Brothers and Sisters:
Local 17 will be participating in the 2024 Cleveland St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The event falls on a Sunday so the expected crowd will be large. Watch this space next month and the Local website, iueclocal17.org, for more information.
If you are looking stay downtown and make a weekend celebrating Cleveland’s Irish heritage, St. Malichi Catholic Church, 2459 Washington Avenue, will hold its 45th Annual Run/Walk on Saturday, March 16th. The event benefits its community outreach programs. Preregistration is required. For more information go to stmalachi.org.
Apprentice school is in full swing with Brothers Jerry Reitz, Tim Narowitz, Tom Goggin and Don Knapik teaching RC 100, 200 and 500. This is the largest apprentice class in recent history with at least two classes going every night Monday through Thursday.
Congratulations to newly elected Local 17 Trustee Jack Finucan and the return of Mike Hogan as an officer in the role of The Warden.
The definition of news is something unusual happening. By this definition, payroll troubles in the IUEC have fallen off the category of news. They are continuing at Schindler Cleveland as four probationaries did not receive their six-month increase with four more scheduled soon after for the same increase. The first four were made whole, and according to the hall the second group was scheduled correctly.
On a larger note, 400 Schindler modernization workers across the US with 30 of those from Cleveland, had a variety of issues regarding their Thanksgiving week checks. If you have concerns about your check, contact Business Manger John Driscoll Jr. at the hall at 216-431-8088 or email him at JEDriscoll@iueclocal17.
All 2023 vacation time must be turned in by January 31, 2024. This is in accordance with Article X, Section 21 of the Local 17 By-Laws. If you did not turn in your time, expect to be contacted by the Executive Board.
Local 17 has taken a strict approach to reporting and taking time to keep companies honest about giving time off and assuring each member takes off what they deserve. This also keeps companies from picking and choosing who they give time off as well as maintaining the requirements of the CBA. Those with five years service must take a minimum of 160 hours of vacation and members with less than five years need to take 120 hours.
Vacation time is paid twice a year, January and July, with the amount in the check based on the number of hours worked the previous six months. Paid Time Off (PTO) pay can be arranged with the employer based on how much is available for the person based on hours worked. If you have any questions, contact your superintendent or John.
Work has continued to be brisk in Cleveland. The Sherwin-Williams headquarters has topped out and several other larger jobs are manned and in full swing. Modernization and service work are strong with no let up seen in the near future.
Anytime a team is using a company vehicle to move material from the shop (stake body or pickup) that needs to be returned to the shop at the end of the day, the driver must return the vehicle to the shop by quitting time. This means, for example, that a mechanic must allow the apprentice to leave the job in time to return the vehicle by quitting time not keeping them on the job and expecting them to return the vehicle on their own time.
The Brothers and Sisters of Local 17 send their condolences to the family of Honorary retiree Carl Mueller who passed away November 24, 2023.
As of this writing there is one mechanic on the bench and 20 transients working in the jurisdiction.
Until next month,
Work smart, work safe and slow down for safety.
Don
International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 17 