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REPORT TO THE MEMBERSHIP
James McLaughlin |
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As
a reminder, because Monday, May 28, 2007 is the Memorial Day
holiday, our Las Vegas District Meeting will be held on Monday,
May 21, 2007. Be sure to update your calendars.
As I mentioned in our previous newsletter, Business Representative
Mark Fullner has retired, effective March 30, 2007. Las Vegas
Business Representative Les Strong will be retiring in June
2007. Both have made many contributions to the success of Local
501, as longtime Operating Engineers and as Officers. I wish
them and their wives many happy years of retirement success.
Our Semi-Annual Meeting will be held on Saturday, June 2, 2007.
Over the years, attendance has increased tremendously—with your
continuous turnout, I hope this will remain an enduring trend.
As has become the custom, there will be barbecue and soft drinks
following the meeting. This is the time when members learn how
the Local is doing financially, etc., while providing the opportunity
to mix and mingle with fellow members you’ve come to know over
the years.
By the time you receive this issue, you will have received notification
that we’ve changed our Prescription Benefits Management services
from Prescription Solutions to Caremark. A number of changes
in the Caremark plan will benefit our members, including changes
in cost and customer service. Most importantly, the new plan
will be beneficial to the Health and Welfare Trust because we
will save a considerable amount of money. Most engineering Locals
in the US use Caremark for their prescription drug benefit plan—instead
of being linked with only 4,000 drug participants, we are now
allied with over 100,000!
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Much
research went into the prescription drug benefit change,
which was spearheaded by the International Union, your Plan
Trustees, as well as our financial advisers. It seems that
this will be an excellent change for everyone involved.
Since there has been no increase in Health and Welfare in
nearly three years, it appears we’ll be okay. Any savings
realized will be put toward controlling Health and Welfare
costs.
There are currently over 2800 Local 501 members on retirement,
with average pension payouts of more than $1,000 per month.
Our Pension Fund is in excellent shape, even under the new
bill recently signed by US President George W. Bush. Despite
this sort of legislation that damages our Defined Benefit
Plans, our Plan still has no unfunded liability and is still
financially in good condition.
Finally, I must remind everyone of this year’s election
of officers. As you’ll see in this issue, there will be
District Meetings throughout the summer, including in June
2007. Usually during the summer, District Meetings are dark;
however, since this is election year, we will strictly abide
by both our Constitution and our By-Laws.
Everyone get behind your Local—support your Business Representatives
and co-workers, and continue to upgrade your craft by keeping
up your training. Remember: You are the strength and heart
of our Operating Engineers Local 501 Union.
I wish you all an enjoyable and safe summer.
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| AFL-CIO
National Boycotts |
Building Materials
& Tools
Jet Equipment &
Tools, Inc |
Entertainment/Recreation
Big League Theatricals Road Co.
Black Entertainment Television (BET)
Echostar Dish Network |
Food & Beverages
Mt. Olive Pickle Co.
Diamond Walnut Co
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Algood Foods |
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Transportation & Travel
Adam's Mark Hotel
Hotel in Buffalo, NY
Best Western-Grosvenor Resort
Hotel in Buena Vista, FA
Four Points by Sheraton
Hotel in Waterbury, Conn.
Grand Hotel Minneapolis
Hotel in Minneapolis
KSL Recreation
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Others
CF&I Steel and Oregon Steel
Mills, Inc.
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.
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