Business Manager’s Message
Valentino B. Ceria
Happy New Year to the members and ohana!
I want to thank you all for your loyalty and support, working together through times of difficulty, and for managing to make the past year a successful one.
Let me recap the year by first addressing the tragic wildfire devastation in Lahaina which is still in our thoughts and prayers. Unfortunately, four of our members lost their homes and belongings. The Union purchased supplies along with some of our contractors and was able to help our members and their families with the donated items. The Agents and I traveled to Maui to help with the distribution of the purchased supplies. UA General President Mark McManus and General Secretary-Treasurer Patrick Kellett called me, as well as business managers from other sister locals across the mainland offering support. We created an account called the Plumbers & Fitters Local 675 Maui Fire Special Fund where people as well as the mainland UA local unions could donate monies to support those affected. UA International Representative Aaron Stockwell flew to Maui and personally presented checks from the UA Relief Fund to the four members who were impacted by the fire. We received checks from various UA locals and even one from our brothers and sisters from the UA Canadian Office. I’m glad that I was able to personally thank General President McManus and the Canadian Director Terence Snooks, when I attended the UA-MCAA conference in September. Just this past October, we had the Maui Relief Benefit Event which replaced the Labor Unity Picnic this year. Donations from this Halloween-themed event went toward union members devastated in Lahaina.
In the beginning of 2023, we celebrated with our new Governor Josh Green and Lt. Governor Sylvia Luke whom we had committed to with early endorsements. We send out endorsements of candidates in our newsletter every year. I cannot stress enough the importance for our members and family to go out and vote for the candidates we support. If we have the right people in office who are pro-labor then it makes it easier for us when we fight for, or against bills that affect our trades in the construction industry.
Also at the beginning of the year, I signed a Project Agreement for the Dry Dock 3 Replacement Project at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard which is now underway. A joint venture between Dragados/Hawaiian Dredging/Orion JV will build the $2.8 billion Dry Dock 5, a new larger graving dock. Hawaiian Dredging will be needing pipefitters targeted for early 2025, so we will need to prepare for that.
As you know Kakaako is booming with new condo projects still coming up. When you pass there you can see all the new buildings which are part of Howard Hughes Corp.’s 60-acre master-planned community, with nine mixed-use residential towers. There is a lot of work still coming up in Kakaako and all around Oahu. The Neighbor Islands are also busy and are monitored by our business agents assigned to their respective islands. Matt Brady for Hilo, Sam Barrett, Jr. for Kona, Ben Panis for Maui, and Lance Hayashi for Kauai. So outlook for construction state-wide is still going very strong into the year.
We were happy to sign four new contractors we organized to add to our list of Signatory Contractors. Plumbing & Solar Systems of Maui, Best Plumbing & Electric, LLC, Superior Plumbing Service, LLC, and Michels Pipeline, Inc. The new contractors bring in considerably more work so that our membership can be gainfully employed.
The Union made a significant purchase this year by acquiring a building and property in Aiea. It was the home of the old Holsum Bakery Distribution Center across from Anna Millers Restaurant. The large building sits on a 2.5-acre fee-simple lot, with lots of parking. It will be renovated to accommodate the new Training Facility, whose lease at Iwilei will end in 2026. The focus now is the Training Facility renovation but eventually, the Union Office as well as the Trust Fund Administration Office will be moving to the new location. For now, it’s business as usual at our current locations.
I am happy to announce that the Local 675 By-Laws has been completed thanks to our President, Brother Matt Brady who worked all year spearheading the revision and the By-Laws committee, to revise the By-Laws that was last revised in 1980. It was approved by the United Association, legal counsel, and the members who attended the General Membership Meetings. So, this was a major accomplishment. The By-Laws should be mailed out this year.
Also, great news regarding the Pension. The benefit unit dollar credit value, voted on by the Trustees, is now $100 for the August 2022 – July 2023 fiscal year, instead of the $48 base. Hopefully, the market stays up, into the new year.
At this time, I would like to congratulate the 12 worthy recipients of the Local 675 Imi Loa Scholarship who were showcased in the last Ha'aheo newsletter. To date, we awarded $122,500 in scholarships since 2013. We increased the scholarship dollar amount from $1,000 to $1,500. For the 2024 scholarships, the application will be posted and available to download on this website beginning of March 2024.
In closing, I hope to see more of you at the Union meetings and Union functions. Let’s be more proactive this year, more involved, more supportive, and that’s how we start to build a stronger Union. Please be safe, stay healthy, and I wish you all a joyful New Year!
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