Ulster County Local Lodge 1562

Ulster County Local Lodge 1562, is located in Kingston NY ; a member of District 15 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. Our local lodge was founded on August 5, 1941 when a collection of 48 people signed a petition and were granted a charter to the International Association of Machinists. Our local lodge membership has waxed and waned throughout the years, survived numerous company name changes, and currently operates within "Howmet Fastening Systems" -- the current owner of the "Huck" brand. As of 2023, our local union consists of around seventy members, with job titles ranging from laborer to assembler or machinist. 

Prior to the start of the pandemic, each and every 1562 member knew one unofficial and unspoken policy of our employer: "It is the policy of Kingston Operations, that we do not shut down. If it snows, you show up. State of Emergency or not, you come to work."

With the onset of the pandemic, not much changed; the policy was only mildly tweaked for the production employees who were in our union: show up to work. At the very start, when the national borders were shutting down, and when stay at home orders went into effect a few of our union brothers and sisters were allowed to go on a leave of absence to protect their health due to various circumstances-- the majority of our union family though stayed hard at work. 1562 braved the waves of covid that ravaged the nation, the company was operating on a skeleton crew with limited engineering/office support, and social distancing to the best of their abilities.

Post pandemic we are back to the same policy for the most part: "It is the policy of HFS Kingston, to remain open. It is up to the shift supervisor to make the call on if the facility will be open or close. State of Emergency or not, come to work unless advised otherwise. Feel free to use your personal time, however, without penalty."