July ’20 Labor-Citizen

Brothers and Sisters:

As this issue is ready to go to press, the Memorandum of Understanding between the IUEC and NEBA, the negotiating body for the major elevator contractors, will have expired.  The MOU gave companies latitude during the COVID-19 pandemic to change certain work rules with the intent of keeping as many IUEC members working as possible.  The provisions expired at midnight July 1 which means all the provisions of the Standard Agreement are back in force.

Congratulations go out to brothers Marc Carollo, Chris Cook, Jacob Mullett, Chris Sipos and Rob Zadravec for passing the mechanics exam. Brothers, keep in mind this is the only unbiased evaluation of your knowledge as an elevator constructor.  The challenge now is to move forward and make the trade a little better for you having been here.

Finals for the current group of apprentices were held the week of June 29 to July 3 through the NEIEP website.  results from the exam are expected to be posted to the site Friday, July 10.  Pending those final results, Local 17 may have as many as eleven apprentices eligible for the next exam.

A large thank you goes out to Brother Rick Myers for going above and beyond with the mechanics exam review and for the five who passed.  He continued to answer texts and emails as well as holding Webex meetings during the quarantine.

Apprentices should be looking for their class assignments for fall semester during July.  It is unclear right now what steps will be necessary for in-class instruction.  This continues to be a fluid situation so watch your NEIEP mail for further updates.

If you are on lay-off or furlough your employer should be giving you your accrued vacation check with your last paystub.  If you have not received the payment, contact Business Manager John Driscoll, Jr. at 216-431-8088 or email him at JEDriscoll@iueclocal17.org.

Everyone can appreciate that between the pandemic, a new civil rights movement and the election this is a pivotal time in American history.  The next six months will set the nation on a course from which there will be no return. 

Things will change. 

What sets America apart, what has always set America apart is its ability to be the light when the darkness of hopelessness casts a pall over all.  It doesn’t take much, it only takes a little. 

Do what you as an individual can to be the America we all hope we are and together we will be that America we know we are once again. 

As of this writing there are two mechanics on voluntary furlough, two mechanics laid off, one apprentice and three probationary apprentices furloughed.