Local #1's current Financial Secretary Steve Muehling.

Steve has served this Local in many capacities and truly understands the workings of this Local Union and the roles of its officers.

You can view Steve's full bio on the Unity Club website at unityclub.net/muehling.

The Financial Secretary collects dues, issues receipts, and ensures that the books and records required by the International Secretary-Treasurer are properly maintained. The Financial Secretary position is not part of the spending or investment process of the Local Union's general funds. Your negotiated CBA funds are overseen by trustees appointed by the Local Union President, attorneys, investment consultants and actuaries.

The role of the Financial Secretary is not to provide financial advice. In 2017, the Pension Trustees hired a financial advisory service for our members at no cost to the membership. This service has been well received by the members. The advisors meet several times each year in general membership meetings and also meet one-on-one with members to discuss investment options. They additionally meet with apprentices when they enter school to discuss financial literacy, pension benefits, and 401(k) options.

If a Local Union Financial Secretary were to provide financial advice to members, it could place the Local Union and its assets in jeopardy. That is something stressed to every Financial Secretary upon taking office.

Over the last two contract negotiations, this administration has worked to negotiate both an HRA and a Roth IRA option. These are benefits and options that must be negotiated. The HRA was included in a contract proposal that was turned down by the membership in 2022. The Roth IRA, like dues check-off, must also be negotiated because of the impact it has on contractor payroll systems. We were successful in securing dues deduction in the last contract, and your negotiating committee will continue striving to achieve a Roth IRA option in the next contract.