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July/August 2005 IBEW Journal
L.U. 949 (t&u), BURNSVILLE, MN—April 1-2 found 25 stewards from 12 units gathered to learn and share information about being effective stewards. Sixth District Int. Rep. James S. "Jim" Dahlberg assisted Bus. Mgr. Vincent R. Guertin with the training. Representatives from the National Labor Relations Board, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services, and the Board of Mediation Services gave presentations. Topics discussed included the Family Medical Leave Act, arbitration, grievance writing, fair representation, and legal rights and responsibilities of stewardship. This annual training is always interesting and successful for stewards. April 1 also brought new members to the local. The amalgamation of Local 2047 into Local 949 brings 305 bargaining unit employees of Intek Plastics (Hastings, MN), Lockheed Martin (Eagan, MN), and Unisys (Eagan, MN) working in manufacturing related industries. Welcome, brothers and sisters. To make it an even better month, Local 949 Unit IP53 Alliant Energy, Fox Lake, MN, celebrated 24 years without a lost time accident. Bus. Rep. Ray Turner is shown in the accompanying photo with some of the employees honored. Way to go, guys! Cy Grover, P. S.
L.U. 1007 (t&u), EDMONTON, AB, CANADA—It’s been a busy year for the local. A new EPCOR collective agreement was signed after being voted down once by the members. Many thanks to the hard work of the Negotiating Team of Pres. Bud Love, past-president Ron Tithecott, past-chairman Dave Smegal, Rec. Sec. Paul McKnight, Vice-Chair Norm Spitzer, Asst. Bus. Mgr. Dale Southwood and Bus. Mgr. Jerry Larson. The three-year contract was voted on and ratified in Sept. 2004 and carries the membership through until Dec. 2006. Benefits bargaining for the Civic Unit is still proceeding with Bus. Mgr. Jerry Larson and Treas. Pat Elliott attending. A Leadership Training Seminar was held April 29-30 at the union hall. Attended by 26 shop stewards and Exec. Board members, it was well received by all. The annual Dave Jillings Golf Tournament took place June 11, 2005, at Victoria Golf Course with Bro. Barry Virostek doing the arrangements. Many thanks to Barry. Bus. Mgr. Jerry Larson and EPCOR Unit Chmn. Martin Duckworth attended the Utility Conference in Baltimore, MD, the week of May 9, 2005, and found it very informative. Dale Southwood, P.S. L.U. 1049 (lctt,o&u), LONG ISLAND, NY—Local 1049 recently concluded its election of officers and Executive Board. Bus. Mgr. Ralph Ranghelli, Pres. Bob Porfert and their entire slate were elected overwhelmingly. Our local, like most locals, continues to face new challenges and our newly elected officers represent a great mix of new and experienced leaders to represent our membership. On behalf of Bus. Mgr. Ranghelli and Pres. Porfert, thank-you to the members for their support. Five incumbent officers decided not to seek re-election. We thank the following former officers for their dedicated service to our local: Treas. Jimmy Campitello, Vice Pres. Glenn Tipping and Exec. Board members Howie Haugen, Bob Krich and Dutch Shultis for their dedicated service to our local. We welcome our newest officers, Vice Pres. Ed Conklin and Treas. Tom Devlin. Welcome also to our newest Exec. Board members: Pierce Brennan (Electric), Steve Borrelli (Electric Production), Jim Cooper (Facilities), Pete D’Anna (Craft Group) and Mark Hollenstein (Tree Trim). Congratulations to re-elected incumbent Board members Bob Erickson (Fleet Services), John Moultrie (Electric), George Reinhardt (Craft), Bill Roulette (Engineering), Tom Russo (Gas) and Bob Schellhorn (Electric Production). Bus. Mgr. Ranghelli and the Craft Division negotiating team recently concluded contract negotiations with the Northeastern Line Constructors Chapter, NECA. Local 1049 members approved the three-year agreement with a 100 percent ratification vote. Thomas J. Dowling, R.S. L.U. 1220 (rtb), CHICAGO, IL—"Now 1220’s monthly newsletter, Info Chanel, is delivered electronically," said Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. Ro Wratschko. "Each month we save money and time—both valuable commodities—by sending it electronically as opposed to sending it through the U.S. mail." To accomplish this, 1220 provides each member with a personal e-mail address. Last year, 1220 set up its own server and has steadily built up its own electronic network. "We also benefit through immediate communication with our members," Wratschko said. "Because it is Web based, members can access their mail through any Web browser." All the members are categorized by bargaining units so 1220 can e-mail to individuals, groups, or the entire membership. July already! It seems just last month that 1220 threw its first annual picnic, but almost a year has passed. "We got the same picnic grove as last year because the forest preserve district began taking reservations and payment online," said Madeleine Monaco, assistant business manager. "We got on-line at midnight of the first day and secured the same picnic grove #2 in Catherine Chevalier Woods for Sept. 10. Hopefully, each year on the weekend after Labor Day our celebration will be in the same grove and the weather will be perfect each year as well." Jim Sterne, B.R.
L.U. 1245 (catv,em,govt,lctt,o,pet, t&u), VACAVILLE, CA—Local 1245 line clearance tree trimmers ratified new agreements with Asplundh Tree and its two subsidiaries, Trees Inc. and Utility Tree. The agreement, which contained significant improvements, won with nearly 90 percent of the vote at Asplundh and with even higher approval rates at Trees Inc. and Utility Tree. Details of the agreement can be found in the May 2005 issue of the Utility Reporter, or on-line at www.ibew1245.com/newsarchive-docs/Asplundh_Pact_5-10-05.htm. The breakthrough in contract negotiations came during a meeting that included Greg Asplundh for the company and Local 1245 Bus. Mgr. Perry Zimmerman. In Outside Construction news, Bus. Rep. Dave Crawford reported 194 crews working in our jurisdiction in early May, including 108 crews on the Outside agreement, 35 crews on the Underground agreement, 37 crews on the Pole Test agreement, and 14 crews on the Teledata agreement. The local will hold a Retirement Planning Seminar for members on Sept. 10, 2005, at Weakley Hall. For information contact Crawford at (707) 452-2738. In public sector news, Local 1245 held a conference for public sector stewards. The conference examined strategies available to the stewards and reviewed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s attempt to abolish traditional defined benefit pension plans for public sector employees. Eric Wolfe, P.S. |
