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Fifth Day

October/November 2001 IBEW Journal

The last day of the convention was punctuated by moments of sadness and outpourings of generosity for victims of the World Trade Center attack.

Father Kevin P. OReilly, pastor of the Holy Faith Catholic Church in Great Mills, Maryland, delivered the morning invocation. OReilly, son of Senior Executive Assistant to the International President Vincent OReilly, was stranded in Lincoln, Nebraska, in his attempt to fly to the convention to give the invocation Thursdaybut managed to arrive Friday. He led with a silent prayer and continued with a plea for dignity and justice for all workers. He also urged God to assist the delegation in these days of tragedy and difficulty.

Ninth District International Vice President Michael Mowrey announced that as a result of the cancellation of the districts scheduled activities on September 11, the approximately $200,000 saved would be donated to the IBEW September 11 Relief Fund.

President Hill continued to announce donations to that fund from locals across the Brotherhood.

Ray Melville, Local 3, New York City, who served as Chairman of the Sergeant-at-Arms Committee, expressed the difficulties experienced by members of the committee. One member lost his brother, a firefighter, in New York. Others could not reach their families by phone for several hours.

"Through all of this, these brothers and sisters went about the business of this convention and carried out every detail with professionalism and pride," Melville said. He also thanked the convention for its financial and emotional support.

A delegate from Local 595, Dublin, California, requested all business managers with military reservists as members of their local set a policy to protect the members place on the books while he or she is on active duty.

Delegate Keith Morris from Local 1212, New York City, made a motion to dedicate the convention to all the workers missing in the tragedy and rescue effort. That motion was easily carried by a voice vote.

Washington, D.C., Local 26 Business Manager Howard Ritchie, Jr. reported that no members of the local were lost in the attack on the Pentagon, despite the fact that between 150 and 200 people were working there.

Delegate Ronnie Lee Meadows, Local 11, Los Angeles, rose to urge the delegation to fly the American flag. "Let the pictures the world sees of our country over the next few days not be that of a whimpering, wounded nation licking its wounds but that of a strong, powerful nation of people who stand shoulder to shoulder with a single message that we are Americans and we will not be defeated by these actions."

The Law Committee concluded its report on Friday.

Delegates approved Law Committee recommendations that provide for member pension and other benefit improvements, including a death benefit retroactive to Monday, September 10, 2001the day before the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

The amendment offered by President Hill and Secretary-Treasurer OConnor makes the 25 percent increase in death benefits available to families of the IBEW victims of the attack on the World Trade Center. The delegation concurred with the Law Committee in a voice vote. Until it was amended to include the September 11 tragedy, the pension increase would have kicked in after December 31, 2001.

The Law Committee report said the improvements were reviewed by the IBEW actuaries, who have said the Pension Benefit Fund has a sufficient surplus to cover them without any increase in the current level of funding. In its report, committee members also said they believe it is appropriate to use surpluses to benefit those who have paid into the plan the longest.

In other business, delegates agreed with the Law Committee in nonconcurrence with a proposed change in the disability pension. The resolution would have lowered the current eligibility period for a disability pension from 20 years to five years. IBEWs actuaries reported the change would have a significant adverse effect on the fund.

Local 1253, Augusta, Maine, Business Manager Wayne Rancourt, who submitted the constitutional change, rose to explain the reasoning behind the proposala 15-year member became disabled and had to pay his dues for five more years in order to get his disability pension. He did not urge its adoption in light of the recommendation of the Law Committee and the actuaries, but requested the proposal be studied to determine whether a compromise could be reached.

Delegates also approved a Law Committee recommendation regarding local meetings. The constitution will be amended to state a local union failing to meet for a month shall still forfeit its charter but the quorum required to constitute a meeting was lowered from seven to five if the membership of the local is fewer than 75.

The convention approved by voice vote the committees recommended change in the rules for taking the membership obligation outside of a regular meeting. The rule was amended to allow greater flexibility by replacing the word "organizer" with "business managers designated representative."

An article on distributed energy and renewable energy was affirmed by the delegates on the recommendation of the Law Committee. The intent of the resolution is to identify and incorporate technological advancements into the constitution as IBEW jurisdictions. It also defined solar photovoltaic jurisdiction, licensing, organizing and prevailing wage projects.

Delegates agreed with the Law Committee that a proposal to change the referendum procedure was not warranted. In its report, the committee said three recent conventions1982, 1991 and 1996also had considered changes in the referendum procedure that were eventually rejected by delegates. The proposal would have given locals the right to create and vote on laws, eliminating the International Executive Councils role in the process.

"Your committee believes this protection [IEC approval] is essential to preserve the integrity of the referendum process," the report said.

President Hill announced the renovation of Chicagos famed Palmolive Building was performed by a joint partnership of the IBEW and National Electrical Contractors Association. The beacon atop the building will be named the IBEW/NECA beacon to celebrate the strong partnership.

The Resolutions Committee began its final report by bringing back Resolution No. 9 on full reciprocity of welfare contributions which had been sent back Thursday for further committee consideration. The resolution was rejected by the delegates, supporting the nonconcurrence recommendation of the Resolutions Committee.

Speakers on the issue posed arguments against a change. "Should this body decide to pass a resolution and force individual plans into full dollar amount reciprocity, they may in fact be granting a higher level of benefit for traveling brothers and sisters than the local participants actually receive," said Delegate Pat Healy, Local 313, Wilmington, Delaware. "Do not be fooled into believing that you are eliminating an injustice when you may be creating a new one."

Delegates also approved Resolution No. 39 in favor of expanding trust and communication between employers and employees. The resolution stipulates any employer participation program should remain separate from the matters covered in collective bargaining agreements.

The delegates via voice vote agreed with committee reports calling for a concurrence with:

On the recommendation of the Resolutions Committee, delegates supported a proposal to go on record in support of the Boy Scouts of America, following heated debate.

"Earlier during this convention, the delegates approved a resolution that stated that the IBEW is committed to the elimination of all forms of discrimination and harassment and has not and will not condone or tolerate discrimination, bias, favoritism, bigotry or prejudice in any form," said one delegate. "[This resolution] contradicts the stand that this convention earlier took on discrimination. The Boy Scouts of America openly discriminate against homosexuality. We cannot support something that is completely contradictory to something we have already approved."

A delegate, who identified himself as a former Boy Scout, spoke in favor of the resolution. "The Scouts provide good role models, guidance and leadership skills to our youth," he said. "They help prepare us for the future. I urge all delegates to support the committees recommendation and partnership with the Scouts."

Resolutions Committee members presented a substitute resolution on sexual harassment. Both the original resolution and the substitute reaffirm the IBEWs commitment to stamping out sexual harassment but the original contained provisions for review of claims by an independent body, a procedure not contained in the IBEW Constitution. Delegates voted in favor of the committees substitute resolution.

Finance Committee Chairman Duane Tidwell, Local 68, Denver, reported credentials were issued for 2,627 delegates from 986 local unions, representing 774,386 members. He gave an accounting of the dollars to be paid for travel and expenses and said that Secretary-Treasurer OConnor has established an account to meet all costs. Allen Shur, Local 569, San Diego, served as committee secretary. The delegation voted to accept the Finance Committees report.

Delegate Dennis McSpedon, president of Local 3, New York City, thanked the members for their generosity and urged further donations to victims be halted until a relief fund could be established. [That fund, the "IBEWSeptember 11 Relief Fund," has since been established by the International Office.] McSpedon pointed out that Local 3 was not the only one to lose members in the World Trade Center; it was reported that Local 1212, New York City, and Local 164, Jersey City, New Jersey did too, he said. [Ed. NoteIn fact, Local 164 did not lose any members in the September 11 attack.]

William Lindsay of Local 25 proposed that the convention close by singing "God Bless America." President Hill, after asking the Canadian delegation if it agreed, said the convention would do so at the close of business. He then announced the procedures for delegates to pick up their expense reimbursement checks.

President Hill began to make some closing remarks, but was overcome by the emotion of the moment. The delegates applauded him heartily, then closed by singing "God Bless America," a fitting end to a convention held during a trying time in American history.
[ Hill Closing Remarks ]

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