Author: IUEC Local 17 Website Administrator

May ’12 Elevator Constructor

Brothers and sisters:

First off, a large congratulations has to go to the International’s Labor Committee and the new contract they hammered out with NEBA.  Our give backs were minimal and the new agreement eliminates the most onerous aspect of the previous contract, namely the three-strikes clause of Article X paragraph 6, and incorporates the Assistant Mechanic classification into the language.  Benefits are bolstered throughout the term, particularly health and welfare, and we get raises every year.

Last month I talked about unions and companies working together for the betterment of their industry.  In my humble opinion the IUEC and NEBA looked beyond their own interests, viewed the broad landscape of the industry and came to the conclusion that they both can coexist and prosper.

From one grateful member, on behalf of many others, thank you.

Not much has been heard of from the 1851 Center for Constitutional Law and their effort to turn Ohio into a Right-to-Work state since they announced the effort back in November.  Now the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), a trade group of non-union builders and contractors, is paying circulators for signatures to the RTW petitions.

The incentives for an individual range from 25 cents to $1.50 per signature and those for a group go from $1000 for 1200 signatures to $1350 for 2700 signatures.  While the use of paid circulators is not unheard of in political campaigns, how many people were paid circulators for the repeal of SB 5?  My guess is none.

While polls currently favor Ohio to go RTW, the numbers are not that much different than when SB 5 went before legislators in Columbus.  It was a concerted effort by public and private-sector unions that sent SB 5 to the legislative dung heap.

Keep vigilant my friends… the next real storm is just over the horizon.

July 13th is Local 17’s first Classic Car and Bike Night at the monthly union meeting.  We are planning a cookout and refreshments after the meeting and of course spending time sharing stories about our rides.  The meeting starts at 6 pm and anyone can bring their car or bike.  I know there are members with modern classics like Challengers, Chargers, Mustangs and Corvettes as well as Harleys, Indians and Hondas of all description.  They are all welcome as well as those muscle cars and classic rides from the sixties and seventies.  I will be there with my LBC, Bridget, taking pictures to share on the website, iueclocal17.org, and in the Constructor.

 

Where are they working?

Ken Bowles, Gerard Szemerkovsky, Ric Supinski and Jason Sohayda installing a freight car that the Museum of Contemporary Art for Otis,

Scott Hicks, Dave Lehotan, Jim Rogers and Ron Wittwage installing two cars at the casino parking garage for Schindler,

Bernie Sickle and Ed Gimmel doing a jack and cab at Cleveland Sight Center for Schindler,

Ken Hasek, John Logue, Craig Haller, Scott Villanueva and Jason Saunders doing a mod at Key Tower for Otis,

Mark Carollo and Steve Kemp replacing doors and operators at Perry for Schindler,

John Bruner and Taurus Ogletree doing a tear out at the Union Building for Schindler,

DJ Springs, Greg Seaman, Tony Karovich, Ken Eaton, Tom Peska and Scott Erison working at the Eaton Headquarters for Otis,

Matt Pinchot and Jeff Ward doing a mod at the Cleveland Clinic Parking Garage for Otis,

Tom Gombar and Paul Schutzow doing a jack at the Salvation Army for Kone,

Don Kaiser and Tim Moore clearing up violations at 45 Erieview for Schindler,

Bob Garman and Robin Eaton doing a mod at Halle’s for Thyssen,

Jason Faber and Joe Broz Jr. doing a jack at Granada Garden apartments for Thyssen.

 

At this writing there are 16 mechanics and one apprentice out of work.

 

Till next month…

Work smart, work safe and slow down for safety.

 

Don

dknapik@windstream.net

April ’12 Cleveland Citizen

At the March union meeting, Business Agent Tim Moennich reported that IBEW Local 38 member John Walczak’s son Nick was one of the shooting victims at the recent tragedy at Chardon High School.  Nick had been shot several times and was at the Spine Therapy unit at Metro Hospital.  He was in serious condition and it was unknown whether he would walk again.

IUEC Local 17 and all its members send their thoughts and prayers to Nick and his family for the strength to endure the long road to recovery ahead of him.

The Union Sportsman Alliance is a non-profit conservation based hunting and fishing organization exclusively for union members and their families.  The USA’s primary goal is to protect wildlife habitats while guaranteeing access or hunters and anglers.  They are non-partisan and do not take positions on or endorse political parties, candidates or agendas. Their membership is free and open to all union members and their families. They can be reached through their website at unionsportsmen.org.

As this issue of the Cleveland Citizen goes to press our delegates will be returning from Baltimore and the ratification vote for the new five-year contract between NEBA and the IUEC.  If you were at the March meeting Tim outlined the basic structure of the agreement.  There will be pay raises in each of the five years and a portion of which going to bolster NEIEP, the annuity, health and welfare and the pension.  The most onerous section, Article X paragraph 6 which outlined the three-strikes policy for apprentices in sitting for the mechanics exam, was eliminated and the probationary period was extended from six months to one year.  There were some other minor concessions but nothing that created the rancor associated with the last five-year deal.  All-in-all it appears to be a solid deal which allows everyone to do what they do best.  In the end, that is what makes for a good union contract.

IUEC Local 125A in New Foundland, Canada reported that they signed an agreement ending their two and a half month strike.  They wanted to thank all of their North American brethren for the support they showed through their struggle.

There is still time to get your reservations for two upcoming events and mark your calendars for a third.

On Friday, April 20th our local will be honoring its retired members at Fran Sterle’s Slovenian Restaurant, 1401 East 55th Street.  Refreshments start at 5:30 and a family style dinner will be served at 6:30.  The cost to active members is $30 per person and retirees are free.  If you are planning to attend please contact Mike Hogan through the hall or you can email him at m.hogan67@yahoo.com.

Second, make room on your calendar for the IUEC Local 17 Golf Outing to be held June 2nd at Mallard Creek Golf Club, 34500 Royalton Road, Columbia Station.  Tee time is 9 am and the cost is $90 which includes golf, beer, pop and dinner.  Please have your checks mailed to Mike Hogan by May 1st.

July 13th is Local 17’s first Classic Car and Bike Night to be held in conjunction with the monthly union meeting.  We are planning a cookout and refreshments after the meeting and of course spending time sharing stories about our rides.  The meeting starts at 6 pm and anyone can bring their car or bike.  I know there are members with modern classics like Challengers, Chargers, Mustangs and Corvettes as well as Harleys, Indians and Hondas of all description.  They are all welcome as well as those muscle cars and classic rides from the sixties and seventies.  I will be there with my LBC, Bridget, taking pictures to share on the website, iueclocal17.org, and in the Constructor.

This is a real opportunity to meet other members and share some great motoring experiences.

ThyssenKrupp has agreed to pay $65 to the purchase of work shoes or boots that meet their safety standard.  The footwear must be oil resistant, have leather uppers, hard toed and EH rated to be eligible.  See your superintendent for more information.

April 2012 Elevator Constructor

Brothers and sisters:

There seems to be a disconnect between business and labor over the value of each.  I once heard it put that “you cannot love the employer and hate the employee” and its logical extension “you cannot love the employee and hate the employer.”

The Right demonizes labor, organized labor in particular, in its quest to maximize the profits of its corporate patrons.  They champion Right-to-Work legislation, limitations on public-sector union negotiating, the perpetuation of the view of union leadership as dues collecting, racketeering, do-nothings and the minimization of the skilled workforce that produces the returns for their shareholders.

The Left views corporations as evil opportunist building their fortunes on the backs of the good and noble workers. They keep worker’s wages artificially low, attempting to drive a wedge between co-workers and caring more for their profit than the people that produce it.

The worst part is that if you know history you know they are both correct.  There was a time when organized labor worked more like organized crime and men like Rockefeller, Carnegie, Ford and Edison defined greed.  That was a century ago and the stereotypes are perpetuated and amplified today with our instant communication society.

For over a century unions have been the counter to the industrialists and we in the union movement have succeeded in building a society where fairness and safety in the workplace is paramount to the mutual success of the members and the companies that employ us.

The most important part for both to remember is that companies need to make a profit for their shareholders and employees need to be able to purchase goods and services that support their employers. This is true whether you work for a mom and pop shop or a global enterprise: each needs the other to exist.  While it seems that this is stating the obvious, many men and women of good intention, in attempting to further the agenda of their organization, lose sight of this fundamental truth.

When management and labor work together there is nothing they cannot accomplish.

There are two upcoming events every member should circle on their calendar.  First is April 20th for the Annual Local 17 Retiree’s Dinner.  It will be held at Frank Sterle’s Slovenian Restaurant, 1404 East 55th Street.  Doors open at 5:30 with refreshments and a family style dinner at 6:30.  The cost at the door is $30 for active members and free for retirees.

The Annual Golf Outing will be June 2nd at Mallard Creek Golf Club, 34500 Royalton Road, Columbia Station.  Tee time is 10 am and includes golf, refreshments and dinner.  The cost is $90 per person.  To reserve your spot at both events, contact Mike Hogan at m.hogan67@yahoo.com or Business Agent Tim Moennich at 431-8808.

 

 

Where are they working?

Dave Lehotan and Kevin Driscoll doing a car station and call buttons at Margaret Wagner for Schindler,

Matt Weingart, Scott Hicks, Dave Bruner, Mark Byram, Ron Rittwage, Brian Owens, Cristino DeJesus and Chris Wyatt at the casino for Schindler,

Bob Myer and Tom Gombar installing a freight car at the art museum for Kone,

Bob Garman and Robin Eaton doing a mod at Breckenridge for Thyssen,

Dave Hess and Dave Adrian putting a car back in service at 1001 Euclid for Thyssen,

DJ Springs, Gregg Seaman, Joe Simcic, Ric Supinski, Ken Eaton and Tony Karovich at Eaton headquarters for Otis,

Charlie Donner and Randy Thompson installing a freight car at Bass Chemical for Thyssen,

Gerard Szemerkovsky and Ric Supinski at Warrensville YMCA installing a two-stop hydo for Otis,

Tom Kelly and Mark Mehnert doing a jack job at Hillcrest Hospital for Otis.

 

As of this writing there are 16 mechanics and two apprentices out of work.

 

Till next month…

Work smart, work safe and slow down for safety,

 

Don

dknapik@windstream.net

March 2012 Cleveland Citizen

In your quarterly dues letter there are two important letters from Entertainment Chairman Mike Hogan all IUEC Local 17 members will want to make a point of attending.

On Friday, April 20th our local will be honoring its retired members at Fran Sterle’s Slovenian Restaurant, 1401 East 55th Street.  Refreshments start at 5:30 and a family style dinner will be served at 6:30.  The cost to active members is $30 per person and retirees are free.  If you are planning to attend please contact Mike Hogan through the hall or you can email him at m.hogan67@yahoo.com.

Also make room on your calendar for the IUEC Local 17 Golf Outing to be held June 2nd at Mallard Creek Golf Club, 34500 Royalton Road, Columbia Station.  Tee time is 10am and the cost is $90 which includes golf, beer, pop and dinner.  Please have your checks mailed to Mike Hogan by May 1st.

Four apprentices are currently enrolled in the NEIEP apprenticeship program.  Just a reminder that your OJT forms need to be turned in on a timely manner so your apprenticeship hours can be accounted for.  So please get your forms in on time.

There are sign-up sheets available for scaffolding and hydraulic controller theory classes.  If you are interested please contact Business Agent Tim Moennich at 216-431-8088 or email him at TMoennich@iueclocal17.org.

NEIEP News

NEIEP’s new area coordinator, Jeff Burns from Local 9 Minneapolis, reported that our new apprenticeship standards were approved by the US Department of Labor and he will be working to get them approved by the state of Ohio.

There are two new online offerings NEIEP will be rolling our very soon.  The first is an escalator lab which will give great insight to those who do not normally get to work on escalators.  The second offering is a hydraulic valve lab which will explain the theory and application of how valves work.  To help illustrate the concepts, NEIEP is looking for UC4 and UV5 hydraulic valves.  If you or someone you know is tearing one out, please have your superintendent contact Tim about donating it to NEIEP for inclusion in their program.

As times get tighter, companies are looking closer at their employees.  One area that they are paying special attention to is continuing education and particularly the courses offered through NEIEP.  I have had more than one superintendent tell me that when the mangers look at whom to keep one factor is the amount of continuing education the individual has completed on their own.  The courses offered to every elevator constructor through NEIEP are comprehensive and free of charge.  Take advantage of them.

Since Saint Patrick’s Day is a few days away, Local 17 wants to invite every member of the local and their families to participate in the parade.  Edmonds Elevator has once again donated the use of their truck.  The parade will be held along Superior Avenue and we usually line up near the Plain Dealer building.  It is a great opportunity to meet other members and their families as well as create some special memories for your children or grandchildren.

March 2012 Elevator Constructor

Brothers and sisters:

Seeing as how March is now upon us and St. Patrick’s Day is a short two weeks away, that means three things: the Indians are deep into spring training, we are due at least one more arctic blast before spring sets in and I need to get cracking on finishing the winter upgrades to Bridget my 1973 MGB.

Yes, I was able to hang onto her after last year’s unpleasantness and she rewarded me with the best driving experience of my life.  I’m not talking about 6000 rpm hole shots or wheel- screeching cornering.  I’m talking about the moment when the machine becomes an extension of the man.

I left Elyria west on US 20 to Norwalk bound for East Harbor.  The day was as crystal clear and cold.  It didn’t matter.  This was going to be the last ride of the year and I wanted to run her into a lather.

My deep cup of caffeinated heat kept me warm until I turned north on 250 and stopped for a refill.  By now the sun was close to zenith and the 100 ponies under the bonnet were just getting going.  They didn’t need extra coaxing.  They were running on 93 octane double espresso.

On the stretch between Norwalk and Sandusky I let the horses run free.  I don’t know what I topped out at but the way the mailboxes whizzed past it was close to 105.  I felt like Michael Shumaker testing an F1 at Monaco.  Every twist, every turn was anticipated and executed to perfection.  Absolutely heart in your mouth thrilling.  Route 2 and 58 were at a saner speed but the Edison Bridge made for a great open run.

I let the horses rest at East Harbor.  They earned it.  I walked up and down the deserted beach and felt invigorated by the warm sun, cold breeze and calm lake.  Magical.

When the fully rested horses roared back to life and I pointed them east toward Cleveland, they never missed a beat.  58 back to 2 and then 6 west of The Point.  The route was the old roadbed of the Lake Shore Electric Railway, a fact given away by its broad expanse.  The gentle undulations and easy sweeps passed in an instant as Bridget kicked up fallen foliage in her wake.

Coffee, this time from Caribou in Rocky River.  I met a guy who used to sell MGs for Fred Baker.  We chatted for a few minutes and he told me how the cars run better with the parts we have now than they did from the factory.  Maybe that’s why BL failed.

With the sun setting and temperature dropping, I opted for the parkway to Strongsville and Bridget’s winter home.  I gunned her one last time through a series of tight turns and she never flinched.

Spring can’t come too soon.

Leave Friday, April 20th open on your calendar for the 2012 Local 17 Retiree’s Dinner.  It will be held at Frank Sterle’s Slovenian House at 1401 East 55th Street.  Cocktails will be served at 5:30 and dinner at 6:30 pm.  The cost will be $30 for active members and free for retirees.  This is a great opportunity to get together and hear the history of Local 17 from the men who made it.

As many of you know, UFCW Local 880 has settled their strike with Rite Aid.  Their members are back to work under the terms of a new contract.  Here is another example of union brothers and sisters standing together and winning for their brethren.  Congratulations to UFCW.

As of this writing there are twenty-four mechanics out of work.

Until next month,

Work smart, work safe and slow down for safety….

Don

dknapik@windstream.net

IUEC, NEBA Ink Agreement

It was rumored late last week and confirmed earlier today that the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) and the National Elevator Bargaining Association (NEBA) have reached a tentative agreement on a new five-year contract.

While broad areas of the proposed contract are starting to come to light, there has been nothing in writing from the International on the details of the agreement.  Any agreement between the IUEC and NEBA must be approved by the delegates of the locals at a gathering later this spring.

According to Business Agent Tim Moennich there will be information available at the regularly scheduled union meeting this Friday, March 9th at 6pm.

Please plan on attending to hear the most up to date news on the tentative agreement.