Communications

Business Representative/Conductor/Sergeant of Arms - Todd Mickelson

Brothers & Sisters,

As you all know the 2010 year has been a slow start for work for the Operating Engineers. We’ve been going through a rough time that this Local hasn’t seen in many years. I believe that the bottom has been hit and we should be coming out of these hard economic times as we continue into the 2010 year. I know some of you remember the early 80’s that seemed devastating at the time, but we made it through that recession.

To help with family wage jobs get back into the mix, Governor Gregoire recently signed an $8.5 billion transportation budget that should create 20,000 jobs in Washington State. This transportation should put many of our OE Brothers and Sisters to work during these tough economic times. Our State Representatives have also been working hard by getting a $590 million Federal Grant for high speed intercity passenger rail. These projects will add job opportunities and increase passenger rail service along the I-5 corridor.

We still have some major projects that are ongoing in Pierce County that are keeping our members working. We have Atkinson Construction and KLB that are making considerable progress on the Highway 16 Nalley Valley project. We also have Railworks and Gary Merlino working on the Sound Transit Light Rail project to connect it to the Lakewood Station. Tri State is working on the I-5 HOV lanes in Fife with one of our new signatory contractors’ Pearson Drilling.

We have an upcoming project that will hopefully be starting towards the end of this year. Kiewit – General Joint Venture will be building the pontoon sections in Aberdeen for the 520 floating bridge and the smaller pontoon sections will be constructed at the Port of Tacoma. We are hoping that the jobs that are going to bid will be awarded to our signatory contractors so we can have more work opportunities for our members. We’ve signed a couple of Project Agreements to some potential clients and we hope that the relationship that’s being built between the Companies and the Union will flourish into a Full Compliance Agreement.

I want to let you know that my heart goes out to those of you who are having troubled times, but work is starting to pick up and we will get through this. For the Brothers and Sisters who have family and friends fighting overseas, my thoughts and prayers are with you for their safe return home.

Todd

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