L.U. 99 (govt&i), PROVIDENCE, RIThe work picture in Rhode
Island is gearing up again, with a good deal of hands on the Amgen
project.
The organizing campaign is in full swing. Organizer
John Shalvey is doing a stand up job in this regard. We are currently
working on organizing Cox Cable and are having a great deal of interest
from the rank and file workers. We also are focusing on a number
of larger open shops in our area.
COMET classes are offered on a regular basis, make
sure you sign up for the next one.
The Childrens Christmas party was another tremendous
success. Thanks yet again to Bro. Jim Brown for his continued role
as Santa Claus.
Our local is in the process of getting the summer
and fall journeyman-training schedule set up. Let Training Dir.
Pat Brady know what you would like to see offered so he may accommodate.
As we rekindle the fire of organizing the unorganized
we must see through our own prejudices and remember what Dr. Martin
Luther King said: "We must learn to live together as brothers
or we will perish together as fools."
L.U. 111 (em,lctt,mt,o,rtb,spa&u), DENVER,
COThe Locals biggest labor contract, Public Service Company of
Colorado (PSCO), will expire May 31, 2003. At this writing, plans
are being made to commence negotiations on behalf of our approximately
2,100 bargaining unit members working at PSCO.
At the close of 2002, our Construction Unit work
picture dropped off dramatically. We have been working on project
agreements and attempting to make changes that will result in positive
effects. If you are planning to come to Colorado, check with our
construction office at (303) 398-7368 to get the most recent work
picture in our jurisdiction.
Once again, the Local 111 Childrens Christmas
Party and Santa were a big hit. The families of our union members
were provided with a great time at our new union hall, with numerous
games, toys, prizes and rides. In addition to Santa and his elves,
the children enjoyed jumping rides and a train to climb aboard.
A very big thank you to Senior Asst. Bus. Mgr. Nancy Sheehan and
her elves for all of the continuous hard work they put in annually
for the kids.
L.U. 113 (catv,ees,em,i,mo&o), COLORADO SPRINGS,
COAt this writing, there seems to be very little work in the county.
We currently have 207 members on Book I, with a few members working
out of town. The local is busy with organizing efforts to increase
work opportunities.
The Eighth District Health Fund trustees are still
working to improve our health insurance. Some progress has been
made, but the fund is still struggling with outrageous cost increases.
Congratulations to Bro. Les Thompson, selected
by the Colorado Springs AFL-CIO for the "Anton Zafereo Labor
Person of the Year" award as an outstanding member who excelled
in advancing the labor movement.
The Outside Line Unit unanimously accepted the
new Colorado Statewide Underground Project Agreement. This project
agreement is an attempt to recapture outside work lost to the Building
Trades.
The Outside Organizing Taskforce is looking for
Asplundh tree trimmers to organize. If anyone knows someone who
works for this company, please give Mark a call at the hall. Our
outside organizer is also trying to find a crew of employees working
for Utilx Cable Cure. We have also started some card signing with
current Utiliquest employees.
We welcome new contractor CJs Construction and
Seeding from Pueblo. A small contractor specializing in directional
drilling. CJs currently employs six people, and is signatory to
the Colorado Statewide Line Agreement, Colorado Statewide Traffic
Signal, Communication and Low Voltage Agreement and the NORAM Communications
Agreement.
Local 125, Portland, OR, members employed by
Portland General Electric present a check for
$105,821 from employees and the company to
the Oregon Burn Center for the Therapeutic
Garden project. At right is a drawing of the
garden. From left are Sara Christie, Burn Center
Nurse Manager; PGE Leadman Wireman Rohn
Thomas; Dr. Nathan Kemalyan, Burn Center
Medical Director; Sarah Scilley, Emanuel
Medical Center Foundation Director; PGE
Leadman Lineman Shane Watson;
Journeyman Lineman Brett Tindle; PGE
Senior SCADA Tech and Local 125 Treas.
Doug Shaffer.
L.U. 125 (lctt,o&u), PORTLAND, ORStrong
support for the Oregon Burn Center continued with the presentation
of a check totaling $105,821 for the facilitys new Therapeutic
Garden. The check came from Portland General Electric employees,
whose donations were matched at 50 cents on the dollar by the company.
"Over the past two years weve focused on
the inside of the Center," said Doug Shaffer, Portland General
Senior SCADA Tech and Local 125 Treasurer who has been leading the
fundraising efforts. "Now its time to complete the project
by adding greatly to the Centers healing environment." The
garden will provide sanctuary for patients and their families and
for the Centers staff. Total cost of the garden is approximately
$350,000.
Local 125 was a key sponsor of the recent $5 million
expansion of the Oregon Burn Center. Two of the new Centers three
wings are named in honor of the local.
Local 125 member Bob Guenther was elected to a
four-year term as a vice president of the Washington State Labor
Councils Executive Board. He is the first member of the local to
serve in this capacity.
Local 141, Wheeling, WV, JATC graduates are from
left,
back row, Dan Greschner, Jim Meeker, Hiram Pelley,
Brad Lucas, Greg Lavender and Greg Heslop, and front
row, Art Oakland, Frank Gregorcic, Tony Moreno and
Ernest Anthony.
L.U. 141 (ees,i,o&u), WHEELING, WVWork
remains slow here, with many members on Book I. We are hopeful that
the spring weather brings more employment.
Congratulations to our newest journeyman wiremen!
A completion dinner hosted by the JATC was recently held at the
Wheeling Ramada Plaza. Special guests included Kenneth Milnes of
the Department of Labor and former Training Dir. Julius Phillips.
The graduates are Ernest Anthony, Robert Arrick, Frank Gregorcic,
Dan Greschner, Greg Heslop, Greg Lavender, Brad Lucas, Jim Meeker,
Tony Moreno, Art Oakland, Hiram Pelley and Coleman Perry. The George
Rolf Trust Fund awards for outstanding apprentice performance were
awarded to Robert Arrick, Chad Thornburg, Vince Sikole, John Drake
and Justin Klempa.
Bus. Mgr. John Clarke and Pres. Doug Yahn awarded
service pins to 82 members at our December Christmas party. Congratulations
to 60-year recipient Louis Yahn, 55-year members Lawrence Duncan,
Raymond Eimer, Harry Gunto, John Lavender, Sr., Tony Scotka, Lloyd
Thomas, Ed Yahn, Sr. and posthumously to Albert Rinkes, and 50-year
recipients Ray Gwennap, Tom Schultz, Carl Valloric and Walter Duncan.
Special thanks to those who helped to make the event a success.
Our condolences to the family of Bro. Paul Young,
who passed away recently. Paul was a wireman and former owner of
Young Electric.
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