Posts tagged pension liability

    News Article ● Labor Unionization Unions

    Lessons from Other Trades in ‘Leaving the Union:’ What Sheet Metal and HVAC Can Learn

    July 28, 2025 // The stories of Brian Head and Brandon Davis are extreme, but the underlying issues are common across the trades: high financial stakes, legal complexity, and the threat of union penalties make leaving the union a daunting proposition. For sheet metal and HVAC contractors – or any skilled tradesperson – understanding the process, the potential pitfalls, and the importance of documentation is essential before making any move. And as Semmens pointed out, workers have options for legal support if they feel their rights are being violated – but the process remains anything but simple.

    Alabama blocking charges Comfort Systems USA Mid-South decertification Employee Stock Ownership Plan HVAC Levitz Furniture Co. NLRB Montgomery National Right to Work Foundation NLRA NLRB pension liability pipefitters right-to-work sheet metal workers Steamfitters Steamfitters Local 52 Tennessee the Trades unfair labor practice charges unionize unions welders

    Blog Op-ed / Commentary ● Labor

    OP-ED | A Better Approach to the Silver Tsunami

    March 18, 2022 // Too often, for unions, the customers are themselves rather than the public, which is why the state should be taking advantage of retirements by focusing on modernizing, reorganizing, retooling, and outsourcing as much as possible. The major advantage in choosing among hiring private employees/services is that change can be made quickly to accommodate the needs of customers. Not working well? Terminate the contract and find a better solution in the marketplace.

    401(k) Alan Calandro appropriated funds avoid active managing benefits better solution in the marketplace bonus bumping rights bureaucratic campaign donor Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities Connecticut cost recovery rates CT News CTNewsJunkie.com customer outcomes customer service defined benefit pensions defined contribution Democrats Department of Administrative Services employee skills employees fiscal years flexibility in operations funded annually government inefficiency governmental efficiency governmental necessity Governor Lamont grievance hazardous duty high-performing employees human resources governmental environment inflation legally tenuous long term planning management skills metro regions modernizing morale nation Office of Fiscal Analysis op ed Opinion outsourcing pay raise pension liability private employees private sector private services private-sector levels problem union employee profitability providing justice quality employee performance raises reorganizing Republicans Retirement retooling reverse incentive Salaries salary salary side signing timesheets silver tsunami solving the current budget staff development staff development funding state state employees. state union system state unions state workforce stress tentative deal Terminate the contract tied to profitability training unfunded union leaders union protections union representative unionized employees unionized state employees universal medical care upper-tier health benefits