Brothers and Sisters:
On Friday, May 20, IUEC Local 17 honored its retirees at the annual Retiree’s Dinner at Harry’s Steak House in Independence. The last dinner was held in 2019. A large part of the evening was spent catching up on awards for service pins and Gold Cards awarded since the last dinner. For photos of the event, go to the Local 17 website, iueclocal17.org.
The golf outing originally scheduled for June 11 has been cancelled. Refunds of greens fees paid are being sent out. If you have not received your refund, contact Business Manager John Driscoll Jr at the hall at 216-431-8088 or email him at JEDriscoll@iueclocal17.org.
At the time of writing Local 17 has 32 apprentices in the NEIEP program with two in their final semester. Six apprentices are finishing their new hire course. The apprentices will be split between RC200 and RC700 for the fall semester starting the second week of August.
On the second week of May, the Local 17 JATC was in Providence, Rhode Island at the new NEIEP training center. Their training was on the apprentice application process. Some of the conversation also covered possible changes which help younger applicants score better.
NEIEP is in the middle of a total rewrite of the curriculum. Each RC unit takes approximately two years of effort by a team of constructors and trainers from across the country to complete. The largest part of the effort is to determine the extent of the rewrite: whether a simple update is needed or the entire RC needs to be redone. Photos and graphics illustrating the concepts covered in the courses are the single hardest elements to source as many of the conventions, especially in electrical units, have changed from the original source text.
For example, NEIEP emphasizes the electron current flow theory (current flows from negative to positive) over the conventional current flow theory (current flows positive to negative) even though the majority of graphics used to explain electrical concepts are pulled from sources where conventional flow is used. This creates confusion in the mind of the apprentice as they have to first wrestle with the concepts presented in the text and then flip the graphic to meet what the text teaches. It also makes for some interesting conversations in class as the inconsistencies are pointed out by the students.
In a practical application, the first major to use the electron current flow theory for its prints was Dover in its early solid state units which later progressed into the DMC. In time each major followed suit until today the conventional flow theory in elevator prints is rarely, if ever, used. Now that systems being installed today are solid state and CPU oriented with LON, LAN and CAN communication protocols between car, controller and components, the switch to a consistent teaching system across the curriculum and within the different disciplines makes a lot of sense.
With the new contract taking effect this month, the International members are in a good position to benefit for the next five years. On a practical matter, with all the financial and international upheaval, members need to be smart about their money especially those coming close to retirement. Live well but within your means will be the mantra for at least the foreseeable future.
The Brothers and Sisters of IUEC Local 17 send their condolences to Brothers Mike Hogan and retiree Mike Moennich whose mother-in-law Madonna McTaggart passed away May 2. She is also the mother of former Local 17 President Brian McTaggart. Condolences also go out to Business Manager John Driscoll Jr whose father-in-law passed away May 1.
As of this writing there is one mechanic on the bench.
Until next month…
Work smart, work safe and slow down for safety.
Don
DKnapik@windstream.net
International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 17 