Business Manager Report
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
Under the City’s Fire Code, an Operating Engineer must be physically present in buildings where chillers over a certain size are operating. During the lazy days of summer 2006, a small group of design engineers, mechanical engineers and certain non-union consultants concerned with profit, rather than safety, were able to convince city council members that the presence of Operating Engineers 24/7 is no longer necessary.
New York City legislation number 418 of 2006, supported by the Mayor’s office and many New York City Council Members, would have been devastating to the members of IUOE Local 94. The following is a direct quote from this legislation: “Under the City’s Fire Code, an Operating Engineer must be physically present, and thus employed full-time, in buildings where chillers over a certain size are operating this level of oversight is known as “personal supervision.” While there may have once been a fire safety rationale for this expensive requirement, fire safety experts have discounted personal supervision as an unnecessary relic. In contrast, for smaller chillers, only “general supervision” is required, meaning that an Operating Engineer remains responsible at all times for the functioning of the equipment, but need not be physically present on the premises. When public or private sector New York City building owners install new chillers, standard practice is not to utilize large, energy-efficient electric centrifugal chillers because using these chillers necessitates the substantial expense of personal supervision. Instead, building owners routinely opt for either multiple small, less efficient chillers or chillers are not installed at all in favor of package direct expansion (DX) air conditioning systems, both of which only require general supervision. The smaller chillers and DX air conditioning systems (typically utilizing reciprocating or scroll type compressors) typically use 0.7 to 0.85 kilowatts of electricity per ton of cooling, while a centrifugal chiller typically uses 0.5 to 0.57 kilowatts of electricity per ton of cooling – a 20-40% difference in energy consumption. Accordingly, the Council finds that it is reasonable and necessary to only require the general supervision of new chillers.”
This legislation was not passed into law because of the political action operation of this Union. It’s more important than ever that these activities be supported by member contributions.
As the Mayor’s office works closely with design engineers, mechanical engineers and certain non-union consultants in the real estate industry, legislation continues to be introduced harmful to members of Local 94 and even the public. If the economy worsens, more bills will be initiated to save money by eliminating labor costs in buildings. If the movement to legislate the removal of supervision of equipment by engineers is successful, hundreds of jobs will be eliminated.
Our political action program is financed by voluntary member contributions. This is critical to our survival. Politics plays an important role for a labor organization. During contract negotiations, political pressure is often a necessary component of the process. Legislation is sometimes needed to improve working conditions. Harmful legislation needs to be prevented from becoming law. Funds may be necessary to pay for mailings and advertising.
Many elected officials favor big business and are against the right of workers to be members of a Union and negotiate a contract. There is a movement by some public officials and anti-worker organizations across the country to eliminate overtime pay and worker benefits. The utilization of PAC funds is essential in backing legislators that are pro-union and supportive of issues important to workers: fair contracts, decent wages, health care, pension benefits and job protection.
Fraternally yours,
Kuba J. Brown
Business Manager/President-IUOE Local 94, 94A, 94B
Assistant Business Manager Report
Tough Times Ahead
Many wonder how the current U.S. economic crisis will personally affect them. The answer is clear. Pension, Annuity and savings are directly affected by the drop in the market. Loans and mortgages will be harder to obtain. As far as our industry is concerned, institutions merging and/or going bankrupt will mean less office space and staff will be required. We’ve already seen some backlash from this current financial situation. Citibank, Random House, Merrill Lynch, and Time Warner have all reduced their staff. With predictions of further companies being affected, further reductions in manpower are expected. Now more than ever we need to support our brother and sister union members in obtaining jobs. We’re asking everyone to let the union know if you hear of any potential job openings.
Planning Ahead
When we think of planning ahead, we think of saving up money for things such as buying a house, a car, children’s education, or maybe retirement. But how many of us have put money away in case of a strike? Although we haven’t had a strike since 1978, it came very close last office building contract. As you know, we’ve recently had strikes at Co-Op City, The New York Post, and 240 Riverside. A pattern of hard negotiations has become evident. Although the current office building contract doesn’t expire until December 31, 2010, we recommend that you consider ways to offset the burden of a possible strike. For example, try not to withdraw from your Sick Fund Account or possibly put some funds away weekly in an account that you don’t touch. If all of us follow these recommendations, we will be stronger and better prepared to handle the hardships of a strike.
