Building Trades News

A proposed class action lawsuit was filed Feb. 14 in U.S. District Court which alleges that a major oil refinery construction and maintenance firm, Brinderson Constructors Inc.’s (BCI), entered into a contract with a bogus labor organization to avoid continued liability in a separate, ongoing lawsuit over unpaid overtime and other wage violations. The suit claims that workers were forced to join the “union” against their will under threat of losing their jobs. BCI is a major national construction firm that performs construction and maintenance work in power plants, oil refineries and other industrial settings.

$15 Billion Agreement Could be Finalized in 90 Days

Amidst an overflowing room of over 150 Building Trades and community members, developers and contractors, the Board of Commissioners of the Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles voted on Feb. 21 to negotiate a Project Labor Agreement with the Los Angeles/Orange County Building Trades Council worth $15 billion.

$195.5 Million Landmark Design Third and Final Phase of the Pacific Design Center

In a joint press conference with the Building Construction Trades Council of Los Angeles and Orange Counties, on Feb. 22, Charles S. Cohen, owner/redeveloper of Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, committed to the area craft unions to supply 100 percent union labor for the construction of the highly anticipated RedBuilding, the third and final phase of architect Cesar Pelli’s 30-year vision at Pacific Design Center. The $195.5 million 400,000-square-foot office project broke ground in March of 2007.

TCA Files Appeal with US Department of Commerce

The state Coastal Commission dealt a blow to plans to extend a toll road from Orange County through San Onofre State Beach to provide needed traffic relief to the I-5 corridor in South Orange County.

Commissioners voted 8-to-2 against the project, saying that it was inconsistent with the state law regulating development along the coastline. The vote seriously hampered the project’s chances of obtaining a coastal development permit which is needed before construction can begin.

A Message from Hart D. Keeble, Business Manager, Iron Workers Local 416

Brothers and Sisters:

It is with a heavy heart that I regret to inform everyone on the recent passing of our Local Union’s President and Business Agent Bruce Gerometta. Bruce Gerometta has been a Leader in the Labor movement here in Los Angeles since he arrived in the early 80’s and he has always been there for working people. His compassion and love for the working men and women he helped will be remembered forever in our hearts. Here at Ironworkers Local 416 we will miss him terribly.