Business Manager Update 4/5/2021
Brothers and Sisters,
On behalf of your officers and staff, we hope you are all doing well and enjoying your spring. Please consider joining us for some spring cleaning on April 17 for Macomb County Adopt-A-Highway week, see good and welfare for more details. Please continue to be safe, stay healthy, and wear a mask!
MEETINGS
****Special Called Meeting*** for wage allocation is scheduled for Thursday, May 13th at 7:00 pm. This meeting will be held outside at our Union Hall and all Covid restrictions are in place using social distancing and masks. Please contact your Business Agent and give them insight on the possible ideas you may have for new monies.
Please note June’s Monthly Meeting will be on the third Thursday of the Month due to the State Convention. June’s meeting will take place on Thursday, June 17th at 7:00 pm in person, outside at our Union Hall and all Covid restrictions are in place using social distancing and masks.
E-Board meetings
E-Board meetings are the first and second Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. If you need to contact or see the board, please call V.P. Jim Cools at 734-307-9841.
Retiree Meetings remain cancelled: The President of the retiree association is still working on a detailed plan dealing with restarting these meetings back up.
Due to the surge of increased COVID cases, we will have an Awards Night with refreshments this fall. Please watch the paper for information.
OTHER EVENTS
At this moment, the State Pipe Trades Convention is on for this summer for our elected delegates. This will take place the second week of June. More information will be laid out April 8th at 5pm at the hall for delegates. We are still waiting for an update on the National Convention.
LICENSE RENEWAL
Time is running out to renew your State of Michigan Plumbing License. If it’s due for renewal this year, it will expire on 4/30/21. It is online and you can renew by going to https://aca3.accela.com/LARA (note mobile devices may not work with new site). If you are a Master and a Contractor for the same company, you may be able to have your fee waved. Any other questions EMAIL [email protected]. For all continuing education opportunities or classes, call Training Coordinator Ryan Lyle at 248-585-1435.
BAs Gary Glaser and Tom McWilliams are admins on the Must/Most program, contact them if you need help.
DUES
You can pay your dues online, over the phone, or by mailing in a check. You can also set up auto-payments. If you have any questions or need to pay dues, please contact Kristina Lodovisi at (248) 307-9800 ext. 4 or on her cell at (248) 331-7232.
COVID-19 Information & Vaccine!
Registration is now open for the FEMA/State of Michigan Ford Field COVID-19 vaccine clinic! There are three options to register for a vaccine:
- Go to https://clinic.meijer.com/register/CL2021or
- Text “EndCOVID” to 75049
- Residents who don’t have access to the internet or who need assistance navigating the vaccine registration process can call the MDHHS COVID-19 Hotline at 888-535-6136 (press 1) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Vaccines are still available at the TCF Center. You can call 313-230-0505 between 9am & 8pm M-F to schedule an appointment at the TCF Center, or go to the website detroitmi.gov and click on the COVID-19 Vaccine Updates, for the most up-to-date information.
For up-to-date information on COVID-19 you can go to the website Michigan.gov/protectmicommision. Or, if you would like to be a part of the conversation and join a workgroup, you can reach out to [email protected] or michigan.gov/covidvaccine for locations or information regarding COVID-19 updates. WEAR YOUR MASKS! Any concerns with COVID-19 safety protocols or lack of PPE contact the Business Agent in the area or the Union Hall.
Additional vaccination sites are available on our website, please visit ualocal98.com/covid.
UNION HALL
The Union Hall is CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC. You will need to schedule an appointment to come to the hall. Properly worn masks are required. There is a COVID-19 questionnaire that MUST be filled out by everyone entering the Union Hall. If you do have an appointment at the Union Hall, please use the south entrance. All the officers are continuing to work.
SUB APPS/OOW CHANGES/BENEFITS
Due to influx of travelers, we are closing SUB pay to all except for medical or COVID related injuries. It is your responsibility to fill out a SUB App when you are laid off. Please fill out SUB Apps electronically. This can be found on the web page under the OOWL section. If you’re still having unemployment issues call BAs Gary Glaser or Tom McWilliams. For any issues that are unresolved at BeneSys, please get the name of the person you are dealing with and contact Carlo or Jon or the Union Hall immediately.
Insurance Pharmacy Drug Card Change
Our new prescription Benefit Manager is now Costco Health Solutions. They will provide you with full-service pharmacy benefits at more than 64,000 retail Pharmacy stores Nationwide. You DO NOT have to use a retail COSTCO pharmacy. However, you do not need to be a member to use their pharmacy. To find an in-network Pharmacy near you, please visit: www.costcohealthsolutions.com. We still exclude the use of Wal-Mart or Sam Club’s for our prescriptions. Your Pharmacy benefit allows you to fill your 90-day generic medications at any retail Pharmacy. If you have further questions call customer care hot line at-1-877-908-6024.
As always please get the name or badge number of any representative you may talk to.
RETIREES
Congratulations to Brother Edward Herczak on his retirement. We wish him a long and healthy retirement.
IN MEMORIAM
Our sincere condolences go out to the family and friends of Brother Michael Loftus who passed on March 25, 2021.
GOOD/WELFARE
Congratulations to Brother Zach Richardson and his wife Michelle on the birth of their first child, Thomas, on March 30, 2021.
Join us for Macomb County Adopt-A-Highway week on April 17th thru 25th. Please call BA Gary Glaser (313)580-0148 or BA Tom McWilliams (248)752-2994 for more information and to sign up so they can assure they have adequate equipment for the number of volunteers. This is a great volunteer opportunity for any high schoolers in need of volunteer hours.
Cleveland Cliffs (AK Steel) update: No more onsite witnessed drug tests! Cliffs is now accepting offsite MUST drug tests administered within the last 6 months. They retired the old legacy AK Steek barred list. If you were previously banned from AK Steel, your name can be submitted for reinstatement. Any questions call BA Gary Glaser.
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