spring 04-1 4 AZ - Laborers Local 270

Laborers’ Local 270
THE
Volume 4, Issue 1
EL
WARRIOR / GUERRERO
Jim Homer, Business Manager
June, 2004
A Special Report
Un Reporte
Especial
Checking Job Sites
Vigilando Los
Lugares
Trabajo
Also In This Issue
También En Este
Asunto
The Struggle to Survive
Batallando Para Sobrevivir
By Business Manager Jim Homer
Por El Gerente De Negocios
Page 1
Business Manager’s Message
The Struggle to Survive
By Jim Homer
The news is not good for workers
in California and across America. Recent
articles in major magazines and
newspapers have pointed out that, as the
economy worsens, conditions and benefits
are on the decline for laborers. The
government is a better friend to big
business than it is to the working man.
The disparity between the rich and poor is
growing – and union members and
working people are the victims.
Consider that health care costs
have doubled in the past two years and
there is no end in sight. 75 million
Americans are without health insurance.
SB-2 regarding health care will be on the
November ballot. Will you vote to keep
money in your pocket? You’d better,
because while wages have stagnated for
workers, the pay for CEOs was up 31
percent in 2003. According to the May 24
edition of the Mercury News, the 749
highest paid CEOs in Silicon Valley took
home an average of more than $1.7
million per year each. That’s more than a
Union construction worker can make in
30 years.
According to Business Week,
CEOs of the 365 largest companies’
nationally average $3.7 million in salary
each year. Tyson foods CEO John Tyson
received $20 million in compensation last
year. After an 11-month strike, his
workers returned with decreases in
minimum and maximum pay, freezes in
pensions and vacations and huge
increases in their health and welfare costs.
Gasoline prices are at the highest
level in history and 12 million retirees
will soon lose their health care. When
Bush took the presidency, this country
had a surplus; according to a U.S.
Treasury Department report, we can
expect a $44 trillion debt this year. That
same report stated that tax increases were
needed, yet President Bush ignored it and
called for a $726 billion tax cut for the
rich.
Meanwhile, American companies
ship good jobs overseas to third world
countries in the name of corporate profits.
Page 2
Sadly, the White House backs this policy.
Both John Snow, Treasury Secretary, and
Greg Mankiw, Bush’s chief economic
advisor, agreed that sending jobs overseas
is a good thing for the American
economy.
Our sons and daughters are
fighting a war, the reasons for which are
unknown, unless you still believe we will
find those pesky weapons of mass
destruction. What we are dealing with is
mass deception. This war has only created
more enemies and increased the number
of terrorists who want to do harm to
America.
Here at home, schools cannot
properly teach children. Bush created the
“No Child Left Behind Act” but does not
fund it. His party controls the congress; if
he wanted to fund the program, he has the
power to do so. School funding has been
cut because Washington decided it was
important not to raise millionaires’ taxes.
In fact, they got the biggest tax cut in
history.
Corporations are more profitable
than ever before, yet they continue to get
subsidies, taken from our taxes, as
incentive to ship jobs elsewhere. The
Patriot Act has already taken away many
of your constitutional rights. Soon those
in power will take your guns, as well.
While you struggle, the wealthy enjoy a
substantial increase in their wealth.
You may ask, what can I do?
There is one clear answer – get registered
and vote! The current leadership in the
White House cannot buy your vote unless
you let them. Bush and his fellows have
$200 million to spend to convince you.
The corporations own the media, so they
can control what stories you get to see.
Register and cast your vote for
John Kerry for president. If you do not
take the time to get involved in this
election, you, your children and your
children’s children will all suffer for your
inaction. If you think this is an
exaggeration, you’re mistaken. Act now
because we all have too much to lose.
La Lucha por
Lobrevivir
La nueva noticia no es muy buena
para los trabajadores de California ni todo
Estados Unidos. Los últimos artículos de
la mayoría de periódicos y revistas han
hecho notar de que como la economía
empeore, las condiciones y beneficios
están en descenso para los obreros. El
gobierno es mas amigo de las grandes
empresas que de la clase trabajadora. La
disparidad entre el rico y el pobre esta
creciendo – y los miembros sindicalizados
son las victimas.
Considere los costos de cuidados de
la salud como han aumentado lo doble en
los últimos dos años y no se le ve la salida.
75 millones de estadounidenses estuvieron
sin seguro de salud en algún tiempo
durante el año 2003. Mas información
acerca del cuidado a la salud de SB-2
estará en la boleta de Noviembre. ¿Usted
botará para poder guardarse dinero en su
bolsillo? Pues debería hacerlo porque
mientras los salarios de los trabajadores
estén estancados, el pago para CEOs
aumentó un 31 por ciento en el 2003. De
acuerdo a las noticias de Mercury de la
edición del 24 de mayo, los 749 pagos mas
altos de CEOs, en el Valle de Silicon tuvo
un promedio de mas de $1.7 millones por
año. Eso es mas de lo que un trabajador
del sindicato puede hacer en 30 años.
De acuerdo a la revista de Business
Week, CEO una de las 365 compañías mas
grandes el promedio a nivel nacional es de
$3.7 millones en salario cada año.
Productos de Tyson CEO John Tyson
recibió $20 millones en compensación el
año pasado. Después de once meses de
huelga, sus trabajadores regresaron con
recortes del mínimo y máximo salario,
congeló las pensiones y vacaciones y
grandes aumentos de costos de la salud y
bienestar social.
Los precios de la gasolina están a su
máximo nivel de la historia y 12 millones
Continuacion en pagina 3
Checking Job Sites: A Special Report
To Local 270 Business Representatives, being on the job
means spending a portion of each working day at the job site.
There are many reasons for them to make on-site visits. A
member may have called, or it may be to resolve a problem with
management. It may also be just one of the many unannounced
and unscheduled stops the Business Representative makes on a
regular basis.
The unannounced visits are effective for a variety of
reasons. The union representative may want to make sure all
workers are union members. Knowing that the union is on the job
site often prevents management from replacing union members
with non-union scabs.
They also make sure LIUNA maintains its jurisdiction. The
united house of labor is sometimes called into question when
other unions attempt to have their members do LIUNA work.
Local 270 representatives vigilantly patrol worksites to protect its
members’ interest.
Unscheduled site visits help make sure members get the
service they deserve. Representatives are knowledgeable about
contracts and are able to answer questions and keep you informed
of union activities.
A Local 270 photographer recently toured job sites with
Business Representatives. This special report – in words and in
pictures — will give members an idea of some of the projects
their brothers and sisters in the union are working to complete.
Chequeando áreas de trabajo – Reporte Especial
Para los representantes de Negocios del local 270, el
estar en el trabajo implica tomar una porción de tiempo y
chequear trabajos.
Hay muchas razones para que ellos hagan visitas en las
áreas. Un miembro pudo haber llamado o quizás para resolver un
problema con los encargados. O pudo haber sido solo una de las
muchas inesperadas paradas que hacen los representantes de
negocios regularmente.
Las visitas inesperadas son efectivas por una gran
variedad de razones. Los representantes del sindicato quizás
quieran cerciorarse de que todos los trabajadores estén
sindicalizados en el área. Sabiendo que el sindicato esta en el
trabajo y alerta, seguido evitan que los encargados de reemplazar
sindicalizados por trabajadores sin sindicato. También se
cercioran de que LIUNA mantenga su jurisdicción. El trabajo de
la casa unida a veces llama a preguntas cuanto otros sindicatos
tienen la intención de hacer que sus miembros hagan el trabajo de
LIUNA. Los representantes del Local 270 patrullan
Mensaje del Jefe de Negocios
Continuacion de pagina 2
de retirados muy pronto perderán su
cuidado de salud. Cuando Bush tomó la
presidencia, este país tenia un sobrante en
la economía; de acuerdo al reporte del
Departamento del tesoro de los Estados
Unidos hay una deuda de $44 trillones en
este año. Este mismo reporte dijo que se
necesita un aumento en los impuestos,
vigilantemente las áreas de trabajo para proteger los intereses de
sus miembros.
Las visitas inesperadas en las áreas también ayudan a
cerciorar que los miembros obtengan servicios que se merecen.
Los representantes están capacitados acerca de contratistas y
tienen la disponibilidad de contestar preguntas y mantenerlos
informados acerca de actividades sindicales.
Es de mucha ayuda entender el trabajo y el lugar del
mismo.
Ellos encuentran la información y la pasan a los despachadores
del sindicato. ¿Es este un proyecto grande? ¿Los
requerimientos de capacitación cambiaran? ¿Se tendrá que
requerir mas personal o menos?
Un fotógrafo del Local 270 recientemente visitó áreas
de trabajo junto con representantes de negocios. Este reporte
especial – en palabras y fotos – le dará a los miembros una idea
de algunos de los proyectos en los que hermanos y hermanas del
sindicato están trabajando y que será finalizado.
pero el Presidente Bush ignoro esto e hizo
un llamado para recordar $726 billones de
impuestos a ricos.
Mientras, las compañías
estadounidenses mandaron buenos
trabajos al extranjero a países
tercermundistas en nombre de
corporaciones beneficiadas. Tristemente,
la Casa Blanca apoya esta póliza. El
Secretario Tesorero John Show y el
encargado de asesoramiento económico de
Bush Grez Mankiw, estuvieron de acuerdo
de que el mandar trabajos a países
extranjeros es muy bueno para la
economía estadounidense.
Nuestros hijos e hijas están peleando
una guerra, por razones que
desconocemos, a menos que usted todavía
este pensando que todavía podremos
encontrar armamento de destrucción
masiva. Lo que estamos afrontando es
Continuacion en pagina 9
Page 3
Kaiser Medical Nearing Completion
In Santa Clara, one of the biggest
projects for Local 270 members is the
construction of the largest medical
complex in the Silicon Valley for
Oakland-based Kaiser Permanente, the
$375 million, 1.2 million-square foot
Santa Clara Medical Center.
A 520,000-square foot medical
office building at the corner of Lawrence
Expressway and Homestead Road is
phase one of the project, which will reach
completion by fall of this year. Our
photographer caught the action on this
and on phase two, now under way, which
includes a hospital with more than 300
beds, doubling the capacity of Kaiser’s
existing facility on Kiely Boulevard.
A four-story, on-site utility plant
will enable the necessary HVAC and
electrical connections for the office
building to be completed and put to use.
Using the largest hydraulic crane west of
the Mississippi, crews placed several
23,000-lb. HVAC units to the roof of the
hospital in December.
Workers are also erecting two
concrete parking structures, including one
four stories high, designed to
accommodate nearly 1,500 cars. Overall,
the two structures will provide parking for
more than 3,200 automobiles. They also
put more than 190 23,000-lb. steel
columns for the new four-story hospital in
place beginning in January. The columns
were all in place last month and welding
should be completed in this month.
Work on the impressive project,
the second largest hospital complex in the
state of California, started in October of
2000. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of
270 laborers working under general
contractors Rudloph and Sletten of Foster
City, the 37-acre complex is scheduled for
completion in 2007.
Page 4
Noel Ramirez, Genard Rodriguez, Federico Martinez, Jose Ponce, Frank Pozo,
Bus Rep, Carlos Lujan
Instalación Médica beneficiada por el
trabajo del Local 270
Uno de los mas grandes proyectos
de los miembros del Local 270 en la ciudad
de Santa Clara es la construcción del
complejo medico mas grande en el Valle de
Silicon de la base de Oakland de Kaiser
Permanente, el centro medico de Santa
Clara que es de un costo de $375 millones
tiene 1.2 millones pies cuadrados.
El edificio de oficina medica de
520,000 pies cuadrados de la esquina de
Lawrence Expressway y Homestead Road
es la face numero uno del proyecto que
llegará a su finalización en otoño de este
año. Nuestro fotógrafo capturo la acción de
esto y de la segunda face que esta ya
encaminada, la cual incluirá un hospital con
mas de 300 camas, doblando así la
capacidad de la ya instalación de Kaiser en
el Bulevar Kiely.
La planta de utilidad de cuatro
pisos permitirá la conexión eléctrica y de
HVAC para la finalización del edificio de
oficina y ponerla en uso. Utilizando el
equipo hidráulico mas grande del oeste de
Mississippi, el equipo colocó varias de las
23,000 libras de unidades de HVAC en el
techo del hospital en el mes de diciembre.
Los trabajadores también levantan
dos estructuras de concreto para
estacionamiento, incluyendo cuatro pisos
altos diseñado para acomodar cerca de
1,500 carros. En conjunto, las dos
estructuras proporcionan estacionamiento a
mas de 3,200 automóviles. También
instalaron mas de 190 de 23,000 en libras
de columnas de acero para el nuevo hospital
de cuatro pisos ya establecido en enero. Las
columnas ya están en su lugar desde el mes
pasado y solo la soldadura será terminada
éste mes.
El trabajo del impresionante
proyecto es el segundo complejo del
hospital mas grande del Estado de
California que comenzó en octubre del
2000. Gracias a los dedicados esfuerzos de
los trabajadores obreros del 270 bajo la
dirección del contratista Rudloph Sletten de
la ciudad de Foster, éste complejo de 37
acres esta programado para terminarse en
el 2007.
On the Job for Hyatt
Another project in Palo Alto is
reaping the benefit of labor provided by
Local 270 membership. Classic Residence
by Hyatt is using union labor to build the
premier continuing care retirement
community in the area. Construction
began on August 5, 2003.
Our photographer again captured
images of members at the work site,
which, when complete, will offer an
upscale retirement lifestyle in spacious
independent living apartment homes next
to the Stanford University campus.
The new community, totaling more
than one million square feet, will be
situated near the north end of the university campus, near San Francisquito Creek.
The goal, organizers say, is to create a
complex offering access to a multitude of
social, cultural and educational opportunities. The building of the community,
contracted to Devcon Construction, Inc.
(DCI) of Milpitas, a union company, has
potential residents excited. More then 80
percent of the units are already spoken for.
The complex will consist of 388 oneand two-bedroom and two-bedroom-withden residences, all with their own terraces
or balconies. In addition, the care center
will feature 38 assisted living residences,
24 memory support suites and 44 skilled
nursing suites.
Laborers are also responsible for
constructing two dining rooms, one with a
private courtyard, and an additional bistrostyle café. A general store, computer
center, full-service spa, fitness center and
art studio will also be built. But it doesn’t
end there.
An auditorium/multipurpose room, a
bank with safety deposit boxes, a beauty
salon/barbershop, a heated indoor swimming pool and whirlpool, a billiards room,
a communal living room with a fireplace
and card, game and club rooms are also
being constructed. The project will also
feature a wellness center and library and a
network of walking and bicycle paths.
El Local 270 se mantiene
trabajando en el Hyatt
Otro proyecto en Palo Alto esta
deshaciendo los beneficios de obrero que
provee la membresía del Local 270. La
Manuel Morales - JW McClenahaw Co.
(Plumbing) and Business Agent Manny
Valesco
Jesus Quinoles
Santiago Herrera
Back: Martin Perez, Front: Mario Lopez,
Alfonso Carrillo, Ruben Ramirez
clásica residencia del Hyatt esta usando
trabajo de sindicato para construir la
primera comunidad del continuo cuidado de
retiro en el área.
Nuestro fotógrafo una vez mas
capturo imágenes de miembros en área de
trabajo que, cuando estén finalizados
ofrecerán una alta escala de mejor estilo de
vida de retiro en espacioso e independientes
apartamentos y casas enseguida de la
universidad de Stanford la nueva
comunidad que totaliza mas de un millón
de pies cuadrados estará localizada cerca de
la salida Norte del campo universitario, que
esta cerca de Francisquito Creek. La meta
dicen los organizadores es de crear un
complejo y así ofrecer acceso a
oportunidades de multitud social, cultural
y educacional. La construcción de tal
comunidad contrató dos de la Constructora
Incorporada Devrcon (DCI) de Milpitas,
una compañía sindicalizada tiene muy
inspirados a residentes con potencial. Más
Fred Cuen
de 80 por ciento de unidades ya han hablado
a favor.
El complejo consistirá de 388 de
una y dos recamaras también igual que
residencias privadas de dos recamaras, todas
ellas con terraza y balcones. También el
centro de cuidado traerá consigo 38
residencias de vivienda atendidas, 24 suites
de apoyo a la memoria y 44 suites con
enfermeras capacitadas.
También los obreros son
responsables de la construcción de dos salas
de comedor, una con patio privado y
cafetería adicional estilo bistro. Una tienda
general, centro de computadoras, servicio
completo de balneario, centro de gimnasio
Continuacion en pagina 6
Page 5
Marcus Allen Stewart, Danny Juarez, Luis Mendosa, Bob Robbins, Angel Torres,
De Lloyd Price
Laborers Give Bounce to
Stanford’s Maples Pavilion
In Palo Alto, the Stanford
University basketball and volleyball
teams will enjoy a new building to play in
the season after next, thanks again to the
vigilant efforts of Laborers Local 270.
Union members are hard at work as the
backbone of a $30 million renovation of
Maples Pavilion.
The renovation of Maples, which
has been home to Stanford Basketball for
36 years, began on March 1. The project
is expected to be completed on Jan. 1,
2005, just in time for the opening of the
Pac-10 basketball season.
Local 270 camera personnel took
a tour of the site, which will feature a new
covered concourse that will loop around
the perimeter, extending 60 feet out from
where the current walls stand. An area for
ticket pickup and state-of-the-art
concession and restroom facilities will be
located at the new structure.
The seating capacity will be
boosted by about 400 from its current
7,391.
The renovation also includes new
locker rooms, a training room, a strength
and conditioning room, meeting rooms
and a media center.
Page 6
Nine championship teams and
some of the great collegiate basketball
players in NCAA history have played at
Maples Pavilion. The list includes
Michael Jordan, Lew Alcindor (Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar), Bill Walton, Gary Payton,
Jason Kidd, Reggie Miller, Bryon Scott,
Bill Cartwright and Kurt Rambis.
Besides intercollegiate and
intramural sports and physical education
classes, Maples Pavilion is also home to
concerts, banquets and lectures. It
originally cost $3.3 million to build, when
construction started in May of 1967.
La renovación de Maples que ha
sido casa por 36 años del equipo de
basketball de Stanford comenzó el 1 de
marzo. Se espera que el proyecto finalice
el 1 de enero del 2005 justo a tiempo para
la apertura de la temporada de basketball
PAC-10.
El personal a cargo de las
cámaras del Local 270 tomo viaje hacia el
área, la cual trae consigo una nueva
cubierta que arrollara alrededor del
perímetro, y se extenderá 60 pies hacia
fuera en donde están las ya actuales
paredes. El área donde se recogen los
boletos y la concesión del estado de arte y
área de baños estarán localizadas en la
nueva estructura.
La capacidad de asientos
aumentara hasta de 400 de los 7,391 que
ya existen.
La renovación también incluye
nuevos cuartos para guardar cosas
personales, un cuarto de entrenamiento y
un cuarto sólido y acondicionado, así
como sala de juntas y centro de prensa.
Nueve equipos de campeonato y
algunos grandes colegiales y jugadores de
basketball de la historia de NCAA han
jugado en el Pabellón de Maples. Entre la
lista están, Michael Jordan, Lew Alcindor
(Kareen Abdul-Jabbar) Hill Walton, Gary
Payton, Jason Kidd, Reggie Millar, Bryon
Scout, Hill Cartwright and Kart Rambis.
Aparte de los Inter.universitarios y deportes Inter.-murales y
clases de educación física, el Pabellón de
Maples es también casa de conciertos,
banquetes y lecturas. Originalmente costó
$3.3 millones en construirlo, cuando
comenzó su construcción en mayo de
1967.
Hyatt
Los Obreros del 270 hacen un
cambio al Pabellón de Maples
En Palo Alto, los equipos de
Volleyball y basketball de la Universidad
de Stanford disfrutaran de un nuevo
edificio para jugar en la siguiente
temporada, una vez mas gracias a los
esfuerzos de los vigilantes Obreros del
Local 270. Los miembros del sindicato
son fuertes en el trabajo así como lo es la
estructura de la renovación de 30 millones
del Pabellón de Maples.
Continuacion de pagina 5
y un estudio de arte también será construido.
Pero esto no termina allí.
Un auditorio y cuarto de múltiples
usos, un banco con cajas de deposito
seguras, un salón de belleza, una barbería,
alberca con calentón interno y un remolino
de agua, cuarto de billar, sala social con
chimenea y cartas, juegos y cuartos de club
ya se están construyendo. El proyecto
también estará formado de un centro de
bienestar, biblioteca y conexión para
caminatas y camino de bicicleta.
Helping To Keep Floods In Check
In San Jose, our photographer
captured images of one of the most
important projects being attended to by
Local 270 membership. After a decadelong delay, a massive flood control
project is back on track along the
Guadalupe River through downtown San
Jose. The $226.8 million undertaking
combines flood control and construction
of a park along a three-mile section of the
Guadalupe, between interstates 280 and
880.
As part of the project, in order to
protect habitat for endangered fish, a
3,000-foot bypass tunnel will divert
floodwaters, replacing the original
concrete channel design. A pristine, shady,
natural riverbed area will serve as fish
habitat where the channel would have
been.
The project is scheduled for
completion in November of this year.
Because environmentalists and politicians
alike put pressure on the Army Corps of
Engineers to turn the flood control project
into to a 400-acre river park, workers are
now building that vision, complete with a
majestic garden at one end.
Of course, the major reasons for
the project are flood safety and smart
business. The local water district has
estimated that, minus the project,
potential flood damage could cost as
much as $576 million. Including
insurance savings, people will save $27
million a year.
The new channel will more than
double the current capacity through the
downtown area, to about 127,000 gallons
per second. It is designed, say project
coordinators, to protect about 4,000
buildings – mostly single-family homes –
from major floods that come around once
a century.
Floodwaters have created havoc
for commerce and industry in the city
numerous times over the past century. In
1862, 1895, 1911, 1955, 1958, 1963, 1969
and 1995, people made preparations to
evacuate as the rising waters threatened
downtown areas. An unpredictable river,
The Guadalupe receives widely variable
runoff from the surrounding watershed.
The river flooded twice in 1995, forcing
El trabajo del Local 270
ayudará a mantener las
inundaciones en
constante chequeo
Union Members on the job site along
the Guadalupe River in San Jose.
Ed Santiago and Business
Representative Stan Barone
Fortino Alvarez Estrada and Jesus
Romas
the closure of Highway 87 and sending
residents from their homes and workers
from buildings.
The project includes completion
of Guadalupe River Park’s downtown
section by December 2005.
Nuestro fotógrafo captura
imágenes de uno de nuestros proyectos mas
importantes en la ciudad de San Jose el cual
esta siendo atendido por la membresía del
Local 270. Después del retraso de una larga
década, el proyecto de control de inundación
masiva esta de vuelta en pleno apogeo junto
al Río de Guadalupe que lleva al centro de
San Jose. La empresa de $226.80 millones
combina el control de inundación y
construcción de un parque junto con tres
millas de la sección de Guadalupe que se
encuentra entre los interestatales del 280 y
el 880.
Como parte del proyecto y a causa
de proteger el hábitat de los peces que están
en peligro, un túnel de 3,000 pies dividirá
las aguas inundadas, reemplazando el
diseño de concreto que originalmente existe.
Una capa sombría y área de cama de río
natural servirá como hábitat de los peces
donde el canal pudiera estar.
El proyecto esta programado para
ser finalizado en Noviembre de este año.
Porque los ecologistas de la misma manera
que los políticos están poniendo presión a
las fuerzas armadas e ingenieros para que
hagan de este proyecto de control de
inundaciones un parque de río de 400 acres,
los trabajadores ya se están haciendo a la
idea, finalizar con un jardín majestuoso en
una de las salidas.
Por supuesto que las razones
mayores son la seguridad en inundaciones
y empresa inteligente. El distrito local de
agua ha estimado que sin el proyecto, un
potencial muy peligroso de inundación
pudiera costar hasta $576.00 millones.
Incluyendo ahorros de seguros, la gente se
ahorrara $27 millones al año.
El nuevo canal aumentará
doblemente su capacidad sobre el área del
centro asta casi 127,000 galones por
segundo. Esto esta diseñado dicen los
coordinadores del proyecto para proteger
Continuacion en pagina 8
Page 7
Training News
A new satellite-training center
has opened in Sacramento. According to
the U.S. Construction training report, the
shortage of skilled workers is their key
concern. For the first time, they also cited
a concern over language barriers. It is
predicted that by 2010, 47 percent of the
workforce in construction will be
Hispanic.
The workers with the skills will
stay employed. Remember, 60,000
workers died from job-related injuries in
U.S. last year alone. None of them were
CEOs. In 2002, 302 construction laborers
were killed. Get training. Don’t be a
statistic.
The following classes can be
taught at the Local. Please call the 270
office to schedule:
Traffic Control
Fork Lift Certification
Blueprint Reading
Also, tunnel classes begin on
July 7, 2004 in Tucson, Arizona.
These skills will be needed for
work coming up this summer. Please sign
up for classes so we can put you to work.
Feliciano Predra, Ramero Gozalos, Mario Avila (BA) and Roberto Dominguez
Inudaciones
Mourning The loss
of Labor Leaders
Three labor leaders passed away within 10 days of the New Year.
— Mason Warren, our former Regional Manager and International Vice
President, was a 66-year member of LIUNA and a veteran of WW II. He is
fondly remembered as the creator of the Organizing Department.
— Loyd Williams, Business Manager of Plumbers Local 393, was always a
strong activist for workers and children’s health care. A good friend, he was
retired for less than one week.
— Tim Powers, a 27-year member of LIUNA Local 270 and six-year Field
Representative and officer, became a friend to everyone he knew. Tim ran the
Santa Cruz office and was very involved in the politics relating to the creation of
jobs for our membership.
We will miss all of them, especially in this critical election year.
Page 8
Continuacion de pagina 7
cerca de 4,000 edificios – en su mayoría
viviendas de familias solteras – de una gran
inundación que llega alrededor de una vez
cada siglo.
Las aguas de inundación han
creado estragos para el comercio e industria
en numerosas ciudades en varias ocasiones
los pasados siglos. En 1862, 1895, 1911,
1955, 1958, 1963, 1969, y 1995, y la gente
tomo precauciones para evacuar así como
iba subiendo el agua la cual es amenaza en
áreas del centro. El impredecible río de
Guadalupe recibe una amplia carrera en su
momento de todos los alrededores. El río
se desbordo dos veces en 1995, forzando la
clausura de la carretera 87 y evacuando a
residentes de sus casas y trabajadores de sus
edificios.
El Proyecto del Parque del Río de
Guadalupe en la sección del centro llega a
la finalización en Diciembre del 2005.
Jet Center
Continuacion de pagina 12
El proyecto rompió tierra el pasado
septiembre, y gracias al trabajo arduo de los
miembros del Local 270, a la incorporación
de 46,000 pies cuadrados del espacio de
hangar y 18,000 pies cuadrados de la
terminal y espacio de la oficina del lado
Oeste del aeropuerto cual se ve muy bien.
El proyecto incrementara las
pisadas del centro (SJJC) a 22 acres, y su
capacidad a un tercio (1/3). La ya
impresionante instalación de SJJC incluirá
una terminal separada para personas que
viajan al trabajo diseñada para programas
de ida y vuelta corporativos (shuttle). Es
diseñado como soporte para grupos enormes
de aviones privados así como los ejecutivos
del Valle de Silicone y equipos de deportes.
Viajes de vuelo no-comerciales
corporativos ya hacen un tercio 1/3 de todos
los viajes entre semana en Mineta, San Jose.
El centro de SJJC es actualmente soporte
de 200,000 pies de hangar y espacio de
oficina en 15 acres del Aeropuerto
Internacional de Mineta, San Jose.
Los Obreros están trabajando para
crear una nueva incorporación de siete
acres, que incluirá salón de juntas, sala de
espera y otros servicios para uso diario de
los viajantes.
La tripulación de carros, de
regaderas, y de siestas, cuartos de recreación
y ejercicio hacen la vida mas fácil para
pilotos y tripulación.
Los Obreros continuaran su
arduo trabajo hasta que se finalice, cual
ha sido programado para finales de año o
principios del año entrante.
Mensaje del Jefe de Negocios
Continuacion de pagina 3
una decepción masiva. Esta guerra solo
ha creado más enemigos y ha aumentado
el numero de terroristas que quiere dañar a
Estados Unidos.
Aquí en casa, las escuelas no enseñan
apropiadamente a los niños. Bush creó el
“Acto de no dejar a los Niños olvidados”
pero no lo financia. Su partido controla el
congreso, si quisiera financiar el
programa, el tiene la manera de hacerlo.
Los fondos de las escuelas han sido
recortados porque Washington decidió que
era importante no aumentar los impuestos
Election Certified
Both the International and the
Department of Labor have denied the
protests filed in last year’s Local union
election.
After careful and complete
investigations the charges filed against
the local were dismissed.
The election of Homer, Espoza
and the Executive Board was ruled
valid and they are to maintain their
offices until the expiration of their
three-year term.
The following plant negotiations
are in progress: Wilson Quarry,
RMC Redwood City terminal
and Protech in Milpitas.
HIPPA has changed the way we deal
with medical information in compliance
with the Health Information Personnel
Privacy Act. The act simply restricts your
medical information from the eyes of
anyone unless you give verbal or written
permission.
Advisory Council
Jesus Perez
Joe Fernandez
Oscar Acosta
Mario vergara
Joe Corona
Paul Mullet
a los ricos. A propósito, ellos ya tienen el
recorte de impuestos más grande en la
historia.
Las corporaciones están mas
beneficiadas que nunca antes lo habían
estado, y continúan teniendo subvención
que es tomada de nuestros impuestos,
como incentivos para mandar trabajos a
otros lugares. El Acto Patriota ya se ha
llevado muchos de nuestros derechos
constitucionales. Dentro de poco esos con
poder les arrebataran sus armas, también.
Mientras usted lucha, los ricos disfrutan de
los incrementos substanciales de sus
riquezas.
Usted se preguntara, ¿Qué puedo yo
Local 270 Recognized for
Election Volunteerism
Of all the Locals in Northern
California, Local 270 was recognized as
having the highest ratio of members who
volunteered for the March elections. The
Local received a computer for winning
and the executive board has decided it
should be made available to the members
for their use on a first come, first served
basis. Call the hall to sign up.
Local 270 members also won eight
out of 11 $500 gift certificates. Congratulations and thanks for all the hard work!
The following is a list of members who
have exceeded or met their constitutionally mandated three days of volunteerism
on behalf of the Local and the community:
Jesus Perez
Justino Alfaro
Joe Fernandez
Emilio Avila
Luis Aceeves
Lucretio Carrillo
Mario Vergara
Sal Lopez
Jose Villarreal
Celso Luna
Fortino Estrada
Reynaldo Martines
Margarito Rubio
Luis Sanchez
Domingo DeLaCerda
Jose Rodriquez
Bernardo Sedano
All officers and representatives of Local
270.
hacer? No hay una respuesta clara –
regístrese para votar! Los actual lideres de
la Casa Blanca no pueden comprar su voto
a menos que usted se los permita. Bush y
su grupo ya tienen $200 millones para
gastar en convencerlo. Las corporaciones
son dueñas de la prensa, ellos controlan el
tipo de historias que usted ve.
Registre y molde su voto por John
Kerry para Presidente. Si usted no se
toma el tiempo en involucrarse en esta
elección, usted y sus hijos e hijos de sus
hijos sufrirán su falta de acción. Si usted
cree que todo esto es una exageración, esta
en un error. Actúe ahora porque tenemos
mucho que perder.
Page 9
Brothers and Sisters,
Columns
Hello Brothers and Sisters,
We are facing a crucially important
decision affecting not only ourselves
but all working families. We must elect
the right choice for President of
our Great Nation! This momentous
decision will determine if our public
schools will reach higher levels of
achievement, or whether the progress
public schools have made will be jeopardized by misguided policies.
Our current President, George W.
Bush has consistently cut the federal
educational budget proving he does not
support the repair, modernization,
and future growth of our nation’s public
school facilities. By slashing
funding, George W. Bush has directly
decreased the creation of future jobs
for our construction brothers and sisters.
We, the staff of Local 270, ask
you to join in the fight to kick the Bush
Administration out of office. Please
support the working families of America’s
candidate, John
Kerry!
Your support affects not only
yourself but your family, community,
union and Our Great Nation! Below are
the many ways You can help:
GROUP #1 (Non-Citizen)
*If you are not a citizen you can help by:
1) Attending the Membership
Meetings
2) Phone Banking in your own
language
3) Precinct Walking in Support of
John Kerry
4) Placing Signs in Support of John
Kerry
GROUP #2 (Citizens)
*If you are a Citizen you can help by:
1) Vote YES for John Kerry for
President of the United States
2) Vote YES on propositions and bills
Page 10
that support the working families
and NO on propositions and bills
which jeopardize them.
3) Attend the Membership Meetings,
Precinct Walking, Placing Signs and
Phone Banking.
Enrique Arguello
Hello Brothers and Sisters,
I hope you and your families are all
well and doing fine.
My area is now Santa Cruz County,
after our fallen Brother Tim Powers
passed away last January. God bless his
soul. I hope to keep up the hard work that
Tim did, both in the field and also the
political work he did to help get union
jobs in the Santa Cruz and Watsonville
areas.
While I’m checking my job sites, I
hope I will have the opportunity to meet
many of you in person. Also, I’d like to
invite you and your family to our summer
picnic held at Great America on June 19,
2004.
Don’t forget, our union membership
meetings are held on the last Wednesday
of the month at 7:00 p.m. Come early,
meet the staff and eat some delicious
barbecue and be eligible to win a raffle
prize (shirt or jacket) at the end of these
meetings.
I’d like to take this opportunity to
wish Brother Frank Hardman III good
luck at his new job as instructor at the
Laborers’ Training Center in San Ramon.
If you are interested in becoming an
instructor, there are positions opened for
qualified people. For more information,
just call the Local Office.
Good luck to all,
Luis Rios
Field Representative/Santa Cruz Dispatcher
My name is Carlos B. Lujan. I have
been a paying dues member since the year
1972. Recently I was appointed as a field
representative after a recommendation by
Mr. Jim Homer, business manager of
Local 270. I would like to thank him and
the Executive Board for approving that
recommendation. I am replacing Brother
Frank Harman who recently accepted the
position as a member trainer at the San
Ramon School Facility. I give my best
wishes to him.
In my job description as a field
representative I cover the areas of San
Jose International Airport, the cities of
Santa Clara, Saratoga, Los Gatos,
Cupertino, Campbell, and Sunnyvale. I
have seen numerous groundbreaking sites
in these areas which bring me to realize
that this year marks the return of another
prosperous work era.
We have a lot of work ahead of us in
the continued support of politicians that
have the desire to bring good things to
working people. November will be the
time of many issues that are important in
relation to us. I want to encourage you to
participate to the extent of your free time
as a volunteer to support and address the
concerns of the working people. Our main
goal should be to bring back the White
House to the Democratic Party. Like I
have said, this year will represent change
and with your support it will be in the
right direction.
If you have any questions, please
contact me. Thanks for your time and god
bless you all.
Fraternally yours,
Carlos B. Lujan
Negotiating in the Midst of a Budget
Crisis by Tim McCormick
Our cities are going broke! This is
not a bargaining posture or a new way for
the City manager to tell the Union to take a
hike. They are literally unable to pay the
bills. What that means for LIUNA
members is that we are facing layoffs and
another year of little or no wage increase.
The cities in the Monterey Bay are
the same as others in the Bay Area. We
have tourism to make things a little better
but even so those tax dollars generated
may be finding their way back to the State
to help with their own huge deficit. There
is only so much money to go around and it
isn’t much!
Remember the Vehicle License Fees?
There was such a big stink made out of
how much that was going to benefit us
consumers if the Governor would just roll
it back. Well he did and we got our
measly checks for $30 or $50 and meanwhile that money that was to go to the
local governments to support Fire and
Safety funding has not been replaced by
the State as promised. So jobs are being
cut.
Now the State has proposed a plan to
take sales tax from local governments and
replace it with Property Tax (the same
Property Tax that was taken from the cities
in the first place.) History tells us that
once the State gets our money, it never
finds its way back to us. Needless to say,
our members in the Public Sector are
worried about their jobs and their families!
The one common theme in our
bargaining so far has been the same
problem facing every single American
family: Health Care. We are doing our
best to keep ahead of that fight. We do
know for certain that outcome in the
election in November will either be a light
at the end of the tunnel or the oncoming
train depending how hard we work to elect
a president that will work for us and our
families.
One more note of interest: I will be
raising money for the Muscular Dystrophy
Association on May 19 at 11:00. I agreed
to be “locked-up” in a mock cell until I
raise bail (donations) to get me out. I am
sure that a lot of folks would rather see me
in the slammer but remember it’s for
charity. If you have a couple of spare
dollars, call me at 831 475-7058. Thanks!
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This month it looks as thought work
is starting to open up a little more than in
the past months. There are several projects
in my area that are starting up and should
be calling the hall soon. Our out-of-work
list is down from three months ago and the
rest of the year continues to look promising. An ongoing problem with our
members is that too many members do not
have the correct information on file at the
hall. By not having the correct information
or training you lose out on opportunities
for work. Please make sure your information is correct.
Some of my current projects are
Arntz Builders at the Juvenile Hall,
Webcor Builders First Street E-Bay,
Swinerton and Walberg has just started a
new project- a parking garage, housing
and retail space downtown. Miller Watts
has several of our laborers working on
phase II flood control project on the
Guadalupe River. Additionally, lots of
school projects will be starting next
month. In closing, I would like to wish all
our members and their families the very
best of health and remember to get
involved. Hope to see you all at the picnic.
Thanks,
Stan Barone
Espero que todos se encuentren bien
quiero recondarles que si de lastiman en el
trabajo reporten ala compania y diganos
aber cuanto tiempo va a estar sin trabajar
aber de que manera. Le podemos ayudar
Vamos a ocupar a todos usted que nos a
ayudar en esta elecion. Para que todos
salgamos a votar Por John Kerry para
Presidente. Si no puede votar tambien
puede ayudar ablenos para ver de que
manera puede ayudar. Por que con este la
economia no podemos tener a Bush por
otros 4 anos tenemos que notar por John
Kerry para presidente.
Hope everyone is doing well. I want
to remind you that if you get injured on
the jobsite report it right away to the
employer and let us know so that we can
help you. Let us know how long you are
going to be off work. In regards to the
Presidential election coming up in
November, each and everyone of us needs
to get out and vote for John Kerry for
President. Also, we need volunteers to get
out the word to vote by precinct walking
and phone banking. We cannot put up with
four more years of Bush! The way he is
driving the economy to the ground. We
cannot live this way and we all need to
vote for John Kerry for president.
Gerardo “Jerry” Esparza
Hello Brothers and Sisters,
I hope you and your families are
doing well. My area will have lots of work
this Spring and Summer in the Levees
Rivers and Heavy highway. Also, several
of you will be working on schools in my
area, particularly in the Eastside Unified
School District and the Berryessa Union
School district. Rather than just talk about
my area I would like to take sometime to
let you know what’s going on with Health
Care that’s currently effecting all of us.
Last year California’s Unions fought
to pass the Health insurance Act. It
requires large businesses to provide health
insurance for their workers, and protect
workers from steep increases in premiums
and out-of-pocket costs. The legislature
passed the law, and the government signed
it. Now giant corporations like
McDonalds, Macy’s and Wal-Mart are
spending millions to kill it. If big business
kills the law, our health insurance cost will
continue to go through the roof, and
management will use the rising cost as a
hammer to keep our wages down at the
negotiating table.
Did you know that 20% of our
premiums go to cover hospital cost of
uninsured patients? Please do NOT
continue to buy or shop at stores like WalMart that are too cheap to provide health
insurance for their employees. Unions are
great at fighting against employers at the
bargaining table, but before the matter
ends up there we need the fight to start
with YOU. This November, It’s time to
fight them at the ballot box! So get
yourselves, your family, and your friends
registered to vote so you will be ready this
November. We are on the defense and will
all need to pull together.
Arnold put SB12 on ballot in November.
God bless you and your family,
Your Field Representative and
District Council Delegate
Manuel (Manny) Velasco
Page 11
Local 270 Labor Fuels Jet Center
In San Jose, Local 270 laborers
have been cleared for takeoff on a project
building the new facilities for the San
Jose Jet Center (SJJC) on a new project
including a hangar, office and terminal
facilities.
The project broke ground in late
September, and thanks to the hard work
of Local 270 members, the additions of
46,000 square feet of hangar space and
18,000 square feet of terminal and office
space on the west side of the airport are
looking good.
The project will increase the SJJC
footprint to 22 acres, and its capacity by
one-third. The already impressive SJJC
facilities will include separate commuter
terminals designed for corporate shuttle
programs. It is designed to support large
groups with private jets, such as Silicone
Valley executives and sports teams.
Noncommercial corporate
flights now make up one third of all
weekday flights at Mineta San Jose.
SJJC currently supports 200,000 feet of
hangar and office space on 15 acres at
Mineta San Jose International Airport.
Laborers are working to create a new
seven-acre addition, which will include a
meeting room, lobby and other amenities
Carlos Lujan, Bus Rep, Dave Gardner, Mary Carranza, Robert Muniz, Jesse Muniz
for daily air travelers.
Crew cars, showers, and nap,
recreation and exercise rooms make life
easy for pilots and crew.
Laborers will continue their work
until completion, scheduled for sometime
toward the end of this year, or early next
year.
Local 270
Hod Carriers & General Laborers
509 Emory Street
San Jose, CA 95110
Page 12
En San Jose, los obreros del Local
270 han sido apartados para tomar el
proyecto de construcción y nuevas
instalaciones del Centro de Jet de San Jose
(SJJC) en el nuevo proyecto incluyendo el
hangar, oficina y terminal de la instalación.
Continuacion en pagina 9
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