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Download PDF of the 2008 Summer Newsletter

As always, I hope this newsletter finds you and your family in excellent health and doing well. Once again, I wish to bring you up to date with what is going on in our Industry, and how it relates to you as a member.

Hourly Wage Increase
General Laborer, Brick-Tender, Tunnel Laborer, & Apprentice
Classifications
I am pleased to announce we recently finalized hourly wage allocation agreements for the previously mentioned classifications which resulted in a substantial increase forall of our members. The increase benefiting our members will be seen directly on their paycheck as well as on the vacation allocation check effective July 1st, 2008.

All classifications will receive an increase of $1.70/hr on their paycheck. The new hourly rates effective July 1st,2008 are as follows:
General Laborer – Group I : $26.33/hr
General Laborer – Group II : $26.88/hr.
General Laborer – Group III : $27.43/hr.
General Laborer – Group IV : $28.98/hr.
General Laborer – Group V : $29.33/hr.
Brick-Tender: $27.17/hr.
Brick-Tender/Forklift Operator: $27.62/hr.
Tunnel Laborer – Group I : $30.74/hr.
Tunnel Laborer – Group II : $31.06/hr.
Tunnel Laborer – Group III : $31.52/hr.
Tunnel Laborer – Group IV : $32.21/hr.

The hourly vacation allocation for the above mentioned classifications was increased by $.22 per hour. This amount will be reflected in your vacation check to be received in December 2008 for hours worked for the time period July 1st, 2008 through September 30th, 2008.

Laborer Apprentices
1st Period 1 – 500 hours $14.67/hr.
2nd Period 501 – 1000 hours $16.13/hr.
3rd Period 1001 – 1500 hours $17.60/hr.
4th Period 1501 – 2000 hours $20.53/hr.
5th Period 2001 – 2500 hours $23.46/hr.
6th Period 2501 – 3000 hours $24.93/hr.

The hourly vacation allocation for Apprentices was increased to $1.24 per hour. This amount will be reflected in your vacation check to be received in December 2008 for hours worked for the time period July 1st, 2008 through September 30th, 2008.

Increase in “Eligible Member Dependent Death Benefit”
I am very pleased to report the “Eligible Member Dependent Death Benefit” has been increased to $5,000.00 per dependent Spouse and/or Children 19 years of age or younger). The previous benefit was $2,500.00 for a spouse and $200.00 - $1,000.00 for a child. This inequity was recently brought to my attention through the unfortunate death of a child of one of our members. Realizing the $200.00 benefit was seriously inadequate; I immediately requested an “actuary study” on our current Life Insurance plan and subsequently submitted the findings to our Health & Welfare Trust Board of Trustees who approved the previously mentioned increase.

Note: In order to be eligible for this benefit the actual member must have covered insurance at the time of death of his or her spouse or child.

Increase in Dental Plan Coverage
It is also my pleasure to report our Dental Plan coverage has been increased from $1,500.00 to $2,500.00 for the plan year 2008 and the Orthodontic limit has been increased from $2,500.00 to $3,000.00 effective immediately. I wish to thank my colleagues on the Laborer’s Health and Welfare Trust in working with me to take this necessary and appropriate action.

City of Buena Park considering becoming a “Charter City” Buena Park City Council is lobbying to have the city become a “Charter City” by placing this issue on the November ballot so it may be decided upon by the citizens of Buena Park. Currently, all construction projects built by cities and government entities are required to be built utilizing “Prevailing Wage” by all contractors involved in the project.

You may say “how does this affect me? Well, prevailing wage is closely tied to what Union Contractors pay their employees, thus making it a “fair and level playing field” for all contactors (Union or Non-Union) bidding on the project.

Additionally, If Buena Park becomes a Charter City, it won’t be long before other Orange County cities attempt to do the same
thing. Although, we are not opposed to a Charter City, we can not let these Cities take the Prevailing Wages out of these Charter Cities. I hope I have brought home the seriousness of this issue and how it will dramatically affect our day to day way of doing business and ultimately our member’s livelihood. I ask those of you that are citizens of Buena Park to make yourself available to attend city council meetings, man phone banks, pass out fliers, speak with your neighbors and friends, and assist us in doing what needs to be done to defeat this attack on our livelihood. For the rest of our members who are not citizens of Buena Park, you too can help us in the same manner by making yourself available for assisting us as well. Remember, there is Strength in Numbers, that’s why we are part of the Union Movement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let’s make sure Buena Park and all those in Orange County hear us Loud and Clear!!!!!!!!!!

After three months of attending meetings, phone banking and working side by side with the other building trades the Buena
Park City Council Meetings the City Council voted unanimously in favor of the Charter City and also voted to keep the Prevailing wage with in the Charter City.

Volunteer Incentive Program
As part of our effort to maximize the number of volunteers who assist us in Precinct Walking, Stuffing Envelopes for Candidates, Phone Banking, Attending Rallies, and overall doing what it takes to elect candidates who will help our cause, and defeat those who won’t, I have proposed a “Volunteer Incentive Program” that will reward those of you who chose to have a say in your future by helping when called upon.

Those participating in the Incentive Program will receive an “attendance card” which you will complete and turn in each time
you attend a volunteer function. You may attend as many functions as you wish. The cards will be kept until the November
2008 General Membership meeting at which time several cards will be drawn indicating a winning name for the raffle prizes
listed below.

Card # 1 $500.00 Gift Card to Costco
Card # 2 – 4 $200.00 Gift Card to Costco
Card # 5 – 13 $100.00 Gift Card to Costco
Card # 14 – 20 Surprise Gifts
Note: Those eligible to participate are the member in good standing (active or retired). Winners need not be present. This
program is effective June 1st, 2008.

I hope you can see that we continue to work towards serving each of you to the best of our ability. I wish to thank you for your patience and understanding as we travel through these challenging times ahead. As I have said many, many times before, Together…..we are unstoppable in our fight for what is rightfully ours. Let there be no doubt, Laborer’s will prevail, we always have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!