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Hello from local 1 to all our brothers and sisters in the USA and Canada. Hola to all the ascensadors in Mexico and south and central America. Things are staying fairly steady employment wise, although by the time you read this a lot of work should be starting!
Congratulations to our newly elected trustees and warden, trustees Steve Mazza and Ray Haines and warden Bob stork pictured above with pres. Ray Hernandez.
I read an excellent story in Feb. 7th edition of the New York Daily News entitled “My week on living on minimum wage” by reporter Heidi Evans. Every politician and union member in the country should make this required reading. Check it out online at http://www.newyorkdailynews.com. A great book on the same subject was the New York Times bestseller, the name of the book is Nickel and Dimed on (not) getting by in America, by Barbara Ehrenreich. Nickel and Dimed reveals low wage America in all its tenacity, anxiety and surprising generosity. This book will change the way you perceive the working poor.
New York was one of the first states to establish a minimum wage in the early 20th century, well before the federal Gov’t did it in 1938. The minimum wage in New York is $5.15 an hour. Another article worth reading is in the February 23rd edition New York Daily News by William Sherman entitled “N.Y.C. Lags behind the U.S. in recovery” 233,000 jobs have been lost since the attack on the twin towers on 9-11-01. Every employment category except healthcare and education has taken a brutal hit, and these jobs could be gone forever. Nationwide 3 million jobs have been lost since the attack on N.Y.C. and the Pentagon. Many more jobs have been shipped over seas what the corporate boys call offshoring.
Brother Thomas Ginty and the local 1 pipe band are busy recruiting new members. Band practice is Tuesdays at 5pm at the union hall in queens. Brother Ginty is looking to start a new class in April. Please call Tom Ginty at 1-631-279-0164. He is also looking to form a color guard. The band is online at onepipes@optonline.net. (I booked the band for my nieces wedding and what a show they put on for us). Call Tommy about booking the band for your special occasion.
Brother John Palma is looking to put together a Christmas party committee by the middle of May, in time for Christmas 2004. John can be contacted at JBondo15@aol.com or call him at home at 1-203-746-6459. Kevin McCormick is now manning the front desk at the union hall doing a fine job (looking good at it)
Christina Guido is now keeping the books and she’s looking pretty good too!
Bobby Stack just back from a cruise with Joanie and brother Jack and wife, looking tan and fit.
Retired Brother Bobby Adams is doing well after a triple-bypass. Thanks for that news from Brother Steven Dziuma card #438.
A retirement party in honor of Bill Heaney and Doug D’alessandro will be held May 1, 2004 at Tracy’s 9 mile house in little ferry NJ. Contact Chip McLean at 1-201-814-0145 or 1-201 538-9567. Millionaire Playboy Curt Ronning retired recently. I first met Curt nearly 30 years ago. I look like hell and he stays forever young, go figure! Good luck to Curt in his retirement.
Curt is pictured here with Geezer.
Kristina Moore, daughter of Bro. Tom Moore and his wife AnnMarie, a 2nd grade teacher has been accepted to Harvard University this fall. Kristina is the granddaughter of retired Bro. Bill Moore who we are sad to say is fighting Cancer. Bro. Tom is a U.S. Navy Veteran and has been in the local since 1980. Kristina is the sister of Thomas J Moore Jr. and Niece of Billy Moore. Kristina your own family and your local 1 family are extremely proud of you!
Ann Masterson the wife of retired brother Ed Masterson, 40 yrs. Of Local 1 and mother of Steve Masterson Local 1, and Chris Masterson local 80 recently passed away. Our condolences to the Family.
Dolores Driscoll mother of bro. Joe Driscoll passed on Jan 16 at age 57 of Renal Cell Cancer. Our condolences to her Husband Bill Driscoll and her children Bill Jr., Veronica, and Joe.
Bro. Sal Federico (Sally Balls) Mom Lillian Passed away Dec. 2nd. She was 62. Our heartfelt sympathies to Sal, Anthony, Leo, Nicky, Serena, And Georgia.
Bro. John Green Jr. donated $220 to the Local 1 Pipe band.
On the sick and injured list our Bros. John Green Sr., Ronny Wilson, and Pete O’Hagen. Bro. O’Hagen is out of the hospital after suffering some intestinal troubles,
Q: What’s worse than a Giraffe with a sore throat?
A: Pete O’Hagen with a Belly Ache.
O.K. that’s probably enough from me! Remember this “The most difficult secret for a man to keep is his own opinion of himself”
That’s that on that
Love,
Bill Bennet
Freeze2349@aol.com
Posted Online March 21, 2003
