News Views Gossip June 2015 Dear Brothers and Sisters, It is hard to believe 2015 is almost half over and summer is once again upon us. This year however is different, this year brings us a marked improvement on the employment outlook for our membership. I can comfortably share that our signatory employers are beginning to call for both journeymen and apprentices. This is a long awaited turn of events, and we anticipate the work outlook to remain strong especially when we consider the hard work Brother Ron Miller has been doing at the Los Angeles Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council ensuring that new projects are covered with project labor agreements which will provide our members with work for years to come. If you are interested in knowing what is happening in the area I encourage you to speak with Doug, Jeremiah or Jeremy they can tell you all about the various projects in their area. Not too long ago the Plumbers (UA) joined forces with the Electricians (IBEW) and the Sheet Metal Workers (SMART) to form the Coalition for Responsible Equitable Economic Development Los Angeles (CREEDLA). At this time we are working on approximately 150 future projects with various developers. Through our combined efforts we have enjoyed several victories in the last month with four (4) of the project developers committing to use the best contractors for the Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP). If this joint venture continues as it has, we expect to realize a good amount of work hours for our membership. Local 78 s membership recently voted on the upcoming July 2015 wage allocation. With this next wage allocation we will see a 2.5 percent increase in our total package. Over the past ten years, since July 1, 2005, the members of District Council have seen about a 47 percent increase in our wage and benefit package and we have been able to not only maintain the 13 th check for our retirees, but they have enjoyed an increase in the amount of the checks. This is a great accomplishment, given that the past five (5) years have brought a down economy to the area. Following is the breakdown for the recently adopted wage increase allocation. The membership of District Council recently voted and passed Option I as the next wage allocation. Package increase of 2.5% or $1.65(*) to be allocated as follows: $1.25 Taxable Base Wage $0.10 Retirees Christmas Benefit $0.15 Pension Benefit $0.05 LMCC Benefit $0.10 HRA Benefit * (Current journeyman package $65.67 x 2.5% = $1.65). Total package effective July 1, 2015 will be $67.32. As the Business Manager of Plumbers Local 78 it gives me great pleasure to announce that one of this year s recipients of the California State Pipe Trades Scholarship is Alyx Navarro the daughter of our member Brother Danny Navarro. Alyx will receive $2,500.00 from the California State Pipe Trades and the Executive Board of Local 78 has approved an additional $2,500.00 matching scholarship from Local 78. On behalf of the membership of Local 78, I offer Alyx a heartfelt congratulations and a sincere wish for continued success. On a final note, I have had several contractors share with me that they are actively seeking quality foremen, detailers and general foremen if you have contemplated a move and would like to be considered please email me your resume and I will pass it along. Additionally, if you are a sharp journeymen with good organization and computer skills please send me your resume,we have contractors looking for a few good plumbers that can be trained for open foreman positions. By now I should not have to remind you to make sure your certifications are current, but I know that several members have lost out on recent dispatch calls as they did not have up to date certs. It is up to you to make sure you are prepared for the next dispatch call we make to you. In closing, I want to remind everyone that Plumbers Local 78 will be having their membership picnic on October 10, 2015, at Six Flags Magic Mountain, if you would like to RSVP please do so by calling Tawni Patrick at the hall at (213) 688-9090. Please be sure to attend our next membership meeting on September 10 th and do not forget the nomination meeting on November 12, 2015. For more details on the upcoming election please read the Notice of Nomination Meeting and Election Notice in this publication of the Drips. Gary L. Cook Business Manager Visit Us On The Web! www.uaplumber78.com
N O T I C E O F N O M I N A T I O N M E E T I N G & E L E C T I O N F O R O F F I C E R S O F P L U M B E R S L O C A L 7 8 In accordance with Sections 121-124 of the Constitution of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada, a Nomination Meeting is called for officers of Plumbers Local Union 78 for a 3 year term beginning January 2016. Nominations will be at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 12, 2015. Location: Los Angeles Building Trades 1626 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026 Offices to be filled: President Vice President Recording Secretary Inside Guard Executive Board Finance Committee Examining Board Business Manager, Financial-Secretary- Treasurer Business Representatives Delegates to District Council No. 16 Building Trades Delegates County Labor Federation Delegates By-Laws Committee Building Committee Candidate Eligibility Requirements: No member shall be eligible to be nominated for office in any Local Union unless he shall be a journeyman member and shall have been a member of the United Association and the Local Union in good standing for at least a period of two years immediately prior to the election. Any journeyman member who owes or has paid a reinstatement fee within a period of two years immediately prior to the date of the election shall not be eligible to be nominated for office in any local union. Required to Nominate a Candidate: Any member of the United Association and the Local Union in good standing may nominate or second a candidate. General Election schedule: In the event of contested nominations, a mail ballot election will be held. Ballots will be mailed to all members in good standing, at the members last known address, on or about November 16, 2015. Ballots will be tallied at 8:00 A.M. on Saturday, December 12, 2015 at: LA BUILDING TRADES, 1626 BEVERLY BLVD, LOS ANGELES, CA 90026. Voter Eligibility Requirements: No member shall vote at any election of any description unless he has been a member in good standing in Local Union 78 for a period of one year prior to the date of election as provided for in the United Association Constitution, By- Laws, and Rules of Order. Apprentices are not allowed to vote except where this is necessary to comply with the Federal, State, and/or Provincial laws. Employers who desire to maintain their membership in the United Association and Local 78 shall not be eligible to vote. Next Membership Meeting will be held: REMINDER REMINDER REMINDER Call the Hall as soon as you get laid-off. Your sign in date may qualify you for unemployment dues. Date: September 10, 2015 Time: 5:00 P.M. Place: LA/OC Building & Construction Trades Council 1626 Beverly Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90026 Please plan to attend this meeting. Make sure your certifications are updated. Keep your email, phone number and mailing address current with the Union Hall. There will be a membership picnic October 10, 2015. Please RSVP with Tawni Patrick by calling the Union Hall at 213/ 688-9090.
Business Agent Douglas Marian Dear Brothers & Sisters, Here we are heading into summer with hopes that many of the slated projects will soon be hiring. The amount of projects on the horizon is amazing with even more proposed. Several large projects have already started and should be calling for manpower soon. Two more projects across the street from the Staples Center and the Convention Center have broken ground and the hole is being dug. Between those two projects there are five high rise towers, the shortest being thirty eight stories. The Carson City Council has unanimously approved the building of a football stadium and with some interest of some NFL teams we may actually get to build a stadium. Also recently reported on the news are the plans to build another stadium downtown for a professional soccer team. That would be built where the old sports arena is. We ve waited a long time for this and it s close. I ve been in this industry and in this local for a long time, during such time I ve seen many changes in what we do and how we do it. We now have the trimble, pro-press, pex, cpvc and pods (prefabricated bathrooms) all of which are being used on our projects, all of which use less people. We are in a state of emergency after several years of drought the cost of water is going to become astronomical. The Governor will be mandating changes in what we do and how we do it. We can expect to see changes in water sizing, waste and water systems and water reuse. How can we protect our industry? How can we protect the public that depend on the systems we install? As the materials change and become easier to install the systems are becoming more complicated. We need to support strong codes, standards and certification. This helps separate us from the non-union who don t have the easy access to the education and training that will be required to do the work we do. I know this will be unpopular amongst many of us but it is a great tool to ensure that our members are doing the work. Plus remember I am not only referring to the non-union, but also those basic crafts like the labors and carpenters that like to do our work. Remember the A&J Training Centers are there to help our cause and excel us to the next level making us more attractive to the employer and opening the door to different areas within our industry. LAUSD, District employees (Unit E): Everyone should have received the retro bonus for years 2013/2014. Everyone should also be receiving the retro pay for July 2014 to date. I really need to ask something of the district plumbers, first we couldn t have negotiated the contract we did without the help of board members that actually care about the state of the district facilities. I will tell you that there is a board member that wants you to pay for your medical benefits. We had board members that understood the role of the Health Benefits Committee and recognized the work that is put into keeping the costs and quality of the benefits to the highest standard possible. In this last election we lost two of those board members. We had requested help from district employees to phone bank or walk precincts, just a couple of hours on a weekend to ensure the continuation of the benefits you enjoy. If it wasn t important to the wellbeing of what we try to accomplish, higher wages and benefits we wouldn t ask. These are your benefits you and your family have without you paying part of the premium. We want to keep these benefits as long as possible and we need the right people in the right position. LA City employees under MOU 2 & MOU 13: We are still in negotiations. At the coalition table we have been in mediation trying to finalize a couple things. At our table we are resolving as much as possible, the part and pieces that pertain to our units only. We are very close to an agreement, but unfortunately there is no way to know exactly when we will finish, especially when working with the coalition. I will try to keep you as informed as much as I possibly can. Please be sure to take notice of the events coming up this summer and make plans to participate. We always have a great time at the membership picnic and golf tournament, but we always wish we had more participation from our brothers and sisters. Douglas Marian Congratulations Local 78 Retirees James A. Guerrero Arthur J. Moreno James D. Sunstedt Please take a moment to pray and remember the following Brothers and Sisters who have passed away. John D. Griesbach William R. Henry Hyman Weiser Raymond C. Wilcox
Organizer Jeremy Diaz Dear Brothers & Sisters: Here is what s happening in and around Long Beach. A Historic Night On April 7, 2015, members from Plumbers Local 78 and Building Trades went to Long Beach City Hall for what has become a historic occasion. On that night the City Council unanimously approved a Citywide Project Labor Agreement! This agreement is the first of its kind as it encompasses over 500,000 city construction projects. This agreement was a long time coming as I have be involved since 2007. None of this could have been possible without the hard work and dedication our members have put forth. I would personally like to thank Kevin Harvey, Ronnie Williams, Camaran Aguirre, David Grody and Alex Walker. These Brothers put in numerous hours volunteering their time to benefit the future of our membership. Next time you see them make sure to thank them for their efforts. Long Beach Port Update On April 27, 2015, the board of harbor commissioners voted unanimously to extend the Project Labor Agreement to cover Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the Middle Harbor in the Port of Long Beach. The next two phases will have work that is covered by plumbers. You WILL need your TWIC card to work on these projects. If you have any questions on how to obtain your TWIC card please contact me at the hall. Also at the meeting a Port Wide Project Labor Agreement was discussed and the Commissioners wanted to see a draft within 60 days. Once that meeting is set to review the draft we will need support so be on the lookout for an update email. Service Plumbers We still have signatory contractors looking for experienced service techs. If you have experience or know someone who does please have them contact me at the hall. Looking for Contractors Plumbers Local 78 is actively looking for plumbing contractors. The membership recently approved an incentive program to compensate members that help identify viable contractors. Once they sign a Master Labor Agreement, and stay in good standings with the Trust Fund for six months the member will receive $500.00. Local 78 Softball On March 7, 2015, the Local 78 soft- ball team played in a tournament in Huntington Beach. We ended the day with an undefeated record of 4-0. We have a really strong team this year and we have our sights set on winning the LA/OC Building Trades tournament, and would love to have your support at the tournament on July 18, 2015. If you can attend the tournament is being held at Big League Dreams at 2100 S. Azusa Avenue, West Covina, California, 91792. Jobs Update Demolition has begun on the 250 million dollar renovation of Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Hospital. Several Long Beach Unified schools will undergo renovations and modernizations this summer. I hope everyone has a safe and happy summer. Jeremy Diaz Business Agent Jeremiah Ashmore Dear Brothers & Sisters, The Local 78 apprentice contest was held on March 14, 2015, and I want to congratulate all the participants; Camaran A. Aguirre, Matthew F. Navarro, Richard P. Schol, Juan C. Silverio, Andrew M. Smith and Alexander J. Wilson. Camaran A. Aguirre won the Local 78 contest and represented Local 78 in the State Apprentice Contest held May 6th and 7 th at the Sacramento Training Center. Congratulations Camaran on your achievement. Local 78 is encouraging any of our apprentices to come out and compete in the local contest in 2016. We look forward to seeing you next year. County Its almost that time again. We will be entering negotiations with the County around the beginning of July. I will keep you updated of the progress as we proceed. If you have any questions feel free to contact me at the office. Just a friendly reminder Don t forget to reserve your spot in this year s Golf Tournament Fundraiser. Sport are filling fast, you don t want to miss out! Jeremiah Ashmore Shown Above: Camaran A. Aguirre Local 78 s contest participant.
Annual Apprenticeship Golf Fundraiser Sponsorship Opportunities (Choose One) Event Sponsor: $2500 + 1 Musty Putter 4 Golfers 6 Raffle Tickets per Golfer 1 Drink Ticket Per Golfer Platinum Sponsor: $1250 4 Golfers 4 Raffle Tickets per Golfer 1 Drink Ticket Per Golfer Gold Sponsor: $550 4 Golfers 2 Raffle Tickets Per Golfer Silver Sponsor: $350 2 Golfers 1 Raffle Ticket Per Golfer Hole Sponsor: $150 1 Golfer Single Golfer: $90 1 Golfer Sign Up: Company Name: Contact Name: E-mail: Phone No.: ( ) Name of Golfers: 1) 2) 3) 4) Complete this registration form and return with your payment. Please Make Checks Payable to: Pipe Trust Fund Address: 1111 W James M Wood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015 Phone: (213) 688-9090 Fax: (213) 627-4624 Cell: (213) 448-2724 TAX ID: 95-3942172 If paying by credit card please complete: Name on Credit Card: Credit Card Number: Expiration Date: Security Code: Signature: Reasons to Participate On behalf of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Plumbers Joint Apprenticeship Committee, we would like to request your continued support and participation with our Apprenticeship Golf Tournament Fundraiser. Due to charitable donations and participant involvement, our fundraisers have been a great success. We hope to continue expanding the education and involvement of our apprentices within the industry. In order to guarantee our success in this venture we would like to count on you for your participation in this year s upcoming 6 th Annual Apprenticeship Golf Tournament being held on August 1, 2015. All proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Apprentices and Apprenticeship program of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Plumbers JATC. Affiliate's: