Engineers News: July 2008
Proud to be Local 3
by Dan Redding, Treasurer
At the time of this writing, we have just finished half of the district meetings, where we have been hopefully rolling out the last fix to our pension. I would like to thank all members who attended the meetings. Delivering bad news is never easy, but it was very encouraging to see that the membership understands our situation and appreciates all the effort being put forth.
The officers and I had a week-long break between meetings, because we were attending the 37th Convention of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) in Nevada. We met with delegates from all locals across the U.S. and Canada representing more than 400,000 Operating Engineers. We learned quickly that most of the locals are experiencing the same problems as Local 3, such as pension, health care, a downturn in work hours and the political hardships our current government has put on all unions and working families, with the outsourcing of American jobs and their continued attempts to do away with prevailing wages and turn this whole country into a right-to-work state.
While at the convention, a film was shown about 9/11, Hurricane Katrina and other disasters that have affected our members. The International has a disaster fund set up for Operating Engineers who are unfortunate enough to face such tragedy. In the films, you are able to see first-hand exactly what it means to our fellow Operating Engineers to receive financial assistance from the International. Those brothers and sisters lost everything, and it brings tears to your eyes to see the pride they have to be Operating Engineers.
Watching the film really hit home with me because during the prior week, a member asked us to give him one reason to be union: “All the union does is take and take,” he said. Well, we told the member at the time, we can think of many reasons to be union: better wages, health care and a pension that even with our current adjustments is as good or better than most. And unlike a 401(k), you are guaranteed a fixed amount when you retire. Having a voice at the table and being able to stand up for your rights in the workplace, negotiate contracts and hold employers accountable, if necessary, are all important benefits as well.
There are many more reasons to be union, but what I realized while watching the film and what moved me most was how proud our members are to be part of an organization that stands up for them and is there for them in times of need. It also makes me wonder about all the other hard-working people who at one time lost everything. How many of their non-union employers were there for them? How many of those non-union employers gave them financial help in their time of need? And how many of those people can say they are proud to be part of a union that their grandfathers, fathers, sons and daughters are also a part of?
I truly believe all Local 3 members should be proud to be Local 3 and proud to be one of the 400,000-plus Operating Engineers across this great country and Canada. We are going through some tough times right now: an underperforming stock market, anti-union leaders in the White House and a down economy, but we will get through it together.
All Local 3 members should be proud to say they are an Operating Engineer and carry on the proud heritage Local 3 stands for.
