Pipefitters Local 537 Spring 2023 Newsletter

PIPEFITTERS LOCAL 537 & NEW ENGLAND MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION

SPRING 2023 NEWSLETTER

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LOCAL 537 IN ACTION

BUSINESS MANAGER’S REPORT

Brothers and Sisters,

As we step into spring, a time for reinvigoration after the cold winter months, I am proud to celebrate our recent accomplishments and look forward to a season of new beginnings for our great union and its members.

This January, Local 537 invited our membership and community to our annual blood drive. You responded, donating 69 pints of blood for the Red Cross. Just a single donation can save multiple lives, and blood is in high demand. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this blood drive such a tremendous success. Our members continue to support our communities through opportunities like this one and we appreciate your time and commitment.

This time of year is known for its sunnier weather, when the flowers bloom and work picks up steam on an array of exciting projects for 2023. Local 537 members are hard at work on job sites across Massachusetts. From Belmont High School to the Ragon Institute and more, our pipefitters, welders, and HVAC and refrigeration technicians are bringing our outstanding skills to projects throughout the region.

Local 537 is proud of the benefits we bargain for, and members should take some time to review our online Benefits Portal. If you’re looking for information about your retirement

plan, healthcare eligibility, work history, important documents, and more, the Benefits Portal is the place to go. Please note that this portal is a separate entity from the Local 537 member portal.

As always, I encourage you to reach out to the union office with any questions that you may have. Please stay safe and enjoy this beautiful spring season.

In solidarity,

Daniel T. O'Brien Business Manager/Financial Secretary-Treasurer Pipefitters Local 537

LOCAL 537 IN ACTION

Our pipefitters, welders, and HVAC and refrigeration technicians have been hard at work. We are pleased to share some of the projects and events from the past few months.

400 Summer Street Job Site

At the 400 Summer Street project in Boston, Local 537 members are helping to develop 580,000 square feet of office and laboratory space. Once completed, the 16-story laboratory building will host Foundation Medicine, which is leading the way in cancer care.

600 Main Street Job Site

At 600 Main Street in Cambridge, our members are busy developing the Ragon Institute of MGH. Upon completion, this site will be home to a research facility focusing on the immune system and human health.

2023 St. Patrick's Day/ Evacuation Day Parade

This year, we were pleased to take part in the St. Patrick's Day/Evacuation Day Parade in South Boston. This event is a great opportunity to come together as a membership and celebrate with our community. Thank you to all who joined us to participate in the parade.

Local 537 Officers with AMVETS National Commander Don

L to R: James O'Brien, John Kelly, Brian Nicholson, Danny O'Brien, Don McLean, Dan Coady, and Terence Sweeney.

McLean

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT: BELMONT HIGH SCHOOL

There's a lot to be excited about with the impressive construction job taking place at Belmont High school. Pipefitters Local 537 members are on the forefront of this more than $290-million multi-phase project.

This project involves ongoing renovations to Belmont High School and Middle School. The total worksite is 445,100-square-feet and, once completed, will provide both schools with increased accessibility, as well as an updated video production space, makerspaces for robotics and engineering, and a science lab.

It’s also important to note that the project was done in phases, which has allowed students to continue attending school. Construction began in 2019 and is expected to be completed in September 2023, with students occupying spaces adjacent to construction while work was being done in nearby areas.

Special care was taken to minimize disruption to school operations and to maintain safety and security for students, faculty, and staff.

Phasing involved many moving pieces in addition to new construction, including the utilization of temporary walls, partitions and stairs, as well as temporary student drop-off areas and traffic patterns. All school operations needed to be considered and reevaluated as the project progressed.

Local 537 is proud of the work being done to give Belmont students the best facilities and conditions possible to receive a top-grade education. We wish them the brightest of futures.

WELD TEST

On February 25, we were pleased to hold a weld test at our Training Center. This evaluation provides an essential opportunity for welders to display their talent and knowledge of the trade. As we progress in our careers, it is important to ensure that our skillset stays up-to-date. Congratulations to all who took part in this weld test! Great work.

CONGRATULATIONS, RETIREES!

Congratulations to the members who retired this season! We are so thankful for all your hard work and service to the union. Best of luck as you start this next chapter of your life!

MARCH

Paul J. Folkins

Edward L. Francis, Jr

David L. Pease

Paul A. Ronan

Mark S. Webster

FEBRUARY

Kevin M. Boyle

Roscoe Gay

Kenneth L. Thompson

JANUARY

Michael P. Brandon

Dean A. Harding

Timothy J. Kerr

James M. Larkin

Michael A. Perrone

ANNUAL RETIREES LUNCHEON

Local 537 was pleased to host our annual retirees luncheon in Orlando, Florida on February 28. This was a great opportunity to gather and share a meal together. Thank you to all who organized and attended this event!

LOOKING BACK: 2022 50-YEAR

PIN MEMBERS

As we approach our 2023 50-Year Pin ceremony, we are pleased to recognize members who reached this landmark milestone in 2022. Congratulations once again to these 50-Year Pin Members.

2023 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

The Massachusetts Building Trades Unions has embarked on an ambitious 2023-2024 legislative agenda, with several bills designed to strengthen and improve the working conditions and lives of tradespeople throughout our state.

Local 537 is proud to support these bills, encourage our members to support them, and let our elected representatives know that we will be watching their progress this year. They include:

• Establishing requirements for voluntary entry to project labor agreements

• Requiring trained apprentices on all public construction projects

• Stopping wage theft, and increasing employer accountability

• Including off-site fabrication work in prevailing wage law protections

• Including gas repair work in bid law and prevailing wage law

• Requiring licensing for under ten-ton refrigeration technicians

Each of these priorities will help to shape equitable working conditions and ensure highquality work across every job site. Please make your voice is heard and call on your legislator to pass this legislation this session.

An Act Relative to Procurement of Public Work –this legislation will establish procedures and standards for the Commonwealth and its subdivisions to voluntarily enter into project

labor agreements with appropriate labor organizations. Representative Marjorie Decker HD 3674 : Senator Paul Mark SD 2313

An Act Ensuring a Skilled Workforce - this legislation will advance opportunities for apprentices to complete their training and ensure a skilled workforce in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by requiring registered apprentices on all public construction projects. Representative Pete Capano HD 724 : Senator Lydia Edwards SD 1656

An Act to Prevent Wage Theft and Promote

Employer Accountability – this legislation increases accountability for labor violations and strengthens enforcement powers to stop wage theft and level the playing field for all businesses. Representative Dan Donahue HD 2895 : Senator Sal DiDomenico SD1107

An Act Relative to Compliance with the Prevailing Wage Laws of the Commonwealth –this legislation updates the prevailing wage law to include offsite fabrication work for qualified projects. Representative Jeffrey Roy HD 106 : Senator Paul Feeney SD 1711

An Act to Ensure Safety and Transparency in Pipeline Repair – this legislation applies bid laws and prevailing wage to gas repair work and requires DPU to establish standards for contractors bidding on this work. Senator Paul Feeney SD1130 : Representative Frank Moran HD 484

LOCAL 537 GIVES BACK: JANUARY BLOOD DRIVE

In January, Local 537 was proud to host our annual blood drive in partnership with the Red Cross. At a time when blood donations are critically needed, our membership stepped up to provide essential support. With the help of our volunteers, donors, and the Red Cross team, we collected a total of 69 pints of blood.

The drive, held during Blood Donor Awareness Month, was a resounding success and collected much-needed resources for the Red Cross. As always, Local 537 members displayed their commitment to helping those in need within our greater community. Thank you to all who volunteered, donated, or supported this year's blood drive. We look forward to sharing more opportunities to give back to important organizations in our neighborhoods!

each

donation

It’snotcommonlyknown that

blood

canhelpsaveupto threelives.Donating issomethingthatour membersareproudtodo forourcommunity."

- Business Manager

Daniel T. O'Brien

69

STAY IN THE LOOP WITH LOCAL 537!

Please be sure that you are signed up for text and email updates from Pipefitters Local 537. If you have not done so already, you can sign up for text alerts by texting L537 to 77222 or scanning the QR code.