Workers protest loss of U.S. jobs
Saturday, May 08, 2004By Julia Bauer and Steven Harmon
The Grand Rapids Press
Unemployed, under-employed, or just happy to have a job.
Today, electrician Mario Tabiadon falls into the last two categories.
He just found a factory job in Kalamazoo after 11 months without work. His last job with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers paid $23.87 an hour, to build a power plant in Benton Harbor.
Now he's making $11 an hour as a production worker at Checkers Motors Co., a 75-minute commute from his Grand Rapids home.
On Friday, Tabiadon joined 18 job hunters and union officials at a protest called by the state AFL-CIO. The group gathered outside Keeler Die Cast, a Grand Rapids business closing this month under pressure from Chinese manufacturing.
Tabiadon said he and his wife have stopped eating out, going to movies and or hunting for the antiques they love. They also dropped their Internet and cell phone services.
"I gave up looking for electrician work. Checkers was the only one that called, out of 57 applications," he said.
Sheetmetal Workers Union representative Tim Caron, wearing a Kerry campaign button, said President Bush hasn't tried to protect U.S. jobs.
"He hasn't lifted a finger," Caron said.
Several union members said they were offended when state GOP party chairwoman Betsy DeVos said last week that high wages in Michigan are one deterrent to a statewide recovery.
DeVos should apologize for those comments, said Mark Gaffney, president of the Michigan AFL-CIO.
"It's tax policies that send jobs to China. Michigan can compete with anyone when trade is fair," he said.
Caron estimates that 25 percent of sheetmetal workers are out of a job this spring.
© 2004 Grand Rapids Press.
Thursday, May 13, 2004
Monday, May 10, 2004
LU 43 Supports Ethanol Plant politically and financially
Officials and unions support ethanol project
by Andrew Henderson
Federal and state government officials, economic-development officials, and local unions are supporting Northeast Biofuels' attempt to convert the former Miller Brewing facility into a corn-to-ethanol production plant in Volney.
Northeast Biofuels officials have received letters of support from Congressman John McHugh, state Senator Jim Wright, Oswego County Legislature Chairman Russ Johnson, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union No. 43, Oswego County Building Trades Council, Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 73, Oswego County Industrial Development Agency, and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
Northeast Biofuels is looking to build a $140 million ethanol-production plant at Riverview Business Park that would have the capacity to produce more than 100 million gallons per year, making it the third largest plant in the nation and the first in the northeast.
As chairman of the New York State Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, Sen. Wright said he has witnessed the growth of ethanol as an alternate energy resource and its potential for continued prosperity in New York. He added that the local project will "bring New York into the center of the ethanol industry."
"My support for (the) project stems from the anticipated job creation during construction and operation of the plant," said Sen. Wright. "In addition, the project will provide direct economic growth for our agricultural community and trucking industry."
Congressman McHugh said he is a strong supporter of the project and is committed to working with Northeast Biofuels to ensure that the project "creates new jobs in the Fulton area and is a success."
The proposed ethanol plant is not only a good fit for the Riverview Business Park, but it also lends itself well to the culture of Oswego County, said Chairman Johnson.
"Moreover, the plant's potential positive environmental, economic, and social impact to our community is consistent with the goals outlined in the Oswego County Comprehensive Plan," he said.
Northeast Biofuels and its partner companies, Perdue Farms and BOC Gases, will create more than 100 jobs with the potential to generate more, officials said.
Northeast Biofuels and Perdue Farms, based in Salisbury, Md., already has an agreement in principle where Perdue would be taking full responsibility for purchasing, transporting, and storing of Northeast Biofuels' corn requirements as well as marketing the distiller dried grains, one of the co-products of the ethanol manufacturing process.
Perdue has already committed to lease 20,000 square feet at the site for the expansion of its northeast livestock feed operations. It plans to provide Northeast Biofuels with 40 million bushels of corn annually.
BOC Gases and Northeast Biofuels have a letter of intent outlining a future contract for BOC Gases to purchase the carbon dioxide that is produced during ethanol production.
BOC Gases is the world's largest marketer of industrial gases and the largest marketer of carbon dioxide in the northeast.
The company plans to construct a $15 million carbon-dioxide liquefaction plant in the business park adjacent to the proposed ethanol plant.
Local unions are pleased about the construction and renovation of the facility. The project will require about 300 construction and engineering workers. The proposed plant will occupy about 300,000 square feet in the area where much of the plant's brewing infrastructure will be reused for ethanol production.
"The project represents an investment of over $125 million, and during the construction process hundreds of jobs will be created, including work for members of IBEW Local 43," said William Towsley, IBEW Local 43 business manager. "While we are pleased about the construction jobs this project will create, for obvious reasons, our support is based on a larger picture. These types of projects are what is necessary to return economic stability to central New York."
The IBEW Local 43 has already made a financial investment in the project through its pension fund.
William Shannon, president of the Oswego County Building Trades Council, said the investment of $125 million would help stimulate the central New York economy.
"With much of the central New York area being rural, both the agricultural and trucking deliveries would be positively impacted by the high demand for corn deliveries and finished product shipments," he said.
Michael J. DeCaire, business manager of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 73 said the project is a "welcomed shot in the arm" for the county's economy.
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and the SUNY Center for Sustainable and Renewable Energy President Cornelius Murphy said there is a strong need to produce liquid biofuels and gasoline extenders/oxygenators in New York State. The ethanol plant may help that need.
"New York State can be a strong leader in producing biofuels reducing the state's dependency on petroleum feedstocks and providing a boost to the agricultural and forest products industry in New York State," said Murphy.
The college is also committing to purchase the first 500 gallons of ethanol produced by Northeast Biofuels to help meet the liquid fuel demands on its campus.
Sen. Wright said Northeast Biofuels' partnership with SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and the SUNY Center for Sustainable and Renewable Energy will "strengthen New York's biofuel industry through joint initiatives and the ability to conduct on-site studies."
First of many steps
Earlier this week, the Volney Zoning Board of Appeals approved a variance for Northeast Biofuels, according to Michael Hadley, chief financial officer of the Northeast Biofuels development team.
"We're one step closer but we have many steps to go," said Hadley.
The variance permits splitting Riverside Business Park into two parcels. One parcel would be the site of the ethanol-production plant while the other site would remain Riverside Business Park.
.
by Andrew Henderson
Federal and state government officials, economic-development officials, and local unions are supporting Northeast Biofuels' attempt to convert the former Miller Brewing facility into a corn-to-ethanol production plant in Volney.
Northeast Biofuels officials have received letters of support from Congressman John McHugh, state Senator Jim Wright, Oswego County Legislature Chairman Russ Johnson, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union No. 43, Oswego County Building Trades Council, Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 73, Oswego County Industrial Development Agency, and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
Northeast Biofuels is looking to build a $140 million ethanol-production plant at Riverview Business Park that would have the capacity to produce more than 100 million gallons per year, making it the third largest plant in the nation and the first in the northeast.
As chairman of the New York State Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, Sen. Wright said he has witnessed the growth of ethanol as an alternate energy resource and its potential for continued prosperity in New York. He added that the local project will "bring New York into the center of the ethanol industry."
"My support for (the) project stems from the anticipated job creation during construction and operation of the plant," said Sen. Wright. "In addition, the project will provide direct economic growth for our agricultural community and trucking industry."
Congressman McHugh said he is a strong supporter of the project and is committed to working with Northeast Biofuels to ensure that the project "creates new jobs in the Fulton area and is a success."
The proposed ethanol plant is not only a good fit for the Riverview Business Park, but it also lends itself well to the culture of Oswego County, said Chairman Johnson.
"Moreover, the plant's potential positive environmental, economic, and social impact to our community is consistent with the goals outlined in the Oswego County Comprehensive Plan," he said.
Northeast Biofuels and its partner companies, Perdue Farms and BOC Gases, will create more than 100 jobs with the potential to generate more, officials said.
Northeast Biofuels and Perdue Farms, based in Salisbury, Md., already has an agreement in principle where Perdue would be taking full responsibility for purchasing, transporting, and storing of Northeast Biofuels' corn requirements as well as marketing the distiller dried grains, one of the co-products of the ethanol manufacturing process.
Perdue has already committed to lease 20,000 square feet at the site for the expansion of its northeast livestock feed operations. It plans to provide Northeast Biofuels with 40 million bushels of corn annually.
BOC Gases and Northeast Biofuels have a letter of intent outlining a future contract for BOC Gases to purchase the carbon dioxide that is produced during ethanol production.
BOC Gases is the world's largest marketer of industrial gases and the largest marketer of carbon dioxide in the northeast.
The company plans to construct a $15 million carbon-dioxide liquefaction plant in the business park adjacent to the proposed ethanol plant.
Local unions are pleased about the construction and renovation of the facility. The project will require about 300 construction and engineering workers. The proposed plant will occupy about 300,000 square feet in the area where much of the plant's brewing infrastructure will be reused for ethanol production.
"The project represents an investment of over $125 million, and during the construction process hundreds of jobs will be created, including work for members of IBEW Local 43," said William Towsley, IBEW Local 43 business manager. "While we are pleased about the construction jobs this project will create, for obvious reasons, our support is based on a larger picture. These types of projects are what is necessary to return economic stability to central New York."
The IBEW Local 43 has already made a financial investment in the project through its pension fund.
William Shannon, president of the Oswego County Building Trades Council, said the investment of $125 million would help stimulate the central New York economy.
"With much of the central New York area being rural, both the agricultural and trucking deliveries would be positively impacted by the high demand for corn deliveries and finished product shipments," he said.
Michael J. DeCaire, business manager of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 73 said the project is a "welcomed shot in the arm" for the county's economy.
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and the SUNY Center for Sustainable and Renewable Energy President Cornelius Murphy said there is a strong need to produce liquid biofuels and gasoline extenders/oxygenators in New York State. The ethanol plant may help that need.
"New York State can be a strong leader in producing biofuels reducing the state's dependency on petroleum feedstocks and providing a boost to the agricultural and forest products industry in New York State," said Murphy.
The college is also committing to purchase the first 500 gallons of ethanol produced by Northeast Biofuels to help meet the liquid fuel demands on its campus.
Sen. Wright said Northeast Biofuels' partnership with SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and the SUNY Center for Sustainable and Renewable Energy will "strengthen New York's biofuel industry through joint initiatives and the ability to conduct on-site studies."
First of many steps
Earlier this week, the Volney Zoning Board of Appeals approved a variance for Northeast Biofuels, according to Michael Hadley, chief financial officer of the Northeast Biofuels development team.
"We're one step closer but we have many steps to go," said Hadley.
The variance permits splitting Riverside Business Park into two parcels. One parcel would be the site of the ethanol-production plant while the other site would remain Riverside Business Park.
.
IBEW LU 3 Fights to maintain union conditions at Convention
http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/23890.htm
CNN FIGHTS UNION OVER CONVENTION
By DON KAPLAN
May 10, 2004 -- EXCLUSIVE
A union battle is brewing with the all-news cable channel over the Republican National Convention later this summer at Madison Square Garden.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) is so far refusing to allow CNN and Fox News Network techniciains to install the miles of electrical cables needed to broadcast the convention to millions of viewers.
Both channels are non-union operations.
The electrician's union says it won't allow non-union technicians to work at the Garden since the venue has been heavily unionized for years.
"This is a union town, these are union jobs, this is going to be a union convention," says Brian McLaughlin, president of the New York City Central Labor Council.
Further complicating matters is that CNN has been designated to manage the "pool" - a video/audio feed that provides all the nets with continuous coverage of the goings on at the convention podium.
"It's just the luck of the draw that it was CNN's turn," a network source said.
The talks are going much more smoothly for the three major networks, which have been negotiating with the union as a team, insiders say. The major broadcast networks are unionized.
"It's no more contentious than it's been in the past," a source told The Post.
But the talks with CNN have been rough, according to sources close to the talk - and they could get worse.
Late last year, the Atlanta-based news network drew the wrath of the union when it terminated a contract with a unionized subcontractor that provided technicians at CNN's New York and Washington bureaus.
CNN then hired about half the workers back, but refused to recognize the union.
In a memo last March - a copy if which was obtained by The Post - union leaders told members not to take jobs at CNN to cover either the GOP convention here or at the Democratic convention in Boston.
A CNN spokeswoman declined to comment.
For Fox News Channel, there appears to be a bit more wiggle room. Other Fox divisions - namely Fox Sports, have relationships with the unions and have worked sporting events at The Garden.
If FNC uses crews made up substantially of unionized sports technicians, it may be able to skirt the dispute.
Fox is a division of News Corp., which also owns The Post.
CNN FIGHTS UNION OVER CONVENTION
By DON KAPLAN
May 10, 2004 -- EXCLUSIVE
A union battle is brewing with the all-news cable channel over the Republican National Convention later this summer at Madison Square Garden.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) is so far refusing to allow CNN and Fox News Network techniciains to install the miles of electrical cables needed to broadcast the convention to millions of viewers.
Both channels are non-union operations.
The electrician's union says it won't allow non-union technicians to work at the Garden since the venue has been heavily unionized for years.
"This is a union town, these are union jobs, this is going to be a union convention," says Brian McLaughlin, president of the New York City Central Labor Council.
Further complicating matters is that CNN has been designated to manage the "pool" - a video/audio feed that provides all the nets with continuous coverage of the goings on at the convention podium.
"It's just the luck of the draw that it was CNN's turn," a network source said.
The talks are going much more smoothly for the three major networks, which have been negotiating with the union as a team, insiders say. The major broadcast networks are unionized.
"It's no more contentious than it's been in the past," a source told The Post.
But the talks with CNN have been rough, according to sources close to the talk - and they could get worse.
Late last year, the Atlanta-based news network drew the wrath of the union when it terminated a contract with a unionized subcontractor that provided technicians at CNN's New York and Washington bureaus.
CNN then hired about half the workers back, but refused to recognize the union.
In a memo last March - a copy if which was obtained by The Post - union leaders told members not to take jobs at CNN to cover either the GOP convention here or at the Democratic convention in Boston.
A CNN spokeswoman declined to comment.
For Fox News Channel, there appears to be a bit more wiggle room. Other Fox divisions - namely Fox Sports, have relationships with the unions and have worked sporting events at The Garden.
If FNC uses crews made up substantially of unionized sports technicians, it may be able to skirt the dispute.
Fox is a division of News Corp., which also owns The Post.
IBEW LU 2376 Offers to give up days off to save members' jobs in Vallejo, CA
Monday May 10, 2004
City Council votes to cut its own pay
By CHRIS G. DENINA, Times-Herald staff writer
The Vallejo City Council's resolve to give up about $5,400 of its own compensation to show unions they're not immune from cuts, sparked some debate Tuesday.
The council voted 5 to 1 to give up about $778 each. Councilmember Pamela Pitts, who cast the dissenting vote, called the amount a "pittance." Councilmember Pete Rey was absent from the meeting.
"I'm not going to support it because I feel like it's political posturing..." Pitts said. "To put it out here separately as one item, I don't agree with it."
The city faces a projected $9.5 million deficit and anticipates laying off about a fifth of its permanent workforce before July, in addition to 60 temporary employees losing their jobs Friday.
Mayor Tony Intintoli Jr. said the council must show it too is willing to make sacrifices as the city negotiates with its employee unions to take a pay cut to help avoid layoffs.
"It may just be a gesture, but gestures are important," Intintoli said.
The police and fire unions said they've offered a deal that would save the city more than $1.9 million in payroll, while the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2376 said its members will be asked today to approve taking unpaid days off to help save jobs.
Fred Barrett of Vallejo told the council it was a bad idea.
"It is this kind of short-sighted, quick-fix response that continues to plague City Hall," Barrett said. The cuts, which are for one year, may hurt the city's ability to attract candidates for public office, he said.
Council members each receive about $23,000 in pay, perks and benefits, while the mayor's total compensation is about $48,000. The issue of pay should be reconsidered when the city's finances improve, said Councilmember Gary Cloutier, who backed out of running for mayor last year after saying the job was too much of a sacrifice in pay.
"This is an issue that should be reopened and looked at again," Cloutier said.
Among other matters, the council approved:
n Considering hiring outside legal and financial consultants help prepare for the sale of the city-owned Six Flags Marine World theme park to Oklahoma City-based Six Flags Inc.
The council put a $100,000 limit on the consulting fees, after Councilmember Gerald Davis said the city should watch its spending.
The city needs expert help in negotiations, interim City Manager Otto Giuliani said.
"This is probably one of the most complicated, complex sales agreements I've ever seen," Giuliani said. "I want to make sure we have the best legal minds attached to this."
- Allocating about $1.7 million in federal grants. That's about $300,000 more than anticipated.
About $200,000 will go to Vallejo neighborhood Housing Services Inc., which provides services including providing first-time home loans to buyers and loaning homeowners money to fix up their house. About $98,000 will go to the city for running the grant program.
And $2,400 will go to the Florence Douglas Senior Center to fix its roof.
"It seems that it's leaky in every area of that roof," Executive Director Vicki Conrad told the council. "We cannot withstand another rainy season in the facility that we're in."
City Council votes to cut its own pay
By CHRIS G. DENINA, Times-Herald staff writer
The Vallejo City Council's resolve to give up about $5,400 of its own compensation to show unions they're not immune from cuts, sparked some debate Tuesday.
The council voted 5 to 1 to give up about $778 each. Councilmember Pamela Pitts, who cast the dissenting vote, called the amount a "pittance." Councilmember Pete Rey was absent from the meeting.
"I'm not going to support it because I feel like it's political posturing..." Pitts said. "To put it out here separately as one item, I don't agree with it."
The city faces a projected $9.5 million deficit and anticipates laying off about a fifth of its permanent workforce before July, in addition to 60 temporary employees losing their jobs Friday.
Mayor Tony Intintoli Jr. said the council must show it too is willing to make sacrifices as the city negotiates with its employee unions to take a pay cut to help avoid layoffs.
"It may just be a gesture, but gestures are important," Intintoli said.
The police and fire unions said they've offered a deal that would save the city more than $1.9 million in payroll, while the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2376 said its members will be asked today to approve taking unpaid days off to help save jobs.
Fred Barrett of Vallejo told the council it was a bad idea.
"It is this kind of short-sighted, quick-fix response that continues to plague City Hall," Barrett said. The cuts, which are for one year, may hurt the city's ability to attract candidates for public office, he said.
Council members each receive about $23,000 in pay, perks and benefits, while the mayor's total compensation is about $48,000. The issue of pay should be reconsidered when the city's finances improve, said Councilmember Gary Cloutier, who backed out of running for mayor last year after saying the job was too much of a sacrifice in pay.
"This is an issue that should be reopened and looked at again," Cloutier said.
Among other matters, the council approved:
n Considering hiring outside legal and financial consultants help prepare for the sale of the city-owned Six Flags Marine World theme park to Oklahoma City-based Six Flags Inc.
The council put a $100,000 limit on the consulting fees, after Councilmember Gerald Davis said the city should watch its spending.
The city needs expert help in negotiations, interim City Manager Otto Giuliani said.
"This is probably one of the most complicated, complex sales agreements I've ever seen," Giuliani said. "I want to make sure we have the best legal minds attached to this."
- Allocating about $1.7 million in federal grants. That's about $300,000 more than anticipated.
About $200,000 will go to Vallejo neighborhood Housing Services Inc., which provides services including providing first-time home loans to buyers and loaning homeowners money to fix up their house. About $98,000 will go to the city for running the grant program.
And $2,400 will go to the Florence Douglas Senior Center to fix its roof.
"It seems that it's leaky in every area of that roof," Executive Director Vicki Conrad told the council. "We cannot withstand another rainy season in the facility that we're in."
Davenport, IA IBEW Construction crew in JA Bowl-a-thon
IBEW members and employees of Tri-City Electric Co. participated in the Junior Achievement Bowl-A-Thon. They include Mike McKee, left, Chriss Gwin, Wally Anderson, Kevin Knotthead and Leo Edmondson. Submitted by Kathy Irvin.
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