May ’16 Labor-Citizen

Brothers and Sisters:

On March 24th the application process for Local 17’s apprenticeship list closed with 253 people requesting applications. The testing is complete and at publication time we should be deep into the interviewing. Best of luck to all those looking to join the best trade in the trades.

NEIEP is getting set to release a virtual hydraulic controller lab similar to the first person games available on gaming consoles. The purpose is to immerse the student in as close to an actual troubleshooting experience as possible. Students will be greeted by a virtual character that will explain the problem and leave it up to the students to troubleshoot the problem. The student will be able to move freely through the environment, use a meter and remove wires just as they would in a real life experience.

This virtual lab will be introduced in three phases. First as a classroom version that instructors can use as part of their classroom experience. The second will be a stand alone course that students can take at home and finally a version will be used as part of the practical assessment toward qualifying for the mechanics exam.

Please take a minute on your next work day to check that all the components of your personal fall arrest system are compatible and rated for the proper capacity. If you have any questions, please contact your supervisor to obtain the proper equipment. It might just save your life.

With the 31st General Convention coming up in July and the current contract a little over a year away from negotiations, the International would like to remind everyone to start to save your money in the event there is a job action. You can never be too prepared.

On May 5th, the Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund hosted a meeting for our signatory companies to learn about funds available to assist them in recovering units from non-signatory companies and the RLP program to assist them in gaining residential elevator installations.

The EIWPF is a cooperative organization of the IUEC and signatory companies to establish safe work practices for new hires, elevator code committees and standards, QEI training and programs designed to assist member companies to maintain market share. To find out more you can visit the website eiwpf.org either directly or through the link provided on the Local 17 website iueclocal17.org.

Part of being a good tradesman is doing good in your community. Honoring veterans has always been a large part of the American experience. This has never been truer than in the post 9/11 era. IUEC Local 5 (Philadelphia) established a charity called “Lift For A Veteran” to install elevators, stair lifts and wheel chair lifts in the homes of disabled veterans. The charity partnered with Federal Elevator, a Local 5 signatory, to purchase the lifts at cost and then have local members volunteer to install and maintain the equipment. As word of their mission spread they have completed jobs all over the country. For more information on the program go to the local’s website, iuec5.com, and click on the Lift For A Vet tab on the left side of the home page.

Last year the Local 17 Volunteer Organizing Committee handbilled the CMHA Riverside Apartment building when it learned that the government agency was leaning to awarding a contract for the elevator modernization to non-signatory Gable Elevator. Recently, Gable made news after Cleveland Fire responded twice to reports of people trapped in elevators at the 15-story building. To hear the report done by WEWS News Channel 5 reporter Jonathan Walsh go to newsnet5.com and search CMHA elevator problems.

The Volunteer Organizing Committee is thankful to everyone who has taken the time to talk with workers from non-signatory companies about the advantages of union membership. Organizing is an ongoing process and your efforts are appreciated. If you see a non-signatory company working on your job, please feel free to contact Business Manager Tim Moennich at 216-431-8088 or email him at TMoennich@iueclocal17.org. A list of IUEC Local 17 signatory companies is at the end of this article.

The Brothers and sisters of IUEC Local 17 send their condolences to the family of Larry Jarrett Sr. who passed away March 10.

As of this writing the bench is clear.