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Fifth District Int. Rep. Harold L. Higginbotham conducts the swearing in of newly elected Local 606 officers, (L-R): Bob Bartlett, John Bregg, Jim Sullivan, Chad Durre, Jimmie Singletary, Harry Brown, Jenny Kenny, Bobby Bryant, Janet Skipper, Teresa Alcantar and Larry Kidd.

L.U. 606 (em,es,i,rtb,spa&u), ORLANDO, FLNewly elected Local 606 officers were sworn in to office by Fifth District IBEW Int. Rep. Harold L. Higginbotham (see photo). Harry Brown was elected business manager for a fourth term. Also elected were: Pres. Jimmie Singletary, Vice Pres. John Bregg, Rec. Sec. Jennifer Kenny, Treas. Pete Peterson; Executive Board members Teresa Alcantar, Bob Bartlett, Bobby Bryant, Chad Durre and Larry Kidd; and Examining Board members Janet Skipper, Jim Sullivan and Randy Webb. Elected delegates to the International Convention were: Teresa Alcantar, Bob Bartlett, Butch Cox, Jennifer Kenny, Larry Kidd, Pete Peterson and Janet Skipper.

Local 606 members thank Bro. Pete Melvin for another outstanding job as election judge.

Our contractors are optimistic about the work picture getting better.

Our deepest sympathy goes to the families of Bro. Bill Hill and Bro. Roger Jordan, both of whom recently passed away. I hope all my union brothers and sisters have a happy and safe holiday.

Janet D. Skipper, P.S.

Report From Phoenix

Local 640 Southwire employees attend the Kingman, AZ, Labor Day picnic: Raymond Vellos, Kathy Montoya, Larry Brooks, Mikel Davis and husband Richard Davis, retired. Not pictured are stewards Jerry Goins and Sam Sulanke.

L.U. 640 (em,i,rts&spa&u), PHOENIX, AZLocal 640 represents several specialized units, including: the Bureau of Reclamation, Gannett-owned Phoenix Newspapers Inc., the Chugach Gila River Radar Station, Compusys, and the Department of Energy/Western Area Power Administration.

The Southwire Kingman building wire manufacturing plant is our largest unit, with approximately 200 employees. The Local 640-represented plant is recognized for its excellent productivity record. As a result of our members excellent working relationship with the company and a profitable partnership, an additional plant recently was purchased. Earl Pierce is the union business agent. Mikel Davis is unit chairman, and stewards are Larry Brooks, Jerry Goins, Kathy Montoya, Sam Sulanke and Raymond Vellos.

Recent local union events include the golf tournament, annual union picnic and pin ceremony. The locals float appeared in the Tempe Christmas parade and the Phoenix Electric Light parade. Local 640 members helped make the Salvation Army benefit project, held in cooperation with Sturgeon Electric and APS, a success. Thanks to all our volunteers, including those who volunteered during the presidential election season.

Effective Jan. 1, 2005, there will be an additional wage increase of 45 cents, bringing the journeyman wage scale to $22.

Dale Jacks, R.S.

Campaign Volunteers

L.U. 654 (i), CHESTER, PAThe employment picture is slowing down with work wrapping up on the Sun refinery shutdowns and FP&L project. Our training of local members in the OSHA 10 safety course is progressing nicely, with all of our apprentices having been trained along with a good portion of our journeymen. As of this writing in October, we planned to start teaching the OSHA 30 course in November.

The annual Pig Roast/Crab Fest was held at our hall recently, featuring the horseshoe tournament and a wide range of foods. Special thanks to the Entertainment Committee for all the work they put into our functions. The food was delicious and everyone had a good time.

Many local members participated in the grassroots effort for the Kerry/Edwards campaign. We thank these members for all the time and effort they donated to walks, rallies and phone banks.

James Russell, R.S./P.S.

Jobs Move Forward

L.U. 684 (c,i,o,rts&st), MODESTO, CAOur new E-Board members were sworn in, with Mark Spurlock re-elected as chairman and Ron Reeves elected as vice chairman. E-Board member Mark Bowden is our new JATC training director and Pres. Stan Strohmeyer is our new organizer.

Jobs continue to move forward: Howe Electric with the northeast Modesto High School project, underground on the Kaiser hospital complex, and above ground on TID co-gen in Turlock. Even Johnny Mac Electric is moving forward.

The project labor agreement, a cornerstone of our current prosperity, could become an endangered species if the current federal administration continues its anti-labor agenda. As with foreign policy, we must negotiate from strength.

However these elections goas all the struggles of organized labor have born witness to over the yearsso must we, all of us together, defend what our forbears won or together we will fade away.

Torrey Newton, P.S.

New Staff Member

Local 702 Bus. Mgr. Gary Roan (right) presents E-Board member James Tharp with an IBEW Lifesaving Award at a local union meeting.

L.U. 702 (as,c,catv,cs,em,es,et, govt,i,it,lctt,mo,mt,o,p,pet,ptc,rtb,rts,se,spa,st,t,u,uow&ws), WEST FRANKFORT, ILBro. James Tharp, new E-Board member from the Missouri Unit, was presented with an IBEW Lifesaving Award for saving the life of his friend. We congratulate Jamie for his heroic act.

As of this writing, we have 82 journeyman wiremen and 10 apprentice wiremen on the out-of-work list. It will be a slow winter.

We welcome to our staff new Bus. Rep. Mark Baker. Mark resides in Jackson, MO, with his wife, Kim, and their three children. Mark has been a member since 1991 and is a former employee of Ameren/UE. We know Mark will be a valuable asset to our members.

These are tough times when bargaining for our members. The two basic benefits we are fighting to save are healthcare and pensions. Remember, the power goes to the party in control of the government.

Have a merry Christmas and a safe New Year.

Marsha Steele, P.S.