Strike: Here's a surprise. The New York Times reports that the #2 person organizing the Hollywood writers' strike is a...plumber. No, the UA is not trying to take over the Writers' Guild. But David Young is a plumber who has been involved in organizing other strikes in California, including a strike against clothing manufacturers in the 1990's. That strike ended when the manufacturers moved most of their operations to other countries.

Museum: In case you missed the stories in dozens of local newspapers or on TV: The Plumbing Museum based in Worcester will be moving. Russ Manoog, whose family founded the museum back in the '70's, is donating the contents of the museum to a new board of directors. The J.C. Cannistraro Company of Watertown has generously contributed beautiful space in an old icehouse at their company's headquarters in Watertown. High-quality renovation of the space is now underway.

Obama: In early January, the national UA (plumbers/ pipefitters union) became the first international union to endorse Barack Obama. UA General President Bill Hite has known Obama since the days when they worked on issues in Chicago, where Obama was a social worker and state senator, and where Hite headed the local UA union. In a letter to UA officers, Hite emphasized Obama's commitment to nuclear power and new water systems. He said that no other presidential candidate had asked for the union's endorsement, or had solicited its views.

Grey Water: In a major victory for our industry, a Massachusetts court ruled in January that grey water piping must be installed by licensed plumbers. The Kraft family is building a big new facility, Patriots' Place, in Foxboro. They had hired laborers to pipe grey water. Foxboro plumbing inspector Michael Eisenhauer challenged them, and the case ended up in court. Local 12 hired a lawyer to fight alongside Eisenhauer and the staff of the state plumbing board. This team effort was successful. Congrats to all involved.

Explosion: One of the great dangers in our business is explosion. The Salem power plant explosion in November was apparently caused by a pipe that burst in a high-pressure steam system. According to Boston Globe, system operated at 2,000 psi, with temperatures running from 300 to 600 degrees F. Three men died from burns.... In Rhode Island, 3 people died while sleeping...days after a new boiler was installed. Check your venting and CO detectors!

Building: The Wall Street Journal reports that nationally home building rose 3% in the fall - but increase was driven by construction of multi-family buildings of five or more units. Nationwide, single family construction is down 25% or more from 2006. Of all regions, the Northeast is doing best: new home construction down only 4.7% from previous year. More recent figures suggest that nationwide there is a noticeable decline in construction employment.

Commercial: Sales of commercial properties in Greater Boston have come to a virtual halt. Two problems: 1. Declining prices convinced sellers to take properties off market. 2. Credit markets are screwed up because of sub-prime mess, and potential buyers can't find financing.

Bad Loans: Meanwhile, BBJ reports that there is a surge in commercial loan defaults, particularly at small local banks. Construction loans are also a problem.

Casinos: Expect much activity on the casino front in coming months. In Boston, developers have been actively meeting with city officials and labor groups. Labor is also working closely with Governor Patrick's office to convince legislators that casinos would be good for state.S�.Donald Trump's organization is looking at sites around the state.

Resolved: After much back-and-forth discussion, our association and Local 12 have reached agreement on a new drug testing program. Key items:

• Any company that signs a Local 12 collective bargaining agreement can choose to become a Drug-Free Company. It agrees to hire ONLY members of Local 12 who agree to random drug testing.
• A member of the Local can choose whether or not to participate in the Drug-Free testing program. But only those who participate and get a clean bill of health can work for participating companies. Those with problems will receive treatment through our jointly-managed health plan.

Thanks! It is expected that most of the union plumbing contractors in Boston will sign up for the program. The contractors thank the leadership of Local 12, who unanimously supported this new program, which we believe will strengthen the union plumbing sector.

The Archdiocese: Following the death of the beloved Father Ed Boyle of the Labor Guild, Cardinal O'Malley has announced the appointment of Sister Mary Prinisky to head the group. We look forward to working with her.

Aging: Boston Business Journal ran an article with headline: "Is my plumber really 75?" Half the people in the trades in Mass. are now 45 or older. Nationwide, the aging of the construction workforce is a big problem. It is one reason the United Association is working to recruit new members - since so many plumbers and pipefitters will retire over next 10 years.

Apprentices: The Mass. Department of Apprenticeship Training keeps track of how many people take part in apprenticeship programs. As of July, 1,050 were registered in open-shop training programs. More than 5 times that number were in union apprentice programs.

Union / Non-union: Construction unions believe that because of growing worker shortages, the better pay and benefits will bring more workers (and companies) to the union sector. They also point out that, in Boston area, unions and contractors spend many millions on training. The Plumbers Local 12 Training Facility (operated jointly by us, the PHCC of Greater Boston) spends nearly $1 million a year on training.

Fair Competition: The Mass. Alliance for Fair Utility Competition continues its work on Beacon Hill. Our bill is strongly supported by both union and non-union contractors - and by both the plumbers and electricians' unions. Legislation would prevent utility companies from using funds from your gas or electric bill to subsidize companies controlled by the utilities. Bill has been approved by committee that oversees utilities, and now goes to Senate Ways & Means.

Brockton Water: The new Aquaria desalination plant that will be providing water for Brockton, Whitman and parts of Hanson is scheduled to start pumping water this spring. The average water bill in Brockton is expected to rise from $200/ year to $280 - which is still a bargain.

New Tanks: The MWRA is building two 10-million-gallon buried drinking water storage tanks at the East end of the Blue Hills reservoir. Tanks will provide protected water for Quincy, Milton, Brookline, Roxbury, West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, Mattapan and Hyde Park. Cost: $38 million.