Where are we as we wind down the first half of the first decade of a new century? Our Newsletter has tried to keep you on top of activities these recent six months, spelling out the steps taken for both short and long term benefits. Allow me, nonetheless, to review some of them. You’ve heard, surely, of the movement of American military from Okinawa. Relative to that simmering issue our former Congressman Neil Abercrombie earlier galvanized House support to have our critical Asian base relocated to Guam. The U.S. territory seemed welcome to it as an economic lift but is hesitant to adopt the Davis-Bacon Act that was urged on federal projects there. Our underlying reason is to help U.S. contractors and their skilled labor to compete favorably against firms used to a “free-for-all” work environment. The U.S. military plans to use Guam workers and contractors wherever possible as Japan and the United States spend over $10 billion moving 8,000 U.S. Marines and their families from Okinawa to Guam over 10 years. The current construction skilled labor pool is about 5,000, and is able to handle only about $300 million in projects at a time. Based on that figure, it has been estimated that as many as 15,000 additional skilled workers will be needed to complete the military projects by 2014, which is when the Marine move is scheduled to be complete.

After considerable effort to learn how a foreign-developed technology might rescue Hawaii from its waste treatment problem, we’ve been able finally to get the City Council to look seriously at a system developed in Germany that already has proven its trash recycling apparatus can terminate our landfill nightmare. (Turn to article on “Tested Waste Conversion.”) For our industry, it can be an additional bonanza once the system clears.

Local 675 leadership’s targeting of a Uniform Plumbing Code applied statewide began after its success forming a Hawaii chapter of IAPMO. Effective 4/16 the governor signed an approved 2006 UPC as a model State Plumbing Code. The counties now have up to two years to make any local amendments and adopt the code. For the industry, unanimity would set an industry milestone.

Thanks to the support and generosity of our national UA, and in conjunction with the opening of our new class facility at Iwilei, the joint PAMCAH-Local 675 apprenticeship program now boasts equipment and classroom space ranked second to none among craft training facilities in the state. The curriculum has been retailored to gear apprentices as well as journeymen to take advantage of state-of-the-art hi-tech innovations.

Today’s technology has laid a new foundation for entry in many construction crafts. It takes stock of the impact of digital knowledge in almost all fields. It was our UA that gave locals a jump start years ago providing innovative tools to develop a smarter, more productive craftsman, one who, for example, is versed in auto-cad in both field and office.

The point here is that it connotes our training program is comprehensive in preparing a valuable talent for any type of project. Depending on the trade pursued, the graduate after five years of training will have become certified, subject to testing, in any of the following –welding, backflow, medicalgas, refrigeration, CFC, OSHA-10 (first-aid) and CPR. Visits to our training facilities should hearten developers, contractors, consumers, and legislators that our members take no shortcuts in a career path that demands excellence.

To achieve our objectives, the tools and equipment required for a firstrate training program are constantly maintained and which helps qualify the center as an authorized testing facility.

What I’ve elaborated on are among the main currents of Local 675’s ongoing efforts to build a team of exemplary craftsmen prepared to serve a constantly changing work scenario. We know the world never sits still, even in troubled times, and as best we can, hopefully we’ll stay ahead of the curve.