L.U.
1 (as,c,ees,ei,em,es,et,fm,i, mt,rts,s,se,spa,st&ws),
ST. LOUIS, MO—Bus. Rep. Jim Reinheimer recently retired after 40 years
as a journeyman wireman. Throughout his career, Jim served
the local in many capacities, including vice president, recording
secretary and, for the last 21 years, as business representative. Jim
was a delegate to the International Convention in 1996 and served
on the Joint Labor-Management Committee for many years. He represented
Local 1 in the various contract negotiations held between
1991 and 2004. Congratulations, Jim, and thank you for all
your service to the local.
Bus. Rep. Mike Garavaglia will fill the vacancy created by Bro.
Reinheimer’s departure. Bro. Tim Schoemehl was appointed business
representative to take over Mike Garavaglia’s former area.
Please be advised of the following members’ deaths: Robert Schiller,
Leonard Wehner, Herman Tebbe, Rodney Stewart, David Mackay, Norma
Price, Albert Workman, John Koerber, Frederick Allard, Norbert Hastings,
Raymond Brockmann, Albert Kelley, Leroy Long, Robert Oster, Richard
Kraus, Matthew Smith and Jerome Black.
L.U.
9 (catv,govt,lctt,o&u), CHICAGO, IL—Barack Obama, Democratic
candidate for U.S. Senate from Illinois, won hearts and minds with
his keynote speech to the 2004 Democratic National Convention. He
now needs to win the votes.
Illinois stands to have two Democratic senators in Washington to
protect workers rights.
If John Kerry is elected president, he will have an opportunity
to appoint Supreme Court justices if and when vacancies come open.
The present court is packed with Republican appointees. Without
Kerry we could face 30, 40 or more years of a court biased against
labor.
Because Supreme Court rulings are far-reaching in their scope,
it is vital that we elect a Democratic president who will nominate
qualified, fair justices without bias against working families.
U.S. Senate elections are also important in this regard, as the
Senate confirms judicial nominees.
Help elect Barack Obama to join Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) in
the U.S. Senate. As senators, Obama and Durbin will act in the best
interests of labor and working people on judicial nominees.
Let Kerry, Durbin and Obama shape the future of American justice,
not the Republicans.
L.U.
15 (u), DOWNERS GROVE, IL—Congratulations to our brothers
and sisters at newly formed Local 614. For a report about the newly
established Exelon Utility Coordination Committee, please see "Currents"
on page 6 of this month’s Journal.
Talks continue with Midwest Generation officials concerning separation
packages and early retirement incentives for members affected by
the closing of the gas-fired Collins Generating Station. The company
is evaluating the re-start of two coal-fired units at Will County
and the possible shutdown of one unit at its Waukegan Station.
We welcome 120-plus health care workers at the Lemont Rehabilitation
Center who voted in April for Local 15 representation. The election
followed a June 2003 defeat that was overturned by the NLRB.
In June elections, Bus. Mgr./Pres. Bob Joyce was re-elected to
office. Congratulations to all our newly elected officers and thanks
to members who voted.
All union members must vote to put an end to the Bush administration’s
goal to bust labor unions. Bush only looks out for his rich corporate
friends. Vote For Friends of Labor!
L.U.
17 (catv,em,lctt,o&u), DETROIT, MI—The union welcomes
MJ Electric back to the jurisdiction and also W.A. Chester L.L.C.,
a new signatory contractor currently working on a project for the
International Transmission Company.
Union leadership met with representatives of Transmission Company,
and all indicators appear to be positive in the area of capital
spending in an effort to increase reliability and dependability
of the transmission system that is so important to the state of
Michigan and the nation as a whole.
The work picture here has remained steady across all bargaining
units through the summer. At summer’s end the South, especially
Florida, was hit hard with catastrophic storms that disrupted the
integrity of the electrical system throughout extensive regions.
IBEW Local 17 pays tribute to all union members who made the personal
sacrifice, and spent time away from their families, to help Floridians
and others regain service and put the electric system back together.
With sadness we report the passing of Bros. John I. Krugol, Thomas
Malone, Arthur Finney, Ivan Hovey, Kenneth A. Collins, E. Noel Levesque,
Rene Cote, Wilson L. Rowell, Joseph M. Smith and Henri Bornais.
L.U.
25 (catv,i,o&rts), LONG ISLAND, NY—Our 34th IBEW Long
Island Softball Tournament was again hosted by Locals 3, 25, 1049
and 1381 at Baldwin Park on Aug. 27-29. Clear skies contributed
to a great weekend. The two-day barbecue hosted by the Tournament
Committee was well received by the 31 participating teams.
The team from Local 3, New York, NY, was the winner over Local
1049, Long Island, in the upper bracket. Local 3’s Interboro team
(New York City) won over Local 102 Paterson, NJ, in the lower bracket.
The Brotherhood Award went to Local 99, Providence, RI.
We welcome four new teams this year: Local 1579, Augusta, GA; Local
129, Lorain, OH; and two teams from Local 126, Philadelphia, PA.
The six other teams that played in the tournament for the past
four years were unable to attend due to economics—you were missed
and we hope to see you at next year’s tournament.