International Union of Operating Engineers – Local 49

As we move in to the 2012 construction work season there are more projects than we have seen in the last several years. MNDOT stated that the budget for infrastructure improvements is over 1 billion dollars. North Dakota DOT's budget for improvements is over $600 million, and South Dakota DOT is working with $500 million.

The Federal Highway trust fund is still not what this country needs; a multiyear well funded bill would help stabilize the money the states have to work with. But no we get another extension that does not provide or address the serious decay of our crumbling infrastructure in the US. And where are the JOBS?

JOBS, JOBS, JOBS! How many times have you heard one of the candidates say this: that their number one issue was to create jobs. How do they expect to do this when they won't pass a bill that would do that and do it now? We have some large building projects, wind energy and pipeline construction as well. The uptick in construction as a whole is a positive sign that we need to get members working. The oil industry has created thousands of jobs in the Dakotas, not only in the actual drilling, but also in all the related services needed to accommodate all the workers and support for this growing industry.

Many of our contractors have or are putting in housing for their workers, providing this has helped workers make the decision that they will go to the work. We all know in the construction world that we rarely get to work where we live; we have to be flexible and adjust to the constantly changing locations of work. Local 49 continues to provide training for the members to upgrade their skills and safety training to make us the most productive workers in the industry. Over 5000 people went through the training center in the last year, a testament to the quality and diversity of what is offered to our members. We have cities, counties, and shops that utilize the resources our training center provides. By focusing on precisely the skills needed for the job, the pipeline training we provide along with the National Pipeline Training program has made the IUOE members the best trained and safest professionals in the industry.

We have experienced some slow growth in the public groups, as well, and seem to be stabilizing. Health care remains as the 800 pound gorilla that only continues to increase in cost. Nationally the cost trend is over 8% increases and much higher in some places. This continues to be the issue in all negotiations and when this goes up it is hard to get money for wages and benefits. Local 49's health plan has had no increase in the hourly contribution for the last two years, and will not have one for 2012. So three years without an increase shows that our plan is doing something right, which is why we're getting national media interest in how we're providing services for the participants to get the best treatment and outcomes from everybody from the AFL-CIO to MS-NBC.

As we move into the election season we all need to make sure we know who is supporting the working people of this country and our states. We all have our own issues and we make decisions about who we support. A man told me this and I find it to so true: Love many, trust few, and always paddle your own canoe. Work safe and be the best you can be.