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L.U. 98 (as, em, i&it), PHILADELPHIA, PALocal 98 members recently ratified a new three-year contract for the inside commercial division. The contract includes a great wage and benefit package, along with language on safety training, reinstatement of temporary lighting provisions, new bonding agreements, first scope of work language and limitations on seasonal help.

The local is exploring ways to provide more affordable health and welfare benefits for current and future retirees.

Applications are now available for the Local 98 IBEW scholarship fund. The fund awards $1,000 grants to eligible dependants of members, attending college full time in the fall.

Big jobs include a brand new U.S. Postal Service distribution center in south Philly, the Phillies stadium, which is on a fast track for opening day of the 2004 season, and an IKEA store at Delaware and Snyder. New ideas are to be presented to the city for waterfront development projects.

Bus. Mgr. John Dougherty, cannot stress enough the importance of volunteering within the community and to help in the November elections. All of these things establish a leadership position in the Philadelphia building trades. Volunteer and Vote!

John J. Killoran, Jr., P.S.

Marching On

L.U. 99 (govt&i), PROVIDENCE, RIWork remains strong on the Amgen project, with many of our union contractors securing the work. The summer months also appear to have plenty of opportunities for all.

"Rebuilding Together" (Christmas in April) was a tremendous success, again thanks to the tireless organizing efforts of Bro. Mike DAmico and the 100 or so brothers and sisters who so generously gave their time to make the world a little bit better.

With so much happening around our localcontract negotiations, annuity changes and current union affairsone must wonder why the union meeting is not standing room only. Turn off the TV and get to the union hall for one night a month and get involved. The union is not a building or a group of officers, it is a living, breathing entity of which you are a part. Your union needs you!

The organizing campaign continues to charge forward. We continue to educate open shop electricians to our way of life one notch at a time. Step by step and mile by mile we will continue to march on until we are completely victorious.

Joe Walsh Jr., P.S.

Continuing the Picketing

Local 100 members will log 70,000 hours by the time the St. Agnes Hospital expansion (above) finishes in June 2004. Dave Titus is general foreman on the All Service Electric Co. job.

L.U. 100 (c,em,i,o,rts&st), FRESNO, CAA graduation banquet was held June 13 for David Arakelian, Alex Calderon, Jeffery Farmen, Carlos Fernandez, Rodney Finnell, Julia (Chad) Franks, Eric Lard, James Martin, Albert Mitchell, Isaac Obel-Jojorgensen, James Olmos, James Rosales, Christopher Stormo, Todd Tyler and Joel Vento.

Congratulations to the five-year apprentice graduates. Sound & Communication graduates are John Arias, Raul Barboza, Charles Counts, Micah Lindsay, Ronald Olivas, Ruben Ramirez, Shane Rinehart, and Jason Wells.

Bus. Mgr. Larry Kellerhals is negotiating with NECA, as well as with two separate contractors for our inside agreement. Work is steady. Action against non-union Berg Electric continues, with unfair labor practice picketing at Berg job sites.

Get involved, attend your local union meetings the second Tuesday of the month at 7 pm.

Michael A. Caglia, P.S.

Helping Father Bill

L.U. 103 (cs&i), BOSTON, MAThe student council of the JATC announced that this years golf tournament raised $4,000 for Father Bills homeless shelter in Quincy. Several years ago, the IBEW and other building trades made major renovations to this shelter, and our commitment continues.

The 21st Annual Sports Night was held on March 15 at UMass, Boston. The hockey game saw the apprentices beat the journeymen by a score of 10-3. In the hockey game for the sons and daughters of the members, the green team beat the white team, 6-5. The Peter Folis Memorial MVP Award went to Michael Wall with one goal and three assists. The basketball game saw the journeymen outscoring the apprentices in overtime, 96-95. The Bill Swanson Memorial MVP Award went to Jacob Smith.

On March 16, Local 103 was represented in the annual St. Patricks Day Parade in South Boston, "Southie," not only with a float, but also by our members on bagpipes.

Congratulations to Bobby Sheehan for successfully completing the HTUP (Harvard Trade Union Program) and being chosen Valedictorian.

Leo Monahan, speaking for the retirees, announced that starting March 20, 2003, and continuing every third Thursday, there will be a Retirees Luncheon.

Bill Molineaux, P.S.

TECO Energys Shareholders Meeting

L.U. 108 (ees,em,es,lctt,mar,mt,rtb, rts,s,spa,t,&u), TAMPA, FLThe atmosphere before the meeting is filled with uncertainty. TECO Energy has a cash flow crisis. Moody has just downgraded the companys credit to below investment-grade, and, more importantly to shareholders, the board of directors approved a 40 percent reduction in the dividend. How will the shareholders react?

At the meeting, several shareholders demand that the companys CEO, Mr. Robert Fagan, immediately resign. His performance and leadership abilities are scrutinized. Fagan handles the criticism professionally, not getting defensive or emotional. On behalf of the companys leadership, he accepts full responsibility. He explains the contributing factors that caused the companys poor performance: the economic downturn magnified by Enron and California, the derailment of deregulation, the fact that independent power companies are viewed as risky. Mr. Fagan stresses that these problems were not foreseeable.

The CEOs new strategy is to minimize company merchant power risk exposure. There will be a renewed focus on the regulated utility business, he says. "TECO Energy is returning to its roots. We are focusing on our regulated businesses and those unregulated businesses that return the most value to investors."

Doug Bowden, P.S.

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