President Obama’s Directive to Expedite Portion of Keystone XL Pipeline

For Immediate Release
March 22, 2012 

 Contact:   Jay Lederer (202) 778-2626  
jlederer@iuoe.org 

Statement by
International Union of Operating Engineers General President James T. Callahan
on

President Obama’s Directive to Expedite Portion of
Keystone XL Pipeline

President Obama’s announcement today that he will expedite approval for a portion of the Keystone XL pipeline is an important, albeit long overdue step towards upgrading our country’s pipeline infrastructure.  In addition, it will create the kind of high-paying, skilled jobs that are so vital to our economy.  The Operating Engineers are hopeful that today’s action by President Obama will quickly translate into real work

IUOE will be polling randomly selected members

The International Union of Operating Engineers has contracted with a research firm to conduct a poll in order to gain insight into members’ current political outlook, including their view of the President and other political candidates, as well as 2012 voting intentions.

The poll will also ask how members currently get information about union, economic and political issues, and how they want to be kept informed. There will also be some questions on employment status and job satisfaction.

Callahan Joins AFL-CIO Board

For Immediate Release: March 13, 2012

Contact: Jay Lederer

(202) 494-2549 (cell)
(202) 778-2626 (office)
jlederer@iuoe.org

International Union of Operating Engineers
General President James T. Callahan
Elected to AFL-CIO Executive Board

James T. Callahan, general president of the International Union of Operating Engineers, was elected today as a vice president of the AFL-CIO. The Executive Council — composed of 57 union leaders — is the key decision-making body of the 12 million member AFL-CIO.

“I look forward to working with my fellow leaders in the labor movement to fight for working people across America,” Callahan said. “I’m honored to receive their trust and support.”

Callahan was elected IUOE general president in November 2011 to fulfill the term of retired general president Vincent Giblin. He previously served as IUOE general secretary-treasurer and as president and business manager of Local 15 in New York City since 2003. A 32-year IUOE member, he was one of the many operating engineers who responded immediately to the September 11 tragedy and worked the entire recovery effort at Ground Zero.

“I firmly believe that working together, we have the collective strength and ability to deal with the challenges of our time – an erratic global economy, a hostile political environment and a stubbornly sluggish recovery,” Callahan said. “Don’t underestimate the character and resolve of American workers and their unions.”

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The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) represents more than 400,000 members in 123 local unions across the U.S. and Canada, including operating engineers who work as heavy equipment operators, mechanics, surveyors in the construction industry; stationary engineers in building and industrial maintenance; nurses and other health care workers; and public employees.

IUOE’s Griffin to join NLRB

Obama appoints IUOE General Counsel Richard Griffin to National Labor Relations Board

The White House has said that the General Counsel of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), Richard Griffin, formerly counsel to the NLRB Board members ,is one of three new “recess appointments” to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) made by President Obama. The opposition party is protesting vehemently, claiming the Senate has not officially recessed but most members are merely away from D.C. and home for the holidays.

Joining Griffin with new appointments to the Board are Sharon Block, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Affairs at the federal Department of Labor, and Terence F. Flynn, Chief Counsel to NLRB member Brian Hayes.

IUOE President James T. Callahan says Griffin is, “highly respected by lawyers on both the labor and business side of labor law,” and has substantial experience in employment law; as a former trustee of the IUOE’s central pension fund, Richard Griffin has extensive experience safeguarding the interests of employers and employees alike.