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Afternoon Session

October/November 2001 IBEW Journal

President Hill opened the session by announcing that the local Red Cross expressed its deepest appreciation for the IBEWs offer to set up a blood donation center at the convention, but that they were overwhelmed with donors and had no staff to come to the Moscone Center. He also noted that the planned Ninth District concert for the evening had been canceled.

The convention then heard from Robert Balgenorth, president of the California Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO. Balgenorth, a member of IBEW Local 441, Santa Ana, California, lauded the Brotherhood for its leadership on every fight of importance to the states construction work force. He said the construction trades will continue to play a major role in helping the state solve its energy crisis through the building of efficient, environmentally friendly power plants. [ Balgenorth Speech ]

President Hill then announced that the First District Caucuscomposed of Canadian localswas deadlocked in its attempt to nominate an International Vice President. The vote in the one-local, one-vote format was reported as 41-41. He noted that under Article III, Section 3, of the IBEW Constitution, the full convention has the power to decide through a per capita vote any election where the caucus cannot reach a decision.

Several delegates spoke on this matter. One urged that only Canadian locals be permitted to vote on the election issue. President Hill responded that the Constitution was specific and that he did not have the power to break it. Three Canadian delegates then rose to ask their U.S. counterparts to abstain voluntarily from voting, should the full convention be called on to decide the First District Vice President.

The Resolutions Committee then presented its first report. A critical tool for manufacturing members was affirmed by the convention when it concurred with the committees report recommending the expansion of the Enhanced Training Opportunity Program (ETOP). The committee recognized the importance of ETOP and encouraged the establishment of the training program for every IBEW-represented bargaining unit.
[ ETOP Opens Doors Wide from May Journal ]

"This training will help our current employers to be more productive in the world marketplace," said a delegate. "And in the unfortunate situation where we lose employers, we have downsizing, or reduced manufacturing facilitiesour membership will have training that will allow them to gain work that will help to maintain the standard of living that the IBEW has brought to them."

By a voice vote, delegates agreed with the committee that the convention endorse ETOP as the training program of choice for manufacturing members and that employers be encouraged to utilize ETOP.

Without discussion, delegates agreed with the Resolutions Committee and approved a resolution in support of nuclear energy through legislative initiatives, regulatory reform, research and development and other measures. The committee submitted and the delegates voted in favor of substitute language stating that nuclear energy is "a" practical and economical large-scale source of electricity that does not pollute the air, instead of the "only" practical and economical large-scale source of electricity that does not pollute the air.

Delegates agreed with a Resolutions Committee report that encourages all construction locals to participate fully in the IBEWs Internet-based construction Jobs Board. The committee also recommended the International Office expand the concept to other applicable branches of the Brotherhood.

The convention then heard from International President Emeritus John J. Barry, who received a sustained standing ovation. President Hill introduced Barry as one of the great leaders in IBEW history and spoke about the man himself. "He may look imposing if you only saw him presiding at a meeting," President Hill said, adding that he was privileged to know the human Jack Barry who felt deeply about his work. "Ive seen him with a tear in his eye" for what happened to IBEW members, he said.

President Emeritus Barry said that IBEW members properly take a lot of pride in their work and products, but nothing outshines the union they have built. He recalled that 15 years ago, at the 33rd International Convention in Toronto, he told the convention "the time to talk is over, the time to fight, to be more aggressive and to show more spirit" is at hand. Barry thanked everyone in the union for their commitment, particularly to organizing, that made that call a reality.
[ Barry Speech ]

The convention then adjourned for the day.

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