February 3, 2020 Business Manager Update

Membership Meeting
The next Regular Meeting will be at 7:00 pm on Thursday, February 13, 2020 at 555 Horace Brown Drive, Madison Heights, MI 48071.

We ‘ve received notice that our Director of the Training Center and lead Instructor, Paul Baker, will be hanging up his bibs in the fall. I cannot express our appreciation for his efforts and dedication to our program. I will forego giving praises to Paul for when he actually does pull the pin.
In the meantime, we are looking for a Training Director who will continue to advance our program. We are looking for a current UA member who can command respect, teach our Apprentices the trade, stay on pace with new technology all the while at the same time teach the core values we hold so dearly. This person will work for the trust, which runs the whole program and which is funded through negotiations and the efforts of the members of our local Union. So, yes, there is a great amount of accountability and stress involved. I can assure you if you are currently a foreman or have run work either in the field or in an office you will have the ability to do this job, as you have already fought your way to the top. I am hopeful that you learned to take a beating and give one when needed. If you cannot use the words “NO”, do not know when a young man or woman needs help to stay in the program or when to help that person out the door, then this is not your job. This job is not something to take lightly it is possibly the hardest job in this Local. It helps make our future relevant, as you will have a direct impact on these new members, their lives, our lives and the future of our Industry. If you are interested, please send your resume to the Training Center ASAP, to the attention of the Plumbers Local 98 Industry Training Center, 1911 Ring Drive, Troy, MI 48083. Due to this impending change, 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 and then start the interview process.

By now the working members and retirees have received their new Open Enrollment form to change your insurance coverage to a different plan. If you’re happy with your current plan you do not have to do anything. BeneSys is still our plan manager and you should feel free to contact Jon or myself at the Hall with any questions you may have or that may arise from the mailing you received.

We have started to clean up the Out of Work List and if you were unavailable to work or did not return a call, you may have been moved to the Stay list or the Sick list. Please keep your Safe to Work Modules current as we have a lot of automotive work on the horizon. The Training Center has scheduled Med Gas and other classes as the Detroit and Ann Arbor areas will have hospital work this spring. Be prepared for this work when it is released. As far as SUB pay goes, it will be assessed week to week, if we have work to man and have to find Travelers or Retirees, we’ll stop it.

We are looking for Residential and Service Plumbers at this time. If you know anyone working Non-Union or a past member, that may be interested, have them call 98’s Organizer Rob Moses at the Hall or his cell 248-763-2187.

We have run in to problems with the new UA cards as there is no way to know if a member is current with their Union dues. Jon has printed a second card to be carried to our meetings as well as the job site. This second card can be stamped monthly or yearly as we’ve done in the past. Now all members and stewards won’t have to call the Hall to see if a member is current. Our hope is that this will not only stop accidental reinstatement fees from occurring, this will help examining board members checking cards at the door prior to Union meetings.

Some of you are in arrears, if you’re struggling, please contact the hall and make payment arrangements, I do not ever want to fine anyone for something that can be avoided.

The new 2020 Log books are in, grab only what you need for the jobs. The new Contract books hopefully will be available after February 7th.
Just a reminder, the March 12, 2020 meeting will be the State of the Union meeting.

On behalf of all of the Officers of Local 98, thank you and work safe!

In Brotherhood, Carlo

Hanging Up Their Bibs
Congratulations to the members who will retire effective February 1, 2020:
Frank McMahon, thank you for your service and enjoy your retirement.

Condolences
Our deepest sympathies go to the family and friends of 66 year member Alfred Storey, who passed away December 30, 2019.
Our deepest sympathies go to the family and friends of retiree Marvin Kuzma that passed away January 2, 2020. Marvin is the father-in-law of member Rick Taylor.

Retiree Meeting
Join the Retirees for their next meeting Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at 12 pm at the Union Hall, 555 Horace Brown, Drive, Madison Heights. We encourage all retirees to attend our meetings held on the second Wednesday of every month at the Local 98 Union Hall.

Northern Retiree Meeting
We will meet the 2nd Tuesday of the month; the next meeting is Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at 10 am at Wadham’s Country Kitchen, 2838 Stable Drive, Kimball 48074. For more info call Ron DeRoo at (810) 305-2781.

Thumb Area Meeting
There is a monthly meeting for Local 98 members in our Northern thumb area. The meeting scheduled for Tuesday, February 18, 2020 at 6 pm at the Blue Water Convention Center, 800 Harker St., Port Huron 48060. For more info call Jon DeRoo at (248) 762-9238.
Workers Assistance Program, Recovery and Relationship/Divorce Support Groups
This program is not only for medical and 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 BeneSys at 248-813-9800 to verify your continued Insurance eligibility.