MATTHEW HARRIS APPOINTED NEW BUSINESS MANAGER, WILL CALL FOR UNION ELECTION
After of years to Plumbers and Gasfitters Local Union 8, Charles “Chuck” Tarpley has retired. He leaves behind a legacy of improvement and passionate service to his union brothers and sisters. His legacy can be summed up in a single sentence: “He is leaving the local union in a better position than he found it.”
Chuck started his apprenticeship in 1987 and immediately began started teaching new members when he turned out in 1993. His legacy as an instructor is so prolific that at one point more than 300 members of Local 8 had Tarpley as an instructor, a number that at one point made up more than half of the members of the local union. Plumbers Local 8 has grown signficantly since that time.
Additional notable events under Tarpley’s tenure include Plumbers Local 8 getting its own union hall and training facility for the first time and the union going from a nearly non-existent amount of service hours to service work now representing over one third of the hours worked in the local.
Tarpley originally became Business Agent in 2004 and was elected Business Manager in 2010. Tarpley then ran unopposed to four additional terms.
Matthew Harris, formerly Business Agent with the local, has been appointed the next Business Manager of Plumbers Local Union 8 by the executive committee effective February 1st, 2024.
Harris joined Plumbers Local 8 in 1998. He served as an instructor at the local for 8 years, teaching a variety of classes to fellow union members and apprentices.
Elected to Health and Welfare Trustee in 2010 and continues to remain on that board. Harris has played a role in three consecutive negotiations for the local. Elected business agent in June of 2013 and has been re-elected to four consecutive terms in the role.
Harris wants to hit the ground running in this new role, focusing on working with local municipalities to properly address the lack of plumbing licensing enforcement across the region and continuing to grow the local.
Plumbers Local 8 will host an upcoming election to replace Harris’ position as Business Agent. Although the appointment for Business Manager could be to fill the remainder of Tarpley’s term, Matthew Harris has decided to run for a one year term at the same time as the election for Business Agent to insure that the democratic process within the union stays respected.
“It has been an amazing experience to serve my Local for the last 10 years as agent and I look forward to serving it in my new role as Manager,” said Matthew Harris, Business Manager of Plumbers Local 8.
A Message From Tarpley
Dear Brothers and Sisters of Plumbers Local 8,
As I mark the end of 31 remarkable years of service and 37 years of cherished membership, my heart is filled with immense gratitude and pride for our shared journey. Reflecting on the day I first joined the training center, I envisioned a union whose collective strength and unity would be recognized and revered.
In my role as a Business Manager, we boldly stepped into the service market. Together, we turned challenges into opportunities, setting new standards for excellence and innovation. This successful venture fortified our foundation and demonstrated the power of our collective endeavor.
One of the achievements that fills me with immense pride, and one I humbly attribute to each of you, is the phenomenal growth of our membership. Witnessing our numbers double has been a testament to the trust and faith placed in our shared mission. This growth is not just in numbers but in the spirit, dedication, and determination each new member brings to our union.
Our most tangible collective achievement, and one close to my heart, is the acquisition and complete payment of our building. We proudly pass this legacy to future generations, symbolizing what can be achieved through unity and perseverance.
As I step into a new chapter of life, I do so, knowing that our union is stronger than ever, propelled by the dedication and resilience of its members. I am confident that the seeds we have collectively sown will continue to flourish, guiding our union to even greater heights.
Thank you for supporting the challenges we overcame, the victories we celebrated, and the invaluable lessons we learned along the way. Serving you, growing alongside you, and contributing to our collective dreams have been the greatest honor of my professional life.
Thank you all. I look forward to witnessing the future successes and continued solidarity of Plumbers Local 8.
Fraternally yours,
Charles B. Tarpley
Tristin Amezcua-Hogan is the Editor of The Labor Beacon and a member of LIUNA Local 264. Tristin also serves as the Director of Communications for the Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO and the Chair of the Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance.
Tristin grew up as the son of a UA Local 669 member in Tecumseh, KS and the great-nephew of George C. Amis, longtime leader of the United Rubberworkers (now USW Local 307) in Kansas. Growing up in rural Kansas as the child of teen parents, Tristin quickly came to appreciate the life-changing benefit of a union job.
Tristin and his partner, Rebeca Amezcua-Hogan, are residents of the Westside, Kansas City, MO's historic Mexican neighborhood. They are proud members of Kansas City's New Reform Temple.
