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DECEMBER LABOR VIEWS

Service awards to members of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners for the month of December were presented to:
Alfred York 30 years
Fredrick Pierce, Jr. 25 years
Bruce Stefanelli 25 years

Congratulations!

Important: Issues which will be discussed at December’s Union meeting include:
By-law changes
Nominations of a trustee and a second shift steward
Voting on 2005 monthly dues

Members who don’t usually attend our Union meetings might want to find time in their schedules to attend this last meeting of the year. Your input is welcome on these matters. The meeting will be held on December 9, 2005, at the Union Hall at 171 Thames Street at 3:15. 

Members who are interested in finding out where they stand on the Road Job List can log on to our website at http://www.local1302.com. Click on Important Links, and the Road Job List is one of them. Other links include the Constitution, Merchandise for Sale, Carpenters’ Magazine, Seniority List, Initiation Dates, past and current Labor Views articles, Apprentice Program, MTC Contract, and Deceased Members. If there are any questions about the information contained there, contact John Algiere who does an excellent job maintaining our website.

Road Jobs: The members of this Union are to be recognized for the personal sacrifices they make to support the Company’s road jobs especially during the holidays. The Carpenters will be asked to support road jobs in Virginia in the months of December and January. We also need to support a road job to Puget in December. If you are interested in working on either one of these jobs, please contact your area steward. 

Reminder: You must use your shoe voucher and any floaters you have earned by the end of the year, or you will lose them. 

Christmas Shutdown: A number of our members have voiced their displeasure about having to use vacation or sick time to cover the four days of the shutdown. This is especially unfortunate for new hires who do not have much vacation or sick time accrued. This is a contractual issue, and it was passed when the contract was approved, therefore, it is not open for negotiation with the Company. 

In past years, we have had enough work for our members to work the shutdown if they chose to so that they wouldn’t have to use vacation time or borrow it. I hope that the Company offers us this option this year. As far as I’m concerned, if our membership continues to have the option to work the shutdown, this should no longer be an issue. If you don’t have the accumulated time, then your option is to work the four days that you would normally have to cover. 

As the winter months approach, employees are reminded to dress in layers because it can get extremely cold with the wind coming off the water. The tool cribs have a variety of hooded liners to wear under your hardhat. I suggest that you check with the cribs to find out what’s available to you.

As the end of the year approaches, I am reminded how fortunate all of us are. We are employed, and we are offered overtime and road job opportunities. Sometimes we neglect to realize that others in our area are not working regularly and don’t have the benefits that we enjoy. I encourage all of you to consider those less fortunate than us and make an effort to help someone put food on a table, oil in their tank, or a warm jacket on a child’s back. 

My wish to all Union members in the new year is for good health for you and your loved ones. 


Fraternally yours
Mike Malone
President
Carpenters’ Local 1302[ Home ]    [Message Board ]    [ Important Links ]