FIRST PUBLISHED IN 1893

w w w . i b e w . o r g

The IBEW’s construction membershiphit an all-time high of 330,786 inNovember, surpassing a previouspeak in 2002 that was followed by

three years of declines.IBEW leaders attribute the turnaround

to a renewed commitment to membershipdevelopment and a sea change in attitude atevery level of the union—from the membersand local union leadership to signatory con-tractors and those who use the services ofthe contractors.

“Our doors are finally being opened forall levels of the trade,” said Buddy Satterfield,Special Assistant to the InternationalPresident for Organizing, adding that one ofthe most important changes in the IBEW overthe past two years is the addition of two inter-mediate classifications of wireman: construc-tion electrician and construction wireman.“Different classifications for different levels ofskill and pay have allowed our contractors tobe much more competitive.”

In Florida, the birthplace of the IBEW’smodern construction organizing effort, netconstruction membership is up 13 percent intwo years, Satterfield said. Florida is where anew breed of organizer with a new bag oftricks honed skills that are being duplicatedaround the country, with similarly impressiveresults. Those tactics include the intermedi-ate classifications which allow for the immedi-ate acceptance of electricians with importantskills that do not meet journeyman standards,and a small works agreement that gives con-tractors more flexibility on smaller jobs. Manyof the newer workers are applying for appren-ticeship training and journeyman tests.

The industry night is one of the mostsuccessful organizing tactics. They are openhouses on neutral ground hosted by the localunion and signatory contractors to whichnonunion workers are invited to learn aboutemployment opportunities. In city after city,following intensive blitzes of nonunion work-sites, the industry nights are netting newmembers in record numbers.

In Nashville, Local 429 has picked up350 new members since January 2007.Membership is up 27 percent and BusinessManager Robert Emery Jr. said they are tak-ing in between 75 and 90 new members eachmonth. In Austin, Texas, nonunion employerspaid workers overtime and treated them to abarbeque to keep them from attending anindustry night. Despite their efforts, 17 newmembers were hired at the November event.

A 2007 push for the Carolinas has IBEWmembership in those states finally increasing.Not only are organizers targeting nonunionworkers, they are hitting employers, emphasiz-ing the potential for growth with a skilledIBEW work force behind them. Particularly

appealing to them is the IBEWCode of Excellence, adopted byindividual local unions, inwhich the members agree tohigh standards of skill and pro-fessional performance.

Through his outreach tothe Construction Users RoundTable (CURT), InternationalPresident Edwin D. Hill isreaching out to the users ofconstruction services to com-municate the advantages ofbuilding union.

The IBEW is also enhanc-ing its communications tomembers and nonmemberswith the addition of a new pub-lication, the reader-friendlyElectrical Worker newspaper,and its presence on theInternet with IBEW Hour

Power (www.IBEWHourPower.com) andElectric TV (www.ElectricTV.net), whichshowcase construction members and jobs.

In the other branches of the IBEW, anaggressive new organizing program is under-way. Losses in the non-construction brancheshave finally stopped and are now starting totick back up again, Satterfield said.

Satterfield said the post-9/11 economicslump hit the construction market especiallyhard; so did the decline of the domestic man-ufacturing industry that has accelerated inrecent years. That the beginning of the babyboom retirements were hitting the union atthe same time.

President Hill said the membershipincreases could not have been possible with-out an embrace of new concepts and tacticsat the grassroots and local union level.

“The key to the future is to be able toprovide the manpower to perform on theprojects we know are coming up,” Hill said.“If we continue to keep our doors open andseek out the nonunion worker, we’re going tobe the only game in town.” z

2Death at Verizon

Toronto high-tech factory

3Sears Canada lockout

Nashville sings IBEW tune

4Linemen repair Calif. grid

5Building on a record in Toronto

6Organizing Wire

IBEW on Duty

7Circuits

Washington Update

8Local Lines

14Editorials

Letters to the Editor

Who We Are

16Spotlight on Safety

I n t e r n a t i o n a l B r o t h e r h o o d o f E l e c t r i c a l W o r k e r s Vol. 2 | No. 1 | January 2008

IBEW Construction Membership Reaches All-Time High

I N T H I S I S S U E

314,000

316,000

318,000

320,000

322,000

324,000

326,000

328,000

330,000

332,000

2007*20062005200420032002

330,386

325,443

322,140

320,597

325,172

330,787

(*Through November ‘07)

Turning the Corner: ConstructionMembership from 2002–2007

Death Highlights Unsafe Conditions at Verizon

Amember of Middleboro, Mass., Local2322 died on the job on Friday, Oct.26 while attempting to repair aproblem on Verizon lines. Gary

Gibbons, 53, a splice service technician, waskilled when the elevated bucket he was incame into contact with electrical wires, caus-ing an explosion.

The death—the third Verizon IBEWworkplace fatality in the past 18 months(CWA has had two others)—unfortunatelyepitomizes persistent safety concerns at thetelecommunications company, occurring ayear after IBEW International PresidentEdwin D. Hill wrote to the CEO to questionVerizon’s commitment to a safety program.

“There has been a troubling increase inthe number of serious accidents on theVerizon property with too many of these acci-dents resulting in fatalities,” President Hillwrote to Ivan Seidenberg. “Our own high-level investigation indicates that most of therecent accidents may have been avoided hadthe employees been trained and encouragedto work in compliance of safety rules.”

Myles Calvey, chairman of SystemCouncil T-6, covering Verizon New England,said none of the company’s truck buckets areinsulated, a safety feature that could havebeen a factor in saving Gibbons’s life. TheIBEW’s own ability to investigate the fatality

is drastically limited by Verizon’s failure toshare any accident data with the union, saidCalvey, who is also a member of theInternational Executive Council and busi-ness manager of Boston Local 2222.

Workers report that Verizon’s manage-ment has been stressing productivity oversafe work procedures, with new hires dis-patched to the field without proper safetytraining and employees denied safety devicesthey requested. President Hill proposed a

meeting between IBEW leaders and Verizonexecutives to reinvigorate stalled talks onongoing safety issues.

Four days after Gibbons’s death, Verizonfired five IBEW FiOS technicians for failingto meet production quotas. The “FiOS Five”are new workers with less than 12 months on the job, just short of the one-year servicerequirement that would have called for aneutral arbitrator to decide on the merits of their dismissals. The IBEW says Verizon’s

push for unattainable production quotas areputting workers and the public at risk. FiOSis a popular new high-bandwidth fiber opticservice that carries traditional phone service,Internet and cable.

The IBEW’s five-year contract withVerizon, which covers 20,000 people in NewEngland, New Jersey, New York andPennsylvania, expires in August. Early bar-gaining has already started. z

2 T h e E l e c t r i c a l W o r k e r x January 2008

Toronto Local Helps Turn Failing FactoryInto High-Tech Leader

When Electrohome ProjectionSystems was bought out by aJapanese corporation in 2000,there was fear among the more

than 30 employees at the electronics manu-facturing plant that this was the end forthe company.

“There were a lot of workers with over 30years of service, and a lot of them were scared,”said Cecile Pawlak, Toronto, Ontario, Local636 unit chairwoman, who had worked as an assembler at the Kitchener-basedElectrohome for more than 40 years. “Wethought they would pack all the equipmentand send it off to Japan,” she said.

At its height, Electrohome employedmore than 1,000 members of Local 636, butin the 1980’s competition from cheap foreignimports cut into the factory’s sales and workforce, which assembled TV’s, stereos andother electronic devices.

But instead of shutting down the plant,Christie Digital Systems, a subsidiary of theUshio Corp., and Local 636 entered into apartnership to turn the failing companyinto a leader in the technology triangle ofOntario, a region in the southwest sectionof the province which has become a centerfor research.

The revitalized plant now employs morethan 120 IBEW members in the growing digi-tal cinema industry: using digital technologyto distribute motion pictures. Instead of hav-ing to produce and distribute movie reels,which costs millions of dollars, digital cin-ema allows movie studios to send out theirfilms to theatres through the Internet.Christie is one of two companies that manu-facture digital cinema equipment, and whileit is still not widely available, the technologywill likely be in most theatres across NorthAmerica within the next 10 years.

Workers at the plant do everything fromassembling and shipping digital projectors toperforming quality testing and experiment-ing with new technology.

Ushio, which is a nonunion company, wasconcerned about working with a union plant,but the local made clear that it wanted to be apartner in reinventing the company on a high-tech basis. “We believe in mutual gains bar-gaining,” Pawlak said. “We told them that wecould make it a strong company, and if theyworked with the union and its members,together we could make it happen.”

“We approached the owners in the spiritof open dialogue and finding common solu-tions to our problems,” said Local 636 BusinessRepresentative Tracy O’Meara. After negotiat-ing a strong benefit and pension package, thecompany—the only unionized company in thetriangle—hired more than 100 new workers,

while offering classes and in-house training tothe former Electrohome employees, now work-ing under Christie Digital.

One of the most notable changes fromthe old plant is that Christie requires newemployees to have a college degree.“Manufacturing has become so specializedthat workers have to bring a certain level ofskill and education to the job,” Pawlak said.

With nearly 90 percent of employeeshired in the last three years, it can be a chal-lenge at times for the local to integrate anew generation of workers who don’t havemuch experience with unions. “At ourmonthly meetings, we try to explain our his-tory and why it’s important so the youngworkers understand,” Pawlak said. “But allthey need to do is to compare our benefitswith other facilities to see the advantages ofbeing an IBEW member.” z

Members of Toronto, Ontario, Local 636 assemble equipment for the growing digital cinema industry at thenew Christie Digital Systems plant in Kitchener.

“There has been a

troubling increase in

the number of serious

accidents on the

Verizon property with

too many of these

accidents resulting in

fatalities. Our own

high-level investigation

indicates that most of

the recent accidents

may have been avoided

had the employees been

trained and encouraged

to work in compliance

of safety rules.”

– President Hill wrote to Verizon CEO

w w w. i b e w. o r g T h e E l e c t r i c a l W o r k e r x January 2008 3

Attention Shoppers: Don’t Shop at Sears Canada

Members of Vancouver, BritishColumbia, Local 213 are remindingSears Canada that union-bustingcan be bad for business.

Local 213 members and their familiesspent the holiday shopping season leafletingcustomers at Sears Canada department storesthroughout the province to convince them toshop elsewhere until the company ends itslockout of more than 70 service technicians.

Local 213 has represented the techni-cians—who repair Sears-bought appliancesfor customers in southern British Columbia—since 2001. During negotiations for their sec-ond contract last September, Sears Canadademanded substantial concessions, saidAssistant Business Manager Rave Ghuman.The company’s takebacks included no guaran-teed wage increase for four years, the right toimpose split weekends—which means no con-secutive days off—loss of Boxing Day as apaid holiday, and no overtime for the first halfhour past quitting time.

The local’s negotiating committee told thecompany its demands were unacceptable. OnOctober 1, Local 213 members who showed upfor work found a written notice from the com-pany telling them they were locked out. SearsCanada offered to lift the lockout for anyemployee who was willing to work under itsimposed contract and told them that theywould not have to pay union dues.

“This is clearly an attempt by the com-pany to drive out the union,” said Local 213Business Manager Rick Dowling. “If (Sears)succeeds in its agenda, it will be extremelydifficult to organize other large companieswho employ electrical service techniciansthroughout Canada.”

According to provincial labour law,because the technicians work out of a cen-tral warehouse, Local 213 is not allowed toset up “locked out” pickets outside of depart-ment stores. But they can hold informationalpickets. With the lockout falling during thebusiest shopping season of the year, the localknew that a consumer boycott could be aneffective tool to encourage the company toplay fair. “If we can affect their sales volumenow that the Christmas shopping season hasstarted, we can hopefully bring them to theirsenses.” Dowling said.

The boycott is growing into a nationwidemovement. IBEW First District Vice PresidentPhillip Flemming has encouraged all Canadianlocals to support the boycott and in November,labour federations in both British Columbiaand Alberta endorsed the campaign. IBEWleaders said they hope that the expansion ofthe boycott can put enough pressure on theretailer to return to the bargaining table.

“When facing a giant corporation likeSears Canada, solidarity from the entire labourmovement is key to victory,” said Flemming. z

Members of Vancouver, British Columbia, Local 213 and other labour activists protest Sears Canada’s lockout of IBEW service technicians.

Nonunion electricians are singing thepraises of the IBEW in Nashville,Tenn. Last year, 350 new membersjoined Nashville Local 429. The

road to growth was paved with a commitmentto the signatory contractors of Local 429 byBusiness Manager Robert M. Emery Jr. andthe newly expanded IBEW MembershipDevelopment Department.

Over 20 organizers from several differ-ent locals descended upon Music City lastApril to participate in Local 429’s first elec-trical industry night, visiting open shop jobsites and encouraging electricians to attendthe job fair. Their goal was to fill thedemanding manpower needs of the growingsignatory contractors of Local 429.

The result was an overwhelmingresponse by the electricians in Nashville whoare ready to receive the wages and benefitsthat they deserve.

The local union’s market share hasnearly doubled while their membership hasgrown by 30 percent in six months as newmembers come in at a rate of 75 to 90 amonth. Local 429 has also seen its man hoursincrease by 70 percent since this time lastyear. The JATC has indentured 127 appren-

tices in that same six-month span with newmembers taking full advantage of the oppor-tunities provided by the IBEW.

“We often have applicants lined up forjobs before they finish their applications,”says Emery.

A retooling of Saturn/GM’s plant inSpring Hill, Tenn. has put nearly 200 electri-cians to work for three signatory contractors.Other Local 429 contractors have takenadvantage of the thriving commercial indus-try in Nashville and are competing in the res-idential and small commercial projects thathave fed the nonunion sector for years.

“There has been an outstanding teameffort here in Nashville with full cooperationfrom the local staff, Local 429’s JATC pro-gram, our signatory contractors, and the sup-port of our members, who have eased thetransition for these newly recruited brothersand sisters,” says Emery.

In October, the local signed up 111 newmembers. Word of mouth in the trade aboutthe benefits of IBEW membership is fuelingmuch of the growth, Emery said.

The local held a second successfulindustry blitz in November. New member ori-entation sessions are being held to educate

the new brothers and sisters while the local’sBrotherhood Committee has stepped upefforts by meeting once a month to promotetrade union understanding and solidarity.

As new members stream into the hall,Local 429’s newsletter has also fosteredinterest in its new contractor developmentprogram for members to research establish-ing their own electrical contracting busi-nesses. Local 429 has also overseen theexploration of piece work plans to stay com-petitive with nonunion players in theexpanding residential construction market.

Tenth District International VicePresident Robert Klein, InternationalRepresentatives Nathan Edgar and Brent Hall,and International Lead Organizer Dave Hogue,put the new organizing plan in motion. JohnLedwell and Brian Adams, the local’s member-ship development administrators, field organiz-ers Tony Adams, David Davidson, and RichardDeLaby, as well as outside organizer Arthur“Ozzie” Howard, comprise the new membershipdevelopment department at Local 429.

To start off 2008, Local 429 is planningits first top-down blitz, visiting nonunioncontractors at their business offices toexpand its contractor base. z

Grand Ole Organizing in Nashville

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4 T h e E l e c t r i c a l W o r k e r x January 2008

Long before the smoke cleared, IBEWmembers were on the job repairingthe serious damage to the electricalgrid from the fires that ravaged

Southern California last fall.At the height of the crisis fueled by

fierce Santa Ana winds and dry conditions,up to 14 fires were burning across a broadswath of the southern portion of the state.

Hundreds of utility members employed bySouthern California Edison and San Diego Gas& Electric as well as those working for con-tractors went to work restoring power to mil-lions of residents. The most intense restorationwork kept crews on round-the-clock shifts forweeks after the fires were put out. But somewere still making critical infrastructure repairsmonths later, said Diamond Bar, Calif., Local47 Business Manager Pat Lavin.

As usual in disaster restoration work,conditions were a challenge. “In some of theplaces where the air quality was so bad, thecompanies would only allow them to worklimited hours,” said Lavin, who is anInternational Executive Council member.Persistent smoke, ash and dust made it hardto see and to breathe, Lavin said.

“A week and a half after the fire was gone,a pall of smoke hung over the Southland,”Lavin said. “It was eerie.”

Together, the two major utilities lost 4,000poles, numerous transformers, conduit, cableand above-ground switch facilities. The dam-age to the grid was about $30 million.

Four members of San Diego Local 465lost their homes to the blazes, said BusinessManager John C. Hunter. The three employedby San Diego Gas & Electric received $7,500each from the utility. “The company stepped

right up to the plate to help them in theinterim” before insurance kicked in, he said.

Local 47 journeyman lineman BrianYetka worked 18- to 20-hour days for ParElectric for four weeks, rewiring new trans-mission and distribution poles with the assis-tance of helicopters. Yetka’s team was in thehills where the Witch fire burned thousandsof acres, forcing a quarter-million people toflee their homes northeast of San Diego.

“The majority of the wood poles in thehilly sections got burned right to theground,” Yetka said.

The first week on the job, Yetka said hiscrew worked right on the heels of the fire,secure in the knowledge that even though fireis close by, where they’re working “everything’sburned so it can’t come back at you,” he said.

A veteran of the aftermath of the Cedarfire that scorched nearly 300,000 acres andwiped out 2,200 homes in 2003, Yetka said helearned to drink plenty of water and wear amask from that experience.

Hundreds of IBEW travelers arrivedbefore the fires were extinguished. By lateOctober, they were put to work. Lavin com-mended them and the Local 47 members fortheir professionalism.

“They performed amazingly, like theyalways do,” Lavin said.

Local 47 provided $250 apiece for the 17members evacuated from their homes forthree days or more, said Lavin.

Out-of-town crews working on powerrestoration included those from PG&E, SaltRiver Project and Nevada Power and ImperialIrrigation District, outside San Diego.

Hunter, who also worked on the Cedarfire, said no one anticipated such massivefires only four years later. “It’s a significant,catastrophic event that you just don’t thinkyou’ll see again in your career,” he said.“There’s always more to burn, but you justdon’t expect it so soon.” z

California Linemen Repair Fire-Damaged Grid

Dissatisfaction among workers isgrowing at Comcast. While itspends millions advertising itscable, Internet and phone offerings,

the company is striking out with bargainingunit workers concerned about discriminatorypay practices and lack of respect in theworkplace, with nonunion workers who wanta voice on the job and with consumers whoare heated up about poor service.

IBEW members have courageously resis-ted Comcast’s anti-labor assault, but theirefforts are undermined by low union densityat the company’s facilities.

As the IBEW embarks on a campaign toorganize Comcast, there is a growing need toshare information and experience on what ishappening at the company. It will take thecombined effort and knowledge of hundredsof committed trade unionists and our alliesto bring Comcast into the community of com-panies who truly respect workers and theirown customers.

That is why the IBEW has launched aComcast campaign Web site to serve as aclearinghouse of information. The site, comcastworkersunited.com, will have up-to-date news on issues surrounding thiscompany and its workers. z

IBEWLaunches ComcastWeb Site

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IBEW members on a crew from Diversified Utility Services set a transmission pole on Mount Miguel,in Chula Vista, with the assistance of a helicopter.

w w w. i b e w. o r g T h e E l e c t r i c a l W o r k e r x January 2008 5

Lucchesi faced similar frustrations as hecompared his small paycheck with his union-ized co-workers in the other building trades.

But instead of quitting, Chiappetta andLucchesi organized. In less than four yearsthey, along with organizers from Local 353and the Construction Trades Council ofOntario, led one the most successful organiz-ing drives in the local’s history, winning forthe IBEW a 90-percent market share in asector that had been completely nonunion.

Last summer, Local 353 celebrated thishistoric campaign by marking the 10th anniver-sary of the signing of its first industry wide low-rise residential agreement with a party andcharity fund-raiser. The event brought togethermore than 500 members who, along with theirfriends and families, raised more than $20,000for the Sick Kids Foundation.

“Residential electricians have nearlytripled their wages since that first contract so

we have a lot to celebrate,” said Chiappetta,who helped organize the fund-raiser.

One of the members of the anniversaryplanning committee was Local 353 PresidentBarry Stevens. In 1996 he was assigned byLocal 353 Business Manager Joseph Fashionto be an organizer for the campaign. “It was adream job,” Stevens said. “For too long thelocal had ignored this sector and let the workdrift off.”

For Stevens, the key to victory was win-ning certification elections at all the majorcontractors around the same time to avoidunionized contractors being priced out bythe nonunion ones.

The local targeted the eight largest con-tractors, handing out leaflets and unioncards in a surprise certification blitz.

Word of the campaign inspiredChiappetta and Lucchesi to get in touch withthe local and set up volunteer organizing

committees. “When we heard that an IBEWorganizer was going around, it gave us aflicker of hope that change was coming,”Chiappetta said.

In August 1996, the local won its firstsuccessful certification vote, a victory thatwas repeated at dozens of worksites. In June1997 the local signed its first agreement, cov-ering more than 600 new members.

Local 353 now represents more than 850inside wiremen in what is still the fastestgrowing sector in construction.

“We fought some tough battles but wehelped save the industry from the low-wage,low-quality downward spiral,” Stevens said.

Ten years since their victory, Chiappettaand Lucchesi have no regrets about theirdecision to make the IBEW their home. “Ialways am running into members I helpedorganize and they always thank me for chang-ing their lives for the better,” Lucchesi said. z

Le confrère Tony Chiappetta occupe lafonction de représentant d’affairespour la section locale 353 de Toronto.Il travaille en tant que recruteur syn-

dical en plus d’offrir le service aux membrestravaillant dans le secteur résidentiel légerde la construction qui ne cesse de progresser;pourtant, il y a dix ans, il était sur le point dequitter l’industrie définitivement.

Il travaillait comme électricien, n’étaitpas syndiqué et l’avenir dans ce métier ne luisemblait pas très prometteur.

“Je voulais tout laisser tomber. J’en avaisassez des salaires et des avantages sociauxmisérables, de l’absence de formation de qual-ité et de l’application de règlements de sécu-rité. En fait, j’étais frustré qu’un métier d’unetelle importance ne soit pas rémunéré etreconnu à sa juste valeur; pour moi, ce n’étaitpas un bon choix de carrière”, dit-il.

Les autres métiers de la construction dusecteur résidentiel léger étaient tous syndiquéscontrairement à la section locale 353 quin’avait jamais approché ce secteur.

Un représentant de la section locale353, Rudy Lucchesi, a lui aussi connu les

mêmes frustrations alors qu’il comparait sonchèque de paie, bien inférieur à celui de sescompagnons de travail des autres métiers.

Plutôt que de quitter le métier, les con-frères Chiappetta et Lucchesi ont décidé desyndiquer les travailleurs. En moins de qua-tre années, assistés d’autres recruteurs syn-dicaux de la section locale 353 et du Conseildes métiers de la construction de l’Ontario,ils ont mené une des meilleures campagnesde syndicalisation de l’histoire de la sectionlocale, en gagnant pour la FIOE, 90 pourcent de la part du marché dans un secteurqui ne comptait aucun salarié syndiqué.

La section locale 353 a organisé une fêteau mois de juin dernier pour célébrer le dix-ième anniversaire de cette campagne his-torique qui s’était conclue par la signatured’une première convention collective dans cesecteur de l’industrie. Une levée de fonds aégalement été tenue pour la Fondation desenfants malades. Cet événement qui a réuniplus de 500 personnes, incluant les membresde la S.L. ainsi que leurs parents et amis, apermis de recueillir plus de $20,000.00 pourles enfants malades.

M. Chiappetta, un des organisateurs dela levée de fonds, déclare : “Le salaire desélectriciens du secteur résidentiel a presquetriplé depuis la signature de cette premièreconvention, il faut que cela se fête”.

Le confrère Barry Stevens, Président de laS.L. 353 et membre du Comité d’organisationde la fête, avait été affecté par le Gérant d’af-faires de la S.L. 353 Joseph Fashion, à la fonc-tion de recruteur syndical dans la campagne desyndicalisation de 1996 “C’était un emploi rêvé”et selon lui, la section locale avait ignoré troplongtemps ce secteur de l’industrie.

M. Stevens est d’avis que cette victoire estdue en grande partie au fait d’avoir obtenu parvote les accréditations pour les employés desprincipaux entrepreneurs presqu’en mêmetemps, évitant ainsi que les entrepreneurs syn-diqués perdent leur contrat par des soumissionsinférieures faites par ceux qui ne l’étaient pas.

La section locale avait ciblé les huit plusgros entrepreneurs et avait distribué lespamphlets d’information et cartes d’affairesdans une campagne-éclair surprise.

Lorsqu’ils ont eu vent de cette campagne,les confrères Chiappetta et Lucchesi ont com-

muniqué avec la S.L. et ont mis sur pied descomités de syndicalisation bénévoles. Dèsqu’ils ont su qu’il y avait un recruteur syndicalde la FIOE autour, ils ont commencé à croireque la situation changerait.

C’est au mois d’août 1996 que la sectionlocale obtenait, suite à un vote, sa premìèreaccréditation; cette victoire s’est répétée surune douzaine de chantiers. C’est au mois dejuin 1997 que la S.L. 353 signait sa premièreconvention collective régissant plus de 600nouveaux membres.

La S.L. 353 représente maintenant plusde 850 électriciens d’intérieur dans le secteurqui progresse le plus rapidement dans l’indus-trie de la construction.

“Nous avons mené des luttes difficilesmais nous avons contribué à sauver l’industriedes faibles salaires et de la spirale descendantede la qualité” concluait le confrère Stevens.

Dix ans plus tard, les confrèresChiappetta et Lucchesi ne regrettentaucunement d’avoir élu domicile au sein dela FIOE. M. Lucchesi rencontre encore desmembres qu’il a syndiqués et ils lui sont trèsreconnaissants d’avoir amélioré leur vie. z

Today, Tony Chiappetta serves as abusiness representative for TorontoLocal 353, organizing and servicingmembers working in the growing res-

idential construction sector. But a decadeago, Chiappetta was ready to leave the indus-try for good.

As a nonunion electrician, he did notsee much of a future for himself.

“I had reached the point where I wasready to bail,” Chiappetta said. He was sickof the low wages and scant benefits. He wasalso fed up with the lack of quality trainingand enforcement of safety policies. “It wasfrustrating that a trade as important as thiswasn’t financially worth it for those doing thework. It wasn’t a good career option.”

While the other building trades workingin the low-rise sector were organized, Local353 did not even have a foothold.

Local 353 Business Representative Rudy

North of 49°

One Story at a Time: Toronto Local Celebrates 10 Years of Low-Rise Organizing

Au nord du 49° parallèle

Une histoire à la foisLa section locale de Toronto célèbre le 10e anniversairede la syndicalisation du secteur résidentiel léger

Petty Officer 1st Class and Boston Local 103 member Scott Lennerton helps wire the base at Camp Fallujah in Iraq.

Iraq Veteran Returns for Second TourFor members who think their job is hard, imagine trying to wire a building or put apower plant on line in the middle of a war zone. Since last September, Boston Local 103member and Petty Officer 1st Class Scott Lennerton has been doing just that, serving inIraq as part of the Seabees, the U.S. Navy’s construction battalion.

“Our motto is, ‘we build and we fight,’” Lennerton wrote in an e-mail from Fallujah.Seabees construct buildings, repair runways, and maintain the decrepit infrastructureinherited from the former Iraqi army and air force. “I also do small wiring jobs on thebase. It keeps me busy.”

This isn’t Lennerton’s first tour of duty in Iraq. He spent seven months there morethan three years ago where he was stationed in Northern Iraq, wiring Army buildingsand building fuel storage facilities.

With frequent power outages and the decayed infrastructure, Iraq is a difficultplace to work, but Lennerton says his regiment makes the best of it. “It’s not alwayspretty, but we make it work.”

Brother Lennerton hopes to return in April, although his tour could be extended.“He’s been a model member,” said Local 103 Business Manager Michael Monahan.

“We are all very proud of his service to the nation and his union.” z

IBEW On Duty

6 T h e E l e c t r i c a l W o r k e r x January 2008

Top-Down Blitz Opens New Ground in AtlantaAn intense 18-month campaign to market theskills of IBEW electricians in the Atlantaarea culminated in an exciting top-downblitz in early November.

“I’m fired up,” says Atlanta Local 613Business Manager Gene O’Kelley, well-knownin the area from IBEW radio and TV spots, whohas been fielding calls from nonunion contrac-tors interested in working with the IBEW.

The campaign, which included businessmanagers from several locals and organizersfrom the Membership DevelopmentDepartment, kicked off with training on howto approach nonunion contractors. Eightteams were assigned to visit 300 employersin three days. Each route averaged 290 miles.After each day’s work, the organizers gath-ered for a debriefing.

Organizers spoke to individuals at mostof the shops. They received positive feedbackfrom 15 open shop contractors, with few neg-ative responses noted.

As they made their rounds, organizerscirculated a newsletter from the NorthGeorgia Initiative, a labor-management effortto regain market share in the state. In onestory, Rob Ziadie, president of RangerMechanical, a 20-year-old firm that signedwith Local 613 last year, explains how hisbusiness has changed. He has on-demandlabor, OSHA-compliant, drug-free workers,competitive rates and composite crews withnew intermediate job classifications. He sayshis company has matured.

“We realize that while competitive bidswin jobs, it’s professionalism, respect andskill that uphold your reputation and earnthe company repeat business,” says Ziadie.

Michelle Fallon, Local 613’s marketingconsultant, remembers speaking with Ziadiebefore he signed a three-year agreement withLocal 613. The contractor recalled a discussionhe overheard on a job site where an IBEWelectrician was pushing one of Ranger’semployees to take more responsibility for com-pleting a job on time. Ziadie, who had beenskeptical about the IBEW, “crossed the thresh-old,” says Fallon, seeing the Brotherhood as apotential partner in building his business.

International Organizer Jeff Henderson,who helped coordinate the blitz, praised theplanning and work of all team members andsees more contractors like Ziadie crossingthe threshold soon.

Tennessee Business ManagerGets Down to BasicsSome business managers get upset whenmembers grumble about their decisions.Others let criticism roll off their backs. RogerFarmer, business manager of Kingsport,Tenn., Local 934 is one of those leaders whogets busy when the troops are restless.

As signatory contractors put more con-struction electricians and construction wire-men to work in his local’s jurisdiction, somejourneymen are having trouble accepting theintermediate job classifications, says Farmer.

So he prepared a presentation for hislocal’s next membership meeting to convincemembers that the new classifications and thesmall works agreement were helping the localunion grow to the benefit of all its members.The small works agreement modifies somemain agreement understandings, like chang-ing double-time pay on Sundays to time andone-half, to make signatory contractors morecompetitive with the open shop sector.

Farmer displayed data showing thathours worked under the inside constructionagreement grew by almost 10,000 from 2005to 2007, while total wages grew by nearly$500,000. In the third quarter of 2007, manhours increased almost 90 percent from thesame period in 2006.

“I think the presentation opened a lot ofeyes,” says Farmer. When the small worksagreement was first presented in 2006, therewas a lot of opposition. Farmer explained tothe members that he had been pleading withcontractors from neighboring jurisdictions tocome onto Local 934’s turf and bid on projects,but they were hesitant. The small works andnew classification agreements, says Farmer,“gave them a tool to come after the work.”

Organizing Wire

While most members now accept theneed for the small works agreement,Farmer explained at the meeting that with-out the new classifications, the agreementwouldn’t work.

“A few men who needed to hear thenumbers left before my presentation,” saysFarmer, but he heard no negative commentsfrom those who stayed.

“Journeymen are beginning to understandthat—as contractors become more competi-tive using the new job classifications andapprentices to bring down their compositecrew rates—more journeymen are requiredon the work that they would have not wonpreviously,” says International RepresentativeNathan Edgar, who praised Farmer’s efforts. z

Rob Ziadie, president of Ranger Mechanical, became a signatory contractor through the North Georgia Initiative.

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w w w. i b e w. o r g T h e E l e c t r i c a l W o r k e r x January 2008 7

Circuits

IBEW/NECA Web Sites, Ads Win AwardsHour Power and Electric TV, two Web sites focusing on the work of IBEW’s construction andmaintenance members, were winners in the Web Marketing Association’s 2007 Web Awards.

Oswego Creative Inc. of Golden, Colo., is the developer of Hour Power(www.IBEWHourPower.com) and Electric TV (www.ElectricTV.net).

More than 2,400 sites from 40 countries were considered in nearly 100 categories basedupon design, copy writing, innovation, content, interactivity, navigation and the use of technology.

The latest awards follow other accolades won by Web productions sponsored by theIBEW and the National Electrical Contractors Association.

IBEW and NECA won a bronze trophy in the 28th Annual Telly Awards honoring excel-lence in local, regional and cable TV commercials. The award-winning videos, also producedby Oswego Creative, featured a team of industry workers rebuilding a Domino Sugar plantoutside New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and another segment showing the parties atwork at Walt Disney World.

In 2006, Building Design and Construction designated IBEW-NECA’s ElectrifyingCareers Web site as a Gold Award winner. The site, www.electrifyingcareers.com, developedby Concept Foundry, a Bethesda, Md.-based design and communications firm, is aimed at get-ting young people charged up about a career in the electrical industry.

ERTS Registration: It’s the Right Thing to DoFor every hour construction IBEW members log on the job, employers are required to payhealth and pension benefits. But if you work outside your home local jurisdiction, you are atrisk of losing benefits for those hours unless you are registered on the Electronic ReciprocalTransfer System (ERTS).

Even if you have no plans to travel or have never traveled, it’s still important to registerwith your home local on ERTS. It is a quick, simple process that takes minutes, said Pensionand Reciprocity Director Lynn Fieldman.

“Every member should register on ERTS as soon as possible, even if they are not contem-plating travel,” Fieldman said, adding that storms and disasters or portability agreements cantake people outside their jurisdiction. “You never know what’s going to happen in today’s world.”

Ideally, members should register with their home local union. Once you have signed ablanket authorization form, anytime you leave their jurisdiction for work, you have the assur-ance your monies will be reciprocated to your home fund. Although other local unions maysign members up for ERTS, primary registration should be through the home local.

There are currently more than 107,000 members registered on the ERTS system.

IBEW Member Wins Dream Sailfish Trip on Escape to the WildNew Jersey breeds a lot offisherman, and Folsom, N.J.,Local 351 member RickDiBruno is one of the mostpassionate. DiBruno’s fathertaught him to fish when hewas six, and he was immedi-ately smitten.

“I crafted myself into adecent back bay fisherman,”said DiBruno, who yearnedto go sailfishing in the warmwaters of Costa Rica. Hisdream came true when hewon a contest throughVersus’s Escape to the Wild, aTV program of the TheodoreRoosevelt ConservationPartnership that honors hard-working union members withthe hunting or fishing trip of a lifetime. DiBruno learned he won at a mock fund-raiser hiswife helped arrange.

In 2001, he was working overtime to save for a trip to Disney World for his wife and chil-dren. While driving home from an overtime shift, he fell asleep and crashed into a tree, break-ing his leg in three places. Out of work for six months, his union brothers and sisters took upa collection for him. It was a rough road to recovery, but DiBruno is working again. Last June,he headed to Costa Rica.

“We fished for wahoo, tuna, rainbow runner, rooster fish and sailfish. The final sailfishwas the most exciting,” said DiBruno, who learned a “totally different style of fishing” usingcircle hooks instead of J-hooks.

The new series begins in January on Versus Network. z

Folsom, N.J., Local 351 member Rick DiBruno, center, won a sailfishingtrip to Costa Rica.

Department of Homeland Security Drops the Ball on Transit SecurityUnions representing workers in the transportation trades, including the IBEW, are outragedthat security training for thousands of frontline transit workers across the nation will be delayedagain in the wake of another missed deadline by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The 9/11 Commission Bill passed by Congress set a Nov. 1, 2007, deadline for issuing ini-tial regulations for new training programs to secure the nation’s rail and mass transit systems.

“Experts agree that the most effective way to prevent a terrorist transit attack and limit thescope of any tragedy if terrorists were to strike is to have well-trained and prepared transit work-ers,” says Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), who authored the comprehensive new transit security law.

In the six years since New York’s Twin Towers were struck, three major rail and transitsystems have been attacked—in Mumbai, India in 2006, in London in 2005, and in Madrid in2004. “Every hour that [DHS delays] puts our nation’s transit riders and those who live andwork in our cities and urban areas at greater risk,” Dodd said.

The Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, is working with elected leaders inCongress to hold DHS responsible for its missed deadlines. Visit www.ttd.org. z

Washington Update

8 T h e E l e c t r i c a l W o r k e r x January 2008

St. Louis VolunteersL.U. 1 (as,c,ees,ei,em,es,et,fm,i,mt,rts,s,se,spa,st&ws), ST. LOUIS, MO—Happy New Year to all.The 2008 work outlook appears promising andthe calendar of events is full. Following are a fewof the upcoming events.

February brings the Valentine’s Day dancehosted by the Apprentice Social Club. Purchaseyour tickets now!

“Rebuilding Together St. Louis” is April 19.Over 50 homes are on the list to be repaired byLocal 1 volunteers. In May, Habitat for Humanity St.Louis begins construction of 27 homes. The three-phase project is slated for completion in November.

Leadership Training Institute. (See The ElectricalWorker, December 2007, pg. 3.) This dynamiccourse is taught by Mel Horton, retired FifthDistrict International Vice President and BLTItraining coordinator. BLTI training promotes IBEWleadership skills for a diverse group of members,women and minorities.

Seminar participants included members ofIBEW Locals 6, 11, 48, 357, 569, 595 and 1245.BLTI founders are Horton; Robbie Sparks, busi-ness manager of Atlanta Local 2127, ElectricalWorkers Minority Caucus president and AFL-CIOexecutive council member; and Royetta Sanford,retired IBEW Human Services director. Local 11Bus. Mgr. Marvin Kropke thanked Sparks andHorton for the privilege of hosting the event

The Electrical Training Institute continuesits commitment to hold classes for membersinterested in becoming union contractors.Opportunities abound in photovoltaic and otherfast-growing industries with a demand for quali-fied union electrical workers. To receive thishigh level training, sign up for the course byMatt Kolbinsky of Pro Union Consulting.

Bob Oedy, P.S.

Chicago Safety ConferenceL.U. 15 (u), DOWNERS GROVE, IL—We are sad-dened to report that first-year apprentice line-man Dan Yost lost his life in August 2007 whiletransferring secondary wire to a newly installedpole. Local 15 members contributed over $6,000for a memorial stone for Bro. Yost.

Asst. Bus. Mgr. Brian Loomis delivered apresentation on “Electric Deregulation; Safetyand Reliability in the Era of Downsizing” at the2007 National Safety Conference in Chicago.Speech topics were: fewer workers, excessiveovertime, fatigue, an aging work force, failinginfrastructure and rising accident/fatality risks.

Local 15 members at Dominion Energy KincaidGenerating Station ratified a six-year contract agree-ment and pension and health benefit packages.

Exelon Nuclear workers ratified a contract

September brings the Labor Day parade—always fun and a great way for the whole familyto show Local 1 pride. October marks the annualLights Out Program in St. Louis, where Local 1members donate their time to install lighting forneedy families.

Also, phone banks and walkers will beneeded for upcoming elections. Many Local 1members are running for school boards, alder-man positions and the state Legislature. Pleasecontact Local 1 to volunteer!

We mourn the deaths of members JosephTreiber, Walter Peiker, Frank Fritz, CharlesBlackey, Stanley Rimkus, John St. Onge Jr.,Duvern Thebeau, Craig Weckback, HerbertAlbach, Bruce Dearinger, William Roberds,William Liescheidt and Norman Fitzler.

Matt Gober, P.S.

Leadership TrainingL.U. 11 (i,rts&spa), LOS ANGELES, CA—Local11 volunteers installed solar panels atop 30 newHabitat for Humanity homes for former Pres.Jimmy Carter’s San Pedro and South Los Angelesprojects. We congratulate members who donatedtheir superb skills for this historic project.

In Oct. 2007, Local 11 was honored to host thefirst ever seminar presented by the Breakthrough

covering wages and working conditions only.Their pension and health benefits will be negoti-ated in September 2008, along with Local 15 andExelon’s ComEd Energy Delivery and BusinessServices Company negotiations. Members atMidwest Generation ratified pension and healthbenefit packages.

In October 2007, Local 15 saw the firstgraduating class of 23 journeyman linemen headinto the ComEd overhead work force. ComEdsponsors overhead, underground and substationconstruction schools, as its ranks have dwindledsince deregulation. It will take years to staffthese departments to a proper level.

Our business representatives are now deputyvoter registrars; they are registering new voters.Get out the vote!

Ronald V. Welte, P.S.

Wind Turbine ProjectL.U. 17 (catv,em,lctt,o&u), DETROIT, MI—Local 17completed its first wind turbine project in Pigeon,MI. A total of 32 wind turbines were erected. Thisproject was slated to go primarily nonunion untilour Local 17 Bus. Mgr. Kevin Shaffer and OrganizerMike Aulseybrook stepped in. They were able tosecure all the work that our signatory contractorswere equipped to handle.

There is talk in Lansing, our state capital,that “right to work for less” may rear its uglyhead in the form of a ballot initiative in the 2008election. That would require 304,101 people tosign petitions to create or amend existing legisla-tion. We must stop this in its tracks. Talk to yourfriends and neighbors; tell them this has nothingto do with their right to work but is actually allabout union busting.

Congratulations to all the winners of theNational Linemen’s Rodeo, held in Kansas City.Local 17 sent a total of seven teams.

We mourn the passing of members James A.Sheridan, Peter L. Zahari, Floyd A. Geistler andKenneth C. Laird.

James Beaubien, P.S.

Local Lines

(as) Alarm and Signal

(ars) Atomic Research Service

(bo) Bridge Operators

(cs) Cable Splicers

(catv) Cable Television

(c) Communications

(cr) Cranemen

(ees) Electrical Equipment Service

(ei) Electrical Inspection

(em) Electrical Manufacturing

(es) Electric Signs

(et) Electronic Technicians

(fm) Fixture Manufacturing

(govt) Government

(i) Inside

(it) Instrument Technicians

(lctt) Line Clearance Tree Trimming

(mt) Maintenance

(mo) Maintenance and Operation

(mow) Manufacturing Office Workers

(mar) Marine

(mps) Motion Picture Studios

(nst) Nuclear Service Technicians

(o) Outside

(p) Powerhouse

(pet) Professional, Engineers and Technicians

(ptc) Professional, Technical and Clerical

(rr) Railroad

(rtb) Radio-Television Broadcasting

(rtm) Radio-Television Manufacturing

(rts) Radio-Television Service

(so) Service Occupations

(s) Shopmen

(se) Sign Erector

(spa) Sound and Public Address

(st) Sound Technicians

(t) Telephone

(u) Utility

(uow) Utility Office Workers

(ws) Warehouse and Supply

St. Louis Local 1 journeyman wireman and Missouristate representative candidate Jake Hummel, his wife,Dana, and son Tim enjoy 2007 Labor Day festivities.

Trade Classifications

Local 11 Habitat forHumanity volunteers arejoined by Los AngelesMayor Antonio Villaraigosa(front row, fourth from left).

Local 15 delegation to 2007 Women’s Conference and Sixth District Progress Meeting, from left:Cris Arellano, Sharon Nuzzo, Rec. Sec. Christine Watkins, Bus. Mgr./Pres. Dean Apple, Organizer Char White,Keli Gonzalez, Carol Anderegg, Vice Pres./Asst. Bus. Mgr. Terry McGoldrick and Colleen Krizek.

California WildfiresL.U. 47 (lctt,mo,o,u&uow), DIAMOND BAR, CA—Happy New Year! Local 47 wishes the wholeIBEW family a safe and prosperous 2008.

The Southern California wildfires causedproperty damage and disrupted utility servicethroughout the region. We thank everyone foroffers of help. Once again, the IBEW stepped upand utility service was restored wherever possi-ble and in a safe manner

Local 47 offers financial assistance to ourmembers, or travelers, who were evacuated forthree days or more.

Our participation at the InternationalLineman’s Rodeo was limited this year due to thewildfires. We are proud that the team of RobertStephens, David Aguon and Brit Jackson fromAnaheim captured 2nd place municipal division.

We ratified a three-year agreement with theCity of Banning’s Utility. The health care contri-bution by the city will increase by 98 percent.

Our fourth annual Brotherhood MotorcycleRun held Oct. 20, 2007, was a success. We alsohad our second annual Day at the Races at theSanta Anta Racetrack and everyone lost moneyexcept John Baca.

We are saddened by the passing of Bros.Steve Reyes and Doug McCormick. Thoughts andprayers are with their families and friends.

Stan Stosel, P.S.

Verizon Plus Store MembersL.U. 51 (catv,lctt,o,rtb,t&u), SPRINGFIELD, IL—On Oct. 30, 2007, seven employees of the VerizonPlus Store in Bloomington, IL, voted unani-mously in favor of representation by Local 51. Aswe proceed to the negotiating table to secure afirst contract, we ask our members to patronizethe Bloomington store to show support and wel-come our new members.

Local 51’s annual picnic was Aug. 23, 2007, atClinton Lake. The weather was great and everyonehad a good time. Thanks to all members who helpedmake the picnic a success, with special thanks toJoe and Mickey Curry and Todd White. Local 51welcomes all suggestion for this year’s picnic.

Bro. Steve Redenbaugh returned home follow-ing a lengthy stay in the hospital as a result of anelectrical contact injury. Steve and his family areremarkable people and his recovery is heartwarm-ing; though he still has much recuperation ahead,his attitude and determination are inspiring.

Work safe, give eight hours’ work for eighthours of pay and attend union meetings.

Dan Pridemore, B.R.

Community Service ProjectL.U. 99 (govt&i), PROVIDENCE, RI—Bus. Mgr.Al Durand and Organizer John Shalvey attendedthe IBEW Second District Progress Meeting inPortland, ME. They continue to keep Local 99informed on local and national issues.

At press time work in our area remained alittle slow, although the project at the Dunkin’Donuts Center was running seven days a week tomeet a Nov. 14 opening day. The Newport Grand,a project of sister Local 35, Hartford, CT, willgear up soon and also employ Local 99 travelers.Local 35 is also offering preparation classes forthe Connecticut license.

The Local 99 Golf League crowned its 2007“A” Division Champion. Bro. Scott Bromagedefeated Bro. Jim Harrington in the finals. Forthe “B” Division Bro. Jim Mitchell will face offagainst Bro. Fred Porter.

Under the supervision of Bus. Mgr. Durandand Bro. John DiBiase, the trendsetting Photo-voltaic Energy Project was expanded to addmore power to our system. The goal is to reduce

energy costs by utilizing environmentally respon-sible alternatives.

Once again Local 99 leads the way with com-munity service. Bros. Tom Paul, Ed Audet, JimDooley, Pat Gallion, Bus. Mgr. Durand and otherscame through for the Warwick American LittleLeague by providing funding, labor and expertiseto install a new state-of-the-art scoreboard

S.P. Callaghan, P.S.

‘Industry Night’ SpeakerL.U. 103 (cs&i), BOSTON, MA—On Sept. 11,2007, Peter Cockshaw, construction’s leadingexpert on labor-related issues, addressed morethan 800 members at our monthly meeting.Cockshaw is a nationally respected authority andfounder/publisher of the industry’s most widelyread labor relations advisory, Cockshaw’sConstruction Labor News+Opinion.

Peter detailed the state of the unionized sec-tor of the construction industry and laid out a blue-print for its survival. For the unionized sector tosurvive, gone must be the days of fielding a team onour job sites that is anything less than the most pro-ductive, knowledgeable, highly trained, drug freeprofessionals for signatory contractors. The eveningwas well-received by all the members attending, aswell as the many contractors who came to Local 103for our 1st Annual Industry Night.

John Dumas, Pres./P.S.

Quad City VolunteersL.U. 109 (u), ROCK ISLAND, IL—Six membersof Local 109 participated in the 2007 United Wayof the Quad Cities Day of Caring project (seephoto). These members volunteered to buildbenches and dig post holes for informationalsigns at Fejervary Park Zoo in Davenport, IA.This was part of the Borne Learning Trail proj-ect. This team was the only all-union memberteam to participate in the Quad City area.

Lori Smith, R.S.

w w w. i b e w. o r g T h e E l e c t r i c a l W o r k e r x January 2008 9

IBEW Lifesaving AwardL.U. 21 (catv,govt&t), DOWNERS GROVE, IL—On June 19, 2007, Local 21 member Jason Golf, anAT&T customer service technician, was workingat a telephone cross box when two vehicles vio-lently crashed at a nearby intersection. A pickuptruck landed on its roof, an SUV was on its side ina ditch, gas was leaking and smoke billowed fromboth vehicles. Bro. Golf yelled to a witness to call911, broke the truck window to rescue the driverand then climbed through the SUV’s broken rearwindow to rescue a baby girl and her mother. Atthe October unit meeting, Jason received theIBEW Life Saving Award for his heroic efforts.

Seventy-three members at JULIE Inc. ratifieda new five-year contract on Nov. 8, 2007. Highlightsof the agreement include a 23 percent across theboard wage increase for all job titles, more flexibil-ity in PTO time, increases for evening, night, split,Saturday and floor person differentials, and anadditional Christmas Eve holiday.

Training begins in January 2008 for 175 worksite activists as we implement an improved mem-ber communication structure, designed to increasemember involvement and build worker power.

Thomas Hopper, P.S.

Promote Union WayL.U. 41 (em,es,i,se,govt&spa), BUFFALO, NY—Officers and members extend heartfelt thanks toBro. James Devany IV and his crew of volunteersfor putting together our annual children’sChristmas party. Anticipation filled the roomwhen everyone heard that Santa was in the build-ing, and the kids’ faces lit up with joy when hearrived. Make your plans for next year’s party!

We look forward to the upcoming year andwe must all work to make it the most beneficialever. Take every opportunity you can to promotethe interests of union families and to preserveour union way of life.

The work picture for the year ahead lookspromising. So, join in organizing efforts and oppor-tunities to build your local union and increase mar-ket share. Help make sure more jobs are doneunion and under a collective bargaining agreement.

Local 41 honors the memory of our memberswho passed away last year. We appreciate theirfriendship and their service. They will be missed.

Kenneth C. Zack, V.P./P.S.

Local 103 Bus. Mgr. Michael P. Monahan (right) welcomes guest speaker Peter Cockshaw atSeptember 2007 union meeting.

Local 51 Treas. Julie Brandt (left) and Executive Boardmember John Powers enjoy 2007 union picnic.

Local 21 Bus. Mgr./Pres. Ronald Kastner (right)presents IBEW Lifesaving Award to Local 21 mem-ber Jason Golf (holding plaque). From left: Local 21Executive Board member Larry Schuler, stewardBill Collins, Christine Golf, J. Golf, steward MikePala and Bus. Mgr. Kastner.

The Local 47 BearValley Electric UtilityUnit in Big Bear, CA,ratified an agreementthat provided lineman-related classificationsa 13 percent wageincrease over threeyears. Major improve-ments were also madeto Retiree Medical.

Local 109 members volun-teer for a United Way proj-ect at the Fejervary ParkZoo in Davenport, IA. Fromleft: Bros. Rich McCoy, LucMartel, Jerry Bald, LesKline and Don Jones.Volunteer Ben Lorenzensnapped the photo.

IBEW Local 99 in Providence, RI, installed a state-of-the-art scoreboard for the Warwick AmericanLittle League.

Scholarships AwardedL.U. 111 (em,govt,lctt,mt,o,rtb,spa&u) DENVER,CO—Five sons and daughters of Local 111 mem-bers were honored as 2007 winners of the union’sVinc Perry Ellis Memorial Scholarships. The schol-arship was established in honor of Vinc, who waskilled in 1993 by an angry customer. Vinc worked asa collector for Public Service Company of Colorado.

The $1,500 scholarships were presented toChristina Cordova, daughter of Mike Cordova, Unit2; Laura Newcome and Robin Newcome, daughtersof Donald Newcome, Unit 2; Kaley O’Connell, daugh-ter of Don O’Connell, Unit 19; and Travis Theis, sonof Tammy Theis, Unit 25. A scholarship committee ofLocal 111 members selected the five winners.Applicants were required to furnish a copy of theirgrades and letters of recommendation, and to writean essay on “significant contributions made byorganized labor to improve conditions for workingAmerica since IBEW Local 111’s founding in 1907.”

Dennis Z. LeTurgez, P.S.

Bonneville Power UpdateL.U. 125 (lctt,o&u), PORTLAND, OR—On Sept. 14, 2007, members of the ColumbiaPower Trades Council rejected the BonnevillePower Administration’s offer for a new three-yearagreement by a margin of 435-6.

During negotiations, we were unable to reachresolution on “live-line barehand” procedures (whichare illegal by state law in Oregon and Washington)being used on BPA’s high-voltage transmission lines.The unions were informed that the Administration isnot subject to these laws. Thus, impasse wasreached, and an arbitrator will be required to rendera decision on these issues.

Interest arbitration for the “live-line bare-hand” issue will occur in February 2008, and ben-efit offset arbitration is scheduled for April 2008.Our members at BPA are part of the federal sec-tor, which eliminates the option to strike. Whilethese two issues will be decided by an arbitrator,we can only hope that the Administration willreconsider its position on the other issues andmake strides in placing the safety and well-beingof its employees a priority. For additional infor-mation, visit www.ibew125.com.

Thank you to the delegates, who haveworked diligently throughout this long process.Your efforts are most appreciated!

Marcy Putman, Organizer

Work Outlook PositiveL.U. 145 (em,i,o,rts,spa&u), ROCK ISLAND, IL—The work outlook is positive at this time. Therehas been a lot of work in the Clinton, IA, areawith a new co-gen powerhouse, a new $200 mil-lion plastics plant and ongoing maintenance atthe Archer Daniel Midland plant. The Rock

Island gambling casino finally started, as well asanother casino in Clinton, IA. Big thanks to allthose travelers who have helped staff the work.We have 60 to 70 travelers working and thingslook good for some time.

Our inside and communications contractswere settled along with the addition of the newCE/CW classification. A new organizer, ClayHarksen, was added to the staff. He is fillingMike Ellison’s position. Mike went to head up theJATC for Local 145. Please stop by the hall andwelcome Clay.

Alan Anderson, P.S.

Madison Holiday LightsL.U. 159 (i), MADISON, WI—Happy New Year!Our Holiday Fantasy in Lights was again a bigsuccess. Over 100,000 cars passed through 35light displays. This is Local 159’s gift to our com-munity and a good way to promote the IBEW.

Work here is steady. If we get a couple ofthe upcoming projects that we anticipate will gounion, we should have almost full employmentover the winter, with quite a few travelers gettingout. Thanks to our traveling brothers and sistersfor helping us staff the work.

Local 159 is sad to announce the passing offormer Bus. Mgr. Billy Harrelson on Oct. 5, 2007.Billy was our business manger from 2002 until July2007, when he stepped down because of healthreasons. He was an organizer from 1995-2002.

Local 159 is pleased to participate in a newinitiative called Best Value Contracting, recentlyapproved for the City of Madison and DaneCounty. All city and county jobs will be requiredto be staffed by contractors participating in anapproved apprenticeship program.

Random drug testing starts Jan. 1, 2008, forour local. This is one more reason we have thecompetitive edge over our nonunion competitors.Work safe!

Joel Kapusta, B.A./P.S.

Candidates for WorkersL.U. 191 (c,i,mo,rtb&st), EVERETT, WA—At thiswriting, it’s election time in Washington state,and Local 191 has put a lot of effort into makingsure its members are aware of which candidatesand which legislation are in its members’ bestinterest. We are working very hard to makeWashington state a labor-friendly state, and wishall other locals much success at getting theirlocal governments to act in the best interests ofthe American worker and family.

Marcus Abarcus, P.S.

Three Brothers MournedL.U. 231 (i,rtb,spa&u), SIOUX CITY, IA—Withsadness we report the deaths of three members:Bros. Clifford Falk, Marvin “Barney” Berens andGordon Gullikson.

Bro. Falk was a member since 1959 andretired in 1995. He worked for Bauer Electric inYankton, SD, for 25 years and then worked as atraveler around the country. Born in 1932, Bro.Falk passed away Aug. 17, 2007.

Bro. Berens was a member since 1945. Heserved in the Seabees in the 1940s and was a vet-eran of World War II. He worked for Casler andThompson Electric and retired in 1983. Born in1920, Bro. Berens passed away Aug. 19, 2007.

Bro.Gullikson was a member since 1976 andretired in 1996. Born in 1932, he worked on thePower Plant in Sioux City and ThompsonElectric prior to retirement. Bro. Gulliksonpassed away Sept. 11, 2007.

We extend deepest sympathy to the familiesof these fine men. They all will be greatly missed.

Debby Spencer, P.S.

‘Decide Your Future’L.U. 245 (govt,lctt,o,rtb&u), TOLEDO, OH—As wereflect on 2007, we note a time of transitions. Lastyear, the IBEW Fourth District saw the retire-ments of former Int. Vice Pres. Paul J. Witte aswell as former Int. Reps. Nicholas Greco andThomas M. Curley. Also, following the election ofGov. Ted Strickland (D) in 2006, political effortsare currently under way to re-regulate the utilityindustry. Now the 2008 presidential elections arefast approaching. All these developments affecthow the local conducts day-to-day business. Somechange is beyond our control. On the politicalscene, however, we can bring about positivechange for working people with our votes. Whowill decide your future? Will it be you?

We hope contract negotiations begun in 2007will have concluded by the time you read this. Atthis writing in November, only First Energy andTri-County negotiations were under way. At DavisBesse our members are gearing up for the plant’s15th refueling outage, which was scheduled tostart Dec. 30, 2007. Work in our outside construc-tion branch is in its usual seasonal slowdown.

Local 245 again supported the SalvationArmy’s Christmas kettle drive. Thanks to all whosupported the cause to help many people in need.

Ray Zychowicz, P.S.

65 Years of ServiceL.U. 295 (em,i,o,rtb,rts,spa&u), LITTLE ROCK,AR—We enjoyed our local union picnic held inSeptember 2007. We had an excellent turnoutand good fellowship among our active and retiredmembers. Bros. Vance Skillern, LawrenceMcKellips and Harrison West received 65-yearservice pins. Bro. West served as Local 295’s busi-ness manager from 1967-1972. We thank thesegentlemen for a lifetime of service to the IBEW.

We have been in negotiations with our con-tractors in recent months. Hopefully by the timeyou read this we will be working under a newagreement. Our negotiating committee hasworked well with our contractors to try to keep upwith the cost of living for our members, and at thesame time stay competitive in the marketplace.

David Stephens, A.B.M.

50-Year Members HonoredL.U. 309 (i,lctt,mo,mt,o,rts,spa,&u),COLLINSVILLE, IL—Our work picture remainssteady for our outside and inside branches, withmany IBEW travelers working in our jurisdiction.All our line clearance tree trimmers continue toenjoy full employment, due in part to the utility’scommitment to maintain its system to minimizestorm outages.

Congratulations to our outside and CerroFlow Products negotiating committees. Asst. Bus.Mgr. Sott Tweedy, Bros. Lyn Kleeman, JustinSchwigen and Dwight Childerson were successfulin bargaining a three-year agreement withAmerican Line Builders. The parties agreed tototal package increases of 3 percent, 3.5 percent,and 4 percent. The package was accepted unani-mously. Asst. Bus. Mgr. Tim Evans, Bros. RogerDeMond, Kevin Zike, and I successfully bargaineda three-year agreement with CFP. The partiesagreed to wage increases of 3 percent per year,improvements to the pension plan and a perform-ance pay plan that could give the members up toan additional 3 percent bonus each year.

Local 309 members hosted our annual 50-year members’ party at the Sunset Hills CountryClub in Edwardsville, IL. The party was well-attended by our retirees, who so richly deservethis recognition. Those pictured received a man-tle clock from Local 309 and I.O. service awards.Congratulations to all.

Jim Berger, B.M.

10 T h e E l e c t r i c a l W o r k e r x January 2008

Three generations of Teichmanfamily Local 145 members enjoythe local’s annual golf outing:retired member Bill Teichman(right); his son, Dennis (center),an active member; and grandsonDerek. Bill started his IBEWcareer in 1955. Derek began hisapprenticeship in 2007.

Award recipients attending Local 309’s party for 50-plus year members are, from left, seated, Bob Haege,Ozzie Joffray, Charles Votruba, James Murphy, Jack Viner, Erwin Brinkman and Ed Sudduth; standing, DickVoss, Paul Seibert, Clyde Weible, Robert Verbeck, Francis Halasey, Ray Mullins, Joe Rettig, Raymond Schulte,Cyril Kues, Jerry Kalbfleisch, Floyd Hays, Dwight French, Joe Poel, Kenneth Blume and Clarence Deibert.

Anniversary CelebrationL.U. 313 (i&spa), WILMINGTON, DE—On Sept.29, 2007, Local 313 celebrated its 105th anniver-sary at the Dover Downs Convention Hall. Thisevent was a celebration of the hard work unionmembers have put forth to make our local aprime example of a strong labor union. Honoredguests included U.S. Sen. Thomas Carper, Ltd.Gov. John Carney and many other public offi-cials. Two Local 313 officials, state Sen. AnthonyDeLuca and state Rep. Mike Mulrooney, receiveda big round of applause. A highlight of theevening was the service pin ceremony. Bro.Walter McGonigal received his 70-year pin; Bros.John Koitsch Jr. and Greg Stillwell, 55-year pins;Walter Brumbley, Don George, Fred Nichols andAl Shields Sr., 50-year pins. Thanks to all mem-bers who helped make the event a great success.

The local thanks members who volunteeredfor the many local union events last summer,including the picnic and Labor Day parade.

Local 313 honors the memory of Bro. StanKlein, a man of great accomplishments who dedi-cated most of his career to the training ofapprentices. He was a Local 313 instructor andtraining director, and later became NationalJATC senior director of curriculum development.He will be missed.

Scott A. Lupinek, P.S.

Apprentice GraduatesL.U. 317 (i,o,rts,t&u), HUNTINGTON, WV—A bigthanks to the Entertainment Committee and all whohelped make the IBEW Local 317 annual picnic agreat success. Active members and retirees, alongwith their families, enjoyed a nice day of fellowship.

We are proud to announce the following mem-bers completed the five-year journeyman wiremanapprenticeship training program: Charissa Barker,James Collins, Jonathan Daniels, Chad Gilbert,William Gill, Brandon Holley, Christopher Kiley,Lafe Lyons, David McMahon, Troy Minix, MikeRunyon, Jason Steagall, Brandon Sturgill, GlennSuttles, Timothy Suttles, Gregory White, StevenWilliams and Jimmie Wood Jr. Local 317 congratu-lates these members on their accomplishment.

Charles “Shane” Wolfe, Pres.

Child Haven Holiday LightsL.U. 357 (c,i,mt&se), LAS VEGAS, NV—Ourannual picnic was at Sunset Park on Sept. 29,2007. The food was excellent and the horseshoetournament lasted into the night. Members whospent the night at the JATC apprenticeship train-ing facility cooking the food provided an invalu-able service and had a good time.

On Oct. 6, 2007, our contractors and mem-bers opened their hearts and their wallets for thechildren at Child Haven. Twenty membersdonated their time, and five of our contractorsdonated material, to pipe, pull wire and install

w w w. i b e w. o r g T h e E l e c t r i c a l W o r k e r x January 2008 11

receptacles for installing Christmas lights at thefacility. Our contractors donated over 800 feet ofconduit and wire, along with all the material andfittings to install receptacles outside all thebuildings at Child Haven. Christmas lights wereinstalled Nov. 3, 2007 and Las Vegas Mayor OscarGoodman held a press conference and lightingceremony on Nov. 20. Thanks to all volunteers.

Oct. 20, 2007, was a gorgeous day for oursixth annual brotherhood welfare charity golftournament. Over 150 people participated and aluncheon followed the event. A lot of money wasraised to help our sick and needy members.Thanks to all for the donations.

Timothy W. Bolton, P.S.

Kentucky Voters SpeakL.U. 369 (em,es,i,lctt,o,rtb,rts,spa&u),LOUISVILLE, KY—Voters in the great state ofKentucky have spoken! Democratic candidateSteve Beshear was elected governor by a landside.Thanks to all volunteers who made this campaigna huge success. Special thanks likewise to our for-mer Republican governor—for uniting the labormovement. His attack on working families wasjust the fuel we needed to keep the fire burning.

The groundbreaking for Museum Plaza washeld Oct. 25, 2007. Museum Plaza will include300,000 square feet of office space, 165 condo-miniums, a 250-room Westin Hotel and theUniversity of Louisville’s fine arts program. Aspace on the 24th floor will house a 35,000 squarefoot contemporary arts center, spa, pool, fitnesscanter, ballroom, restaurants and retail. Therewill be two towers, the tallest being 62 stories.

The government finally approved construc-tion permits for erecting cranes on the UPSWorldport project. Ironworkers have been work-ing 6-10’s with spotty overtime trying to get theproject back on schedule—which in turn meansmore electricians will be needed soon.

John E. Morrison Jr., P.S.

International Lineman’s RodeoL.U. 387 (em,lctt&u), PHOENIX, AZ—Nine jour-neyman linemen and seven lineman apprenticesfrom our local competed against more than 900others at the 24th annual International Lineman’sRodeo. The teams won two events and placed inthe top five in four other events. Bros. Joe West,Toby Claude and Tim Poudrier, journeyman line-men, took 1st place in the Speed Climb and 4thplace in the Insulator Change Out. Bros. RodWest, Brian Wheeler and Rudy Perez, journeymanlinemen, took 5th place in the Hurt Man Rescue.Also, Bros. Jason Houle, Scott Kahrs and JeffWright, journeyman linemen, were so consistentin all their events that they took 15th overall.

Local 387 lineman apprentices also hadgreat showings. Bros. Greg Fish and ChrisBabineau placed second and third in the SpeedClimb. Bro. Art Garcia Jr. had a 1st place per-formance in the CPR/AED event. Bros. BrandonEvans, Danny Carver, Scott Marlatt and DrewSchonoff did very well throughout the day.

The teams raised money for the charity“Climb for Kiddos,” a nonprofit organization theycreated. Arizona Public Service Company’s SeniorVice Pres. Jan Bennett announced that APS wouldmatch the team’s donations. Congratulations to all!

Ronny Hockman, P.S.

A Proud AccomplishmentL.U. 415 (c,govt&i), CHEYENNE, WY—Anotheraccomplishment to be proud of. IBEW Local 415and traveling members put together a majorCoker system rework at the Cheyenne FrontierRefinery in 60 days—working 12 to 14 hours aday, seven days a week. The work ethics andsuperior skills demonstrated at this critical shut-down won Wagner Electric more work at this siteand an invite to bid other work across the nation.

The work picture continues to be very strongwith no signs of letting up, and the energy sectoris leading the way in much of the jurisdiction.

A big thank-you to all those who partici-pated in wiring the Extreme Home Makeoverproject. It was a great success for some real nicepeople. Again, the IBEW shines.

Harvey J. Humphrey, B.M./F.S.

A New FacilityL.U. 449 (catv,em,i,o,rtb,rts,spa&u), POCATELLO,ID—It’s an honor to report that the local has relo-cated to its new facility at 1537 Baldy Avenue inPocatello. Our open house and dedication wasDec. 1, 2007. It took two years to complete theproject, which we performed with all union crafts.Thanks to members who helped move the office tothe new hall.

The membership approved changing theregular meeting from the fourth Thursday to thefirst Thursday of the month starting in January.Meeting time has changed from 8 p.m. to 7 p.m.to encourage greater attendance. The Twin FallsUnit meeting changed from the first Thursday tothe second Thursday of the month at the RedLion in Twin Falls. Meeting time is 8 p.m. Pleasemark your calendars.

Local 449 thanks the following members fortheir years of service and wishes them well intheir retirement: Ronald Webb, John Wodskow,Loy H. “Woodie” Dickerson, Edward Slaugh andGordon Scott Hadley.

We extend condolences to the family ofretired member Harold Siler, who passed away.

Support and participate in your union.

Bob Bodell, B.M.

Solidarity RallyL.U. 459 (ees,em,so,govt&u), JOHNSTOWN, PA—Local 459 held a rally in downtown Erie, PA, onSaturday, Oct. 20, 2007, to protest for a betterrelationship with Penelec/First Energy. Theweather was nice and the turnout of the member-ship and their families was terrific. Approximately100 members and family members showed up inErie to demonstrate their support. We had mem-bers traveling from as far as the Towanda District,over four hours away. Also, members fromJohnstown, Clearfield and Dubois drove to therally. Members from other units the local repre-sents also showed support. We had some of theYoung Democrats from Clarion University join us.The local thanks the members and their familieswho attended. Rally participants had a good timeand showed strong solidarity.

Kenneth L.Richards, Pres./A.B.M.

JATC Awards BanquetL.U. 481 (ees,em,i,mt,rts,s&spa), INDIANAPO-LIS, IN—Congratulations to all Local 481apprentices who graduated in August 2007. Atthe JATC awards banquet, Matthew Steber wasrecognized as Apprentice of the Year, and therunner up was Joshua Reader. The SolidarityAward was presented to Benjamin Adair, and thelate retired Bro. Thomas Smith was awardedposthumously as honoree. The Solidarity Awardacknowledges dedication to Local 481 brother-hood during apprenticeship and throughout amember’s local union career.

Bus. Rep. Kevin Marshall recently graduatedfrom National Labor College. Congratulations to

Local 357 journeyman wiremen volunteer to light up Child Haven facility for Christmas holidays.

Local 387 journeyman linemen Jeff Wright (left) andJason Houle compete at the IBEW InternationalLineman’s Rodeo.

Local 459 members gather for unity rally protest inErie, PA.

Cheyenne, WY, Local 415 members on Wagner Electric’s day shift at the Cheyenne Frontier Refinery. CokerUnit is shown in the background.

Kevin on all the extra work he did to completehis bachelor’s degree in labor studies on top ofhis daily duties.

Work in the area is going well. We thank allthe traveling brothers and sisters who havehelped us staff the jobs.

Steven Montgomery, R.S.

Tacoma Award RecipientsL.U. 483 (lctt,o&u), TACOMA, WA—At our October2007 general meeting, IEC member Patrick Lavinand Int. Rep. Rick Hite presented Bro. KenWickstrom with the IBEW Lifesaving Award. Bro.Wickstrom was nominated for the award by hisshop steward and co-worker, Byron Allen ofPeninsula Light Company. Bro. Wickstrom wasreturning to his shop when he saw a man lyingface down beside the road with a group ofbystanders looking on. The man had suffered aheart attack and Bro. Wickstrom, with the help ofa bystander, started CPR until the paramedicsarrived. Thanks to an IBEW member’s quick think-ing and CPR training, the man’s life was saved.

Local 483 Bus. Mgr. Alice A. Phillipsreceived the 2007 Elsie Schrader Award, for out-standing achievement in labor, at the WashingtonState Labor Council Convention held in Seattle.This prestigious award is given for the advance-ment of women in leadership roles and/or foractivism on behalf of women within the labormovement. Sister Phillips chairs many commit-tees including the Joint Labor Committee ofTacoma and the Washington Power & LineClearance Tree Trimming ApprenticeshipProgram. She also serves on the JointApprenticeship & Training Committee of theNorthwest Line Construction Industry.

Mike Shook, Pres.

2007 Service AwardsL.U. 531 (i), LaPORTE, IN—Our local held its2007 service awards presentations at Blue ChipCasino, which is a regular supporter of unioncontractors and a big contributor to the commu-nity. Service pins were presented to memberswith 10 to 65 years of IBEW service.

Congratulations to all award recipients.Although the honorees are too numerous to listhere, I wish to acknowledge the 65-year members:Ralph Odle, Leo Conn, Cecil Downing, TheodoreHayes, William Switt, Robert Wheeler, CharlesConn Sr., Harold Kimmel, Richard Lubs, BillRoberts, Bob Schroeder, Royce Cattron, ChesterMatuszak, Charles Martin, Donald Deardorff,Howard Kubsch and Marion Strauch. The foodwas excellent and everyone had a wonderful time.

Local 531 will celebrate its 70th anniversarythis year. The local was chartered in 1938.

Thought for the day: “All that a manachieves and all that he fails to achieve is thedirect result of his own thoughts.”

J.J. Switzer, P.S.

100th Anniversary CelebratedL.U. 575 (i), PORTSMOUTH, OH—During 2007,several members were presented service awards:Bro. Carroll Hendricks for 60 years of service,Bro. Donald Keyser for 55 years, and Bro. LouImes for 50 years. Bro. Imes also accepted a 50-year service award for his late friend, Bro.Thomas Dee Semones.

Local 575 also presented Ohio State Rep.Todd Book with honorary IBEW membership forhis continuing service to our industry.

On July 27, 2007, members reunited at theShawnee State Forest Lodge for our 100thanniversary celebration. The celebration contin-ued on July 28 with a golf outing, a motorcycletrip, and a tour of Bonneyfiddle. IBEW Int. Sec.-Treas. Jon Walters rededicated the GordonFreeman Memorial Hall. The extravaganza con-cluded at Shawnee State University with arecorded greeting from Gov. Ted Strickland, avideo tribute to Local 575, an exceptional meal,guest speakers, and a command performance ofThe Return, a premiere Beatles-tribute band.

We now begin our second century of service,reminded of the words of our late local bother,Int. Pres. Emeritus Gordon M. Freeman: “Thedream our founders had of bringing dignity andsecurity to Electrical Workers is a staunch real-ity…but there is no time to rest on our laurels.”

Dennis W. Hawkins, P.S.

Work Opportunities ElusiveL.U. 577 (em&i), APPLETON, WI—Work oppor-tunities in this local continue to elude our mem-bers on the out-of-work list. Requests from localemployers for journeymen to travel to job sitesand a few short calls have come in to the hallrecently. Bid results from a couple of projectsseem to indicate that non-signatory contractorsare willing to potentially take a loss just to getsome work. Reports from traveling membersindicate that jobs are available in this state andin our district.

The local will implement a substance abusepolicy that is consistent with other locals inWisconsin. By using the same testing agency,cost savings will be realized by not testing travel-ing members who are already in the commondatabase. Using the existing TruPro advertisingbrand and other marketing tools, we can informour potential customers that we have a drug-freework force available. Using the annual randomtesting component, we are proving to the publicthat we are committed to providing this serviceto the electrical construction industry.

As the New Year unfolds, make an effort toattend continuing education classes as well asannual safety training. A well-trained, skilledand drug-free work force is the right choice forour customers and employers.

Greg Breaker, B.M.

Centennial Year in San MateoL.U. 617 (c,i,mo&st), SAN MATEO, CA—This is it!2008 is the year that marks Local 617’s centennial.A gigantic milestone of accomplishments, determi-nation, success and posterity achieved by a pro-gressive association of skilled workers! This is ayear for reflection on the past. Studying the suc-cesses of yesterday will help assure our vision fortomorrow. In the beginning, our founders metweekly to advance their fledging Brotherhood’sgrowth. Today, we reap the fruits of their sacrificesand must show our appreciation with participation.

So, on Oct. 29, 2007, a special meeting washeld at the union hall, with representatives ofthe renowned BMA Media Group, regarding waysto celebrate the special event.

Beyond the festivities, we know that thestrength of this Brotherhood lies with the activeparticipation of its members. So, like the fabu-lous “San Mateo’s eight,” who gathered one nightin April 1908 at the Fireman’s Hall, we too metthat night with the future in mind. Look forwardfor this once in a lifetime event to be held with“fanfare” at the Burlingame Hyatt on Aug. 16, afitting venue as the City of Burlingame also cele-brates its centennial in 2008.

Pierre St-Cyr, P.S.

Welcome to New MembersL.U. 625 (ees,em,i,mar&mt), HALIFAX, NOVASCOTIA, CANADA—Congratulations to Bros.Wayne Hewitt, Dave Waller and Garnet Lake ontheir retirement. Also re-entering retirement areBros. Doug Wilson and Bill Oakes. Thank you foryour dedicated service to our local.

Congratulations to our new journeymen:Bros. Rod Keough, Bradley Hopkins, Jeff Lewis

and Jonathan Embree. That ticket is a greatachievement and you should be proud of youraccomplishment.

Local 625’s first full-time staff business man-ager, Bro. Len Dunn, passed away Oct. 18, 2007, atage 79. Bro. Dunn held office from 1969-1976. ActiveBro. Andrew Klatt passed away Oct. 8 at age 50.Retired Bro. Don Cluney passed away Sept. 25 atage 61. Retired Bro. Sam MacDonald passed awayJuly 16 at age 57. Our condolences to their families.

Welcome to new members recently swornin. 2007 saw an increase of approximately 100members and an increase in man-hours worked.This indicates a positive change and bodes wellfor the future. The fate of the IBEW is in thehands of the younger members. A message to theolder journeymen: Train the younger generationwell, share your experience and help make thefuture of the IBEW strong.

Tom Griffiths, Pres.

25 Year Club DinnerL.U. 683 (em&i), COLUMBUS, OH—The localhosted its 49th annual “25 Year Club” dinner danceSept. 29, 2007, at Villa Milano in Columbus. Thosein attendance who received pins for 25 years ofservice are pictured in the accompanying photo.Also receiving service pins were members with 30,35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and even 60 years of service.Dennis Nicodemis was chosen as the new presi-dent of the 25 Year Club.

Service pins for members with 5, 10, 15 and20 years of service were presented at regularunion meetings.

Congratulations to the Electrical WorkersMinority Caucus (EWMC), which recently cele-brated their first anniversary in our local.

Winter and spring quarter journeyman

12 T h e E l e c t r i c a l W o r k e r x January 2008

Local 481 Apprentice of the Year Matthew Steber(left), runner-up Joshua Reader (right) and SolidarityAward recipient Benjamin Adair (center) attendJATC awards banquet.

Attending Local 617’s centennial event meeting are, from left, seated, Elyssa Giorgian and Ray Liptak ofBMA Media Group, Bus. Mgr. Dominic Nolan, Pres. Marc Leach; standing, Local 617 members Fred Nesbitt,Joe Hogan (retired former business manager), Jessie Stoney (retired former president), Rosa Garcia-Petros,Marc Calvillo Jr, John McDonagh, Frank Cortez and Joseph E. Ameer.

Local 683 membersreceive their 25-year serv-ice awards at the 25 YearClub dinner dance. Fromleft, front row, Ed Ball, TerriThayer, Dennis Nicodemis;back row, Lou Devault,Casey Flanagan, TomTruelove and Paul Grice.

classes will be available at the apprenticeshipschool for members to further their education.

We extend condolences to the family ofrecently deceased member Howard “Sonny” O.McNaghten.

Find out what is going on in your local andmake your union work for you: Attend meetings.We wish the Brotherhood a happy and prosper-ous new year.

Rick Deime, V.P./P.S.

JATC Graduation BanquetL.U. 915 (i&mt), TAMPA, FL—Our JATC Banquetand Completion Ceremony was held in September2007 and was chaired by Asst. Bus. Mgr./OrganizerBro. Jon Dehmel. We had 23 apprentices graduat-ing to become inside journeyman electricians.

Eight graduates had perfect attendance fortheir last school year: Donald Babuka, Terry Dykes,Myrle Evans, Jarod Glass, Damion Levy, JohnMcClure, James McCutchan and Jorge Noriega.Three graduates had perfect attendance throughouttheir entire apprenticeship: Donald Babuka, DamionLevy, Jorge Noriega. Each received a plaque and $50.

Congratulations to Outstanding ApprenticeAward recipient Karen Hill. This award honors astudent who excels in the categories that makeup our trade. The JATC recognizes the excep-tional attitude, skill and knowledge that propelan apprentice to the top of the class. This out-standing graduate received a plaque and $500from the JATC, a plaque from Local 915 and atool set donated by Klein Tools. Power Net CreditUnion gave $500, an increased amount becausethe honoree was top of the class every year prior.Karen also received our Brad Felker MemorialAward for leadership, volunteerism and aca-demic achievement.

Congratulations to all our newest insidejourneyman wiremen. May you all be prosperous.

Theresa King, P.S.

A Career of IBEW ServiceL.U. 1049 (lctt,o&u), LONG ISLAND, NY—After37 years of service Bus. Rep. Robert Porfert hasdecided to retire. Throughout his career Bob hasgiven the membership his all. Bob also servedthe local as steward, treasurer, vice presidentand president. He was an integral part of theMain Negotiating Committee for many contracts.Bob will be sorely missed. On behalf of Bus. Mgr.Bob Shand, fellow officers and members, all bestwishes to Bob in his retirement.

Congratulations to Bro. James Shand, Local1049’s newest business representative. Jamie hasbeen an active member and steward for 20 yearsand is a terrific addition to the staff.

Our local faces many new challenges. Inorder to best meet some of those challenges, aCommunications Committee has been established.The committee is charged with finding ways to bet-ter communicate, inform and educate the member-

ship. One of our priorities is updating our Web site.Check us out at www.ibew1049.org. A membershipeducated on the issues is a stronger membership.

We continue to mourn the loss of ExecutiveBoard member Bob Erickson. Bob was anextremely active member, steward and officer,who left us suddenly in September 2007. Ourthoughts and prayers are with Bob and his family.

Thomas J. Dowling, R.S.

Tribute to a FounderL.U. 1245 (catv,em,govt,lctt,o,pet,t&u),VACAVILLE, CA—Ronald T. Weakley,founder of our localand business man-ager from 1951 to1971, died Oct. 11,2007, in Hawaii. Hewas 92. Weakley’spassion and ingenu-ity fired one of thegreat union organiz-ing drives of the

20th century, a 12-year campaign of struggle togain a voice for workers at Pacific Gas & Electric.When the union emerged triumphant, Weakleytransformed from agitator to architect, negotiatinginnovative labor agreements benefiting workers.

At age 19, Weakley participated in the greatSan Francisco General Strike of 1934. After hiringon at PG&E in 1940, he rose to a leadership role inefforts to organize a union under the auspices of theUtility Workers Organizing Committee, then affili-ated with the CIO. But Weakley became frustratedby conflict between the UWOC and the IBEW, andthe resulting inability of either union to organizethe whole of PG&E. Weakley switched allegiance inthe late 1940s and convinced thousands to comewith him into the IBEW, achieving the unity neededto organize the entire PG&E. Under Weakley’s lead-ership in the 1960s, the local also organized manyother employers in northern California.

In 2003 Local 1245 named its new head-quarters the Ronald T. Weakley Hall. Weakley’strue legacy is the union itself and the strength itgives working people.

Eric Wolfe, P.S.

Recent RetireesL.U. 1307 (u), SALISBURY, MD—Local 1307 mournsthe loss of Bro. Alvin Craig III, who passed away July3, 2007, after an illness. He was 35. Bro. Craig was aDelmarva Power customer care representative inSalisbury. Our condolences to his family.

On a brighter note, Local 1307 congratulatesfive recent retirees: Isaac Ballard, Cecil Ashby,Charles Webster, Marvin Brown and Gary Esham.Bro. Ballard began work at Delmarva Power in1991, as a mechanics helper. He retired as ahydraulic equipment technician in May 2007.

Bro. Ashby began as a meter reader atDelmarva Power in 1971. He became a journey-man tree trimmer and later worked on theunderground crew. He retired May 1, 2007.

Bro. Webster began at Delmarva Power asan apprentice lineman in 1970. He became ajourneyman, lead lineman and retired from atrouble service job May 1, 2007.

Bro. Brown started at Delmarva Power as alaborer in 1967. He moved to Stores, advanced toutilityman and retired as a meter technicianJune 1, 2007.

Bro. Esham began at Delmarva Power in 1970as an engineer’s helper. He transferred to IndianRiver Power Plant, later purchased by NRG Energy.He advanced through the ranks and retired as apower plant controls specialist June 1, 2007.

Edward D. Sparks, F.S.

United Way AwardL.U. 1381 (uow), HICKSVILLE, NY—Since themerger of KeySpan and National Grid, Local 1381continues to meet with the leadership of thenewly merged electric company. These meetingsare designed to collaborate on many issues thatwill arise in the future. Bus. Mgr. Donald J. DaleyJr. has also been meeting with the new CEO ofLong Island Power Authority (LIPA). The busi-ness manager states the meetings have been pro-ductive in laying out the union’s concerns of jobstability and effective service levels.

The Local 1381 COPE Committee partici-pated in labor walks, phone banks and mailingsfor endorsed political candidates. Members aresending the message that when it comes to poli-tics, Local 1381 means business.

Local 1381 was named a winner of theUnited Way’s “Best Union Support Award” and washonored at an awards gala in November 2007. Lastyear, KeySpan employees contributed over $1 mil-lion to various causes across Long Island. Thankyou to all our generous members for making a dif-ference in the lives of so many less fortunate peo-ple in our community.

Catherine Malinowski, P.S.

‘Blue Hat’ Safety ProgramL.U. 1439 (u), ST. LOUIS, MO—With great sad-ness we announce the passing of a brother, men-tor and friend. Ed Bealler finished his work onearth Aug. 14, 2007, and was called home. Wemourn his passing, but also are grateful for thelegacy he passed on. Ed always treated peoplethe way he wanted to be treated and, though aleader, he was a servant at heart. Ed was a line-man for many years and a supervisor as well.

Local 1439 reached agreement withAmeren/UE, an investor owned utility, to establishwhat is known as the “Blue Hat” safety program. Twojourneyman linemen travel our jurisdiction, observ-ing work groups to ensure that everyone follows allsafety rules and safe work practices. This is a confi-dential program. No discipline is involved and no fearthat a discussion involving a serious near-miss willresult in discipline. This program, wherein the bar-gaining unit takes a serious role in enforcing safety,has been a tremendous success since its inceptionone year ago. For more information about the pro-gram, call the Local 1439 office at (314) 644-6111.

Ken Carroll, P.S.

A Boost for LaborL.U. 1501 (ees,em,mo,pet,rts&t), BALTIMORE,MD—Shown in the accompanying photo areLocal 1501 Bus. Mgr. Dion F. Guthrie, MarylandGov. Martin O’Malley and other officials attend-ing a recent meeting on legislative mattersaffecting union working people.

Last fall, Gov. O’Malley called a special ses-sion of the Legislature to address the statebudget shortfall. Heading the agenda was a con-troversial proposal to legalize slot machine gam-bling. For our members at Amtote, this issue is ofutmost importance; slots at racetracks would givethe horse racing industry in Maryland a neededboost, as it would make the purses comparable tothose in neighboring states that already have slotgambling. The governor’s proposal also called forslot machines in locations outside racetracks. Atthis writing, the issue was still being debated.[Editor’s Note: In November 2007 the MarylandGeneral Assembly approved slot machine legisla-tion. Consequently, a constitutional amendmentallowing slots will go on the ballot this year.Maryland voters will decide in November 2008whether to allow up to 15,000 slot machines atfive locations around the state.]

Congratulations to Bus. Mgr. Guthrie on hisappointment as president of the Baltimore PortCouncil of AFL-CIO Unions.

Thomas Rostkowski, R.S.

Westar Negotiation TimeL.U. 1523 (u), WICHITA, KS—As the new yearbegins, we will start thinking about proposals forour Westar Energy contract negotiations. Thecontract expires June 30, 2008. Negotiations willbe here sooner than we think. The process is along one and we want to know what’s importantto the membership and their departments.

Members may submit proposals for negotia-tions to their union steward or mail them to theunion hall. Proposal writing doesn’t have to be inperfect form, just describe your suggestions forcontract proposals that would better our union. Weas the body need to stay involved and know what isin our contract. Changes are always taking place atLocal 1523. You may think these changes won’taffect you but they will—because it’s your union.At his writing there is discussion of possibly hold-ing a meeting to go over contract proposals.

A Customer Service Rep (CSR) meeting isscheduled for Jan. 25 in Phoenix. We will sendtwo representatives this year. Attendance hasbeen good at our general meetings.

Candy C. Cruz-Dodd, P.S.

w w w. i b e w. o r g T h e E l e c t r i c a l W o r k e r x January 2008 13

LOCAL LINES continued on page 16

Local 1245 founder RonaldT. Weakley (1915-2007).

Local 915 JATC graduating apprentice class ofSeptember 2007.

Shown at recent meeting,from left: IBEW Local1501 Bus. Mgr. andHartford CountyCouncilman Dion F.Guthrie; Maryland Gov.Martin O’Malley; MaryAnn Lisanti, HartfordCounty Council; andGlenn Middleton,Executive DirectorCouncil 67, AFSME.

A fter 116 years of IBEW history, we have reached anall-time high in the number of IBEW membersemployed in the construction industry. Think about

it—this number didn’t happen during any of the boom cyclesof the 20th century. We achieved it during a difficult period inthe history of the Brotherhood and of organized labor.

Everyone who had a hand in our reaching this numbershould be proud, because we have truly made history. Noteven in the glory days of the post-World War II period whenwe controlled a dominant share of the work in electrical con-struction did we send as many brothers and sisters out towork as we are doing now. This is a tribute to the hard work,creativity, determination and the unwillingness to acceptfailure that has marked the behavior of our local union lead-ers and organizers. Our numbers also reflect the dedication

of rank and file members who have listened to the call to be the best and enhanced their sta-tus as the finest electrical construction work force in North America and the world.

There are still some hard realities to face. The size of the market for construction hasgrown so much over the past two decades that even this number does not translate into mar-ket dominance. We still hover around the 40 percent mark—much worse in some areas—which is not acceptable in the long run. And the retirement of the baby boom generation hasjust begun and threatens to deplete our ranks in the next five to 10 years, which could ham-per our ability to capture more work.

Challenges, however, don’t detract from achievement. This is proof that we are on theright track and that we can grow even in times when political and social forces are against us.If we keep it up and never let our efforts flag, then we can continue to grow and prosper in allcorners of this continent and in all branches of our Brotherhood—because we won’t rest untilthe growth spreads to utilities, telecommunications, manufacturing, railroads, broadcastingand government.

We enter 2008 on the march. And the drumbeat is about to get faster. z

I n t e r n a t i o n a l B r o t h e r h o o d o f E l e c t r i c a l W o r k e r s

HOW TO REACH US

We welcome letters from our readers. The writer should include his or her name, address and, ifapplicable, IBEW local union number and card number. Family members should include the localunion number of the IBEW member to whom The Electrical Worker is mailed. Please keep lettersas brief as possible. The Electrical Worker reserves the right to select letters for publication and editall submissions for length.

Send letters to: Letters to the Editor, The Electrical Worker, 900 Seventh Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001Or send by e-mail to: publications@ibew.org

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The Electrical Worker was the name of the first official publication ofthe National Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in 1893 (the NBEWbecame the IBEW in 1899 with the expansion of the union intoCanada). The name and format of the publication have changed overthe years. This newspaper, along with the IBEW Journal magazine,now published quarterly, now constitute the official publications ofthe IBEW and seek to capture the courage and spirit that motivatedthe founders of the Brotherhood and continue to inspire the union’smembers today. The masthead of this newspaper is an adaptation ofthat of the first edition in 1893.

14 T h e E l e c t r i c a l W o r k e r x January 2008

The National Labor Relations Board was created in 1935as part of the sweeping reforms championed byPresident Franklin D. Roosevelt in the midst of the Great

Depression. Part of a landmark bill spelling out labor rights inthe United States, the board was intended to protect the con-stitutional right of freedom of association in the workplace.

Seventy-two years later, the board has been hijacked bythose whose philosophy is directly opposed to that of FDRand the progressive leaders of that era.

Last September alone, in what the labor movement iscalling the September massacre, the NLRB issued more than60 decisions that make it harder to form a union and easierfor employers to discriminate against union members.

This isn’t the first time the board has issued rulings thatare intended to weaken the labor movement. Stacked withBush appointees, the NLRB has become a mouthpiece for anti-union political forces and a gross mockery of what Roosevelt envisioned when he signed theNational Labor Relations Act into law.

Knowing the disproportionate amount of power wielded by corporate America, Rooseveltand the sponsors of the National Labor Relations Act intended the board to safeguard thelegal right to organize and collectively bargain to preserve fair and peaceful labor relations.He certainly didn’t plan for it to become a legal cover for old-fashioned union-busting.

We have a chance in 2008 to make the board an upholder of the law if we can send aleader to the White House who knows the purpose of the NLRB is to uphold, not undermine,workers’ rights. Roosevelt didn’t create the NLRB to be another platform for big business; itwas meant to represent workers. It’s time to restore his vision and take our board back. z

F R O M T H E O F F I C E R S

EXECUTIVEOFFICERS

Edwin D. HillInternational President

Jon F. WaltersInternational Secretary-Treasurer

INTERNATIONALEXECUTIVECOUNCIL

ChairmanRobert W. Pierson

First DistrictJoseph P. Calabro

Second DistrictMyles J. Calvey

Third DistrictJohn R. Clarke

Fourth DistrictJackie E. Goodwin

Fifth DistrictStephen Schoemehl

Sixth DistrictGregory A. Lucero

Seventh DistrictPatrick Lavin

Eighth DistrictRick Dowling

INTERNATIONALVICE PRESIDENTS

First DistrictPhillip J. Flemming

Second DistrictFrank J. Carroll

Third DistrictDonald C. Siegel

Fourth DistrictSalvatore J. Chilia

Fifth DistrictJoe S. Davis

Sixth DistrictJoseph F. Lohman

Seventh DistrictJonathan B. Gardner

Eighth DistrictTed C. Jensen

Ninth DistrictMichael S. Mowrey

Tenth DistrictRobert P. Klein

Eleventh DistrictLindell K. Lee

THE ELECTRICALWORKER

EditorEdwin D. Hill

C. James Spellane

Mark Brueggenjohann

Mike Nugent

Malinda Brent

Len Shindel

Carol Fisher

Alex Hogan

Elizabeth Pultar

Jon F. WaltersInternational Secretary-Treasurer

Time to Take Our Board Back

Moving Up

Edwin D. HillInternational President

w w w. i b e w. o r g T h e E l e c t r i c a l W o r k e r x January 2008 15

On any given day in rural north-ern Iowa, teams of insidewiremen drive to remote and

blustery cornfields, take to a lonelyladder inside the tallest structureswithin miles and start climbing. Andclimbing and climbing.

When they descend from theirperches atop the 300-foot industrialturbines, the modern day windmillsare set to start spinning to collecttheir 1.5-megawatts, wired to thegrid by the outside linemen workingon the ground.

It is not a typical workplace forthe inside electricians, but wind andother renewable sources are becoming increas-ingly important work for the construction branch,said IBEW Construction and MaintenanceDepartment Director Jerry Westerholm. “There isdefinitely a momentum on Capitol Hill for greentechnologies,” Westerholm said.

“It’s an astronomic amount of work,” saidDes Moines, Iowa, Local 347 Business ManagerGerry Granberg, who has been on the front linesof the wind turbine’s transition from an oddity onAmerica’s landscape to another day at the officefor thousands of IBEW members.

Henkels and McCoy is bidding on wind proj-ects in Texas and Canada and all over the UnitedStates, said General Foreman Michael Brummitt, aDecatur, Ill., Local 146 member, who along withapproximately 40 wiremen from Des Moines andtravelers from across the country, helped finish thePomeroy Wind Farm in early December. “Theseare being bid and built everywhere.”

Brummitt’s crews performed top to bottomelectrical wiring for the windmills, from the con-trol wiring at the hub of the turbine to the trans-former at the bottom, lugging cable and makingconnections throughout. Massive structures,each GE 1.5 megawatt model like those at thePomeroy project weighs a total of 164 tons.

In a day that ranges from six to 12 hours,each electrician has a specific task at differentpoints on the tower. Usually only one has tomake the climb all the way to the top of the steel

structure, which is anchored on platforms ofmore than 1,000 tons of cement and steel rebar.The others are stationed at various stages, tyingtogether heavy diesel locomotive cables for elec-tricity and fiber optic cable for communications.

“It’s not really technical, it’s just what we doas wiremen,” Brummitt said.

The wiremen work with a ladder and cablesystem, climbing a straight ladder with a cableattached to a front harness. In all, the job ofhooking up a windmill takes about a day and ahalf, Brummitt said. Safety is a priority andBrummitt said in two years of wind installation, hehas never had an accident or even a close call.

Before the inside wiring can start, outsidelinemen do the underground and substation work.

For the Pomeroy project, around 40 outsidemembers laid in approximately 60 miles oftrench line, equaling 180 miles of 35-kilovoltcable to hook up the towers to the grid. Theycompleted 160 high voltage underground cablesplices and 950 high voltage cable terminations.They installed the underground collection sys-tem, the tie-in at the substations and connectedtransformers at each of the 132 towers to thesystem. They also oversaw the high voltagecable tests and energized the wind farm.

The work is good and steady, albeit unexcit-ing in the rural Midwest, said General ForemanDoug Roche, Toronto Local 353. “It’s flat and 90percent corn,” he said. “That’s it.” z

A Day on the Job: Wiring Iowa’s Green Skyscrapers

Lettersto the EditorLettersto the EditorBuy AmericanWe need to wake up, pull up our bootstraps and take this country back. We have the col-lective power to accomplish this, yet we just trod along. I went to purchase a Stanley ther-mos, the one like we all use. On the box, it states “An American tradition,” yet it’s made inChina. I will find an American-made one at a yard sale before I buy one from China.

Now more than ever, we all need to make a concerted effort to BUY AMERICAN. Taketime to write these companies, I do it all the time. If we do not bring a manufacturing baseback to this country, we will slowly be taken over from the inside. We have allowedcrooked politicians and greedy stockholders to sell off our country and livelihood one company at a time. We have all been affected by this, let’s all get mad and take it back.BUY AMERICAN!!

Robert H. WolfgangLocal 143 member, Harrisburg, Pa.

Supporting Our PresidentThough I highly doubt this note will be published, I feel I must express myself as a 30-year member. Each month there is a negative onslaught on our president and his policies.I do not disagree with most of the opinions. I do however disagree with the I.O.’s sugges-tion we each should adhere to the suggestions it sends to us.

My family, from the earliest member of Local 60, to the present day, where myfather, myself, two brothers, a cousin and a brother-in-law participate in the local’s idealsand activities, wants a fair and accurate assessment of the current political scene.

The IBEW should put full support behind the decisions made by OUR ELECTED OFFI-CIALS. How about recognition of the president whose country was attacked, versus con-tinual criticism? I consider myself to be a staunch supporter of the IBEW and what itstands for. I do not, however, allow your opinions to be mine.

Guy KatzLocal 60 member, San Antonio, Texas

Trust but VerifyAs a retired member of Kansas City, Mo., Local 1832, I commend the union’s public sup-port of the SAVE Act. [The Secure America with Verification and Enforcement Act is a pro-posal that would require every employer in the United States to verify their employees’Social Security numbers.] For too long, unions in general have been viewed as sympathet-ically supporting and enrolling illegal aliens. There is nothing charitable or honorable whencorruption and the greed of expanding membership at any cost take precedence over thewelfare of legal workers and the nation. Kudos to the IBEW for its stand. I am truly proudof MY UNION!

Robert R. UrbanLocal 1832 retiree, Kansas City, Mo.

Health Care WoesBrother Daniel Capozzi’s comments on Bush’s veto of health coverage shows how uninformedhe is. I can barely afford health coverage for myself. I don’t want to pay for a family of fourwith an income of $72,000. Republicans and Democrats recognized this was a bad bill.

There is a reason why Congress’s approval rating is well below the president’s.

Barbara DyerLocal 1245 retiree, Vacaville, Calif.

A Bright FutureI admit I was skeptical for a portion of the year, but through all of our brothers’ and sisters’tireless hard work, safe work practices, superior training and workmanship, I see ourpotential for growth becoming brighter every day, and our relations with our currentemployers stronger than ever.

Travis GrimeLocal 8 member, Toledo, Ohio

Des Moines, Iowa, Local 347 members Tyler Knoll, left,Ron Cook and Brian Vinke wire a wind turbine hub in Carroll.

If you have a story to tell about your IBEW experience, please send it topublications@ibew.org.

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16 T h e E l e c t r i c a l W o r k e r x January 2008

Employers Must Pay forProtective Equipment, OSHA SaysThe Occupational Safety and HealthAdministration has ruled that employersmust pay for personal protective equipment,finally clarifying a 12-year-old law that saidemployers must provide such equipment.

Published on Nov. 15, the rule affectsoccupational safety and health standards invirtually every branch of the IBEW, includingconstruction, utilities, broadcasting, manu-facturing and telecommunications, as well asshipyard employment, marine terminals, gen-eral industry and longshoring. It will go intoeffect Feb. 15, and must be implementedwithin six months.

“This is a long time coming,” said IBEWSafety and Health Department Director JimTomaseski.

Some labor groups are disappointed thatthe rule doesn’t go far enough to cover pre-scription eyewear and steel-toe boots, whichOSHA decided were “personal in nature.”

Employers will now have to pay for workgloves, for instance. Until now, about half ofemployers did so, Tomaseski said. Fall protec-tion equipment, including pole climbing gear,is specifically mentioned in the rule as equip-ment that shall be purchased by the employer.

The National Electrical ContractorsAssociation argued that OSHA shouldexclude items that fall under the NationalFire Protection Agency 70E voluntary stan-dard for flame resistant clothing. OSHAdecided that protective clothing is not yetrequired under its standards, but it would becovered under this rule if it were.

In cases where collective bargaining agree-ments contain provisions that some protec-tive equipment will be paid by the employee,OSHA is allowing a six-month compliancedeadline for those issues to be corrected.

When equipment is shared and chancesfor disease transmission increase, the rulesays it must be sanitized before being passedalong to another employee. Also, because anemployee could expose family members tohazardous substances when taking homeprotective equipment, the employer musttake every effort to limit the spread of chem-ical contaminants.

Certain types of everyday work cloth-ing and weather-related clothing are alsoexceptions.

For a link to the Federal Register wherethe rule is printed, click on the Safety andHealth Department section of the IBEW Website at www.ibew.org. z

Spotlight on Safety Local Lines

continued from page 13

Shop Steward ConferenceL.U. 1547 (c,em,i,o,t&u), ANCHORAGE, AK—More than 175 shop stewards attended the Local1547 Shop Steward Conference in Anchorage.Participants received instruction on the duty offair representation, the nuts and bolts of laborlaw, job safety, personal finance and the impor-tance of unionism. AFL-CIO Organizing Dir.Stewart Acuff gave a dynamic keynote presenta-tion. The conference concluded with an awardsdinner. Honorees included: the Alaska Chapter ofNECA - Outstanding Employer Organization ofthe Year; Matanuska Telephone Associationemployees - Volunteer Group of the Year; ErikaKelly - Organizing Volunteer of the Year; AnnaWiggins - Volunteer of the Year; Mark Ewing -Political Volunteer of the Year; Bobby Taylor -Rookie Shop Steward of the Year; and KathyLiegl - Shop Steward of the Year.

Bus. Rep. Jack Beemer is retiring. A powerlineman for 36 years, he worked at the hall formore than seven years. Enjoy your retirement,Bro. Beemer, and we will see you on the river.

Bus. Mgr. Larry Bell received a “Top 40Under 40” award from the Anchorage Chamber ofCommerce. The “Top 40 Under 40” program recog-nizes Alaska’s young business leaders who demon-strate professional excellence and a commitmentto their community. Congratulations, Bro. Bell.

Melinda Taylor, P.S.

Union CelebrationL.U. 1579 (i&o), AUGUSTA, GA—The annualLabor Day barbecue held at the lake propertylast year was a huge success. Over 600 membersand their families turned out for food and fellow-ship. There is no better way to celebrate LaborDay than with your IBEW family.

Please remember union meetings held thethird Monday of each month. Dinner and fellowshipstarts at 6:30 p.m., followed by the meeting at 8p.m. Attending union meetings gives us all theopportunity to get informed and voice our opinions.

Visit our Web site at www.ibew1579.org.You will see many new announcements and a listof available jobs. Until next time, God bless.

Will Salters, A.B.M.

50th AnniversaryL.U. 1999 (em), MANKATO, MN—In celebrationof Local 1999’s 50th anniversary of our chartersigning, we welcomed back one of the originalmembers who signed the charter, Bro. JohnOlson, as guest of honor at our September 2007general membership meeting (see photo). Local1999 was chartered in October 1957.

Phil Fjeldberg, Exec. Board Mbr.

Mobilization SeminarL.U. 2321 (t), MIDDLETON, MA—Local 2321held its “Stewards Army Mobilization” seminarand over 75 stewards and front-line members par-ticipated. Bus. Mgr. Ed Starr opened the meetingwith a stewards update and a call for the assem-bled “army” to support the stewards and the localin our fight against Verizon. Local 2321 organizerand member Christian Parzych conducted thestewards “army” training. At intermission,Massachusetts AFL-CIO Pres. Robert Haynesstopped by to thank the Local 2321 membershipand officers for our strong support as activemembers of the Massachusetts labor movement.Newly appointed Massachusetts Director of LaborGeorge Noel, former business manager of IBEW’sWaltham, MA, Local 1505, also addressed themembers. Bro. Noel thanked the local’s leader-ship and many volunteers for being proactive inthe Commonwealth’s labor and political activities.

In addition, I thank IBEW Local 2321 Pres.John Kelly, who serves as Merrimack Valley CLCCOPE chairman, for his mobilization efforts in the

get out the vote drive to elect Nikki Tsongas to theU.S. Congress. Rep. Tsongas won the recent specialelection to represent the 5th Congressional District.

Ed Starr, B.M./F.S.

2007 Progress MeetingL.U. 2325 (t), WORCESTER, MA—Bus. Mgr. DaveKeating and the Local 2325 Executive Boardattended the IBEW Second District ProgressMeeting in Portland, Maine, this past October.The meeting featured updates on activities hap-pening throughout the Second District presentedby Int. Pres. Edwin D. Hill, Int. Sec.-Treas. Jon F.Walters, Int. Vice Pres. Frank J. Carroll, and IECmember Myles Calvey. Important topics includedorganizing, COPE and technological changes. TheLocal 2325 COPE committee proudly presented a$1,000 check to the International COPE fund.

The second annual Local 2325 SoftballTournament was a great success. Twelve teamsfrom throughout the local competed in the all-day event. Congratulations to the Worcester “C”Team on their tournament championship!

Local 2325 reminds every member to takethe time to work safely during the winter season.Exercise caution when driving in winter condi-tions, avoid prolonged exposure to the cold andbe aware of the early onset of darkness. On thejob safety is your responsibility, and your familywants you home tonight.

Paul Mark, P.S.

Loss MournedSYSTEM COUNCIL U-7, JOHNSON CITY, NY—Scott Fiacco passed away on June 6, 2007, after a battle with cancer. He was president of IBEWLocal 1143, Chatham, NY, and a delegate toUtility System Council U-7. Scott was a lineman,a job he loved. He also loved time spent with hisfamily, especially time at Sacandaga Lake, NY,where the entire family has camps. Scott servedas union officer with pleasure, representing hisunion brothers and sisters. Survivors include hiswife, April, and children Michael and Tara.

Don Tuttel, P.S.

Local 1547 staff members Vicki Van Fleet (left),Ginger Hayter, Dan Repasky and Rose Todd discussdispatch issues at the 2007 IBEW Shop StewardTraining Conference in Anchorage, AK.

Local 1999 Pres. Brad Bindig (left) and Vice Pres. PatKeenan (center) welcome charter member John Olson.

Local 2325 ExecutiveBoard members attendIBEW Second DistrictProgress Meeting.

Local 1579 Bus. Mgr.Ken Ward at the 2007Labor Day barbecue.