L.U. 364 (catv,ees,em,es,i,mt,rts &spa), ROCKFORD,
ILCongratulations to former Bus. Mgr. Mike Fenger on his appointment as
director of the Illinois Department of Labor by pro-union Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Congratulations also to Bro. Jeff Polsean, who was appointed by the
Blagojevich administration as regional administrator for the Department of Human
Services, Division of Community Operations. Bro. Polsean was the Northwestern
Illinois Building Trades Council business administrator and also Gov.
Blagojevichs campaign manager for Northern Illinois. Electing friends of labor
like Gov. Blagojevich makes a huge difference.
Asst. Bus. Mgr. Tom Eschen was the overwhelming choice to serve as our new
business manager and financial secretary. Congratulations, Tom! Illinois workers
will be well served by these brothers.
Local 364 recently held its LMCC Dinner featuring the president and CEO of
NECA.
We also held our first Chili Shoot-Out, complete with live music from Bro.
Rob Bradleys band. Congratulations to office worker Robin Perez, who won the
prize for best chili.
Local 364 participated in many charitable functions, including Habitat for
Humanity, donating blood and powering a "traveling dental service" for the less
fortunate. Thanks to all who participated.
L.U. 424 (as,ees,em,es,i,mo,o,ptc, rtb,rts,spa&u), EDMONTON, AB, CANADAThere
is a bit of a lull in our work picture, partly because Local 424 and the rest of
the Alberta Building Trades Council unions are negotiating new collective
agreements. Progress has been slow, but steady. This lull has provided Unit 3
Ft. McMurray some breathing room from the hectic pace of two large projects
underway almost simultaneously. It has also allowed Bus. Assistants Jim Gawryluk
and Pat Fehr time for some upcoming job steward and salting courses.
The Unit 2 Calgary organizing success continues with the March certification
of Zephyr Electrics 21 employees. We have also opened meeting facilities in
Lethbridge and Red Deer, and now hold a Thursday night open house in both
cities. The steward and salting classes were held in Calgary, with more planned
in the future.
2003 marks the 75th anniversary of Local 424, and various functions are
planned to celebrate our humble beginnings, when the first business manager used
his kitchen as a dispatch office. A golf tournament was planned for May 30, and
a family picnic and open house on May 31, with a gala banquet and dance in the
evening.
L.U. 440, (i,o,rts&spa), RIVERSIDE, CAAs summer arrives we regret to report
that similar to the rest of the country, work has been slow since October of
last year.
We congratulate and express our gratitude to Local 440 Office Mgr. Jeanine
Fontane, who is retiring after 28 years of dedicated service. We wish her all
the best. Jeanine will be missed.
Our annual picnic will be held on September 13 at Bogart Park, and we hope to
see you there.
We offer our heartfelt prayers and support to all IBEW brothers, sisters and
their families that have been called to active military duty. We trust you will
serve your country as well as you have served your union.
L.U. 474 (em,i,lctt,o,rtb,rts,spa &u), MEMPHIS, TNAttending union meetings
for many brothers and sisters simply becomes a matter of habit. Ive noticed
that many of our members routinely seat themselves in the same general area of
the union hall, routinely adhere to their own philosophies as it relates to
union matters, vote their own convictions, and basicallyonce againout of habit
wouldnt live their moralistic lives any other way.
Politicians also have habits. Some are in the habit of being our friends
while others are actively engaged in the sponsorship and support of legislation
designed to cut our economic throats.
Unfortunately for us the politicians with the bad habits are at the helm at
the moment. Our March general membership meeting centered on a very unpopular
subjectunemployment, which Local 474 has experienced. Those old nightmares of
the Reagan years and so-called "trickle down economics" have resurfaced, the
national debt has risen and the stock market is in the toilet since Republicans
took office this time.
Brothers and sisters, weve seen this before and we will survive it. We
belong to the IBEW, a good and righteous organization founded during times such
as this. We hope and pray that the work situation will improve throughout the
country, and that our resolve to be union will be further strengthened by
witnessing the atrocious behavior of greedy politicians.
L.U. 500 (u), SAN ANTONIO, TXOn February 17-18, Pres./Bus. Mgr. Artie Kocian,
Vice Pres. Gary Faktor, Executive Board Chmn. Don Schlough and Shop Steward
Charles Hinders attended the Texas State Association of Electrical Workers
Conference in Austin, TX. Some topics discussed were deregulation, soaring
health care costs, the right to choose your own doctor, Davis-Bacon, state level
budget cuts, workers compensation and the need to organize. San Antonio has
been chosen for the new $800 million Toyota assembly plant, and this was great
news for this town! City Public Service already has in the works
construction of two sub-stations just for the Toyota plant. We hope this
work will be done in-house by IBEW members. Toyota has already stated that
they want to sign a project labor agreement for the project. When every other
big corporation is moving south to run from the unions, Toyota came here and
said they want to build union without any hesitation. Work continues
to be strong here, and we have several Local 66 members working for L. E. Meyers
out of Houston. It sure is great to see IBEW members doing our line work.
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