I’d like to remind you that we have a new prescription drug provider - Caremark. You should have received your new prescription card in the mail. Also, you should have received another card in the mail for your medical benefits coverage. If you did not receive these new cards, please contact the Health & Welfare office at 301-731-1050 or 1-800-EWTF.

The Health and Welfare trustees improved some of your health care coverage beginning January 1, 2007. These improvements are benefits that were lost several years ago when the health fund was in danger. Now that we have positive fund investments, the trustees worked hard and were able to reincorporate these benefits for our members and their families.

 

The Local Union Scholarship Committee is now accepting applications for the annual Local 26 Scholarship Award. Two winners will be selected as recipients of the 4-year, $1,000 per year award. Applicants must be in their senior year of high school or be a high school graduate between the ages of 17 and 21, with less than two years of college completed. This scholarship is open to the children of Local 26 members who have been in good standing for at least five years.

You may stop by the Lanham, MD Union Hall and pick up an application form, or call the business office at 301-459-2900 to request that one be mailed to your home. The deadline for returning completed applications is March 31, 2007.

Are you headed off to college in 2007 or already enrolled? Well, we’re pleased to announce a college scholarship opportunity that may make it easier for you to meet your education costs. The $10,000 College Essay Scholarship Program for 2007 is underway now! Ten $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to the winning applicants in May of 2007 by the Credit Union Foundation of MD & DC, the sponsor of the awards.

This year’s essay topic is: “What advice would you give to Credit Unions seeking low-cost ways to attract and serve young members (age 25 and younger)?” The deadline for returning completed applications is March 31, 2007.

Any IBEW 26 Federal Credit Union member who currently attends or who has been accepted to attend college is eligible to apply. Applications and further details on the College Essay Scholarship Program can be found on the Foundation’s website at: www.cufmddc.org/essay.htm.

 

The heartfelt response of Local 26 members and staff netted thousands of pounds of non-perishable food items and paper products for the first annual Local 26 Holiday Food Drive. In addition to the bulk collection, the JATC agreed to supply a complete Christmas dinner for five deserving families identified by the City of Hope Church in Laurel, MD.

The City of Hope Church operates a year-round food pantry in affiliation with the Maryland Food Bank. The demand for food always increases during the holidays, as family budgets are stretched and seasonal work affects the labor market. The church adopted a block of 50 families to feed on Christmas Day. At the final tally of donated items, church members realized they were short the food necessary for five families. They expressed the need for turkeys to Local 26, and the JATC volunteered to put the cash donations toward the food baskets.

“This year we decided to share the good fortune we know as union workers,” explained Local 26 Business Manager Chuck Graham. “A food drive was an appropriate and meaningful way for us to recognize that there are families in need here in the capitol community of our great country.”

Collection boxes were placed throughout the new headquarters building in Lanham, and in the satellite offices in Charlottesville, Winchester, Manassas and Prince Frederick during the first three weeks of December.

Cash donations were received in evening Journeyman and daytime Apprenticeship classes to fund the purchase of items for the five food baskets. Under the direction of Director Dave McCord and Assistant Director, Rich Murphy, all the baskets were filled to provide Christmas Day breakfasts, complete turkey dinners and assorted extras. “We made sure,” said McCord, “that each basket would feed a large family.”

The bulk of items collected in the Local’s 2006 Food Drive will be used to replenish the inventory at the City of Hope Food Pantry.

Special thanks to Brother Charlie Redding and Central Armature Works for the use of the 14’ ladder which was used to decorate the Christmas tree in the lobby of the new building, pictured above.

 

 

With over 300 contractors and over 9,000 work dues statements printed, it is essential that all contractors and all members report and pay work dues in the same manner. In the past, many members have received statements stating that they owe work dues for the previous year, and I am hoping that this clarification will help bring those to a minimum. Many contractors claim they are confused as to what work dues should be paid on.

I have previously sent letters to all contractors trying to clarify the policy on the deduction of work dues from the paychecks. I also want all members to be aware of what they should be paying on. This letter is in accordance with the Bylaws that state work dues should be a percentage of gross wages. Due to recent changes by the Federal Government and the very detailed reporting the Local Union must do on its federal reports, the definition of gross wages and the deductions must be uniform for all members. The Local Union is using the monthly contractor reports that are sent to the Health and Welfare office as the report of gross wages. Gross wages should include pay for hours worked, premium pay, holiday pay, vacation pay and the like. Bonuses should not be considered as part of gross wages for the purpose of work dues. The total gross pay figures on the monthly contractor reports are the gross pay figures that the work dues will be calculated from. Remember, you will be responsible for paying any work dues amount that was owed and not deducted by the contractor.

Those of you who self-pay should use the same guidelines as defining what gross pay is and pay the monthly work dues from that amount. Please feel free to call the Finance Office with any questions you may have.

2%: Journeyman Wireman, Residential Wireman, Residential Trainee, Instrument Technician, Test Technician
1.5%: Teledata Technician
1%: Apprentice, Maintenance Worker, Service Contract Employee, Sign Worker, Communication Worker (Apprentice), Motor Repairman

Warm up to a cool value!
Your First Payment is on Us!*
Upon used vehicle purchase.
January 2- February 28, 2007
Shop for your next car at Enterprise Car Sales.
Call 1-800-car-sales or visit:
www.enterprisecarsales.com

NEW CREDIT UNION HOURS!!!
We are now open Monday- Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

 

The Minority Coalition will be holding its “Third Annual Black History Celebration” on Saturday, February 17, 2007, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in our new headquarters. ALL members are invited. Tickets are $25.00 in advance and $35.00 at the door. Last year we recognized, along with our minority retirees, our minority contractors. This year we will not only continue the tradition of honoring our minority retirees, but we will also honor the fifth year apprentice who excels both on the job and scholastically. There will be good food, fellowship and fun. We’d love to see you there! For tickets, contact Larry Greenhill, Sr., President of the Coalition at 301-918-8804. You may also see any of the other officers: Larry Greenhill, Jr., Vice-President; Violet Carter-Quick, Secretary-Treasurer; Jamell Thrower, Recording Secretary; or Steering Committee Members Robert Smith or Tariq Saahir for tickets.

Rebuilding Together Alexandria (formerly Christmas in April) is looking for any IBEW Local 26 members who would like to volunteer their time and skills in April. Rebuilding Together Alexandria is a non-profit organization that partners with volunteers and communities to rehabilitate the homes of low-income homeowners so that they may continue to live independently with warmth and safety. They are committed to donating home repairs to the in-need families of our Alexandria, Virginia community. There are many homeowners in Alexandria who have simple electrical issues, but are physically or financially unable to perform these repairs and don’t always have the skilled tradesmen to help.

National Rebuilding Day is Saturday April 28th, when we are especially aiming for a huge turn out. Most of the work is done throughout April, leading up to National Rebuilding Day. But, whenever you might be able to volunteer, there are always clients needing help year round! If you are interested in volunteering ANY amount of time, please contact Katharine Medina at 703-836-1021 or e-mail: km@rebuildingtogetheralex.org.