“Mature workers are less impulsive, less reactive, more creative and more centered.”
Deepak Chopra
Why You Should Vote for Chris Rader
My Short Plan for Laborers Local 329
My goals are simple:
- Work with local business agents to convince Lima Refinery to man projects, turnarounds, and shutdowns with local union craftspeople
- Work with surrounding area business managers to use Lima Laborers on projects too big to man with their locals alone
- Coordinate with nearby branches in right-to-work states like Indiana and Kentucky to ensure right-to-work has no place within Ohio's borders
- Build the case to increase our benefit package to Toledo levels, including an annuity that will incentivize laborers to stay in our craft
- Modernize how information goes out to be more accessible, especially for younger members who don't participate regularly in monthly meetings
- Increase accountability and participation for members of the Apprenticeship Program and the companies who employ them
- Work with Ohio Laborers Fringe Benefits to create programs to stop losing Union Brothers and Sisters to addiction-related crime and overdoses
- Reach out to the community to educate them on why unions are important to enriching the area
- Increase visibility on job sites to better gauge problematic companies and/or work environments to avoid sending labor into unsafe environments
- Increase training to create a more-flexible, properly-qualified workforce, especially in regards to OSHA and equipment training programs
- Retain or extend our work scopes to increase the number of jobs that fall under Laborer work
- Ensure that members are accountable for their standing within the union and remove workers who are not in good standing from job sites
- Maximize our wages based upon the current state of wages in our area compared to the cost of living
The Myth of My Youth
I am 42 years old, but I've been told by more than one local laborer that I'm too young or inexperienced to run for Business Manager. While I didn't join the laborers directly after high school like so many of you, I did join the United Stated Army for 6 years of enlistment from 1999-2005 after graduating in 1998. I am a proud veteran whose experience in information technology brings a different skill set to the table. I believe this experience translates to success in an office environment.
I was able to prove that success as an English as a Second Language Teacher while living in South Korea for seven years. I taught children on a day-to-day basis with little knowledge of the Korean language. I am a hands-on learner who can adapt as needed.
I started my time in the laborers as a mason tender on red brick and refractory jobs with my bricklayer brothers. We worked travel jobs for J.T. Thorpe & Sons in Montana, South Dakota, and Utah where I cut my teeth tearing out refractory and mixing Thermabond. I broke away from them shortly thereafter because I was hungry to learn more and because JTT was using sneaky tactics to undermine labor unions.
While I've spent the past three years mostly working projects and maintenance within Lima Refinery, I've also worked general labor, wastewater, demolition, and concrete jobs including more travel jobs with Empire Refractory Services of Toledo. Those of you who I've had the privilege to work beside know how seriously I take the job and our union. I am always willing to work harder individually to ensure that we can succeed as a team.
I hate hearing other crafts say we are "just laborers." It is a choice that I made, and I take pride in being a journeyman union laborer. I take even greater pride in being nominated to represent you all, especially considering the vast differences of the laborers who have supported me in this effort thus far.
The state of our local is good. It is strong. I think we can do even more considering the current job market to strengthen our place and extend our benefits for generations to come. It would be a great honor and privilege to work for you as your Business Manager for the next three years.
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