Safety
The IUEC wants every local to have a Joint Safety Committee. Local 17 will be hosting a joint meeting with the IUEC Safety Committee and companies on March 23. The topics to be discussed will be limited to safety issues with no contract issues. The meetings will be Zoom-based until face-to-face meetings can be safely done.
School
There has been an increase in participation in the online mentoring sessions with Jerry and Tim compared to last semester. Hopefully this will eliminate the possibility of fails this semester. When an apprentice fails a semester, they are called in front of the JATC to determine what can be done to assist them in passing the class.
The JATC realizes that this has been a difficult couple of semesters for apprentices and wants them to take full advantage of all the resources available. A letter has been sent to all apprentices encouraging them to sign into the online mentoring sessions so they can be familiar with the system.
Work on the new school on Engle Road is continuing and the hope is to return to face-to-face instruction with the Fall semester in August.
Local
The Biden Administration has eliminated the Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPS). These were the way that non-signatory companies in the trades were able to to claim to have an apprenticeship program without signatory-quality instruction.
If you or a family member have received a letter claiming you have claimed unemployment benefits when you have not you may be a victim of fraud. Follow the link in the letter to report the fraud to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
The Butch Lewis Act, also known as the Emergency Pension Plan Relief Act of 2021 has passed Congress and is waiting for a Presidential signature. The Act offers financial assistance to pension plans in the red or yellow designation as defined by the Department of Labor through a new Treasury Department-backed Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation fund sufficient to pay benefits for 30 years.
The fund will be partially financed by an increase in the employer-paid premium on all multi-employer pension plans increasing from $31 per member per year to $52 by 2031.
The Building Trades met with Washington Capital who are financing union-built projects. They are financing the Artisan Circle Square Apartment project at the corner of East 105th and Stokes. The building will be 24 floors with 298 units.
Where are They Working
DJ Spring and Deven Shields doing a mod at Western Reserve for Otis,
Craig Nolty and Dan Koprowski at Asia Plaza installing one car for Oris,
Jim Thompson and Jack Finucan at the Carlyle in Lakewood doing a mod for Otis,
John Logue and Pat Pollock at Fairview Village Apartments doing a mod for Otis,
Matt Pinchot is working in Akron at an AMHA job for Otis,
Ken Bowles is working in Akron at an AMHA job for Otis,
Jerry Szmerekovsy and an Akron apprentice in Lordstown installing one car for Otis,
Bob Meyer, Dion Yatsko, Matt Ramser, Ernie Rodriguez and four mechanics from Houston installing fourteen cars at MetroGeneral for Schindler,
Gary Thompson, Dań Varga, Rob Timko and Andy Męsko doing a mod at ERieview for Schindler,
Felix DeJesus and Jason Mays doing a mod at Terrace Towers for Schindler,
Matt Carlton and Dave Gnagy at Cleveland State doing a three-car mod for Schindler,
Chris Cook and Mike Ross installing UV lights on escalators at the Justice Center for Schindler,
Pat McCann and Ric Supinski at University Hospital Main Campus doing a door mod for Schindler,
Matt Weingart, Lucas Janke, Shawn yatsko and Brandon Light at Skylight Office Tower doing a mod for Schindler,
Ryan Todd and Brian Seither doing a four-car mod at Winton Place for Schindler,
Joe Simcic and Jay Schaffer at Brooks Bio installing one car for Schindler,
Don Yoho and Andrea Rodriguez installing one 3300 at Nickolai Apartments for Schindler,
Drew Williams and Russell Barrows at Richmond Park Apartments doing a mod for Kone,
Todd Ross and Morgan Armstrong installing one 5-stop at Cedar Road Parking Garage for Kone,
Anthony Metcalf and Sean Canning doing a mod at Huntington House for Thyssen,
Bill Dudas and Andrew Daniels doing a mod at CMHA Wilson Towers for Thyssen,
Tim Narowitz and Dave Ford at CMHA Stokes doing a mod for Thyssen,
Jason Frederick and Jason Saunders doing a mod at Orangewood Place for Thyssen,
Chris Scholle and Brian Owens installing one car at Electric Garden Apartments for Thyssen,
Kevin Thomas and Sebastian Ricco installing one car at UH Avon for Thyssen,
Scott Hicks and John Smith tearing out four and installing four cars at K&L Buildings by NASA for Gable,
Marc Carollo and Kyle Loza at J&M Advisor doing a mod for gable,
Jim Ehrbar and Wing Lui doing a mod at 5565 Erieview for Gable.
Accidents/Sickness and Death
Retired Brother Ken Hilpert passed away February 10, 2021,
Retiree Dan Sziriski passed away February 22, 2021,
Retiree Dennis Samad passed away February 26, 2021
One Brother is quarantined after his wife tested positive for Covid.
Members Out of Work
As of this writing there are two mechanics on the bench.
Employers Needing Help
Thyssen needs a mod/new installation mechanic in Local 19 (Seattle) for Anchorage, Alaska.
Good of the Order
An email will be sent out on the status of the April meeting after the Executive Board meeting
International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 17 