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October/November 2001 IBEW Journal

The 36th International Convention opened with a burst of patriotic fervor for the United States and Canada. It ended on the same note, but in a world that was vastly different.

Some 2,600 IBEW officers, delegates, guests and staff had completed three days of preliminary activities and the first full day of convention business when they awoke on Tuesday, September 11, to the news that terrorists had attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The sense of unity and solidarity felt in the hall at San Franciscos Moscone Center provided some measure of comfort on that tragic day and its immediate aftermath.

President Hill opens  the convention.

Yet despite the shock of the attacks, the officers, delegates and staff fulfilled their responsibilities to their IBEW brothers and sisters throughout the United States and Canada. Delegates completed the important business of the convention by electing officers to lead the Brotherhood for the next five years and acted on numerous amendments to the IBEW Constitution and resolutions that will guide the IBEW for the future.

International President Edwin D. Hill and International Secretary-Treasurer Jeremiah J. OConnor won election to five-year terms without opposition. In the first secret ballot election for a union-wide office held since such a system was mandated by the 35th International Convention in 1996, Milton L. Foster won election as Chairman of the International Executive Council. All incumbent International Vice Presidents were re-elected. It took members at the First District caucus three tries to break a deadlock and send a vice presidential nominee to the convention floor, but they did it on Wednesday, September 12, thus avoiding a potentially divisive floor fight. There are three new faces on the International Executive Council, one replacing a member who did not seek re-election and two who defeated incumbents.

The convention acted on several amendments to the IBEW Constitution. One that generated significant debate was the proposal to raise the per capita tax by $1.00 on January 1, 2004, and give the IEC the authority to raise the per capita sooner if necessary to prevent the IBEW from operating at a deficit. The increase passed. Delegates rejected a mandatory retirement age for International Officers. The convention also acted on 47 resolutions covering a wide range of issues.

The 36th International Convention will also be remembered for its pioneering use of technology. Instead of freestanding floor microphones, delegates wishing to speak on an issue stepped up to interactive kiosks, swiped their encoded plastic badges, and were able to indicate to International President Hill whether they were speaking for or against a motion or raising a question or point of order. This system, despite some glitches, promoted a fuller and fairer floor debate and enabled the International President to allow different views to be heard.

The convention also featured the most extensive communications ever used by the Brotherhood. The IBEW web site included an innovative use of Internet technology by featuring daily streaming video highlight reports of convention activities. As was done at the 35th International Convention in 1996, delegates received a newsletter each morning summarizing the previous days activities. The stories from these publications were placed on the IBEWs web site, which also featured numerous photos of each days action.

Delegates and guests also enjoyed an unprecedented array of pre-convention events. For the first time, a Womens Caucus met prior to the opening of the convention. Enthusiastic delegateswomen and menactively participated in the meeting designed to bring out individual stories of achievement and use those experiences to build a stronger IBEW. Also for the first time, a meeting of the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus was held as part of the pre-convention agenda. This meeting too drew an active and committed group of delegates who discussed ways to strengthen unity and participation in union affairs. As happened at the previous convention, the Political/Legislative Conference drew a large crowd, as speakers and participants talked about strategies for electing pro-labor candidates to office.

For the third consecutive convention, the IBEW held its Electrical Industry Expo. The IBEW Archives were shipped to San Francisco and displayed in a beautiful setting, giving delegates a strong sense of the history and tradition of the Brotherhood. And the more than 130 exhibitors showcased the full scope of products and services rendered with pride by IBEW members and staff.

The 36th International Convention was permeated with patriotism, and not just after the attacks on September 11. Patriotismlove for and loyalty to the United States and Canadahas never been a fleeting principle in the IBEW. "We will support our God, our Nations, our Union," is the way its said at the front of the Brotherhoods Constitution. That commitment was on display on the first day. The colors of the United States were escorted by the bagpipes and drums of the Sword of Light band from Local 3, New York City. The colours of Canada were presented in an equally stirring fashion by the pipes and drums of the 48th Highlanders of Canada. A tape of entertainer Lee Greenwood speaking about pride in union, community and country was followed by a surprise appearance of Greenwood himself performing his signature song, "Proud to be an American" and a special version of "America the Beautiful" dedicated to the IBEW. The tape of the first mornings ceremony would prove inspirational later in the week in ways that no one could have anticipated before September 11.

The convention ended on Friday, September 14, as it had begunwith a stirring display of patriotism, the convention concluded with the singing of "God Bless America," displaying the resolve of the IBEW to seek justice and defend the rights of free people in the workplace and everywhere.