Well as of Monday the 10th of March approx. 150 of Seattles finest pump operators are under the jurisdiction of the Laborers #242. Granted it wasn't my first choice especially coming up here from Local # 3 (where there is an awesome contract) to the very disappointing Local # $%&. It definitely sucks having to start over in another pension plan but life does go on. After being on all sides of the coin (employer, employee and management). There isn't a clear cut winner, but we can go back to work with a few less worries. But the definite loser in this bunch was Operating Engineers up here and that was mainly due to lack of leadership and lack of looking out for the largest majority of their operators.

sorry to hear that. if i was in the seattle are that would be a very hard pill to swallow. i love the Operating Engineers. i love being an operator because if times get slow pumping i could operate a manlift or just go down and learn to operate a back hoe front loader crane etc. dont get me wrong i have alot of respect for laborers. they are one of the hardest working people on a jobsite i just cant see myself running the hose or cutting mud if pumping got slow. Joe you have a awsome attitude towards this whole thing. good luck man!

Congratulations to the MEN of Seattle Pumping!  They stood up to the threats and intimidation of the operating engineers union thugs and won!

IUOE has always treated pump operators like 2nd class citizens and used us a money bank.  Their actuaries have a list of each class of operator and how long they will stay in the union.  On average the pump operator will be there 4 years before they move on to another area or get out of the business.  Since they are not vested they LOSE all their pension money.  The union keeps it.  This is not said to bash unions it is just information everyone should know.

THAT SUCKS!!! The only good side I can see is that you can retire with 20 years,instead of the screwed up points system! Yea,I know, 20 yrs from now!

Exactly, but being 10+yrs in Local #3 does make it hard to start over again and hell I got almost 10 in the teamsters as well. But the management up here is 1st class, whether we agree or disagree we have open communication and they dont try and belittle anyone who has their own beliefs. The way the local went about it up here just left a horrible taste in most everyones mouth.  But we didnt lose much work because of it. And without question it isnt forf everyone, but if I am not mistaken we only lost 4 people and they were good hands.

Exactly, it will be nice once their medical kicks in and we dont have to pay any portion of if, that in itself will be a nice little chunk back into are pockets. The All Americans wont be long for these parts. It is definitely a decent start the emails I have had back and forth fro IUOE 302 are comical. wish them the best, maybe next time maybe they will listen the masses verses what only they want