Category: Cleveland Citizen

Brothers and Sisters:

May 1 was the opening of the Ohio Elevator Mechanic Licensing Portal.  Mechanics have until November 1, 2025 to apply for their Ohio License.  The cost is $250 for a two-year license with a requirement for continuing education hours.  The State will recognize CE hours taken through NEIEP at its website, neiep.org.  NEIEP will also pay each member one-hour of wages for taking a CE course through the site.  For more information, keep your attention tuned to these pages.

Local 17 is holding their annual Retiree’s Dinner on May 16 at Harry’s Steak House in Independence.  The event always draws a large group of active and retired members and is a highlight of the Local calendar.  The cost is $65 at the door for active members and free for retirees.  Beverages are served at 5:30 and dinner at 6:30. 

The 2024-25 academic year is drawing to a close with final exams scheduled for the week of May 19.  All apprentices must have all requirements (homework, exams, labs etc.) and hours up to date and completed prior to being allowed to sit for their semester final.  Good luck to all apprentices moving forward to the next semester.

Thank you to John Taylor for teaching the Hydraulic Valve Continuing Education class.  The class focused on hydraulic theory, valves and how to adjust them for best performance.  If you would like to see a particular class offered, contact Business Manager John Driscoll Jr at the hall at 216-431-8088 or email him at JEDriscoll@iueclocal17.org.

NEIEP is working on rewriting the aptitude test taken by prospective apprentices to focus more on mechanical ability.  There is also an effort to reformat the new hire probationary module to include more instructor interaction and information about the role of the union and the NEIEP in the trade.

The rewrite of RC500 is almost complete and ready to roll out to the Locals.  The new RC600 text is complete from scratch to cover drives, microprocessors and communications.  The labs are currently being developed along with finalizing images, animations and completing the internal processes necessary for release.  Part of the new RC entails an entirely new simulator based on CAN communication controlling a virtual elevator. This is a major step forward for NEIEP as this simulator will be available for use throughout the program. 

Work is presently steady with the Sherwin-Williams headquarters work winding down.  Otis has four crews working two-12 hour shifts at the steel mill on a modernization.  The other companies are either waiting on parts or their jobs to be to the point where they can begin work.

As of this writing there are four mechanics on the bench.

Brothers and Sisters:

The IUEC Local 17 Retiree’s dinner will be held Friday, May 16 at Harry’s Steak House, 5664 Brecksville Road, Independence.  Doors open at 5:30 with dinner at 6:30.  The cost for active members is $65 with retirees attending for free.  All attendees must have a reservation into Entertainment Chairman Todd Kemp as soon as possible.

On March 26, the Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund presented opportunities for signatory companies to receive grant money to pursue contracts currently being held by non-signatory companies operating in the Cleveland area.  Locals 17 and 45 (Akron) have been very fortunate that up until recently non-signatories have not been active in the jurisdiction.  There has been an increase in activity by Findlay’s Davis-Newcomer and Lake Erie Elevator in Painesville to penetrate the market.  

Local representatives of Kone, TKElevator, ATTA/Maximum and, new signatory to the Cleveland and Akron Local agreements, Moseley were scheduled to attend the presentation.

The grants from the EIWPF cover the partial difference between a signatory and non-signatory cost of a maintenance contract as well as a percentage of modernization and construction costs.  The Fund is a cooperative effort between the International Union of Elevator Constructors and the National Elevator Bargaining Association (NEBA) to maintain and increase jobs serviced by signatory companies.

At the bottom of the article is a list of signatory to Local 17.  If you suspect there is a company operating in the area that is not listed below, contact Business Manager John Driscoll Jr at the hall at 216-431-8088 or email him at JEDriscoll@iueclocal17.org. 

The portal for licensing elevator mechanic in Ohio will open May 1, 2025 through the State of Ohio website Ohio.gov.  Initially there will be a six-month window for all mechanics to apply for a license through the site.  The cost will be $250 for a two-year license.   According to Driscoll, there is no need for anyone to attempt to access the site prior to the May 1 opening date.  

Ohio will have a requirement for all license holders to have eight hours of continuing education classes per year.  The classes are available through the NEIEP website, neiep.org, under the Continuing Education tab and will be accepted by the State.  NEIEP also pays the student/mechanic for their time when taking any CE class.  For more information go the NEIEP website.

This license belongs to the mechanic and not the company.  It is the individual mechanic’s responsibility to keep current.  This is not an expense to be turned in to the company for repayment. It is not a dues difference to another Local. It is, among other things, the holders ability to refuse to perform an unsafe practice at the behest of their supervisor.

After the portal opens, Local 17 will have a run-through on the application process at a monthly union meeting.  Watch this space and the Local website for more information.

The Brothers and Sisters of Local 17 send their condolences to the families of Honorary retiree Chuck Lanning who passed away February 20 and Brother Matt Harden whose father passed away February 19.

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

Brothers and Sisters:

The 2025 IUEC Local 17 Retiree’s Dinner is scheduled for Friday, May 16 at Harry’s Steak House, 5664 Brecksville Road, Independence.  Watch your mailbox and the Local 17 website, iueclocal17.org, for more information.

A contingent of Local 17 members and family marched in the 2025 Cleveland St.Patrick’s Day Parade on March 17.  Once again Kone donated the use of their stake body truck for the event and everyone in attendance had a great time.  For photos of the event, go to the Local 17 website.

The elevator constructor licensing process is beginning.  The first stage, opening the contractor portal, is effective May1.  This is where the companies apply to the state for an operating license.  The portal for mechanics is expected to open June 1 with the expectation that by November 1 all eligible mechanics will have their license.  The cost for a two-year license is $250 set by the Ohio Division of Industrial Compliance under whose jurisdiction the Elevator Safety Board will operate.  There is no word as of now who Governor Mike DeWine will name to the new board.

There are multiple members working out of town.  If you are an apprentice and sent out of town, contact Business Manager John Driscoll Jr at 216-431-8088 or email him at JEDriscoll@iueclocal17.org before you leave so he can put you in roaming status with NEIEP.   You will be able to attend classes in your work Local and be reinserted into Local 17 upon return.

Work is still solid in the area even as the elevator work at Sherwin-Williams come to completion.  TKElevator is planning for mods at Rocket Arena and new construction at Cleveland Clinic Neuroscience and Cleveland Police Headquarters.  Otis is still moding the Cleveland Clinic but, the steel mill mod should help to keep members working.

Local 45 (Akron) Business Manager Ron Johnston along with Local 17 Business Manager John Driscoll Jr had a meeting with the owner of Columbus-based Moseley Elevator on their plans to expand into the Cleveland/Akron market.  This will give both Locals 17 and 45 another signatory company to place members.  

As when Gable became a signatory, the new office for Moseley will have portability between Cleveland and Akron jurisdictions until there are enough units to warrant full routes in either territory.  Any mod or construction work, though, will require Local members.  

Retired Brother John Taylor is teaching the Hydraulic Controller Lab continuing education course at the school.  Local 17 is planning to offer the hydraulic valve class after completing the controller class.  The expected start date is March 26.  If you are interested in this offering, contact John at the Hall.

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

Brothers and Sisters:

Congratulations to Business Manager John Driscoll Jr on his election to the Executive Board of the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades were he will serve as the Recording Secretary.  Driscoll previously served as a trustee of the IUEC and is currently serving as a vice president and member of the International General Executive Board.

Local 17 will be participating in the 2025 Cleveland St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  This is always a fun, family centered event which creates memories for years to come.  The parade kicks off at 1 pm from East 18th and Superior.  The Local will have a truck to carry the kids and any adults that wish to ride along the route.  We also encourage as many members, friends and family to attend and march.

Apprentice school is in full swing with seven classes over four days held in our classroom on Engle Road in Brook Park.  There are 50 apprentices enrolled in the program.  

Local 17 members recently completed a two-week welding course held at Lincoln Electric’s headquarters in Euclid.  Participants had the opportunity to qualify for their 3G and 4G certification.  

Members had until January 31 to get their 2024 vacation hours into the hall.  If a member did not get their days into hall, they can expect a letter from the Executive Board along with a possible fine.  Vacation pay for the second half of 2024 was due to be paid by January 15.  The pay amount is based on the actual number of hours worked during the last six months of the year less any PTO taken during that time.  Overtime worked is calculated at actual straight hours, not the premium for nights or Sundays (1.7 or 2.0).

If you are working on a Welty/Gilbane job and have an ethics concern, there is a hotline to report this to the contractor.  Information should be available on your job.

The elevator work on the Sherwin-Williams project is winding down and should be completed shortly.  Schindler has a couple of out-of-towner workers still on the job and they will be returning to their home Locals before any Local 17 members are moved out.  TK Elevator is gearing up for two high profile jobs.  The first is a full-modernization at Rocket Mortgage Field House and the second the Cleveland Clinic Neuroscience building.  Otis is working several mods a the Clinic as well as the mod at the mill while Gable/3Phase is keeping three mod teams working.

The City of Cleveland is actively seeking elevator inspectors.  If you are interested in joining the City, contact John at the hall at 216-431-8088 or email him at JEDriscoll@iueclocal17.org for more information.

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

Brothers and Sisters:

The IUEC Local 17 Children’s Christmas Party was held December 14 at the hall.  There were 21 families attending with all the member’s children and grandchildren 12 and under having the opportunity to meet Santa and receive a gift from the Jolly Old Elf himself.  For photos of the event, go to the Local 17 website, iueclocal17.org.

The January 10, 2025 Special Called Meeting is a Mandatory Meeting for the installation of officers.  Those not in attendance without a valid reason will be fined by the Executive Board.

The first quarter dues were increased by $25 to fund the International Death Benefit paid to families of IUEC members who pass away on the job.  The survivors receive a $250,000 check directly from the International to use as they wish.

The Spring 2025 semester starts the week of January 20 with seven classes on the roster.  The 50 apprentices in the program will be offered one night of RC 200 as well as two nights each of RC 300, RC 400 and RC 700.  Orientation is tentatively scheduled for January 15 at the school located on Engle Road in Brook Park.

The Local is holding a welding class at the world headquarters of Lincoln Electric from January 6th to the 17th.  The attendees have the chance to earn a 3G or 4G welding certification.  Those apprentices attending the welding class are excused from the NEIEP orientation.

The apprentices completing the RC 100 Practical as well as the RC 200 students completing the SIG/RIG certification should have received the results of those exams.  Congratulations to those receiving their SIG/RIG card. If you have not heard about your results, contact Business Manager John Driscoll Jr at the hall at 216-431-8088 or email him at JEDriscoll@iueclocal17.org.

A reminder that all members must turn in a list of their vacation days taken in the previous year as soon as possible.  The Executive Board reviews all the time submitted and will fine those who have not taken their full allotment of 20 days.  Also, vacation checks must be paid to all members by January 15.  If you do not receive your payment or have a question, contact John at the hall.

Work is good in the area for all the trades and the trend is expected to continue for the next several years.  It is especially important that all members of the organized trades act in a manner that separates us from the non-signatories regardless of our speciality.

This means policing our trade and correcting not only substandard work but behavior that jeopardizes the good standing of the trade union movement in general.  

Our good standing in the eyes of those that contract our employers is a very fragile balance based on years of positive experience.  A reputation is like a glass, easily broken and difficult to repair.  Everyone must do their part to maintain our good standing and the high standards of the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades.  

Brothers and Sisters:

The IUEC Local 17 Children’s Christmas Party is being held December 14 at 1 pm at the hall located at 3250 Euclid Ave.  While it is too late to get your child or grandchild registered for the event, photos will be available on the Local’s website, iueclocal17.org, 

The January 10, 2025 meeting is a Mandatory Meeting for the installation of officers.  Those not attending without a valid reason will be fined by the Executive Board.  You can contact Business Manager John Driscoll Jr at the hall at 216-431-8088 or email him at JEDriscoll@iueclocal17.org.

The Local 17 welding course will be held at Lincoln Electric January 6 through 17.  This is a two-week, 40-hour course which gives the student the opportunity to earn a 3G vertical up and 4G overhead certification.  All participants must have completed the welding preparation course on the NEIEP website.  All safety gear is provided to the student free of charge through NEIEP.  This is an excellent course and well worth the time to earn the certification.

Brother Tim Narowitz instructed the material handling class where eight Local 17 members earned their fork lift certification.  This qualifies the students to operate powered material handling equipment (fork lifts and shooting boom trucks) on construction sites requiring certification.

Congratulations to the Brothers and Sisters who completed the Fall semester and will be moving on to their next level classes the week of January 20.  Spring classes are expected to have 50 apprentices spread over RC200, 300, 400, and either 700 or 800.

Apprentice class attendance is mandatory and all apprentices are expected to be in attendance at their scheduled class times and days.  While extraordinary events happen, they do not happen on a regular basis.  This is what makes them extraordinary.  Working planned overtime or a genuine illness are acceptable reasons for absence.  Blowing off the day to drink beer and golf with your friends or take a motorcycle ride are not acceptable.  Makeup days will be scheduled as needed for Saturday morning 8am to noon.

State licensing of elevator constructors went into effect November 1.  All elevator mechanics and contractors will be required to have a State of Ohio license by November 1, 2025. The cost is expected to be $250 for a two-year license. For more information on requirements and how to obtain a license, look to this space, the Local and the Sate of Ohio websites. 

The International has mandated that employers provide N95 masks to those working in areas affected by rope rouge.  If you have any questions, contact John at the hall.

All members will be assessed a $25 on-the-job death benefit by the International.  This is a benefit paid directly to the family of a member who dies while at work.

As of this writing the bench is clear. 

Brothers and Sisters:

The IUEC Local 17 Annual Children’s Christmas Party will be held Saturday, December 14 at the hall located at 3250 Euclid Avenue.  Children up to 12 years old will receive gifts.  Local 17 will be catering light appetizers and beverages.  Members are encouraged to bring baked goods.  Contact Business Manager John Driscoll Jr at the hall at 216-431-8088 or email him at JEDriscoll@iueclocal17.org or return the response form to Entertainment Chairman Todd Kemp no later than December 1 to reserve your child’s spot for the event.

The November 8 and December 13, 2024 and January 10, 2025 meetings are mandatory meetings for the nomination, election and installation of officers.  Members not in attendance without a recognized reason will be fined by the Executive Board.

Congratulations to Mike Miller Jr and Aaron Sipos on passing the Mechanics Exam.  To all apprentices looking forward to the challenge;  passing the exam is the only unbiased evaluation of your knowledge of the trade.  Use the time between where you are and where you want to be to its full advantage.  Your mechanics, peers and instructors are incredible sources of knowledge to round out and fill in the areas you may struggle to understand.  Learning the trade does not stop with the Exam, it is a career-long quest to keep up with changing technology and techniques.  Everyone’s ultimate goal should be to become a resource for those who will follow in our footsteps and carry on our work.  

Local 17 is planning a welding class to be held in early January between the Fall and Spring semesters.  The Local holds its classes at the world headquarters of Lincoln Electric in Euclid.  The course is a 40 hour course (10 nights at four hours per night) giving the student the opportunity to earn a 3G and 4G welding certification.  Those interested in taking the class must complete the CE019 Welding Preparation course on the NEIEP website, neiep.org.  For more information, contact John at the hall.

Independent company Maximum Elevator has been bought by ATTA out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  This is ATTA’s second move into the US market as they recently completed the purchase of a St. Louis independent.  The goal of the new ownership is to grow the business beyond maintenance and small repair into modernization work.  Former Thyssen supervisor Lou Cozza will run the operation.  As the company grows, this gives Local members an additional work option.

Work in Cleveland has been steady with full employment and many transients working in the jurisdiction.  Schindler is still working the Sherwin-Williams job which will continue into the second quarter of 2025 as well as thirteen additional mod and construction jobs.  KONE is operating 12 construction or mod jobs while TKElevator and Otis currently have six crews on construction or mod while Gable/3 Phase has four mod teams in the field.  

As of this writing the bench is clear.

Brothers and Sisters:

IUEC Local 17 will be holding the Annual Children’s Christmas Party Saturday, December 14 at the Hall located at 3250 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland.  The event is always well attended and is an opportunity for members and their families to meet in a fun and informal atmosphere.  Look for a mailer in the coming weeks with more information.

Local 17 is offering a fork lift training class.  The certification class is scheduled for Saturday, November 2.  The class is eight hours with four classroom hours and four driving the equipment.  If you are interested, contact Business Manager John Driscoll Jr at the hall by calling 216-431-8088 or email him at  JEDriscoll@iueclocal17.org.

The Local is looking to offer a welding class held at Lincoln Electric’s headquarters in Euclid, Ohio.  The 40-hour class is tentatively scheduled for January because most of the interest comes from apprentices with NEIEP school obligations.  A prerequisite is completing the online course, CE019 Welding Preparation, on the NEIEP website, neiep.org.  The signup for the prep class is under the Online Training  and Licensing tab under Training in the main header.  If you are interested in achieving a 3G or 4G welding certification, contact John at the hall for more information.

The November 8 and December 13, 2024 and January 10, 2025 meetings are Special Called Meetings for the nomination, election and installation of officers.  All members are expected to attend unless otherwise exempt per Local 17 By-Laws.  Exemptions must be called into the hall at 216-431-8088 or by contacting John at the hall.  Members not in attendance will be fined.

The vacation checks were due July 15.  All apprentices should have received their pay increase effective the first full pay week after September 1.  All the companies were given a list of their apprentices and the appropriate rate.  If you have any questions, contact John at the hall. 

Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb signed an Executive Order requiring all City building or improvement projects over $500,000 to be done under a Project Labor Agreement (PLA).

Work in the area is still steady.  Otis laid-off two members and sent a team out of town while waiting on jobs to open up.  KONE and Schindler are busy as are TKElevator and Gable.

At the September meeting it was announced Brother Al Jerson was stepping down ahead of retirement as a trustee of Local 17.  Jerson had 40 years in the trade and spent the last 16 years as a trustee handling the officers payroll, withholding taxes and W2s.  He was elected in 2008 and helped shepherd the Local through the economic downturn of that year as well as shore up the finances during that rough period in the Local’s history.  Brother Brian Chambers was appointed by President John Patton to take his place and was sworn in as a trustee.  Chambers most recent officer role was as the Entertainment Chairman.

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

As this is being written, IUEC Local 17 is preparing to participate in the 2024 Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Softball Tournament.  The last two years coaches Rich and Todd Kemp have worked our team into advancing past the first night of play.  For results of how the Elevator Constructors faired in this years edition of the tournament, go to the Local’s website, iueclocal17.org, for photos and highlights.

The November 8 and December 13, 2024 and January 10, 2025 meetings are Special Called Meetings for the nomination, election and installation of officers. All members are expected to attend unless otherwise exempt per Local 17 By-Laws.  Exemptions must be called into the hall at 216-431-8088 or by contacting Business Manager John Driscoll Jr at JEDriscoll@iueclocal17.org.  Members not in attendance will be fined.

Apprentice pay increases go into effect the first pay period after September 1.  All of the Local 17 signatories have been notified by the Union as to what the correct rate must be for each of their represented apprentice employees.  If there is a discrepancy or a question, contact John at the hall.

Remember to call the hall when changing or starting a job lasting more than three days. Also call when you have a change in familial status such as getting married or divorced, birth of a child or a change of address.

A list of IUEC Local 17 signatories is at the bottom of this article.  If you see a company working in the area and suspect they are not a signatory, call John at the hall with the location and any information about the job you can offer.  This extends to all the trades in the Cleveland area to keep our work our work and not allow non-signatories to lower the standard we as skilled tradespeople provide for our customers.

The foundation of good union organizing is communicating what the organized trades have to offer versus the non-organized companies.  Subjects like wages and benefits get the ear of the potential new member but, building skills which offer better opportunities can drive that worker to sign on as an apprentice.

Every tradesperson is an organizer.  Every Local has a message about what they do and what is and should be expected by and from a potential member.  Learn and understand this message and be prepared to talk about what your trade has to offer to a potential new Brother or Sister.

With work this good in our area, now is the time to grow our numbers.   

The Local 17 Golf Outing was held at Bunker Hill Golf Course on July 20.  There was a change in the guard as the Champion’s Jackets were won by the team lead by former Local 17 member and current Gable Elevator superintendent Scott Hicks.  Congratulations to Scott and his team.

Jacob Kemp, son of Brother Todd Kemp, putted his way to a three-day, two-night trip to Las Vegas sponsored by Laborers Local 310.  Kemp won the trip by first sinking a 20-foot putt to qualify and then, in a two way putt-off lagged his 50 footer closest to the hole.  For photos from the event, go to the Local 17 website, iueclocal17.org. 

IUEC Local 17 will be participating in the 2024 Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Labor Day Softball Tournament to be held at James Day Park in Parma.  Under the coaching of the Kemp Brothers, Local 17 has advanced in each of its last two outings past the first round.  If you want to play, contact Business Manager John Driscoll Jr at the hall at 216-431-8088 or email him at JEDriscoll@iueclocal17.org.

The 2024-25 school year begins with 49 apprentices enrolled in the NEIEP program.  Brothers Tom Goggin, Don Knapik, Jean LaFontaine, Tim Narowitz and Jerry Reitz are teaching one class of RC 100 and two classes each of RC 200, 300 and 400 for a total of seven classes.  This is the Local’s largest apprentice class in many decades.

Brother Reitz is also teaching the Mechanic Exam Review to the three test-eligible apprentices.  The Exam is the only unbiased evaluation of your knowledge of the trade.  Good luck to each as they start this new phase of their career.

State Licensing is moving forward.  The nine-member Elevator Safety Review Board is taking shape and Local 17 Business Manager John Driscoll Jr is expected to be named to the Board by Governor Mike DeWine.  The Board is responsible for oversight of investigations of elevator mechanics and contractors and establishing and administering appropriate disciplinary actions.  

This is the final stretch of a multi-year effort to convince a once skeptical Ohio legislature of the value in licensing elevator constructors.  Special recognition is due to Gable Elevator who, early on, took a lead role in demonstrating the complexity of the work we do and the value of the education received through the NEIEP program.

For those apprentices advancing in the apprentice program, pay raises are effective beginning the first pay period after September 1.  If there is an issue with or questions regarding the timing or amount of the raise, contact John at the hall.

The Brothers and Sisters of IUEC Local 17 send their condolences to the families of Honorary Retiree Howard Stephenson who passed away June 6 and Brother Dave Yasenchack whose father passed away July 8.

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