Excerpts from Minutes of the First Meeting of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union No. 354

The first meeting of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 354 of Latrobe and  vicinity was held on Saturday, November 4, 1972 in   Kennedy hall on the campus of St Vincent College, Latrobe, Pa with U.A. Representative Francis Ford in attendance.

The meeting was called to order at 2:10 P.M. by Business Manager Frank R. Deluca with 200 members present. Brother Deluca gave a lengthy report informing the members what had taken place in the past concerning the merger of Locals 302, 478, and 530.

Deluca stated he received a letter on September 25 from U.A. President Martin J. Ward ordering him to meet with officers of each of the 3 locals  and complete the merger by October 1, 1972.

A meeting was called for on September 28,1972 at the Holiday Inn, Ligonier, Pa with President, Financial Secretary-Treasurer, Recording Secretary and Business Agents of each local in attendance.  Deluca read and discussed the minutes of that meeting and explained how the officers were chosen for the newly organized Local 354.

Another meeting was held at the Holiday Inn, Ligonier, Pa on Monday, October 2, 1972, U.A. Representative Francis Ford attended this meeting and took away the charters and official seals of the 3 locals and informed the officers a new charter would be issued to the Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 354 of Latrobe and Vicinity immediately and informed Brother Deluca that he would be the U.A Representative in charge of completing the merger and to keep in touch with the U.A. and keep them informed on what was being done.

Brother Deluca reported that the By-laws to the members present and read over each article and explained why some were entered into the By-laws.

After a question and answer period, a motion by Wilfred Tunney to accept the report as read, was seconded by Floyd McGee and carried unanimously.

At this time U.A. Representative Ford administered the Oath of Obligation to the following officers: Business Manager, Frank R. Deluca; President, John Dolfi; Vice President, Lee Moot; Financial Secretary, Robert Bradshaw; Recording Secretary, George T. Kostelnik;  Executive board Members, Sanford grube, Richard Hoffman, William Wandall and John Solomon; Financial Committee, Ronald Mondock, Thomas Weakland, and Tho;mas Tunney; Examining Board, Donald Ririe, Nick Zizan, Jack Cardone and Jackson Hockensmith; Inner Guard, Frank Wass.

President John Dolfi then took over the chair and called for remarks on the motion by Wilfred Tunney and seconded by Floyd McGee.  The motion carried unanimously.

At this time, Representative Ford commended Frank Deluca for an excellent report and excuesed himself as he had other commitments.

President Dolfi then presented the following recommendations for  rules of a meeting; (1) No intoxicated member will be admitted to meetings for Local Union 354; (2) The mover of any verbal motion shall upon the requisition of the chair, or two or more members, reduce the motion to writing; (3) A member desiring to speak shall rise, state his name and address the chair.  The chair will then re-announce the members name and the member may then speak; (4) No member shall speak more than twice on the same question, nor more then 3 minutes, unless by leave of the membership.

A motion by Brother Scott and seconded by Brother Sundry to accept these recommendations carried unanimously.

Business Manager Deluca again took the floor and stated that there is much work to be done in the future.  Items discussed-the Apprentice Training Program; the Health and Welfare Program; the Pension Plan; problem of a meeting hall and central office.  He reported that the books of the 3 locals were being audited at this time; a meeting of members of the Apprentice Committee and Instructors will be held in the near future and also stated the members of Local 354 will be notified by mail as to when and where the next meeting will be held.

Adjourned at 3:55 P.M.