L.U. 1 (as,c,ees,ei,em,es,et,fm,i,mt,rts,s,se,spa,st&ws), ST. LOUIS, MO — A public celebration of life ceremony for Timothy R. Murray, who recently retired from IBEW Local 1 as a business representative, took place on March 30. Murray was a third-generation Local 1 member whose family joined the union at the turn of the century. He passed away at age 64 on March 13 following a sudden illness.

Bro. Murray retired from Local 1 in 2017 and received an award for his longtime, dedicated service. A member of Local 1 since 1981, Murray was elected treasurer in 1999 and was elected to the Executive Board in 2011.

"Tim served the IBEW for 38 years with the same enthusiasm that he lived his life," said Local 1 Bus. Mgr. Frank Jacobs. "He will truly be missed."

Local 1 Bus. Rep. Chuck DeMoulin said: "I was very lucky to serve with him as a business representative. His words of wisdom and friendship will always be remembered. My heart goes out to … the entire Murray family."

Bro. Murray will be remembered for his smile, his sense of humor and his ability to live life to its fullest. He was a person who gave so much to so many.

We mourn the loss of the following members: Mary Hale, Absalon Guzman, Thomas Lucks, Thomas Thaller, Mark Finklang, Ronald Breeden, Harry Clark, Peter Frisella, Roger Bickel, Timothy Murray, Jerome Johnson Jr., Chester Williams, Melvin Crenshaw and James Bone.

Jan Bresnan, P.S.

L.U. 15 (u), DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Local 15 recently negotiated a contract extension with Exelon Generation, ComEd and Exelon Business Services. Nearly 4,800 Local 15 members will benefit from the two-year agreement. The bargaining agreement is now set to expire in 2024. (Exelon Generation on April 30 and Commonwealth Edison/Business Services on Sept. 30). Members will enjoy a 2.5 percent wage increase each April 1st and all benefits will remain the same. Bus. Mgr./Pres. Dean Apple stated that staying politically active in Springfield and helping the company present its rate case in Springfield contributed to the extension.

Local 15 mailed out ballots on May 20, 2019, for the election of local union officers, Executive Board members, and delegates to the IBEW International Convention. At the time this article went to press, the ballots were scheduled to be counted on June 17. Newly elected officers and Executive Board members will be sworn in on July 15 this year.

Stewards training recently was held at the Local 15 office. Training for the 40 new stewards took place on May 6 and May 13. New stewards were trained on: our Electronic Grievance Tracking System, Contractual Language, Duty of Fair Representation, Employee Rights, and Fact-Finding Meetings.

Sam Studer, P.S.

L.U. 17 (catv,em,lctt,o&u), DETROIT, MI — For the first time in our known history, we conducted Linemen Continuous Education Training for our construction linemen. We convinced DTE Energy that changing safety cultures and improving customer satisfaction would require bringing our members out of the field for training. The company agreed and paid the wage and benefit package for all three days for all of our linemen to attend. Training consisted of: OSHA 10 instruction; daily safety presentations noting brothers lost in our trade; advanced map reading; "restore before repair" techniques; human performance information; IBEW Code of Excellence training, etc. Results? As of May 1, an OSHA recordable incident rate of zero! Thank you to DTE, our staff, and members for taking this opportunity to stay "IBEW Strong"!

Congratulations to Lisa Bagalay, the first female line clearance tree trimmer to complete our apprentice program in more than two decades. Lisa is a standout in her trade and is well-respected as a safe, conscientious professional. We are extremely proud of you, Lisa. Stay safe, sister!

Please remember, it's a lot easier to speak up on the job about safety than it is to explain to a member's family why you didn't!

Dean Bradley, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 25 (c,catv,es,i,ptc&rts), LONG ISLAND, NY — The Calverton, NY, S-Power 23-megawatt solar farm project, which employed over 140 local union brothers and sisters, was successfully completed on time this spring.

Eldor Electrical contracting company was awarded the project with a very short time frame for it to be completed and online generating power. Bro. Mike Martorella was the general foreman, Bro. Lacey Cox was the shop steward, and Bro. Charlie Henning was the onsite project manager.

The project was initially knocked down by the Riverhead town board until further environmental studies were done. Bus. Reps. Tim McCarthy and Sean Meehan did a lot of behind-the-scenes work to secure this project. A year later the permits were approved, and the job was awarded. Congratulations to all involved.

Tom Lawless, E-Board, P.S.

L.U. 37 (em,o&u), FREDERICTON, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA — We're always proud and happy to share stories about how our members are doing their part to help others. Most recently, it was to help fundraise for the Capital Region Special Olympics, a charity that provides low-cost sport access to athletes with intellectual disabilities.

The event was the Corey MacLaughlin Memorial Bowl-A-Thon, where a team of Local 37 members had a great time helping the Special Olympics organization raise over $22,000! One-hundred percent of the money raised will go directly toward sport programming and the needs of over 150 athletes competing at all levels — giving them a chance to build on their talents and skills, make great friendships, and even travel the world!

Through its "Team-Up!" program, the Local 37 Health Wellness & Benefits Committee sponsored the team by covering the registration fee and providing shirts, and donating door prizes for the Bowl-A-Thon. The funding program is available to help eligible teams of IBEW members participate in charitable fundraising events related to health and wellness. Over the years this program has helped raise tens of thousands of dollars for charities in New Brunswick while promoting camaraderie among members and helping build relationships between Local 37 and the organizations our members care about and support.

Mary Williamson, A.B.M.

L.U. 47 (lctt,mo,o,u&uow), DIAMOND BAR, CA — Greetings, brothers and sisters. Local 47 Bus. Mgr. and Seventh District IEC member Patrick Lavin swore in 34 new members at our Outside Construction meeting March 16. Congratulations and welcome to all.

Local 47's Oracle Hall was dedicated in memory of former senior assistant business manager Hank Colt, who passed away last February. The dedication took place in April and was attended by Hank's family and Local 47 staff, officers and members.

Anaheim bargaining continues for the new engineering group, as well as for City of Colton and Irvine Ranch Water District with more dates scheduled for negotiations.

The Stewards & Safety Conference on June 21 was a great success. Ninth District Int. Vice Pres. John J. O'Rourke and Int. Rep. Charlie Randall were just some of our speakers. Over 350 participants included stewards, union safety representatives and Union Safety Board members.

Upcoming events include: the Injured Workers Fund Golf Tournament on July 19; the Local 47 Family Picnic on Aug. 10; and Local 47's Christmas celebration at Anaheim Stadium on Dec. 13.

We're sad to report the deaths of Local 47 members Joshua Tripp, Michael O'Keane, Samuel Byrd, Edward Cavanaugh and Roger Tempel.

Work safe and buy union!

Mitch Smith, P.S.

L.U. 51 (catv,lctt,o,ptc,rtb,t,u&uow), SPRINGFIELD, IL — Our RENEW Committee hosted a family Easter Egg Hunt at Fairview Park in Decatur on April 13. The good weather made for a decent turnout and the kids enjoyed the thousands of pieces of candy. Thank you, Shateveon Goforth, for arranging this event. Hopes are to make it an annual event.

2019 brings the retirement of several local union officers and staff. Bus. Mgr. John Johnson retires in July after 25 years on staff and a total of 43 years with the local. We also wish Pres. Walter Westfall, Treas. Julie Brandt, Recorder Deb Perry, office manager Sherri Clark, and lead assistant Nancy Clements a happy and healthy retirement. Collectively, they hold 192 years of seniority with the IBEW. Thank you to everyone for all you have done for Local 51.

Work is picking up on the construction side and we expect a busy summer. Line clearance tree trimming is at full employment. Enjoy your summer and keep informed by attending monthly unit meetings. Stay in touch by visiting our website, www.ibew51.org and liking our Facebook page.

Karlene Knisley, B.R.

L.U. 55 (c,lctt,o&u), DES MOINES, IOWA — Hello, brothers and sisters. Our local's Annual Recognition Dinner was March 9. The following members received service pins: 10-year pins – Hike Kenny, Josh Lindstrom, Andy Peters, Terri Vitiritto; 15-year pins –- Nelson, Jeff Deul, Cody Eigenheer, Shane Nelson; 20-year pins – Chris Lichty, Matt Poutre; 25-year pin – Gary Gander; 30-year pins – Mike Brookes, Mike Sawyer, Mark Wolfgram, Clint Odea, David Huey; 40-year pins – Dan Linser, Steve Ray; 45-year pins – John Witcraft, Dennis Gamble; 50-year pins – Loyd Jones, George Bandstra, Don Barrow; 60-year pin – Jack Bivans. Congratulations to all honorees!

I hope everyone is enjoying the summer weather. Our local still has a need for more linemen and for some other classifications also. If you are looking for work, please call and maybe we have a spot for you. Our work picture is very strong. Always remember to think safety and if you see something that doesn't look right, speak up.

Iowa is fortunate to be first in the nation again as the election cycle comes around to us with the 2020 Iowa caucuses starting next January. Try to get around and ask what the candidates stand for and if they are for organized labor or not.

See you at the Labor Day parade and picnic! We need some big guys for the Tug-of-War! The celebration is lots of fun. Make this the year to attend. Bring the kids, too! There are lots of things for them to do, and there is also an ice-cream truck.

Myron Green, P.S.

L.U. 97 (u), SYRACUSE, NY — Our officers, staff and System Safety Committee are calling for all members to refocus and recommit to working safely every day.

Our System Safety Committee has met regularly through the winter and spring to plan for safer work practices for our members. Our Safety Handbook subcommittee has also been meeting to help revise the handbook for safer work rules to use in the workplace. We continue to lobby to expand our very successful Safety Advocate program with advocates for other disciplines. We have utilized our text messaging blasts to communicate safety incidents and concerns to our members. And we continue to strive for a safer workplace every day.

Summer is now here and the season brings plans for weekend trips, vacations, and other activities. Please do not lose your focus on working safely every day, and don't forget to use safe work practices when working on projects away from work.

Dan Machold, B.R./P.S.

L.U. 99 (govt&i), PROVIDENCE, RI — On April 27, Local 99's newly formed women's committee held their first community outreach event. The Power and Light Committee (PAL) coordinated with local nonprofit Save the Bay to help with a coastal cleanup at Bold Point Park in East Providence, RI. With support from members of the RENEW committee and an appearance from newly appointed organizer Alvin Reyes, the group picked up a couch cushion, a folding chair, and more than a dozen bags of loose litter. It was a family event, with members bringing their kids and their parents alike.

Local 99 looks forward to more good things to come from our newest committee!

Nicki Kent Scambio, P.S.

L.U. 103 (cs&i), BOSTON, MA — Since taking office, Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. Lou Antonellis has been counting the Local 103 Weekly Wins. Winning work and counting jobs won on a weekly basis is a scorecard for how Local 103 is doing in the electrical construction marketplace in Greater Boston and gives the members a feel for where their next job might be, which contractor won, the location and the project's value.

Lou recently announced several exceptional wins in the residential sector of our industry, which in years past has been a very difficult market to crack. But crack it, we did! Over 1,800 units of housing won in the last few weeks alone, worth over $79 million in new electrical work. Winning these jobs in the Boston suburbs of Quincy and Somerville, as well as some of the more vulnerable parts of the city, has been a priority for Lou and his team. The members living in those communities appreciate the job opportunities closer to home, less traffic and less money spent in downtown parking garages.

In addition to these big residential wins, we are counting more wins at Logan Airport, winning 96 percent of the electrical work bid there in the last two years. Add it up and it means more residential, infrastructure, hospital and North Shore suburban wins that are keeping our contractors and members extremely busy for the foreseeable future.

Jimmy Fleming, P.S.

L.U. 113 (ees,em,i,mo&o), COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — Hope you are all having a great start to your summer.

Congratulations to our signatory contractors Par Electrical and Hooper, as those companies were the successful finalists on a bid for a 345KV line project. The new line will supply power from the Cheyenne Ridge wind farm as part of the state mandated law to move toward more renewable sources of power.

Our annual St. Patrick's Day parade this year was an even greater success than before. The turnout was spectacular, and the BBQ afterward was full of fun, camaraderie and brotherhood. Topping that off, our local had the best union float, and Local 113 won the Bit O' Blarney Award!

Mark your calendar for our annual picnic on July 27. The new venue for the picnic will be the Mining Museum, just off I-25 across from the AFA. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The family fun will include a BBQ, cornhole, bingo, and museum tours!

On April 27, the local in partnership with the Union Sportsmen's Alliance sponsored a "Take the Kids Fishing Day" and derby in an attempt to get the youngsters outdoors. We had 50 registered kids for the event. They were given fishing poles, lunch and awards for the 1st fish caught, smallest fish, largest fish and the last fish! Special thanks to all brothers and sisters for their help mentoring these kids.

Brian Putnam, P.S.

L.U. 125 (lctt,o,t&u), PORTLAND, OR — Pacific Northwest IBEW Locals 77, 125, 483 and 659 along with the NECA Chapters held a 2019 Safety Summit on April 18. With more than 400 attendees from 60 different employers, this was our largest Safety Summit to date.

The IBEW was founded on safety, and it was great to have so many turn up focused on the most important thing in our industry — keeping people safe. Michael Nash spoke about "Creating a Culture of Feedback" and how necessary it is to keep people safe and obtain high productivity. There was a panel discussion featuring CEOs from Pacific Northwest utilities.

"Based on the support shown from our employer partners and the members present, it is clear that we are all focused on safety," IBEW Local 125 Business Manger Travis Eri said. "It is unprecedented to have this type of collaboration between NECA, the IBEW, and utility partners."

Visit IBEW Local 125's Instagram feed at IBEW 125 to see videos and pictures from the event.

Marcy Grail, A.B.M.

L.U. 159 (i), MADISON, WI — IBEW Local 159 had an excellent turnout March 21 at the local job fair held at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. Over 140 people attended the event. Half of the attendees had some electrical experience or knowledge: eight with a journeyman license, five with a master license, 13 with registered license, 17 with one year of electrical experience, and 24 with classroom training. More than 60 signed up for our apprenticeship program.

Attendees had an opportunity to have face-to-face interviews with our NECA partnered contractors including Electric Construction Inc., H & H Electric, Nickles Electric, Pieper Power, Staff Electric Co., Systems Technologies, Van Ert Electric Company Inc., and Westphal & Company. All of these companies were able to seek valuable future employees who would fit into their organization.

The job fair was made possible due to many volunteers including all Wisconsin inside and outside organizers, IBEW Local 159 office staff and agents, the Wisconsin state organizing coordinator, WI-JATC, and Big Step/WRTP (Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership). Representing from the Sixth District were Int. Reps. Robert Koerschner and John Bzdawka.

This is an exciting time in our industry and it's just as exciting to see the enthusiasm of the people looking for a career in the electrical field.

Mike Grassy, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 245 (govt,lctt,o,rtb&u), TOLEDO, OHIO — Negotiating is the name of the game for the next couple of months. Both the commercial agreement and the Fourth District teledata agreement are being negotiated on the outside branch.

At the time of this writing, contract negotiations are underway for members at WTVG Channel 13 and for the Rossford firefighters.

On the utility side, negotiations for Energy Delivery and Davis Besse power station members will soon begin as these contracts had to be separated as a result of the First Energy Solutions bankruptcy.

In other news, as of this writing the latest Power Systems Institute (PSI) class was set to graduate in April 2019 hopefully adding some new faces to the Energy Delivery family.

On the nuclear side, the Ohio Legislature has put forth House Bill 6 (HB6), which will establish the Ohio Clean Air Program. This program will allow for utilities to apply for a certification as a Clean Air Source thus receiving the benefit of the program. This will go a long way in the preservation of the Davis-Besse and Perry nuclear power plants in the state of Ohio.

On the social scene, Lisa Tracy and Amanda Parker are making plans for the seventh annual Mud Hen's Baseball Outing. This will take place on Aug. 11 when Toledo plays the Pawtucket Red Sox. Deadline for signing up is July 19.

Until next time, work safe and enjoy your summer.

Ray Zychowicz, P.S.

L.U. 269 (i&o), TRENTON, NJ — On any given Saturday, along a busy stretch of U.S. Highway 1 in Bucks County, PA, you might see a group of individuals in bright yellow clothing picking up litter by the roadside.

These are dedicated IBEW Local 269 brothers and sisters who donate their own free time to fulfill the promise made to the "Adopt a Highway" program to keep this particular stretch of highway free of trash and debris.

I'm sure, as with most of us, there are other things they could be doing on a fine Saturday morning, but a promise was made to keep things clean and these dedicated union members make sure that the local keeps its word. Volunteerism is an extremely rewarding experience and it benefits all involved. Knowing you have helped through simple sacrifice is its own reward. Hats off to our brothers and sisters for all their past efforts and for all their good works going forward!

Brian Jacoppo, P.S.

L.U. 291 (c,i,mo,o,rtb&rts), BOISE, IDAHO — This last April, Local 291 Telecommunications Rep. Jason Taylor took the lead in putting together an Internal Organizing door-knocking campaign for the employees at our AT&T Call Center.

With the assistance of IBEW organizers from Locals 77, 111, 291, 354, 449 and 768; International organizers; and 20-plus volunteer organizers from the call center, over 500 doors were approached to contact both members and non-members alike.

Members were given information about upcoming bargaining and non-members were given information about the value of membership.

To the organizers who assisted us from non-right-to-work states, this work was eye-opening. They were exposed to the things those of us in so-called "right-to-work states" deal with on a daily basis.

While we may not have organized all workers at the call center yet, overall this blitz was a great success for many reasons.

Thank you to all the business managers who released staff to assist, to the International staff organizers, and of course to all of our Volunteer Organizing Committee (VOC) participants who assisted in this campaign. You know who you are!

I hope you all are enjoying a beautiful summer!

Mark Zaleski, B.M.

L.U. 309 (i,lctt,mo,mt,o,rts,spa&u), COLLINSVILLE, IL — I would like to thank the retirees who have done such a great deed with the wiring of numerous Habitat for Humanity projects throughout our jurisdiction. It's a wonderful and fulfilling way to give back to the communities you've worked in. What a great job by all who have helped in these efforts.

On a personal note, I would like to congratulate Bro. Scott Tweedy on his recent retirement, effective at the end of June 2019. Scott has served his local well in numerous ways. He has been an assistant business manager for the past 19 years. He has served under numerous administrations and has always performed his job professionally. Scott's 39 years in the trade have provided him numerous rolls at the union. He was a steward, negotiator, E-Board member and has sat on numerous committees during his years of service. Scott deserves the retirement he is about to embark on, and I'm sure he will be able to fill the time traveling and enjoying time spent with his granddaughter. His wit and words of wisdom will be sorely missed by all who have had a chance to know him. Congratulations, brother, and well-deserved praises.

Remember to attend union meetings and don't hesitate to be involved in your local.

Tim Evans, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 313 (i&spa), WILMINGTON, DE — Summer is in full swing and hopefully all are working who want to be. And if you are not working, God bless you. For most, working provides the means to do what we also really enjoy. We should all be working toward a time when we can do our favorite things seven days a week.

Retired members have left the working phase of their lives and now are able to relax and enjoy their free time. Retired members wear big smiles along with their golf shoes or flip-flops, their ball caps or motorcycle helmets, sunglasses and speedos — whatever they enjoy and whatever activities they choose. Many of the young members do not yet realize how lucky they are, and all working members should look forward to that next stage of life.

For working members taking shorter vacations, enjoy it. A few weeks of down time going places, hanging out and treating yourself will do you good when it's time to get back to work. It is a good thing to be able to take some time off and be able to have a job to come back to. You will be fresher and more productive after you have had a vacation.

We hope everyone enjoyed the shrimp feast, the corn-hole tournament and the golf outing. We hope to see all of the members and their families at the picnic.

Bruce W. Esper, P.S.

L.U. 343 (i,spa&st), LE SUEUR, MN — "Hey! What's in it for me?" The "it" is our new contract. What most members seem to look for is the pay raise but hold on … read the fine print. Read the new contract. Contractual language does affect our daily work lives more than the hourly wage.

What defines our safety and health, our employee rights, the management rights, break times, holidays, vacations and overtime? The contract does. What defines our insurance, retirement, referral order, apprentice ratios, grievance procedures and work hours? The contract does.

We, the union, and the signatory contractors are legally bound to follow the language of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Adhering to the CBA allows both parties to benefit and be successful. Take the time to read and understand our new contract. This will make you a more knowledgeable union member and that, brothers and sisters, will make our local union stronger. At the next contract renewal, maybe we should add "a copy of the current CBA" to the tool list. Thank you to the Local 343 Labor Management Committee members for their efforts during the past few months of negotiations.

Happy Independence Day! Keep America beautiful … buy "Made in USA."

Tom Small, P.S.

L.U. 351 (c,cs,i,it,lctt,mt,o,se,spa&t), FOLSOM, NJ — On Saturday, March 9, this year IBEW Local 351 held our 25th year anniversary dinner dance at the Borgata Hotel and Casino. We celebrated the merger of former Locals 211, 439 and 592 into IBEW Local 351, which took place May 1, 1994.

The anniversary dinner was totally sold out with 1,200 people in attendance. All members who attended received 25-year anniversary watches. The night was a huge success, and everyone had a great time. The sisterhood and brotherhood of the IBEW filled the room.

The wonderful occasion will be remembered for a very long time. Thank you to the Dinner Dance Committee and the membership for all their hard work in making this such a successful event.

Dan Cosner, B.M.

Current Louisville, KY, Local 369 Bus. Mgr. Charlie Essex (second from left) hosted all living former business managers of the local at an Open House event in April 2019. From left are: Bill Finn, C. Essex, Larry Clark, Chuck Kimberlin and Terry Luckett.

L.U. 375 (catv,ees,et,govt,i&mo), ALLENTOWN, PA — We are excited to announce the launch of our new website! When you check out our new design, you will see that there are many interactive features. For example, www.IBEW375.org will now allow for local members to pay their union dues online.

In addition to the new website, at the time of this writing lots of exciting events were scheduled in our jurisdiction. Our annual Dorney Park outing was scheduled to take place at the end of May. It is a well-attended event that serves as a great day to spend with your family and catch up with many of our union brothers and sisters!

Also, at press time, plans were underway for a Father's Day event, when we were scheduled to host our second annual Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs game, where there is fun, food and hopefully sunshine.

In regard to business, at press time the Sands Casino was scheduled to be bought by Wind Creek Hospitality, pending the state's approval. We look forward to welcoming them into our community. Along with our leadership at Local 375, the Lehigh Valley Building Trades is working closely on a new project labor agreement (PLA) so we can be sure to secure all the new development that Wind Creek will bring to our beloved Lehigh Valley.

With summer's arrival, we wish everyone safe travels on all your vacations and adventures.

Justin Grimshaw, A.B.M.

L.U. 449 (catv,em,i,o,rtb,rts,spa&u), POCATELLO, IDAHO — Greetings, brothers and sisters. There is much to be thankful for as our work picture is very strong heading into summer. Our local is continuing to see steady growth and hours worked are near record levels.

We are looking forward to our summer events. At the time of this writing, Local 449 was scheduled to host the state AFL-CIO convention in June this year, so as of press time we were getting ready for a great time on that occasion with our brothers and sisters from around the state. The Chuckars baseball night was set for June 29. Our annual picnic will be July 13.

Congratulations to our recently retired brothers: Larry Webb, Peter "Petee" Meyers, Mike Mann, Jeff Beasley and Theodore Zech.

In memoriam: Bros. Alan Christensen, Paul Bossert and Adam Allen. Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the family and friends. These brothers are truly missed.

Ned Jones, B.M.

L.U. 531 (i), LAPORTE, IN — Recent events in Local 531 prove that we have heart. Earlier in the month of April a few members and their spouses attended the Heart of Gold Gala for the American Heart Association. The event was held at Avalon Manor in Merrillville, IN, and there was a strong labor presence among the attendees. Local 531 along with Local 697 (of Gary & Hammond, IN) and NECA sponsored tables at the event, as did some other trades and companies involved with organized labor. Educational information was presented about how we all can take better care of our health, and some stories were shared about how the money raised at this annual event has made a real difference in some people's lives.

Later in the month was the local's annual blood drive for the American Red Cross. Many members and their families showed up to donate and some even gave a double blood donation. A big thanks to all the volunteers who helped make things run smoothly and a big thank-you to Bro. John Andjelich, who has coordinated this event for the last few years.

Jeremy Woolever, P.S.

L.U. 569 (i,mar,mt,rts&spa), SAN DIEGO, CA — In April, over 125 IBEW Local 569 members volunteered to renovate homes and upgrade electrical systems for 12 families in need, including seniors and wounded veterans throughout San Diego County. We are grateful for the outpouring of support from our members and the contributions of materials and resources from our signatory contractors.

On that same Saturday morning as our annual Day of Service, a terrorist opened fire on congregants of a local synagogue in Poway. We are deeply thankful that our IBEW 569 brother and Army veteran Oscar Stewart courageously helped stop further bloodshed by scaring off and chasing away the shooter.

Check out the Los Angeles Times article that details what Oscar did to save local lives: http://bit.ly/OscarStewart.

Let us also be reminded of the words of solidarity from our IBEW Int. Pres. Lonnie R. Stephenson: "Bigotry of any kind divides member against member, destroys the foundations of solidarity and undermines our power as a union." IBEW 569 stands up against hate and we send our hearts and prayers to our Poway Chabad community.

Finally, we hope to see you at our 5th Annual IBEW Padres Day at Petco Park on Saturday, Aug. 24. Check out our website for more details at www.ibew569.org.

Gretchen Newsom, P.S.

L.U. 611 (catv,es,govt,i,lctt,o,spa,t&u), ALBUQUERQUE, NM — As of this writing, 420 IBEW electricians are working at a Facebook data center construction project in Los Lunas, NM, with Building 5 and Building 6 expected to break ground in late August or early September. Facebook opened the first of six buildings at the data center in February. The company also purchased another 456 acres of land in Los Lunas but has not yet said what it plans to do with that land.

An Intel project in our jurisdiction has been manning up for a couple of months and at last count there were 80 members working on site.

Los Alamos (Triad) has had a number of calls they've been trying to fill for quite some time. Work has been plentiful for a while, so our organizing efforts are going well; we have put several travelers out to work.

This year's Workers Memorial Day observance was held April 28. It is an event to honor all workers who have died on the job. The memorial event was put together this year by Asst. Bus. Mgr. Santos Griego. There were several speakers, including New Mexico state Rep. Christine Trujillo. After the ceremony, hamburgers and hot dogs were served and, other than somewhat windy weather conditions, the event went well.

Our 2019 Outside Outstanding Apprentice of the Year was Joel Valdez. Congratulations, Joel.

Local 611 extends condolences to the families and friends of recently deceased members George A. Gutierrez and Wallace R. Weir.

Darrell J. Blair, P.S.

L.U. 617 (c,i,mo&st), SAN MATEO, CA — Greetings, brothers and sisters. The construction boom continues in the Bay Area. For IBEW Local 617, this means jobs for our sisters and brothers. Thank you to both members and travelers who exemplify the IBEW Code of Excellence.

On April 13, representatives of Local 617 participated in the Climate Convergence at the Zero Net Energy Center in San Leandro, CA. We worked together on how labor can be more active on issues involving climate change and adapting new strategies to help future generations have clean water and air.

Rebuilding Together gave Local 617 members an opportunity to give back to our San Mateo community. A community service event was spearheaded by the EWMC, with help from other IBEW sisters and brothers. The day was spent helping those less fortunate by performing minor electrical repairs. Many thanks to those who gave of their time to assist.

Memorial Day gave us time to enjoy family and friends and to take a moment to remember and honor our fallen heroes. On the 78th Annual Memorial Day observance, members of Local 617 and their families, the Motorcycle Club and the Veterans Group joined to honor the fallen. "Semper recordare" — always remember.

Please be safe and have a good summer.

Kenn Perfitt, P.S.

L.U. 627 (u), FORT PIERCE, FL — Greetings, brothers and sisters!

The local is proud to have been represented at this year's Behavior Based Safety Conference in Nashville, TN. Sister Alisha Betcke attended the three-day event and was able to capture critical information to expand our local's BBS engagement. Our skilled craftsmen look forward to leveraging the learnings, strategies and information presented.

At the April Executive Board meeting, Bro. Robert Sweeney was appointed Local 627 vice president, filling the vacant position formerly held by retired Bro. James M. Smith. The local congratulates Bro. Sweeney on his new position and also sends out a big thank-you to Bro. Smith for his dedicated service as vice president.

Finally, Local 627 thanks Bro. Peter Allen for spearheading the 2019 Ironman Fundraising event. This was Bro. Allen's first time as lead organizer, and his countless volunteer hours and dedication led to a very successful result. Also, thank you to ALL who volunteered and sponsored the event; we could not have done it without you!

Brothers and sisters, safety has always been the IBEW's highest priority. Please continue to be "your brother's keeper" and demonstrate the Code of Excellence with pride, skill and solidarity!

Safety & solidarity!

Fernando Salcedo, P.S.

L.U. 683 (i) COLUMBUS, OHIO — Greetings, brothers and sisters. Local 683 would like to thank all the travellers helping us man work in our jurisdiction! We have several projects that have manned up recently with more on the horizon!

On April 27, a group of 43 IBEW Local 683 brothers and sisters volunteered their time and effort to help those less fortunate. Bros. Dan Sime and Trent Parker, in affiliation with Modcon Living, organized electrical repairs for 12 houses on the west side of Columbus. Local 683 retirees, journeymen and apprentices worked together on a nice spring day, showing the community what IBEW brotherhood is all about. Thank you to all who participated!

Patrick Hook, Pres.

L.U. 697 (c,es,i,mt&se), GARY AND HAMMOND, IN — The 2019 Local 697 EWMC annual basketball tournament was a great success!

The highlight of the fifth annual event was Bro. Virgil Lincoln Sr., a newly retired member, being honored for his exemplary service as a signatory contractor, IBEW member, and extraordinary example of what the EWMC stands for.

The competition was fierce this year with several challengers eager to take the title and have their names proudly displayed on the plaque at the Local 697 union hall. Congratulations to the 3-on-3 winners: Adam Spurr, Brad Stooksbury and Paul Quiroz. This year, a new 3-point contest was introduced at the tournament and proved to be very popular by drawing participants who didn't take part in the main event. The three-round spectacle turned out to be a nail-biter with the female category ending in a head-to-head shootout. The 3-point contest winners were Mark Patrick and Faye Woodson.

The event raised over $500 for the March of Dimes, and all the photos are posted in the "photo gallery" at www.ibew697.org.

Ryan Reithel, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 915 (i&mt), TAMPA, FL — It was another great night at our annual April service pin presentation and cookout union meeting. From retired members with up to 65 years of service to those new members just being sworn in, each has their own place in the history of Local 915 and continues to build on the true meaning of brotherhood and solidarity.

Local 915 was honored to have our new Fifth District Int. Vice Pres. Brian K. Thompson join us at our cookout and meeting. He addressed the membership and spoke about his vision for moving the Fifth District forward. Vice Pres. Thompson also joined the volunteers of Local 915 at the Union Sportsmen's Alliance Suncoast Youth Conservation Center in partnership with the Gulf Coast Building and Construction Trades Council at an inaugural volunteer event the following day. We thank him for his leadership.

We are proud of all our service-pin recipients and were honored to have 45 in attendance to receive their pins. Congratulations to Bro. Howard Fields for his 65 years of service, and special thanks for being an active member of the Retirees Club. Our Brother-of-the-Year Award went to Bro. Steven Van Order for his ongoing commitment in growing our union.

Theresa King, R.S.

L.U. 1015 (em&i), WESLACO, TEXAS — IBEW Local 1014 sends out a big Texas "salude" to our Bro. Pedro Ramirez Jr., from the great town of Mercedes, Texas, who recently happily retired. He looks forward to spending more time with his wife of 44 years, Delia Ramirez, his three wonderful children, and four beautiful grandchildren.

Bro. Ramirez is one of our shining stars who proves beyond a doubt that being a member of IBEW Local 1015 is worthwhile and a great opportunity. He became a Local 1015 member in June 2000 and has been a diligent, dedicated member ever since. He is very proud of his membership and happy to see his first retirement check posted to his account.

Bro. Ramirez is a hands-on member who has worked very hard over the years all across Texas to make sure that his family has been taken care of and his children were put through school to make a better life for themselves and carry on the family legacy.

Tammy Casas, P.S.

L.U. 1049 (lctt,o,u&uow), LONG ISLAND, NY — We are continuing to negotiate a first contract on behalf of our newly organized members from Altice USA. As of this writing, we have met five times and we have tentative agreements on 25 contractual clauses. Some of these include: Union Recognition, Union Security, Management Rights, Union Representation, Probationary Periods and the use of Bulletin Boards. Some of these items may seem small and/or trivial, but they are the foundation upon which a solid collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is built. Bus. Mgr. Ronald Bauer fully expects the momentum of tentative agreements to slow down a bit as we get to economic issues such as rates of pay, which will include straight time, overtime, holiday and stand-by pay and paid time off.

In April, Bus. Mgr. Bauer announced that we have been approached by PSEG LI about a possible contract extension. Typically, during an extension discussion, the parties agree to limit the number of items to be discussed. If we cannot meet the members' needs with an extension, we will be fully prepared for a full negotiation. The PSEG LI CBA expires Nov. 13, 2019.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. On that day we will be hosting our membership and family picnic at the Central Islip Fire Department. This is a great family day of brotherhood with food, beverages and activities for the entire family.

Thomas J. Dowling, R.S.

L.U. 1205 (em,govt,i&u), GAINESVILLE, FL — It may surprise you that women make up only 1 percent of the total electrical workforce in the United States, according to 2009 census data.

Sisters Kayla Koehlmoos and Carson Stanton are taking steps to change these numbers. Their mission is to provide a resource and inspire women to join the trades — providing community outreach to women who may not have seen the IBEW as a feasible career choice.

On April 6, 2019, at our apprenticeship facility in Gainesville, they held the first community outreach. The workshop was an educational experience to teach the young girls in attendance what unions are and how they can turn something fun into a career. Every girl in attendance got the opportunity to make a light in a mason jar and wire up a receptacle and a switch (see accompanying photo).

Schools and career fairs are some of the future sites for events to promote what we all know is a wonderful, fulfilling career choice. There will be a shortage of skilled craftsmen in our trade over the next 10 years, so we need to come up with new and innovative ways to attract the best and brightest young men and women to work side by side with existing electricians in the trade.

The foresight to see these shortages and overcome them will allow us to stay competitive in the future. The reception to the April 6 event was very positive. Little Nancy Howell, the youngest in attendance, commented: "When i grow up, I want to be an ''electrocution-er.'" We all look forward to working with you in the future, "little Nancy" class of 2035.

Jonathan Howell, P.S.

L.U. 1347 (ees,em&u), CINCINNATI, OHIO — On April 12 this year, IBEW Local 1347 was invited to Holmes High School, located in Covington, KY, on behalf of the senior class of 2019.

We were invited to speak on union jobs within the IBEW for those getting ready to graduate this year. We discussed alternative careers that do not require a college degree, and that are desirable and well paid.

Overall, the presentation went over well, and many students seemed interested in future careers with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Attending from Local 1347 were: Bus. Mgr. Andrew Kirk, Asst. Bus. Mgr. Kenny Gross, lineman Bob Allen, and office coordinator Rachel Glover. John Waits, from the United Steelworkers, also attended.

A WLWT (NBC) news crew showed up to record the event. The cameraman with the news crew, Brandon Oubre, is also an IBEW member, from Cincinnati Local 1224. He added a few comments during the event as well.

Kenny Gross, A.B.M.

L.U. 1579 (i&o), AUGUSTA, GA — What a big heart we have at Local 1579!

At a recent union meeting, at the recommendation of our Executive Board, the membership approved a nice donation to the Vietnam War Memorial located here in Augusta. It was an honor to attend a dedication ceremony along with a couple of our veterans from Local 1579.

Although many politicians were there and gave their speeches, it was the veterans — from not only Local 1579 but from all across the country — who made this event special. To all the veterans who are reading this, thank you for your service that continues to keep us safe.

2019 is turning out to be another prosperous year for Local 1579. Our work situation is still booming with an additional 600 to be added at the Vogtle project. The rest of our jobs in the jurisdiction are also hiring, and we are doing our best to target and get more work that we don't typically get.

I know I may sound like a broken record to many of our members who see me out on our jobs, but I would like to say one more thing: Save your money while you are making this good overtime and incentives; it will make your life and your family's life much better in the future.

Until next time, God bless.

Will Salters, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 1649 (t), BEAUFORT, SC — Our Local 1649 raised money for a Relay For Life event in Hampton, SC, in mid-May this year. Relay For Life is a community fundraising event to benefit the fight against cancer. We previously held a fundraiser by selling Boston butts. On the day of the Relay For Life event, we grilled burgers and hot dogs, cooked fries, and sold candy, drinks, popcorn and snow cones to help with this cause.

We were able to donate quite a bit because of the hard work of several Local 1649 members who volunteered their personal time to help out. We may be a small group but when we work together, we can make a big change. Accompanying this article is a picture (below) of our group who volunteered to work the tent at the Relay For Life event on May 18.

Mike Smith, B.M./Pres.

L.U. 2067 (o&u), REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA — IBEW Local 2067 members who work for the provincial utility, SaskPower, have been without a contract for over two years.

Their collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expired Dec. 31, 2016, and their Bargaining Committee has been working tirelessly to get an agreement deserving of the great work and dedication members provide the employer and people of Saskatchewan.

The Crown Corporation hasn't had much leeway to work with the union; the Government of Saskatchewan initially mandated -3.5 percent for all public service negotiations.

When the first tentative agreement was sent to the membership in October 2017, they sent back a resounding "NO" — with 81 percent against the proposed memorandum of agreement (MOA). Negotiations continued with slow progress, finally resulting in the government softening on their mandate. A second tentative agreement was reached and presented, resulting in a 61 percent vote against the employer's offer.

In April of 2019, the same government (who has demanded that the public sector accept less) gave themselves a 2.3 percent increase based on the cost-of-living adjustment. … This after a statement from the previous premier Brad Wall, who stated in 2016: "I have always said — we will not ask other public sector workers to do anything we aren't prepared to do ourselves as elected officials."

Curtis Lizée, A.B.M.