Southern and Central Illinois Laborers’ District Council Elects New Officers
Upon the retirement of former SCILDC Business Manager/Secretary Treasurer John R. Taylor on February 25, 2010, The Southern and Central Illinois Laborers’ District Council Executive Board unanimously voted to appoint Local 773 President and Construction Director Kevin L. Starr as Secretary Treasurer and Clint Taylor, Business Manager of Local 1197 as Business Manager of the SCILDC. Mr. Starr has served the SCILDC as Delegate to the District Council since 1993 and executive board member since 2008. He began his career as a construction laborer out of local 227 in 1979 and became Business Manger of Laborers’ Local 227 in 1999 until the merge in 2003. Kevin has held various offices of Local 773 since 2003 such as Auditor, Recording Secretary, Vice-President, and President. He currently serves on the Southern Illinois Laborers’ Annuity Board of Trustees and as the SCILDC Secretary-Treasurer, Trustee for the Southern Illinois Laborers’ Health and Welfare, and Secretary Treasurer of the Southern and Central Illinois Laborers' Political League.
Clint Taylor has been a member of Laborers’ International Union since 1986 also beginning his career as a construction laborer. He later became an instructor at The Illinois Laborers’ Apprenticeship and Training Program in Mt. Sterling, Illinois for 16 years and in 2003 he was appointed as administrator before taking a new position as the Business Manager of Laborers’ Local 1197 in Mcleansboro, Illinois in 2009. Mr. Taylor now serves on the Southern Illinois Health and Welfare and Annuity Board of Trustees, the Central Laborers’ Pension Board of Trustees, Illinois Laborers’ and Contractors JATP Board, The Midwest Region Health and Safety, Laborers and Employers Cooperation and Education Trust Fund, Midwest Region for Fair Contracting and the Laborers’ Home Development Board as well as the current Business Manager of Laborers’ Local 1197.
Laborers’ Prevail in Park-Mark Case!
Park-Mark, a contractor based in St. Louis performs roughly 50% of the highway striping and imbedded reflectors for 2 of our larger contractors in Southern Illinois, ET Simonds and Southern Illinois Asphalt. The company signed a contract with the Union in 2007 and occasionally worked in our area utilizing our laborers. But on August 11th , Construction Director Kevin Starr spotted Park-Mark performing work near the VA Hospital with a laborer from out of the area that did not clear in to Local 773.
Action was taken to persuade Park-Mark to cooperate with the local but they refused to do so. Therefore, in violation of Ariticle3, the referral provision, a grievance was filed on behalf of laborer David Humm, who was number 1 on the out of work list. On August 25th Field Representative Jim Hobbie again, spotted Park-Mark working in our jurisdiction without hiring a laborer through our hall. Jim filed a grievance on behalf of Jesse Howe and James Briscoe who were the top laborers on the referral list. Park-Mark then refused to honor the grievance so a hearing with the Egyptian Contractors and the AGC was requested to remedy the situation.
Before the hearing took place, Park-Mark then decided to attempt to terminate the Heavy and Highway Collective Bargaining Agreement but was denied due to the fact they had signed the agreement in May of 2008.
A hearing was held and Laborers Local 773 prevailed on all counts and 3 laborers’ were awarded one 8-hour days pay and benefits for each grievance. Park-Mark was in violation of numerous articles of the contract including failing to use laborers from our hall for performing work in our jurisdiction. In addition, the Business Manager was not given the opportunity to appoint a steward on the job but Park-Mark refused to abide by the final and binding decision of the joint committee.
Local 773 later filed a charge against the company with the National Labor Relations Board because they failed to bargain with the Union and attempted to withdraw the Heavy and Highway Contract along with refusal to comply with the order of the arbitration board. These charges were later withdrawn when Park-Mark finally agreed to abide with the decision and make local 773 whole in accordance to the decision.
Gold Card Member Clifton Skeltcher to Recieve WWII Medals
Gold card member Clifton Skelcher of Marion, IL will receive twelve long overdue medals and pins for his service in World War II. The medals include two silver stars which are one of the highest military decorations awarded for valor in the face of the enemy.
At the onset of WWII Clifton was a student at Southern Illinois University’s High School. After his sophomore year with the permission of his mother he volunteered for service in the US Navy.
Clifton was trained in the amphibious unit at the Great Lakes Naval Base near Chicago. After a brief stay in South Carolina he was off to war. In European Bro. Skelcher participated in campaigns on the coasts of Africa, Italy, and France.
On June 6th 1944 he delivered troops to the beaches of Normandy in Operation Neptune better known as D Day. Delivering the troops to the beach and the trip back to the ship assisting wounded soldiers along way was a harrowing experience. Clifton still finds it difficult to speak of this historic day without being overcome with emotion.
After a brief celebration in England it was back to the war. Bro. Skelcher sailed through the Panama Canal to serve in the Pacific including Okinawa. As he and fellow troops were preparing for the Japan invasion the A-bombs were dropped ending the war.
When Bro. Skelcher returned from the war he tried his hand at a few jobs but quickly realized the value of joining the Laborers, then the Hodcarriers. He joined in 1949 making him today a 61 year member.
A great deal of Clifton’s working career was spent back at SIU were he had abandoned his own education to defend this country. Upon his return he helped build all post war buildings on campus up to his retirement. He served as a union steward. Certainly he fell back on his military training on two occasions when there were deaths on the job while he was working.
Bro. Skelcher ‘s story became known when he volunteered to be part of Local 773’s history project. Through this interview it was learned that he had never received his medals because according to a military document they were “out of stock” at the time
Knowledge of this quickly reached the ears of Mr. John Penn, LiUNA Vice President and Midwest Regional Manager. He enlisted the help of Congressman Jerry Costello whose office took the lead in working with the military to obtain these long over-due symbols of our nation’s gratitude.
Thank you Golconda Job Corps
Local 773 sends a big thank you to the Golconda Job Corps Center volunteers who helped us set up and clean up our Marion Training Facility on May 8th for the Local 773 Pinning Ceremony and 70th Anniversary Celebration. This center, in conjunction with the Illinois Job Corps program’s mission is teaching eligible young people ages 16 to 24 the skills they need to lead successful and productive lives through career technical and academic training. Local 773 executive board member Kevin Fetters is a construction laborer trainer at the facility and instructs young students the trades of becoming a construction craft laborer.
Apprentice Graduates
The Illinois Laborers’ Training Program and Laborers’ Local 773 would like to recognize the recent graduates from the Apprenticeship Training Program.
Stacey Evrard Rocky Gooden Todd Goforth
Victoria Baker Cory Lipford Brian Phemister
Willie Meredith Daniel Priddy Carrie Touchette
We wish you a long and rewarding career as a construction laborer with Laborers’ Local 773!
Star Bond Bill Signed by Governor Quinn
On June 24th Governor Pat Quinn came to Marion to sign a Sales Tax and Revenue Bond bill or “STAR Bond” that will bring millions of dollars in revenue and work for the Laborers as well as all construction trades. The bond allows Marion, Illinois to designate up to 500 acres near Rent One Park as a STAR Bond district to develop a retail, hotels/motels, restaurant and theme park to the area. The Marion area is unfortunately struggling with some of the highest unemployment rates in the state and will benefit from the job creation potential not only in the construction of the project but the revenue and jobs the development will create once it is finished.
State Sen. and Local 773 member Gary Forby was the bill’s chief Senate sponsor. Developer Bruce Holland of Holland Construction, a signatory contractor with the Laborers’, lobbied for the bill to come to the Marion area.
Business Manager John E Taylor appointed as chairman of Southern Illinois LECET
Upon a unanimous vote of the Southern Illinois Laborers Employers Cooperation Education Trust board of trustees, Local 773 Business
Southern Illinois LECET Director Flint Taylor and 773 Business Manager John E Taylor
Manager John E. Taylor was appointed chairman of the Southern Illinois LECET.
The Laborers'-Employers' Cooperation and Education Trust is a labor management alliance between the Laborers International Union of North America and our signatory contractor partners. LECET’s goal or mission statement is to increase project opportunities for our signatory contractors and provide jobs for LIUNA members. We strive to achieve this goal by improving communication between union and management entities including outreach to the public, contractors, contractor associations, owners, governmental entities and many others. LECET can also assist with project financing options and opportunities for owners and to increase the awareness of Laborers training, health & safety, productivity and other LIUNA programs to increase our signatory contractors’ competitiveness. No other craft of the Building Trades has a program like LECET that assist our contractors and union members in improving their business and lives.
From our humble beginning to over 4,000 members strongLaborers' Local 773 celebrated 70 years of service with open house and pinning ceremony
The charter for Laborers’ Local 773 which was originally called “International Hod Carriers’, Building and Common Laborers’ Union of America,”
2005 Local 773 Grand Opening
in the beginning was mainly formed of unskilled laborers. The charter was given to Connell F. Smith on March 10, 1940, and was based in Cairo, Illinois. But the Laborers were diverse in their work and seldom would you find a construction job that did not start nor finishes without a laborer present. Local 773 began with a rocky start when people resisted the Union stating that “unions cause nothing but trouble”. What they failed to see was the benefits of the union. The rights that we have in a current day employment are rights that original union members fought to secure.
Since the beginning, Local 773 has been instrumental in fighting for equal pay for both men and women and the rights of minorities before anyone else was even considering the idea. In 2005, Local 773 fought to increase the minimum wage in Illinois to $8.25 per hour by the year 2010 making Illinois one of the highest paid states in the nation for the working class.
By the early 1970’s Local 773 extended our representation to not only our construction jurisdiction but to public employees which began with the Pulaski County Highway Department. In 2003, eight local Laborers’ unions across Southern Illinois joined together to make up the new Laborers’ Local 773. Locals 227, 529, 508, 577, 738, 803, 962, and merged with Local 773 which then was relocated to Marion, Illinois.
Local 773 currently represents over 4,000 members from over 41 states nationwide which includes over 800 members of railroad maintenance, 1,200 public employee members in Missouri, and more than 2,500 members of healthcare, public and private sector members, industrial and law enforcement. This also includes our construction laborers in the 13 southernmost Illinois counties.
Today, under the leadership of Business Manager John E. Taylor, Local 773 is one of the leading fundraising unions across the state for charitable organizations such as The Poshard Foundation for abused women and The Therapy Learning Center for disabled children. In 2007, Laborers Local 773 celebrated raising over 1 million dollars for the Therapy Learning Center, a project which was founded by President Emeritus Edward M. Smith. In 1986, the Connell F. Smith-Homer Brown Scholarship fund was established for members and their families to provide them with funding to further their education. As of 2009, Local 773 has raised over $200,000 and awarded 259 scholarships to deserving college students.
We are also proud of our strong political savvy. Local 773’s political ties run deep beginning with the first Business Manager Connell F. Smith whose idea was to inform and educate his members on the importance of electing leaders who would fight for better wages, working conditions, protecting your rights and supporting the labor movement. Today, Local 773 has one of the fastest growing political activist groups in LIUNA which not only includes hundreds of volunteers but elected including Congressman, State Senators and State Representatives.
On May 8th, 2010 Laborers’ Local 773 will celebrate 70 years of service to our members with an open house, picnic and pinning ceremony. Members with 10 years of service or more are invited to commemorate this anniversary and be honored with their LIUNA years of service pin. Judy Simpson, with the Illinois Labor Historical Society will prepare a historical display of Local 773’s history showcasing our past and the great efforts endured to make Local 773 the 9th largest local in LIUNA International.
Organizers attend Onsite Training in DesMoines, Iowa
October 14-23
Laborers’ Local 773 construction representative Jim Hobbie, Rodney Howell, Organizer for the Southern and Central Illinois District Council who is assigned to Local’s 773 and 1197 both attended 10 day onsite organizer training in Des Moines Iowa.
During the intense 10 day program they received extensive class room training along with hands on field training. The program showed different styles of organizing (top down & bottom up) along with the many varied resources available to the organizers. During the field exercises there were activities involved with information gathering, job actions, and activities involving political involvement to contacting contractors. All is to better train the reps to better grow your union and to help maintain a strong market.
Local 773 Awards 2010 Steward of the Year
Mendy Karnes of the Williamson County States Attorneys office recieved the 2009 Public Employee of the Year Award from Business Manager John E Taylor
Construction Laborer Marsha Cochran recieves the Construction Steward of the Year award from President Kevin Starr and Business Manager John E Taylor at the Laborers' Christmas Party
Primary Election 2010!
Local 773 member Tim Brown and Secretary Treasurer John Price
Cairo,IL- Newly elected police chief and member of Local 773 Tim Brown claimed victory in the February 2nd primary election unseating former sheriff David Barkett. Brown received 55.5 percent of the votes according to the Alexander County clerk’s office. Barkett received 39.9 percent of the votes cast.
With the support of the Laborers’ several other newly elected officials claimed victory on February 2nd in Alexander County including Francis Lee as County Clerk, Buddy Mitchell as County Commissioner and Jerry Smith as County Treasurer.
Also, in Union County, current Commissioner John Garner , a long time supporter and friend of this Union and its members was challenged by Gary Dahmer who had been involved in many situations which he has not only snubbed his nose at this Union, but the members as well. With involvement from our members, John Garner retained his position with 57% of the vote.
In State races, Laborers’ supported candidate for Governor Dan Hynes conceded to incumbent Governor Pat Quinn after a 50/50 vote percent in Illinois. But victory was claimed by supported candidates Alexi Giannoulias for US Senate, Comptroller David Miller and Treasurer Robin Kelly.
Much preparation will go into the upcoming General election in November for the Laborers. Mobilizing efforts will be our top priority this election cycle to ensure that our elected officials can fight for policies that support working families. Being politically active is a responsibility of each and every Union member.
Help Children with Disabilities
Laborers' Bass Tournament .
Sunday March 28, 2010 Local 773 held its 11th annual
Bass Tournament raising $2,254.99 for the Therapy Center.
This year’s tournament was hosted by
U.S. Angler’s Choice S.I. Division Director Earl Sigley.
Thirty nine entries participated in the buddy tournament.
The weather was not the best but much of an improvement from last years tournament. This year was cloudy and overcast with temperatures between 45 & 50 degrees and winds around 8-10 miles an hour with drizzle and rain off & on. However it was a good day for catching the fish, 22 boats weighed in fish. There was 92 fish caught with a total weight of 261.52 lbs.
Next years tournament is going to be moved to later into April but the date has not been determined. This will hopefully ensure some better weather.
If you would like to have an application sent to you for next year contact Cindy at Local 773, 618-993-5773 to be added to the mailing list.
Local 773 would like to thank U.S. Angler’s Choice for their
help in this year’s tournament and all the sponsors who made
the event such a huge success.
The winners are as follows:
1st Place – Toby Corn & Stephen Bailey 16.42 lb $1,140.00
2nd Place – Kevin Reynolds & Marc Sheffer 15.41 lb $684.00
3rd Place – Ron Karando & Keegan Borum 14.556 lb $456.00
1st Big Bass was caught by Tom Webster 6.06 lb $270.00
2nd Big Bass was caught by 2nd place winner Kevin Reynolds 4.85 lb $90.00
Trivia Night for The Therapy Center Friends of Laborers' gathered on March 6th at the Therapy Center to match wits against other teams and raise funds to benifit the children at the Local 773 Trivia Night. Twenty two teams competed in the 10 rounds of trivial pursuit along with a live and silent auction. A record total of $10,550 was raised to benefit the children.
Local 773 Road Blocks
On April 30th and May 1st, volunteers from all over Southern Illinois set up road stops with buckets in hand to collect money for the children of TLC. In addition, collection tables were set up at Krogers in Marion and in Herrin. This year Local 773 collected a record total of over $12,000 to make this year the biggest fundraising year for TLC.
Join the "I Build America" Activists
In the past 12 months, LIUNA members provided extraordinary power through their activism and willingness to fight for good jobs and their Union.
Just in the last eight weeks, members have made more than 5,000 personal calls and sent more than 10,000 letters to Congress with the message, put our country back to work by creating good jobs that build America Through Make a Call to Build America during Election 2008, members made more than 100,000 phone calls to fellow members, identified more than 20,000 election volunteers and helped register as many as 15,000 new voters.
This activism makes it clear that there is a core of several thousand LIUNA members who are ready, willing and able to be part of a national army which strengthens political and organizing efforts.
But it is also clear that this core army will weaken and dissipate if it is not encouraged, further organized and rewarded. To solidify and expand this core of members we are initiating I Build America, an activist effort, I Build America activist will be part of an ongoing program that provides members with incentives to consistently lend their time and energy to legislative, political and organizing fights.
Incentives will be based on a members activism level and will range from hardhat stickers to union gear to invitations to participate in special events. For a member to be an I Build Americaactivist, they must participate in at least one monthly union-wide action.
The power of I Build America activist will help LIUNA win more good jobs by:
Increasing investment to build America through upcoming federal legislation, including the Surface Transportation Bill, water works and waterways legislation, school construction and green construction investments.
Helping to convert as much as possible of the already-funded $130 billion in economic stimulus construction funding to union jobs.
Fighting for safer jobs and health care reform.
Providing ground troops for local and regional organizing and political battles.
As the I Build America army grows, many activist will be members already familiar to Local Unions for their commitment and participation, although many will likely be new recruits. Information about those members will be forwarded to Regional Offices for distribution to appropriate affiliates.
The Connell F. Smith-Homer Brown Scholarship is a fundamental effort to provide our members and their families with financial assistance to further their education in order to lead productive and successful lives. This fund was established in 1986 and for the past 23 years Local 773 has awarded 259 scholarships to college students who otherwise would not have the opportunity to obtain a college degree. Awards are based on cumulative grade point average from the past year, essay, and financial need.
Connell F. Smith
Homer Brown
Connell F. Smith served as Business Manager/Secretary Treasurer of Laborers' Local 773 from 1942 to 1976. It was his vision that guides Local 773 to this day in organizing, political action and service to the membership. He provided a strong foundation for one of the most respected Local Unions in the entire International Union. His philosophy of "Who can I help today" guided him as the longest serving business manager in Local 773 history.
Homer Brown was initiated into the Laborers' International Union Local 773 in December 1941 during the great depression. He worked as a Laborer for 55 cents an hour while raising six children. During his career, Brown served as Sergent at Arms, Executive Board Member, and later served as the Vice President. Despite his hardship, Brown and his wife Mary managed their life around their six children making every effort to make certain they obtained their education by attending college and leading productive and successful lives.
The Edward M. Smith Annual Golf Tournament
Our Edward M. Smith Annual Golf Tournament is our organization's main source of funding to help members and their families obtain an education provided through generous donations from our members, friends, colleagues and supporters. This charity golf tournament will provide financial assistance to 19 deserving college students who otherwise may not have the opportunity to recieve a college degree.
Thank you to all our sponsors and participants for making this year's tournament a success and we look forward to seeing you next year for the 2011 tournament on May 13, 2011 for a day of fun, food and prizes for a truly great cause!
As of April 1, 2009, the Southern and Central Illinois Laborers District Council has obtained a $2000 death/accidental dismemberment benefit through Metropolitan Insurance Company (MetLife) for all active members, retirees and Gold Card members of Laborers’ Local 773 as well as an additional $2,000 accidental death benefit from MetLife. The death benefit will be paid to the beneficiaries of a deceased member or to the survivors of the estate unless a beneficiary is designated. Members who wish to designate their beneficiaries** or survivors of a deceased member after April 1,2009 must contact Mary Smith at 618-993-5773 and complete a claimant’s statement in order to receive this benefit.
Welcome to a Union that is dedicated on your behalf to the success, protection and dedication at your work. This Union believes very strongly in the pride and dignity of each of our members. We understand that we gain loyalty by respecting each individual and insuring a better quality of life for them and their family.
We take great pride in this local Union and our accomplishments. However the labor movement did not come easy and must be protected each and ever day. Please remember that Unionism is not a heritage, but is fought for by the working men and women of America. It has helped to give everyone who labors the respect that is deserved.
This Union can grow in 2009 but not without your help. Be proud to call yourself a Laborer and a member of the 10th largest local in LIUNA.
·Be a real union member by being active and attending union meetings. Meetings are held on the first Sunday of each month at 2pm at John A. Logan College in Carterville. Accept the full responsibilities of your union membership when called upon, you are actually helping yourself.
·Be willing to volunteer by assisting with political functions, walking a picket and volunteering for charitable community events such as The Therapy Center and the Connell F. Smith-Homer Brown scholarship fundraising. There is a great personal satisfaction in doing your part and you will win the respect of your fellow members as well as self respect for yourself.
·Advance yourself and your education. The Laborers&rsquo Training Program offers a wide variety of skill-developments and classes along with a scholarship program to earn your college degree.
·Help to organize the unorganized. The Unions greatest asset to our growth is the members themselves. Help to better the lives of your family members, your friends and your neighbors.
·Also, be willing to help fellow Americans and support the economy by buying AMERICAN UNION MADE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES whenever possible, and passing the message on to others.
On November 4th, 2008, working America sent a strong message to our nation. IT IS TIME TO MOVE FORWARD. Together, with the support and commitment of our members we can be stronger, bigger, better and badder than we have ever been.
On behalf of the 4,500 members of Local 773, I thank you for your loyalty, faith and devotion to this great Union.
John E. Taylor
Laborers' Local 773 Business Manager
Helping Build Better Lives
Laborers' raise funds for The Therapy Learning Center by hosting fundraisers throughout the year to benefit the children. Read More about The Therapy Center and how to get involved.click here to watch youtube to view a video of our past accomplishments.
