June 9, 2016

MEDIA ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

RICHARD "SKIP" DALY
(775) 856-0169

FINAL OFFER VOTED DOWN, CEMENT STRIKE LOOMS

FERNLEY, NEV. — Workers at the Nevada Cement plant in Fernley on June 8 overwhelmingly rejected the company's final proposal after months of negotiation.

"We extended the contract that expired February 28 in hopes of reaching a mutually beneficial agreement, but the corporation's 'last-best-final' offer insulted our members," stated Laborers' International Union Local 169 Business Manager Richard "Skip" Daly.

"We are scheduled to meet again on June 22. The latest contract extension expires on June 30," Daly added.

"If agreement is not reached at that meeting, a strike is a strong possibility," he noted.

A disruption in the production of cement would have broad-reaching impact on the region's burgeoning economy.

"Construction activity is increasing in northern Nevada," Daly said.

"Nevada Cement has a large local customer base relying on them, including Basalite, HardieBoard and 3D Concrete, a major ready-mix supplier. We hope that the company will not cause a ripple effect dampening what has been only a gradual economic recovery," he added.

"The primary reason that the workers rejected the company's proposal was its insistence on eliminating its defined benefit pension plan for employees. This would cause a reduction in retirement income security for workers," Daly stated.

"Like many corporations, they want to shift to a 401k system, basically nothing more than a glorified savings account," Daly noted.

"We offered to merge the existing single-employer company plan into the northern Nevada multi-employer plan, which we believe would have reduced costs and liability, but the company refused," Daly said.

"This is dirty, demanding often physically taxing work. The company proposal is only beneficial to the corporation and does not take into account what the workers want and expect for their labor. This explains the overwhelming rejection," Daly noted.

"We anticipate a second vote before the end of the month," he added.

The union has represented Nevada Cement employees since the early 1960s when the company was established by Texas interests including Lady Bird Johnson. Its parent corporation, Eagle Materials, Inc., is based in Dallas.

Laborers' Local 169 was established in Reno in 1902 and represents more than 1,100 workers throughout northern Nevada.

-30-


New student achievement center project
underachieves for the community

Updated 1-3-2014

Stop Exploitation of Students & Workers at UNR


STUDENTS COMPLAIN

Fitness center raises question of parking

Students at the University of Nevada-Reno often use the metered parking lot in front of the Joe Crowley Student Union. The parking lot, however, might not be available for that much longer....

One student, Rachel Olbur, often uses the parking lot.

"I think that it is not in favor of the students," Olbur said. "This past year, the university took away the (adjacent) Whalen Parking Garage and gave it to faculty members., which is understandable, but that's just taking away more parking from students when our university is indeed, growing."... (Fitness Center Raises question of parking by Heather Janssen, Reno Gazette-Journal 1-1-2014)

Maintenance issues weigh on UNR's future

Editor, Reno Gazette-Journal:

I just graduated. I agree with Richard Mason's letter (below).

There have been maintenance issues since I started going there as a nontraditional student in 2004. John Lilley and Marc Johnson seem to be more interested in the big projects funded by student fees and alumni donations.

Milton Glick, though, in his short time actually tried, despite cuts during the recession, to make some headway on the maintenance issues.

Johnson is too focused on tearing down an otherwise historic building the could be redone as the Student Achievement Center. Instead, students are going to end up paying the brunt of the fees. Alumni donations only go so far, mostly for front-end construction costs. Student fees go to pay for the bonds.

If they keep adding fees to fund new projects, what student is going to be able to afford to go to UNR?

In the future, if I do have money to donate to the university, what will I find? A thriving university that is properly maintained and that students can afford? Or a university that is with broken-down buildings that the few students they have left are paying for?

I would rather donate to a thriving university. Wouldn't you?

Susan Pacey-Field, Reno
    Published 12-31-2013

HIGHER EDUCATION:
UNR isn't keeping up with maintenance

Editor, Reno Gazette-Journal:

University of Nevada-Reno initiatives spearheaded by (President) Marc Johnson include the Pennington Student Achievement Center and the E.L. Wiegand Fitness Center.

Oh, we are also now a college town, according to Johnson. Guess I just missed that.

Long-term UNR watchers will see that Johnson, like (former President) John Lilley before him, is focusing his efforts on new facilities rather than addressing existing infrastructure and academic facilities.

Johnson has said there is $546 million in deferred maintenance, but that it is just not sexy for donors to give money toward that. So instead, he chooses the easy road and plans new facilities. Much of the funding for the new Student Achievement Center will come from bonding student fees that are still charged and stem from another great UNR misadventure, the former Fire Science Academy. [1]

What is so fundamentally wrong with this concept of in-with-the-new and let the old continue to rot?

Each square foot of newly built space creates additional manual maintenance and eats up a greater share of funds that might go toward addressing deficiencies in existing facilities.

It is one thing to build something; it is quite another to provide for adequate upkeep.

UNR has been poor at that.

Richard Mason, Reno
    Published 12-29-2013


1. NEVADALABOR.COM EDITOR'S NOTE: Several years ago, the unsafe and money-hemorraghing fire academy in rural northeastern Nevada was dumped to the federal goverment at a loss.

CITIZEN RESPONSES

Union members handbill University of Nevada-Reno campus to inform students

Click here or in the window to read the handbill.

CITIZEN RESPONSES

 

MEDIA ADVISORY 10-14-2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Richard "Skip" Daly (775) 856-0169

Clandestine construction cash: Laborers' Union takes community's case to UNR students
Union wants student-moderated public forum

RENO, Nev. (10-14-2013) — Members of Laborers' International Union of North America Local 169 began passing out handbills at the University of Nevada-Reno this morning.

"Students should be fully informed on how the Marc Johnson administration is spending their money and that of donors," stated Local 169 Business Manager Richard "Skip" Daly.


Shunting Nevada work to out-of-state carpetbaggers is nothing new

University just won't learn—>

UNR isn't keeping up with maintenance
Reno Gazette-Journal letters/12-29 & 31 2013

Apple burns the mouse pad
Editorial: Apple deal is a reminder more transparency is needed, including projects at UNR
Apple downtown Reno/UNR center deal was never put in writing
Reno Gazette-Journal Editorial/Sunday 10-20-13

Student achievement center construction project inspires questioning
By Kenny Bissett/UNR Sagebrush 10-8-2013

The smoking gun: UN,R subcontractor hires and exploits undocumented workers
Dennis Myers/Reno News & Review/9-26-2013

Just like old times: UN,R and Hot August Nights
Barbwire by Barbano/Sparks Tribune/9-26-13

UNIONS PROTEST UNR GIVEAWAY ON STUDENT HOUSING CONSTRUCTION
Reno Gazette-Journal front page/9-24-2013

State of the Unions —>
Non-Nevada contractors, including Apple, continue to plague local workers
Reno Gazette-Journal 9-1-2013

Bullfighting in Tonopah —>
Billion-dollar tax-subsidized solar array goes to shady contractor from sunny Spain
Barbwire / Sparks Tribune 8-11-2011

Nevada workers march to UNR for Nevada jobs
U-News / 5-20-2010

Nevada university and K-12 education news and commentary 1996-present

The union handbill asks students to contact university administrators and demand transparency in the contracting process for the school's ambitious construction program.

"UNR uses its students and donors as legal cover to end-run around long-established Nevada laws designed to safeguard the proper use of public money and ensure competitive bidding," Daly said.

"Abusing a legal loophole, UNR can unilaterally decide not to ask for competitive bids and simply award multi-million dollar deals to whomever they like," he added.

"Increasingly, UNR likes to hire non-Nevada contractors who take Nevada dollars out of the local economy," Daly noted.

After a recent demonstration at the university protesting the hiring practices of Advance Installations, Inc., the university claimed to have conducted an investigation into the allegations.

The union is demanding full disclosure of the university's purported investigation of the workforce provided by Advance.

"When Advance learned some of their workers were talking to the union, they replaced all their questionable hires until the heat was off," Daly said.

"We are informed that many of those questionable workers are back," he asserted.

The union handbill informs students that "Phoenix-based Core Construction, with UNR administrators sitting at the table, selected Advance Installations for asbestos abatement (on the Getchell Library demolition) even after being told about Advance's shady history of threats and intimidation of their employees, exploiting their immigration status, contractor board violations, OSHA safety violations and Homeland Security complaints."

"A worker filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security about the questionable hiring practices of Advance," Daly stated.

"Given all of the above, we are asking for a student-moderated public forum so that we may discuss these issues with UNR administrators and so students may ask questions about their money.

"We hope for a positive response from President Johnson's office about this request and look forward to his participation in the public discussion," Daly said.

"We may not represent these workers, but we always stand for fairness for all workers, union or not," Daly concluded.

A copy of the handbill is available at NevadaLabor.org/

Laborers' International Union of North America Local 169 has operated in Nevada since 1902 and represents more than 1,000 workers.


CITIZEN RESPONSES

10-14-2013

To: All Decision Makers for construction contracts at UNR

From: Bob and Charlotte Brothwell
           Sparks, Nevada

RE: Hiring of out-of-state contractors to draw wages from Nevada's funds.

We are appalled to hear about the decision to award building contracts to out-of-state firms.  We have two daughters who have earned Master's Degrees from UNR and and grandchildren due to enroll soon. Their tuitions to UNR is money you are spending irresponsibly, if not illegally. We love UNR and have been proud of UNR. We are horrified that our University would soil it's hands with practices of this nature. Why are you not dedicated to emulating honesty, fairness, lawfulness and just plain "doing the right thing" as well as educating our students?  This kind of operation sends an ever growing  global message that "the bottom line" is the ONLY consideration in business or life decisions. Please explain why your current decision is the best for our students, university, our community and our State.

We will be pleased and satisfied to hear that the powers that be have decided to cease the current practice and have opened bidding to Nevada contractors who actually use qualified Nevada resident employees.  

Shame on you!

FROM A PROMINENT FORMER NEVADA REPUBLICAN LEGISLATOR, 10-14-2013

Well, don't know any of the real details of the case but someone had their head up their ass when this project was started. Even if you have all of the money to build it (and they don't)...then how do they support it?

FROM A PROMINENT NEVADA ATTORNEY, 10-14-2013: Wow!

QUESTION ABOUT THE UNION:

>"INTERNATIONAL Union of North America Local 169"?

>I had been a paying as well as active member of the 'Metal Worker's Union', a German union who at times and only when project/topic oriented would work together with non-German, EU Metal Worker's Unions. The only thing 'international' about it was its membership - 8=)

>My question is this: On or at what level does Local 169 become International? Thank you for your time, be well . . (I know that you do the rest).

RESPONSE: Where U.S. unions are concerned, historically that's usually meant Canada and U.S. possessions. However, in the age of global marketing, a lot of U.S. unions are striking up relationships with their counterparts in other countries. e.g., the United Farm Workers are very active helping organizers in Central and S. America. Companies with far-flung workers create far-flung union interests, e.g., reporters for major international publications with bureaus worldwide.

>Thank you, learned something...hope that you will find some strong students to moderate such a forum.

STUDENTS COMPLAIN

 



Backgrounder for UNR students, donors and Nevada taxpayers —>

Union challenges UNR President Marc Johnson to public discussion

The University of Nevada-Reno uses its students and donors for legal cover to end-run around long-established state laws designed to safeguard public money and protect competitive bidding.

They take advantage of a loophole that defines "public works" as only projects having more than 25 percent of funding appropriated by the state. [1]

The loophole used to be rarely invoked but its frequency is now on the increase. The UNR tactics have evolved into shaking down students and donors to get to the 75 percent threshold in order to circumvent public works requirements. The strategy has become an epidemic.

Under that cover, UNR's administration has no binding legal requirement to follow any legal or regulatory process with respect to spending donor, student (and tax) money on multi-million dollar construction projects — and UNR is pursuing a lot of them.

Because of this loophole big enough to drive construction trucks through, public bidding laws are easily short-circuited. There thus exists no way to challenge the contract-awarding process spending student and donor money with no accountability.

Not even Nevada's Open Meeting Law applies. Under this loophole, UNR can decide not to ask for bids at all and simply award multi-million dollar deals to whomever they like.

Increasingly, UNR likes to hire non-Nevada contractors who take Nevada dollars out of the local economy.

The university system (aka The Nevada System of Higher Education) is the only public agency in the state without a statutory bidding procedure to ensure the integrity of the contracting process and proper use of public money.

Despite frequent claims that they follow a "fair and open process" [2, 3] there is no remedy available under law when they don't — as evidenced by recent legal action by two local contractors that was dismissed by the court because of this loophole.

Students should be able to watch over how their fees are spent. That requires a fair, open and transparent procedure, something which does not now exist.

When workers at the Getchell Library demolition site began talking to Laborers' Union of North America Local 169, Advance Installations, Inc., started to replace all of its questionable workers.

After union members demonstrated at the Getchell location on Sept. 20, Advance Installations systematically replaced questionable workers just in time for the university's so-called investigation.

University staffers claim that they found no problems. Today, many of those questionable employees are back.

The union thus demands a list of workers employed before the union demonstration, a list of workers reviewed by the university, and a list of those employed after the investigation.

UNR staff does not have the expertise and it is not in their interest to delve into this situation. The conflict of interest is glaring.

Only the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security is qualified and can act impartially.

The union wants to know when the purported investigation was conducted and demands to see complete documentation of the results.

This is an issue of both fairness and safety:

  • Fairness to present and future students and donors who are putting money into this project     
  • Fairness for the taxpayers of Nevada
  • Safety for the community because the union has been informed that some of the workers on the Getchell site were previously-deported convicted felons

The Johnson administration cannot ignore these problems in the hope that they will go away. Given all the ambitious construction programs it has announced, failure to act will only make matters much worse in the near future.

The union thus challenges President Johnson to participate in a student-moderated public forum to discuss these issues.

We are citizens and taxpayers, too.

_______
[1] Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) Section 338.010(16)(B). Senate Bill 185 of the 2013 legislative session would have closed this expensive loophole. The bill passed with strong bi-partisan support in the Nevada State Senate 20-1 and the Nevada State Assembly 36-3, with three excused. University Board of Regents Chair Dan Klaich asked Gov. Brian Sandoval-R, to veto the bill and he did so on June 13, 2013.

[2] "Our competitive bidding processes are open and fair." — Ron Zurek, UNR Vice-President of Finance and Administration; Reno Gazette-Journal; 5-3-2013; page 3A.

[3] "...all construction companies were hired in an 'open, competitive and fair' process, and prevailing wage rates are paid to all construction workers.

"'The university has an obligation to our donors and students to make sure that we get the best product,' said Mary Dugan, general counsel for UNR." — UNR press release dated 9-20-2013 quoted in "Construction Project Inspires Questions" by Kenny Bissett, Nevada Sagebrush, 10-8-2013.

Furthher information on the issues—>

Student achievement center construction project inspires questioning
By Kenny Bissett / UNR Sagebrush 10-8-2013

The smoking gun: UN,R subcontractor hires and exploits undocumented workers
By Dennis Myers / Reno News & Review / 9-26-2013

Just like old times: UN,R and Hot August Nights
Barbwire by Barbano / Expanded from the 9-26-2013 Sparks Tribune

UPDATED 24 SEPT. 2013 5:00 p.m. PDT / 00:00 ZULU/GMT/SUT/CUT 9-25-2013 —>
UPDATED 24 SEPT. 2013 1:06 p.m. PDT / 08:06 ZULU/GMT/SUT/CUT —>
19 SEPT. 2013 6:49 p.m. PDT / 01:49 ZULU/GMT/SUT/CUT SEPT. 20 —>

MEDIA ADVISORY 9-19-2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Richard "Skip" Daly (775) 856-0169

Laborers' Union demonstrates at UNR
Worker files complaint with Dept. of Homeland Security

RENO, Nev. — Members of Laborers' International Union Local 169 will form an informational picket line Friday morning, Sept. 20, on North Virginia Street at the demolition site of the former Getchell Library on the UNR campus.

"We want donors to the university to know how their money is being spent," stated Local 169 Business Manager Richard "Skip" Daly.

Out-of-state general contractor Core Construction, with University of Nevada-Reno staffers sitting at the table, selected Advance Installations, Inc., to perform asbestos abatement services on the library demolition.


Shunting Nevada work to out-of-state carpetbaggers is nothing new

University just won't learn—>

UNR isn't keeping up with maintenance
Reno Gazette-Journal letter /Sunday 12-29-13

Apple burns the mouse pad
Editorial: Apple deal is a reminder more transparency is needed, including projects at UNR
Apple downtown Reno/UNR center deal was never put in writing
Reno Gazette-Journal Editorial/Sunday 10-20-13

Student achievement center construction project inspires questioning
By Kenny Bissett/UNR Sagebrush 10-8-2013

The smoking gun: UN,R subcontractor hires and exploits undocumented workers
Dennis Myers/Reno News & Review/9-26-2013

Just like old times: UN,R and Hot August Nights
Barbwire by Barbano/Sparks Tribune/9-26-13

UNIONS PROTEST UNR GIVEAWAY ON STUDENT HOUSING CONSTRUCTION
Reno Gazette-Journal front page/9-24-2013

State of the Unions —>
Non-Nevada contractors, including Apple, continue to plague local workers
Reno Gazette-Journal 9-1-2013

Bullfighting in Tonopah —>
Billion-dollar tax-subsidized solar array goes to shady contractor from sunny Spain
Barbwire / Sparks Tribune 8-11-2011

Nevada workers march to UNR for Nevada jobs
U-News / 5-20-2010

Nevada university and K-12 education news and commentary 1996-present

"Core and UNR were informed about the notorious track record of Advance Installations, including prevailing wage complaints, exploitation of undocumented workers and issues with the Nevada State Contractors Board," Daly asserted.

"UNR allowed the selection of Advance Installations anyway," Daly said.

"An Advance Installations worker came to us with questions about his treatment, pay and other issues," Daly stated.

"He felt secure asking us about his situation because of his documented legal status. He stated that his co-workers felt afraid. When he began asking questions of management and talking to his co-workers about these issues, Advance Installations started to freeze him out by cutting his work hours," Daly added.

"He told us that some of his co-workers were not only undocumented, but that some had been previously deported and others had criminal records," Daly said.

"We've been informed that the documented worker filed an I-9 complaint with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

"We have no information as to the status of that complaint or if anything has been done," Daly noted.

Form I-9 (capital Ietter "i", numeral 9) "is used for verifying the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment in the United States," according to a Homeland Security website (below).

"All U.S. employers must ensure proper completion of Form I-9 for each individual they hire for employment in the United States. This includes citizens and noncitizens. Both employees and employers (or authorized representatives of the employer) must complete the form," the website states.

The form must be kept by the employer for at least three years after hire or one year after termination.

"We understand that there has been a wholesale change in Advance Installations personnel on the Getchell site," Daly said, "but the employment information on all workers must remain available for federal compliance purposes."

Laborers' International Union of North America Local 169 has operated in Nevada since 1902 and represents more than 1,000 workers.


____
Purpose of Form :
Form I-9 is used for verifying the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment in the United States. All U.S. employers must ensure proper completion of Form I-9 for each individual they hire for employment in the United States. This includes citizens and noncitizens. Both employees and employers (or authorized representatives of the employer) must complete the form. On the form, an employee must attest to his or her employment authorization. The employee must also present his or her employer with acceptable documents evidencing identity and employment authorization. The employer must examine the employment eligibility and identity document(s) an employee presents to determine whether the document(s) reasonably appear to be genuine and to relate to the employee and record the document information on the Form I-9. The list of acceptable documents can be found on the last page of the form. Employers must retain Form I-9 for a designated period and make it available for inspection by authorized government officers. NOTE: State agencies may use Form I-9. Also, some agricultural recruiters and referrers for a fee may be required to use Form I-9.
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=31b3ab0a43b5d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

Wikipedia: I-9 Anti-discrimination provisions
The Immigration Reform and Control Act which introduced the I-9 form also included anti-discrimination provisions.[1] Under the Act, most US citizens, permanent residents, temporary residents or asylee/refugee who are legally allowed to work in the US cannot be discriminated against on the basis of national origin or citizenship status.[1] This provision applies to employers of three or more workers and covers both hiring and termination decisions...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I-9_(form)


 

They don't do anything until somebody dies
UNR and downtown Reno theater firetraps show how little was learned from the Las Vegas Hilton and MGM disasters
Remembering Sen. Joe Neal's landmark high-rise fire sprinkler law
Barbwire by Barbano / Expanded from
the 12-12-2013 Sparks Tribune

How to play pro ball and be cruel to your school
Barbwire by Barbano / Expanded from the 9-19-2013 Sparks Tribune

Applecart Tipping?
Critics claim Apple/NVEnergy partnership will put ratepayers at risk
By Dennis Myers / Reno News & Review 9-19-2013

Workers protest Apple's lack of transparency and the huge cost of a just a few jobs
U-News and Reno Gazette-Journal / 7-30-2013 and 8-4-2013

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER DEPT.—>
Editorial: Apple deal is a reminder more transparency is needed, including projects at UNR

Reno Gazette-Journal Editorial/Sunday 10-20-13

Apple-Bites-Nevada.com

NevadaLabor.com Corporate Welfare Archive
NevadaLabor.com Corporate Propaganda Archive

Cabellyup.com

 

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