Local 357 officers accept a grant
check for a new solar training
project. Attending the JATC
press conference, from left: Gary
Sutton, Southern Nevada NECA
vice president; Madison Burnett,
IBEW/ NECA JACT training
director; David Jones, IBEW
Local 357 business manager;
and U.S. Sen. Harry Reid.
L.U.
357 (c,i,mt&se), LAS VEGAS, NVIn October 2004
our local JATC received a federal grant from the U.S. Department
of Energy in the amount of $250,000 for a 20-kw photovoltaic
training demonstration center for the education of journeymen
and apprentices. The grant is for a two-year period, and will
offset the cost of the cells and converters. Under the grant,
80 workers will be trained at the center in each year of the
grant, beginning in 2005.
The JATC held a press conference announcing the grant and dignitaries
present for the occasion spoke about the importance of solar technology.
In attendance were: State Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, Nevada
State AFL-CIO Executive Secretary-Treasurer Danny Thompson, State
Sen. Randolph Townsend and U.S. Senator Harry Reid (D-NV). Sen.
Reid played a pivotal role in obtaining the funding for this project.
With the proper training and knowledge we will be able to secure
this work for our union contractors and our IBEW members.
Local 364 volunteers wired lighting for a Vietnam
Memorial in
Rockford, IL.
L.U.
364 (catv,ees,em,es,i,mt,rts& spa), ROCKFORD, ILRecently
60 members of Local 364 volunteered their skills to our community
by wiring the lighting for the Vietnam Memorial at Midway Village
in Rockford, IL.
Military people give society the greatest gift by volunteering
to put themselves in harms way to protect us and our freedom.
Regardless of ones view of the Vietnam conflict, the area people
who paid the ultimate price of giving their lives in the line of
duty are honored heroes commemorated with this memorial. Thanks
to the brothers who helped make it possible to put the spotlight
on the memorial.
Our annual Adopt-an-Apprentice dinner was held recently. The dinner
is an event where journeyman mentors are paired with incoming apprentices.
This program is one way for journeymen to help apprentices become
good electricians and also good unionists.
L.U.
424 (as,ees,em,es,i,mo,o,ptc, rtb,rts,spa&u), EDMONTON,
AB, CANADAVoting in the Nov. 22 Alberta provincial election
resulted in some gains for organized labor. Although the "right-wing" pro-business
Conservatives returned to power with a large majority, this
time there is at least some semblance of an opposition. Out
of 83 seats, 22 opposition members were elected. A marked improvement
from the pre-election eight opposition members! Of those 22,
three are union members from the Alberta Building Trades. Congratulations
to Bros. Dan Backs and Chris Kibermanis (OEs union) and Bro.
Hugh MacDonald (Boilermakers).
We salute PAC Chmn. Chris Coffin and Asst. Bus. Mgr. Ken MacKenzie.
They spent weekends and evenings with Local 424 volunteers manning
phone banks, working with labor friendly candidates, and coordinating
with other PACs. Although space limitations preclude listing their
names, we thank all Local 424 members who volunteered.
In Alberta, we are up against some of the biggest money in the
worldpetrochemical titans such as Dow, Esso (Exxon), and Shell.
The IBEW, or even the Building Trades Council as a whole, will
not be able to effect change alone. It can be done with the political
involvement of each member. The outcome is within our own handsprevail
or perish.
IBEW Local 429 accepts "Partner of the
Year" trophy at
WorkForce Essentials annual awards luncheon. From left:
Local 429 Pres. Michael Bearden; Mat Kisber, director of
Economic Development; Local 429 Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec.
Robert M. Emery Jr.; Ed Groves, chairman, North TN
WorkForce Board; and Elbert Carter, NEJATC training
director.
L.U.
429 (em,i,lctt,o,ptc,rtb&u), NASHVILLE, TNOn Nov.
4, 2004, Local 429, NECA and the Nashville Electrical Joint
Apprenticeship and Training Committee were recognized as outstanding
partners by WorkForce Essentials, an organization of business
leaders from a variety of industries that focuses on solutions
to problems created by the "jobs revolution." Along
with WorkForce Essentials and others, Local 429, NECA and the
NEJATC are involved in an outreach-training program that teaches
the electrical trade to students still in high school. Upon
completion and graduation from high school, these students
are accepted, with credits, into the NEJATC apprenticeship
program.
At its annual Customer & Partner Awards Luncheon, Workforce
Essentials presented the "Partner of the Year" trophy
to Bus. Mgr. Bobby Emery Jr., Pres. Michael Bearden and Training
Dir. Elbert Carter in appreciation of their efforts and contributions
to assure the programs success. Bus Mgr. Emery says, "County
officials from across the state have expressed genuine interest
in developing similar programs for their respective counties and
municipalities." Among the many dignitaries on hand to witness
the event was Tennessee State AFL-CIO Pres. Jerry Lee, who is also
a member and past business manager of Local 429.
L.U.
441 (as,i,o&rts), SANTA ANA, CATom Umberg, who
is currently serving our country overseas in the U.S. Army,
won his race for the State Assembly. Our local closely followed
this race, as Toms campaign staff and volunteers telephoned
and walked precincts from our hall. Tom will fill the seat
vacated by former assemblyman Lou Correa, who has worked with
us often in his three terms in the Assembly. Lou was elected
to the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Also, labor-backed
candidates now fill a majority of the seats at Rancho Santiago
Community College District and in the City Council of Irvine.
Our local will continue to work alongside our friends while
they are elected.
Proposition 72, which would have required businesses with over
50 employees to pay 80 percent of health insurance premiums, was
narrowly defeated. Wal-Mart and other large employers flexed their
political muscle along with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the last two
weeks of the campaign to come from behind to make sure that California
citizens continue to pay for company health care through public
assistance. Health care and Wal-Mart competition sparked the California
supermarket strike and caused contract talks to go on for months.
Wal-Mart continues its campaign to spend its riches to defeat workers
in California.
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