Brothers and sisters:
The annual Children’s Christmas party will be held Saturday, December 3rd at the hall located at 3250 Euclid Avenue. The party starts at 1pm and mothers are asked to bring baked goods. Beverages will be provided. If you have any questions, please contact Mike Hogan at mhogan67@yahoo.com.
The Cleveland Building and Construction Trades as well as Local 17 are supporting our brothers and sisters of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 880 in their labor dispute with Rite Aid. While Rite Aid’s profits are at record levels, they refuse to bargain in good faith with the UFCW on a contract that retains the current level of benefits coverage. As a response the North Shore Federation of Labor is boycotting Rite Aid and asking that all members of the building trades move their prescriptions to another UFCW represented pharmacy. If you want information on the state of the boycott and which pharmacies are union represented then go to ufcwlocal880.org.
There were three fatalities reported at the October meeting. The first was from Local 24, Birmingham, Alabama the second happened in New York City, Local 1, and the third was from Local 96, Ottawa, Canada. Ours is a tough and unforgiving trade. There are many ways to die and even more ways to become disabled. This has to serve as a reminder to never take safety for granted because as soon as you do we may be draping the charter and holding a moment of silence at the next meeting for you. Safety is no accident.
A member recently took a callback at a Parma apartment complex. When checking out the pit, the car did not stop when he popped the bottom door lock. When he examined the lock he found the wires jumped together on the same stud. After correcting that issue, he decided to check the rest of the door locks. When running the car down from the top landing, he found the same situation with the top lock. He also discovered furniture on the car top. When he informed the building management and the Parma Police, they arrested one the residents on a number of charges. Again, safety is no accident.
Local 17 won an arbitration hearing with Schindler on their giving away the flooring work at the new University Hospital Cancer Center. This was Article IV work and because the company did not follow the contract they had to pay $2000 to the Local’s Contingency Fund. This is in addition to the money paid on the same job for allowing another trade to block cable holes. Know what is covered by Article IV of the contract and be sure the companies are not giving it away. Your unemployed union brothers are counting on you.
Where are they working?
Kevin Thomas and Bill Dudas at Breckenridge Village installing a three-stop hydraulic for Thyssen,
Jeff Webber and Tom Gombar at JC Penny Strongsville doing escalator clean downs for Kone,
Paul Scheutzow doing stand by at the Juvenile Justice Center for Kone,
Matt Weingart and Chris DeJesus working at the Rockwell Building for Schindler,
Jason Faber and Joe Broz, Jr. cabling at Bridgeview for Thyssen,
Ken Bowles and Jason Sohayda doing a modernization at Kaiser for Otis,
Bernie Sickle and Steve Kemp doing a jack at UH for Schindler,
John Brunner and Taurus Ogletree doing a modernization at Euclid Commodore for Schindler,
Local 17 sends condolences to brothers Jim, John and Tom Goggin on the passing of their father and grandfather respectively in early October. The Local also send condolences to Brother Harold Norsic on the passing of his mother and Brother John Sapochak who lost his father-in-law.
As of this writing there are 22 mechanics out of work.
Till next month,
Work smart, work safe and slow down for safety,
Don
International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 17 