Officers of Local 49
Jason George
Business Manager/Financial Secretary
I am extremely proud to represent you as your Business Manager/Financial Secretary. I have been a member of Local 49 since 2008. I was raised by a single mother in the West St. Paul area. Life wasn’t easy, my mom and I struggled quite a bit, but I got a world class education from her in what it means to work hard to provide. I have never forgotten where I came from and have taken the work ethic I learned from her and applied it to my own career and life.
My first job in Labor was as an organizer for HERE Local 21 in Rochester. I worked on an organizing campaign led by hotel housekeepers, who lost their bid to join the Union on a tie vote. I learned first-hand the challenges that workers face when they try to form a Union. From there I accepted a position with the Minneapolis Labor Federation – AFL-CIO. My job was to organize Union workers in conservative areas. For example, helping teachers pass a school-funding levy in Monticello that had failed to pass for 10 years. Educating conservatives about the value of Unions and workers was an incredible experience.
I was hired at Local 49 in 2008 in the political department. I was a part of and eventually led our efforts to build political power for the purpose of creating jobs and protecting our rights to collectively bargain. I am very proud to say that in the last 10 years Local 49 has become one of the most powerful organizations in our region. We did that by working with both political parties. We have had a major hand in creating tens of thousands of Union construction jobs in both the private and public sector. I am also proud to say that because of our work together, Minnesota is the only state in the Midwest that has not seen efforts to impose right to work or repeal prevailing wage.
I look forward to my new position as Business Manager/Financial Secretary, it is truly an honor to have been chosen to lead this great organization, but I can’t and won’t be doing this alone. There is a great group of Officers and staff that I’m proud to stand with. More importantly, we will be guided by you the membership in all that we do. Together, we are going to make a bright future for our families and ensure that 100 years from now Local 49 is standing strong as ever.
Clayton Johnson
President
As President of Local 49, it is without a doubt, one of the greatest honors and privileges of my 28 years as a member of Local 49. I am looking forward to the challenges that are before us whether they are economic or political in nature. We as a Labor organization need to stay active on all fronts; it’s obvious one strongly affects the other. I will continue to take all concerns presented to Local 49 and give them the due diligence they deserve.
Local 49 was chartered in June of 1927. The contracts that all Local 49 members work under have taken literally decades to build. The terms and conditions we currently work under have not come easily, our Brothers and Sister before us, have fought hard to ensure the integrity of the contracts are maintained. History has shown that through the process of collective bargaining, each generation must continue to strive to make the terms and conditions better for each generation that follows. It is all of our responsibility to maintain the highest level of professionalism at all times. This is the task that WE as Union members are given.
Be proud to be a member of Organized Labor and a member of I.U.O.E. Local 49, I know that I am.
Ryan Davies
Vice President
As your Vice President of Local 49 I want to say that it is a honor and privilege to be working with the Local 49 membership. I am from northern Minnesota and a first generation member of Local 49. I started out in the industry out of state in directional drilling. When I returned to Minnesota, my experience included working at powerhouses, paper mills and in the mines on the Iron Range. I am extremely passionate about progression Local 49 in the future, and ensuring that our members, their families and this entire union has a strong and successful future. Thank you once again for the opportunity to serve as your Vice President.
Steve Piper
Recording-Corresponding Secretary
I first want to thank the membership of Local 49 for allowing me to serve as your Recording-Corresponding Secretary. I became a member of Local 49 in 2000 and began working in the crane industry on the rental side. I was then hired as an Organizer with Local 49 back in October 2006, and later transitioned into an Area Business Representative in 2015.
I am honored and humbled that the membership has placed its trust in me as your Recording-Corresponding Secretary. With your trust I will work tirelessly on your behalf to help address the challenges this union may face in the future, while also helping to secure lasting and meaningful improvements to the members and their family’s quality of life.
Oscar Sletten
Treasurer
As a member of Local 49 since 1998, I started my career as an masonry forklift and crane operator working on numerous projects in southern Minnesota and the metro area. From 2004 to 2013 I had the honor of working for Local 49 as an organizer. I am currently working for Vic’s Crane and Heavy Haul as an operator. It is a great honor to have been chosen by the membership to be the Treasurer of Local 49. I look forward to working with the other officers, staff and members to ensure our great Union and all of our families have a bright and prosperous future.