Local 18: Members Voice

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A Letter from Jim Reffner ~ Union Memeber

Brothers and Sisters,

Those affected by hurricane Katrina now have the attention of the International. I have just received my letter asking for a donation to those brothers and sisters who were "hit" by Katrina.

Sometimes being a union member is inconvenient. My thoughts go back to 2003 when I was working at a Dominion nuclear power plant in Surry , Virginia . Having been a member of Local 18 for nine years, I had never met a brother or sister who worked both union and non-union. I was working for a subcontractor who was under contract for BECON (Bechtel Corporation's non-union subsidiary). I was being paid Cleveland building trade rate by Rigging International who is signatory with our local. Most of the employees of BECON were members of various union crafts, including the Operators. One individual was from Local 18, Larry, who I tried to bring up on charges, but that is another story. Most BECON employees were from "Down South" which includes "right-to-work states".

What I don't understand is the International's approach to the heroic relief effort. These men and women have imploded their own union, their convenient attitude of working union and non-union have had, I feel, a dire impact on the national labor movement. Now in the face of natural disaster, I reflect upon the comments of Dennis (from Alabama ), "Unions are dead in my state". Last I heard of Dennis in the fall of '03, he was off to a refinery job in Florida, for Fluor Corporation, still paying his Alabama dues hoping for an Alabama prevailing rate job, or any job that his local could provide.

I would like to have some accountability for the donations that the members of these locals are about to receive. The "union" men and women who are working non-union should not be entitled to any donation.

Local 18 should not be generous because of the size of its membership. Let's take care of our own membership. I encourage all members of Local 18 to work in a right-to work state to further understand what is knocking on Ohio 's door.

Jim Reffner