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June 2004 IBEW Journal
L.U. 760 (i,lctt,o,rts,spa&u), KNOXVILLE, TNOur work has picked up somewhat with various TVA projects and Park West Hospital work from Besco Electric. We actually have a few travelers working in our jurisdiction. It feels good, usually being a traveling local, when we are able to return the favor and provide some work for traveling brothers and sisters. We have a few more projects in the works so we hope things will pan out for us. Local 760 is saddened to report the deaths of Bro. Mark Crigger, a lineman with Knoxville Utilities Board, and Bro. Sam Cameron, an apprentice lineman with Dillard Smith Construction. These brothers were killed on the job while performing their everyday dangerous tasks. Also, Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. Allen Passs mother passed away and Bro. Eddie Armstrong lost his son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren in an automobile accident. More deaths to report are: Bros. Grady OKain Jr., Charles Shular, Lawrence Sharpe, Ira Jack Kress, Ira Lewis, Eldon "Lum" Robinson, William Collins and Howard Hammonds. Lets keep their families in our thoughts and prayers and remember all the joy these members have given us through the years. Will Muncy, P.S. L.U. 804 (i&o), KITCHENER, ON, CANADALocal 804 initiated its first jobsite action against one of the largest nonunion contractors in Ontario, Tricin Electric. The nonunion contractor has utilized unlicensed electricians and unregistered labourers to perform electrical installation work on a new school construction project. Union activists turned out for the job action to highlight for the public the safety concerns for the people of our community. The use of these unqualified workers has become the norm for the nonunion sector in the electrical construction industry in Ontario. Blatant violations of regulations and laws of our province, along with the lack of government intervention, have placed an overwhelming burden on our market recovery program and have made it next to impossible for our signatory contractors to be competitive in the growing institutional sector. This one example highlights the necessity for our local union, and others across our province, to become politically active and to insist that our government increase its enforcement of safety and labour regulations among electrical contractors. We must combine organizing with political action and community involvement to succeed in recapturing a market we no longer control. Brett McKenzie, B.M./F.S. L.U. 1194 (u), SANDUSKY, OHContract negotiations with First Energy began in July 2003 and culminated Oct. 27, 2003, when our members accepted the companys "last, best, and final" offer. The local had rejected two previous contract stipulations. Negotiations were difficult at best under the current economic and political conditions. The main sticking points were a 10 percent contribution toward monthly health care premiums (a first), increased co-pays for prescriptions, employee payment for basic dental coverage (paid previously by the company), and the ability of the company to assign members to out of town emergency events when not enough members volunteer. At press time, the first of a series of special meetings for all interested Local 1194 members was scheduled for April 17, 2004, to discuss strategies for 2005 negotiations, union busting, and motivating members to become politically active and more involved in the local union. David Childers, B.M./F.S. L.U. 1220 (rtb), CHICAGO, ILOn April 5 the programming department of WLS-AM Chicago voted for representation by IBEW Local 1220 in an NLRB election. Local 1220 members include radio and television broadcast engineers. "This unanimous vote marks the end of a trend in radio of shrinking numbers for union representation," said Bus. Mgr. Robert Wratschko. WLS-AM is known as the "Blowtorch of the Midwest" because it is a Class 1A Clear Channel 50,000 watt station that reaches into 38 states. The Disney Corporation owns the station. We welcome our brothers and sisters at WLS-AM and look forward to years of fraternity and solidarity. The rank and file at WTTW-TV Channel 11 in Chicago ratified a contract guaranteeing a 12 percent increase by July 2007. WTTW is a popular PBS station. The Illinois Court Reporters won a victory when the Illinois House of Representatives passed House Bill 5445 (117-0) that changes their employer from one, the Illinois Supreme Court, to three separate areas within the state. We hope the Illinois Senate will pass the bill and the court reporters will have the representation they deserve. WCEV-AM Chicago members ended a one-year contract extension by voting for a new and better contract in effect through 2006. Jim Sterne, P.S./B.R. L.U. 1900 (u), WASHINGTON, DCOur members at PEPCo overwhelmingly rejected a "tentative agreement" on March 18, 2004. The rejected tentative agreement was reached through limited negotiations. Effective, April 5, 2004, we are in "full" contract negotiations. The contract in effect at the time of this writing was scheduled to expire May 31, 2004. As of this writing, our members at Mirant Mid-Atlantic have been working under the companys implemented "Terms and Conditions of Employment" since Aug. 10, 2003. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) rejected the original charges filed by Local 1900 as well as our appeal. No meetings have yet been scheduled. Joseph E. Hawkins, B.R. L.U. 2286 (o&u), BEAUMONT, TXOur local has a very active summer ahead, beginning with election of officers and Executive Board members in June, along with our 35th anniversary celebration. We are planning a blood drive for June, as a service to our community, our members and our families. Contract negotiations begin in June for our Transmission/Distribution-Customer Service Support & Corporate Business Services contract, which expires Aug. 14, 2004. At press time we are involved in several negotiations for our Maintenance contracts, as well as negotiations on our first Jasper-Newton Co-Op contract. We anticipate having these negotiations completed by June 2004. Kitty Prouse, P.S. L.U. 2320 (t), MANCHESTER, NHWhen will this anti-union gang out of Virginia get it? Year after year the National Right to Work Committee pours money into New Hampshire to bring us lower wages, less healthcare and a lower standard of living. These foes of workers actually advocate "right-to-work for less." On March 8, our local mobilized its members and we stood with union members from other locals across the state, elected leaders and business leadersincluding the president of New Hampshire Verizonwho all spoke out against right-to-work legislation. It looks like we beat this bill back again but these deep pocketed anti-union conspirators will return, and we will be there to fight for New Hampshire workers. Verizon announced it would attempt to sell 2.5 million access lines in upstate New York. This could have a disastrous effect on 5,500 Verizon union workers and customers of that region (where for over 100 years rates were set by the Public Service Commission). Who would buy? Private equity firms or other speculators who would treat upstate New York operations as a cash cow and diminish service? This sale must be stopped. We must guard against harmful developments in New Hampshire by electing officials who will protect the people of our state rather than line Verizons pockets. John Murphy, P.S. |
