BUSINESS AGENT REPORT

By Mike Titus

I’d like to start with a sincere thank you to Keith Wright and Matt Eleazer for giving me the opportunity to serve our Union hall. I am looking forward to meeting the challenges of this new adventure. I have a lot to learn, no longer just one on top of two! I’ve been attending classes on prevailing wage and will be attending the National Labor College for Organizing the Construction Industry later this month.

In September, I filed three wage claims and a prevailing wage complaint with BOLI against Portland Tile Contractors LLC, who worked on the INTO-OSU Living and Learning Center project in Corvallis. BOLI recovered back wages and is pursuing disbarment of Portland Tile Contractors LLC. It is more than a full time job tracking down the non-union contractors who cheat on payroll and make it difficult for our union contractors to win bids. I want to ask for your help in removing these undesirables from the marketplace, and preserve the industry we live and work in. It takes all of us. Remember, our Union Hall is only as strong as our membership. A great way to show your support is to participate at our monthly membership meetings every 3rd Tuesday of the month.

The jobs outlook for the first part of 2012 looks promising. It is important to call in to the Hall if you are not working and get on the out-of-work list. If you are out of work, I can’t help you unless you tell me. I frequently get calls from contractors looking for manpower and I can’t supply manpower if I don’t know who’s not working – so please call!

If you have any questions or concerns, please come to a Union meeting so I can address your issue in person. I wish you all a very happy New Year and look forward to working with you in the new year.