PIPEFITTERS LOCAL 537 & NEW ENGLAND MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS’ ASSOCIATION
WINTER 2021 NEWSLETTER
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PROJECT SPOTLIGHTS:
CAMBRIDGE CROSSING AND BOYNTON YARDS
Front cover: Chris Smith and Chris Keogh with Limbach
Contents 03
BUSINESS MANAGER’S REPORT
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NEWS
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PROJECT SPOTLIGHTS
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BENEFITS BULLETIN
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LOCAL 537 AT WORK
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IN THE COMMUNITY
Election Alert:
On Saturday, March 27, we will hold a special election to elect delegates to the United Association's 40th General Convention. While it is not clear yet if the convention will be able to take place in person, we are moving forward with plans. More information is forthcoming. Please stay tuned, and vote!
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
union member to fill that position in almost 50 years. We know he will be an outstanding labor secretary.
Brothers and Sisters, As we enter a new year during a global pandemic, the health and safety of you and your families remains our top priority. We’re very grateful for and proud of how hard our members have worked to keep each other safe and protect our communities. We enter 2021 with our eyes on a new administration rooted in the labor movement. President Biden has pledged to be the “most pro-union president,” one who knows that labor unions are good for both businesses and workers. In his first weeks in office, the President has already taken action toward the goal of reversing the previous administration’s policies. We’re also pleased that a longtime friend and ally of Local 537, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, has been nominated to be the next U.S. Secretary of Labor. Mayor Walsh has supported our great Local through and through, including attending our Training Center and Union Hall Grand Opening as a guest of honor in March 2019. When confirmed, Mayor Walsh will be the first
Biden and Walsh arrive in Washington at an important moment in the labor movement: in 2020, the rate of unionization in this country increased for the first time in over a decade. We saw this interest firsthand this year during our apprenticeship application period when we received over 370 applications through our new online portal. This excellent turnout makes the decision process competitive and our union as a whole even stronger. Please note that we will be holding a special election on Saturday, March 27 from 8 AM to 3 PM to elect delegates to the United Association’s 40th General Convention. While it is not clear yet if the convention will be able to take place in person, we are moving forward with plans. Stay tuned for more details and please come out to vote. I look forward to another year to serve you as your Business Manager. I have the opportunity to hear stories of members bringing their best to the job and to their communities. Thank you for all you do, and stay safe. In Solidarity,
Thomas P. Kerr, Jr.
Business Manager/Financial Secretary-Treasurer Pipefitters Local 537
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NEWS
CELEBRATING OUR TRAINING CENTER’S ANNIVERSARY It’s hard to believe, but this March marks the two-year anniversary of Local 537’s state-of-theart Training Center in Dorchester. Our grand opening celebration was an exciting and memorable day for all. Hundreds of Local 537 families, community members, and industry partners toured the facility, met with instructors, and learned about life-changing job opportunities in our region. SGA, our partner architect for the project, received a major architectural award in December for the Training Center’s cutting-edge design. The award is from The Architect’s Newspaper for “Editor’s Pick in the Commercial Workplace group.” Judges praised our Training Center for how it “honors [Local 537’s] past while setting the stage for its future advancement.” We couldn’t agree more and extend our congratulations to the excellent SGA team for their collaboration. We look forward to gathering in-person at our beautiful facility once again, as soon as it is safe to do so.
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Read more about the award by scanning this QR code with your smartphone:
NEWS
INTRODUCING LOCAL 537’S WOMEN’S COMMITTEE Solidarity is a promise that begins on the job and Savy Francis, an eight-year member, was chosen continues into our daily lives. It’s a commitment by Local 537 members to attend the Women Build that we keep to look out for each other, as union Nations Conference in Seattle, Washington. There, members, no matter what. With more women she participated in a workshop on the benefits of joining Pipefitters Local 537 in recent years, organizing a women’s committee. we’re happy to announce that there’s a new way “Sometimes, you’re the only woman in your crew,” for our Sisters to come together: the Local 537 Savy explains. “So it’s always nice to be able to put Women’s Committee. a face to a name. That’s how we can really support The idea came to pipefitters Julie Hemingway, each other.” Savy Francis, and Jane Walsh as a way to Above all, Julie, Savy, and Jane are driven to lead represent and support women members. After by example and pay it forward as more women some planning meetings, the Committee is now join the piping trades. approved and operating. Everyone is welcome to “I want to give back to what has given me so attend the meetings. much and provided me a beautiful life,” said Julie With the Women’s Committee, Julie, Savy, and Hemingway, a third-generation pipefitter for 15 Jane hope to create opportunities for women years. “We work hard for it, but it’s a wonderful within the Local to network with one another, opportunity, second to none.” build relationships, and call on one another The Women’s Committee is hoping to host their first when needed. in-person meeting later this year when COVID-19 Jane, a pipefitter for 28 years, noted how the restrictions are lifted. To join the Committee’s Committee will serve as a resource for young Zoom meeting, reach out to Julie Hemingway at women starting in the industry. “It helps to be 537womenscommittee@gmail.com. around people who are willing to share their knowledge,” Walsh said.
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PROJECT
From left to right: Joe Shea, Jeremy Lydon, Mike Howard (all Limbach), Bob Moriarty, Brandon Rich (both Grodsky), Business Agent-Parent Body Jim O'Brien, Mike Deschambeault (Grodsky), Business Manager Tom Kerr, Business Agent At-Large Danny O'Brien, Tom Goodell (Grodsky)
SPOTLIGHTS
CAMBRIDGE CROSSING If you’ve visited Cambridge in the past few months, you may have noticed a changing skyline. The 43-acre Cambridge Crossing development will be home to commercial, retail, and residential spaces, as well as public parks and two MBTA stops. Our skilled pipefitters and HVAC-R technicians are building a state-of-the-art biomedical facility for Sanofi Medical that will serve as the company’s U.S. research headquarters. The building’s specifications also required members to install five custom-made chillers, which are among the first of their kind in New England. Trane is assisting with chiller breakdown, Limbach is on HVAC piping, and Grodsky is working on shell and core. We take pride in building the future of the Boston area and are excited to see this project take shape. Thank you to everyone representing Local 537 at Cambridge Crossing.
Top right: The team rigs custom-made chillers into the space. Bottom right: The new facility spans more than 900,000 square feet with dozens of welding projects for the Local 537 team.
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BOYNTON YARDS Union Square in Somerville is bustling with activity as the 1.3 million-square-foot Boynton Yards project nears completion. The former industrial site is being transformed into a science and innovation campus with lab and office areas, 350 apartments, and green space. Local 537’s Cox Engineering workforce is at the new 101 South Street building. Members at Cox’s new pre-fab shop in Randolph are fabricating special parts that are tagged, delivered, and installed at the job site in Union Square. “Our partnership with Cox Engineering has been a huge success,” said Business Agent Danny O’Brien. “We’re proud to work alongside their great team.” Banner: Work at Boynton Yards begins in Cox Engineering’s new, expanded pre-fab shop in Randolph, Mass. Top left: Rob Canavan welding at Boynton Yards for Cox Engineering. Bottom left From left to right: Business Agent At-Large Danny O’Brien, Cliff Tyler, Sherif Sayed, Paul McCormack, Greg Zacchine, Flavio Amaral, Dean Zacchine, Dawn Aunchman, Dennis Parker, Josh Zacchine, Randall Turner, Tom Campbell, Rob Canavan, Shawn Lally
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BENEFITS BULLETIN On behalf of the full Local 537 Benefit Funds team, I am pleased to share a few updates we’ve made to the Benefits Portal. We’re making it even easier to download and submit documents and find important information about your benefits. Read more below, and reach out to mporter@pipefitters537trust.net with questions.
New Document Center Now you can download and securely send documents to us—anywhere, anytime, and from any of your devices: ࢚ Notify us of upcoming address changes ࢚ Update Beneficiary Designations whenever you have a new life event ࢚ Submit the Member Enrollment Form to add family members to your 537 Insurance plans ࢚ Make changes to your Retirement, Pension, and Annuity direct deposit bank locations and withholding amounts Retrieve important information we send directly to your inbox: ࢚ On-demand Annuity Statements ࢚ Upcoming Benefit and Plan changes ࢚ Benefit Eligibility and COBRA letters and notices ࢚ IRS 1099-R form for 2020 ࢚ Coming soon! Notification for Vacation Check direct deposits to your bank account
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Marybeth Porter Funds Administrator
Don’t have a Benefits Portal account yet? It’s easy to set up—just follow the directions on the Member Portal at Pipefitters537.org.
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 where your Brothers and Sisters have been hard at work this winter. 3
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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. “Donnie Timmons welding at Moderna Norwood” -Jeff Elliott
5. “Duggan, Parcel K” -Adam Schwartz
2. “Late night views from the roof at MIT Site 3” -Phil Cox
7. “The J.C. Cannistraro team rigging and installing aircooled chillers with a 300-ton crane at the FDA’s new Winchester Engineering Analytical Center. Each chiller weighs over 13 tons.” -Mike Palm
3. “Jim McTaggart and Mike Prendergast with Johnson Controls” -Business Agent At-Large Danny O’Brien
6. “Working hard welding” -Jonathan Doucette
4. “Servicing heating equipment for Santander Bank” -Pat Perkins
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IN THE COMMUNITY Thanks to the generosity of our members, Local 537 was able to wrap up a tough year by paying it forward. Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, Local 537 donated $20,000 to the Greater Boston Food Bank. That same month, Local 537 donated $750,000 to the Muscular Dystrophy Association to fund the development of new therapies and treatments for those living with muscular dystrophy, ALS, and related neuromuscular diseases. When the holidays rolled around, Local 537 members really stepped up. In December, we collected $20,000 worth of brand-new toys for Marine Toys for Tots, including Lego sets, games, dolls, and sports equipment. In addition to the gifts, we collected hundreds of pounds of non-perishable food items for the Catholic Charities’ Yawkey Center Food Pantry right in Dorchester. “Giving a bag of groceries or a brand-new toy to a child this holiday season is the least we can do for our neighbors,” said Business Manager/ Financial Secretary-Treasurer Tom Kerr. By giving back, we’re keeping our region strong. Thank you for your generosity.
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SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS For decades, Local 537 members have generously donated a portion of their pay towards our scholarship funds. These contributions have made a huge difference for many talented students as they pursue college, technical school, and advanced education.
Congratulations to this year's scholarship winners! We wish you the very best. Olivia Albanese Abigail Austin Matthew Ayers Jaileen Baptista Lily Belsito Melissa Boyle Camille Bryant Jason Burns Taylor Burns Jason Butler Colin Campbell Colby Chaffin Jack Chapman Sarah Chojnowski Bridgette Coady Joseph Coady Ryan Coady Emily Colby Ryan Colby Madison Culcasi Mark Cummings Kyle Cunningham Macayla DeAmelio Madison DeChristoforo Jennifer Demille Chloe Desjardins Katie Dever Emily Devir Christopher Dolan Corey Donovan Jessica Dougan Matthew Doyle Ryan Duggan Danielle Dunlay Hailey Durgin Camryn Evans Nicholas Evans
Lily Fabrizio Kayla Farley Ryan Farley Alexander Finlayson Jenna Finnerty Christopher Flaherty Nicholas Flaherty Meghan Flynn Patrick Frank Cassie Freeman Shannon Fuller Dana Galloway Matthew Gately Brooke Gonsalves Jackson Goughan Olivia Goughan Kiersten Green Sean Green Mark Guglietta Talia Guglietta John Hagan Michael Harty Thomas Hogan Madison Hogg Katherine Holmes Margo Hughes Joseph Hunt Niamh Hunt Hailie Johnson Hunter Johnson Ryan Joyce Nicholas Jurovich Kayden Kelley Meagan Kelly Michaela Kelty Victoria Kennedy Ryan Kosh
Justin Lacharite Isabelle Langley Alessandra LaVita Erica Lavoie Elizabeth Leighton Kaylee Lewis Samantha Liu Brian Lynch Delaney Mackay Devon Mackay Matthew Mackay Nicholas Mackay Connor MacLeod Ryan Manson Shawn Manson Eric Martino Ann-Marie Maughn Julia McCarthy Alanna McCormick Laura McGuiggan Charles McGurn Chloe McKee Paige McKee Nickolas McNamee Trevor McQuaid Jensen Miccile Nadirah Mohan Sameera Mohan John Molloy William Moore, Jr. Kaley Moran Alyssa Morgan Jenna Morgan Kathryn Moriarty Grace Nelson Julia Nelson Colleen O’Connor
Kyle O’Connor Sean O’Connor Abbey Olsen Shannon Olsen Kaley O’Neill Holly O’Toole Duncan Pereira Andrew Pingalore Matthew Pingalore Joseph Poirier Molly Porter Kara Powers Sean Powers Jack Prue Rebecca Redfield Jamie Reissfelder Brett Rezendes Ava Rodriguez Victoria Ronayne Kyle Sawicki Brady Sayed Hannah Sevene Andrew Sheridan Elizabeth Sheridan
John Shields Louisa Siciliano Meghan Simard Ryan Simard Amanda Smith Kaitlyn Smith Destiny Sotomayor Evan Strandberg Jessica Terris Alie Thurlow Amanda Tinker Emma Trainor Sidney Tremblay Jason Ulrickson Bryan Veno Victoria West Emily White Erin White Emily Whooley Ryan Williams Trevor Woodman
Two of the many thank you notes we received from scholarship winners. Top: Ryan Farley at Boston University. Bottom: Jaileen Baptista at UMass Amherst.
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Pipefitters Local 537 40 Enterprise Street Dorchester, MA 02125
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