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Afternoon Session

October/November 2001 IBEW Journal

At the opening of the Thursday afternoon session, delegates heard from S. David Freeman, chair of the California Consumer Power and Conservation Financing Authority Board. President Hill described Freeman as someone who has been in the thick of the fight to avert the disaster of Californias failed utility deregulation program.

In his remarks to the convention, Freeman compared what California did in deregulation to jumping off the diving board without checking the depth of the water. "Never again will this state be put at the mercy of the price gougers," he said. "We need to get angry at the folks that have been ripping us off and stay angry." [ Freeman Speech ]

Freeman said Governor Gray Davis had led California on the path to recovery with a plan for expanding generation capacity, conservation and investment in renewable energy sources. But he also said it is unforgivable for the United States to remain energy dependent by failing to make the investment necessary to build a strong national infrastructure. "Over half of our oil is coming from overseas. It is unbelievable that we are the superpower on earth, and we are dependent upon Iraq, Iran and other countries that hate us for getting to work in the morning."

The conventions Grievance and Appeals Committee brought three appeals to the convention floor after settling several other cases during the committees week-long hearings in San Francisco. Chairwoman Jessica Logan of Local 1220, Chicago, and Secretary Lindell Lee of Local 124, Kansas City, Missouri, presented the committees report.

Of the booklet of appeals given to delegates before the convention, Logan said Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 "are no longer properly before the convention" because of settlement, withdrawal or, in one case, the fact that the International Executive Council (IEC) decision in the case is final and binding.

On Case No. 1, the appeal was upheld by the committee and that decision was sustained by the convention on voice vote.

On Case No. 2, after lengthy debate, delegates upheld by a show of hands the committees decision to deny the appeal of a former business manager of Local 1288, Memphis, Tennessee.

Two of the speakers said they were not familiar with the facts at issue, but asked for extended time for the former business manager to address the convention because of IBEWs tradition of a full and fair hearing. Tenth District Vice President Carl Lansden twice took the microphone to recite the process with which he, then-President J. J. Barry and the IEC had examined the case before separately denying the appeal. The convention committee then went through the same case history before reaching its decision to reject, Lansden said.

Two members of Local 1288 reported to the convention that their local had recovered and returned to normal operation following the tumultuous term of the former business manager.

Case No. 8 involved a former president of Local 11, Los Angeles, and was denied because, the committee reported, the IBEW Constitution requires a local president to "cooperate with the business manager" rather than operate in conflict. The convention, by voice vote, upheld the committees recommendation to deny the appeal.

When the Law Committee resumed its report, a proposal to pay International Representatives in Canada in U.S. dollars was sent to a special committee to be appointed by President Hill and Secretary-Treasurer OConnor. The Law Committee had recommended non-concurrence on the grounds that Canadian locals per capita tax to the International and other financial transactions are conducted in Canadian, not U.S., dollars.

Convention delegates then agreed with the Law Committee on enhancing the pension benefit formula for international officers, representatives and assistants. Starting January 1, 2002, pension benefits will be calculated to provide a maximum of 80 percent of the individuals salary, depending on the number of years worked, and will reflect the changes in cost-of-living. The pre-retirement surviving spouses benefit was changed from 50 percent to 100 percent of the spouses earned benefit.

In the final Law Committee action of Thursday afternoon, delegates concurred with the committees recommendation of a $1 per capita tax increase on January 1, 2004plus authorization for the IEC to increase the per capita by the $1 in any year prior to 2004 if budget projections indicate deficit spending.

Law Committee Chairman Dennis McSpedon said the recommendation came after a report projecting revenues for the years 2001 to 2006. That analysis, reported by Secretary-Treasurer OConnor, indicates that a "per capita tax increase is necessary if we are going to prevent the Brotherhood from going into deficit spending prior to the next convention" in 2006.

After extensive debate, the resolution passed on a standing vote, with Sergeants-at-Arms counting the vote as 1,213 for and 1,158 against. An earlier motion to amend the resolution to prevent any per capita increase until January 1, 2004, failed on a voice vote.

President Hill then introduced International Treasurer Emeritus Tom Van Arsdale as "a man who has done tremendous work for this Brotherhood and, indeed, the entire labor movement over his long and distinguished career." President Hill said Van Arsdale "has helped make Local 3 a strong and powerful force for working people in New York and has held together a large local union with many difficult jurisdictions."

Van Arsdale  spoke with great pride of his time as Local 3 Business Manager, president of the New York City AFL-CIO and International Treasurer of the IBEW before he retired in 1998 and the new office of Secretary-Treasurer consolidated the two roles.  [ Arsdale Speech ]

Van Arsdale spoke of recent legislative actionboth successes and failuresin New York state and urged delegates never to quit trying on issues like repeal of striker replacement and right-to-work laws or enhancement of Davis-Bacon wages and workers compensation awards.

"We seem to have been faint hearted in regard to the needs of the trade union movement with the thought that if we open up such questions, well be worse off than when we started," Van Arsdale said. He urged concerted efforts for positive advancements at the same time defensive battles are necessary.

After Van Arsdales remarks, the convention recessed.

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