Local 229 Work Report

Construction

Local 229’s work picture for Inside wiremen & apprentices has slowed in recent months with approx. 48 currently on Book I. We are however referring "short calls" regularly. Work is picking back up and should continue to improve through the beginning of 2009. We have several large projects that are in the early stages and will continue to man up thru the spring. We expect full employment again by early 2009 and we expect to be referring travelers by sometime in Spring or early summer 2009. Our largest single project is the Connectiv gas fired plant which is currently underway with contractors working on underground duct banks & temp power.

Our local contractors are holding steady, bidding a lot of work and reporting that work should be picking up.

There are several large projects that  signatory contracotrs are targeting. ES3 expansion is getting underway. This is an 18 month project requiring approx. 40 electricians. Coming in 2009 we have a $150 million incinerator expansion coming out for bid and the "equiptment package" for the Arm & Hammer Manufacuring facility.

This is all good news given the challenges the national economy is facing.

We expect to be referring Book II members in 2009 so please stop  by and sign Book II  Monday-Friday  7am to 4pm.

Several of our contractors are targeting the “commercial” market utilizing the PA Initiative Small Works Agreement and having some success! Our loss of market share in this sector did not happen over night and we will not recapture it over night but our contractors now have the tools to be competitive on these smaller projects and are starting to have some success. We will continue to aggressively work with our signatory contractors interested in targeting this market and diligently seek new contractors who are either established in this market or interested in targeting it.

                                   

Manufacturing

Our manufacturing units at Hadco and F.E.C. unfortunately are suffering from the weak economy. Sales and production at these facilities had slown early this year leading to some layoffs but orders have been picking up recently.

Let’s hope this is short lived and work picks back up soon. Until it does lets pull together in solidarity and help fellow brothers and sisters any way we can. Let's all remember to vote this fall for candidates who support American manufacturing!

F.E.C. Technonlogies contract is settled and the Hadco/Philips unit negotiations are beginning at the end of the year.