b'MinnesotaNorth Dakota Local 563A Message from Joe Fowler (Continued) Steve Zupon (Retired)Mixing a bit of local politics into the conversation, this past July thethat affects the lives and jobs of our members. The MN Climate FinanceSt. Cloud BA Retired in January 2025St. Paul city council voted to essentially undo the horrible rent controlAuthority is Minnesotas Green Energy Bank and I was appointed by ordinance they approved in 2022. The most harmful parts of the originalthe governor as a board member with experience in organized labor andAfter more than 32 years with LiUNA Local 563, Steve Zupon is retiring, leaving behind a legacy language have been removed in an effort to jump start developmentto bring that perspective as a board member. At the Green Bank wefrom his early days of working concrete to his role as Business Agent.again. However, problems continue to plague the vibrancy of downtownmake financial investments into the portions of construction projects From Concrete to Leadership: A Journey of GrowthSt. Paul because a significant portion of high-rises there are vacant,that lower the carbon and energy footprint of a new or existing businessSteve joined the Laborers Union in April 1993, working for Independent Curb in Buffalo, Minnesota. under leased or under water due to the recent bankruptcy of Madisonor building. Specifically, the organization helps finance the renewable orHis natural leadership and dedication to his fellow workers led to his appointment as auditor of Equities, which at the time held one of the single largest multi propertyemerging energy reduction technology portion of the project. MNCIFALocal 563 in 2009. He went on to serve on the Executive Board in 2011. In March 2014, he took on portfolios in the downtown area. Needless to say, it will take somealone has had more than $25 million dollars of already congressionallythe role of Business Agent for South Hennepin and Scott Counties, and in May 2017, he became time for the city of St. Paul to get back the charm it lost under Melvinapproved money withheld from the organization by the currentJoe Fowler - Local 563 Business Manager, Steve Zupon, the Business Agent for the St. Cloud and Outstate areas.Carter. Highway heavy continues to churn out hours in both MN and inadministration sitting in Washington. This $25 million investmentJoel Smith - LiUNA MN/ND President and Business ManagerND. In North Dakota we even set a new record for highway heavy hoursalone would have leveraged several hundred million dollars in additional contributed last year. The amount of projects that are on the books isproject financing, which in turn would have provided several thousandLooking back on Minneapoliss evolving skyline, Steve finds satisfaction in the built environment he contributed to. The projects he worked larger than current funding will finance but we are beginning to see thegood paying construction jobs between building trades groups. Sadly,on early in his career now stand as landmarks in our citys landscape, physical reminders of construction workers essential role in building fruits of our patience because in MN we secured new constitutionallymany of these potential projects will never come to fruition now becauseMinnesotas future.dedicated funding for transportation, roads, and bridges of nearly $1of a misguided war on renewable and low carbon energy production.Building Lasting Bondsbillion per year. This funding for our work comes from the sales tax ofLiUNA is not a one size that fits all group regarding our positions on auto parts, the delivery fee for orders over $100, and a nearly $1 billionenergy production. We prefer to take an all of the above approach thatThe relationships Steve built over three decades stand as one of his proudest achievements. The mentors who guided him and the dollar bonding bill in 2025 that was heavy on transit constructionmaximizes work opportunities for our members.friendships he formed reflect the strong bonds that define our union community. These connections have enriched his journey and projects. strengthened our entire organization. As I close out this years letter to the members, I want to thank theSteves impact extends beyond his official roles. His steady presence, practical wisdom, and commitment to fairness have helped shape Prior to last years presidential election, the renewable energy industrymembers once again for supporting my recent reelection as yourLocal 563 into the strong organization it is today. As he steps into retirement, his influence continues through the many members he has had been building up an incredible amount of steam over the pastBusiness Manager this spring and for putting your faith in the localsmentored and supported throughout his career. few years, and our union has positioned itself well to take advantagestaff. Staff who are out in the field daily connecting with members on of that. The scale and amount of renewable energy projects havejob sites, who on any given day may be testifying on legislation or cityWe thank Steve Zupon for his 32+ years of service and dedication to our union family. Cheers to a well-earned retirement!changed dramatically over the past 6 months with the passage of theordinances that advance the interests and job opportunities of our unionIn His Own WordsBig Beautiful Bill which heavily modified the rules and access to thebrothers and sisters, and who volunteer on weekends and after hours inAs Steve prepares for his next chapter, he shares these parting thoughts: I would like to thank my family, friends, co-workers and everyone available tax credits reducing their availability by 5 years from a 2032our communities trying to spread awareness of LiUNA Local 563 and theelse who has supported me and contributed to my success throughout a rewarding career as a Laborer in the LIUNA organization.deadline for projects to produce power under the former administrationopportunities being a part of our organization provides to those looking to 2027 under the current language in the Big Beautiful Bill. The IRAto get a leg up in life. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season, are and IIJA legislation made into law by the previous administrationable to provide for your family and get to share in and feel the love and563 Personal Administrativo.intentionality included language that promoted the use of PLAs, the usejoy of others. Please reach out to Local 563 if you have questions on any of registered apprenticeships, and to require the payment of prevailingof the information contained within the newsletter. wages, all of which benefit organized labor. The current administration, however, is trying to limit, reduce, and get rid of those same items inFraternally,the project contracting process wherever possible. The reduction of access to the energy tax credits by 5 years has taken awaythe potential of growing the renewable industry in MN and ND to a level that would have provided thousands of union jobs for our laborers. The Renewable Energy Industry was already employing hundreds of our Local 563 members annually.As union leaders in LiUNA we also try to put people in positions whereJoe Fowlerthey can have a positive effect on policy, investments, and legislation Business Manager Gerenta de ocina/Contadora Asistente Administrativa Asistente Administrativa Asistente AdministrativaJennie Kotz Jenn Gustafson Hannah Pone Maria Lara Chavez(Bilingual)Scan the QR How to use a QR Code:Code for TheLine up the camera on your mobile deviceLatest 563with the QR Code you want to scan, and hold the device steady until the app canInformation.read the code in front of it. Asistente Administrativa North Dakota Asistente Administrativa St. Cloudwww.local563.org Kelly Eckroth Brenda Tamm (Bilingual)4 local 563 laborers union /563 news /2025-2026 newsletterlocal 563 laborers union /563 news /2025-2026 newsletter 5'