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November 2003 IBEW Journal

Gephardt for President

L.U. 1 (as,c,ees,ei,em,es,et,fm,i,mt, rts,s,se,spa,st&ws), ST. LOUIS, MO-Despite soggy conditions, Local 1 members were out in force at the 2003 Labor Day parade. Our members wore their IBEW Local 1 hats and T-shirts and marched proudly alongside Local 1 Parade Chmn./Bus. Agent Mike Garavaglia. Thanks to all participants for their enthusiasm and hard work.

With next year's election seemingly just around the corner, IBEW Local 1 has endorsed U.S. Rep. Richard A. Gephardt (D-MO) for President. Local 1 believes that Rep. Gephardt understands working families and that he will fight for their needs. His willingness to listen to the people and fight for their beliefs in Washington makes him a fine example of the voice needed by working families everywhere. Remember, the upcoming election in Missouri as well as the nation are pivotal to our future.

Please be advised of the following member deaths: George Tetley, Carl Meinecke, Donald O'Shea, William Gilliland, Russell Bessinger, Harold Illinger, Kenneth Christie, Ruby Norman, Donald Wegescheide, Joseph Brown, Dorothy Boehmer, Carl Stolle, Isaac Bean, Henry Erder, Larry Miller, Pete Frisella, Walter Lubbers, Nick Patredis, Henry Koerber, Donald Vogel, Raymond Goss, Lonnie Neely, William Hoppe, William Harding, Lonnie Duncan, Bernard Lorson, Bessie Boyd, Frederic Drake Jr., Frank Tripodi, Robert Gray, Earl Sowell, Robert Weissflug, Paul Cummings, James Bardot, Henry Ayres and John Burke.

MATTHEW GOBER, P.S.

Members Restore Power

L.U. 15 (u), DOWNERS GROVE, IL-We reached a tentative agreement with Dominion Energy in late August on a contract for 101 members at the Kincaid Fossil Generating Station. The four-year package includes wage increases and improvements in the pension plan and contract language. The ratification vote was scheduled for Sept. 26.

Our members at fossil generating stations operated by Midwest Generation continue to struggle with a company that shows workers no respect. The company recently lost its appeal with the Illinois Commerce Commission to operate as an alternative retail electric supplier company in Illinois.

Local 15 members worked around the clock to repair severe storm damage during the July 4th weekend in the Rockford area and in the Chicago suburbs. Local 15 thanks the many IBEW brothers and sisters from Detroit Edison, Houston P&L, Union Electric, Kansas City P&L, Illinois Power and Alliant Energy who assisted in restoration efforts after the Rockford storm.

Our members at the Exelon companies watch as the company achieves record profits and shareholder dividends, while fellow union members get demoted or laid off. Despite record profits, the company pleads poverty and claims medical benefit costs for employees are unacceptable.
The Executive Safety Committee provided for in the contract is mired in company bureaucracy. Apparently the company's only response to safety issues is discipline. We have formed our own Safety Committee to address those issues ignored by management.

More than 225 arbitrations are scheduled with Midwest Generation and Exelon companies.

RONALD V. WELTE, P.S.

Working Safe

L.U. 17 (ctv,lctt,o,u&em), DETROIT, MI-This year has been a busy one for most of our members on the power line and tree trim side of the house.

The utility experienced ice storms, several lightning storms with high winds and last, but not least, a black-out which not only affected Michigan, but cascaded through several states on the Eastern seaboard. Members spent many hours working in all kinds of weather conditions without any major accidents. The union would like to thank all of you for keeping an eye on each other and working safely.

As of this writing, we should have a new agreement with the City of Wyandotte.

The work picture remains steady but we continue to have a watchful eye on the utility's budget.

The Thumb Co-Op continues to work on its distribution system and has put a 9-mile project out for bid.

The Union and the Michigan electric industry have encouraged the MPSC to re-open Case U-13745 in an effort to clarify language revolving around interconnection guidelines for new technologies. We continue to voice concerns with worker safety, reliability, uniform guidelines that apply to all utilities and safety for the general public.

It is with sadness and sorrow that we must report the losses of brothers Lee Owen and Richard Nelson.

With Pride & Professionalism
BOB ECKHOUT, P.S.

New Agreements Ratified

 L.U. 21 (catv,govt&t), DOWNERS GROVE, IL-Results of our local union election were tabulated in August. Ron Kastner was re-elected as president/ business manager-financial secretary, Rick Gessler as vice president, Linda Corcoran-Cox as recording secretary and Jacquie Fields as treasurer.
 
New agreements were ratified over the summer at Avaya, Altura Communications (the former Fujitsu); and at the newly merged Frontier/Citizens, with Locals 51, 196 and 702. Bargaining with the city of Chicago and Vermilion County began in August and were ongoing at press time. Comcast bargaining entered its fifth year.

Our local was stunned in July when Lucent notified us that 250 Local 21 members working at AGCS (a Lucent subsidiary) would be transferred to Lucent and forced to work under the CWA national contract without any negotiations. This outrage is being fought in federal court and with an arbitrator.

We are prepping for SBC bargaining. Solidarity with Verizon workers!

Many more Local 21 members finally see Bush and his fanatics for what they are-enemies of working families-and are signing up for COPE deductions to help beat back Bush in 2004. Call the union office to join the fight!
 

 MICHAEL SACCO, P.S.

Send Your Message

A Local 35 member on assignment with the Air National Guard for "Operation Iraqi Freedom" inscribed a message for Saddam on the side of a bomb readied for delivery.

L.U. 35 (i), HARTFORD, CT-The accompanying photo shows several 500-pound bombs readied for delivery by America's finest during Operation Iraqi Freedom. A local brother, Staff Sgt. Walter Edwards of the 103rd Fighter Wing Air National Guard, who proudly represented IBEW Local 35 in the war, sent a message to Saddam inscribed on the side of a bomb: "Need Electrical Work-Call IBEW Local 35."

Our brothers, sisters and American service people continue to put their lives on the line in the name of freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is time to allow willing nations and organizations to participate in the stabilization and rebuilding process.

Billons of U.S. dollars are allocated to rebuilding Iraq while the American people struggle to feed their families. We need to address some of our own issues here at home, such as a failing economy, unemployment, child poverty, healthcare and rebuilding our infrastructure.

This president has neglected working people since being elected to office. While lining the pockets of the wealthy with massive tax breaks, President Bush has unleashed an all-out attack on organized labor. We cannot allow this president to sit in office for another term.

The 2004 presidential elections are right around the corner. Let Your Voice Be Heard!

JOHNS. SARDO, Pres.