PIPEFITTERS LOCAL 537
FALL 2019 NEWSLETTER
Contents 03
Business Manager Report
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Building Pathways
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Pipefitters537.org
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Local 537 at Work
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537 In the News
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Motorcycle Run
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Golf Tournament
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Our Advocacy
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The Union Difference
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.
Business Manager Report Brothers and Sisters, I’d like to wish you and your families a happy holiday season! We have lots to be grateful for this time of year, including the many opportunities to build and grow both across the region and as a union. On a personal note, I’m honored to have the opportunity to advocate for you, and members across the country, in my new role as the United Association’s Director of HVACR Services. Although I’ll miss having daily contact with all of you, I know that there’s no better pipefitters, welders and HVAC technicians in the industry, and that you’ll continue to set the standard for excellence. Our special elections will be held on Saturday, December 21st. I encourage everyone to have your voice heard, come out to vote and support our newly elected officers. Local 537 also continues to lead the way in providing opportunities across the region, and it’s a real achievement when that work is recognized. Our training program was singled out at Building Pathways’ annual benefit for its success in recruiting women and people of color. The award is a true testament to our curriculum, world-class instructional staff and countless success stories. We’re committed to ensuring that everyone in the industry has access to these opportunities, too. That starts with making sure workers are receiving equal pay and benefits under the prevailing wage law. We joined Sheet Metal Workers Local 17 and Plumbers and Gasfitters Local 12 for a lobby day on Beacon Hill, urging the Legislature to pass H.1599, which would close the off-site loophole and support working families. Thank you for allowing me to act as your Business Manager/Financial Secretary-Treasurer. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to serve you. Wishing you and yours a healthy, happy holiday season. In solidarity,
Brian Kelly Business Manager/Financial Secretary-Treasurer Pipefitters Local 537 UA Local 537 Fall Newsletter
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Making A Difference At Building Pathways
Building Pathways graduates and alumni with Local 537 Training Coordinator Paul McGrath and Business Manager Brian Kelly
We were honored to receive Building Pathways’ Making a Difference Award at its annual awards benefit in September. The recognition honors organizations that have made significant contributions in the lives of graduates, their families and the communities in which they live and work. “Local 537 has truly been a key supporter of our work and critical to creating greater diversity and inclusivity in the building trades workforce,” said Mary Vogel, Executive Director of Building Pathways. This achievement is a true testament to our top-notch program and staff, and the countless success stories of our talented members. Thanks so much to all of the Building Pathways graduates and alumni who shared the evening with us. Building Pathways Executive Director Mary Vogel congratulates Local 537
Check Out Our New Website!
We have a brand-new website and member portal! Visit Pipefitters537.org to check out the following:
• Check your benefits • Catch up on Local 537 news • Find your next job • ...and more! Click on the Member Portal, located under the Members tab, to review benefits information and members-only resources. To register for the Member Portal, simply create a username and password on the login screen. Your username and password can be the same login as the previous Portal (ex. last name and union card number). If you have any questions about accessing the Member Portal, please contact the Union at (617) 787-5370.
UA Local 537 Fall Newsletter
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Local 537 at Work
Apprentice Matt Murphy, left, works in Cambridge, MA
Lauren Wyman
Ismaila Suberu
Tommy O’Brien
Members unload materials for installation
Building Boston’s skyline
Standing Up For Good Jobs in Our Community By Brian Kelly, Lou Antonellis, Harry Brett, Bob Butler and Peter Gibbons Workers in Massachusetts are fortunate to have a number of excellent protections enshrined in state law. A great example of one of these protections is the prevailing wage law. Unfortunately, a loophole exists that allows unscrupulous contractors the ability to exploit workers and avoid paying them a fair wage for their labor. This loophole has allowed greedy contractors to skirt the law and lower standards for workers in a difficult and sometimes dangerous industry by utilizing off-site prefabrication facilities. By keeping the fabrication away from the construction site, these bad contractors are underbidding the lawabiding local contractors and cheating working people out of a fair wage. The members of the union building trades, who we are proud to represent, are a well-trained, professional workforce who spend hundreds of hours training in state-certified apprentice programs. Many of them are trained right here in Dorchester and are qualified to design, fabricate and assemble products and equipment installed at the project site. Furthermore, our members are OSHA-trained and certified. That’s why the union building trades are so deeply invested in fighting to close this loophole. Our members live in your community. We’re your neighbors, youth soccer coaches and karate instructors. We work, learn and play alongside you and your family everyday, and we’re committed to our region’s future. We don’t want to see these bad actors driving wages and standards down in our towns. Thankfully, Representative Tackey Chan (D-Quincy) has proposed an excellent solution in the form of H.1599, known as the Off-Site Fabrication Bill, which would close this loophole and end a practice that allows bad contractors to undercut good ones.
out of committee so the Legislature can consider it for a vote in this current session. Both California and New Jersey have enacted similar laws, strengthening worker protection and ensuring that standards for their communities are being upheld. We can’t let our communities fall behind and allow these bad contractors to continue exploiting this loophole. By passing H.1599 our elected leaders are taking a stand to ensure the quality of construction for our public works projects, as well as the fair wages and working conditions for the women and men working on both the construction site and in fabrication facilities. Everyone who works deserves fair treatment, a safe working environment and a fair wage for their labor. Passing H.1599 would ensure that workers in off-site fabrication facilities have the dignity they deserve. Let’s take a stand together for strong communities that value hard work. Let’s level the playing field for our local, law-abiding contractors. Please join our members and call your state senator and state representative today to urge them to move H.1599 out of committee and call a vote. Brian Kelly Business Manager of Pipefitters Local 537 Lou Antonellis Business Manager of IBEW Local 103 Harry Brett Business Manager of Plumbers Local 12 Bob Butler Business Manager of Sheet Metal Workers Local 17 Peter Gibbons Business Manager of Sprinkler Fitters Local 550
We’re calling on the leadership of the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development to move H.1599
UA Local 537 Fall Newsletter
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Riding For Our Nation’s Bravest
Local 537 proudly hosted this year’s Helmets to Hardhats and Massachusetts Building Trades’ Motorcycle Run at Canton Town Club. Helmets to Hardhats is a national nonprofit that connects National Guard, Reserve and transitioning active-duty military personnel with meaningful, family-sustaining careers in the union building trades. We’re grateful to the many members and other building trades who came out for a day of bikes, live music, raffles and fun.
Kickstands go up in Canton
Business Manager Brian Kelly addresses attendees ahead of the ride
Annual Golf Tournament We hit the links at our annual golf tournament at The Pinehills Golf Club in Plymouth! Proceeds from the day went directly to the Pipefitters Charitable Fund, which supports students with their continuing education. Thank you to everyone who participated!
Donald McKee, Brian Nicholson, Bill Kerrigan
Mike Coscia, Joe Allen, Paul Martin
Local 537 apprentices Jackson Kerr, Jay Connell, Tom Kerr III, Sean Harrigan and Etson Alves
Mark Willard, Christian Keskinidis, Mike Barter and Shawn Barter on the driving range
UA Local 537 Fall Newsletter
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Protecting Workers on Beacon Hill We’re using cutting-edge technology like off-site fabrication to make the construction industry more productive and efficient every day. Now we need to ensure that as the industry evolves, so do prevailing wage laws. We’re fighting hard to close a loophole in Massachusetts law that allows contractors to cheat workers out of decent wages, just because they’re working off-site. We recently took our campaign to Beacon Hill to tell elected officials that there’s no difference between on-site and off-site work, so there’s no reason why some workers should be getting paid less. We had a fantastic turnout, and will continue to keep the pressure on. To learn more about our campaign to protect prevailing wage laws, check out Brian Kelly’s column in the Dorchester Reporter, featured on page 7 of the newsletter.
Business Manager Brian Kelly, State Representative Tackey Chan, Massachusetts Building Trades Council President Frank Callahan and Sheet Metal and Air Conditioner Contractors’ Association Associate Executive Director John Ferrante
Apprentices and retirees from across the building trades attend Lobby Day
Scan the QR code on your smartphone camera to tell your legislators to stand up for Massachusetts workers.
The Union Difference “I wanted my family to have a secure future. Now we do, thanks to Local 537.” -Michael Basch Six-Year Member of Local 537 Hudson, NH Michael Basch started his career in construction working for a non-union company. When the job ended, he was faced with a harsh reality: he had to start over. “I realized very quickly how bad it was working for non-union employers,” says Basch. “There was no stability. Even though I had a decade of experience, my pay was going down, and my benefits were getting worse.”
Michael’s wages and benefits weren’t guaranteed in a union contract, so contractors kept low-balling him. “It was frustrating,” he says. At age 27, Michael joined Local 537. He no longer worries about finding work or keeping his health insurance. “I wanted my family to have a secure future. Now we do, thanks to Local 537,” says Basch.
Do you know someone like Michael who wants a secure future? Visit JoinPipefitters537.org to get started! UA Local 537 Fall Newsletter
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Pipefitters Local 537 40 Enterprise Street Dorchester, MA 02125
Thank you Business Manager Brian P. Kelly. Wishing you the best at the UA!
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