September 28th Business Manager Update
Brothers and Sisters,
Happy autumn to you and your families.
MEETINGS
The next Union Meeting will be Thursday, October 8th at 6:00 pm. Please notice the time change. It’s an hour earlier than in the past. Due to Covid-19 restrictions we will be putting a tent outside for this meeting, weather permitting. You are required to wear a mask and social distance as per our State’s orders. Please keep an eye out for an email blast. At our last meeting on September 24th the members agreed to the wage allocation set forth in June, we thank everyone who participated and came down to vote. All distributed allocations are posted on our UA Local 98 web page (UALocal98.com) and went into effect the first week of June 2020.
All Retiree Meetings are cancelled until further notice. E-Board meetings back underway on 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.
ELECTIONS
If you would like a Biden/Harris lawn sign and haven’t received one, you can contact the Office Administrator, Kristina, at [email protected] or 248-331-7232.
Are you registered to vote? You can check your voting status by logging on to the Secretary of State website mvic.sos.state.mi.us.
We are just finishing a final round of endorsement interviews of political candidates in our districts. An updated current list of candidates we are supporting should be on our website by the time of this publication. The list can be found under the About section under Political Action on our webpage. Local 98 will continue backing both party’s candidates who have proven to be true Union supporters. If for some reason you may not agree that Joe is the proper choice as president. Evan after the ABC contractor association has backed him, (that’s the guys that don’t like us in case you didn’t know) to get a national Right To Work Law, please remember our Senators and reps as well as judges all the way to clerks. The grass roots we start with to day take sometimes years to flourish.
COVID-19
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 Safety Hotline number at 313-340-7339.
Michigan residents have access to free with no copay required COVID-19 testing for members and family. Located at the old State Fair Grounds on Woodward and 8 Mile Road in Detroit, you must call for an appointment at 313-230-0505, our code is 289488PL.
UNION HALL
The Union Hall is open to essential foot traffic only and 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
SUB is still closed until our travelers or job calls slow down. 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 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.
RETIREES
Congratulations to our brothers Douglas Greenleaf and Clarence Ladwig on their retirement October 1, 2020.
IN MEMORIAM
Our deepest sympathies go out to the friends and family of Brother James Phillips, who passed away on June, 22, 2020, and Brother Robert W. Downey, Jr. who passed away on September 13, 2020.
Good/Welfare
Congratulations to Joe Marciniak on becoming a Journeyman here at Local 98, we wish you the best in the years to come.
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 Brotherhood, Carlo Castiglione Business Manager Plumbers Local 98