News archives
Find links to recent Local 3 news posted on this website.
March
March 22, 2013: Union Members call for end to bypass delay
In reporting from The Willits News, Union tradesmen put their collective foot down Thursday, showing support for the Willits Bypass Project and calling for an end to delays.
"The majority of people [in Willits] support it," John Galeotti, business representative for Operating Engineers Local 3, said. "I'd say it has about 90 percent support from locals."
In other reporting from the Press Democrat, eight people were arrested on suspicion of trespassing at the site of the controversial Highway 101 bypass Thursday, as dueling protests downtown and at the construction site rocked the town of 5,000 people.
March 20, 2013: Willits Bypass Project at Critical Juncture
An informational picket and rally will be held on Thursday, March 21, from 11am - 2pm in downtown Willits. Get more details now.
The project opponents are trying to pull the plug on $210 million dollars of work with yet another study. Read more about it and get additional links now.
Mark your calendar for the sixth annual Maui Picnic.
When: Sunday, May 5 - 11am - 2pm
Where: Veteran's Hall, 1136 Uluniu Rd., Kihei, HI, 96753
Join us for some summer fun and lots more...
Pupu contest, shave ice, Ono grindz
March 5, 2013: (Members Only Content) - Log in now to read the Memorandum of Agreement for the 2013 - 2016 Master Agreement between SIGNATORY ASSOCIATIONS and OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL UNION NO. 3 Log in to the members only website now to read this agreement.
March 13, 2013: Job Opening - District 20 Secretary
Performs high level secretarial office work in a fast paced environment; must possess good verbal and phone communication skills, compose and type memos and letters, generate reports, proofreading and keyboard skills are a must. Must be familiar with general office procedures and equipment. Interested candidates should apply online now, save the completed file and e-mail it to jobs@oe3.org. Applications must be received by: 3pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013.
January
Jan. 8, 2013: Hawaii JAC 2013 Training schedule beginning Jan. 12
Classes are offered to Operating Engineers Local No. 3 - District 17 members who are current active members in good standing with at least 350 working hours worked in the union. Times and locations are subject to change at any time. You must check with Training Site to confirm information and attendance. Call either 808-232-2001 or 1-800-482-3162 for final dates and times confirmation. Visit the Hawaii Training Center page for more information on the training center.
Meeting for Surveyor Master Agreement Allocation
Don't miss the allocation meeting for the Surveyors Master Agreement on Wednesday, January 23, at 5:30 PM. The meeting will take place at 1304 Roman Way, Martinez CA. If you have any questions please call John Sanders or John Rector.
Jan. 1, 2012: Executive Director, Hawaii Operating Engineers Industry Stabilization Fund - Qualified applicants must be a resident of Hawaii with a current driver's license and have an intimate knowledge of the construction industry covered by the Union and its Signatory Employers in the State of Hawaii, as well as knowledge of how the sponsoring organizations are organized and operate. Additionally, a working knowledge of the processes involved in dealing with public policies (ie. Fair Contracting, Procurement, Licensing), agencies (Land Use, Permitting) and legislative bodies on the Federal, State & County levels to increase jobs for and, provide a skilled workforce to the industry covered by the Union. Interested applicants must submit application letter to be received no later than January 25, 2013. Get more details now.
December
Dec. 1, 2012: Don't miss the eighth annual Toy Run
District 04 (Fairfield) and Mission Solano coordially invites you to join us for our Eighth Annual Pancake Breakfast and Motorcycle Toy Run.
When: Saturday, December 15, 2012 @ 8:00 a.m.
Cordelia Fire Station, 2155 Cordelia Road, Fairfield
Motorcycle Run departs at 10:00 a.m.
Everyone is welcome! Motorcycle not necessary to participate. Please bring a new, unwrapped toy. Donations are distributed to disadvantaged children in Solano. Download flyer now.
Dec. 1, 2012: Have a union-made holiday!
Withthe holiday shopping season upon us, it is more important than ever to buy local and buy union made goods. Two good places to start online are UnionPlus.org and Labor411.org. They are both committed to building a national Buy Union, Buy American movement as a means of improving the safety and economic well-being of union workers and their families. Check our list and buy union products made in the USA.
November
Congratulations and Thank You!
For the past six months I have been urging you to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 6 and you delivered. Not only did you vote, you also put in many hours phone banking, talking to friends and family about the candidates and ballot measures that were important to you.
Many of you walked precincts in support of jobs and in support of our voice as a union, a voice that once again spoke loudly at the ballot boxes.
It's now time to get to work rebuilding the infrastructure that is in dire need of fixing across our jurisdiction and investing in this great country with the ground breaking of the nations first high-speed rail project.
Nov. 5, 2012: Source of $11 million Arizona Contribution revealed
In a breaking news story, the true source of a recent infusion of $11 million from the Arizona non-profit corporation called Americans for Responsible Leadership was revealed. This shadowy Arizona group was forced to disclose where $11 million in political contributions came from.
The Sacramento Bee reports that one of the groups, the Center to Protect Patient Rights has been connected to Koch Industries, owned by David and Charles Koch, who are well-known conservative benefactors. Read the press release from the California Fair Political Practices Commission for more details.
Nov. 1, 2012: Legal benefit is better than ever
Union offers discounted rate for legal, identity-theft protection. We receive many calls from members seeking legal advice, so we are pleased to introduce a new legal benefit to the membership. Now, all active and retired members have access to legal and identity-theft protection at a discounted rate. Contact them by calling the OE3 LegalShield Benefit Hotline at (877) 507-8774. Read all about it now.
Nov. 1, 2012: - Public often misinformed about unions' value
We know unions are the key to a thriving middle class. However, the general public is still learning this fact, and they are learning it much slower thanks to the media's narrow representation of this important backbone of society. In President Fred Herschbach's November column, he refers to an informative article in The Sacramento Bee, written by California Labor Federation Executive-Secretary Treasurer Art Pulaski and brought to his attention by a Local 3 member. Find out more about it now including a link to the article.
Nov. 1, 2012: - 2013 Scholarship Applications and Rules now available
Six academic scholarships of varying amounts and twenty-five merit scholarships of $1,000 will be awarded to sons, daughters, stepchildren, and foster children of Local 3 members. These scholarships must be used for study at any accredited college or trade school located in the U.S. and are for the first year of study only. Find out more about Local 3's Scholarship Program and download an application now. Applications will be accepted from January 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013.
October
October 8, 2012: California voters, county elections officials began mailing ballots! Are you registered to vote? Find out if your registration is up to date, request a mail ballot and even register online.
- Register online: http://registertovote.ca.gov/
- Vote by mail information: http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_m.htm#apply
- Registration status: http://www.sos.ca.gov/ elections/registration-status/
Oct. 5, 2012: Voter Reg Deadlines : Dates vary for each state so check your state's Local 3 political page for information on upcoming deadlines and more.
- California - Voter registration deadline is Oct. 22
- Hawaii - Voter registration deadline was Oct. 8
- Nevada - In-person Voter Registration deadline is Oct. 16
- Utah - In-person and online voter registration is Oct. 22
September
Listen to the radio ad now. Building a better California! Listen to Will Durst in this radio ad honoring Labor Day and Operating Engineers.
August
Aug. 22, 2012: News Flash - Tuesday night, August 21, an agreement was reached with Graniterock on the contract at the Wilson Quarry in Aromas. Talks are now ongoing on the remaining contracts for the asphalt, ready mix and southside quarry. In a good faith gesture, all picket lines are down as negotiations continue. Stay tuned for additional updates as they become available.
Aug. 22, 2012: Hawaii Primary Results - Due to the timing of Hawaii's Primary Election, we were unable to publish notable victories in the Engineers News. Therefore, we have included the rundown below. We thank all the volunteers for responding to our call for help. District 17 members waved signs, made phone calls and walked precincts to get labor's message out. Thanks to you, Local 3 was victorious in several big races. Log on to the members only website to get all of the details.
- Aug. 1, 2012: Merit Scholarship Winners - Congratulations to the winners of the merit scholarships for 2012. Twenty-five $1,000 scholarships were awarded to sons, daughters, stepchildren, and foster children of members of Local 3 members. These scholarships must be used for study at any accredited college or trade school located in the U.S. and are for the first year of study only. View the list of winners now.
- Aug. 1, 2012: Support Honolulu Rail - The Hawaii Operating Engineers Industry Stabilization Fund Launches Support for Honolulu Rail! To learn more about the Honolulu Rapid Transit project and why Honolulu needs Rail NOW watch the video below and visit the links below for more details.
Visit the links below for more information:
July
July 27, 2012: Governor signs HSR Funding Bill
In a move that will surely make history, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation last week, ensuring the state's High-Speed Rail project will become a reality and begin next year. Read this eNews exclusive now.
Find other eNews stories that have run exclusively on the web site now.
- July 24, 2012: Restore The Rock - Issue 11
PAVEX grievances still moving forward
We've reported in the past about the grievances Local 3 filed protesting Graniterock's ongoing efforts to shift work away from bargaining-unit employees and toward Pavex employees it brings in to work side-by-side with its own workers. These grievances have not been dropped, despite what some people may be saying. Find out more about why we need to Restore the rock!
July 1 - 31, 2012: LaborFest 2012
LaborFest is a month long celebration of labor history commemorating the 1934 "Bloody Thursday" event on July 5, that led to the San Francisco General Strike later that month.
Events are scheduled all over the SF Bay area ranging from labor history walks, book readings, bus tours, musical celebrations, boat tours, a film festival and much more. Click here for a schedule of events.
July 17, 2012: Restore The Rock - Version 10
Full Steam Ahead! We've just finished the first full week of house calls, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Graniterock's Team Members have told us that they welcome the chance to talk away from work so that they can tell us how they really feel. The comments and suggestions have been helpful, and we hope they keep coming.
Take a look at the e-mail sent by Business Manager, Russ Burns to the membership regarding the Restore the Rock campaign.
July 9, 2012: High-Speed Rail receives legislative approval to move forward - On Friday, July 6 the California Senate approved Senate Bill 1029, giving the green light for High-Speed Rail. Business Manager Russ Burns, a current member of the California High-Speed Rail Authority Board said, "This is a huge victory for organized labor and will help jump-start the California economy. Local 3 has been a supporter of this project from the very beginning with former Business Manager Tom "T. J." Stapleton as a founding member of the High-Speed Rail Authority Board. It will create thousands of jobs at a time when the state needs them more than ever."
Get more details about this historic vote using the links below:
More details can also be found in Business Manager Russ Burns' August column in the Engineers News.
July 9, 2012: (Members Only Content)
Labor turns out for big political wins in Utah - Due to the timing of Utah's Primary Election (June 26), we were unable to publish notable victories in the Engineers News. Therefore, we have included the rundown in the members only website.
We thank all the volunteers for responding to our call for help. Thanks to you, Local 3 made out with some big wins in last month's Primary Election.
July 6, 2012: Restore The Rock - Version 9
On behalf of the officers, staff and members of Local 3, we express our sincere condolences to the Woolpert family over the tragic passing of Bruce W. Woolpert.
While we are currently in a critical and pitched battle with the company, our disagreements have not caused us to forget that under the Woolpert family, Graniterock has employed scores of Local 3 members for more than 60 years. Find out more about why we need to restore the rock.
July 3, 2012: July Engineers News - The print version of the July Engineers News will arrive in the mail a little later than normal. We had to extend our press date by a few days to include the official sample ballot for this year's internal election. But you don't have to wait that long to read the paper.
For our active members, there's a lot of information on jobs this month, as the work picture continues to improve.
Our members in Hawaii will find Local 3's endorsements in the printed version for the Primary Election on Aug. 11 as well as ways they can help get out the vote before then! Log on to the Members Only website to get the endorsements now.
June
- June 29, 2012: Job Opening, CEMA Business Representative [CLOSED]
The successful candidate will work with another Business Representative and a part time Administrative Assistant and will provide all aspects of labor relations services to members and may serve as chief spokesperson for all aspects of multi-year contract negotiations. Further, this position will be involved with staffing various programs. Deadline to apply is by 3:00 pm, on Friday, July 13, 2012. Get all of the details now. - June 28, 2012: Dispatcher - Hawaii [CLOSED]
Taking work orders from signatory contractors; checking the database of members on the out of work list & dispatching member(s) that match criteria; assist members with questions and/or requests relating to dispatch, out of work list and membership. Completed applications must be received by 3:00 pm, on Friday, July 13, 2012. Get all of the details now.
Local 3 goes 'International' - If you haven't checked out the International Union of Operating Engineers' (IUOE's) quarterly magazine, the International Operating Engineer, you're missing out, because Local 3 made the cover!
The Engineers News coverage of the underground Transbay Terminal drill-shaft work was the IUOE's main story. Click here to download the IUOE's publication and see your fellow Operating Engineers in action.
There's also great political information in this issue with a side-by-side comparison of presidential candidates Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. See why Obama is the clear choice, since Romney intends to "end the government's favoritism toward unions in contracting on federal projects and end project labor agreements" on "day one."
June 20, 2012: High-Speed Rail Support widens - A full page ad appeared in the June 20, San Francisco Chronicle, that shows wide support for High Speed Rail from mayors of five of the largest cities in California.
In addition, a local Bay Area non-profit has changed its outlook on the rail project, publishing a report titled, "Moving Ahead with High Speed Rail" It details how the new plan has improved the outlook and opportunities for high speed rail. Read the plan now.
May
May 1, 2012: Business Plan approved - On April 12, the California High Speed Rail Authority approved the revised business plan. Check out our High-Speed Rail web page for links and information on High-Speed Rail. Local 3 is a founding member of the California Alliance for Jobs, an affiliation of organizations that support rebuilding the American Dream. Watch the video now.
April
Looking for a new career?
Attend one of the upcoming orientation meetings
When: Tuesday, April 17 or May 22 @ 6:00 PM sharp
Where: Local 3 Headquarters,
1620 South Loop Road, Alameda, CA 94502
The Construction Inspector Apprenticeship is a new training tradition recently added to Operating Engineers Local Union No. 3's proud history of apprenticeship. This program trains individuals to enter the Testing and Inspection Industry with core skills obtained in Academic classes and On-the Job training. Download the flyer for all of the details.
- Save the date: Sunday, June 24
Don't miss the 2012 District 20 picnic, this year at the Waterfront Park in Martinez from 11:00 AM-2:00 PM. Download the flyer now. Bring your own softball gear and come prepared for the annual raffle, piñata and more. Get directions now.
March
Mar. 29, 2012: State Agrees With Union Complaint
The state's labor relations oversight board agreed with Local 3 and will air multiple complaints of unfair labor practices against the Santa Cruz Port District. "The state justified everything we've been saying," Local 3 business agent Dave Harrison said. Read full story now...
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Mar. 28, 2012: Job Opening - JAC Administrator - NEVADA [CLOSED]
The Apprenticeship Administrator is responsible to establish the annual apprenticeship schedule and to interpret the Apprenticeship Rules and Regulations and Bylaws of Operating Engineers Local Union No. 3. Deadline to apply is Wednesday, April 4, 2012. - Semi-Annual Meeting, Sunday, March 18, 2012
Thanks to all of those who attended the semi-annual meeting at the Cow Palace. -
Mar. 14, 2012: Testing and Inspection - Pre-negotioation Meeting Announcement
A meeting for members working under either the: 2008-2012 or 2011-2012 Master Agreement for Testing and Inspection (CELE / NCTIA).
When: Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at 5:30 PM
Where: The Cordelia Fire House, 2155 Cordelia Road, Fairfield, California
The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the upcoming negotiations for one Master Agreement for Testing and Inspection for Northern California. Visit the Technical Engineers page for additional details or click here for more information.
Important Meeting and rally for High Speed Rail
Calling all VOTE members for this important meeting and rally to show strong support for construction of high-speed Rail in California.
When: Tuesday, March 13, 6:00 pm
Where: Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts
The press conference and rally with labor groups, business and community leaders will take place prior to a legislative hearing on high speed rail which begins at 7 p.m. inside the Arts Center.
- Mar. 13, 2012: Job Opening, Reno - General Office Secretary - [CLOSED]
Deadline to apply is March 19, 2012. - Mar. 13, 2012: Job Opening, Hawaii - Political Lobbyist - [CLOSED]
Deadline extended until March 19, 2012.
March 1, 2012: Member's smart editorial applauds High-Speed Rail
What does activism in your union get you? A voice.
Just ask 27-year member Stephen Breacain, whose informed response to an anti-High-Speed-Rail editorial in the Manteca Bulletin was published on Jan. 24. Read this eNews exclusive now.
- March 1, 2012: Union Density
In the just released March Engineers News, Vice President Carl Goff talks about union density and the right-to-work laws that will be passed in even more states, if we don't work together. For more information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), click here.
February
Feb. 17, 2012: Construction Inspector Apprenticeship
Don't miss the upcoming orientation dates scheduled: February 21 and March 20 at 6:00 pm
1620 South Loop Road, Alameda, CA 94502
Don't be late, doors are closed at 6:00 pm. This program trains individuals to enter the Testing and Inspection Industry with core skills obtained in Academic classes and On-the Job training. Click here for more information.
Listen to Comedian Will Durst in this radio piece as he talks about why we need High-Speed Rail right now!
Find updates on HSR with our dedicated HSR page and check back as we prepare to break ground on this project in the fall. Visit the California Alliance for Jobs website for additional information.
Feb. 1, 2012: Service Award Galleries - Don't miss the recent service award galleries including photos that didn't make it in time for the February issue. In honor and remembrance of years of service in Local 3, service pins are available to members with 25 or more years of membership. Check out the galleries now and tell your fellow members you saw them online at OE3.org.
January 2012
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Jan. 25, 2011: Looking for news on the Surveyor Ratification meeting? Log on now to the members only website to get the details on what went down. Not registered yet? Register to gain access to the members only site, an important place to have access to in this important presidential year.
Jan. 13, 2011: Apply for a scholarship now - Local 3 awards annual scholarships to sons, daughters, stepchildren and foster children of Local 3 members. Applications are accepted between January 1, 2012 and March 31, 2012. Visit the scholarship page now for more details.
- Jan. 10, 2011: Mark Your Calendar for Saturday, February 18, 2012 - The annual District 40, Eureka Crab Feed looks to be a good time as the 2012 crab season kicks into full swing. Don't miss this annual event that kicks off the district picnic season each year. Download the flyer for more details. Visit the District 40 web page for additional contact information.
- Jan. 6, 2011: Lodi Memorial & Sutter Health reach agreement with Anthem Blue Cross - The Local 3 Trust Fund Office is pleased to announce that Lodi Memorial Hospital and Sutter Health System have reached a multi-year agreement with Anthem Blue Cross and have rejoined Anthem Blue Cross's network with an effective date of January 1, 2012. As a result, there will be no lapse in member coverage for participants in California Active, Public Employees, and Pensioned Comprehensive Medical Plans. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. If you have questions please contact the Trust Fund Office at (800) 251-5014.