Greetings from Mid-Michigan – The Great Lakes State!
IUEC, what a great union. I just got back from our National meeting and I was impressed with the topics covered, open discussions and the unity within everyone in attendance. We had training every day and time to socialize at night. When we socialize it’s about blowing off steam, our trade and our members. Like you, we strive to be the highest skilled! I’ve seen many changes in our union over the last couple of years. All divisions of the International are working together, Work Preservation, NEIEP, Organizing and the General Officers. We are moving forward and becoming stronger every day.
There are a few bullies in management at our signatory companies and you know who I’m talking about. The manager that says: “I’m not paying that, if you don’t like it leave, you will work overtime or I bid the job wrong you have to bank hours for me, you don’t need the overtime, put it on, the Local will grieve it and 6 minutes is all your getting to do maintenance”. All these and many more are bull! Take it apart, leave if they care that little about you, their bid their problem, don’t bank hours, take the time to do the job right, it’s your state license on the line not theirs and we all want and need the pension hours. Call outs are the only time overtime is required (route men), not scheduled repair, construction work, mod work and stand by, although there is no such thing in our contract. Our Union can only be as strong as its membership.
One month until we vote to save our union and trade from the Union hating legislation in Michigan. Vote for your job, benefits, wages, union and family, don’t get caught up in the hype. Michigan’s nonunion legislation want to break unions, so they can cut costs for their friends that own businesses. If you come to the House or Senate next time I’m there about elevator or labor issues you will see firsthand it’s all about their friends! They do not care about safety, good wages or benefits! This is Michigan; we support people that care about people and organized labor does it better than anyone else! Vote in November and get your friends and family out to vote as well.
NEIEP:
Mechanics Exam starts @ 9:00 am on Thursday, October 23, 2014. Good luck to everyone taking the test.
Dates to remember:
October 10, 2014 Application Deadline
October 23, 2014 JAC Meeting
October 23, 2014 Mechanics Exam @ 9:00 am
October 28, 2014 Union Meeting
October 31, 2014 Halloween
November 7, 2014 State Test
Golden Rail Club
Kalamazoo: 10.1.14 First Wednesday @ 10:00 am, Theo & Stacey’s
Lansing: 10.15.14 Third Wednesday @ 9:00 am, Zeus Restaurant, 6525 Pennsylvania, Lansing
Grand Rapids: 10.21.14 Third Tuesday @ 9:00 am, New Beginnings, 1455 Michigan Street, NE, Grand Rapids
The work Picture:
Schindler is so busy that they cannot get the jobs out of the factory, Kone is having problems with power, Otis and TKE well, it’s all about timing. That means a work slowdown at the branch level. I hope it will steady out soon, we deserve the work after the last three years.
Big Buck Contest:
This month kicks off the Big Buck Contest for all the hunter’s out there. Let’s see if we can get more pictures in this year than we did last year. The contest wraps up on January 2, 2015. Michigan bucks only.
In Unity There Is Strength,
Bill Kogelschatz
