Author: IUEC Local 17 Website Administrator

Brothers and sisters:

The National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) is responsible for developing and implementing the curriculum, testing and ongoing education needs of the IUEC members covered by the Standard Agreement. The four year or eight semester cost for an apprentice to go through the program and be ready to sit for the Mechanics Exam is $32,775.

NEIEP is requiring that all apprentices sign a scholarship loan agreement which covers $6555 per year of the cost associated with their education. If the apprentice seeks or accepts employment with a non-signatory company doing work covered by the Standard Agreement they will be responsible to repay the loan amount.

NEIEP is also supplying all apprentices with laptops with the curriculum pre-installed. It will be the responsibility of the apprentice to care for the laptop.

Thyssen-Krupp is test piloting a program using the Microsoft HoloLens system to aid field techs in troubleshooting controller related issues. According to the Microsoft website HoloLens is essentially a holographic computer built into a headset that lets you see, hear, and interact with holograms within an environment such as a living room or an office space. According to the International, any field techs involved in the program must restrict their activities to wholly in front of the controller and remove the device before preforming any work. In addition the company must submit the names of jobs and employees it wishes to enroll in the test program.

At the Tri-State meeting in November, the Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund reported there were one three deaths in the trade this year. That compares to four in 2011, five in 2012, six in 2013 and five last year. Safety is the most important tool in our box. Use it everyday.

Also at the meeting, locals in Akron, Baltimore and Cincinnati reported they were at full employment. Philadelphia is fighting a non-signatory and decided hire their own organizer in addition to the one International organizer already working with them. Local 5s membership has fallen from 800 in 2008 to 600 today. Indianapolis reported they organized six new members.

As reported here and in the Elevator Constructor, The delegates to the 31st International Convention voted unanimously to increase the per capita paid to the International by the locals to support the organizing efforts around the US and Canada. As part of the Mandatory Meeting for the induction of officers in January, there will also be a Special Called Meeting to vote on a dues increase to cover the per capita asked for by the International.

At the November meeting, International Organizer Jim Lowery talked to the members about the state of organizing around the country as well as updating the members about the efforts to sign Gable Elevator.

On Gable, Lowery reported that the talks to add them as a Local 17 signatory are escalating. “All of the efforts that the VOC (Volunteer Organizing Committee) has put in over the past years is starting to pay off. We are actively talking with the owners and am optimistic about the outcome.” He added that currently Gable has 28 field employees and will be looking to add to that number once they become a signatory.

“Efforts like these are why the International asked for a per capita increase at the convention.” The IUEC is looking to add eight total organizers, six in the US and two in Canada. They also hired a lobbyist to push for an elevator safety bill in the Ohio Statehouse.

The Brothers and sisters of IUEC Local 17 extend their condolences to the families of Brother Joel Reyes who unexpectedly lost his 10 year-old daughter and Brother Ken Eaton who lost his father.
As of this writing there are three mechanics and three apprentices on the bench.

Brothers and Sisters:

At the October 14th union meeting, IUEC Local 17 was proud to swear in its largest class of apprentices in many years. In total, nine probationaries made the transition to full apprentice status. Congratulations to Brian Bond, Matt Carlton, Felix DeJesus, David Horner, Pat Kelly, Andrea Rodriguez, Chris Sipos, Dan Varga and Robert Zadravec. Welcome to the best trade in the trades.

The Annual Local 17 Children’s Christmas Party will start at 1 pm on Saturday, December 10th at the hall located at 3250 Euclid Avenue. This is a great event for everyone regardless if you have children or grand children. As in past years, Santa Claus will make a special guest appearance and pass out gifts to children 12 and under. Watch your mail for the letter to reserve your spot in this special event.

The November 11th, December 9th and January 13th union meetings are mandatory meetings for the nomination, election and installation of officers. Those not attending or reporting to the hall prior to the meeting will be fined $20. You can contact Business Manager Tim Moennich at 216-431-8088 or email him at TMoennich@iueclocal17.org.

The January meeting will be a Special Called Meeting for the approval of a dues increase to offset the per capita increase to the International approved at the 31st General Convention in July. The increase is slated to fund the ongoing organizing efforts of the International in the United States and Canada.

Just a reminder that if you have recently moved, changed your marital status or added a child to your family, please take a few minutes to call Tim and update your information with the Local. This goes a long way to keep you up to date on important events in and around the local. It is equally important to call the hall when you are working on a job that will last for three days or more.

Otis asked its employees to sign a form saying that Otis would limit the access to the Social Security numbers of our members. After forwarding the letter to the International Tim called the local Otis office to inform them that we would not be signing the letter until given the OK by the International.

In a letter to International Assistant General President Jim Bender, Thyssen-Krupp explained that during the pay week of October 14 through the 20th employees would need to submit time early because of a planned upgrade to their payroll system. If you where adversely affected by the change, please contact Tim.

The Brothers and Sisters of IUEC Local 17 send their condolences to the family of retired Brother Pete Nuncio who passed away September 28th.

As of this writing there are three apprentices and one mechanic on the bench.

Brothers and sisters:

The following meetings of IUEC Local 17 are Mandatory Special Meetings for the nomination, election and installation of officers: November 11, December 9 and January 13, 2017. Special Meetings are mandatory. There is a $20 fine for not attending. No excuses will be accepted unless you call the Hall prior to each meeting.

Addresses and meeting times are on the website, iueclocal17.org, or at the bottom of this article. You can contact Business Manager Tim Moennich at 216-431-8088 or by email at TMoennich@iueclocal17.org.

Apprentices are currently studying RC 300, electrical fundamentals, in the NEIEP apprentice class. Current apprentices must be sure to turn in their OJT forms on time or risk being called in front of the Joint Apprenticeship Committee to explain why they cannot turn them in.

Local 17 is again offering three continuing educational opportunities for its members: a two-night CPR class, a scaffolding class and the welding class taught at the world headquarters of Lincoln Electric in Euclid. All three of these learning opportunities give you the confidence to handle an emergency and extra credentials to make yourself more important to your employer. To sign up or get more information, contact Tim at the Hall.

Everyone knows about the election November 8th. If you have changed your residence since the last election or need to register, take a few minutes to contact your county Board of Elections or you can stop by the hall and see Business Manager Tim Moennich. Do not let this very important election pass without letting the world know where you stand.

At the September general meeting, Business Manager Tim Moennich shared numbers from National Elevator Industry Benefits Plan which shows an overall increase in membership, hours worked and a small net increase in retirees. Comparing the March numbers from 2015 to 2016 the International added 1,030 members to the rolls, increased hours worked by 2.7 million hours and had only a net increase of 108 retirees. This bodes well for the future solvency of the pension plan as well as the other benefits of being in the best trade in the trades.

With less than one year until the end of the current contract, now is a good time to plan for the possibility of a work stoppage in July. Take an evening or two and evaluate your financial situation (savings, insurance policies, total living expenses, etc.) to ensure that you and your family are secure and find ways to buttress the areas where you are weak. It is smart planning for the future.

Local 17 received a letter from the lawyer reprinting Clayco, the contractor for Cleveland State University at the building going up at East 17th and Euclid Avenue informing the local that since there are both represented and non-signatory companies working on the job that there are two gates for entrance to the site. Because of NLRB rules, pickets will only be at one gate. Iron Workers Local 17 picketed the site a month ago. If you have any questions about your rights and responsibilities when any trade is picketing a site, please refer to the National Labor Relations Board rules available at nlrb.gov.

A big thank you to all the trade members who take the time to call the Local 17 Hall when they find non-signatory companies working in the area. Your efforts are making a difference.

On July 15th Brother Chris Lane, Local 11 (Cincinnati) was killed on the job. He was a 22-year member of the IUEC and worked for Kone for 20 of those years. He was 42 years old and leaves a wife and two sons behind. The Brothers and Sisters of the trade union movement entered this line of work for a better life, not a shorter one. Please work smart, work safe and slow down for safety.

The Brothers and Sisters of IUEC Local 17 send their condolences to the family of retired Brother Ralph Sitko who passed away August 11.

As of this writing there is one mechanic and one apprentice on the bench.