The big, black “Brotherhood Express” visits Red Lake

TERO looking at mobile training unit

By Michael Barrett

Red Lake Net News

      At one time, the big, black “Brotherhood Express” was once just a fancy semi truck and trailer that was used to transport the Havoline No. 28 Ford-Texico race car driven by the late NASCAR racer, Kenny Erwin Jr.

      Once the Lakes and Plains Regional Council purchased the big rig at about half the cost of a new one–$300,000 for a new unit–the 68-foot-long truck and trailer with the UBC (United Brotherhood of Carpenters) seal on it became an educational and organizing tool, as well as a rolling billboard.

      TERO (Tribal Employment Rights Organization) Manager, Bryan Lussier, invited the Lakes and Plains Regional Council up to Red Lake on Wednesday, March 10, to be able to showcase that model to Red Lake officials, as they were looking at a mobile training unit for their program. Of course, they weren’t considering anything as high tech and expensive as the Brotherhood Express.

      Lussier said his organization has worked with UBC for about three years now and his program has 15 union carpenters.

      The idea of a mobile training unit was something they had looked into before. He said they would also want a partner in such a venture–another Tribal program with a similar need. A Red Lake mobile training unit would be used for training purposes at other distant locations–Ponemah as an example.

      According to Dennis Perrier, Field Agent with the Lakes and Plains Regional Council of Carpenters & Fitters (LPRCCJ), the truck and trailer is all self-contained. And not only does it serve as an educational, organizational and advertising tool, it has served other purposes, one being a first response unit for the Red Cross.

      When they first purchased the unit, the trailer wasn’t anything more than an open cargo area. They spent about $50,000 to equip it with 20 input data lines a heating/air conditioning system, generator, satellite dish, 2000 watt PA and sound system, TV/VCR/DVD system, and more.

      “So we can do just about anything,” Perrier said.

      Perrier said they had about 40 people in the trailer at one time during an emergency, but a normal training class was about 20.

      Another name used for the Brotherhood Express was “The Weenie Wagon,” since they did a lot of feeding people at job sites. They were providing a lunch to those who came to see the rig at the New Beginnings Center in Redby.

      “We do a lot of this,” Perrier said. “We do it on the job sites; come out and feed the guys. Sometimes we talk to them, sometimes we don’t–it just depends on what’s going on. We’re pretty flexible with it.”

      The semi is also quite impressive, with a bathroom, shower, two couches and a table, refrigerator, microwave, and sink. It also sleeps two people comfortably.

      Mark Edevold, former candidate for House 2A who is also a field agent with the organization, said there was a constant demand for the unit all the time. The truck has also been used as a command post on demonstrations, visited local unions, unionized and nonunion job sites, trade shows, parades and rallies

      In the years the UBC big rig has been on the road it’s helped the union’s cause by traveling all over the Lakes and Plains Regional Council area in Minnesota, North and South Dakota and Western Wisconsin.

      More importantly however, is the message that the UBC is ready to support working men and women.

      On Friday, March 12, Lussier stated they were invited to Mahnomen by the members of Carpenter’s Union 606 where both the Red Lake and White Earth TERO Offices were honored for working with them.

      Red Lake was instrumental in establishing the White Earth TERO Program about two years ago.

For further information on the Red Lake TERO Program, visit: http://www.redlakenation.org/jtpa/tero.html

For further information on the Lakes and Plains Regional Council of Carpenters & Fitters, visit: http://www.mncarpenters.org