Business Manager’s Message
Valentino B. Ceria
Aloha Members,
In early April, I attended the annual NABTU (North American Building Trades Unions) Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. NABTU President Sean McGarvey, said it would be a challenging year for Labor Unions. President Donald Trump issued an executive order (EO) that affects an EO signed by former President Joe Biden, which encouraged federal agencies to prioritize projects involving Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) and supported other prolabor agreements. The shift in minimizing the use of PLAs on federal construction projects moving forward signals a less favorable environment for Unions under the Trump Administration.
Now, more than ever, it is of utmost importance that we stay informed and engaged in our local legislative processes to ensure we uphold the values and protect the rights of our workers. And we have been doing just that: during the 2025 Hawai'i legislative session, Local 675 has emerged as one of the most active advocacy groups. We advocated on almost 200 proposals this session to defend our priorities in securing work projects and protecting procurement. Our presence covered energy, infrastructure, labor protections, and more. We continue to stay active with Union-aligned legislation, which will help us fortify our workforce development goals.
The Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Union Building in Aiea was held on Monday, May 12th. Kahu Shon Kihewa graciously led the ceremony and did a walkthrough blessing of the property. While the building permit is still under review by the Department of Planning and Permitting, we received approval for the Special Assignment Inspection (SAI), which allowed our General Contractor, Unlimited Construction, to begin the demolition work. Now that the demolition work is nearly complete, the construction of the columns for the new mezzanine deck is underway.
Regarding Training news, the Pipeline to the Plumbers Union program, designed for High School students as a direct pathway into the Union, is expanding its efforts to the neighbor islands. The week-long training program was held for the first time on Maui in June during the high school's summer break.
In May, the Union Officers and I joined the Retirees Club for their quarterly meeting. Business Agents shared updates from their respective islands, informing the retirees of local developments. Trust Fund Administrator Erinn Liu also attended and provided valuable benefit information and updates.
Fiscal Year End 2024 Annuity Statements were sent out to members in May. Trust Fund Administrator, Erinn Liu, provides insight into how you can grow your Annuity interest and investment earnings to maximize your retirement savings. Please also review the update on the Dependent Verification Process, which is currently in progress, to ensure your eligible dependents receive Health and Welfare benefits.
As always, stay informed, stay healthy, and be safe!
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