Union Organizers Indicted for Rally Against Nonunion Construction
June 19, 2012: Two union organizers indicted for organizing a rally against nonunion hotel construction? This is not in a far-off dictatorship, or even in a right to work state. It happened in New York City.
New York Local 805 President Sandy Pope reacted with outrage “This is a terrible attack on our rights -- freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and the right to be in a union. All politicians should be held accountable on where they stand on these rights.”
Read the New York Times article here.
Hoffa Signs Deal Allowing Contractors to Leave the Central States Pension Fund
MasTec, Inc. (NYSE: MTZ) today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Precision Pipeline, LLC, along with other members of the Pipe Line Contractors Association ( "PLCA"), have fully withdrawn from the Central States Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Fund multi-employer pension plan (the "Plan"), effective November 15, 2011. In connection with the withdrawal, MasTec will record a one-time expense of $6.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2011 based on an estimate provided by the plan.
This charge was not contemplated at the time the Company issued its earnings guidance for the fourth quarter of 2011. The Company withdrew from the Plan in order to mitigate its liability in connection with the Plan, which is significantly underfunded. The Plan has asserted that the PLCA members did not effect a withdrawal in 2011, although MasTec believes that a legally effective withdrawal occurred in the fourth quarter of 2011 and has recorded the withdrawal liability on this basis. If the Plan, however, were to prevail in its assertion and the withdrawal of MasTec were deemed to occur after 2011, the amount of any withdrawal liability would be expected to increase.
MasTec, Inc. is a leading infrastructure construction company operating mainly throughout North America across a range of industries. The Company's activities include the engineering, building, installation, maintenance and upgrade of energy, communication and utility infrastructure, such as: electrical utility transmission and distribution, natural gas and petroleum pipeline infrastructure, wireless, wireline and satellite communications, wind farms, solar farms and other renewable energy, industrial infrastructure and water and sewer systems. MasTec's customers are primarily in the utility, communications and government industries. The Company's corporate website is located at www.mastec.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including further or continued economic downturns, reduced capital expenditures, reduced financing availability, customer consolidation and technological and regulatory changes in the industries we serve; market conditions, technical and regulatory changes that affect us or our customers' industries; our ability to accurately estimate the costs associated with our fixed-price and other contracts and performance on such projects; our ability to replace non-recurring projects with new projects; our ability to retain qualified personnel and key management, including from acquired businesses, enforce any noncompetition agreements, integrate acquired businesses within the expected timeframes and achieve the revenue, cost savings and earnings levels from such acquisitions at or above the levels projected; the impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and any similar local or state regulations affecting renewable energy, electrical transmission, broadband and related projects and expenditures; the effect of state and federal regulatory initiatives, including costs of compliance with existing and future environmental requirements; our ability to attract and retain qualified managers and skilled employees; trends in oil and natural gas prices; increases in fuel, maintenance, materials, labor and other costs; fluctuations in foreign currencies; the timing and extent of fluctuations in geographic, weather, equipment and operational factors affecting the industries in which we operate; any material changes in estimates for legal costs or case settlements or adverse determinations on any claim, lawsuit or proceeding; the highly competitive nature of our industry; our dependence on a limited number of customers; the ability of our customers, including our largest customers, to terminate or reduce the amount of work, or in some cases prices paid for services on short or no notice under our contracts; the impact of any unionized workforce on our operations, including labor availability and relations; liabilities associated with multiemployer union pension plans, including underfunding liabilities, for our operations that employ unionized workers; any liquidity issues related to our securities held for sale; the adequacy of our insurance, legal and other reserves and allowances for doubtful accounts; any exposure related to our divested state Department of Transportation projects and assets; restrictions imposed by our credit facility, senior notes, convertible notes and any future loans or securities; the outcome of our plans for future operations, growth and services, including business development efforts, backlog and acquisitions; any dilution or stock price volatility which shareholders may experience in connection with shares we may issue as consideration for earn-out obligations in connection with past or future acquisitions, or as a result of conversions of convertible notes or other stock issuances; as well as other risks detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ significantly from results expressed or implied in these statements. We do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements.
Hoffa Sells-Out Central States Pension Fund Again
May 25, 2012: In May the Hoffa administration signed a national contract in the pipeline industry that lets all construction contractors pull out of the Central States fund.
The deal establishes a new company plan, just as Hoffa and Hall let UPS start a company plan in 2008.
Unlike other Teamsters, pipeline Teamsters don't have the right to vote on their contract. The IBT Constitution contains a loophole that lets local union leaders approve national contracts in this industry.
It has become clear that the Hoffa administration is giving up on the Teamster multi-employer pension funds, starting with the ones started by Hoffa's father—the Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Fund.
It's up to Teamster members and local union leaders to turn that around. Although so far the biggest attack—and union retreat—has focused on Central States, consider this: When the employers get their way with that fund, will they come after all our union pension funds?
For other pension news, visit the Pensions page.
Newsday: New York Teamster Faces Charges
July 6, 2009: When he served as president of Teamsters Local 282, based in Lake Success and representing private construction workers, Gary LaBarberawon praise for transforming the organization from a mob enterprise into "a model of union democracy," in the words of his lawyer, Bruce Maffeo. Two years ago, LaBarbera was called in to help salvage the New York City Central Labor Council after ex-Assemb. Brian McLaughlin - due this month to begin serving 10 years for theft - was ousted as leader.
Click here to read more at Newsday
Schenectady Daily Gazette: Albany Area Concrete Drivers Strike
July 11, 2008: Concrete truck drivers went on strike Wednesday morning, throwing a wrench in the Capital Region’s construction business as it kicks into high gear.
Nine days after their four-year contract expired, about 100 members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 294 struck for the first time since 2000. The strike, which hinges on wage and pension contribution issues, threatens to hamper work on everything from home foundations to swimming pools.
Click here to read more in the Schenectady Daily Gazette.
New York Times: Concrete Driver's Strike Stalls New York Construction
July 3, 2008: Most of New York City’s largest construction projects ground to a halt or near-halt on Tuesday because of an unanticipated strike by more than 400 cement-truck drivers.
With the bulky, noisy ready-mix concrete trucks largely disappearing from the city’s streets, the walkout affected scores of projects, including the Freedom Tower; the Second Avenue subway; the new Yankee Stadium; Citi Field, the ballpark that will replace Shea Stadium; and many high-rise apartment buildings.
Read the full story in the New York Times.