Call to Work on the Enbridge Energy Pipeline

When a young Joe Chastan started working pipelines in northern Minnesota with IUOE Local 49 two decades ago, he couldn’t imagine even owning a mobile phone. Fast forward to this summer, his cell had barely stopped ringing. Serving now as the 49ers Bagley, MN business agent, Chastan had been fielding up to 200 calls a day from anxious operators inquiring about jobs on the Enbridge Pipeline project.

“It’s a good feeling to see this many 49ers back to work, especially after the economic downturn,” said Chastan. “The Enbridge Pipeline will directly employ 3,000 people though North Dakota and Minnesota, including hundreds of operators from Local 49. It’s pumping hundreds of millions into these rural economies.”

When complete, the 1,000-mile Alberta Clipper line will bring oil from Canada, through North Dakota and Minnesota to Superior, Wisconsin. Three different contractors are building the more than 300-mile United States end of the job: U.S. Pipeline of Houston, Texas; Michaels Contracting and Precision Pipeline, both from Wisconsin.

Local 49 estimates total construct will have require hundreds of side booms, more than 90 track and rubber tire hoes and “lots” of specialty work.

“Laying this pipeline has been a lot of hard work--10-hour days, six days a week--but our guys have met the challenge. They’ve been well prepared,” said Local 49 Business Manager Glen Johnson. “They’re proud to be on the job, especially those who live in the area.”

For almost two years, Tim Halling, a 49er working the Michael’s Contracting portion of the project, has been stacking the cylindrical steel slated for the job.

“This is great for northern Minnesota, and great to be working close to home again,” says Halling, who’s been on jobs all around state, far from his wife and family. “I typically operate forklifts, skid steers, scrapers and dozers on traditional building jobs. It’s great seeing how the directional drills and side booms of a pipeline project work.”

Like more than 4,000 49ers, Halling spent parts of the last several off seasons upgrading his skills and certifications at the union’s training facility, specifically taking pipeline classes to prepare for this project.

“Years ago, it used to be learn as you go for a lot of guys,” Halling said. “These days, you can’t just jump on equipment and expect to get a job. But after taking these classes, it’s no longer how do I, but I can do it, just tell me what you need.”

“These projects need highly skilled operators. The terminology and the work on a pipeline job is much different than the work and terminology on a highway heavy job,” said Gary Lindblad, director of Local 49’s Apprenticeship and Training Program. “Therefore, those with the proper training and certification will be in a much better position to be hired and advance on these types of jobs.”

In addition to training, pipeliners must stay safe on the job. Prior to groundbreaking, IUOE’s national pipeline training coordinator Mike Gavlock helped lead a three-day training event in northern Minnesota.

“You have to walk the walk before you talk the talk,” he told the group of about 100 on the first day. “More than two decades of working pipeline projects has prepared me to tap into my own personal experiences as examples of what to do and how to do it.”

Between segments on keys to safety awareness and improving communication, Gavlock spins his compelling and heart wrenching stories in soft hush tones, providing instances he wished had different endings.

“This is all about waking ‘em up to realize how important safety is on these types of jobs.”

IUOE is a leader in pipeline safety training, investing $4 million teaching more than 1,000 workers in 30 pipeline training classes nationally last year. For 2009, the International is on pace to offer even more classes.

From safety to environmental concerns, workers must also be aware and considerate of the land on which they operate. Much of the pipeline weaves through private property, leaving workers with only the space purchased from landowners to navigate without trespassing.

“There are rules in place to protect landowners, and we have to respect those boundaries,” said Chastan.

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