Laborers' Local 341

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2011-2012 Valdez Snow Removal

Valdez has seen a tremendous amount of snow fall this winter with up to 27 total feet. Since the beginning of January, the Alaska Laborers have dispatched close to 130 members to perform snow removal. The crews have worked tirelessly and now have the areas that are critical to the terminal operations under control. However, there is still quite a bit of snow that will take weeks to remove.

The Valdez terminal has a total of 18 tanks. Each tank has approximately 11 feet deep of snow on them to remove – with each 11’ x 1’ x1’ block weighing 132 pounds. A tanks’ surface area is close to 49,000 square feet, therefore each tank is holding almost 6.5 million pounds of snow! Only 10 Laborers can safely work on one tank at a time, requiring anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks to completely remove the snow – without having any additional snow fall during that time.

The following pictures are areas around the terminal, cable trays, and the tops of pipes that are having snow removed to ensure the safe operations of the pipeline.

2011-2012 Training Schedule

The 2011-2012 Alaska Laborers Training Schedule has been released. Please download the schedule and apply for classes with Candace at 907-272-4571.

Mano Frey Scholarship

The Mano Frey Scholarship has been established to honor a current and life-long devotee to organized labor. Junior and senior college students formally admitted into the degree-seeking programs of Labor Law, Construction Management, Engineering, Safety, Political Science, or similar degree programs are encouraged to apply.

This scholarship offers financial assistance for tuition and other educational expenses. This self-perpetuating annual scholarship was made possible by members of the Laborers International Union of North America Local 341, Anchorage, Alaska. Funds are awarded throughout the academic year. Award amount is $5,000 per academic year, split between semesters.

Joey Merrick - Business Manager / Secretary Treasurer of Laborers' Local 341.

Ron McPheters - President of Laborers' Local 341

Unions set the standards for wages and benefits that even non-union employers follow.

Example:
--“a high school graduate whose workplace is not unionized but whose industry is 25% unionized is paid 5% more than similar workers in less unionized industries.”

Perhaps even more importantly, the hard work of Unions over the years has created an environment in which workers can expect certain protections on the job. The concepts of minimum wage, overtime pay, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, family medical leave for the care of newborns or sick family members, and protections for basic civil rights have come about largely thru the tireless efforts of Labor Unions. Unions play a vital role in enforcing these labor protection laws as well. The development of grievance procedures which provides “due process” in the workplace, is used by nonunion employers, but is a tried and true Union idea.

Unions, which are non profit organizations, support our community thru charitable activities, such as United Way campaigns and sponsoring youth sports teams. Unions promote education thru apprenticeship programs, scholarships, and re-imbursement for continuing education.

If there is a way to improve the lives of our members we want to be involved!

Laborers Local 341 -> The Labor Union working for Anchorage, Alaska - Alaska Laborers Union. The Alaska Labor Union that is continuing to provide training, fair pay, fair working conditions, workers rights to the Alaskan Laborer.