Greetings from Mid-Michigan – The Great Lakes State!
The bracelets sent out by the IUEC are a great idea. I hope you will remember how important it is to work safe! If one person is reminded to work safe the bracelets will have done their job! Safety is on the minds of your union leadership and hopefully every member in the IUEC. The IUEC does not give lip service to safety, we believe in it whole heartedly. Slow down, be safe, and follow all the safety rules; never take a short cut. If something is not safe call the company and tell them you’re not doing it. They would not dare harass or punish anyone for being safe! President Frank Christensen, with all the union leadership, has your back when it comes to safety.
It’s hard to think spring when it’s only 6 degrees outside. Freezing outside is nothing like the cold shoulder we get at the state capitol. The Republican control House, Senate and Governor are reducing wages, increasing taxes (working class only), removing codes that protect the public and help us to maintain our work. In the last four years the Legislators have changed some of the elevators from commercial to residential. They changed it so Residential can be installed by home builders! Yes I said home builders; we are the experts in elevator installations not home builders. Do not be confused by the commercials, they are Not Helping You! The State House and Senate both are removing and rewriting regulations in our industry, reducing safety and our work. They are trying to remove the Michigan section on our code so the companies can cut cost. Cost cutting has no place in safety! The first thing you will hear when there is an accident is there should have been a code, rule or some type of legislation to stop this from happening. Whether you are a Republican, Democrat, or Independent you need to stand up for your career, family and our industry. Vote for your job and your family in 2014. Vote Democrat; they care about skilled trades!
Dates to remember:
April 1, 2014 April Fool’s Day
April 15, 2014 Tax Day
April 20, 2014 Easter
April 24, 2014 JAC Meeting @ 9:00 am
April 29, 2014 Union Meeting @ 6:00 pm, Dinner provided
April 30, 2014 Traverse City Union Meeting
May 1, 2014 Marquette Union Meeting
NEIEP:
OSHA 30 Classes: April 11, 18, 25 and May 9 and 16; you must be in all 5 classes. It’s never too late to sign up! Call the union office.
Thank you NEIEP for the freight door lab, it’s amazing!! Thank you to Mike Mee, Chris Williams, Mike DeShone, Rick VanHorn, Jim Veltman and Ron McKay for getting the lab into the building.
Golden Rail Club
Kalamazoo: 4.2.14 First Wednesday @ 10:00 am, Theo & Stacey’s
Lansing: 4.16.14 Third Wednesday @ 9:00 am, Zeus Restaurant, 6525 Pennsylvania, Lansing
Grand Rapids: 4.15.14 Third Tuesday @ 9:00 am, New Beginnings, 1455 Michigan Street, NE, Grand Rapids
Gone but not forgotten:
John (Robby) Raubinger, 2/11/2014
Robby’s nickname was “Green Grabber” because of his talents at the poker table and being an Otis employee.
Jack Comstock, 2/13/2014
Jack filled many positions; BA, Treasurer, Construction, Service-Repair and Cattle Farmer. He and his wife Selma of 50 years raised four children; James Comstock (Donna Wangrid) of Anchorage, AK, Molly (Richard) Foster of Vicksburg, MI, Amy (Scott) Hagerty of Wesley Chapel, FL, and Bret (Kristi) Comstock of South Lyon, MI; eight grandchildren
In Unity There Is Strength,
Bill Kogelschatz
