Tag: elevator

Brothers and sisters:

The Mechanics Review Class is now in full swing.  Preparing those apprentices sitting for the test is Rick Myers.  Just a word to those attending… the apprenticeship program and the test are not easy and are not meant to be easy.  However you approach the test and whatever your motivations are going into the test keep two things in mind.

First, the apprenticeship program and the contract that created it are amorphous.  The program we have today is not the program we may have at the start of the next contract.

Second, it is the ONLY unbiased appraisal of your knowledge of the elevator trade you will ever have.  There are too many people who survive by making their boss think they are better than they are to the detriment of their company, customers, out of work union brothers and the reputation of the union movement and the elevator trade.  If you cannot read a straight line, construction print or even a tape measure you’d better learn very fast or have an outstanding line of BS.  Bosses are smarter than you think and will eventually catch on.

The Local 17 softball team will compete in the annual Cleveland Building Trades tournament Labor Day weekend.  The tournament will be held at James Day Park immediately adjacent to the Tri-C West campus.  Look to iueclocal17.org for updated dates and times.

There are nine brothers taking part in the welding class offered through the local and taught at Lincoln Electric.  This class leads to a 3G and 4G welding certification.

Local 17 recently won a $2000 grievance from Schindler Elevator for violations of Article IV work at the UH Seidman Cancer Center.  The violations were for Schindler allowing another contractor to install flooring in the cars prior to the final acceptance.  This is in addition to the fine already paid on that job for having another contractor install machine beams and cable holes prior to pouring the machine room floors.  Gentleman, this is our work.  DO NOT give it up!

As many of you know, on May 18 KONE purchased local independent Response Elevator for an undisclosed sum.  The five field employees were told after a monthly safety meeting about the sale and are currently integrating into KONE’s Cleveland operation.

The By-laws Committee received numerous ideas for resolutions to the upcoming International Convention.  When everything was reviewed, there were four resolutions that the Local submitted to the International for consideration.  These will be combined with the resolutions of the other locals and debated on the floor to formulate the basis for the upcoming contract negotiations.  Thank you to all who submitted a resolution.

Where are they working?

Mike Miller and Nick Meyer at Huron Community Health Center installing two cars for Otis,

Bob Garman and Kevin Thomas doing a modernization at Shaker Court Condos for Thyssen,

DJ Spring and Joe Simcic installing two hydraulics at Cleveland Clinic Data Center for Otis,

John Logue, Jim Thompson, Jonathon Koch and Brian Semanko doing a mod at Key Tower for Otis,

Jeff Lindell and Anthony Young doing escalator work at the Elyria JC Penny’s for Kone,

Shawn Yatsko and Ron Wittwage doing a mod at Lakewood Professional Building for Schindler,

Bill Sellers and Jason Costa at Ashtabula County Medical Building doing a fire service layover for Schindler,

Dave Brunner and Mark Byram working in Syracuse, New York installing escalators for Schindler,

Neil Beechuk and Bill Dudas at Milkovich School installing a two-stop hydraulic for Thyssen,

Ken Hasek and Jeff Ward at 200 Public Square doing full-loads for Otis.

Condolences

The most sincere condolences go to the family of retired Brother Bob Trapp.  He was 91.

As of this writing there are 28 mechanics and three apprentices on the bench.

Till next month…

Work smart, work safe and slow down for safety.

Don

dknapik@windstream.net