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Register Today to Attend CISCO’s Annual Meeting
January 12, 2023

BURR RIDGE – REGISTER TODAY for CISCO’s Feb. 10 Annual Meeting at Maggiano’s in Schaumburg, or visit here. We’ll honor our annual Projects of the Year, Educator of the Year, Public Body of the Year and Labor Advocate of the Year recipients. Email Julia Mulvey at julia@cisco.org or call us at 630-472-9411.

Annual Meeting
Friday, Feb. 10, 2023
Maggiano’s Little Italy
1901 Woodfield Rd
Schaumburg IL
Registration/Breakfast at 8 a.m.
Program at 9 a.m.

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Become a Sponsor for CISCO’s Upcoming Annual Meeting
January 10, 2023

BURR RIDGE – You can find information below on CISCO’s sponsorship opportunity for its Feb. 10 Annual Meeting, or visit here. At our Annual Meeting, we’ll honor our annual Projects of the Year, Educator of the Year, Public Body of the Year and Labor Advocate of the Year recipients. Email Julia Mulvey at julia@cisco.org with the subject line: Sponsorship Opportunity, or call us at 630-472-9411.

Annual Meeting
Friday, Feb. 10, 2023
Maggiano’s Little Italy
1901 Woodfield Rd
Schaumburg IL
Registration/Breakfast at 8 a.m.
Program at 9 a.m.

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CISCO Announces Scholarship Program is Underway for 2023

November 29, 2022

BURR RIDGE – CISCO is accepting applications for its long-standing Annual Scholarship Awards Program. Applications are available by clicking on one of the three types of scholarship awards below.

Our three (3) scholarship program categories are:
– Three (3) four-year scholarships ($2,000/year). DOWNLOAD APPLICATION HERE

– Two (2) two-year awards ($1,000/year) for seniors planning on attending a community college. DOWNLOAD APPLICATION HERE

– Two (2) two-year continuing education awards ($1,000/year) to Union members or contractor employees. DOWNLOAD APPLICATION HERE

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CISCO Annual Luncheon Hits Home Run
CISCO’s Annual Luncheon touched all the bases with a dynamic keynote speaker, the glowing faces and families of 5 scholarship winners, and a surprise presentation to two long-term board members. And for good measure, about 250 guests enjoyed a delicious lunch last week courtesy of Maggiano’s Little Italy in Schaumburg.

The event featured Keynote Speaker Javier Ramirez, Deputy Director of Field Operation for the Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service (FMCS), the recognition ceremony of CISCO’s 2022 Scholarship Award winners, and the honoring of CISCO’s Board Members Jim McGlynn and Dave Henderson, who were marking their 30th and 25th years of serving on the board, respectively.

In his remarks, Javier Ramirez talked about his childhood and remembered three phrases of wisdom from his parents that have helped shape his career: 1) Do the right thing; 2) Try to help others, and 3) Let your work speak for you.
 
 
 

He said that the FMCS was formed to help create labor peace. “Collaboration, communication, early intervention and third party mediation are all good tools to negotiate a contract,” Ramirez said.
“In construction, too often, negotiators think it is a badge of honor to avoid federal mediation,” he added. “But the industry should not feel embarrassed to take that route.”
 
 
 

To see more photos of the event, click here.
 
 
 
 
 

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CISCO/CPS Skilled Trades Career Fair Draws More Than 3,000 Students
Another CISCO partnering effort – this time with Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership – attracted more than 3,000 students to McCormick Place for a three day (March 22-24) Career Fair that featured 12 different building trades and dozens of contractors, pre-apprentice programs and other organizations.

Open to CPS students only, the goal of the Career Fair was to expose and connect students at risk of becoming disconnected from work and school after graduation, with the necessary information and tools to explore a career in the skilled trades.

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CISCO Unveils 2021 Annual Report
CISCO’s Annual Report is hot off the presses, and contains last year’s accomplishments, as well as a look in the future of the union construction industry.  To read and print the report, click here.

ILEPI Video: The Value of Union Apprenticeships
Please take a look at the YouTube link below provided by Executive Director of the Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI), Frank Manzo IV.  This is another tool we can use in our efforts to highlight why strong enforcement of the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act is vital in ensuring the future of Union apprenticeship programs and strong wages for Illinois families in the Union construction industry.  Watch the video – click here.

CISCO Board Announces Selections For Top 2021 Construction Projects
CISCO’s Board of Directors recently determined which construction projects were winners in six different construction categories – part of CISCO’s Annual Pride in Construction Awards for Projects of the Year. Among the entries submitted by General Contractors, Builders, Architects and other organizations, the top choices were:

New Construction – Chicago (+$20m):
Midway Security Checkpoint Expansion; GC – F.H. Paschen; Cook County.

New Construction – Suburbs (+ $20m):
Forester Hotel; GC – William A. Randolph; Lake County.

New Construction – City/Suburbs (Under $20m): Kane County Multi-Use Facility; GC – R.C. Wegman; Kane County.

Infrastructure: I-294 Mile Long Bridge; GC – F. H. Paschen; Cook County.

Rehabilitation: Queen Bee School District Additions/Renovations; GC – Riley Construction; DuPage County.

Residential: Westerly; GC – James McHugh Construction; Cook County.

CISCO wishes to recognize each and every entry for its quality of construction, design, impact on the community and safety record. Even under extreme circumstances, amidst an unprecedented pandemic, general contractors, subcontractors and the men and women who construct these buildings collaborated to stay safe, stay on time, and within budget to complete these amazing projects.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

CISCO Golf Outing Enjoys Another Successful Day Of Fun and Charity Benefits

Ideal weather and a fun, full house of golfers got to relax on a Monday to start off the week right.

See photos below.  For more pictures, click here.

Four-year scholarship winners:
1) Sophia Alvarez – York High School in Elmhurst; Parent – Laborers’ Local 582
2) Julia Chom – Hoffman Estates High School; Parent – IBEW Local 134
3) Katelyn McCann – Wilmington High School; Parent – IBEW Local 134
Two-year scholarship winners:
4) Sophie Brown – Lisle High School; Parent – UBC Carpenters Local 1889
5) Leonardo Barrientos – Lane Tech High School; Parent – Bricklayers Local 21
Continuing Education scholarship:
6) Michael Chiaramonte – Elmhurst University; Affiliation – McWilliams Electric Company, Inc.

Annual Meeting Announces New CISCO Board & Officers
During the opening remarks of CISCO’s Annual Meeting, outgoing Board president Dave Henderson recognized the 2022 Board of Directors. Henderson, who was completing his third, two-year stint as President over 25 years as a CISCO Board Member announced the new officers:President John Daniel, (pictured) President/Business Manager for SMART Local 265; Vice President Melanie Izral, Ray Edwards Contractors, Inc. and affiliated with the Underground Contractors Association, Treasurer Frank Furco, Business Manager/Financial Secretary of IBEW Local 701, and Secretary S.J. Peters, Executive Director of PCA of Greater Chicago. 

CISCO Annual Meeting Checks All The Boxes Of A Great Event
What could be better than hearing remarks from Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, State Comptroller Susana Mendoza, DuPage County Chairman Dan Cronin and two teachers from Stagg High School, who have successfully launched a construction program for students who are interested in careers in the construction industry! That’s what happened last week Friday as nearly 300 guests attended CISCO’s Annual Meeting at Maggiano’s in Schaumburg.  And for good measure, six construction projects and their teams were recognized as Projects of the Year as part of CISCO’s Annual Pride in Construction Awards.The full house left to digest both the great breakfast fare, and the food for thought about the future of the union construction industry in northeast Illinois.CISCO would like to thank all those who attended, as well as all of the organizations that sponsored the event.  To see more photos from the event, click here.

CISCO Part of National Labor Panel Program on WCPT – 820 AM
CISCO’s Dan Allen and Jamillah Muhammad were panelists featured on WCPT’s recent special, two-hour, Labor Panel.The virtual program was hosted by National Show Host Thom Hartmann and co-hosted by Joan Esposito and Patti Vasquez.

The Labor Panel Program was live on WCPT – 820 AM and was live streamed on WCPT820.com, as well as live streamed on Facebook and mobile apps, and CISCO’s Facebook page.  To watch the entire program, click here.

Dan and Jamillah were joined by leaders from Finishing Chicago, SMART Local 265, Operating Engineers Local 399, Blue Cross Blue Shield, IBEW Local 176 and the Chicago Federation of Labor.

Issues discussed involved items that impact both the labor community and middle class, including the labor-friendly infrastructure plan, the Pro Act, how immigration reform affects labor, the role of diversity and inclusion in the building trades, and the future of clean energy training and jobs.
 
 

Painters District Council #14 Latest To Be Featured During “Construction Talks” Webinar Series

“Construction Talks” most recent visit was to the Training Center of the Painters District Council #14 in Berkley.  This was the 9th episode in the series which began in 2020.

The webinar featured Dan Penski, Jr., Director of Training (pictured above), Instructor Veronica Leal, and second year apprentice Rahm Jointer.   Also involved in the panel discussion were CISCO’s Education-to-Careers Director Jamillah Muhammad, and Brandy Phillips and Sam Hunt from the CTA.

The 50-minute webinar featured Dan Penski explaining the requirements needed to apply to the program, as well as a description of the trades’ duties.  In addition, Ms. Leal and Mr. Jointer explained how they got interested in the trade and their experiences during training and how it changed their lives.   To view the entire video, click here.

At Last: Groundbreaking Occurs for Obama Presidential Center

Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama were on hand to ceremoniously break ground on the Obama Presidential Center.  The couple were joined by Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot in the one-hour ceremony.

CISCO has been working with the Obama Foundation since 2016, when the project was touted to be built in Jackson Park, to encourage a diverse construction pipeline prior to and beyond the presidential center.

“CISCO was perfectly positioned to join the Foundation’s team as our rich history of working with south- and west-side schools, churches and other organizations, is well documented,” said CISCO Executive Director Dan Allen.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

IBEW Local 701 Cuts The Ribbon on New Wellness Center

IBEW Local 701 in Warrenville opened the second Wellness Center in the Chicago area yesterday.

Formed by a unified group of local trade unions partnering together with Cerner Health to provide better health services for our membership, the Union Wellness Centers (UWC) are exclusive to the members and the families of SMART Local 265, Plumbers Local 130, Iron Workers Local 63, Riggers Local 136, Cement Masons Local 502 and Electricians Locals 701 and 176.

The Wellness Center was the idea of Plumbers Local 130 with the initial Center opening in Lemont two years ago. Five more centers are scheduled to open in the weeks and months ahead.

Frank Furco, 701 Business Manager/Financial Secretary, opened the festivities by thanking Jim Coyne. “He cut the trail and the rest of us jumped on and we appreciate his foresight.”

Coyne added, “This was a true team effort. We’ve checked our egos at the door for the betterment of the people who elected us to be their leaders.”

The Centers will offer members services such as preventive care, chronic condition management, physical therapy, virtual care services, health education, and risk awareness.

CISCO/St. Paul Construction Expo Shines a Light on Career Opportunities

The 7th Annual Construction Expo once again lived up to its tradition of several building trades and contractors providing both information and hands-on demonstrations to make men and women aware of the opportunities of a career in the building trades.

As Guest Speaker U.S. Congressman Danny Davis (pictured at right) described in a poem, St. Paul, CISCO, and other groups that focus on promoting union apprenticeship programs to young adults are not the “wreckers of buildings and communities, but rather the builders of communities.”

Davis, CISCO Executive Director Dan Allen and Keynote Speaker Tim Drea, (pictured below) President of the Illinois AFL-CIO all spoke about the efforts that have been ongoing for decades to bring about a diverse union workforce that not only can transform neighborhoods, but can transform the lives of the individuals who pursue careers in the union construction industry.

To view more photos, click here.