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Alaska Hunter Rescued

L.U. 1547 (c,em,i,o,t&u), ANCHORAGE, AK—Congratulations to Bro. Larry Bell, a journeyman wireman, business representative and second-generation IBEW member, who was elected business manager of Local 1547 on July 9, 2005.

Members thank retired Bus. Mgr. Gary Brooks for his dedication to 1547. Bro. Brooks helped 1547 become a well known and influential labor union in Alaska, and he contributed to the excellent financial condition of 1547’s pension and trust funds.

Retired Bus. Rep. Tom Atkins, now a commercial pilot, rescued an Illinois hunter missing for four days in a remote area of Alaska. Bro. Atkins, who frequently drops off and picks up hunters in the area, spotted the man standing on top of a rock waving his arms. Atkins got the man into his plane and flew him many miles to safety. Bro. Atkins set a fine example for all. He is a true hero.

Thanks to IBEW travelers who came to Alaska this summer to work our short construction season.

Jack Endsley, P.S.

Augusta Workers Rally

Local 1579 members participate in 2005 Labor Day March in Augusta, GA.

L.U. 1579 (i&o), AUGUSTA, GA—Our LAC and the Augusta Building & Trades took to the streets in Augusta on Labor Day. Rallying at the Augusta Commons, we received a good welcome from Interim Mayor Willie Mays.

Marching from South Carolina across the Savannah River with Georgia Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor, U.S. Rep. John Barrow, Georgia Rep. Pete Warren and many other friends of labor at our side, we in labor proved we have plenty of fight left in us. We will not stop this fight to protect American workers’ rights. Thanks to our members who marched to support the union.

After the march we held our annual barbecue at our lake property at Clarks Hill. We fed over 550 members and their families. It was a good day for labor.

Our shops are holding their own. We sent 35 journeyman wiremen to Plant Vogtle and two to Southland Electric. A salt project at SRS was scheduled to start the last quarter of this year, but was delayed because of design changes. At press time, a report from Southern Co. concerning Plant Vogtle and the new reactors was scheduled for Sept. 9, 2005, in Atlanta.

‑Johnny Hutcheson, A.B.M/Org.

New Training Facilities

Local 1739 Bro. Reggie Robitaille at the Soldiers Memorial Hospital expansion project site.

L.U. 1739 (i&o), BARRIE, ON, CANADA—Work has picked up in our area, but we still have members on the road. Our local is in the middle of a tourism playground. Boats and water skis give way to downhill or Nordic skis, snowboards, ice fishing and hockey. A black bear provided added excitement to this year’s golf tourney. Bro. Art O’Hara observed that he never knew bears could run so fast. No doubt the bear never knew construction workers could run so fast either.

Members are making good use of our hall’s new training facilities. We have completed courses for Fire Alarm, Network Cabling Specialist, Workplace Safety and Organizing, among others. Your local scribe is putting his Fire Alarm training into practice on the jobsite. I am living proof that one is never too old to learn something new, so sign up and update your skills, too.

Bill Carson, P.S.

Be a Part of Progress

Attending the IBEW Tenth District Progress Meeting, from left: Int. Rep. John K. Craig, Local 1749 Bus. Mr. Jeffrey Rosentreter, Int. Vice Pres. Robert P. Klein, Local 1749 Press Sec. Mark DeJuliis and Unit Steward Vincent Wilson.

L.U. 1749 (u), NEW JOHNSONVILLE, TN—The Tenth District Progress Meeting was held in Little Rock, AR, July 12-15 with Int. Vice Pres. Robert Kline chairing the meeting. Guest speakers included IBEW Int. Pres. Edwin D. Hill; Little Rock Mayor Patrick Hayes; IBEW member James Salkeld, Arkansas Dept of Labor; IBEW Int. Sec.-Treas. Jon F. Walters; and Arkansas Secretary of State Charlie Daniels, an IBEW member. Diane Thomas-Holladay, University of Arkansas, presented a seminar on the National Labor Relations Act. She noted that union employment is lower than before the NLRA was enacted in 1935.

This can be attributed to downsizing, relocation of manufacturing jobs overseas—and constant attacks from the current Republican Administration in Washington. Some 37 million more people have entered poverty in the past four years. We must support our organizing departments, market recovery efforts, COPE, salting programs and COMET. Be active in your union. Help elect worker-friendly candidates.

Mark J.DeJuliis

P.S./Political Coordinator

Work Holding Steady

Local 2113 Pres. Lloyd Ballard (second from left), Aerospace Testing Alliance Gen. Mgr. David Elrod (left) and Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) Commander Gen. David Springer (far right) congratulate Local 2113 members who recently received IBEW service pins. Service award recipients, beginning third from left: Rick Sells, a 25-year member; Tom Wilden (40 year member), Stanley Evans (50 years), and Talmage Tilley (55 years).

L.U. 2113 (i,it,mo&o), TULLAHOMA, TN—Our work is holding steady and we are thankful for our union contractors employing members working within the jurisdiction: Jacobs Constructors Inc (JCI), Nabco, Harlan, Ralph White, Adman, Elec-Tech, Electrical Contracting Services, G*ub*mk, Fast, Lawson and Service Electric. Work at Arnold Air Force Base continues to hold, with projections for a heavier workload. We are hopeful that by the time this article is published, a new agreement will have been reached with Aerospace Testing Alliance (ATA) and the Metal Trades Council, of which our local is the largest affiliate.

Heartiest congratulations to our newly elected officers: Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. Gary M. Cunningham, Pres. Lloyd D. Ballard, Vice Pres. Brian Farless and Rec. Sec. Robert D. Porter. Bros. Farless and Cunningham are graduates of Local 2113’s apprenticeship program.

Speak or write an encouraging word every chance you get, living up to our reputation as “The Union of Hearts & Minds!”

Bob Smith, P.S.