the Boilermaker Reporter Vol. 41 No. 6 Nov • Dec 2002 The Official Publication of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers, and Helpers, AFL-CIO Charles W. Jones, Editor-in-Chief http://www.IBB.workingfamilies.com http://www.boilermakers.org Local 667’s Jerry Fulk wins INTHESE PAGES apprentice competition L-169’s Anderson places second; Southeast reps. earn team prize JERRY FULK OF LOCAL 667, Charleston, W.Va., is the Boilermakers’ outstanding apprentice of the year. Representing the Southeast Area, Fulk earned the top marks at the 15th annual Boilermakers National Apprenticeship Program’s (BNAP) outstanding apprentice competition, Local News 5 held Sept. 15-19, 2002, at the BNAP Boilermakers are hard at work . . . . . . . . . training center in Kansas City, Kan. Nathan Anderson of Local 169, INTL. PRES. CHARLES W. JONES(r.) con- INTL. SEC.-TREAS. JERRY WILLBURN(l.) Detroit, Mich., representing the Great gratulates Jerry Fulk of L-667, Charleston, congratulates second-place award W.Va., the top apprentice of the year. winner Nathan Anderson of Local 169. Lakes Area, placed second. Southeast Area representatives, Fulk and John McWhorter (Local 105, tion, who were then judged individu- national contest. Not only are they Chillicothe, Ohio.), won the BNAP ally and as a team. winners, but they are leaders, too. team competition award. Each of this year’s eight contestants “History has demonstrated that our This is the third year that each par- is a winner, as each had to place either contestants are leaders, not only as ticipating apprenticeship area sent two first or second in his area’s competi- apprentices, but throughout their contestants to the national competi- tion in order to participate in the Continued on page 8 Texans form Lone Star District Counting on strength in numbers, members hope Training & Education district will sustain lodges 6-9 Natl., Area, and Local Programs . . . TEXAS LOCALS HAVEbeen hit hard by nonunion competition. There used Steward’s Sourcebook11 to be six Boilermaker construction What to do if asked for advice . . . . . lodges in Texas. Only four remain. And when work is slow, it’s a finan- Settlements . . . . . . . . . . .12 cial strain to keep some of these lodges running. But all that should change with the formation of the Lone Star 13 District Lodge. Letters to Editor . . . . . . . On September 24-25, 2002, represen- RaEttPeRnEdS EthNeT AfirTsIVt cESo nOvFe TnHtiEo Inn toefr nthaeti oLonnael aSntadr LDoisctaricl Lt oLoddggees ,7 S4e, p13t.2 2, 45-3215,, a2n0d02 5.87 tatives from four Texas locals attended the first convention of the Lone Star closer to home instead of having to there will be enough manpower to fill District Lodge in Spring, Texas. Intl. boom across the country. their jobs when needed. Vice Pres. George Rogers chaired the The district lodge is good for “There is strength in numbers,” meetings, where members of Local 74 employers, too. Being able to draw explained Rogers. “And the district (Houston), Local 132 (Galveston), workers from four affiliated locals lodge can provide that strength while Local 531 (Amarillo), and Local 587 assures Boilermaker employers that its affiliated lodges retain their autono- (Orange) met to discuss and approve the new district’s referral rules and by- Continued on page 3 laws, as well as elect district officers. Local 203 members Ronnie Keck, Local 74, was elected to serve as the district’s business man- ager and executive secretary. Also build 520-foot penstock elected were District President Dennis Smith (Local 74), Vice President James L. Kirkland (Local 587), Trustee MEMBERS OF LOCAL 203, St. The penstock Local 203 members Chairman and Rec. Sec. Robert John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, are are building in Newfoundland will Huepers (Local 132), and Trustee building a new penstock for M&M Charles Thomas (Local 531). Engineering Limited at Granite Lake, Continued on page 5 By pooling resources — both man- a remote wilderness area in central power and financial — the district Newfoundland. lodge will help meet employer needs, “The penstock is 20-feet in diameter keep members working closer to and 520-feet in length,” reports L-203 home, and sustain its affiliated lodges. President Harold Furey. “When com- The district lodge will collect field pleted, it will produce 40 megawatts of dues and then equally distribute one- power and will be tied into the New- half of one percent to each of the affili- foundland hydro transmission lines.” ated lodges. This extra income will Hydroelectric plants produce elec- help maintain a lodge through slow tricity using gravity instead of burn- work periods. In addition, when work ing fuel. Water from a lake, reservoir, is abundant at one local while others or river flows through a water wheel in the district are slow, the district can or turbine, which spins the magnets draw members from other affiliated in the generator. The penstock is the lodges, allowing members to work pipe or conduit that carries the water L-203 MEMBERSprepare to lower one of to the turbine. the penstock sections into place. the Boilermaker Reporter 2 Nov • Dec 2002 E L E C T I O N N E W S Poll: Union members vote on issues Strong majority support their tant, 70 percent voted for the Democratic over Democrats —was in addition to too many times to count in a frenzy of union’s political activities House candidate, with 72 percent choos- the $18 million they gave to candidates election-eve campaigning on behalf of ing the Democrat running for Senate. and parties. Republicans in tight races. In addition, THANKS TO MASSIVE corporate When members were asked the two Unable to spend the huge sums cor- he ordered 220 appointees to take vaca- spending, Nov. 5 was the most expen- top issues affecting their choices in porations lay out for the elections, tion time and hit the campaign trail. sive off-year election in history. Big House races, pocketbook issues pre- unions fought back with people power An e-mail to 6,100 employees of the Business outspent working-family vailed. Forty-four percent surveyed and education about the issues. The Environmental Protection Agency said advocates 12 – 1 in hard and soft- named the economy and jobs, followed survey confirmed the effectiveness of they “are permitted to take an active part money contributions ($710 to $62 mil- by health care and prescription drugs that program and union members’ siz- in partisan political management and lion as of Sept. 9), up from 9 – 1 in 1992. with 34 percent, and 25 percent naming able support for it. campaigns,” and encouraged them to Nearly all of their support went to Social Security. Terrorism and national When asked whether “unions need to “express support for the president and Republican candidates. security ranked fourth with 24 percent. invest time and money in politics and his program” when they are off-duty. Yet an election night telephone sur- legislation today, to counter the influ- Scholars call Bush’s partisan use of vey of union members conducted by Drug companies back GOP ence that corporations and wealthy spe- the government unprecedented for a Peter D. Hart Research for the AFL-CIO IN ADDITION to contributing to polit- cial interest have,” 73 percent of midterm election, and federal workers showed that, in battleground Senate ical parties and candidates’ campaigns, members agreed, up from 69 percent in the American Federation of Govern- races, 72 percent of union members Big Business also financed “issue ads,” when that question was asked in 2000. ment Employees complained about voted for the Democratic candidate, which do not have to be reported to the Even a majority of union members who politicization of their work. with similar results in U.S. House races. Federal Elections Commission. In these voted for candidates who were not And taxpayers foot the bill. This margin is consistent with voting ads, an organization will speak in sup- endorsed by their union supported the The Government Accounting Office trends for union members in 1998 and port of or opposition to a proposal, such work their union did to get out the vote. estimated that the 59 trips Bush had 2000, according to Hart Research. Hart as privatizing Social Security, then ask Focusing on 25 governor races, 16 taken as of Oct. 29 cost taxpayers was unable to determine what percent- viewers to phone a candidate and voice Senate races, 47 House races, and tar- roughly $15.7 million. age of voters came from union house- their appreciation for that candidate’s geted competitive state legislative races When the president travels, bills holds, because they rely on Voter News position. Though clearly meant to sup- during the 2002 election cycle, grass- mount quickly. Air Force One costs Service (VNS) for these numbers. VNS port a specific candidate, they skirt roots union activists handed out nearly $34,400 per hour. Cargo planes that did not conduct exit polls this year. campaign finance limits. 17 million worksite leaflets, made five accompany the president cost from When asked what was important in In 2002, drug companies bankrolled million phone calls to members, and $5,349 to $7,025 per hour. their choice of a candidate for Congress, television spots congratulating mem- sent 15 million pieces of mail. On Elec- Bush’s Marine One helicopter costs 54 percent of those surveyed answered bers of Congress who voted for their tion Day nearly 225,000 union mem- $5,597 per hour to take him from the “issues,” followed by 26 percent citing plan to privatize a prescription drug bers volunteered to get out the vote. White House to Andrews Air Force “personal qualities,” and 16 percent benefit for seniors. The $16 million they Base. A smaller Blackhawk he some- naming party affiliation. Of the 54 per- spent on these television ads —which Bush spent millions of tax dollars times uses costs $3,658. These helicop- cent who said issues were most impor- clearly supported GOPcandidates making campaign trips ters always fly three at a time to foil would-be attackers. POLITICAL ANALYSTSwere quick to On his first 59 trips this year, Bush Unions raise wages 25% credit President Bush for playing a raised about $66.5 million in contribu- major role in several key Republican vic- tions to the Republican Party and to Union workers earn 25% more 2000 Wages — Union vs. Nonunion taottreinedse odn 5 9N oouvt-.o 5f-.t Bowy nO pcot.li 2ti9ca, lh eev ehnatds Rtaexppuaybelirc aonf $c1a5n.7d imdailtlieosn, .a t a cost to the than nonunion workers $3,500 mIna d2e0 0$06,2 u1n mioonr ew ao mrkoenrsth itnh e2 0e0le2c, taionnd, ihne t chreis lsacsrto twsseod w theeek cso buenfotrrye paFyoerr st hmea Gy OhaPv,e t ha adti’fsf ear ebnatr gopaiinn.i oTna.q x- UmNorIeO tNha Wn nOoRnKuEnRioSn E wAoRrNke 2r5s, paecrccoernd-t $3,000 $3,120 than nonunion workers Locals 13, 154 give ing to the U.S. Department of Labor’s $2,500 $2,499 Bureau of Labor Statistics. Median $2,000 monthly earnings of full-time union thumbs-up to Casey workers were $3,120 in 2000, compared $1,500 with $2,499 for their nonunion counter- $1,000 parts, a difference of $621 a month. $950 Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Earnings, Jan. 2002.q $900 Union Nonunion How your per capita tax dollar is divided 3% — Publications Fund 15% — 3% — Defense Convention 79% — General Fund Fund Fund REPRESENTATIVES OFLocal 13, Philadelphia, Pa., and Local 154, Pittsburgh, Pa., meet with Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Bob Casey Jr. (center) to give their support. Pictured, l. to r., are L-154 BM Ray Ventrone, L-154 VP Sean Murphy (behind Ventrone), Casey, now retired L-13 BM-ST Joseph Murray, and L-13 Pres. William Hill Jr. q the Boilermaker The Boilermaker Reporter is the official publi- Reporter cation of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Per capita tax goes up 2002, these earnings increased 2.8 per- Forgers, and Helpers, AFL-CIO. It is published 50 cents a month cpeanretd — to f ar o3m.4 p$e1r4c.e8n6t itnoc $re1a5s.e2 8in, c2o00m1-. banimdo innttehrley stto t od iitsss emmeimnabteer sin. fSourbmmaistisoionn os ff ruosme members, local lodges, and subordinate or EFFECTIVE JANUARY1, 2003, the itieTsh oef p there cIanpteitran taatxio fninaal.n Acess p arlol vacidtievd- Nov • Dec 2002 Vol. 41 No. 6 aenffciloiautreadge bdo. Tdhiies ps uabrleic awtioenlc iso mmaeilde da fnrede Binocirleearsme abky e2r.s8’ p peerrc ecnatp (i$t0a. 5t0a xw wheinll f1o5r p iner tcheen It ngtoeerns atoti othnea lD Ceofennsstiet uFtuionnd, Charles W. Jones,Ianntedr nEdaittioorn-ainl- PCrheiseidfent omfe cmhbaergrse h toold aincgti vae R meteiremdb Meersm abnedr sr eCtairerdd. rounded to the nearest five cents), for Jerry Z. Willburn,Intl. Secretary-Treasurer Others may subscribe for the price of $10 for a total monthly per capita tax pay- to pay for weekly strike benefits; three three years. Standard Mail (A) postage paid ment of $18.05. percent goes to the Publication Fund International Vice Presidents at Kansas City, Kan., and additional mailing awvindeicTtnjrhuhet siieanto sefnmelda iatoesicoa nbtncitah,oh si nnleJya d atn ac poucknoeaer rrtnd yhc a ie1ann ppct 1eoei 9t rwkac7e ie7ttenh.ap tTcxa ouh gnipees- ftFtcohhourrinn enafdeglel ; pr ceaeeolnnrssdcctesee , 7 nasi9n,st ssgpcoeloecurreivdcasiet ictennoedtg tt gw homoe ilet oeChsec oftatohinlnr ivls goe epvdsna egtaprienoyesndr-,; LMNGDRaioeceiwcnwhoh rartLeagoarndeencc l Ae BReSf.ol.i bM eJMgorldceigunrM,rehspW,tsa C,h, eW nSyesoat,en euNmtsrrttnoaeh orSlert ntnhaa ,eCs tGeata srse ntaatd Laakes oPOffiScTeMT7K(9h5asA1e3.n 3S IsSSB)Tat SEo3asNR7i ltCe:1e NrS-i mtA2eyo6vn,a 4.Ked k01Sn e;a 0 u6rF d7e6AR8d1,eX 0-Srp 4e(1u9o1sit1sr0e t3ce1 )5hr. 26a85n1g-8e1s0 t4o: increase in average hourly earnings in education and training of local lodge Alexander MacDonald, Eastern Canada Web sites: IBB.workingfamilies.coma nd www.boilermakers.org manufacturing as issued by the officers and stewards, organizing, col- Jim Hickenbotham,At-Large PUBLICATION AGREEMENT No. 40010131 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for the lective bargaining research, legal Othal Smith Jr.,At-Large expenses, and all other activities 1in2g-m too nththe BpeLrSio, fdr,o Jmul yJu toly J u2l0y0.1 A tcoc oJurdly- required of an organization that serv- EdDitoonriaalld s tCaaffswell, Managing Editor Printed in the U.S.A. ices about 90,000 members. Carol Dillon, Asst. to the Managing Editor A prize-winning newspaper http://www.IBB.workingfamilies.com http://www.boilermakers.org the Boilermaker Reporter Nov • Dec 2002 3 N E W S M A K E R S Owner, contractor, union reps. meet in S.C. Tripartite meeting earns recognition for working out problems collectively NEARLY 350 OWNER, contractor, and union representatives attended the Boil- ermakers’ 17th annual National Tripar- tite Alliance Conference, October 8-10, 2002, in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Intl. Vice Pres. Michael Murphy wel- comed the delegates, congratulating them for moving this meeting “from one where each group first came to serve individual goals, to one where we now work together toward common goals.” INTL. VICE PRES. Michael Murphy wel- CONSTRUCTION DIVISIONDirector Dale FEDERAL MEDIATION Commissioner Jack Toner, the new chief of staff for the comes nearly 350 owner, contractor, and Branscum describes the importance of Michael Johaneson reports on last year’s union representatives to the meeting. defining craft jurisdiction. participation in the TAGS Program. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Ser- vice (FMCS), who had served 28 years as connected to a larger computer in 1. Absenteeism— Intl. Vice Pres. to fund the hiring of a gainsharing ttcminhioogeeOnn n oesfntxe u Baeertonec pa.nd rwsrc odeleabca, b.lswy eooam firhd ttiesh nhh rce eeeto hN wlyledeao ascteusatio ilm“ vehniemgeaal yalvrp Lo.te”reoa emsbms soa erwwnd Rao obegryrlkeak ---a WaomSbuuesatbnesanthgc, tiaeenon esgmdicst ohmrmene,sd, pgDiutaet.lcieCnitn sei. nghTs ,ath hprreieern sowgcijx,e oor ctremotkc pmprumilcaaistcnme ewa.n egendert-e, NgpeoTmfehoe suwelpti nsctlcoo odytnyhne ertaJeroosta,nt ncwaceo tnshon.da roTt bi rcnshasahgeecna tnds lotluth usrebeisrgec niinnios stg smaemu nromme ra icaiitetnco tnweea tpetareet itsa taiauntocnegcnhny-e. ehPthxora3lpodt. e eS cRrraet, rnetdvoc i.br rdHeeuce totivaotuekrmsl eooenefph r,n oeaitngl pd—icorleunor aTdt oolih nutsyoegtrmpl vitenhai cepseed rsHro eoagocfc rruAtuaisoEmietnP--. tFoMgeCthS eTrA isG thS rPoruogghra pmar. TtiAcipGaSti iosn a ipno twhe- action to improve jobsites employee failing to adhere to the policy. mseernvti coef ss,k silulegdg peesrtisnogns t fhraotm a tfhuel al-rtmimede erful network of Internet servers, 2. Gainsharing— Thomas O’Connor regional coordinator be hired to target mobile computers, and customized SINCE LAST YEAR’s conference, Jr., president of O’Connor Constructors. schools and military locations and to software that skilled FMCS mediators FMCS Commissioner Michael Johane- The subcommittee recommends that a develop recruiting materials. use to help groups solve problems, son has analyzed the results of the 2001 pilot program be set up in each vice- 4. Outage Scheduling— Larry make and implement decisions, and TAGS’ caucus and presented the presidential area on easily-measured Wargo, manager of outage support services conduct internal elections, remote results to six subcommittees for evalua- projects with a high probability of suc- for First Energy. Wargo reviewed the meAetti nlagsst, ayneda or’nsl icnoen suferrveenycs.e , TAGS tioAn ta tnhdis r yeceoamr’sm ceonndfearteionnc.e, Johaneson creessusl.t sW cohuelnd sbue cmceaislsedfu aln, dch peucbklisc iaznedd snuinbgc womithm initdteues’tsr yp alannd omf aancptioown,e br eidgeinn-- ebtonrpaaiibnclsset doin rtmthoe bo cyno ene nfoetfer esriennvcgee ripdaael ractsoi camipbpoauunttt ses ritxso paccoo rcnemosfneemtrnaeitcntettdc epe ehe.s Ari ssa orblesnropi fe oomfr rst ay eodanfce oth hpa aso rtifs e ct pfahouoellrc ostui wxtso ,ss a .utnhbde- armesse usnoldtso a ncsok auinsld gp btohes eas Dnibaellpyeaz. reUtdm.n Tesnhutec oycf er Lescasobfumorl- tgiefin5ce.a rPtairol omnj eaacnnta dMg seroa nfotfaw tghaeer mNe deonoetvte—er lCo Dponmasvteern uZtc.atciohn, Co. The subcommittee recommends the Buckeye Council honors leaders development of a Project Management Education Program. 6. Workplace Respect— Ron Traxler, director of labor relations and health and Heiser, Beitel, Persons safety for CBI Services, Inc.The subcom- re-elected to council mittee recommends developing a com- prehensive plan for upgrading and leadership committee building on the principles of education, experience, and skills of the Boilermaker REPRESENTATIVES FROMlocal employees, supervisors, and project lodges affiliated with theState of managers to enhance respect in the Ohio’s Buckeye Industrial Council work environment for all employees. (BIC) attended the council’s 12th annual conference, where they elect- Other conference speakers included ed members to the leadership com- Construction Division Director Dale mittee and presented awards for Branscum and his asst. Mike DiCicco; outstanding service. MOST Admin. Bill Palmisano and reps. Re-elected to a three-year term as David Haggerty and Bridget Connors; members of the council’s leadership LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBER Jeff Beitel, r., of Local 1073, presents awards to BNAP Coordinator Pat Smith; and committee were Terry Heiser, sec.- B11u9c1k,e ayned C Boaurtn Bcail rmtteer mofb Leorcs,a l.l 9to0 8r.., Vernon Persons of Local 908, Terry Heiser of Local NACBE Exec. Dir. John Erickson. q treas. of Local 1191, Canton, Ohio; Jeff Beitel, president of Local 1073, Texans form Lone Star District Cleveland, Ohio; and Vernon Persons, president of Local 908, Wadsworth, Ohio. During the conference, three BIC delegates received the Steven A. Jewell Award in recognition of their outstanding service to their mem- bers. Recipients included Heiser, Persons, and Local 908 Sec.-Treas. Bart Bartter. Conference topics included educa- tion, legislation, and the Union Label. Persons announced upcoming steward training programs for mem- bers in the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, and Canton areas. Beitel discussed the importance of this year’s elections at both the state INTL. VICE PRES. GEORGE ROGERS, l., swears in the officers of the new Lone Star RONNIE KECK, LOCAL 74, is the business District Lodge. L. to r., Vice Pres. James Kirkland, BM-ES Ronnie Keck, Trustee Charles manager and executive secretary of and federal level. He urged each Thomas, Pres. Dennis Smith, and Trustee Chrmn. and Rec. Sec. Robert Huepers. the new Lone Star District. affiliated local to participate in the Bfeorielnercme aink eWrsa’ sahninnugatol nle,g Dis.lCat.,i vaen cdo nto- Continued from page 1 fpirasttt ecdo novne tnhteio bna, cakn fdo rw gee tatilnl gsh tohuroldu gbhe LThoocmalp s1o3n2, Rroebperrte Hseunetpaetrisv, eans d MLaarrryk start a Local Lodge Campaign my. Texas and Louisiana have been this,” said Keck. “We have a lot of Zion; Local 531 representatives Charles Assistance Fund. hard hit by nonunion competition, hard work ahead of us, and I think we Thomas, Phillip Caudill, and Rick Heiser passed out a list of making it hard to keep our member- have a good team put together, and a Cunningham; and Local 587 represen- Boilermaker-made products and ship numbers up. Forming a district lot of good ideas, and hopefully we tatives Clay Herford, James Kirkland, spoke about the state’s Union Label lodge is a way to sustain the four will be successful when we come back and Terry Kirkland. Also in attendance Department and the good work they lodges of Texas.” to this table in four years, or whenever were Intl. Vice Pres. George Rogers, are doing for the workers in Ohio. BM-ES Keck thanked the delegates we may meet.” Asst. to the Intl. Pres. Victor Maggio, 1160A664,f ,f7 i14l6i4a6, t69e, 0d18 7,l0 o12d0, 7ga3ne,sd 1 1i0n78c06l4,u .1 dq1e9 1L, o1c6a0l3s, fhoarr dth ewiro prka rttoic igpeatt ihoner. e“.I tT thoiosk w aa lso to uofr LHoCecraomln a7vn4e rnSeutpilorlienvsa ennd,te aaltenivgdea sDt eReson nninnisice Sl uKmdeictehkd;, aHnadrd Iinnt, la. nRde Dpes.n nKiys lKei nEgv. eqnson, Dick http://www.IBB.workingfamilies.com http://www.boilermakers.org tthhee BBooiilleerrmmaakkeerr RReeppoorrtteerr 4 Nov • Dec 2002 L O C A L N E W S HONORS S1978 helps needy families Helping Hands Day volunteers receive awards Boilermakers earn membership pins Local 1, Chicago, Ill., presents membership pins JOHN SKERMONT, BM-ST of Local 1, Chicago, Ill., reports presentation of pins for continuous years of mem- bership to the following: 40 Years— Arthur Adams; 30 Years— Charles Moore; and 25 Years— Robert Kosola. MEMBERS OFLocal S1978, Rock County get work done on their homes. Local 7, Buffalo, N.Y., Springs, Wyo., participated in the 7th L. to r., Bridger Coal Safety Dir. Paul presents membership pins RUDY MASSENGILL,r., receives his 50-year annual United Way Campaign’s Gust, Local S1978 Pres. Patrick membership pin from L-656 Pres. James P. Helping Hands Day, Sept. 7, 2002. Murphy, Bridger Coal Gen. Mgr. Pat F. PATRICK LYONS, BM-ST of Local Culbertson and Sec.-Treas. R. E. Burgess. The volunteers pictured above Akers, Local S1978 Rec. Sec. Joe 7o,f Bpuinfsfa floor, Nco.nYt.i,n rueopuosr tys eparress oenf tmateiomn- Local 374, Hammond, Ind., reports rheeclpeiinvged s eanwioarr dcisti zfoenr st hine iSr wefefeotwrtsa tienr QScuoitrt oPza,l manedr. qBridger Coal Maint. Dir. bership to the following: presentation of pins for continu- Local 667 members raise 55 Years— Martin Gasiewicz, ous years of membership to the William E. Walsh; following: funds for cancer research 45 Years— Raymond J. Dobson; 45 Years— Michael Compateso, 35 Years — Robert L. Frank G. Dudek, Clifford White; Brushingham, Joseph W. Chmiel, 35 Years— Anthony R. Basso, Earl Yost raffles print to September and October 2002. Jeffery C. Linn, Michael C. William DuFault Sr., Charles fellow members working The raffle was the brainstorm of Maciejewski, Tobias Rogalski; and Ensminger, Lawrence E. Nelson, Yost’s wife, a cosmetologist for a Lary W. Schmitt, Burton L. Storey, small outage job in W.Va. nationwide chain of styling salons 30 Years— Cleave E. Mulhollan. Melvin Sampson, Kenneth Vincent, that sponsors an annual fundraising Local 169, Detroit, Mich., Guy Wilson; WHILE WORKING ANoutage in campaign called Clip For The Cure. presents membership pins Jam30e sY Aea. rMse—un Vieer,r Hniaer oRl.d H J. aPripttemnaanu;, SLhoicnanl s6t6o7n, ,C Wha.Vrlae.s,t omne, mrabiesersd forovmer to“ a‘Tll hoafn tkh oysoeu w’ whoi llw noervkeerd bseo ehnaordu gtho JOHN MAREK, BM-ST of Local 169, 25 Years— Donald W. Baird, $1L,0o00c afol r6 b6r7e’ass tE caarnlc eYro rsets edaorcnha.ted a mYoaskt.e “tAhilsth eovuegnht stouuchgh a osnu cthcees os,u”t ssiadide DpsGhiee6niopt0srr otfgYooiet re t MRhacoerais ndcfhotki—l.ne,l o;ur weoFpuirnosag rnyt:s ek ap rPrser oseefs nmuttaettmii oabnne ord-f MDKJaumo2au0rnet gnYs W lyeAa asB..r PsHeMej—aotarewy, r D,hB eJaelralvawm, iddJ,efa osPJm .rA adBeu. as WAl t uRE.i r.l.G, b HBOuorrfudif;a bionnem erCtt,,,. pu$th1erT iedanh tcaed htf arra$aoyn1fm cf0le0ae ,) on t,s nidiwcxek hcenohitcfsia hg nhw hciweste r aspe ssf a hosriorani lff$tdtfi5l n eb.ogdesn t ow (fvtfe haealne-t fplyyreeoY acomoorp nsol tecan’,se B alppilofa aheigli eeneoar tnm2rint1lsyag ooks ff fe o wtrghrsoe ealtr dhesM . ea”f ae whra-athAurodrpleeirde sis suttsh ruoeise-f 55 Years— Andrew T. Chascsa, Cardwell, Roy U. Jones, Darrel W. Shinnston’s small outage job in of this paper. q James S. Dalpiaz, William T. Howle, Melton, Alan R. Meyer, John C. Neu, Carl E. Mayberry, Joseph Monti, Gregory M. Plowman, Raymond M. Police Association thanks Manual Pelaez, and Donald H. Stefnik, Bruce E. Tarr; and Simmons; 15 Years — David C. Hermann, International for its support 50 Years— Cletis J. Adams, Ivan F. John J. Ring, Thomas M. Stodola. Ayris, Earl E. Bushong, Donald P. Campbell, Jarrell D. Cook, Robert F. L-656, Chattanooga, Tenn., MEMBERS OF THE Kansas Hoppe, Barney G. Judd, Lester J. presents membership pins City Kansas Black Police Lohr, George W. McAlister, William Officers Association presented E. Perry, Joseph A. Snell, Clarence JAMES P. CULBERTSON, president a plaque to Intl. Pres. Charles Vincent, James F. Womac; of Local 656, Chattanooga, Tenn., W. Jones in appreciation for 45 Years — Louie Duncan, reports presentation of pins for con- the International’s support TWhheitoed; ore R. Hempfling, Odis F. tfionlluoowuisn gy:e ars of membership to the ttoh rro.,u agrhe tMhea jyoer aBrsu. rPniecltl uDreadv,i sl,. 40 Years — Nickola Basilisco, 50 Years— Rudy Massengill. JGorneegsg, Canoldli nMs.a qster Patrolman Herman J. Bourgeois, William M. Murray, Frederick C. Painter, Charles L-1162, Milwaukee, Wis., H. Yates; presents membership pins Reynolds passes away two 35 Years — Lowell T. Baars, Donald L. Cothran, Louis E. DONALD E. MADISEN, secretary- months after retirement treasurer of Local 1162, Milwaukee, Decoteau, Raymond H. Fugitt, Clayton M. Gerard, Donald J. Wis., reports presentation of pins for Jenerou, Kevin B. Kilpatrick, Wayne continuous years of membership to HARRY J. REYNOLDS JR., who F. Tourangeau, Harold J. Vickery; the following: served as an employer trustee repre- 30 Years— Jay C. Dollins, Gary O. 40 Years— Donald E. Madisen; sInednutisntrgie sI,n Indce. poenn bdoethn tth Me Heceahlathn aicnadl FGaairrnbearn, kWs, ilWbeirllti aJ.m H Ral.l ,F Nreonrcmh,a nJ. DA.. Bil3l 5D Y. Mearysco—n; James F. Kappellusch, Wfouerl fdareec aadneds, Ploesnt shiiosn f igfuhnt dwsi tfho rc aonvceerr Jedinak, James A. Kowalski, Eddie C. 30 Years— John M. Callahan, on Nov. 22, 2002. Long, Robert W. Miller, Ronne L. Allen M. Gaurkee, Robert D. Reynolds was one of the original Schoudt, James B. Schremp, Gregory Murphy, Richard N. Zarling; and trustees of the Boilermakers National G. Webb, Benjamin C. Wilsey Jr., 25 Years— Tilman S. Leque Jr., Health & Welfare Fund, beginning his Nathan P. Woodman; and Harry McDougal, Ronald H. Novak, service in the 1950s when the fund 25 Years — Gilbert Blauvelt, Peter J. Pleli, Joseph M. Smith. was first being conceived. Abraham Boulley Jr., Bradley Madisen also reports that Citation For over 40 years, Reynolds also Burkmier, Donald Corby, Martin J. Interstate Forge is closing and mov- served as a trustee on the Dalton, Michael Dodge, Harold N. ing their jobs to a nonunion plant in Boilermakers National Pension Fund. who you represent, the participants. Greenleaf Jr., George Hayter, Jarvis Novasota, Texas. When poor health forced him to They come first. Act as you have M. Kapplinger, Gernard N. LeBlanc, “Many fine workers will be losing resign in Sept. 2002, he was the cur- always done as a team of trustees and Edwin Lobdell, Ken Lyday, Richard jobs they have spent their lives at,” rent chairman and only original fiduciaries, not as employer and union Masty, Ronald Mullet, Richard D. said Madisen. trustee still remaining on the board. representatives, which over time you Roberts, Larry R. Smerdon, and Fred “We have all enjoyed the hard- In his letters of resignation, have performed well.” Vore III. earned union benefits and the Reynolds thanked the trustees and the In September, Reynolds donated all opportunity to earn a living wage, fund employees for their support, of his records from the board meet- L-374, Hammond, Ind., but when the bottom line is profit help, and advice over the years. He ings — notes of every meeting of the presents membership pins or greed, the union worker is the also offered some advice for the pension and health and welfare first to go.” q remaining trustees: “Be conservative boards — to the Boilermakers CHARLES H. VANOVER,BM-ST of in your views. Always be cognizant of National Archives. q http://www.IBB.workingfamilies.com http://www.boilermakers.org the Boilermaker Reporter Nov • Dec 2002 5 L O C A L N E W S L-146 Boilermakers help build Shell’s Scotford Upgrader for oil sands Photos by Steve Milley, L-146 Shell project is largest in petrochem construction LOCAL LODGE 146 BOILERMAKERS (Edmonton, Alberta) are in the final stages of building Shell’s Scotford Upgrader, near Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. Completion of the Scotford Upgrader completes Shell’s massive Athabasca Oil Sands Project. One of the world’s largest industrial construction projects, the Scotford job includes an upgrader, a hydrogen- manufacturing plant, and a new 150- megawatt cogeneration plant. At its peak in 2001 and 2002, the project employed nearly 11,000 union crafts- men. Local 146 Bus. Mgr. Dean Milton estimates that over 230 Boilermakers worked on the project in the peak peri- WITH HUNDREDS of vessels being erected in a 30-month period, the Scotford project quickly earned its nickname: Crane City. ods. On the residue hydrocarbon unit alone, they closed 180 vessels. About 45 oil in liquid form. Most of the world’s tar-like, heavy oil. The bitumen must be because its original molecular structure Boilermakers are still on the job. oil comes from large pockets of the liq- mixed with a diluent such as naphtha is changed by the process. Part of a joint venture between Shell uid that exist deep beneath the surface to be piped 493 kilometers (305 miles) Canada, Chevron Canada, and West- of the earth. The oil is brought up with to the Scotford upgrader. Northern Alberta has world’s ern Oil Sands, the upgrader completes pumps, just like water, and shipped to Upgrading is the most complex area largest hydrocarbon deposit construction on elements for marketing refineries in tankers or through pipes. of operation in oil sands recovery. oil from northern Alberta’s oil sands. The oil in oil sands deposits is tied up Upgrading removes such impurities as CREE INDIANS HAVE used the tarry Beginning in 2003, it will convert in a mixture of sand, clay, and water. nitrogen, sulphur, and carbon, making substance that seeped from river banks 155,000 barrels per day of high viscosity Each grain of sand is surrounded by a the bitumen into a lighter crude oil that in northern Alberta to waterproof their “extra heavy” crude oil from the film of water, which is surrounded by a can be refined. canoes for centuries. But only in recent Muskeg River Mine into high quality film of oil. Turning that oil, sand, and After the diluent is removed and years has technology made it feasible to synthetic crude oils. The synthetic water mixture into a marketable prod- pumped back to the Muskeg River turn oil sands into crude oil. Synthetic crude will be sold to Shell’s Scotford uct is a multi-step process. mines, the upgrader subjects the bitu- crude is still more expensive than natu- and Sarnia refineries and Chevron’s First, the world’s largest shovels dig men to several processes — cracking, ral crude, but increasing demand has Salt Lake and Burnaby refineries. the oil sands out of the ground near the fractionation, and hydrogen conver- created a market for it. Extracting the oil from oil sands is a Muskeg River. Then the sand and sion. The clean liquid that results is Over the next 20 years, world oil con- far more difficult job than recovering water are removed, leaving bitumen, a called synthetic crude oil —synthetic sumption is expected to increase 50 per- cent. While oil deposits elsewhere are L-203 members build penstock being emptied, Alberta’s oil sands have barely been touched. In northern Alberta, an estimated 1.6 trillion bar- rels of oil are trapped in sands underly- Continued from page 1 ing a 77,000 square kilometer (30,000 square mile) area. About 311 billion collect water from Granite Lake to barrels are recoverable using current generate power for the Voiseys Bay technology, making Alberta’s potential nickel production project and for a oil reserves 15 percent greater than the smelter that will be built in Argentina. known reserves in Saudi Arabia. In order to build the penstock, Local Oil sands development is increasing 203 members are fitting ten-foot sec- Canada’s oil production. In 2001, pro- tions together before lowering them duction of bitumen exceeded produc- into a ravine. The first 80-feet of the pen- tion of conventional crude in Alberta. stock had to be placed 100-feet deep. By 2005, oil from oil sands will account “So far, all 520-feet of the penstock, for half of Canada’s total output. including 52 joints, have been fitted, Most of the increased production will welded, and have passed all x-rays and go to the United States. Partly because LOCAL 203 MEMBERSjoin other craft members to build a penstock in Newfoundland. inspections,” said Furey. of the oil sands development, the U.S. L. to r., foreman Cyril Wade, Harold Furey, Mike MacDonald, Harry Barnes, Deon Working in a remote area, the mem- now imports more oil from Canada RDiwglaeyyn, Jee Wroamdee ,W Jeardrye S Jcr.o, Jreefrioemld,e N Cicokle F,a srureplel, rainntde nDdaevnidt F Brautnt.cis Lewis, Fred Phillips, bmearns acraem hpasvitien. gq to “rough it” at a 300- than from any other country. q L-85 & L-169 members work 89,000 accident-free hours for Detroit Edison Photos courtesy of Resource Contracting and Maintenance. MEMBERS OF LOCAL85 (Toledo, Ohio) and Local 169 (Detroit, Mich.) recently completed 89,000 hours at two Detroit Edison power plants with no injuries reportable under Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. The jobs earned Detroit Edison safety awards from the National Association of Construction Boilermaker Employ- ers (NACBE). At Detroit Edison’s Belle River power plant, Local 169 members installed burner tubes and water cannons, pad- welded waterwall tubes, pad-welded and shielded the downdraft, and repaired the reheat and secondary superheater outlet and inlet pendants. At the company’s Monroe power plant, Local 85 members replaced a waterwall panel and installed stiffeners in the economizer. q LEFT: It’s a tight squeeze for this Local 169 welder. ABOVE:Local 85 members work on this plant for Detroit Edison in Monroe, Mich. http://www.IBB.workingfamilies.com http://www.boilermakers.org tthhee BBooiilleerrmmaakkeerr RReeppoorrtteerr 6 Nov • Dec 2002 T R A I N I N G & E D U C A T I O N Canadian apprentices compete in Toronto Jonathan White, Local Lodge 128, places first JONATHAN WHITE OFLocal 128, Toronto, Ontario, has won the ninth annu- al Canadian Boilermaker Apprenticeship Competition. Five of Canada’s top apprentices competed for the coveted prize at the Humber College, June 23-26, 2002, in Toronto. The contest proved to be extremely competitive as the apprentices’ scores were very close. Joining White in the competition were Darren Hoffman of Local 146, Edmonton, Alberta; Kerry Hughes of Local 359, Vancouver, British Columbia; David Mackin of Local 555, Winnipeg, Manitoba; and Alain Noel of Local 73, Halifax, Nova Scotia. q Southeast Area holds apprentice competition LOCAL 146’S DARREN HOFFMANparticipates in the rigging exercise of the ninth annual Canadian Boilermaker Apprenticeship Competition, June 23-26, 2002. Western States Area has annual competition JERRY FULK, second from left, receives the Paul Wedge Memorial Award. L-105’s John McWhorter, center right, placed second. Also pictured are L-667 BM-ST George Pinkerman (l.) and L-105 BM-ST Van Stephens (r.). L-667’s Jerry Folk places Local 26, Savannah, Ga.; Jerry M. Fulk of Local 667, Charleston, W. Va.; first, L-105’s John John M. McWhorter of Local 105, McWhorter is second Chillicothe, Ohio; Thomas B. Parker of Local 112, Mobile, Ala.; Paul L. JERRY M. FULK and John W. Patrick of Local 433, Tampa, Fla.; and McWhorter earned the right to attend Jeremy R. Overton of Local 40, the national apprentice competition by Elizabethtown, Ky. LOCAL 92’S BERT GUTIERREZ, center left, receives the James F. Precht Award. Local placing first and second at the annual The competition was held at the 500’s Jeffery Nehls, center right, placed second. Also pictured are Local 92 BM-ST Southeast Area Outstanding training facilities of Local 433, Tampa, Ed Marquez (l.) and Local 500 BM-ST Steve Nelson (r.). Apprentice of the Year competition, Fla., where BM-ST Edgar (Crab) August 14-17, 2002. Lariscy hosted a dinner. Special guests L-92’s Gutierrez places first, Local 502, Tacoma, Wash.; and Dave anEniguhatl aPpapurel nDti.c eWs ceodmgpee Mtede mfoor rtihael iAnpclpurdeendti cLeosuh iJpo hannsdo nT roafi nthine gB, uarnedau h oisf L-500’s Nehls is second VaTlehnet icnoem ofp Leotictailo 1n1 ,w Haesle hnae,l dM oant tt.he AtcBJBhiouimwrenrm ntmaSesirons dytoug, f hta FShaLneaemodpracm ,ts ateAthlme eAl8rab 3 .rhe;,Je orrHKa .n 1 aeao6onntr-sfr 1 aytt8hsoL : Re oCrJ .c eneiFtafpayfilnetr, iercoM1yshn0e oS8ano..;l,ft wmhaowfei oAtf ahenatr,itn dshPt d hi as(l tseasMseut yeene.cr a)s,W. ttFqoiouhrynlok arb ltte oegcoroi knwm nfoiiprnnsegt t tipohtnlieao c pnteae ogaannem de1 BeaaA1anp5EprdptRnph rTerse ede nGnc atottiUnhicnceeTned sIcu rEhoiinagRimp lhRt phtCE eeAtZoot iWmr tAaieoetmaNtnse t iDnebttOrdye nJ e eup t’fShstlf taeesa(c rtWtniyaena snSgNt JdiJ AoofeiinihrCnnsal)gttsl tLeMjBurdaaado kbiDsengce ooieCsnncs ikg“ tWyiC n&f,h aicUc iclWecituo,la idiE”htl icl.e edMoUdsox a nn,oG ri Ntfo“ie nnRLoo earojrzumycg.d” ae C glAA eoF1islnsrl8 eeiyt2nnrne,ac, b rclSaur tanoeodldyr-ft Graduate Apprentice Competition, of Combustion, and Monty Unsworth Great Lakes Area instructors June 16-21, 2002. of Fluor. Alex Secody, an instructor Eight apprentices competed for the from the Hozhoni Training Center, take orbital welding class James F. Precht Award and the honor and Local 4 Apprentice John Cling Jr., to represent the Western States Area at Page, Ariz., assisted. the national contest, September 16-18: In addition to the first and second Bert Gutierrez of Local 92, Los place awards, the Greg Streblow Angeles, Calif.; Darrell Hall of Local Scholastic Award was presented to 549, Pittsburg, Calif.; Richard Local 11 apprentice Todd Weed, and Kawchack of Local 101, Denver, Colo.; recognition awards of achievement Brian Kelly of Local 182, Salt Lake were given to former Local 204 BM-ST City, Utah; Jeffery Nehls of Local 500, John King, Austin Ballou of Salem, Ore.; Pat Peterson of Local 627, ApComPower, Inc., and Jack Sloan, Phoenix, Ariz.; John Roundtree of retired IVP and WSJAC secretary. q Products Made By Boilermakers Let Boilermakers keep you warm INSTRUCTORS FROM SEVENlocal lodges attend a class on orbital welding, sponsored by the Great Lakes Area Boilermakers Apprenticeship Program at Local 169. BOILERMAKERS MAKE more than boilers. The brands of home-heating related equipment listed here are manufactured by companies TWELVE INSTRUCTORS from seven machines, Magnatech Instructor Ken employing our members. If you’re shopping for heating items, support lodges in the Great Lakes Area LaDuc and Local 169 instructors were your brothers and sisters —look for these Boilermaker-made brands. Boilermakers Apprenticeship Program able to conduct the weeklong class in a Product(s) Brand/CompanyName(s) Lodge (GLABAP) participated in an orbital smooth and efficient manner, reported welding class at Local 169’s training Mark Gustafson, GLABAP co-coordina- Fireplace inserts, wood stoves Hutch Local S56 facility in Dearborn, Mich. The GLABAP tor. “The success of this program is purchased an orbital welding machine directly attributable to the dedication of Floor, wall furnaces, room heaters Empire Comfort Local S7 from Magnatech Corp. so qualified jour- these Boilermakers to our craft and their Furnaces, heaters, fireplace access. Cozy Local S20 neymen or apprentices in their area commitment to keep up with the newest could learn this new technology. Using technology,” said Gustafson. “We thank Gas & wood heaters US Stove Local S56 this machine, along with Local 169’s two L-169 for making this possible.” q http://www.IBB.workingfamilies.com http://www.boilermakers.org tthhee BBooiilleerrmmaakkeerr RReeppoorrtteerr Nov • Dec 2002 7 T R A I N I N G & E D U C A T I O N L-656 members attend steward training Tennessee Industrial Council sponsors seminar on union steward duties MEMBERS OF LOCAL 656, Chattanooga, Tenn., attended a one- day steward-training program on August 28, 2002, at their lodge hall. Sponsored by the Tennessee “Volunteers” Industrial Council, the class topics included discussion of the local lodge by-laws and collective bargaining agreement, effective griev- ance handling, and duties of a union steward. Wade Davis, asst. to the Research and Collective Bargaining Services MEMBERS OF LOCAL 656, Chattanooga, Tenn., attend a one-day training program on the duties of a union steward, August Director, instructed the program. q 28, 2002, sponsored by the Tennessee “Volunteers” Industrial Council. L-4 receives over 42,000 pounds of tube, pipe stock LOCAL 4’S GIFT: Only the water panels, which total about 2,000 pounds, are used material. The rest, over 40,000 pounds of heavy-wall pipe and supply tubes, is new. PAGE STEEL DELIVERS 42,680 poundsof tube stock and heavy wall pipe to Local 4’s Boilermaker members’ specialty training center in Page, Ariz., compliments of the Four Corners Generating Station. company is featured in Newsweek Four Corners Generating Station donates 40,680 pounds of new material, 2,000 pounds of used Protective suit has civil defense as well as industrial applications THE FOUR CORNERS Generating and ten-inch heavy-wall pipe; supply Station has donated 42,680 pounds of tubes; and six water wall panel sec- FOUR Boilermaker material to Local 4’s new Hozohni tions. Other than the panels, which members got Training Center in Page, Ariz. account for about 2,000 pounds, it was national attention On September 19, Four Corners all new material.” for their protective- Plant Manager Dan Kennedy told Intl. Local 4 BM-ST Nate Begay is equally gear company Rep. Gary Evenson that they would be ecstatic. “This is an unbelievable gift,” when it was fea- delivering “some” pipe and tube stock said Begay. “Mr. Kennedy has been to tured in the Sept. to Local 4. Evenson was shocked the our training center twice and he was 30, 2002 issue of next day when he arrived at the train- obviously impressed with the participa- Newsweek. ing center. tion we have in our program. We will High-Temp “Some” had been a gross under- put this gift to good use training the Repair and statement. best Boilermakers we possibly can.” Inspection (HRI), a “It was unbelievable,” said Evenson. Evenson and Begay extend their Boilermaker con- “We had a tractor trailer rig from Page thanks to Four Corners for this gener- tractor in Buffalo, Steel in our parking lot. On its bed lay ous gift, and also thank Craig Walling Mo., started by 42,680 pounds of material: super-heat and Jim Lujan, of the Arizona Public Local 83 member tubes; four-inch, six-inch, eight-inch, Service Company, for their help. q Butch Rankin, along with his sons Roger L-1234 members attend a and Curt Rankin, and Jeff Enlund — one-day training program members of the National Transient Lodge — was one of over 300 exhibitors in a Washington, D.C., technology expo for JEFF ENLUND (STANDING) and (kneeling, l. to r.) Curt, Butch, products that can be and Roger Rankin show off HRI’s “hot suits,” designed to used for civil withstand temperatures up to 600 degrees. defense. According to the article, “corporate Able to withstand temperatures up giants like Raytheon and Motorola to 600 degrees, the 27-pound suit uses shared floor space with mom-and-pop an aviation-type respirator to provide inventors.” Among the “mom-and- breathing air from lines connected to pop inventors” was HRI. the outside. A back-up bottle inside the HRI sells “hot suits” designed by suit has five minutes of emergency air. ATTENDING A CLASS are L-1234 members, l. to r., front row, Emmett Sanders, Eloise Butch and his sons to protect Workers communicate through Wilson, Kenneth Keafter, and Robert Smith; back row, Don Frank and Clarence Burge. Boilermakers and other tradesmen “bone mikes” that pick up vibrations from high temperatures and toxic of the worker’s throat. The suits have MEMBERS OF LOCAL 1234, Chicago, experience “a day well spent.” fumes in refineries, power plants, and personal air conditioners and retrieval Ill., attended a steward training class, Conducted by Intl. Rep. Howard Cole, steel mills. The suit can also be used harnesses for emergency removal. Oct. 11, 2002. Learning how to “police class topics included writing, investi- for search-and-rescue operations after HRI has trained more than 40 trades- their contract,” they found the materi- gating, and presenting a grievance, and a nuclear attack or an explosion at a men to operate their equipment. q als helpful and called the learning a review of the arbitration process. q power plant. http://www.IBB.workingfamilies.com http://www.boilermakers.org the Boilermaker Reporter 8 Nov • Dec 2002 A P P R E N T I C E S H I P Eight area apprenticeship winners participate in national competition JOHN MCWHORTER of Local 105 (l.) and Jerry Fulk of Local 667, representing the DURWARD FAGEN,l., accepts an award for his father, Glenn, from BNAP Coord. Pat Southeast Area, win the BNAP national team award. Smith and Chrmn. Gerard J. Kaelin. Continued from page 1 As winners of the team award, Southeast Area Representing the National Transient Lodge were representatives Fulk and McWhorter each NTL Vice Pres. Gary Scott and Ken Lawson, a field Boilermaker career,” said BNAP National received a crystal award, as did their area appren- operations manager for Enerfab. Coordinator Pat Smith. tice office. Following four days of intense competition, the Guest speaker Joe Meredith echoed these senti- The national competition began on Sunday, contest concluded with an awards banquet on ments at the awards banquet when he told the September 15, with a written exam on all four years Thursday night, where Smith explained that the apprentices of contestants who have become fore- of related studies and on-the-job training (OJT) mod- Boilermakers’ national competition is held annually men, business managers, and International repre- ules. The contestants were also tested on their as a way to motivate apprentices and local, area, and sentatives. Meredith, who retired last year as direc- knowledge of referral rules, national agreements, national training programs. tor of the Boilermakers Construction Division and laws that affect the boilermaker industry, contractor He said the contest not only recognizes the out- apprentice instructor, was the first recipient of the responsibilities, and labor history. standing apprentices, but it also provides a way to Southeast Area apprenticeship award. On Monday, the hands-on testing began as con- determine whether the proper skills are being Also competing this year were Great Lakes repre- testants were judged on such skills as rigging, blue- taught correctly. sentative Dale Jacobson of Local 647, Minneapolis, print reading, layout, tube rolling, rope splicing, “Holding apprentice competitions on a national Minn.; Northeast Area representatives Jeffrey knot tying, welding, and burning. scale forces us all to be at our best,” explained Smith. Horton of Local 28, Newark, N.J., and David James Horkay, a retired company representative “Everyone who is part of this program, from the from the Northeast area, served as test administrator. apprentice who is just beginning to the client whose Spencer of Local 7, Buffalo, N.Y.; and Western States representatives Bert Gutierrez of Local 92, John Cammuso of Babcock Borsig Power assisted equipment we install and repair, needs to be shown him. In addition, each area had two delegates serving what the National Apprenticeship Program is Los Angeles, Calif., and Jeff Nehls of Local 500, Salem, Ore. as judges — a union and an employer representative. accomplishing through its training programs.” All of the national contestants received a crystal Representing the Great Lakes Area as judges were Competition also motivates people to do their award recognizing their participation in the com- Michael Wood of Local 60, Peoria, Ill., and Michael best, whether it is the apprentice who wants to win, petition. P. Rother of the Phillips Getschow Co. the instructor who wants his trainee to win, or the As first-place winner, Fulk received the Representing the Northeast Area were area that wants its representatives to win. Boilermakers National Apprenticeship Award, a Cammuso and Jack Multerer, a retired member of “The more attention given to quality training, the sculpture of an apprentice by John T. Cody, and a L-7, Buffalo, N.Y. more competitive our apprentices and journeymen check for $1,000. Intl. Rep. Barry Edwards and Rod Earnest, of will become through the Boilermaker industry,” Second-place winner Anderson received $600; the B & W Construction Co., represented the said Smith. “And no one can argue with quality.” each of the remaining contestants received $300. Southeast Area. This was the third year that the contestants were Each year, the home local of the national award Tim Ruth of Local 101, Denver, Colo., and Robert judged individually and as part of a team. Smith winner also receives a framed picture of the national Pike of PSF Industries represented the Western says this will continue. “Boilermakers work as a award, which includes an engraved plaque of the States Area. winner’s name and winning year. Continued on page 9 FIRST-PLACE WINNERJerry Fulk of L-667, Southeast LOCAL 105’S JOHN MCWHORTER, Southeast Area, LOCAL 500’S JEFF NEHLS, representing the Western Area, takes a measurement during the layout exer- works with light-gage metal during a fabrication exer- States Area, grinds a tube as part of the welding/burn- cise of the small boiler/layout competition. cise of the small boiler/layout competition. ing competition. http://www.IBB.workingfamilies.com http://www.boilermakers.org the Boilermaker Reporter Nov • Dec 2002 9 A P P R E N T I C E S H I P Top eight area apprentice winners compete SECOND-PLACE WINNER Nathan Anderson, L-169 of the Great Lakes Area, participates in a tube-rolling exercise. TEAM WINNERSJohn McWhorter of Local 105 (l.) and Jerry Fulk of Local 667 make lift preparations during the rig- ging yard competition. They represent the Southeast. Continued from page 8 service began on the local level as business manager for Local 433, Tampa, Fla., and then broadened with team in the field,” explained Smith, “so it just makes his appointment as an International representative sense to test how well apprentices work together.” in 1992. In 1996, he became an assistant to the This was Smith’s first year to serve as the ban- International president, and in 2000, he took over quet’s master of ceremonies. He replaced Dan the role of director of the Southeastern Area Joint Everett, who served as national coordinator from Apprenticeship Committee. 1985 until his retirement on Jan. 31, 2002. Like The BNAP board established the national recogni- Everett, Smith’s background includes service as tion award in 1988 to honor those individuals who business manager of Local 40 in Elizabethtown, Ky. give unselfishly of their time and knowledge in order that the skills of the Boilermaker craft can be Glenn Fagen earns the 2002 BNAP passed on to future generations by means of the old- est-known learning process — an apprenticeship. National Recognition Award Nominations for the award are made by Boilermaker employers and union members and GLENN FAGEN, ASST. TOthe Intl. Pres. and voted upon by area. Names of those individuals director of the Southeast Area apprenticeship pro- receiving the highest number of votes per area are gram, has earned this year’s BNAP National then submitted to the national board for final selec- Recognition Award. tion. Also nominated this year for the award were Fagen has been instrumental in improving Stanley Miller of PSF Industries and retired Local 60 LOCAL 92’S BERT GUTIERREZof the Western States Area, apprenticeship training in the Southeast area. His Bus. Mgr. Michael Wood. q checks measurements during the competition. L-647’S DALE JACOBSON, Great Lakes Area, performs L-28’S JEFFREY HORTON, representing the Northeast LOCAL 7’S DAVID SPENCER,representing the hand signals during the BNAP national apprentice Area, inspects a tube cut as part of the welding/burn- Northeast Area, cuts a tube as part of the competition. ing exercises. welding/burning exercises. http://www.IBB.workingfamilies.com http://www.boilermakers.org the Boilermaker Reporter 10 Nov • Dec 2002 S A F E T Y & H E A L T H Holidays can be sad MAKE IT SAFE Being alone or out of work is hard while others celebrate HOLIDAY CHEER anddepression seem to go hand in hand. The season’s HAZARD ALERT: emphasis on family, friends, and gifts can be more stressful than comforting for anyone who has recently lost a Welding Fumes and Gases loved one or is out of work. These losses can take on greater sig- nificance during the holidays. In one study, 41 percent of the people rated WELDING PRODUCESmetal throat, and lungs and can dam- the holiday season as very stressful — fumes and gases that can make age the lungs. on a par with a job interview. you sick. The risk depends on: • Nitrous oxides can cause fluid Families uncertain about their eco- • The welding method (such as in the lungs. nomic future are in a double bind — MIG, TIG, or stick) afraid to spend money and add to their •What the welding rod (elec- Protect Yourself sthtraets sb, rbinugt u snoa mblue ctoh ijgonyo troe tthraedmit iaonnds t•r oFdilele) ris m meatadles oanfd base metals • OSHA says you must remove thSeeirn lioovrse da nodn epse.ople with a recent loss RETIRED L-204 MEMBERJ ack Copess has (sstueeclh) as mild steel and stainless awlle pldaiinngt aonr dto sroclhv ceuntttsi nbgef. oFroellow adraey e sbpleuceias”ll yb veucalnuesrea btlhee t of ethseti v“hitoileis- dchiseceorvfuelr ethdro au fgehw t hseec hraertds ttoim steasy.ing •mPeatainlst sb aenindg o wtheelrd ecodatings on the wresriitdteune si nasrter urecmtioonvse.d M.ake sure all remind them that loved ones are no Every Monday, we have lunch at a • Ventilation. •fo Ur tshee t hjoeb s. aSfteicskt wweellddiinngg mmeatkheosd longer there to share the holidays with restaurant or one of our houses. We’re The Hazards much less fume than flux core them. Grown children are busy with three men and 11 women. Those welding. their own social obligations and may restaurants are never the same after IN CONFINED SPACES, welding • Use welding rods that produce not realize that their parents or grand- we’ve been there.” can be much more dangerous. a low fume. 90% of the fume can parents look forward to a visit or a Copess has nothing but good things With less fresh air, toxic fumes come from the rod. Welding guns phone call. to say about Hospice, which helped and gases can be much stronger. that extract fumes can capture yoEuxrp heorltids aryec eoxmpemcteantiodn tsh mata ynoauge kaebelep, him and his wife in her final days. He Shielding gases, like argon, can 95% of the fume. was with her when she died. displace the oxygen and kill you. • In a confined space, follow all the ftroacduist ioonn st hraet hfuetru trhea, na ntrdy iensgta tbol irsehc rneeawte “My wife, Nan, was my companion, These are some of the haz- OSHA confined-space rules — like lover, and best friend,” Copess said. “I ardous materials: air monitoring, not storing torches holidays like the ones from your past. think she’d like me to have friends Metals: in the space, and ventilation. Jack Copess, 83, a 43-year member over.” • Stainless steel contains nickel • OSHA says you must have and former business manager of Local The weekly visits with his new and chromium. Nickel can cause good ventilation. 204, Honolulu, Hawaii, now living in friends cannot take her place, but they asthma. Nickel and chromium • Use local-exhaust ventilation to Bradenton, Fla., has discovered a few help him appreciate and enjoy the life can cause cancer. Chromium can remove fumes and gases at their secrets to staying cheerful through the he has now, without her. cause sinus problems and “holes” source in still air. Keep the hard times: make new friends, stay If you begin to feel depressed this between the nostrils. exhaust hood 4” to 6” from the active, and do fun things with other holiday season, resist the temptation to • Mild steel (red iron) and carbon fume source. people on a regular basis. isolate yourself. Spend time with sup- steel contain manganese. • Use air blowers to blow fumes Copess lost his wife, Nan, 91, to colon portive and caring people. Remember Manganese can cause away from you when you are out- cancer last June. To fight his grief, he that alcohol makes depression worse. Parkinson’s disease, which crip- doors and it’s windy. attended a bereavement counseling If you see signs of depression in a ples the nerves and muscles. • Keep your face far from the program offered by the Hospice of loved one, don’t avoid them. Offer to • Zinc in galvanized metal or in welding plume. Senodutehdw, hees ta Fnldo r1i3d oa.t hWerhse inn tthhee pprrooggrraamm help or invite them to go out. Listen paint (on welded surfaces) can • If the ventilation is not good, patiently if they want to talk. Be under- cause metal fume fever. It feels use a respirator. If respirators are cwoenetkin. Cuoepde tsos mcreedeti tfso trh lius ncocnht oinnucien ga standing and supportive. Never under- like the flu and goes away in a few used, OSHA says your estimate the value of time spent with hours or days after exposure ends. employer must have a full respi- cdoepnrteascstio nw.ith keeping him out of someone you enjoy being around. Coatings and Residues: ratory protection program. This As Copess said, “Those bereavement • Lead (in some paints) can cause means proper selection and fitting “We call ourselves ‘Fourteen classes were excellent, but there is noth- lead poisoning — headaches, sore of respirators, medical screening Strangers and a Dog,’” Copess told the ing that can compare with having muscles and joints, nausea, stom- to be sure a worker can wear a Reporter. “We all have each other’s lunch with 14 friends.”q ach cramps, irritability, memory respirator, and worker training. phone numbers and talk regularly. loss, anemia, and kidney and Correct respirator storage and Safety consciousness nervous system damage. If lead cleaning and an evaluation of the dust goes home on work clothes program are needed. or shoes, it can make your family • If you smoke, quit. shouldn’t end at the gate sick, most of all your children. OSHA has limits for exposure to • Cadmium (in some paints and metals, gases, and total fumes dur- fillers) can cause kidney problems ing welding. But these limits may More workers are killed and cancer. not protect you enough, because on the way to and from Solvents: they are out of date. The National the job than on the job • Welding through or near some Institute for Occupational Safety solvents can produce phosgene, a and Health (NIOSH) says welding EACH YEAR,6,000 U.S. workers die of poisonous gas. The gas can cause fumes may cause cancer, so keep injuries they receive from a jobsite acci- fluid in the lungs. You may not the fume levels as low as possible. dent. That’s a statistic you often hear. notice the problem until hours For more information, call your local union, the What that number doesn’t tell you is after you quit welding. But fluid Center to Protect Workers’ Rights (CPWR) at 301-578- that 40-45 percent of those fatalities in your lungs can kill you. 8500 or www.cpwr.com, the National Institute for Gases: Occupational Safety and Health at 1-800-35-NIOSH or aarueAt ocnmaouotshbeideler b a4yc0 hc,0iidg0eh0nw tAsa myw cehrrialiesch anenoss.t donie t hine CROSSES MARK WHERE workers died in •sh Wielhdeinng c,a crabrobno nd imoxoindoex iisd ues ceadn for wwww©ww. .co1ds9ch9.a7g.,og Tvoh/vne. i OoCsre hcn,h toeerrc Okt oSt hPHerA owt aeetcb t1s -Wi8te0o 0wrk-w3e2rws1’-. eORlicSgoHhstAhs. .oo Arrgl.l job, along with about 3,000 Canadians. auto accidents near the Scotford form and kill you. rights reserved. CPWR is the research and development Safety experts say that a high per- Upgrader, Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. • The welding arc can form institute of the Building and Construction Trades Dept. coenn tthaeg ew oafy tthoo osre frfaotmal wacocrikd.e nts occur many people die in automobile acci- othzeo naier .a MndIG n iatrnodu Ts IoGx iwdeesl dfrinogm (SdBeiClnvTet Dro )Sf, ptAhrFienL gB-C,C IMOTD:D C a2Pn0Wd9 1CR0P, .WS (EuRidt.ew) P1ar0rod0d 0Cu,. c 8Sti4ou8nll4i vo Gaf neth oiisrsg piare Asi-ve., Safety has become a high priority on dents as die from workplace injuries. make the most ozone, most of all card was supported by NIOSH grant CCU310982. The most jobs in recent years. When you Don’t add to those statistics. Take when aluminum is welded. These contents are solely the responsibility of the Center to walk in the gate, you have to don your that zero-tolerance attitude toward fumes irritate the eyes, ear, nose, Pserontte tchte W ofofirckiearls v’ iRewighs tosf a NnIdO dSoH n. o4t/ 9n/e0c1essarily repre- hardhat, safety glasses, gloves, and accidents that you have on the job earplugs. You have to adopt a zero-tol- home with you. erance attitude toward safety. You are Buckle your seat belt. It’s the only pro- Safety tips in Spanish constantly reminded by signs, tective gear you have in your car. Obey announcements, and your fellow work- speed limits and other safety regula- ers to work safely and responsibly. tions. Pay attention to what’s happening THIS ISSUE’S SAFETY COLUMN, “Welding make available in camera-ready form to any lodge When you walk back out the gate, on the road, and always be ready to Fumes and Gases,”is also available in Spanish. that believes they may be useful. workplace safety regulations no adjust for someone else’s mistake. CPWR has supplied us with a number of safety For more information, contact the Boiler- columns in both English and Spanish that we can maker Reporterat 913-371-2640. longer apply, and no one reminds you That 3,000 pound, four-wheeled, to drive carefully. Yet seven times as metal box you’re riding in is the most dangerous tool you’ll use all day. q http://www.IBB.workingfamilies.com http://www.boilermakers.org