a:30:{s:9:"weblog_id";s:1:"2";s:8:"entry_id";s:3:"301";s:6:"sticky";s:1:"n";s:14:"allow_comments";s:1:"n";s:16:"allow_trackbacks";s:1:"n";s:10:"entry_date";s:19:"2008-10-29 08:22 PM";s:15:"expiration_date";s:0:"";s:23:"comment_expiration_date";s:0:"";s:8:"category";a:2:{i:0;s:2:"15";i:1;s:2:"26";}s:9:"author_id";s:1:"2";s:10:"new_weblog";s:1:"2";s:6:"status";s:4:"open";s:14:"trackback_urls";s:0:"";s:18:"versioning_enabled";s:1:"y";s:5:"title";s:64:"Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562 Starts Three-Way Conversation";s:9:"url_title";s:53:"plumbers_and_pipefitters_start_three_way_conversation";s:6:"submit";s:6:"Update";s:10:"field_id_5";s:64:"Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562 Starts Three-Way Conversation";s:10:"field_ft_5";s:4:"none";s:10:"field_id_9";s:161:"Plumbers and Pipefitters  Local 562 recently held a program that union leaders hope will begin a continuing dialogue with contractors and buyers of construction.";s:10:"field_ft_9";s:4:"none";s:11:"field_id_13";s:1:"4";s:10:"field_id_7";s:69:"Tripartite, Plumbers and Pipefitters, owners, contractors, conference";s:10:"field_ft_7";s:4:"none";s:10:"field_id_8";s:1630:"<p>Plumbers and Pipefitters&nbsp; Local 562 recently held a program that union leaders hope will begin a continuing dialogue with contractors and buyers of construction. On Oct. 14 the union, in cooperation with the St. Council of Construction Consumers,&nbsp; the Mechanical Contractors Association of Eastern Missouri, and the Plumbing Industry Council, held the inaugural \"Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562 Tripartite Conference\". <br /><br />\"Basically for years we\'ve worked for the owners but never had a relationship with them.,\" John O\'Mara, assistant business manager of Local 562 said.&nbsp; \"So we\'ve tried to open the door where we could have a back-and-forth about what the owners are looking for from our members.\"<br /><img alt=\"Local 562\" class=\"image-left\" height=\"212\" src=\"/images/uploads/Local-562.jpg\" style=\"float: left;\" width=\"266\" />f<br />O\'Mara said the St. Louis program mirrors a tripartite conference that was held at the national level by the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters. <br /><br />The program covered presentations on training, welding certification, drug testing, manpower needs and other issues, followed by roundtable discussions&nbsp; during&nbsp; which owners and contractors presented specific issues to the union representatives. <br /><br />Approximately 70 people attended the presentation.&nbsp; Major construction consumer firms&nbsp; attending included Ameren, Anheuser-Busch, BJC,&nbsp; The City of St. Louis and St. Louis&nbsp; Airport Authority, Covidien, Northstar,&nbsp; Prairie State, SSM,&nbsp; and Washington U. School of Medicine</p>";s:11:"field_id_42";s:35:"/images/uploads/pipefitters-562.jpg";s:11:"field_id_43";s:0:"";s:11:"field_ft_43";s:4:"none";s:10:"category_0";s:2:"15";s:10:"category_1";s:2:"26";}