PIPEFITTERS LOCAL 537 & NEW ENGLAND MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS’ ASSOCIATION
FALL 2020 NEWSLETTER
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PROJECT SPOTLIGHT:
75 STATE STREET
Contents 03
BUSINESS MANAGER’S REPORT
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NEWS
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LOCAL 537 VOTES
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PROJECT SPOTLIGHT: 75 STATE STREET
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FROM THE TRAINING CENTER
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IN THE COMMUNITY
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#537STRONG: SUPPORTING BROTHER PHIL WINMILL
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RETIREE SPOTLIGHT: BROTHER KAUFMAN
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LOCAL 537 AT WORK PHOTO GALLERY
Local 537 represents over 3,000 members across Massachusetts and is affiliated with the United
Association. From medical campuses to area universities, Local 537 is proud to have worked on projects of all shapes and sizes throughout the region for over 100 years. Local 537 continues to provide career opportunities to apprentices and journeypersons in the industry and is determined to ensure the best wages and benefits for Pipefitters, Welders and HVAC - Refrigeration Technicians.
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BUSINESS MANAGER’S REPORT
Dear Brothers and Sisters, The warmth of summer has come and gone seemingly faster than usual. We are now reaching the end of an unprecedented year, both in the history of our Local and for our country. As Business Manager, I’ve been impressed with the dedication our members continue to bring, every day, to the job. The generosity and support you show both to each other and to our communities will never be forgotten. In sticking together, we’ve recently notched some big wins. We welcomed 113 new apprentices to our Local in socially distanced swearing-in ceremonies this month. We are currently in union contract negotiations to bring on workers from Atalian Suburban Mechanical and have signed with Dynamic Air Systems and NorthStar Refrigeration, Inc. Organizing during uncertain economic times is unheard of and speaks to the value that we bring as a collective force. Thank you to Organizer Chris Brennan, who has done a tremendous job to give our future Brothers and Sisters a voice. Whether you are new to the trade or more experienced, welcome to Local 537!
I’m also pleased to announce that alongside union building trades leaders, we’ve secured work at the $8-billion-dollar Suffolk Downs redevelopment project. It will be built under the region’s largest-ever private-sector project labor agreement — 100% union. The project is estimated to take at least 20 years to complete. This opportunity will undoubtedly provide work for an entire generation of pipefitters and HVAC-R technicians. Additional projects in the future include South Station, Mass General Hospital, and 1 Winthrop Square. The choices we make today will help our Local continue to thrive. As we look toward the election on November 3, we need to vote for leaders who will protect our interests. Leaders who believe in a prevailing wage and a fair, equitable playing field for our contractor partners. Leaders who understand and make sure we can continue to collectively bargain on your behalf. I urge you to read through and seriously consider voting for our endorsed candidates this election cycle, which you can find on page 6. Thank you for all you do. I hope you and your families continue to stay safe and healthy, and don’t forget to vote on November 3. In Solidarity,
Thomas P. Kerr, Jr.
Business Manager/Financial Secretary-Treasurer Pipefitters Local 537
Pipefitters Local 537 | Fall 2020
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NEWS
WELCOMING OUR NEWEST PARTNERS Working united is more important than ever right now. At Local 537, we’re continuing to go above and beyond to bring on new signatory partners and ensure that workers get a collective voice. We’re proud to announce that we’ve signed two new partnerships this fall. Dynamic Air Systems is a HVAC-R contractor based in Boston, Massachusetts. And NorthStar Refrigeration, Inc., headquartered in Plymouth, specializes in chiller installation, service, and maintenance for seafood processing and marine refrigeration, among other industries. We are confident that these new partnerships will prove mutually beneficial and provide even more great opportunities for our workforce. Employees from Atalian Suburban Mechanical have also taken a huge first step in joining Pipefitters Local 537. Their workers have voted to join our union, through a National Labor Relations Board
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Jeff Matheson of NorthStar Refrigeration, Inc.
Election, and we are currently representing them in their first union contract negotiations. Suburban Mechanical is a local shop with locations in Braintree and Stoughton, Massachusetts. In 2017, they were acquired by Atalian Global Services, a French facilities management company. The company has undergone numerous management changes in the past few years which has affected working conditions. These workers are experienced in pipefitting, HVAC-R, plumbing, and building maintenance. We look forward to negotiating in good faith for their first union contract with Atalian Suburban, per National Labor Relations Board instructions, and expanding our Union family.
NEWS
MAKING HISTORY AT SUFFOLK DOWNS
Photo Credit: Boston Herald
It’s not every day that we get to break ground on an entirely new neighborhood, especially in New England. Nestled in between East Boston and Revere, this new community will span the size of Back Bay. And it’s a big win for unions like ours across Greater Boston.
100% union. PLAs are good policies to make sure that employee wages and benefits, timelines, and community benefits are collectively bargained. At Suffolk Downs, our PLA agreement will also ensure pay equity and uphold the top workplace safety standards, which promotes overall productivity.
When completed, Suffolk Downs will be the largest private-sector project labor agreement (PLA) in the region’s history. The 161-acre former racetrack will be converted to 10,000 housing units with an additional three million square feet of commercial and retail space. That’s 16 million square feet total. The tallest of the project’s nearly four dozen buildings will cap out north of 200 feet high.
Suffolk Downs will take approximately 20 years to complete, providing opportunities for 14,000 union workers and an entire generation of pipefitters and HVAC technicians.
The biggest news of all is that under the negotiated PLA, the redevelopment will be built
Thank you to all who helped us secure this major win. It’s a testament to the quality of work and craftsmanship that we bring to job sites throughout the region. We’re looking forward to the work we’ll do to build this brand-new Boston community.
Pipefitters Local 537 | Fall 2020
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We know that actions speak louder than words. That’s why we need leaders who don’t just value our work, but will protect our jobs, wages, and pensions. We need champions who will uphold our top-notch training programs, maintain a fair playing field for contractors, and ensure that we can continue to collectively bargain on your behalf. And we need politicians who are going to prioritize the health and safety of all workers. This election season, states across New England are making it safe and easy with new mail-in voting options, so everyone can vote right from home. Check out our list of endorsed candidates on the following pages and make sure to vote on Tuesday, November 3.
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-Mark McManus, General President of the United Association
U.S. Senate
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VOTE UNION IN 2020
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“We’re not going to sit on the sidelines at the UA. This endorsement is about putting UA members to work and fighting for fair wages and good benefits. Under a Biden Administration, that’s exactly what we’ll get.”
MA: U.S. Senator Ed Markey NH: U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen
Governor NH: Dan Feltes
U.S. Congress MA, 2nd District: Congressman Jim McGovern MA, 3rd District: Congresswoman Lori Trahan MA, 4th District: Jake Auchincloss MA, 5th District: Congresswoman Katherine Clark MA, 6th District: Congressman Seth Moulton MA, 7 th District: Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley MA, 8th District: Congressman Stephen Lynch MA, 9 th District: Congressman Bill Keating NH, 1st District: Congressman Chris Pappas NH, 2nd District: Congresswoman Annie Kuster
State Senate Massachusetts 2nd Middlesex: Senator Pat Jehlen Norfolk, Bristol & Plymouth District: Senator Walter Timilty 2nd Plymouth & Bristol District: Senator Mike Brady 4th Suffolk: Senator Nick Collins Worcester & Norfolk District: Christine Crean
New Hampshire 1: Representative Sue Ford 2: Selectman Bill Bolton 3: Theresa Swanick 4: Senator David Watters 5: Councilor Suzanne Prentiss 6: Councilor Chris Rice 7: Honorable Phil Spagnuolo 8: Jenn Alford-Teaster 9: Senator Jeanne Dietsch 10: Senator Jay Kahn 11: Senator Shannon Chandley 12: Senator Melanie Levesque 13: Senator Cindy Rosenwald 14: Nancy Hendricks 15: Becky Whitley 16: Senator Kevin Cavanaugh 17: Nancy R.B. Fraher 18: Senate President Donna Soucy 19: Councilor Joshua Bourdon 20: Senator Lou D’Allesandro 21: Rebecca Perkins Kwoka 22: Tom Haynes 23: Senator Jon Morgan 24: Senator Tom Sherman
State House Massachusetts 6th Essex: Representative Jerry Parisella 9 th Hampden: Orlando Ramos 5th Middlesex: Representative David Linsky 10th Middlesex: Representative John Lawn 17 th Middlesex: Vanna Howard 24th Middlesex: Representative Dave Rogers
27 th Middlesex: Erika Uyterhoeven 34th Middlesex: Representative Christine Barber 35th Middlesex: Representative Paul Donato 4th Norfolk: Representative Jamie Murphy 5th Norfolk: Representative Mark Cusack 6th Norfolk: Representative William Galvin 8th Norfolk: Ted Philips 9 th Norfolk: Brian Hamlin 12th Norfolk: Representative John Rogers 10th Plymouth: Representative Michelle DuBois 2nd Suffolk: Representative Dan Ryan 14th Suffolk: Rob Consalvo 17 th Suffolk: Representative Kevin Honan 12th Worcester: Meg Kilcoyne
Important Dates Massachusetts ࢚ Wednesday, October 28, 5 PM: Deadline to Submit Mail-In Ballot Application for Federal Election (Postmarked) ࢚ Friday, October 30: MA Federal Election Early Voting Ends ࢚ Tuesday, November 3: Federal Election
New Hampshire ࢚ Monday, November 2: Request for Mail-In Ballot Application for Federal Election must be received by your local election office. ࢚ Tuesday, November 3: Federal Election ࢚ Absentee ballots must be received by Tuesday, November 3, 2020 by 5 PM. They can be mailed back or dropped off in-person at your local election office.
Pipefitters Local 537 | Fall 2020
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PROJECT
SPOTLIGHT:
James Morris with BayState Air, Trane Technician, Local 537 Vice President, and Lead HVAC-R Training Instructor Brian Nicholson, Joe Eason of BayState Air
SERVICING 75 STATE STREET When you walk or drive through Boston’s Financial District, the gleaming 75 State Street certainly will catch your eye. Built in 1988, the building still towers above its neighbors at 31 stories. Even with the pandemic, many of its tenants have continued to work in the building. That’s because the building boasts more than one million square feet of office and commercial space, which has allowed workers to maintain proper social distancing. But as more Bostonians gradually return to work, the building needed some improvements. That’s when Local 537 members came in.
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Our HVAC-R technicians with BayState Air have been disassembling and reassembling brand-new Trane® CenTraVacTM Water-Cooled Chillers with Adaptive FrequencyTM Drives to efficiently dehumidify and cool 75 State Street. Once all components are disassembled and transported inside, our members have been rigging, hoisting, and installing five-ton compressors on top of the condensers and evaporator shells. To upgrade the ventilation system, they’ve also been cleaning the o-rings on the hydraulic cylinders, sanding the o-rings and flanges, and applying a protective sealant on the parts prior to reassembly. Finally, upon installation, our technicians have been
Top Left: Brian Nicholson sandblasts one of the flanges to ensure proper assembly Bottom Center: Local 537 technicians track the building’s energy efficiency with Trane’s innovative software, which monitors condensation and evaporation. Top Right: The lobby of 75 State Street
monitoring and servicing these systems to ensure the safest, most efficient cooling process possible. Trane Technician, Local 537 Vice President, and Lead HVAC-R Training Instructor Brian Nicholson, continues to actively work on the site, helping supervise members from BayState Air. Trane has a proud 35+ year history partnering with Pipefitters Local 537 and has made donations to our Training Center. Trane regularly works with Local 537’s signatory contractors as a factory direct representative on projects. Trane also is a HVAC-R signatory contractor, employing talented technicians from Local 537 like Brian throughout the region.
“This complex project is a prime example of how our industry-leading training allows us to far surpass other industry technicians,” Brian noted. “Projects such as this one require precision and expertise. Our members are receiving the most cutting-edge training, both in a traditional classroom and on the job site, to prepare them for specialized projects like this.” Local 537 has a five-year maintenance contract on the project, which will ensure work for dozens of members for years to come.
Pipefitters Local 537 | Fall 2020
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FROM THE TRAINING CENTER
WELCOMING OUR APPRENTICES
In these tough times, we’re committed to our industry-leading training, no matter what. That includes celebrating big milestones for our apprentices as they took our Local’s oath and became members of this great union. We hosted five socially distanced swearing-in ceremonies in light of COVID-19. During these initiations, Training Coordinator Paul McGrath introduced 113 new apprentices, including 63 pipefitter apprentices and 50 refrigeration apprentices. While our ceremony may have looked different this year, we still proudly awarded scholarships to randomly selected apprentices to assist with their book fees.
Pipefitters Apprentices Marvin Auguste Eric Baracchini Michael Barden Harrison Berube Cory Bevilacqua Michael Boti Nolan Byrnes Colin Canavan Garrett Carlos Thomas Carroll Shayla Cassey Peter Chrisom Zachary Cipriano Andrew Conners Hannah Cormier Michael Coscia Louis Creighton, III Michael Doucette Robert Drover Tyrell Fagan Andrew Feeney Eli Firicano Joseph Gaglione
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Meghan Gaudette Trevor Giacobbe Kathryn Holland Dwayne Houlder Joseph Ierardi Patrick Jennette John Jones Ryan Kelly Conner Lightner Nathan Love-Tiro Matthew Macaulay Christian Marchal Keiron Martin Kyle McCann Ryan McDonnell Amanda McHugh Patrick McLoughlin Samuel McPhee Michael Melvin Kaylanee Mendoza George Morrill Emily Mullin Matthew Murphy Christopher Osborne
Thanks to the generosity of the Lally Family, two $500 scholarships were awarded in honor of their son Michael, who passed away in a motorcycle accident while an apprentice. United Association General President Mark McManus matched two of the Lally Family’s scholarships as part of his remarks at last year’s ceremony. Local 537’s hockey team also sponsored a scholarship. Thank you to all and congratulations to our scholarship winners: Alex Crawford, Robert Fenton, Ryan Kelly, Jack Pacheco, and Joseph Wheeler! We hope to resume our celebrations in the future, where we can invite family, friends, and members.
Jack Pacheco Christian Patriarca Nathan Rabbitt Stephen Rice Tyler Roberts Daniel Rondan Vincent Scigliano Luke Scolamiero Kyle Shurtleff Brendan Tilton Brian Tower Sean Vitello Mitchell Ward Joseph Wheeler Brendan White Rashonn Wilson
HVAC Apprentices Vincent Acito Thomas Antosca Kenneth Ayer Daniel Aylward Christopher Begonis Michael Belding Joel Bernard
James Carciero Jin Quan Chen Marc Cieri Thomas Clancy James Conserva Chandler Cordeiro Alex Crawford Aidan Daley Paul D’Amato John DeGloria Matthew Derby Patrick Devlin Dominic DiPalmo Robert DiSerio Ryan Dunnigan Dakota Evans Kevin Farrell Robert Fenton Kirsten Flavin James Foley Liam Gallagher Michael Gallagher Tyrus Gorsuch Kollin Killebrew Maxwell Lessing
Tahge Lockhart Andrew MacKay Shawn Marshall Jonathan Masse Aidan McCarthy Zachary McDade Steven McGorty Anthony Mirra Jeffrey O’Hara Andrew Oliveira Zachary Rothwell Benjamin Ruggere Michael Scippa Ryan Sheehan Aleksandar Spasov Owen Sullivan Eric Szloch Michael Yetm
1. Business Agent Danny O’Brien swears in apprentices with Business Agent Tim Gilligan and President Dan Coady in attendance 2. Refrigeration apprentice and scholarship winner Alex Crawford with Business Manager Tom Kerr, Organizer Chris Brennan, and Training Coordinator Paul McGrath 3. Refrigeration apprentices Benjamin Ruggere and Andrew MacKay are sworn in.
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Dorchester Reporter
IN THE NEWS Congratulations to our 5th Year Graduates! Take a look at some of the headlines from across the region celebrating their achievement.
WICKED MALDEN LOCAL
Malden residents graduates from apprenticeship program
WICKED RANDOLPH LOCAL
WICKED WELLESLEY LOCAL
Wellesley residents graduates from apprenticeship program
Randolph residents graduate from Pipefitters Local 537 Pipefitters Local 537 | Fall 2020
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IN THE COMMUNITY
We know how important it is to help families in need — especially this year. That’s why Local 537’s Charitable Foundation has stepped up in a big way, donating $20,000 to the Greater Boston Food Bank. Our donation will provide 60,000 nutritious, delicious meals for residents at risk of going hungry across the Commonwealth. We’re grateful to lend support to this worthy organization. Due to the impact of COVID-19, one out of every seven Bay Staters is expected to struggle with hunger. Food banks play a critical role ensuring families have fresh produce, milk, and meat on the table.
Business Manager Tom Kerr, GBFB Corporate Relations Manager Dannielle Pinson, Business Agent Danny O’Brien, President Dan Coady
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#537STRONG
SUPPORTING BROTHER WINMILL
Left to Right: President Dan Coady, Organizer Chris Brennan, Business Manager Tom Kerr, Phil Winmill, Business Agent Danny O’Brien, and Assistant Business Manager Paul Campbell in Phil’s recent visit to the Local 537 Union Hall Right: Phil with his two children Susie and William
As a Union, it’s our duty to look out for and take care of our Brothers and Sisters in need. And despite COVID-19, we continue to band together and prove the strength of our brotherhood every day.
recover from his surgery and wishes to extend his gratitude to all who participated in the raffle.
When Brother Phil Winmill was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease called Budd Chiari Syndrome and needed a liver transplant, we stepped up. Local 537 members spread the word on social media to help Phil find a living donor, and we organized a raffle to raise funds for his recovery.
2nd Prize, Yeti Cooler: Hayden Mark
1st Prize, 65” Screen Television: Onkgopotse Mokoka 3rd Prize, $100 Gift Card: Jason McGrath 3rd Prize, $100 Gift Card: Andy McCabe 3rd Prize, $100 Gift Card: Mike LaRosa
Congratulations to the raffle winners and thank you to all those who’ve supported Phil and his family throughout his journey. Phil continues to
Scan the QR code with your smartphone camera to make a donation to Phil’s recovery.
Pipefitters Local 537 | Fall 2020
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RETIREE SPOTLIGHT:
BROTHER KAUFMAN Congratulations to Mark Kaufman on his retirement! Mark is a 38-year member of Local 537 and a long-time employee of Limbach Company. His last job with Limbach was at The Beat, an urban innovation campus located at 135 Morrissey Boulevard in Dorchester, which was the former headquarters of The Boston Globe. Mark is the brother of Local 537 retiree Robert Kaufman and is the proud father of William Kaufman, graduate of the Pipefitters’ Apprenticeship Class of 2020. The team at Limbach hosted a job site celebration on Mark’s last day in honor of his many achievements. We wish Mark all the best in his well-deserved retirement!
Front Row L to R: Ryan McDonnell, David Belsito, Job Steward Shaun Smith, Mark Kaufman, Foreman Al “Al Balls” Belsito; Back Row L to R: Assistant Business Manager Paul Campbell, William Kaufman, Business Manager Tom Kerr, Chris Smith, Business Agent Danny O’Brien
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LOCAL 537 AT WORK 1
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Despite COVID-19, we’re still working hard building and servicing our region. Take a look at some of the job sites your Brothers and Sisters have been up to this fall. Please note: As always, safety is our top priority. Only members pictured in photos adhering to safety guidelines, including PPE and masks, will be featured.
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Share your job site photos with us by emailing your photo to local537photos@ 617MediaGroup.com with your name, contractor, and job site.
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1. Burt Anderson, HVAC-R Technician, from Randolph, MA 2. “Getting schools ready for the kiddos!” - Lincoln Williams, HVAC-R Technician, from Whitman, MA 3. David Buttomer, Pipefitter, from Quincy, MA 4. “One of many great views! I love our business, but the views are one of my favorite parts,” - Keith Hatfield, HVAC-R Technician, Pembroke, MA
7 5. “Surveying equipment.” - Zachary Rutledge, HVAC-R Technician, from Nashua, NH 6. David Palm, Jr., Pipefitter, from Scituate, MA 7. “Roughly 2,200 feet of steam and condensate piping, two culvert trenches, and one trench of direct burial for Boston College. We had some great members of our Local that put in a lot of hard work to make this happen at the professional level that we hang our hat on.” - Dan Trow, Pipefitter, from Litchfield, NH
Pipefitters Local 537 | Fall 2020
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Pipefitters Local 537 40 Enterprise Street Dorchester, MA 02125
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3 Whether you cast your ballot by mail or in person, make sure to vote on Tuesday, November 3. Visit page 6 of this issue to find out more about Local 537’s endorsed candidates.
Savy Francis, Vicky Cataldo, Christine Coughlin, Julie Hemingway at the Massachusetts State House
PRESORTED FIRST CLASS U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
BROCKTON MA PERMIT 268