Our Values

Led the Charge to Defeat “Right-To-Work”

When our livelihoods as union operators were at stake in 2018, our slate and membership stepped up to defeat RTW. We worked for years to educate membership on the devastating effects of this law. Our training led to our union leading the charge on collecting signatures to put the repeal of RTW on the ballot. We led the boots on the ground campaign and defeated RTW with over 67% of the vote.

Negotiated 6 Years of Good Contracts with Wage Increases

Our slate has successfully negotiated quality contracts without giving up any of our earned working conditions. Our slate successfully negotiated contracts that added language to our agreements that benefit our members. Meanwhile securing the largest hourly wage increase in our union’s history totaling $9.75 wage and benefits package increase.

Increased Supplemental Dues to Protect our Union

Our slate also isn’t afraid to make hard decisions. We successfully increased supplemental dues with 63% approval. The increase allowed long overdue improvements to our union halls. Our union is solvent because of this increase brought forward by our slate. The increase allowed 513 to hire a new organizer to increase our market share and a new agent to monitor work which leads to an increase in man hours.

Pension Improvement Plan

Along with management trustees, our slate has successfully continued the Pension Improvement Plan. Our pension is now over 80% funded (green zone) as of May 1, 2021, three years ahead of schedule.

Negotiated a Contractor Increase for our Training Center

Our slate successfully negotiated a .2% increase (from 1.2% to 1.4%) from our signatory contractors which went into effect in May of 2018. This increase, along with our member contributions, has allowed our world-class training center to be upgraded and continue to provide specialized training to 513 members.

Updates to our 513 Union Halls

Through our important supplemental dues, we were able to make long-overdue improvements to our union halls.

In St. Louis, we resurfaced the parking lot, completed the tuckpointing and sealing, the new HVAC system, and refinished all doors. In Cape Girardeau, we painted outside and added new gutters.

Reduced Retiree Self-Payment

Our union’s trustees, while working with the management trustees on the Health and Welfare Fund, were able to reduce retiree self-pay in May of 2018 and reduced the retiree self-payment by another 5% on May 1st, 2021.

Improved our Dental and Vision Benefits

Our union’s trustees, while working with the management trustees on the Health and Welfare Fund, we were able to make improvements to our vision and dental benefits. The improvements to the vision benefits took effect in January of 2018 and the improvements to dental benefits took effect in January of 2021.

Increased Member Communications with a State-of-Art APP

Our slate knows the importance of having information that you need right at your fingertips. The creation of the 513 APP allows members to get notifications, keep up-to-date with local news and events, and pay their union dues right on the APP without having to mail them in or stop by a union hall.

“I support the Progress through Truth slate because of the experience, honesty, and integrity displayed which is necessary to keep our union strong and respected. We have all benefited from the work they have put in over the last couple of years.”

-CHRIS BARDOL, 36 Years at 513

Still Work to Do

Heavy equipment operators digging with backhoes

Market Recovery Program

Our slate continues to be dedicated to growing our market share. While we continue to grow our union’s funds it is important to implement the use of our Market Recovery Program again. The purpose of the program is to promote union contractors and give them a bidding advantage against non-signatory contractors on projects. This would enhance work opportunities for our members.

Heavy equipment operators working on building

Upgrades to our Union Halls

During our tenure, we have been able to provide critical upgrades to the members’ union halls. It is our goal if re-elected to continue these important upgrades and explore a potential construction or purchase of a union hall in Jefferson City for our members and retirees.

Grow Our Union Strength

Our slate has put an emphasis on growing our union by organizing. Our organizer and agents have increased our membership by organizing over 20 employers. With a tough organizing approach, we have had success. The days of passive organizing are over with our leadership. We will continue to work to increase our market share if re-elected, it is not enough to just preserve, we must thrive.

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