Posts

Craft Spotlight – Frank Zagar

/in , /by

Frank Zagar comes from a long line of Union pile drivers. He’s a third-generation union member and is honored to uphold the strong tradition in his family. He’s been in the union for over 20 years and is now dedicated to growing his craft by teaching the next generation of union members at our training center in Richfield, OH.

Simply put, piledriving is the foundation upon which the other crafts build. This relationship between crafts is something that makes the Central Midwest Carpenters so powerful Frank discussed this relationship by saying, “Everyone is working together – one craft starts, and another comes in and continues where they left off.” He alluded to the fact that this symbiotic relationship strengthens the bond he feels with his union brothers and sisters, regardless of their craft.

Piledriving is an extensive craft that runs deeper than most people realize. When people think of piling, they generally think of building the base of a building. Driving into the ground to build a strong foundation is, in fact, the crux of what piledriving is – but the areas, conditions, and objectives of each jobsite vary drastically. For instance, piledrivers build foundations for skyscrapers, set piles for piers and docks, and even perform ecological jobs like shore retention.

Frank’s favorite forms of piledriving are those in and along waterways, such as the Cuyahoga River and Cleveland Harbor, to name a few he’s worked on. The added layer of difficulty (and risk association) is something that Zagar has sought out throughout his career. According to Frank, successful jobsites are about mitigating risk, looking out for your fellow brothers and sisters, and teaching the next generation how to perform at the highest level.

This is precisely the reason Frank is an instructor at the Richfield Training Center in Ohio. He wants to expand the Central Midwest Carpenters’ reach when it comes to piledriving. “This is such a cool line of work. We just want more people aware of everything we do,” Zagar said when asked why he took on the role in the training center. He genuinely enjoys teaching people his trade.

“These kids coming up are self-motivated and hungry […] They want to get out there and make money doing this, so all I have to do is steer them in the right direction,” he said about the prospective pile drivers in the program currently. This attitude is precisely why he believes now is the opportunity to grow piledriving as a craft. The interest is at a high level, so all he has to do is generate awareness for what piledrivers do daily.

As is a common theme with all our fellow union members, the brotherhood is Frank’s favorite part about being in the Central Midwest Carpenters. He tries to instill this value in every apprentice he teaches: “Love your brother. They’ll be there when you need them the most,” Zagar said when asked what the most important advice he gives apprentices. From being on dangerous jobsites with heavy machinery suspended overhead to pep talks before you even get to the job in the morning, your union brothers and sisters are there for you.

 

The Carpenter | CMRCC 2024 Magazine

/in , /by

Don’t miss the 2024 edition of the CMRCC annual magazine! Inside, you’ll find an inspiring letter from EST Matt McGriff sharing exciting achievements for our council, updates from hubs across the region, vital information on pensions and healthcare, training advancements, and powerful stories showcasing the members in unique crafts that make up our union. This […]

Read more

Celebrating Ohio’s 2024 Apprenticeship Graduates

/in /by

COLUMBUS, OH — In the heartland of America, where hard work and craftsmanship are deeply rooted in tradition, the Central Midwest Carpenters Union recently celebrated the graduation of a cohort of skilled apprentices in Ohio. On February 17th, 2024, 355 members celebrated their achievement with friends, coworkers, and family.

The event included a presentation of camo-colored hardhats to the graduating apprentices that entered through the Helmets to Hardhats veteran and active service program. The attendees heard from speakers including Ohio Carpenters’ Joint Apprenticeship and Training Program’s Director of Education Dan Sustin, State Senator Michael Rulli, graduate speaker Austin Clipping, and Central Midwest Carpenters Executive Secretary-Treasurer Matt McGriff.

The graduation ceremony was not just a culmination but a new beginning. The apprenticeship program prepares members not only for their job but for a lifelong career as mentors. Journeymen and women are mentors to the next generation of apprentices, a big responsibility for the future of our organization. Read more

2023 Ohio Graduation

/in , /by

In February, we celebrated 863 graduates from 2020, 2021, and 2022: with over 400 walking across the stage for the Ohio Carpenters Joint Apprenticeship and Training Program’s graduation ceremony.
Read more

2023 IKORCC Magazine

/in /by

You won’t want to miss all the great content inside our annual IKORCC magazine. Inside you’ll find a letter from EST Mike Kwiatkowski with an exciting announcement, updates from hubs across the council, important information on your pension and healthcare, updates on the solar market, training updates, and stories on the incredible IKORCC members.

Read more

IKORCC Magazine

/in , /by

2022 was a BIG year for the Indiana Kentucky Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters. Take a look at our annual magazine for a letter from EST Mike Kwiatkowski, hub updates, healthcare and pension updates, ITC programs, Sisters in the Brotherhood, training updates, recruitment efforts, and stories of the incredible impact IKORCC members have in the […]

Read more

2023 Scholarship Applications Now Open

/in , /by

Applications are now open for the IKORCC scholarship program. Forty $1,000 scholarships will be awarded in 2023 to eligible member’s dependent children. Twenty of the scholarships are awarded based on scholastics, and twenty others via a random drawing.

The Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council scholastic scholarships are awarded based on 60% high school grade point average and 40% on

 SAT or ACT scores. Twenty scholarships will be selected by random drawing.

The scholarship is to be used solely for the purpose of education in the form of tuition, room and board, and or books.

Read more

Tax Fraud Days of Action 2022: Ohio

/in , /by

In four events across the state, regional legislators visited the Indiana Kentucky Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters Training Centers on April 12th and 13th to learn more and speak out about construction industry tax fraud. Events were held by IKORCC across the three states and sponsored by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters across the United States and Canada.

On April 12th, the IKORCC held events in Rossford and Monroe.  On April 13th, events took place in Richfield and Columbus.  All four events brought in legislators from both sides of the aisle some with little knowledge of the dangerous practice in the construction industry. Read more

Learning from the Past, Looking Towards the Future

/in /by

This year both the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Southwest Ohio’s own Local 2 celebrate their 140th birthday.  In 1880, carpenters in Cincinnati were making just $1.50 a day for their over ten-hour days.  The founding members realized their strength as a joint body was no match for “scabs” without a national union’s support.  During the formation of the UBC at the Chicago convention in 1881, Local 2 was granted a charter with the second most delegates in attendance – making it the longest continuous carpenters local charter in the UBC today.

 

Cincinnati was settled by a majority of German immigrants in the early-mid 1800s so every other meeting’s minutes were transcribed in both English and German language, according to Art Galea Junior. The former Local 2 President and former Southwest Ohio’s training center director spoke about what the history means to him, “it means quite a lot…some of the strife those guys went through made me really appreciate what we had.” “I appreciate it, I’ve been a member over 50 years…I’ve got a lot of memories.”

 

Art, one of seven in his family who would eventually join the Carpenter’s Union, started his apprenticeship program in 1968. Upon graduation he served in the Vietnam War, returned home, and led the apprenticeship program into where it’s at today. They transitioned from classes at the college to the hands-on facilities you see today.   He led the programs through several buildings until it landed in its current home.

 

Thanks to these advanced training centers, even one of the oldest unions can build projects with the newest technology. Multiple union contractors landed the project to install a state-of-the-art grid system for a Kroger Co. Fulfillment Center. Right in Monroe Ohio, UBC Millwrights installed a robotic vertical grid system in the 375,000 square feet facility. The first of its kind, the grid or “The Hive”, has over 1,000 robots flying through the air, up and down, to pick online grocery orders for deliveries up to 90 miles from the hub location. Up to 100 Millwrights were on the project at a time.

 

Trained Scaffold Erectors Needed in Toledo

/in /by

In northwest Ohio, representatives are preparing for big calls of labor. With large-scale concrete tilt-up projects in manufacturing facilities, Murphy Tractor, Whiteford/Kenworth, and distribution spec buildings members will be kept busy over the next year.

Members with scaffold training certification are needed for a large call-out at the BP Refinery in Spring 2022.  The Rossford JATC will be holding additional classes for anyone in need of their refresher or interested in getting certified.  Contact the JATC at 419-872-4651 for upcoming classes or to check your status.

In the summer, Toledo area members will be needed to work on the third solar module manufacturing facility for First Solar.  Work includes metal studs, drywall, ceilings, flooring, and Millwrights installing conveyors.  Between, this project and the new Peloton facility ongoing now, representatives expect 50-60 members on-site each respective facility at peak.

This past year the Rossford hub has maintained focus on its tax fraud campaigns.  They held several pickets over the year against a contractor that reported on by the local media.  This added attention, including a signed letter from Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, helped get carpenters on the job. The efforts are still developing but the hub is motivated by the progress made thus far.