8-6-26 LT DIGITAL EDITION

Celebrating 90 Years of the Labor Tribune

What’s Inside

(See Pages 12-13)

By ED FINKELSTEIN Publisher Emeritus

St. Louis Labor Movement mourns loss of John Ebeling Page 3

Last week’s issue marked the start of the Labor Tribune’s 90th consecutive year of fighting for our unions and union members, of taking on issues and organizations trying to wreck our Movement, patting our unions and union members on the back for their many group and individual good deeds, and providing a vehicle to support the unity of Labor that has kept us strong.

A key example was our 2018 campaign to defeat it so-called “Right-to-Work” (RTW). For almost a year the Labor Tribune each week carried an article that proved how bad things were in existing “RTW”

St. Louis/Southern Illinois Labor Movements, which are considered among the strongest in America –– in great part, because they have a solid, strong voice that allows their positions to be heard in the general community.

From our first issue in 1937, Founder and Publisher Maury Rubin made it clear that fighting like hell for unions and union members was the Labor Tribune’s goal, one which we’ve proudly carried on for these past 90 years and promise to continue as we forge ahead to 100!

states on a variety of issues. We published a 16-page special edition that excoriated the proposed law… and distributed it to tens of thousands of unions members across Missouri to ensure union families had the facts and would vote “NO.” Our editor even joined the canvassing campaign, going door-to-door on evenings and weekends to talk to union voters about the importance of defeating “RTW.” Today, the Labor Tribune is one of the few remaining weekly Labor newspapers in the country. It has a symbiotic relationship with its subscribers. The paper exists because of their continued and unwavering support of the regional

MAKING IT POSSIBLE None of this would be possible without:

VOLUME 90 No. 2 ® ★

★

• Our union subscribers, who over the decades have understood the value of a strong voice and support the Labor Tribune week in and week out.

• Our union leadership, who are unconditional supporters of our efforts and have cooperated in providing leads for stories, constant encouragement, and most importantly, subscribing for their members.

• Our professional & support staff who put in long hours, miss family events, and often have no free weekends as they are covering your news. I’ve been honored to work with these dedicated Labor See 90 YEARS page 10

Thursday, August 6, 2026

★

Iron Workers Local 392 instructor Don Koleson earns gold card from the American Welding Society Page 4

Laborers Local 42 awards 12 scholarships to members’ children, grandchildren Page 9

SIBA Skilled Trades Summer Camp introduces high school students to construction careers Page 11

Machinists District 9 announces winners from annual Guide Dogs of America Clay Shoot Page 18

90

YEARS

Teamsters Locals 688 and 600 members ratify historic contract victory after 83-day strike at Breakthru Beverage

By TIM ROWDEN Editor-in-Chief St. Louis — After 83 days on the picket line, Teamsters Local 688 and 600 members at Breakthru Beverage have overwhelmingly ratified a new four-year collective bargaining agreement, bringing an end to one of the region’s longest and most determined Labor disputes in recent memory.

The agreement marks a decisive victory for the 56 Local 688 Teamsters who stood united for nearly three months, refusing to back down as the company attempted

HISTORICVICTORY: Teamsters Local 688 and 600 members have ended their strike against Breakthru Beverage after winning a historic four-year collective bargaining agreement for Local 688 and a first contract for newly organized drivers of Local 600.

– Labor Tribune file photo

to weaken longstanding contract protections. In the end, workers held the line and Breakthru Beverage withdrew every proposal that targeted the union’s core contract language.

The new agreement includes average wage increases of approximately four percent over four years, a commitment to reopen negotiations on health and welfare benefits within 90 days, the addition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a paid holiday, 40 hours of paid sick leave, and a new pathway for casual employees to earn seniority and

become regular employees.

For members of Local 600, which represents newly organized drivers at Breakthru’s St. Louis and Cape Girardeau locations, the strike also represented a major test of their union commitment as they fought to negotiate a first contract.

“The guys did well for a first one,” said Local 600 Business Representative John Kelting. “They got substantial raises the first year and then three percent each the year after that.”

Included in the Local 600 contract See TEAMSTERS STRIKE page 19

Postal Workers rally to ‘Protect Our Public Post Office’ as part of National Day of Action St. Louis — The American Postal Workers Union (APWU) rallied at post offices across the country July 28 as part of a ‘Protect Our Public Post Office’ National Day of Action.

“We’re standing here to make sure that they don’t privatize the post office, and that we continue to vote by mail for the elderly who can’t make it or the service members who may be overseas now,” said Bill Brady, president of APWU St. Louis Gateway District Area Local 8.

“We want to make sure that this postal service isn’t turned over

Periodicals Publication

to the hands of the billionaires,” Brady said. “If it’s turned over to the hands of the billionaires l i ke C o n g r e s s BRADY wants, the rural customers will have to pay to get their own mail, if they deliver it to them at all. We want to keep the post office public and be able to deliver a free service to our customers.

“Our main moto is ‘When we fight, we win,’ and that’s what we’re here to do today.”

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PROTECT OUR PUBLIC POST OFFICE was the message of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) St. Louis Gateway District Area Local 8 on July 28, when they rallied in front of the St. Louis Post Office as part of a national day of action.

– Labor Tribune photo

LOCAL SUPPORT Locally, Local 8 members rallied in

front of the St. Louis downtown post office at 1720 Market Street, joined by representatives from APWU Local 7043 (Hazelwood), United Auto Workers Local 2250, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 88, the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, Jobs with Justice and the United Way of Greater St. Louis.

“We’re here to support the postal workers,” said Katie Deatherage, president of Local 2250. “They’re fighting for their jobs. They’re fighting to keep the post office from being privatized. We need to get this message out to the public: use the post See POSTAL WORKERS page 19

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ILLINOIS

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

• IAM 313 • Southwestern Illinois Central Labor Council

MISSOURI

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

2 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, August 6, 2026

Decades-old asbestos exposure still haunts local workers — and the records to prove it are disappearing Union members and veterans are among those left without proof of exposure that made them sick.

By JORDAN CADE For generations, asbestos was just part of the job. Boilermakers, pipefitters, electricians, laborers, shipbuilders and military personnel worked around CADE it every day — in insulation, cement, brakes, pipes, boilers and roofing — because it was cheap, durable, and resistant to heat. Nobody handed out warnings. Nobody kept track of who was exposed, or where, or for how long. Now, decades later, that silence is catching up with workers and their families.

A DIAGNOSIS WITHOUT A PAPER TRAIL Asbestos-related diseases, including asbestos-linked lung cancer, often don’t show up until 20 to 50 years after exposure — sometimes longer. By the time a worker gets sick, the job site may be long gone, the employer may no longer exist, and the records that could prove where the exposure happened have often vanished with them.

That gap hits veterans especially hard.

Many were exposed to asbestos aboard ships, in older military facilities, or around military vehicles — then eventually went on to second careers in construction, manufacturing, shipbuilding or refining.

Asbestos exposure piled up across both parts of their working lives, but no system ever tracked the whole picture.

These aren’t just old files gathering dust.

Employment and exposure records help doctors connect an illness to a workplace exposure that happened decades ago. They give workers the evidence they need to receive a correct diagnosis and proper treatment. And for families, they can be the difference between an answer and a lifetime of not knowing how a loved one got sick in the first place. Without them, workers and their families are often left relying on memory alone.

IT’S NOT JUST HISTORY – IT’S HAPPENING HERE This isn’t only a story about the past.

It’s a story about the Greater St. Louis and Southern Illinois region right now.

During renovation work at the historic Spivey Building in East St. Louis, workers were directed to strip asbestos-containing material without the protections federal law requires. According to the EPA, the crew worked without proper respiratory protection, without wetting the material down to keep fibers from becoming airborne, and without notifying state environmental regulators before the job began.

The case led to federal criminal convictions under the Clean Air Act. The lesson for working people in this region is a hard one:

Unions are key to highquality public education

By HILARY WETHING Economic Policy Institute

What would the United States look like if we tripled union membership? We find a range of economic and social asbestos isn’t just a hazard from the past. benefits — such as higher Workers can still be put at risk today when WETHING wages, greater access to employers cut corners and skip the safety health insurance, and a stronger democracy. procedures the law requires.

Another social good generated by unions: THE NUMBERS strong investment in public education.

BEHIND THE CRISIS Investment in public education was one The scale of this problem is staggering. of the key reasons the U.S. became the richBetween 1940 and 1979, an estimated 27 est country in the world in the 20th century. million American workers were exposed to Universal education has many positive efasbestos on the job, according to the Centers fects, including creating a more for Disease Control and Prevention and the productive workforce and a more federal Agency for Toxic informed and engaged demoSubstances and Disease cratic society. Unions play Registry. Even though its a key role in advocating for use has dropped off sharply, public spending in education. the diseases it causes are Adequate levels of per-pustill emerging today bepil spending are instrumental cause of how long they take policy for maintaining quality to develop.

Views from Near and Far education. When per-pupil Illinois alone recorded spending is low, students more than 12,000 asbestos-related deaths may struggle to get the support they need to between 1999 and 2017. That’s not a footnote achieve their learning goals. Districts, in turn, from another era — it’s an ongoing public may have a harder time retaining teachers health crisis playing out in our own comand staff because they can’t offer competitive munities, among our own union brothers salaries or benefits. and sisters.

Guest

Opinions

WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE Treating the disease after it shows up isn’t enough. Working people shouldn’t have to piece together their own exposure history from memory, decades after the fact, just to get the medical answers and compensation they’re owed.

Occupational exposure records need to be preserved with the same seriousness as any other long-term health record — because the diseases they document take decades to surface.

That means real coordination between employers, unions, licensing boards, veterans’ agencies and public health institutions to keep employment and exposure records intact for the long haul. It also means giving workers — especially those in trades where asbestos exposure has historically been common — practical tools to document and hold onto their own occupational history throughout their careers.

Preserving these records doesn’t assign blame or guarantee a payout. It simply acknowledges a basic fact: diseases with decades-long latency periods demand documentation that lasts just as long.

If Illinois and Missouri are serious about protecting the workers who built their industries and infrastructure, safeguarding their occupational histories shouldn’t be an afterthought buried in a filing cabinet somewhere. It should be treated as what it is — a public health responsibility, and a matter of basic justice for the people who did the work.

(Jordan Cade is an attorney at Environmental Litigation Group, P.C., a Birmingham, Alabama-based firm helping toxic exposure victims. Over the past three decades, his legal team has assisted victims and families harmed by toxic exposure, including those impacted by asbestos pollution.)

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PAYS OFF FOR STUDENTS

Increased per-pupil funding, by contrast, pays off for students. Greater funding for schools improves educational attainment, student achievement, and economic outcomes in adulthood. In one study, researchers found that a 10 percent increase in school spending for 12 years led to increases in high school graduation rates, seven percent higher wages, and 10 percent higher family incomes in adulthood for children from districts that experienced the spending increase. More recently, researchers assessing the contribution of federal pandemic educational aid found that each $1,000 increase in per-pupil spending boosted student achievement in math and reading. Importantly, when researchers restricted their assessment to high-poverty districts, the per-dollar effect was nearly twice as large.

PROTECTING PUBLIC EDUCATION FROM VOUCHERS Unions are also instrumental to protecting quality public education. This is increasingly under threat due to state- and national-level voucher programs, which divert money away

from public education and toward private schools and homeschooling. A substantial share of enrollees in voucher programs are often students who are already attending private school.

Vouchers reduce education quality in several ways: FIRST, voucher programs yield worse academic achievement outcomes relative to public schools. Studies have found that students in voucher program schools experienced test score declines that are comparable or worse than declines due to COVID-19.

SECOND, voucher programs strain state budgets. And this cost comes at a time when states face budgetary pressure from the Republican tax and spending megabill (OBBBA), which reduced federal funding for Medicaid and SNAP (also known as food stamps).

THIRD, public school districts experience an additional hidden cost. When students leave public schools with a voucher, school districts lose revenue but must still pay the same amount for fixed costs that can’t immediately adjust to declines in enrollment, such as cooling/heating and utilities. These required payments for a district’s fixed costs mean that districts will have even less to spend on costs that can be adjusted — like school supplies or instructional support—thereby reducing services for students.

States with higher levels of unionization are more likely to have the political resources to fight back against vouchers in legislative fights. As a result, these states are less likely to have universal voucher programs.

In sum, there are many ways unions support workers and their communities, and their consistent support of public education shouldn’t be discounted. From advocating for enough funding for high-quality education to defending against education privatization, unions support our nation’s commitment to universal public education.

This not only improves students’ academic achievement, but also their economic outcomes well into adulthood.

(Hilary Wething (she/her) is an Economist at the Economic Policy Institute. Her research examines the relationship between labor market policy, household economic security, and social safety net programs. Prior to joining EPI as an Economist, Wething was an assistant professor of Public Policy at the Pennsylvania State University School of Public Policy.)

I am a Labor Democrat

If you don’t know history, you may be understood what would happen to us and every doomed to repeat it or maybe destroy other worker without any representation. The the good that came of it. history of the Labor Movement was I was a union representative on in our bones, because it gave us a livYour my first full-time job. I was a civiling wage, and put food on the supper ian during Vietnam working for the table. But mostly it was in our ears Opinions expressed are those of the individual – not their union.

Army. It was a tough environment as we heard the stories of greedy and Speak Out with more requisitions coming in ruthless corporate bosses doing all from the field than one human being could they could to break unions while the unions handle. Some employees were overloaded were actually building the middle class. unfairly, and they had the right to a grievance What they couldn’t break was the passion procedure. I, along with other reps, fought for we had to fight, because we had learned their rights. Workers are taken advantage of and understood Labor’s story. It was our when there is no one to represent them. story that reared its ugly head with The Looking back, I guess I could say I knew I Taft-Hartley Act of 1947, the most anti-labor was union before I knew I was Irish. My father movement in U.S. history and championed was union at Coca Cola. I guess so, his uncle by Republicans. Here’s what it did: allowed was Jelly Roll Hogan, the business agent of “right-to-work,” restricted strikes, expanded soda workers. Call him a gangster, like him federal oversight of union operations and or not, but he was for the men. My brother, much more. The worst thing, though, was that God rest his soul, physically fought for unions it weakened the union’s ability to organize. as a Pipefitter. And the guy I married turned Later, during the Reagan years, unions sufout to be the best union member there is. fered the blow of the 1981 PATCO when Reagan Why were people like us union supporters? fired over 11,000 air traffic controllers. This Three words will cover it: lower middle class. emboldened Republicans and corporate bosses Unions gave us a way out and a way up. We all See LABOR DEMOCRAT page 3

Letters

LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, August 6, 2026 • 3

St. Louis Labor Movement mourns loss of true union leader, mentor and friend John Ebeling John J. Ebeling, who spent decades fighting for working families and strengthening St. Louis-area Labor unions, passed away peacefully, surEBELING rounded by loved ones on July 25, 2026.

“From his years of service with CWA Local 6300 to his leadership within the St. Louis Labor Council, John’s unwavering commitment, integrity and passion left an enduring mark on generations of union members,” the St. Louis Labor Council shared in a statement.

“Even after nearly seven decades of work, his legacy was defined not by the years he served, but by the countless lives he touched.”

Brother Ebeling was president of St. Louis Typographical Union for 32 years, vice-president of the Print and Media Sector, proud member of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 6300, first vice president of the St. Louis Labor Council, president of the St. Louis

of Greater St. Louis Board of Directors for 31 years, on the Catholic Charities Board of Directors and as president of the Board of Directors of the Mary Ryder Home for 16 years.

Allied Printing Trades Council and president of the Missouri State Allied Printing Trades Council.

POWER OF SOLIDARITY “John believed in the power of solidarity and understood that when working people stand together, there is nothing they cannot accomplish,” the council said. “He was instrumental in the fight to defeat so-called “Right-to-Work (RTW) in Missouri, helping protect the freedom of workers to stand together and bargain collectively. His wisdom, kindness, and steadfast advocacy made our entire Labor Movement stronger and left a lasting impact on working families across our state.”

FAMILY Brother Ebeling was the beloved husband of 70 years and preceded in death by the love of his life Elaine D’Angelo Ebeling and siblings Joseph H. Ebeling III, Gerald F. Ebeling and James O. (Madeline) Ebeling.

He was a devoted brother to Mary Ebeling (John) Duvic; cherished and loving father of Dr. John J. (Theresa) Ebeling, Mary Catherine (Douglas) Beard, Karen Ann (Robert) Gilbert, Margaret Teresa (Dr. Thomas) Ward and James Christopher Ebeling; proud Grandpa Chief of 17 grandchildren and great-grandfather of 22. He was dear brother-in-law, uncle and friend, loved by many.

A memorial mass was held July 31 at Christ Prince of Peace Catholic in Manchester. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Catholic Charities of St. Louis or the United Way of Greater St. Louis.

UNION AND COMMUNITY SERVICE Brother Ebeling was the recipient of St. Louis Labor Council Andy Owens Community Achievement Award (1998), CWA Printing Sector George P. McDonald Award for Outstanding Union Service (2005) and United Way Freeman-Kortkamp Award (2008).

He also served on the United Way

Labor Democrat From page 2 who despised and feared the solidarity of unions and the worker’s power to collectively bargain. It was during the 1950s that I believe the anti-union sentiment really started to become insidious with the formation of The Heritage Foundation, American Enterprise Institute and others that influenced Republican lawmakers to take up the lie that unions were bad for the economy.

Since the late 1980s and into the 1990s I have watched the further erosion of unionism and the decline of its membership. What saddens me is the flip of so many Democrats, once union minded citizens and legislators, to the Republican Party. The Republican Party has absolutely no allegiance to Labor. They are envious of it. They creäte sneaky strategies making members believe they are

of denying health care to its own citizens, to blind loyalty to a failed oligarch, it might tell you what they really think of the Labor Movement.

If Republicans pass the Save Act, I will not be eligible to vote. ALONG WITH MOST OF YOUR WIVES. It is illogical for union men and women to support a party with an anti-Labor history, and now an antivoting platform. But trends come and go. I hope I live long enough to see this one burn up with the climate change Republicans deny or may get shot full of holes from the guns they won’t control. It’s too late to ask Republican Congressmen to man up, to speak up and change things, they’re just too weak. But it would be nice to hear the voices of Labor leaders once again.

MOLLY BUNTON Retired teacher, NFFE Union Rep.

for them, while persistently trying to break them apart so they can control the pieces. The most consequential antilabor movements have been aligned, covertly and strongly, with conservative Republicans. One ally, The Democratic Party, stayed in the fight with us every step of the way.

But the allure of Republican charlatans has eaten away at the movement like Thirty Pieces of Silver.

My research tells me that the shift of union member to the Republican Party is a cultural, religious, racist and masculine outcrop. Whatever the reasons, it’s a sad commentary on this country’s degradation of our civic and educational system, and the loss of a principled and moral loyalty to the common good. If Republicans are capable of stopping USAID which feeds starving people,

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DITTMER, MO – Laborers Local 110’s Volunteer Organizing Committee (VOC) teamed up with the St. Louis Area Foodbank’s “Food on the Move” program by handing out groceries to those in need at the Morse Mill Baptist Church in Dittmer on July 16. Assisting in the effort were (from left) Local 110 Business Agent and Executive Board Member Jose Hernandez; retiree Don Kreienheder; Business Agent, Executive Board Member and VOC Chairman Colby Erhart; and Sean Keegan with St. Louis Area Foodbank.

– Laborers Local 110 photo

4 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, August 6, 2026

Iron Workers Local 392 instructor Don Koleson earns gold card from the American Welding Society East St. Louis, IL – Iron Workers Local 392’s Donald Koleson (BK# 552595) recently received his 50-year Gold Card from the American Welding KOLESON Society (AWS).

Koleson, the son of Ralph “Swede” Koleson (BK# 140304), embarked on a journey that mirrored his father’s as an on-the-job apprentice in 1953.

Despite his proficiency, his thirst for knowledge led him to college, where he pursued a career as an industrial arts teacher. Even while fully immersed in his teaching role, his dedication to apprenticeship remained unwavering. Brother Koleson played a pivotal role in establishing the Local 392 apprentice program in the early 1960s. As a college administrator, he ensured that all the building trades’ apprentice programs were accredited through the local community college district, a testament to his unwavering commitment to the cause.

Brother Koleson received a bachelor’s degree from Southwestern Missouri State University in 1957.

He was hired by the East St. Louis School District 189, where he taught

Industrial Arts. In the late 1960s, Brother Koleson transitioned to welding teacher at East St Louis Senior High School (Daniel J. Bauer was a student of his). In 1974, Don received a Master of Arts degree from Southern Illinois UniversityCarbondale. Later that year, he was hired at Belleville Area College (now SWIC) as the Coordinator for Welding Technology. Three years later, he became the dean of technical education at the college.

“The local is so fortunate to have a journeyman, professional educator (high school and college levels), and administrator,” said Local 392 Business Manager John Scmitt.

“In 1964, Don was hired by Local 392 to teach welding at the apprentice school. Over the years, with the backing of the apprentice coordinator, Don guided the Local 392 apprentice school to great success,” Schmitt said. “Due to Donnie’s innovation and perseverance, our local is an AWS Approved Testing Facility staffed by four certified welding Inspectors (CWI).

“Today, Robert E. Lee drives our program. As we look to the future, it is inevitable that we continue to train the most qualified ironworkers.”

PUBLISHED WEEKLY (EVERY THURSDAY) Under the auspices of the Greater St. Louis Labor Council and the Central Labor Councils in Southern Illinois and the Unions of the Greater St. Louis and Southern Illinois areas.

LABOR TRIBUNE GOVERNING BOARD ISSN 0885-6869

Office: 301 S. Ewing, St. Louis, Mo. 63103 Office/News Department: Telephone (314) 535-9660 • FAX (314) 531-6131 Web Site: www.labortribune.com News Deadline: Noon Friday for the next week’s issue. E-Mail: tim@labortribune.com Advertising Deadline: 10 a.m. Wednesday for the next week’s issue. E-Mail: sales@labortribune.com Classified Advertising: 12 noon Friday for the next week’s issue.

Softball tournament, Labor Day parades planned as part of week of Illinois Labor Day festivities

By ELIZABETH DONALD Illinois Correspondent As is tradition, the Madison County celebration of Labor Day will take place the week before Labor Day with a parade, picnic and softball tournament.

The parade assembly will begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29 at the Wood River Roundhouse parking lot. The parade will step off at 10 a.m. and continue south on Wood River Avenue, then east on Ferguson and north on Sixth Street, ending at Emerick Sports Complex.

The picnic will follow at Gordon Moore Park in Alton. Food and refreshments will be provided free for all members of affiliated unions, and members should receive wristbands through their union leaders.

Madison County Transit will provide a free shuttle service starting at 8 a.m. at Emerson Sporting Complex and will run every 15 minutes down to the start of the parade.

SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT The annual James Stanley Memorial Charity Labor Day Softball Tournament will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 26 and Saturday following the picnic. All affiliated and non-affiliated unions from St. Louis, the metro-east and surrounding areas are invited to participate.

This year’s fee of $400 per team is due before the captains’ meeting at 6 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Machinists Center at 161 N. Shamrock St., East Alton. All teams are asked to

have someone at this meeting for tournament rules and selection of brackets.

The winning team will have the privilege of selecting the recipient of the prize money – traditionally awarded to legitimate and worthy community organizations and causes, and is honored with the traveling trophy for display in their union hall.

Applications and fees should be turned in to the Greater Madison County Federation of Labor at the Machinists Hall. For more information, contact B. Dean Webb, president of the Greater Madison County Federation of Labor, at 618-259-8558.

GRANITE CITY LABOR DAY CELEBRATION Granite City’s celebration of Labor Day will take place on the holiday itself, with a parade and picnic following longstanding tradition.

The 46th annual Tri-City Labor Day Parade will step off in downtown Granite City at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 7 for a one-mile march to Wilson Park, where a picnic of family and friends will follow.

Participants will enjoy music, speeches, food, refreshments and kids’ activities, courtesy of the Greater Madison County Federation of Labor.

Affiliated locals are asked to consider donating to help offset the costs of these events at $1 a member or whatever the local can afford.

Contributions should be mailed to Greater Madison County Federation of Labor, care of B. Dean Webb, president, 161 N. Shamrock St., East Alton, Ill. 62024. Any unions that have items with the union logo or other items to donate for attendance prizes should contact Webb at 618-259-8558 or Mike Fultz at 618-409-4314.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

Mail: Send address label on front of paper, along with new address, to Labor Tribune, 301 S. Ewing Ave., St. Louis, MO 63103 Phone: (314) 535-9660 (Ex. 125). (1) State and spell your name; (2) provide old address and ZIP; (3) provide new address and ZIP; (4) Union affiliation

LABOR TRIBUNE STAFF

Tim Rowden Editor-in-Chief (314) 256-4138 tim@labortribune.com

Sheri Gassaway Missouri Correspondent sheri@labortribune.com

Elizabeth Donald Illinois Correspondent

Correspondents Robert Kelly Linda Jarrett Jessie Chafin Bruce Darnell

Lynn Alpert Production Manager/ Graphic Designer

90+ years of handling workers’ compensation claims in Missouri & Illinois

Kathy Crowe Graphic Designer

Dan Braun Marketing Director Ed Finkelstein Publisher Emeritus edf@labortribune.com

Joe Larrew

Ann Dalton

Bob Mandava

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AUGUST 2026

Notices

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 /30 24/31 25 26 27 28 29

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

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.

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.

Iron Workers 392

Egyptian Building and Construction Trades Council

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

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

IAM District 9

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

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 7:00 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 5:30 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.

SPECIAL NOTICE: We are changing our meeting time to 7 p.m. instead of 7:30 p.m. starting with the September 2026 meeting and going forward.

SPECIAL NOTICE: We are now doing hybrid meetings. You must be present at Local 313 or the Illinois AFL-CIO building in Springfield to attend.

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.

ATTEND YOUR LOCAL UNION MEETINGS INTERNATIONAL UNION of

OPERATING ENGINEERS Local 513, AFL-CIO 3449 Hollenberg Dr., Bridgeton, MO 63044

(314) 739-3983

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.

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

Operators Local 399

Sheet Metal Workers Local 268

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.

Painters District Council 58

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

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.

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.

RETIREE CLUBS AFSCME Retirees Subchapter 59 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

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.

Greater St. Louis Labor Council, AFL-CIO

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

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

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

IAM Local 1745

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.

IAM Local 2782

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.

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.

Washington (Satire from The Borowitz Report) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly “exploded with rage” on Tuesday after a blood test he had required for all service members over 30 showed that he had “extremely high” levels of estrogen.

According to those familiar with the test results, Hegseth’s estrogen count would place him in the 99th percentile of all women.

Mascara streaking down his cheeks, Hegseth howled in protest, claiming that the blood test “reeked of DEI.” “I wasn’t surprised by his reaction,” said the doctor who administered the test. “It’s that time of the month.”

St. Louis Building & Construction Trades Council

LOCAL UNIONS 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 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.

Bricklayers Local 1

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.

Cement Masons Local 527

3341 Hollenberg Dr, Bridgeton, MO 63044

Elevator Constructors Local 3

1525 South Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63104. Email: iuec3@ iueclocal3.org.

Glaziers Local 513

5916 Wilson Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110

IBEW Local 1

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.

Hampton SHoe

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BRIAN GRAFF, Pres./Bus.Mgr. MATT ENOLE, Vice President STEVE FARRAR, Recording Sec’y STEVE STRAATMANN, Financial Sec’y ANDY SCHALK, Treasurer

Hegseth freaks out after testing positive for estrogen

Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 160

Operating Engineers 520

Official IAM District 9 Notices

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.

Plumbers & Gasfitters Local 360

5916 Hampton Avenue

St. Louis, MO 63109 • 314-481-7346

Tues-Fri 10am-6pm Sat 10am-4pm

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

IBEW Local 1 Apprentices

Laborers Local 660

IBEW Local 4

Operating Engineers Local 513

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

5850 Elizabeth Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110

Insulators and Asbestos Workers Local 1

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.

Ironworkers Local 396

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

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: 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.

Meets the first Wednesday of the month at 7p.m. at the Local 660 union hall at 1320 S. Callahan Road in Wentzville, Mo. 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 IUOE Local 513, 3519 Country Club Drive, Jefferson City MO 65109.

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.

Roofers Local 2

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.

Sheet Metal Workers Local 36

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.

See NOTICES page 11

TAKING RESERVATIONS FOR 2026 & 2027

HALL RENTALS

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

6 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, August 6, 2026

SUPPORTING WELLNESS ACROSS THE TRADES. With our partners from

Marathon Health

Marathon Health seeks to provide unions, workers accessible healthcare resources

By BRUCE DARNELL Correspondent

Operating over 19 centers in Missouri and 700 nationwide, Marathon Health is a workercentered healthcare provider that

has been around for 25 years now, the company’s Chief Operating Officer Nirav Vakharia said. The way they keep worker-centered is by partnering with local unions to help provide their care through

local health centers.

“Unions can do this two ways,” Vakharia said. “They either own the health center or share it. When we enter a relationship, we determine what the center needs, where it has

to go, and we can handle all the construction processes—unless the union wants to handle it.”

Once a union has built or been connected to a health center, workers are able to visit for no additional

costs, Vakharia said. This is because the costs are covered by the union when they enter a partnership with Marathon Health, and all fees are then covered by a worker’s union dues.

“Unions understand they’re re s p o n s i bl e fo r their members’ healthcare issues and they see this as lowering their overall healthcare spending by providVAKHARIA ing earlier, preventative healthcare,” Vakharia said.

“You’re saving the benefit fund extra money by utilizing these preventive services.”

Vakharia said that because unions are often full of members who joined right out of high school or who come from union families, building up a system of preventative care can provide generational healthcare instead of individual.

REINFORCING AWARENESS Marathon Health’s Director for Solutions and Marketing Erin McGrath credited the St. Louis Building Trades Wellness Coalition with reinforcing awareness among workers of the various resources they have for healthcare. McGrath said several of their clients are members of the coalition.

Diana Marburger, welfare fund director for the Greater St. Louis Construction Laborers Welfare Fund, said they have been using Marathon Health since February 2022. As of June 2026, they’ve had almost 17,000 appointments, with 2,200 unique members utilizing their services out of 11,000 total members, Marburger said.

“Most of our members have had a positive experience with their services,” Marburger said. “I personally use them as my primary care, as does my husband… the coverage includes union family members.”

One demographic Marburger highlighted was men. She said a majority of their workforce is composed of men, and it can be difficult to get men to go to the doctor.

With Marathon Health, their male members are more active in seeking medical care, she said.

HEALTH SERVICES Marathon Health provides typical health services, such as routine check-ups that range from monthly to yearly visits, depending on a patient’s health risks, and also have addiction and mental health resources. Vakharia said that because their services are focused on the workers, they are able to spend more time with patients than typical healthcare providers.

Vakharia said access to healthcare in Missouri is among the lowest in the United States. Healthcare in Missouri ranks 43rd out of 50 states, according to a 2025 list by the Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation focused on analyzing healthcare systems. Their statistics state that one out of 10 Missouri residents are uninsured and that 80 percent of adults with a substance use disorder did not receive treatment.

LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, August 6, 2026 • 7

Your Health Mind, Body, Spirit

Missouri cyclospora cases going up

Missouri has logged nearly 600 reports of Cyclospora illness, specifically 593 cases as of late July 2026. This marks a major increase from previous weeks, as the state normally records only about a dozen cases in a typical year.

The diarrhea-causing parasite has sickened thousands. Missouri health officials have seen a significant increase in cyclospora cases in the past two weeks and expect reported cyclospora infections to continue climbing. During a recent briefing, state health officials said they are confident the number of reported cases reflects exposure to contaminated food distributed in Missouri, rather than people primarily bringing the parasite back from travel. Investigators are still working to identify the source of the outbreak.

“I know we have a lot of cases of cyclosporiasis, and much more

than normal,” DHSS Assistant Communicable Disease Control and Prevention Chief Nathan Koffarnus told St. Louis Public Radio.

“It’s been growing very rapidly, both here in Missouri and in a lot of places.”

Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the microscopic cyclospora. People typically become infected after eating food containing the parasite, often through produce exposed to contaminated water.

Thousands of cases have been reported nationwide this year, with many concentrated in Michigan, Illinois and several other states, including Missouri.

The Food and Drug Administration said the agency remains focused on lettuce from Taylor Farms in Mexico as the most likely source of the outbreak. In mid-July, representatives from the FDA said their investigation had led them to

Taylor Farms. People had gotten sick after eating Taylor-supplied lettuce at Taco Bell locations in five states. That list did not include Missouri. Taco Bell officials say the stores have removed the offending products.

However, soon after, Taylor Farms announced it was voluntarily recalling lettuce products from central Mexico that had been sold in dozens of states, including Missouri. That includes shredded lettuce sold under the Marketside

brand at Walmart and other lettuce that was supplied to food service companies nationwide. Taylor may sound familiar to some in St. Louis.

Lawsuits have linked the supplier to an E. coli outbreak that sickened more than 100 people in the region during a 2024 outbreak. The company denies it is the culprit.

The regulatory agency posted on its X account that there’s still “overwhelming” data that shredded lettuce from the Taylor Farms in central Mexico is the source of

the contamination. The voluntary recall of the lettuce is still in effect.

While it’s normal for a small number of people to test positive for cyclosporiasis during the summer months, St. Louis County Senior Epidemiologist Amanda Brzozowski said this outbreak stands out.

“It is a seasonal infection that does tend to be outbreak-associated,” she said. “[But] this is the biggest one I’ve seen since I’ve been here for 10 years.”

8 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, August 6, 2026

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LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, August 6, 2026 • 9

Laborers Local 42 awards 12 scholarships to members’ children, grandchildren Laborers Local 42 recently awarded 12 members’ children and grandchildren with $2,000 scholarships through the union’s annual Larry Flinn Memorial Scholarship program and the Missouri Kansas Laborers’ District Council (MKLDC) Opportunity Scholarship program.

This year’s scholarship winners are: • Karleigh Cotner, daughter of Local 42 member Jason Cotner. She is attending the University of Kansas studying pre-pharmacy.

• Rielan Derryberry, son of Local 42 member Steve Derryberry. He is attending Missouri Baptist University, studying business administration.

• Drew Elsenrath, son of Local 42 members Nichola and Drew Elsenrath and grandson of retired Local 42 Vice President Danny Jenkins.

He is attending Hannibal-LaGrange University, studying business management.

SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS: Laborers Local 42 recently awarded 12 scholarships to members’ children to help them pursue their studies. This year’s winners include (front row, from left) Collin Porter, Mariah Williams, Danny Winston, and (back row, from left) Meah Philipp, Jessie Umfress, Michael Combs, Drew Elsenrath and Karleigh Cotner. Not present at the awards ceremony is Evan Andrews, son of Local 42 President Matt Andrews, Rielan Derryberry, son of Local 42 member Steve Derryberry, Dominique Taylor, daughter of member Dirone Taylor and Cailin Ewing, son of Local 42 Law Enforcement Division member Modeste Ewing.

– Labor Tribune photo

• Meah Philipp, daughter of Local 42 member Joe Philipp. She is attending Willia Woods University, studying sports medicine/physical therapy.

• Collin Porter, grandson of Local 42 member Gerald Crews. He is attending State Technical College of Missouri studying electrical technology.

• Dominique Taylor, daughter of Local 42 member Dirone Taylor.

She is attending the University of Kansas, studying finance.

• Jessie Umfress, daughter of Local 42 member Donald Umfress.

CAILIN EWING (right), the son of Local 42 Law Enforcement Division member Modeste Ewing, was a recipient of the 2026 Missouri Kansas Laborers District Council (MKLDC) Opportunity Scholarship. He is studying computer science.

Pictured with Cailin is Dave Reagan, director of Local 42 Law Enforcement Division.

– Laborers Local 42 photo

EVAN ANDREWS (center) was the recent winner of a Laborers scholarship to help him pursue his studies. He is pictured with his father Laborers Local 42 President Matt Andrews (left) and Missouri-Kansas Laborers District Council Business Manager Brandon Flinn.

– Laborers Local 42 photo

She is attending Missouri State University, studying cyber security, IT. • Mariah Williams, daughter of Local 42 member Malik Williams.

She is attending the University of Missouri-Columbia, studying computer science.

• Danny Winston III, grandson of Local 42 member Karen Woodard.

He is attending Hannibal LaGrange University, major undecided.

• Michael Combs, son of Local 42

member Michael Combs. He is attending Webster University, studying arts in animation.

• Evan Andrews, son of Local 42 President Matt Andrews. He is attending the University of MissouriColumbia, studying finance.

• Cailin Ewing, son of Local 42 Law Enforcement Division member Modeste Ewing, received the 2026 MKLDC Opportunity Scholarship. He is studying computer science.

10 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, August 6, 2026 AUGUST 5

This Week In

Labor History AUGUST 3

1931 – Using clubs, police rout 1,500 jobless men who had stormed the plant of the Fruit Growers Express Co. in Indiana Harbor, Ind., demanding jobs.

saying they “have forfeited their jobs” if they do not. Most stay out and are fired Aug. 5.

Strikers under arrest at the Durst Ranch in Wheatland, Calif., 1913

1913 – Fighting breaks out when sheriff’s deputies attempt to arrest Wobbly leader Richie “Blackie” Ford as he addressed striking field workers at the Durst Ranch in Wheatland, Calif.

1986 – Florence Reece dies in Knoxville, Tenn., at 86. She was a Mine Workers union activist and author of Which Side Are You On?, written after her home was ransacked by Harlan County sheriff J.H. Blair and his thugs during a 1931 strike.

1981 – Some 15,000 air traffic controllers strike. President Reagan threatens to fire any who do not return to work within 48 hours,

Striking Teamsters, 1997

1997 – Nearly 185,000 Teamsters begin what is to become a successful 15-day strike at United Parcel Service over excessive use of part-timers.

struck ATT Corp. over wages, job security, pension plan changes and better health insurance. It was the last time CWA negotiated at one table for all its Bell System members: divestiture came a few months later. The strike was won after 22 days.

Striking CWA workers protesting Verizon, 2011

AUGUST 4 1876 – The Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers is formed. It partnered with the Steel Workers Organizing Committee, CIO in 1935; both organizations disbanded in 1942 to form the new United Steelworkers.

1919 – An estimated 15,000 silk workers strike in Paterson, N.J., for 44-hour week.

Wholesale & Department Store Union.

Smokejumpers and their equipment, 1949

1949 – Thirteen fire fighters, including 12 smokejumpers who parachuted in to help their coworkers, die while battling a forest fire at Gates of the Mountain, Mont.

1993 – The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) took effect today.

The first law signed by President Clinton, it allows many workers time off each year due to serious health conditions or to care for a family member.

AUGUST 6 1974 – Cigarmakers’ Int’l Union of America merges with Retail,

2011 – Some 45,000 CWA and IBEW-represented workers at Verizon begin what is to be a two-week strike, refusing to accept more than 100 concession demands by the telecommunications giant.

AUGUST 7 1890 – Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, Wobbly organizer, born.

1894 – Eugene Debs and three other trade unionists arrested after Pullman Strike.

1919 – Actors Equity is recognized by producers after stagehands honor their picket lines, shutting down almost every professional stage production in the country.

Before unionizing, it was common practice for actors to pay for their own costumes, rehearse long hours without pay, and be fired without notice.

1983 – Some 675,000 employees

Writers Guild of America strike, 1988

1988 – Television writers, members of The Writers Guild of America, end a 22-week strike with a compromise settlement.

AUGUST 8 1903 – Cripple Creek, Colo., miners strike begins.

1979 – Amalgamated Meat Cutters & Butcher Workmen of North America merge with Retail Clerks Int’l Union to become United Food & Commercial Workers..

1994 – Cesar Chavez is posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton, becoming the first Mexican-American ever to receive the honor.

AUGUST 9 1927 – Nine men and one woman meet in Oakland, Calif., to form what was to become the 230,000-member California School Employees Association, representing school support staff throughout the state.

1965 – A fire and resultant loss of oxygen when a high pressure hydraulic line was cut with a torch in a Titan missile silo near Searcy, Ark., kills 53 people, mostly civilian repairmen.

1998 – Some 73,000 Bell Atlantic workers end a successful two-day strike over wages and limits on contracting out of work.

2005 – The United Steelworkers and Amicus, the largest manufacturing union in the United Kingdom, announce formation of a strategic alliance to work on a range of mutual concerns.

(Compiled by David Prosten, founder Union Communication Services)

90 years From page 1

journalists over the past 74 years I’ve been affiliated in one way or another with the paper (starting at the age of 14 as the “gofer.” See list of staffers past and present on Page 13) • Our advertisers, whose financial support continues to make our efforts possible.

• Our friends outside the Labor Movement, who provide the encouragement and support that makes our efforts worthwhile.

Our committed staff of dedicated Labor journalists and advertising representatives has worked tirelessly to support you, our readers, our unions, and our Labor causes. It has been a labor of love for everyone affiliated with the Labor Tribune.

We pledge to continue to be there for your fights, your victories and your achievements.

In solidarity.

LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, August 6, 2026 • 11

SIBA Skilled Trades Summer Camp introduces high school students to construction careers through hands-on training Five-day program gives students experience with five construction trade unions O’Fallon, IL – More than 20 high school students spent the week of July 20-24, 2026, exploring rewarding careers in the construction trades during the Southern Illinois Builders Association (SIBA) Skilled Trades Summer Camp.

The immersive, five-day program gave students the opportunity to visit union apprenticeship training centers and experience the work of skilled trades professionals through hands-on activities.

UNION CAREER INTRODUCTIONS Sponsored by SIBA and the Southern Illinois Construction Advancement Program (SICAP), the annual camp introduced students to careers that offer paid apprenticeships, competitive wages, comprehensive benefits and long-term

HANDS-ON TRAINING – The Southern Illinois Builders Association (SIBA) 2026 Skilled Trades Summer Camp included a day at Ironworkers Local 392 in East St. Louis, one of five skilled trades involved in the week-long event.

– SIBA and Southern Illinois Construction Advancement Program (SICAP) photo

career opportunities without the burden of college debt.

Throughout the week, students trained alongside instructors and apprentices representing five construction trade unions: • Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council.

• Boilermakers Local 363.

• Downstate Illinois Laborers District Council.

• Ironworkers Local 392.

• Sheet Metal Workers Local 268.

HANDS-ON TRAINING At each training center, students used industry tools, learned fundamental construction techniques and

gained a firsthand understanding of the skills required in each trade.

“The purpose of this camp is to give students experiences they simply can’t get in a classroom,” said Donna Richter, SIBA CEO. “We take them to different apprenticeship training facilities every day so they can work with the tools, meet the instructors and apprentices, and discover what each trade has to offer. For many students, it’s their first exposure to construction careers, and that’s exactly why this program is so valuable.”

Richter noted that the program continues to attract strong interest each year while intentionally maintaining a small class size to ensure every participant receives meaningful, hands-on instruction. This year’s camp also included three female students, reflecting the growing number of young women exploring careers in the construction industry.

FINANCIAL ADVANTAGES The camp also highlighted the

financial advantages of union apprenticeship programs. Participants learned that apprentices earn wages while they train and often receive tools needed for their trade. Upon completing their apprenticeships, graduates enter the workforce with valuable skills, competitive pay, health insurance and pension benefits—without accumulating college debt.

The Skilled Trades Summer Camp is part of SIBA’s ongoing workforce development efforts to address the growing demand for skilled construction professionals throughout Southern Illinois.

In addition to the summer camp, SIBA hosts two construction career expos, provides grants to schools with vocational education programs, and awards scholarships to students pursuing degrees in construction management, construction-related engineering, architectural-interior design and construction safety.

For more information, visit www.siba-agc.org.

Notices From page 1 Sprinkler Fitters and Apprentices Local 268

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

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.

Teamsters Joint Council 13

UFCW Meat, Deli & Seafood Local 88

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.

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

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

United Media Guild Local 36047

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.

Utility Workers Local 335

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

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.

RETIREE CLUBS Eastern Missouri Teamsters Retiree Council, IBT Joint Council 13 Retirees

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

Greater St. Louis CWA Retirees Club

Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562 Retirees

Greater St. Louis Council Retirees Group

Plumbers Local 35 Retirees

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.

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

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.

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

IBEW Local 1439 Retirees’ Club

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

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

Operating Engineers Local 513

UFCW Local 655 Retirees’ Club

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

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

12 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, August 6, 2026

To our unions, our readers, our friends:

By ED FINKELSTEIN Publisher Emeritus

Certainly, we’ve aged But we’re not about to be caged.

We’re going to continue our fight To support what’s right With union folks who stand strong To right the world’s wrongs.

To you our loyal, faithful readers, Strong, courageous union members, leaders Our pledge on this special day, To stand with you in every fray.

Abraham Lincoln said it best “Put your feet in the right place, Then stand firm.”

That’s the Labor Tribune’s quest!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. ON TO 100!

Inspiration for our unions A strong union newspaper is more than just a source of information. I have been utilizing the Labor Tribune for almost 30 years. Getting the stories, celebrating our achievements, and educating members about their rights and our collective efforts.

It is the voice of our members and a reminder of the solidarity that unites us. The Labor Tribune strengthens OLLER our unions and inspires us to continue standing together for fairness, dignity, and respect.

So, I want to congratulate the Tribune for inspiring us for the last 90 years and we will continue fighting together for years to come.

ERIC OLLER Executive Secretary-Treasurer Southwestern IL. Building & Construction Trades and Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer LiUNA! Local 459

Labor’s beacon of truth Congratulations on this year’s 90th anniversary of the Labor Tribune. I along with everyone are so proud of your publication for being a beacon of truth for not only fellow Union Brothers and Sisters and their families but a voice of reason and truth for all people living in our country.

A tremendous Thank You to Tim Rowden, Ed FinLUCHTEFELD kelstein and all of the women and men of your staff through the years for continuing to carry the torch of Labor’s voice.

And a special Thank You to all the Unions that have stepped up to subscribe over the years which allows the Labor Tribune to continue the fight for us all. Labors voice via the Labor Tribune needs be heard as a beacon of truth in a constant changing world of lies and deceptions.

Please heed and live by the following: “Do swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?” YES, the Labor Tribune does it every week!

SCOT LUCHTEFELD President S.W. Illinois Central Labor Council

LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, August 6, 2026 • 13

Celebrating 90 Years of the Labor Tribune The history of the Labor Tribune – Labor’s fighting newspaper In 1934, while studying Rubin guided the developarchitecture at Washingment of the Labor Tribune ton University, Maury for its first 40 years along Rubin founded the with a colorful staff St. Louis Labor Trithat gave the newspabune. It originalper character. Staff ly appeared as a members included broadsheet monthBen Sabol, a cane ly called the Union wielding photogLabor Advocate and rapher and who changed its name brought a ladder to in June 1937. his shoots facilitatSetting the tone ing wide-angle perfor what the paper spectives on group would be, in the second Labor photographs; issue, Rubin teamed editorial chief Harry with the Carpenters DisWinkeler, a devout antitrict Council leadership to communist whose red-bashRUBIN report on the poor quality ing editorials were reprinted of construction work at local non- by newspapers around the country; union housing projects. The report, and a phone-bound ad salesman, the result of week-end leafletting Harry Barge. of the construction sites by the NEW PAPERS TAKE SHAPE newspaper, led to union organizing In 1947 the Labor Tribune began of nearly the entire St. Louis conto organize a Labor newspaper in struction industry. This in turn led to the continued low cost of quality- East St. Louis called the Southern built housing in the metropolitan Illinois Labor Tribune. The Southern Illinois Labor Tribune closed its St. Louis area.

advertising and circulation office in East St. Louis after refusing to fall victim to a protection racket.

In 1955, Rubin offered his help to the AFL to start an official Labor newspaper to report on Organized Labor in Indiana. Gene San Soucie, president of AFL Indiana Teamster Joint Council 69, served as the associate editor. Rubin attempted to continue the Indiana Labor Tribune after San Soucie died in an airplane crash in 1973, but economic factors eventually caused it to fold.

BUILDING ITS REPUTATION The St. Louis Labor Tribune built its reputation by being in the forefront of local and national issues that affected Labor. It took strong positions against the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act and the Landrum-Griffin Amendments in 1959. Locally, it opposed anti-collective bargaining measures by the morning St. Louis Globe-Democrat, helping the Newspaper Guild, expose shoddy workmanship and promote worker safety.

In March 1957, the St. Louis Labor Tribune changed its broadsheet format to that of a tabloid.

BEGINNING A CAREER Ed Finkelstein, Maury Rubin’s nephew, joined the newspaper for a summer job in 1952 when he was 14 years old. After receiving a byline for writing an obituary, he was so excited to see his name in print that he decided to pursue journalism as a career.

He graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia’s School of Journalism in 1959 and began serving as an information officer for the Strategic Air Command, serving two years in Cheyenne, Wyo. (America’s first ICBM base) and four years in England.

When he left the service, Finkelstein returned to the Labor Tribune as an executive assistant to Maury Rubin. At odds with the staid Rubin, Finkelstein left the paper in the late 1960s and joined the Regional Industrial Development Corporations (RIDC). In 1970, Finkelstein began a public relations firm, Union Communications, in the interest of bettering the image of Organized Labor with local business and throughout the community.

Jim Templeton became one of his first employees and later became the Tribune’s managing

style, one that editor. Much of aimed to promote (Union Commuunderstanding nications) busiof Labor’s issues ness involved and cooperation covering (Labetween Labor bor) stories that and business. appeared in the Labor Tribune, DEFENDER eventually OF LABOR providing the CAUSES bu l k o f t h e Never theless, paper’s editothe Labor Tribune rial content. remained an influAs a result, ential defender of Finkelstein Labor causes. It was asked by worked ceaselessRubin to come ly to expose worker back and take safety hazards and over the Lathe poor quality bor Tribune of non-union conoperation. Shortly there- 1ST ISSUE struction and has helped after, Rubin retired as Organized Labor groups fight publisher. He died in 1984.

Finkelstein’s combining of the against anti-Labor legislation.

The paper played a particularly newspaper and Union Communications helped restore the Labor important role in defeating the Tribune’s finances, which had phony “right-to-work” legislation suffered losses. It also brought in 1977 (and 2018).

In 1984 the St. Louis Labor three important members to the paper’s staff: Managing Editor Jim Tribune and the Southern Illinois Templeton, Reporter/Photogra- Labor Tribune merged to form the pher Sherwood Kirker, and Judy St. Louis/Southern Illinois Labor Anderson, Finkelstein’s vice presi- Tribune. ( Edited from an historical dent from Union Communications who ran the day-to-day operations. overview written by the Missouri Finkelstein’s experiences with Historical Society from Labor RIDC and public relations left the Tribune’s archives donated by paper with a less confrontational the paper.)

Still working hard to get Labor’s message out

The team that makes it possible Over the years, the Labor Tribune’s success has relied on talented journalists, creative advertising sales staff and incredible support staff. It’s the talents of these people that have allowed the paper to thrive and support our Unions and our mission. On this our 90th anniversary, we salute these hardworking people who have, over nine decades, helped make the paper what it is today. While some are no longer with us, their memories and commitment live on.

Executive staff: Founder Maury Rubin, Publisher Emeritus Ed Finkelstein.

CURRENT STAFF Editorial: Editor-in-Chief Tim Rowden, Correspondents Sheri Gassaway, Elizabeth Donald, Linda Jarrett, Robert Kelley, Jessie Chafin, Bruce Darnell and Kevin Weeks.

Management: Accounting Supervisor Renee Avett, Office Manager Maria Murphy, Accounting Assistant Andrea Rosen.

Advertising: Director of Marketing Dan Braun.

Production: Production and Design Manager Lynn Alpert, Graphic Designer Kathy Crowe.

FORMER STAFF Editorial: Dana Spitzer, Kevin Madden, Sherwood Kerker, Jim Templeton, Harry Winkler, Carl Green, Bob Whitehead, Mary Ann O’Toole Holley, Gene Sigman, Larry Miller, Bill Morris, Kevin Howard, Frank Loterzo.

Management: Bob Bird, Judy Anderson, Marvin Naftolin.

Support: Lynn Fowler, Jill Far mer, Susan Crane, Kay Stockstrom, Barbara Moore, Lori Strawbridg e, Richard Poehlein and Alicia Parsons.

Advertising: Lauren Marshall, Bob Whitehead, Naomi Davidson, Morris Bass, Lila Hoskins, Harvey Finkelstein, Tony Maggio, Jerry Bonfiglio, Christina Shekell, Joe Gorden, Ben Sabol, John Primm, Charlie Owens, Mark James, John Hoskins, Don Chesley and Jerry Valina.

Production/Mailing: Ray Earls, Frank Diaz, Jeff Warfield, Jim Rekart, Teresa McFadin, Jim Matousek, Steve Whitehead and Ken Strobel.

THANK YOU one and all!

A Standout Labor Paper Ninety years is a real milestone to be proud of.

Through thick and thin, the Labor Tribune has been there for any, and every, union that needed help, in good times and bad. Without the Trib telling our story every week, the Labor Movement would simply have no way to reach our tens of thousands of members and the general public, keeping them informed on isHUMMEL sues impacting their own union, other unions and the Labor Movement in general. The Labor Tribune, which is a standout among Labor papers in the U.S., has always been a strong, positive force encouraging unity in our Movement. To all the reporters and support staff over the years, “Thank You” for a job incredibly well done.

JAKE HUMMEL President Missouri AFL-CIO

Invaluable asset “Congratulations to the Labor Tribune on 90 years of fighting for, and serving, our members. You have been an invaluable asset to the entire Labor Movement, taking on tough issues so that our members and leaders have the support they need. And of course, applauding the great work our unions and members do for charities and other good deeds, recognizing efforts that STIFFLER would go unnoticed if it were not the Labor Tribune.

The Labor Tribune is, and always has been, an invaluable asset for our entire Labor Movement! Happy birthday from the Building Trades!”

JOHN STIFFLER Executive Secretary-Treasurer St. Louis Building Trades Council

Reason for strength

WEBB

“I was introduced to the Labor Tribune when I became a union member in 1991. I didn’t realize that it started 90 years ago, but it’s clear that it is one of the reasons St. Louis is a strong union city. It is such a great resource for the Labor Movement and has been a big help for me in my work through the Greater Madison County Federation of Labor and advocating for Labor in our county.”

B. DEAN WEBB President Greater Madison County Federation of Labor

14 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, August 6, 2026

Drive

American Union Wages, Union Wheels

Bronco adds tough luxury New posh Bronco Filson is for those who want to rough it in style

By KEVIN WEAKS Clinton C. Filson, born in 1850, was a former Nebraska railroad conductor who migrated west to Washington

WEAKS

state where he eventually opened a small loggers’ outfitting store in Seattle. In 1897 during the Klondike Gold Rush, Filson’s Pioneer Alaska Clothing and Blanket Manufacturers provided blankets, boots and sleeping bags to prospectors passing through Seattle. After the gold rush ended around 1899, Filson became famous for distinctive, durable outdoor gear, luggage and clothing for campers — or people

BRONCO FILSON SUV – For the 2027 model year, Ford Motor Co. and premium outdoor gear supplier Filson have collaborated on the first-ever Bronco Filson SUV, a luxury 4x4 that unites “Bronco’s Built Wild” capability with outfitter Filson’s promise of “Unfailing Goods.”

who want to look like campers.

When Ford Motor Co. went looking for a new premium trim level for the 2027 Bronco, it turned to Pacific Northwest outdoor outfitter Filson.

Ford and Filson collaborated on the first-ever Bronco Filson SUV, a 4x4 that unites “Bronco’s Built Wild” capability with Filson’s promise of “Unfailing Goods” — all designed

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to stylishly take you to the great outdoors in refined comfort.

“Bronco buyers don’t just want a vehicle, they want a partner for wherever they’re headed,” said Andrew Frick, president, Ford Blue and Ford Model e. “Filson has spent more than a century making gear people trust and putting their products to the test in extreme conditions. That’s exactly the standard we had in mind when we built this vehicle, and it’s why our customers love Bronco.”

The 2027 Ford Bronco Filson is the Blue Oval’s newest brand partnership and harkens back to the Eddie Bauer Bronco of the ‘90s.

Bauer Broncos sold like hotcakes.

Unfortunately, Eddie Bauer filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, so Filson filled the bill.

“For nearly 130 years, Filson has built products for people who depend on their gear in the harshest conditions imaginable,” said Alex Carleton, chief creative officer at Filson. “The Bronco Filson is a natural extension of that legacy, combining uncompromising capability with thoughtful craftsmanship and utility-driven design. This vehicle was created for people who see the outdoors not as an escape, but as a way of life.”

LUXURY ON THE TRAIL Just like the rugged gear Filson has supplied to pioneers and the U.S. Forest Service for more than a century, the Bronco Filson is built to deliver confidence and performance in harsh trail conditions. Power comes from a punchy 3.0-liter EcoBoost V-6, specially tuned for this edition and shared with Bronco Raptor, and a 10-speed automatic transmission.

Every Bronco Filson comes standard with the Sasquatch package, which includes front and rear electronic locking differentials, high-performance Fox shocks with internal bypass technology to improve off-road durability and reduce harshness over rocky terrain and 35-inch rugged-terrain tires — the largest of any premium 4x4 SUV — that help reduce road noise

JUST LIKE THE GEAR Filson has supplied to pioneers and the U.S. Forest Service for more than a century, the 2027 Bronco Filson is built to deliver confidence and performance in harsh trail conditions.Broncos have been used by forest fire fighters since the 1960s.

without sacrificing off-road grip.

Like its namesakes, the Bronco Filson is durable. The backbone of every Bronco Filson is a highstrength steel ladder frame — built for the Bronco, not borrowed from elsewhere, Ford insists. The SUV’s outdoor bonafides include standard Trail Turn Assist, which tightens off-road turning radius, and Trail 1-Pedal Drive that enables precise, confident slow-mode rock crawling. The Terrain Management System with G.O.A.T. (Goes Over Any Type of Terrain) modes offers seven driver-selectable modes: Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery, Baja, Off-Road and Rock Crawl. Fast 5G and Wi-Fi connectivity plus SYNC 4 infotainment with a standard 12inch screen provide access to the standard 360-degree camera system and apps like off-road trail maps via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

BUILT TO GET DIRTY Filson designers worked side-byside with the Bronco team to curate a premium cabin. But, says Paul Wraith, Ford’s SUV global design director, “There is a massive difference between premium and precious. If you’re hesitating because you’re afraid to get the cabin dirty, it doesn’t belong in a Bronco. Every material we chose with Filson had to be honest, tactile and relentlessly durable. And like a great piece of gear, this interior isn’t meant to wear down, it’s designed to wear in, aging beautifully alongside you and your adventures.”

Colors and materials are inspired

by Filson’s proprietary outdoor palettes and textures. The investmentgrade interior features perforated, quilted leather and durable woven fabric seat trim inspired by Filson’s rugged twill, a leather-wrapped instrument panel and steering wheel, and brass accents on the steering wheel bezel and G.O.A.T. modes dial. Filson-inspired removable saddlebags are integrated throughout the interior — including door-mounted bags and optional See BRONCO page 15

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LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, August 6, 2026 • 15

Bronco From page 14 cargo-area bags made from waterand dirt-resistant materials. The detachable bags feature customizable compartments for everything from fly boxes and first-aid kits to camera lenses and carry easily from vehicle to campsite.

If you like to stack your gear from floor to ceiling, a digital rearview mirror with washer ensures clear sightlines even when the cargo area is fully loaded. New power running boards deploy automatically to make it easier to get in and out without diminishing the Bronco’s off-road clearances.

PRICED FROM THE MID-$70S Outside, the Bronco Filson features a unique front grille with distinct Bronco lettering, heritagepainted wheel arches, painted mirror caps and exclusive off-road trail sights that double as tie-downs to secure longer items like canoes.

Available colors include Bronco Filson-exclusive Field Green Metallic as well as Marsh Gray, Avalanche Gray, Desert Sand, Shadow Black and Oxford White.

You may never notice it while trail-busting, but the Bronco Filson

FILSON-INSPIRED REMOVABLE SADDLEBAGS are integrated throughout the interior — including door-mounted bags and optional cargoarea bags that feature customizable compartments for everything from fishing fly boxes and first-aid kits to camera lenses and carry easily from vehicle to campsite.

edition might also be the quietest Bronco cabin ever built, Ford says.

Improved airflow, acoustic glass and enhanced seals reduce wind and road noise — including nearly 20 percent less perceived wind noise versus the 2021 Bronco. Paired with new ventilated front seats, heated rear seats and an upgraded B&O audio system, it’s a quiet, climatecontrolled retreat when conditions outside turn harsh.

The Bronco Filson has a targeted starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price in the mid- $70,000s. The Bronco Filson isn’t the only new

SASQUATCH PACKAGE – Power comes from a 3.0-liter EcoBoost V-6, shared with the Bronco Raptor. Every Bronco Filson comes standard with the Sasquatch package, which includes electronic locking differentials, highperformance Fox shocks and 35-inch rugged-terrain tires — the largest of any premium 4x4 SUV.

brand tie-in from Ford. The specialedition SUV comes just weeks after the Blue Oval unveiled the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt edition pickup with the iconic Detroit-based workwear brand.

If you really want to impress your friends, try strapping on the hotter than hot Bronco Raptor. Starting at roughly $80,000, this is the largest, most powerful and most comfortable Bronco available. It features a massive 418-horsepower 3.0L twinturbo V-6, Fox Live Valve suspension (which provides both climbing prowess and on-road comfort), an Information on Demand panel, and all the high-end creature comforts

THE 2027 FORD BRONCO RAPTOR continues as the pinnacle of high-speed off-road performance, highlighted recently by the introduction of the luxury-focused Bronco Filson Edition which borrows its Raptor-derived powertrain.

of the Lux Package. When fully loaded with premium upgrades like leather seats and Code Orange trim, prices easily exceed $95,000.

Or you could settle, sort of, for the Bronco Outer Banks, starting just $47,000 to $50,000. This trim is built specifically for street comfort, not the dusty trail. When equipped with the Mid and High/Lux Packages, it adds premium leather-trimmed seats, a 10-speaker B&O sound system, a heated steering wheel, a 360-degree camera and adaptive cruise control.

The 2027 Bronco Filson is assembled at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich., the same factory that has assembled full-sized Bronco SUVs since the vehicle’s return in 2021. The smaller

INTERIOR – Colors and materials are inspired by Filson’s legendary outdoor palettes and textures. The investmentgrade interior features perforated, quilted leather and durable woven fabric seat trim inspired by Filson’s rugged twill, a leather-wrapped instrument panel and steering wheel, and brass accents on the steering wheel bezel and G.O.A.T. modes dial.

Bronco Sport is built in Mexico.

A special First Edition Bronco Filson has a limited run of 2,500.

It’s probably too late to snag one of those but regular orders start this fall with vehicles arriving in showrooms early 2027. If you just can’t wait, check out the “Bronco Filson Tour,” a multi-city immersive showcase that is currently underway, though specific stops for the St. Louis area have not yet been announced. Call your Ford dealer for details. ( C o n t a c t Ke v i n We a k s a t kweaks@labortribune.com.)

Online

LABOR STUDIES

Certificate Program Register today! Classes start Aug. 24 The Labor Studies Certificate Program consists of six courses, each originated to provide current and future union leaders, activists and representatives the skills needed in dealing with workplace issues, changes and the economy. Today many students and workers wishing to improve their understanding of workers’ rights and develop an understanding of workplace culture also find the courses of great value.

The courses have their roots in political science, history, law and economics providing students the opportunity to improve their skills in leadership by providing them with a foundation in how business and political organizational and corporate culture function. The program is 100 percent online allowing students who are working to fit their studies in around their professional and personal lives.

Courses Offered this Fall: • Pol Sci 3220: Labor and Employment Law. • Hist 2219: Working Peoples’ History.

For more information on how to register, please contact Doug Swanson, the UMSL Labor Studies coordinator at (314) 516-6698 or swansondj@missouri.edu.

Register Now!

The University of Missouri—St. Louis is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer commiteed to excellence through diversity.

16 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, August 6, 2026

Laborers Local 42 Veterans Committee third annual Golf Fundraiser is Sept. 10 Chesterfield, MO – Laborers Local 42 is hosting a Top Golf Fundraiser Sept. 10 from noon to 3 p.m. to support Laborers Local 42’s Veterans Committee, The Kaufman Fund, Focus Marines, Memorial Gardens, Veterans Crisis Line and other veterans’ groups.

The Laborers Local 42 Veterans Committee’s is committed to bettering the lives of veterans who have bravely and honorable served

our country as well as focusing on concerns that directly affect them by providing social support for veterans, including but not limited to emotional, instrumental, informational and appraisal assistance.

Fundraising efforts, charitable donations and networking provide the committee with the means to show gratitude to veterans by giving back a fraction of what they’ve given to the country.

SPONSORSHIP LEVELS Sponsorship levels for the Top Golf event include: • $4,000 – Medal of Honor (Event Room) Sponsor.

• $2,500 – Flying Cross (Food) Sponsor.

• $2,500 – Silver Star (Beverage) Sponsor.

• $1,200 – Bronze Star (Team) Sponsor.

• $1,500 – Purple Heart (Hole in

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 Bring a flashlight or headlamp

2360 Highway D • St. Charles, MO 63304

One/Longest Drive) Sponsor.

• $300 – Overseas Ribbon (Bay) Sponsor.

DONATIONS Donations are tax deductible and should be mailed or delivered with

sponsorship information by Aug. 15 to Laborers Local 42, ATTN: Veterans Committee Top Golf Event at 301 South Ewing Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 63103.

For more information, contact Local 42 at 314-531-1187.

LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, August 6, 2026 • 17

21st century solidarity: Laborers, Painters unions unite to build more power for the working class The Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) have signed a memorandum of understanding outlining a historic industry-wide collaboration.

“IUPAT and LIUNA stand as two pillars of the North American Labor Movement, each with proud histories of building nations and strengthening working class power,” LIUNA and IUPAT said in a statement. “We recognize the challenges we face today, including aggressive anti-union legislation, corporate consolidation and technological disruption. Workers deserve more power and to get it requires 21st century solidarity.

‘COLLECTIVE STRENGTH’ “Our two unions are bound by an unwavering belief that every worker deserves a family-sustaining wage, a secure retirement, world-class healthcare and a safe workplace free of exploitation,” they continued. “We believe this is attainable if we harness our unions’ collective strength to build more power for working people.

“With LIUNA’s dominance in the infrastructure and energy sectors and IUPAT’s expertise in the construction finishing trades, we aim to create a formidable force capable of setting higher industry standards and prosperity for our members and for all workers in our industry sectors,” the unions said.

In the memo, LIUNA and IUPAT commit to: • Joint organizing efforts to help workers who do not have a union win the superior wages, benefits and working conditions that come with a union.

• Recognizing that our competitiveness and the competitiveness of union contractors require a highlytrained, safe and efficient workforce

that delivers projects on time and on budget.

• Unifying communications to amplify the voice of workers, reach a broader audience and counter anti-union propaganda.

• Recruiting new members to ensure our unions reflect our communities across the United States and Canada.

• Aligning contract expiration dates and bargaining priorities to increase workers’ leverage at the bargaining table.

• Directing that our pension fund investments be used in the interest of our members and refusing to place members’ pension funds in investments that work against unions.

• Coordinating lobby efforts to push for pro-Labor legislation and jobs-creating funding, and pooling resources for political action committees and political mobilization.

21ST CENTURY SOLIDARITY “The construction industry has adopted a model to exploit workers and divide unions,” the unions said.

“The old playbook isn’t working anymore, so we must build a new one: a fighting movement of workers united by 21st century solidarity.

“Our collaboration is a growth strategy for IUPAT and LIUNA,” the unions continued. “We seek to aggressively expand union market share and grow our membership by reaching unorganized workers with a compelling, unified message of a better, more secure way of life.”

WAREHOUSE PRICES FURNACES • AIR CONDITIONERS • SUPPLIES

AIR CONDITIONING 454B Unit, (Needs matching coil and mitigation control)

1-1/2 Ton ............... $992 3-1/2 Ton ........... $1,377 2-Ton ................. $1,046 4-Ton ................ $1,445 2-1/2 Ton ........... $1,134 5-Ton ................. $1,755 3-Ton ................. $1,249 Pricing is before tax.

GAS HEAT 80% Special Prices

45,000 BTU ................ $ 665 70,000 BTU ................ $ 788 90,000 BTU ................ $ 959 110,000 BTU .............. $1,096 135,000 BTU .............. $1,206 Pricing is before tax.

Factory Warranty HEAT PUMPS/DUCTWORK, AIR CLEANERS and HUMIDIFIERS

(314) 739-1600 2550 Harley Drive, Maryland Heights, MO 63043

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.

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 Closestto-the-Pin. Grand Raffle tickets are $20 each or three for $50. Call 314-644-3922 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 Closestto-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.

Sept. 12 – IAM Progressive Local 41 Fourth Annual Charity Golf Tournament benefiting the IAM Veterans Service Program will begin with a four-person scramble shotgun start at Lockhaven Golf Club, 10872 Lawrence Keler Drive, Godfrey, Ill. 62035.

The event will include a $10,000 Hole-in-One contest. Entry fee for the tournament is $500 per team.

Hole sponsorships at $100 and $150.

Registration deadline is Sept. 4.

Make checks payable to IAMAW Veterans L 42 and mail to Mark Grzechowiak, Local 41 ST, 12365 St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton, Mo. 63044. For more information, call Mark Grzechowiak at 636-

293-8213 or email iamprogressivelocge41@gmail.com.

Sept. 17 – Missouri AFL-CIO Golf Tournament will be held at Oak Hills Golf Center at 932 Ellis Blvd. in Jefferson City.

Registration begins at 9 a.m., and tee off is at 10 a.m. A silver sponsorship is $800 and includes golf for four with cart, a chance to win Closest-to-the-Pin and Longest Drive awards, attendance prizes, food and beverages. A gold sponsorship is $1,000 includes golf for four and a hole sponsor sign, and a platinum sponsorship is $1,250 and includes golf for four, premium sign locations and special recognition during the awards presentation. Other sponsorships range from $300 to $2,500. Proceeds from the tournament will go toward member education. To register, send team/sponsorship information and a check payable to the Missouri AFL-CIO to President Jake Hummel at 131 E. High Street, Ste. 100, Jefferson City, Mo. 65101.

Sept. 19 – 34th Annual Greg Booth/Jack Van Horn Golf Tournament, sponsored by the Tri-County Labor Club, will begin with a 7:30 a.m. shotgun start at Warrenton Golf Course at 24805 State Hwy. 47 in Warrenton. The cost is $400 per team and includes greens fees, cart, beer, soda and barbecue. Prizes awarded for three flights, Closest-to-the-Hole and Longest drives. Hole sponsorships are $125 per and food and beverage sponsorships are $500.

To register, make checks payable to the Tri-County Labor Legislative Club and mail to 10 Droste Square, St. Charles, Mo. 63301.

For more information, call Joe Mueller at 636-698-5424.

18 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, August 6, 2026

Machinists District 9 announces winners from annual Guide Dogs of America Clay Shoot Brighton, IL – Machinists District 9’s annual Guide Dogs of America Clay Shoot here at NILO farms was a huge success, drawing 64 shooters. Here are the winning teams and shooters from the July 11 event. – Machinists District 9 photos

FIRST-PLACE SHOOTER – Local 41’s Matt Malone (center) won first place with a score of 88. Celebrating the win with Brother Malone is Business Rep./Event Organizer Neil Queathem (left) and District 9 Business Rep./Event Organizer Darren Bierman.

SECOND-PLACE SHOOTER – Local 660’s Derek Bierman (left) won second place with a score of 83. He is shown with District 9 Business Rep./Event Organizer Darren Bierman.

THIRD-PLACE SHOOTER – Olin Winchester’s Ari Alexanian (right) took third place with a score of 83. He is shown with District 9 Business Rep./ Event Organizer Darren Bierman.

FIRST PLACE TEAM – The first-place team, sponsored by Local 660, had a top

score of 378. Participants included (from left) Ryan Reno, Derek Bierman, District 9 Business Rep./Event Organizer Darren Bierman, Zach Bertles, Local 313 President Garrett Gerdes, Dist. 9 Business Rep./Event Organizer Neil Queathem

SECOND-PLACE TEAM – The second-place team, sponsored by Local 41, came in with a score of 376. It included (from left) Erik Buchheit, Scott Beyer, Business Rep./Event Organizer Darren Bierman, Dave Brown, Matt Malone, Aaron Schlemmer and District 9 Business Rep./Event Organizer Neil Queathem.

THIRD-PLACE TEAM – The third-place team, sponsored by Local 41, scored 358.

It included (from left) Mike Shatley, Ethan Brown, Will Roach, District 9 Business Rep./Event organizer Darren Bierman, Austin Quirin, Chris Steinkuehler, District 9 Business Rep./Event Organizer Neil Queathem.

Read the Labor Tribune at work, at home or on the go

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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, August 6, 2026 • 19

Teamsters strike From page 1 is language regarding grievance procedures, arbitration and 40-hour work week protections as well a contract-protected health, welfare benefits and a 401k.

“The health and welfare and 401k, they already had, but now it’s locked in with the contract,” Kelting said.

Most significantly for the Teamsters, the company abandoned all attempts to strip away the union’s longstanding standard contract language preserving critical protections that Teamsters have fought to secure over generations.

SOLIDARITY “Our members proved exactly what solidarity looks like,” said

Chris Tongay, secretary-treasurer of Local 688. “For 83 days, they stood shoulder-to-shoulder through the heat, uncertainty, and pressure because they refused to accept concessions that would weaken their union. This victory belongs to every member who walked that picket line, every family who made sacrifices, and every supporter who stood beside them. When workers stay united, they win.”

For the newly organized drivers of Local 600, Kelting said the Local 600 members showed remarkable grit and solidarity with their fellow union members throughout the nearly three-month strike “For them, to show up day after day, put the time in and overtime

was remarkable,” Kelting said.

“Some of them just hung out there.

The solidarity was just terrific.’”

Throughout the strike, members received daily support from fellow Teamsters, Labor unions across Missouri and Illinois, elected officials, community leaders, and countless supporters who joined them on the picket line demonstrating that the Labor Movement stands together when workers are fighting for fairness.

A HISTORIC OUTCOME Local 688 Business Agent Lamark Thompson, who led the negotiations throughout the dispute, said the agreement represents exactly what members set out to

Postal Workers From page 1 office, buy stamps again. Everyone we n t t o o n l i n e banking and everything else. That hurts our postal workers and hurts DEATHERAGE this union.”

Workers were also joined at the rally by U.S. Congressman Wesley Bell, his challenger in the primary election former Congresswoman Cori Bush and Missouri Senate candidate John Bowman.

251ST ANNIVERSARY Last month marked the 251st

anniversary of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). One of our most trusted public institutions, the Postal Service is currently facing privatization threats and politicized attacks on vote-bymail, which could upend a critical public good that millions of households rely on. Workers, retirees, Labor allies and community members came together in both small towns and big cities across the country to make clear that the USPS belongs to the people, not corporate interests.

“Together with the public we are proud to serve, postal workers

stood up in communities across the country yesterday to protect the public Postal Service,” said APWU President Jonathan Smith. “With one resounding voice, we declared, ‘The U.S. Mail is Not for Sale!’ It’s past time to invest in the USPS and postal workers, not slash services America depends on. It’s time for postal leadership — from the Board of Governors to the Postmaster General to the frontline supervisors — to stand with us and strengthen the public Postal Service. And it’s time for Congress to act to protect this vital public good and vote-bymail.”

achieve.

“This contract is proof that standing together works,” Thompson said. “Our members were clear from day one that they would not allow the company to roll back the protections generations of Teamsters fought to secure. Instead of giving concessions, we gained meaningful wage increases, stronger benefits, a new paid holiday, paid sick leave, opportunities for casual employees to build careers, and we protected every piece of our core contract language. That’s a historic outcome, and our members earned every bit of it.”

SENDS A MESSAGE The strike began after Breakthru

Beverage refused to offer an agreement that met Teamster standards and sought changes to longstanding contract language that protects workers on the job. Members remained united for 83 consecutive days before the company ultimately withdrew its concessionary proposals and reached an agreement that addressed the union’s priorities.

“This victory sends a clear message,” Tongay added. “When employers underestimate the strength of Teamsters, they do so at their own risk. Our members showed that solidarity is stronger than intimidation, and today they return to work with a stronger contract, stronger protections, and a stronger union than when this fight began.”

or

20 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, August 6, 2026

BAG IT, HOOK IT, SHOOT IT! We will help you brag about it!

Lauren Marshall, retiree from the Labor Tribune

Jarrett Fleming, IUOE Local 148

Jerome Radowski, retired Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 101

Owynn Sutton, grandson of Keith Eugea, Ironworkers Local 392

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BAG IT, HOOK IT, SHOOT IT!

LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, August 6, 2026 • 21

We will help you brag about it!

Jarrett Fleming, IUOE Local 148

Dianna Wozniak, wife of John Wozniak, retired IBEW Local 1

Jarrett Fleming, IUOE Local 148 Jarrett Fleming, IUOE Local 148

Grace Munie, daughter of Mark Munie, Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 101

TROPHY HUNTS!

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Outdoor Guide Hunting and Fishing

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22 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, August 6, 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, August 6, 2026 • 23

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 Alton Toyota Alton, IL .................................... 618-208-2400 Auffenberg Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram Shiloh, IL .................................. 618-624-2277 Auffenberg Ford North O’Fallon, IL ............................... 618-607-8287 Auffenberg Hyundai O’Fallon, IL ............................... 618-622-9001 Auffenberg Kia Shiloh, IL ..................................618-624-2277 Auffenberg Mazda Shiloh, IL .................................. 618-624-2277 Auffenberg Nissan Shiloh, IL .................................. 618-624-2277 Auffenberg Volkswagen Shiloh, IL .................................. 618-624-2277 Bob Brockland Buick, GMC, Inc. Columbia, IL ............................. 877-466-9206 Cardinal Buick GMC Belleville, IL .............................. 618-233-0303 Cassens & Son, Inc. Glen Carbon, IL ........................ 618-656-6070 David Taylor Belleville Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Belleville, IL .............................. 618-233-8140 Dream Nissan Midwest Wood River, IL .......................... 314-475-1533 Federico Chrysler – Dodge Wood River, IL .......................... 618-217-0312 Federico Kia Wood River, IL .......................... 618-248-4243 Jack Schmitt Chevrolet of O’Fallon O’Fallon, IL ............................... 618-628-2500 Jack Schmitt Chev. of Wood River Wood River, IL .......................... 618-259-4900 Jack Schmitt Ford, Inc. Collinsville, IL ........................... 618-248-0782 Landmark Ford Springfield, IL ........................... 217-862-5200 Laura Buick/GMC Collinsville, IL ........................... 618-344-0121 Lou Fusz Ford of Highland Highland, IL .............................. 618-654-2122 Newbold BMW O’Fallon, IL ............................... 618-628-7300 Newbold Toyota O’Fallon, IL ............................... 618-628-7000 Quality Buick GMC Cadillac, Inc. Alton, IL .................................... 618-465-8881 Roberts Motor, Inc. Alton, IL .................................... 855-999-5497 Steve Schmitt Litchfield, Inc. Litchfield, IL .............................. 217-324-3932 Steve Schmitt Chevrolet, Buick/GMC Highland, IL .............................. 618-654-2181 Weber Granite City Chevrolet Granite City, IL.......................... 618-494-6231 Weber Ford Granite City Granite City, IL.......................... 618-452-5400

AUTO BODY SHOPS Gietl Brothers Springfield, IL ........................... 217-528-7351 Snelson Collision Repair Center Granite City, IL ......................... 618-931-2886 Steve Harter Auto Body, Inc. Belleville, IL .............................. 618-416-8808

Mav Masonry, Inc. Marissa, IL .............................. 618-768-4519 Toenjes Brick Contracting Columbia, IL ............................. 618-281-9292

CONCRETE WORK

HEATING & COOLING

River City Construction, LLC East Peoria, IL.......................... 309-694-3120 Zoie, LLC East St. Louis, IL ...................... 618-857-8444

A & H Mechanical Contracting, Inc. Collinsville, IL ........................... 618-874-5588 Alliance Mechanical Murphysboro, IL ....................... 618-687-5862 Alton Sheet Metal Corporation Alton, IL .................................... 618-462-0609 American Air East Alton, IL ............................ 618-251-8585 Archview Metals Systems Columbia, IL ............................. 618-281-4258 Baer Heating & Cooling Trenton, IL................................. 618-224-7344 Bel-O Cooling & Heating O’Fallon, IL ............................... 618-632-5700 Bel-O Sales and Service Belleville, IL ............................. 618-234-3310 Booher Tin Shop, Inc. Salem, IL .................................. 618-548-1295 Bryan Lewis Heating & Cooling Madison, IL............................... 618-501-1853 C & K Heating & Cooling Lebanon IL .............................. 618-537-9528 Clinton Seamless Guttering, Inc. Breese, IL ................................ 618-526-7016 Culbertson Heating & Cooling Inc. Vandalia, IL ............................. 618-283-4679 Custom Mechanical, LLC Troy, IL ..................................... 618-644-9577 D.E. Martin Roofing Co. Inc. Lebanon, IL .............................. 618-537-6101 Fowler Heating & Cooling, Inc. Marion, IL ................................ 618-997-5288 France Mechanical Corp.

Edwardsville, IL ....................... 618-656-3202 G Squared West Carrier Mills, IL ............... 618-926-4614 General Sheet Metal LLC Freeburg IL .............................. 618-660-8783 GRP Mechanical Bethalto, IL .............................. 618-258-9000 Gurley & Son Heating & Air North Anna, IL .......................... 618-833-5211 Heartland Heating & Cooling Chester, IL ............................... 618-826-4328 Heartland Mechanical Murphysboro, IL ...................... 618-684-3606 Hock Architectural Sheet Metal Millstadt, IL .............................. 618-476-1985 Hock Mechanical Millstadt, IL .............................. 618-476-1985 Icon Mechanical Granite City, IL ......................... 618-452-0035 Jen Mechanical Alton, IL ................................... 618-433-1720 K & K Metal Works Bethalto, IL .............................. 618-452-1707 Kane Mechanical East Alton, IL. .......................... 618-254-0981 Kohnen A/C & Heating Inc. Germantown, IL ....................... 618-523-4557 Langhauser Sheet Metal Co. Highland, IL ............................. 618-654-8086 Laux HVAC & Sheet Metal Inc. New Baden, IL.......................... 618-248-1220 McFarland Heating & Cooling Granite City, IL ......................... 618-451-1512 Merz Heating & A/C Effingham, IL ........................... 217-342-2323 Mideastern Plbg. Htg. & AC Carlyle, IL ................................ 618-594-3299 Midwest Mechanical & Life Safety Services Waterloo, IL. 62298 .................. 618-401-3807 Neal’s Heating & Cooling, Inc. Marissa, IL ............................... 618-295-3402 PSI Mechanical Contractors Marion IL .................................. 618-922-0974 Quality Sheet Metals LLC Carbondale, IL ......................... 618-549-7371 Rebel, Inc. (guttering) Belleville, IL ............................. 618-235-0582

ELECTRICIANS A-Age Electrical Company Belleville, IL .............................. 618-234-4336 Alert Electric, Inc. St. Jacob, IL.............................. 618-644-9333 All Purpose Erectors, Inc. Lebanon, IL .............................. 618-537-7777 Alternating RJ Electric Edwardsville, IL ........................ 618-696-9234 Barton Electric, Inc. Trenton, IL ................................ 618-654-6626 Bel-Clair Electric, Inc. Freeburg, IL .............................. 618-539-5200 Best Engineered Systems Techology Group Swansea, IL ............................. 618-616-0877 Bickle Electric Contracting Edwardsville, IL ........................ 618-259-4499 Camp Electric Alton, IL .................................... 618-462-9287 Electrico, Inc. Millstadt, IL ............................... 618-538-9500 Gilbert Electric Fults, IL..................................... 618-458-7235 Glaenzer Electric Co. Belleville, IL .............................. 618-277-2500 Guarantee Electric Co. Granite City, IL.......................... 618-452-6122 Jarvis Electric, Inc. Belleville, IL .............................. 618-806-0217 J.F. Electric, Inc. Edwardsville, IL ........................ 618-797-5353 Laughlin Electric, Inc. Walshville, IL ............................ 217-246-4113 Lowry Electric Company Collinsville, IL ........................... 618-313-2100 M.A.C. Electric Company O'Fallon, IL ............................... 618-632-6672 MC Electric, Inc. Red Bud, IL .............................. 618-282-7788 MEI Electric, Inc. Columbia, IL ............................. 618-789-2381 North County Electric Red Bud, IL .............................. 618-282-2749 O'Fallon Electric Co. O'Fallon, IL ............................... 618-632-3577 Pfeffer Electric New Baden, IL.......................... 618-588-4593 Pointer Electric Jerseyville, IL............................ 618-498-2333 Prime Utility Service Alton, IL .................................... 618-550-4499 Pyramid Electrical Contractors Fairview Heights, IL .................. 618-632-1180 RSachs Electric Co. Granite City, IL.......................... 618-655-0627 Sutterfield Electric, Inc. Edwardsville, IL ........................ 618-655-9406 Sutterfield Electric, Inc. Wood River, IL .......................... 618-251-2733 Trico Electric Contracting Jerseyville, IL............................ 618-498-9313 Tucker Electric Contractor, Inc. Carlyle, IL ................................. 618-594-3676 Wegman Electric East Alton, IL ............................ 618-258-1130 Wissehr Electrical Contractors Belleville, IL .............................. 618-398-7575

AUTO SERVICES

FLOORING RESIDENTIAL

Wetzel Automotive New Athens, IL ......................... 618-475-3505

Architectural Ceramics Edwardsville, IL ........................ 618-656-7693 Ford Terrazzo & Stone New Athens, IL ......................... 618-475-2987 Kim's Tile & Marble Alhambra, IL ............................. 314-971-8651

BRICK & BLOCK CONTRACTORS Germann Brick Millstadt, IL ............................... 618-476-7835

Metro Marble & Granite Pontoon Beach, IL .................... 618-931-3494 Qualtiy Floor, Inc. New Athens, IL ......................... 618-407-2202

Rend Lake Plb. & Htg. Co. Bonnie, IL ................................ 618-242-3606 Solutions Heating & Air LLC Ullin, IL ..................................... 618-697-7107 Supplied Industrial Solutions ................................................. 618-452-8151 W.S.M. Inc., S.I. E. St. Louis, IL ......................... 618-271-2410 Walters Metal Fabrication Inc. Granite City, IL ......................... 618-931-5551 Williams Heating & A/C Steelville, IL ............................. 618-965-2040

MACHINE Dugan Tool & Die Company East Alton, IL ............................ 618-259-1351

MACHINE/VALVE Extreme Force Valve East Alton, IL ............................ 618-494-5795

MANUFACTURING Hy-Dac Rubber Manufacturing Smithton, IL .............................. 618-233-2129

METALWORK/FABRICATION Rakers Precision Metalwork Mascoutah, IL .......................... 618-612-8757

PATTERN MAKER Voss Pattern Works Belleville, IL .............................. 618-233-4242

PLUMBING A & H Mechanical Collinsville, IL ........................... 618-874-5588 Bel-O Sales & Service Belleville, IL .............................. 618-234-3310 Benchmark Plumbing O'Fallon, IL ............................... 618-410-1914 Bergmann-Roscow Plumbing Belleville, IL .............................. 618-233-1325 Commercial Landscape Service Fairrview Heights, IL................. 618-397-6913 Crafton Plumbing Collinsville, IL ........................... 618-346-8806 D & K Backhoe Co. Collinsville, IL ........................... 618-344-7779 DMI Plumbing Swansea, IL ............................. 618-233-7896 Dale Hendricks Plumbing Collinsville, IL ........................... 618-344-2198 Ehret Plumbing & Heating Belleville, IL .............................. 618-233-1018 Essenprels Plumbing Highland, IL .............................. 618-654-5588 Excel Plumbing, Inc. Caseyville, IL ............................ 618-667-0033 G.R.P. Mechanical Co. Bethalto, IL ............................... 618-258-9000 George Grove Plumbing & Heating Granite City, IL.......................... 618-877-1956 Gerstner Plumbing Breese, IL ................................. 618-526-7846 Haier Plumbing & Heating Okawville, IL ............................. 618-243-5908 Hammbone's Plumbing Belleville, IL .............................. 618-335-9948 Hirsch Plumbing, Inc. Fults, IL..................................... 618-977-7821 Houseman Supply, Inc. Highland, IL .............................. 648-654-2193 Kane Mechanical, Inc. Wood River, IL .......................... 618-254-0681 Koehne Plumbing & Heating Collinsville, IL ........................... 618-334-4125 Korte & Luitjohan Exe. Highland, IL .............................. 618-654-9877 L.W. Contractors Collinsville, IL ........................... 618-344-6353 Litteken Plumbing, Inc. Trenton, IL ................................ 618-227-2249 Loellke Plumbing & Irrigation Jerseyville, IL............................ 618-498-5185 Mars Plumbing Vandalia, IL .............................. 618-283-4658

Maxson Services Lebanon, IL .............................. 618-624-1173 Mideastern Plumbing Carlyle, IL ................................. 618-594-3299 Midwest Plumbing & Backflow Belleville, IL .............................. 618-407-0362 Murphy Company St. Louis, MO............................ 314-997-6600 P & N Plumbing, LLC Edwardsville, IL ........................ 618-616-2423 Phil's Plumbing Service Collinsville, IL ........................... 618-567-0999 Ponce & Nenninger Plumbing Edwardsville, IL ........................ 618-779-4862 Suever Plumbing Pocahontas, IL ......................... 618-675-3059 TEAM Plumbing Edwardsville, IL ........................ 618-578-9841 Vasquez Plumbing New Athens, IL ......................... 618-475-2351 W & J Plumbing St. Jacob, IL.............................. 618-578-1572

ROOFING D.E. Martin Roofing Lebanon, IL .............................. 618-537-6101 Geissler Roofing.

Belleville, IL .............................. 618-277-7727 Jim Taylor, Inc. Belleville, IL .............................. 618-233-2424 Lakeside Roofing Collinsville, IL ........................... 618-344-2800 Shay Roofing.

Millstadt, IL ............................... 618-476-3360

TRUCK DEALER Vanguard Truck Centers (Sales and Service) Cahokia, IL 62206

TRUCK SERVICE Dave Schmidt Truck Service, Inc. Belleville, IL .............................. 618-233-1470 Equipment Services Millstadt, IL ............................... 618-476-1846 K & B Truck Repair, Inc. Granite City, IL.......................... 618-797-2076 Patton Service & Repair, LLC Worden, IL White Tank & Trailer Repair, Inc. Belleville, IL .............................. 618-234-6689

CLIP and SAVE Updated 1-23-26

24 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, August 6, 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 Local 313’s Kevin Oelrich retires after 34 years

BEST WISHES to Machinsts Local 313’s Kevin Oelich (center), who retired July 1st. Brother Oelich served on the Local 313 Executive Board for many years, is a 34-year member of Local 313 and worked at Peerless-Premier Appliance Co. in Belleville, Ill. Congratulating Oelrich is Local 313 President Garrett Gerdes (left) and Machinists District 9 Rep. Roy Collins.

– Machinists Local 313 photo

Machinists District 9 will be closed Sept 7 for the holiday.

Directing Business Representative

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

TRACY GARDNER

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

IAM LOCAL 313 MEETINGS WILL BE AT 7:00 PM STARTING IN SEPTEMBER at 2727 N. 89TH STREET CASEYVILLE, IL 62232 on ND 2 TUESDAY EVERY MONTH AT 7:00 PM THEREAFTER 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

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7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

Honor Roll for AUGUST 2026

Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday

1152 1427 2746 1212 108 3468 2737 3086 197 494 3052

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13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

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21.

Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

1187 1466 1487 2578 2616 2639 3130 3109 296 3162

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24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

31.

Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday

3084 164 293 339 2518 376 2460 1017 3397 2177

4th Annual

Charity Golf Tourney

- Supporting the IAM Veterans Service Program hosted by

IAM Progressive Local 41 Contact Mark Grzechowiak Phone: (314) 739-5307

Deadlines Sponsorship: Registration:

Email: iamprogressivelodge41@gmail.com

09/4/26 09/4/26

4 Man Scramble Shotgun Start @ 10 AM Saturday September 12, 2026

Lockhaven Golf Club

10872 Lawrence Keler Dr, Godfrey, IL 62035

Mail checks or venmo Mark Grzechowiak Local 41 ST 12365 St.Charles rock rd Bridgeton, MO 63044

Check-In @ 8:30 AM Lunch, Dinner, Beer Provided Hole Sponsors Available: - $100 on Box - $150 on Box + Green

$10,000 Hole in One Contest

Name: ______________________________________________ Address: ____________________________________________ City: _______________ State: __________ Zip: _____________ Phone: _____________ Email: __________________________ Please make checks payable to: GDA Chapter 9 and return no later than September 11th to:

Local 777 - 12365 St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton, MO 63044 Food & refreshments will be available.

For more information, please contact Local 777 at 314-739-6217 or Local 313 at 618-397-6336

AMR:OPEIU#13