L.U.
180 (c,i,o&st), VALLEJO, CA--Work continues to be very
slow in our area with little breaking ground. January was very tough
with only 12 jobs filled. We still look forward to the spurt of
summer school modernization work.
The photovoltaic industry (PV) is growing at 35 percent per year.
While in 2002 it was valued at $499 million, 2009 is projected to
be at $4 billion. We aim to get into this ground floor opportunity
by installing a 31-kW system on the training center/union hall roof.
In a partnership with NECA, we will use the facility as a demonstration
center. Our plan is to have open houses to show of the system, expose
potential customers to our training, offer one stop Q&A and
provide a quick estimate of their installed system and the savings.
PV integrators are securing public works projects without going
to bid and use in-house employees to perform the installation. There
is a demand by all to lower the cost and use of electricity.
Our goal is to answer the demand and create a local market as the
means of gaining market share.
L.U.
196 (govt,mt,o,t&u), ROCKFORD, IL--Our work at this
time for Outside construction is holding its own. The future looks
somewhat promising. Our Telephone Construction, however, is very
slow.
We have settled our Outside contract. Our members voted to add
3 percent to their NEAP the first year and 3 percent into the LINECO
Retiree Benefit Plan for the second year. It is very refreshing
to see our younger members looking forward to their later years.
We hope other locals will join in on the Retiree Benefit Plan so
we all may be able to live the same life style we were accustomed
to while working.
We have had a very good response to training classes held at the
union hall. Our members are seeing the changing times; if we can
keep them trained to be qualified in all aspects of our industry
this will make all our members more versatile and thus make them
more employable. Our local wishes to thank American Line Builders
Apprenticeship Training for all the help and training they have
given our local union.
Remember to vote in every election and attend your monthly union
meetings.
L.U.
204(t&u), CEDAR RAPIDS, IA--An interim agreement has
been signed by Local 204 Bus. Mgr. Ronald Garrett and Mark Thompson,
labor relations director, Interstate Power & Light. IPL is a
subsidiary of the holding company Alliant Energy.
The agreement states the parties agree that bargaining unit members
who are selected and accept positions represented by IBEW Local
204 at the Emery Generating Station will carry their current benefits
with them until such time as a labor agreement pertaining to the
Emery Generating Station is ratified. At such time, said employees
shall be covered under the terms and conditions of the Emery Generating
Station addendum. Negotiations will begin as soon as schedules permit,
with the understanding that all mandatory topics of bargaining will
be discussed. The Emery Generating Station is currently under construction
in Mason City, IA.
All union members: Please continue to take an active part in the
critical 2004 political process. Help elect worker-friendly candidates
to public office. Four more years of the status quo and we will
all be in the soup line.
Some of Local 236 volunteers
for Albanys Christmas Lights
in the Park display.
L.U.
236 (catv,ees,govt,i,mo, rtb&t), ALBANY, NY--For the
seventh year Local 236 has partnered with the Albany Police Athletic
League to erect and power the illuminated displays throughout Albanys
Washington Park for the annual Christmas Lights in the Park.
Under the direction of Bros. Mike Jennings and Bob Rothaupt, some
30 Local 236 volunteers start in mid-October to ready 90 displays
by Thanksgiving weekend. Five miles of cable and lead chords are
strung to make this Christmas display one of the best in the Northeast.
After the lighting ceremony, conducted by the mayor of Albany,
cars of families are admitted to enjoy the evening drive. More than
19,000 cars passed through the mile-and-a-half long display last
year. All proceeds from the traffic go to support the Police Athletic
League programs, which encourage a positive relationship between
"Kids and Cops."
Local 236 members return the first week of the New Year to wrap
it all up until next October. Every year the city of Albany, the
Police Athletic League and Local 236 extend a special thanks to
the "electric elfs of the park."
At the Local 252 Residential
Class of 2003
banquet, Bro. Hollis Hamm (third from left)
and Bus. Agent Jim Johnson (third from right)
pictured with some of the apprentice graduates.
From left, Greg Banister, Skylar Budd, Hamm,
Chris McCraw, Robert Betz, Johnson, James
Betz and Phillip Priest.
L.U.
252(ees,i,rts&spa), ANN ARBOR, MI--Bus. Mgr. Greg Stephens,
Training Dir. Jeff Grimston, staff and members congratulate the
graduating Residential Class of 2003.
Local 252 is proud to announce that Greg Banister, James Betz,
Robert Betz, Skyler Budd, Doug Frye, Alan Lance, Chris McCraw, Phillip
Priest, William Roberts, Maxwell Steffen, Kevin Sweeney and Randy
Whisman successfully completed the three-year residential apprenticeship
program. Phillip Priest won the 'Hollis Hamm Award' for academic
excellence.
Our residential program has been in existence for more than 20
years, and the number of residential wiremen has more than doubled
in the past five years. Currently, we have 146 residential wiremen.
The growth of the residential market, including rentals, has been
extraordinary in our jurisdiction. The prediction for 2004 and 2005
housing development is extremely high for the Ann Arbor area. The
residential market generates over $18 million in electrical work
annually. A market we cannot and will not ignore.
Local 252 has a lot to be very proud of: A new school, dedicated
instructors, and the development of quality residential electricians.
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