March 19th, 2020 Business Manager Update

Brothers and Sisters:

I would have thought by now our Federal Government and our 2-party system would have shut down the whole country but I see none of them can read a paper or watch the events unfold in the world around us or capitalize on other nation’s mistakes. Watching the Federal Government agree months after they should have acted together in January is not a surprise, that can wait for another time.

I want all of you to know we, your officers, are checking every angle we can to find answers to this outbreak and come up with the best answers to keep you safe. This is not Washington, we are together through this ordeal for the betterment of this Union. I also want you to know 98 and the MCA have been working diligently together as well and are changing with most issues that are arising daily.

I am not a doctor – none of us are but we have been on enough conversations with them to make an educated guess, this will be a long year as this virus eats through our society as a whole. No one sees a cure or preventive medicine until fall.

It has been explained to me this is a wet virus, not a complete airborne one, so the only way a mask can help you is if you are sick, this way you don’t sneeze or cough on a person or the equipment your crew is working on. Copper alone has a 3-4-hour life span, touch that then your face, food or eyes. you have the potential to kill a partner or a loved one. In one interview I have seen a mask may stop a person from touching their face so that is a good reason for it. Hand sanitizers, hand wipes, and porta johns our gift to the construction industry for years. God knows we don’t have the first one (sanitizers) on all sites and the porta johns, well… we all know better what a cesspool those are.

Many of you have been asked to fill out paperwork asking daily whether you are sick and do you have a fever. I may be a plumber but what are they doing to keep us safe? How about a report daily report on what our generals are doing to protect you?

As many of you have called me and asked what you should do, here is my take on it. If you have young kids, if you have any adults living in your home over 45 years old or if your over 45. I would consider asking for a layoff. As of now, no one has stopped a clean layoff from occurring, I can’t thank our contractors enough as I have stated earlier.

Our Governor asked for 2 weeks and well I hope in 2 weeks we get a handle on this situation. I promise you this, I will allow all members to go back to their current employer with no fear of a work rules violation. I do ask you do not apply for unemployment yet as Jon working our political angles to see if the 2/3rds payout on wages will apply to construction workers. If you need money now by all mean’s start your unemployment process immediately and send it to Jean or Jon at the hall. At these emails [email protected] [email protected].

Please call your agent in your area to fill out sub-apps as I have closed down the hall. The front lobby is open if you wish to fill a sub-app out on your own and leave it in the basket, we will grab it at the close of day. Make sure your layoff slip from the contractor refers to the virus if it becomes contentious call your area rep and he will handle it.

If your choice is to stay on-site please be careful to keep your area clean. Stay as far away from your work partner as possible, I realize this is impossible as you are joining pipe or working in tandem. Do not eat in the trailer and stay separated as the state has recommended 6 feet from the next person. If you are sick stay home. Bring in hand sanitizer and keep it on you, I expect Foreman to stay up on this and more information as it becomes available, all water should be bottled and not in coolers. If a porta Jon is unusable get an operator and a high low and run it up to an office. You must be vigilant, not passive any more. I believe the next virus down the road will be more powerful as this one and this is our future every so often. Jon has made a great web page and we will update you as often as we can. this is how you access it ualocal98.com and log in to the members-only section. It will explain to you how to use it by using your UA book number.

Any questions on the website please call Jon.

In Brotherhood,
Carlo Castiglione
Business Manager Plumbers Local 98