Local 25 News

RIP James Robertson
Posted: Aug 12, 2010

Brother James Robertson died suddenly on Thursday, August 12, 2010.  As the tragic news travelled through the union brotherhood, it became obvious how many friends, coworkers and true brothers and sisters he has left behind.

James was initiated into the Union in 2000.  Throughout the years, he worked for Great Lakes, Weeks Marine and Cashman Dredging as a deckhand, mate, welder and boatman.  James last worked with Cashman on the Hudson River project in 2009 as a Tug Captain.  His contributions to this Union will be remembered by us all. 

We extend our deepest sympathies to James' family and loved ones.  He will be sorely missed.  RIP Brother.   

Results of the 2010 Elections for Officers
Posted: Aug 09, 2010

Date: August 9, 2010

To: Scott A. Winter, President and Business Manager

From: William "Reggie" Hemphill

Subject: Results of Elections of Officers

The Balloting Committee consists of William "Reggie" Hemphill, David Oldham, and John Liberty.  In accordance with the 2010 Election Committee Rules Report, myself, David Oldham and the New Jersey Department of Labor State Board of Mediation Representatives convened this day to retrieve return election ballots from the Post Office.  Absent from this day was John Liberty.  The ballots were opened in the presence of the candidates and/or their chosen representatives and tallied for results.  Out of the 1,196 ballots mailed out to eligible voting members, the results are in the following order:

VICE PRESIDENT

Candidate            Votes            Results

Jerry Abell           336               ELECTED

Mark Taylor         181               NOT ELECTED

AUDITORS

Candidate            Votes            Results

John Zappala        326              ELECTED

Jerry Abell          304                ELECTED

John Spitaleri       277               ELECTED

Mark Taylor         241               NOT ELECTED

This concludes the election process.

Fraternally Yours,

William "Reggie" Hemphill  

Committee Chairman               

for original letter with signature, click here  http://www.iuoelocal25.org/pdf/Election_Results_for_Officers_2010.pdf                                                     

Ballots To Be Counted and Results Announced...
Posted: Aug 07, 2010

The Local 25 Election Committee will count the ballots for the positions of Vice President and Auditors on Monday, August 9. 

These results will be announced at the General Membership Meeting on Tuesday, August 10 at 7 pm.  The Membership Meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn in East Windsor, NJ. 

NOTICE OF NOMINATION FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE
Posted: Apr 15, 2010

NOTICE OF NOMINATION FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE

Nominations for Elective Office will be held at the Holiday Inn (formally the Ramada Inn) off Exit #8 of the New Jersey Turnpike in East Windsor, New Jersey on June 8, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. 

Nominations shall be conducted in accordance with the Constitution of the International Union of Operating Engineers, the By-laws of Local 25 and Robert’s Rules of Order as revised. 

All Candidates for Elective Offices shall be a member in good standing as defined by Art. XXIV, Subdiv 7, Section (c) and shall meet the conditions of eligibility as defined by Art. XXIV Subdiv. 1 Section (a) and Art. XXIV Subdiv. 1 Section (b) of the Constitution of the International Union of Operating Engineers.  All nominations for Elective Office must also meet Nomination Requirements of Article 5 Section 2 of the By-Laws of Local 25. 

All candidates for Elective Office shall submit a minimum of 25 valid signatures on an Official IUOE Local 25 Nominating Petition as defined by Article 5, Section 1 (a)  (b) and Section 2 (a) of The By-Laws of Local 25. Based upon the census of 1243 eligible voters, as of April 14, 2010.

The IUOE Constitution and the Local Union 25 By-Laws are available to all members upon verbal request to the Local Union Hiring Halls.  The Official Nominating Petitions are available to qualified members upon written request to the Recording Corresponding Secretary.

Nominations will be made in the following order. 

1. President/Business Manager

Nominations for the following offices may be made collectively

2. Vice President
3. Recording Corresponding Secretary
4. Financial Secretary
5. Treasurer
6. Conductor 
7. Guard
8. Three Trustees
9. Three Auditors
10. Three Executive Board Member

Fraternally yours,

Scott A. Winter
President & Business Manager

CONTRACT RATIFICATION RESULTS
Posted: Dec 01, 2009

DATE: December 1, 2009

TO: Scott A Winter, President and Business Manager

FROM: Frank Malta, Master Agreement Ratification Election Chairman

Dear Mr. Winter,

Below are the results of the Ratification of the successor Master Agreement:

Ballots Mailed:   1226
Ballots Returned:  580
Ballots marked as YES:  477
Ballots marked as NO:  103

Ballots Returned as Undeliverable: 4
Ballots not Returned:   646

Total percentage of Ballots returned: 47.3%
Total percentage marked YES:         82.2%
Total percentage marked NO:  17.8%

The successor Master Agreement for the years 2009-2012 was ratified by the membership.
Please post the results in the next Dredgemen Newsletter and on our web-site.

This concludes the ratification process.

Fraternally yours,

Frank Malta
Election Chairman

General Membership Meetings in Southern Jurisdiction
Posted: Nov 10, 2009

We are holding multiple Union meetings in the south this week to discuss the proposed contract changes and to answer any questions or concerns you might have.  We are encouraging everyone to attend one of these meetings if possible. 

11/11/09 - Southport, NC - 4 pm & 8 pm

Hampton Inn, 5181 Southport Supply Rd., Southport, NC 28461

(910) 454-0016

11/12/09 - Jacksonville, FL - 3:30 pm & 7:30 pm

Holiday Inn Express, 10148 New Berlin Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32226

(904) 696-3333

11/13/09 - Charleston / Mt. Pleasant, SC - 3 pm & 7 pm

Holiday Inn, 250 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

(843) 884-6000

10-HOUR OSHA CONSTRUCTION SAFETY AND HEALTH COURSE
Posted: Nov 06, 2009

The Joint Union Employer Training Fund (JUETF) is sponsoring an OSHA course to be held on Friday November 6, 2009 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Jamesburg, NJ.  All students must arrive no later than 07:30 am.  Class hours are 8 am - 6 pm.  This course will run for a total of 10 hours.  Lunch will be provided at no cost to the student.  Each student will receive a $150.00 per diem from the JUETF at the conclusion of the course.  Each student will receive an OSHA Construction Safety and Health Card within two months of the completion date. 

Please contact Lynda Disbrow or Patty Colson at Union Headquarters if you plan on attending - (732) 446-6262 - Lynda, ext. 0, Patty, ext. 4

Crowne Plaza Hotel Monroe

390 Foresgate Dr., Jamesburg, NJ 08831 - (609) 655-4775

Directions:  Take NJ Turnpike (I-95) to Exit 8a - Bear left after the tollbooth towards Jamesburg-Monroe - Follow exit ramp - Make the first right into the Crowne Plaza Monroe.

Overview of Completed Training Courses
Posted: Nov 01, 2009

In the past year Local 25 has completed 20 training courses.  This is an impressive number and will continue to grow.  We hope this list, updated as we move forward, will show the commitment to training Local 25 is commited to.

10/29/08 - 10 HR OSHA Safety and Health - sponsored by Local 25

11/7/08 - 12 HR Combined OSHA Safety and Health and HAZWOPER Renewal - sponsored by Local 25

11/13/08 - 10 HR OSHA Safety and Health - sponsored by Local 25

12/10/08 - 8 HR HAZWOPER General Site Worker Refresher - sponsored by Local 25

12/11/08 - 10 HR OSHA Safety and Health - sponsored by Local 25

02/06/09 - 40 HR HAZWOPER General Site Worker - sponsored by Local 37

03/26/09 - 10 HR OSHA Safety and Health - sponsored by Local 25

03/28/09 - 40 HR HAZWOPER General Site Worker - sponsored by Local 825

03/28/09 - 10 HR OSHA Safety and Health - sponsored by Local 25

04/24/09 - 40 HR HAZWOPER General Site Worker - sponsored by Local 106

04/25/09 - 10 HR OSHA Safety and Health - sponsored by Local 25

05/05/09 - 40 HR HAZWOPER General Site Worker - sponsored by Local 4

05/15/09 - 40 HR HAZWOPER General Site Worker - sponsored by Local 825

05/17/09 - 10 HR OSHA Safety and Health - sponsored by Local 25

05/22/09 - 40 HR HAZWOPER General Site Worker - sponsored by IUOE National Training Center, HAZMAT and Technology Center

06/05/09 - 40 HR HAZWOPER General Site Worker - sponsored by Local 478

06/06/09 - 10 HR OSHA Safety and Health - sponsored by Local 478

06/12/09 - 40 HR HAZWOPER General Site Worker - sponsored by IUOE National Training Fund, HAZMAT and Technology Center

06/19/09 - 40 HR HAZWOPER General Site Worker - sponsored by Local 825

07/07/09 - 40 HR HAZWOPER General Site Worker - sponsored by Local 825

Notice of Specially Called General Membership Meetings
Posted: Oct 30, 2009

There will be four specially called General Membership meetings in November to discuss the proposed Master Agreement.  We will hold two meetings in Baltimore, MD on 11/4, a third meeting in Monroe/South Brunswick, NJ on 11/6 and a fourth meeting in Fort Edward, NY on 11/8.  We encourage all members to attend as there will be an overview of the proposed contract changes and a chance to ask questions or voice concerns.  The regularly scheduled monthly meeting that would have been on November 10 has been cancelled. 

November 4, 2009 - 4 pm and 8 pm - Best Western Hotel

5625 O'Donnell St., Baltimore, MD 21224 - (410) 633-9500

November 6, 2009 - 6 pm - Crowne Plaza Monroe South Brunswick

390 Forsgate Dr., Jamesburg, NJ 08831 - (609) 655-4775

November 8, 2009 - 1 pm - Fort Edward Firehouse

114 Broadway, Fort Edward, NY 12828 - (518) 747-5127

Upcoming Training Classes
Posted: Mar 23, 2009

The Joint Union/Employer Training Fund is holding several training classes in the coming months.  These classes are open to all Local 25 members in good standing but space is limited:

8 Hour Hazwoper Renewal Course - March 27
Local 825, 338 Dean Hall Road, Dayton, NJ 08810
(You must already have the 40 hour Hazwoper certificate to take this class)

10 Hour OSHA Construction Safety and Health Course - March 28
Rutgers Labor Education Center, 50 Labor Center Way, East Brunswick, NJ 08901

10 Hour OSHA Construction Safety and Health Course - April 2009 Date TBA, tentatively scheduled for Lake George, NY

10 Hour OSHA Construction Safety and Health Course - May 2009 Date TBA, tentatively scheduled for Lake George, NY

10 Hour OSHA Construction Safety and Health Course - June 2009 Date TBA, tentatively scheduled for Lake George, NY

All students must be members in good standing to attend.  Please contact the Training Director, Scott Winters, at the NJ Hall to schedule your attendance.    

Tax free non-reportable per-diem rates are paid by the JUETF at $150.00 per day at the conclusion of the course.  Discounted hotel rates are negotiated for students as well.  Lunch is provided during class hours at no cost to the students.

Certified credentials are issued for each of these courses.  

Southern Report, Tampa, FL Hall
Posted: Oct 14, 2008

1. Myrtle Beach, SC -NATCO/GLDD

This is a hopper dredge job with Local 25 members crewing the beach and bull gang.  They have approximately 2 months left on this job.  Vernon Finch - Shop Steward

2.  Charleston, SC - Norfolk Dredging - Dr. Atlantic and Virginian
    
They are wrapping up this maintenance project and will head to Sunny Point, NC within the week.
Al Jones, Rusty Callahan - Shop Stewards
   
3.  Fernandina Beach, FL - Weeks Marine - Dr. RS Weeks
    
The dredge has about 2 more weeks on this job, with current weather conditions, and will then move on to Oregon Inlet, NC.  Jerry Collins - Shop Steward

4.  Savannah, GA - GLDD - Dr. Illinois
    
This is a beach renourishment project at Tybee Island.  The job is 1.2 million yards and they are starting up today.  Once completed, the dredge will head to Long Island and NJ projects.  Scott Gillikin, Ronnie Harrell - Shop Stewards

5.  Port St. Joe, FL - Manson Const.
   
This is a hopper dredge job with Local 25 members crewing the beach and bull gang.
They have enough work to last until Decmember right now with additional work possible due to Hurricanes Ike and Gustav.  Dan Delaney, Jim Click - Shop Stewards

6.  Houma, LA - Manson Const. - Dr. Leonard J.
   
Start up has been delayed 1-2 weeks on this hydraulic dredge job.
Dean Willis - Shop Steward 

Southern Report, Tampa, FL Hall
Posted: Jan 06, 2008

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock

Myrtle Beach, S.C. - GLDD has two hopper dredges working on a beach renourishment project.  Local 25 is providing the shore crew and derrick crew.  This job is expected to last about 8 - 10 months. Shop Stewards - Eddie Smith and Vernon Finch

Freeport, Bahamas - The Dredge Texas should finish up this job around 1-11-08 then head over to the mid-east.

Weeks Marine, Cape Canaveral, FL

The Dredge 506 is continuing this channel maintenance project.

Manson Construction, Abaco Island, Bahamas

Manson has approximately 1 month left on this private real estate hydraulic dredge job.

Norfolk Dredging, Pascagoula, MS

The Dredge Virginian is working on a maintenance project here.  Shop Steward - Rusty Callahan

Dental Benefit to be Added to Medical Plan!
Posted: Jan 02, 2008

For the first time in our history, Local 25 will have a dental preventative care benefit to cover routine visits to a providing dentist. 

This benefit will cover procedures such as: oral examinations, cleanings, flouride treatments and diagnostic services such as x-rays and cancer screening.  On procedures not covered by this benefit, discounts will be applied to your cost according to the provider, Delta Dental.

This dental benefit is projected to be up and running by April 1, 2008, so look for more detailed information to be mailed to you in the coming months.      

Supreme Court to Rule on Union Law
Posted: Nov 23, 2007


WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court intervened in a dispute between organized labor and management Tuesday, agreeing to decide the validity of a state law that limits employers' ability to weigh in on union organizing.

The case accepted by the justices comes from California, where a law passed in 2000 prohibits employers from using money they receive from the state to oppose or support unionization efforts.

Organized labor flexes its muscle again in the U.S.
Posted: Nov 18, 2007


NEW YORK: Suddenly, it seems, organized labor in the United States is flexing its muscles again.

Nothern Report, Millstone, NJ Hall
Posted: Nov 13, 2007

Amboy Aggregrates

Amboy is still going strong with steady work and no layoffs in NJ.  We are still looking for a 100 Ton Captain with Towing Endorsement.  Shop Steward - Jay Murphy

Cashman

The Wood I has completed work in NY Harbor and will be going to Albany, NY where they have about a months' worth of work.  The Wood II is scheduled to start around 11/19/07 in Boston near the Salem River with about 3-4 months of work.  Shop Steward - Curly

Horizon Off-Shore

The pipe line job in Boston should be completed around the middle of December 2007.  Horizon has more work in the Boston area scheduled for 2008.  Lead Dredgeman - Pete Gibson

SP & B

With only welders working in their yard, SP & B is very slow at this time.  Lead Dredgeman - Darrell David

Caldwell Divers

Caldwell is working in VA on a construction job and has cable jobs in Mississippi, Texas and Baltimore. 

Sea Wolf Marine

Sea Wolf continues steady work with their tugs and are currently looking for a 100 Ton Captain with Towing Endorsement.  Shop Steward - Kevin Lohr

Don Jon Marine

Don Jon has approximately 9 different jobs to go to, encompassing Philadelphia, NY, NJ Harbor and Long Island.  Disposal of the material is an issue.  They have constructed a site in Connecticut to dispose of the material;  this will take 30 hours round trip with scows.  They have plans to bring out 2 more dredges.  Lead Dredgeman - David Oldham

Hyrdaulitall Inc.

Hydraulitall has 2 jobs in Long Island with about 6 months' worth of work.  They should be starting sometime this month. 

Albert Construction

Albert has a small job next to Sandy Hook, NJ with a 12" dredge with approximately 1 month worth of work.  This is a new company currently looking for more work.  Shop Steward - Kevin Gilliland 

Labor:Changing to Win
Posted: Oct 23, 2007

The U.S. labor movement, split into sometimes hostile factions two years ago, is coming back together to wage campaigns aimed at recruiting thousands of new union members and greatly strengthening labor's growing political clout.