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Trades & Union

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INSIDE: MURPHY ENDORSED BY UNIONS FOR GOVERNOR JOURNEYMEN AT WORK NORCROSS REPRESENTATION OF UNIONS EXPANDS IN WASHINGTON

LOCAL 19 PRESIDENT MEETS AT WHITE HOUSE

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Table of Contents – February 2017 Issue Trades & Union

VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4

FEBRUARY 2017

P. 20 Peggy Browning Fund provides fellowships for law students

$2.95

P. 2 Publishers Letter

INSIDE: MURPHY ENDORSED BY UNIONS FOR GOVERNOR JOURNEYMEN AT WORK NORCROSS REPRESENTATION OF UNIONS EXPANDS IN WASHINGTON

LOCAL 19 PRESIDENT MEETS AT WHITE HOUSE

P. 4 Gary Masino - Local 19 President meets with President Trump

P. 24 Phil Murphy – Running for governor with a pro-labor message

P. 8 Jones Family – Three generations of union workers

P. 28 Journeymen at Work – Picture essay part two

P. 12 Mike Simmons – Essay on Unionism

P. 32 Promoting the needs for grassroots involvement

P. 16 Journeymen at Work - Picture Essay

P. 38 Women’s March – a call to defend the rights of all people

P. 18 Donald Norcross – Representing New Jersey’s working families

P. 41 Pathways to Apprenticeship Programs – The other career path

Meet Our Staff Executives: Chris Ferrari -- President, Publisher Bart Mueller -- Chief Strategic Advisor Gus Ostrum – Lead Content Editor Bret Mueller – Sales Manager

Journalists: Lynda Hinkle, Esq. Ken Shuttleworth Kevin Callahan David Spector, Legislative & Government Relations

Photographers: Curt Hudson Joe Warner Mike Plunkett

Graphic Designer: Amanda Ferry Cover Photo: Curt Hudson

Executive Offices Executive offices can be contacted via email at chris@trademediallc.com Volume 1 Issue 4 February 2017 Copyright 2017 Trade Media LLC

From the publisher: Right to work fight ahead of us It’s been two weeks since the new administration has taken office and we have several battles looming.

As executive orders flew out of the White House Oval Office, National Right To Work (RTW) legislation was being drafted.

Currently, about half the country has Right To Work laws on the books. This anti-workers policy is dangerous on many levels and is designed to reduce workers rights, adversely affecting their ability to negotiate and diminishes compensation and workers’ benefits.

On February 2, 2017, Congressman Steve King (R), representing Iowa’s 4th district, and Congressman Joe Wilson (R), representing South Carolina’s 2nd district, introduced National Right To Work legislation. Their proposal seeks to extend Right To Work to all states that currently do not have it.

If passed into law, this would be most damaging for workers and will set the American labor movement back decades. With a Republican controlled house, we have a difficult uphill battle ahead of us to stop this from becoming a reality.

Congressman Donald Norcross (D) from New Jersey’s 1st district has gone on record opposing this legislation. The only member of Congress that is an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW Local 351) member, Norcross has vowed to vehemently oppose this legislation.

However, even with Norcross’s unwavering support, the fight will be difficult. Proponents claim it is not an anti-union measure. They claim it simply enables individual workers to pick a path and decide whether or not they want to join a union.

But this law doesn’t address all of the issues that come with workers who are not union members. One of the most important is training and education. To become a union journeyman, you must complete an apprenticeship. That training in the building trades, especially in the mechanicals, takes anywhere from four to five years.

Safety is a major focus while going through apprenticeship training. If passed, the law would have far reaching impact on our communities. Construction standards would be minimized. Workers’ pay would be lowered, ultimately leaving them less to spend and affecting the local economy.

The time to act is now. Union members need to be heard and work to stop this dangerous and invasive law. Ban together, contact your local Congressional Representative and have your voice heard.

I hope you enjoy our latest edition of Trades & Union Digest. We are always looking for ways to improve upon it. Please support our sponsors and if you have any feedback at all, please email me at Chris@Trademediallc.com Thank you!

Chris Ferrari

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Union leader meets with Biden and Trump Gary Masino Urges union members to get involved

By Lynda Hinkle, Esq.

A

week before the November 2016 election, the Sheet Metal Workers Local 19’s President and Business Manager Gary Masino was in the unusual position of being briefed on how to handle a matter of national security; specifically a visit by Vice President Joe Biden to Local 19’s Union Hall overlooking the Delaware River in Philadelphia.

The Union leader had come out strong for Hillary Clinton and, just five years into being President of the Local, he’d made enough of a national name for himself to draw the Vice President.

But in January of 2017, the new President Donald Trump – though he was not initially supported by the union – also recognized Masino’s influence by including him in an exclusive, hour-long meeting with union leaders. It was one of his first official meetings as President.

Masino recounted the President’s ambitious vision for job creation. Citing his background as a developer, Trump expressed his desire for a robust infrastructure improvement plan and to bring auto, industrial, and steel manufacturing back to the United States. He told the labor leaders that he felt that labor has long been excluded from the White House, and that he intends to change that.

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“He told us, ‘you don’t think I’m a labor guy, but in 4 years you’ll see I’m a labor guy,’ ” Masino recalled and also noted that President Trump asked the labor leaders to submit ideas for potential infrastructure projects.

Terry O’Sullivan, general president of LiUNA , who also endorsed Hilary Clinton, said their union “felt great” about the White House meeting. “We’re looking forward, not backwards,” he said.

Masino cautiously agrees, noting the President’s assurance that he has no intention to harm labor.

Along the campaign trail, Trump endorsed right-to-work legislation saying, “I like it better because it… is better for the people. You are not paying the big fees to the unions.

The unions get big fees. A lot of people don’t realize they have to pay a lot of fees. I am talking about the workers.

They have to pay big fees to the union. I like it because it gives great flexibility to the people. It gives great flexibility to the companies.”

However, in this meeting, Masino said the President reassured the labor leaders that right to work legislation is not on his agenda. Despite those reassurances, Masino urges rank and file members to get active to protect labor under the new administration.

“They need to get involved at all levels and trust in their leadership, and if their leaders aren’t inspiring them, they need to take a hard look at that,” Masino said.

He is emphatic that the true source of labor’s strength is its membership, but recognized that it is the labor organization’s responsibility to encourage its members to stay engaged with politics and policy discussions.

Masino puts his time where his mouth is when it comes to community service. He was honored to be appointed to the Delaware River Port Authority [DRPA] Board in 2016 by Governor Wolf, after having previously served on Philadelphia’s License & Inspection Review Board and zoning board.

He says he wants to “make sure we are spending the money responsibly” and return the DRPA’s focus to “infrastructure projects that would be great assets to Pennsylvania and New Jersey,” like expanding the PATCO speed line in both states.

Other than the DRPA, Masino serves as a General Vice President of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers. He is the current President of the Pennsylvania State Council of Sheet Metal Workers; President of the Mechanical Trades District Council of the Delaware Valley; and Vice President of the New Jersey State Council of Sheet Metal Workers.

He is also serves as an Executive Board Member of the Pennsylvania State Building Trades and the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO; as a member of the Metropolitan Association of Presidents and Business Representatives; and Co-Chairman of the Health and Welfare Funds, Joint Apprenticeship and Training Council, Scholarship Fund, and Sheet Metal Industry Advancement Committee of Local 19. Somehow, he also manages to be a husband and father of five.

Asked what his goals are for Local 19 for 2017, Masino continues to echo his message of community participation: “With the help of my Business Agents and Organizers, who I feel are the best team of officials on the street these days, I intend to grow my union and its membership and to get more involved with local and statewide politics.”

He has already taken concrete steps toward that goal. After he was elected just over five years ago, Masino began growing the union’s political action fund and placing greater emphasis on political involvement. He notes that apprentices are required to devote twelve days each year to political activism and community service, and that “election day is a paid holiday for us, so I can put 500 to 1,000 people anywhere.”

Masino is proud of the progress Local 19 has made, saying “our goal is to grow and get better, and we’ve moved the needle a lot in a short time. Politics is a very dangerous game. We intend to excel by working hard and staying loyal.”

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The Jones Family: Three generations of union workers

By Kevin Callahan

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eon Jones returned to Mt. Holly from the Korean War with a Purple Heart. The distinguished military medal was awarded after he was wounded in action. Those same caring hands Jones used to protect his country while serving in the Army would soon be used to provide for his family.

Jones, who now lives in Southampton, became a union bricklayer soon after he returned to the United States in October of 1952 and he spurred three generations of his family in the trade.

He has worked laying bricks with his grandsons and his son.

When asked if he ever passed on tips, he said, “to just work hard.” When asked who is the fastest bricklayer, he said, “Well, you know I am.”

And do you have the strongest grip still, too? “Yeah right,” Leon Sr. answered.

Leon Jr. is now a Bricklayers Local 5 union leader. He also recognizes the physical benefits he received for over three decades now. “That’s another thing with the brick layers, you do have quite a grip,” Leon Jr. said with a laugh.

Leon Jr. joined the union in June of 1982, starting as an apprentice. He plans to keep going strong like his dad. “My father built a brand new house when he was 72,” Leon Jr. said. “He still pours concrete and splits firewood. He is in great shape.”

Leon Jr. 55, lives in Easthampton. He attended Rancocas Valley High School before joining the bricklayers union and building for a living.

“Never, I could’ve never imagine it,” Jones said if he ever thought his son, Leon Jr., and two grandsons, Kyle and Lance, would follow him. “It’s nice,” Leon Sr. said. “It’s great.”

The Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Union of New Jersey (BACNJ) represents trowel trades workers, including bricklayers, stone and marble masons, cement masons, plasterers, tile setters, terrazzo and mosaic workers as well as pointers, cleaners and caulkers.

Leon Sr., who is 88, retired in 1994, but he stays active with those giving hands. “I still do mason work,” Leon Sr. said. “I’m very lucky. I’ve built four houses.”

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“I’m very proud, my father taught me the trade,” Leon Jr. said.

“I’m very proud and very humbled that everyone is working in the trades and working with their hands and for everyone to be given the opportunity to join the union because it has been a very good trade for my father, myself and now my boys, especially with the benefits, the health care and the pension pretty soon.”

Leon has two sons who are bricklayers and one who is an IBEW member. His son Kyle joined the union in September of 2004. Kyle, 32, lives in Lumberton. He also went to Rancocas Valley High School.

“It has helped me a lot,” Kyle said about working in the union.

“To have steady work and to do what the family did.”

The youngest of Leon Jr.’s three sons Lance, 28, is a member of Local 7, the tile setters, and he lives in Maple Shade. “It’s a family tradition, it feels like a legacy in the family,” Lance said.

Like his brothers, Lance is very proud of his grandfather. “I’m hoping to do all that when I’m my grandfather’s age,” Lance said about his grandfather’s active building life after retirement. “He’s someone to look up to.”

Meanwhile, Jason Jones, who is the mayor Mt. Holly, is a member of I.B.E.W. Local 269 out of Trenton.

holding the block and brick,” Lance said.

When asked if he could lay bricks faster than his grandfather now, Kyle laughed and said, “I don’t like it, he makes me look bad.” Well, can you beat your grandfather in arm wrestling?

“I don’t think so,” Kyle said.

What the three generations of Jones know is the union work has been good to them and their families for three generations now.

“I feel very lucky” Leon Jr. said, “very blessed,”

“I grew up doing little jobs with them and my grandfather has built every house he has lived in and we always subbed out the electrical and that was something that interested me because it was something I never got to learn,” Jason said.

Jason, 35, entered the Local 269 after graduating from Rancocas Valley, enrolling in a five-year apprenticeship program and training as an electrician. The Mt. Holly resident certainly holds a lot of respect for his bricklaying brothers, father and grandfather.

“It’s not an easy job, they don’t get a lot of inside work, they battle the weather so for them to be able to do it as long as they have and provide for their families is pretty remarkable,” Jason said.

With his three sons all graduating from Rancocas Valley, it is fitting that Leon Jr. worked on the school’s renovations.

“I was very proud to build the performing arts center and the gym there,” Leon Jr. said about working with D’Andrea Masonry out of Berlin.

Jones Jr. spends most of his time at the Bricklayers Local 5 offices on Route 206 in Bordentown. He has been a field representative for the last 12 years.

As a family, the Jones give back to the community and unions. “We do a lot of volunteer work,” Jones Jr. said.

“We’re working at the Florence Fire House with a 911 memorial.”

When asked if he would like to follow his father into a leadership role, Kyle said, “Possibly down the road.”

Lance said he promotes working in trades. “I just talked to a couple of friends of mine,” Lance said. “I explained to them the excellent medical and the pension you’re able to get when you retire.”

Lance recalled he was around 11-years-old when he realized his grip was stronger than his friends because of working with his father and grandfather. “You get that firm grip from

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Despite membership decline, union leader’s son sees a bright future

By Gus Ostrum

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ike father, like son. Michael Simmons, 18, a freshman at Rowan College at Gloucester County (RCGC) and a Washington Township High School graduate, knows all too well the positive influences that union membership has had on his own family while growing up in South Jersey.

The son of airlines union representative Gil Simmons, Michael has witnessed the hard work and good deeds that local members continually provide to their families and to the community.

But when Michael decided to submit an essay on unionism to IAM Local 1776 representatives in the summer of 2016 as part of a scholarship competition, he found some alarming trends in his research.

Although his findings surprised him, Michael Simmons easily saw the positive aspects to his research.

“All of this appears to be from a lack of knowledge of who the unions are, what they do, and the benefits of union membership,” said Simmons, who is studying finance and accounting in his freshman year in college. “All of these are fixable problems. Unions have played a great role in the American labor movement, and they must work harder to promote their benefits.”

His essay submission earned him a scholarship along with some admiration from his Dad, Gil Simmons.

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He knows all too well the need for unions to stay current with the times.

“Unions must continue to evolve and never stop promoting themselves,” he said. “They must stress the benefits of union membership, especially to young workers. And they must use all modern social media channels to spread the word.”

He also stresses the same points about involvement that his son communicated in his essay.

For instance, membership nationally in unions has dropped to a low of less than 7% from a peak of 35% in the 1950s.

He also found that union membership suffers from negative connotations and at times appear irrelevant in the American workforce.

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Gil Simmons, Assistant General Chairperson for International Association of Machinists and Aerospace (IAM) District 141, has represented unions for 10 years including 6 years in his current position. He represents union employees for a variety of airlines – including American, Spirit, Hawaiian, and Philippine Airways among others – in nine U.S. markets.

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“If unions are to see any real change, they must be active on the political front,” Gil Simmons said. “Union members must run for public office and be involved in the political process. It’s the only way you will see any major changes occur on a societal level.”

Gil Simmons notes that today it is harder for locals to organize and grow a base of members.

“Many companies make it hard for workers to organize, and the information on unions simply isn’t available to these young employees,” Simmons noted.

But once again, his son Michael Simmons points to a bright future for unions, albeit one that will need plenty of hard work and perhaps even some image building.

“From what I have always seen, union members do great work both in the corporate world and in the community, and that’s not going to change,” Michael Simmons said. “Labor unions just need to spread the word about all of their good work and build upon a positive image.”

Essay on Unionism

By Mike Simmons

In the 1950s workers unions were at their peak, with 35% of employees involved in a union. In the year 2008 the number dropped almost two-thirds to 12%, and now the number is less than 7%.

During the 1950s President Eisenhower was pro union and made promises to the American workers that he would defend working men and their rights. These promises led to him being voted in and also to an even more increased knowledge on unions and a positive public image. The decrease in membership began in the 1960s when legislation began to limit union activities. Today, the main reason for this alarming decrease is rooted in our political system. Other reasons include a bad public image and unions appearing to be irrelevant.

In today’s time, many young workers do not know the benefits of union membership or do not even know if their employer has available unions. If unions are going to gain relevance in today’s world, political candidates with strong union backgrounds and associations must be voted into office. This will help unions gain members and increase membership percentages. Parents can talk to kids who are of age to introduce them to the importance of unions and voting for someone who supports them. Also, local unions should encourage local high schools to hold assemblies with seniors, since they are of age to vote, to support union candidates. If unions can spread the word to youth about their importance, then there will be an increase in the 7% involvement in union membership.

Another major problem that unions must deal with is a negative public image. People are simply unaware of the positive activities union members engage in, such as food drives, clothing drives, and parades. A way that unions can gain positive attention is to promote their organizations through modern social media channels and television. That is where most youth spend their time and that is something that a union can use to increase the knowledge of what they do to improve their community. Just simple things such as a Twitter page or a Facebook account can get the word out of their good work to thousands or even millions of people.

On top of these big issues, there are also smaller, fixable problems that unions can address. These include a problem of high costs for labor unions. Many economists found that when businesses lack economic prosperity, the cost on top of not making a profit can lead to the demise of a company. If unions can find a way to lower costs then this will not only make them more attractive to companies, but will help their public image in the minds of economists and everyday people. Also, workers don’t come to unions because they feel the government will deal with their problems in the same manner unions would, but without paying union dues.

Unions must start promoting the services they provide that the government cannot when dealing with problems in the workforce. The government cannot regulate every business in the country and the need for unions is everyday protection that the government can’t give to every worker. Last but not least, unions must be strong and promote the message that the labor movement is strong. Unions must not work to simply have laws passed legislatively because unions are not doing well. They will not see an increase in workers joining unions by sitting back and allowing critics to slander unions with untrue accusations without fighting back.

Current union President Chris Shelton is pushing in the right direction as he has made his message loud and clear to stay together as a union and not turn their backs on each other. With this attitude and everyone following in line behind him, the numbers will start increasing. With the large numbers of Latino workers on the west coast, the union numbers have already started to creep back up.

With the multiple points I’ve made above and supporting the leadership, things will most definitely turn around. www.sjunions.com

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Local 399 Iron worker Lamar Shafer

Local 399 Iron Worker Cliff Lashley

Journeymen

At Work: Plumbers Local 24 Superintendent Joe Broxmeyer​

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IBEW 351 Electrician George Price

Union Members working to build Stockton University’s new Science Building UA Local 322 Plumber Foreman Denver Westphal

IBEW 351 Electrician Chris Blankenship

UA Local 322 Business Agent Fred Green

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Congressman Norcross leading the charge for workers in congressional committee appointments

By Lynda L. Hinkle, Esq.

C

ongressman Norcross of the 1st Congres-

sional District has been appointed to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce for this term, as well as to the House Armed Services Committee. He also has the honor of being reappointed as Assistant Whip and appointed to the United States Congressional Steering and Policy Committee of the House of Representatives, a Democratic leadership committee.

Regarding his service on the Education and Workforce Committee, Norcross said, “It’s an honor to represent New Jersey’s working families on the Education and Workforce Committee. This is a continuation of my lifelong fight to defend hard working men and women and make certain that every person has the dignity of a good paying job. I’ve built bridges and buildings across South Jersey, and now I’m working to build bridges in Washington – by working with both sides of the aisle to fight for policies that put American workers first.”

Congressman Norcross expects to be named to the subcommittees on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and Workforce Protections . He says, “This is like going home, being in my wheelhouse. They talked already about more accountability from unions and I’m there to share with them that Unions have a considerable amount of oversight already but there needs to be a balance. I am the only business agent ever to be elected to Congress, so I’ll have a unique perspective to bring to these discussions.”

Asked about right-to-work legislation moving forward in this term, Congressman Norcross states, “It’s always on the minds of a core group of the far right…We’ll be looking to allies who have been with us and continuing to fight.”

National right-to-work legislation was introduced to Congress on February 1, 2017 by Iowan Republican

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Steve King, and Norcross immediately responded, saying, “This bill is an attack on American workers in all 50 states. It will cut wages and make retirement less secure for millions of workers… [who] want the dignity of a good job, a safe workplace, and a decent paycheck. We should be fighting to support them – but this anti-worker bill would make those goals harder to reach for every family.”

Regarding the concerns of many with the unpredictability of the Trump Presidency, Norcross states, “With any new administration there are people questioning which way things will go, but this administration takes it to a whole new level. It’s going to be a wild ride and I am glad I can be there to represent the working men and women of my district.”

The Peggy Browning Fund makes an impact on labor

By Kevin Callahan

T

he name of Peggy Browning was certainly well known two decades ago, after all the prominent labor attorney was a member of the National Labor Relations Board. “She was appointed by President Clinton to be on the National Labor Relations Board in Washington,” said Joe Lurie, her husband. “She was the first unionside lawyer to have that honor.”

When Browning passed away in 1997, Lurie kept his wife’s name alive and nationally prominent as he created the Peggy Browning Fund. “I wanted to do something to honor her and memorialize her,” Lurie said.

The Peggy Browning Fund is a nonprofit organization that places law school students in fellowship positions across the country.

“The mission of the Peggy Browning Fund is to educate law students to the rights and needs of workers,” Lurie said, “and to try and instill in them a passion for workplace justice.”

The Peggy Browning Fund also aims to promote students entry into the public interest labor law practice.

“In 2017, we will be probably placing 80 students in paid fellowships nationwide,” Lurie said. Our core program is a summer fellowship program where law students are placed in different positions as paid fellowships. They can work for unions, for law firms or work for workers’ centers and they do that. We have a big operation.”

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Bryan Bush, the business agent from Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 19, said his union has been involved with the Peggy Browning Fund since 1997. “We bring the fellows to as much as we can,” Bush said. “We bring them to picket lines, to elections, we try to show them as much as possible so they have a better understanding”.

“One thing people don’t understand is how unionized labor works. I see the benefits of just sharing that knowledge with each individual that comes through there.”

Lisa Eisenberg is currently a law student doing her fellowship with Local 19. “She is a phenomenal person that came through this internship,” Bush said. “We didn’t have to teach her much. She just took a hold of it and ran with it. She was really, really good.”

One of her roles is assisting union officials on checking for certified payroll on prevailing wage jobs. “She just really took to it,” Bush said.

“She had to file appeals, write letters and contact certain facilities for this information. It’s good to have that assistance.” Eisenberg, who is from Philadelphia, is a thirdyear law student at Drexel University.

The summer fellowship programs help to increase the understanding of the current issues workers face.

“With that 10-week experience, we try to inspire them to be-

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come advocates for workplace justice,” Lurie said. “It’s very impactful because we’ve had about 800 law students go through our program and two thirds of them are presently working in the labor movement or working in public interest law. That’s an impact. But I’m very concerned that work has to be done and the funds have to be raised to make the program work.”

www.sjunions.com

“The Peggy Browning Fund has helped me enormously,” Eisenberg said. “Without the fund I would not have had the opportunity to work with Local 19. My work with Local 19 has been unbelievable, both fulfilling and an amazing professional

development opportunity. It has been an amazing learning experience. Without the fund it would’ve never had happen.”

She has worked with Local 19 for the last two years. “My intention has always been to go into union-side labor law,” Eisenberg said. “When I went to law school I knew I wanted to do union-side labor law so applying for the Peggy Browning Fellowship was a pretty natural fit for me.”

have until Jan. 15 to apply. The law schools cooperate with us in publicizing the program,” Lurie said. “Not everyone applies, but the ones who want to work for workplace justice apply.”

The Peggy Browning Fund also provides networking opportunities. In addition to the summer fellowships, the program offers an annual National Law Students Workers’ Rights Conference in October.

Bush feels the fellowship program is beneficial for everyone involved. “The Peggy Browning Fund actually helps show individuals that want to get into an attorney position, even if they are questionable if they want to be a labor attorney, something like this can actually show them what it’s about,” Bush said. “I think it helps them appreciate it even more.”

“We have about 160 law students from all over the country who attend,” Lurie said. “We also do what we call regional workshops where we have programs at law schools all over the country and this year we had 12 of those regional workshops.”

The Peggy Browning Fund’s website has a list of fellowship jobs with job descriptions. “We have a lot of law students who make applications each year,” Lurie said. “It’s very competitive. We usually have between 400 and 500 applications a year and we are able to place 70 to 80 of them. “Most of the law schools in the country participate in our program. A lot of the big ones do, Harvard, Penn, Yale, the University of Chicago, Michigan, the top law schools in the country, and I guess we have about 140 law schools that liaison with us.”

Lurie explained the colleges distribute the job descriptions that are available. “We list the jobs in December and the students

All these programs, of course, cost money. This year’s Peggy Browning Fund’s Philadelphia Awards Reception is March 7 at Penns Landing Caterers. The dinner recognizes leaders in the region for their achievements on behalf of workers.

The reception begins at 5:30 p.m. with cocktails, networking and a buffet. The awards ceremony begins at 7:15 p.m.

The evening is also a big fundraiser. “Absolutely,” Laurie said.

“We need that money. The support of the labor movement will insure that our two decades of triumphs are merely the beginning. Together, we’ll inspire another generation to dedicate their skills to changing the lives of working people.”

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Phil Murphy picking up endorsements with Pro-Labor message

by Lynda L. Hinkle, Esq.

L

ast November, at a special cocktail party hosted by them at the League of Municipalities at Borgata’s 28 West, Phil and Tammy Murphy stood at the door, greeting a who’s who of the labor community with handshakes and hugs, submitting to seemingly endless photo opportunities.

As the party reached its ebb, Murphy’s staff thanked the many unions represented at the event and introduced their boss. Murphy stood at the center front of the room, orchestrating his signature large hand gestures as he made his appeal for statewide Union support.

“I’ve said this so many times, this is a state where so many of us – ourselves, our parents, our grandparents, our aunts, our uncles - walked through the labor door to the middle class,” Murphy said. “That’s the door through which most of us in this state have achieved our aspirations and the best of our days.

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“We have a governor who has turned his back, who is not leading this economy - it’s flat as a pancake, profoundly unfair. We need someone who knows how to grow the economy and putting organized labor at center stage in all of that – I commit to you that I will be that guy.”

“But I want you to know one other thing - we are not taking one vote for granted. We are there to present ourselves, but most importantly to listen. We are going to get there together. But based on what happened last week in America [the election of Trump], not only is that a wakeup call, but as luck would have it, the long road back for America will begin in New Jersey.”

Before and since that cocktail party, Murphy has been endorsed by several unions including the NJEA, FMBA, PBA, LiUNA, Northeast Carpenters, Teamsters Joint Council 73, IFPTE Local 195, Operating Engineers Local 68, ILA, CWA, New Jersey Council of Sheet Metal Workers, and RWDSU among many others.

He also recently received the endorsement of Senate President Steve Sweeney, who said, “I think that Phil shares a lot of the ideas that I would have pushed for had I run for governor. I’m going to work with him and do everything I can to help him.”

On a rainy January day, having locked up all those endorsements and becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee for Governor, Phil Murphy articulated some of those ideas, reiterating his message from November.

“If we believe this is a middle-class state, we have to remind ourselves that the organized labor door is the door most of our families walked through into the middle class,” Murphy said. “It is one of the most significant tools we have for building our economy. This governor has forced us into an us vs. them paradigm and it’s a false paradigm. If working men and women are treated fairly, it’s good for the overall economy and society. When we pay prevailing wages, and enforce them, when we sign Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) and enforce them, when we have strong rules for classification of workers and enforce them, the entire state and society are better off.”

Murphy also supports an increased minimum wage, equal pay for equal work, improving child care credits and developing our infrastructure to create jobs.

“We have to get this economy infrastructure focused again,” he explained. “We used to be a state that was really good at that, we took smart risks and we’ve gotten away from that. We have to find the money and we have to have a governor who understands that part of the economy and how essential it is, and know how to propel it.”

When asked why he thinks so many labor unions have endorsed him, Murphy said, “I’ve asked myself that a lot. I think folks have concluded that I not only stand for the right things, but they believe me and trust me. I am who I appear to be. I’m a deal’s a deal kind of guy and I think people believe that. It’s at one level easy to say the right things, but a given union, before making an endorsement, has to see proof that a person is what he says he is. I will be a leader that believes that organized labor is at the core of a successful middle class in New Jersey. It’s been hollowed out, and I want to be the guy that restores that.”

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SMCA members are involved in HVAC, architectural and specialty sheet metal, testing adjusting and balancing (TAB) systems, Fire Life safety testing and LEED and Green installs. SMCA and Local 19 are leading the effort to update older systems with newer, greener HVAC systems that use less energy, are more efficient and cost effective in order to provide “Clean air solutions” so everyone can breathe better.

SMCA members are your source for all sheet metal projects - give one of our members a call today!

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To learn more about SMCA and Local 19 Visit www.smca.org or call 610-828-4055

Journeymen At Work 2

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13 1) Joe Kane, Journeyman (standing) and Chris Lipenta (foreman) 2) Scott Stintsman 3) Paul Trush 4) Keith Oakley Sheet Metal Workers #19 5) Markullis Rivera Bricklayers Union #5 6) Bill Gibison (Steel Workers Union #399) and Bob Sorge (Union affiliation unknown) 7) Stan Giercyk Sprinkler Fitters Union #669 8) Walt Aristone Carpenters Union # 255 10) Mike Hightower (Laborer Union) 11) Bill Gibison 12) Barry Adair South Jersey Carpenter’s Union #255 13) Steve Zimmerman, AJ Norbert and Russell Wilson (Sheet Metal Workers #19)

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Promoting the need for grassroots involvement in community and political involvement

By Gus Ostrum

M

embers of Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 turned out by the dozens on Saturday, January 28 to participate in a workshop that promoted a familiar but critical message pertinent to their working careers – and the message was delivered loud and clear by a trio of experienced pro-union educators.

Participating in the workshop at the Local 19 headquarters in South Philadelphia were South Jersey attorney Lynda Hinkle, local government affairs expert David Spector, and former Camden County Freeholder and radio personality Tom Gurick.

A sample of topics covered by the trio of speakers to the Local 19 members included the following: • Types of political and community offices that need local participants.

• How to fund raise and declare your platform if you do decide to run for political office.

• How to use social media and other communications channels to deliver your union’s message in an effective manner.

• How to mobilize potential voters in your community • How to handle crisis management situations if you do hold an elected office.

• A list of other organizations that need community involvement (such as Rotary, Lions Clubs, youth sports leagues etc.) and how this involvement benefits unions.

• Union resources that are available to assist members who are considering running for local offices.

“There are many ways to get involved, and a grassroots effort helps union members get the conversation started on projects that are beneficial to all of us,” said Spector, Director of Government Affairs for Hinkle Law. “Usually when we make a presentation like this to our union members, their reaction is: “Hey, I had no idea that I could get involved and have a say in the process. Quite often, we only hear about our federal legislators, and we don’t realize we could be running for local offices such as a town council or a school board position.”

Spector points out that civic participation is a boon to mem-

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bers and their unions for a variety of reasons, including a stronger voice in local activities, encouraging higher levels of voter participation, and the chance to engage in the democratic process, not to mention the opportunity to assist community members in need.

“The strongest unions and their members are the ones who are involved in their communities, there’s no question about it,” said Spector. “We encourage our local union members to take a chance, become involved. And your officials at your unions will be available to provide you the resources you need to succeed.”

Michael Guinan, Business Agent for Sheet Metal Workers International Association Local 19 in South Philadelphia, helped to organize the workshop for his members and gave a thumbs up to the presentations by Spector, Hinkle and Gurick.

“We want to promote the message of getting involved and staying involved,” said Guinan in an interview. “Both the union member and the union itself will benefit. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to get our message out and to let the public know our points of view.

“We also want the public to see all of the great community involvement we engage in. Many times our members are out helping local families or veterans, and we need to promote all of these positive activities.”

If you would like to learn more about how you and your union can become involved on a local level, contact David Spector at david@lyndahinkle.com.

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Have You Planned Out Your Financial Life?

By: Sal Cocivera, CFP® and John Fekete, CPA

A

s a union member, you may be entitled to a number of benefit plans which can have a huge impact on your financial wellbeing both now and in the future.

Most likely, you have access to one or more of the following plans: defined benefit pension (an employer/ sponsor promises a specified payment at retirement that is predetermined by a formula), defined contribution (a certain amount or percentage of money is set aside each year by a company for the benefit of each of its employees), 401(k) Plan (a type of defined-contribution plan where the employer is usually not required to make contributions, but the employee can defer salary pre-tax and possibly after-tax), group and self-directed annuity contracts (403b) (allow an employee to defer income pre-tax), health and welfare benefits, and supplemental unemployment benefits. Within these plans are opportunities to help you and your family become more financially secure.

Whether you are concerned about the purchase of your first house, paying for college, your income in retirement, or the security of your family, knowing what tools you have in your toolbox, and how to best use them, can make a big difference. The decisions you make today can have a major effect on your future, and it is never too early to start planning. If you have not begun to plan yet, there is still time to try to make up for lost opportunities. You just need to know what to ask, what options are available, and how best to take advantage of your options for the benefit of you and your family.

When it comes to making financial decisions, there are plusses and minuses to everything you encounter.

In future articles over the coming months, our goal will be to educate so that you are able to make well informed financial choices. Remember, people do not plan to fail, they usually fail to plan.

Can you answer these questions?

• Are you fully aware of the benefit each plan provides?

About the Authors

• Are you taking advantage of all the benefits that are available to you?

Sal Cocivera, CFP®, MSFS, is President of Cora Capital Advisors, a financial planning and investment management. *

• Do you know how the use of these plans affects your personal situation now and in the future?

Sal may be reached at sal@CoraCap.com or 856-513-8600.

• Is my pension plan guaranteed to be there when I retire?

John Fekete, CPA, is a Partner at the accounting firm Baratz & Associates, P.A. which specializes in Labor Union accounting and employee benefit plan auditing.

• Who are you consulting with if you don’t fully under stand the benefit of these plans?

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John may be reached at feketej@baratzcpa.com or 856-985-5688.

Is The Gurgle in Your Gut Telling You Something?

By Auguste Turnier, MD, Virtua Gastroenterologist How completely inconvenient…you've spent weeks preparing a keynote presentation and your stomach has decided to turn against you. With your gut churning and gurgling, how are you going to get through it with a straight face? It seems as though stomach pain, nausea, or other types of gastrointestinal (GI) distress are out to get you at the worst possible times.

You can’t always control your body’s response. But, with some helpful prevention and treatment tips, you can manage GI issues when they strike.

Some of the most common patient complaints from both men and women include gas, bloating, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and crampy abdominal pain.

While these can be symptoms associated with a variety of ailments, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) tends to be the most common offender. IBS often results when the carefully orchestrated process of muscle contraction that controls food ingestion and digestion stops working as it should.

GI Distress: The Common Culprits The cause of IBS or other GI distress could be as simple as the food you’re eating. Fatty foods, spicy foods, carbonated beverages, artificial sweeteners, and chocolate are frequently associated with IBS. You also may notice that certain vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, or cabbage haven’t “agreed” with you lately. And don’t forget lactose, the sugar found in milk. Millions of Americans are lactose intolerant and suffer digestive issues after consuming dairy products.

Stress is also a common cause of IBS, since the complex nervous system that controls your digestive tract is influenced by the brain.

6 Tips for Relieving Stomach Issues When you just need relief, here are some treatment tips that may help you right away and improve your digestive health over the long-term: • For bloating and cramps, try a probiotic (supplement that contains healthy gut bacteria such as lactobacil lus or bifido bacterium), a lactase enzyme supple ment (like Lactaid) if you suspect dairy may be the issue, or a peppermint supplement.

• Start keeping a food diary. It may help you correlate your symptoms with a specific food.

• Stay hydrated to help with constipation and diarrhea.

• Make sure you are getting enough fiber; this could mean adding more fruits, veggies, and whole grains to your diet. A supplement can help if high-fiber foods are causing gas.

• Relax, even though it can be hard. We underestimate how powerfully stress can impact how our bodies work. Try to ease symptoms with breathing exercises, meditation or yoga.

• Check for over-the-counter digestive remedies that match your symptoms. These might include active ingredients like simethicone (like Gas-X) or bismuth subsalicylate (like Pepto Bismol).

Although IBS rarely leads to severe complications, it can be tricky to diagnose. Only your doctor can properly determine what's causing your problems. It’s always best to consult with your primary care doctor or gastrointestinal specialist if symptoms persist.

To schedule an appointment with a primary care physician or gastrointestinal specialist, call 1-888-VIRTUA-3.

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Women’s March on Washington signals a call to defend the rights of all people

by Trade & Union Staff

O

n the day following the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States, a massive protest march was held in Washington D.C., and in cities throughout the country and the world. Estimates of as many as a half a million people participated in the march in our nation’s capital. There were so many participants along the planned route that, at times, marchers stood in place because there was no room to move. The plan to proceed to the Ellipse, an area of the National Mall near the White House, had to be abandoned.

Scores of sister marches occurred simultaneously in cities, large and small, across the country and in 81 countries throughout the world including Germany, France, Canada, the United Kingdom and even the Antarctic Peninsula. According to the organizers’ official website, womensmarch.com, there were 671 marches and close to 5 million marchers world wide.

According to the mission and vision statement on the website the guiding principle is to “stand together in solidarity with our partners and children for the protection of our rights, our safety, our health, and our families - recognizing that our vibrant and diverse communities are the strength of our country.” The concept of the women’s march was created, in part, as a result of the polarizing and disparaging comments that occurred with regularity during the recent political campaign and deemed threatening to a diverse group of people including immigrants, the LGBTQIA community, people of color, the disabled and victims of sexual abuse.

In Trenton, where the march was said to have attracted an estimated 6,000 people, State Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt, representing the sixth district including 15 towns in Camden and Burlington Counties, addressed the marchers and said she was there because every woman deserves equal rights. Along with her colleagues in the state assembly, Elizabeth Muoio, representing the 15th district (Mercer County), and Shavonda Sumter, representing the 35th district which includes Paterson,

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Lampitt is working diligently so women’s issues are addressed as well as issues affecting all those whose rights have been or may be compromised.

“We fight to protect the victims of domestic violence from their abusers,” said Lampitt, “whether in the courtroom or in their homes. We fight to end discrimination based on skin col or, gender, ability and sexual orientation. We fight for women in the workplace, ensuring equal pay, paid sick leave and paid family leave.”

As chair of the Assembly Woman and Children Committee, Lampitt said these issues are foremost on her mind every day and she challenged the crowd, women and men alike, to remain involved and to use the event as the launch pad for continued action in the days and months ahead.

“For me, seeing this outpouring of support for the protection of our rights, our safety, our health and our families leads me to believe that all of you are ready to get to work,” she said. “Today shows that we are willing to stand up for what we believe in and that we are larger than those who use hateful rhetoric and prejudice to divide us.”

Attorney Lynda Hinkle, whose practice concentrates on divorce and family law as well as public affairs, immigration law and government affairs, attended a smaller but no less spirited gathering of about 200 people at Gloucester Township Park on Hickstown Road in Sicklerville. She said she has always been politically active and it is more important now to continue to fight for the rights of women, labor and other groups whose interests could be damaged by decisions made now and in the future. “We have to continue to pressure our representatives (in Congress),” she said. “We have to keep fighting.”

More events are planned for the future as this movement continues to grow and becomes fortified in its mission to tackle inequality wherever it exists.

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Pathway to apprenticeship programs: The other career opportunity

by Chris Ferrari

T

his is the time of year when high school seniors across the region are finishing their final year and preparing to start the next chapter of their lives. For many, going to college is an option that was ingrained into them at an early age.

For others, their calling is the United States military, police or fire services where they will go on to serve the public.

Many will enter the workforce in some capacity. What is unfortunate is that they are unaware of a great pathway to a respectable, good living that will provide for years of stability.

What they are overlooking are union apprenticeship programs which are not promoted in high schools largely because schools are rated by college entrance statistics not admissions to apprenticeship programs.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics cites that 65.9% of high school graduates will enroll in college which is down from 2009 when 70.1% enrolled. Several factors have contributed to the dramatic decrease.

One of the most prevalent reasons for the decline in college enrollment is the cost of higher education. The average student who graduated in 2016 incurred $37,172 in debt in his/ her first year of college. By the end of their collegiate academic career, he/she will have an average monthly payment for 20-30 years of $351.

Statistics further show that over 44 million Americans have student loan debt for a total of 1.26 trillion dollars with a student loan deficiency rate of 11.1%. These staggering statistics are driving individuals away from college and into the labor forces.

opportunity that potentially is in front of them.

The time has never been better for graduating high school students to apply for apprenticeship into one of the many unions in the region. In the Philadelphia metropolitan statistical area (MSA), unions are strong, especially in the building trades where the construction outlook for the next five years is at an all time high.

We encourage all eligible men and women to visit union websites, and research and explore a pathway that can be personally rewarding for a lifetime. Unionism is not just a job, it is a brotherhood and sisterhood that is a bond that will carry you and impart service, loyalty and dedication as a way of life.

Below are unions to consider researching: United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 322 www.UA322.org International Brotherhood Electrical Workers Local 351 www.IBEW.org Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 www.smartlu19.org International Brotherhood Iron Workers Local 399 www.ironworkers399.org International Union Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 4&5 www.bacadnj.com International Union of Painters & Allied Trades Local 711 www.dc711.net United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1360 www.ufcw1360.info There are many other options to consider, but these are our current partners. Do your own research and recognize the opportunities all unions afford for an excellent career path.

We have to make young adults aware of the opportunity that is available to them by joining a union and entering an apprenticeship program. Apprenticeship programs provide individuals with a world-class education at state-of-the-art facilities that many colleges would rival. The training provides members with a lifetime skill set that they can use to enjoy a lifetime career with excellent compensation and secured benefits while contributing to society in an honorable profession.

The greatest part about becoming an apprentice is getting paid to learn a craft, while not going into debt early in life. However, union membership is, in most cases, generational. Those that are not exposed to it by union family members are not aware of the great

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