Related Articles

At Work in Cleveland

Local 38 members on the jobsite at a Case Western Reserve University parking garage and football arena project with contractor Doan/Pyramid. As summer temperatures soared the IBEW crew kept their “cool” and completed the complex in good time for the fall semester.

L.U. 38 (i), CLEVELAND, OH—Pictured are Local 38 members working for Doan/Pyramid at the Case Western Reserve University Dormitory Village parking garage and football arena. The crew was trying to beat the heat during the hot, humid summer months in Cleveland. Gen. Foreman Woody Goe implemented “Hawaiian Shirt Fridays” to try to keep his group “cool.” The job worked extensive overtime as the temperatures soared. The complex is now finished and is awaiting its first group of students for the fall semester.

Work has started on the Cleveland Clinics’ new $300 million Heart Center. D.E. Williams Electric was awarded the power distribution and temporary package and is on-site.

Lake Erie/Hirsch Electric was awarded the branch power, but the job will probably not start for them until after the first of the year.

Work has also begun on the new $90 million Mini Mill at Charter Steel, with Lake Erie and Herbst Electric on-site.

Officers and members extend congratulations to Bro. Paul Gutkowski on his retirement. Over his 35-year career, Paul served as shop steward, job steward and foreman. He is a good union man and was a pleasure to work with.

Dennis Meaney, B.R.

Elections & Lineman’s Rodeo

L.U. 44 (catv,lctt,o,rtb,s&u), BUTTE, MT—Our local union elections are now behind us with the following officers elected: Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. Don Hendrickson, Pres. Jim Mitchell, Vice Pres. Bill Russell, Treas. Bob Martin and Rec. Sec. Ron Wombold; and Executive Board members Andy Cook, George Gaudel, Myles Kelly, Rick Lyon, Dave Dixon, Jim Heckman and Bob Lindeman.

Local 44 thanks the outgoing officers for their dedicated service: former Pres. Chuck Dixon, former Treas. Nick Hegge, and former Executive Board members Mike Colvin, Bob Crystal, Vince Labbe, Lawrance Moran and Herman Gonzales.

The Montana Lineman’s Rodeo was held July 16. Twenty-six teams and 67 apprentices competed. Top Overall team and first in the mixed division: Curtis Berry, Dave Reetz and Jerry Bellah from Pueblo, CO.

First Place Utility Division: Mike Glueckert, Jason Birdwell and Jeff Grandy from NorthWestern Energy of Montana. First Place REC: Jarrid Kline, Travis Tennison and Marvin Vaughn from Flat Head Electric Cooperative of Montana. First Place Construction, representing Local 44: Mike Covin, Lee Nielson and Bill Russell. Top Overall Apprentice and first in the Construction Division from Mountain States Apprenticeship Program: Todd Jamieson. First Place Utility Division: Brian Smith from Utah Power. First Place REC: Eric Nicoson from Missoula Electric Cooperative of Montana. First Place Line School: Chet Butler.

Don W. Hendrickson, B.M./F.S.

Residential Contractor Training

L.U. 48 (c,em,i,rtb,rts&st), PORTLAND, OR—Lame duck GW returned to Crawford, TX, to shirk his presidential duties for another five weeks over the summer. The war in Iraq, shortage of living wage jobs and high unemployment should keep him on the job, not on vacation. It’s time to begin work on securing a presidential candidate worthy of backing in the next election.

Residential Contractor Training enters its second year at Local 48. This fall classes will be held for any IBEW member who wishes to learn what it takes to become a residential contractor. As a result of last year’s training we currently have three new signatory shops. Diamond Electric in Vancouver, WA, is the largest of the new shops, with 10 IBEW members working. The IBEW can compete and win in this booming residential market. For more information about the RCT classes, call Greg Parsons at (503) 889-3666.

Work has slowly improved despite Intel’s decision to build in Arizona rather than Oregon. July was the best month in four years for calls. The number of members on the book has decreased but it is still too high, thanks to GW’s policies. Oregon and Washington still have too many unemployed workers. Most new construction jobs are in the non-union sector, paying minimum wage and not requiring skilled workers.

Dave Jacobsen, P.S.

Congratulations, Bro. Radjewski

L.U. 58 (em,i,rtb&spa), DETROIT, MI—Our Bus. Mgr. Jeff Radjewski accepted a position as IBEW International Representative assigned to the Sixth District staff effective Aug. 15, 2005.

Jeff has been a leader in Local 58 for 31 years. As a new member in 1975, Jeff took an active role in the union and has served in many capacities over the years. He was elected business manager in 1997. An important measure of a leader is that they leave behind them in other men and women the conviction and the will to carry on. The Local 58 Executive Board, abiding with Article 16, Section 16, of the IBEW Constitution, appointed the following officers to fill vacated positions for the remainder of the unexpired term: Joe Abdoo as business manager, Elaine Crawford as president, and Gerry Taube to fill the seat Elaine vacated on the Executive Board.

The work picture has not improved. At press time there are over 1,200 on Book I and 100 signed on Book II.

Please vote in your local primaries and local municipality elections in November.

Kathy Devlin, P.S.

Work Picture Promising

Local 60 apprentice graduating class of 2005.

L.U. 60 (i), SAN ANTONIO, TX—Our work picture still looks promising, with Toyota work just at the beginning stages. At the time of this writing, we anticipate that from September through the end of 2005 we will have a lot more projects going strong.

Our organizing efforts are going great and Local 60 turned out one of our largest apprentice classes ever. The future looks great for our area.

For job listings, please call our job line at (210) 337-0009, and check out the local’s Web site www.ibewlu60.org. We’ve updated the Web site and added some new sections, including a monthly activity calendar and a re-sign sheet to download and copy.

At this writing, summer is ending but we still have a lot to look forward to this year—including our annual Wireman’s Association golf tournament in September and our local union picnic in October.

Armando Rodriguez, P.S.