2012 Iron Workers/IMPACT North American Labor-Management ...

“Pension in Crisis: A Case Study”
Joe Barnashuk, Local 6 (Buffalo, N.Y.) pension fund administrator;
Lars Golumbic, Groom Law Firm; and Tom Halligan, Local 6
(Buffalo, N.Y.)
“We need to work smarter than we
have in the past,” said Joseph Basile,
a representative from Pfizer.
Marketing the union’s commitment
to professionalism was also a
hot topic. “You need to market the
Standards of Excellence and KPIs
to owners,” added Mike Mahaffey, a
representative from ArcelorMittal.
“These show character and commitment,
and, marketed properly, even
the individual ironworker will show
more pride and strive to be the best
they can be.”
Kevin Hilton, executive assistant to
the CEO, later moderated the two-part
“If I Were a Contractor, This is What I’d
Do…” and “I Wish the Union Would…”
“I Wish the Union Would…”
Craig Breitbach, Cedar Valley Steel; Darren Lett, CR Meyer; Bill
Rathjen, Pangere Corporation; Beth Sturtevant, CCB; Steve Sartain,
Washington Iron Works; and Jack Mesley, Midwest Steel/Ontario
Erectors Association.
The first session included business
managers from across North America,
while the second part of the session
tapped the expertise of IMPACT contractor
partners. Business managers
and contractors agreed that an unwavering
commitment to safety and
transparency would lead the union to
success in the coming years.
Hilton then asked, “How can we
get to zero fatalities?” referring to the
Countdown to Zero Fatalities campaign
sponsored by the Iron Workers
and IMPACT. Zach Gorman of Local
89 (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) indicated,
“It starts with the ironworker, then
needs to go to the local level, and the
contractor has to buy into it. It’s all
“If I Were a Contractor, This Is What I’d Do”
Ray Woodall, Local 11 (Newark, N.J.); Zach Gorman, Local 89 (Cedar
Rapids, Iowa); Bert Royer, Local 771 (Regina, Saskatchewan); Aaron
Murphy, Local 721 (Toronto, Ontario); Buzz Murphy, Local 75 (Phoenix,
Ariz.); and Richard Christopherson, Local 10 (Kansas City, Mo.)
about communication.”
Contractors stressed the need for
a more intensive relationship-building
process between the union and
contractors to help defeat the nonunion.
The panel agreed that “the
quality of our work speaks for itself.”
Wounded warrior and Indianapolis
Colts Representative Josh Bleill
delivered an inspiring lunchtime
speech on perseverance, saying “Ironworkers
build America.” He said that
while times are tough, it’s never time
to give up or stop working hard.
Breakout sessions on Davis-Bacon,
temporary reinforcing structures
and jurisdiction were held in
the afternoon.
Half of all attendees
indicated that the best way
to communicate the value
of IMPACT to the rank and
file would be to present
more information at local
union meetings.
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