SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS

3/12/2008 3:28:54 PM

Attention 159 Member - Notice of the Special Order of Business at the regular membership meeting on Wednesday, March 19, 2008. At this meeting we will discuss & vote on an extension of the Master Labor Agreement though June 30, 2001.

THANK YOU!

1/17/2008 3:19:50 PM

We would like to thank all those who brought food items to the December membership meeting. We collected just under 300 pounds of food for the Food Bank. We appreciate your participation and look forward to collecting even more food next year!

Carlos Arellano re-deploys to Iraq

8/21/2007 2:10:04 PM

Carlos Arellano is 30 years old, and has been working as a Residential Specialist. He was preparing to enter the UA Local 159 apprenticeship program in July 2007. He is an eight-year California National Guard veteran and has already served one combat tour in Iraq.

Carlos was redeployed to Iraq in June of 2007.

The members, officers & staff of UA Local 159 are keeping Carlos & family in our thoughts & prayers for a safe return.

Resolution Against Privatization Submitted to California State Pipe Trades By Plumbers 159

6/8/2007 11:06:07 AM

This resolution was passed April 18, 2007:

WHEREAS: Access to affordable clean water and effective sanitary waste removal are essential to healthy communities; and

WHEREAS: California’s publicly constructed and operated water treatment and waste water treatment facilities have proven their capacity to carry out these tasks; and

WHEREAS: These facilities have been publicly funded and have been constructed under California laws requiring competitive public bidding and the payment of prevailing wages; and

WHEREAS: Three multi-national firms, Veolia and Suez, both French firms along with Thames Water of England, have embarked on a global effort to privatize water and waste water treatment facilities, including those in California, promising financially strapped public agencies lower costs and better service; and

WHEREAS: Experience shows that where these vital facilities have been privatized, the cost of water and wastewater treatment for consumers has increased while the quality of treated water, the effectiveness of waste water treatment, consumer service and investment in water infrastructure have all declined; and further,

WHEREAS: The privatization of these facilities in California eliminates the requirement for public bidding and the payment of prevailing wages for their construction, renovation and expansion, resulting in decreased work opportunities for our members;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the Delegates of the 87th Convention of the California State Pipe Trades Council goes on record opposing the privatization of water and waste water treatment facilities and related infrastructure and further commits to actively work with like-minded consumer, labor and environmental organizations, as well as public officials and the State Legislature to this end; and

FURTHER, BE IT RESOLVED: That the State Executive Board allocates adequate resources to support this effort.

Respectfully Submitted,
Tom Lawson
President
UA Local 159

Adopted unanimously for submission to this 87th Convention at the April 18th 2007 regular membership meeting of Local 159.

For more information, visit: Food and Water Watch, and Public Integrity

Union recovers embezzled funds, embezzler pleads guilty

11/14/2006 2:39:14 PM
Aram Hodess, Business Manager

The Local 159 Trust Funds have recovered nearly $200,000 embezzled by Union Solutions, Inc., a privately owned benefits administrator located in San Leandro, California. We discovered the embezzlement in 2003 and filed complaints with the FBI and Dept. of Justice. All of our Trust Fund Administrators are required to be bonded. The Trust filed claims against the Union Solutions, Inc. bond and received $204,000 in October 2003 covering all losses. No Plan participants, active or retired suffered any loss of benefits.

The president of Union Solutions, Inc., James (Dave) James, pleaded guilty earlier this month in federal court in Oakland to two counts of embezzling health care benefit program funds; one count of embezzling from an employee benefit plan; and two counts of making false statements and concealing facts in documents, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

James faces up to 35 years in prison, a $500,000 fine, and the possibility of restitution payments, subject to sentencing guidelines and federal statutes. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 2.

Fraternally,

Aram Hodess
Business Manager

For more information, please visit: http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/email/news/16007829.htm

UA Local 159 launches website

5/28/2005 11:32:05 AM

Welcome to the newly launched UA Local 159 website! Follow the links above to locate valuable information and resources about UA Local 159. If you have questions or comments, email the webmaster at plumbers159@theitconsultancy.com.