March ’19 Labor-Citizen

Brothers and Sisters:

IUEC Local 17 finished the first round of Practical Exams for the RC 500, hoistway wiring and construction class.  The Practical tested the 21 apprentice’s skills at print reading, wiring and constructing a simulated hoistway switch setup.  The test results are available on the students NEIEP dashboard.

Spring semester is in full swing.  Local 17 currently has apprentices enrolled in 400, 500, 600 and 700 classes.  These modules cover electrical theory and application, solid state, power and logic and installation.  Those enrolled in 500 will be taking a Practical Exam based on the lab while the 700 class Practical is not yet ready to be rolled out.

The Model Elevator Bill, which would bring licensing to the state of Ohio for elevator constructors has a better chance to get passed during the 2019 legislative session.  To highlight the bill, ABC 6 in Columbus ran a story about Andrew Polakowski who was pinned between the car and landing sill at Stradley Hall at The Ohio State University in 2006 when the brake on the overloaded elevator failed, started down and Polakowski attempted to exit.  

An investigation by fire and state elevator inspectors found the brake out of adjustment.  The university was using a non-signatory company to service units on campus.  The news piece interview Mike Halpin of Elevator Industry Work Preservation who stressed the need for licensing in Ohio by stating that in jurisdictions that have licensing there is a 26 percent decrease in incidents between inspections.  Ohio currently has 65 elevator inspectors and 34,000 units.

Gable Elevator of Twinsburg decided to sell off its home elevator business and create Ohio Home Elevator.  The new business will be totally separate from Gable and operate as a non-signatory with the goal of eventually becoming signatory. 

The current work situation in Cleveland and surrounding jurisdictions is good.  During the Tri-State meetings, Louisville, Indianapolis, Cincinnati Columbus and Cleveland all reported full employment while Chicago, Lansing and Detroit reported a total of 17 members on the bench.

Local 17 has started to tap the new hire list and expects to have many new faces in the fold soon.  If you have a probationary apprentice, please remember to school them in three areas: safety, good work habits and good union membership.  All of these work together to create a solid member that will make the trade better for you and them having been here.

The Brothers and Sisters of IUEC Local 17 send their condolences to the family of Brother Dave Horner whose grandmother passed away.

As of this writing the bench is clear.