BY: THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF IRON WORKERS LOCAL 17

THE NEXT REGULAR UNION MEETING:
December 6, 2011 at 6:00 PM

OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETINGS:
Officers Meeting: December 6, 2011 at 5:00 PM
Executive Board Meeting: December 21, 2011 at 5:30

RETIREES' CLUB MEETINGS:
Wednesday, December 21, 2011. All retired members are welcome. The meeting begins at 10:00 AM at the Union Hall.

Steward reports are now available online. You can access at www.ironworkers17.org/sub/steward_reports. Please email to: union@ironworkers17.org.

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

CHILDRENS CHRISTMAS PARTY
Local 17 has scheduled a children’s Christmas Party on Saturday, December 3th between 11:30 am to 2:30pm. The party is held for our member’s children and grandchildren, ages 10 and under. We need volunteers to help wrap gifts and clean up after the party. Any interested persons please contact Carole at the union office to volunteer. We will be wrapping the gifts and decorating the hall on Thursday, December 1st, anytime after 4:00 PM. Pizza and refreshments will be provided.

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SEASONS GREETINGS, WITH BEST WISHES FOR THE NEW YEAR

HOLIDAY OFFICE HOURS:

The Union Hall will be closed on:
Saturday December 24th
Monday, December 26, 2011
Monday, January 2, 2012

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

Member	BK #:	DOD:
ROY SWEENEY	718896	11/1/11
NELSON BLACKBURN	1018331	10/2/11
STEPHEN BOGUNIA	430905	11/7/11

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SUSPENSIONS & SUSPENSION WARNINGS
The following members are scheduled for suspension on 12/1/11 if dues payment is not received by 11/30/11:

MEMBER NO.	L NAME	F NAME
1227928	BAER	MICHAEL
1432938	BARNES	CHARLES
1433772	BIXEL	MARK
1415022	BYERS	GEOFFREY
1134916	DAUCH	GALE
1263534	DE MARCO	THEODORE
1344404	DOUROUNTAKIS	JOHN
1165895	ELEY	JEROME
1113423	EVANS	JOHNNIE
1237759	HUDSON	WILLIAM
1078385	HUEY	TIMOTHY
1280847	KANE	BRENDAN
1298233	KANUCH	ROBERT
1298187	KEY	JEFF
1239191	LLOYD	WAYMON
1185267	LUGO	THOMAS
1163860	LUTHER	BYRON
1298237	MALONE	JASON
1261078	MARCUM	BRYAN
1316417	MARTIN	MICHAEL
1139587	MAUSAR	BENNETT
1263550	MC COMBS	RICHARD
1208928	NIST	KIRT
1351222	NOGGY	DAVID
1332931	RIFFLE	JOE
1237738	ROBINSON	TIMOTHY
1430219	ROCKAS	BRIAN
1237747	RUSSELL	JASON
1175633	SIMBOLI	ANTHONY
1218083	STACHOWIAK	JASON
1164521	STAUBS	JOHN
1339035	STERLE	GERALD
1218726	TATTRIE	DIANA
1240082	URICH	KEVIN
1060932	WAGNER	ROOSEVELT
1425224	WHITELY	MARK
1280855	WILLIAMS	GARY
1238700	WOODRUM	DEREK
1227844	ZASLOV	SEAN

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ATTENTION ACTIVE JOURNEYMAN AND APPRENTICE MEMBERS:

Your holiday bonus check for $100.00 will be available at the union hall for pick-up during the period of Wednesday, December 14, 2011 through Wednesday, December 28, 2011. All remaining checks will be mailed on the 30th of December. To be eligible for the Holiday bonus, you must be an ACTIVE JOURNEYMAN OR APPRENTICE WITH AN OCTOBER DUES STAMP. YOUR OCTOBER DUES MUST BE PAID BY DECEMBER 1, 2011 TO QUALIFY FOR THE REFUND.

These checks are valid for ninety (90) days; December 15, 2011 through March 15, 2012. All uncashed checks will automatically void after ninety days on March 16, 2012. Checks returned to us by the US Postal Service for insufficient addresses will be held until the ninety day limit for pick-up. NO checks will be reissued after March 15, 2012. Please remember it is your responsibility to keep a current address on record with the union hall.

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LOCAL 17 APPRENTICESHIP AND TRAINING CENTER INFORMATION

SIGNALING AND RIGGING CARD CERTIFICATON:
Presently International Signaling and Rigging qualification cards have been issued to all members who have been initiated and have completed their apprenticeship with Local 17. If you did not complete the apprenticeship and would like to obtain training for a Signaling and/or Rigging qualification card, please contact Jeff Carlson at the Training Center for more information and registration.

WELDING CERTIFICATION:
In order to protect our work, Local 17 needs members certified in stainless and innershield welding. With spring and summer approaching many scheduled Cleveland area projects will start breaking ground. If you do not have your welding certifications please take the time now in acquiring these certs. Remember protecting our work is protecting your paycheck. 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 $60.00 PER POSITION will be charged for all RE-tests due to lack of work record. Please Note: Due to the cost increase of materials, a motion to increase the weld testing fee from $50 per test to $60 per POSITION passed unanimously at the April, 8 2011 JATC meeting.

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. Forms are available at the union hall or you can google “ODOT WELDERS UPDATE” and print out a form from your computer.

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EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR IRON WORKERS:

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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DRUG TESTING INFORMATION

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 December 10, 2011 8:00 AM TO 11:00AM
SATURDAY January 7, 2012 8:00 AM TO 11:00AM