Greetings from Mid-Michigan – The Great Lakes State
Family Union Meeting is December 6, 2013. I hope you come to see how your union works. Retirees included; without retirees we wouldn’t have the benefits we enjoy today. Regional Director Dale Coalmer, Organizer Gil Duncan and Area Coordinator Ron McKay will be at the meeting. The General Officers will not be able to make it, but send their thoughts and prayers to everyone. Mass Mutual will be at our office that day from noon until 5:00 pm to get you started with a 401-K or help you with investments. Call the Local 85 Office at 517.882.0100 to reserve a 20 minute private session with a Mass Mutual representative. I hope everyone will come to see old friends and make new friends. Dinner starts at 5:00 pm, but come as early as you would like and take a look around at the classrooms and offices.
The last few years have been a nightmare for most of us in Local 85! We’ve had very little work, excessive layoffs and a reduction of the workforce by the companies. Things are starting to look better, but we will never be as large as we once were, but we can be stronger with all the member’s help. Yes with your help, “In Unity There Is Strength”! We have seen Unity over the last several years; members working only eighty hours a month so other members could work the other eighty hours to keep their insurance. Many members went out of state to work with the help of other Locals (THANK YOU) and even without expenses they managed to keep afloat. Several working members covered dues for out of work members. Respect & Unity comes to mind, a deep respect for the members, for our International and the Locals that helped us out and the support provided.
Now we need to stand up to the supervisor that said “there are members out of work that want your job” or “if you want to work here you better only take per-diem, actual expenses are not being paid”! Taking control of our work is something we can do, but it takes everyone! Every construction job requires teams. No one can do a maintenance stop in 9 minutes or even 30 minutes according to ASME. If they want you to go into another Local as a foreman and people are out of work in that Local, tell them NO. If they need a trainer great, no tools, no work, only train! Remember how you felt when others came into our area as a foreman? We had people who could do the work. Don’t get me wrong not every supervisor was this bad, but there are some and pay back is well deserved. They know the contract, but they counted on fear to benefit them. If you want to meet and discuss what we can and should do, call me. I will meet with one of you or all of you whenever and wherever.
“We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.”
J.K. Rowling
Dates to remember:
December 6, 2013 Family Union Meeting
December 5, 2013 JAC Meeting @ 9:00 am
December 12, 2013 Westside get-together @ Shamrock,
2501 Wilson Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49544
December 25, 2013 Christmas
January 1, 2014 Happy New Year!
Golden Rail Club
Kalamazoo: 12.4.13 First Wednesday @ 10:00 am, Theo & Stacey’s Restaurant
Lansing: 12.18.13 Third Wednesday @ 9:00 am, Zeus Restaurant, 6525 Pennsylvania, Lansing
Grand Rapids: 12.17.13 Third Tuesday @ 9:00 am, New Beginnings, 1455 Michigan Street, NE, Grand Rapids
The work Picture:
Things have improved
Big Buck Contest:
The Big Buck Contest is well underway. Please send in your pictures by January 3, 2014.
In Unity There Is Strength,
Bill Kogelschatz