Union of Operating Engineers,
FALL NEWSLETTER 2021
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Robert “Mike” Kowalski Business Agent
JerryConner
Business Agent
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Informational Membership Meeting *December 16 at 6 pm • VFW Norwood, 193 Dean St, Norwood, MA*
LOCAL 877
FALL NEWSLETTER 2021
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Union Update
AT THE BARGAINING TABLE Project Spotlight: Vicinity Energy
THE UNION DIFFERENCE
2022 Course Offerings
HONORING OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS By Brian Curran All of our members do indispensable work, but one
they will enter and fix any problems that need
group in particular has played a vital role throughout
immediate attention, all while wearing the proper PPE.
the pandemic—our health care workers. We’d like
This dedication has not gone unnoticed. Recently, we
to take a moment to thank all members working in
negotiated a new contract with C&W Services – New
the health care industry. The men and women of the
England Baptist Hospital with the help of steward Mike
engineering departments often put themselves in
Zucco. We were able to negotiate a three-year contract
harm’s way to ensure a patient is as comfortable as
with increases to wages, pension, annuity, and clarify
they can be while receiving hospital care. Many have
other items of interest in the contract. Thanks again
been on the front lines ensuring patients’ rooms are
to everyone whose hard work helped bring this
clean and functioning, even when occupied by a
partnership to life!
patient with COVID-19. Working behind the scenes,
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UNION UPDATE Brothers and Sisters, To begin, we’d like to say THANK YOU to our
The Trustees of the Health & Welfare Fund, to control
membership who has remained steadfast and resilient
cost and maintain the quality of Health Insurance
during one of the most difficult times in recent history!
currently available to the membership, have engaged
You should all be commended for your dedication to
a third-party administrator (BeneSys) to assist with the
the craft!
day-to-day operation of the plan. Fund Administrator
During the period of supervision, we have continued to carry on the duties of the IUOE, assisted by many members of this Local, the Local’s staff, and International Representatives John Stevens and Albert Schaut. We have bargained a significant number of contracts since the start of supervision, each presented and ratified by the membership. We thank each of the stewards and the members of the bargaining committees who assisted in these successful negotiations. We have also organized multiple facilities across a spectrum of industries, working to fulfill our
Melissa Warner will continue to be available to the membership to assist with questions and benefit needs, but BeneSys’ Dorchester office will also be available by appointment, walk-in, email, or telephone for any additional inquiries. Business Representative Michael Cannistraro brings with him a depth of knowledge of the stationary side of the IUOE membership that I have relied on during the period of Supervision, his significant skills in collective bargaining and grievance resolution have shown he is a valued asset to Local 877. I have relied on Mike when I am attending to other needs in the Northeast Region confident in knowing Local 877 is
organization’s purpose as defined in Article 1, Section
in good hands.
2 of the IUOE Constitution, “the objective and
Additionally, please join me in welcoming Business
purposes of this organization are to elevate the trade of operating engineers to its proper position in all industrial activity and ranks of organized workers.” We are also pleased to announce the launch of our brand new website, so members can more easily
Representatives Brian Curran and Shawn Ballard in their new roles. Both bring in-depth knowledge of the sector of industry they have been assigned to represent. Each have performed well at the bargaining table, in grievance representation and are a welcomed
pay dues, access their worksite collective bargaining
asset to this organization.
agreements, and find up-to-date work and training
In closing, recently you should have received
opportunities. Please take the time to peruse the new website which can be found at IUOELocal877.com and please note that the top right of the page allows you to adjust the language of the site to any language that might be more comfortable. We hope you’ll find the new website informative, and be sure to check it regularly for more union updates!
correspondence from General President Callahan informing you of his adoption of the recommendation of the hearing panel to sustain supervision of the Local. Our staff, along with Business Representatives Mike Cannistraro, Shawn Ballard, and Brian Curran, Office Manager Kimberly Brown and Dues Secretary Amy Vassalotti remain ready to assist you with anything you
Training Administrator Jack Mucciarone has done
might need.
an especially excellent job of rebooting the training
On behalf of the staff, we remain as always...
program, with course offerings and availability also updated through our new website. We encourage you all to take advantage of these resources — the more licensed skills we can bring to the bargaining table, the
In Solidarity, Alan Pero International Supervisor
more increase in wages and benefits we can demand!
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Recent WORK WON Contracts Settled (since 2/2020) Able Engineering - Boston Center For Life Sciences ♦ Able Engineering - Boston Center For Life Sciences - Beth Israel ♦ Bentley University ♦ Brigham & Women’s Hospital ♦ C&W Services - Biomed Realty ♦ C&W Services - Gillette Stadium ♦ C&W Services - Stop & Shop ♦ C&W Services - Worcester Center ♦ C&W Services- New England Baptist Hospital ♦ CBRE - Novartis ♦ City of Cambridge ♦ Ecomaine ♦ Faulkner Hospital ♦ Global Spectrum ♦ J’s Associates ♦ JFK Federal Building ♦ John Hancock Insurance ♦ Jones Lang LaSalle - Moakley Federal Courthouse ♦ Maine Waste to Energy ♦ Marshalls Woburn Merchants ♦ Mentor - Merck Trades ♦ Quonset Development Corporation ♦ Randolph Holbrook Joint Water Board (extension) ♦ SBM Management Corp - Merck Research Labs ♦ South Dade Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc - McCormack Post Office & Courthouse ♦ South Shore Hospital ♦ The Colonnade Hotel ♦ Town of Randolph ♦ Vicinity Energy Boston, Inc.
Newly Organized Sites Able Engineering - 1000 Washington Street & 321 Harrison Ave ♦ Able Engineering - 313, 330 & 343 Congress St, & 12 Farnsworth St. ♦ Able Engineering - 601 Congress St ♦ Able Engineering - 660 & 720 Harrison Ave ♦ C&W Services - Boston Properties Cambridge ♦ C&W Services - UNUM Building ♦ Rhode Island LFG Genco, LLC - EDL ♦ Tanner Street Generation, LLC - Heorot ♦ UG2 - 116 Huntington Ave
AT THE BARGAINING TABLE Despite the challenges of the past two years, we have continued to serve our membership by promoting fruitful partnerships between our members and employers. We have bargained a significant number of contracts since the start of supervision, each presented and ratified by the membership. In our recent negotiations with Satellite Services for the JFK Federal Building, we've secured a five-year contract and aboveindustry wage increase, and we've maintained union healthcare benefits for the members at JFK. We've also achieved a significant pension increase, expanded the unit size, enhanced their vacation accrual rates, and improved upon members' personal protective gear allowances. "We've gotten a pretty rich percentage increase, one of the largest in recent years, and a very
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lucrative settlement at that," Business Agent Mike Cannistraro said. "We're just happy to be working on behalf of the membership, and we're excited to keep bringing home wins." We thank each of the stewards and the members of the bargaining committees who assisted in these successful negotiations. We look forward to another productive year!
Project Spotlight Vicinity Energy Maintaining a complex network of thermal energy pipelines isn’t just an overnight job — it’s a career. Alongside Vicinity Energy, Local 877 works day in and day out to do just that, making sure that the pipelines that have carried steam across Greater Boston for over 90 years continue to run for decades more. Pipelines have to be repaired or replaced nearly every day to keep the system running smoothly, a task that falls on our skilled and dedicated members. “Every steam manhole in the city is Vicinity,” Local 877 Business Representative Shawn Ballard said.
If you drive around the city, you see our guys out working almost every day.” - Local 877 Business Representative Shawn Ballard
Although it may be old, Boston’s steam system is at the forefront of green climate technology. Unlike boilers or cooling towers, Vicinity Energy’s “district energy” pumps steam from a central facility to buildings across Greater Boston, creating a more efficient, resilient system for transporting thermal energy. Thanks to its innovative systems, Vicinity Energy is well on its way to reaching carbon neutrality by 2055. Here’s to our Local 877 members for bridging Boston’s past to a brighter future!
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THE UNION DIFFERENCE: HIGH-QUALITY TRAINING Our Training Center in Canton, MA is where apprentices get the foundation they need to do innovative work for decades to come. We also offer a wide number of training courses developed by the International Union of Operating Engineers and administered by Local 877 professionals, so our members can keep learning throughout their careers as technology advances. No other organization invests in their workers like IUOE, and we’re proud to be a part of the union difference.
IMPORTANT DUES PAYMENT REMINDER: All members are required to pay monthly union dues to be a member in good standing. If a member is out of work for any reason, it is their responsibility to maintain their membership. Per the Union Bylaws, members out of work for any reason, are responsible for $20.00 monthly minimum dues. Members who have not paid their dues within 30 days are at risk of suspension. If you have any questions regarding your membership status or your current paidthrough date, please contact the Union Hall.
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Pay online at IUOELocal877.com or Check Payable to IUOE Local 877 Mail to: 89 Access Rd, Unit 4 Norwood, MA 02062, (781) 769-1877
Have you moved? Membership notifications are sent through the mail. If you have moved, be sure to call and update your address.
2022 Course Offerings We're proud to offer the following courses to our membership in January 2022. Registration is now open and the enrollment deadline is December 31, 2021. Please note that a $300 deposit is due with registration.
For more information, please contact: Enrollment Specialist Amy Vassalotti at (781) 349-8307 or AVassalotti@Local877.org Training Director Jack Mucciarone at (781) 680-7093 or JMucciarone@Local877.org
HVAC I This course is designed to teach the basics fundamentals for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration technology through lecture, discussion, instructive videos, Moodle training, power point lectures and hands-on training. This course is required to obtain the MA Refrigeration Technician License through the Department of Public Safety. Start Date: January 22, 2022 Days: Saturdays Time: 8:00 am to 2:00 pm Cost: $1,750.00
Basic Electricity
HVAC 2
This course is designed to teach basic electricity and MA Electrical code through lecture, discussion, instructive videos, Moodle training, power point lectures and hands-on training. This course is required to obtain the MA Refrigeration Technician License through the Department of Public Safety.
This course is designed to teach advanced heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration with Electrical code, heating with problem solving through lecture, discussion, instructive videos, Moodle training, power point lectures and hands-on training. This course is required to obtain the MA Refrigeration Technician License through the Department of Public Safety.
Start Date: January 18, 2022 Days: Tuesdays & Thursdays Time: 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm Cost: $1,750.00
Controls
Start Date: January 18, 2022 Days: Tuesdays & Thursdays Time: 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm Cost: $1,750.00
This course is designed to teach basic electrical wiring of controls with MA Electrical code through lecture, discussion, instructive videos, Moodle and hands-on lab training. This course is required to obtain the MA Refrigeration Technician License through the Department of Public Safety. Start Date: January 22, 2022 Days: Saturdays Time: 8:00 am to 2:00 pm Cost: $1,750.00
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IUOE Local 877 89 Access Road, Unit 4 Norwood, MA 02062
INTRODUCING THE NEW LOCAL 877 WEBSITE! At Local 877, we’re always looking for ways to build solidarity with our membership. Thanks to the brand new IUOE877.com, now our members can get real-time updates on union happenings, pay dues online, and find job openings and training opportunities. Don’t forget to create an account for the Member Portal to access your collective bargaining agreement, change your contact information, and much more.
Scan this code with your smart phone to visit IUOE877.com