Brothers and sisters:
As a result of the unprecedented petition drive that generated nearly 1.3 million signatures from every county in the state, the repeal of SB5, the bill limiting public-sector union bargaining, will appear on the ballot as Issue 2. The AFL-CIO is looking for volunteers to work the phone banks and canvass neighborhoods to push for the defeat of Issue 2.
Because the official ballot language asks if you approve of SB5, in order to repeal the law a simple majority of voters must vote NO on 2.
We all know what is at stake. Not only is SB5 an open attack on our public-sector brethren, it is a war declaration on every worker; public, private, union and non-union, to drive down wages and reduce the standard of living throughout the state.
If you or someone you know wants to be involved in this history making push to defend our public-sector brothers and sisters, call Business Agent Tim Moennich at 216-431-8088 and he can get you started.
Congratulations to the following men who passed this year’s mechanics exam: Joseph Broz, Jr., David Brurke, Jason Costa, Cristino DeJesus, Kevin Driscoll, James Ehrbar, Craig Haller, Anthony Karovich, Thomas Kelly, Stephen Kemp, Jonathon Koch, Heath Kramer, Timothy Lieb, Timothy Narowitz, Don Page, Ronald Rittwage, Brian Semanco, Joseph Simcic, Jason Sohayda and Jeff Ward.
Since there will be only seven students in the apprenticeship program next year, Local 17 will be using distance learning for those enrolled. Although they will be studying at home, there will be a gathering once a month at the school with instructor Jerry Reitz. This is the first time Local 17 will be using distance learning for its core curriculum.
Meeting notice
The November 18th, December 9th and January 13th meetings are mandatory meetings which a fine will be assessed for non-attendance.
The last week of August, the IUEC held its 30th General Convention in Orlando, Florida. Local 17 sent a delegation of four consisting of John Driscoll, Jr., Dennis Dixon, Brian McTaggart and Business Agent Tim Moennich.
The highlight of the convention was General President Dana Brigham’s address to the delegates on the state of the IUEC. In his speech he emphasized the challenges the International is facing going forward toward the contract negotiations. While elevator constructors are still the highest paid blue-collar job and we still hold over 90% of the Article IV work, 20% of the International members are out of work and some are losing their homes as a result.
Because of this, Regional Director Clint Mathews was charged with getting members back to work. The International also initiated the Assistant Mechanic agreement, first with Thyssen-Krupp and then with the other NEBA companies, which put 1000 members back to work.
He emphasized that now, as much as before, the need to give 8 for 8 and that those that abuse the system will no longer be tolerated.
The problems of prefabrication keep chipping away at our work and the problem has gotten worse with the globalization of the elevator business. The companies are streamlining their product line to sell worldwide and that adds to the prefab installation issues. The situation has accelerated since the introduction of the machine roomless elevator to the North American market and the adoption of the performance-based code ASME 17.7.
He concluded that the International will do everything in its power to avoid a work stoppage, but that every member needs to save as much money as possible in the event that one happens. I would encourage every member to read my previous months’ article from The Cleveland Citizen, which is posted at the local’s website, iueclocal17.org, for ideas on getting started on saving for the next nine months.
At the convention, Tim put his name in for a run at an International vice-president position. “I ran because I felt I had something to offer the International” he said addressing the September meeting. After his nomination, he was under intense pressure to withdraw, but he stood his ground and kept talking about ways to move the International forward.
Although he fell short in the final balloting, the positive mark he and our other delegates left on the International leadership and the delegates from other locals raised the profile of Local 17 from a renegade band to a local with the best long-term interest of the International at heart.
At this convention the rest of the International discovered what we already knew.
Local 17 would like to extend their congratulation to the new officers of the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council. Terry McCafferty from the Pipefitters is the new vice-president, Sheet Metal workers Mike Coleman is the new treasurer and Jim McManamon of the Boilermakers is the new trustee.
Also at the September meeting, Tim read a letter from the California Department of Industrial Relations about “devices which remotely interact with conveyances.” The substance of the letter targeted to elevator companies doing business in California was that it has come to their attention “that devices have been installed on conveyances which interact remotely to change parameters, check and reset faults, open and close doors and various other functions.”
It goes on to say that monitoring operation is acceptable as is monitoring or interacting from within a building or complex. The state will “remove from service any conveyance found operating with a device which can remotely change its controls.” In other words, California is saying that monitoring is OK, but running a car and resetting faults from half way across the country is not.
Thank you California for standing up for safety!
International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 17 