June 2026

Greetings brothers and sisters,

It is officially summer of 2026, which means many things have happened recently and will be happening soon. We are gearing up for the 39th annual constitutional convention, getting ready to vote on a new international executive board, we have a lot of new leadership in our Lansing locals and we are now less than two years away from the big three contract expirations.

We need to keep our heads up while also remembering that every contract expiration comes with a heavy potential for a strike. Keep an eye on our expenditures (both personally and as a local union) and generally prepare for the worst case. As a member of 602 I have gone thru a strike in 2019 and 2023 and I know how tough the uncertainty can be. And I hate nothing more than seeing my brothers and sisters struggle.

On the topic of local leadership, I want to thank everyone for their amazing service to our locals. I also want to thank everyone who stepped up to represent all of our locals whether they were elected or not. Your contributions by just putting your name out there are very honorable and I sincerely thank you!

On that note, congratulations to Mike Huerta (former local 602 president) on being selected to serve as region 1D education director and Ben Frantz (former local 652 president) for being chosen to be a regional servicing rep. I got the privilege of being able to get to know both of these brothers very well over my time as 602 recording secretary and I sincerely believe they will both serve us well in their new positions!

On to the topic of the constitutional convention and IEB elections. I’m not here to preach or endorse anybody with this article, but I encourage you all to ask yourself who was there for us on an international level and on a regional level. I am confident you all will make the decision that you feel is best for our great organization.

I hope you all have a fantastic summer and get opportunities to spend quality time with your friends, family and loved ones. We do the work we do so that we can do the things we love with the ones we love! This summer please be safe, have fun and make some memories you will be proud to look back on for years to come.

In solidarity,

Rob