ON THE BRIDGE

May 2008

Our thoughts and prayers are with Kasper McCloskey and family for the recent loss of his wife Beryle, and our sincere condolences to Donovan Clark and family for the recent loss of his uncle, Arden Clark.  May their souls rest in eternal peace.

Under Doctor’s Care: Chuck George, Gary Handley, Rex Ottney, Steve Bartha, Don Manoylovich, Jimmy Blaze, David D. Miller, Tony Ames, Bobby Nickles, Russ Johnson, Derrick Dellaflora, and Kylee Blaze. Please keep them in your prayers.

Birth Announcements – Brian and Rae Brannon are celebrating the birth of a baby boy, Brian John Brannon Jr., who weighed 8 pounds, 13 ounces, 21½”; Jeremy Wallace and fiancé Britney Young are ecstatic over the birth of their baby girl, Zoe Shea Wallace, who weighed five pounds, thirteen ounces; Andy and Alyssa Todorowski are beaming about the arrival of Andrew Jr., who weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces, 21½”; and Dave Rudey is a grandpa for the third time with the birth of Jim and Teresa Murry’s baby girl, Natalie, who weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces, 19”. This is his second grandchild in three weeks. Congratulations to all!

Congratulations to Louie and Grace Grill who tied the knot on June 28, 1952 and are celebrating 56 years of wedded bliss!

At our next regularly scheduled union meeting on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at 7:30 p.m., we will discuss the allocation of our $1.35 increase. Please plan on attending this important meeting to voice your opinion and cast your vote.

Kroger announces that its pharmacies offer a new $4.00 generic drug pricing for over 300 generic medications covering 28 therapeutic categories. Visit their website at www.kroger.com/generic or call 1-877-479-5478 for additional information.

Reciprocity of fringe benefits is an important issue that needs to be addressed. It’s unfortunate and downright unacceptable to have any union in the construction industry that won’t reciprocate fringe benefits on behalf of any worker working within our Building Trades locally or nationally. I urge all crafts to pursue equality for all construction workers working within our industry. I don’t mean to offend the Trustees of any plan; however, this issue needs to be addressed.

According to our records, the following members have suspended their membership in 2008: William Garner, Frank Kuron, Jeff LaBelle, Louis McCalmon, William Slawter, Steve Upham, Randall Vertin, Orlando Garza, Clayton Lammon, Frank Rice, Brittany Taylor, Luis Villarreal, Bill Bowen, Philip Buchholz, Brandon Louk, Mark Mann, Tom Sadowy, Ernie Sasse, Herbert Shaw, Russ Bearinger, Robert C. Brown, and Dale Milligan.

Congratulations to our “new” retirees in 2008: Ed Budd, Gary Hines, Jerry Rodgers, Ken Brown, Gerald Pruhs, and Larry Schlosser. May they enjoy many years of retirement bliss! Remember, only a person who can live with himself (and spouse) will enjoy the gift of retirement.

Profit Sharing Plan – You may change your contribution rate to the plan beginning May 1, 2008 and ending June 15, 2008, with an effective date of the first full payroll period in July 2008 (if you meet the classification criteria). Please refer to your Summary Plan Description booklet that you recently received, or contact our fund office.

Postage Rate Increase - The U.S. Postal Service will change postage rates on May 12, 2008. The first-class rate will increase from forty-one cents ($.41) to forty-two cents ($.42).

Quote of the day: “It is not the employer who pays wages – he only handles the money. It’s the product that pays wages.”  ~Henry Ford   How true!

Thank you,
Joe Blaze

 

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