There will be a ceremony held Sunday, April 18th at the Veterans Memorial in Dayton KY to honor our late Brother Michael J. Willis. If you are interested in the details please contact John O. Thompson 513-5607235
At the Next Meeting...
-Aside from the usual bad news, at the March meeting the body will be voting on a motion that is designed to help fight those that are trying to do away with the Prevailing Wage laws. A fight we can't afford to lose.
-ATTENTION!!
A good union member pays their monthly dues on time. CHECK STAMPS ON YOUR JOB!! It only amounts to an extra $120 a year if you pay late each month and Darryl thanks you for the extra cash. It is shocking to see the names of some of the members that work every day and are constantly in arrears maybe alongside of you.
Unlike past practices, Darryl is not going to "save" members and it will cost $800 to get back in.
-January saw 16 members loose there book. February saw another 11 have their books revoked also!
-Just so everyone understands this is nothing new! Please check out the Constitution, Section 19. You will also see that if this is not done the Financial Secretary or the Local Union may face a trial by the General Executive Board.
-There are a bunch of members that have not participated in the death fund for 2 years or more and many, many more that are woefully behind (2 months and you receive no money). Your family may want you to catch up before you die and they get a big surprise when they are counting on that money to bury you. In addition, if you have divorced or changed your feelings towards someone you may want to change your beneficiary card on file at the Fund Office. The cards are at the Hall.
-If you get a random or yearly drug test notice in the mail simply take that paperwork you receive to any of the collection sites listed. If you miss the notice or do not know your eligibility status please contact Larry and he will find out what needs to be done to get you back in the system. Do not wait until a job pops up that requires you to be current and miss out because it may take a week or longer to get results.
- You should have received notice that the monthly dues were increased $1.00 by the International. This change took effect January 1, 2010. If you have paid in advance call the Hall and Darryl can let you know what to do.
- The Organizer's duties are now being done by the District Council. However, Tom and Larry have to continue to keep abreast of rat activities in the jurisdiction so...keep those calls coming!
- Just a reminder, our contract expires this year and negotiations in this economic environment should be fun like the dentist.
- A new sound system has been installed for the Union meetings!!!
-If you call the Hall and leave a message please leave your phone number or notify us if you change your number. Current numbers may mean cash in your pocket.
-If you are injured, on the job or off, it is important that you give your current or most recent employer on the insurance forms. Local 44 is NOT your employer. This will enable your benefits to get to you much faster!
WARNING If you worked at GE (in the areas that required a guard or escort) you may have been exposed to radiation and entitled to a free physical from the Dept. of Energy. Call Lou Doll @513-681-0864 at the Cincinnati Building Trades for details.
-It is important to know that if you are injured on the job that you must obtain a state workers compensation number. This will protect you in the event of complications due to your injuries. -If your injury will only keep you off for less than a week then you will receive no compensation due to the "waiting week" that the states require. "Company comp" has left some members, and their bank accounts, a little short.
At the last meeting, we voted on two proposals, had moments of silence, sent emissaries far and wide, blew millions and talked about you come to the next one and find out who was running you down!
Journeyman Upgrade:
-Safety and Training schedules were sent out last month. You may notice a limited number of classes available. We are doing this to get all the members the training the International would like us to have.
As of right now we still have the ability to Collectively Bargain our training. Some of the members have not attended any safety classes in the past. If we don't take the training we need to be competitive, then the Contractors will train who they want when they want. You may be included in their training or they may decide you are not worth it.
-The weld shop continues to be open most every day for practice and Wednesdays only for testing. Call Jason and let him know if you are interested in testing. If you plan on waiting for a job to come up and so you can test. Don't!
Please Help...
If you have any old or new photos of Ironworkers either hard at work or hard at play. We want to get a copy. If you come into the Union Hall give Jason a shout. He can scan your pictures into the Archives here and send them back home with you that day. Help us decorate this new building and show the next generation who made this happen for them.
The Flier would like all the membership to say a prayer for our troops in harms way. We would also like to remind you and ask that you send your personal thanks or even a care package to Brother Dave Schweiger.
C 2-107 (DRT)
Camp TAJI, Iraq
APO AE 09378
I'm sure he would like to hear from you! Better yet take 5 minutes and send Dave an email at:
schweiger.david@yahoo.com
For those who have passed..
Lawrence Goetz
Member. #364385 Member since: 8-194
age: 93 Died: 01/25/2010
May he Rest in Peace.
Congratulations:
Honorary Membership: Michael Tompson #964966
International Lifetime: Reginald Lewis #1077691
The Flier wishes these members a long and enjoyable retirement!
ATTENTION:
If you call the Hall and leave a message please leave your name and a phone number or notify us if you change your phone number and/ or address.
Current numbers may mean cash in your pocket.
Phone List:
The Halls Phone number: (859) 586-2100
The names and Extensions have changed:
Darryl Clarke FS/T: ext.. 11
Larry Oberding B.M: ext. 14
Tom Weingartner B.A : ext. 12
Jason Mullins A.C: ext. 13
Vicki Bunner: ext. 10
Don't forget the Toll Free number: 1-877-Local44 (562-2544)
Fax: (859) 586-0862
Apprentice News:
-Apprentice school will be winding down here soon! All and all school has went well. Work continues to suck!!
-If you can put on an Apprentice do so. Look around your job, if you don't have one, then no one is learning how to do want you are doing. So hire one or be prepared to do that until your deep into your 50's and 60's!
Involved in the Community..
Saturday February 13th Apprentice Members Joe Davidson and Wes Schmeltz striped down to nothing but a very stretched Speedo and dashed into the frozen waters of Versailles State Park Lake. These two were cheered on by fellow Apprentices Joey Jackson, Dan Haussler and Coordinator Jason Mullins. Friends and family also cheered as the two let it all hang out to benefit the Special Olympics of Indiana. Thanks to Local 44 and Pioneer Cladding for the Funding.
-If you know of a public event that may need some assistance or a place that they should be seen at call Jason Mullins 859-586-2100 ext. 13. We can't do everything but we want to try.
Good and Welfare:
Floyd Powell-is putting up a good fight against lung cancer.
Sean Arbuckle- had a 4" lag bolt put in his foot and will be off for a while.
Paul Martin-is beginning his transformation into the Bionic Man. Word is that he has 2 hip replacements, 1 knee trade-in, part of his colon removed and is now awaiting back surgery.
John Lee-has had some medical problems but is hanging tough.
George Walker Jr.-is in bad shape in a nursing home (he's 92).
Dan McKernan-had a stint put in his heart but is ready to go back to work.
Neal Kaufman-was in an auto accident and broke his wrist along with breaking his hips in 5 places. He is in great pain and has an A-frame device holding him together. His recovery will take time and he is at Shawnee Springs out in Harrison.
William Helton- had a brain aneurysm but said his prognosis is good for a return to duty in the spring.
Andy McClellan- had 4 screws, 2 rods, 2 plates and an artificial disk put in his back but is told he should be good to go in the spring but he will no longer be able to board a plane.
Jim Birkla-has been in and out of the hospital with a multitude of problems.
Steve Welling - Steve Welling-had a heart attack, was "shocked" back to life and is recovering.