Fitters View Archives

Fellow retirees; We have not had a raise on the pension checks for some time. Two years ago the officers asked for a substantial raise and got it. The 13th check for retirees is never a sure thing, we have just been lucky. Other locals with smaller memberships give their retirees much more in benefits and dollars. The Milwaukee sprinkler local is one example. We are the laughing stock of many other locals. I believe our officers get 2 pension checks, one from the international and one from our local. Also, a new car has become a parting gift. My father was a fitter when Mr. Siepp was a BA. He just recieved his 65 year pin. We are top heavy in officers. In days gone by there was more work and fewer Ba's. We retirees built this fund up and could not bank over 1 point a year with 1 in the bank. Many of us gave the fund over 500 to 1,000 extra hours for many years, as we were lucky enough to work the boom years. Yet, we get little from the fund WE BUILT. The first one who suffers when times get tough are the retirees, we make easy targets. Pipefitters now can book up to 2 points a year, can 't they. Please correct me if I'm wrong on this point.

James P. Skinner and James C. Skinner

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False Accusations:

From Bill Erffmeyer

First let me say that I truly regret that this election has come to this. An email was sent out by John Riffice that was totally false in it’s presentation. As a Union member, as an American, and ex veteran, the scandalous, misinformation that you received, shocks me. Let me set the facts straights. Everything I write can be verified by going to the LM2 reports on my website. The election does not cost 50 to 60 thousand dollars. The 2006 election costs $17,875 as reported, your Union held a Christmas party in 2006 for $25,705 for its friends in which John was invited. We have given brand new cars to members leaving this Local in excess of $25,000. Our Business Manager made $113,709 in 2000 and the present Manager 6 years later makes $218,637. Is it about the money??? Please don’t insult me. I have fought for the members of this Local when times were good or bad. Don’t let the Hall sway you. I would be more than glad to speak with every person that the email contacted. My phone number is 708-371-0065. I only have honorable contentions in seeking office and do not have malice against anyone. The right to run for office SHOULD NEVER BE CHALLENGED. William Erffmeyer

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Subject: Wages
From: Herkimer Jones
Comments: Bill, Is there a reason you wont answer my question???????

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Subject: re:Wages
From: Bill Erffmeyer
Comments: I don't know the current pay scale for an Agent. You can find last years salary by going to my home page and clicking on the LM2 reports. You will need to enter the file number when the first page comes up, it is 016-412

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Subject: Breakfast
From: Retired
Comments: How did J Riffice become the self appointed spokesman of the Retirees ? Or does he have some official capacity at the Hall ? There are other groups around the city that also have a Breakfast and other such get togethers, yet I haven't heard of them getting invited to be part of the inner sanctum of the TEAM.

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Subject: Breakfast Club
From: John Zohimsky Retired-aka Dr.Zoo
Comments: To the person who wrote about Jack Riffice and his "Group". I don't know who you are because your too phoney to give your name, but I'm sure you couldnt have carried Jack's lunch box.How dare you accuse the 600+ retired members that depend on the letters,e-mails,breakfasts,and various outings;and the man largely responsible for keeping them in touch with one another of being part of an Inner Sanctum of the Team-What the hell does that mean? What other breakfast/outings are you talking about,we don't know of a single one.Thats enough about your comments because your not worth anymore time.Bill E. the rest is for you-Although you and I are on opposite sides of the fence I believe you when you say you monitor your site and I agree that its not necessary to use personal names when asking non-personal questions,or offering information of the same,but statements loaded with accusations should be an exeption and should include identification-Thank you for letting me pen this rebuttal-Zoo

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Subject: re:Breakfast club
From: Bill Erffmeyer
Comments: Zoo, What kind of a person should I be that would not allow your or anyone else's thoughts to be monitored. The only things that I would delete are threats and profanity. Now if you use a swear word as a verb, I don't have a problem with that. I would not delete the message only the offending words. Anyone (Pipe Fitter) at anytime can use this site. This is America so please don't try to take away any of my, yours, or their civil liberties.

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Subject: False Accusations
From: John Riffice
Comments: Bill, after talking to you this morning I did some checking. Your statement of the election cost of only $17,875 is only a partial truth. The $17,875 was for the voting machines. You forgot the sample ballot mailing, the pay and food for the 80 or so judges, the police for security (I'm not too sure if that was part of it) and from what I was told, much more. This information comes from the man who is in charge of the election. I was told the election cost was over $50,000 and if anyone doubts him, he has the paid bills and check stubs to prove it.
This is to the guy who signs his comments "Retired." Most fitters I know would not be shy about signing a name when making an accusation. I nomally wouldn't bother responding to someone who hasn't the courage to sign his name. But to you I say, I have never assumed a spokesman role for any group. If you read my e-mail you would have noticed my request was to active and retired fitters. I have no more affiliation with the Hall than any other fitter. I don't know anything about other breakfast groups throughout the city and I'm not sure what you mean when you say, "inner sanctum of the team." My role with the Retirees' Breakfast is the same as when the Breakfast thing started. That is to have a breakfast once a month to break bread and rekindle old acquaintances. I do this because I like doing it and for no other reason. Now, if you have a problem with that, please call me, I'm sure we can straighten out this misunderstanding. By the way, if you read the retirees' newsletter or the 597 magazine article, you will see an invitation to all retired 597 fitters to attend the breakfast.
Fraternally,
John Riffice
#697736

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Subject: re: False Accusations
From: Bill Erffmeyer
Comments: John, We did talk this morning and you told me at that time that you should have called me before you sent out your email to the retirees. Now your sending a post to this site and we haven't spoken since. Did something change? Here is a wake up call. A mailing would go on regardless, those election judges are all Pipe Fitters receiving those checks, the fact that someone from the Hall (Greg Watson) who is in charge of the election can come up with any figure that he wants, does not wash. You sir are being duped. This or any election is mandated by Congress so please don't use money as a crutch to have me or anyone else withdraw their names from something as sacred as an election. The Hall brings in over 3.5 million dollars from the wage work assessment alone. They spend money down there like drunken sailors on leave and give it away at their whim. I believe that I can win this election if the membership turns out. 20 to 25 % turn out at previous elections is appalling. If we had a mail in ballot because of our size, the turn out would be better and the Hall's people would be rocked back to the stone age.

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Subject: Back to you
From: John Riffice
Comments: First I would like to comment on your first article about me. Acording to you, my e-mail was totally false, scandalous (were you thinking "slanderous?) and full of misinformation. Then after all that, I had the nerve to send that e-mail to a union member, who was also a veteran and God forgive me, an American. I don't remember getting a phone call from you before you posted that smoke screen. What does my going to a Christmas party have to do with spending money for an election? I haven't checked with the IRS on our BM's salary so I can't answer your questions about that. I do know, because you asked to check, that it cost the Rank and File over $50,000 for the last election. Your comment on mailings was great, they had to go out anyways. Does that mean it didn't cost us any money? You also said the Election Judges were all Pipefitters. I guess that means that doesn't cost us anything either. You write stuff like that and you tell me I'm being duped? Another thing, to state that the President of this Local can come up with any number he wants for the cost of an election is a little much. I believe 597 has been under the microscope of the IRS a couple of times in the past few of years. Everything went well so they must be financially sound. The Prez says he has the bills to prove it so if you can prove what you're saying, we should be in for a great court battle. If spending at the Hall is as you say, you should get your investagators going. I was in the Navy so when you say they spend like "drunken sailors," I consider that a very slanderous statement. You just insulted every Navy veteran who honorably served our great Nation. You see Bill, you have to chose your words carefully when speaking of slanderous remarks. When its all said and done, I think the $50,000 price tag is a lot more realistic then the $17,875 you came up with. One last thing, you are right, no one should ever challenge the right of anyone to run for office. Be aware that no one is challenging your right to run for office. You were asked, by me, to consider an option because of circumstances.

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Subject: re: Back to you
From: Bill Erffmeyer
Comments: Your email was not accurate and it still is padded with misinformation. The word scandalous is the correct word because you didn't slander me, you created a scandal where one didn't exist before. You didn't just send that email to (a) Union member but instead sent it to 117 members because it was sent to me along with all of the email address' so leave God out of it. I didn't need to call you before I answered your post but I did 3 times at 5, again at 7:30, and again at 11:15 because I considered you a friend. You do have your roots in at the Hall John, they send you to UA conventions, Pipe Trade conventions, golf outings, Christmas parties, and who know what else. They may line your pockets with money and your ears with sweets and you do their bidding by having the Breakfast Club send me messages that most are cut and pasted. The 50,000 is still way over the top and why does this have to be about money, because you started it with the money. Your beliefs about what you are told from the Hall doesn't mean a thing when you take our money for your pleasures. Are you suggesting that we need a court battle now? Maybe I'll be blamed for that as well. You won't find any dirt unless you are willing to look under some rocks. My drunken sailors line has been around since the Greeks first put a boat into the water and to make it sound like I was disrespecting the US Navy is your doing, not mine. So don't try twisting this around. I was asked by you as well as other retiree's to withdraw from the election because in your thoughts that I couldn't win. I have received many phone calls of support as well as contributions from the members of this Local who feel the same way as I do.

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Subject: LM2 Report
From: Bill Erffmeyer
Comments: I now have the 2006 LM2 Report posted in the News section on the website. Visit it by going to the Home page and clicking News button.

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Email:

Brother retirees,

This is to collaborate what brothers Skinner wrote in an earlier post. I
have been saying it for years that 597 has one of the worst pensions in
the UA. Take Local 23 Rockford, as an another example. Those guys get
more money on their pension than they would get if they were working a
forty hour job, plus they can work without penalty on all ComEd outages,
not only at Byron, but at all the Nukes in the state, which covers three
other locals besides their own. Plus they get more points towards
pension at the same time. Since I became a member of this local in 1967
there has (up until recently) only been one or two years when our
pension has not had an increase. I could swear I heard it come out of
Buchanan's mouth a few years ago that our pension would be $100 a point,
well I guess that ain't gonna happen. But instead we are thrown a bone
once in awhile with the 13th check, but guess what, that can be taken
away at the whim of the board of trustees. For that matter, $74 a point
can be reduced, nothing is set in stone. Plus when we retire we lose
dental and eyeglasses, plus retirees now have to pay for insurance. A
previous post alluded to building up the pension under the old one point
per year system, well I added my hours up one time and I was shocked to
find out I had left 10,000 hours on the table. I'm sure I'm not alone in
this regard, probably some guys left more than that. You say, well now
members can earn more than one point per year, well I say not many
members are so fortunate, I'd say the vast majority of members are still
only earning one point per year. Local 597 has about 3,000 retirees and
that's a hell-of-a lot of votes, enough to swing any election. For one
of our brothers to send out emails asking another brother to not run for
office because an election costs money is unconscionable. Our local has
money to put on golf outings, baseball teams, xmas parties, gristle
fests in the parking lot, Friday nite fights, we sure as heck have money
for an election every three years. I'm going to remain anonymous, too
bad if you don't like it, don't read it.

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Subject: Breakfast
From: RETIRED
Comments: So are you Sergeant of Arms of the Breakfast ZOO ?
It sounds like John is pretty connected to the TEAM to me. I didn't know that asking if he held some official position at the hall was going to stir you boys up like that. BTW. there are other groups that meet around town and I believe most feel the Newsletter Reports by John are great.
But I guess if you question anything even remotely associated to the TEAM then you can't be a good Member huh ? Oh yeah, John always went out to Lunch.

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Subject: Just asking
From: Bill Erffmeyer
Comments: Herkimer Jones, Did you check out the LM2 report that I posted on the website?

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Subject: LM2
From: Herkimer Jones
Comments: Yes Bill, i did, thank you. It is quite informative to say the least. What I found most amazing is the wages that a few of the clerks and the janitor earn. The Business Agents arent doing too bad either. I would suggest every member take a look at the report to see where their money is going.

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Subject:
From: John Riffice
Comments: This seems to be a war of words. Just to remind you, you posted your comments about me before you tried to contact me by phone. How do I know? I was called by other fitters who read it on your web site and guess what, they called before you. You say you used the word scandalous because my message wasn't slanderous. Yet when you called me you left a threating message saying, you would keep calling me until I returned you calls because you didn't want to start procedings for slannder. Bill, you have to be careful with what you say to a telephone recorder. You probably don't remember that, right? Well I didn't erase it so if you would like to hear what you said, let me know. Enough of this, I asked you to consider something and you blew it way out of proportion. I didn't say quit or drop out, what I did say was consider your options because of the circumstances. The only thing that bothers me about this whole mess is, there are a few retirees who think our breakfast is some kind of union political arm. If that were the case, in passed elections, you Bill, would not have been able to do any campaigning at the breakfast. Hell, thats another story.

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Subject: re:
From: Bill Erffmeyer
Comments: John, Your still not telling the truth. If you look at the email that you sent out which I've now posted you will see the date and time stamped on it. My last phone call to you was at 11:15 PM on the same day. I posted my rebuttal on this site at 11:30 PM. I received this email from a supporter the following day with the email address' that you sent out. The last names started with P thru Z, 67 all told. The following day I received another email from another supporter with 50 names and those names started with A thru F. I'm still looking for G thru O. Would you care to send them to me? You wrote no Officers please, but you sent them to most, if not all of them. Are you trying to impress them? Your damned right I was mad after I called you 3 times only because I thought that I was your friend did I even wait that long or tried to contact you at all. I didn't blow anything out of proportion, you threw it in my face. You make it sound so nice now but the money was the bottom line. Hell I've spent thousands of dollars each time to run. The Hall charges $100 just for a copy of the mailing list and it's only an email sent to the printer. Your right about letting me speak at the breakfast, only once did you turn me down. You have let the Officers speak numerous times to campaign when they get challenged or when they need to blow smoke.

PS: I didn't include the email address' for obvious reasons.

Sent: Thursday, May 3, 2007 9:25:42 AM
Subject: Election

This message is to all retirees and active members of 597, no officers please. I would like you to send a message to Bill Erffmeyer on his web-site.

The web-site address is: www.protectingthemembership.org

The message I would like you to send is this, since Bill is often saying 597 spends a lot of money unnecessarily, would he please consider withdrawing his name from nomination for Business Agent.

Bill is the only member running in opposition of an incumbent officer. An election for one position would be very expensive. If I thought there was a chance of Mr. Erffmeyer being elected I would not be writing this request. I feel without the support needed and the Hall's endorsement of Bill's opponent, he has very little chance of being successful. This election will cost the members of 597 anywhere between 50 or 60 thousand dollars. This said and if Bill is really concerned about union funds being spent foolishly, he will be able to practice what he preaches. If you do send Bill a request to withdraw, don't forget to sign your name.

My message to Bill will be as follows:

Brother Erffmeyer,

Your reason for running for office is a mystery to me. The opponent you chose is a hard working, dedicated officer, who in the opinion of the overwhelming majority, is doing a fine job. With his many endorsements and your lack of the support needed, I feel your goal is not realistic. I'm hoping your intentions are honorable and not some sort of vendetta. If they are honorable, I believe you would consider doing what is best for 597. You would have the thanks of the majority of pipefitters if you would withdraw your name from nomination. Please give this request serious consideration and act soon.

Fraternally,

John Riffice

# 697736

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Email:

Has the Hall ever considered using mail in ballots versus the current system
in use. My gut feeling is this option may generate much interest with the
people in charge. Could it be this option may not be in their best interest
due to the fact it may generate too much participation in the election
process? Just a thought.25k for a Xmas party ?Hope the upper crust had fun.

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Subject: What do you want to acomplish
From: just wondering
Comments: I was at the meeting for the nomanation One thing I did not understand is in the past when you ran you would information on what you stood for. In the past you would run a visuabel ccampaine. One were we knew what we were voteing for. At the end of the meeting their was no one from you passing any thing out Is this just you trying to stick it to the hall ? But we the membership must foot the bill Are you doing this to make the United "team" members dig into their pockets to pay for their stickers and food. What is yours nothing more than a platform of vendictivness? Be more than that Bill It is a disservice to us all If you want to run that do it like you did in the past with ideas and a PLAN

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Subject: re: Just wondering
From: Bill Erffmeyer
Comments: As in the past, present, and future I have stood for helping the membership. My campaign has been visible or maybe you didn't receive the mailing that I sent out. I have handed out flange cards, business cards, and bumper stickers but usually during the day of the election or on the jobs that I'm at. You maybe thinking of other members that have run before. I have never stopped seeking office, this website has been up for over 4 years and if I can help a brother member I will go out of my way to do so. I'm not sure what you mean when you say the membership has to foot the bill. If it's about the election, all Unions by law have to have an election every three years. My platform allows you to post on this site, informs you of the finances of the Union, information about the 401k, how you can lose your health and welfare, I could go on and on but it would be easer for you to read what is posted on this site. Vindictiveness no, determined yes.

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Email:

Jim Hahn's wife Laura passed away today. The arraignments are still pending,
I will pass them on as I get them. Please let your fitter friends know this,
Jim is a 597 brother. Laura was 42 years old.

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Subject: Election
From: Herkimer Jones
Comments: Bill Erffmeyer is the only candidate for Business Agent that has asked me for my vote, rather than the sitting BA's who assume I'll vote for them, simply because they already have the job. For that reason, I'll be voting for Bill.

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Subject: jobs
From: Bill G
Comments: I have been out of work for almost 3 years & NO ONE has done anything to help me ,except take my dues money & penalize my pension. What have you done to help us "older" guys. You never return calls for help.

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Subject: bus. mgr. expenses
From: mar jen
Comments: Bill, Is there any way to check on bus. mgr. bucacans expenses? Well I have ... Since in office he has doubled Mr McCartins expenses when compared in the last year... look it up or call a rat that works for him at the hall.ie..8,000.00dollars for a rt ticket to germany to attend a piping convention!
We are paying 8 grand plus food and scotch for him to strut around in Germany, oh yea he really thinking about the 597 members best interest isn't he Bill.
Can you find out more about the bus. agents expenses and all officers that represent us?
thanks bill

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Subject:
From: PGV
Comments: Mr Erffmeyer, At one time you were needed. You ran for BA at a time when this local needed and wanted a change from the old regime. It was really not you that was needed, it was the change.
You served a purpose not for what you could bring to this local but just to shake it up.
YOU SIR ARE NOT NEEDED NOW!! You have cost this local thousands of dollars and personally I am sick and tired of seeing and hearing your BS. Jim B has built a far better team without you. When are going to wake up?? I heard you tell Jim B after he beat the living hell out of you in the election for B.M. that you were not going to be any problems and that you were going to help him. Another lie!!
You are in a dream world, thinking that you have a chance in hell to be a part of a great team of dedicated people working for us. We do not need a trouble maker who loves to hear himself spread false lies and crap!! Get a grip Bill, and STOP WASTING THE MONEY OF THIS LOCAL!!

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Subject: re:
From: Bill Erffmeyer
Comments: PGV, You must be joking. While it is true that Jim and I did speak right after the 2001 election it was but him and I. You sir were not present so you are now the liar. The funny thing about your mind set is that I don't cause any problems. The problems do exist, but maybe it's the Hall that doesn't address them. As before and now, I only bring them out in the open. You see I'm a Union man and I believe that all Union members are equal in every aspect. There are no thousands of dollars wasted here. I'm not the one that has Christmas parties or golf outings, you need to bring that up with the E Board. This forum is for everyone that has something to say and you did your best and you now stand corrected.

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Subject: Buccanans issues
From: Golen arm 219er
Comments: Bil, Mar Jens comments are just the tip of the iceberg. I'm working at BP Amoco and was told by one of our members (who is on the examining board) that Buc Buccanan gets in the office around 10 o'clock then takes an hour lunch around 12 30 heads home around 4pm. Wow what a day!
Yea Bil during the winter he heads to his condo in beautiful Arizona on a flight usually Friday mid day and returns Monday mid day... What a hard week! Oh yea Bil does he expense the round trip flight on 597? I think yes according to my friend on the united teams e board behalf...what a great leader ... he's better off working for mayor Daley or governor Blago... o yea didn't he give gov Blago 750,000.00 dollars to his campaign fund? If this isn't an abuse of privileges than what is Bil? Can u investigate this?

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Subject: re: Issues
From: Bill Erffmeyer
Comments: It could be PAC money that was sent to Governor Blago, although if you look at the LM2 report there is some funds that under cash disbursement that may fit. The LM2 report has improved, the reports have more information than they did from years ago but they don't tell all. I wouldn't know if Jim flies on 597's dime but there is a disbursements for Official Business and allowances disbursed on the LM2 report. The report is for 2006 and the 2007 doesn't come out for another year.

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Subject: Set the record straight.
From: Marvin Jendro
Comments: I was confronted by a member that I had posted remarks on this web site concerning 597 issues using then name mar jen. To set that record straight, I did not post anything on this website other that what you are reading now. It is obvious that someone is stirring up shit and to me that is what this web site is all about. Marvin Jendro Card # 993391

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Subject: re: Set the record straight
From: Bill Erffmeyer
Comments: Gee Marv you didn't feel that way when we ran for office in 2001. You couldn't say enough good things about me when we had the rallies. Then after you didn't win you rolled over. I do have two questions for you... Are you still spinning because you did more than a 180 at the Union meeting? Why do you think mar jen has anything to do with you? Maybe the hall asked!!!

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Subject: Drug Test
From: A New Fitter
Comments: I am posting this note as a new fitter, 1 year out of his apprenticeship. After seeing and hearing what's going on with a simple election, my question is "Do Union officials have to take any drug or alcohol tests during their term?" They are responsible for large amounts of money.

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Subject: re: Drug Test
From: Bill Erffmeyer
Comments: No, you must be kidding.

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Subject: PGV statements
From: Jim Skinner & Jim Skinner Sr.
Comments: Saw the comments about Bill running for BA. Apparently you are afraid to put your name out, and are probably a relative or close friend of one of the officers. I know all of our old officers are spinning in their graves over the gluttony of the present regime. I have lost 1/3 of my pension for medical while they have received raises and are guaranteed a second pension and a nice car. My father , while booking over 2500 hours for 35+ years has not received a raise since 2001. By the way his claim to fame was a 127 hour work week. Where did it go??? I live on $1300 for a family of 5 after 32 years of service in 597. You and our elected officials get real! Where's the money??

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Subject: Mail in ballots
From: Bill Erffmeyer
Comments: During the upcoming election, I will have a table set up with a petition that will ask if all future election allowed under UA Constitution Sec.124 the right for mail in ballots. Because of the size and the amount of members in our Local this is needed. The turn out at our elections needs to improve, by allowing for mail in ballots this could be accomplished. Will you join me at the election and sign the petition? Tell your Fitter friends about it also. The choice could be in your hands.

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Subject: marvin jendro 180
From: 597 Alliance
Comments: Hey Marv if u are scared the get a dog to protect you 180... I saw u for 8 days in vegas at the convention and you refused to where any HITE pins ,shirts etc...you are NOT a supporter of 597 and our UA alliance! The HITE family knows this and all of 597 now knows these facts... hence, you still collect a pay check fron IPTAA and drive an ua issued car with an allowance .. When u receive your check each week you should count your blessings mr 180!

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Email:

Hi Bill

You would sure get my vote, but I don't have any plans to be in the Chicago area at that time. I am retired in Florida and I wish that retirees like me could cast absentee ballots, but as we know the union does not have that in their rules. I sure go along with the retirees getting the same increases as the new and future retirees will be getting, as inflation hurts us as much or more than the working man. It sounds like some people are concerned that you have a chance to make it, which shows they do not want changes. I do not know who you would be running against, but would bet there are some weak present B.A.'s.

Good luck

P.S. been retired for 12 years now, and highly recommend it.

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Subject: Membership
From:    Jim
Comments: Bill, This is for Pinky and other naive thinkers like him.
First of all, Bill I am grateful that someone has the onions to run for an office like BA. or any other office. Here are a number of issues that need to be addressed:
1.   Is it right that union trained members should languish on the OWL for six months or more? In fact why do we have an OWL?
2.   Is it right that members can job hop just because they can while members struggle to work three months out of the year? And by the way, if you think there are not members working a second job to make ends meet, your nuts. Why do we need BAs if we can get our own jobs? Eliminate ten of them, create a dispatchers job and two secretaries and we can save ourselves a million dollars a year. Money is not an issue, 597 has plenty.
3.   Is it right that a member can not know exactly when a job is starting and where? When I have talked to BAs about jobs they can't seem to remember the "details". The Vegas Local (525) you can call a number and know what jobs are going out the next day. Imagine that, an informed member. There is no reason why we can not better inform our members of jobs starting so all can have a shot at getting a job. Not just those who belong to the right club/lodge or drinking establishment. With the invention of the internet, it can be done. Mail in ballots - great idea. May be that Buc's team is not smart enough to run a web site. Or may be that they are scared that all of 597 members will be informed.
4.   74 dollars a point is pathetic. I have talked to a lot of travelers and they can't believe we have such a low dollar per point ratio.
There are more issues I could raise but this is enough. Best of luck to you Bill.

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Subject: Vote
From: Cubs Fan
Comments: Are they trying to buy my VOTE with Sox tickets... come on get real

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Subject: Election Results
From: Bill Erffmeyer
Comments:
Total Members voting 1727
Bill Meyers votes 1308
William Erffmeyer 314

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Subject: Election
From: PGV
Comments: Hey Mr personality GOT THE MESSAGE YET!!!!!!!!!!!

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Subject: re:Election
From: Bill Erffmeyer
Comments: The only message that I got was to run in the next election 3 years from now, pin head.

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Subject: Election cost
From: Very curious
Comments: What were the cost of this election?? And a reply to a respondent as "pin head" was certainly not very BROTHERLY!!

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Subject: Recent Election
From: My Point of View
Comments: Why are so many people complaining about Bill running for office? The last time I read the UA Constitution it read very clearly concerning the criteria is for being eligible to run for elected office in local elections. As long as a person is eligible it is their perogative whether to run or not. Besides, everyone knows Bill does not have much of a chance of winning so why worry about it? It makes him feel good and it gives an ego boost to whomever runs against him. I thought Bill ran pretty strong considering there were 314 people who voted for him. That is 313 more than most people expected. Long live the Democracy!

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Subject: election results
From: WTF
Comments: How come the union doesnt have the total votes??? If 1727 people voted how come the numbers don't add up??? Can someone from the union tell us???

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Subject: Election
From: Wondering
Comments: What WAS the cost of this past election?? Please break it down so we can see how much it cost us per man.

Health

From: Bill Erffmeyer:
Date: 13 Jul 2006
Time: 14:28:53 -0700
Remote Name: 63.26.118.141

Comments

I would like to remind my brother Fitters that they need to check up on their health. A few months ago I went in for a blood test and found that like millions of people I had high cholesterol. You don't need a heart attack waiting to happen. Also at the same time I had a PSA test done, it showed a high level. I then went in for further testing an it turned out to be an infection. The reason for this message is that it could have been cancer. It showed no symptoms and neither would cancer. If it is detected early it is curable. If you are over 40 you should be tested and if there is any history of it in your family then you NEED testing. How else will you be able to drain your Pension if you're not around. Good health to all.

Diplomat, What's up with this?

From: Bill Erffmeyer:
Date: 18 Jul 2006
Time: 20:12:29 -0700
Remote Name: 63.26.204.74

Comments

Diplomat revives plan for 339-room hotel next to Intracoastal in Hollywood By Tom Stieghorst South Florida Sun-Sentinel July 18, 2006 HOLLYWOOD · The Westin Diplomat Resort has revived a bid to build a 339-room hotel on a site where neighbors forced it to drop similar plans in 1999. City commissioners would have to approve a zoning change for the site, a vacant property to the southwest of the main 998-room Diplomat. The 2-acre plot is zoned for residential development, but members of Hollywood's Planning & Zoning Advisory Board on Monday approved the hotel's request to change the zoning to general business use. Already Broward County's largest hotel, the Diplomat wants more rooms for conventions, its main business. Even meetings that need 1,000 rooms can't come to the hotel now because it has to hold 150 to 200 rooms for leisure guests, said attorney Alan Koslow, who represents Diplomat LP, the owner of the proposed building site. Plans call for a 30-story building just south of the Diplomat's parking and retail complex at 3250 S. Ocean Drive, on the side of the street next to the Intracoastal Waterway. The Diplomat withdrew a plan in 1999 to build a 300-unit condo/hotel on the property after opposition from nearby condominiums, chiefly the Hallmark. Koslow said the building design has been improved. "We've been meeting and conferencing with the neighbors, including Sea Air Towers and, most prominently, Hallmark," he said. Efforts to reach Terry Funk, president of the board at the Hallmark, were unsuccessful. Kobi Karp, architect for the building, said it was moved close to Ocean Drive to preserve views from the Hallmark to the north and east. Also, "we offer our neighbor to the south the narrow side of the building," he said. But that design has flaws, said Ron Clasky, a planning and zoning board member who lives in a nearby Quadomain condo. "The effect of it is just more of the condo canyon," said Clasky, who is also president of the Hollywood Beach Civic Association. "The people I've talked to at Quodomain are opposed to another tall building along A1A." Copyright © 2006, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Re: Diplomat, What's up with this?

From: nemesis
Date: 20 Jul 2006
Time: 04:14:25 -0700
Remote Name: 209.240.206.209

Comments

I thought we got rid of Marty & Co., I guess not? More opportunity for kickbacks, paybacks and money, money, money. Thirty story building, sounds pretty good to me. That's a lot of bricks, concrete, lumber, wire, pipe; lots of opportunity.

Website

From: Tired
Date: 19 Jul 2006
Time: 12:08:14 -0700
Remote Name: 152.163.101.7

Comments

Bill, thanks for the effort in keeping the website up. It gives us fitters a place to exchange ideas and differing opinions. I always thought the 597 site should have some kind of Forum for posting messages.

Re: Website

From: Bill Erffmeyer:
Date: 19 Jul 2006
Time: 15:59:56 -0700
Remote Name: 63.26.100.253

Comments

In some sense I'm glad that they don't and too bad that they can't post the contractors list or maybe the roll call book. If they started to now they would only be coping what I've already done. Come to think of it they have copied most of their ideas that I've talked about or have written about for the last 10 years. They don't have a clue as to what Fitters need or want. Why? Because it takes an ingenuous desire to help your fellow Fitters. Open your eyes HALL!!! Some of your fellow Fitters need Med. Ins. Lower the required hours needed. Instead of the old 1200 hours you went to 1500 hours and in reality it should be 1000 hours wake up before we lose more members.

Metal Tradesmen the Unions Unwanted Step Child

From: William (Ron) Root Local 597 Chicago, Illinois
Date: 19 Jul 2006
Time: 17:08:28 -0700
Remote Name: 68.21.8.200

Comments

Most metal trade members are residential service technicians. The training and skills in welding, chillers, and other large systems are not involved. We do have certain skills that the union considers worthless, and makes the shops we work for a lot of money. The skills I'm referring to are the ability to keep the customers happy and loyal to the shop we work for, insuring the shops continued prosperity and growth. It's the service technician's advice the customers rely on in making the decision to either repair or replace equipment, and to add equipment they may benefit from. The shops sales of new equipment and accessories is 99% dependent on the service technicians ability to establish a trusting relationship with the customer, and skillfully explain the reason or reasons to act on their advice. We have to be able to smooth over their anger when we're sent earlier or later than the shop promised, etc, etc. We obtain new customers and new equipment sales while on 24 hour on call, answering emergencies other companies won't, and keep the customer base happy by providing this emergemcy service. The service technicians are the ones who determine a shops success or failure. Our jobs may not sound as impressive as the pipefitters who weld, work on elaborate building control systems, and absorbtion or other chiller systems. But let's see how well the pipefitters would do with a customer literally hanging over their shoulder and asking why their doing this and that every 2 or 3 minutes, then collect the money after each job after explaining the charges to the customer who says you only did this and that, and were here only an hour! Residential service is a different animal, and a different set of skills from commercial are necessary. I'm not sure, but I think we charge just as much as the commercial people. For a no heat call due to a bad hot surface ignitor in a residential furnace, the total charge is over $320.00 for a total of 30 minutes in the customers home during normal business hours, and that includes the paperwork and collecting. Since the residential shops have gone to flat rate pricing they have doubled their rates from the time and materials billing method. Even though the shops are making more money than ever, they still keep their union service technicians at B-card scale, regardless of tenure or ability! And the union thinks this is just fine and dandy, because getting a A-card depends solely on the employers whim. I've been in the trade over 20 years, and in the union only 8 years. It just bothers the hell out me to meet very good technicians who have the same amount or more experience, been with a shop for 15 years and are only B-cards while their experience and skills make the owners a lot of money. That's why you see a lot of unmarked van and trucks doing residential HVAC work! The union doesn't recognize any skills not commercial related, and the owners aren't going to pay for them if they don't have to, and according to the union they don't have to! Some owners say they give $15 to a technician for each furnace sale he generates, do the math big deal! The technicians in metal trades take just as much pride in their trade as anyone else. They and their families deserve to improve their lifestyle through their hard work, skills, and abilities just as much as anyone else. Too bad the powers that be in our union disagree!