L.U. 684 (c,i,o,rts&st), MODESTO, CA—The TID power plant has finally helped Local 684 achieve full employment. Other large projects promise to sustain the momentum. Thank you to our fellow travelers who have helped our contractors maintain this work.
Our annual picnic was once again held at Hagaman Park along the Merced River. Members receiving service pins were, for 50 years, Gene Armstrong, Gordon Fisher, Bob Langley, Mailo Meza, Lee Roy Ratley and Gil Sturgis; 55 years, Ed Hicks; 60 years, Bill Hurst and Galen Young; and for 65 years, Harry Grigsby.
With great sadness Local 684 mourns the loss of our longtime organizer and friend Jim DeWilms, who lost his valiant battle against cancer. We also mourn the loss of “Chic” Whitfield and Tom Sawyer.
From behind the smokescreen politics of the current administration and business America creeps in the outsourced cheap labor of the third world nation and its shoddy knock-off deceptions. As deficit spending erodes our national economic strength the need for cheap will drive us down until the need to set it straight will once again ignite the fire in our soul that is union.
Local 702 crew at work with Martin Electric at Kohl’s
department store in January. From left, front row,
John Williams, Jeff Briddick, Darren Gray, Randall
Bluemstock and Ron McKenzie; 2nd row, Craig
Spencer, Jo Ellen Perkins, Greg Heifrich, Gary King,
Bill Blades, Gary Lingle, Jeremy Smith and Nick
Crabtree; 3rd row, Charles May, Burl File, Archie
Ross, Kerey Betz, Rick Davis and Damen Troutman;
back row, Doug Shain, Jason Linton, Jeff Huff,
Jeremy Newton and Mike Haseker; not pictured,
Claude Pease and Steve Battaglia.
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, IL—As of this writing, we have 104 journeyman wiremen and 26 apprentice wiremen on the Book I out-of-work list. Work in our area has slowed down significantly as we wait on several proposed projects.
April 11 and 12 are scheduled for Flagging Certification classes. We also have steward training classes set for April 12 in Evansville, IN, and April 13 in West Frankfort, IL.
Local 702 would like to thank all our union stewards in every group represented. The members must realize the work that each steward does to promote solidarity in the work place. We want to express our appreciation and gratitude.
Remember, America is a union. Be proud to be union. Buy union.
L.U. 704 (catv,em&i), DUBUQUE, IA—We are very pleased to welcome Bro. Chuck Till back home following his tour of duty in Iraq. See “IBEW on Duty” in the May 2005 Journal for details of an awards ceremony.
Local 704 wishes to extend condolences to the family and friends of Bro. Charles Rhomberg. Bro. Rhomberg, who died at the age of 55, started his electrical career in June 1973. Working and serving in the apprenticeship with Chuck, I remember him as a strong and knowledgeable man. The past 20 years he had worked for the Daimler Chrysler Corp. in Belvidere, IL, as a maintenance electrician.
Local 704 also extends condolences to the family and friends of Bro. Mark Morett, who passed away Oct.17, 2004. Bro. Mark was employed by Barnstead International for the past 14 years. Our brothers will be missed.
Our work situation looks promising for the summer. Our goal of full employment would be a welcome change after a slow winter.
Approximately 70 members attend an OSHA 30 class sponsored by Local 760 and the Knoxville JATC. Participants enrolled ranged from first-year apprentices to experienced journeyman.
L.U. 760 (i,lctt,o,rts,spa&u), KNOXVILLE, TN—Our calls have slowed up a bit, as of this writing, but there are a few projects in the works for this year. We look forward to getting the scrubbers started at Bull Run Steam Plant this summer. Inglett & Stubbs has a couple of jobs going on and Besco Electric and Tennessee Associated are picking up work here and there as well.
The members at ADT Security Systems have ratified their contract and ended up with a good contract. The negotiating committee put in a lot of hard work and did a very good job. Appalachian Electric Cooperative, Rockwood Electric Utility, and Tennessee Armature are all in negotiations now.
We are saddened to report the loss of the following retired members: Carl Brummett, Taylor G. Jackson, Charles R. Wardell Jr., John E. Worthy, Paul Jessie Rush and Warren D. Ashley. All these retired members will be missed.
L.U. 894 (i&o), OSHAWA, ON, CANADA—Our new hall is scheduled for occupancy in early June. The State Group was the successful bidder on the interior build. Longtime Local 894 member Bill MacDonald oversaw work on the new hall.
Local 894 Swim Day was a great success. Thanks to the volunteers. Ladies Night will be Oct. 15 at the General Sikorski Hall in Oshawa. Family Picnic Day is Aug. 6 at Cedar Park, Bowmanville, ON. Local 894 will sponsor the IBEW hockey tournament in spring 2006. The Harry Moran Memorial golf tournament is Aug. 20 at Oliver’s Nest Golf Course, Lindsay, ON.
Local 894 is a sponsor of three local members’ auto racing teams— Steve Roberts, John Bickle and apprentice Chris Hart. Look for some special events days this summer with these guys and their cars. Thanks to the Entertainment Committee for activities they put together for the membership.
Local 894 Bus. Mgr. John Gillett has guided our organizing drive through many successful market recovery efforts, bringing back to the local many commercial jobs once thought lost forever to the non-union sector. John established a residential agreement and is working with area contractors to bring this work into the IBEW. Our work picture looks good with expansion plans at General Motors, Oshawa, a fire alarm refit at the Darlington nuclear plant, and a robust commercial and residential sector keeping our members working.
We mourn the passing of longtime members Peter Delong, Peter Petriw, Granville Chambers and Frank Poole.
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