Local 15 Missouri/Kansas Keeps Members Working, Learning

Member John Scott working for Sub-Contractors, Inc. on the Alef’s Harley Davidson project in Park City, Missouri.

This year has been a productive one so far for the members of Local 15 Missouri/Kansas. With abundant work opportunities for the Wichita and Topeka Chapters, over a hundred members from surrounding Locals have traveled into the Local to meet demand. Projects include new schools, school additions, residential work and more. Future projects include a sports and entertainment arena in downtown Wichita, and multiple new or remodeled fire stations.

For members of the Kansas City Chapter, who recently completed a casino project in Mayetta, Kansas, work continues at other sites such as the Kansas City Heart Center, the IRS Building, the Nelson Art Gallery, and the Jackson County Courthouse. Members of the Springfield Chapter have completed projects at Kingsway United Methodist Church and St. Johns Hospital.

Member Darrell Parish, foreman on the Alef’s Harley Davidson project.	Member James Berry working on the Alef’s Harley Davidson project.

But work opportunities aren’t the only thing growing – specialized training programs have also been expanded. With the addition of three more welding machines and the construction of individual welding booths, the Local’s Kansas City Training Center is now equipped to teach journey-level upgrade classes, already available at their Jefferson City and Springfield training sites. This fall, the Kansas City facility will begin offering foreman training to all third-year apprentices, and is in the early stages of setting up a refractory training course.

Member Randy Merillat, foreman for the Great Overland Station project in Topeka, KS.	Member Todd Gibson working for Scott Masonry on the Great Overland Station project.

The Tile, Marble, and Terrazzo (TMT) Apprenticeship program is also progressing. The current team of TMT apprentices are developing creative design ideas for standard wall and floor mockups, as well as getting a crash course on the importance of prevailing wage laws and Union policies. Their recent wage increase, thanks to the Local’s negotiating committee, is firsthand proof of the benefits of union membership and the importance of collective bargaining.

Whether on the job or in the classroom, journey-level members and apprentices are showcasing their skills throughout Local 15.

Brick Pre-Apprentices at Local 15’s Kansas City Training Center

From left, Desmond Boyd and Kevin Keehn.	Foreground, from left, Donald Ardison, Josiah Wheatley, and Paul Moisant. Background, from left, instructors Gary Scheperle, Chuck Dykes, and Jack O’Roarke.

Member Brett Atkinson on the H&R Block project in downtown Kansas City.	Tile apprentices Ian Meade and Shawn Shrout work on the fountain on the Legends project in Kansas City.

Members Brian Parks and Brett Atkinson check the installation of a newly laid floor at the H&R Block project.	Member Joe Kobularcik installs tile on the H&R Block project.

From left, Field Representative Kelly Wideman and foreman Vernon Baird from Schooler Tile.	Local 15 members have been working at the Sprint Arena project in Kansas City, which will continue through summer 2007.

Tile Apprentices Gain Competitive Edge at Training Center

From left, Local 15 apprentices Eric Millar, Oscar Quinonez, and Edwardo Oregel put the finishing touches on a custom table design at the TMT Apprenticeship Training facility in Kansas City.	Finisher apprentice Josh Noland adjusts tile on a mockup.

Finisher apprentice Lincoln Krentz, working for Metro Tile, grouts a shower wall.	From left, apprentices Ben Harschner, Jimmy Connor, Chris Shy, and Allan Schaeffer, and Instructor Frank Rolfe.