Greetings from Mid-Michigan – The Great Lakes State!
Pure Michigan!
At our July Union Meeting we had the pleasure of IUEC Safety Director Mike Langer and Organizer Joe DuPont in attendance. Mike spoke on the three most recent fatalities in the IUEC which was quite an eye opener for a lot of us, especially the Probationary Apprentices. Please everyone stay alert, keep your mind on the job and do not cut corners on safety. It’s your life we are trying to save!
Next month we will have pictures and information from our Summer BBQ and Family Union Meeting. At the time of this writing it has not happened yet, but it is sure to be a great time as always.
Work is still very busy. We have twenty Probationary Apprentices working. We initiated another Probationary Apprentice, Caleb Marr into the Union at the July Meeting with more to come in the next few months. We also gave out a Gold Card and Honorary Certificate to Bill Kogelschatz.
State of Michigan New Test Forms – Make sure you know what you are signing. Go to our website at www.iuec85.org and look at the list of code requirements for doing the test correctly. It has its own tab at the top of the page. Click on it and it will give you the breakdown in order of the test form. If you have any questions, please call the Hall.
Please remember to call in when changing jobs. I know I preach this every month, but this is a rule in our Constitution and By-Laws. I need to know where you are since I am out visiting jobs on a daily basis. For those of you that have not been to the Union Hall in a while, we have a TV on the wall in Teri’s office that has a spreadsheet of every person in the Local and where they are, which is updated daily and it automatically updates to my laptop and phone, so while I am on the road I can see where everyone is. Also, do not go into another Local to work without calling them first. It’s as easy as a phone call, text or email.
Mentoring Program – If you are a mentor to a Probationary Apprentice, please make sure you are contacting them. If you have lost their contact information, please call the Union Hall and we will get it to you. The reason for this program is to keep in contact with your Probationary Apprentice to give them advice, answer their questions or help them out with whatever concern they may have. We are their mentors.
Check out the International’s website at www.iuec.org. Register for an account and keep updated. Also, go to www.neibenefits.org and register for an account there too. This is our Benefit Office’s website.
Dates to remember:
September 03, 2018 Labor Day – Paid Holiday
September 11, 2018 TEAM Meeting with Work Preservation – Previously set
for September 12th, but changed to the 11th
September 20, 2018 JAC Meeting at 9:00 am
September 25, 2018 Union Meeting at 6:00 pm
NEIEP:
Welding classes continue. Apprenticeship classes are in full swing. What will our next Continuing Education class be? Valve Class? Motor Alignment? Please call the hall to let us know. The month of September gets busy again with teachers attending workshops at NEIEP and it continues into October. What a great program we have!
Golden Rail Club:
Kalamazoo: 9.5.2018 First Wednesday at 10:00 am, Theo & Stacey’s, (by the airport) Portage
Grand Rapids: 9.17.2018 Third Monday at 9:00 am, New Beginnings, 1455 Michigan Street, NE, Grand Rapids
Lansing: 9.19.2018 Third Wednesday at 9:00 am, Zeus’ Restaurant, 6525 Pennsylvania, Lansing
Communication is the key to our success. Input by everyone is needed. This is your Local. If we all communicate, we will be a lot stronger and more successful.
Work Safe,
Mike Janca
