November
2003 IBEW Journal
Negotiations Underway
L.U. 503 (t&u), MONROE, NY-Frontier/Citizen negotiations
are expected to begin mid-November. Orange and Rockland Utilities'
negotiations are to begin at the end of March. As a reminder to
the membership, please return your completed surveys as soon as
possible to help the negotiation teams expedite their proposals.
Congratulations to Mike DeNisco on winning the raffle for Giants
season tickets! The annual golf outing was a huge success. Thanks
to all who participated.
The local expects to once again feed a minimum of 70 families this
holiday season through our food basket drive and raffles. Volunteers
are always welcome. Anyone interested, please call the office for
details.
The officers wish the membership happy holidays and a good new year.
MARY M. CASEY, P.S.
'A Lot of Good News'
Local 551 Organizer Larrick McDowell
(far right) staffs the
building trades booth at the Sonoma County Fair. |
L.U. 551 (c,i&s), SANTA ROSA, CA-We
have a fair amount of work and have been able to put some traveling
members to work. It's been quite awhile since we've enjoyed this
type of work picture.
There is a lot of good news to report. We are teaching COMET classes
monthly. We have been successful in organizing new employers, most
recently O'Rourke Electric and McClure's Construction Electric.
Both of these new contractors have hired several of our members
and things are going well.
Our labor compliance organization, Mission 2000, reported that we
are doing over 60 percent of public works projects in our jurisdiction.
This is excellent news and proves that public outreach, education
and labor compliance programs work!
We have accomplished these gains through working in partnership
with our local NECA chapter. Together we negotiated a new two-year
contract, in a very difficult economy, that was fair to both parties.
The contract was overwhelmingly approved by our membership.
After eight months of negotiations, the Petaluma City Council approved
a pre-qualification ordinance for all city public works projects.
Petaluma is the first city in Sonoma County to do so. We hope we
can use this as leverage to get more cities and counties to do the
same.
We've made significant progress on our residential program. We now
have a structured three-year apprenticeship program, starting this
fall. We negotiated a significant raise and benefit increase and
are aggressively pursuing work in this sector. These successes are
the result of the hard work of our officers, members and contractors
working together!
On a sad note, we rallied to defeat the recall of Gov. Gray Davis.
The recall is a monumental waste of time and money we cannot afford
by a bunch of right-wing fanatics who are angry at this governor's
pro-labor track record. This is an attack on working people, plain
and simple!
STEVEN A. BENJAMIN, B.M./F.S.
Organizing for Jobs
Local 557 members employed by
Thiel
Electric on the Saginaw Valley State
University new housing unit project: from
left, front row, Todd Fink, Dave Nostrandt,
and Dale Hunter; back row, Don Miller,
Phil Jimenez, Rick Reinelt, Chris
Nickodemus, Tim Iles, Marc Johnson and
Tom Lang. |
L.U. 557 (i,rts,spa&mt), SAGINAW,
MI-Summer brought wind, rain, sun, and some work to our local. The
rain, wind and work all blew through at the same rate, fast moving
but in volumes. School remodeling and some retail commercial work
kept local hands busy, and travelers helped get some projects done.
The deep frost of winter delayed concrete pours, putting jobs behind,
so many thanks to the hands brought in through Book II to help us
meet deadlines. Our leadership created this work with organizing
techniques that landed union hands at Wal-Mart, and that project
created lots of jobs. The local voted to initiate a lottery process
on any given day when layoffs happen, which has saved a rush to
sign the book.
With employment opportunities now dwindling and long out-of-work
lists, we have an opportunity to hawk our cause in any board meeting
that will listen to the advantage of union labor. Get involved!
JOHN E. CLEMENS, P.S.
Working Families First
L.U. 577 (em&i), APPLETON, WI-Our work picture remains the same.
The contractors are able to win just enough work to keep their core
crews fairly busy. The number of journeymen on Book 1 has held steady
all summer. Soon we will be able to visit the polls to elect politicians
that will put working families first.
Our inside agreement ratified in June includes language that allows
members to choose to donate to a newly established local PAC fund.
We will contact the membership to voluntarily authorize their employer
to withhold contributions for this fund.
The administration in Washington has proven that big business and
wealthy friends are more important than people who try to go to
work every day. We encourage members to get out and vote for candidates
who support working people. Republicans consistently outspend their
opponents because they are supported by the wealthy. The Democrats
who support us are supported by us. Seriously consider signing the
authorization card to contribute to the local PAC fund. If you are
not contacted, call the office for a card.
A turnout of 150 for our annual summer outing at Fox Cities Stadium
Aug. 26 featured a win by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Thanks
to Tom Van Heuklon and Corey Wiegel, who coordinated the event.
The December newsletter will include the spring training schedule.
Enhance your skills by attending night classes. In the last issue
I failed to acknowledge Dan Yindra as an instructor. Dan is also
chairman of the Education Committee.
GREG BREAKER, P.S.
Labor Under Attack
IBEW Local 595 and Local
6 sisters picnic in solidarity. |
L.U. 595 (c,govt,i,o&st), DUBLIN,
CA-At this writing, Local 595 is fighting the Gray Davis recall.
California's labor unions are leading the way to protect the rights
of those who depend on an hourly wage. Our elected representatives
came out in force at the Labor Day picnic at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds.
Speakers noted that the recall is yet another attempt by opponents
of labor to capture an election they couldn't win. The cause of
labor is under attack, and only a larger commitment from the rank
and file will make a lasting difference.
August was a month of picnics for Local 595. Our annual picnic was
a wonderful family day with barbeque provided by members Willy Broach
and Rudy Sanchez for more than 300 members. Thanks to the picnic
committee.
At the first annual Electrical Women of Neighboring Locals Picnic,
Local 6 and Local 595 women combined forces to strengthen the ties
of sisterhood in the Brotherhood. Many of the women who attended
contribute passionately to the workings of their local.
MARTA SCHULTZ, P.S
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