BY: THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF IRON WORKERS LOCAL 17

THE NEXT REGULAR UNION MEETING:
December 4, 2012 at 6:00 PM

OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETINGS:
Officers Meeting: December 4, 2012 at 5:00 PM
Executive Board Meeting: December 21, 2012,  5:30 PM

RETIREES' CLUB MEETINGS:
Wednesday, December 21, 2012
All retired members are welcome. The meeting begins at 10:00 AM at the Union Hall.

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PLEASE NOTE DUE TO THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION THE NOVEMBER 6, 2012 UNION MEETING WILL BE CANCELLED. THIS MEETING WILL NOT BE RESCHEDULED. THE NEXT UNION MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 4, 2012.

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

Member	BK #:	DOD:
JOHN HUISMAN	795258	11/1/12

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SUSPENSIONS & SUSPENSION WARNINGS
The following members are scheduled for suspension on 11/1/12 if dues payment is not received by 10/31/12:

Member No:	L Name	F Name
1153174	ANGELIS	GEORGE
1227928	BAER	MICHAEL
999240	BAILEY	MALCOLM
1358667	BAKER	RAY
991374	BEAVERS	GRAHAM
1433772	BIXEL	MARK
1355607	BLENMAN	SCOTT
1185763	BLYTHEWOOD	GREGORY
1218081	BUTLER	NEVITT
1391887	CARTER	GEORGE
1424192	CATANIA	GREGORY
1014784	DOWNEY	DAVID
1438246	ENGLISH	MICHAEL
1436888	ESTVANIK	ELI
1113423	EVANS	JOHNNIE
1411363	HANCY	JOHN
1145299	HARMEL	DAVID
1163959	HEGEDUS	ROBERT
1208275	HERB	DANIEL
1237759	HUDSON	WILLIAM
1185239	LALLY	DENNIS
1042803	LANE	TOM
1131313	LORIA	ANTHONY
1185267	LUGO	THOMAS
1298237	MALONE	JASON
1179942	MAUER	GARY
1139587	MAUSAR	BENNETT
1263550	MC COMBS	RICHARD
1379784	MC LAUGHLIN	SEAN
1367939	NOVAKOVICH	DAVID
1237738	ROBINSON	TIMOTHY
1425561	SCHOSSLER	JOSEPH
1218418	SERVEY	PAUL
1175633	SIMBOLI	ANTHONY
1004580	SIMMONS	ROBERT
1339035	STERLE	GERALD
1298231	SWANK	KENNY
1232390	SZEROKMAN	RONALD
1218726	TATTRIE	DIANA
1240082	URICH	KEVIN
1441602	WARE	KENYATTA
1339029	WEAVER	STEVEN

Effective 10/1/12 the following members were suspended for lack of dues:

Member No:	L Name	F Name
1441608	ROBINSON	PAUL
1433996	STONITSCH	MARK
1438582	ULMER	LIEUTENANT

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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.

With regards to the STRUCTURAL WELDING CERTIFICATION, please remember you are responsible personally to keep continuity records for this certification. The structural welding certification that comes with your bridge papers do not expire, provided that you can show welding employment records for every six month period from the time you took your weld test. You are expected to be able to furnish these work records to employers upon request. It has come to our attention that more and more frequently these records are being requested by employers. Secure your work, please keep adequate records.

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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 November 3, 2012 8:00 AM TO 11:00AM
SATURDAY December 1, 2012 8:00 AM TO 11:00AM

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THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY OFFICE HOURS:

The Union Hall will be closed on Thursday, November 22nd and will re-open on Monday, November 26th, 2012 in observance of the Holiday.

A special greeting of Thanksgiving time to express to you our sincere appreciation for your confidence and loyalty. We are deeply thankful and extend to you our best wishes for a happy and healthy Thanksgiving Day.
 - Sincerely, The Officers of Local No. 17

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” –John F. Kennedy

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CHILDRENS CHRISTMAS PARTY

Local 17 has scheduled the annual children’s Christmas Party on Saturday, December 8th between 12:00 Noon to 3:00 PM. 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. We will be wrapping the gifts and decorating the hall on Thursday, December 6TH , after 4:00 PM. Pizza and refreshments will be provided.

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ATTENTION ACTIVE JOURNEYMAN AND APPRENTICE MEMBERS:

Pursuant to the motion at the August meeting regarding a holiday bonus for active journeyman and apprentice’s, your holiday bonus check for $100.00 will be available at the union hall for pick-up during the period of Wednesday, December 15, 2012 through Wednesday, December 29, 202. All remaining checks will be mailed on the January 2, 2013. 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, 2013 through March 15, 2013. All uncashed checks will automatically void after ninety days on March 16, 2013. 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, 2013. Please remember it is your responsibility to keep a current address on record with the union hall.

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