Labor News for January 11, 2008

“FIREPOT”

 

THE NEXT UNION MEETING IS ON FRIDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2008 AT 5:00 PM

 

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY: Is January 21st – To quote this brilliant and powerful Icon of the 21st century… “In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends” Please consider these words the next time you are in a position to represent your Union, support your co-worker or protect your employer.

 

JANUARY 1 INCREASES:

·        Effective January 1, 2008 the Hourly Work Assessment went up by .01¢. If you did not see this additional work assessment deducted from your pay please contact the hall or your employer.

·        Effective January 1, 2008 the IRS rates for Mileage reimbursement increase from 48.5¢ per mile to .51¢ per mile.

 

CONGRATULATIONS; to Mike Kelly on his recent appointment to the WDC (Rochester and Genesee Valley Workforce Development) Board. The WDC is a partnership of unions, employers/associations, and educational vendors, all of whom deliver a variety of training programs to union members.  Mike has a deep passion for the training we provide and we have no doubt that he will be a great asset to this group.

 

LAMAR ADVERTISING: The employees of the Lamar Outdoor Advertising Co. will have an opportunity to exercise their constitutional right to organize on Friday January 18th 2008. This is a big day for these employees; it is the day they will decide by election if they would like union representation with Local #46. Sign work falls within Article 1 Sections (g) and (h) of our Constitutional Jurisdiction and we intend to protect that Jurisdiction. If you should see a Lamar worker please wish them well.

 

SMWIA / UTU MERGER:

We have been notified that the merger, slated for January 1, 2008 has been temporarily blocked. Four United Transportation Union (UTU) members filed a lawsuit in a U.S. district court in East St. Louis, Ill., seeking to prevent the UTU from merging with the Sheet Metal Workers International Association. We will keep you up to date as information arrives.

 

NATIONAL PENSION: On March 1, 2008 the NPF will issue a Notice of Critical Status and the 2008 Rehabilitation Plan. The Rehabilitation Plan will have two Schedules – the 2008 Alternative Schedule and the 2008 Default Schedule. Once these have been issued by the NPF we will review them and hold a “Special Notified Meeting” to Vote on which schedule to accept.

 

 

ARTICLE 2   SUB-CONTRACTING OF WORK

 

            Section 1.  No Employer shall subcontract or assign any of the work described herein which is to be performed at a job site to any contractor, subcontractor or other person or party who fails to agree in writing to comply with the conditions of employment contained herein including, without limitations, those relating to union security, rates of pay and working conditions, hiring and other matters covered hereby for the duration of the project.

 

            Section 2.  Subject to other applicable provisions of this agreement, the Employer agrees that when subcontracting for prefabrication of materials covered herein, such prefabrication shall be sub-contracted to fabricators who pay their employees engaged in such fabrication not less than the prevailing wage for comparable sheet metal fabrication as established under provisions of this Agreement.

 

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BENEFIT NEWS

 

HEALTH AND WELFARE:

Retirees ages 55 to 65; Effective January 1, 2008 Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield has eliminated the Plus and Freedom plans. If you were in either of these plans you had to elect another option, before December 31st. If you did not do so please contact the Benefits office.

Retirees ages 65 and older; We have changed the Medicare Policies we provide through Excellus; it is no longer the “Optimum” plan, it is now called the “Base” Plan. Recently, Excellus mailed new cards to all listing, in error, the optimum plan as your current plan. New cards have been ordered and should be out to all in the near future. You can use the incorrect cards in the meantime and we have been assured that coverage will not be denied; your subscriber number will remain the same. However, until you get your new card, if you visit the doctor’s office make certain they charge you the correct (lower) co-pay of our new plan and not the co-pay from the Optimum plan.

 

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JATC NEWS

 

Architectural Sheet Metal Training:

We will be conducting an Architectural Sheet Metal Class beginning in early January; classes will begin at 5:15 PM here in our Training Center. With all of the Architectural work coming up in 2008 this class is a must for members who find themselves out of work and would like to enhance their skills or pursue this opportunity.

All interested members should call Mike at 647-3200 to reserve a spot.

 

Welding Reminder:

The following members have their weld cert maintenance due in February:

Armando Davila, Micah DeNering, Greg Ericson, Scott Hepler, Rick Lavere, Allen Mort, and John Suhr. We will be holding the maintenance on Tuesday, January 29 from 4:15- 6:30 pm.

 

“New Year's Eve, where auld acquaintance be forgot, unless of course, those tests come back positive”. ~Jay Leno

 

 

Joe & Greg