LOCAL 1001 NEWS

Christmas Tree Recycling begins  January 2nd. Last year 18,000 trees were recycled in Chicago keeping more than 600,000 pounds of organic material from rotting away in our landfills. Pretty impressive stuff. Now let’s blow that number away in 2016. Drop off your Christmas Tree for recycling at 24 locations citywide Jan 2-16, and kick off the new year in sustainable style. Thanks for participating. It matters.

Get your Free Mulch!  Another benefit of Christmas Tree recycling is free mulch! Mulch helps regulate moisture, provides nutrients to soil as it breaks down, and keeps weeds at bay. Free mulch made from Chicago Christmas Trees will be available to all Chicago residents from Jan 11 – 16 at these six locations. Bring your own bag or container to carry your mulch home.

CONCRETE LABORER

Job Number 9539-CDOT-2016
Department: Transportation – Concrete

Number of Positions: 15
THESE ARE SEASONAL POSITIONS

Under immediate supervision, performs physically demanding manual labor relating to the laying and finishing of concrete for construction, installation and repair of new or existing sidewalks, curbs and gutters, ramps and related construction projects and performs related duties as required.

New hires will be sent to the Chicagoland Laborers Training and Apprentice Center for a one-week initial job training course. You must successfully complete the training course to remain employed by the Department of Transportation.

New hires will be paid as follows:
$27.44/hour for the first 1040 hours worked (70% of full rate)
$35.28/hour for the second 1040 hours worked (90% of full rate)
$39.20/hour after 2080 hours worked (100% full rate)

Location: Department of Transportation
Days off: Varies
Hours: 7:00am to 3:30pm

Qualifications

One year of work experience as a general laborer on a construction work site.

A valid state of Illinois driver’s license is required.

UNPOSTING DATE: JANUARY 11, 2016

Click Here to go to the City of Chicago Bid Site

From all of us at Local 1001 to you and your family have a very Merry Christmas.

ASPHALT LABORER

Job Number 9464-CDOT-2016
Department: Transportation – Asphalt

Number of Positions: 20
THESE ARE SEASONAL POSITIONS

Under immediate supervision, performs physically demanding manual labor working with asphalt materials in the paving, re-surfacing, repair and maintenance of asphalt streets and alleys, and performs related duties as required.

New hires will be sent to the Chicagoland Laborers Training and Apprentice Center for a one-week initial job training course. You must successfully complete the training course to remain employed by the Department of Transportation.

New hires will be paid as follows:
$27.44/hour for the first 1040 hours worked (70% of full rate)
$35.28/hour for the second 1040 hours worked (90% of full rate)
$39.20/hour after 2080 hours worked (100% full rate)

Location: Department of Transportation
Days off: Varies
Hours: 7:00am to 3:30pm

Qualifications

One year of work experience in the paving and repair of street surfaces using asphalt materials and/or related asphalt equipment.

A valid state of Illinois driver’s license is required.

UNPOSTING DATE: JANUARY 6, 2016

Click Here to go to the City of Chicago Bid Site

On behalf of General Secretary-Treasurer Armand E. Sabitoni and the entire LIUNA General Executive Board, I want to wish you, and every member of the LIUNA family, the best of Holiday Seasons and a Happy New Year. As we close out 2015, we can look back proudly on some significant accomplishments.  Our great International Union continued to grow, organizing new members in many sectors in which we work.  We made sure that both our friends and our foes felt the power of LIUNA, and saw the orange crush of LIUNA members, at a wide range of important rallies and events, supporting energy projects, endorsing political candidates, and protesting anti-worker legislation.  Many of you participated in these activities, spending precious free time helping your LIUNA brothers and sisters advance the interests of our union, working men and women, and the industries in which we work.  Thank you for your commitment and dedication. The year ends with a spending bill that includes many provisions important to Laborers and their families, and, for the first time in years, a long overdue, long-term highway bill.  We strengthened our relationships with construction users in ways that led to more opportunities for Laborers and our signatory contractors.  Our brothers and sisters in the Indian Health Services won a landmark legal case, and our other public employee members valiantly fought off sustained attacks.  We proudly worked alongside our Mail Handler brothers and sisters as they battled ongoing attempts to cut and privatize the best postal service in the world. LIUNA remains one of the most effective, powerful, and respected labor organizations in America today because of you, our members; our most valuable asset.  Whatever lies ahead in 2016, we can be certain that we have the power to meet every challenge and seize every opportunity that comes our way.  You are that power, and I am honored and humbled to be your General President. Season’s Greetings and a Happy New Year! I wish you and yours a safe, healthy, and prosperous 2016. Fraternally Yours, TERRY O’SULLIVAN General President

Classes are open to City of Chicago Department of Streets & Sanitation Employees only.

All training sessions are voluntary and attendees will not be paid for attendance.  All attendees must RSVP to the appropriate trainer by the close of business on the Thursday before the training.

Date: Saturday, January 16, 2016

Topic: The Basic Concepts of KRONOS/Time and Attendance System for Editing

Time:  09:00 hr – 11:00 hr

Location: City Hall Room 1107

Trainer/Contact Person: Steve Morales

RSVP: Email Steve Morales at Steve.Morales@cityofchicago.org no later than Thursday, January 14, 2016

 

 

Date: Saturday, January 23, 2016

Topic: Customer Service Requests (CSRs)/311 Complaints – How To Enter Them, Look Them Up, and

           Close Them Out; Management Reports including Alley Times

Time:  09:00 hr – 11:00 hr

Location: City Hall Room 1107

Trainer/Contact Person: John Dunn

RSVP: Email John Dunn at John.Dunn@cityofchicago.org no later than Thursday, January 21, 2016

 

 

Date: Saturday, January 30, 2016

Topic: The Basic Concepts of Chicago Mobile Asset Tracking (CMAT) and Auditing of Worksheets

(GPS vs Worksheet), Microsoft Word 365 and Microsoft Excel 365

Time:  09:00 hr – 11:00 hr

Location: City Hall Room 1107

Trainer/Contact Person: Chris Reiser

RSVP: Email Chris Reiser at Christopher.Reiser@cityofchicago.org no later than Thursday, January 28, 2016

 

Parking:  Parking is available at the Streets and Sanitation Lower Randolph facility located at 351 East Lower Randolph or local garages.

BELOW IS THE 2016 SHOE MOBILE SCHEDULE FOR STREETS AND SANITATION ONLY – NO EMPLOYEES OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS WILL BE ABLE TO PURCHASE BOOTS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM AT THIS TIME.

CLICK ON THE SCHEDULE TO VIEW A PDF COPY.

Alderman George Cardenas

12th Ward—City of Chicago

http://www.12thwardchicago.com

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 15th, 2015

For More Information: Jennifer Nunez (773) 523-8250

Alderman Cardenas Teams Up with LiUNA Local 1001; Largest free toy distribution in city

12^th ward- 12th ward Alderman George Cardenas and LiUNA Local 1001 are combining their efforts to create the largest free toy distribution in Chicago this Christmas.   Over 5,000 toys will be distributed to children 10 years and younger at the Boys & Girls Club, 2950 W. 25^th St on December 21^st, 2015 from 10 am till 1 pm.  The event is one of the largest toy giveaways in the city and is expected to attract thousands of people from the 12^th ward.   This will be the largest number of toys topping the Alderman’s record number of 3,000 toys in 2014.   Toys will be distributed to 12^th ward residents who bring proof of address.  Please forward any and all questions to Jennifer Nunez at 773-523-8250.

MEA and AFT have lost almost 28,000 members in the past three years

By Tom Gannett – CAPCON

The Michigan Education Association lost 20 percent of its active members, going from 117,626 members in 2012 to 94,559 in 2015. The American Federation of Teachers-Michigan lost 21 percent, dropping from 23,388 members in 2012 to 18,585 in 2015.

Michigan’s new right-to-work law is only one of the likely explanations for the drop in union membership. Schools are also privatizing more non instructional services to devote resources to their core mission. That means fewer unionized government jobs and more nonunionized private industry jobs.

And under the right-to-work law enacted three years ago, over time more teachers have gained the ability to stop supporting the union financially without losing their jobs. However, this applies only to teachers under union collective bargaining agreements signed after the law went into effect on March 28, 2013.

It was reported that the school union there, the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC), saw its membership drop from 98,000 in 2011 to 40,000 in 2015.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signed Act 10 that limited government collective bargaining to pay only, required government unions be recertified each year by 50 percent of the employees in a local unit, read more……

BY TINA SFONDELES – CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

At least 1,300 union employees packed the city’s Plumber’s Union Hall on Saturday as they listened to several rallying cries from union leaders amidst the state’s budget impasse and union contract struggles.

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

Months after formally endorsing Gov. Bruce Rauner’s controversial turnaround agenda for Illinois, Lincolnshire officials are going further by moving to establish the town as a right-to-work zone.

Trustees are considering an ordinance that would prevent local employers from automatically deducting union dues from workers’ paychecks. Eliminating that mandatory deduction means workers couldn’t be fired if they choose not to pay union dues or fees.

It’s a key tenet of Rauner’s economic plan, which critics have bashed as anti-union or anti-worker.

Rauner and his allies have said the proposals in the turnaround agenda, including the one that calls for what the governor termed “employee empowerment zones,” give people more local control over their lives.

But labor unions, including the Illinois Federation of Teachers, say the governor’s plan would result in lower wages, increased unemployment and decreased union membership.

Lincolnshire’s trustees discussed the proposal this week and could formally adopt the plan at their Dec. 14 meeting, Village Manager Brad Burke said.

Mayor Elizabeth Brandt is championing the proposal. Brandt enthusiastically backed Rauner’s overall turnaround plan in May, too. “I want to give [this] 100 percent support,” she said at the time.

read more…..

Dear LIUNA Brothers and Sisters,

As we celebrate Thanksgiving with friends and family this year, I hope you will join me in giving thanks not only for the time with family but for the many Americans who sacrifice every day to maintain our safety and security and for whom a holiday with family may be a luxury they cannot enjoy because they are serving our country.

I also want to thank the many thousands of LIUNA members who go above and beyond by volunteering and making charitable donations to help the needy. It’s our efforts to help those less fortunate which are the true spirit of this holiday and a testament to the strength and integrity of LIUNA members.  

I wish each of you and your family a safe and enjoyable holiday.

With kind regards, I am

Fraternally yours,

TERRY O’SULLIVAN
General President

FOREMAN OF LABORERS – CDOT – DIVISION OF ELECTRICAL OPERATIONS

JOB # 264506

Number of positions: 1

Under general supervision, functions as a working supervisor over work crews, overseeing and supervising Laborers performing unskilled manual work of a physical nature at assigned maintenance, repair, or sanitation jobs/ work sites, and performs related duties as required. 

Department of Transportation

Supervises Laborers assigned to electrical operations work crews, ensuring work crews are staffed and responding to accidents/injury on duty

Supervises Laborers in the department’s central construction warehouse, overseeing the receiving, loading and delivery of supplies and equipment in the warehouse dock area

Location:   Citywide

Days:          Varies

Hours:        Varies

Qualifications

Two years of work experience as a general laborer.

A valid State of Illinois driver’s license is required

BU: 54 Salary: $40.10 

City of Chicago Bid Site.

Washington, D.C. (November 24, 2015) – Following a deliberative and democratic process to thoroughly consider the opinions and the views of LIUNA members; including a membership poll and a vote of the General Executive Board, Terry O’Sullivan, General President of LIUNA, made the following statement today on the endorsement of Secretary Clinton:

LIUNA is proud to endorse Secretary Clinton for President of the United States. The strong, proud and united members of LIUNA will be on the frontlines of the 2016 elections; on the streets, knocking on doors, making calls and encouraging family, friends, and neighbors to elect Hillary Clinton as the 45th President of the United States.

LIUNA members and leadership believe that Secretary Clinton is the right leader to move our country forward and the most qualified candidate to address the many challenges facing the United States.

LIUNA members are deeply concerned about the direction of our country and are looking for a real leader who will create good jobs, rebuild our country, and grow our economy. Secretary Clinton’s record proves that she is a tough and tested fighter for our nation and for working men and women.

LIUNA is eager to work with Secretary Clinton, as the next President of the United States, to help enact legislation and promote policies that provide long-term investment in America’s roads and bridges, and encourage a real all-of-the-above approach to energy development. We also look forward to working with Secretary Clinton on repeal of the so-called Cadillac tax, fair postal reform, and policies that protect pensions and support public employees.

The half-million members of LIUNA – the Laborers’ International Union of North America – are on the forefront of the construction industry, a powerhouse of workers who are proud to build America.

By David J. Cox Sr. – Huff Post Politics

The Supreme Court will hear arguments soon in a case that could undermine the rights of working people to negotiate collectively for better wages, benefits and working conditions.

Every working person should care about this case, even if it doesn’t personally affect you. This legal battle is just the latest in a series of attempts by wealthy conservative groups to dismantle every program, service, or law that benefits working people. A win for the Koch Brothers here will make it that much harder to fight the next battle.

The case at issue is called Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association. It’s an attempt by anti-worker groups to overturn a nearly 40-year-old Supreme Court decision that affirmed the constitutional right of public sector unions to collect fees from employees who choose not to join the union but nonetheless benefit from all of the protections that the union negotiates.

Here’s why that matters. We are living in a time where America’s economy has swung out of balance. Everyday Americans are working more than ever, but the only ones benefitting are those at the top of the economic ladder. It’s getting harder for working people to get by, let alone get ahead.

Unions are one of the few groups advocating for the interest of working people. If we make it harder for unions to do their job, working people will lose a major ally in the fight to build an economy that works for everyone, not just the richest 1 percent.

read more…..

By John Byrne Chicago Tribune

Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday hailed passage of his ordinance to require the city to take various steps before approving big-ticket privatization of municipal assets as an important moment “for the future of this great city,” even as questions remain about how effective it will be to prevent debacles like the parking meter lease.

The City Council adopted Emanuel’s privatization rules without dissent. They require public meetings, an independent financial review and an explanation of the benefits of proposed privatizations before a City Council vote. But they apply only to privatization deals for assets worth at least $400 million and services worth at least $3 million, and they will require the city to set aside only 10 percent of the proceeds from any such lease.

Go to City of Chicago Website to Bid

BY TINA SFONDELES – CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

Dunkin solidified his relationship with a powerful Republican ally, he also picked up a likely new enemy — unions.

On Tuesday, Dunkin sided with Rauner on two votes — one that would have reversed cuts the governor made to child care, and the other which would have restored cuts to community care for the elderly and people with disabilities. The bills also would have curtailed Rauner’s powers to make such changes in the future.

Dunkin said he told House Democrats to trust Rauner and his agreement to restore funding. After Dunkin abstained from voting, Democratic Rep. Jaime Andrade took Dunkin’s nameplate out and threw it on the Republican side of the floor.

read more……

At this time the Department of Streets and Sanitation is accepting transfer requests from all Local 1001 members. All transfer requests must be date stamped and submitted in room 1107 of City Hall, no later than November 20, 2015.

Please note when completing the transfer request form to include the Bureau and location of your choice.

BY STEFANO ESPOSITO AND MICK DUMKE – Chicago Sun-Times

The latest flare-up actually began Thursday when Rauner’s office said the mayor needs to get serious about reforms or be “just another tax-and-spend politician who wants to blame someone else for their failures.”

Emanuel wasted no time responding.

“What Springfield needs to do is not call names to anybody. You’re 120 days and counting behind schedule, 6,000-plus kids have been thrown out of day care,” the mayor said at an unrelated event Friday morning.

“I would just say this to the governor and the governor’s office: You’re 120 days behind budget, $6 billion and counting in not paying bills. Stop name-calling and just do your job.”

read more…..

FIELD SERVICE SPECIALIST II

Click Here to go to the City of Chicago Bid Site

By Eric Zorn – Chicago Tribune

Inherent in this gloss is the assumption that items on Rauner’s “turnaround agenda” wish list will actually improve the state’s business climate, which will in turn increase overall tax revenues and put us on track to solving the various problems now besetting us.

But is it necessarily so?

Today let’s take, for example, Rauner’s demand that the legislature repeal the state’s Prevailing Wage Act.

That 1941 law, similar to laws in 32 states and the federal Davis-Bacon Act of 1931, requires contractors on publicly financed construction projects to pay their workers what amounts to union wages in that area.

Eliminate that requirement, the thinking goes, and it becomes cheaper to build schools, roads, bridges and so on. Taxes will fall accordingly. Citizens with more money in hand will spend more, so business will create new jobs, closing our budget gap. The virtuous cycle will lift us all.

But a substantial body of research suggests that the hoped-for virtuous cycle sparked by a repeal of prevailing wage laws is more likely to become a death spiral.

“Eliminating prevailing wage would have broad-reaching negative impacts across the California economy,” said a report by Colorado State University economist Kevin Duncan issued earlier this year in response to a Rauner-like proposal in California.

Why? Because if construction contractors pay their employees less or hire cheaper labor from elsewhere, the local workers are likely to spend less in the community, and more of them will end up on public-assistance programs. Duncan forecast a net loss of 17,500 jobs and a $1.4 billion hit to California’s bottom line.

In this, Duncan echoed the findings in “A Weakened State: The Economic and Social Impacts of Repeal of the Prevailing Wage Law in Illinois,” a 2013 report from the School of Labor and Employment Relations at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The authors wrote that “indirect effects of repeal would result in about 3,300 net jobs lost … more than $44 million in lost state and local taxes and roughly $116 million in lost federal tax revenue” as construction wages fell an estimated 5.46 percent.

When contractors employ less-skilled labor in efforts to submit the lowest bids, quality is likely to go down and workplace injuries likely to go up — the report estimates seven additional deaths on construction sites each year.

A notable effect, they predicted, would be “a redistribution of wealth from construction workers to the owners of construction firms.” Which is not a turnaround so much as it is more of the same. read more

By Bob Byran – Business Insider

“A strong union movement is not simply sufficient for high levels of intergenerational mobility and middle-class membership, but it could be necessary,” wrote the researchers.
“If that is the case, it will be difficult to meaningfully increase intergenerational mobility and rebuild the middle class without also rebuilding unions or some comparable worker-based organizations.”
“The decline of unionism appears to have contributed to the shrinkage of the middle-income group of the workforce and the increasing proportion of the lower income group, with a noticeable but not huge magnitude commensurate with unions’ declining role in the US labor market,” said the report.

The researchers explain that some of the changes that unions fight for create a spillover effect for non-unionized families. “Unions generally advocate policies that benefit workers, such as raising minimum wages, increasing education spending, and improving public services, so that the effect of unionism may show up in higher incomes for all children from the area regardless of the union status of their parents,” said the study.

read more….