September ’18 Labor Citizen

Brothers and sisters:

IUEC Local 17 made it’s presence known at the annual North Shore Federation of Labor Picnic and Softball Tournament at Parma’s James Day Park over the Labor Day holiday.
Good hitting on offense was countered by inconsistent fielding on defense to allow Ironworkers 17 and Boilermakers 744 to make short work of our team. A big thanks to Brothers Ryan Todd and Entertainment Chairman Mike Moennich for fielding a team and coaching them in so short a span. For photos of the event and others go to the Local’s website, iueclocal17.org.

Apprentice classes are just beginning and it is good to remind everyone to keep their JATC forms up to date. These are important records of your progress and time in the trade. They are also required by the Department of Labor. Do not be the one to have to answer to the JATC for not turning in your forms. Nothing good happens.

Apprenticeship interviews will be held shortly and the new hire list available to the companies soon after. To those who will be working with these green Constructors, safety; yours, theirs and those around you, must be the overriding priority for the short term. Some will come to us with skills from the other trades, it is your responsibility to teach them how to apply those skills to our trade to make their learning process and your job easier.

No job is so important it can’t be done safely. SLOW DOWN FOR SAFETY!

Business Manager John Driscoll, Jr. would like to remind everyone who has a change of address, marital or family status or emergency information to contact him at the hall at 216-431-8088 or email him at JEDriscoll@iueclocal17.org. Also a reminder that all job changes and jobs that will last two days or longer must be reported to the hall.

If you are not registered to vote what are you waiting for? The deadline to register or change your registration if you have a name or address change is October 9th. You can register or make the needed changes at many government offices or your county board of elections.

IF YOU DON’T VOTE, DON’T COMPLAIN!

As I write this, Senator John McCain is being laid to rest. I won’t go into his resume, that has been well documented and commented on in the media, instead I sit here and ponder the effect it has on his family and his affect on America.

It has been an emotional week for the McCain family as they attended services for the late Senator in Phoenix, the Capitol rotunda and the National Cathedral before his burial at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis.

Through it all his daughter Meghan has stood front center in forcefully speaking for her father and the ideals he stood for over his long public life. The following excerpt from her final tribute I believe sums up his life and the America he believed in.

Meghan McCain told mourners at the cathedral: “We gather here to mourn the passing of American greatness.

“The real thing, not cheap rhetoric from men who will never come near the sacrifice he gave so willingly, nor the opportunistic appropriation of those who live lives of comfort and privilege while he suffered and served.

“The America of John McCain is generous and welcoming and bold, she is resourceful and confident and secure, she meets her responsibilities, she speaks quietly because she is strong.
“America does not boast, because she does not need to. The America of John McCain has no need to be made great again, because America was always great.”

Well said Meghan. Well said.