Local 309, Collinsville, IL, Pres. Ed Wuerz,
left, and Bro. Jim Leader, right, with the
winner of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle,
Bro. Rick Strong of IBEW Local 51.
L.U. 309 (i,lctt,mo,mt,o,rts,spa&u),
COLLINSVILLE, ILIn August 2002, 1,000 members, family and friends
celebrated our locals 100th anniversary. Guest speakers
included U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL), Int. Sec.-Treas. Jerry
OConnor and Sixth Dist. Int. Vice Pres. Pat Curley. Thanks to all
who helped make this celebration a success.
Congratulations to Bro. Rick Strong (Local 51,
Springfield, IL), who won the Harley-Davidson Softtail Standard
Motorcycle that was raffled to help raise funds for our 100th
anniversary celebration. Thanks to Bros. Ed Wuerz, Jim Leader and
Steve Korobey for their promotional efforts and to all who participated.
We are currently holding our own in the work picture,
and continue our efforts to organize all markets in our jurisdiction.
At this writing, negotiations have begun with Illinois Power and
AmerenUE.
After serving for over nine years, Pres. Mike Dillier
has resigned. We sincerely thank him for his dedication and efforts
to Local 309 and wish him the best for the future. At our January
2003 meeting, Vice Pres. Ron Scott announced that Treas. Ed Wuerz
would serve as president for the remainder of the term. Bro. Ken
Bolhofner succeeds Bro. Wuerz as treasurer.
L.U. 313 (i&spa), WILMINGTON, DEOur local
union has joined the fight to stop the expansion of Wal-Mart and
its anti-union practices in our area. Wal-Mart has long been a target
of the AFL-CIOs organizing efforts, but continues to block any
attempt by organized labor to give employees a voice in their work
place. Wal-Mart has a long list of lawsuits filed by their employees
for violating basic labor laws such as unpaid overtime.
Wal-Mart is adding retail stores and a distribution
center in our area. They continue to employ contractors who pay
their employees below the area wage standard and benefits, undercutting
what we are working to maintain. We are asking our members and their
families not to shop at Wal-Mart and to instead patronize stores
that do business with our contractors and employ our members.
L.U. 343 (i,spa&st), LE SUEUR, MN2002 was
quite an eventful year for our local. In June, we ratified a new
three-year contract, with 5 percent raises in each of the three
years. In Indianapolis, we received the Sixth District Henry Miller
Award for Organizing from Int. Pres. Ed Hill and Sixth Dist. Int.
Vice Pres. Pat Curley.
We are also pleased to announce that Bro. Wesley
J. Urevig is our new business manager. In December, Bus. Mgr. Steve
B. Lusk stepped down as his wife, Joan, embarked on a new career
path. We thank Steve for his many years of service to our local
and wish him all the best in the future.
The work picture is not as bright as it has been,
but we are hopeful that in the spring our work situation will be
better.
L.U. 347 (em,i,mt,rtb,rts&spa), DES MOINES,
IAAt long last, and after a long fight, the Project Labor Agreement
(PLA) on the Des Moines Events Center has passed through the Iowa
Supreme Court, with only one justice voting against it.
This has been a hard fight since a PLA was entered
into the equation on the Events Center project. The nonunion, and
even some union general contractors, have been fighting this from
the word go. They said it was unfair, and we figured it was unfair
for them to have labor on the project not making a fair wage.
At this writing, the powerhouse project is chugging
along with a little over 60 electricians working. The rest of the
work picture is bleak, with some of the larger projects winding
down. Spring looks promising, with many big projects on the slate,
including the Des Moines Events Center and the new Jordan Creek
Mall.
L.U. 357 (c,i,mt,o&se), LAS VEGAS, NVThe
best of the New Year from Las Vegas. We had a great holiday season.
The "old timers" annual Christmas party was celebrated
with good food, good cheer and good music thanks to Tommy Nelson
and his band, but most of all, the good stories and friendships
that have lasted for untold years.
Service pins totaling 1,480 years were also presented.
Congratulations to 60-year members A. D. Mabry, Jr. and Robert E.
Slavens, 55-year members Walter E. Barrett, James F. Cook, Charles
G. Ghormley, Michael O. Hall, Jess T. Huddleston, Clifford A. Pitts,
Harley C. Rush, Donald L. Waldrip and Horace "Hoss" Wylie,
50-year members James E. Alexander, Bob W. Barker, Raymond S. Christianson,
William L. Cochran, Ernest L. Creed, Alan L. Davis, Paul W. Freeman,
Robert E. Friggle, James E. Haynes, Richard A. Hefner, Eugene C.
Singer, Raymond L. Smith, Earl C. Snyder, James A. Stahl and Johnny
M. Vincent, Jr., 45-year member Lamar Briley, 40-year member Gary
Silva and 30-year member Jose "Al" Lopez. Thanks for your
belief in and support of the IBEW over these many years.
The Childrens Christmas party had a tremendous
turnout, and the kids had a great time. Thanks to Bros. Bill Quiett
and Deaniak Walker (Santa Claus) and office manager Brenda Osterbeck
for their extra efforts.
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