Operating Engineer - Winter 2013

i n t e r n at i o n a l
Operating Engineer
www.iuoe.org • WINTER 2013
Wrath and
Recovery
Operating Engineers
respond in wake of
Superstorm Sandy

2
international operating engineer

i n t e r n at i o n a l
Operating Engineer
Winter 2013 • Volume 156, No. 1
Brian E. Hickey, Editor
Jay Lederer, Managing Editor
08 Our Work: Energy
Threading a gas pipeline under the Hudson River
10 Member Spotlight
Operation Walk Nicaragua: A Reflection of Gratitude
14 Right-to-Work (for less)
What’s at stake as states take aim at unions
16 Wrath and Recovery
Restoring communities in wake of Superstorm Sandy
Departments
05 From the General President
06 Education & Training
12 Politics & Legislation
20 Canadian News
22 HAZMAT
23 Healthcare
24 GEB Minutes
28 In Memorium
[cover] Operating Engineers throughout the Northeastern
United States have been part of recovery efforts in the
wake of Superstorm Sandy.
[photo] Tim Larsen/ NJ Governor’s Office
[left] Local 302 members work to complete the Eva Creek
Wind Farm near Healy, Alaska.
[photo] Joe Ebertsch, Michels Wind Energy
WINTER 2013 3

International Operating Engineer
(ISSN 0020-8159) is published by the:
International Union of
Operating Engineers, AFL-CIO
1125 17 th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Subscription Terms - $5 per year
Change of Address - Requests must
be submitted in writing to the IUOE
Membership Department (address
above). Include your new address,
registration and local union number.
POSTMASTERS – ATTENTION:
Change of address on Form 3579
should be sent to:
International Operating Engineer
Mailing List Dept.
1125 17th St., NW, 3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20036
Publications Mail Agreement No.
40843045
Return undeliverable Canadian
addresses to:
2835 Kew Drive
Windsor, ON N8T3B7
Printed in the U.S.A.
International Union of Operating Engineers
AFL-CIO
general officers
James T. Callahan, General President
Brian E. Hickey, General Secretary-Treasurer
William C. Waggoner, First Vice President
Patrick L. Sink, Second Vice President
Jerry Kalmar, Third Vice President
Russell E. Burns, Fourth Vice President
Rodger Kaminska, Fifth Vice President
James M. Sweeney, Sixth Vice President
Robert T. Heenan, Seventh Vice President
Daniel J. McGraw, Eighth Vice President
Daren Konopaski, Ninth Vice President
Michael Gallagher, Tenth Vice President
Greg Lalevee, Eleventh Vice President
Terrance E. McGowan, Twelfth Vice President
Louis G. Rasetta, Thirteenth Vice President
Mark Maierle, Fourteenth Vice President
trustees
John T. Ahern, Chairman
Kuba J. Brown, Trustee
Bruce Moffatt, Trustee
James T. Kunz, Jr., Trustee
Joseph F. Shanahan, Trustee
engineers action resPonse netWorK
Because elections matter
Make your voice heard • Register for EARN today
www.iuoe.org
4
international operating engineer

From the General President
A look back on the way forward
A new year brings opportunities and challenges
[James T. Callahan]
At the beginning of each New
Year, many of us resolve to make changes
that will improve our lives, whether
it is personally or professionally. These
decisions and the choices we make going
forward benefit from experiences
we have gained. This is also true of our
union. So before looking ahead, let’s
look at what we can take away from the
past year.
In the course of one week last fall,
the Operating Engineers experienced
both tragedy and triumph. On October
29, Superstorm Sandy unleashed a fury
of wind and water upon the Northeastern
United States not seen in my lifetime.
Homes were shattered and communities
decimated. Over 500 fellow
Operating Engineers sustained damage
to homes and vehicles, and many
lost everything.
Despite the overwhelming devastation
and personal loss, thousands of
Operating Engineers mobilized, bringing
their skill and training, to assist
rescue crews and utility workers gain
access to homes and communities cut
off by flood waters and buried beneath
sand and debris. Just as quickly, our
locals reached out to members within
the affected areas offering aid, supplies
and a helping hand.
Last year, the IUOE National Charity
Fund paid out over $1.7 million in
claims resulting from the superstorm
and other natural disasters in the Gulf
Coast region. Our locals and many individual
members stepped up to help,
donating close to $500,000 to the Fund.
Our unity is our strength and together
we will rebuild our homes, our communities
and our states.
About a week later, we were buoyed
by news of a completely different
nature. After weeks and months of
hard work in the political campaign
trenches, IUOE members turned out
to vote in large numbers across the
United States and reelected President
Barack Obama. Member volunteers
and union staff on the ground in key
states were also instrumental in increasing
the number of labor-friendly
lawmakers, from both political parties,
to the House and Senate. By doing so,
we sent a message that we stand for a
strong middle class, better wages, quality
healthcare, safer working conditions
and a stronger voice in the workplace
for all Americans.
Although the campaigns have ended,
the real work is just beginning. We
must remain engaged and hold politicians
at every level accountable. Last
year, labor faced some of its fiercest anti-union
attacks from state legislatures.
Most notably, Indiana and Michigan
passed so called “right-to-work” laws.
Let’s be clear, the term “right-to-work”
is a lie. Under these laws workers lose
rights and no work gets created – they
are a cynical attempt to cripple unions
and dismantle collective bargaining.
These laws drive down wages, on average
14%, which damages the overall
economy.
Backed by well funded, ultra-conservative
groups, “right-to-work” bills
and ballot petitions are being introduced
this year in places like Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Missouri, New Hampshire
and even Ontario, Canada. These
attacks provide a vivid reminder that
our enemies will use every opportunity
to roll back our rights and drive down
wages. The IUOE and our locals are
taking proactive steps and partnering
with allies to engage these attacks head
on. We must bring the fight to them
and we will.
A positive carry over from last year
is the economy, which finally started
to show signs of life as work increased.
We appear to have weathered the worst
of the Great Recession and Operating
Engineers are poised to seize the opportunities
of 2013. Leading economic
indicators point to steady and continued
growth in the construction industry
as many sectors of our economy
– oil, gas, power generation, housing
and manufacturing – anticipate growth
over the coming decade.
A major priority for IUOE will be in
infrastructure investment. The nation’s
highways, bridges and rail systems
have been neglected and underfunded
far too long. Working in a bipartisan
way, we must make the case for a bold
and sustained commitment. President
Obama made multiple attempts in his
first term and has signaled that he will
continue to do so in his second, even
making mention of it his inaugural address.
We will work with the Administration
to make the case that smart and
strategic investments in infrastructure
are needed right now, both to support
jobs in the short term and to build a
productive economy for the long haul.
So it seems that this year’s to-do
list isn’t any shorter or less meaningful
than those in years past. We will continue
to bring the energy, talent and
resources necessary to create and seize
opportunities for IUOE members and
their families throughout the United
States and Canada. We will stand with
our signatory contractors and companies
to increase market share and work
to bring others on board. We will stand
up to those who wish to roll back workers’
rights and drive down wages. In all
these endeavors, let no one question
our resolve to see the job through.
Best wishes for a safe, healthy and
prosperous New Year.
WINTER 2013 5

Education & Training
Youth Helping Youth at
Pittsburgh Job Corps Project
The IUOE Job Corps National Training Fund
has again partnered with a local community organization
for a very positive outcome. Sponsored by IUOE Local 66,
the Pittsburgh Job Corps Center successfully completed
major renovations on a project for Hosanna House, a nonprofit
organization aimed to benefit at-risk families and
individuals located in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania. The
partnership between the organizations created a positive
Sherwood project could not have been completed. He went
on to say that the assisted value of work that the Job Corps
Program has completed in the past two years at Sherwood
totals well over $300,000.00.
Mr. Haynes pointed out that, clearly, the youth of
Wilkinsburg have benefited from the project, but equally
important was that every Job Corps student who participated
in the first year of the Sherwood project went on to become
members of the Local 66 Apprenticeship Program. In
appreciation of the work donated by the Job Corps students,
Mr. Joseph Dixon, (then) lead instructor for the Job Corps
program in Pittsburgh, was presented with the “Angel of
Hope” award for going above
and beyond in making a
difference in the lives of
young people.
The work at Sherwood,
as well as the positive
cooperation between the
Pittsburgh Job Corps Center
and Hosanna House, will
continue in coming years.
Future plans include
improvements to the storm
water management system,
installation of a deck
hockey rink donated by the
Pittsburgh Penguins, removal
of existing tennis courts
and the redesign of a large
parking area.
change for local youth, along with outstanding training for
future operating engineers.
Hosanna House joined with the Pittsburgh Job Corps
Center’s program to create “Sherwood,” a facility open for
youth of all ages, with a goal of helping them discover and
develop their maximum potential in several aspects of
their lives. Job Corps students worked to demolish many
old on-site structures, construct a large retaining wall to
accommodate the building of a new swimming pool, excavate
and grade the pool area and develop an all purpose activity
field. What makes the Sherwood project quite unique is that
youth looking for change through Job Corps helped create a
facility for youth needing a change at Hosanna House.
Mr. Leon Haynes, Director of Hosanna House, reported at
the Ambassador of Hope Gala held in December 2012, that
without the assistance of IUOE Local 66 and Job Corps, the
[top] Pittsburgh Job Corps members construct a retaining wall at
Hosanna House.
[above, l to r] Hosanna House Director Leon Haynes presents
Joseph Dixon with the “Angel of Hope” award. [photos: J. Dixon]
6
international operating engineer

Local 450’s new Union Hall and
Training Center Dedicated
IUOE Local 450 covers a large geographical portion
of South-Central Texas including Houston, San Antonio,
Austin, and Beaumont, and is heavily involved in the Petro-
Chemical and pipeline industries. Early in 2009, Local 450
began an internal re-structuring process under International
supervision. In August of 2010, the Local conducted an
election which ushered in a new administration headed up
by Business Manager Mark Maher.
Part of the re-structuring process included a 300 acre land
purchase for the site of a new union hall and training center.
The new facilities were dedicated in October by General
President Callahan as part of the festivities enjoyed by Local
450 members and their families.
The new administration, facilities and training program
have proven to be a tremendous benefit to the members and
employers and represent a successful transition of returning
control of the Local 450 back to its membership.
Al Bove Elected to OECP Board of Directors
Albert C. Bove has been elected to the OECP Board
of Directors. Mr. Bove currently serves as Executive Vice
President and Chief Operating Officer of AmQuip Crane
Rental LLC headquartered in Trevose, Pennsylvania.
AmQuip Crane Rental is a leading provider of crane rentals
and related services in the United States. With eleven
locations throughout the country, it is one of the nation’s
largest employers of Operating Engineers.
Mr. Bove joined AmQuip in 2010 and has over 40 years of
experience in senior management of crane rental companies.
As the former President and CEO of Maxim Crane Works, he
also has extensive experience in managing large multi-depot
crane facilities.
The OECP is a joint labo¬r-management, non-profit
testing entity that has been certifying crane operators
since 2002. The program is managed by a Board of
Directors representing both the International Union of
Operating Engineers and signatory contractors from
some of the nation’s largest crane rental companies.
To date, the OECP has conducted over 17,000
written examinations and over 12,000 practical
(hands-on) tests for crane operators from all parts of
the United States. In addition, in 2008 the program was
officially recognized by Federal OSHA as meeting OSHA and
ASME (ANSI) requirements for crane operator competency.
The program is only available to IUOE members in good
standing, thereby ensuring that its efforts and resources are
not contributing to the support of non-union operators or
unsigned contractors.
Any member in good standing meeting the program’s
eligibility requirements can participate in OECP testing
anywhere it is scheduled – even if not a member of the local
where the testing is being conducted. There are no out-ofpocket
expenses for IUOE members to participate in OECP
examinations.
WINTER 2013 7

Our Work: Energy
Operating Engineers Thread Mile-Plus-Long Pipeline
Under Hudson River to Expand Natural Gas Supply
Operating engineers joined in a dramatic
maneuver to connect New Jersey and midtown Manhattan
with a 5,400-foot natural gas pipeline 140-feet beneath the
Hudson River.
The connection was a critical piece of Spectra Energy’s
15.5-mile natural gas pipeline extension between Linden, NJ,
through Bayonne, Jersey City and part of offshore Hoboken
to its destination in Manhattan. Portions of the project are
still under construction, which is scheduled for completion
later this year. Spectra Energy (NYSE SE) of Houston, TX,
is replacing and modifying existing facilities in New Jersey,
New York and Connecticut.
“Expanding pipeline capacity is intended to reduce
bottlenecks and fill the demand for clean, reliable energy in
the most densely populated areas of the country,” said John
Rocco, Lead Engineer who works for contractor Henkels and
McCoy.
The Hudson River crossing followed months of
preparation. The length of pipe needed to span the width of
the river required approximately 135 forty-foot sections to
be welded together, x-rayed to verify integrity of each joint,
then doped. Each weld required a minimum of three hours,
according to Rocco.
Five thousand-foot lengths were assembled. A convoy of
15 side-booms transported each thousand-foot section along
busy 18th Street in Jersey City, parallel to the Hudson County
Light Rail line on the border with Hoboken. At the river’s
edge, the pipe was handed off to six lattice cranes positioned
on barges in the river.
Crane operators hoisted the pipe into an arch and
guided it down to the water, where it was connected to the
drillhead that had burrowed across from Manhattan. Once
connected, it was slowly “pulled back” beneath the river. As
each thousand-foot section was pulled in, a new section was
[L to R] Fred Gear, Adam Snover, Billy
Gebhardt, John Rocco, Greg Lalevee
and Paul Izzo.
8
international operating engineer

It took 15 sidebooms, six cranes, a flotilla of tugboats and
barges and an army of Operating Engineers from 13 IUOE locals
throughout the country. Together, they snaked a mile-plus-long
Spectra Energy natural gas pipeline safely across the bottom of the
Hudson River, from Jersey City to midtown Manhattan.
welded to it at the river’s edge until the entire 5,400 feet was
together. The pullback reached the Manhattan side over a
two-day period and was connected there.
“This achievement is a testament to the value of the
extensive pipeline training we provide our members through
our Local and through our International,” said Greg Lalevee,
Business Manager of IUOE Local 825.
“One day before the pullback was scheduled, we were
asked to assemble an additional 36 engineers to take part,”
said Lalevee. “Even on that short notice, we brought together
an experienced team and integrated them seamlessly into
the core group. In the busiest, most densely populated areas
of the country, we executed this task flawlessly, safely and on
schedule.”
IUOE Operating Engineers from around the country
participated, including Local 3 of Alameda, CA; Local 4 of
Medway, MA; Locals 14 and 15 of New York City; Local 49 of
Minneapolis, MN; Local 101 of Kansas City, MO; Local 137 of
Briarcliff Manor, NY; Local 139 of Pewaukee, WI; Local 147 of
Norfolk, VA; Local 178 of Fort Worth, TX; Local 624 of Jackson,
MS; Local 627 of Tulsa, OK; and Local 965 of Springfield, IL.
The project was approved by the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC) earlier in 2012 to transport
new, critically needed natural gas supplies to high-demand
areas of northern New Jersey, New York City and Connecticut.
Local 825 has become known for its pipeline skills and
experience during the Millennium pipeline in 2007, which
connected Independence in Steuben County, NY, to Buena
Vista in Rockland County, NY, to help meet the energy needs
of Northeast markets.
[story & photos] Local 825/Bill Carlos, Avow Communications
WINTER 2013 9

Member Spotlight
In October 2012, around 60 medical professionals from Winnipeg and Los Angeles traveled to
Nicaragua with Operation Walk, an organization that offers knee and hip replacements free of
charge to people in North America and in developing nations. Clinical Engineering Technologist
and IUOE Local 987 member Tabatha Roper was there. This is her personal account.
Operation Walk Nicaragua
A Reflection of Gratitude
[above] Tabatha Roper (back row, fifth from right) stands with the Operation Walk Nicaragua team in front of Dr. Roberto Calderon hospital
in Managua, Nicaragua. [right] A makeshift wheel chair. [far right] Roper gets instruction from a member of Operation Walk Los Angeles
on how to operate a sterilizer. [story & photos] Tabatha Roper/IUOE Local 987
10
international operating engineer

As I stood in front of the Dr. Roberto Calderon Hospital
in Managua, Nicaragua, I couldn’t help but compare it with
the medical facilities in my home town of Winnipeg, Canada.
The one-story, green plaster building was much smaller than
any of the community hospitals we have. It had many of the
same departments as a North American facility, only in a
fraction of the space. A room that would normally house four
patients housed eight. There were no linens or pillows on the
beds unless the patients brought them from home. Many
patients lay on bare mattresses, and visitors brought in their
own lawn chairs labelled with their names. There was also
no air conditioning on the wards and, with temperatures in
the mid to high 30sC (90sF), it made for a very different work
environment.
Still, the ingenuity they demonstrate
is impressive, especially the wheelchairs
fashioned out of plastic lawn furniture.
This was true back-to-basics medicine.
Some of the people seeking treatment are in far worse
shape than we’d ever see in Canada, because they’re
conditions had gone untreated for so long. Some had to
be helped in by family members, and some of them hadn’t
walked in years. They were very polite and grateful for the
treatment they were about to receive.
A lot of the equipment is ancient. Some of the adjustable
patient beds are rusted or seized into a permanent position. In
most cases, the medical gear we discard or retire in Winnipeg
is in better shape. Still, the ingenuity they demonstrate is
impressive, especially the wheelchairs fashioned out of
plastic lawn furniture. This was true back-to-basics medicine.
There was one patient who had been unable to walk for the
last ten years. He was so excited to be mobile again that, two
days after surgery, the physiotherapists had to remind him
to slow down while walking down the hall during exercises.
All in all it was hard work, but absolutely worth it. Over
the course of five days in October, the team performed 49
knee replacement surgeries on 38 patients. All the patients
spoke about what we gave them, but in the end it was
immeasurable what they gave to us. I feel so grateful to have
been a part of this experience.
Operation Walk Missions are 100% funded by the
generosity of donors to the cause. On behalf of Operation
Walk Winnipeg, Dr. Roberto Calderon Hospital and the
patients, I would like to express my most heartfelt thanks.
Your donations have done wonders. I would also like to
thank IUOE Local 987 for their generous gift to this mission.
Thanks to all who gave and participated!
WINTER 2013 11

Politics & Legislation
Election Season Comes to a Close, Now the Work Begins
Barack Obama was sworn in
for a second term as President of the
United States on January 21, 2013, after
winning the November election with
over 51% of the popular vote. He is the
only President to garner over 50% twice
since Dwight D. Eisenhower. Obama’s
opponent, Mitt Romney, received 47%
of the popular vote.
Despite persistent high
unemployment and a sluggish
economic recovery from the Great
Recession, President Obama won
a commanding Electoral College
victory, 332-206. The Obama-Biden
ticket surprised many observers
by soundly defeating Mitt Romney
and his Republican running mate,
Representative Paul Ryan.
The IUOE endorsed the Obama-
Biden ticket for re-election. The
President’s support for prevailing
wages, collective bargaining and
workers’ rights, as well as investing in
all facets of America’s infrastructure,
led to that support. Commenting on
the union’s endorsement, General
President Callahan said, “We have
never doubted the President’s
commitment to creating good jobs.”
Mitt Romney also helped make it
a clear choice. As Romney received
the endorsement of the intensely
anti-union Associated Builders and
Contractors, he declared that on “day
one” he would prohibit Project Labor
Agreements, try to end Davis-Bacon
prevailing wages, and lead the charge
for a national “right to work” law. The
contrast could not have been sharper
on key bread-and-butter issues for
Operating Engineers. While the IUOE
has a number of solid Republican
supporters in Congress, far too many
Republicans think like Mitt Romney
when it comes to core labor issues.
In other federal elections,
Democrats added seats in both
chambers of Congress. Senate
Democrats picked up two additional
seats, creating a 55-45 majority. While
Republicans maintained their majority
in the House of Representatives,
Democrats added eight seats, making
it 234-201, after vacancies are filled.
The challenge now becomes
keeping our elected officials
accountable, including the President
of the United States. “Electing IUOEfriendly
politicians to office simply is
not enough. We need to be vigilant
throughout the year, developing
relationships and making our voices
heard from the halls of Congress to
city halls,” stated General President
Callahan.
The Legislative Year Ahead
The 113th Congress (2013-2014)
will have a full agenda of IUOE
legislative priorities. After passage of
a 27-month highway bill in summer
2012, Congress will again be faced with
enactment of a long-term funding bill
for transportation. The current law,
called Moving Ahead for Progress in
the 21st Century or MAP-21, expires at
the end of September 2014.
The Highway Trust Fund – the lock
box for federal gas-tax revenue, which
must be invested in the nation’s roads,
bridges, and transit systems – is quickly
running out of money due to increased
fuel efficiency and the growth in
alternative-fuel vehicles. Finding
a long-term solution to the United
States’ transportation infrastructure
crisis is absolutely necessary. The
Highway Trust Fund will begin the
2014 fiscal year in a $14-billion hole.
12
international operating engineer

The competitiveness of the nation and
the livelihoods of Operating Engineers
simply cannot sustain a cut to this
program.
Other legislation to rebuild
America’s infrastructure will also be
on the congressional agenda. The
Water Resources Development Act
– legislation that guides the nation’s
investment in ports and waterways –
also requires reauthorization. In fact,
it is years overdue. Committee leaders
in the Senate appear ready to advance
legislation early in the first session of
Congress, though substantial obstacles
remain. The law to renew the federal
government’s program to assist local
governments in financing water and
sewer systems is 15 years overdue.
The Clean Water Act-State Revolving
Fund provides low-interest loans and
other assistance to municipalities, but
Congress has failed to renew the law
since the late ‘80s, except on a stop-gap
basis.
2012 Political Program:
Building Power for Operating Engineers
Thousands of Operating
Engineers across the United States
engaged in the hard work of electing
IUOE-friendly politicians, whether
they were Republicans or Democrats,
to city councils, state legislatures,
Congress, and the White House. IUOE
members turned out to vote in record
numbers. In addition, thousands of
IUOE members knocked on doors,
made phone calls, passed out literature,
and talked with their friends, family
members, and co-workers about the
issues that matter most to Operating
Engineers and the middle class.
“I couldn’t be more proud of
the work that Operating Engineers
did in 2012 to elect worker-friendly
politicians,” said General President
Callahan. “Winning elections is not
all fun and games. It’s a lot of hard
work, and the job of building power for
Operating Engineers is never done.”
Coordinating closely with local
unions, the International Union
focused its field efforts on tough U.S.
Senate races and other key electoral
fights in four states. International
field staff joined local unions’
political operations in Massachusetts,
Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin.
The IUOE-endorsed Senate
candidate won in three out of four races.
The United States Senate welcomed
Tammy Baldwin from Wisconsin and
Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.
Senator Debbie Stabenow, of Michigan,
also won reelection to her third
term. Unfortunately, IUOE supporter
Shelley Berkley lost her effort to unseat
incumbent Senator Dean Heller in
Nevada.
[p. 14, top] President Obama, Vice President
Biden and their families celebrate on
election night. [photo] AP/Chris Carlson
[p. 14, left] Local 4 Business Manager and
International Vice President Louis Rasetta
and newly elected Sen. Elizabeth Warren
(D-MA). [photo] IUOE Local 4
[top] Using his GPS, Local 3 retiree Joel
Lanstra gets ready to drop fliers on
doorsteps for Obama in Nevada.
[photo] IUOE Local 3
[above] Local 3 members demonstrate
their opposition to California’s Proposition
32. [photo] IUOE Local 3
WINTER 2013 13

Politics & Legislation
Michigan’s “Right-to-Work” Law Confers No Rights and Creates No Work
Right-to-work laws confer no
rights and create no work — they’re
an attempt by employers and the
politicians they bankroll to keep
workers unorganized, unrepresented
and underpaid.
Nevertheless, the lame-duck
Republican legislature in Michigan
recently passed a so-called right-towork
law, which was instantly signed
by the governor. Here’s why that was
a big mistake for Michigan’s
workers and economy.
Right-to-work proponents
claim to be fighting “forced
unionism.” But under current
federal law, no worker is
required to join a labor union.
That same federal law,
however, requires unions to
represent everyone at a given
workplace — member or not —
in contract negotiations and in
settling work-related problems
with employers.
Since it’s obviously not
fair for dues-paying union
members to pick up the tab for
services provided to nonunion
members, nonmembers are
sometimes charged a service,
or “agency,” fee. None of the
money collected in agency fees
can be used for political, social
or any other activities besides
employment representation.
So in reality right-to-work
is “right-to-freeload” — to get
a very valuable service, union
representation, without paying for it.
As proof, consider that as labor
has declined in influence in the past
few decades under fierce attack by
big money interests, we’ve seen the
progress of the middle class stalled and
the nation’s wealth gap widen.
But because unions still do a
good enough job of making sure the
economy works for their middle-class
members, the economic elite would
like them completely destroyed. Rightto-work
is their favored tool.
And it’s effective. After all, if workers
can get free union services under rightto-work
laws, why would anyone pay
dues? As dues decline, so does the
strength of the union, until it finally
disappears.
Believers in the free market should
be offended by right-to-work laws.
They interpose the power of the state
between the employer and the union
by forbidding them to freely enter
into an agreement on the kind of
“union security clause” that creates
the nonmember agency fee. In other
words, it makes it illegal for the
agreement to require employees to pay
their fair share of representation.
Proponents of right-to-work laws
argue that enactment will lead to
economic growth through a more
business-friendly environment. Study
after study has found this claim to be
untrue.
For example, a 2011 study by Gordon
Lafer of the University of Oregon and
Sylvia Allegretto of the University of
California at Berkeley found
that right-to-work laws have not
positively impacted job growth.
One part of the study
examined the economic climate
in Oklahoma after the 2001
passage of right-to-work. The
study found that unemployment
had doubled in Oklahoma
since enactment and that new
business arrivals had actually
declined.
The study also found that
the lower wages and economic
insecurity of workers in right-towork
states could make business
less inclined to relocate because
of declining tax revenues and
consumer demand.
Studies like this and a simple
comparison of employment
rates and wages between rightto-work
states and non-rightto-work
states makes it fairly
certain that Michigan will not
reap any economic rewards
from the new law.
Instead, it represents a step
backward that the state cannot afford.
Until we and our elected officials come
to grips with the fact that a race-tothe-bottom
has no winners, workers
and the economy will continue to
suffer from the short-sightedness of the
misnamed “right-to-work” movement.
[article] Don Kusler, Executive Director of
Americans for Democratic Action.
Reprinted with permission.
14
international operating engineer

Local 18 Ramps Up the Fight Against Anti-Labor Legislation
Last year, a Tea Party affiliated
group filed a constitutional language
amendment to make Ohio a so called
“Right-to-Work” (RTW) state. The
petition language was approved by the
Attorney General and the amendment
was named the “Workplace Freedom
Act.” The amendment seeks to prohibit
union security clauses in collective
bargaining agreements in both public
and private labor agreements.
In light of these developments,
Local 18 has taken action on several
fronts. They have beefed up the RTW
portion of the Labor History classes
the local has sponsored since 1994.
In addition, they have opened up the
classes to non-members, bringing
the message of RTW and its financial
impact to workers across the United
States to as many working people as
possible.
The local has also been working
with other union allies and invested
in polling and focus groups to gain a
better understanding of the public’s
view on labor unions and RTW. The
results were eye opening and the
local promptly began a statewide
educational campaign on the issue.
The most visible aspect of the
campaign are billboard messages
across the state which brand the
Workplace Freedom Act as dangerous
for Ohio workers. Deemed somewhat
controversial, they garnered attention
in newspapers and on local broadcast
news stations when the billboards
first went up. But that exposure has
been another way to “spread the word
on the dangers of right-to-work to a
broader audience,” according to Local
18 Business Manager and International
Vice President Patrick Sink.
“ B i g
business has
stripped this
country of
good jobs by
outsourcing
to cheap labor
nations. Now
they want to
strip American
workers of
their ability to
have strong
unions, which
will weaken
collective
bargaining.
The attitudes and expectations of big
business are taken from the business
blueprints of the late 1800’s,” Sink said.
The local has also launched a
website and is using social media and
internet ads to get the word out. (see
www.protectohiosmiddleclass.org)
Financial support for these
initiatives is coming from several
sources. “After consulting with
General President Callahan, we have
garnered his support and assistance
to “educate the voters.” In addition,
our membership overwhelmingly
approved a dues increase to begin
January 1 of this year and which is
earmarked specifically to fund this
effort,” Sink reported. “We are also
working closely with the AFL-CIO and
“We Are Ohio” groups for statewide
education.”
The goal is to continue educating
union members, their families and the
general public so that if the “Workplace
Freedom Act” appears on the ballot in
Ohio, it will be soundly defeated.
WINTER 2013 15

16
international operating engineer

Feature
Wrath and Recovery
Operating Engineers Lead Efforts to Restore Communities Hit by Superstorm
Three months after Superstorm Sandy slammed
into the Northeastern United States, many coastal
communities in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut are
still without power, water or natural gas. The magnitude of
the storm is stunning – over 150 lives lost, over $60 billion in
damage, and thousands still unable to return to their homes.
The National Hurricane Center now says tropical force
winds extended 820 miles at their widest. Sandy’s pure kinetic
energy for storm surge and wave “destruction potential”
reached a 5.8 on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration’s 0 to 6 scale, the highest ever measured.
Operating Engineers have also been picking up the pieces,
both personally and professionally. “While all of us were
touched in some way by the storm and its aftermath, about
50 of our members suffered devastating damage to their
homes as a result of flooding, wind and fallen trees. Many
of these brothers and sisters are still assessing the impact
and deciding whether to rebuild or move on,” says Local 825
Business Manager and International Vice President Greg
Lalevee.
Despite their personal hardship, IUOE members from
hard hit areas and beyond answered the call. Within hours
of the storm’s passing, heavy equipment operators took
the lead, digging through deep sand and debris, so that
rescue workers and utility crews could reach residents and
communities stricken by the storm.
The work has transitioned now, from emergency response
to recovery, but the need for skilled Operating Engineers has
only grown. Millions of tons of debris must still be cleared
and crews are busy fortifying sand dunes and replenishing
beaches to protect coastal communities from future weather
events.
Members Helping Members
Operating Engineers were also quick to respond to their
brothers and sisters in need. The IUOE National Charity
Fund received close to $500,000 in donations from locals
and individual members in the weeks immediately after the
storm. To date, the Fund has paid out more than $1.5 million
to more than 500 IUOE members who suffered storm related
damages.
“It was heartening to see Local 30’s tradition of members
helping members continue, and as always, our great
International was there immediately to help,” said Local 30
Business Manager and International Trustee Jack Ahern.
The first of the National Charity Fund checks for Local 30
members were handed out by Mr. Ahern in early November,
and since then Local 30 members have received 67 checks
from the Fund. Mr. Ahern expressed his heartfelt thanks to
General President Callahan and the IUOE General Executive
Board for their quick response and unwavering support in
the face of this natural disaster.
Federal Relief Package Finally Approved
On January 28, a staggering 91 days after Superstorm
Sandy struck, the Senate passed, on a vote of 62-36, federal
[left] A familiar scene throughout the storm ravaged region.
Operating engineers have been working steadily to remove storm
debris since late October. [photo] AP/Kathy Willens
[right] Flood waters surged through lower Manhattan, inundating
the World Trade Center construction site. [photo] AP/John
Minchillo
WINTER 2013 17

18
international operating engineer

legislation authorizing badly needed funding for recovery
efforts. All 36 votes against the measure were Republicans.
The House of Representatives had already passed the
measure, H.R. 152, two weeks earlier by a margin of 241-180.
Unfortunately, 179 Republicans saw fit to vote against the
legislation to rebuild major sections of New Jersey, New York,
and Connecticut, home to one in every six Americans. The
Senate passage of the bill sent the long-awaited measure to
President Obama’s desk, where he quickly signed it into law.
Calling on Congress to pass the legislation, General
President Callahan said, “No region in the country is immune
to disaster…What is clear now is that the nation must come
together to assist the region. There is no time for delay.”
The package included over $50 billion in resources to aid
people whose homes were damaged or destroyed, as well as
to business owners who had heavy losses. It will also pay for
replenishing shorelines, repairing subway and commuter
rail systems, fixing bridges and tunnels, and reimbursing
local governments for other emergency spending. These
resources are in addition to $9.7 billion Congress had already
approved for FEMA’s Flood Insurance Program.
[left] High storm surge and heavy wave action washed away homes
and carved a channel from the ocean to the bay, cutting the town
of Mantoloking, NJ in half. A week later, Operating Engineers from
Local 825 had reconnected the island and opened access to rescue
workers and utility crews. [photo] AP/Doug Mills; AP, Mel Evans
[above] With NJ Governor Chris Christie looking on, Local 825
member Warren Kuhlthau operates the piledriver kicking off
reconstruction of the boardwalk in Belmar, NJ. [photo] Tim Larsen/
NJ Governor’s Office
[right] Local 30 Business Manager and International Trustee Jack
Ahern (center) hands out some of the first checks to members from
the IUOE National Charity Fund. [photo] IUOE Local 30
fall 2012
19

Canadian News
Local 904, Province Invest $700,000 in crane Operator Training
The Newfoundland and
Labrador department of Advanced
Education and Skills announced it will
invest more than $490,000 towards a
tower crane operator training program
at the Operating Engineers College
in Holyrood, 45 kilometres west of St.
John’s, intended to train workers for
offshore oil projects.
“A total investment of over $700,000
is being allocated
for this program,
provided through
the Provincial
Government, the
Operating Engineers
College and the
International
Union of Operating
Engineers, Local 904,”
the province stated in
a press release.
“There’s a
shortage mobile
crane operators
and a shortage
of tower crane
persons, not only in
Newfoundland but
across Canada. Now
we’re bringing them
in from across the United States,” said
president and business manager of the
Operating Engineers, Local 904, Roy
Hawco.
Touted by the province as a
program that will help workers gain
qualifications to work on ExxonMobil
Canada’s Hebron offshore oil project,
the program will include three 12-week
training sessions. Students will be able
to use a computerized simulator and
a 16-tonne tower crane, the province
stated.
Enrolled operators can get the
Red Seal certification required by
contractors for work on the Hebron
construction project. “The Tower
Crane Operator Training Program
will assist individuals in acquiring the
qualifications needed to work on the
Hebron construction site or any other
project within Newfoundland and
Labrador.”
‘We have apprentices but they aren’t
Red Seal certified yet,” said Hawco.
The tower crane training program
at the Operating Engineers College will
be the only one in the province tailored
towards training Red Seal tower crane
operators.
The Operating Engineers College
trained 48 tower crane operators for the
Hibernia project in the 1980s, which
has been producing oil since 1997.
IUOE Local 904 represents about 1,800
workers in the province.
The Hebron gravity-based structure
project will build an offshore oil
platform off the coast of St Johns, on the
island of Newfoundland, by 2017.
Local 793 Supports
Medical Research
Local 793 recently donated
$102,000 to the Toronto General &
Western Hospital Foundation. The
money will be used for research into
esophageal cancer. (L to R) Dr. Gail
Darling, director of thoracic surgery
clinical research at University Health
Network, accepted the cheque from
Local 793 business manager Mike
Gallagher and president Joe Redshaw.
The money was raised at the Gary
O’Neill Memorial Golf Tournament
held in summer 2011. The tournament
is named in honour of Gary O’Neill, late
president of Local 793.
20
international operating engineer

Protecting Canadian Workers’ Rights, Local 115 Challenges
Federal Government
IUOE Local 115, in partnership
with the Building Trades of British
Columbia, has been in the media
spotlight nationally since early
November 2012 due to the high-profile
challenge of the Canadian Federal
Government’s Temporary Foreign
Worker (TFW) Program.
Local 115 was prompted to
commence legal action when a company
called HD Mining (HD) was granted
TFW permits allowing it to conduct a
100,000-tonne coal sampling, using 201
workers brought in from China. “It was
an unacceptable situation,” explained
Business Manager Brian Cochrane.
“We had qualified members on Local
115’s dispatch lists and out of work
members of our sister locals throughout
Canada and the USA ready to assist
with the exploration in Murray River.
It was clear that HD hadn’t made a
legitimate attempt to recruit Canadian
workers first which is a requirement of
the Federal Governments Temporary
Foreign Worker program.”
The Canadian Federal Government
and HD Mining fought every step of
the way in court, resulting in numerous
pieces of litigation, from not only
the Federal Government, but from
HD and its shareholders as well. HD
threatened at one point to close down
other resource extraction projects in the
Murray River region, which they quickly
retracted.
Local 115’s campaign has not been
an easy one. After first winning the right
to apply for a judicial review based on
considerations of public interest, Local
115 went on to win again in court to
obtain access to hundreds of documents
related to the approval of the Murray
River permits. In early January, when
key information was withheld by HD,
and the government argued that it was
unable to compel the firm to produce
the missing data, the local forced full
disclosure by filing a contempt of court
application against Canadian Human
Resources Minister Diane Finley. Again
Federal Court ruled in favor of Local 115,
stating the government must continue
to obtain the documents from HD.
In mid-January, HD finally complied
with the Court order and turned over
the 315 resumes of Canadians who
responded to their job ads. Although
HD Mining claimed there were no
Canadian applicants qualified to do this
work, the evidence from the resumes
clearly shows that was not factual.
Within days after releasing the
resumes as a part of the court order,
HD Mining announced it was going
to send the Chinese workers that had
already arrived in Canada back home
to China. Local 115 has now filed an
additional submission to the courts
after reviewing the resumes of the
people who had applied for these jobs.
“There were people who applied that
had over 30 years’ experience and why
they were deemed unqualified by HD
Mining is completely absurd,” said
Business Manager Cochrane in several
interviews with the media.
The real issue is the Temporary
Foreign Worker Program: it’s a broken
system in urgent need of reform. Until
the TFW program is changed to be both
more effective and more transparent,
these kinds of abuses will continue. The
good news is that this story has garnered
national attention and overwhelming
positive support, and that puts pressure
on the federal government to set up
an independent review. The Local
wants to try and find a better solution
to protect Canadian jobs and provide
opportunities for IUOE members from
the United States when they become
available.
This campaign is not over, and there
are more legal battles on the forefront,
but taking on this challenge successfully
has brought the importance of unions
back into the national spotlight.
WINTER 2013 21

HAZMAT
Revised HAZARD COMMUNICATION Standard
OSHA published the final rule for the revised Hazard
Communication Standard on March 26, 2012. The changes
to the Hazard Communication standard include the long
anticipated move toward the Globally Harmonized System
(GHS) of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. There
are three major changes to the Hazard Communication
Standard:
1. Hazard Classification: The definitions of hazards
have been changed to provide specific criteria for
classification of health and physical hazards, as well as
classification of mixtures. These specific criteria will
help to ensure that evaluations of hazardous effects are
consistent across manufacturers, making labels and
safety data sheets more accurate as a result.
2. Labels: Chemical manufacturers and importers will
be required to provide a label that includes a harmonized
signal word, pictogram, and hazard statement for each
hazard class and category. Precautionary statements
must also be provided.
3. Safety Data Sheets: The Safety Data Sheet will
replace the familiar Material Safety Data Sheet and will
now have a consistent 16-section format.
The new rule will have a phase-in period given that it is
such a widespread change. The table below summarizes
the phase-in dates required by the revised Hazard
Communication Standard:
The Hazard Communication standard of 1993 was referred
to as your right to know. The Hazard Communication standard
of 2012 is being referred to as your right to understand. The
system of hazard classifications communicated through the
revised labels, pictograms, signal words, hazard statements
and safety data sheets will provide workers with the tools
necessary to protect themselves on their jobsites.
The IUOE NTF National HAZMAT Program will provide
material and assistance to local unions and local union
instructors to meet the training requirements in the revised
Hazard Communication standard. IUOE trainers and
personnel are encouraged to order and review the new
material. If you have questions please contact us at (304)
253-8674 or hazmat@iuoehazmat.org.
Effective Completion Date Requirement(s) Who is Responsible
December 1, 2013
Train employees on the new label elements Employers
and safety data sheet (SDS) format.
June 1, 2015*
December 1, 2015
June 1, 2016
Transition Period to the effective
completion dates noted
above
Compliance with all modified provisions of
this final rule, except:
The Distributor shall not ship containers
labeled by the chemical manufacturer or
importer unless it is a GHS label.
Update alternative workplace labeling and
hazard communication program as necessary,
and provide additional employee training
for newly identified physical or health
hazards.
May comply with either 29 CFR 1910.1200
(the final standard), or the current standard,
or both
Chemical manufacturers, importers,
distributors and employers
Employers
Chemical manufacturers, importers,
distributors, and employers
*This date coincides with the European Union (EU) implementation date for classification of mixtures.
22
international operating engineer

Healthcare
Good Nutrition and Weight Loss:
Key to Longevity on the Job and Beyond
As Operating Engineers we work a
lifetime of long, physically demanding hours
often in remote locations away from home. With
this lifestyle we work up a strong appetite that is
too often satisfied by supersizing our burgers,
fries, sodas or adult beverages at the nearest
fast food joint or watering hole. We don’t eat
properly, we don’t have the energy or time to
exercise properly and getting a decent night of
sleep can be a challenge. In other words, we
work hard, we play hard and we eat and drink
too much.
Early in our careers we can seemingly get
away with theses routines, but as we age and
our systems start their inevitable slowdown
our once buff, hard bodies start to soften. The
calories we are accustomed to consuming and
burning off are now expanding our waistlines
and adding extra pounds to our frames.
Unfortunately, this added weight not only makes it increasingly difficult to fit into that old varsity jacket, it also results
in the development of a number of chronic conditions, too numerous to list here, that will impact your life financially and
qualitatively as well as the lives of those loved ones in your family.
For many of us these habits are very hard to change, but if you want to be around for the long haul and enjoy that well deserved
pension, make the effort. A comprehensive set of resources that will aid you in making these difficult lifestyle decisions can be
found online at www.nutrition.gov under the Nutrition and Health Issues section. So what do you say, give it a try!
HAZMAT continued
National HAZMAT Program 2013 Trainer Course Schedule
The 2013 Trainer
Courses are designed to
meet instructors’ needs,
maintain instructor credentials,
and expand the
instructors’ skills and
knowledge to meet the
changing requirements
of the local unions’ membership.
A
four-hour
(HAZCOM) Globally Harmonized
System (GHS)
course has been added
to all trainer courses this
year, with the exception of
the OSHA 510 course.
2013 Dates* Trainer CouRSE # of Days
Apr 8-12 rigging and Signaling Safety Trainer; GHS 4.5 days
May 14-17 OSHA 3110 Fall Arrest Systems; GHS 3.5 days
Jun 3-13 HAZWOPER Train-the-Trainer; GHS 10 days w/ 1 day break
Aug 14-17 OSHA 510 Construction Industry Standards 3.5 days
Aug 19-22 OSHA 500 Construction Industry Trainer; GHS 4 days
Sep 10-12 OSHA 502 Construction Industry Update; GHS 3 days
Sep 16-19 OSHA 2264 Confined Space Trainer; GHS 4 days
Sep 17-19 MSHA Train-the-Trainer; GHS 3 days
Oct 7-8 oSHA 5602 Disaster Site Worker Update; GHS 1.5 days
Oct 7-10 oSHA 5600 Disaster Site Worker Trainer; GHS 4 days
Oct 21-24 OSHA 521 Industrial Hygiene/Monitoring; GHS 4 days
*Dates and courses are subject to change.
WINTER 2013 23

ENJOY •
International Union of Operating Engineers
1125 17 th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
NON PROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE
PAID
KELLY PRESS, INC.
Printed in the U.S.A.
•
SAVINGS
SERVICE
ONE OF
IT
SOLIDARIT Y
•
40
PLUS
BENEFITS
FROM UNION PLUS
UNION
RSAVINGS • SERVICE • SOLIDA
SAVE
15%
on AT&T
Wireless Services
We know you work hard for your money. That’s why we’ve
created 40 programs to help you get more out of life. Your
AT&T benefits include:
● 15% off monthly service charges for most cell phone and
data plans
● $100 new smartphone rebate when you use your Union Plus Credit Card
and up to $100 more towards the cost of moving your service from another
carrier to AT&T
● SPECIAL OFFERS on AT&T cell phones and accessories
● AT&T the only wireless company that is “Proud to Be Union!”
If you visit your local AT&T
store use discount FAN #
3508840
UnionPlus.org/ATT
*All program plans for new and existing customers require a new two-year contract. This offer cannot be combined with any other
discounts. The 15% Union Plus AT&T wireless discount is not available on the non-3G iPhone, additional lines for family plans,
unlimited plans and Unity plans. Data services on secondary lines are not discounted.
**Union members can purchase the 3G and 3Gs iPhone at regular price and receive the 15% AT&T Wireless Union Plus discount off
the AT&T wireless service plan. NOTE: There will be no discount for service using the original iPhone.
01/13
24 international operating engineer