There is a discussion board about the ongoing union disputes with concrete pumpers.  The OE3 seems to be a very strong union that can share some thoughts and assistance in the dispute going on up here in Seattle.  Please take a look at the conversations taking place at the Seattle PI\'s website regarding the IUOE Local 302.  They are divided and are currently entertaining union representation from everyone from the Laborers Union to the Carpenters union.  Please share some stories about the benefits of being in a strong union.  The web forum at the PI is found at:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/soundoff/comment.asp?articleID=348478

To read the article first at:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/348478_concrete24.html

Please share some support to the operators that have opted to stay with the IUOE Local 302.

Supporter,

Welcome to concrete pumping.com, you have posted some media links I have seen almost a month ago, have you looked on that side <------------of the page, at the link to Industry news. It will show you local 302\'s Stance, and more updated info. The video clip link on your profile is a typical news reporter that has his facts completely wrong. I have done several interviews on large local news station in the bay area, once I watched it they just used clips of what I stated and turned things around, media can be frustrating. What kind of support are you looking for ?

OE-3 

Support for the remaining operators in the IUOE 302 that have signed the contract.  The other three companies operators have the same attorney firm with and will not put forth the Master Agreement to those three companies operators.  They (Local 302 operators Conco and All American) are getting slammed by anti union operators in the press.  The Seattle PI has a forum in which you can read what is being said.  The operators from BB, Ralph\'s and Pacific are now recruiting the Laborer\'s union to represent them as of last Friday the companies had gone as far as talking to the Carpenters Union.  If that happens there is fear that the chance the operators that signed with the 302 could end up having to move to the Laborers.  With the larger amount of operators under a Laborers union representation.  Have you read any of the posts?  If you have the chance to look at the Seattle PI website and read the Sound Off forum.  There is so much anti union sentiment that I am very concerned that all operators will end up being laborers pretty soon.  I\'m interested in other Pump Operators in the Operating Engineers union to help inform the non-signing pump operators for the 3 companies to share info about how great the IUOE can be with solidarity and strength. 

I don\'t know the whole story, But got your back.I\'m local 150.out of Chicago. Good luck and keep fighting.

Later Scott

I AM A CONCO PUMPER AND MY BROTHER MY BROTHER IN LAW AND 3 OF MY BEST FRIENDS ALL WORK FOR BRUNDAGE BONE. THEY ARE MORE THAN JUST UPSET AND VERY ANGRY ABOUT THE SITUATION THEY ARE IN AND THE COMPANY THEY WORK FOR NOT SIGNING THE CONTRACT AND EVEN MORE ANGRY OF THE FACT THAT NOW THE COMPANY THEY WORK FOR BEING IN TALKS WITH OTHER UNIONS TRYING TO BECOME A PART OF THOSE UNIONS. LAST I HEARD BRUNDAGE TOLD THE LABORERS UNION THAT THIER EMPLOYEES DONT WANT A PLAN BUT WANT THE A AND B PLAN WHICH ISNT TRUE. A FEW OPERATORS NO NAMES MENTIONED. HAD CONTACTED THE LABORERS UNION AND INFORMED THEM THAT THAT WASNT TRUE AND THAT BRUNDAGE WAS LIEING AND THE LABORERS UNION STOPPED ANY ATTEMPT OF THEM BRINGING THEM INTO THE LABORERS UNION. THEN I HEARD FRIDAY THAT BRUNDAGE HAD SIGNED A 6 YEAR CONTACT WITH LABORERS UNION. THESE ARE JUST THE STORIES THAT HAVE BEEN GOING AROUND THE LOCAL CONCRETE PUMPING RUMOR MILL. HOW MUCH IS TRUE IS NOT KNOWN. BUT WITH ME BEING A CONCO EMPLOYEE AND 5 PEOPLE THAT ARE CLOSE TO ME WORKING FOR BRUNDAGE YOU TEND TO HEAR ALOT OF STUFF. I KNOW THAT ONE THING IS FOR SURE EMPLOYEES OF BRUNDAGE ARENT VERY HAPPY WITH SITUATION THAT THE COMPANY THEY WORK FOR ARE DOING WHAT THEY ARE DOING. THE 5 I KNOW ANYWAY

OE-3,  First let me establish that I consider Unions are neutral. It is the power and what the union leaders do with it that determines right or wrong.  They either take the membership on a road to improvement or a road to failure. They are leaders just as any other industry.  In this case some of the leaders should be replaced. Also in this case:  Free thinker is right on, this is about right and wrong!. There is no compromise with Allen Darr. He should be replaced and new negotiations restarted.

The 302 signed up Conco after negotiating with them. The union  split the companies, 7 or 8 in total, negotiated with them, some separate, some as a group, and took the best deal for themselves ( the union),  not the industry or the members. Then it was \"take it or leave it to the rest\".  Most of them decided to not join.  The only two that have signed other than Conco are the two that are trying to gain control of jobs. (All American and Frontier.)  This is wrong, and this business model will backfire on them.  However at this point to sign with 302 would be to relinquish your character. The companies that have not signed are correct.  Read the IOUE 302 website, study the IOUE 612 website. Study the www.corrupt-union.com   website,   Now study the new contract. The word apprentice and apprenticeship is nowhere to be found in the new contract. There is now truck driver trainees that are entitled to the full benefits of a journeyman.  GO to IUOE 793 website and they are demanding a certified apprenticeship program,  but not 302.  They do not care. The new pumper contract that 302 and Conco signed is diametrically opposed to the master agreement and to 302’s  own website, and the IUOE that insists the “future is in apprenticeship”. In the old contract there is apprenticeship program for 6,000 hours. The new driver trainee program is 2,000 hours. It is the most unsafe situation that has come along in years, and Conco supported it .  Number 1. The company must pay a flat rate for the health insurance immediately. Therefore it will only make sense to hire on the first of the month once the contract is in place for a year. ((read it) it changes.) Then if the trainee does not make it, the union takes the money. (I suppose this is slush money for them)  There is no probationary period for the new employees. Benefits start immediately. Now ask yourself what is the rate of turnover of new employees in the industry?  Why should 302 benefit from this to line their pockets? ?  Where does Allen Darr get his money from? Why would the General Contractors of Washington want to reinburse the pump companies to benefit 302?  After all, in the end all the monies come from the customer.

Number 2,  Now, As far as the safety. Stop!  How does a new pump truck driver trainee learn to pump concrete in one year?  Conco signed, for whatever reasons. However in the process He diluted the entire Pump Industry and took the value of experienced operators,  as yourselves to a one year,  2000 hour program. This would be similar to saying, someone could be a doctor in 2 years.  Just nonsense!  Imagine someone that is coming into the industry that does not even have a CDL. How long does it take to get that person to a position of pumping with a 52 or 60 meter boom on a bridge deck with Class A concrete?  What are the contractors going to think;  a pump operator is equal to a laborer? The union will not even have a program.  NO! It takes an expert to get the job done. The whole mess sets the industry back.  Mike Cusack and Conco are in the wrong in forming this relationship with 302 by themselves. The pump companies are wrong in trying to have the operators in the labors union, but they see no other options. OE-3 I have seen countless times from the pictures you post, the immaculate condition you take of Berkley’s equipment. You are an expert!. Taking care of the equipment involves caring. You can be a professional and get through pours but to be an expert you must take care of the employer’s equipment. You went through the process,.. 1. amateur, 2. novice, 3.professional and then to an 4. Expert . (A skilled specialist) You deserve everything you earn, plus.  How long does that take?. Why put the wrong idea in someone’s head coming into the industry. ( you can do this in a year.) After one year they are still a novice, at best. There is already too many operators that believe they can run controls after one month. The future of the Pump Industry is Safety, and apprenticeship. Why not have specific plans? It appears from everything I have read 302 is out for themselves,  I believe they call that greed? Maybe that is what is wrong with the whole picture?

actually you heard wrong.  I am a BBCP emloyee that is very happy along with the majority of operators about this situation.  Conco sold us out when they ratified their A agreement.  you needed us to be a strong union.  the first clue should have been police keeping members in good standing out of an operator meeting.  We stood together in solidatrity.  We are the new area industry standard.  We were not employer but emloyee sponsered.  We showed what solidarity can achieve.  WE ARE THE UNION

UPDATE-

It has been confirmed by the local 302\'s website.  The owners have contacted both the Laborers union and the Carpenters union to try and negotiate an A&B union contract with them.   Here is what was posted at the local 302\'s webpage.  WOW.  If anyone has the opportunity to visit the Seattle PI forum please leave a word of support in the forum, many read it, yet few leave support for the brothers at Conco, and the quiet voices who still remain at those three companies.

 In response to rumors that the Laborers union may intervene in the dispute between nonunion concrete pumping companies and Local 302, IUOE General President Vincent Giblin sent Local 302 a fax on Jan. 29 stating, \"Laborers General President Terry O\'Sullivan has instructed his people in Seattle to not proceed with any efforts directed at the concrete pump contractors involved in a dispute with Local 302.\"  Giblin also wrote Feb. 4 about a similar conversation with Carpenters General President Doug McCarron: \"He told me that he had advised his locals in the Seattle area to stay away from the concrete pumping contractors and your members.\"  Apparently, the owners of these nonunion contractors have approached both unions to try to get a contract that undercuts the new Local 302 agreement for concrete pumpers.