International Union of Operating Engineers – Local 49

I wonder where my kids will work and what kind of jobs will be there for them.

If you don't believe that political decisions are to blame for most of what has happened let's take a look at some of the changes that force us to re-think how we operate and plan for the future. Heavy industrial manufacturing has all but ended in this country. Many big foundries that cast machinery, parts and equipment have closed, while more and more of our clothes and footwear come from overseas.

Auto parts, electronics, appliances and almost everything we made in this country, stuff that came with a "Made in the USA" label now comes from elsewhere, but people go on buying it. Check it out, check where the bridge in the San Francisco bay was made: sections were shipped in from a foreign country and assembled on site. What's next, sections of a road?

More and more of the jobs became automated or were service type positions, selling foreign-made products, selling insurance, health care, banking, travel, and so on. Corporations have merged, acquired, and bought out their competition; they set up their companies offshore to avoid paying taxes, move manufacturing to another country to avoid paying a living wage to the workers, and then import the stuff to the US so we can buy it while their profits go up.

Some laws make it easy to do business, own things, or sell things, but where are the laws that say this is the people's country? If we cannot make a living here because of the one-sided laws we have lost what this country was all about.

I don't get it: If most of us make only enough to eat and pay rent, then who is going to buy all this stuff the mega-corporations import?

Why am I rambling on about this stuff? Why do I care? Because I'm one of the owners of this country.

I live here. I want to keep working here. I want my kids to live and work here.

I see a problem: every other year we have elections for people to represent us, the people, and then all we hear is the same old stuff, FEAR, FEAR and MORE FEAR or JOBS, JOBS and JOBS. Same stuff, different day - nothing changes.

TV, radio, and now computers and cell phones have given us the ability to communicate 24 hours a day, from almost anywhere in the world. So we can be informed, check on things, discuss things with our families and friends almost any time. We are bombarded with messages, including sales and things we could care less about, and it works well enough they keep at it. Repeating messages over and over and over to the point it becomes part of what we believe to be the truth sells things, and sells ideas.

Remember the old Pavlov's dog trick? Ring a bell just before you feed the dog, after a while when you ring the bell the dog starts drooling. Have you looked at who owns almost all of the media in the US? If not check it out – you might be surprised who's ringing the bell. I've been told that nobody gets involved, "until your belt buckle touches your back bone." How's yours doing?

Deregulation of the banking industry, out-sourcing jobs, cutting education, and having the gall to call our Social Security, pensions, and Medicare and other benefits we paid for every week out of our paychecks "ENTITLEMENTS" is wrong. Telling us it is not in our best interest to have these benefits any longer, that we should accept less, is not what is best for everybody no matter what some pundits or politicians say. We built this country with our hands and backs. We've earned the right to enjoy living here.

Local 49 has been committed to doing the best for the most since forming in 1927. We have enjoyed some good years and survived some not-so-good years. Like any organization we are not immune to the havoc of economic down-turns (in fact, we've weathered many over the decades.) We plan as well as we can for slumps in the economy. The reduction in worked hours, the slow start up the last several years, a Minnesota government shutdown this summer following record rain amounts have stressed the Local just as they've stressed the individual members. This is not just local 49's situation; all the other locals have faced the same thing. Some affiliates have raised the monthly dues and cut most of the staff.

We have redoubled our efforts to secure stable funding for every aspect of our local union, including cities, county, schools and road & infrastructure funding initiatives. Business Agents, Officers, Organizers, Retirees, and members have volunteer hundreds of hours beyond their regular duties to assist the Political Department by door knocking, phone banking and dropping literature for people who share our goals of good jobs, safe working conditions and a Middle Class standard of living.

Let me be clear, there were other changes we've had to make to reduce our costs and still represent our members and maintain our benefits. Local 49 is committed to do that, so there have been changes in hours of operation of some offices, as well as reduction of staff and some services we offered. Everyone has tightened their belt and we will continue to do whatever it takes to maintain our local union. Below are some of the specific steps we have taken to achieve this.

• Three clerical staff members have been laid off; Mike Wilde the union lawyer and Jim Hansen's position will not be replaced.
• Local 49 will suspend the holiday parties this year, but we still have the health meetings and you should attend those meetings.
• Cleaning of our out-state offices will be done by the staff. We have some retirees that have volunteered to mow the grass at some of our offices.
• We will be keeping the automobiles longer and monitoring the maintenance costs.
• Along with the clerical employee reductions in the Metro office we began the process to transfer the duties of the Pension information position to the Central Pension Office in Washington DC.
• Suspended the Market Recovery Program except for unusual circumstances.
• Eliminated travel and overnight stays for some Agents and Organizers.
• Agents/Organizers have volunteered to take unpaid time off starting immediately. We have increased the job responsibilities of all Officers, Agents, Organizers and Staff.
• Reduced work hours in 5 out-state offices by 23% and eliminated a permanent part-time clerical position. Rochester, Mankato, Duluth, Virginia and Bagley Minnesota offices are on a 3-day week. Call the office before you go to ensure it is open. Schedule is as follows;
  • Duluth, & Mankato: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
  • Rochester & Virginia: Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

We are confident these measures will allow us to maintain the high level of service and availability we have provided in the past.

While more layoffs are possible this winter depending on work in the individual areas, further cuts to staff would handicap Local 49's bargaining power and the ability to protect our strong contracts. We must continue to organize the un-Organized.

We have had to make many tough decisions. Now is the time we must stick together, protect our jurisdiction and perform at the highest level.

"If you hear someone on a job site or at the coffee shop talking about our Union and you wonder if what you hear is accurate, don't hesitate to call me. Its times like these that rumors or false statements tend to start flying. Get your information from the source, go to your local union meetings and call me if you want straight answers."

Without a strong presence at the state Capital "Right to Work" and Prevailing Wage Laws could be gutted. Please check our web site www.local49.org often for additional information. We will be addressing these issues at the upcoming membership meetings in all the areas so please attend if possible and I am available by phone at 612-788-9441.

Glen D. Johnson
Business Manager
Local 49