International Operating Engineer - Spring 2018

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
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be submitted in writing to the IUOE
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above). Include your new address,
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International Union of Operating Engineers
AFL-CIO
general officers
James T. Callahan, General President
Brian E. Hickey, General Secretary-Treasurer
Jerry Kalmar, First Vice President
Russell E. Burns, Second Vice President
James M. Sweeney, Third Vice President
Robert T. Heenan, Fourth Vice President
Daniel J. McGraw, Fifth Vice President
Daren Konopaski, Sixth Vice President
Michael Gallagher, Seventh Vice President
Greg Lalevee, Eighth Vice President
Terrance E. McGowan, Ninth Vice President
Mark Maierle, Tenth Vice President
Randy Griffin, Eleventh Vice President
Douglas W. Stockwell, Twelfth Vice President
Ronald J. Sikorski, Thirteenth Vice President
James T. Kunz, Jr., Fourteenth Vice President
Got Big
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trustees
Kuba J. Brown, Chairman
Edward J. Curly, Trustee
Brian Cochrane, Trustee
William Lynn, Trustee
Joshua VanDyke, Trustee
International Operating Engineer
appreciates the stories and
photos we receive from
local affiliates throughout
North America. Send us your
submissions or ideas for stories
you would like us to consider.
Send your submissions, plus
photos (digital images are
preferred), to Jay Lederer
at jlederer@iuoe.org, or mail
1125 Seventeenth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C., 20036
From the General President
I WAS HONORED to receive the
unanimous support of the delegates to
the 39th General Convention to serve
as General President for another term.
The delegates in attendance—over 600
strong—took to heart our theme “The
Future Is Now,” and conducted the
important work of charting a successful
course for our union heading into the
future.
As I reported to the delegates, we are
on very solid ground throughout the
International. Over the last five years,
our union has worked hard to dig out
of the economic recession that gripped
North America and concentrate on job
creation.
The improving economy and
increasing demand for skilled
Operating Engineers are creating
opportunities to capture an even
greater market share. The work outlook
is strong and our training programs are
brimming with new talent.
A core element of our future is
training new Operating Engineers.
To cement that commitment for
generations to come, we recently
opened the International Training and
Conference Center, a state-of-the-art
facility built on 237 acres just outside
of Houston, Texas. A blue-ribbon
panel of Local Training Coordinators
and IUOE staff from across the United
States and Canada worked to plan and
develop a training facility designed to
meet the needs of our members and
our industry.
The training center includes
classroom, conference and
administrative buildings, mechanics
shop, central plant, a 227-room
dormitory and on-site meal services.
Hands-on training using the latest
equipment for pipeline training,
crane training, and heavy equipment
operations are conducted on the
outdoor acreage. Inside the physical
plant, built in redundancy for key
aspects of the facility’s systems allow
Stationary Engineers to have hands-on
training in real world conditions.
The National Training Fund (NTF)
continues its mission to narrow the
gaps in training capacity between
Locals and promote consistency in
skill standards across the International.
The NTF focuses on supporting Local
training efforts and receives Local
Union input on a continuing basis to
help address training needs. Each year,
the IUOE invests over $180 million
in training, with local unions and
signatory employers sponsoring 100
independent training programs in the
U.S. and Canada.
Since the last convention, Operating
Engineers across North America have
raised the political profile of the union
in the halls of Congress, Parliament,
State and Provincial Capitals, and local
governments. Our union maintains a
nonpartisan, common-sense approach
to politics in all these contexts.
Operating Engineers are battling in the
political trenches to improve wages,
pension security, and health-care
coverage for all IUOE members.
Each year, multiple attempts to
repeal Davis-Bacon prevailing wages
are put forward in Congress and every
time the IUOE and its allies have
defeated it.
However, 28 states now have socalled
“Right-to-Work” laws on the
books. A major campaign is underway
in Missouri to repeal its recent passage
of the legislation. We helped secure a
record number of signatures to put right
to work on the ballot later this year. We
will marshal our forces, mobilize and
win for our members there and across
the country.
The attacks on our collective
bargaining rights and prevailing wage
standards is a serious threat. We won’t
reverse the damage in one election or
one legislative session. But I pledge to
stand and fight these forces; and little
by little, we will stop this race to the
bottom.
[James T. Callahan]
Organizing remains a top
priority of the International, and we
remain committed to increasing our
membership and our strength at the
bargaining table. The number of Local
Union Grant Organizers has increased
dramatically, and we created the
position of International Organizer.
Strategic researchers have also been
added in the regional offices and in
Canada.
Shortly after the last convention,
we made some changes to strengthen
our efforts to protect our hoisting and
portable craft jurisdiction. Training
materials about protecting our
jurisdiction and resolving disputes
were developed. To date, over 30 H&P
local unions have hosted the training
and over 270 business managers,
business agents, organizers and legal
staff have attended.
Finally, I want to say a word about
our finances and retirement funds. The
International and the various funds
are financially sound and properly
managed. Our fund Trustees, Directors
and Staff deserve heartfelt thanks for
their diligence and sound decision
making that have kept our funds in
the green over a tough period for the
financial markets.
Brothers and Sisters, our union
is poised to grow stronger than ever
before. The future for Operating
Engineers is now! Work safe.
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INTERNATIONAL OPERATING ENGINEER
SPRING 2018 5