RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Brian E. Hickey, has stepped down as President and Business Manager of Local 399 ("International Union Of Operating Engineers") in January 2021, after 31 years of dedicated service; and
WHEREAS, the Chicago City Council has been informed of his retirement by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, Brian has helped the Local 399 membership grow to over 10,000 and have achieved a highly regarded reputation within the International Union; and
WHEREAS, the Training and Education Program is unsurpassed in the country and have turned the craft into a more progressive and respected area of work and have tackled all new technology introduced in the field because of the expansion of the Training Facilities due to Training Director Jim Coates and Assistant Training Director Tim Philips; and
WHEREAS, the Local 399 campus on South Grove Street is something the entire membership can be proud of, where all Local 399 events are held and have been able to leverage this prime location to rent it to many other organizations and private parties because of its central location and attractiveness; and
WHEREAS, the many Local 399 departments that serve the membership have grown in size and professionalism; and
WHEREAS, because of the diligence of the 401 (k) staff, the Retirement Plan continues to grow and have members stay; and
WHEREAS, the ETF Department Staff has been able to enroll and place well over 1,000 students in Local 399 classes and seminars all while implementing a new virtual enrollment system and adapting to COVID-19 safety rules for class check-in; and
WHEREAS, the Health and Welfare Department staff has worked tirelessly to aid members with health insurance benefits and other issues during the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, Brian would also like to commend the entire office staff who stepped up and kept offices running, allowing to serve members without missing a beat; and
WHEREAS, to keep the industry changing with the times, Brian has brought in new, young talent to absorb the institutional knowledge from veterans so the Local is always moving forward to meet the challenges of the present and future; and
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council assembled this Twenty-fourth day of February 2021, do hereby thank Brian E. Hickey for his 31
years of distinguished service to the Local 399 as President and Business Manager, and wish him the very best as he begins the next phase of his life; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Brian E. Hickey.
Edward M. Burke Alderman, 14th Ward
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