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Hello from New York & New Jersey,
December was the month for holiday parties. As with retirement parties, it takes time and in many cases, the outlay of money to put these parties together. Thanks to all those who took the time out of their busy lives to set up these parties for our enjoyment.
Pictured below the kids anxiously await there turn to take a swing at the piņata filled with candy at the Local One children's party.
Pictured below are the retirees who showed up at the Schindler downtown holiday party.
Pictured below is a group of retirees at the Long Island Local One holiday party.
Pictured below is one of the tables at the New Jersey Local One holiday party.
There have been quite a few Brothers & Sisters voicing concern over the cost of our health care plan. In some cases the voices are angry. I think we all feel the same way. The cost of health care in this country is out of control. There seems to be some misdirection of anger however. No one local has anything to do with the rising cost. We really cannot blame the International. There are so many factors involved. We want to maintain the same level of benefits we use to have for the same price. Remember when we could go to any doctor with no deductible? Those days are gone. We are retiring earlier and living longer. Now that's a good thing, but it cost money. Today we have many more blended families. When a member gets divorced with dependents, then remarries and brings more dependents into the plan, it is a cost we have to deal with. Our anger should be directed at the politicians who drag their feet on meaningful heath care reform. I know I sound like a broken record about getting involved in the political process, but that is the real reason we are paying so much out of our wage package. We have the luxury of complaining that we pay too much, but we do have insurance. There are far too many people in this country that have no health insurance. In the end, those of us that have health insurance pay higher premiums. If there were some reform, any reform, it would take some of the burden off of us and lower our premiums. We all have a right to be angry, but we cannot stop there. We have a responsibility to do something about it. If you are not going to get involved, don't complain.
A quick note on calling jobs in. Whenever you start a new job, you must call that job into the hall. This includes modernization jobs. When you leave a job that is not complete, call the hall. When you get to a job that has been idle for a while and is going to start up again, call the hall.
December is a month for celebration with family and friends. This December the celebration was cut short by the loss of Brother Dan McQuillen on a job site accident. The loss of a Brother or Sister as a result of a job site accident causes us to reflect on how dangerous our industry really is. We go to work in the morning, never thinking that we might not come home. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Mcquillen family.
Now that the new year has passed and we are back to normal it is time to take care of those things we have been putting off. Have you been meaning to make out a will? Now is the time, don't put it off any longer. If you have a family you need life insurance. God forbid something happens to you, your family will need five times your yearly salary to get by. No one likes to think about these things, but we need to protect our families in the event of a tragedy.
50/50 winner - Walter Ludewig
Donations to the Local One Scholarship Fund : Joe Hoolahan - $200, Ronald & Diane Paul - $500.
Donations to the Local One Pipe Band: Tomas Terminelle - $100
Local One extends its sincere condolences to the family and friends of the following departed Brothers: William Costello (active), Daniel McQuillen (active), Joe Bennet (retired), Al Bradford (retired), George Klaus (retired), Ed Kristan Jr. (Retired) and Arvid Wenstrom (retired).
Quote of the month: "I can live two months on a good compliment" - Mark Twain
Fraternally,
Mike Duffy
Posted Online January 5, 2003
