Greetings Brothers and Sisters,
I hope you and your families are healthy and happy as we move into 2023. I would like to first and foremost congratulate Business Manager William McLaughlin on his recent appointment to Trustee of the International Union of Operating Engineers. This is a tremendous accomplishment and honor. I couldn’t be happier that Bill’s leadership has been recognized by the International. During Bill’s tenure, Local 4 members have enjoyed incredibly prosperous times. He successfully guided the Local through a pandemic, expanded market share through aggressive organizing and open mindedness to expand into new markets such as the gas sector. He recently negotiated a new five-year contract with significant wage increases and no language changes. The Local sits well positioned for the present and for the future, Bill makes every decision with both of those things in mind. Congratulations, Bill, you will be a great asset to the IUOE in Washington.
The Training Center has continued to be busy for the last few months. We opened for applications in the month of November and once again received robust interest in the program. This comes as no surprise as we continue to enjoy an extremely positive work outlook. We are optimistic we will have a great group of new apprentices come spring. The current apprentices have been hard at work on their curriculum. Many of the third-year apprentices have already completed their NCCCO requirements. Most of the probationary apprentices have fulfilled their obligations and will become 4R members, congratulations to them all.
Please save the date for Saturday, March 4, 2023, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Training Center in Canton for the Annual Local 4 and Boston Children’s Hospital Blood Drive. Thank you to brother Peter Bernazzani for again helping to organize the event.
With the support of Business Manager William McLaughlin and the Training Center Trustees, we were fortunate to have purchased a Gradall XL 4330 for the membership. We took delivery of the machine in mid-October, and it is available for those looking to get some seat time or to brush up if they have a job opportunity.
I would like to congratulate Business Manager William McLaughlin and Funds Administrator Greg Geiman as well as their staff on putting on another successful Healthy Living and Retirement Planning Fair at Gillette Stadium. It was a great event and was very well attended. It was nice to see the variety of health partners and retirement specialists there for the members as well as the Super Bowl trophies and former Patriots Tight End Christian Fauria.
On November 10, instructors and Veterans Tom McEvoy and Peter Carpenter attended the Helmets to Hardhats Fundraiser at the State House ahead of Veterans Day. Business Manager William McLaughlin generously donated $10,000 on behalf of the Local to support this great program for Veterans. Thank you to all the Veterans in Local 4 for their service.
It has been a pleasure to see so many members over the last couple of months at the political standouts leading up to the November election. I would like to thank all the members, but especially the apprentices that helped with those standouts and rallies. Participation by the apprentices was outstanding, and it was a great sign to see so many getting involved.
Lastly, I would like to congratulate all of the 50-year members that were recognized at the October Body Meeting. I enjoyed seeing so many in attendance that night.