The International Union of Elevator Constructors has never forgotten that the sacrifices and patriotism of our servicemembers are the reasons we are able to live and work in freedom. Our trade, our very existence as Americans and Canadians, would be nothing if not for our Armed Forces. The IUEC couldn’t be prouder to have thousands of Veteran servicemembers among our IUEC membership. This pride was the impetus for the creation of the new Elevator Constructors Veterans’ Assistance Program (VAP), which seeks to serve our military members and help provide them with critical support and resources.
IUEC National Organizer Jason Gray, Local 32 member and U.S. Marines Corps Veteran; Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund National Coordinator Ryan Donnell, Local 21 member and spouse of a U.S. Air Force Veteran; and IUEC IT Director Gil Duncan, U.S. Navy Veteran, are the lead officers on this new initiative.
Servicemembers face unique challenges, from understanding and receiving their military benefits and navigating civilian life to receiving proper health care and gaining meaningful employment. The VAP intends to bridge the gap for our Veteran members, serving in an advocacy role as a marketing department promoting efforts our members are doing to support our Veterans, and as a powerful lobbying arm, as needed, in the halls of government on issues of importance to Veterans and their families. The new Elevator Constructors VAP is a valuable benefit to our Veteran members and their families that will help our nations’ bravest receive the benefits and recognition they deserve.
IUEC Veteran members are asked to register themselves with the VAP by either filling out the VAP form located in the back of the Elevator Constructor journal or emailing vap@iuec.org with their name and contact information, International union number and ULink ID, branch of military service, years served, and rank. All members and local unions are encouraged to support our new VAP by providing any information (via vap@iuec.org) that may be important to our Veteran members, as well as efforts undertaken to serve our military community.
Additionally, check out the statement Frank J. Christensen, IUEC General President, has made about the new IUEC Veteran Assistance Program (VAP) here.
