Russ Burns, Business Manager
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As a third-generation operator and Local 3 member, Russ Burns grew up living and breathing Local 3.
The business manager started his career with Local 3 in 1979 as a crane operator on various construction projects – high rises, bridges, refineries and large treatment plants throughout Northern California and Reno, Nev. His last position in the field before working for Local 3 was as general foreman for Bechtel at the Shell Clean Fuels Project in Martinez, Calif.
Burns began his Local 3 staff career in 1994 as a business representative in the Fairfield District. He was promoted to special representative in charge of the crane industry in 1996, and one year later, he was promoted to special representative to the dredging industry. In 1999, Burns became the Santa Rosa district representative and then transferred to the Fairfield District, where he served six months as district representative and trustee.
In 2000, he graduated from the Harvard Trade Union Program, and in 2001, he was appointed to the Cal-OSHA Standards Board Subcommittee for Certification of Crane Operators.
Burns transferred from Fairfield to Sacramento in 2002 and served as district representative and special representative to the business manager until he was appointed treasurer of the union by a unanimous officer vote. Burns served as treasurer until Jan. 2, 2005, when he was sworn in as financial secretary. He was sworn in as business manager on Sept. 1, 2006. He was duly elected and took office as 14th General Vice President of the International Union of Operating Engineers on October 19th, 2006.
As business manager, Burns is responsible for the oversight of all Local 3 operations.