November 6th Business Manager Update

Brothers and Sisters,

We hope you and your family are safe and healthy. To our Veterans we thank you for your service, not only to our country but to our Local Union as well.

MEETINGS                                                           

This Thursday’s Union Meeting has been moved to video due to the hall being closed. The video will be posted on Thursday, November 12th at 7:00 pm. You can access this video here on the website under Member Zone. The next Union Meeting will be Thursday, December 12th at 7:00 pm. We will be moving the meeting to a virtual platform. For virtual meetings we will follow the same rituals and officer reports as usual. Some sensitive information, such as organizing campaigns, may not be discussed virtually. The confidentiality of our business matters has to be our priority.

A reminder that our annual “Turkey Night” as well as the kids “Christmas Party” are both cancelled, unless a miracle happens and the Coronavirus dissipates.

 E-Board meetings

E-Board meetings are the first 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 are still cancelled until further notice.

ELECTIONS

Congratulations to President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris. It was a tight race. Now we, as a local union, must come back to center and help each other as we have in the past. Let’s face it, all of our elected officials will have a pandemic hanging around their necks for some time.  I would like to thank you all, as well as our election committee, on our selections and our picks for the areas we represent.

Over the past several weeks we have had several visits from the Biden Campaign to our hall. The first being Dr. Jill Biden speaking, followed by the Biden Campaign Bus handing out Biden swag. It’s always great to see presidential campaigns in Michigan and even better when we get to be a part of it.

We would also like to thank Brothers Scott Huber, Nate Tomanek, and Mark Wisniewski, who all have served our country in the military and helped the Military and Veterans Council make videos in support of President-elect Biden.

COVID-19

We are heading into another outbreak bigger than earlier in the year. This is no drill. This is now a set reality of everyday life. Wear your masks. If for some crazy reason you are fortunate not to experience a loss in your family, do the rest of us a favor and act like you have! Anyone that knows of a Local 98 member or spouse that has died of Covid-19, please have the surviving partner or family member contact the Union hall as the U.A. has an extra bereavement fund to assist unfortunate families in their time of need. Due to HIPPA laws we cannot make first contact with the families ourselves. So please help out our member’s families.

Any concerns with COVID-19 safety protocols or lack of PPE contact the Business agent in the area or the Union Hall.

UNION HALL

The Union Hall is CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC. We are in the process of deep cleaning the hall after we had a couple cases of COVID-19 in the building. Once we are back up and running, you will need to schedule an appointment to come to the hall. The West doors will continue as our main entrance. Masks are required and you need to make an appointment to visit. There is a COVID-19 questionnaire that MUST be filled out by everyone entering the Union Hall. Remember, the Training Center can be used.

SUB APPS/OOW Changes

Please fill out SUB Apps electronically now. 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 member issues dealing with benefits contact Jon DeRoo. If you are less than a year from retiring, please set a meeting with Jon today.

LICENSE RENEWAL

For all continuing education opportunities or classes, see below or call Training Coordinator Paul Baker at 248-585-1435. BAs Gary Glaser and Tom McWilliams are now admins on the Must/Most program, contact them if you need help.

IN MEMORIAM

Our deepest sympathies go out to the friends and family of our Brothers who have recently passed away; John E Wuerth, Jr. who passed away October 9, 2020, Romeo Gadwa who passed away October 29, 2020, and Victor Micallef who passed away November 5, 2020.

Good/Welfare

We now have a hearing Benefit added to our Insurance package starting September 1st of 2020 through Nations Hearing. This is for opt out members as well. Please watch your mail for the information, or call 877-241-0703 M-F. 8am-8pm, or visit nationshearing.com/local98.

We are looking for Residential and Service Plumbers at this time. 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