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President's Message

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President's Message Inside: Representatives' Reports..........................Pg. 3-24 Organizing .....................Pg. 14-17 401(k).............................Pg. 18 Legal- Report..................Pg. 19 Health and Welfare.......Pg. 20-21 Education ......................Pg. 22-24 September 2016 No. LIX www.IUOE399.org Illinois & Indiana AFL-CIO US Senate seat. We are miles away from PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE getting any real change in Indiana, but it’s important that we continue to keep chip- Summer is over one he’s pushed his “Turnaround Agenda” ping away. and football to bust unions. And NOW everyone’s season is upon response is, “Well, we didn’t think he was In many areas of Local 399’s jurisdiction, us. And, as we serious!” Do we want to take that chance the work has been good. We are getting move into Fall, again with Trump in November since we jobs filled in both the private and public we can’t forget have already have our own “Trump” in sectors, and our training and trainee pro- election season! Illinois? Especially when he picks a Vice gram have been operating at full blast. Of course, I’m Presidential candidate that has made The jobs we represent are coveted, and we joking about the “forget” part, as though Indiana a Right to Work state? will continue to insist that only qualified we could ever forget with the never-ending applicants be considered for these posi- ads, mailers and robocalls. As in any In the State of Illinois, we have the oppor- tions. Please continue to pursue training election year, I remind you that voting tunity to support candidates that have and education both at our Training Facility is imperative and voting for candidates stood strong with labor during the repeat- and through online training. who will protect your union rights and ed attacks since Governor Rauner was benefits is vital! elected. Every race has turned personal Our Annual Golf Outing was a great and any official who has voted against success. I would like to thank all of the The Presidential candidate who wins the Rauner and his initiatives has been targeted members and sponsors who supported this White House can either empower the labor and attacked. year’s outing as well as our staff who work movement OR further erode the existence so hard to make everything enjoyable for of labor unions. A President who respects Election day will be our time to step up participants. workers and supports unions can offset any for those that have been providing us with attacks that may come from a Congress much-needed support. I ask all members Finally, I would like to thank General bent on trying to eliminate workers’ rights to vote on election day and pay attention President Jim Callahan for taking time out and the rights of unions. No private to the candidates that have helped us and from his busy schedule to come to Chicago business would ever be held to the same identify those who have turned their backs and swear-in the Local 399 officers for stringent demands and reporting laws on us! It all goes back to Samuel Gompers another three-year term. Jim has been a that labor unions must uphold. Another who said, “Labor must reward its friends great friend to me personally and is always important fact is that the new President and punish its enemies!” Now is the time sensitive to issues regarding Local 399. will be naming up to three Supreme Court for union members to take back what has Justices ... and make no mistake ... the been taken from us. I look forward to seeing many of you at future of labor will be in their hands. meetings across our jurisdiction and other upcoming Local 399 activities. The Presidential candidate who wins The insanity surrounding this election has the White House can either empower reached new lows. While many of us are In Solidarity, the labor movement OR further erode fed up with the process and candidates the existence of labor unions. put before us, the hatred spewing out of A President who respects workers and the mouth of one of the candidates has supports unions can offset any attacks never been witnessed before. Speaking that may come from a Congress bent as a person of labor, and speaking only on trying to eliminate workers’ rights about labor issues, I cannot understand and the rights of unions. DATES TO REMEMBER why a union member would vote for Be sure to mark your calendar and someone who loves himself more than join us for these 2016 events! any other human being. It will also mark the two year anniversary w Retirement Readiness Seminar of the election of Bruce Rauner but, more Saturday, October 15, 2016 Haven’t we already been forewarned important, it will mark two years until we about candidates like this in the State of can take back the governor’s seat! w Local 399 Pheasant Hunt Illinois? … Doesn’t everybody remember Saturday, October 29, 2016 Rauner’s campaign and all his talk about The State of Indiana will have the oppor- w Annual Corned Beef Dinner getting rid of unions and nobody believed tunity this November to take back the Friday, November 11, 2016 him – then he was elected and since day governor’s house and also to pick up the Representatives' Reports Local 399 Officers Brian E. Hickey Tom Keaty Patrick J. Kelly Vince Winters Neil Masterson President & Vice President Financial Secretary Recording Secretary Treasurer Business Manager Local 399 Business Representatives Jim Coates Valerie Jo Colvett Floyd Fessler John Hanley Jerry Hiller Ext. 4122 Ext. 2133 (618) 254-6441 Ext. 2153 (618) 596-2185 Frank Hoskins Adelmo Marchiori III Mike Masterson Roger McGinty John O’Connor (217) 337-4399 (618) 254-6441 Ext. 2112 Ext. 2125 Ext. 2185 Lloyd Osborne Ariel Perez Tom Phillips Rusty Thompson Jeff Withered (260) 413-9111 Ext. 2186 Ext. 4124 (309) 699-9044 (317) 716-0319 Office Phone Numbers Champaign/Urbana Chicago Indiana Peoria Wood River Zeigler (217) 337-4399 (312) 372-9870 (260) 413-9111 (309) 699-9044 (618) 254-6441 (618) 596-2185 2 INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS • LOCAL 399 Representatives' Reports TOM KEATY – VICE PRESIDENT A lot has happened this year in the world of politics. Both nationally and locally, labor has a great deal at stake in both arenas. It seems one of the biggest rallying cries for Republicans is the right to bear arms and keeping one’s guns. I say this respecfully ... No one wants to take our guns away (including me). Keep in mind that when President Obama was elected, you heard all about how Obama was going to grab your guns. Well, that hasn’t happened during the Obama Presidency. And it’s not going to hap- pen during the term of the next President either. What has been taken away in neighboring states is prevailing wage, organiz- ing rights, and the right to have a voice in the workplace! Foes of labor call it Right to Work. It’s really “Right to Work for Less”. So I ask you ... Bullets or Bread? Without the ability to earn a decent wage, you may have to choose between the two. Or worse, you may lose the ability to buy both. It’s really that simple. Make the right decision in November. Protect your wages, benefits and voice at work. Vote for the candidates who will support your job and your union! With the start of another school year, I am amazed at the number of engineers and trainees that our Training Facility is enrolling this and every semester. A big shout out to our Education Department for the great job they do! I would like to remind everyone to remember to protect your job. By this I mean get to work on time, look the part of a profes- sional engineer with your hair combed, shave and wear clean uniforms. The first impression tenants have of your buildings is interaction with the staff. Be sure to make it a good first impression. Put in the extra effort into resolving a problem with no call backs. It may take a little longer to complete a house call, but no one can fault you for a job well done. Don’t smoke out- side of the building in plain view of managers and owners or hang around in the lobby talking to security. Drinking on the job or heavily the night before is a sure way to get fired. Sleep at home. Remember, it’s easier to keep your job than to find a new one! E-Mail: [email protected] Ext. 2130 PATRICK J. KELLY – FINANCIAL SECRETARY More and more employers are requesting job candidates to apply for open positions through online applications. It’s very impor- tant that you follow the exact directions to apply for these positions or your application will be denied. Times have changed, and you must adapt to this process or you’ll be passed over for many opportunities. Recently, I sent out information to about 200 members on how to apply for a job online, and only 10 have applied. The job pays $39.14 with full benefits! If you don’t evolve with what the job market dictates, then you’ll have a difficult time finding a job. Along the same note, many employers have been requiring at least an Associate’s Degree in HVAC for their Assistant Chief and Chief candidates. The classes we offer at our Training Facility go toward an Associate’s Degree in Facilities Engineering Technology from Triton College.
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