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Valued Member of The Local One:
“If there is no struggle there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, want crops without plowing the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean with the awful roar of its many waters. This struggle may be a moral one; or it may be a physical one; or it may be both moral and physical; but it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.” Frederick Douglas
Our struggle is going on its 14th week of being locked out from the EMANY employers. As of June 10th there was a tentative agreement reached by Local One and the EMANY group. Unfortunately, these EMANY companies by locking out our members, have lost service accounts and construction work. The harsh reality to the end of this lock out will have deep wounds in our fellow members. I don’t know how long it will take to forgive them for what they did to our members and their families. Fortunately, we hope other Local One companies can regain some of the lost work and get some of our members back to work. We, as a Union, must move forward and do what we do best: install, repair and maintain elevators. Whatever the outcome is on this ratification vote, we, as a union, will not be divided.
RATIFICATION OUTCOME
On June 26, 2005 our members voted on the IUEC and ENAMY tentative agreement. The vote was pretty close but the majority of the membership accepted the tentative agreement. All locked members will start work on June 27, 2005.
WHAT’S HAPPENING / HAPPENED
Local One along with other construction trades are in support of the proposed NY Jets Stadium and Olympic site on the West side of New York. To the dislikes of many key political people, Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Pataki are for this stadium. A little known state panel that can block the states three hundred million contribution to the stadium project is the Public Authorities Control Board. The vote was put off by state senate majority leader Joseph E. Bruno, a Republican who controls one of the seats on the state panel. Governor Pataki ordered a special meeting of the board in one week. Unfortunately, the vote did not go our way, and the West Side stadium hit a wall. The following weeks the NY Mets owner Fred Wilpon and Mayor Bloomberg announced that the New York Mets would build a new stadium that could be altered to hold the 2012 Olympics. The nice part about it is the Mets would build a baseball stadium with their money. It is still a long shot for us to get the Olympics, but at least there will be a new baseball stadium built. As of this week, George Steinbrenner owner of the New York Yankees, announced that they would also build a new baseball stadium in the Bronx. I guess this will be the new rivalry. Who has the nicest stadium, The Mets or The Yankees? It doesn’t really matter to me as long as it creates lots of jobs. They are both champs in my book.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Brother Gary Haines. Gary had a very serious accident on the job. His partner Brother Kenny Fulfaro, quick thinking, called 911 and jumped into the pit and applied pressure to Garys head wound until paramedics arrived. It has been three weeks since the accident, Gary is still in critical condition but he is stable. Gary’s fiancé and family have been at his bedside since the accident and thank all his IUEC friends for their support during these times.
SADLY DEPARTED
Our deepest condolences go out to the family of retired Brother Joe Kelly.
Work safe. Stay involved.
Lee Pirone .
Congratulations Rosie and Brother Edward Kellogg proud parents of Madison Emma Kellogg born May 2, 2005 Weight 8lbs 5ounces and 20 inches long
Congratulations to our newly sworn in Brothers at our June meeting
Brother John Stringer with his Brother IUEC Sectary Treasurer Kevin Stringer. We still can’t tell whose better looking.
Members waiting to vote on a tenative agreement.
Posted Online July 14, 2005
