Union Ironworkers and American 1 Reinforcing Solidify Relationship

Cincinnati, OH (May 7, 2009) – The skilled tradesmen who do more than you can imagine – Union  Ironworkers – are solidifying relationships with contractors and owners, one company at a time.  Recently, the owners of American 1 Reinforcing, LLC became a signatory contractor with Ironworkers Local No. 372.  This relationship establishes American 1 Reinforcing as a union contractor who will utilize the training and membership of Local 372 on future projects.

“We are extremely proud to welcome American 1 Reinforcing to our family of dedicated and proud Ironworkers.  Their company is well-known in the Cincinnati and Louisville area and we are excited to have the opportunity to help the company grow through our well-trained and safe members,” said Bill Kelley, business manager for Ironworkers Local No. 372, Cincinnati, OH.

“Throughout our discussions, it became apparent that a relationship with Local 372 will benefit our company.  Not only will our employees have the opportunity to enhance their careers through a certified training program, but, as an owner, I now have access to the best workforce in the area, which allows us to go after more work,” said Richard Wallace, Sr., president of American 1 Reinforcing, LLC.

Contractors who become signatory with Union Ironworkers experience many benefits including no costs to administer benefits programs, lower overall crew costs, lower turnover and superior training.  $50 million is spent annually for training programs at 175 training facilities throughout the United States and Canada.  Employees of union contractors have opportunities as well.  Most earn college credit, have opportunities to become a certified welder, participate in safety programs and learn the latest in OSHA regulated standards through the nationally certified training programs.  Ironworkers Local 372 training facility is located at 4958 Winton Ridge Lane, Cincinnati, OH.

About Union Ironworkers

Members of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers are part of the construction trades.  It is their job to unload, erect and connect steel beams that form the skeleton of a structure in addition to working in precast concrete, metal buildings, reinforcing steel, ornamental iron and metal curtain wall construction.  Throughout the United States and Canada there are over 120,000 union Ironworkers in local hiring halls and fabrication shops.  More information can be found at www.Ironworkers.org or www.IMPACT-net.org.

About American 1 Reinforcing, LLC

American 1 Reinforcing, LLC is a family-owned union contractor specializing in the installation of re-steel reinforcing, wire-mesh placement and post-tension installation in Cincinnati, Ohio; Louisville, Kentucky; Lexington, Kentucky and the greater Bluegrass area.   American 1 Reinforcing serves both public and private clients with reinforcing expertise in industrial and commercial industries in a wide range of size and complexity.

Union Ironworkers Support Project Labor Agreement Study

Recent study by Cornell University verifies success of ‘job site constitution’

Washington DC (May 7, 2009) – The skilled tradesmen who do more than you can imagine – Union  Ironworkers – are in full support of the recently released study titled Project Labor Agreements in New York State: In the Public Interest by Fred B. Kotler, the Associate Director of the Construction Industry Program at the Cornell School of Industrial and Labor Relations.  Union Ironworkers support the results of the independent study affirming that a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) is an effective construction management tool for quality construction.

“The use of PLAs on construction projects has successfully ensured work for ironworkers who are well-trained and capable of completing projects in a timely manner.  Our proud union fully supports the use of PLA’s and will continue to do our part with other building trades as we coordinate our work and fulfill our requirements based on these agreements,” said Joseph Hunt, general president of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers. 

According to Kotler’s study, PLAs “provide job stability and prevent costly delays by providing a uniform contract expiration date … guaranteeing no-strikes and no-lockouts, providing alternative dispute resolution procedures … and assuring that contractors get immediate access to a pool of well-trained and highly-skilled workers through union referral procedures.”

According to the National Building Trades, Ironworkers and other building trade unions successfully completed 34 documented PLA projects in 2008.  Between 2004 and 2008 103 PLA projects were completed.  Additional PLA projects are and have been negotiated on the state and local level.  These agreements may include various owner requirements and are not typically reported on the national level due to variances within the resolution dispute procedures.

About Union Ironworkers

Members of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers are part of the construction trades.  It is their job to unload, erect and connect steel beams that form the skeleton of a structure in addition to working in precast concrete, metal buildings, reinforcing steel, ornamental iron and metal curtain wall construction.  Throughout the United States and Canada there are over 120,000 union Ironworkers in local hiring halls and fabrication shops.  More information can be found at www.Ironworkers.org or www.IMPACT-net.org.

Union Ironworkers Provide Training for Green Energy Job Corps

Accredited Apprenticeship Training Program Secures Safety and Productivity throughout United States and Canada

Washington D.C. (March 4, 2009) – The skilled tradesmen who do more than you can imagine – Union Ironworkers – in response to Vice-President Biden’s recent comments regarding green jobs training, are anxiously awaiting the opportunity to install and maintain green energy projects in a safe and productive manner throughout the United States and Canada.

"Vice-President Biden is correct in stating that a well-trained workforce is required to successfully erect, install and maintain the promising green energy category. Our members are not only capable of successfully achieving this goal, but also in a position to immediately begin work on green and renewable energy projects as soon as the economic stimulus package is appropriated," said Joseph Hunt, general president of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers.

Ironworkers train in three and four-year programs that offer the opportunity for college credit towards an Associate’s Degree and various opportunities for lifelong careers in the green energy sector. The national training curriculum also includes certification programs that ensure consistency and a high-level of instruction. Training includes learning techniques that focus on welding, placing and tying rebar, rigging of materials and equipment, structural steel erection, miscellaneous steel installation and ornamental ironworking to include installation and retrofit of glass curtain and window wall systems.

"Our union has been in existence for over one hundred years and during that time we have evolved into a centralized training operation that ensures a productive workforce for our contractors," said Hunt. "Our members are ready and able to work, well-trained and committed to improving the economic and operational success of those contractors we work with, especially in the green energy sector."

About Union Ironworkers

Members of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers are part of the construction trades. It is their job to unload, erect and connect steel beams that form the skeleton of a structure in addition to working in precast concrete, metal buildings, reinforcing steel, ornamental iron and metal curtain wall construction. Throughout the United States and Canada there are over 120,000 union Ironworkers in local hiring halls and fabrication shops. More information can be found at www.Ironworkers.org or www.IMPACT-net.org

Union Ironworkers Soaring Achievements are Awarded....

Eagle Award of Achievement Exemplifies ....

Highest Level of Performance by Local Ironworker Unions....

WASHINGTON DC (February 24, 2009) – The skilled tradesmen who do more than you can imagine – Union  Ironworkers – recently announced the recipients of the 2009 Eagle Awards of Achievement at the 2009 Ironworker Labor Management Conference in Las Vegas.  The award showcases the performance excellence of Local Ironworker Unions, which are based on the Ironworker Key Performance Indicators (KPI). 

“These awards highlight the dedication and effort our Local Union leaders employ on a daily basis to continually provide our contractors and owners with a safe, well-trained workforce in an effort to expand market share for our proud Union and increase work opportunities for our members,” said Walter Wise, general secretary of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers. 

The Ironworker KPI program serves as a benchmark for measuring and evaluating the performance of Local Unions throughout the United States and Canada.  The program also ensures contractors have at their disposal workers who continually achieve the highest level of professionalism and commitment while on the job. 

The KPI’s, fifteen in all, represent key goals in five major areas specific to the Ironworking trade – Apprenticeship and Training, Market Recovery, Political Action, Workforce Productivity and Local Union Operations.  Since the inception of the KPI program in June 2007, Union Ironworkers have enjoyed the largest percentage growth of any Building Trades Union based on employment.  Since 2005, Union Ironworkers saw employment opportunities grow 12.02% while the construction industry saw a loss of 6.85%. 

Eagle Award of Achievement winners were judged on their ability to achieve sustained improvement on the fifteen KPI’s over the past year.  The 2009 Eagle Award of Achievement recipients are:

·         Ironworkers Local Union No. 3, Pittsburgh, PA

·         Ironworkers Local Union No. 14, Spokane, WA

·         Ironworkers Local Union No. 22, Indianapolis, IN

·         Ironworkers Local Union No. 40, New York, NY

·         Ironworkers Local Union No. 201, Washington, DC

·         Ironworkers Local Union No. 361, New York, NY

·         Ironworkers Local Union No. 397, Tampa, FL

·         Ironworkers Local Union No. 405, Philadelphia, PA

·         Ironworkers Local Union No. 433, Los Angeles, CA

Ironworkers Local Union No. 40, New York City and Ironworkers Local Union No. 361, New York City were recognized as a member of the 15x5 Club.  The 15x5 Club signifies that these local unions received a score of five, our highest rating, for each of the fifteen KPI goals. 

Union Ironworkers will continue to annually recognize Local Unions who achieve performance excellence at upcoming Labor Management Conferences.

About Union Ironworkers....

Members of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers are part of the construction trades.  It is their job to unload, erect and connect steel beams that form the skeleton of a structure in addition to working in precast concrete, metal buildings, reinforcing steel, ornamental iron and metal curtain wall construction.  Throughout the United States and Canada there are over 120,000 union Ironworkers in local hiring halls and fabrication shops.  More information can be found at www.Ironworkers.org or www.IMPACT-net.org. ....

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