March/April 2016 - Canton

IRONWORKERS LOCAL 550
March/April 2016
MEMBER SUSPENSION LIST
This is just a reminder that members that are getting ready to go suspended must either have payment in to
the Union Hall by the last day of the month or it must be post marked by the last day of the month. If a
members dues are received by the Union Hall after the first day of the month or not post marked the last
day of the previous month , that member will be considered suspended and must pay a reinstatement fee.
Remember you are responsible for getting your dues paid on time.
The following members will be going suspended at the end of March, if a payment is not received by the
31st of March: William G. Adams, Jesse E. Arter, Jonathan Beros, Edison Bingham, Ryan M. Chapman, Brian
Collins, Thomas Conners, James J. Daniels, Steven J. Davis, Tom E. Delong Jr., Ed P. Grimsley, Jonathan J.
Hart, Lynn K. Herstine Jr., Steve E. Morris, Jeffery S. Phillips, Ronald J. Rouse, Paul D. Sanders, and Devon J.
Schweizer.
The following members will be going suspended at the end of April, if a payment is not received by the
30th of April: Jason E. Albaugh, Joshua W. Brown, Christopher J. Cooper, Travis L. Croston, Chris M. Doney,
Timothy A. Dunn, Shaun M. Graham, Rodney L. Herron, Timothy B. Hofstetter, Leroy E. Hoover, William J.
Jones, Joey E. Leggett, Mike Matern, Caleb M. Patrick, Ollie H. Patterson III, Oblee Sammons, Daniel J.
Schweizer, Scott Shaw, Steve M. Steineck, Michael R. Stephens and Chad Tumblin.
BJ’S MEMBERSHIP
Just to let all Union Members know that if you would like to become a member of BJ’s the
cost is $25. To be eligible for the $25 membership to BJ’s you must obtain a letter from Local
550’s Union Hall stating that you are a member of our Local Union. When you go to the
membership desk present the letter to the BJ’s membership representative. If you should
have any questions feel free to contact Bill or Julie at the Union hall
LOCAL 550 UPCOMING CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
This is just a reminder that Local 550’s current Collective Bargaining Agreement is set to expire on April 30,
2016. Also, Local 550’s Specialty Agreement for Ornamental, Curtain Wall & Glass is set to expire on June
30, 2016. Local 550’s negotiating committee is set to start negotiations with our Signatory Employers on
Friday, March 4, 2016 and tentatively the week of March 7, 2016. This office is hopeful to possibly have a
tentative agreement in place for the members to vote on sometime around the first week of April 2016. All
members of Local 550 will be notified 15 days prior to any vote.
NON PROFIT ORG.
Ironworkers Local 550
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
618 High Ave NW
Canton, Ohio 44703
PERMIT NO. 1802
CANTON, OH
Phone: 330-455-5164
Fax: 330-455-4410
Upcoming Events
April 2016
March 2016

Tuesday, March 8 at 7pm
Union Meeting

Tuesday, March 8
Nomination of delegates
to the 43rd International
convention

Tuesday, March 15
Please exercise your right
to vote in the upcoming
Primary Election!
Remember that every
vote counts!

Apprenticeship Applications
April 18 to April 22 from 8am
to noon and April 25 to April
29 8am to noon.

Tuesday, April 12 at 7pm Union Meeting

Tuesday, April 12 3pm—8pm
polls will be open to vote for
delegates to the International
Convention

Wednesday, April 13 Retirees
Luncheon at noon at McCall’s
May 2016

Tuesday, May 10 at 7pm
Union Meeting

Wednesday, May 11
Retirees Luncheon at
noon at McCall’s
IRONWORKERS LOCAL 550
Page 3
Protecting Our Work
It’s a daily struggle for us to survive in this cut-throat market. In the past, our main obstacle was the nonunion contractors; but in this changing economy, it has become evident that all of the other union trades are
attempting to perform the work of the Ironworker. As a member of this local union, it is your responsibility to
protect our work. If you see another trade performing any work that pertains to ironwork, they are taking
food from your table. We must stop this as soon as it begins. You may feel that you can turn the other way,
but by not speaking up, you are denying every member of this local the work that is rightfully ours. WE ARE
THE ONLY ONES THAT CAN PROTECT WHAT IS OURS.
On Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 8:30 am, the members of Local 550 voted on and approved a specialty
agreement for Light Commercial Construction Projects within the jurisdiction of Local 550. This agreement
was approved by the membership of our Local Union by a margin of 61 votes for versus 25 against. Now,
more than ever, we need to be competitive in every aspect of our industry, including the commercial market
(Pre-Engineered Buildings).
43rd INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION 2016
Please be advised that at the regular meeting of Ironworkers Local 550 to be held on Tuesday, March 8,
2016 at 7:00 p.m. at the Ironworkers Union Hall, 618 High Avenue, N.W., Canton, Ohio, there will be
NOMINATIONS for delegates and alternates to the 43rd Convention of the International Association of
Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Ironworkers. Judges will BE nominated and elected at this
meeting.
The ELECTION of delegates and alternates to the 43rd Convention will be by secret ballot and will be held at
the Ironworkers Union Hall on Tuesday, April 12, 2016. Eligible members of Local 550 may vote between
3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
APPRENTICESHIP APPLICATION
Ironworkers Local 550 Summer Picnic
Once again Local 550 will be holding a
summer picnic. Again it will be held at
Clay’s Park and will be on Saturday,
July 30, 2016 from 11 am to 6 pm.
Food and Beverages will be provided.
We are just asking again like last year that all members bring a dessert. The cost for this event will be
$5 per person and any child 2 and under will
be free. Please mark this date on your calendar.
More information will follow in May. We look
forward to seeing everyone there for a great
time.
Starting in April of 2016 Ironworkers Local 550’s
Apprenticeship program will begin taking
applications for the Apprenticeship Program for
the fall class starting at the end of August.
Applications will be taken the week of April 18 to
April 22 from 8am to noon and April 25 to April 29
from 8am to noon. If you should know of anyone
interested, please have them come up to the
Union Hall during the dates listed above.
DONATIONS TO LOCAL 550’S WELD SHOP
Our weld shop scrap supplies are dwindling. Any scrap that you can
get off the job site will be greatly appreciated. Please drop it off
behind our building, or contact us and we can make arrangements
to pick it up.
Page 2
LOCAL 550 MEETING ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
This is just a reminder to all journeyman members of Local 550 that if you attend 8 out of 12 meetings for
2016 you will receive a jacket/sweatshirt pullover from our Local Union. The purpose of the meeting
enhancement program is to increase our members participation at our monthly meetings. We look forward to
seeing you at next months Union Meeting.
RETIREES
This is just a reminder to family members and retirees that when a member passes away, you must first
inform the Union Hall and we will forward all appropriate information onto Benesys. We also, require an
original death certificate for the members to be filed here at the Union Hall. Also, when a member is going to
retire they will also need to contact the Union Hall so the appropriate info can be filled out, prior to contacting
Benesys. Any other questions please feel free to contact the Union Hall. Also, as a reminder that the next
Retirees Luncheon will be held on Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at noon at McCall’s Restaurant.
Also, when member retirees no matter what age they are, they can come up to the Union Hall and apply for an Honorary Membership, as long as the member has 5 years of consecutive service which
will take their Union dues from $34.00 a month to $8.40 a month. Then once that member has
reached the age of 65 and has at least 25 years of consecutive service they again must come up to
the Union Hall and apply for a Lifetime Membership in which the member will not be required to pay
any Union Dues. In order for a retiree or active member to be eligible for the death benefit they must
be in good standing with their Union Dues.
IRONWORKERS LOCAL WELD CERTIFICATION UPDATES
Our Local Union can not stress how important it is to keep up with your International Weld Certification Log
Book (Orange Continuity Book) up to date every 6 months. If you let your log book lapse, you will need to
recertify and the cost of the test is $175.00. If you are interested in coming up to recertify please contact
Joe Liolios or Bill Sherer so that you can put you on the list. Also if you should have any questions regarding
your weld certifications feel free to contact Joe or Barry.
In Memoriam of the Members that passed away this past year

William Gantz Sr., Book Number 720688 age 83 , passed away on February 5, 2016

Andre Gamble, Book Number 1477206 age 27, passed away on February 8, 2016
Health and Welfare

Valerie Trissel is still off work recovering from her last surgery.

Paul Litman is off work due to injuring his back.

Ron Whitmer is still off work and is at home recovering from neck surgery.

Dan Trompower is off work and is at home recovering from back surgery.

Eric Battershell broke his wrist. On light duty at work.

Rod Steed is still of work with his back injury.