Business Manager Update 1/24/2022
Brothers and Sisters,
Please note the Retiree Meetings are currently cancelled. Also, in case you haven’t heard, you can now get free at-home COVID-19 tests. More information on both below. Much of our information is now online and also tied to our Training Center at ualocal98.com.
MEETINGS & Union Hall
The next Union Meeting will be held on Thursday, February 10th at 7:00 pm. The meeting will take place indoors at our Union Hall and all Covid restrictions in place will be adhered too. Masks are required WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE VACCINATED.
Retiree Meetings
THE RETIREE MEETINGS ARE CURRENTLY CANCELLED for at least the next couple of months. Your Retiree Association Board will reassess in the spring to decide when they can safely restart the meetings.
UA New Contractor Seminar
On March 23 & 24 the UA will be holding a New Contractor Seminar at the Union Hall for current UA members who are interested in becoming signatory contractors in the future. You must be vaccinated to attend in person or there is an option to attend virtually. You must RSVP by sending an email to [email protected].
By-Law Updates
As required by the UA Constitution, we have to update our by-laws to reflect the changes from the International Convention. President Jimmy Cools and the By-Law Committee will be meeting regarding these changes. If you have any suggestions regarding new by-laws please contact President Jimmy Cools at 734-307-9841, or you can write your idea down and drop it off at the hall. All ideas must be submitted by February 10th in order for the committee to have time to review the suggestions.
Education Opportunities
For continuing education opportunities or classes, you can contact Training Center Coordinator Ryan Lyle at 248-585-1435.
COVID-19 Information – Vaccine – Tests
In our industry, we have many Brothers and Sisters working in hospitals, surgical centers, and other healthcare facilities. Any facility that is a Medicare/Medicaid facility is required to comply with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Interim Final Rule. The CMS Rule requires all staff, including anyone contracted to work in the facilities, to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and the flu. We have received confirmation letters from Ascension, Henry Ford, and Trinity Health Systems. More are soon to be added. You must get vaccinated in order to work at these places, as well as many others. This has nothing to do with the recent Supreme Court ruling. And even with the Supreme Court ruling, many companies outside of the healthcare industry have implemented their own rules and guidelines that include vaccination. It is still your choice; all I can suggest is contact your doctor and educate yourself. The contractors are running out of options to place non-vaccinated members to other jobs they may not have, eventually a lay-off will be harder to obtain.
You can now get 4 free at home COVID-19 tests per residential address. Go to COVIDtests.gov to request yours today.
Please visit ualocal98.com/covid-update-3 for the most current COIVD-19 updates.
SUB Apps/OOW/Benefits
You have 48 hours to report being out of work and to fill out a SUB app. Once you have proof of unemployment, please send that to the hall at [email protected] so we can set you up in the SUB system. We are now able to offer Direct Deposit on SUB Pay. You should have received a letter in the mail with the form for Direct Deposit on SUB Pay. Please return that to the hall and note that it takes 30-60 days to set up. It is your responsibility to check your location on the Out of Work List. Make sure your contact information is up to date as well as MUST and other certifications. If you have any problems with state agencies involving unemployement, or questions on MUST models and staying current, please contact Gary Glaser or Dan Nixon and hopefully they can help you get that resolved.
Dues
There’s still time to make your Yearly Dues Payment and receive your Free Gift! The 2022 gift is your choice of either a Full Zip or Pull-over Hoodie in either Hi Vis Green or Black. Retirees receiving a pension from Local 98 are eligible if they are currently on or sign up for the Pension Auto Deduct Dues Program. To pay your dues or for any questions please call the hall at (248) 307-9800 or, after hours, call Jon DeRoo at (248) 762-9238. Hoodies are here and can be picked up during regular business hours.
Note on Disability/Retirement
If you are filing for Social Security Disability you will need to file for your Local 98 Disability Pension at the same time in order to make sure you get all of your pension checks. Social Security normally takes at least a year and sometimes a lot longer. If you file for your Local 98 Disability Pension at the same time, when you receive your award from Social Security, we will be able to pay you all the retro money owed. If you are less than a year from retirement, we suggest you set up a meeting with Jon DeRoo prior to your retirement date.
Retirees
Congratulations to Brothers Darryl McDonald, Donald Tonneli, Kevin Kairunas, Michael Morin, Steven Semrau, William Allard, Robert Bullock, Michael Mastracci, David Morin, John Rogers, and Richard Martens, all who recently retired. Wishing you all endless days of relaxation.
Our condolences go out to the family and friends of John Udvare who passed away on December 30, 2021 and Cornelious Moore who passed away on January 14, 2022.
Good/Welfare
We are currently looking for Residential and Service Plumbers. This is a great opportunity to expand and grow, as many members are looking to retire. If you know anyone working Non-Union or is a past member that may be interested, have them call Organizer Rob Moses at 248-763-2187.
In solidarity I remain, Carlo Castiglione Business Manager Plumbers Local 98