News and Information
The latest news and information will posted here for the benefit of the membership.
Contact us with suggestions, questions, or comments.
Organizer Position
Title: Metro Area Organizer
The deadline for resume's will be July 1, 2008 with interviews to be held during the month of July.
The job starts on August 4, 2008.
Return your completed resume to:
Minnesota Pipe Trades Association
411 Main Street - Room 309
St Paul, Minnesota 55102
Congratulations Local 34 Class of 2008
Plumbers Local 34 Contract Vote
Prom Center
484 Inwood Avenue North
Oakdale, MN 55128
Doors open @ 6:00AM - meeting starts @ 7:00AM sharp!
A post card notice will be mailed with any updated information.
Journeyman Position with MAC
Waters Off 2008 a Success!
The Waters Off program helps those who are financially unable to help themselves by having licensed Journeyman and Apprentice Plumbers come into their homes, make small repairs like leaking faucets and drains, and give a detailed report of any more serious problems they might encounter.
Waters Off is just one of the many ways that local 34 is reaching out to our community.
Thanks also to our contractors for donating the use of their trucks.
Congratulations Mitch Schaber
Mitchell finished in 1st place at the Minnesota Apprentice Contest on February 22. Mitchell will now advance to the UA Regional contest in Chicago this June.
At last year’s regional contest, apprentice Jerrod Faber came in 3rd place, proving that Local 34 Apprentices can stand up to the best from around the country.
Saint Paul Plumbers Contract Vote
484 Inwood Avenue North
Oakdale, MN 55128
Doors open @ 6:00AM - meeting starts @ 7:00AM sharp!
A post card notice will be mailed with any updated information.
Organizing Update
It has been some time since I ran a blog on our site. So to update you on what I have been up to I will start with something you are well aware of, that being our current market conditions which are causing us high unemployment rates.
Unemployment is ugly and it is something that concerns us even in good times.
One thing we must remember is that we have no control over what the market will bring us. We do however have control of our ability to have the work force available to continue to dominate the market share of the industry.
History shows that more often than not the scenario is one of more work than workers. If the projections for qualified plumbers are correct this trend will only grow. When this occurs and if we are unable to supply the workers we will create a void that will quickly be filled by our non union competition.
The responsibilities I have as directed by the United Association are to organize unrepresented workers and strive to expand contractor base. I have been and will continue to work towards those ends.
I am aware of our local unemployment conditions and they do prohibited me from offering the people I meet with employment opportunities anytime soon, however I do offer them the same opportunity our members are offered and that is if they are willing to travel I will refer them to an organizer in an area of the country where there is work. I have done this on three occasions.
I am currently involved in two actions with the National Labor Relations Board, one concerning Benjamin Franklin plumbing, North Branch, and the other Home Depot/Home Services, St. Paul..More in my next report.
Gary Schaubschlager
Organizer
2008 Scholarship forms are now available
Click here for the scholarship page
Plumbers Stag 2007
Accent, All Star Plumbing, Beaupre, Century Plumbing, Commercial, DCP Plumbing Inc., Egan Companies, Ferguson, G & R Mechanical, Goodin Company, Harris, HILTI, J. H. Larson, Klamm, Miller O’Brien Cummins, MN Mechanical Contractors, MN Building Trades Credit Union, Nasseff, Oxygen Service, Pipeline, Rascher, RSC Equipment Rental, Ryan Mechanical, Spriggs, State Mechanical, State Supply Company, Sundquist, Sunray, and Union House.
Thanks to all the members of Local 34 who volunteered and helped to make the Stag a great success!
Health and Benefits Fair
The fair will be held on February 23, 2008 at:
Prom Center
484 Inwood Avenue
Oakdale MN, 55128.
As Trustees and Local Union Officers, we highly recommend your attendance.
More information will be mailed to all members we have current contact information for.
Election Results
Business Rep/Financial Sec: Tom McCarthy
Field Representative: Dave Cormier
President: Jeff Huberty
Vice President: Katie Rohrbacher
Executive Board:
Karl Abrahamson
Dave Erickson
Dean Gale
Gary Schaubschlager
Finance Committee:
Bruce Jacobsen
Troy Kunze
Apprentice Committee: Tim Fox
Inside Guard: Steve Fernlund
Recording Secretary: Rick Gale
Retirees' Annual Christmas Party
Reservations will be mailed at a later date. Retirees’ Club dues ($10) can be paid at the party or they can be mailed to:
John Dizik
766 South Lexington Avenue
St. Paul, MN. 55116
Annual Plumbers Christmas Stag
Local 34 Nominations And Elections
Nominations for office will be held on November 13, 2007 regular Union night at the Labor Center, 411 Main Street St. Paul, MN 55102. Nominations will be open for the following offices: President, Vice-President, Business Manager, Business Representative-Financial Secretary, Field Representative, Recording Secretary, Inside Guard, four (4) members of Executive Board, one (1) member of the Apprenticeship Committee and one (1) member of the Finance Committee.
ELIGIBILITY FOR OFFICE: BY-LAWS; ARTICLE XII, §SECTION I
No member shall be eligible to be nominated for office in any Local Union unless they shall be a journeyman member and shall have been a member of the United Association and the Local Union in good standing for at least a period of two (2) years immediately prior to the election. Any journeyman who owes or has paid a reinstatement fee within a period of two (2) years immediately prior to the date of the election shall not be eligible to be nominated for office in any Local Union.
ELECTION:
Elections will be held at the Labor Center, 411 Main Street, St. Paul, MN, on December 11, 2007. Polls will be open from 11:00AM and to continue to 7:00PM or until all eligible present have voted. In the event of a tie vote for any position listed above, the run off election will be at the January Union Meeting.
ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE AT LOCAL ELECTION:
No member shall vote at any election of any description unless they have been a member in good standing in the local Union where the vote is being taken for a period of one (1) year immediately prior to the date of election. Any member who owes or has paid a reinstatement fee within a period of one (1) year immediately prior to the date of election shall not be eligible to vote in any Local Union Election, (UA Constitution §Section 125A).
§SECTION 123 – d:
In an election of Local Union officers and officers holding an office that is not up for election is not eligible for nomination to some other Local Union office they hold. Their resignation must be written and filed with the Local Union prior to the mailing of nomination meeting notices.