Letter from Brett Large, Business Manager

Brothers and Sisters,

I hope this newsletter finds you and your families safe and healthy. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and did the right thing by social distancing yourselves to keep you and your families safe.

This pandemic has, unfortunately, been getting worse rather than better throughout the country. We have been ‘locked down’ of sorts for quite a while now, and I know that many of us, me included, are getting a bit restless. With vaccines coming, and with the more doctors and scientists learn how to combat and treat this thing, much brighter days are ahead. We have had many members contract the virus, thankfully the majority were able to recover rapidly, but we have had some members who have struggled mightily with it. This virus has so many different symptoms and effects, and it is totally unique to every person who contracts it. Most have just a few of the symptoms, while others have the works. For some, their symptoms are mild, and for others they are brutal. It affects each individual person differently. From talking to many of our members who have had it, and from my own personal experience with it, I can honestly say I would not wish it on anyone. So please take the necessary precautions, wear your masks, wash your hands, and social distance whenever possible. Keep your family and friends safe.

I am sure you have all received the letter from the International by now. The letter explains how we, as local unions, are to deal with each item that we need to deal with. These are important measures our International felt necessary to make, to help keep things running and safe for us all. None of us could have ever possibly imagined being shut down for this long. I have no idea, nor I would imagine does anyone else, when things will be deemed safe enough for us to be fully opened again. Until then, we will continue to work as hard as possible to keep things running as smoothly as possible, and to keep you all working, protected, and safe.

Until we can all meet in person again, we will begin doing some ‘virtual’ type informational videos. We will be posting these through our website. It has taken some time for us (mere construction workers) to get this thing rolling, and I’m sure it will probably be a bit rough to begin, but in time we should get the hang of it and hopefully they will get smoother. We really hope you will participate by viewing these videos, and we hope they will continue to get more informational as we go. It is just one more way we can try to keep you all informed of things that are happening in and around our market. Information included with this newsletter will explain how to access these videos. With this, as with anything else you may have questions or concerns with, I always encourage you to call. We are here to answer your questions and will try to help with anything we can.

Be safe and I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year!

Fraternally yours,
Brett Large