L.U.
53 (lctt,o,rts&u), KANSAS CITY, MOLocal 53
recently completed two of the negotiations that were under
way. The membership ratified agreements with Grundy Electric
Cooperative of Trenton, MO, and with KCTV Channel 5 in
Kansas City, MO. The Grundy negotiations resulted in a
new five-year agreement with wage increases of 3.5 percent
in each year as well as a reduction in the amount of medical
co-pay on the premium. The Channel 5 negotiations resulted
in a new four-year agreement with wage increases of 3 percent
each year.
Negotiations with the City of Independence
Power & Light Department and negotiations with the City
of Butler, MO, are ongoing.
Local 53 started negotiations with
Laclede Electric Cooperative of Lebanon, MO, and also began
line clearance tree trimming negotiations with Asplundh and
Wrights. Local 53 is also preparing to begin negotiations
with KQTV Channel 2 in St. Joseph, MO.
Local 53 hosted the annual Christmas
luncheon for retirees Dec. 2, 2004. There was a good turnout
and everyone enjoyed the meal and visit with old friends.
Line construction work is good and
there still are calls for linemen that need to be filled.
L.U.
56 (ees,em&i), ERIE, PAErie has always been
known for its construction pipe dreams. Steel mill, brewery,
Saturn plant, etc.none of which ever became a reality.
Once again the dream is back with an $80 million horse
track/casino development project. With the Pennsylvania
Legislature passing the slots bill, naming Erie as one
of the 14 licensed sites and MTR Gaming picking the development
site, the anticipation begins again. But until we have
members on site, were not ready to bet the farm.
This past construction season didnt
develop as well as we had hoped. We saw a few short spurts
but no major, long-term projects as we expected early on.
Former Bus. Mgr. Kirk Groenendaal
accepted a position at the International level. Congratulations,
Kirk, and best of luck from Local 56. Organizer Mike Alberico
was appointed business manager and Jeff Wiesen will take over
as organizer.
With the November elections behinds
us, we have new hurdles to overcome. We must be strong and
be united. Together we can overcome any obstacles we confront.
A special thanks to all members
and their families who volunteered for special events and committees,
making Local 56 a stronger union.
Local 60 Pres. Steve Mini (left), Bus.
Mgr./Fin. Sec. Charles "Chip" Goode
(center) and Vice Pres. Paul Hernandez.
L.U.
60 (i), SAN ANTONIO, TXLocal 60 thanks the 155
members who have taken the "Code of Excellence" class.
This class is a requirement for all electricians taking
calls for the Toyota plant.
We ask that all travelers planning
to come to San Antonio have the following items: a travel letter, "Code
of Excellence" certificate (if available in your local)
and registry on the ERTS system at your home local. Also, an
OSHA 10 certificate is mandatory. We anticipate putting out
travelers in late spring to early summer.
Thorough our organizing efforts
we have taken in 60 new members from August through November
2004. We are advertising on radio, television, a billboard
(which is across the street from one of the largest nonunion
shops in town) and on www.mysanantonio.com.
Prospective members are being evaluated every day, including
Saturdays and evenings, with great success in taking away some
of the best worker in the nonunion sector.
Our recently elected officers include
Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. Charles "Chip" Goode, Pres. Stephen
Mini and Vice Pres. Paul Hernandez. We will be updating our
Web site with news for both local members and travelers, so
log ontowww.ibewlu60.org.
L.U.
68 (i), DENVER, COIts been a busy six months
at the local union hall. We had tools we didnt know how
to use and unfamiliar acronyms. But we got educated and
thats all a thing of the past.
Work here is slow now at best, but
the spring looks positive. Thanks to the Membership Development
(Organizing) department, we signed a new contractor, Western
Industrial Contracting, which will have work at the airport
that could turn out to be big. New organizers were hired to
work on Residential, VDV and the Comcast organizing campaigns.
The local must move forward to regain markets not being bid.
The IBEW must grow. Organize or die! The local and the Denver
area labor federation partnered with students at Colorado University
and gained great language to be inserted into future contracts
with the college. It was great working with concerned students.
The language puts our contractors on a level playing field
with the unorganized competition.
We thank locals that have put our
members to work. We hope Local 68 can reciprocate in the future.
A reminder to our members working on the road: when the books
where you are load up you know what to do.
L.U.
73 (c,em&i), SPOKANE, WALocal 73s work picture
remains pretty good for this season. The shutdown at Potlatch
is over and the crime lab in Cheney is winding down, but
other work is picking up. Current projects include the
Regal Cinemas, Buck Knives, Liberty Lake Waste Water Treatment
Facility, Spokane Airport Baggage Screening System and
the Teaching Arts Center in Moscow, ID. Work continues
at ongoing projects such as the Sirti Building, ADM, and
Spokane Waste Water Treatment Plant.
We have a new organizer! Bro. Grant
Piche formerly worked in the Rebound Program; his training
there will greatly benefit organizing efforts.
Contract negotiations begin in June.
Please contact the hall with any suggestions. At press time,
our bylaws committee expected to have something finalized by
mid-December.
2004 elections in Washington State
confirm "every vote counts." At press time, Dino
Rossi had won the governors race over Christine Gregoire by
42 votes! Legal battles and recounts were sure to followby
the time this article is published a clear winner will have
emerged. Whoever wins, we must continue to fight for labor
issues and show elected officials that working people will
not stand by for further degradation of our standard of living!
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