April 13th Open Letter to the Membership of Plumbers Local 98

Brothers and Sisters,

Your Officers and I hope this letter finds you and your family safe during these strange times. I’m sure this will be one of those once in a lifetime memories of a holiday weekend none of us will soon forget.  I completely agree with our Governor’s decision to extend the stay at home order until the end of this month. Even though the CDC and our affiliated Governmental agencies have seen the epidemic peak in our state and have stopped the building of surge centers in our state or at least in our jurisdiction for now. The original plan to turn the Suburban Showplace into a surge hospital was originally planned for 1,100 beds has now been reduced to 200, just in case we get a resurgence of this virus.

Local 98 has more than done its share by completing a 1,100-bed facility at TCF Center (COBO Hall) in Detroit. I believe our training and the hard work you do in the field, where the only reason an out-of-state contractor, Johnson Controls, with almost zero experience in plumbing or building a hospital could hire direct from the hall and with the aid of our sister locals 190,370 671, C&R Plumbing and Conti Mechanical smash any myths about the value of hiring SKILLED UNION WORKERS.

At this time, your officers are trying and are still working together on gathering information on updates to the historic changes to unemployment and all possible grants to businesses across the country. With their help 98 has donated food to ER’s, delivered masks to sites, dropped off coffee to area hospitals, volunteered our services and anything we can do to help.

Our members are working selflessly along the side of doctors and nurses in our hospitals, we went to work in Detroit returning water to over 100 homes under the direction of Goyette, Benkari and Ben Washington and the great brothers from 370 that mixed with our own. More is to come when the workers from DWSD and GLWA can man the positions and reevaluate who to help next.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, our county executives, Oakland County Dave Coulter, Macomb County Mark Hackel, and Wayne County’s Warren Evans have been working tirelessly with their staff to get our members to anyone who needs us. I pray all these relationships here and across our country will continue and move our nation forward. This virus does not care if you are a Democrat or a Republican. If you are not working stay home.

Until further notice, all E-Board meetings, Union meetings, and Retiree meetings will be canceled. The Union Hall and our Training Center have been shut down to all foot traffic.

Any Must/Most, upgrades, continuities or letters of certifications will still be taken care of by Paul Baker or our officers or Jean. The school will remain closed until we figure out a black board procedure or the state pulls restrictions.

While I am here, I recommend to the apprentices get your classes caught up at Washtenaw Community College, this virus may hamper going to school but not your obligation to the training center.  At work I am in hope this social distancing and the constant scrubbing of hands, will help keep some of us safe. I realize this is sometimes impossible but do the best you can. I have to announce our training center is closed down as well, there is no foot traffic allowed. Please check all of our media outlets like the 98 Web page, Facebook or call the hall to see if there is any new information.

It’s that time again for your 2020 Plumbing License Renewal, it can be done ONLINE ONLY! For detailed instructions and requirements, please visit www.michigan.gov/bcc. Or call 98’s training Center and they will assist you.

Our Local 98 PAC committee has come out in support of past V.P. Joe Biden for President of the United States. With all the twisted things that Washington and our great state has done to the working class and every Local Union in this country, it did not take long to come to this conclusion. That does not mean in any way shape or form we have shut the door on the Republican Party. We will work on a list of candidates your PAC committee is recommending soon on our web page, we will always back anyone who stands with the working people of our state of Michigan and this country just like we have done in the past. You stand with us or against us!

All working 2nd thru 5th year apprentices should have received a new open enrollment form to change your insurance coverage to a different plan, if you are happy with your current plan you do not have to do anything. BeneSys is still our plan manager and feel free to contact Jon or myself at the hall for any questions you may have or that may arise from the mailing you received.

 We have currently frozen any new apprentice applications at our Training Center as we try to figure out a potential start date for a new class.

Superintendents and Foremen, if you have laid off Pre-apprentices, please send the information to the agents with a letter pertaining to their work efforts. Some day we will get back to normal, and to lose these young men and women would be an injustice.

We had started to clean up the Out of Work List and now not so much, we are back to over 400 Brothers and Sisters out of work. I have informed our contractors when they are given the green light you may return for that same contractor you were laid off from. “Your only responsibility is to notify the Union upon returning to work.”

Right now, the world has learned about the world of sanitary conditions, when you do return to work don’t let the generals go back to unclean work conditions like overflowing Porta Jon’s or a lack of hand wash station by them. Don’t let just one person bitch – YOU all should be in unison.

If you were unavailable to work or did not return a call you have been moved to the stay list or injured list. Please keep your Safe to Work Modules current as we have a lot of automotive work on the horizon.

The first week of May, many of these plants will try and reopen, most of them will be on a 4-10 schedule in order to clean the facilities properly and the idea is to give us less exposure. I can’t hold a gun to your head but please wear a mask and gloves, I personally have seen many members who will not wear a mask, my hats off to Macomb guys whose wives all made them masks. Thank you ladies!

We are looking for Residential and Service Plumbers at this time, when we get the green light to return to work, it will be a great chance to expand and grow again as many members are looking to retire. So if you know anyone working nonunion or is a past member that may be interested in us, have them call 98’s Organizer Rob Moses on his cell phone 248-763-2187.

The new U.A. Union cards are available at the hall when you pay your 2020 Union dues, these cards are good for 2020, 2021 and 2022. If by chance you are in arrears and you are struggling financially, please contact the hall and make arrangements. We do not want to fine anyone for something that can be avoided.

If you are thinking of retirement or are having any issues relating to SUB, Unemployment or Benesys please contact Jon on his cell phone or at the hall at 248-762-9238. Sorry to say but we have run into problems with the new UA cards as there is no way to know if a person is current. Jon has been able to make a second card to be carried to our meetings as well as job sites, this second card can now be stamped monthly or yearly as we have done in the past.

Now all of our members and stewards on the jobs will not have to waste time calling the hall to see if another member is current. Our hope is this will not only stop accidental reinstatement fee’s from occurring but this will help examining board members at union meetings who are at the door checking cards to lessen any confusion.

Don’t miss out on our agreement with the Detroit Land Bank Authority.  Local 98 members can purchase home or building in the Land Banks Holdings for half the list cost. Go to www.buildingdetroit.org to see what this is about or contact the hall for details.

The new Log books are in so grab only what you need for your job. It figures now that work is slow the new contract books have arrived, agents can distribute to a parking lot or open area if needed.

Last note I saved the best for last; I would like to personally thank Brother Mitch Conn who is retiring this month from our training center. It was an honor working with you. When we needed a welding instructor he stepped up and really put our young men and women on the right path. On behalf of all the Officers and Members we wish you a great retirement to you and your wife.

We also would like to thank Brother Chris Opalka for stepping in and is now our new welding instructor for 98. I’m sure you will continue teaching our members this well needed skill.

In Brotherhood,

Carlo Castiglione
Business Manager, Plumbers Local 98

 

Retiree Meeting. Cancelled

Northern Retiree Meeting. Cancelled

Thumb Area Meeting. Cancelled

Workers Assistance Program, Recovery and Relationship/Divorce Support Groups. This program is not only for medical and/or personal issues, please call C.J. Harrison, Work Life Strategies at 248-545-8301 for an appointment.

Out of Work List Changes/ SUB Pay. All working members will be required to complete a SUB application within 48 hours of their lay-off to ensure placement on the Out of Work List. If you are out of work due to Unemployment, Disability or Workers Compensation, please contact Jon DeRoo first at 248-762-9238 first than BeneSys at 248-813-9800 to verify your continued Insurance eligibility.

 TRAINING CENTER NEWS. Phone # 248-585-1435

Check out The Training Center’s website: Plumbers98TC.org

The Apprenticeship Application process is closed until further notice.

Coronavirus (COVID19). Due the Governor Whitmer’s order that all non-essential persons stay at home The Training Center is closed until further notice.  All scheduled apprentice, journey plumber update and certification classes have cancelled.  Please call Paul Baker at 248-585-1435 ext. 123 if you have any questions.

The State of Michigan has mailed Plumbing license renewal notices. The Bureau of Construction Codes has transitioned to online license renewals. The Training Center computer lab is available for members who need computer access or assistance in renewing their plumbing license online. Training Center hours are Monday – Friday 7:00 am to 3:30 pm. If you need assistance or access to the computer lab after hours (3:30 pm – 8:00 pm), please call the Training Center at 248-585-1435. You can reach Paul Baker at extension 123.

Payment options include credit, or debit card, electronic funds transfer or check. So be sure to bring a credit or debit card, or a blank check to process the renewal payment online. The fee is $40.00 for journey plumbers and $300.00 for master plumbers.

2020 Course Hour reimbursement forms are now available at the Training Center. You must have 8 hours (approved hours credited may vary from actual hours attended) of verifiable approved classes/training from Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2020 to be eligible for the $80.00 reimbursement. Deadline for 2019 reimbursement requests is March 31, 2020.

OSHA Training – OSHA 10, available as on an online class for $25 at www.careersafeonline.com This OSHA 10 class is not affiliated with the UA or our Training Center. OSHA 10 and 30 Hour Training is also offered online through the MUST website. Go to www.mustonline.org. **Be sure to take the Construction Safety courses; not the General Industry courses.

It is each member’s individual responsibility to keep all their Certifications current.

If the person you are trying to reach at the Training Center is unavailable, please leave a message to ensure we can return your call. We attempt to return all messages by the end of the business day.