Local Lodge 11

More than 500 workers busy refurbishing massive boiler in Unit 1

COLSTRIP — Jason Small says a $70 million renovation of Unit 1 of the Colstrip Steam Electric Station translates into steady work for hundreds of people like him.

“If you're a craftsman and a boilermaker, you count on these outages for a primary source of income,” Small said. “The bigger (the project) the better for us. This is our bread and butter.”

Winger, Maciejewski receive recognition

TWO MEMBERS WHO exemplify outstanding political activism received special recognition at this year’s LEAP conference.

Robert Winger, president of Local 11 (Helena, Mont.), received a certificate of appreciation for promoting clean coal technology. Winger has built positive relationships with the offices of Montana’s senators.

Northeast & Great Lakes

Toth and Buskey win Northeast; Vodraska and Woods win Great Lakes

THE NORTHEAST AND Great Lakes areas held their 23rd annual joint graduate apprentice competitions May 4-8 at Local 5 Zone 197 (Albany, N.Y.). The top two finishers in each contest will represent their areas in the national contest in Kansas City, Kan., Sept. 27-Oct. 1.

Contract includes increases in wages and per-diem with new language for portability and mandatory safety training

CALLING IT THE “most progressive agreement in the nation,” Intl. Vice Pres. Tom Baca praised the Western States business managers and Intl. reps for their exceptional effort in reaching a three-year pact with their signatory contractors.

After calling the building trades for help two years in a row, Exxon goes 100% union

TWICE MEMBERS OF Local 11 (Helena, Mont.) were called to the Exxon/Mobil refinery in Billings, Mont., to complete projects started by nonunion crews because the owner was dissatisfied with the work. The third time around, the company decided to award the entire job to the union.

ON HIS LAST day of employment, John “Wurkin Durkin” Durkin unhooked the final lift for an SCR project at the Exxon/Mobil refinery in Billings, Mont. A member of Local 11 (Helena, Mont.) since 1978, Durkin began his apprenticeship in 1976 and moved into field construction in 1980. He retired June 30, 2008.

Rosas takes top spot, VanDam places second

JEREMY ROSAS OF Local 242 (Spokane, Wash.) won the James F. Precht Award as the top apprentice in the 21st annual Western States Area Outstanding Graduate Apprentice Competition held May 12-14 at Local 242. Brian VanDam of Local 182 (Salt Lake City, Utah) placed second.

NEARLY TWO DOZEN U.S. and Canadian business managers met in Kansas City, Mo., July 27-31 for new officer training. The event was hosted by Construction Division Services (CDS) in conjunction with the Education and Training Services Department.

“We had an excellent group that stayed focused the entire week on the curriculum we developed for new business managers,” said CDS Director Skipper Branscum. “Our goal was to introduce these leaders to the various programs and resources that are available to help them succeed.”

Demand for skilled workers allows for interesting classroom project

NINE MEMBERS OF a welding class left the UM-Helena College of Technology to get some hands-on experience by working side-by-side with members of Local 11 (Helena, Mont.) at the Colstrip 3 Power Plant.

The students worked eight weeks this spring, helping the Boilermakers complete repair work on a boiler and perform routine maintenance work during a scheduled shutdown at the facility.