OHIO LABOR CITIZEN
MARCH 2010

BY: THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF IRON WORKERS LOCAL 17

THE NEXT REGULAR UNION MEETING:
April 6, 2010 at 6:00 PM

OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETINGS:
Executive Board Meeting: April 21, 2010 at 5:30

Officers Meeting:
April 6, 2010 at 5:00 PM

RETIREES' CLUB MEETINGS:
Wednesday, April 21, 2010 All retired members are welcome. The meeting begins at 10:00 AM at the Union Hall.

AA MEETINGS: Local 17 will be hosting 12 Step Alcohol Anonymous meetings. Our inaugural meeting will be Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 9:30AM. Meetings will be scheduled at 9:30AM every Saturday that the Union Hall will be open, unless otherwise specified. Please check the newsletter for schedules.

AA APRIL/MAY MEETING SCHEDULE
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Saturday, April 28, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010 NO MEETING
Saturday, May 15, 2010 NO MEETING
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010

Stewart reports are now available online. You can access at www.ironworkers17.org. Please email to: union@ironworkers17.org.

APPROVALS: BOOK NO:

LOCAL 17 PENSIONS:
Bryan Buncher 1176596

INTERNATIONAL HONORARY:
Bryan Buncher 1148985
Theodore Talliere 1176596

INTERNATIONAL WITHDRAWAL:
Steve Hlabse 1238033

INTERNATIONAL DISABILITY PENSION:
James Mattern 934147

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DEATHS:

Deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the following deceased:

Member Name BK #: DOD:
William Trigalet 368937 2/25/10
Paul Meagrow 487815 2/27/10
Norman Hodgson 364766 3/2/10

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BIRTHS:

Congratulations to Paul & Amy O’Neil on the birth of their son, Mack Patrick O’Neil, born on 3/10/10 weighing 6lbs 13 oz.

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F.Y.I:

The Sheffield Democratic Club, a Sheffield Lake, Sheffield Township and Sheffield Village organization is welcoming all democrats who want to get together and help shape the future of this area. For more information please log on to www.sheffielddems.com. The Sheffield Democratic Club is also on Facebook.

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SUSPENSIONS & SUSPENSION WARNINGS:

Effective 3/1/10 the following members were suspended for lack of dues:

MEMBER NO:	L NAME	F NAME
1361327	DUNAWAY	JAMES
1419641	DUSHAW	JOHN
1417830	ELKINS	ADAM
1383439	HOWARD	MARTIN
1418403	MANCINI	DANIEL
1419642	MILBURN	ERIC LEE
1410188	PERKO	JAMES
1280868	SCHMIDT	WILLIAM
1391877	SOSENKO	WILLIAM

The following members are scheduled for suspension on 4/1/10 if dues payment is not received by 3/31/10:

MEMBER NO:	L NAME	F NAME
1227928	BAER	MICHAEL
1164224	BARNES	ROBERT
985691	BELTER	JOHN
1355607	BLENMAN	SCOTT
1123697	BODZIONEY	ROBERT
1379777	BROWN	JOHN
1233817	CAMPBELL	MARK
1156658	CATANIA	GREGORY
1087369	CIOFANI	DAVID
1300975	CIRULLO	GUY
1418410	CLINE	BRENNEN
1237751	DOBROWSKI	STEVE
1113423	EVANS	JOHNNIE
1263583	GADD	MARSHALL
1305433	GRAHAM	ROBERT
1312122	HAMILTON	RICHARD
1208275	HERB	DANIEL
1354693	JOHNSON	WILLIE
1239191	LLOYD	WAYMON
1209563	LONG	TERRY
1316417	MARTIN	MICHAEL
1139587	MAUSAR	BENNETT
1237850	MC COY	KARAMETOS
1324754	MC GUNIGAL	DANNI
889429	NIEMIEC	GEORGE
1351222	NOGGY	DAVID
1379788	NOGGY	JAMES
1232625	RANDOLPH	DANIEL
1237738	ROBINSON	TIMOTHY
1155418	SALINSKY	JOHN
1177503	SCHUETTE	RONALD
1218418	SERVEY	PAUL
1238908	SOUKUP	ALBERT
1164521	STAUBS	JOHN
1218726	TATTRIE	DIANA
1338678	TOMAZIC	PAUL
1387650	ULMER	LIEUTENANT
1249309	WISE	JAMES

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Effective February 1, 2010 the Ironworkers Local 17 Fringe Benefit Office has moved and is sharing office space with Laborers’ Local 310 Fringe Benefit Fund. The new location is at:

The phone numbers will not change. You will continue to use 216/241-1086 or 216/241-6584 as well as the toll free number 800/788-8406. The fax number 216/241-2904 will also remain the same.

Please note if you are planning on visiting the Fund Office although the address is Euclid Avenue, the entrance to the parking lot is off Prospect Avenue. The driveway is located on the north side of Prospect Avenue, directly across the street from the Local 860 Union Hall. The fund office is located on the first floor of the building closest to Euclid Avenue.

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WELDING CERTIFICATION:
The Training Center will be open the third Saturday of every month for welding instruction and certification. If you are interested in welding instruction or recertification, please contact the Training Center Office to schedule an appointment. All Training and Testing is done free of charge. With the exception of: A re-testing fee of $50.00 will be charged for all RE-tests due to lack of work record.

ATTENTION STATE CERTIFIED & INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED WELDERS: As a reminder to those members with State Welding Certification and registered with the International Welding Certification Program, it is your responsibility to keep your State Certification & International work recorded current. Welder employment records should be completed on the appropriate form, which includes the project name or number, the Contractor name, start and finish dates for the project on which you welded, supervisors name and their signature, along with a contact phone number. These forms must be submitted to ODOT and the International every six (6) months. If you are unsure on how to fill out these forms or you need additional forms, please contact the apprenticeship for assistance.

CONTACTS:
Training Center Phone: 216/685-1781
Training Center Fax: 216/685-1544
Jim Gilronan, Coordinator
Scott Munnings, Instructor

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As part of our Drug Free Workplace policy, Iron Workers Local 17 will provide assistance to any member who is seeking help for substance abuse. Through the EASE@WORK program qualified professionals are available to assist you in dealing with drug and/or alcohol related issues. These services are provided on a strictly private and confidential basis. Iron Workers Local 17 pays the full cost for Voluntary Self-Referral Services for Chemical Dependency Issues (Based upon three (3) sessions) and Positive Drug Screen Referrals (Based upon three (3) sessions) through the Ease@Work program. We feel this offering is an investment in your health and productivity.

This Employee Assistance Service is accessible to you twenty-four hours a day with weekend counseling appointments available throughout Northeast Ohio. You can access this service by calling:
Remember that the program is strictly voluntary, confidential, private, and pre-paid. We all have very busy lives that demand our attention and it is sometimes difficult to find the time to take care of ourselves. Know that help is available to you when you need it.

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING RANDOM DRUG TESTING: It is imperative that those members currently holding a drug free card, be aware and understand the requirements of random drug testing. If you currently have a valid drug free card, you are required to comply with random drug testing. These random tests are many times scheduled right after or before your yearly testing is done. Even if you have just recently renewed your yearly drug card, and have passed, you are still required to appear for a random testing. Random drug testing is done at the discretion of MMC, and a special notice advising you of a scheduled (RANDOM TEST) is sent to your current address. Please be aware if you do not appear for a scheduled RANDOM TEST nor have a valid excuse from random, or do no go to a collection facility prior to the RANDOM TEST DATE, you will become INELIGIBLE under the terms of the Drug Policy.

DRUG TESTING DATES & TIME:

Saturday, April 3, 2010 8:00 AM TO 11:00AM
Saturday, May 1, 2010 8:00 AM TO 11:00AM

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Medical Mutual is offering its members special savings on Weight Watchers meetings, to help you get on track toward looking good and feeling great. When you enroll in and complete a Weight Watchers At Work or Local Meeting Series, you will receive up to $150 back from your meeting fees annually.

If you would like to attend Weight Watchers meetings in your community, you can enroll in Medical Mutual’s reimbursement program by calling toll-free 866/204-2878 to purchase Local Meeting vouchers.

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According to the AFL-CIO Health Care web site, health care costs are rising at twice the rate of inflation. Obviously, there is no quick fix for our soaring health care costs, but there are some strategies we can put into practice to aid in the battle.

One strategy is preventive health care. We cannot stress enough the benefits of preventive health care. By taking charge of your health and choosing a healthy life style, will reduce your risk for heart disease alone. This can be done by maintaining a healthy weight, checkups, eating right, staying physically active, limiting alcohol consumption and non-smoking to name a few. We will continue to keep you informed on ways to live and enjoy healthy life style. You have a chance to make good choices about your health, start today if you haven’t already.

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Many thanks to Bill Ginley for coordinating the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and festivities, and to Terry Carr, Judy Johnson for their catering services. Your time, effort and hard work is very much appreciated. Thank you to Forest City Steel Erectors, Inc. for donating the use of their flat bed. To everyone in attendance, thank you for making Bill, Judy and Terry’s labors a huge success…

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Please mark these important dates on your calendars concerning nomination and election of judges and officers.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010 Nomination and Election of Judges
*Nomination of Officers

Saturday, June 26, 2010 Election of Officers

*If you are considering running for an office, please review the Eligibility Requirements for Candidates in the General Information and Rules booklet.

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The Insurance fund, the Pension Fund and the Annuity Fund, all allow participants to designate a beneficiary. The beneficiary you named year ago may not be the person you want to receive the benefits today. Divorce, remarriage, birth, death and other major events change our relationships throughout life. Updating beneficiaries is a detail often overlooked. The consequences, though unintentional, can be a real headache for your heirs. We cannot stress enough the importance of having the beneficiary you want on file.

Call the Fund Office to be sure we have a designation card on file for each fund, and that the proper beneficiary is listed. Make sure the named beneficiary is a reliable and trusted person. For your information, if you are married, your spouse must be named beneficiary for the Pension and Annuity Funds unless your spouse completes and signs a waiver which can be obtained by calling the Fund Office.
PHONE NUMBERS: 216/241-1086 or toll free at: 1/800-788-8406.

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• The STEWARD MUST make a steward report each week that coincides with the weekly pay schedule. He must also fill out any accident report during the week the accident occurred and MUST DELIVER REPORTS' TO THE UNION HALL (hand delivered, faxed, or mail-in).
• It is the DUTY OF THE STEWARD, to check the dues receipts and permits of the ironworkers on the job on a regular basis to make certain members are CURRENT WITH THEIR DUES.
• THE STEWARD MUST CHECK WITH THE UNION HALL OR BUSINESS AGENTS TO MAKE CERTAIN THE COMPANY THEY ARE WORKING FOR IS SIGNATORY TO THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT OF LOCAL UNION NO. 17.
• DUE TO THE POOR ECONOMIC CLIMATE WHICH HAS PREVAILED THESE PAST FEW YEARS, THE UNION HAS SEEN A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN THE NUMBER MEMBERS WHICH HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED, AS WELL AS AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CONTRACTORS WHICH HAVE BECOME DELINQUENT IN THEIR PAYMENT OF BENEFITS, OR WHO HAVE BEEN CLOSED DOWN DUE TO NON-PAYMENT OF BENEFITS.
• WE NEED THE ASSISTANCE OF EVERY MEMBER – IT’S YOUR OBLIGATION. Without the members assistance in the matter, we cannot help you to ensure that your benefits are being paid in a timely manner. The Steward reports are essential in our ability to protect you the member.