October ’16 Labor-Citizen

Brothers and sisters:

The following meetings of IUEC Local 17 are Mandatory Special Meetings for the nomination, election and installation of officers: November 11, December 9 and January 13, 2017. Special Meetings are mandatory. There is a $20 fine for not attending. No excuses will be accepted unless you call the Hall prior to each meeting.

Addresses and meeting times are on the website, iueclocal17.org, or at the bottom of this article. You can contact Business Manager Tim Moennich at 216-431-8088 or by email at TMoennich@iueclocal17.org.

Apprentices are currently studying RC 300, electrical fundamentals, in the NEIEP apprentice class. Current apprentices must be sure to turn in their OJT forms on time or risk being called in front of the Joint Apprenticeship Committee to explain why they cannot turn them in.

Local 17 is again offering three continuing educational opportunities for its members: a two-night CPR class, a scaffolding class and the welding class taught at the world headquarters of Lincoln Electric in Euclid. All three of these learning opportunities give you the confidence to handle an emergency and extra credentials to make yourself more important to your employer. To sign up or get more information, contact Tim at the Hall.

Everyone knows about the election November 8th. If you have changed your residence since the last election or need to register, take a few minutes to contact your county Board of Elections or you can stop by the hall and see Business Manager Tim Moennich. Do not let this very important election pass without letting the world know where you stand.

At the September general meeting, Business Manager Tim Moennich shared numbers from National Elevator Industry Benefits Plan which shows an overall increase in membership, hours worked and a small net increase in retirees. Comparing the March numbers from 2015 to 2016 the International added 1,030 members to the rolls, increased hours worked by 2.7 million hours and had only a net increase of 108 retirees. This bodes well for the future solvency of the pension plan as well as the other benefits of being in the best trade in the trades.

With less than one year until the end of the current contract, now is a good time to plan for the possibility of a work stoppage in July. Take an evening or two and evaluate your financial situation (savings, insurance policies, total living expenses, etc.) to ensure that you and your family are secure and find ways to buttress the areas where you are weak. It is smart planning for the future.

Local 17 received a letter from the lawyer reprinting Clayco, the contractor for Cleveland State University at the building going up at East 17th and Euclid Avenue informing the local that since there are both represented and non-signatory companies working on the job that there are two gates for entrance to the site. Because of NLRB rules, pickets will only be at one gate. Iron Workers Local 17 picketed the site a month ago. If you have any questions about your rights and responsibilities when any trade is picketing a site, please refer to the National Labor Relations Board rules available at nlrb.gov.

A big thank you to all the trade members who take the time to call the Local 17 Hall when they find non-signatory companies working in the area. Your efforts are making a difference.

On July 15th Brother Chris Lane, Local 11 (Cincinnati) was killed on the job. He was a 22-year member of the IUEC and worked for Kone for 20 of those years. He was 42 years old and leaves a wife and two sons behind. The Brothers and Sisters of the trade union movement entered this line of work for a better life, not a shorter one. Please work smart, work safe and slow down for safety.

The Brothers and Sisters of IUEC Local 17 send their condolences to the family of retired Brother Ralph Sitko who passed away August 11.

As of this writing there is one mechanic and one apprentice on the bench.