7-2-26 LT DIGITAL EDITION

VOLUME 89 No. 49 ® ★

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Thursday, July 2, 2026

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What’s Inside

89

YEARS

Granite City SOAR Chapter Barbecue raises funds for Good Samaritan House Page 3

EPI: New Trump administration ‘joint employer’ rule could cost workers $3.7B-plus yearly By MARK GRUENBERG PAI Staff Writer

Machinists Local 777 awards scholarships to two outstanding students Page 4

Misssouri COPE endorsements for Aug. 4 primary election Page 6

Jefferson County Labor Club hosts candidate meet and greet Page 7

Washington (PAI) – In another Trump administration slam at workers, a proposed Labor Department “joint employer” rule could cost at least 595,000 more workers, already exploited by low pay, no benefits and bad conditions, at least $3.7 billion yearly, the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) says. The yearly loss to individual workers would range from “a minimum of $6,294 for retail sales workers, under extremely conservative assumptions, to a minimum of $23,266 annually for truck drivers,” EPI calculates. And all that money would stay in corporate pockets, the Laborbacked think tank protested to Daniel Navarrete, the regulations

director for the Trump DOL’s Wage and Hours Division. The only joint employers under the Trump DOL’s proposal would be those who directly control all aspects of the worker’s job, from her uniform to his hours to her working conditions to his delivery

vehicle. Democratic President Joe Biden’s “joint employer” rule, which Trump would repeal — thus evading Congress — includes indirect control of the worker and more factors the employer must meet to get away with not obeying Labor laws.

‘INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS’ The difference between the two objections is EPI says the Trump regime’s rule would let bosses not only bounce workers from pillar to See JOINT-EMPLOYER page 16

Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562 member running for Jefferson County Council seat By SHERI GASSAWAY Missouri Correspondent

including Barnhart and Imperial.

Hillsboro, MO – Josh Williams, a 19-year member of Plumbers and Pipefitter Local 562, is running for the District 7 seat on the Jefferson County Council. Williams, a pro-Labor Republican, has been endorsed by the Jefferson County Labor Club, the St. Louis Labor Council and other local unions. District 7 includes Hillsboro, House Springs, Cedar Hill and Dittmer and portions of unincorporated Jefferson County,

“We appreciate all Josh has done for this local and to see him go out into the community to make things better is always something that makes us proud,” said Local 562 Business Manager and SecretaryTreasurer John O’Mara. “Plus, it’s good to have union members 9n these positions watching out for their brothers and sisters.” Williams has been a service technician for Murphy Company for 16 years. He has lived in Jefferson

EXPERIENCED LEADER

JOSH WILLIAMS, a 19-year member of Plumbers and Pipefitter Local 562, is running for the District 7 seat on the Jefferson County Council. He’s been endorsed by the Jefferson County Labor Club, the St. Louis Labor Council and many local unions. – Labor Tribune photo

County his entire life and currently serves as chairman of the Big River Ambulance District Board of Directors, a position he’s held 12 years. Under Williams’ leadership on the ambulance board, the district added another ambulance and additional full-time personnel and successfully negotiated leadership changes, union contracts and necessary construction contracts.

‘FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE’ “The Big River Ambulance DisSee WILLIAMS page 19

Library workers at Western Illinois University win their jobs back By ELIZABETH DONALD Illinois Correspondent

The Aviary Recovery Center provides healing and recovery for those struggling with addiction Page 8

EPI President Heidi Shierholz, a former chief economist for DOL, and two of her top analysts urged Navarrete to dump the proposed rule and keep the Biden-era worker joint employer protections Trump demands to erase. House Education and Labor Committee Democrats lodged their own protest on June 22. They said workers would lose a billion dollars a year and demanded DOL’s Acting Secretary, Keith Sonderling, drop the idea.

Macomb, IL – Nine library employees of Western Illinois University (WIU) have won back their jobs after arbitrator ruled the administration violated a collective bargaining agreement when it let go of those workers and two other bargaining unit professionals. The faculty librarians and university professionals at Western Illinois University were offered restoration of their jobs with back pay after being laid off last year. The university had announced in August 2024 that it would lay off all the faculty librarians and the school’s Quad Cities

Periodicals Publication

campus had to close its library, replaced with a service desk in a multipurpose building. An arbitrator found that the layoff violated the union contract and ruled that the college must reinstate the affected employees, according to the American Federation of Teachers. “This decision confirms what we have argued from the beginning: These layoffs were wrong, they were harmful to staff and students, and they violated our contract,” said Merrill Cole, who is WIU’s chapter president of University Professionals of Illinois Local 4100. “The acaSee LIBRARIANS page 19

Follow Us labortribune.com facebook.com/labortribune linkedin.com/company/st-louissouthern-illinois-labor-tribune News: (314) 535-9660

WESTERN ILLINIOIS UNIVERSITY LIBRARIANS (from left) Jeff Hancks, WIU Quad Cities librarian; Michael Lorenzen, university archivist; Krista Bowers Sharpe, coordinator of reference services; Julia Thompson, digital scholarship librarian; Sean Cordes, coordinator of instruction; Michelle Holschuh Simmons, outreach and engagement librarian; Brian Clark, cataloging librarian; and Hunter Dunlap, systems librarian and coordinator of resource management services; were among nine employees who won their jobs back after an arbitrator ruled their layoffs violated their union contract. – Julie Lorenzen photo

Members of the following unions and councils see page 5 for changes in your notices ILLINOIS

• IAM 882 • Southwestern Illinois Central Labor Council

MISSOURI

• IAM 41, 688 • Laborers 42 • St. Louis Labor Council

2 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, July 2, 2026

Vote NO on Amendment 4

Amendment 4 would eliminate a critical check on Jefferson City and make it all but impossible to pass future good-governance reforms By BEN SAMUELS

Missourians should vote NO on Amendment 4 in the Aug. 4 primary election. Please share this article with other voters. It’ll be a low-turnout election; every vote matters. SAMUELS I recently wrote about Missouri’s brazen power grab to curtail the right that Missourians have to propose and pass constitutional amendments via ballot measures. In August, the Missouri legislature is asking voters to make it functionally impossible to pass constitutional amendments proposed directly by its citizens. How? Currently, citizen-initiated constitutional amendments pass if they win a majority of votes. Under the proposed new scheme, citizeninitiated amendments would only pass if they win a majority in all of the state’s congressional districts.

ABSURD There are a few things that are particularly absurd about this proposal: • It only applies to citizen-initiated amendments. The legislature also has the right to refer amendments, and these rules wouldn’t apply to them. The legislature is weakening the power of voters while preserving its own power. • Missouri is aggressively gerrymandered, which means that the congressional districts aren’t at all reflective of the state’s communities. • “As few as five percent of voters could defeat initiative petitions” under this new scheme. • This proposed change is pretty technical, but it’s seismic in its impact. The ballot measure process, as I’ve written about, is hardly perfect. But Amendment 4 would functionally end the right that citizens have to initiate and pass ballot measures, which for more than a century has been a critical check on our state legislature.

WHY THE BALLOT MEASURE PROCESS IS IMPORTANT Flawed though it may be, it’s worth reflecting on the fact that citizen-initiated constitutional amendments have radically changed the state for the better. Here are a few, wide-ranging examples of what voters have accomplished with ballot measures over the last century: • 1924: The state’s highway system was funded, in large measure, by an amendment initiated and passed by citizens. • 1936: Voters adopted a plan to create the nonpartisan Missouri Conservation Commission that manages the state’s hunting and fishing licenses, wildlife, and conservation policies. Before this amendment passed, jobs managing the state’s wildlife were given out as political patronage to people who had no experience at all, and as a result, “fish and wildlife in Missouri were in calamitous decline” until this amendment was adopted. • 1940: Voters adopted a nonpartisan process for selecting judges so successful that other states later adopted what’s now known as the “Missouri Plan.” • 1974: Voters approved campaign finance reforms that included disclosing donors and limiting contributions. • 1992: A voter-initiated amendment created term limits for elected officials in Jefferson City. • 2020: Voters expanded Medicaid eligibility, and as a result, 146,000 Missourians who previously lacked insurance are now

covered — a change that results in more financial security and better health outcomes across the state. It’s also a reminder: these aren’t partisan issues. There’s a tendency to focus on recent partisan victories — abortion access, legalized marijuana, etc. — but the examples above are just a few of the lasting, nonpartisan policy wins that either: 1. Limited legislative power and/or corruption. 2. Went around the legislature when it wasn’t doing its job. That’s really important. And if Amendment 4 passes, these checks go away.

We pay our Fair share. Why don’t the rich? By ROXANNE D. BROWN USW International President

Security taxes is crucial to addressing the shortfall and preserving benefits for the long term, as the SOAR members in Granite City like to point out. It’s the fix that the USW, other unions and our pro-worker allies continue to demand. We fight for Social Security — along with pensions, Medicare and other retiree health care—because workers deserve secure retirements after decades of doing the hard, dangerous jobs that keep this country running. It’s little surprise that scrapping the cap is the solution preferred by most Americans, who hold up their end with a lifetime of Social Security contributions and deserve every penny promised them in return. We’re not talking about fun money here.

U n i t e d S t e e lwo rke r s (USW) retirees in Granite City, Ill., held a birthday celebration of sorts on Aug. BROWN 14 to commemorate the 90th anniversary of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s signing of the Social Security Act. These activists, members of the SteelworkAMENDMENT 4 WOULD END CITIers Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR), ZEN-INITIATED AMENDMENTS delivered a birthday cake to a local If the system worked the way it should, member of Congress and posed for voters would have their say photos, all to send a message in policymaking by electing about Social Security’s imporrepresentatives in Jefferson tance and the need to protect City. this lifeline for seniors. In practice, because of It’s a message that gets gerrymandering, gridlock, more urgent each year, with AMERICANS RELY personal incentives, primary this vital program hurtling ON SOCIAL SECURITY dynamics, and more, elected Views from Near and Far toward insolvency and the Americans rely on Social Security to officials aren’t always that Republican-led Congress regood at representing our interests. That’s fusing to take the common-sense mea- carry them through old age. For many, it’s their main source of income. For especially true in Missouri, where legislators sures needed to sustain it. some, it’s the difference between living are objectively getting worse at legislating. BENEFIT CUTS OF 22 PERCENT out their golden years in dignity or falling The ballot measure process is one way that we hold elected officials accountable. But if Without decisive action, retirees face into poverty. But the rich neither need Social Security Amendment 4 passes, we lose that check on benefit cuts of 22 percent by the fourth legislative power. quarter of 2032, three months earlier than nor care about sustaining it. That’s why the Yes, the Missouri legislature has found previously projected, Social Security trustees Republicans ignore the obvious remedy of ways to slow down or stop the policies that just warned in a new report on the program’s scrapping the cap and instead talk about cutting benefits or raising the retirement voters have enacted. But this is much more rapidly dwindling trust fund. extreme. The legislature is tired of fighting This crisis exists for two reasons: The age, as if Americans should have to stretch back against everything that voters pass; rich don’t pay their fair share. And most a dollar further or work longer hours than why not make it impossible for voters to pass Republicans—many of them wealthy them- we already do. Many of our neighbors are barely hangamendments altogether? selves—look the other way. ing on already because of skyrocketing Social Security taxes only the first $184,500 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS of a person’s income, meaning millionaires economic inequality fanned by corporate DON’T REPRESENT MISSOURIANS and billionaires pay the same into the pro- greed and Donald Trump’s inflationary What Amendment 4 supporters claim gram as people who work for a living. How- economy. They can barely make ends meet is that this change requires constitutional ever, because the rich rake in so much, and right now, let alone sock money away for amendments to have broad buy-in from at so fast a clip, they finish paying their taxes the future. across the state. Perhaps that would be true within hours, weeks or months while most The SOAR activists in Granite City plan if congressional districts were drawn in a Americans contribute with every paycheck to turn out again this August for another fair, representative way. tribute to Social Security. Their message all year long. But they aren’t. Missouri is a Republican remains the same—scrap the cap, save ADDRESSING THE SHORTFALL state, with Trump having won 58.5 percent of Social Security and honor the nation’s the vote. But Republicans don’t control that Removing the so-called cap on Social promise to working people. proportion of U.S. House seats; by November, they’ll likely control 87.5 percent of the U.S. House seats, and it’s not inconceivable to Opinions expressed think that it’ll go to 100 percent by the 2028 are those of the elections. individual – What does all of this mean in practice? not their union. Under Amendment 4, every congressional Speak Out district has veto power. Even if a majority of the state votes in favor, and even if six of the seven Republican districts in the state vote in favor, a citizen-initiated ballot measure will still fail. That’s bad for everyone — Democrats and independents, obviously, but also for Fellow union members, our service to our ruining our democracy and your freedom. Republicans, whose proposed amendments would still face an insurmountable hurdle country and immediate action are needed We will have no power over who governs us because of veto power from MO-01 or any again. It is no secret that Trump and his because the single most crucial element of party in Congress are no friends of Organized our democratic system –– the right to vote Republican district. The structure the legislature is proposing Labor and that they would bust all our unions –– will be ripped away from millions. But we if they could. It is also no secret that Trump can protect America, our right to vote, and via Amendment 4 puts a hat on a hat: 1.Forcing a ballot measure to pass in eight U.S. and his party in Congress are out to keep us our unions from this bill. Please call your senators and tell them to congressional districts is already an enormous, from voting so that they can stay in power. Trump is pushing the SAVE America oppose the SAVE America Act and to leave the unreasonable burden that gives tiny pockets of Act again, even saying he will not sign any filibuster in place. The Capitol switchboard Missourians functional veto power. 2. Because of how aggressively the state is other legislation until it is passed, and House number is 202-224-3121. Call today. DAVID FALLICK gerrymandered, the already-slim chance Republicans are trying to get their Senate Rockville, MD of passing a citizen-initiated amendment colleagues to pass it, even if it means getting (David Fallick is a member of the American becomes even slimmer, because voters in rid of the filibuster to do so. The SAVE America Act will do anything Federation of Teachers. Opinions expressed cities and suburbs have had their preferences but save America. It will ruin America by are his own.) diluted by partisan mapmakers.

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Tell you senator to oppose the SAVE America Act

RULES FOR THEE, NOT FOR ME Perhaps the most ridiculous part of Amendment 4 is that it only applies to amendments initiated by voters; these constraints don’t apply to amendments referred by the legislature. They’re hamstringing our ability as Missourians to change the constitution, but they’re keeping the old rules for themselves. See AMENDMENT 4 page 11

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LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, July 2, 2026 • 3

Granite City SOAR Chapter Barbecue raises funds for Good Samaritan House Chapter 7-34-2 grilling their way to support for local charities By ELIZABETH DONALD Illinois Correspondent Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR) Chapter 7-34-2 is grilling up some fundraising. President Jeff Rains said the chapter had decided to hold three barbecues for local charities, hoping to raise about $500 for each. In April, they held a Saturday event for the Overnight Warming Locations (OWLs) providing a safe, warm shelter to people in need on nights when the weather is extremely cold. They made the $500 goal, but barely. Rains said they learned some lessons from that first fundraiser. It was chief grill master Jeff Childers who suggested they move the fundraiser from Saturday to Tuesday, to avoid the massive competition with other events. The second fundraiser was June 21, to benefit the Good Samaritan House of Granite City. Good Samaritan offers housing and assistance to unhoused mothers and their children. This time the steelworkers struck gold. “It went really, really good,” Rains said. They sold simple barbecue sandwich plates with a drink for $10, hoping to raise another $500 – and raised $1,600. “I never dreamed we would make that kind of money,” Rains said. “The community really came through.” It came at an opportune time: Good Samaritan’s washing machine had just died, and the industrial-

the SOAR mission, Rains said. The date and time – and the benefiting school – will be announced soon,

strength washing machine they needed was $1,500, Rains said. With a little help from Church Community Unity, SOAR will be able to buy the new washing machine and replenish their supplies for the third fundraiser in August: buying school supplies for children in need

via a local school. “A lot of teachers are spending money out of their own pockets (for students’ supplies),” Rains said. Whatever is raised from the third fundraiser will go toward those supplies, he said. Charity work is a major part of

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Rains said, and the grill will be back open for business. – SOAR Chapter 7-34-2 photos

4 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, July 2, 2026

Machinists Local 777 awards scholarships to two outstanding students By JESSIE CHAFIN Correspondent Bridgeton, MO – Machinist Local 777 awarded two scholarships at its monthly meeting on June 11 at its union hall in Bridgeton. This marks the third year Local 777 has granted scholarships to students looking to make a career in a union. The two recipients have expressed their desire to pursue a career in a union field. Nicole Schultz and Karen Herrera were both awarded the $1,000 scholarships. Karen Herrera, who was unable to attend the event, is attending Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in their fouryear automotive program. Nicole Schultz, who was presented with the Local 777 scholarship last year, is a second-year student at Ranken and works for Schicker Ford, a Local 777 union shop.

‘COULDN’T BE PROUDER’ “In my eyes, these young ladies are rock stars,” said Local 777 President Scott Hargis. “They are stepping into something that has

been predominantly male-oriented, and they are not afraid to uphold the task and move forward. I couldn’t be prouder of them.”

INSPIRATION “It feels amazing to be a two-time winner,” Schultz said. “I would say my dad was the inspiration behind me going into the automotive field. We always went to car shows, and I found I loved working on them and fixing them.” Herrera gave praise to her teachers. “What inspired me to get further into the automotive field was my automotive high school instructor Mr. Z! At first, my interest in motorcycles and wanting to do something hands-on, is what got me into the automotive classes. But Mr. Z was the one who helped me choose my future and what path would be best for me.”

APPRECIATION Tim McNamee, IAM Local 777 scholarships chairman, extended his heartfelt appreciation to members of Local 777. “We had a lot of volunteers help us out doing career

TWO-TIME SCHOLARSHIP AWARD winner Nicole Schultz (center) posing with her scholarship check with scholarship sponsors Chariots of Fire and Buchheit Foundation, along with Local 777 board members at the June 11 Local 777 meeting in Bridgeton. – Labor Tribune photo

fairs, so we appreciate all of you.” He also expressed appreciation to the two big scholarship sponsors, Chariots of Fire and the Buchheit Foundation, for their contributions to the scholarship and their communities. “They understand the

importance of the education that we need to give to kids that are going into the automotive trade.” For those who are interested in applying for this scholarship, check back to the Local 777 website in the fall at locallodge777.com/scholarship.

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LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, July 2, 2026 • 5

Notices

Important Information From Your Union

ILLINOIS CENTRAL BODIES Southwestern Illinois Central Labor Council

Third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Laborers’ Local 459 Hall, 100 N. 17th St., Belle­ville, Ill.

Greater Madison County Federation of Labor

Fourth Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Machinists Center, 161 N. Shamrock, East Alton.

Southwestern Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council

DELEGATES meet the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m., at Steamfitters Local 439 hall, 1220 Donald Bailey Drive, Caseyville, Ill. BOARD OF BUSINESS AGENTS meets the second Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. at IBEW Local 309 Hall. Office Address: 2A Meadow Heights, Professional Park Collinsville, Ill. 62234.

Egyptian Building and Construction Trades Council

Second Wednesday, 10 a.m. (unless notified) at IBEW Local 702 at 106 N. Monroe St., West Frankfort, Ill.

LOCAL UNIONS Boilermakers Local 363

Meetings are the second Wednesday of each month at 8 p.m. at the union hall, 2358 Mascoutah Avenue, Belleville.

IBEW Local 309

Regular union meetings are held on first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at Local Union Hall, 2000 Mall Street, Route 157, Collinsville, Ill. Executive Board — Executive board meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. on Thurs­day preceding each regular union meeting at the IBEW Local 309 Hall, 2000A Mall St., Collins­ville.

Iron Workers 392

Meets the last Friday of the month at 7 p.m. at 2995 Kingshighway, East St. Louis.

Official IAM District 9 Notices IAM District 9

Meetings at Machinists’ Building, 12365 St. Charles Rock Rd., Bridgeton, Mo., unless otherwise stated. DISTRICT 9 — Second Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. DISTRICT 9 EXECUTIVE BOARD — Second Wednes­day, 7:15 p.m., Conference Room. DISTRICT 9 M.N.P.L. Legislative meeting immediately after each month’s regular District meeting.

IAM Local 41

The regular monthly meeting will be held on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Machinists Hall, 12365 St. Charles Rock Rd., Bridgeton, MO 63044. Members, take note. Shop stewards, please post this notice in your shop. SPECIAL NOTICE: Monthly dues increase as of Jan. 1, 2026. All members at the current rate of $91 will go up to $94. Members at the current rate of $96 will go up to $99. Members at the current rate of $101 will go up to $104. Unemployment stamps are $4 per month. All dues should be paid no later than the 10th of the following month or your membership will be lapse and reinstatement (four times the dues rate) will be owed. SPECIAL NOTICE: Members should contact the Local 41 office when retiring, going out on sick leave, workers comp and any change of address. SPECIAL NOTICE: Regularly scheduled meetings for July 2026 and August 2026 are cancelled. We will resume regular meetings in September 2026.

IAM Local 313

Regular meeting and Shop Stewards’ meeting will be held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m., Sheet Metal Workers Local 268 Hall, 2727 North 89th St., Caseyville, Ill. 62232. See website at iamlocal313.com. OFFICE HOURS: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Telephone 618-3976336. When mailing dues be sure to enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of your book. Make your check payable to Metro East Automotive Lodge 313. SPECIAL NOTICE: Initiation of new members will be held on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 268 Hall, 2701 North 89th St., Caseyville, Ill. 62232. SPECIAL NOTICE: As of Jan. 1, 2026, the monthly dues will be $102 per month for Journeymen, Service Writers, Dispatchers, Body Men, Apprentice and Specialist. The dues will be $89.50 per month for Greeter, Helper, Lube Tech and Production Worker. Unemployment Stamps will be $4 per month.

IAM Local 660

The regular meeting date of Local 660 is the third Tuesday of each month. It will start at 7:30 p.m. at the Machinists Center, 161 N. Shamrock, East Alton, Ill. SPECIAL NOTICE: Effective Jan. 1, 2026 for Bluff City Local 660, IAMAW, the unemployment dues will be $4 per month and the union dues will be based on the member’s hourly rate as follows: Hourly Pay Rate Dues Rate $12.50 or Less $97.00 per Month $12.51 to $14.50 $101.00 per Month $14.51 to $16.50 $105.00 per Month $16.51 or More $109.00 per Month This notice is in accordance with the I.A.M. & A.W. Constitution..

IAM Local 688

The regular meetings are on the second Thursday at 7 p.m., Machinists Building, 12365 St. Charles Rock Rd., Bridgeton, MO 63044. Phone number (314) 702-2210. SPECIAL NOTICE: Please mail dues to IAM District 9 c/o Local 688, 12365 St. Charles Rock Rd., Bridgeton, MO 63044. SPECIAL NOTICE: Our July and August meetings are cancelled. The next meeting will be Sept. 10.

IAM Local 777

Regular meetings at 7 p.m. on second Thursdays at Machinists Building, 12635 St. Charles Rock Rd., Bridgeton, Mo. SPECIAL NOTICE: Members should contact the Local 777 office when changing shops, retiring, going out on sick leave,

workers comp, and any change of address. SPECIAL NOTICE: As of Jan. 1, 2026 the monthly dues will be: $102 per month for Journeymen, Service Writers, Dispatchers, Body Men and Specialist and $89.50 per month for Apprentice, Greeter, Helper and Production Worker. Unemployment Stamps will be $4 per month.

IAM Local 822

Regular meetings at 6 p.m. first Tuesday each month at the IAM Local 822 Hall 2929 N. Fifth St., Quincy, Ill. PLEASE NOTE: New Office Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed noon - 1 p.m. SPECIAL NOTICE: IAM Local 822 will have a first reading and discussion of proposed by-law changes on June 2, 2026 at Local 822 at 2929 N 5th St., Quincy, Ill. 62305, and a second reading and vote on July 7.

IAM Local 1345

The regular meetings will be held at the Machinist Hall, 12365 St. Charles Rock Rd., Bridgeton, on the second Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m. and the night steward meeting is held at noon. If there is a cancellation of any meeting, it will appear under a special notice. SPECIAL NOTICE: Effective Jan. 1, 2026 IAM Local 1345 dues rates are as follows: For members making $12.50 or less, their dues rate will be $92 per month. For members making $12.51 and above, their dues rate will be $99 per month. The initiation fee is $198, which is twice the monthly dues and $396 for reinstatement, which is four times the monthly dues. The out-of-work dues remain at $4. Dues are due no later than the 15th of the following month they are due. SPECIAL NOTICE: Members should contact the Local 1345 office 314-739-8301 when retiring, going out on sick leave,workers comp and with any change of address or phone numbers.

IAM Local 1745

JULY 2026

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the second Friday of the month at the IUOE Local 520 Hall, 520 Engineer Rd., Granite City, IL 62040.

Operators Local 399

Third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at 24 East Fer­­­gu­son, Wood River, Ill.

Painters District Council 58 Plumbers & Gasfitters Local 360

Union meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at the Knights of Columbus Council 1712, One Columbus Plaza, Collinsville, IL 62234.

Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 101

Union Meetings will be held on the 4th Wednesday of the month except December, which will be held on the 3rd Wednesday. The meetings will be held at the Local 101 Hall located at 8 Premier Drive in Belleville, IL 62220 at 7:30 p.m.

Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 160

Union meetings are on the second Friday of the month at 8 p.m. at the hall, 901 Mulberry Street, Murphysboro, Ill. 62966.

Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 553

First Tuesday of each month September through May, 7 p.m., 967 East Airline Dr., East Alton, IL 62024.

Sheet Metal Workers Local 268

Caseyville Meetings: Fourth Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the Sheet Metal Workers’ Hall, 2701 N. 89th Street, Casey­ville, Ill. 62232. Southern counties: Meetings will be held at 6 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at the training center, 13963 Route 37, Johnston City, Ill.

Steamfitters Local 439

Meets first Wednesday of each month, 7:30 p.m. in the Donald Bailey Building, 1220 Donald Bailey Dr., Caseyville, Ill. 62232-2061.

RETIREE CLUBS Boilermakers Local 363 Retirees IBEW Local 309 Retirees Sheet Metal Workers Local 268 Retirees’ Club

Meets on the second Wednesday of the month at Sheet Metal Workers Local 268 Hall, 2701 N. 89th St., Caseyville, Ill. at 1 p.m. All Retirees Welcome.

Teamsters Local 600 Golden Age Retirees

MISSOURI CENTRAL BODIES Greater St. Louis Labor Council, AFL-CIO

IAM Local 2782

First Wednesday, 10 a.m., Electricians’ Industry Training Center Auditorium, 2300 Hampton.

RETIREE CLUBS IAM District 9 Retirees Club

Meets the fourth Tuesday, 10 a.m. at Machinists’ Building, 12365 St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton, Mo. David Meinell, president, Caroline Kemper, secretary-treasurer. Retirees and spouses are cordially invited to join the Retirees’ Club.

IAM Local 660 Retirees’ Club

Retired members, wife or husband, father and mother of members in good standing, the retired members club’s regular meeting will be held at the Machinists’ Center, 161 Shamrock Street, East Alton, Ill., on the first ­Wednesday of each month. Social hour at 10 a.m. Covered dish dinner at noon and games and entertainment at 1 p.m. Barbara Hayes, Recording Secretary.

IAM Local 822 Retirees’ Club

Meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Call L. 822 at 217-222-0394 for information.

If you’ve moved or changed your mailing address, please notify your union.

TAKING RESERVATIONS FOR 2026 & 2027

HALL RENTALS

Fundraisers • Receptions • Meetings • Parties • Seating capacity up to 240 people • Venue rental includes tables and chairs

Washington (Satire from The Borowitz Report) — Vice President JD Vance flew into a rage on Wednesday after ChatGPT repeatedly recommended former President Barack Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran. Desperate to advance negotiations with the Islamic Republic, Vance asked the bot, “What is the best possible nuclear deal with Iran?” only to have it extoll Obama’s 2015 accord. Adding insult to injury, Chat responded to subsequent prompts by informing Vance that Obama reached this deal without a reckless military campaign that closed the Strait of Hormuz and required the U.S. to pay Iran $300 billion. Infuriated, Vance ordered the bot to stop praising Obama’s nuclear deal, whereupon it responded, “Fair enough! Would you like me to explore his other landmark achievements, like The Affordable Care Act?”

AFSCME Retirees Subchapter 59

Membership meetings will be held for the first shift at 4 p.m. the second Monday each month at Ron’s Catering, 113 E. Main St., Warrenton. Quarterly meetings will be held for the second shift at 2 p.m. the second Monday of these months: March, June, September and December. SPECIAL NOTICE: When approaching retirement, it’s a mem­ber’s responsibility to contact the financial secretary or local lodge officer to get an application for a retirement card. The regular monthly meetings will be held at 5 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the IAM Local 2782 office, 408 Washington Ave. Suite 134, West Plains, MO. SPECIAL NOTICE: The meeting for second-shift workers will be held at 2 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the IAM 2782 office, 408 Washington Ave. Suite134, West Plains, MO.

Vance furious after ChatGPT keeps recommending Obama’s nuclear deal

Operating Engineers 520

Third Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., IBEW Local 1 Hall, 5850 Elizabeth Ave., St. Louis.

St. Louis Building & Construction Trades Council St. Louis Union Label & Service Trades Council

Meetings third Monday at 5 p.m., IBEW Local 1, 5850 Elizabeth Ave., 63110. John Schepers, president. Information: fritz@ unionlabel.info 314-779-9959

LOCAL UNIONS

the time of filing application for apprenticeship. WELDING QUALIFICATION: Applicants that have a welding certification or welding training qualifications will have priority selection over applicants with no welding qualifications. Applicants must provide a copy and proof of welding certification or welding training qualifications at the time of application.

IBEW Local 1

Bricklayers Local 1

Meeting on the first and third Friday of each month, 7 p.m. at the Training Center, 2300 Hampton.

Meets at 5:30 p.m. the first Thursday at Bricklayers’ Local No. 1 Union Hall, 1670 Fenpark, Fenton, MO 63026. To register for a course, contact Dale Jennewein at the Bricklayers Local 1 MO JATC at 314-770-1066.

Boilermakers Local 27

The monthly membership meetings are at 8 p.m. the first Monday at the Boilermakers Hall, 1547 S. Broadway. Applications for Construction Boilermakers Apprentice will be accepted by the Boilermakers Joint Apprenticeship Committee on the second Monday of each month at the Local 27 hall, 1547 South Broadway, St. Louis, Missouri 63104, from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. The recruitment, selection, employment and training of apprentices during their apprenticeship shall be without discrimination because of race, religion, national origin, age or sex. Every applicant must supply a copy of their BIRTH CERTIFICATE and High School DIPLOMA/G.E.D. that the Committee can keep at

Union meetings are held the First Wednesday and the Third Friday of each Month at the IBEW, Local 1 Union Hall located at 5850 Elizabeth Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110. Meetings begin promptly at 5 p.m. Please make every effort to attend.

IBEW Local 1 Apprentices IBEW Local 4

5850 Elizabeth Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110

Cement Masons Local 527

Insulators and Asbestos Workers Local 1

Elevator Constructors Local 3

Ironworkers Local 396

First Friday, 7 p.m. at the Hoisting Engineers Hall, 3449 Hollenberg. Executive Board meets at 3325 Hollenberg on first Friday at 10 a.m.

3341 Hollenberg Dr, Bridgeton, MO 63044 1525 South Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63104

Union meetings on the last Friday of each month at 8 p.m. at the Union Hall, 2500 59th St., St. Louis, MO 63110.

Hampton SHoe Glaziers Local 513

See NOTICES page 15

5916 Wilson Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110

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6 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, July 2, 2026

United Way of Greater St. Louis announces Anna Brown as new Labor liaison Granite City – The United Way of Greater St. Louis (UWGSL) Labor Engagement Team has named Anna Brown as the new Labor liaison for Granite City and the surrounding areas of Madison County. In her new role, Brown will serve as a vital bridge between local Labor unions, community support networks, and volunteer initiatives. She will focus on connecting working families across Granite City and Madison County to essential resources and direct referrals within United Way’s network of over 150 local nonprofits. “We are thrilled to welcome Anna to our team,” said Sonja GholstonByrd, vice president of the UWGSL Labor Engagement Team. “Her positive energy, passion, and genuine commitment to serving our community are exactly what we need as we continue bringing Organized Labor and United Way together.” Brown brings a wealth of advocacy experience to the role, having previously served as a business representative for UFCW Local 881. Each year, Labor and United Way come together with a shared pur-

COPE endorsements for Aug. 4 primary election The Missouri AFL-CIO and the Greater St. Louis Labor Council have endorsed the following candidates in Missouri’s Aug. 4 primary election:

License Collector (D) Mavis “Tessa” Thompson Recorder of Deeds (D) OPEN

FRANKLIN COUNTY Presiding Commission (R) Ed Hilhouse

AMENDMENTS SONJA GHOLSTON-BYRD (left), vice president of the United Way of Greater St. Louis Labor Engagement Team, welcomes Anna Brown as the new Labor liaison for Granite City and the surrounding areas of Madison County. Brown previously worked as a business representative for UFCW Local 881. – United Way of Greater St. Louis photo

pose: to support working families, strengthen neighborhoods, and respond when our communities need us most. Through service projects, workforce initiatives, apprenticeship opportunities, disaster response, and community outreach, Labor liaisons work to show that solidarity extends far beyond the workplace — bringing unions, retirees, apprentices, students, veterans, and volunteers together to make a measurable impact across the region.

JEFFERSON COUNTY

Amendment 4 – vote NO Amendment 5 – vote NO

County Executive Tim Whitney County Clerk (dual endorsement) Steve Earp Jaclyn Riebold County Collector Jen Modray Circuit Clerk Joe Maddock

MISSOURI AUDITOR Scott Fitzpatrick (R) Quentin Wilson (D)

U.S. CONGRESS Dist. 1 Dist. 2 Dist. 3 Dist. 4 Dist. 5 Dist. 6 Dist. 7 Dist. 8

Wesley Bell Fred Wellman Bethany Mann Jordan Herrera Emanuel Cleaver II Nathan Willett Grayson Hunt Frank Barnitz

MISSOURI SENATE Dist. 8 Dist. 10 Dist. 18 Dist. 20 Dist. 22 Dist. 24 Dist. 30 Dist. 34

Keri Ingle Mike Deering Dusty Blue Sean Falconer Jim Avery Tracy McCreery Betsy Fogle Shereka Barnes

MISSOURI HOUSE Dist. 2. Dist. 8 Dist. 9 Dist. 10 Dist. 11 Dist. 11 Dist. 12 Dist. 14 Dist. 15 Dist. 16 Dist. 17 Dist. 18 Dist. 19 Dist. 20 Dist. 20 Dist. 21 Dist. 22 Dist. 24 Dist. 25 Dist. 26 Dist. 27 Dist. 28 Dist. 29 Dist. 30

Casey Scott Amy Minich Gena Pucket LaTonya Williams Luke Rae Taylor Crouse Tracey Steele Ashley Aune Ken Jamison Chris Brown Susan Hoisington Eric Woods Wick Thomas Jeff Spicer Mike Steinmeyer Will Jobe Yolanda Young Kevin Garner Pattie Mansur Tiffany Price Melissa Douglas Donna Barnes Tedi Rowland Kevin Grover

COUNTY COUNCIL Dist. 33 Troy Latterell Dist. 34 Kemp Strickler Dist. 35 Michael Scott Dist. 36 Anthony Ealy Dist. 38 Marty Jacobs Dist. 40 Chad Perkins Dist. 41 Matthew Beger Dist. 44 Becky Brewer Dist. 45 Kathy Steinhoff Dist. 46 David Tyson Smith Dist. 47 Adrian Plank Dist. 50 Gregg Bush Dist. 56 Staci Czar Dist. 58 Roger Korenberg Dist. 59 Beck Kroll Dist. 60 Scott Spencer Dist. 60 Suzanne Luther Dist. 61 Stacy Bax Dist. 63 Donald Looney Jr. Dist. 64 Amber Teson Dist. 65 Dale Conoyer Dist. 66 Theresa Hester Dist. 67 Tonya Rush Dist. 68 Kem Smith Dist. 69 Chris Chapman Dist. 70 Stephanie Boykin Dist. 71 Nicole Greer Dist. 72 Patrick Wroblewski Dist. 73 Kennedy Moore Dist. 74 Marla Smith Dist. 75 Chanel Mosley Dist. 76 Marlon Anderson Dist. 77 Kimberly-Ann Collins Dist. 78 Marty Joe Murray Dist. 79 Rachel D’Souza Dist. 80 Elizabeth Fuchs Dist. 81 James Lappe Dist. 82 Nick Kimble Dist. 83 Ray Reed Dist. 84 Del Taylor Dist. 85 Yolanda Fountain Henderson Dist. 86 Jeff Hales

Dist. 87 Dist. 88 Dist. 90 Dist. 91 Dist. 92 Dist. 93 Dist. 94 Dist. 95 Dist. 96 Dist. 97 Dist. 98 Dist. 99 Dist. 100 Dist. 101 Dist. 102 Dist. 103 Dist. 104 Dist. 105 Dist. 106 Dist. 107 Dist. 108 Dist. 109 Dist. 110 Dist. 113 Dist. 123 Dist. 127 Dist. 130 Dist. 131 Dist. 133 Dist. 134 Dist. 135 Dist. 136 Dist. 137 Dist. 140 Dist. 144 Dist. 155 Dist. 157 Dist. 158 Dist. 163

Connie Steinmetz Jenniffer Tricky Mark Boyko Jo Doll Michael Burton Bridget Walsh Moore Cathy Summers Meredith Sumenek Matt Vitale David Casteel Jaclyn Zimmerman Tori Schaefer Mary Ann Perkins Richard Smercker David Rogers Don Crozier Tara Murray Cat Clayton Jewel Kelly Gary Wester Stephan Scott Trent Leslie Claire Heinrich Phil Amato Jeff Vernetti Marvin Manring Leslie Jones Ashley Cossins Katelyn Zach Kelsey Grant John Chiles Stephanie Hein Bryce F. Lockwood Julia E. Curran Tony Harbison Joshua Berzins Bradley Bos Christopher Foster Brenna Barksdale

CITY OF ST. LOUIS Collector (D) Gregory F.X. Daly

Dist. 1 Dist. 3 Dist. 5 Dist. 7

Richard Durham Lori Arons Tim Bennett Josh Williams

(Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562 member)

CIRCUIT COURT Circuit Judge, Div. 12 Colby Smith-Haynes Circuit Judge, Div. 15 Michelle Hughes

ST. CHARLES COUNTY County Executive (R) Steve Ehlmann Prosecuting Attorney (R) Joseph G. McCulloch

COUNTY COUNCIL 1st District 3rd District 5th District 7th District

(R) Matt Swanson (R) Mike Elam (R) Terry Hollander OPEN

ASSOCIATE CIRCUIT JUDGE Division 08 (R) Petter A. Lassiter Division 09 (R) Jeff Sandcork Division 10 (R) Dennis Chassaniol Division 11 (R) Tanya Muhm Division 12 (R) William Byrnes

ST. LOUIS COUNTY County Executive (D) Jake Zimmerman Prosecuting Attorney (D) Melissa Price Smith County Assessor (D) OPEN

COUNTY COUNCIL 1st District 3rd District

(D) Rita H. Days (D) Mark Osmack

Congratulations to all COPE endorsed candidates. If you would like to send a personal message directly into the homes of the union member voters of the Labor Tribune, contact Dan Braun at dbraun@labortribune.com or 314.256.4136

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LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, July 2, 2026 • 7

Jefferson County Labor Club hosts candidate meet and greet Festus, MO – The Jefferson County Labor Club recently hosted a meet and greet for its endorsed candidates in the Aug. 4 primary election at the Tanglefoot Dance Hall. Also participating in the event were current legislators/candidates, including Republican Reps. Phil Amato (D-113), David Casteel (D-97) and Cecelie Williams (D-111). – Labor Tribune photos

8 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, July 2, 2026 SUPPORTING WELLNESS ACROSS THE TRADES. Breaking the stigma and removing the barriers. With our partners from

The Aviary Recovery Center.

The Aviary Recovery Center provides healing and recovery for those struggling with addiction By BRUCE DARNELL Correspondent The patient’s family told him it was hard to view him as a role model due to his alcoholism. Still, he said he only became convinced to put both feet into recovery after seeing someone else have a seizure. Suddenly, decades of addiction fell into perspective. The patient said he had been heavily drinking since starting his career as a painter. Coworkers used to see how drunk they could get him, whether in the work truck or at Christmas parties. He started drinking as a reward for work, then just to get through the day. It all started with beer, then went to liquor, and eventually vodka. The work damaged him physically and mentally, he said, through the endless moving and cleaning of heavy equipment, work due to deadlines and the insecurity of getting replaced. Cynthia Weber, the Aviary’s business development director, said stories like this are common among patients at the recovery center. For many, she said, the biggest difference between them is their drug of choice. Patients at the Aviary by and large are workers and veterans, she said. Most are addicted to alcohol, pills or fentanyl.

WELLNESS COALITION Overdoses and suicide in the

THE AVIARY RECOVERY CENTER is located in a former farmhouse north of Eolia, Mo., featuring views of rolling hills and a pond. Not shown are the recreation barn, veteran’s living quarters and horse stable. – Labor Tribune photo

construction industry kill nearly 17,000 workers annually. That is why the St. Louis Building Trades Wellness Coalition, whom the Aviary Recovery Center is partnered with, has been working to create a network of practical resources to bridge gaps between healthcare and workers, address stigma and raise awareness about mental health, suicide and addiction. Those issues are rooted in more than just the workplace, Weber says. “Most of the people that come in here have substance use disorder with depression, trauma, anxiety, ADD, bipolar. Something else is usually going on,” she said. “If you never address WEBER

why you’re self-medicating, you’re going go right back to doing it.”

THE PATH OF ADDICTION Weber said addictions start small and unravel over time. “It creeps up on you,”she said.“Maybe it started with having an injury, taking medication for pain. Then you’re building up that tolerance, you’re taking more medication and running out of it sooner. Now, you’re getting stuff of the streets because you don’t want withdrawals; then it turns into something worse.” This is why services at the Aviary involve more than just detox. Weber says that during a patient’s time at the Aviary, a typical day will be filled with therapy, mainly in group settings. Patients

INSIDE THE RECREATION BARN, a range of exercise equipment. – Labor Tribune photo

HORSES, REBEL, HYRA AND ELLIOT take a walk inside their pen at the Aviary Recovery Center. Elliot, on the right, is the primary horse used for equine therapy. – Labor Tribune photo

typically meet one-on-one with a counselor once a week, but more often if needed. The goal, beyond detox, is to help patients readjust their life to sobriety and seek to understand what caused them to turn to drugs or alcohol. At the Aviary’s residential facility, a stay can range from a few weeks to multiple months. Outpatient care offers both day and evening options. The Aviary also offers family services, including free group sessions on Wednesdays, and an alumni program. For three years now, the Aviary has been ranked as the best addiction recovery center in Missouri, according to Newsweek magazine. They have three locations: An outpatient facility in Kirkwood and Kansas City, Mo. and a residential facility in Eolia. Weber said they differ from hospitals by not requiring patients to actively be suffering from withdrawals to receive treatment. The Aviary accepts most private insurance, marketplace policies and Tricare, and are proudly partnered with the Veterans Administration to support veterans. The recovery center also tries to accommodate payment plans for those that are unable to pay their deductible or insurance max out of pocket.

OUTPATIENT PROGRAM In Kirkwood, the Aviary operates an intensive outpatient program, meaning patients can receive treatment while not living in the facility. This option may be better for people who can operate day-to-day without constant supervision from medical staff, including the need to detox, or can be utilized as a follow-up system for anyone who has already completed a residential stay. The outpatient program also allows patients to continue working. Weber said a large fear among patients is that attending a recovery program will get them fired. As a result of the HIPAA, medical personnel are only allowed to divulge as much information as their patient permits, whether it’s to family or a boss.

PEER SUPPORT Another growing area of support for union workers comes through peer-to-peer support systems in local unions. Peers are fellow workers who have been through recovery who can talk to their union brothers and sisters where they’re at. This

MULTIPLE FISHING RODS sit alongside a wall in the Aviary Recovery Center’s outdoor barn. Besides providing recreation equipment like this, it also hosts meeting spaces and offices for patient bookings. – Labor Tribune photo

targets both the stigma against discussing issues as well as closing gaps in healthcare access. “Usually, it’s one of the peers that will reach out and say they’ve got a member looking for help, and I’ll get their number and talk to them,”Weber said.“So, I initiate that conversation… and then we can do an assessment and hopefully get them here the same day.” Peers can also give guidance to workers on what they should tell their bosses if they need to enter recovery, especially if their issues are serious enough to require a stay at a residential facility.

RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM One such facility is the Aviary’s Eolia facility. The center is a gated community settled on a large plot of land featuring three buildings, two of which house patients while the third contains exercise and outdoor equipment as well as additional meeting spaces. A walking path surrounds a big pond, which is stocked with fish, and in the farthest corner of the property there is a stable and pen for equine therapy two times a week. Despite being a large facility in rural Missouri, the Aviary takes in anyone at any time. Some are dropped off and others make arrangements in advance. Weber said they try and get people in on the day of contact, but sometimes it can take a few more days to get them to the facility. Weber also said its preferred a patient avoids driving themselves, so they don’t have access to their car, which is for security and to help keep the patient focused on recovery. The Aviary provides transportation for any patients who don’t have their own, typically through rideshare services like Lyft. The main residential building is fully staffed with medical professionals, aides, and two giant, roaming dogs named Bear and Moose. There is a cafeteria, computers, televisions, movies and books. The building’s two floors are split by gender, and every resident has at least one roommate. The Aviary Recovery Center can be contacted through their website at aviaryrecoverycenter.com/ contact-us by calling 314-464-0222.

LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, July 2, 2026 • 9

Your Health Mind, Body, Spirit

Top 10 water safety tips for families It’s summer swim time. Swimming is not only excellent exercise but also a way for families to bond and create lasting memories. Whether you’re enjoying a backyard pool, spending the day at the lake or visiting the beach, water activities offer joy and connection. However, many people underestimate the dangers of swimming without proper safety measures. Drowning incidents can occur quickly and silently, often without any signs of struggle. By equipping your children with essential swimming safety skills and knowledge, you’re not only preventing potential accidents—you’re giving them the tools to enjoy the water safely and confidently for life. 1. Never swim alone. Always swim with a buddy and in areas where a lifeguard is on duty. Lifeguards are trained to spot danger, respond quickly, and provide guidance on water conditions. Encourage children to use the buddy system—even strong swimmers should never swim unsupervised. 2. Supervise children closely. Children should always be supervised near water—whether it’s the pool, lake, or bathtub. For younger kids, stay within arm’s reach (also known as “touch supervision”). For older children, remain actively engaged

and avoid distractions like your phone. Take turns supervising if you’re with other adults. 3. Avoid breath-holding games. Discourage children from playing games that involve holding their breath underwater. These can lead to unconsciousness and drowning. Competitive swimmers should be taught proper breathing techniques by qualified instructors. 4. Use Coast Guard-approved life jackets. Water wings and floaties may give a false sense of security. Only U.S. Coast Guard-approved life vests are reliable flotation devices. Ensure they fit properly and are worn by inexperienced swimmers and young children at all times near water. 5. Reach, throw, don’t go. If someone is in trouble in the water, teach children to reach with a pole or throw a flotation device, but never jump in. Attempting a rescue without training can lead to multiple drownings. 6. Enter the water feet first. Diving into shallow or unfamiliar water

Pro-active union healthcare plan saves California Ironworker’s life By ANDREW RODINE Ironworkers Local 118 I make my living as an ironworker. It is a physically demanding career that takes a serious toll on your body over time. When you work long hours on tough jobs, you learn to push through minor aches and pains. Like many of those in the trades, my personal healthcare routinely took a back seat to my work schedule. I felt fine, so I did not think I needed to go to the doctor. In fact, I had avoided regular checkups for years due to a string of bad experiences with rushed providers. My philosophy was simple: If nothing is obviously broken, you do not try to fix it. That is the standard mindset on a job site. I learned the hard way that this way of thinking is dangerous.

A NEW BENEFIT Last year, at age 50, I decided to check out a new benefit available through my union, Ironworkers Local 118. We have access to a Marathon Health clinic with free primary care. I figured it was our clinic, so I wanted to try it out. I originally went in for a minor, acute issue, expecting the usual fast-paced doctor visit. Instead, the experience completely surprised me. The care team actually listened. I was so impressed with the attention I received that I decided to go back for a full annual exam. That appointment changed everything. My provider, Jill, took the time to

sit down and talk with me. We went through my overall health history and symptoms without looking at the clock. Jill’s willingness to listen as I explained my history and concerns showed me how much she cared. We talked about my family history, which included prostate cancer. I also mentioned some minor urinary hesitancy I had been brushing off. Because we had the time to dig into those details, Jill added a prostate-specific antigen blood test, or PSA, to my routine labs. She also talked to me straight about some unhealthy habits I needed to scale back. If I had been at a standard appointment, I never would have proactively requested a PSA screening.

STAGE 1 PROSTATE CANCER The results came back showing my PSA levels were moderately high. That led to a urology referral and further testing. The biopsies confirmed it: I had stage 1 prostate cancer. It was in all 12 biopsy samples. The diagnosis hit me hard. It was completely unexpected because I generally felt healthy. I realized then that feeling fine does not alSee RODINE page 10

can cause serious injuries. Teach children to always enter feet first unless the area is clearly marked for diving and they’ve learned safe diving techniques. 7. Avoid pool drains. Broken or uncovered drains can trap hair, clothing, or limbs. Teach kids to steer clear of drains and report any damaged or missing drain covers immediately to a lifeguard or pool staff. 8. Swim in designated areas. Whether at the pool or beach, stay within roped-off areas and obey lifeguard instructions. Don’t let

children swim in deeper water than they’re comfortable with or capable of handling. 9. Avoid alcohol while swimming or supervising. Alcohol impairs judgment and reaction time. Adults supervising children should avoid drinking, and teens should be educated about the risks of mixing alcohol with swimming. 10. Learn CPR. Knowing CPR can save lives. Parents and caregivers should become certified in CPR for adults, children, and infants. Classes are available through the

YMCA, the American Red Cross and local hospitals.

AND ONE MORE: ENROLL IN SWIM LESSONS The most effective way to teach children water safety is through formal swim lessons. In St. Louis, the Gateway Region YMCA offers swim lessons for all ages and skill levels—from toddlers to teens to adults who want to learn for the first time. Contact your local YMCA aquatics director to learn about swim lesson availability.

10 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, July 2, 2026

This Week In

Labor History JUNE 29

JUNE 30

1954 – The Boilermaker and Blacksmith unions merge to become Int’l Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers.

1936 – The Walsh-Healey Act took effect today. It requires companies that supply goods to the government to pay wages according to a schedule set by the Secretary of Labor. 1967 – The storied Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers, a union whose roots traced back to the militant Western Federation of Miners, and which helped found the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), merges into the United Steelworkers of America. 2013 – Nineteen fire fighters die when they are overtaken by a wildfire they are battling in a forest northwest of Phoenix, Ariz. It was the deadliest wildfire involving fire fighters in the U.S. in at least 30 years.

1987 – The newly-formed Jobs with Justice stages its first big support action, backing 3,000 picketing Eastern Airlines mechanics at Miami Airport. 1988 – The U.S. Supreme Court rules in CWA v. Beck that, in a union security agreement, a union can collect as dues from non-members only that money necessary to perform its duties as a collective bargaining representative.

JULY 1 1929 – Some 1,100 streetcar workers strike in New Orleans, spurring the creation of the po’ boy sandwich by a local sandwich shop owner and one-time streetcar man. “Whenever we saw one of the striking men coming,” Bennie Martin later recalled,

Streetcar workers on strike in New Orleans, 1929

“one of us would say, ‘Here comes another poor boy.’” Martin and his wife fed any striker who showed up. 1956 – In what was to be a monthlong strike, 650,000 steelworkers shut down the industry while demanding a number of wage and working condition improvements. They won all their demands, including a union shop. 1971 – National Association of Post Office & General Service Maintenance Employees, United Federation of Postal Clerks, National Federation of Post Office Motor Vehicle Employees & National Association of Special Delivery Messengers merge to become American Postal Workers Union.

JULY 2 1964 – President Johnson signs Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, forbidding employers and

President Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act, 1964

unions from discriminating on the basis of race, color, gender, nationality or religion. 2009 – The Labor Dept. reports that U.S. employers cut 467,000 jobs over the prior month, driving the nation’s unemployment rate up to a 26-year high of 9.5 percent.

underway, some 1,320 delegates attended the founding convention of the Unemployed Councils of the U.S.A., organized by the U.S. Communist Party. They demanded passage of unemployment insurance and maternity benefit laws and opposed discrimination by race or sex. 1950 – Two primary conventions of the United Nations’ Int’l Labor Organization come into force: Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize.

JULY 3 1835 – Children, employed in the silk mills in Paterson, N.J., go on strike for 11-hour day and 6-day week. A compromise settlement resulted in a 69-hour work week. 1860 – Feminist and Labor activist Charlotte Perkins Gilman born in Hartford, Conn. Her landmark study, “Women and Economics,” was radical: it called for the financial independence of women and urged a network of child care centers.

JULY 4 1930 – With the Great Depression

Building trades workers lay the cornerstone of the Freedom Tower on the site of the World Trade Center, 2004

2004 – Building trades workers lay the cornerstone of the Freedom Tower on the site of the World Trade Center in New York City. The WTC had been leveled by a terrorist attack three years earlier. Nearly 3,000 died at the WTC and in other attacks in the eastern U.S. on the same day.

JULY 5 1935 – President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the National Labor Relations Act. 1973 – Three fire fighters, a state policeman and an employee of Doxol Gas in Kingman, Ariz., are killed in a propane gas explosion. Eight more fire fighters were to die of burns suffered in the event. 1994 – Fourteen fire fighters are killed battling the South Canyon Fire on Storm King Mountain in Glenwood Springs, Colo.

(Compiled by David Prosten, founder Union Communication Services)

Rodine From pg. 9 ways mean nothing is wrong. But because we caught it early, my treatment options were excellent. Less than six months after that initial lab result, I underwent surgery to remove the cancer. Today, there is no evidence of cancer. I am on the road to my best health and have dramatically decreased my unhealthy habits. I know exactly who to thank. If it weren’t for the clinic and Jill’s focus on my care, the cancer would not have been caught so early. If I hadn’t gone in when I did, I may not have found it until much later.

‘CHANGED HOW I VIEW PREVENTIVE HEALTHCARE’ Going through this changed how I view preventive healthcare. I know how my fellow ironworkers think. We delay care because we are busy, we want to avoid doctors or simply do not think we need checkups. Trust is a massive factor. We are more likely to use healthcare when it feels accessible, convenient and respectful. Now, I make it my mission to tell the other guys not to wait. I want everybody to go to the clinic. I keep Jill’s clinic cards in my truck and pass them out to my coworkers all the time. Your health is the most important tool you bring to the job site. You just need to make the time to protect it.

LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, July 2, 2026 • 11

Dr. Karen Suarez Flint elected as first woman international vice president of the American Federation of Musicians Chicago, IL — Chicago Federation of Musicians (CFM), Local 10-208 of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) has announced the historic election of SecretaryTreasurer Dr. Karen Suarez Flint to the office of International vice president of the AFM at their 103rd International Convention in Ottawa, Ontario. Dr. Suarez Flint became the first woman in the nearly 130-year history of the Union to hold the office of vice president, and the first Chicagoan to serve as an International officer since James Petrillo famously served as president from 1940 -1958.

PROGRESSIVE POLICIES Suarez Flint rose to prominence within the union at the 102nd Convention in 2023 as a champion for progressive policies intended to make the AFM a more equitable and inclusive organization. By stewarding the formation of the Change the Culture committee (an ad hoc group of women leaders from across the AFM), she aimed to confront the epidemic of sexual harassment and abuse in the symphonic music world, while creating effective policies that ensure safer environments for all working musicians. In order to address these needs, she piloted the use of a third-party app for anonymous reporting of workplace misconduct at the CFM, which was later adopted by the AFM at the international level. A classically trained French Horn player who holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts and a Master of Music in Performance & Literature from the Eastman School of Music, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Dr. Suarez Flint knows that classical music is far from the only musical genre in which professional Chicago musicians work.

mendment A 4 From pg. 2 This is, of course, on brand for Missouri, which has for years thrown sand in the gears on everything from nonpartisan redistricting to Medicaid expansion to abortion access despite all three being — empirically — policies that voters want. Our state government does hypocrisy pretty well too. Gov. Mike Kehoe has complained that funding to defeat Amendment 4 has come from “out-of-state special interests” — never mind that he’s doing literally the exact same thing for Amendment 5. Rules for thee, not for me. Hypocrisy is nothing new in politics. But Amendment 4 would be something new: something bad for voters and something that ends a critical check on legislative power. (Ben Samuels writes about politics, government, and how to improve what feels like an increasingly broken system. Follow him on Substack at https://bensamuels.substack. com.)

Driven by the belief that ALL working musicians in Chicago deserve fair contracts and safe workplaces, she became a vocal advocate for the in- SUAREZ FLINT clusion of hip-hop artists and DJs in the AFM, Black musical genres whose work has not historically

been eligible for the benefits and protections of a union contract. After successfully arguing for their explicit inclusion in AFM Bylaws, she made CFM one of the first AFM locals in the nation to welcome musicians from popular urban music genres into the union’s rank and file. Expressing joy and gratitude at the opportunity to lead the AFM

into a bold new era, Dr. Suarez Flint remarked: “Representation matters. I hope that there are many members of this union who will now feel more seen and included in our work, as a result of my historic election. I am humbled and honored to represent all of the members of the AFM, but I feel it is my special responsibility to make space at the table for the

many voices who have traditionally gone unheard. Building a broader, more diverse coalition of musicians is the most effective way to strengthen our union and create the kind of transformational policy change necessary to protect the live performances, recorded media, and intellectual property of 21st century working musicians.”

12 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, July 2, 2026

Drive

American Union Wages, Union Wheels

2027 Silverado is all new Next-gen full-size Chevrolet pickup gets big screens and old-school V-8s By KEVIN WEAKS It was 28 years ago that the first Chevrolet Silverado was offered as a standalone model. Up to that point Silverado was a

WEAKS

top-tier luxury trim package for Chevrolet C/K pickup trucks, which launched in 1960 and ran for nearly four decades. C stood for two-wheel drive, K for four-wheel drive. The C/K was a tough, working man’s truck with an iconic design. At that time most pickup trucks were utilitarian work vehicles, putting brawn ahead of beauty. The Silverado option was first offered in 1975 and changed all that. Buyers

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could enjoy luxury-car upgrades, including woodgrain interior trim and upgraded vinyl upholstery with matching carpets. Outside, distinctive metal body trim let everyone on the work site know you were driving a Silverado. The 1999 Silverado was the

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THE 2027 CHEVROLET SILVERADO ZR2 is the off-road flagship of the lineup and a highly capable, redesigned offroad monster featuring upgraded 35-inch mud-terrain tires, a two-inch factory lift and an aggressive off-road hood.

first full-size pickup truck with standard four-wheel disc brakes, while other full-size trucks relied on old-fashioned drum brakes. The first-generation Silverado had the largest cab of any full-size pickup in its segment, providing room for the whole family and moving it into the role of an everyday driver. The first-generation Silverado also marked the debut of AutoTrac fourwheel-drive, a high-tech system that could detect tire slip and engage four-wheel drive automatically. Over four generations, the Chevrolet Silverado evolved from a simple work truck into the secondbest-selling vehicle in the country. For 2027, the Silverado has evolved again. Not only is the fifth-generation truck offering two new smallblock V-8 engines, the Silverado has also received a significant interior overhaul, more high-tech and luxurious than ever before.

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“The goal with the new Silverado was to create a truck that looks stronger, more modern with demanding presence at first glance, while staying true to the authentic truck character customers expect from Chevrolet,” Chevrolet Global Executive Design Director Phil Zak said. Returning to the Chevrolet Silverado lineup for 2027 are the Work Truck (WT), Trail Boss, Custom, Custom Trail Boss, High Country and ZR2 trims. The LT is now simply the “Silverado,” and serves as the base model. The exterior has been completely redesigned with new LED lighting, revised front-end styling, updated wheel arch moldings and standard dual exhaust outlets on Custom trims and above. Each trim receives its own styling cues while maintaining a consistent Silverado appearance. Inside, the cabin is centered around new digital displays, with all

Silverado models featuring a huge 16.3-inch center touchscreen which sits within a parallelogram-shaped bezel that holds an actual physical volume knob. Linked to this display is the 12.2-inch digital gauge cluster. The main display is notably larger than in the outgoing truck, which uses a 13.4-inch touchscreen starting on the mid-tier LT (lower trims have a 7.0-inch screen). Step up to the High Country and ZR2 trims, and you’ll find another Silverado first: an 11.5-inch screen for the passenger, which gives ZR2 and High Country owners have access to over 60 inches of digital displays. A head-up display and digital rearview-camera mirror are also standard fare. The Trail Boss (with no passenger screen) isn’t as snazzy as the ZR2, but it still gets a few special touches to distinguish it as an off-road-capable model. The seatbelts are lined with Torch Red accents, there is red stitching on the doors and steering wheel, and the seats get a unique perforation pattern. This ain’t your old man’s C/K. Further refinements in the High Country include real wood trim, tan-edged seat belts, and updated leather upholstery, and all are now designed with a modern luxury vibe rather than a the “cowboy” motif you see on competitors. That includes the new Tritan Satin grille, which replaces the standard chrome grille on the 2026 model. The ZR2 receives real forged carbon-fiber trim, red accents and red-trimmed seat belts. Both the ZR2 and the High Country also get a standard head-up display and rear camera mirror, and the High Country has the first panoramic sunroof ever offered on a Silverado. All 2027 Silverados now use a standard column shifter instead of a center console shifter. Chevrolet says this was done to maximize space for the new work-surface center console and add more storage features to See 2027 SILVERADO page 13

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LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, July 2, 2026 • 13

2027 Silverado From page 12

HIGH COUNTRY – At the top of the range, the High Country receives exclusive exterior trim, 22-inch wheels, a new grille design, and Silverado’s first panoramic sunroof. Buyers will also have a choice of two interior themes along with wood trim, upgraded materials and unique High Country details.

the “Multiflex” center console. For those who enjoy the option of both driving and towing hands-free, GM’s Super Cruise will also return with its trailering capability intact.

RETURN OF THE 350 V-8 Aside from all the cosmetics, Chevrolet’s biggest news for the 2027 Silverado is the return of both the 350-cubic-inch (5.7-liter) and 400-cubic-inch (6.6-liter) smallblock V-8s. These replace the 5.3and 6.2-liter Gen V engines from the 2026 model. The last time a 350 powered a full-size Chevrolet was 1999, in the final year of the C/K series, while the 400 was last seen in the third-generation C/K in 1980. Both are brand new small-blocks built in Flint, Mich., and Tonawanda, N.Y., using the new Gen VI GM small-block V-8 architecture that debuted with the 2027 Corvette. The Duramax 3.0-liter turbod-

iesel I-6 and Turbomax 2.7-liter turbocharged gas I-4, both return from last year. The turbo-four is now linked to the same 10-speed automatic transmission as the rest of the Silverado lineup. And for the first time, the diesel will be offered on the Work Truck trim, giving fleet and commercial customers the opportunity to combine towing power and fuel economy. At this time Chevrolet says there is no hybrid or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option for the new Silverado, but Chevrolet did add a “yet” to that statement. Chevrolet does offer a fully electric version of the Silverado, which made its debut in 2024 and starts around $60,000. For now, Ford’s F-150 Hybrid has one up on the gasoline-powered Silverado, offering the ability to use the truck as a generator for your house or worksite. For tailgaters and people who use

WORK TRUCK – The 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Work Truck in Summit White. The WT is purpose-built for fleet customers and commercial operators. Straightforward interiors are designed to be easy to clean and feature new digital displays.

ALL 2027 SILVERADO MODELS featuring a larger 16.3-inch center touchscreen. Step up to the High Country and ZR2 trims, and you’ll find another Silverado first: an 11.5-inch screen for the passenger, which gives ZR2 and High Country owners have access to over 60 inches of digital displays.

beaten path. Details on the 2500 and 3500 heavy-duty versions of the 2027 Silverado haven’t been released, nor have the 1500’s towing and cargo capacities, power and torque for the new V-8s, or fuel economy. Chevrolet has not yet announced pricing for the 2027 Silverado 1500. Additional details, including MSRP, engine specs and availability, will be released closer to the truck’s launch later this year; 2026 Silverado prices range from $36,900 to over $92,000 MSRP before adding options or destination fees. The Silverado 1500 is built at the Fort Wayne Assembly in Roanoke, Ind., and in Canada and Mexico. The Silverado HD (2500 and 3500) a built at the Flint Assembly plant in Flint, Mich. The Silverado Medium Duty is built in Springfield, Ohio, in collaboration with Navistar. Like Ford Motor Co., General Mo-

tors is significantly scaling back its electric vehicle ambitions, shifting toward gas-powered vehicles and plug-in hybrids. While EVs remain their long-term “end game,” GM is pivoting to match slower consumer demand and the rollback of federal incentives. The exception is the Chevy Bolt subcompact, which is selling well. “Whether it’s a High Country customer looking for premium appointments, an off-road enthusiast choosing ZR2 or Trail Boss, or a small business owner counting on Work Trucks to get the job done, there is a 2027 Silverado 1500 built around their world,” said Scott Bell, vice president of Global Chevrolet. “Chevrolet is moving the Silverado story forward with the most powerful and advanced Silverado 1500 we have ever offered.” (Contact Kevin Weaks at kweaks@ labortribune.com.)

their Silverados for work, the “Multiflex” tailgate will return along with the bumper corner side steps. And there’s now a molded-in ruler, which could be especially useful on the WT. Cargo box sizes remain the same as the previous generation Silverado and include the 69.9-inch short bed, the 79.4-inch standard bed, and the 98.2-inch- long bed. Availability of bed length depends on which cab you choose from among the usual single, double, or crew cab configurations. The cabs will also get a new rear spoiler with an integrated OnStar antenna. All 4WD trucks will have the Z71 Off-Road package as standard, although the Trail Boss will get a two-inch lift and standard 34-inch mud-terrain tires to give it one more inch of height over the previous generation. It will also get a new rear locking axle to improve traction when heading off the

14 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, July 2, 2026

Poettker Industrial wins Ameren award for three consecutive years of outstanding safety St. Louis – Poettker Industrial Services, a woman-owned, union represented business specializing in utility, infrastructure, and renewable energy construction, won three safety awards, one of which recognizes continued safety excellence for three consecutive years, from Ameren, one of its long-standing clients. “Safety is not just a metric for Po-

UNION, AND WOMANOW N E D Po e tte r Industrial Services has been recognized by Ameren with three aw a rd s fo r s a fe t y performance. – Poettker Industrial Services photo

ettker Industrial — it is a core value

that guides every decision we make

on every jobsite,” said Kimberly

Schlautman, president of Poettker Industrial. “Earning the AmerenContractor Sustained Safety Excellence Award, especially as a result of achieving both the Best in Class – High Volume and Eagle Awards for three consecutive years, is a tremendous honor. This recognition reflects the dedication, leadership, and accountability of our entire team, whose unwavering commitment to safety enables us to deliver exceptional results while ensuring every employee goes home safely.”

BEST IN CLASS For its outstanding safety, performance, leadership, and commitment across its 68 Ameren projects in 2025, Poettker Industrial won the Ameren-Contractor Best in Class - High Volume award for its aboveaverage safety score in Ameren’s high-volume contractors category, designated for contractors with more than 25,000 work hours on Ameren projects in a single year.

EXCEPTIONAL SAFETY PERFORMANCE The Ameren-Contractor Eagle Award honors Poettker Industrial for exceptional safety performance and commitment to the safety of its employees by earning 95 percent of the possible points in the categories of Lost Work Day Away (LWA) Rate, Days Away Restricted Transferred (DART) Rate, Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR), Preventable Motor Vehicle Incident (PMVI), Contractor First Line Safety Seminar (CFLSS), Trending Reports, Recognition Program, and Near Miss/Good Catch Reporting.

SUSTAINED SAFETY EXCELLENCE In recognition of continued exceptional safety performance and commitment to the safety of its employees, marked by winning both the Ameren-Contractor Best in Class - High Volume Award and the Ameren-Contractor Eagle Award for three consecutive years, Poettker Industrial earned the prestigious Ameren-Contractor Sustained Safety Excellence Award.

NO LOST TIME SINCE 2021 FOUNDING Through its top leadership, Risk Management and Safety program, regular safety communication, safety inspections, trainings, and project planning meetings, the Poettker Industrial team has never experienced a lost-time incident since the company’s founding in 2021. “This recognition is a direct reflection of the men and women in the field — the hardworking, tough craftsmen and craftswomen who pour their skill, muscle, and pride into every project,” said Trey Wiegmann, vice president of Construction Services. “They’re the ones who work the long hours, push through inclement weather, sacrifice time away from their families, and refuse to back down from the challenges that come with building and maintaining the nation’s infrastructure,” Wiegmann said. “Their grit, discipline, and commitment to safety and quality are the reasons Poettker Industrial continues to deliver at the highest level. We’re proud to stand behind them and even prouder to celebrate their achievement.”

LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, July 2, 2026 • 15

Volunteers needed for MOWIT workday at LitShop Food Patch in Carondelet Park July 18 By SHERI GASSAWAY Missouri Correspondent

and learn new ones. For each event, MOWIT partners with a non-profit organization to provide quality construction services for free. “Our workdays give tradeswomen the opportunity to increase their skills and take on a leadership role or do a scope of work they may not have access to during their day job,” Barton said.

St. Louis – Missouri Women in Trades (MOWIT) is seeking volunteers to help with LitShop’s Food Patch pergola in Carondelet Park on July 18. LitShop provides afterschool and summer programming that pairs engaging literacy opportunities with building and making for girls and gender-expansive youth ages 10-18. The food patch project, led by Alberci Constructors, will provide a venue for events, support for climbing vines and a wheelchair accessible path from the orchard entrance.

PROGRAM SUCCESS

VOLUNTEERS OF ALL SKILL LEVELS NEEDED “We will be installing a six-inch gravel base on top of geotextile fabric and compacting all that under the sidewalks and the pergola itself,” said MOWIT Co-founder Beth Barton. “We’re looking for anyone regardless of skill level to come out and volunteer.” MOWIT is a non-profit organization dedicated to help women enter and succeed in the union building trades. MOWIT workdays enable tradeswomen and women considering careers in the construction industry to sharpen their skills

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – A Missouri Women in Trades (MOWIT) workday is planned for July 18 at LitShop’s Food Patch pergola in Carondelet Park. Here, a recent MOWIT workday resulted in volunteers building a new deck on the historic Reeb House, which was extensively damaged by fire in Florissant. – Labor Tribune file photo

“It also provides women in the general public to come see specific skills for various trades that they might not otherwise know about,” she continued. “Then they can decide more easily if a career in the trades or in that particular trade is right for them. We’ve had a lot of success with our workday program leading to actual apprenticeships.” Two additional workdays are planned for this year: one in August at a date to be determined at the Veterans Community Project in the Jeff-Vanderlou neighborhood, and one Oct. 17 at the Family Forward pergola at 1167 Corporate Lake Drive in St. Louis. Volunteers are encouraged to bring PPE and hand tools, if available, and lunch is provided. To register for the July 18 event, visit http:/bit.ly/44nwCKG or email MOWIT at mowitstl@gmail.com.

Notices From page 5 Laborers Local 42

Union meetings are the fourth Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Local 42’s Union Hall at 301 South Ewing Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63103. Laborers Local 42 offers a recurring payment option for dues payments. Find out more and sign-up by calling the Union Hall at 314-531-1187 or coming to the hall in person at 301 S. Ewing Ave., St. Louis, MO 63103. SPECIAL NOTICE: In compliance with an International Variance, please be advised of the new Referral Rules update (out-of-work list): • Initially a member must report to the Union Hall in person to be placed on the out-of-work list; then, the member can call the Union Hall to be put on the out-of-work list. • Members must call in during the first full week of every month to re-register for the out-of-work to maintain his or her name on the referral list, failure to do so will result in being taken off the referral list. • Members may contact the Union Hall for a copy of the updated referral rules. SPECIAL NOTICE: Please note the following change in Union meeting dates: The July 2026 Union meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 and the September 2026 Union meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 30, 2026 due to a scheduling conflict with the International Union.

Laborers Local 110

4532 S Lindbergh Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63127. Meetings are the second Wednesday of every month at 6:30 p.m.

Teamsters Joint Council 13 Teamsters Local 688

4349 Woodson Rd, St. Louis, MO 63134

Tile-Marble Setters & Finishers, Mosaic & Terrazzo Workers & Finishers Local 18 MO

Meets at 5:00 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at ADC Union Hall, 1670 Fenpark, Fenton, MO 63026.

United Food & Commercial Workers Local 655

Office Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:10 p.m. — Monday through Friday. Closed Saturdays and Sundays. 300 Weidman Rd., Ballwin, MO. Retirees’ Club: The UFCW Local 655 Retirees’ Club meets at The Christy Banquet Center, 5856 Christy Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63116, on the second Tuesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. Regular Quarterly Business Meetings of the Local: Effective January 1, 2020, The Regular Quarterly Business Meetings of UFCW Local 655 will be on the third Monday of February, May, August, and November at 7 p.m. The meetings are held at the Local 655 Union Hall. You can also view a live stream of our Quarterly Membership Meetings on our Facebook page, www. facebook.com/UFCW655.

UFCW Meat, Deli & Seafood Local 88

Office: 5730 Elizabeth Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110. Phone: (314) 644-6328.

United Media Guild Local 36047

Meets the first Wednesday of the month at 7p.m. at the Local 660 union hall at 1320 S. Callahan Road in Wentzville, Mo.

Executive board meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday at the TNG-CWA Local 36047 office, Room 1040 at 1015 Locust St., St. Louis.

Operating Engineers Local 513

Utility Workers Local 335

Laborers Local 660

St. Louis meetings: 7 p.m. second Friday monthly at 3449 Hollenberg Drive, Bridgeton, MO 63044. Louisiana meetings: 7 p.m. first Thursday in even months at the American Legion Hall, 420 Kelly Lane, Louisiana, MO. Jefferson City meetings: 7 p.m. third Monday in even months at The Fraternal Order of Eagles (FOE), 1411 Missouri Blvd., Jefferson City, MO. Cape Girardeau meetings: 7 p.m. fourth Thursday in even months at 777 Enterprise Street, Cape Girardeau, MO.

Painters District Council 58 Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562

Second Wednesday of each month, 5 p.m. at Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562 Training Center, 3755 Corporate Trail Dr., Earth City, MO 63045.

74 Woodstream, Moscow Mills, MO 63362

AUXILIARIES IBEW Local 1 Auxiliary

Fourth Wednesday of each month, 9 a.m. for crafts. Bring a lunch. Meetings at IBEW Hall, 5850 Elizabeth Ave. Need new members! Call Local 1, IBEW, 314-647-5900.

Mary Ryder Homes Auxiliary

Fourth Tuesday of each month, 10 a.m., 4360 Olive. Contact Mary Ellen Heimann at 962-8609.

Missouri AFL-CIO Auxiliary

Roofers Local 2

Any other auxiliary interested in joining the Missouri AFL-CIO Auxiliary should call President Pam Scott at 797-5278 or Secretary-Treasurer Barb Moonier at 831-4961.

Sheet Metal Workers Local 36

Eastern Missouri Teamsters Retiree Council, IBT Joint Council 13 Retirees

The regular meetings of Roofers’ Local 2 are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Roofers’ Hall, 45 Worthington Access Drive, Maryland Heights, MO 63043. The Executive Board will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday before the regular monthly meeting. St. Louis Area Regular Monthly Meeting: Fourth Tuesday of each month, 6 p.m., Grand Hall, 2319 Chouteau Avenue, 63103 St. Louis Area Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee Meeting: Third Monday of each month, 5 p.m., Grand Hall, 2319 Chouteau Avenue, 63103 South East MO Area Monthly Informational Meeting: Last Thursday of each month, 7 p.m., Communication Workers Hall, 1131 N. Kingshighway, Suite 2C, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 Central MO Area Monthly Informational Meeting: Last Wednesday of each month, 7 p.m., Labor Temple, 209 Flora Ave, Jefferson City 65101.

Sprinkler Fitters and Apprentices Local 268

Regular meetings at 5 p.m. second Thursday of month at the Union Hall, 1544 S. Third St., St. Louis, MO 63104.

St. Louis Theatrical Brotherhood Local 6 I.A.T.S.E.

Regular monthly meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at 1611 S. Broadway.

RETIREE CLUBS All meetings are held at the IBT Local 682 Union Hall, 5730 Elizabeth, St. Louis, MO.

Greater St. Louis CWA Retirees Club

Retirees Club meetings held on second Monday at CWA Local 6300 Hall, 2258 Grissom Dr., Maryland Heights. Meeting is at 11:30 a.m. and lunch at noon.

Greater St. Louis Council Retirees Group

The Greater St. Louis Labor Council Retirees Group is comprised of delegates from union retiree clubs and union locals. For more information, call Executive Board officers; President Ronald M. Gushleff, Sr. 314-962-4128; Vice President Dave Meinell 314604-1316; Secretary Caroline Kemper 314-913-4839; Treasurer Calvin Davis 314-488-0339. SPECIAL NOTICE: All luncheon meetings to be held at 10:00 a.m., the third Tuesday of every other month at Machinists District 9 Hall, 12365 St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton, MO 63044.

IBEW Local 1 Retirees IBEW Local 1439 Retirees’ Club

Third Thursday of even numbers months, 10 a.m., Local 1439 Hall.

Operating Engineers Local 513

First Wednesday of the month at 10 a.m. at the union hall, 3449 Hollenberg Dr., Bridgeton.

Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562 Retirees

Meets the first Monday of the month at 11:30 a.m. at Elks Lodge No. 9 at 12481 Ladue Road, Creve Coeur, MO 63141. For more information, call Frank Kilcullen at 314-712-5177.

Plumbers Local 35 Retirees

Meetings of the Plumbers Local 35 Retirees Club are at 10 a.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Electricians Hall, 5850 Elizabeth Ave. Spouse and lady friends are welcome on even numbered months.

Pipecoverers Local 1 Retirees Club

The Pipecoverers Retirees Club meets at 11 a.m on the third Tuesday of each month at Elk’s Club, 12481 Ladue Rd.

Teamsters Local 688 Retirees

Meet the first Thursday of each month at 11 a.m., 4349 Woodson Rd., St. Louis, MO. 63134.

UFCW Local 655 Retirees’ Club

The Christy Banquet Center, 5856 Christy Blvd., St. Louis, Mo. 63116, second Tuesday of every month at 10 a.m.

16 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, July 2, 2026

Joint employer From page 1 post trying to figure out who their “employer” was — say, McDonald’s corporate headquarters or your local McDonald’s franchise — but would also let the bosses turn those 595,000 workers into “independent contractors.” Those 595,000 would then join a minimum of 12 million current independent contractors who already suffer from that status,

EPI says. The lawmakers didn’t discuss the independent contractor issue. “And because of occupational segregation and other labor market disparities, people of color, women, and immigrants — and people at the intersections of these categories — are more likely to be in occupations where misclassification” as independent contractors “is com-

mon,” EPI warns. Workers whom Trump would harm toil in “lower-wage, labor intensive jobs such as call center workers, landscaping workers, janitors and cleaners, home health aides, truck drivers, delivery workers, manicurists, housekeeping cleaners, retail sales workers, security guards, and construction workers,” EPI adds.

Get your nature night moves on . . .

Nocturnal by Nature Discover the fascinating world of wildlife and nature at night!

Saturday, August 15 7:00 p.m - 10:00 p.m. August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area

• Live owl presentation • Face Painting • Explore an inflatable cave • Be a bat biologist • Meet live reptiles and amphibians • Dissect an owl pellet • Guided interactive night hikes • View wild moths on a light sheet • Visit with DarkSky Missouri • Telescope viewing

Free Snow Cones! No Registration needed! The outdoors comes alive at night. Explore it for yourself!

A FREE family event open to all ages

DISPROPORTIONALY WORKERS OF COLOR EPI did not say so, but workers of color disproportionately hold those jobs. Recent federal data shows one of every two construction workers is Latino, as are 45 percent of farm workers. Blacks and Latinos combined make up majorities of home health care aides (55 percent), cooks (57 percent), postal workers (60 percent), janitors (52 percent of 2.2 million total) and housekeepers (68 percent of 1.4 million total), for example. Unlike “employees” under Labor law, including employees who face the “joint employer” confusion, “independent contractors” have no worker rights, can’t unionize, must pay both the employer’s and the worker’s share of Medicare and Social Security payroll taxes, can’t get jobless benefits and can’t get workers’ comp. All that money would stay in bosses’ pockets, as bosses would be able to “save” $370 million in payroll taxes and not having to pay workers’ comp or unemployment benefits.

NLRB WRESTLING WITH THE ISSUE, TOO Both protests were scathing about DOL’s plan. Neither, however, affects the “joint employer” rule under the National Labor Relations Act. The NLRB, which oversees that law, has its own definition of joint employer and is wrestling with the issue, too. DOL’s proposal would cause chaos about the minimum wage and overtime pay — the Fair Labor Standards Act –– unpaid family and medical leave and a special law covering farmworkers, EPI and the lawmakers said. It also would still leave workers in a quandary about who they should hold responsible for breaking those labor laws, or, under the NLRA, who to bargain with.

LONG-RUNNING PARTISAN BATTLE DOL’s proposal and the lawmakers’ June 22 letter are the latest chapters in a long-running partisan battle over “joint employers,” who they are and what they legally must do for workers. On one side are workers, EPI and the Democrats, led by Reps. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) and Ilhan Omar (DFL-Minn.), who gathered dozens of signatures on their protest. They want to ensure workers know who is responsible for wages, overtime pay, allowing family leave and obeying or breaking the NLRA. On the other is the Trump regime, which tried a similar but

narrower stunt late in his first term — so late that Democratic President Joe Biden was able to revoke it in early 2021. Then and now, both the lawmakers and EPI say, Trump is catering to the corporate moguls. “By limiting who an employee can hold responsible for federal labor law violations, the department’s proposal would shield larger businesses whose business model relies on subcontracting with thinly capitalized subcontractors or farm labor contractors that cut corners on federal labor law compliance,” Scott, Omar and the other lawmakers wrote. “If the thinly capitalized subcontractor or farm labor contractor is unable to pay back wages or judgments owed, then workers would be unable to recover from any employer.” The lawmakers seem to give Trump’s Acting Labor Secretary, Sonderling, the benefit of the doubt that he doesn’t know what his own department is doing. “As you may be aware, in recent years, an increasing number of workers are employed by intermediaries as leased employees and permatemps, and by subcontractors, rather than directly employed,” their protest letter opens. The lawmakers say nothing, though, about potentially turning the leased employees and permatemps into independent contractors, which would make their situation even worse. “The proposed rule conflicts with Congress’ intent to define the employment relationship broadly to better protect these types of workers from substandard labor conditions.”

‘ECONOMIC REALITIES’ Congress, in those three laws, and the courts, in decisions since the Fair Labor Standards Act was enacted during the New Deal, “define joint employment status broadly by applying an economic realities test to help ascertain whether the employee is ‘economically dependent’ on the potential joint employer. While different courts use different factors, the ultimate question is that of economic dependence,” the lawmakers wrote. EPI elaborated on that concept. Trump’s Labor Department “seeks to once again upend the clear, longstanding ‘economic reality’ test, which examines multiple factors to get to the central issue of worker classification: Is the worker truly in business for themselves, or do they depend economically on finding work in the business of others, under the control and terms of the employer?”

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LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, July 2, 2026 • 17

Have You Caught

THE BIG ONE?

Let us help you show off your catch on our Trophy Hunts pages.

Paola Wilken, granddaughter of, Donald Peterson Jr., retired Iron Workers Local 396

Phil Reiman, Sheet Metal Workers Local 268

Bill Cardinal, Laborers Local 110

Charlie and Sandy Busch, Charlie is from IBEW Local 309

Hudson Banks (right) with first ever bass and grandson of, Mike Mohrmann, retired, IBEW Local 1

Ryan Key, grandson of John Key, retired Sheet Metal Workers Local 36

Scott Deitz, retired business manager,

UA Local 101

Abigail Laramie (left), and Cecilia Wilken (right), granddaughters of, Donald Peterson Jr., retired Iron Workers Local 396

Bo Todd, retired Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562

Nathaniel Dell (right), AAUP Local 6741 of the AFT with Don Shipp

Mary Ann Gordon, wife of, Earl Gordon, IBEW Local 1

Earl Gordon, IBEW Local 1

Sydney Feager, daughter of Jeff Feager, retired Bricklayers Local 1

Ashtin Harrison, Sheet Metal Workers Local 36

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18 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, July 2, 2026

Legislature’s resistance to data centers, lack of progress on legislative priorities behind Illinois AFL-CIO’s decision to defer election endorsements

By ELIZABETH DONALD Illinois Correspondent

One of the major issues leading to the Illinois AFL-CIO decision not to endorse any candidates for the upcoming election was data centers, according to one local leader. B. Dean Webb, president of the Greater Madison County Federation of Labor, said there is a lot of support for data centers among the construction unions, and they are frustrated by the legislature’s resistance to them. “This is a lot of work,” Webb told the Federation at its regular meeting. He said there’s a community of 1,200 people that is getWEBB ting a billion-dollar data center, and the construction of these data centers means construction jobs. “There’s a lot of money going to other states that should be here,” he said. Still, as a delegate to the Illinois

AFL-CIO convention, Webb proposed endorsements of Rosetta Brown for the state House District 111 and Marsie Geldert-Murphy for the state Senate District 56. Both Democrats and considered proLabor, the candidates are facing Republican incumbents in November. Webb said both proposals were approved by the general delegates, but it’s the executive committee that makes the final decision. And this year, the committee opted to withhold endorsements for the time being.

LACK OF PROGRESS ON LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES Illinois AFL-CIO President Tim Drea said that over the past year, affiliates and union members across the state have voiced frustrations about the lack of progress around the AFL-CIO’s core legislative priorities. “This past state legislative session was especially concerning, as Springfield not only failed to advance key priorities, but the

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process by which legislation was considered fell short of what working people deserve,” Drea said. Drea pointed out DREA that endorsement from the Illinois AFL-CIO carries the validation of the largest statewide Labor affiliate in Illinois and activates grassroots campaigning for thousands of working people. “Now, more than ever, we must be thoughtful about supporting candidates who do not just talk about Labor priorities, but deliver real wins for working people,” Drea said. In addition to the issue of data centers, union leaders were frustrated at the failure to progress a bill that would have provided unemployment benefits for school bus drivers and cafeteria workers who are generally laid off during the summer, and another that would have allowed striking workers to qualify for unemployment.

TIER 2 PENSIONS

Another topic that has been at the forefront in recent years is pension reform: Tier 2 pensions for more recent hires offer lower benefits and a later retirement age than Tier 1 pensions, and some have argued that Tier 2 violates federal law by offering a lower payout than Social Security. Gov. JB Pritzker has gone on record in favor of reforming Tier 2 pensions, but none of the proposals supported by unions went anywhere in this legislative session. Capitol News Illinois reached out to state Senate President Don Harmon, who declined to comment, and House Speaker Chris Welch, who did not respond. Capitol News also reported that a majority of Democrats would not back Pritzker’s call to pause tax incentives for data centers, but the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity froze them at the governor’s order beginning July 1.

COMMITTED TO A STRONG PARTNERSHIP

“Governor Pritzker remains committed to a strong partnership with Organized Labor,” a spokesperson for his campaign said in a statement, pointing to various pro-union measures like a higher minimum wage and workers’ rights amendment that have passed under Pritzker’s leadership, according to Capitol News. This frustration with the pace and process of legislative priorities is the reason why the executive board has deferred endorsing any candidates in the general election at this time, Drea said. “Illinois has long been a proworker state, and we appreciate the lawmakers who fought hard this session on behalf of workers,” Drea said. “We have an obligation to make decisions that best serve our members in 2026 and into the future. We will continue to evaluate candidates and may reassess in the months ahead.”

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LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, July 2, 2026 • 19

Williams From page 1 trict is well-positioned to continue serving our community for years to come,” Williams said. “I have dedicated myself to representing the district’s taxpayers and citizens, ensuring that we provide the best services possible while remaining fiscally responsible and conservative.” Williams grew up in a family dedicated to emergency services. His father, Andy Williams, retired from Cedar Hill Fire Department after 42 years. Williams volunteered with the Cedar Hill Fire Protection District for eight years, and says he’s built strong relationships with many friends and family members in emergency services throughout the county.

‘RESPONSIBLE, WELLPLANNED ECONOMIC GROWTH’ “I am eager to share my talents

and abilities at the county level as the councilman for District 7,” Williams said. “I believe I can be a valuable asset to the future of District 7 and the county as a whole. I am committed to responsible and well-planned economic growth while preserving the beauty and strong community values that my family has enjoyed for generations.” In addition to his professional experience, Williams has coached junior football teams at Hillsboro, Grandview and Northwest, as well as soccer and baseball teams when his boys were younger. He also said he feels a strong connection to property owners, small farmers and generational farms in the district, as his late father-inlaw, Don Butler Jr., served many of them. Williams lives in Dittmer with his wife Christina and two sons, Coby and Hunter.

Librarians From page 1 demic librarians and professionals targeted by these layoffs dedicated their careers to supporting student success and the educational mission of Western Illinois University. We are pleased that the arbitrator recognized the injustice of the university’s actions and ordered meaningful remedies for those who were impacted.”

UNIVERISTY BLAMED BUDGET SHORTFALLS The layoff was allegedly due to budget shortfalls and a 21 percent drop in student enrollment, with a $22 million budget deficit. The 2024 layoffs included 124 faculty and staff members, which the union argued reduced educational resources and weakened support for students. “You have an institution who’s in a crisis mode, and they are looking for a solution to a problem in a crisis without thinking about the longterm implications and whether or not they can contractually do this,” said John Miller, president

of University Professionals of Illinois Local 4100 according to NPR Illinois. “We’re happy to see them being brought back, even if it did take us a year to get them back.”

FUNDING FOR UNIVERSITIES Statewide, educational unions have been pushing for more funding for public universities and community colleges. The current 2027 budget includes a one percent increase, or $13 million, which has frustrated union activists. Cole said when you account for inflation, it’s actually a pay cut and funding cut for college services. The Illinois Federation of Teachers, instead, advocates the Adequate and Equitable Public University Funding Act, which would restructure how higher education is funded altogether. Instead of flat funding, universities and colleges would be funded on a needs-based formula. The arbitrator’s ruling came down on May 31.

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20 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, July 2, 2026

DO PATRONIZE Need work done at your home or property? Call one of these "Signatory" businesses and support your union brothers and sisters. AUTO DEALERS Ackerman Toyota St. Louis, MO 314-351-3000 Dave Sinclair Buick, GMC Affton, MO 314-272-4060 Dave Sinclair Ford St. Louis, MO 314-892-2600 Dave Sinclair Lincoln St. Louis, MO 314-729-2700 Dave Sinclair Lincoln St. Peters St. Peters, MO 314-441-4400 Jim Trenary Chevrolet O’Fallon, MO 636-487-0887 Weiss Toyota St. Louis, MO 314-849-3700 Lou Fusz Buick/GMC St. Louis, MO 314-798-6934 Lou Fusz Chevrolet St. Peters, MO 636-303-1762 Lou Fusz Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep O’Fallon, MO 636-242-5543 Lou Fusz Ford Chesterfield, MO 314-370-6082 Lou Fusz Mazda St. Louis, MO 866-871-2788 Lou Fusz Subaru Creve Coeur St. Louis, MO 314-408-5361 Lou Fusz Subaru St. Peters St. Peters, MO ............. 636-735-7153 Lou Fusz Toyota St. Louis, MO............... 314-310-6068 Marty Cancila Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep/Ram Florissant, MO ............. 314-831-3300 Schicker Ford St. Louis, MO................314-664-4100 South County Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Ram St. Louis, MO................314-487-1010 Suntrup Buick/GMC St. Peters, MO ............. 636-936-9794 Suntrup Ford Kirkwood St. Louis, MO............... 314-822-9300 Suntrup Ford Westport St. Louis, MO................314-697-1796 Suntrup Nissan/VW St. Louis, MO................314-742-3740

AUTO BODY SHOPS Dave Sinclair Buick, GMC Affton, MO ................... 314-200-2563 Dave Sinclair Ford St. Louis, MO............... 314-892-2600 Dave Sinclair Lincoln St. Peters St. Peters, MO ............. 636-441-4400 Lou Fusz Toyota St. Louis, MO............... 314-310-6899 Marty Cancila Collision Repair Florissant, MO ............. 314-831-3300 Suntrup Ford Kirkwood St. Louis, MO............... 314-822-9300

BRICK & BLOCK CONTRACTORS Arnold Masonry LLC Ste. Genevieve MO ..... 573-883-5815 Burt Masonry, Inc. St. Louis, MO............... 314-822-8880 Caswell Brickwork, Inc. Defiance, MO .............. 636-398-5625 Jack Clark Brick Contractor Maryland Heights, MO 314-878-9023 Cornerstone Masonry St. Peters, MO ............. 314-265-5447 Dempsey Masonry Wildwood, MO ............. 314-713-9543 Eddings Masonry, Inc. Bonne Terre, MO ......... 573-358-2677 Kenny Foeste Masonry, Inc. Cape Girardeau, MO ... 573-334-0172 Frisch Masonry,Inc. Kirkwood, MO.............. 314-965-1424 Gillick Brickwork, Inc. St. Louis, MO............... 314-544-2222 Grant Bricklaying Co., Inc. Fenton, MO ................. 636-343-0170 C.J. Hamilton, LLC Festus, MO .................. 314-420-4519 Hellman Masonry, Inc. Ballwin, MO ................. 314-393-1679 Henry Masonry, Inc. Wentzville, MO ............ 314-581-5449 Lampkin Masonry, Inc. Hermann, MO ............. 573-236-4655 E. C. Landers Brickwork Chesterfield, MO ......... 314-432-8832

Martin C. Heck Brick Contracting Co. Fenton, MO ................. 636-343-4636 Leftridge Masonry, LLC DeSoto, MO................. 636-337-8797 Modern Masonry & Construction, Inc. Imperial, MO ............... 636-464-6065 Patriot Masonry St. Louis, MO................. 314-799-6761 Rosch Company, LLC Chesterfield, MO ........... 636-978-7770 Savage Masonry Mailboxes St. Louis, MO................. 314-800-6068 Trinity Masonry & Tuckpointing LLC Town & Country, MO ..... 314-574-0087 True Masonry, LLC Robertsville, MO............ 314-398-1528 Vehige Bricklaying, Inc. Wentzville, MO .............. 636-373-0956 Wright Masonry Marthasville, MO ........... 636-578-0279 Zufall & Sons, Inc. St. Clair MO .................. 636-629-5108

CONCRETE WORK Ahal Hardscapes/Musselman Hall Fenton, MO ................... 314-400-2246 Allied Waterproofing Co. St. Louis, MO................. 314-776-6686 J.S. Aubuchon Concrete Old Monroe, MO............ 636-661-5655 B & P Construction Company, Inc. St. Louis, MO................. 314-524-6111 Banze Flatwork St. Peters, MO ............... 636-928-8111 Byrne-Jones Concrete, LLC Bridgeton, MO ............... 314-567-7997 Buchheit Concrete, Inc. Weldon Spring, MO ....... 636-300-9911 Kevin Buchheit Construction St. Louis, MO................. 314-849-9997 Builders Bloc Chesterfield, MO ........... 636-449-5965 Clayco St. Louis, MO................. 314-429-5100 Cowling-Garbo Concrete St. Charles, MO ............. 314-346-0109 Crafton Contracting Company O'Fallon, MO ................. 636-240-9054 Eisenbath Concrete, Inc. Moscow Mills, MO ......... 636-356-4245 Elastizell of St. Louis Valley Park, MO............. 636-225-4311 Elite Flatwork & Construction, LLC New Melle, MO.............. 636-262-4188 Fenix Construction St. Louis, MO................. 314-892-4700 Fronabarger Concreters Oak Ridge, MO ............. 573-266-3212 G & P Concrete, LLC Troy, MO ........................ 636-299-2232 Gershenson Construction Company, Inc. St. Louis, MO................. 636-938-9595 Hawkins Construction & Flatwork Contracting O'Fallon, MO ................. 636-409-1115 Hemmer Concrete Inc. St. Charles, MO ............. 636-441-0344 HS Concrete Maryland Heights, MO .. 618-719-8608 JB Concrete Winfield, Mo 636-262-9592 KJ Unnerstall Construction Washington, MO............ 636-239-2028 Karrenbrock Construction, Inc. Wentzville, MO .............. 636-828-5420 Kelpe Contracting, Inc. Wildwood, MO ............... 636-458-1400 Lamke Trenching & Excavating, Inc. Marthasville, MO ........... 636-932-4649 Lauritzen & Sons Concrete O'Fallon, MO ................. 314-486-1764 M & H Concrete Contractors, Inc. St. Peters, MO ............... 636-379-9682 Mar-II Concrete Company Wentzville, MO .............. 636-332-1099 J.M. Marschuetz Construction Eureka, MO ................... 636-938-3600 Masonry Concepts, Inc. St. Louis, MO................. 314-428-0567 Matthews Concrete Concepts Warrenton, MO .............. 636-297-0678 Geroge McDonnell and Sons Caulking St. Ann, MO ................... 314-739-0468 Millstone Weber, Inc. St. Charles, MO ............. 636-949-0038 Alfred F. Mullen Concrete St. Louis, MO................. 314-966-0177

N.B. West Contracting Company St. Louis, MO................. 314-962-3145 Oreo & Botta Concrete St. Louis, MO................. 314-427-3800 Pavement Solutions, Inc. St. Peters, MO ............... 636-970-2727 Reed Concrete Troy, MO ........................ 636-299-2025 John Rufkahr, Jr. Concrete Company St. Charles, MO ............. 636-332-3338 Salazar Bros Cement Arnold, MO .................... 636-287-9933 SBC Contracting, Inc. St. Louis, MO................. 314-832-1422 Sharf Construction Company St. Louis, MO................. 314-869-0060 Shockley Contracting, Inc. Maryland Heights, MO .. 314-743-4811 Spec Contract Group O'Fallon, MO ................. 314-265-5257 Spencer Contracting Company Arnold, MO .................... 314-843-5166 Superior Waterproofing & Restoration St. Louis, MO................. 314-531-6100 Sweeten Concrete Service Wentzville, MO .............. 636-887-2332 TS Banze Construction Foristell, MO .................. 636-673-1307 Trinity Flatwork Chesterfield, MO ........... 636-530-9992 Vee-Jay Cement Contracting Affton, MO ..................... 314-351-3366 Waddell Concrete Eureka, MO ................... 636-938-5347 R.V. Wagner, Inc. St. Louis, MO................. 314-892-1600 Western Waterproofing St. Louis, MO................. 314-773-8813

ELECTRICIANS Authorized Electric AEC, LLC Barnhart, MO ................ 636-464-0082 Byrne Electric Co., Inc. St. Louis, MO................. 314-544-4071 CSE Contracting & Services Ellisville, MO.................. 636-2202777 D & R Building Group, LLC St. Louis, MO................. 314-450-7017 Fields Electrical Supply, Inc. St. Louis, MO................. 816-387-1364 Hanenkamp Electric Co. St. Ann, MO ................... 314-423-2666 Iconic Electric, LLC Hillsboro, MO................. 314-494-0066 J. Bathe Electric Company St. Charles, MO ............. 636-498-0613 Kay Bee Electric Florissant, MO ............... 314-837-3308 Northwest Electric Co., Inc. St. Louis, MO................. 314-842-7400 RJP Electric St. Louis, MO................. 314-781-2400 Schaeffer Electric St. Louis, MO................. 314-892-7800 Schneider Electric of St. Louis, LLC St. Louis, MO................. 314-644-4700 TSI-Global Companies St. Charles, MO ............. 636-425-1321 Wischmeyer Electric, Inc. Wentzville, MO .............. 636-865-8244 X-Cell Electric, LLC Dardenne Prairie, MO.... 314-368-1714

EMBROIDERY/APPAREL M3 Embroidery & Apparel Bridgeton, MO ............... 314-837-0022

FLOORING RESIDENTIAL Craftsmen Interiors Maryland Heights, MO .. 314-994-0414 Desco Coatings St. Louis, MO................. 314-918-9888 Dougherty Tile & Marble, Co. St. Louis, MO................. 314-729-9133 Missouri Terrazzo St. Louis, MO................. 314-361-8090 R & F Tile & Marble, Co. St. Charles, MO ............. 636-441-2682 Stone Installation & Maintenance Fenton, MO ................... 314-570-0699 Stutte Tile St. Louis, MO................. 314-757-6088 Trademark Stone St. Louis, MO................. 314-435-4675 Westport Tile & Granite, LLC St. Louis, MO................. 314-942-8590

FORKLIFT SERVICES Forklifts of St. Louis St. Louis, MO................. 314-426-4040 Wiese USA St. Louis, MO................. 314-207-3758

GUN REPAIR Browning Arms Company Arnold, MO .................... 636-287-6800

HEATING AND COOLING Absolute Comfort Systems O'Fallon, MO ................. 636-978-5600 Alferman Air, LLC Washington, MO............ 636-239-9595 Associated Sheet Metal, Inc. Jackson, MO ................. 573-243-8455 C & S Heating & Cooling Wentzville, MO .............. 636-928-7983 Climate Masters, Inc. St. Louis,MO.................. 314-968-8383 Coleman Heating & Sheet Metal, Inc. Bridgeton, MO ............... 314-291-8884 Controlled Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. Arnold, MO .................... 636-296-2627 Cozy Heating & Cooling Fair Grove, MO .............. 417-759-9011 Crestside Ballwin Heating & Air Conditioning Affton, MO ..................... 314-351-8300 Crystal Heating & Cooling Crystal City, MO ............ 636-296-9292 Degenhardt Heating & Cooling Inc. St. Louis, MO................. 314-631-1554 Design Aire Heating & Cooling Maryland Heights, MO .. 314-739-1600 Fresh Air-Weinrich Heating & Cooling, Inc. Chesterfield, MO ........... 636-530-0070 Galmiche & Sons Heating & Cooling St. Louis, MO................. 314-993-1110 Haarmann Heating & Air Conditioning Wentzville, MO .............. 636-828-4199 Kindle Heating and Cooling Fenton, MO ................... 636-717-0808 Lakebrink Heating & Air Conditioning Union, MO......... ............ 636-583-3365 Langford Mechanical & Sheet Metal, Inc. Jackson, MO ................. 573-243-3238 Lehmen Heating & Cooling LLC Jefferson City, MO ......... 573-257-0516 Mantle Heating & Cooling, LLC Washington, MO............ 636-667-1630 Merkel Mechanical St. Charles, MO ............. 636-978-7599 Mertens Service St. Louis, MO................. 314-845-1500 Mid-State Mechanical, LLC O'Fallon, MO ................. 636-696-6333 Nooter Construction Co St. Louis, MO................. 314-421-7600 Ozark Mechanical-Heating & Cooliing St. Peters, MO ............... 636-317-1234 Pioneer Mechanical Festus, MO .................... 636-208-7057 Premier Heating & Cooling, Inc. St. Charles, MO ............. 636-916-1120 R. F. Meeh Company Fenton, MO ................... 636-349-4990 Rathgeber Heating Company, Inc. St. Louis, MO................. 314-846-4801 RMB Mechanical St. Charles, MO ............ 314-410-7910 Rogers Comfort Systems O'Fallon, MO ................. 636-978-3314 Scott-Lee Heating Company, Inc. St. Louis, MO................. 314-756-9444 Sheet Metal Contractors, Inc. DeSoto, MO................... 636-337-2150 Show-Me Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. Hartsburg, MO............... 573-289-8885 Survant Heating & Air Conditioning Wright City, MO ............. 636-745-7353 T.M. Weir Heating & Cooling St. Louis, MO................. 314-351-2424 Teel Mechanical Service, Inc. Fulton, MO .................... 573-642-9648 The Waldinger Corp.-Springfield/Connelly Springfield, MO ............ 417-866-2262 Veterans Holdings LLC Moscow Mills, MO ......... 314-960-0043 Vogel Sheet Metal & Heating, Inc. Fenton, MO ................... 314-351-2533 Welsch Heating & Cooling Co. St. Louis, MO................. 314-872-8070

Zipf-Air, Inc. St. Louis, MO................. 314-821-1200

MACHINE Fulton Iron & Manufacturing St. Louis, MO................. 314-752-2400 South Side Machine Works St. Louis, MO................. 314-481-7171

PLUMBING 3-D Plumbing, LLC Manchester, MO ............ 636-386-8755 AJ Plumbing, LLC St. Peters, MO ............... 636-441-3019 AJ Sherman Plumbing Co., LLC Warrenton, MO .............. 636-358-7821 Albert Arno St. Louis, MO................. 314-383-2700 Becher's Sewer & Drain Arnold, MO .................... 314-307-4100 Bieg Plumbing Company St. Louis, MO................. 314-487-4564 Boland Plumbing Co. Troy, MO ........................ 636-528-5422 C & R Mechanical Bridgeton, MO ............... 314-739-1800 Corrigan Company St. Louis, MO................. 314-771-6200 Deluca Plumbing St. Louis, MO................. 314-427-5551 Drainco, Inc. Des Peres, MO .............. 314-544-8266 E & M Plumbing Company Eureka, MO ................... 636-938-1311 Elite Plumbing Services, LLC O'Fallon, MO ................. 636-300-4034 Frey Plumbing Company St. Louis, MO................. 314-842-4700 Gartland Irrigation Company, Inc. Webster Groves, MO ..... 636-941-4001 Gateway Sewer and Drain, Inc. St. Louis, MO................. 314-849-7300 Heggemann, Inc. Warrenton, MO .............. 636-456-8524 Integrated Facility Services Fenton, MO ................... 314-680-2100 JJ Kokesh & Son Plumbing and Supplies Ballwin, MO ................... 636-391-1233 Jarrell Mechanical Contractors Earth City, MO ............... 314-291-0100 Joseph H. Beetz Plumbing Co., Inc. St. Louis, MO................. 314-942-3500 Lemay Plumbing St. Louis, MO................. 314-544-1066 Linek Plumbing Company St. Louis, MO................. 314-962-0956 Mayo Plumbing Co., Inc High Ridge, MO............. 314-293-1776 Merlo Plumbing Co., Inc St. Louis, MO................. 314-843-1000 Mid America Drain Service Company Valley Park, MO............. 636-225-1428 Murphy Company St. Louis, MO................. 314-997-6600 OJ Laughlin Plumbing Company Valley Park, MO............. 636-225-0992 Omega Plumbing Co. Earth City, MO ............... 314-291-2003 RJ Wachter Plumbing Co., Inc St. Louis, MO................. 314-729-7777 R.A. Guinner Plumbing Company St. Louis, MO................. 314-752-9850 Skouby Brothers Plumbing Washington, MO............ 636-390-2500 Torrisi Plumbing Services, Inc. St. Louis, MO................. 636-390-2500 Trio Plumbing Company, Inc. Chesterfield, MO ........... 636-537-4938 WM G Cocos Plumbing Company St. Louis, MO................. 314-631-2688 WM Mahn Plumbing, Inc. De Soto, MO.................. 636-586-1471 William G Cocos St. Louis, MO................. 314-631-2688

Peak Performance Roofing & Construction, Ind. St. Louis, MO................. 636-225-6924 Performance Roofing Co. St. Louis, MO................. 314-487-302 Vince Graye Slate & Tile St. Louis, MO................. 314-487-1819

SEAMLESS GUTTERS Blakely Sheet Metal, LLC Festus, MO .................... 636-937-7500 Hyde Sheet Metal, Inc. St. Louis, MO................. 314-423-2332 Meinershagen Roofing & Sheet Metal, LLC Farmington, MO ............ 573-431-9099 Scott-Lee Guttering Company, Inc. St. Louis, MO................. 314-756-9440

WOOD FIREPLACE Arnold Stove & Fireplace Center Arnold, MO .................... 636-282-0300 Crestside Ballwin Heating & Air Conditioning Co., Inc. Affton, MO ..................... 314-351-8300 Rathgeber Heating Company Inc. St. Louis, MO................. 314-846-4801 Scott-Lee Heating Company, Inc. St. Louis, MO................. 314-756-9444

TUCKPOINTING, CAULKING, CLEANING & WATERPROOFING CONTRACTORS ATEK/Humes Masonry St. Louis, MO................. 314-599-1829 B & G Tuckpointing St. Louis, MO................. 314-363-0525 Denton's Tuckpointing Co., Inc. St. Louis MO.................. 314-842-5855 FD Masonry St. Louis, MO................. 314-755-2976 Jarvis Masonry St. Louis, MO................. 314-842-8955 JW Specialties, LLC. Overland, MO ................ 314-922-6283 Mc Donnell Building Sealants, LLC Old Monroe, MO............ 636-665-5454

TRUCK DEALERSHIPS Broadway Ford Truck Sales St. Louis, MO................. 314-481-7171 Vanguard Truck Centers (Sales and Service) St. Charles, MO ............. 636-410-1919

TRUCK RENTAL Hogan Truck Leasing Bridgeton, MO ............... 314-813-2785 Hogan Truck Leasing Earth City, MO ............... 314-813-2785 Penske Truck Leasing Co. Earth City, MO ............... 314-298-5555 Penske Truck Leasing Co. St. Louis, MO................. 314-256-4400 Ryder Truck Rental Bridgeton, MO ............... 314-291-8202 Ryder Truck Rental St. Louis, MO................. 314-567-6133

TRUCK REPAIR Schroeder Truck Repair St. Louis, MO................. 314-231-0711

ROOFING Biebel Brothers Roofing Co. St. Louis, MO................. 314-997-5522 COPAL Construction Florissant, MO ............... 314-921-2390 Frederic Roofing St. Louis, MO................. 314-645-2000 Kirberg Roofing Co. St. Louis, MO................. 314-534-4444 Koziatek Contracting St. Louis, MO................. 314-837-8262

CLIP and SAVE Updated 4-15-26

LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, July 2, 2026 • 21

Bread and Roses Missouri presents Social Justice Shorts so many cases.”

By LINDA JARRETT Correspondent Bread and Roses hit a high mark once again when the organization presented its third annual Social Justice Shorts at Jefferson Avenue Mission on June 6. Approximately 75 people congregated at the church to see nine plays, each no longer than 10 minutes and featuring no more than three actors. Bread and Roses Executive Director Emily Kohring, who also co-produced the play with Artistic Director Fannie Belle Lebby, said she has received glowing audience feedback. “Jeanette Mott Oxford told me how much she liked it, which, since she is an incredible activist, meant a lot,” Kohring said. “We had a lot of activists and people who are community-engaged tell us how meaningful the plays were to them and how much they enjoyed them. “That’s great feedback for us when people who work on these issues that we were talking about in the plays tell us that they really connected to them, and that tells us that we did a good job,” she said. “It’s very gratifying.” Mott formerly served in the Missouri House of Representatives, representing part of St. Louis County. She is currently the Executive Director of the Missouri

‘EVERY VILLAGE, EVERY HAMLET’

ACTORS Joshua Mayfield (left) and Ryan Lawson-Maeske perform a scene from “Mr. Bunny.” – Philip Deitch photo

Association for Social Welfare.

ABOUT THE PLAYS Kohring said she thought most of the audience could connect with at least one of the plays. “I connected to ‘Mr. Bunny,” she said, which was hard-hitting. “It starts out kind of lighthearted and funny, then that moment when he says ‘Do you love your country?’ that just gave me chills because I think in every situation where authoritarianism emerges, people get challenged on whether they love their country enough by

people who are using their power in a way that it’s not about whether you love your country enough, it’s about whether you’re showing your fealty to the leader or to the regime that’s in power. “Every time he said that, it sent chills up my spine because it felt like the past is becoming the present for us in a lot of ways because the issue of censorship has come up so much in the past few years with people wanting to decide what books belong in libraries and what books children can read in school,” she said. “It’s gone to extremes in

Another play, “Every Village, Every Hamlet,” written by St. Louis playwright Gregory Carr, probably rang true with many in the audience. It takes place in one of the motor inns on Watson Road, which was Route 66 in the late 50s and early 60s, when hotels were segregated. A black gentleman comes to the office one night looking for a place where he and his family can sleep. This motel doesn’t rent to black families, so these two gentlemen have a very interesting exchange. “It’s such a good reminder that the things we struggled with then we’re struggling with now,” Kohring said. “And everything is local; things that we think happen in other places happen here as well. We’re still dealing with racism in St. Louis and feeling like we’re different when we’re not.”

‘BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS’ Another piece, “Blood on Your Hands,” is specifically a workers’ rights piece and takes place in a slaughterhouse. “It deals with mental health in the workplace and how working conditions can really put a strain

on humans,” Kohring said. “The two characters aren’t necessarily union members because one is an undocumented worker. It’s a powerful piece about how harsh work environments in corporate America can be on people and their mental health.”

‘MRS. PLOTZ V. ICE’ The piece, “Mrs. Plotz v. ICE” took place in St. Louis at the Ritenour Middle School at the end of the school year. “This was a stage reading, and we chose that piece because something like that really happened here in St. Louis, about a teacher who had to keep an ICE agent from coming into her classroom,” Kohring said. “An ICE agent showed up to arrest students at Ritenour Middle School, and the principal had to keep them out of the building,” she said. “We had a couple of plays that dealt with immigration issues.” Born as a project of Missouri Jobs with Justice (MO JwJ), Bread and Roses united community activists and union members with an art exhibit in 2003 that spurred dialogue around social justice themes. A leader in Missouri Jobs with Justice, Joan Suarez, who died on Feb. 25 at age of 88, began Bread and Roses as a project that later led to its establishment as an independent non-profit organization in 2015.

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22 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, July 2, 2026 machinistll1745@yahoo.com.

Golf Tournaments Coming to Your Area

Union and worker-friendly golf tournaments Area unions and union-friendly organizations are hosting the following fundraising and charity golf tournaments. To have your tournament listed, contact Editor-in-Chief Tim Rowden at tim@labortribune.com, or mail your information to Labor Tribune, 301 S. Ewing Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 63103. July 10 – Downstate Illinois Laborers’ District Council Annual Scholarship Fund Golf Tournament will take place at Far Oaks Golf Course, 419 Old Collinsville Road, Caseyville, Ill. 62232. The event serves as a key fundraising initiative and an opportunity for community members and partners to support a meaningful cause. Registration and lunch will begin at 11 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. Dinner and awards will

conclude the day’s activities. Entry fee is $800 per four-person team. Tee sign sponsorships at $200. Bronze, Silver and Gold sponsorships range from $1,000 to $5,000. For more information, contact Dustin Ramage at 618-234-2704. July 13 – St. Louis Building & Construction Trades Fourth Annual Golf Tournament and awards dinner will start with a 9 a.m. registration and 10 a.m. shotgun start. Entry fee is $1,200 per foursome. Hole sponsorships are $200. Non-golfer dinner guests at $50. This year’s award program will honor Florissant Mayor Tim Lowery, St. Louis County Councilwoman Rita Heard Days, St. Louis County Councilwoman Shalonda Webb and St. Louis City Alderman Shane Cohn. Register by July 1. Make checks payable to Building & Construction Trades PAC Fund,

Attn: Gina Knoll, 2300 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 63139. July 18 – Machinists Local 1745’s Ron Hartman 30th Annual GolfTournament will begin with a 7:30 a.m. four-person scramble shotgun start at Incline Village Golf Course, 10220 Fairway Drive, Foristell, Mo. Proceeds will benefit Local 1745’s Disaster/Scholarship Fund. Entry fee is $400 per team and includes 18 holes of golf with cart, refreshments and a steak dinner catered by Ron’s Catering. The tournament will include a 50-50 drawing, mulligans, optional skins game and hole-in-one prizes on all par threes – including a $10,000 prize on Hole 11. All paid entries received by July 8 will be placed in a drawing for a free entry in this year’s tournament. For more information, call Adam Conley at 573-953-9206, text Keith Dixon at 314-283-96777 or email

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Aug. 22 – Glaziers Local 513’s Charity Fund’s Annual Golf Classic to benefit the St. Louis Crisis Nursery will be held at Florissant Golf Club, with a four-person scramble shotgun start at 8 a.m. The St. Louis Crisis Nursery provides a short-term, safe haven for 5,000 children a year, ages birth through 12 years old, whose families face an emergency caused by illness, homelessness, domestic violence of overwhelming parental stress. Entry fee is $450 per foursome, with lunch included. Other sponsorships are available and range from $150 to $700. The event will include raffle items, and a 50/50 drawing. Following the tournament, prizes will be awarded for First Place in A, B and C flights, as well as Long Drive and Closest-tothe-Pin. Grand Raffle tickets are $20 each or three for $50. Call 314644-3922 to purchase tickets. Make checks payable to Glaziers Charity Golf Classic and mail to 5916 Wilson Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 63110. Aug. 22 – SMART Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 Members Golf Tournament will begin with a four-person scramble shotgun start 7 a.m. at Country Lake Golf Club, 21309 Country Lake Drive in Warrenton,

Mo. Entry fee is $100 per golfer or $400 per foursome. Limited to 36 teams. At least one SMART Union member per team. Prizes awarded for first, second and third place in three flights, along with Longest Drive and Closest-to-the-Pin. Beverages and snacks provided. Dinner served after golf. Prize money checks will be mailed to team captains following the tournament. For more information, call Tournament Chairman Dan Sutter at 314-285-2625. Deadline to register is Aug. 5. Oct. 9 – Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 101 Annual Golf Tournament will be held at The Orchard’s Golf Club at 1499 Golf Course Drive in Belleville, Ill. Registration for the four-man scramble begins at 7 a.m., followed by an 8 a.m. shotgun start. The $120 per golfer fee includes 18 holes of golf with cart, lunch provided on the course, a catered dinner after the tournament and skins and mulligans. Cash prizes will be awarded for Closet-to-theHole, and a 50/50 raffle will be held. Tee sponsorships are available for $200. To register, mail payment to Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 101 at 8 Premier Drive, Belleville, Ill. 62220. For more information, call 618-234-5504.

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The Labor Tribune is your source for news important to working people everywhere. In addition to the print edition, the Labor Tribune is available online at labortribune. com. For breaking news, like us on Facebook and follow us on LinkedIn. To subscribe, visit us at labortribune.com and click the “Subscribe” link in the menu at the top of the homepage or email circulation@labortribune.com for prefered union pricing.

LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, July 2, 2026 • 23

Calendar of Events Save the Date JULY July 10-12 – IBEW Local 1 RENEW Annual Float Trip will be held at Parks Bluff Campground at 199 Elm Street in Lesterville, Mo. All members of IBEW Local 1 and their families are invited to come out for a great day of fun, relaxation and fellowship on the river. The group will be floating on July 11. To rent rafts, kayaks, canoes or tubes, call the campground at 573-637-2290. For campground reservations, call Donnie at 636-675-0331. July 11 – IAM District 9 Sporting Clay Shoot will take place at Nilo Farms, 15025 State Highway 111 in Brighton, Ill. Registration runs from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Shooting starts at 10 a.m. Entry fee is $150 per participant or $700 for a team of five. All proceeds benefit Guide Dogs of America/ Tender Loving Canines. Hotel accommodations can be booked at the Hampton Inn located at 1904 Homer M Adams Parkway, Alton, Ill. 62002. To reserve a room, call the hotel directly by at 618-433-8999, press option 4 and mention Guide Dogs of America. The event will include raffles, a 50/50 drawing, and trophies awarded in first, second and third place for overall team score and individual score. For more information, contact Darren Bierman at 618-259-7011 ext. 3 or email dbierman@district9.org, or Neil ® ★

Queathem at 314-739-6200 ext. 242 or email nqueathem@district9.org. July 16 – Missouri Women in Trades (MOWIT) Meetup for tradeswomen and women interested in joining the building trades, 4 to 6 p.m. at the AGC Training Center, 6301 Knox Industrial Ave. in St. Louis. RSVPs are required and food will be provided. Register at mowit.org or call 636926-6948. July 16 – St. Louis Faith Labor Alliance Breakfast, hosted by Missouri Jobs with Justice (MOJWJ), will be held at the Painters District Council 58 union hall at 2501 59th St. in St. Louis from 7:30 to 9 a.m. To register, visit mojwj.org/action/join-ast-louis-faith-labor-alliancebreakfast. July 17 – Bingo Night, sponsored by Laborers Local 660, will be held at the Local 660 union hall at 1320 S. Callahan Road in Wentzville, Mo. The cost is $20 per person or $160 for a table of eight. All proceeds will benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. This is a cash only event. Attendees may bring in food and drinks and snacks, soda and water are available for purchase. For tickets or more information, contact Kim Vitale at 636-634-1885 or at kim. 8-14, 2026 vitale@nhccare.com. , January Thursday

AUGUST Aug. 1 – Inaugural Ryan Dintleman Classic Barbecue Competition, hosted by IBEW Local 1, will begin at 9 a.m. at Local 1 at 5850 Elizabeth Ave. to honor Ryan Dintleman, a Local 1 electrician. All unions are welcome to participate. The cost to enter the competition is $250 per team. Overall winner brackets are first place, $2,000; second place, $1,500; third place, $600 fourth place, $400; and fifth place, free entry next year. The top 10 meat categories will win between $100 and $500. The event will include food trucks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, a DJ, raffles, prizes and fun and games for the kids. Tickets are $10 per person or $5 for children five to 10. Children under five are free. Sponsorships ranging from $500 to $15,000 are also available. To register your team or to buy tickets, visit https://shorturl. at/jyavi. Aug. 7 – 44th Annual First Capitol Dinner, hosted by the St. Charles County Democratic Central Committee, begins at 6 p.m. at the Professional Fire Fighters of Eastern Missouri Hall & Banquet Center at 115 McMenamy Road in St. Peters. The event includes dinner, remarks from local legislative, county, congressional and statewide candidates, awards recognizing the organization’s Community

Heroes, a keynote speech and a chance to connect with Democrats from across the region. Tickets are $100 per person. For tickets, visit https://secure.actblue.com/ donate/fcd2026. Aug. 15 – Coats for Kids Charity Bingo Night, hosted by the Electrical Workers Minority Council, will be held at the IBEW Local 1 union hall at 5850 Elizabeth Ave. Doors open at 5 p.m. and games begin at 6 p.m. There will be 10 themed rounds. Extra cards and hot word bingo cards are $5 each. Sponsorships are also available. Admission is $30 per person or $200 for a table of eight. For more information, contact Shondra Adams at 314-960-6613 or at greaterstlewmc@gmail.com. Aug. 20 – Missouri Women in Trades (MOWIT) Meetup for tradeswomen and women interested in joining the building trades, 4 to 6 p.m. at the AGC Training Center, 6301 Knox Industrial Ave. in St. Louis. RSVPs are required and food will be provided. Register at mowit.org or call 636-926-6948.

Legion Post 226 at 111 American Legion Drive in Elsberry, Mo. The event will benefit Camp Hope, which is an all-expenses-paid retreat dedicated to providing recreational, therapeutic, and bonding experiences for veterans wounded in the War on Terror. Entry to the event is a donation of personal care items, like shampoo, body wash and cleaning supplies The first 100 attendees with a donation will receive a commemorative poker chip, and all attendees with a donation will receive 20 percent off any purchase at Chariots of Fire. For more information, call 636-462-1648.

SEPTEMBER Sept. 15 – United Way of Greater St. Louis Night at the Ballpark will begin at 6:45 at Busch Stadium at 700 Clark Ave. in St. Louis as the Cardinals take on the San Francisco Giants. A $24 ticket (before fees) includes a jumbo hot dog and soda and a portion of each ticket sold will help benefit the St. Louis region through United Way. For tickets, visit https://shorturl.at/kHqsz.

Aug. 20 – St. Louis Faith Labor Alliance Breakfast, hosted by Missouri Jobs with Justice (MOJWJ), will be held at the Painters District Council 58 union hall at 2501 59th St. in St. Louis from 7:30 to 9 a.m. To register, visit mojwj.org/action/join-a-st-louis-faith-laboralliance-breakfast.

Sept. 17 – Missouri Women in Trades (MOWIT) Meetup for tradeswomen and women interested in joining the building trades, 4 to 6 p.m. at the AGC Training Center, 6301 Knox Industrial Ave. in St. Louis. RSVPs are required and food will be provided. Register at mowit.org or call 636-926-6948.

Aug. 22 – Union Cycle & Hotrod Night, hosted by Chariots of Fire Customs, will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. at American

Send your calendar entries to Sheri Gassaway at Labor Tribune, 301 S. Ewing Ave., St. Louis, MO 63101 or email sheri@labortribune.com.

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nager iness ma s u b d e m cal 396 arnes na Travis B Iron Workers Lo of

ral ion’s gene ke ational Un ibeck, Mi the Intern Bobby He oted ard who secretary. other, was prom David Be ing rer lac br asu He is rep Heibeck’s of Local 396. general tre to d ote was prom Union. president ernational ibeck will be to PROUD’ of the Int ‘BEYOND d Mike He he beyond Barnes sai International Union s Manager ck said is ck and er Busines bby Heibe to the et Bo nt. ed de ass ot ke Heibe esi an om council pr of both Mi d ct s worked ou tri ha Heibeck pr e pr dis as said he the th ALIFIED’ rnes. He ny jobs in esident of ity Iron IGHLY QU with Ba them both on ma ‘H nd officer -ha an years ed hand-in of- with ouis & Vicin Council for nine “I’ve work field and in the field and ict str the Di ing e in ck rs l tru al. pa ke rom Michae the loc percent, AY es said. “F could of is a 100 I GASSAW d Bobby fice,” Barn ing bolts, the guy “Travis By SHER rrespondent s orker,” sai Co ar to stick our trade. Mike ha 396 ironw great union man l reb ca is Lo av Missouri the et of e is a 396’s Tr first do any fac officer, trustee, on ibeck. “H ers Local ed s interest d to busiing He an been nam ron Work this local’ ll continue as record served as en promote d has put RNES has wi retarycommittee, nt, president an nes has be nancial secretaryTRAVIS BA nager/financial sec me. career. He 396. executive r/fi his entire shine for years to co r e preside business ma Iron Workers Local has hly vic s manage . y, hig l, ar ’s 396 ion of chae ou secret make who s ger. He the un treasurer brother Mi him,” he ess mana only to e Heibeck, asurer of ion 29 year St. and will and busin “As for my ned the un business replaces Mikto president of the d of job joi ou He es pr r the rn is tte t for Ba ily tric ted himas a uncil a be qualified r entire fam s always carried been promo y Iron Workers Dis to s served district co init pho as an office o. He ha ver ha make the Louis & Vic – Iron Workers Local 396 years and said. “He ch class and has ne ll ent for six Barnes, a second wi il. su to work.” in recent He th e unc ce . wi Co rk tim pla f d s. wo sel fol secon hard told orker r 23 year cal 396 member, Internaafraid of This is the ,” Barnes uis ironw Lo a- been mbership asset for the Vicinity n Barne’s t a St. Lo ern me ute lvi r eneration tha Int s ge sol Me r ek ab un the & we yo . fathe omoted to nth, Local be an and the St. Louis r Tribune owed in his s served as s been pr l the Labo ck, who ha r- ha l Union. Last mo cker wa s tiona uncil.” ootsteps. Mike Heibe ess manager for fou tiona District Co ERS’ Ph il De OUR NUMB pand Local 396 busin , has been promoted- 39 6 Pres ide nt ecutive assistant to D AN XP ex ex ‘E to lf years and Vicin promoted ing to try se and-a-ha nt of the St. Louis & “We are go by organizing tho Council. ’re not preside ers rs District provid- to up that we new our numb n and by Iron Worke t being put non-unio ucation to the ity cameras ording tha who are ed t, audio rec out, ‘friends’ political told abou d ab tol t t no ing more e jobs jus rkers are tim wo rtss pa tle the little ged a relen ing taking on ey’re all friends of ’s has wa n includ .’ Th say, Kaldi aig fun r mp ca ‘fo in sting ently uencers WDEN union bu nion infl company.” said he also rec e By TIM RO hief with cing anti-u ve audienc Campbell ving him Editor-in-C vote this Fri- pla store, holding capti d interrours cut, lea t. a union had his ho ers the ngs, recording an ren n tio his y na pa Ahead of ldi’s Coffee work mi nsulto eti and ter Ka union co us too little the me ers 9, o the rk red tw n. in Ja wo the ed ga day, olved gating “They hir in and dress like unity allies ployees inv rd locaand comm d. “I’m to come er Bouleva filing of two em effort. sai ll ts ink be tan Sk ly mp e us,” Ca nt of company’s to announce the ganizing is absolute the amou and act lik tices or he union busting 29 a barista because of ent to come bor Prac tion Dec. “T Campbell, Kaldi’s flattered sp Unfair La ll on the cofldi’s has er is ane,” Harry of three d ca ok at money Ka with us at Skink arges an sting. ins short order co Misbu r 6 de ion ss (ULP) ch lea un d pa me a p ERS ge in and any to sto of workers at an ation and has I’S WORK fee comp Skinker loc ers Center, which See KALD ajority ion rm un ing pe LL d rk su niz ne BE A sig souri Wo the orga Y CAMP th RR location 74 wi l er HA ca ng cep ink helpi RE Lo nce, de the Sk UNITE HE company been “There’s surveilla ces, new cards with offi ort. s the ve nize eff audio recording in ers acros all protecti and work their intent to orga ght from tion, nned outri 2027. n, workers the announced ce e he ba sin er. 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24 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, July 2, 2026

News & Activities JASON TETIDRICK

DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS

Machinists Building, 12365 St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton, MO 63044 Telephone (314) 739-6200; E-mail address: district9@district9.org FAX number (314) 739-1342 OFFICE HOURS: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday

ALTON AREA HEADQUARTERS Machinists Center, 159 Shamrock St., East Alton, IL 62024 Telephone (618) 259-7011; FAX number (618) 259-9401 OFFICE HOURS: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday

Machinists District 9 Guide Dogs of America Golf Tournament a major success Florissant, MO – The 2026 Machinists District 9 Guide Dogs of America (GDA) golf tournament at the Golf Club of Florissant here on June 6 was a major success. Winning teams included Team Perren (left photo) and Team Enterprise Bank & Trust (right photo). Both photos show GDA Recipient Ann Goetz & her service dog Dancer. All proceeds from

the event benefitted GDA and Tender Loving Canines, which has provided guide dogs to more than 3,300 blind and visually impaired men and women free of charge since 1948. The organization recently expanded by providing service dogs for veterans, children with autism and for institutional facilities. Visit guidedogsofamerica.org for more information.

AFFILIATED LOCALS

• Progressive Local 41 • Automotive Local 777 • Bluff City Local 660 • Tool and Die Makers Local 688 • Quincy Local 822 • Production Workers Local 1345 • Metro East Automotive Local 313 • Warrenton Local 1745 • West Plains Local 2782

Directing Business Representative

TRACY GARDNER

Assistant Directing Business Representative See IAM District 9 Official Notices on page 5

Machinists District 9 helps Sleep in Heavenly Peace build bunk beds for local children Alton, IL – Fifteen members of Machinists District 9 from five different locals teamed up with Sleep in Heavenly Peace here to build bunk beds for local children in need on June 13. Assisting in the effort was District 9 Assistant Directing Business Representative Tracy Gardner and Midwest

Territory Special Representative Jennifer Kahl. In addition to helping build the beds, District 9 members donated over 50 items to the non-profit including pillows, comforters, sheet sets, bed-in-a-bags, blankets and quilts.

Honor Roll for JULY 2026

Machinists District 9 will be closed on Monday, Sept. 7 for

1. Wednesday 2350 2. Thursday 2428 3. 1030 Friday 4. Saturday 1129 5. 1268 Sunday 6. Monday 222 7. Tuesday 2562 8. Wednesday 1217 9. Thursday 1484 10. 2464 Friday 11. Saturday 2169 12. 26 Sunday 13. Monday 3198 14. Tuesday 1450 15. Wednesday 2332 16. Thursday 3005

17. 481 Friday 18. Saturday 1088 19. 1413 Sunday 20. Monday 134 21. Tuesday 361 22. Wednesday 1172 23. Thursday 3077 24. 3194 Friday 25. Saturday 243 26. 2007 Sunday 27. Monday 1275 28. Tuesday 351 29. Wednesday 3479 30. Thursday 1309 31. 3117 Friday

– Garrett Gerdes/Machinists District 9 photos