The Fastest Trowel on the Block Competition is a showcase of industry craftsmanship and a testament of both the speed and skill of our industry’s workforce. Only those journeymen masons who have the skill, confidence and courage to face-off with the industry’s best are invited to compete. This is a contest that also proves how important teamwork is in accomplishing a final product.
The competition will pit journeyman masons, accompanied by their two favorite tenders, against one another in a show of both speed and craftsmanship. Each contestant’s goal is to complete as much of a 24-foot long wall as possible, using 8″x8″x16″ CMU and the provided mortar in a twenty-minute heat. Contestants must have a high degree of workmanship using normal masonry practices and hand tools.
The contest promotes quality training and pride in workmanship among journeymen and contractors, as well as promoting the craftsmanship, speed and versatility of masonry systems and the masonry workforce. This contest also rewards and highlights the country’s best mason journeymen for their hard work and dedication to the trade.
More information below!
ORCO BLOCK & HARDSCAPE- RIVERSIDE
4510 RUTILE ST. RIVERSIDE, CA 92509
1st Place: $2,500*
2nd Place: $1,500
3rd Place: $1,000
*1st Place also wins entry and 1 night accommodations at the upcoming National Competition in Las Vegas, NV.
For more information, please contact Vannesa.Gonzalez@ORCO.com or call (714) 889-1284
We are hosting an event dedicated to our customers! This is a special invitation to come visit one of our three locations for lunch and live product installation demonstrations.
Learn the Best Practices for Installing:
Please join us for lunch, plant tours, raffles & new product displays! Demonstrations start at 10:00am and lunch will be served from 11:00am to 1:00pm. For your convenience, the event will take place at each location. Details when you click below. We look forward to seeing you there!
ORANGE COUNTY / LOS ANGELES
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21ST
10:00am – 1:00pm
ORCO Stanton – 11100 Beach Blvd, Stanton
TO RSVP CLICK HERE
For more information, please contact Ryan.Hills@orco.com (714) 889-1290
I want to start by thanking many of you for your kind words and unconditional support during our on-going union labor negotiations. Unfortunately, the Union representing our Production / Yard staff has targeted some of your companies by passing out flyers and putting up signs in front of your stores . . . all done with the hope of disrupting your normal business and influencing your customers to buy our competitor’s block. The flyers encourage your customers to call me to voice their support for better pay and working conditions. It’s an informational campaign – THERE’S NO STRIKE.
THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN FRONT OF YOUR STORES ARE NOT ORCO EMPLOYEES – they come from the Union. How can it make any sense for our staff to convince customers not to buy ORCO products? As we all know, lost sales mean that we adjust staff accordingly. Additionally, our ORCO workers have complained to us about the Union leaving them in the dark and more than once have been answered untruthfully by their Union.
WE CAN’T GET THE UNION TO THE TABLE. We met with the Union in late January and they originally told us they couldn’t meet for another 2 months. When we protested, they insisted the best they could do is 1 month. I have tried to meet regularly with the Union, but they are difficult and nonchalant about meeting. The Union is clearly not representing the best interests of our staff. We’d like to continue the discussion on pay rates, but we are having a hard time getting the Union to the table.
UNION FLYERS CLAIM A LABOR DISPUTE OVER “WORKER’S PAY AND WORKING CONDITIONS.”
• We have offered the best wage package in the last 30 years – certain wages increasing $2 per hour.
• We paid $1.2 million to take over the underfunded Union pension for our workers. 20+ years later, in 2019, the Union led retirement fund is still underfunded while ours is 100% funded.
• We offer a new defined contribution pension, which is modern, up to date, guaranteed by ORCO assets, and works in tandem with the prior pension.
UNION FLYERS CLAIM “WORKING CONDITIONS.” I can’t find anyone who can explain what that means. There’s been no issue or conversations about working conditions. Since the union began this flyer campaign on February 9th, I have received exactly one call from a person that would not say their last name and left a fake phone number.
To those that have experienced the aggravation of union flyers and signs, I want to thank you for both your patience and support. We have always done our best to treat our customers and staff with honesty and integrity. ORCO hasn’t changed. We can’t stop the Union from these shenanigans, but YOU DON’T HAVE TO ALLOW THEM ON YOUR PROPERTY. Some of you have asked what you can do. Simply, if they appear at your company, please let the Union know how ineffective the campaign has been. More importantly, ENCOURAGE THE UNION TO GET BACK TO THE BARGAINING TABLE AND MEET WITH US.
To help bring this to a head, ORCO filed a complaint against the Union with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on February 20, 2019. I don’t blame our workers. And I have a tremendous amount of respect for the entire ORCO team – including those represented by the Union. Moving forward, we hope the Union will show up to finalize a contract and quit hurting our loyal staff.
Rick Muth
President
ORCO Block & Hardscape