2025 graduating class and instructors from the Danville Pre-Apprenticeship Program.DANVILLE - From ages 21 to 51, ranging from a mother of two to a father of seven, 11 Danville residents recently graduated from a pre-apprenticeship program run by the East Central Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council.
The 13-week program provides a stipend while participants learn the basics of the trades, tour training centers and meet union leaders. Students also receive instruction in test-taking skills needed for union entry and workplace safety training. The program is part of a statewide initiative through HIRE360 and is funded by the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act.
The program targeted Vermilion County residents, with preference given to individuals residing in underserved areas ready to embark on a rewarding and stable career path. A similar program was offered in Champaign County in October.
The graduation ceremony on November 22 included a keynote address from Danville Alderman Ed Butler, a co-founder of Three Kings of Peace.
The graduates were Zytara Boyd, Jeffrey Bryant, Mike Buttitta, Aleasta Callahan, Andrew Douglas, Michael Earl, Dajuan Harper, Jovan House, Terry Loyd, Kevin Severado and Kamron Jones.
Prison staff safety concerns prompt Illinois to scan all inmate mail and restrict books to publisher shipments under new emergency rules.
Photo: RDNE Stock Project/PEXELS
DIETERICH - The Illinois Department of Corrections has enacted emergency rules designed to curb contraband entering state prisons after a string of drug-related incidents put correctional officers at risk.
The rule, effective Aug. 14, requires all incoming letters to be electronically scanned, with incarcerated individuals receiving only digital or paper copies. Publications such as books and magazines must now be sent directly from publishers.
Union members held pickets last year after multiple exposures prompted temporary mailroom shutdowns.
State Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dieterich, pushed for the changes following last year’s reported overdoses and accidental exposures that hospitalized several correctional staff.
“It should not have taken nearly a year for this common-sense policy to be put in place,” Niemerg said in announcing the rule change.
The move follows concerns raised by the union representing prison employees, AFSCME Council 31, which reported rising use of synthetic drugs and dangerous substances, including wasp spray, within correctional facilities. Union members held pickets last year after multiple exposures prompted temporary mailroom shutdowns. IDOC signed a vendor contract to handle scanning shortly after the safety concerns were raised.
The emergency rules remain in effect for up to 150 days. IDOC may move to make the policy permanent following review. Niemerg said he will continue to monitor the situation alongside staff at Lawrenceville and Robinson Correctional Centers, both of which he visited during the height of the crisis.
Organizers call Trump’s rule “authoritarianism” as 50501 Movement readies marches in DC and nationwide.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Protestors raise signs at the Urbana 'No Kings' march in June. A similar event is scheduled nationwide this October. More photos from Champaign-Urbana's first 'No Kings' protest.
WASHINGTON - After more than 500,000 people rallied in over 1,000 communities nationwide during Labor Day weekend, organizers of the 50501 Movement are preparing for two major demonstrations against former President Donald Trump and what they describe as the billionaire takeover of American democracy.
The first is a national march this Saturday in Washington, D.C., followed by a second coordinated day of action, “No Kings,” scheduled for Oct. 18. Both events are being organized with the backing of a coalition that includes labor unions, civil rights groups, and grassroots organizations.
“With over 1,000 events across the nation this past weekend, we showed that we can do what Trump can't: show up for workers and for workers’ rights,” said Gloriann Sahay, chair of Political Revolution and a 50501 national partner.
March on Washington
The “We Are All DC” march is set to begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Malcolm X (Meridian Hill) Park in Washington and end at approximately 4 p.m. Organizers say the demonstration will highlight opposition to the National Guard presence in the capital and broader concerns about authoritarianism.
“The National Guard in DC is a fascist circus of performative brute force that is meant to terrify the people,” said Sarah Parker, executive director of Voices of Florida and a 50501 partner. “But we are not afraid. We are mobilizing with local grassroots organizers and with the communities that are the most targeted, most impacted, and most ignored.”
National Day of Action
Organizers are also planning a second nationwide protest on Oct. 18. The “No Kings” day of action is expected to bring demonstrations to cities large and small across the country. The movement says the focus will be nonviolent protest, civil disobedience, and opposition to authoritarianism.
“We the people of the United States of America will not kneel at the foot of a mad king’s throne,” said 50501 press coordinator Hunter Dunn. “Fascism is the name of the plague slowly destroying this country.”
Groups organizing the national protests include the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Federation of Teachers, Common Defense, Indivisible, League of Conservation Voters, MoveOn, National Nurses United, Public Citizen, SEIU, and United We Dream, among others. A full list of partners is available at nokings.org/partners.
Urbana protest draws thousands
Champaign-Urbana has already seen its first “No Kings” rally. On a Sunday earlier this year, more than 3,000 people gathered in downtown Urbana to protest Trump’s policies and what they called the rise of authoritarianism in the United States. The demonstration was part of a coordinated wave of more than 2,000 events nationwide.
The rally began outside the Champaign County Courthouse and stretched down Main Street, where participants carried flags and signs opposing Trump and calling for democracy and civil rights protections. Organizers included the Party for Socialism and Liberation of Central Illinois, the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center, the 50501 Movement of Illinois, and the Mahomet Persisterhood.
Similar demonstrations were held in cities such as New York and Chicago, as well as smaller communities across Illinois including Bloomington, Peoria, and Macomb.
TAGGED: No Kings protest Urbana Illinois, 50501 Movement national march, Workers over Billionaires coalition, We Are All DC rally Sept 6, Oct 18 nationwide protests
Chris Baker, of Gifford, and Nate Shubert, of Monticello, graduated from the United Association’s Instructor Training Program, completing a rigorous five-year program.
Photo provided
Local 149 Business Manager Charlie Deakin, Nathan Shubert, Christopher Baker, Local 149 Business Agent Kevin Sage, Local 149 Training Director Derek Reedy pose for a photo after the awards ceremony.
URBANA - Two longtime members of UA Local 149 have earned certification to train future generations of skilled workers after completing a rigorous five-year program.
Chris Baker, of Gifford, and Nate Shubert, of Monticello, recently graduated from the United Association’s Instructor Training Program, a nationally recognized course held in Ann Arbor, Mich.
UA Local 149 represents hundreds of plumbers, pipefitters and HVAC professionals across the region. Baker completed his certification to instruct in medical gas systems, plumbing fixtures and plumbing underground installation. Shubert earned credentials to teach rigging and industrial rigging.
The two men now join the ranks of certified instructors who are qualified to pass on specialized trade skills to apprentices entering the industry. Their recognition highlights the union’s ongoing role in workforce development and training across Illinois.
UA Local 149 instructor training program graduates, Chris Baker Gifford plumbing instructor certification, Nate Shubert Monticello rigging instructor union training, United Association apprenticeship instructor program Ann Arbor, Skilled trades union training Illinois plumbers pipefitters HVAC
Numerous scientific studies from the American Cancer Society, National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate the correlation between exposure to PFAS found in turnout or bunker gear and the increased number of firefighters developing various forms of cancer.
Photo: Matt C/Unsplash
Suits designed to keep firemen safe may actually be killing them. Illinois lawmakers are working to make a law against local departments from using PFAS-ladened gear.
by Reilly Cook & Grace Friedman Medill Illinois News Bureau
SPRINGFIELD - A bill to ban the sale of firefighter protective gear containing “forever chemicals” is gaining momentum in the Illinois General Assembly, as lawmakers, union leaders and firefighters themselves warn that the very equipment designed to save lives may be silently endangering them.
House Bill 2409, co-sponsored by Rep. Mike Kelly, D-Chicago, and Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, seeks to expand on the state’s existing PFAS Reduction Act by targeting a lesser-addressed but critical source of firefighter exposure to these harmful substances: their turnout gear.
Turnout gear, also known as bunker gear, is the specialized protective clothing worn by firefighters to protect them when they respond to fires or other hazardous situations.
“We know the damage that PFAs can do to our bodies,” Kelly said in an interview. “While this is supposed to protect us, it’s doing us serious harm.”
PFAS have long been used to make products -resistant to water, heat and staining, but research has increasingly linked them to serious health issues, including multiple forms of cancer. According to the Environmental Working Group, an advocacy organization trying to protect environmental health through better industry standards, PFAS were first added to firefighters’ personal protective equipment in 1976.
The bill is backed by the Associated Firefighters of Illinois, a statewide union representing more than 17,000 firefighters and paramedics in 237 communities. Advocates argue that the legislation is crucial in addressing the leading cause of death among firefighters today—chronic illnesses such as cancer.
“Little did we know that the bunker gear, the very gear that is supposed to protect us, to keep us safe, is actually killing us,” AFFI President and retired firefighter Chuck Sullivan said. PFAS are known as “forever chemicals” because they can stay in the human body a long time.
Numerous scientific studies from the American Cancer Society, National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate the correlation between exposure to PFAS and the increased number of firefighters developing various forms of cancer. Kelly and Villavalam cited this research as the impetus driving the legislation.
Sullivan said the Illinois bill closely follows similar legislation passed in Massachusetts, Minnesota and Connecticut. Under HB 2409, manufacturers would be banned from selling gear containing PFAS in Illinois after Jan. 1, 2027. In the interim, labeling requirements would take effect beginning in 2026. Fire departments would be mandated to phase out affected equipment, such as self-contained breathing apparatuses or certain rescue harnesses, by 2030.
“When we put our gear on, it's not on the forefront of our mind that that is also dangerous and also giving us additional exposures,” Steve Shetsky, a member of AFFI’s executive board, said. “So this bill would absolutely limit those exposures, which would make this profession safer.”
Retired Chicago Fire Department Lieutenant Jim Tracy knows the risk firsthand. Diagnosed with colon cancer six years ago, he endured chemotherapy, radiation and surgery to eradicate the cancer he blames on the uniform.
“I was 22 years in the field when I got diagnosed,” Tracy said. “It is unfortunately one of those cancers you get from PFAS.”
Tracy, who spent 28 years working as a firefighter, said it was only recently that they received one set of gear that is “99% PFAS free.” The new equipment was delayed in production, he said, because manufacturers had to remove PFAS-laced materials from collars and cuffs and replace them with 100% cotton. Many firefighters, however, still wear older gear that is laden with forever chemicals.
“Personal protective equipment,” Tracy said. “It’s not very protective if it is giving us cancer.”
In addition to his own health battle, Tracy said he has many colleagues in the department who have gotten sick but do not report their illnesses out of fear of losing their jobs.
“They don’t want to get kicked off the job, so they go through it on their own and don’t tell the department,” he said.
‘Financial unknowns, replacements under testing’
HB 2409 passed the House 114-0 on April 10. It passed a Senate committee unanimously and is awaiting final action on the Senate floor before it can head to Gov. JB Pritzker for a signature.
Despite bipartisan support in both legislative chambers, the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association has been vocal in its opposition to the bill, citing concerns about the availability and cost of compliant gear.
Photo: Ken Steele II/Unsplash
Illinois Fire Chiefs Association opposes the bill, citing concerns about the availability and cost of safer equipment for firefighters.
John Buckley, executive director of the IFCA, testified before the Senate Labor Committee on May 6, urging lawmakers to amend the bill to delay the enforcement date.
“Our ask and our solution to the problem was to move the date from Jan. 1, 2027, to Jan. 1, 2029 — to give two years to determine if gear would be available and meet the needs of the firefighters in Illinois,” Buckley said.
While Buckley emphasized that the IFCA supports eradicating PFAS from firefighter gear, he warned that the current timeline does not allow enough time for departments to identify, test and purchase safe alternatives, which he said are not affordable or readily accessible.
“Currently, nothing’s been tested and vetted that meets that requirement,” he said. “The gear that’s out there that is PFAS-free is in very limited use, and some of it does not meet national standards,” Buckley said.
Buckley also pointed out that the proposed legislation lacks a funding mechanism to help departments cover the cost of new gear, which he said could “range from $4,000 to $5,000 per set.”
According to the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal, the state has 39,564 firefighters. Outfitting each with PFAS-free equipment could cost between $158 million and $198 million—a significant expense as Illinois faces a tightening budget picture for fiscal year 2026.
Still, sponsors said protecting firefighters from potentially deadly chemical exposure should take precedence over its price tag and logistical concerns.
“Our first responders deserve to work with equipment and clothing that does not pose a risk to their health,” Villivalam said. “This measure ensures they are able to continue to be protected while doing their work effectively.”
Even if HB 2409 becomes law, Buckley said he plans to continue pushing for a 2029 effective date when the 104th General Assembly reconvenes in January 2026.
Reilly Cook and Grace Friedman are graduate students in journalism with Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications, and fellows in its Medill Illinois News Bureau working in partnership with Capitol News Illinois.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
Tagged: PFAS found in firefighter gear, Health risks for firefighters, Illinois firefighters exposed to deadly chemical exposure, Making firefighting safer, Manufacturers would be banned from selling gear containing PFAS in Illinois
SNS - Next Monday evening at Dodds Park in Champaign, as the sun begins to dip over the trees, the names of two Illinois State Police troopers — Corey Thompsen and Todd Hanneken — will be spoken aloud. Their families will be there. So will fellow officers, union leaders, and members of the community. And for a few solemn minutes, the city will pause to remember not just two men, but two lives of service — and sacrifice.
Photo: PhotoNews/Clark Brooks
Corey, a long distance running specialist at St. Joseph-Ogden High School, runs in the 2014 SJO 5K after graduating months earlier. Thompson, who later became an Illinois State Police Officer, died while on duty during a traffic detail north of Urbana last October. He and another fallen officer will be honored in a ceremony at Dodds Park on Monday.
The Workers Memorial Day ceremony, hosted annually by the AFL-CIO of Champaign County and the East Central Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council, aims to spotlight those who lost their lives on the job. This year, Troopers Thompsen and Hanneken take center focus.
Thompsen, 28, was killed in October 2024 when his motorcycle was struck by a truck near Leverett Road, north of Champaign. He was wrapping up a traffic enforcement detail at the time. A St. Joseph native, Thompsen was known among colleagues for his drive and camaraderie. His loss shook the Illinois State Police to its core.
“This is a sad moment. We are hurting,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “Corey’s family is hurting badly today. This is the first, and I hope the last, trooper who I personally administered the oath of an ISP officer to that I’ve lost in a line-of-duty death.”
Trooper Todd Hanneken, 45, died in 2021 when his patrol car left the road and crashed west of Champaign. He was a 20-year veteran of the force and a second-generation state trooper. Colleagues remember him not only for his dedication, but his warmth — the kind of officer who could calm a tense situation with just his presence. In 2018, Hanneken was awarded the ISP Medal of Honor for rescuing a man from a burning car.
He leaves behind a wife, Shelley, and two sons, Ben and Nick. Thompsen is survived by his wife Chelsea, his parents, and brothers.
“Both officers made the ultimate sacrifice while serving and protecting our community,” said Matt Kelly, president of the local AFL-CIO. “We appreciate their bravery and selflessness and are eternally grateful for their service.”
The ceremony, set for 5 p.m. at Dodds Park, is one of hundreds being held nationwide. Workers Memorial Day began in the wake of the 1970 Occupational Safety and Health Act — a landmark law pushed through after years of labor advocacy. Its message was simple: Every worker deserves to come home.
But the fight isn’t over. In 2023 alone, more than 5,200 workers died from job-related injuries across the U.S. Thousands more face daily risks due to unsafe working conditions. Union leaders point to underfunded safety agencies and rollbacks in labor protections as major concerns.
In East Central Illinois, labor groups are reviving the memorial’s importance. The Building and Construction Trades Council recently took over stewardship of the Danville monument, working to ensure it remains a place for remembrance — and resolve.
Because for the people gathering Monday, remembrance is just part of it. The other part is a promise: that men like Corey Thompsen and Todd Hanneken are never forgotten — and that no job should cost a life.
Danville’s memorial gets an update 54 years in the making: James Cooper's name joins others lost while serving others. On May 13, 1970, Cooper was shot and killed in his office at the Danville V.A. Hospital while speaking to his wife on the phone.
DANVILLE - Nearly 55 years after his death, a former Marine and Veterans Affairs hospital worker who was killed on the job will finally be recognized alongside others who died while serving their communities.
On Saturday morning, the name of 45-year-old James Cooper will be added to the Workers Memorial Day monument during a ceremony at 9 a.m. outside Kruger-Coan Funeral Home in Danville. Illinois State Sen. Paul Faraci is scheduled to speak at the event, which joins hundreds of similar Workers Memorial Day observances taking place nationwide.
Dale Cooper and his wife Kathryn at a social gathering
Photo provided
For Jeff Cooper, it’s a moment long overdue. His father’s name was mistakenly omitted from the memorial years ago, even though the circumstances of his death are as stark a reminder as any of the dangers workers can face, even in places presumed safe.
On May 13, 1970, James Cooper was shot and killed in his office at the Danville V.A. Hospital while speaking to his wife on the phone. A former patient walked in unprovoked and opened fire, also killing the hospital chaplain, Rev. Gerhard Leverenz, and laundry superintendent Bessie Mealer before taking his own life following a police chase. Both Leverenz and Mealer have long been memorialized at the Danville site. Cooper’s name will now finally join theirs.
“Mr. Cooper was an American hero who served our country overseas and continued to serve here at home,” said Kevin Sage, President of the East Central Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council. “His death was an absolute tragedy and adding his name to this memorial is something that is long overdue.”
James Cooper had devoted his postwar life to helping others, first in military service in the Pacific during World War II and later as Director of Volunteer Services at several VA hospitals. He had just moved to Danville with his wife and three sons the year before his death, hoping to be closer to family.
“Dad came from a humble background and believed in helping people, especially those in need,” Jeff Cooper said. “He was a wonderful father and husband.”
Jeff, now in his 60s, was only 13 when his father died. His older brother Steve was serving in the Navy at the time. The brothers still live nearby, and Jeff often passes the memorial where their father’s name will soon be etched.
In 2023, more than 5,200 workers died from on-the-job injuries in the United States, and an estimated 6,000 others suffer injuries or illnesses each day due to unsafe conditions.
The ceremony comes as part of a broader effort to renew attention to worker safety and the legacy of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which was signed into law on April 28, 1971. That law, won through years of labor activism, was intended to guarantee every worker a safe job.
Yet despite decades of progress, dangers persist. In 2023, more than 5,200 workers died from on-the-job injuries in the United States, and an estimated 6,000 others suffer injuries or illnesses each day due to unsafe conditions. Labor advocates point to chronic underfunding of job safety agencies and legislative threats to reduce protections as ongoing concerns.
In Danville, the East Central Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council recently assumed stewardship of the memorial after a period of inactivity. The group aims to restore the monument’s role as a place of remembrance and education — not only honoring lives lost, but urging continued vigilance in the fight for safer workplaces.
For those who gather Saturday, the event is not just about the past. It’s about a promise — that no sacrifice in service to others is forgotten, and that every worker deserves to come home safely.
I work at one of the most profitable companies in the world, yet I’m barely able to get by.
In August 2023, I got hired as a warehouse associate at an Amazon delivery station in San Francisco. Within months, it became clear just how unjust and dysfunctional the workplace was.
I start work at 3:20 a.m. and spend eight hours a day processing thousands of packages. By the end of the shift, my shoulders are sore, I’m lightheaded, and I often feel like I’m running on empty.
Our workplace isn’t safe. Heavy boxes routinely fall on my co-workers’ heads. I’ve seen people get chemical burns from cleaning up hazardous materials. It’s not unusual to sustain long-term injuries from being overworked.
In short, my co-workers and I come to work every day, breaking our backs for a company that treats us as disposable — and refuses to offer living wages or adequate health care plans. But it doesn’t have to be that way. We have the power to demand better.
That’s why my co-workers and I are organizing with the Teamsters Union, standing up to our bosses, and demanding Amazon recognize our union.
Management makes false promises, wanting us to believe that if we just work hard enough, we’ll climb the ranks to become a manager or get a raise. But favoritism is rampant, and consistent understaffing makes us physically, mentally and emotionally stressed, leading to burnout.
We won’t let this company continue to exploit us. We’re demanding union recognition and a Teamsters contract because we know that when we stand together, Amazon will be forced to hear our demands.
Management has tried their best to stop us from talking to each other about workplace issues. They say they can only deal with people’s issues one-on-one, because Amazon knows that when we come together as a group, we have the power to actually change things for the better.
We’re showing our co-workers and the company that we can make our workplace safer and healthier as a union. We are fighting for a living wage, a safe workplace that’s free from harassment, and quality health care and benefits. We’re unionizing in order to have a voice and call out Amazon for their mistreatment of workers.
So at 3:00 a.m. one day this fall, my coworkers and I marched into work and demanded recognition for our union.
Amazon wasted no time in launching their union-busting crusade. We aren’t falling for it. They made $30 billion last year while paying us pennies. Amazon is scared of us. They see we have strength in numbers, and we’re not backing down.
Getting Amazon to recognize our union is going to take considerable community support. The day after we demanded recognition, we rallied outside of our facility with our co-workers, fellow union members, and elected officials. As we continue to fight for recognition and a Teamsters contract, we must continue to show that organized labor, officials, and the community stand with us.
We’re taking on this fight not just at one facility, but around the country. I’m proud to be standing with my fellow Amazon Teamsters in San Bernardino, California; Skokie, Illinois; Queens and Staten Island, New York; and Northern Kentucky. As our numbers grow, our power grows. We must set our sights on forcing Amazon to come to the bargaining table and win a strong contract.
This is our moment. Let’s seize it.
About the author:
Dori Goldberg, an Amazon warehouse worker who says that workers all across the country are uniting to defeat Amazon's union busting crusade. This op-ed was distributed by OtherWords.org.
During last November's Open House, Local 149 instructor Andy Currie provided a high school student with an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in pipefitting. At the beginning of the week, officials from Parkland College and the University of Illinois, along with Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski, will tour the training facility.
PhotoNews Media file photo
SAVOY - One year after opening its state-of-the-art training center, United Association Local 149 will host U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski and officials from Parkland College, the University of Illinois, and the chemical industry for a tour on Tuesday at 3 p.m. The event, held at the 24,000 square-foot facility on North Dunlap Avenue, will focus on economic growth and local job opportunities created by the training center.
Rep. Budzinski is known for advocating higher wages, better benefits, and workplace safety protections for firefighters, grocery workers, and meatpackers. She led efforts to raise Illinois' minimum wage to $15 an hour and chaired the Broadband Advisory Board to expand internet access in rural communities. During her time at the White House’s Office of Management and Budget, she helped implement the American Rescue Plan and establish the Made in America Office to bring jobs back to the U.S. and strengthen the economy. Budzinski was elected to Congress in 2023, representing Illinois’ 13th District.
Local 149 provides world-class training, such as specialized instruction in medical gas piping services, helping members meet industry needs.
Trustee Dave Smithenry demonstrates troubleshooting air conditioning systems at last year's Open House.
PhotoNews Media file photo
The tour will feature hands-on demonstrations from union members and interviews with apprentices, union officials, and representatives from the Chemical Industry Council of Illinois and the American Chemistry Council. The event highlights Local 149’s role in preparing its 600 members, including plumbers, pipefitters, and HVAC technicians, for the growing job market in the chemical manufacturing sector.
In addition to meeting the needs of its customers by mastering various piping systems and prioritizing the safety of its members and customers, the members of Local 149 are committed to delivering exceptional service on every project. Members also support the communities in which they live by donating resources and countless hours to charitable organizations, including the United Way, the Salvation Army, the March of Dimes, and many local causes.
The union is currently accepting applications for its 2025 apprentice class. For more information call (217) 359-5201.
SAVOY - Urbana community leader DeShawn Williams and local union leaders will host a Neighborhood Trades Party this Sunday from 3pm to 6pm at Blair Park in Urbana. A unique job fair, the event is an opportunity to have a burger and casual conversations with leaders of labor unions and some of the area’s largest employers.
“We hope people will come by to not only learn about careers with these companies, but also learn more about labor unions and get to know our members in a fun, casual environment,” said Matt Kelly, Business Manager with Local 149. “Some will have immediate needs, others will have apprenticeship opportunities – it’s just a matter of learning how your skills, experience, and interests will be a good match.”
Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 149, Carpenters Local 243, as well as the East Central Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council, which represents 18 trade unions from across the area will be in attendance. There will also be several companies on hand that employ those union members, such as A&R Mechanical Contractors, P.J. Hoerr, Broeren Russo Builders, Davis Electric, Remco Electric, United Mechanical, Davis-Houk Mechanical, and Henson Robinson Company.
From plumbers to electricians, carpenters to laborers, unions provided guaranteed wages, with many starting at $22 an hour, building to a total hourly package of over $77 after five years of on-the-job training. That’s in addition to industry-leading benefits, including free healthcare and early retirement plans.
For more information contact Steve at steve@arrowstrategygroup.com or Local 149 at (217) 359-5201.
SNS — In a remarkable achievement just five years into his plumbing career, Andrew Hall, a resident of East Central Illinois, has been recognized as one of the best in the industry after clinching the union’s International Apprentice Contest.
Hall, a member of United Association Local 149, triumphed over competitors from the U.S., Canada, and Australia last week, marking the first international title in Local 149's history. His victory came after a grueling week of written tests, hands-on projects, and interviews with top international leaders in the field. Previously, Hall had already secured victories in local, state, and district competitions, which were open to over 50,000 apprentices.
Andrew Hall (second from the left) poses for photo with (left to right) United Association's Assistant General President Michael Pleasant, General President Mark McManus, and General Secretary-Treasurer Derrick Kualapai. Hall, a member of Local 149, is the first-ever local apprentice to earn success at the international level.
Photo provided
"When they called my name, it was loud and everyone was clapping, so I thought maybe I heard it wrong – then I was in disbelief,” Hall recounted. "The guys I competed against were the best of the best and we all got along so well; nobody would’ve been mad if someone else won. But it wasn’t about beating anyone out; what we went through together was really the rewarding part. I mean, it still hasn’t really hit me that I won."
Now in his fifth year with Local 149, Hall graduated from the union’s apprentice training program in June. Each apprentice dedicates 240 hours in the classroom and 1,700 hours in the field to earn the title of journeyman. A Montrose native and graduate of Dieterich High School, Hall previously worked at United Mechanical in Champaign before embarking on a journey as a traveling plumber earlier this year, taking on various construction projects across the nation.
During the intense five-day competition in Ann Arbor, MI, Hall and his fellow finalists underwent rigorous evaluations, engaging in both theoretical and practical assessments that included solving complex plumbing scenarios. All finalists were awarded silver rings for their efforts, while Hall will receive a gold ring later this year to commemorate his achievement.
Currently residing in Indiana with his wife, Shelly, and their five-month-old daughter, Ronny Louella, Hall is set to work for two more weeks before they visit family. Following that, the family plans to travel to Oregon for several months of work on a significant construction project, a prospect Hall is eagerly anticipating.
"Shelly has been at every competition and been my biggest supporter through all of this," he said. "It puts everything in perspective that if you’re scared of everything in life, you never really get to experience anything. You just need to take that leap."
SAVOY - Andrew Hall made local union history, winning the Illinois Pipe Trades state plumbing championship for apprentices in March and taking the district title in June to advance to the United Association Apprentice International Contest in August. Hall, a member of Local 149, is the first East Central Illinois resident to advance to the association's national championship in the plumbing division.
Hall, who earned the District 4 title in Iowa two weeks ago, beating state champion apprentices from 10 other states, will be back in action next month when will go head-to-head against six other district champions from around the country in Ann Arbor, MI.
“It was a very tough competition and it was time-limited, so it was pretty stressful,” Hall said. “The competition was so good, I really thought any one of those other guys could’ve won it. Then I won and was just in disbelief for a couple of hours after that.”
Hall and the competition were tested on plumbing knowledge and skills, including a project involving a mocked-up wall needing pipes and water lines. Certified training directors then graded the work of the state champions from Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Hall will now go up against five other district champions.
“Every day is like a puzzle and you have to figure things out,” he said. “I really enjoy it.”
In addition to winning the district championship, Hall recently graduated from Local 149’s five-year apprentice program, where he and 26 other apprentices spent 240 hours in class and 1,700 hours on the job each year. Employed at United Mechanical in Champaign throughout his apprenticeship, the June graduate travels the country as a journeyman plumber.
New Illinois law protects people attending court, making them “privileged from civil arrest inside state courthouses and with...
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SAVOY - Urbana community leader 
