The grand opening of the new Local 636 offices allowed the local union to pay tribute to one of its old friends.

Boaz Siegel, an attorney for more than 50 years, was honored by Local 636 for all his efforts on behalf of working people. Over the years, "Buzz" Siegel hasn't only acted as legal counsel for local union pension funds and SUB funds, he actually wrote the plans and guided them through the first legal and legislative hurdles. Siegel, 86, has been a lawyer since 1941.

"With everyone gathered here for the dedication of our new building, I thought it would be appropriate to express to Buzz our deep appreciation for all that he's done for Local 636 and the labor movement," said Local 636 Business Manager Jim Lapham.

Congressman Sander Levin, who worked as a labor attorney three decades ago under Siegel's tutelage, said his old boss' contributions "are immense." He recalled how Siegel was given the task of setting the first Supplemental Unemployment Benefit Fund for Pipe Fitters Local 636 and Plumbers Local 98 - the first such fund for any building trades local in the nation.

There were no suitable plans to follow in other local unions, so Levin, and then Siegel, made things up as they went along. Through trial and error, they worked together to formulate a suitable plan, one that passed muster with the all the agencies that regulate union funds. It was no small task.

"I can't think of anyone in the legal profession in which you can have more pride," Levin said. "Buzz frequently was asked to take a look at cases that involved injured workers or widows, who wondered about their benefits. Buzz wanted to follow the law, but he also followed his heart, and hundreds of individual union members benefited."

Siegel taught contracts, labor law and administrative law at Wayne State University from 1941 to 1972. He was Labor Secretary Arthur Goldberg's appointee on the first U.S. Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Plans, and has served on the National Academy of Arbitrators since 1964. Buzz entered into private practice in the 1970s, serving as legal counsel to trustees of pension, health and other fringe benefit funds.

United Association General President Martin Maddaloni made Siegel an honorary member of the union "for all you've done for the labor movement."

The recognition was a surprise for Siegel, who said "it's the kind of reward that doesn't have a dollar amount attached to it. The reward has been in helping working people. As I look back on my career I can say it was substantially devoted to that purpose."

UNITED ASSOCIATION IU President Martin Maddaloni, left, contratulates attorney Boaz Siegel and makes him an honorary member of the union. At center is Local 636 Business Manager Jim Lapham, who acted as master of ceremonies at the grand opening of the local's union hall.