Resulted in the creation of 1.5 million new man hours for Local 104 members

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.smwia.org/News/NewsOverview/tabid/87/EntryID/373/Default.aspx


Local 104’s Campaign for Jobs Takes Up the Banner for Middle Class Workers

Written by: host 5/8/2013 2:54 PM

On February 3rd, hundreds of Local 104 members from across Northern California were joined by leaders and staff from across the United States and Canada for the local union’s Second Annual Campaign for Jobs Leadership Conference. The several hundred members who attended came with the stated goal of securing more quality jobs and building a stronger middle class in their local communities.

Not only did SMART General President Joseph Nigro come to the meeting in Livermore, CA, to address activists at the meeting, he also brought along members of the SMART General Executive Council, as well as Business Managers from the western United States. Building Trades delegations from councils across the Bay Area as well as leaders from environmental and community groups were also in attendance to coordinate joint activities designed to secure future work.



The program, initially started three years ago, is “a work in progress,” according to Bruce Word, Local 104 Business Manager and 2nd General Vice President of SMART. “The members of this union represent the working families that serve as the backbone of our communities. We will accept nothing less than our fair share of the benefits derived from the uptick in work that has come back to our local construction industry here in Northern California.”

The Campaign for Jobs program, of which the Leadership Conference is a part, has resulted in the creation of 1.5 million new man hours for Local 104 members. It involves a grassroots approach where labor works with other community groups to ensure that projects meet the fair labor, civil rights, and environmental standards that benefit middle class communities. Members have made their presence known at local jobsites and by aggressively showing up and making their voices heard at local school board, zoning, and other public meetings. In fact, Local 104 Vice President Rita Magner noted at the conference the over 1,100 actions executed by members in 2012 alone. “We walked precincts, put up signs, and packed city council meetings. That is one reason why over $3 billion in school construction bonds were passed in 2012—all future hours that you can count on!”

FULL story at link.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

1. those are my peeps! Proud member of local 104 here.