Local 51 Bus. Mgr.
Dominic Rivara (right)
presents 50-year service
award to retired Bro. Ed
Buerger.
L.U.
51 (catv,lctt,o,rtb,t&u), SPRINGFIELD, IL-Well, 2003
was a year of good and bad. Higher unemployment because of the economy
caused great hardship for our members. On an up note, we were able
to secure agreements that preserved jobs today and for the future.
All too often we become our own worst enemy because we focus on
ourselves instead of what is best for our local union. It is human
nature. We need to concentrate on why we are union if we are to
succeed and provide for those who follow.
In 2004 we have some very important elections. From local to national,
we will have candidates vying for our support and votes. We need
to support candidates who support union working men and women. We
need to vote our jobs.
L.U.
56 (ees,em&i), ERIE, PA-Brotherhood means members banning
together in time of need. Recently a traffic accident turned the
lifestyle of the Shawn Matulski family upside down. The following
is a thank-you from Shawn:
"To Local 56 brothers and sisters: On April 27 my wife was
in a car accident and as a result she is paralyzed from the waist
down. I thank IBEW 56 members for all their support given to my
family in our time of need. So many members [helped] build ramps,
move windows and doors and whatever was necessary to enable my wife
to come home. I also thank our local contractors for their understanding
and help: Church & Murdock Electric, Keystone Electric and Craiger
Electric. My heartfelt thanks to everyone. ..."
Another tragedy was the untimely passing of Bro. Gary Mountain.
Gary, in his 35 years of IBEW service, made many friends in the
tri-state region and will be sadly missed.
At our annual awards meeting, the following took top honors with
55-year awards: Bros. Russell Hamblin, Theodore Laskowski, Raymond
Resen, Robert Rinderle, Robert Root, Edward Schuwerk and Roger Vandercoy.
The work picture here is atrocious. Several projects are on the
horizon, but none to give us immediate relief. Now's the time for
brotherhood, we can make a change. Get angry-go and vote for your
job!
L.U.
58 (em,i,rtb&spa), DETROIT, MI-Work is stagnant with
925 members on Book I and 550 signed on Book II. The Bush Administration
assures us that spring will be flowing with new jobs and construction.
To ensure a brighter outlook, I would challenge our members to tie
your voting record to your standard of living. Do something little
as in talking to friends and relatives, or do something big as in
meeting with other PAC members-but do something.
With sadness I report the passing of Bro. Ken Fitzhenry. Ken was
an active member for 32 years. He was the prime mover for establishing
our Benevolent Fund. Ken was always concerned if you had a problem
and was truly a crusader for union members. Ken always demonstrated
a keen ability to reason and to make the right moral decisions.
We extend our support and prayers for those he left behind.
Local 60 retired brothers display
their 50-year
service awards: from left, Gilroy Wahl, Buddy
Swenson, Robert Boubel and Tony Stanukinos.
L.U.
60 (i), SAN ANTONIO, TX-On July 26 we held our anniversary
banquet celebrating 110 years. Many members received service awards.
Four members received 50-year pins. Int. Vice Pres. Jonathan B.
Gardner was guest speaker.
Twenty-nine apprentices became Local 60 journeymen in May: Daniel
Vaquera, Martin Soria-Quinones, Orlando Soto, Ovidio Suarez, David
Montalvo, Adam Rodriguez, Oliver Laggui, Mark Scholl, Reuben Ford,
Gregory Padalecki, Ross McGill, Stephen Casanova, Robert Garza,
James Tomerlin, Robert Watts, Garry Coonts, John Mount, Jacob Ortiz,
Oliver Mangaoang, Eric Lowe, Guadalupe Chavez, Harold Williams,
John Frieda, William Anders, Brian Herbes, Jeffrey Packard and Daniel
Reynero. Bro. William Anders was named 2003 Apprentice of the Year.
Jesse Rivera (37-year member), Alfred E.Teltschik Jr. (37-years),
Carl Swarz (36 years) and Robert Renken (36 years) called it a career.
Thank you for your many years of service.
L.U.
68 (i), DENVER, CO-Since the 2000 appointment of King George
of the United States, he has spent the surplus left by his predecessors.
His economic policies guarantee the highest deficits in U.S. history
and high unemployment. He pushed Medicare reforms that are a bad
deal for seniors. Even after both Senate and House rejected overtime
policies, he plans to implement his rules anyway. He has shifted
the tax burden from the ultra rich to the working people.
In November 2004 we have the chance to unseat King George. To get
this job done will take a lot of work. Unfortunately it won't be
the kind of work that pays, but it is work that needs to be done
right the first time.
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