JUST A FEW THOUGHTS

To LOWES or NOT To LOWES

"as printed in the July 14, 2005 issue of the Labor Paper"

      I like Lowes.  I have always preferred Lowes over Home Depot or Menards.  I just find Lowes more convenient for the type of shopping that I do.  It’s not that the other stores are much different.  They all compete with each other for my business, are priced about the same, and most of the time have what I want.  I just like Lowes!  Actually, I don’t shop!  Like most men, I Hunt!  When I go to buy, I know what I want and that’s all that I want.  I buy it and I get out.  Now, it appears that I will have to HUNT somewhere else!!

     The Lowes Corporate Big Dogs determined that it was time to paint their store at the Glen Hollow location in Peoria.  They also determined who would do the work without giving any consideration to the community that spends their money at this Lowes location.  The manager of the store was not even aware that the work was to be done until the contractor arrived to begin the work.  Enter FINAL COAT PAINTING, a non-union company from Minnesota.  At first there were just two young men working.  Then there were six working on the job. And then as many as twelve were working on one day.  I guess by anyone’s standards, this would be considered a sizable job with a large amount of hours worked.  And guess what?  All the hours paid to those workers WENT BACK TO MINNESOTA with the employees of Final Coat Painting. 

     Now I don’t hold any grudges against those fellows.  They were just making a living for their families back home.  Just the same as LOCAL WORKERS would have been doing.  I spoke with several of them when I wasn’t carrying a picket sign with their company’s name on it.  One young fellow told me that he was the foreman and that he was making a good living in his position.  Another told me he was being paid $10.00/hour as an entry level employee.  Now if what I was being told was true, then it appears to me that a LOCAL CONTRACTOR with LOCAL EMPLOYEES could have done the job for the same money or less, completed the job in less time, and many of those dollars earned would have stayed right here in Peoria.  DOESN’T THAT SOUND LIKE A GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICE TO YOU?

     Well, I guess it doesn’t make sense to the DECISION MAKERS at LOWES.

     I like Hunting at Lowes.  But if this is how the Corporate Big Dogs choose to treat our local workers who shop in their store, I WILL HUNT SOMEWHERE ELSE.

 To Lowes or Not To Lowes?...........NOT

 Mike Ehrat 

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WHO IS THE WINNER

 "as printed in the Jan 20, 2005 issue of the Labor Paper"

     I write this on the eve of, hopefully, finding out that the non-union contractor that was hired to do the painting on the new Kohls store in East Peoria, has been removed from the project and a local union contractor has been awarded the project.

     It has been a long hard struggle since first hearing in early June, that a non union out of state contractor had been awarded the painting on a project that is otherwise 100% union.  Countless phone conversations, letters, communications, e-mails, and “string pulling” seemed to all be in vain.  The offices of the West Central Building Trades, Local 157, and District Council # 30, as well as other crafts gave me their support.  But it seemed that our best efforts would not be able to change the direction this problem was going.  I was prepared to take job action when I enlisted the help of a very good friend of labor to make one last attempt to resolve the problem.  With his help it now seems that the contractor in question will not be doing the work and that a local contractor is bidding the work.

     In speaking with a few of  my fellow labor workers about the situation, I was being congratulated on resolving the problem and told that I had done a good job and had “Won” this battle.  While I am tempted to receive those accolades for the work that I and others did, I must say that the real winners are not the labor leaders that worked so hard to get this done.

     The real winners are my members!  They will be doing the work in their own community instead of an out of state worker.  They will be receiving fair wages at a time when work is slow and many are laid-off.  They will receive health care contributions that will keep them and their families eligible for future benefits.  They will receive pension contributions that will insure them a reasonable living when they retire.

     The general contractor and the other crafts are the real winners.  I will not be forced to take job action that will disrupt scheduling and delay the project.

     The owners of Kohls are the winners.  They will receive a quality job at a fair price delivered on time and budget.  All the dollars paid to the workers will be spent locally and many I am sure in Kohls stores.  They will maintain a good public image in our communities by being fair to our local workers.

     As I finish writing , I have just received the very good news that the job has indeed been awarded to a local union painting contractor.  This is the news that I have been expecting.

    CONGRATULATIONS!  We have “all” won this time.  And a special thank you to my very good friend in East Peoria……You know who you are.

     To my brothers in District Council # 30, Give it your best effort.

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With the help of the apprentices and several journeyman, we currently have pickets established at the Mark Twain Hotel at the corner of Adams and Fayette streets.  The exterior of the building is being painted by Specialty Corporation.  Many of you may remember this company and its owner Vikk Nicoll.

  The hotel is owned by our former Mayor, Bud Grieves.  Mr. Grieves owns several other businesses in the Peoria area.  Mr. Grieves continues to use individuals and companies that are not Union Craftsmen.  He refuses to even talk with Union representatives about his choices of labor.  Why would a former Mayor of our city choose to totally reject even talking with the people he used to serve and whose tax dollars he was paid with?  Does Mr. Grieves simply hate people that are Union?  Is he afraid of them?

  Show your support for those carrying the signs and fighting for their and your right to be represented and to make a decent living in our community.  Call the office if you can give a day or two to join us on the sidewalks around the Mark Twain Hotel.  If it is not possible for you to join us, show your support to us and your displeasure to Mr. Grieves and Mr. Nicoll by honking the horn of your vehicle when you see us there.  Honk LONG and LOUD!!!!!

  On a personal note, I think the Canton Little Giants might want to consider speaking to Mr. Grieves about his choice of colors.  Maroon and Gold are great for a high school football team, but a hotel!!!  Come now Mr. Grieves......Did you want your hotel to be visible from Morton????  What was that Caribbean island you recently visited?  Was that your inspiration?  The last time we saw colors like these, it was a feud between a citizen and one of our elected officials a few years back!!

REMEMBER that one?

Mike