Brothers and sisters:
This has been a very busy time in the training of apprentices and mechanics at IUEC Local 17. The recently completed hydraulic controller theory and troubleshooting class had ten students, the welding class taught at Lincoln Electric had 13 members seeking certification and there are 20 mechanics enrolled in the scaffolding class that is currently running through March 16. That is a total of 43 members enrolled in classes and equates to a little over twenty percent of the Local’s members taking advantage of these continuing education opportunities.
In addition, John Taylor has agreed to teach an OSHA 30 class should there be enough interest. OSHA 30 is a thirty-hour course that goes deeper in-depth to the subjects covered in the basic OSHA 10 class. If you are interested in the OSHA 30 class or have ideas for any other continuing education class, call Business Manger Tim Moennich at 216-431-8088 or email him at TMoennich@iueclocal17.org.
When your bosses see you taking initiative to not only learn your job but improve your knowledge in all phases of the trade, they will give you opportunities to apply that knowledge. So… if you want to move forward, don’t wait for the bosses to offer the opportunity for training, take it yourself.
There was a sighting of a truck owned by non-signatory Kent, Ohio-based Handel and Son at the Truman Building on Euclid Avenue. After Tim talked to the mechanic and reported back to the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades that all the trades on the job were non-signatories, the board decided to hand bill the job. The general contractor on the job is Pride One, a notoriously anti-union company.
If you know of a job that is being done by a non-signatory trade, or suspect that a company is not organized, then please call the hall. The signatories to IUEC Local 17 are Kone, Maximum, Otis, Ross, Schindler and Thyssen-Krupp.
International Organizer Jim Lowery is scheduled to have a second meeting with Gable Elevator to discuss them signing onto the IUEC contract. Twinsburg-based Gable is the major non-signatory elevator company in the Cleveland-Akron area. There is also a report that the West Virginia company Emar Elevator is going union. As you may remember, Emar did modernization work at Millennium Properties buildings Lourexis Senior Housing in Slavic Village and Abington Arms Apartments in what is now known as Uptown at Mayfield and Euclid in 2010-2011.
The national health insurance provider Anthem was recently hacked in a cyber attack that compromised millions of individuals health care information. The National Elevator Industry Health Benefits Plan reported that they do not have a direct relationship with Anthem but, they do have a relationship with Blue Cross-Blue Shield. To this point, no IUEC members have been effected by this data breach. Anthem has pledged to notify members if they are effected and enroll them in a credit repair service. This is similar to the situation a few years ago when a data tape containing medical information was lost between the IUEC and the then prescription provider to its members. Watch this space and your mailbox for any updates.
There are many members and their dependents that struggle with legal, financial, mental health, chemical and alcohol dependency issues. The NEIHBP contracted with Value Options to provide Member Assistance Programs (MAP) to IUEC members. This is a free and confidential program that offers counseling, referral and online resources and information to those in need. If you have an issue, know that this service is there to help. You can call 1-800-331-4824 or access their website, http://www.achievesolutions.net/nei 24/7/365.
The 2015 IUEC Local 17 Retiree’s Dinner is tentatively scheduled for May 15 at Frank Sterle’s Slovenian House Restaurant, 1401 East 55th Street Cleveland, Ohio. Letters will be coming soon so you can reserve your place at this well attended annual event to honor those who worked so hard to make Local 17 the best local in the best trade in the trades.
The Brothers and Sisters of IUEC Local 17 send their condolences to the family of retired Brother Richard Stumm who recently passed away.
As of this writing there are 19 mechanics and one apprentice on the bench.
Till next month,
Work smart, work safe and slow down for safety.
Don
DKnapik@windstream.net
International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 17 