Author: IUEC Local 17 Website Administrator

February ’15 Labor Citizen

By the time you read this, the apprentices will be hard at work on the spring semester. Just a reminder that you can only miss two classes a semester. Do not forget to turn in your JATC sheets to Business Manager Tim Moennich or your instructor to log your hours

On the continuing education front, the local has a approximately 35 members involved in the welding, hydraulic controller troubleshooting and scaffolding classes. The welding class ran the weeks of January 12th and 19th at the world headquarters of Lincoln Electric in Euclid. The class gave participants the opportunity to earn a 3G or 4G welding certificate. The hydraulic controller theory and troubleshooting class is the same one the apprentices use in year three and, without a doubt, the most valuable class a new or experienced mechanic can master. The third class is the scaffolding class which certifies the recipient to erect scaffolding. If you took this the last time it was offered, chances are your card is lapsed and this class must be taken to be rectified in scaffold erecting.

As Tim reminds us every month, “the more you know, the more valuable you are.” There are many more options available on the NEIEP website at neiep.org. Our hours pay for this education, take advantage of it.

On the international labor front, Otis workers in Australia were locked out in October 21st after the $62 billion elevator industry giant offered a below inflation one percent wage increase. The 174 Otis Australia workers attempted to negotiate a new contract since April and in September began industrial action with bans on overtime, shift work and starting new projects. The company also attempted to pit construction workers against maintenance workers to no avail.

In response, the company began a lockout which lasted eight weeks. During the lockout, Otis workers in New Zealand, the United States, Canada, Denmark and Ireland took part in an international day of solidarity that played a significant role in Otis management agreeing to a new contract. The workers received a 14 percent pay raise and an increase in travel expenses. They wanted double time for all overtime but, did not get that in the final agreement.

We are stronger standing together than we are kneeling alone.

In the Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund TEAM class last month, Brothers Jimmy Dimmel and Joe Rapine talked about the efforts the IUEC has been making with organized labor overseas and how that played into the Big Four settling the lockout in New York City a few years back.

Another point was that the negotiating team for the IUEC is selected from the rank and file delegates at the International Convention every five years. Many who believe that this gives the company negotiators an upper hand at the table only have to look at the gains we have made over the course of the last three contracts. This highlights the fact that the elevator constructors are not only the best trade in the trades but the best negotiators in the trades.

The members of the IUEC are definitely NOT your stereotypical union workers.

I would like to thank all the members of the trades that have been engaging the employees of the non-signatory companies they have encountered over the course of the last year and a half. The positive image you are providing goes a long way to changing the prevailing image of union non-union relations and is changing the way we are viewed by those we wish to bring into the fold. Please keep speaking the truth about the trades and keep in mind that no one wants to be a part of a club where they feel unwelcome.

As of this writing there are 13 mechanics and two apprentices on the bench.

Until next month,

Work smart, work safe and slow down for safety.

Don
DKnapik@windstream.net

February ’15 Elevator Constructor

Brothers and sisters,

Valentine’s Day is in two weeks. As a husband of almost 30 years I highly advise you to tell that special person in your life how much they mean to you. This includes all the significant others that read the Elevator Constructor every month. Whether the elevator constructor in your life is running rails all day or call backs all night, we do it to make a living that is the envy of the other trades.

When we come home at night, hurting and dirty from the events of the day, please understand when we take a pass on dinner and fall asleep early. Please keep a light on when we are out at night. There is nothing lonelier than coming home to a dark house. When you are pulling an all-nighter getting ready for a class, we are pulling all-nighters to pay for your education.

And always keep in mind that we do what we do because we want the best for you today and to build a great retirement for tomorrow.

For the second year in a row, Local 17 had a white ballot for the December special called meeting for the election of officers. On behalf of all the officers, I would like to thank the members of Local 17 for their confidence in the leadership they elected to run the day-to-day business of the local. It is not always easy to make the decisions that keep our union running but every one of your officers take pride in their due diligence and sense of cooperation that keeps our local moving forward.

There were a lot of money issues dominating the December union meeting.

I know that I am not alone in saying thank you to the trustees of the IUEC pension fund for their stewardship of one of the greatest benefits of being in the best trade in the trades. The pension rate for those retiring between January 1 and June 30 of this year went from $98 per credit year to $103 per credit year. Every hour we work on or after July 1 will count towards a $110 per credit year payment upon retirement. This means that a constructor working an average of 2000 hours per year for 30 years and retiring after the first of the year will have a defined benefit of $3635 per month. Our current pensioners also received a raise of between one and three percent depending on when they retired.

Those of us working towards retirement got a raise as well. Local 17 mechanics rate went up 75 cents an hour and everyone’s benefits are getting a $1.60 an hour raise.

Effective January 1 the mileage rate for business use of an automobile for 2015 is 57.5 cents per mile. Be sure you are receiving the correct rate when turning in your time.

Please be sure to call the hall when starting on a job that will take more than two days to complete. You can call Tim at 216-431-8088 or email him at TMoennich@iueclocal17.org to report your location and what you are doing.

Where are they working?
Matt Weingart and Taurus Ogletree installing an elevator at Plymouth Church in Shaker Heights for Schindler,

Gerard Szmerkovsky and Craig Nolty doing service work at the Cleveland Clinic For Otis,

Mark Byram and John Brunner installing an elevator at East 9th and Euclid for Schindler,

Joe Broz Jr. and Dave Adrian doing a jack at Vantage Financial for Thyssen,

Jeff Lindell and Todd Ross at JC Penny in Canton doing escalator work for Kone,

Tom Gombar and Tim Moore at Bushman doing a rail realignment for Kone.

As of this writing there are 18 mechanics and two apprentices on the bench.

Work smart, work safe and slow down for safety,

Don
DKnapik@windstream.net

January ’15 Labor Citizen

Brothers and sisters:

While New Year’s is traditionally a season for making promises to ourselves and loved ones on self-improvement issues we know in or hearts we will never keep, there is another way of looking at those resolutions that can result in actually making progress to personal improvement.

Anyone that has worked with me in the last three years has heard me repeatedly use these two phrases: first things first and this job is only hard if we make it hard. The two phrases go hand in hand to remind the listener that every large job is really many small jobs that when strung together give a large result.

Think about the hotel going up next to the convention center. The project relies daily on hundreds of tasks, both large and small, being completed in a craftsman like fashion and timely manner. When the job is complete the city will have a 32-floor jewel in the heart of downtown all because every tradesman put first things first and made each job as easy as they could.
Next time you are on a job that at first glance looks impossible, remember first things first and the job is only hard if you make it hard. I’ll bet things go far easier than you’d otherwise expect.

Learning a new skill is a lot like building a structure, it takes time, focus and determination to master. IUEC Local 17 has several continuing education opportunities on-tap for our members. There are welding, scaffolding and hydraulic controller and troubleshooting classes all available through NEIEP. Each one of these classes are highly recommended to become a more well-rounded constructor. For information on openings call Business Manager Tim Moennich at 216-431-8088 or email him at TMoennich@iueclocal17.org.

As of January 1 there were many changes to dollar and cent related issues for the IUEC. First, the IRS millage rate increased to 57.5 cents per mile for business use of a vehicle. Second, every IUEC member received an increase in the amount paid as part of their defined benefits plan. Mechanics received 75 cents in the check and $1.60 in employer paid benefit contributions. All assistant mechanics, apprentices and probationary apprentices received a raise based on the 75 cents given to the mechanics. If you have any questions about what your rate should be, please call Tim at the hall.

The third and most important change was that the Trustees of the National Elevator Industry Pension Plan voted to increase the benefit rate from $98 per credit year to $103 per credit year for all hours worked through June 30, 2015. Every hour worked after that date will be credited at $110 per credit year. One credit year equals 1700 hours worked. Someone retiring between January 1 and June 30 with 30 years worked at 2000 hours a year will have a defined benefit of $3529 per month. Someone with 15 working years at $103 per credit and 15 working years at $110 per credit will have a defined benefit of $3758 per month.

Also, every retiree received an increase of between one and three percent depending on when they retired from the trade.
On the organizing front, Business Manager Tim Moennich and International Organizer Jim Lowery have a meeting with Gable Elevator later this month. The most recent rumor that Florida-based non-signatory Oracle Elevator was purchasing Gable turned out to be false. As of now, Oracle has passed on purchasing Gable.

Operating Engineers Local 18 is using non-union contractor CT Taylor to build their new hall on Triplett Boulevard in Akron. The operators are refusing to hire union laborers, finishers and iron workers for their new hall construction. It was not that long ago that they attempted to have an out-of-state non-signatory elevator company install a car in their current building on Prospect. It was quick work on the local’s part that turned that job around and had it finished by Local 17 members. The phone number of the Operating Engineer’s International General President James Callahan is 202-429-9100. Call him and let him know what you think about the situation.

As of this writing there are 18 mechanics and two apprentices on the bench.

January ’15 Elevator Constructor

Brothers and sisters:

The brothers and sisters of Local 17 wish a Happy New Year to everyone in the IUEC family. If you are interested in seeing the local’s year in pictures then, please feel free to visit the website iueclocal17.org and click on the galleries page. It is filled with photos of our members and their families enjoying the best of what it means to be part of the IUEC family.

There are numerous continuing education opportunities available to Local 17 members this new year. The weeks of January 19th and 23rd there will be a welding class held at the world headquarters of Lincoln Electric in Euclid. The class is four hours a night for two weeks and can lead to 3G and 4G certification. There is a refundable deposit of $500 required for the class which fills up on a first come, first served basis. If you want to be part of this, contact Business Manager Tim Moennich at 216-431-8088 or email him at TMoennich@iueclocal17.org.

The hydraulic controller theory and troubleshooting class is back and will be again taught by John Taylor. It is a four week class and will be taught on Tuesday nights. It is a great way for new or veteran mechanics to sharpen their troubleshooting skills in a controlled environment.

Anyone that took the scaffolding class three years ago, your certification is up and needs to be renewed with the upcoming scaffolding class. If you did not take the class, it is a great opportunity to get certified in this very important phase of the business. If you are interested in taking advantage of these two continuing education opportunities, then contact Tim at the Hall.

On November 19th, Local 17 hosted Jimmy Dimmel and Joe Rapine from the Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund. The two brothers did a fantastic job with the Training Education Activist Membership (TEAM) class which covered the history of organized labor and how the IUEC fits into that history. The four-hour class was one of the fastest and most engaging four hours I have ever spent.

It was the equivalent of attempting to take a drink of water from a fire hose.

Personally, one of the most searing images was the photo of flag-bearing immigrant strikers facing down police who had bayonets fixed and leveled. The next day I went over my mom’s house for dinner and told her about the class. She told me the story of the 1937 steel strike here in Cleveland where she, at seven years-old, witnessed Pinkertons beating strikers, how her father stopping a “cop” from beating one to death and how that was the image she took with her every day into the labor movement.

Never, ever, ever forget that good, brave men, women and children bled the factory floors and picket lines red from wall to wall and curb to curb for everything we have today.

It is on the shoulders of these giants we stand.

Where are they working?

Gerard Szemerkovsky and Craig Nolty installing an elevator in Hubbard, Ohio for Otis,

Joe Broz and Dave Adrian doing a jack at Granada Garden for Thyssen,

Shawn Yatsko and Joe Sumph doing mod work at Lake Park Tower for Schindler,

Clint Williams and Heath Kramer doing a door mod at Progressive Field for Kone,

Tom Gombar and Tim Moore doing escalator clean downs at South Park Mall for Kone,

Jeff Ward and Nick Meyer doing a Jack at Great Northern for Thyssen,

Gary Thompson and Ryan Todd doing a mod at Highland Square for Schindler,

John Logue and Steve Keating doing a mod at Lutheran Hospital for Otis.

As of this writing there are 15 mechanics and two apprentices on the bench.

Till next month,
Work smart, work safe and slow down for safety.

Don
DKnapik@windstream.net

December ’14 Labor Citizen

Brothers and sisters:

IUEC Local 17 will be holding a welding class at the world headquarters of Lincoln Electric in Euclid the weeks of January 12th and 19th. There is a $500 deposit that is refundable at completion of the course. The 40 hour course is designed to prepare the student for 3G and 4G certification. If you have any questions or would like to reserve a slot, contact Business Manager Tim Moennich at 216-431-8088 or email him at TMoennich@iueclocal17.org.

John Taylor will be teaching the hydraulic controller theory and troubleshooting class. This class covers the basic controller, pump and door operator functions and well as problems that that can occur. It is a valuable class for any new or experienced mechanic looking to sharpen their trouble shooting skills. If you are interested in attending, contact Tim at the Hall.

There is also a sign-up sheet for a scaffolding class. If you took the class three years ago, your certification has lapsed and you will need to take this class to requalify your card. This is also another great skill to have in your bag for repair, mod or construction work. Again, if you are interested, call Tim at the Hall.

There will be a make-up class for apprentices on December 11th for those who have missed at least one class.

On November 19th, Brothers Jimmy Dimmel and Joe Rapine from Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund were in Cleveland to do their Training Education Activist Membership (TEAM) class. The class covered the history of the labor movement and the place of the IUEC in that history.

It was like trying to take a drink of water out of a fire hose.

Personally, it was a powerful four hours listening about the men, women and children that lost their lives during on the job accidents, lockouts and strikes. Seeing the pictures of immigrant striking workers holding American flags standing toe-to-toe with hired guns with bayonets fixed and lowered seared in my head that great men of principle united for a cause are not worried about this life, but the legacy they leave for the next generation. The men and women of Ludlow, Haymarket Square and Triangle are the giants on whose shoulders we stand.

Never, ever, ever forget that their blood, wall to wall and curb to curb, is their legacy and the life force of a movement that stands against the tyranny of those that seek to separate us.

Schindler is going to work four 10 hour days on all construction jobs. This means that any one working on a construction site for Schindler on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday will be doing so at double time. Schindler has supplied a list of all construction jobs to the local.

Local 17 scored $3000 for its coffers courtesy of Otis because they hired a non-signatory company to do cab work on one of their jobs. If you know of any non-signatories or another trade doing work we claim, call the hall immediately.

As of this writing there is no news on the status of the dollar amount on the earned credit for the pension. The amount will not be announced until after the December Pension Trustees meeting but it is expected to increase. The current amount is $98 per credit year. One credit year is 1700 hours worked. This would be the first increase in a number of years but, retirees have received raises 12 times. The minimum amount received by a retiree is $53 a year and our oldest retiree is a centenarian.

The December 12th and January 9th general meetings are mandatory meetings for the election and installation of officers. You must call the hall prior to the meeting to be excused. If not, then a fine will be imposed.

As of this writing there are 15 mechanics and two apprentices on the bench.

December ’14 Elevator Constructor

Brothers and sisters:

As many of you know Local 17 has not and will not be picketing the Board of Elections renovation job. This does not mean that our organizing effort is over, in fact, it means that the Volunteer Organizing Committee is moving in the right direction. The VOC was formed a little over a year ago to educate our unorganized brothers and sisters about the advantages of being a part of the best union in the trades and offer them a path to membership. Many hours were spent early on educating the members of the committee about the NLRA and other laws regulating organizing. Believe me when I tell you the decision to not picket was received in all quarters with a variety of reactions. Ultimately it allows us to continue on the path we originally started.

The purpose of the VOC is to see that every elevator constructor working in our jurisdiction has the best wages, benefits and working conditions in the trades. Until all our unorganized brothers and sisters join the IUEC that mission will not be complete.

Congratulations to Tom Peska for passing the Mechanics Exam. I have said here many times that the mechanics test is the only unbiased evaluation of a member’s knowledge they will have. It also is the end of the easy part of their career in the trade. The successful completion of the job and the safety of all those involved now falls on their shoulders.

One very important thing to remember is that education in this trade is a never ending task. Local 17 has a signup sheet for a scaffolding class and is putting together a welding class for the weeks of January 12th and 19th. If you are interested in either of these continuing education opportunities, please contact Business Manager Tim Moennich at 216-431-8088 or email him at TMoennich@iueclocal17.org. NEIEP also offers many continuing education classes through its website neiep.org.

The December 12th and January 9th union meetings are mandatory meetings for the election and installation of officers. Meetings start at 6 pm and are held at the hall located at 3250 Euclid Avenue.
The Local 17 Children’s Christmas Party will be held this year on December 6th at the hall. The festivities start at 1 pm and feature a visit by Santa Clause and family-oriented entertainment. This is a great opportunity to mix with members and friends from other companies and their families.

Where are they working?

 

Jeff Ward and Nick Meyer replacing a machine at Erie Square Apartments,
Gary Thompson and Ryan Todd doing a mod at Highland Square in Akron for Schindler,
Tom Kelly and Mark Mehnert doing service work at the Stokes Office Building for Otis,
Drew Williams and Lem Hurd doing a mod at Case Parking garage for Thyssen,
Jim Thompson and Joe Simcic doing a mod at South Point Parking Garage for Otis,
John Brunner and Jim Rogers installing a three-stop car at Wiggins Place for Schindler,
Dennis Dixon and Ric Supinski doing a mod at Moreland Courts for KONE,
Jason Fredrick and Bob Garman doing a mod at Reserve Square for Thyssen,
Jason Sohayda and Steve Keating doing a mod at Willoughby Library for Otis,
Dave Gnagy and Matt Harden doing a mod at Shoregate Towers for Ross Elevator,
Shawn Yatsko and Joe Sumph doing a mod at 1717 for Schindler,
Mark Byram and an Akron helper doing a two-car mod at Wadsworth Towers for Schindler,
John Patton doing retrofit work in Akron for KONE,
Jerry Szemerkovsky and Craig Nolty at Akron Children’s Hospital for Otis.

The Brothers of Local 17 send their condolences to the family of retired Brother Tom Ross who passed away September 30. Tom was the founder of Ross Elevator.

As of this writing there are 14 mechanics and one apprentice on the bench.

 

Till next month,
Work smart, work safe and slow down for safety.

 

Don
DKnapik@windstream.net

November ’14 Labor Citizen

Brothers and sisters:

 

As you may know, Local 17 recently formed the Volunteer Organizing Committee to assist the International in an effort to organize the unrepresented elevator constructors working in the Cleveland area.

 

The VOC was initially formed in September 2013. Our first priority was to educate those attending the meetings about the laws governing organizing and developing the tools and skills needed to legally move forward in our effort. In late February of this year, the group began hand billing the entertainment district on East 4th Street and the Holiday Inn Express on Euclid. These sites were chosen because all the units except for the one in Pickwick and Frolic are maintained by non-signatory Gable Elevator. We have also hand billed the new Uptown development in University Circle, again, because these units were installed and, except for one car, maintained by Gable.

 

The group has attended school board meetings in Beachwood, Maple Heights, Solon and Amherst to encourage those districts to use our signatory companies. Those meetings have produced positive feedback from the school boards and we look forward to them again employing our members to service their equipment.

 

It came to the attention of the Local that the general contractor for the renovation of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections building on the corner of Euclid and East 30th awarded the elevator modernization contract to Gable. After extensive investigation and debate the Committee decided to picket the job based on Gable’s record of paying 18 to 45 percent of the current wages and benefits paid to represented members on non-prevailing wage jobs. After further consultation with the International it was decided that picketing would not be the best way to move forward toward organizing Gable.

 

This does not mean that our effort is over, it means that our original course was correct. It is the mission of the VOC to educate the unorganized elevator constructors working in our jurisdiction about the benefits of union membership and offer them a path toward membership. To that end we will always move forward.

 

Congratulations are in order for Tom Peska on his successful passing of the Mechanics Exam. As every journeyman in the trades knows, being elevated to that status only is the beginning of the hard part of your career. The rest is what you make of it through hard work and continuing education. The best journeymen in the trades are the tones that push themselves to keep learning and pass that knowledge on to their apprentices and other journeymen. Every company, every trade has those that are the go-to guys when there is a problem on a job. Every tradesman’s goal should be to be that go-to guy.

 

IUEC Local 17 is putting together a welding class for the weeks of January 12th and 19th at the world headquarters of Lincoln Electric in Euclid. If you have not taken this class it is a 40 hour hands-on class in stick welding in the 3G and 4G positions. If you are interested, please call Business Manager Tim Moennich at 216-431-8088 or email him at TMoennich@iueclocal17.org. There is also a signup sheet for a scaffolding class. If your scaffolding card is not up to date, contact Tim to get into this valuable class.

 

On Wednesday, November 19 Joe Rapine and Jimmy Dimmle from Elevator Industry Work Preservation will be in town to give a class on the role that unions play in the workplace and the history of the IUEC. Everyone is invited to attend at the classroom at 24th and Superior at 5 pm.

 

All active and retired union members can receive a 15% discount on their cell phone bills through AT&T as part of their Union Plus benefits. For more information, go to either iueclocal17.org and click on the Links page or go to the International’s site, iuec.org.
The IUEC also has an app available for iPhone and Android platforms. The app is available through the Apple Store or Google Play sites. The app gives quick access to all the current information available through the IUEC as well as contact information and members-only pages.

 

The IUEC Safety Committee is constantly updating the information on the International website under the Safety/Alerts page. Please check it out on a regular basis to see what applies to you in your daily activities.

 

The November 14th, December 12th and January 9th meetings are mandatory for the nomination, election and installation of officers. Fines will be assessed for non-attendance without timely and valid notification.

 

The Local 17 Annual Children’s Christmas Party will be held December 6th at 1 pm at the hall located at 3250 Euclid Avenue. All members and their families are invited to attend. There will be family-oriented entertainment as well as a visit from Santa Clause for the children. Please mark the date on your calendar and plan on attending.

 

The Brothers of IUEC Local 17 send their condolences to the family of retired Brother Tom Ross who passed away September 30. Tom was the founder of Ross Elevator Company.

 

As of this writing there are 14 mechanics and one apprentice on the bench.