June 2019 Labor-Citizen

Brothers and Sisters:
As this issues goes to press the apprentices of IUEC Local 17 will be completing their end of year finals for the current classes. Good luck to all those moving forward in their education in the best trade in the trades.

On May 15, Brother Tim Narowitz taught a class in material handling equipment certification to about a dozen members of the Local. The training was to get them certified in fork lift and boom truck operation so they can operate the equipment on a job site and meet OSHA requirements. The members taking the class spent four hours in the classroom and four in the parking lot in the rear of the hall demonstrating their operational skills. This is another way to secure the work we claim through continuing education and certification.

A new welding class began on June 10. This is another in the line of continuing education offerings through the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP). While other Locals have a trailer decked out in welding equipment come to a location, Local 17 is fortunate to be able to go the world headquarters of Lincoln Electric in Euclid for their training by Lincoln instructors. This gives the apprentices and journeymen a foot up when attempting to complete their 3G and 4G certifications. The class runs for two weeks, four hours a night for a total of 40 instructional hours.

If you know of someone looking to get into the elevator constructors, check out the NEIEP website, neiep.org, for information on the recruitment in Cincinnati (Local 11) and Columbus (Local 37). The Cincinnati recruitment starts September 4and the Columbus will be closing soon.

The news out of the State House in Columbus on the Elevator Licensing Bill is encouraging. The bill, which made it out of committee prior to the end of the previous session, did not make it to the floor for a vote before the end of the session. Since it was taken up by the legislature earlier in the session, it gives the bill which would outline requirements for licensing of all elevator constructors in the State a better opportunity for passage.

On May 17, IUEC Local 17 had its annual Retirees Dinner at Harry’s Steak House in Independence. Among the almost 100 attendees were Brothers Ray Bowles, Mark Carollo, Ken Eaton, Robin Eaton and Scott Runyon who all claimed their Gold Cards and Brother Bob Hess walked out with the retirees watch. For photos of the event, go to iueclocal17.org.

On June 1, Hickory Nut Golf Course hosted the IUEC Local 17 Golf Outing. The 60 active and retired members as well as their guests had a great time and the weather held out until the very end of the event. The low-gross winners were Jeff and Scott Ward with a seven-under 67. A large thank you goes out to Brothers Scott Hicks and Entertainment Chairman Zack Lanum for another great event.

The Brothers of Local 17 supported the Cleveland Building Trades picket of the new Menards store on Brookpark Road. The general contractor, McConnell Excavating, would not allow any of the signatory building contractors to bid on the job and brought in out of town non-union workers to do the job. In the elevator constructors case, they brought in Louisville, Kentucky-based Able Elevator to do the job at the Brookpark store as well as the new Avon location.

The May meeting saw a visit from IUEC Assistant Director of Organizing Dan Baumann who spoke about the Menards situation as well as the on going national efforts at organizing Oracle, Delaware and Richmond Elevator Companies. “These are major ongoing efforts to win over the workers as well as organize the companies” Baumann told the membership.

Former Local 17 organizer Jim Lowery was also there to tell the gathering that “because of the three-year effort to organize Gable Elevator and the lessons learned from that campaign, Local 17 is being used as a template across the International on how to run a successful campaign.”

Brunswick Ward 3 Councilwoman Sister Andrea Rodriguez is holding a campaign fundraiser golf outing on July 26th at Bunker Hill Golf Course, 3060 Pearl Road, Medina. The cost is $85 for golf and dinner or $30 for dinner only is paid before July 19. For more information contact Chad Gibson at chad@bunkerhillgc.com.
As of this writing the bench is clear.