Local 428 Treas.
John King received
CLC “Labor Leader”
award.
L.U. 428 (govt,i,o,rts&spa), BAKERSFIELD, CA—John King was presented with the Central Labor Council’s “Labor Leader Award” for 2004.
Bro. King, Local 428 treasurer, entered the Local 428 apprenticeship program in 1979. 2004 marked his 25th year of membership. John has served as the union’s recording secretary, as a member of the Examining Board, and as business agent. He is always involved with our annual picnic and other union functions. John is well known for his community service. He is a member of Eagles #93, the Miner Field Museum and CALM.
In addition to serving as a delegate to the Central Labor Council and also the Building Trades Council, he helps on political campaigns and does volunteer work for organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Junior Baseball and the Boys and Girls Club.
He also participates in motorcycle safety and is a 10-gallon blood donor. In 1966 the Central Labor Council gave him our prestigious Harry H. Hollins Award.
John King is a shining example of what makes a union strong and we hope our apprentices will follow in his footsteps.
Local 474 Habitat for Humanity volun-
teers, (L-R): retired Bros. L.C. Grissom,
Clay Davis, Bobby Simmons and Billy
Helms.
L.U. 474 (em,i,lctt,o,rtb,rts,spa&u), MEMPHIS, TN—As of this writing, spring is in full bloom and it would seem appropriate to write about a bunch of spring chickens, but there’s a long overdue “thank you” in order.
In October and November of 2003, four of our retired members gave their time and skills to wire a Habitat for Humanity house in Walls, MS. The volunteers were: L.C. Grissom, age 76, a 51-year IBEW member; Clay Davis, age 83 and a 57-year member; Bobby Simmons, age 68 and a 48-year member; and Billly Helms, age 69 and a 51-year member. All are to be congratulated for their contributions to society. This group of noteworthy brothers almost qualified as “spring chickens” but as some of our apprentices pointed out, given the age of their yellow tickets, they’re probably too set in their ways—which is an automatic disqualification for being a spring chicken. We love you brothers anyway!
Speaking of apprentices, another “thank-you” is long overdue, especially regarding the local union Christmas party. We couldn’t make it without you apprentices. We appreciate you. You are our future, and as the years roll by hopefully you can look back, along with the rest of us, and celebrate your past.
L.U. 500 (u), SAN ANTONIO, TX—Gary Faktor was appointed as our new business manager/president after Artie Kocian, former business manager, received a promotion to a supervisory position at the power plant. Bro. Faktor is a 25-year member and served as vice president for five years. We congratulate Gary and wish him the best. Artie served Local 500 in various capacities over many years and will be missed, but we will still see him around the union hall. Don Schlough was appointed vice president. Joel McMillan is now chairman of the E-Board and we welcome Floyd Hayman to the Executive Board.
Contract negotiations start in July. Please attend union meetings and bring us your concerns. Paul Brock initiated an organizing drive for both salary and wage scale employees. It is very important that we sign up every eligible wage scale employee at CPS Energy. This is a crucial time with negotiations upon us.
The Toyota plant is underway in South Bexar County. I was on that job recently and it was great to be on an all-union project of that size. Many IBEW electricians are working there. Anyone interested in working on the Toyota plant, please contact IBEW Local 60, San Antonio. Local 500 is a utility local.
L.U. 508 (i,it&o), SAVANNAH, GA—In the last days of Georgia’s legislative session, the General Assembly sent to the governor for his signature a bill (HB 59) to amend the state minimum wage law to strip the living wage provision or “prevailing wage” from consideration in awarding contracts by local and state agencies.
The sweep in the last election of both houses gave the Republicans all the power they needed to begin an all-out assault on organized labor in Georgia. Also introduced is a bill (HB153) prohibiting donations raised voluntarily by labor organizations to political candidates. The same restrictions do not apply for business or commercial interests. At this writing, the bill is recommitted and may not have enough time this session for passage.
In other news, the election of officers is set for this summer as well as contract negotiations. As part of our working agreement is compliance with the I.O.’s commitment to the “Code Of Excellence,” including standards for a drug-free workplace.
Also meeting the “standard” is the requirement that all members complete 10 hours annual upgrade and the OSHA 10 course.
L.U. 538 (i), DANVILLE, IL—Spring has sprung, the days are getting longer and a few 70 degree days make a Midwest winter a recent memory.
Work at the Cayuga Power Station for Cinergy has started with approximately 40 members on the job at this writing. We hope more work will break before summer.
At this time we have several members traveling around the country and I know each person is grateful for the work and the brotherhood.
The editorial board of our local newspaper in a March 20 article gave a point of view stating that we (unions) should adapt and take on new training rather than travel. They say just go across town and retrain; this will provide you with a new job. I for one don’t want to retrain for a job at less than $10/hour and work in a warehouse. It must be easy to sit in a newspaper office and tell the hard workingmen and -women of the IBEW to just give it all up. I always thought a good paying job with decent benefits was part of the American dream. Please attend your union meetings.
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