Sheet Metal Workers International Association

Local Union
No 565

 

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NEWS & EVENTS
  2012 Scholarships
The SMW 565 Scholarship Applications are ready! Go to the news page and the instructions and application form can be printed out. Remember that Scholarship applications are due by February 13, 2012.  
  Meetings
We have regular monthly meetings in Wausau and Madison the first week of the month. The first Tuesday of the month, we meet at the Wausau Labor Temple at 12:00pm and again at 3:00pm. The meetings in Madison are the first Thursday of the month, at 12:00pm and again at 4:00pm.
Please note: We suspend meetings during the summer months of June, July, and August.
  Address and Beneficiary Information Updates
It is extremely important that you keep your address and beneficiary information up to date with the Local Union. By the time you think of making the change, it may be too late. To make changes to your address or beneficiary info, please contact the union office or talk to your Steward or Committeeperson.

 

News

 

2012 SMW 565 Scholarships

Remember that Scholarships are due by February 13, 2012

The 2012 Scholarship Applications are ready! Please click below for the necessary forms and information to apply for the scholarships:

Instructions

Application Form 

We are unable to allow scholarships to be submitted online at this time. Sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for understanding. If you have any questions about the scholarships, call the office at 608-257-5757 and ask for Sarah.

 

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A Letter from the Business Manager

(August 2011)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your support in the election and to assure you that I will work for every one of you.  Your support during the election produced my win; your continued support will help us all win.

 At this time I would like to tell you about my first month in office, and what our future challenges will be.  We have several new directives from our newly elected General President, Joseph J. Nigro.  I am sure together we will be able to rise to the occasion and work together.

 After being sworn in with the newly elected members of the Executive Board I spent time in Madison with our Office Manager Sarah Przybylski.  Sarah gave me a general overview of the internal workings of the office and her duties.  We spent time on the FST duties and how our billing system works.   I signed up for FST training and completed it last week.  I have also met with our Organizer Dan Kortte and was given a report of his duties and what he is currently involved in.  Dan was recently given a tour of Greenheck to learn the product and see the facilities. 

 Business Agents Tim Sullivan, Dave Goodspeed, and I discussed the assignment of representatives to the shops.   We decided to leave them as they were.  We discussed the possible closure of the Wausau office or a down size of it to meet our needs in a better fashion.   I have since decided to move to a smaller, more efficient office in the Green Professional Building.  Dave Goodspeed informed me there were some grievances at Sub-Zero that needed attention and he reviewed those with me.  Dave and I then met several times with the VP of Human Resources of Sub-Zero and were able to settle most of those grievances.

 We have had one Executive Board meeting, and will have the minutes available in September.  I have met with the committees of Everbrite, Wolf, Wine, BI, Trachte, and Greenheck.  As time allows I would like to meet with all of our shop committees.  The Greenheck committee and I recently met with newly appointed CEO of Greenheck, James McIntyre.  The Committee at Greenheck and I are working with the company to settle out some production issues, and issues concerning “temp” workers.   I am also adding more Stewards at Greenheck and will have a training class as soon as possible.  I am currently sitting in with the Bargaining Committee and our Business Agents for contract negotiations with Trachte. 

Tim Sullivan, Dave Goodspeed, and I just attended the BA Conference in Chicago.  Our International leaders have directed to us that we need to internally organize.  What that means for us on a Local level is that we will form committees and educate our members.  We need to educate members on the benefits of our Union, not only the benefits to us as members, but also for the benefits to our community.  We have been given a waypoint for the future, but we will need to create our own path. Over the next couple of weeks I will work with our Organizer and strategize a way to start an effective campaign in all of our shops. 

I Look forward to seeing you at the September meetings, and will hopefully answer any questions you may have then.  In the meantime my e-mail is rayficken565@yahoo.com, or check out our Local’s Facebook page.

Fraternally yours,

Ray Ficken

 

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If you need help with paying your mortgage, the following links can help:

How does the program work?

Who does the program help?

 

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The United Way of Dane County offers many services to assist those who are going through difficulties due to the poor economy. Please click HERE for a link to the different services they provide.

Click HERE for a handout that offers tips on looking for a new job.

Click HERE for a handout that offers tips on dealing with personal finances.