Three years ago today, we lost a great Brother. Danny, you are gone but not forgotten. God Bless.

Sing to winterwonderland

                               Hope the Twu wins

                               so we can smear Bloombergs grin

                                Lost 4 lbs today

                                Thankyou MTA

                                 Walking in a Winter Wonderland

                                  Later on we will perspire

                                 Cause our legs are on fire

                                  No Black bus smoke in my face

                                   Getting to work is a race

                                   Walking in a Winter Wonderland

                                    My company dont care

                                     if I rode a skateboard there

                                       As long as I  check in and say Im here

           MERRY CHRISTMAS,HAPPY CHANUKAH,lOVE aLWAYS  LIZ

Brothers & Sisters

  I just wanted to wish everyone a very happy and healthy holiday season. God Bless.

Brothers & Sisters,

I am sorry to inform you of the passing of retired Brother Howard Brown. The arrangements are as follows;

Chapey Funeral Home

20 Hicksville Road

Bethpage, NY

516-731-5600

Thursday, 12/22/05

2-4 & 7-9:30

Funeral Mass will be held 10:30 am

Friday, 12/23/05

Our Lady of Mercy Church

I also would like to send out a special thanks to Tommy O'Brien and boys at the Hearst Building for there generous donation. It was greatly appreciated.

Hello,seasons greetings, Would like to share some thoughts as we all watch the transit workers in there labor dispute with the mta.As i have in a previous posting during our own labor dispute i had mentioned my father who was an air traffic controller in 1981 .As most people know the end result of was that all of the members of that union (P.A.TC.O.)Were fired.I remember hearing words from then president Reagan that the controllers were "selfish,unconscionable...thugs...etc etc etc."Well those are the same words were hearing now from bloomberg,patacki and all the other suits and ties that don't give a crap about the working man(or women.)I also remember that many of the unions at the time did not show support for the controllers and sat back and watched it all unfold.I believe that was a huge mistake then,and i believe it would be now.The controllers had a no strike clause in there contract and now i hear all the politicians quoting the "Taylor "laws.if a union doesn't have the right of a work stoppage or a strike then what bargaining power do we have?if this strike continues i ask the leaders of this union not to make the same mistakes that were made in the past.Maybe we need to reach out to the other trades and show support for the t.w.u because in the end there struggle is our struggle wouldn't it be nice to see 100,000 tradesmen in the street in unity telling all the "big money"we've had enough.                                                                                                  

I was pleased and surprised that the majority of the men on the street interviews on the news tonight showed support for the transit workers.They seem to realize they are fighting the good fight.Imagine if all the workers stayed home till we had universal health care.

Dear Brothers & Sisters:  Brother Lee wrote the below article in the Dec Constructor.

In this season of giving. Please take the time to also write a check for $50.00 dollars for the Death Assessment. So Local One, IUEC will have the cash to give to your family right away if you should die. Go get a will so your family will be taken care of.

Make sure you have the right person on your funds in case you die.

Enjoy the holidays but be prepare.

 Lee recently received an e-mail from Ria Klaum, the wife of Brother Robert Klaum, who has passed on. We felt that Ria’s e-mail will give a very important message to our members. We thank Ria for sharing her own story with our members and we hope it will benefit our fellow brothers and sisters:

The family of Robert Klaum would like to thank the Union officers and membership for all their support during this difficult time. Bobby lived through Vietnam and 9/11. We never expected a car accident to take him. The caring and assistance of Local One have provided comfort, when every other agency seems to add roadblocks. Please advise the membership that a Will is always a necessity. We always assumed it wouldn’t become an issue until age or health made it one. After all, we were married and no one would contest the spouse’s rights to collect on insurance and other legal issues. Not true. Without a Will, a Letter of Administration, drawn up by a lawyer, signed by any offspring and submitted to the courts is a necessity, before many benefits can be collected, and any medical questions can be answered. If the children are minors it becomes a great deal more complicated. Two months after Bobby’s death, we’re still waiting to receive many of his benefits. The money that the Union collects from it’s members to distribute to the families of deceased active duty members has gone a very long way to getting us through this waiting period. I really appreciate this assistance and just want to advise the members that having a legal Will, no matter what age they are, will go along way towards helping their families if the unexpected should happen. Thank you all so much. Ria Klaum

Work Safe,

Brother Tom Moore, Local One, IUEC

Tmlocalone@aol.com

Greetings everyone.  Hope this posting finds everyone is good spirits and doing well.  We just wanted to wish everyone and their families a very Merry Christmas and very Happy Chanukah, and most importantly a Happy Healthy New Year. The first quarter of this year had been a tough one for all the members and their families.  Especially Brother Gary Haynes.  We hope you are doing much better and get well real soon.  I don't know any of you but "know" of alot of you with all my husband says(Louie, Richie, Ronnie, Ricky, and all the rest of my husbands friends) that he has made through all his years at Otis.  Maybe one day I will meet you all.  Again we wish everyone a Blessed Christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year.  Hopefully next year brings alot of better times. 

As Always,

PROUD WIFE of Paul Agnello

Voting Results :

Emergency Relief: passed

Defense Fund: Passed

Brothers & Sisters: 

The next step is to cut a check for 25 dollars for the EMERGENCY RELIEF.

Then cut a check for 100 dollars for the first quarter Defense Fund.

I was very proud of the attending members who voted to send a MSG to the Elevator World. Local One, IUEC will be ready.

Brother Tom Moore,Local One,IUEC

Tmlocalone@aol.com

Work Safe.

Dear Brothers and sisters,

Please support the transit workers cause in the New York Area, they need us. Their will be a rally at Governor Patakis office Monday December 19th 4p.m. Assembly 5p.m. Rally & March . Location 633 3rd Avenue between 40th & 41st Streets.

  Secondly after reading about all the negative information regarding Walmart, DON'T BUY ANYTHING FROM WALMART!. They have been legally challenged because they are forcing all their vendors to only buy from China. Well here is the killer ! They are not even willing to pay China's minimum wage of 44 cents per hour ( while these workers some under the age of 14 are being forced to work 14 to 16 hours per day). Walmart will only pay these suppliers workers 27 cents an hour??? Please brothers and sisters don't patronize WALMART! Take your money elsewhere! Yes their stores have cheaper prices, all off the backs of these overworked and extremely underpaid workers . While here in New York , they try to tell all their employees how to apply for medicare and on Long Island they are costing tax payers millions per year.

 Thank you for letting me write, and please inform your friends and family members that the only way these big box stores will learn is " by losing customers" . The Christmas and/or Holiday Season should be about giving, not taking from the working families . Please continue to reach out and help others who are less fortunate then us.

       In Solidarity Brother Brian Link

       Involved, Educated & Concerned

       14 characteristics of facism

http://www.veteransforpeace.com/The_14_characteristics_030303.htm

My family and I would like thank all of the brothers and sisters from local one and starrett city.  Your donations are greatly appreciated.  Your calls, offers to help my family and support is awesome!

This support was extended beyond New York and I recently received a donation from Mario Vic and his family.  Mario is from Local #18 in Nevada.  This truly extended the call of brotherhood.

I feel very proud that we as of today voted YES to start a much overdue Defense Fund! I would like to take this time to thank Ray Hernandez and all who worked to bring this fund together! I feel very strongly that this is the first of many steps to STRENGTHEN Local 1 IUEC and our future. I would also like to recognize all the members who came up to the Microphone at the meeting tonight with all their valid concerns and questions. We need to look ahead towards our future. We need to be more prepared for our next contract. I felt that Ray Hernandez addressed all the questions put in front of him. I feel that any member who had any concerns or questions about the defense fund, they were answered. We also voted Yes Overwhelmingly for the Emergency Relief fund.

  I feel as a very active and extremely proud member of Local 1 IUEC, that tonight was a very important step in building our UNION to what it should be !!! I would like to challenge all members to get more involved! I would like to hear from all members regarding their thoughts and ideas. Once again thanks for supporting Our Defense Fund!

   I will continue to serve this union with pride, I will continue to work safe and educate and assist all my brothers and sisters. I will continue to check Union cards. Most of all I will continue to wake up everyday and do my best to be part of the solution , NOT THE PROBLEM . Whether its at work, at home, in my community or in my faith.

    Most of all please remember those who are not as fortunate as you may. Reach out to someone during the holidays, or throughout the year and help one another.

 Happy Holidays and Happiness and Health to everyone in the New Year to come

                 IN SOLIDARITY Brother Brian Link

Voting Results :

Emergency Relief: passed

Defense Fund: Passed

Please send and email for the full results. 

DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS,

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE TIME TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE MEMBERS WHO FOUND IT IN THEIR HEARTS TO DONATE TO A BROTHER WHO IS VERY ILL. HE AND HIS FAMILY WILL DEFINITELY APPRECIATE IT.

A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT BUSINESS MANAGERS AND THE EXECUTIVE BOARD FOR ALLOWING ME TO PLACE THE OFFERING CONTAINER AT THE UNION MEETING.

               THANKING YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART

                                     BROTHER

                               KENNETH A. KUHN

                                   CARD #251

We @ Local # 18 wish Brother Tom Weber a speedy recovery.

It's Christmas; so  send what you can every little bit helps when you can not go put in your 40hrs.

Mario Vic

Local # 18

Dear Union Members,

   This Thurs we will vote on a so called "Strike Fund". As I have said before it is a good idea to have a strike fund. It is also good to have a well written and thought out document. One that leaves no grey areas for our "Trustees" to have to interpret. After all they are not lawyers.

  I DO NOT WANT TO VOTE ON THIS DOCUMENT UNTIL IT IS AMENDED.First thing is the name. Change it to "STRIKE FUND". It is a strike fund to be used in case of a strike. The fire hose in stairways is called a fire hose to be used in case of fire.

  Next this document must be very specific. For example: Article I , 3- "payment of legal fees". Be specific: whose legal fees? For what? etc. etc. This is not some meaningless contract, this is important. BE SPECIFIC, so when our trustees go into a room to discuss all the claims they have specific guidelines to make there job easier. Take out the what ifs or just answer them now. Get back to the drawing board and go over every scenario you can think of before putting out a strike fund contract for us to vote on. We are craftsmen in a trade with fine tolerances, we expect the same quality in our leadership. Put in the time and effort and come up with a quality contract that everyone will be proud to vote yes on. There is no urgency! This is very important let's get it right the first time.
Thankyou

First of all i wish brother Tom Webber a speedy recovery. Brother Dennis Maloney couldn't be more right regarding helping Tom out through this difficult time. This is what UNIONS are all about! I have had the pleasure of working with Tom Webber , and we all hear it , but It couldn't have happened to a nicer GUY! My thoughts and prayers are with Tom.

  Secondly I want to thank Local 1 for sending our membership all the information regarding the Local 1 Defense Fund. We will all have the opportunity to vote for it, or against it on December 15th, this Thursday at our regular union meeting. I feel very very strongly that this " defense fund" is way overdue. Although I have questions regarding the defense fund? I do appreciate the outline describing it. I am hoping we are able to ask and address any concerns  to OUR elected officials BEFORE we are asked to vote on it? Having said that, I was one of the 1300 PLUS members who were locked out earlier this year, I can tell you first hand that MOST of our membership were not prepared . How can you really stand tall and strong for what we deserve ? When financially you are Weak? WE all did what we needed to do during the lockout to keep our family fed and our bills paid. Let me remind you that strength is in numbers. Lets not get caught with our pants down ever again! Lets leave the membership stronger when you leave then when you started! We all get to vote! We all have a say in OUR union!

       In closing I want to let everyone know how grateful I am for everything I have been afforded here in this country. I am so grateful to have a family who supports me 100%. I am extremely grateful to work with some of the best people I have ever met. Most Of all I am thankful for my health, and the ability to voice my opinion and a choice I make everyday to be part of the solution not the problem.

    In Solidarity Brother Brian Link