I have been considering this post for some time. I had pretty much decided not to write about this issue, but I continue dwelling on it, so here goes.

I’ll start with the link to the Tribune story, and a few quotes.

“Union workers from Great Falls and the immediate vicinity will get first crack at the jobs, with the hiring pool expanding statewide to fill any remaining positions, officials said.”

“…10 different unions representing boilermakers, electricians, plumbers, pipe fitters, sheet-metal workers, carpenters, operating engineers, ironworkers and general laborers.”

“It’s going to bring a lot of people home,” said Ole Stimac Jr., the business agent for Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Local 41.”

“Stimac says he gets calls every week from Montanans working in other states, asking when construction of the plant is going to begin.”

It starts off by saying local workers will get first crack at jobs, but if we look at this logically, that is an empty promise, because there aren’t enough local union workers to to fill most of these positions, and I seriously doubt many of the local union workers we have are qualified to do the type & scale of job that is required here. Just a guess, but I would think alot of it would be pretty specialized work.

Next, we have a quote from Mr. Stimac, from the local plumbers & pipefitters union. He, in effect, discounts the promise to give the jobs to local workers, by stating “its going to bring people home”, which is great, but what, they “come home” for the life of the construction, and then leave again? How exactly does that help the local worker?

Run a simple internet search, and see for yourself the local, union shops that exist in Great Falls. There is not a single Great Falls plumbing shop that is 1) Union  2) Qualified to plumb this type of project, & 3) Has the manpower to plumb this type of project. And you cannot just run out and grab a few extra guys. These are trades, many of which you must have a license to practice. In fact, after you remove those jobs, you have sheet metal, carpenter and general labor left.

This is just more spin on the coal plant merry go round. It is an empty promise, to make certain people look good, and the local workers of our town would be better off if the jobs at the coal plant were given to whoever showed up and applied.

25 July 2007 | Life | Comments