I want to welcome the new Bargaining Units.

During the past year we had the opportunity to organize three new bargaining units and secure first time collective bargaining agreements for them.

Commercial Facilities Management is a building maintenance company based in Indiana. It provides building maintenance services throughout the United States. One of their clients is the Federal Courthouse in East St. Louis, Illinois. The employees there were organized into Local 148, and we have entered into a collective bargaining agreement with the Company on their behalf. The workers are very pleased to have a contract that provides them with job security

Mid-America Airport located in Mascoutah, Illinois, is owned by St. Clair County, Illinois. The building maintenance workers, mechanics, and grounds maintenance workers there believed they were being poorly paid. They decided to organize into Local 148 one year ago. Negotiations with St. Clare County were extremely difficult but we were finally able to negotiate a first time collective bargaining agreement for them that provided for wage and benefit increases.

The Public Works Department workers at Roodhouse, Illinois, also sought to have Local 148 represent them. Local 148 has represented the workers in the City’s Electric Department for several years. Not surprisingly the City spent a lot of money on an attorney who made it very difficult to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement for the Public Works Department workers. However, the members persevered, and we finally achieved a three-year agreement with the City.

Achieving organizing and collective bargaining success is not easy. However, if we are to continue to achieve success in these areas we must grow in strength—strength in numbers. Increasing membership numbers builds bargaining power.

Each and every member of Local 148 can be of great assistance to achieve this end.

All of you know family members, friends, or neighbors who are not in a trade union but could benefit by being in one. I urge you to talk to them about the benefits of being in a union and the difference it can make in their lives. If you know someone who is interested in finding out about a union, please let the Local 148 office know and provide us with their contact information so we can follow up with them.

And remember: Collectively, Workers Bargain! Individually, Workers Beg!