masonry include inclusion of self consolidating grout in codes, allowing for more efficient structural masonry. Better floor flatness requirements for tile, appropriate grout joint size limits for large format tile, support of lighter concrete masonry units through new shapes, addition of porcelain veneers to the code, are just some of the ways IMI is helping BAC members through codes work. IMI is working with the Mason Contractors Association of America on a new wall bracing document, making sure that our members work in a safe environment.

New products, including rain screen walls, air barriers, are all work opportunities for BAC, and IMI continually meets with suppliers, tests products and develops relationships for training and gaining jurisdiction for installation of these products. Supporting Membership Jobsite troubleshooting, or finding solutions for masonry problems in the field, is a major program for IMI. In a recent Ohio project, IMI Director Tom Nagy was able to show an architect how to fix a masonry high wall detail without tearing down a wall, saving BAC jobs and protecting masonry’s reputation. During a Wisconsin blueprint review, IMI Director Pat Conway was able to show an engineer how a structural masonry solution would be the most economical solution, adding hundreds of BAC man hours to a project. IMI was recently asked to sit in on the Chicago Public School Commission’s prejob reviews, helping them use masonry as efficiently as possible. Reaching the Right Audience with the Right Message On a daily basis, IMI meets with, educates and sells the union masonry

solution to the people who make masonry decisions. Early in May, IMI National Director of Industry Development David Sovinski spoke to the Mid Atlantic Regional Chapter of APPA – a group of professionals with responsibility for the maintenance of college and university buildings. The message of finding solutions and using IMI-trained craftworkers for the work paid off. Requests for follow up from Rutgers University and an on-site program from George Washington University will lead to more BAC job opportunities. Presentations to American Institute of Architects chapters, Construction Specifications Institute chapters, Building Enclosure Councils and national audiences at World of Masonry, Facility Management Associations and many more continue to open doors for BAC craftworkers. Reaching our target audience of masonry decision makers is vital to the growth of a changing and evolving masonry industry. Making the Pitch Working with building owners, developers, architects and engineers on specific building projects is the main job

Masonry wall 6’x12’x Three whytes Concrete blocks as additional weight Wood planks on top of wood joist 2x10” Bearings to simulate flexibility of wood floor Steel frame (TBD)

Bearings to simulate flexibility of wood floor

Shake Table Structural Engineering and Earthquake Simulation Laboratory, University at Buffalo. Design/Juan Aleman

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imi

The Garden Hills Elementary School in Champaign, IL.

for IMI Industry Development. When projects are still in the design stage, we can influence material and system choices and encourage specification language requiring IMI Certification and Training programs. IMI consulted with the design team for The Garden Hills Elementary School in Champaign, Illinois, BLDD Architects. The project was ultimately designed using loadbearing and hybrid masonry. IMI consulted with the architectural team on the plans and provided specification review, in house educational seminars, and engineering computer software training. As a result of IMI’s involvement BLDD now incorporates IMI in their specification by name. For additional information regarding IMI’s marketing activities please contact David Sovinski at dsovinski@imiweb.org. 20

IMI’s efforts to secure language that requires installers to be IMI-trained helps secure that work for BAC craftworkers.

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canada

Local 1 Nova Scotia Signs Reddick Brothers Masonry

ocal 1 Nova Scotia President James Moore is pleased to report the signing of highly respected Atlantic Provinces’ mason contractors, Reddick Brothers Masonry Ltd., based in Church Point, NS. Reddick brothers Joe, Paul, and Gerard established the business in 1975, which at the time, focused on residential contracting. Following Gerard’s unfortunate death in 1981 in a work-related accident, the company was incorporated and ventured into Canada’s industrial, commercial, and institutional (ICI) scope of work. Since then, they have completed various projects all over the Maritime Provinces. Originally employing bricklayers from southwest Nova Scotia, Reddick Brothers currently runs a crew of approximately 25 bricklayers. Recent Nova Scotia projects include the new Royal Canadian Mounted Police/RCMP station in Dartmouth with an estimated 2.7 million dollars in masonry work, and a new wellness centre in New Glasgow that features two ice surfaces and two swimming pools. The family-run firm has proudly integrated the next generation into its operations with Joe’s daughter Michelle running the office and son Jonathan not

only estimating but also assisting in all facets of the business. According to President Moore, Local 1 began working with the company in July

2011 and signed a trial agreement that was in force from September 2011 through April 2012. Says Moore, “During this period there was a lot of hard work and dedication by both parties to pave the way for Reddick Brothers to sign a voluntary recognition agreement on April 27th. Local 1 looks forward to working with Reddick Brothers and would like to give a warm welcome to our newest Union contractor and bricklayers on mainland Nova Scotia.”

Local 1 NS President James Moore, left, and Joe Reddick, owner of Reddick Brothers Masonry, after the company signed with Local 1 as a BAC signatory contractor on April 27th. Le président de la section locale 1, M. James Moore à gauche, et Joe Reddick, propriétaire de la Reddick Brothers Masonry, lors de la signature de l’entente en tant qu’entrepreneurs signataires BAC (Bricklayers and Allied Contractor) avec la section locale 1.

La section locale 1 de Nouvelle-Écosse signe un accord avec Reddick Brothers Masonry

e président de la section locale 1 de Nouvelle-Écosse, M. James Moore est heureux d’annoncer la signature d’un accord avec le très respecté entrepreneur en maçonnerie des provinces de l’Atlantique, la Reddick Brothers Masonry Ltd. établie à la Pointe-de-l ‘Église en N.-É. Les frères Reddick Joe, Paul et Gérard ont fondé l’entreprise en 1975. Elle était spécialisée au départ dans le secteur de la construction résidentielle. Suite au décès malheureux de Gérard en 1981 dans un accident de travail, l’entreprise fut constituée et s’est aventurée sur le marché des travaux industriels, commerciaux et institutionnels (ICI) Depuis, l’entreprise a

entrepris divers projets dans toutes les provinces maritimes. Employant à l’origine des briqueteurs du sud-ouest de la NouvelleÉcosse, Reddick Brothers embauche une équipe d’environ 25 briqueteurs. Parmi ses plus récents projets en Nouvelle-Écosse, nous comptons le poste de la Gendarmerie royale du Canada (GRC) à Dartmouth, d’un chiffre estimé à environ 2,7 millions de dollars de travaux de maçonnerie, et un nouveau centre de mieux-être à New-Glasgow comprenant deux patinoires et deux piscines. L’entreprise familiale à fièrement intégré la prochaine génération dans la gestion des opérations : Michelle, fille de Joe, gère le bureau et son fils Jonathan, en

plus de s’occuper des devis, met la main à tous les aspects des affaires. Toujours selon le président Moore, la section locale 1 a débuté son association avec l’entreprise en juillet 2011 et a signé une convention d’essai en vigueur de septembre 2011 à avril 2012. M. Moore affirme : « Au cours de cette période, les résultats d’un travail acharné et d’un grand dévouement de la part des deux parties ont pavé la voie vers la signature d’une entente de reconnaissance volontaire le 27 avril. La section locale 1 attend avec impatience de collaborer avec Reddick Brothers et souhaite réserver un accueil chaleureux à son tout nouvel entrepreneur et ses briqueteurs syndiqués de la Nouvelle-Écosse continentale.

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local compass

Local 6 Illinois Local 6 IL officers presented annual service awards to longtime members in December 2011.

Vice Chairman JoDee Benoit, left, presents 50-year member Leonida Andreina with his service award.

Twenty-five year member Daniel DeYoung, right, receives his service award from Vice Chairman JoDee Benoit.

From left, 50-year members Ronald Plesko, Kenneth Becker, and Richard Senko, and LaSalle Chapter Chair Eric Mrowicki.

Fifty-year member Jerry Scogin, left, with his son, 25-year member Randy Scogin.

Twenty-five year member Patrick Burke, 50-year member Jack DeRosso, 25-year member David Fleury, and 40-year member James Lehrmann.

Local 9 Pennsylvania

Forty-year member Kenneth Fitzsimmons receives his bowling trophy in February 2012. Brother Fitzsimmons bowled his first 300 game at the age of 78. 22

Blasé Toffolo has been a Union member since 1951, when he joined former Local 51 PA at the age of 18. He is proud to have worked on many projects throughout the city of Pittsburgh. Here, Brother Toffolo, left, is recognized by Local 9 President David “Bucky” Donkin, Sr. for 60 years of dedicated service.

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local compass

Local 8 Illinois Local 8 IL members received their service awards at the Local’s Chapter meetings in December 2011.

Champaign Chapter

Local 8 President Dan McCall, right, with his uncle, 63-year member Don McCall, left, and father, 60-year member Bill McCall.

Forty-year member Ron Coy, left, and 25-year member Tim Coy with their service awards.

From left, 40-year members Ron Coy, Bob Williams, and President Dan McCall.

Fifty-year member Leonard Nichols receives his service award from President Dan McCall.

Twenty-five year member Tim Coy, left, and President Dan McCall.

Murphysboro Chapter

From left, 25-year member Donald Charles, Local 8 President Dan McCall, and 40-year member James Baugher.

Local 8 Field Representative Roy Peebels, left, and President Dan McCall, right, present Murphysboro Chapter member Delmar Lacey with a check from the International Union’s BAC Disaster Relief Fund. Brother Lacey’s home, car, and truck were destroyed by a devastating tornado that hit Harrisburg, IL on February 29, 2012.

Look for more Local 8 IL Service Awards in the next Journal.

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local compass

Local 1 Oregon

From left, Business Manager Matt Eleazer, 40-year member Wes Swanger, Apprenticeship Coordinator Shawn Lenczowski, 40-year members Ray Cain and Ron Moore, and Business Agent Mike Titus.

Local 1 OR hosted its annual service award meeting in Portland in March.

Congressman Kurt Schrader representing Oregon’s 5th Congressional District addresses Local 1 officers and members at the Local’s service award meeting.

From left, Business Manager Matt Eleazer, Apprenticeship Coordinator Shawn Lenczowski, 60-year member Chet Dutton, Business Agent Mike Titus.

From left, Business Agent and Organizer Mike Titus, Apprenticeship Coordinator Shawn Lenczowski, 25-year member Brad Cram, and Business Manager Matt Eleazer.

Local 2 Alberta Local 2 AB held its service award dinner at the Danish Canadian Club in Calgary to honor its longtime members. Front row from left, 40-year member Wayne Walsh, 60-year member Lloyd Finlayson, 50-year members Oskar Schneider and Leo Schall, and Local 2 Vice President Brian Sinfield; second row from left, Local 2 Vice President Mike Kiegelmann, 25-year member Gregg Guilderson, Business Manager Lyle MacPherson, 25-year members Terry Gibson and Pat Bazarski, 40-year member Hans Mikkelsen, 25-year members John Van Waes and Rick Floyd, and Local 2 President Peter Homan. Not pictured are 50-year member Val D’orazio, 40-year member Abdullah Huskic, and 25-year member Marcel Thevenot. 24

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From left, Business Manager Matt Eleazer, Apprenticeship Coordinator Shawn Lenczowski, 40-year member Ray Cain, and Business Agent Mike Titus.

From left, Apprenticeship Coordinator Shawn Lenczowski, 25-year members Brad Cram and Dennis Price, Business Agent Mike Titus, and Business Manager Matt Eleazer.

local compass

Local 4 Indiana/Kentucky

Forty-year member Mike Anderson, right, receives his service award from Local 4 IN/KY Field Representative Steve Knowles.

Local 4 Field Representative Steve Knowles, right, presents 25-year member Bryan Sutherland with his service award.

Twenty-five year member Larry Wissig, left, receives his service award from Field Representative Steve Knowles.

Local 4 California From left, BAC West Regional Director David Sheppard, retired Local 4 President and 50-year member Frank Collins, Field Representative Robert Collins, retired BAC Regional Director and 50-year member John Franco, Local 4 President and SecretaryTreasurer Dick Whitney, and 50-year members Augie Reyes, owner of Reyes Masonry and Reycon Construction, and retired Local 4 Apprentice Coordinator and IMI Technical Advisor Raoul Cervantes.

Local 13 Nevada Local 13 Nevada members were honored at the 2012 Western States Apprentice Contest on June 2nd. From left, Local 13 NV President Carlos Aquin, Secretary-Treasurer Richard Crawford, 40-year member and Local 13 Vice Chairman Jeffrey Estell, and BAC SecretaryTreasurer Henry Kramer.

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usa ad?

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international funds

Supreme Court Upholds Health Care Reform

n June 28, 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the 2010 health care reform as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“ACA”). In a 5-4 opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts, the Court found the individual mandate constitutional. As a result, the Court did not consider whether other provisions of the law must be severed; thus implementation of the Act continues full speed ahead. While millions of Americans have already benefited from this law, the Court’s landmark decision means that millions more will benefit as it is more fully implemented. It means that our members will continue to be able to cover their dependent children until the age of 26, will not have pre-existing condition limitations imposed upon dependent children, will not be subject to lifetime limitations in which benefits are no longer paid upon reaching a specific dollar limit, nor will members be subject to annual limits exceeding $1.2 million or rescissions of coverage. In 2014, health plans will no longer be able to exclude coverage for treatments based on pre-existing health conditions nor impose annual limits on the amount of coverage an individual may receive. There are many other provisions that the Act provides that will continue to benefit our members in years to come. With respect to the Medicaid provisions of the ACA, the expansion of the Medicaid program survives, but the government may not withhold funding for a state’s existing Medicaid program if that state chooses not to expand Medicaid coverage. As a result, it is unclear whether states will choose not to expand their current programs, though the benefits of doing so likely far outweigh political maneuvering. “The ACA is just the first step on the path to improving health care,” says BAC Secretary-Treasurer Henry Kramer. “BAC, together with our sister unions, must and will continue to press for more and better coverage for our members and for all Americans.”

IPF Turns 40, Reaches Two Billion Dollars in Benefits Paid

une 29th marked the 40th birthday of International Pension Fund. In recognition of the historic milestone, BAC President and Labor Co-Chair of the IPF Board of Trustees James Boland and Eugene George, President of GA Masonry (Breslau, ON) and Management Co-Chair of the IPF Board, issued this joint statement:

“Today marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of the International Pension Fund (IPF) – the defined benefit plan that covers more than 92% of BAC members throughout the U.S. and helps ensure the retirement security of more than 24,000 current pensioners. IPF enters its fifth decade on the heels of another significant milestone, achieved last month when the Fund’s total benefits paid reached

two billion dollars. To date, IPF has experienced an impressive 21% jump in the number of payees and a 47% increase in benefits paid since March 2003 when total benefits paid reached one billion dollars. Despite the recent economic downturn and historically high levels of unemployment in the construction industry, the IPF Board of Trustees remains as strongly committed as ever to providing defined benefits to IPF participants and their families through efficient administration and fiduciarily responsible investments, including job-producing real estate funds, and working to achieve long term, comprehensive pension funding reform for multiemployer funds. In the proudest tradition of labor-management cooperation, the Board looks forward to many more decades of service by IPF to BAC participants.”

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international funds

Don’t Put Off Checking Your 2011 IPF Annual Statement

he International Pension Fund has mailed the 2011 Annual Statements to all participants. Each participant’s statement contains important information about hours reported by employers on their behalf in the last year, updates of past service and future service credit, and beneficiary information. It is very important that every participant review their statement carefully and notify IPF of any discrepancies or concerns. Here’s what you need to be aware of when reviewing your statement: Social Security/Insurance Number For your security, the first five numbers of the Social Security (Insurance) number have been suppressed. Future Service Credit Hours Again this year the Annual Statement shows members all hours reported to IPF on their behalf by year. This can include hours worked outside a member’s home Local, including those worked prior to the date their home Local first participated in IPF.

on the statement, the hours were either reported late or originally under an incorrect Social Security (Insurance) number. Past Service Credit

Participants may request a more detailed report of total hours reported to IPF on their behalf by month and may provide information on any missing hours or periods of disability which are not reflected in the Fund’s records. Periods of disability are not credited as past or future service, but may qualify a participant for a disability exemption for an apparent break in service.

Past service credit estimates shown on the annual statement take into account many factors including the member’s initiation date, the member’s date of participation, the Local’s date of participation, the participant’s home Local (the Local in which the majority of a participant’s employment in the International Pension Fund has occurred), and any apparent breaks in future service, which can cancel service credit.

IPF processes hundreds of thousands of transactions each year. In 2011 alone, the Fund office processed more than 550,000 report transactions from about 11,000 contributing employers. This mailing is comprised of over 45,000 Annual Statements. If you find a discrepancy in your hours or a possible delinquency, please notify the Fund office, and provide the office with check stub copies, or Local or employer records that document the missing hours, along with a copy of your statement. Hours reported or adjusted in 2011 will appear on the statement in detail, showing the work month and name of employer. If detailed hours for a year earlier than 2011 appear

IPF has taken numerous steps to improve the accuracy of participants’ estimated past service credits. A participant may request to have their past service estimate verified as part of a pension status report. This request must be made in writing. A final determination of a participant’s eligibility for past service can only be made at retirement. Beneficiary Information Your statement only shows beneficiary designations received by the Fund office. Designations made for the International Union or a Local plan will not appear. Any beneficiary changes related to IPF must be made on an IPF enrollment card or IPF change of beneficiary card. Participants whose statements do not show a beneficiary will receive a separate mailing from IPF requesting that designation. Reciprocity Since 2002, IPF has been sending and receiving contributions for traveling members under the International Reciprocal Agreement (related adjustments appear under the employer account number 297706 in the U.S. or 997706 in Canada). IPF takes pride in providing personalized service to its participants. For questions or concerns, please contact IPFAnnualStatements@ipfweb.org. To notify the Fund in writing of any discrepancies, please write to: David F. Stupar Executive Director International Pension Fund dstupar@ipfweb.org Fax: 202-347-7339

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retirees

Local 4 New Jersey Veteran Receives French Legion of Honor Medal

ovember 11, 2011 was no ordinary Veterans Day for William Tomko, a navy veteran and Local 4 New Jersey retiree. On that day he received the French Legion of Honor Medal from French President Nicolas Sarkozy during an official ceremony at the Lycee Francais in New York City for his role in two Allied invasions to reclaim France from the Nazis. The Legion of Honor was created by Napoleon in 1802 to acknowledge meritorious service to France by persons of great merit. In a letter to Tomko, the French Consul General wrote that the award “underlines the deep appreciation and gratitude of the French people for your contribution to the liberation of our country during World War II… The French people will never forget your courage and your devotion to the great cause of freedom.” Tomko didn’t think of himself as a war hero but was very touched by the honor. “I am deeply honored to be presented

Tomko enlisted in the United States Navy in February 1943 and served through January 1946 aboard the U.S.S. Barnett, a naval amphibious transport ship. On July 10, 1943, Tomko participated in the invasion of Sicily, Italy. The ship took a bomb hit with many killed and wounded by the German Air Force. Tomko was wounded and received the military Order of the Purple Heart. The Barnett limped back to Algeria for repairs while Tomko recovered in sick bay. In September, the Barnett and its crew, including Tomko, were back in action to invade the Italian mainland. Later they headed north to Scotland to prepare for D-Day, and the invasion of Normandy in June 1944.

William Tomko in his navy uniform in the 1940s.

with the insignia of the French Legion of Honor,” Tomko said. “This medal is equal to the United States’ Medal of Honor.”

During the D-Day invasion, Tomko’s mission was to get soldiers as close to the coast as possible before they were loaded into smaller boats for the landing. Afterward, the ship transported the wounded back to England and remained there until the Cherbourg Peninsular was secured.

Photo by The Westfield Leader

Retired Local 4 NJ officer William Tomko, 4th on the right, was recognized by Mountainside Mayor Paul Mirabelli and state Senator Tom Kean, Jr. (R-NJ) at the first annual Mountainside Memorial Day Parade in Mountainside on May 28th.

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retirees Two months later, Tomko went with the Barnett again to Southern France. The ship made five trips with troops to support the invasion. Later the ship returned to Norfolk, Virginia for major repairs before it headed for the AsiaticPacific Theater. On April 1, 1945, Tomko recalled the brutal combat at Okinawa, when the Barnett was hit by Japanese suicide air attacks and badly damaged. After the war, Tomko worked as a bricklayer and superintendent at the Wm. Blanchard Co. in Springfield, New Jersey. He was Financial Secretary and Business Manager of former Local 13 NJ and a Field Representative of Local 4 NJ. Tomko has devotedly served the Union for 50 years and is a proud Gold Card member. Now 88 years old, Tomko and his wife of 45 years, Maria, raised three children and have four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. On May 28th, Tomkoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heroism was once again recognized when he served as Grand Marshal of the Mountainside, NJ Memorial Day Parade.

William Tomko wears his French Legion of Honor Medal with his French-born wife, Maria, and their son Michael, also a member of Local 4 NJ.

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in memoriam

February Death Benefit Claims for February 2012

MEMBER - LOCAL UNION

BRANCH OF TRADE

Total Amount Paid Total Union Labor Life Claims Total Death Benefits Total Number of Claims Average Age Average Years of Membership

Hulsey, Clinton - 13, NV Hungler, Joseph - 08, WI

B B

60 99

21 61

Iacono, George D. - 03, MA/ME/NH/RI Inglin, Jr., Joseph M. - 04, NJ Iuppa, Gerald E. - 03, NY

FN B, CM, M, P, W B, CM, M, P

94 54 93

23 31 72

Johnson, Grant W. - 01, MN/ND

Kehoe, William G. - 04, WI Kittl, Ambrose - 21, IL Kleinow, Jr., Walter H. - 04, NJ Klitzke, August D. - 01, MN/ND

B, M, P B B CM, P, B

76 88 49 81

50 55 26 56

Lederman, Ronald D. - 74, IL Leslie, Alexander A. - 05, ON Lindberg, Jr., Oscar - 01, MN/ND Linnemeier, Herman C. - 04, IN/KY

B B CB B

76 88 77 90

54 62 46 58

Mann, Leon D. - 06, LA/MS/AL Mattaliano, Joseph A. - 03, MA/ME/NH/RI Mendel, Donald R. - 05, OH Miccio, Vincent J. - 01, CT Miller, Roger A. - 02, NY/VT Minor, Sr., Jack A. - 36, OH Mongiat, Guglielmo - 09, PA Monti, Gene - 04, NJ

B B, CM, MM B CM, P, B B, CM, M, P TL FN B

81 77 86 86 61 85 79 88

63 45 65 59 39 57 26 61

Neeck, Herman A. - 06, WI Nighswonger, Robert G. - 04, CA Norcia, Joseph A. - 03, NY Nourse, Bruce F. - 39, OH

B B, M B B

82 79 48 90

58 60 16 63

Parker, Roger W. - 09, MI Patora, Chester - 05, NY Perkins, Robert L. - 08, WI Potapczak, Adam - 04, IN/KY Pozzuto, Ernest - 01, NY

B, M B PC B B

77 80 79 85 81

59 41 55 65 28

Reese, Norman F. - 09, MI Ryczek, Thomas A. - 09, PA

B B

82 75

56 57

Sadrianna, Michael S. - 04, NJ Sanson, Christopher B. - 04, NJ Schiavone, Michael - 21, IL Scott, James L. - 05, OH Seaberg, Ernest B. - 01, OR Smith, Willie M. - 01, FL Suozzo, Michael S. - 05, NJ Sutliff, Dean L. - 08, OH Suty, Frank - 09, PA

B, CM, P B, CM, P TL B P P B B PC, CM

89 82 83 84 80 61 54 74 80

65 44 51 60 57 30 33 56 59

Tamburro, Vito C. - 02, ON Teal, Sr., Darrell G. - 05, OK/AR/TX Templin, Lorin W. - 01, MN/ND Todd, Hasting N. - 05, OH Turner, William J. - 01, OR

M B B B B, M

88 87 76 83 67

54 63 51 49 37

Ulm, Raymond - 03, NY

B, CM

Vance, David A. - 21, IL Vanyek, Glen M. - 56, IL Venturo, Jr., Leonard - 07, NY/NJ

B B FN

70 80 37

53 60 12

Wahlers, William J. - 09, WI Wall, Sr., John J. - 05, OH Wehrli, Fred W. - 09, MI White, Joe N. - 33, GA/NC/SC Wiegel, Henry - 21, IL Winfrey, Albert L. - 15, MO/KS Wright, Roy W. - 06, IL

B, CM, M, P B, M B B B B, M TL

84 83 83 62 92 86 81

57 61 54 20 65 56 49

$191,050.00 $3,000.00 $188,050.00 107 79.14 51.21

MEMBER - LOCAL UNION

BRANCH OF TRADE

YEARS OF AGE MEMBERSHIP

Accomazzo, Ernest - 03, CA Amelse, Cornelius P. - 19, WI Andersen, Louis W. - 05, OH Anthony, Fred J. - 04, NJ Arthur, Norman E. - 05, WV

TL B B B, CM, PC MM, TL, TW

88 87 96 90 80

62 48 58 65 61

Barnes, Jr., John W. - 01, PA/DE Baska, Scott M. - 01, OR Berks, Harold R. - 01, PA/DE Boldrey, Jr., Vernon - 21, IL Brisco, Sr., Paul G. - 01, MD/VA/DC Britton, Richard E. - 15, MO/KS Burwell, John R. - 55, OH

B B PC, CM B B B TL

80 35 83 83 78 79 86

61 7 42 60 50 61 60

Cataldi, Joseph M. - 01, PA/DE Catullo, Tullio J. - 21, IL Chang, Arthur C. H. - 01, HI Ciampaglio, Sr., Joseph M. - 01, MD/VA/DC Coffman, Raymond O. - 03, CA Colucci, Jay C. - 04, CA Connoyer, Maurice J. - 08, IL Cousins, Gerald M. - 01, MI

PC B M B B, M B, M B B, M

43 84 83 89 90 83 77 82

1 63 46 63 65 42 59 60

DeJulius, Sr., Joseph - 01, PA/DE DelMistro, Raffaele - 07, NY/NJ Deutman, Richard H. - 01, MO DeVita, Fiorendino - 01, NY Dial, Carl E. - 01, MO DiCristofano, Domenic A. - 21, IL DiPonio, Louis - 01, MI Dorsett, Raymond L. - 04, IN/KY Dotson, Robert E. - 01, MI Duarte, Jose L. - 03, MA/ME/NH/RI Dump, Bruce L. - 04, SD

B FN B M, B B B B B, M B, M B B

79 85 81 84 87 85 96 63 84 72 56

53 21 65 59 66 62 63 31 64 41 8

Elmore, Joseph L. - 03, WA/ID/MT

B, W

Fehr, Dietrich - 08, WI Finowski, Donald S. - 05, OH Fiorani, Nino A. - 01, MI Fletcher, William T. - 04, NJ

B B B B

71 79 91 91

49 48 63 63

Garcia, Jose U. - 18, CA Garlit, Billy D. - 01, MI Gauthier, Alfred J. - 07, OH Gazzola, Vittorio - 02, BC Giovacchini, Alcide P. - 21, IL Glatfelter, Robert E. - 01, MI Grant, George R. - 22, OH

TL B B TL B B, M B, CM

80 89 81 84 88 83 87

55 64 59 51 60 60 60

Haag, William D. - 18, MO Hempel, Vernon W. - 01, MN/ND Hensle, John H. - 21, IL Henthorne, Richard W. - 05, WV Hill, Arnold E. - 01, CT Himes, Loren W. - 04, IN/KY

TL B B B B, CM B, M

84 90 87 82 84 69

62 61 63 65 62 45

YEARS OF AGE MEMBERSHIP

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in memoriam

March Death Benefit Claims for March 2012 Total Amount Paid Total Union Labor Life Claims Total Death Benefits Total Number of Claims Average Age Average Years of Membership

MEMBER - LOCAL UNION

BRANCH OF TRADE

Adachi, Roy - 07, CN Adams, Benjamin L. - 05, NJ Albanese, Joseph H. - 09, PA Arnold, Jack L. - 07, OH Azure, Martin J. - 01, MN/ND Bailey, Eddie - 01, MI Barnett, Willis D. - 03, CA Bartolomeu, John S. - 03, MA/ME/NH/RI Baserman, Frank M. - 09, PA Binetti, Corrado - 04, NJ Boye, Robert F. - 21, IL Boynton, Robert D. - 03, MA/ME/NH/RI Braun, Eugene A. - 01, MN/ND Brienza, Pasquale - 03, NY Broyles, William O. - 04, CA Calendino, Francesco - 07, CN Calhoun, Max - 20, IL Calvello, Louis - 01, NY Campo, Alfred C. - 01, MI Cardozo, William T. - 01, FL Carline, Patrick - 01, ON Caron, Veikko J. - 03, CA Carter, II, Joseph A. - 21, IL Cestra, Raniero - 01, NY Christensen, Raymond E. - 04, CA Ciampi, Ronald D. - 01, NY Cipro, James P. - 03, MA/ME/NH/RI Clendenin, Fred W. - 09, WV Conderato, Dominic - 09, PA Cook, William T. - 08, IL Cooper, Clarence L. - 05, OK/AR/TX Crosby, Walter A. - 03, MA/ME/NH/RI Davis, Donald D. - 52, OH DeBolt, Carl A. - 03, NY DeMichiel, Pietro - 33, GA/NC/SC DeMoe, Michael I. - 01, MN/ND Denny, Terrell R. - 04, IN/KY DeSimone, John - 04, NJ Deutman, Thomas E. - 01, MO DeVuyst, Camiel C. - 01, MI Doty, Howard C. - 03, NY Duke, James D. - 15, MO/KS Dunnigan, Wilfred J. - 01, WA Dyer, Sr., Robert D. - 05, TN Eckardt, Lother - 01, NY Fabian, Robert M. - 74, IL Fagnan, Claude P. - 03, NY Fazzino, Frank A. - 01, CT Ferrier, Melvin L. - 04, IN/KY Fierce, Billy L. - 56, IL Filshill, Archibald S. - 01, PA/DE Fish, Leo N- 02, NY/VT Furlan, Bruno F. - 02, BC

TL, MM B B, M B B B, M B B, CH, CM, PC TL, MM B B B, CM, M, P, TL B B, CM, M, P B TL, MM B B B B B B B B B B TL, MM B B B B, W B, CM B B, CM TL, TW, MM B B, M B, CM, P B B B, CM, P B B B B B B, M B, M, P B B B CM, B TW

$259,100.00 $3,000.00 $256,100.00 149 79.61 50.96 YEARS OF AGE MEMBERSHIP 87 66 83 68 92 80 86 45 95 79 85 80 84 76 89 80 90 67 88 94 75 91 87 85 90 86 58 90 80 90 80 74 82 74 91 66 80 82 79 95 88 70 96 85 72 81 91 88 76 72 81 86 87

54 46 53 48 63 42 46 26 61 50 61 57 61 52 60 52 65 49 64 66 52 59 48 56 64 65 29 59 44 64 58 49 60 34 48 42 57 63 61 74 60 52 65 58 49 56 64 65 45 47 56 54 57

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MEMBER - LOCAL UNION

BRANCH OF TRADE

Gerasia, Patrick V. - 02, NY/VT Ghini, Victor H. - 02, BC Gilmartin, James - 01, NY Giusti, Ferdinando - 05, NY Glaser, Craig M. - 04, IN/KY Gryzenhout, Franciscus G. - 04, CA Guillard, Zane - 07, OH Haag, Keith E. - 04, IN/KY Hahn, Darold L. - 01, MN/ND Harris, Elliot - 05, OK/AR/TX Harte, Philip M. - 01, NY Heimsness, Arnold R. - 01, MN/ND Hofley, Gerald L. - 02, BC Hollback, Paul R. - 09, PA Holthausen, Rudolph - 05, NJ Hughes, John J. - 21, IL Joos, Samuel A. - 06, IL Kaestner, Ralph A. - 01, NY LaMothe, Jr., Benjamin N. - 06, LA/MS/AL Larsen, Harvey F. - 21, IL Lavigne, Donald R. - 06, LA/MS/AL Lee, Myron D. - 33, GA/NC/SC Leverknight, Donald R. - 09, PA Levis, Oscar M. - 05, NJ Lewis, Oscar A. - 07, OH Liegghio, Dario - 07, CN Lorenzi, James E. - 08, OH MacRoberts, Donald E. - 03, WA/ID/MT Malnofsky, Sr., Clyde E. - 09, PA Mammana, Frank - 18, CA Manoski, Laurence A. - 04, IN/KY McCarthy, Morris R. - 06, LA/MS/AL McCauley, Paul E. - 05, PA McLin, Huston - 21, IL Merchant, Douglas J. - 03, MA/ME/NH/RI Mignogna, Oriente - 01, PA/DE Miller, Leon M. - 07, OH Mockabee, Timothy R. - 01, MI Morris, Jr., Kenneth L. - 07, OH Morson, Narciso - 07, NY/NJ Mudd, Dustin L. - 04, IN/KY Narog, John - 08, OH Nelson, Wallace E. - 01, WA Nickelson, Kenneth W. - 01, WA Nix, Donald J. - 15, MO/KS Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor, Jr., Joseph M. - 03, NY Ooten, Grover C. - 55, OH Pace, Anthony L. - 01, PA/DE Pace, Jr., Paul C. - 03, MA/ME/NH/RI Paffumi, Robert A. - 01, MI Pagni, Jr., Otto S. - 21, IL Patrico, Anthony J. - 01, MO Pedroli, Joseph J. - 03, CA Phairas, Jr., Lesleigh G. - 04, IN/KY Pietrangeli, Americo G. - 01, ON Pintz, Sr., Frank J. - 13, WI Pizzimenti, Dominic - 04, NJ Polewka, Joseph J. - 04, NJ Popp, Zolton J. - 09, PA Quinn, Roger - 02, NY/VT Rackouski, Walter M. - 21, IL Ray, Sr., Charles H. - 05, OK/AR/TX Rogers, Robert H. - 21, IL Roth, Henrik - 02, BC Sarosy, Ronald S. - 05, OH Sbana, Lionel A. - 05, NJ Schima, Deryle G. - 05, OK/AR/TX Schulte, Karl H. - 04, CA

P TW B M, B B, M, RE B, M B B B B B B, CM, M TL B B, CM, P B B B B, M B B B TL, MM B B TL, MM FN B B FN B B B B B, CM B B B B FN B TL, MM B, M B, M PC, CS M, B, CM B B B B B B B B B, M B, M B, CM B, CM, P B B, M, P B B TL, MM B B B, CM, P B B

YEARS OF AGE MEMBERSHIP 41 92 97 89 24 86 86 76 75 80 85 91 81 83 88 87 76 82 85 77 82 74 83 88 82 71 94 74 88 68 80 75 86 85 69 81 70 45 63 97 31 92 79 89 73 84 67 79 69 91 80 88 83 84 84 70 85 84 81 75 84 90 83 87 76 77 68 85

6 62 65 56 5 47 58 55 20 45 62 69 53 43 64 56 51 59 68 58 63 54 60 61 58 46 22 48 53 21 42 58 65 47 38 46 19 9 15 20 12 58 61 64 43 64 24 54 29 64 62 42 60 73 48 48 48 62 59 54 64 71 54 55 57 59 23 44

in memoriam MEMBER - LOCAL UNION

BRANCH OF TRADE

Schumann, Horst H. - 01, OR Sellini, Charles P. - 01, MO Sergovich, Decio - 01, NY Seward, Jeffery W. - 08, IL Shayda, Philip - 01, MN/ND Sierocky, Jr., Alexander L. - 09, PA Skowronek, Tadeusz - 21, IL Spaeth, Warren T. - 01, MN/ND Speggen, Charles F. - 09, PA Staggs, Sherman L. - 04, IN/KY Strachan, Matthew C. - 02, NY/VT Taggert, Robert J. - 01, NE Todd, Harold A. - 07, WI Turczyn, Peter J. - 01, MI Upstrom, Walter F. - 21, IL Veneziano, Giuseppe - 01, CT Vitucci, Girolamo - 01, MB Watson, William - 05, OH Weber, John M. - 03, IA Wells, James T. - 05, TN Westrum, Donovan D. - 01, MN/ND White, John R. - 01, NE Whitney, Arthur J. - 04, CA Wilczewski, Theodore A. - 21, IL Wiley, Homer E. - 01, MO Woodford, Johnny C. - 05, OH Zitar, William P. - 03, AZ/NM

B B B PC B B, M B CS B B B B B B B, M B, M B B B, M B, M B B B, M B B B B, M

YEARS OF AGE MEMBERSHIP 81 74 81 53 94 70 91 72 86 82 87 35 87 94 91 64 68 88 81 83 78 84 81 81 83 78 79

57 57 32 21 60 45 64 47 57 57 55 11 65 65 64 16 26 47 59 65 58 60 52 63 58 59 59

April Death Benefit Claims for April 2012 Total Amount Paid Total Union Labor Life Claims Total Death Benefits Total Number of Claims Average Age Average Years of Membership

MEMBER - LOCAL UNION

BRANCH OF TRADE

Aloia, William A. - 04, NJ Barry, Wesley R. - 03, CA Batha, Armin A. - 05, NJ Beaupre, William J. - 03, MA/ME/NH/RI Becker, Jr., Philip P. - 01, NE Bertuzzi, Claude R. - 05, NJ Black, Robert - 21, IL Boban, Paul - 21, IL Bochenek, Stanley R. - 21, IL Bortle, Clayton G. - 19, WI Callaghan, Stephen F. - 74, IL Canning, James E. - 08, IL Cecala, Francesco - 21, IL Christner, Charles - 01, MD/VA/DC Cooper, Lawrence E. - 03, OH Crampsie, Daniel - 20, IL Creer, Samuel W. - 03, CA Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Agostino, Salvatore - 01, NY

B, CM, P B B, CM B B B, CM, P B B PC B, M B B B B B B, M B, M B

$151,600.00 $151,600.00 85 80.51 49.68

YEARS OF AGE MEMBERSHIP 97 86 94 77 91 78 78 89 84 79 58 78 80 80 71 75 88 76

63 65 60 48 54 47 33 60 39 60 32 53 43 56 16 39 57 51

MEMBER - LOCAL UNION

BRANCH OF TRADE

Dahlman, III, Berthel A. - 74, IL Domengoni, Donald J. - 21, IL Dudenhoeffer, Bernard P. - 15, MO/KS Evans, Raymond F. - 01, MD/VA/DC Flanders, Herbert - 01, FL Formo, Kenneth E. - 01, MN/ND Franchetti, Angelo - 01, MD/VA/DC Gilmore, Arthur R. - 21, IL Gocking, Cecil P. - 15, MO/KS Govoni, George L. - 03, MA/ME/NH/RI Hall, Walter T. - 04, CA Hargraves, Bobby H. - 01, MD/VA/DC Harp, Reinhold - 09, WI Higgins, Jr., Robert J. - 03, NY Hogseth, James S. D. - 04, CA Holly, Kenneth A. - 03, IA Hultquist, Charles E. - 08, WI Hunter, John P. - 04, IN/KY Imlay, Alexander I. - 09, MI Jocha, Zygmont - 04, IN/KY Julich, Julian N. - 03, IA Kessler, Edward A. - 09, PA King, Robert W. - 21, IL Konopka, Friedhelm - 04, CA Laberge, Hubert L. - 03, MA/ME/NH/RI Lacertosa, Antonio - 01, NY Lane, Albert - 22, OH Leeper, Jr., Warren G. - 18, MO Leuzzi, Jack - 01, PA/DE Liebhart, August - 06, IL Luciani, Jr., Basil L. - 09, PA Lufholm, Charles F. - 01, MN/ND Maffes, Reynold - 01, MI Maystrick, Donald R. - 01, NE McCarthy, Timothy E. - 03, MA/ME/NH/RI McCoy, George H. - 03, NY Mehl, Hans B. - 04, CA Moore, Melvin - 01, MD/VA/DC Moore, Stockton H. - 01, MD/VA/DC Niemi, John C. - 09, MI Papaleo, William - 02, NY/VT Patchett, Robert M. - 03, NY Politiske, Richard A. - 01, MN/ND Pontisso, Ezio - 02, ON Purdy, John A. - 04, IN/KY Raddigan, Richard J. - 03, CA Rath, John A. - 01, MO Richards, Ruben E. - 15, MO/KS Russo, Robert - 05, NJ Sanchez, Joseph R. - 03, CA Sepich, Adolph - 11, WI Stefanacci, Walter E. G. - 04, NJ Stout, Fred O. - 05, PA Swentowski, Harold F. - 09, PA Tatsugawa, Kazumi - 01, HI Taylor, Dexter R. - 09, MI Thiel, Robert W. - 09, PA Ulrich, Daniel J. - 08, IL Vargas, Salvador R. - 04, CA Walker, Sr., James L. - 01, FL Walmsley, Gilbert T. - 01, ON Warren, Wilmon K. - 03, WA/ID/MT Weckesser, Jr., Louis B. - 01, MD/VA/DC Weithman, Eugene P. - 40, OH Weldon, William E. - 04, IN/KY Williamson, Thomas J. - 04, IN/KY Yeager, David B. - 04, IN/KY

B B B, M B P B B B, CM, P B B, CM B B B, CM B B, M M, B B B B B B B, M B B B, P B B TL B B, P B B, M, MM TW B, M, W B B, M B, M, MM, W B B B P, B, CM B, CM, P B B B, M B B B, TL B, CM B, M B, M, P B PC, B B M B, CM B B B CM B B FN B B B B

YEARS OF AGE MEMBERSHIP 60 80 83 77 91 83 85 83 93 93 89 82 77 68 88 92 83 67 78 86 92 84 78 83 83 27 73 80 87 87 72 81 89 84 77 87 81 78 88 84 83 86 76 73 80 61 93 100 68 87 93 90 59 80 93 90 79 57 86 76 75 76 69 91 84 71 75

26 56 57 23 53 60 53 58 73 61 53 44 44 44 52 61 54 27 49 55 59 61 38 43 47 9 19 47 63 65 55 59 60 62 60 63 54 55 65 43 56 60 50 48 59 18 75 62 38 61 62 61 7 53 42 63 45 32 60 42 59 38 21 43 62 52 48

is s u e 2 , 2 0 12 |

Journal BAC

ISSUE 2 / 2012

BAC • 620 F Street, N.W. • Washington, D.C. 20004