IUOE Local 542 Winter 2021 Newsletter

THE LOCAL 542 BiG SCOOP winter 2021
BUSiNESS MANAGER’S REPORT
(continued from page 3)
Although we have had to restrict access to the union’s
offices for meetings and other group activities, Local 542
representatives have maintained their level of service,
even while working remotely, by increasing their use of
phone calls, Internet-based meetings, and Zoom calls, as
well as emails.
Government-mandated restrictions on the size of group
meetings has limited our apprenticeship programs, but
we have been putting the down time to good use by
improving facilities at the training center in Bernville and
increasing our education and training capabilities to
meet the demand that will come as the economy
recovers.
Our Local 542 Funds office has adjusted and has
increasingly relied on technology solutions to respond to
members’ and retirees’ questions about health care,
annuity, pension, and other benefit issues.
Check out our Local 542 website, Facebook and
Instagram pages (see red box at bottom of page 3) to get
full access to all the benefits available to you and for
more specific contact information.
Looking ahead, 2021 will be a year when we can expect
to see improved national leadership on the distribution
of the vaccines that have been developed by various
drug companies.
Once the spread of the virus is better controlled and
infection rates start to fall, we will see an increase in our
job opportunities, due to the pent-up demand in our
industry.
If the fever of the highly charged and bitter partisanship
that has afflicted the Congress and the Federal
government for the last four years finally breaks, we
may also see a renewed effort to finally increase funding
for the infrastructure programs that drive our industry.
With that in mind, I am cautiously optimistic for our
outlook as a Union poised for growth in the coming
year. It will not be easy or quick. It will require
dedication and hard work from all of us.
No matter how hard we work, it will not make up for the
loss of close to 500,000 of our fellow American family
members, friends, and neighbors who have fallen victim
to this brutal pandemic.
We have surpassed the number of American combat
deaths in the six years of World War II in less than a
year. That is a tragic loss that will stay with us for the
rest of our lives.
That is why I want to ask all Local 542 members to honor
those who have fallen by coming together more united
than ever, as we continue to push through to a full
national recovery.
Wash up, mask up, get your vaccination, and keep your
social distance!
Bob Heenan
BUSiNESS MANAGER
4
PROMOTIONS AND STAFFING CHANGES
President Jim Reilley has been appointed Assistant Business Manager for Local 542.
Business Agent Mike Whitekettle has been appointed District Agent for District 1. Harry Brown was
appointed as a Business Agent for District 1, Philadelphia.
District 1: James Smith, who was an instructor at the JATC Eagle site, is now an Organizer. John
Graves replaced James Smith as an instructor at JATC Eagle.
Renee Tiffany was appointed Hiring Hall Agent for District 1.
District 2: Ed Bates replaced Jim Reilley as the Lehigh Valley Agent.
Shawn Hawkey replaced Mel Reedy (who retired) on the Executive Board.
Dennis Keefer resigned and was replaced by Billy Montegari as a Business Agent.
District 3: Brad Kishbaugh resigned from the Executive Board and took a job as an Organizer. Rich
Keen replaced Brad Kishbaugh on the Executive Board.
Chaz Surman resigned as a Trustee to become an instructor at the Bernville training site. Zack
Matsago replaced Chaz Surman as a Trustee.
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