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July 19, 2010 Dear Sisters and Brothers: RE: New Contract Terms for Regions A, B, & C effective July 1, 2010 Late on Wednesday, July 7, 2010 the Local 512 Negotiating Committee reached settlement with the Associated General Contracotrs of Minnesota, Associated General Contractors of North Dakota and the Minnesota Steel Erectors Association on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement covering all Regions of the Local, which will be effective July 1, 2010 through April 30, 2013. Negotiations leading up to settlement were difficult, owing in large part to the overall state of the economy and particularly, in the construction industry. It took a total of ten meetings spread over a 12 week period before your Negotiating Committee and the employer organizations reached an agreement. Other crafts who were also negotiating new agreements reported similar experiences. The negotiated per hour wage increases and respective effective for each reagion as follows: | | 7/1/2010 | 5/1/2011 | 5/1/2012 | | Region A | $0.00 | $0.30 | $0.95 | | Region B | $0.00 | $0.30 | $0.95 | | Region C | $1.25 | * | * |
* Wage/fringe "only" reopener The pay increase effective as of July, 2010 in Region C is retroactive for all hours worked on or after July 1, 2010. The wage and fringe benefite rates for each Region are as follows: - In Region A, for all work performed on or after May1, 2010, the existing wage and fringe benefit rates in effect prior to May 1, 2010 will still apply. In short, wages and fringes remain as they were.
- In Region B, for all work performed on or after May 3, 2010, the existing Base Wage Rate (on-the-check) is reduced from $29.76 per hour worked to $29.36 per hour worked and the Duluth Building Trades Welfare Fund contribution rate is increased from $6.10 to $6.50 per hour worked
- In Region C, for all work performed on or after May 3, 2010 through June 30, 2010, the existing Base Wage Rate (on-the-check) was reduced from $25.07 per hour worked to $24.67 per hour worked and the Duluth Building Trades Welfare Fund contribution rate was increased form $6.10 to $6.50 per hour worked. For all hours worked on or after July 1, 2010, the negotiated $1.25 per hour wage increase will be applied to the Base Wage Rate (on-the-check).
Other than wages and the changes in the Duluth Building Trades Welfare Fund contribution rate (for Region B and C members only), there were few if any changes in the new Agreement that will affect you in the field. The drug testing provisions already in place in Region A and B will now apply to Region C as well, including the two hour payment (journeyman wages plus fringes) for taking a pre-hire drug/alcohol test - provided the test is confirmed negative. The parking reimbursement in Region A has been suspended through April 30, 2012 and will then resume on May 1, 2012 at the existing rate. Other than that, there were some housekeeping changes to delete or replace outdated language and the like. Please review the brief SUMMARY OF CHANGES enclosed with this letter for a more complete rundown of the changes contained in the new 2010/2013 collective bargaining agreement. The only other major change of circumstance is that Local 512 will not be holding a Wage Allocation meeting as we would normally do. This is a one-time departure from our usual practice and for a pretty obvious reason. Due to the terms of the final settlement, there is no wage increase for the contract year 2010 in Region A and B; therefore there is nothing to be allocated. The only possible allocation for Region C is put the negotiated wage increase on the check, as all fringes muste be equal in all Regions. Rest assured that in the future, Local 512 will hold Wage Allocation Meetings just as we always have. And last but not lease, on behalf of Local 512 and on my own account, I would like to thank all the members of the Local 512 Negotiating Committee for their adive and support during these past negotiations. Negotiations are time-consuming, can be stressful and even frustrating at time, filled with moments of anticipation and seemingly interminable periods of waiting for responses to proposals and call for great patience and careful thought. Your Negotiating Committee did an outstanding job and are deserving of your thanks for a job well done. And as long as we are on the subject, our Local Union secretaries, Lee Erdman and Libby Grayson also deserve your thanks, as all the typing and inevitable last minute changes fell to them to get done. Your Negotiating Committee consisted of the following individuals: Ted DeSantell, Bill Gerl, Darrell Godbout, Sam Hicks, Kevin Kowalski, Larry Morris, Pat Olson, Lance Queen, Charlie Roberts Paul Rockstad, Troy Sebion, Chuck Spindler, Judd Stokes, Joe Tomjanovich, and Norm Voorhees. While coming from different Regions, each wanted was what was best for all our members in all Regions. There is not always an easy or popular course to follow but that is what they did. So no matter what Region you are from, if and when you run into these people, know that they did their best for you and give them a thank you for all their hard work. So again, on behalf of the Local and as Chairman of the Local 512 Negotiating Committee, my thanks to everyone who helped bring these negotiations to a successful conclusion and my thanks to you, our members, for your support and patience. Charles E. Witt
Business Manager - Financial Secretary/Treasurer
& Chairman, Local 512 Negotiating Committee SUMMARY OF CHANGES TO THE NEW 2010/2013 COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN AGC/MN, AGC/ND, AND IRON WORKERS LOCAL UNION NO. 512 (in order of appearance in the Agreement) SCOPE OF AGREEMENT - The existing language will now apply to all Regions of the Union.
SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES - The language in Article 11 has been changed and will now apply to all Regions of the Union.
SAFETY - The language in Article 12 has been changed and will now apply to all Regions of the Union.
FRINGE BENEFITS - A Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) will be established for all individual Inployees doing bargaining unit work in all Regions of the Union and will be administered throught the Twin City Iron Workers Health and Welfare Fund. Any contribution amounts allocated by the Union to the HRA will be forwarded to the Health & Welfare Fund and such allocated contribution amounts will act to reduce the negotiated wage increase or existing Base Wage Rate. In any event, the Total Package column amounts will not change during the life of the agreement.
DURATION - Duration of this Agreement is from July 1, 2010 through April 30, 3013.
WAGES - In Region A, a wae package with raises of $0 - $.30 - $.95 per hour effective on 7/1/2010, 5/1/2011, and 5/1/2012, respectively.
- In Region B, a wage package with raises of $0 - $.30 - $.95 per hour, effective on 7/1/2010, 5/1/2011, and 5/1/2012, respectively.
- In Region C, a wage package with a raise of $1.25 per hour effective on 7/1/2010 with retroactive pay for all employees back to July 1, 2010 and a wage/fringe "only" reopener, to be effective on 5/1/2011 and 5/1/2012, respectively.
APPRENTICE STARTING WAGE RATE AND STEP INCREASES - The Apprentice starting rate and all subsequent step increases shall be effective as of May 1 and November 1 of each calendar year, for all apprentices in all Regions of the Union.
PARKING - Parking reimbursement in Region A has been suspended through April 30, 2012 and will resume as of May 1, 2012 under the existing terms and conditions.
LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING DATED JUNE 3, 2001 - This Letter of Understanding regarding what was formerly Temporary Permit employees is deleted from the Agreement, due to the International Association's adoption of the Probationary Member program.
NORTH DAKOTA CONSTRUCTION COUNCIL (NDCC) - The former ECCS Fund has been replaced b the North Dakota Construction Council (NDCC) as of July 1, 2010, with the same $.10 per hour worked contribution rate over and above the Total Package amounts set forth for Region C of the new Agreement.
In addition to the above, there are a number of "housekeeping"items, including: some deletions of outdated language on geographic boundaries of Regions B and C (already agreed to in the 2007/2010 CBA); outdated phase-in language regarding payroll check information; outdated language regarding due dates in three places; updated language regarding the name change of the MN Bldg.Trades Federal Credit Union to Building Trades Federal Credit Union and deletions of outdated language regarding the Contract Administration Fund. |
April 11, 2008
To: Employers & Interested Parties
Re: Furnishing of Personal Protective Equipment, especially fall protection harnesses and lanyards
There has been some misunderstanding about who furnishes personal protective (safety) equipment.
It is the position of Iron Workers Local Union No. 512 that it is the Employer's obligation to furnish, at no cost to the Employee, almost all personal protective equipment ("PPE") required on the jobsite. Local 512, on behalf of its members, objects very strongly to having bargaining unit members pay for or provide their own PPE (or purchase them from the Employer before starting work) as a condition of employment. Local 512 believes this practice violates the provisions of the 2007/2010 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between Local 512 and its signatory Employers and also violates the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) standards set forth in it Final Rule on 29 CFR, Parts, 1910, 1915, 1917, 1918 and 1926 (Construction) - Employer Payments for Personal Protecive Equipment, effective February 13, 2008 w(with PPE payment requirements implemented by Employers no later than May 15, 2008). Prior to the adoption of the OSHA final rule, Employers and Employees fell under the terms of the 2007/2010 CBA, effective May 1, 2007. In the SUPPLEMENTS - SCHEDULE 6 - TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT of the current CBA, which applies to all Regions of the Union, Paragraph F, very clearly states: "....Protective safety clothing and safety equipment, such as fall protection harnesses and lanyards, welding sleeves or jackets, burning goggles, grinding shields, hard hats, safety glasses, ear protection and traffice safety clothing, shall be funished by the Employer. Such clothing and equipment as furnished shall be checked in and out of the Employer's tool room in the same manner as tools and when issued, shall be worn by the Empoyee involved, shall remain the property of the Employer and shall be returned to the Employer upon termination of employment." The OSHA Final Rule, in very simple terms, requires an Employer to pay for safety equipment when that equipment is required by OSHA standards. The final rule does contain several exceptions for ordinary safety-toe footwear, prescripion safety eyewear, logging boots, orginary work clothing and ordinary weather-related gear. However, there is no exception for fall protections harnesses or lanyards in the Final Rule. Please note that both the relevant provisions of the 2007/2010 CBA and the OSHA Final Rule clearly indicate that the Employer retains ownership and can dictate the use of the PPE in question. Therefore, Local 512 insists that any Employer who has deducted the cost of CBA and/or OSHA-mandated PPE (including fall protection harnesses and lanyards) from the payoll checks of bargaining unit employees must refund those deducted costs back to those affected Employees as soon as possible upon receipt of this correspondence. In the event of failure to refund these deducted costs by May 15, 2008, the Union will not hesitate to pursue its available legal remedies. Please feel free to contact me at the Local Union Main Office in St. Paul, MN (651-489-1488) if you have any questions or concerns regarding this matter. I remain, Respectfully yours, Charles E Witt
Business Manager - Financial Secretary/Treasurer |
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To all Full Dues Paying Members, Apprentices, and Signatory Contractors of
Iron Workers Local 512: SAVE THIS LETTER, IT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU! Re: Journeymen Upgrading Classes (JUC's) The following JUC's will be offered, as noted, at all three Regions of Ironworkers Local #512. there must be enough people signed up for these classes to justify running them. OSHA 10 Hour: This class can be completed in one long day as follows:
Region A: Saturdays, Jan. 19 & 26 and Feb. 9 & 16, 2008
Region B: Call the sub-office in Duluth.
Region C: Saturdays, February 23 and March 22, 2008, begining at 8:00 AM, at 2901 Twin City Drive, Mandan, ND This class is also mandatory for Newly Employed Inexperienced Miner MSHA Training (see below). Don't wait until the last minute to get this training. You could miss a job opportunity if you don't have this training. NOTE: The state of North Dakota requires OSHA 10 Hour Training, once every three years, plus an annual drug test (5 panel lab test must be registered with the North Dakota Safety Council) at all industrial "power belt" jobsites (power houses, refineries, and gasification plants, etc.). See the end of this letter for more information regarding North Dakota required drug testing. MSHA (newly Employed Inexperienced Miner): This 24 hour training is required to enter any mine site, including all taconite plants Other locations may soon require this training as well. As an Ironworker, you get 10 hours of credit by taking the OSHA 10 Hour Class listed above, and 5 hours of credit by having current First Aid/CPR training. If you have never had MSHA training, you should attend the OSHA 10 Hour Training (listed above), the First Aid & Adult CPR Class (listed below) and a 9 Hour MSHA Newly Employed Inexperienced Miner Class, which meets MSHA's 24 Hour Training requiements. Region A will conduct this class as needed. Region B will have a MSHA Refresher (8 hours) and a Newly Employed Inexperienced Miner (9 hours) class on Saturday, January 26, 2008, at 3752 Midway Road, Hermantown, MN. Region C will conduct this class as needed. First Aid & Adult CPR: This class will be conducted as needed at all three regions (current training is required for a MSHA New Employed Inexperienced Miner Certificate) OSHA Subpart R: This class was designed for all structural steel jobs. Take this course if you plan on or are currently on structural steel jobsites Welding: The primary goal is a certification with SMAW, E7018 (stick) and FCAW (flus-cored wire, self shielding - no gas). Training and testing of stainless steel welding, Gas Metal Arc Welding ("MIG") and Gas Tungsten Arc Welding ("TIG") will also be available. The Region A class ($287.62) will begin Saturday, January 19, 2008, from 8:00 AM to noon, for 12 Saturdays, at St Paul College, 235 Marshall Avenue, St Paul, MN. This class will run as needed in Regions B & C. NOTE: If you have a current certification card(s) from International, you no longer have to pay for the renewal. Hhowever, if you have let the card expire, you must retest to get another card and there will be a charge for it. Keep your card renewed and up to date. Bonded and Unbonded Cables: This class starts on Saturday, January 19, 2008. The length of the class will depend on how much Post Tensioning classroom and jobsite training you have had. Call for details. Lift Training (scissors, articulating boom, fork, etc.): This class will start Saturday, February 9, 2008, at all Regions, and will continue as needed. A normal lift training class can be completed in one day. Blueprint Reading and Instrument Layout: This class starts on Saturday, January 19, 2008, and runs for 12 Saturdays, 8:00 AM to noon, and will cover blueprints specific to Ironworkers and will also teach instrument layout with eye-level, transits, etc. Unless noted, otherwise, fees for these classes vary per class and Region. You will be advised of the exact cost on the first day of class. Fees will be refunded to members of Local #512 upon completion of the course. Other Safety Related Classes: If there are other required safety classes that you need at your jobsite, we may be able to hold those classes as well Contact this office if you have any comments, concerns, or questions. You may register for these classes by contacting the Training Center at 651-489-3829, or by the Local #512 Union Hall/Sub-Office in your Region at these numbers Region A: 651-489-3829
Region B: 218-724-5073
Region C: 701-663-4266 Regarding the required drug testing for the "power belt" region of North Dakota, the testing is a 5-panel lab test. Bring a photo ID when you go to take the drug screen. The drug screen can be taken at: - Preble Medical Services collection sites, 101 Collins Avenue, Mandan, ND (8:00AM to 5:00 PM M-F, 701-663-6021), and at the Labor Temple, 3002 - 1st Avenue NW, Fargo, ND (9:00 AM - 11:-- AM, M-F, or by appointment, 701-232-4346).
- Minnesota Occupational Health (651-842-5300), 1661 St. Anthony Avenue, St Paul, MN (near Snelling Avenue and I-94).
- St. Mary's Dulut Clinic (218-786-3392).
Call the location you want to use to confirm testing hours, etc. Make sure they understand the procedure regarding the Preble form, billing, etc. They should call Preble to find out the procedures. If you go directly to North Dakota and test there, you will have to wait for the final lab results to come back, and this can take up to three days or longer. In order to take the drug test, you must have been referred to a jobsite requiring this testing, report to the referred jobsite one time, and work the duration of the designated jobsite shutdown. If you do not follow these requiements, you will be responsible for the billing of this drug testing.
Note: There are shut downs in the spring of each year in the "power belt" that require a number of Ironworkers. Billing, drug screen results, full name (first, middle, last) and date of birth must go to BA Larry Morris at the Ironworkers Local #512 Region C Sub-office, 2901 Twin City Drive, Mandan, ND 58554. Thank you and good luck! Sincerely, Allen Grayson, Coordinator
Anthony (Tony) Arneson, Assistant Coordinator journeymenuprgrdallregions2008.wrd |
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MEMO TO: All Unions Gentlemen: Please make note of the following revisions to the US Steel S-001 Contractor Safety Requirements that affect all personnel who work at the USS-Minntac and USS Keetac properties. These mandatory requirements are in effect now and will be aggressively enforced by USS effective October 15, 2007. As of that date, no contractor personnel will be allowed to work on the property without conforming to these requirements. I have copied the exact language from the S-001 below for your review: 4.4.1.3 Long-sleeved shirts and full length trousers are required. Sleeves must be kept buttoned. Wear no loose or ragged clothing around moving machinery or equipment. 4.4.1.4 Work boots with steel toes and metatarsal (internal and external) are required. Work boots must meet ASTM F2413 or ANSI Z41.1999 requirements. Temporary metatarsal quads are not permitted. |
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We've Moved!
New Address for the Duluth/Superior Office:
3752 Midway Road
Hermantown, MN 55810
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Ironworkers Local 512 breaks ground on training
facility in Hermantown. Ironworkers Local 512 took another big step July 19th when they held a ceremonial groundbreaking for a Hermantown training center and offices. "We're here to stay for another hundred years," said Al Grayson, Apprenticeship Coordinator of Local 512, which has its main office in St. Paul. "This training center shows our commitment to northern Minnesota and to educating a new generation of Ironworkers to build northern Minnesota." The Ironworkers were chartered in 1896, and Local 512 has a jurisdiction in Minnesota, North Dakota, and west central Wisconsin, roughly Ashland to Lacrosse, said Business Manager, Charlie Witt. "This will be our second training site after opening one in the Twin Cities in 2001." Witt said, "We looked for land for a long time and finally decided this spot has great access from the Range, Wisconsin, and Grand Rapids."
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The $2.3 million, 15,000 square foot training center, at 3752 Midway Road, Hermantown, MN 55810, is located off the Midway Road and Highway 2, behind Starvin' Marvins. Excavating was in progress as the ceremony was going on and Witt says they hope to open yet this year. We've hired local just like we'd like others to do when they build, from architects to union contractors," Witt said. Johnson Wilson is the construction management firm. Witt said Local 512 has about 1,350 members currently and 350 more apprentices. An aging membership spurred Local 512 to accelerate its apprenticeship programs. Norm Voorhees, a Local 512 organizer out of Duluth's office, said there are about 300 members in this northern region, and 125 apprentices. "We've been accepting apprentices every six months for the last 24 months," Voorhees said. "We have applications at the union hall, applicants take an aptitude test, get an interview with the Joint Apprenticeship Committee, and if selected, they start their three year on the job training." Darrell Godbout, Business Agent for Local 512's northern region, said the membership is excited about having their own facility. We've had to rent space and get squeezed in at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College and Virginia's Mesabi College, and now we'll be able to do things on our schedule with apprentices and journeyman upgrades and training. This will be great." Grayson said having to use facilities other than their own "was like living in a motel." the new facility will have the local's area offices, classrooms, a shop with 24 welding stations and overhead crane and a commons area. Frank Sramek, 82, attended the groundbreaking wearing his old hardhat and burning goggles. He first began Ironworking in 1955, and served Local 563, which merged into Local 512 in 2004, as a recording secretary for 22 years, and was also on the apprenticeship committee and an instructor. "A training center was never even dreamed of," Sramek said. "There was always the idea that we shouldn't have too many members or we wouldn't have enough work for everyone. But with pension improvements, members didn't have to do that hard, dangerous work until they were old anymore. So we had more turnover and needed more apprentices. Now with a merged union, apprentices can get their hours in a large work area too. The merger had a training center in mind as one of its goals. When our apprentices go out on the job they have to be top notch workers in order to compete with nonunion competition."
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