From the IBEW Local 6 float at the
St. Patrick’s Day parade in San
Francisco, journeyman Eric
O’Delgado waves to the masses.
L.U. 6 (c,i,o,st&u), SAN FRANCISCO, CA—On Sunday, March 13, over 200 active and retired Local 6 members and their families marched in the St. Patrick’s Day parade in San Francisco. The parade committee, led by Bros. Kevin Tumminia and Dave McKeown (and way too many more to list), did an outstanding job. Our procession featured two trucks, a decorated cable car, and a float featuring Celtic artwork designed by Bro. Lou Sullivan. Local 6’s entry won third place honors for our efforts.
In April, Local 6 members volunteered their time and labor to install a 30-KW photovoltaic system on the rooftop of our union hall. The system consists of 204 solar modules producing 538 VDC fed through six inverters. Bro. Matt Bamberger is coordinating the project, which as of this writing is about 50 percent complete.
Congratulations to Executive Board member Phil Farrelly on his recent retirement. Phil has helped promote safe working conditions to our members through monthly reports at the general membership meetings. Officers, members and staff thank you for your devotion, “Safety Phil.”
The work situation in Local 6 is improving and appears promising for coming months. At this writing we are in negotiations for the Unit I inside wiremen’s contract.
Local 8 Pres. Joe Cousino swears in new
Exec. Board members Allen Jackson and
Robert Herman at the March 7, 2005, union
meeting as Bus. Mgr. Dennis Duffey looks
on.
L.U. 8 (i&mt), TOLEDO, OH—In an amalgamation announced by the International, IBEW Local 1076 joined hands with us to become the bigger and better Local 8. This consolidation effort brought with it some 350 new members. Efficiency and cost management were cited as important factors for this alliance. The merger took effect on March 1, 2005.
At the regular meeting of March 7, 2005, two members of former Local 1076 were added and sworn in to the Local 8 Executive Board. Joining current Executive Board members Mark Ehrenfried, Charlie Condon, Roy B. Grosswiler, Dan Lewandowski and Tim Sigurdson, are new members Robert Herman and Allen Jackson. Additionally, 1076 former business manager Dave Austin has become the new business representative for Local 8.
Currently, it’s anticipated that work opportunities will be on the increase this year. Let’s hope this happens before the “Bush Recovery” makes paupers of us all.
Local 26’s future home, a new head-
quarters building located off Martin Luther
King Jr. Highway and Route 50 in Lanham,
MD.
L.U. 26 (ees,em,es,govt,i&mt), WASHINGTON, DC—Congratulations to our service contract organizers, Bro. Randolph Scott and Sister Dianna Sponaugle, for organizing Chugach Services. Chugach has a 30-person unit at Bolling Air Force Base. Over 90 percent of the vote favored Local 26 representation. Bro. Butch Ramos and I are negotiating a contract with Chugach.
At our March 11 general membership meeting, members approved the purchase of our new 62,000 square foot headquarters building in Lanham, MD. The move will take place next year since the building’s interior requires remodeling. The new building will house the JATC offices/ training facility, the local union business office, finance office and credit union. Updates will follow—check our web site. The local will search for a place in D.C. to keep an office there as well for our members. This is an historical and exciting endeavor! Our new headquarters will exhibit the success of our local and be a place our members are proud to own!
Recently retired are: William C. Cates, Donald J. Gilman, Robert L. Johnson, Loel N. Jurvelin, John A. Noftsinger, Joseph L. Offutt, Gerald T. Donaldson and Stamel H. Redman.
We grieve the deaths of: Bro. Gary Venis and retired Bros. Charlie Hancock, Clinton Altizer, Charles W. Blankenbeckler and Willliam Broce.
Attending a Local 38
union meeting in April,
(L-R): fifth-year
apprentices Dawn
Willey, Nick Galata
and Nicole Glovitch.
L.U. 38 (i), CLEVELAND, OH—At the time of this writing we had 208 members on Book I. We have great hope that several of the planned projects we have been waiting for will have started by the time you read this.
Those projects include work on the Hot Dip Galvanizing line at the ISG Steel Mill and the new mini-mill at Charter Steel. Some work should have started at the $300 million Heart Center for the Cleveland Clinic, but that project probably will not load up until later this year. Both of the big projects of Cleveland State University should be underway. CSU has invested millions of dollars into converting Fenn Tower back to a dormitory and the new $22 million Recreation Center has a $3.4 million electrical package.
We hope the $290 million Art Museum proceeds as planned and creates more work opportunities we need.
Events and dates to remember: Stewards Stag, June 18; Cedar Point Family Picnic, July 3; Walleye Fishing Tournament, July 23; and the Old Timers Picnic for all members with at least 25 years with Local 38, Aug. 6.
L.U. 48 (c,em,i,rtb,rts&st), PORTLAND, OR—We hope for a busy summer in the Portland/Vancouver area. The Oregon Health Sciences University expansion is gaining momentum. Dispatch has been sending out journeymen to this project and thankfully these are not short calls. As time advances and the Real Estate issues are solved, work will spread down the hill to the Macadam area where new offices and research facilities will be built. The overhead tram line is nearing completion of its planning stages. The tram will connect the top and bottom of the hill. These would be welcome jobs for the local.
With the proposed construction of the tribal casino in Cascade Locks, located in the Columbia River Gorge, having passed the governor’s office in Oregon the next step will be gaining approval from the Secretary of the Interior. Should this happen the outlook for work in the Gorge will definitely brighten. Cascade Locks is 45 minutes East of Portland on I-84.
Local 48 hands should be aware that a new requirement from the state of Washington for journeyman license renewal requires four hours’ instruction in the Washington Specialty Code. The NIETC offers these classes on various dates.
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