Brothers and Sisters:
I would like everyone reading this to take a moment and turn back to the title page ( the page with the International officers ) for a moment and scan the names, which part of the union they work and their titles.
As you scan the names, from Frank Christensen through the other General Officers, the vice-presidents, department directors and regional directors, Organizing and Work Preservation, NEIEP, CEIEP and the finally the benefits office realize that every single person on that list has something in common: they all started their careers as probationaries.
They stacked rails, set machines, assembled jacks, cabs and counterweight frames. They pulled motors and generators as well as miles and miles of wires, travel cords and cables. They wired controllers, cars and hall fixtures. They adjusted compounding and valves for the smoothest possible ride.
They spent countless hours on call troubleshooting why the right hand car won’t answer the top floor hall call and doing so in less than secure situations. They injected barrels of grease into bearings and changed hundreds of light bulbs.
Each one went through the NEIEP program, angsting over the mechanics exam and felt the relief and celebration when they found they passed.
Every single one of them has done our job. Every single one of them knows what we do everyday as well as we do.
What is different about them is that at some point each and every one of them made a decision to become involved in their local. That decision was the spark that set them on the path to where they are today.
My moment came when I received my first issue of the Constructor. Local 17’s correspondent was John Goggin. I read his article as well as those from other locals and knew that this was a job I could do well. My background in college as the editor of the newspaper, minor in Journalism and lifelong interest in publishing gave me enough credibility to ask for members support. I won by one vote.
John is a very good writer and I hope he takes it back up in retirement.
Along the way I’ve had the honor of being a part of and documenting a lot of Local 17 history. Since 2007, parades, golf outings, Christmas parties and union events have been a constant part of my calendar. I took part in our VOC and truly enjoy my time in the classroom as a NEIEP instructor.
This trade is not just about plumb, square, straight and level to 1/64th of an inch. It’s about taking part and becoming part of the ongoing conversation we all have as a Local, International and trade union movement.
The monthly meeting is where that conversation takes place. It is where the members can ask questions of their officers and speak up when they feel there is a wrong being done. The conversation in Local 17 has been going on for almost 120 years and keeping up on what is going on and understanding why something happens comes through participation.
Your time as an elevator constructor is not defined by your company. This is not your superintendent’s career, this is not your mechanic’s career, it is not your apprentices career. This career belongs to you.
Own it and leave the Local, IUEC and the trade union movement better for you having been here.
In the August issue of the Constructor, I printed a photo I took at the NEIEP Training Center in Warwick, Rhode Island and asked if anyone could identify what it represented. The winner would get a mention in these pages. Well, we have two winners. First is Brother Ryan Foley who guessed gearless machine. The second is Charlie Reitz, the son of Brother Jerry Reitz, who wrote naming it as a synchronous motor. Good job to both of you!
Until next month…
Work smart, work safe and slow down for safety.
Don
DKnapik@windstream.net
International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 17 