
Help Luis Overcome Injury and Injustice
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UNION IS A GOOD THING FOR THE AVERAGE JOE IN THE U. S. THE IDEALS ARE FOR BETTER WAGE AND WORKING CONDITIONS... THE SAME CAN NOT BE SAID OF THE UNION'S OFFICERS.
Active Union Ironworker. Blackballed by Union brass since around 2020, when I started going to Union meetings. Since then, and under the knowledge of The International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Ironworkers Union Local 709 and its Manager and President, they have maintained a steady and powerful effort to keep me out of work because I started asking questions at Union meetings. Questions about fraudulent behavior, defrauding the membership out of their monies, benefits, and privileges. To questions of outright stealing the member's salaries. In addition to, one time discovering there was about 750K U.S. Dollars missing out of the union coffers. In 2024, I have worked around a bleak and depressive 240 total hours. Faced with the situation, I decided to work "on the side" doing some carpentry work. On Thursday, November 21, 2024, I started working for this man who buys fixer-uppers. On Friday, November 22, right around 4:15 PM, I had to work on a piece of fascia board from the roofline of a two-story home. On a 20-foot ladder, I started to work my side, another fellow 10-12' away. Securing my side and trying to secure my cordless drill, my ladder started going sideways. I thought I had it. I did not.
Of course, there was no harness, tie-off, or safety measures for the prevention, avoidance, or interdiction of any accidents.
I was "FORCED" to go work in deadly work environments just because the Union Manager and President "have-it-in" for me. They have systematically kept me from working Union jobs, therefore denying me decent hours, decent medical coverage, but above all, they have also forced me to work in deadly and unsafe working conditions.
Falling all the way down, on a straight-up wall, no windows or else, I shattered both my ankles, with rupture on both sides. In all honesty, I could have died. Thanks God, HE saved me.
There is no insurance coverage, no Workers' Compensation coverage. I am in the hole with the entire thing for now, and the problem now is I am unable to walk. Needless to say, go back to work.
I am bedridden for the next 3 to 6 months, I've been told - Truly pray to God to make that time a lot shorter - by the doctors, before "we go to therapy", If I was to tell you how I feel, I will definitely come up short or will find no adequate words to express to you my disappointment. Even if you can't help me with money, please help at least by sharing this supplication once a week for the next month or so. I am really desperate. There are a million things going on in my head right now, I need to get the word(s) spread around.
I have been told each surgery starts at/between $38,000 - $48,000 U.S. Dollars. I do not have other family around. They are spread all around the US and Canada. I live in Savannah, GA. My wife is outside the country waiting for her visa to come in. I have lots of bills with credit cards and other acquired responsibilities. I was helping my wife and will definitely need to help her now... and can't even get out of bed to look for work. The Union keeping me from work denied me access to or maintained hours required for insurance coverage. There is a lawsuit working its way in Federal Court; Luis Omar Alvarez v. Ironworkers Union Local 709, et al., Case No. 4:22-CV-00087-WTM-CLR
I pray to God for the health of your family members. I pray to God for your well-being.
Best wishes. God bless you and yours. Be well.
Sincerely,
Luiss
Organizer
Luis Alvarez
Organizer
Savannah, GA