The Electrical Worker October 2010

W W W . I B E W . O R G

SO IT’SCOMEDOWNTOTHIS.

The cable TV anchors and pollsters areclaiming that millions of Americanswill protest against unemploymentand a bad economy by sending

incumbent members of Congress back homein the upcoming mid-term elections—nomat-ter what their records have been or where theystand on the important issues.

Maybe they are right. Butmen andwomenwho organize unions or stand up for their rightson the job and in the community-at-large aren’teasily sold a bill of goods or a lot of smoke.

For this issue of The Electrical Worker, wetalked to grassroots activists and local unionleaders across the country about the criticalissues in the upcoming elections andwhich can-didates are on the side of working families in

these difficult times—based upon their recordsand accomplishments in and out of office.

More information and grassroots storiesfrom battleground states across the countryare provided on the IBEWWeb site,www.ibew.org/election2010.

Today, some wealthy business groups arepouring money into the campaigns of anti-worker extremists. These candidates—if theywin—say they will roll back everything fromhealth and safety regulations in the workplaceto measures that have put jobless Americansback to work rebuilding our nation’s infra-structure. They praise some of the same poli-cies and thinking that nearly dragged ournational and global economy into anotherGreat Depression.

The stakes are high. But activists weinterviewed for this issue believe it’s not too

late for good choices andgood candidates to riseabove confusion andemotionally-chargedmessages funded bythose whose policieswould harm union mem-bers and our families.

ALASKA

Alaska IBEWRampsUp Effortsfor Pro-Worker Candidates

Anchorage, Alaska, Local 1547CommunicationsDirectorMelindaTaylor says thatwhile the labormovement didn’t always see eye-to-eyewithRepublicanSen. LisaMurkowski, she always“understood the importance of using her officeto create jobs for Alaskans and respected therole unions play inmaking our economywork.”

Taylor contrasts this with Joe Miller, theSarah Palin-backed candidate who upsetMurkowski in the GOP primary.

“Miller’s againstSocial Security,Medicare,project labor agreements andwants tomakeAlaska a right-to-work-for-less state,” Taylor said.

Miller has also called for slashing federalaid to Alaska, aid that has been vital in creat-ing good jobs and maintaining a decent infra-structure in this expansive andunderdeveloped state.

But Taylor says working families are luckyto have an alternative: Sitka Mayor ScottMcAdams. Endorsed by the IBEW and theAlaska labor movement, Taylor says thatMcAdams “understands the challenges work-ing families face. As a former union memberhimself, he has made clear that he would be astrong voice for workers on Capitol Hill.” �

CALIFORNIA

IBEWTakesOn ‘WallStreetWhitman’

For Los Angeles Local 11 organizer KevinNorton, the stakes of this year’s gubernatorialcontest between former eBay chief executiveMeg Whitman and Attorney General JerryBrown couldn’t be higher.

I N T H I S I S S U E

F IRST PUBL I SHED IN 1893

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. 4 | No. 10 | October 2010

POLITICAL ROUNDUP continued on page 2

5 | North of 49°

6 | Circuits

7 | Transitions

Spotlight on Safety

8 | Local Lines

15 | OSHA hires IBEWmember

16| In Memoriam

17 | Fee payers plan

18 | Joint Officers’ column

19 | Letters to the Editor

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Houston Local 716 Assistant Business Manager Paul Puente, with wife Janie, says, ‘Our vote ispower—the power to support lawmakers who put working families first.’

Our Jobs, Our Future, Our Choice

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“This is the kind of electionwhere the wrong results could setback the labor movement bydecades,” Norton said.

Whitman, a former Wall Streetexecutive, is running on one of themost anti-worker platforms inCalifornia history, Norton says. “Shehas no qualms about attacking thelabor movement and making clearthat if she was elected, we would beher first target,” Norton said.

But working families have astrong advocate in former Gov. JerryBrown, says Los Angeles Local 11Business Manager Marvin Kropke.

“Brown has a 40-year record ofsupporting working families, fromexpanding collective bargainingrights for California workers back inthe 1970s to his recent efforts tocrack down on contractors whoabuse their workers,” Kropke said.

Union members are also work-ing to help re-elect Sen. BarbaraBoxer, who is running against CarlyFiorina, the former Hewlett-Packardchief executive who is widely reviledby former employees for nearly run-ning the company into the ground,costing the jobs of 33,000 workers. �

COLORADO

ColoradoActivistsWorkto Build Pro-WorkingFamilies ‘Wave’ inNovember

Timio Archuleta, assistant businessmanager, Denver Local 111, has beeninvolved in political campaigns since1972. From the start of his career as awelder at the PublicService Companyof Colorado 38 years ago, Archuletahas seen “wave elections” whereincumbents are vulnerable due to thefrustrations of the voting population.

Archuleta sees a wave comingin November, but that’s all the morereason, he says, for unionmembersto get real clear on which candidates

truly support working families.Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, saysArchuleta, has done a good job sincereplacing former Sen. Ken Salazar,who was appointed Secretary of theInterior last year.

Bennet, the former superin-tendent of Denver’s schools and afiscal conservative, has introducedlegislation to increase job creationin solar technologies and helpedbring $878 million in stimulus fund-ing to Colorado. �

CONNECTICUT

Connecticut RaceDrawsIBEWStalwarts

Charlie Witt has a 35-year history inthe IBEW and a strong desire to helpworking families in Connecticut. Thiselection season, the Groton Local261 member and registrar has beengetting volunteers to pound thepavement and phone bank forSenate candidate and popular stateAttorney General RichardBlumenthal—a veteran lawmakerwith solid AFL-CIO backing.

Witt said he’s impressed withBlumenthal’s demonstrated com-mitment to fighting outsourcing.When aircraft engine manufacturerPratt & Whitney tried to close part ofits Connecticut operations and sendjobs to Mexico early this year,Blumenthal filed an injunction withthe U.S. District Court. The judgedecided that the company’sattempted move would violate itscontract with the machinists’ union.

“Richard has done a lot to helpworkers in our state,” Witt said.“There are about 1,000 union mem-bers at Pratt & Whitney who canthank him for helping them keeptheir jobs. You can bet he’s going toget their backing, along with votesfrommanymore workers.”

Blumenthal’s challenger, LindaMcMahon, is the ex-chief executive

of World Wrestling Entertainment—aformer Fortune 500 company thathas come under fire for seriouslymistreating employees. McMahon’scampaign has spent tens of millionsof dollars on negative advertising,and she has announced that she isprepared to spend even more. �

DELAWARE

Chris Coons forDelaware’sU.S.SenateSeat

Jerry Connor, political coordinator forWilmington, Del., Local 1238, isworking hard to send New CastleCounty Executive Chris Coons to theU.S. Senate to fill the seat once heldby Vice President Joe Biden.

Manymembers of the utilitylocal live in NewCastleCounty, saysConnor, who serves as the local’streasurer and administrative assis-tant. They knowhowdifficult a jobCoons has hadmanaging a countythat has seen its tax base and citizenshit hard by the shutdown ofGeneralMotors andChrysler assembly plants.

When Valero decided to closeits oil refinery, Coons worked withthe state’s governor to keep theplant from being dismantled. Theplant’s new owners have made animmediate investment of up to $150million to renovate the plant andperformmaintenance work that willrestore 500 jobs.

Coons earned Local 1238’sendorsement after expressing strongsupport for extending unemploy-ment benefits, opposing right-to-work laws and passing the EmployeeFree Choice Act. �

FLORIDA

Fla.MembersStandup toAnti-Worker Candidates

A strident opponent of the EmployeeFree Choice Act, Senate candidateMarco Rubio supports extending theBush tax cuts for the wealthiestAmericans. He advocates endingstimulus spending that reversed jobloss in a state with nearly 12 percentunemployment and promotes rais-ing the retirement age for SocialSecurity benefits.

In a three-way contest for theSunshineState’s openSenate seat,Rubio is facingGov. Charlie Crist—anex-Republican running as an inde-

pendent who has the backing of somelabor unions—and Rep. KendrickMeek, a Democratwho activists say isa bona fide fighter forworkers facinghard times.

Jason Smith is chairman ofTampa Local 824’s COPE committeeand helps coordinate IBEW politicaloperations in Florida. The Verizonemployee has been knocking ondoors, leafleting and hitting con-struction job sites to speak face-to-face with voters about Meek’ssupport for working families.

“Kendrick is a definite friend oflabor,” Smith said. “And in a timewhen anti-worker candidates likeRubio are trying to use wedge issuesto divide us, we need to not getpulled aside. We have to focus onthe most important thing—our jobs.Meek’s record shows he’s got ourinterests at heart.” �

GEORGIA

IBEWGearedUp forFormer Georgia Gov.RoyBarnes’ Campaign

DonGoodwin started phone bankingfor Atlanta Local 613’s political effortsa few years back as a “family affair,”accompanied by his daughter, Olivia.She enjoyed helping, said the 37-yearjourneyman inside wireman. One ofthose candidates was Roy Barnes,whowas elected governor with stronglabor support. Then, in 2003, he wasdefeated bySonny Perdue.

Today, Barnes is again runningfor governor. Olivia is in college withhopes of attending law school.Goodwin is back on the phones andknocking on doors.

Supporting Barnes, he says,should be a “no-brainer” for unionmembers. Barnes’ opponent, formerU.S. Rep. Nathan Deale, he says, isanti-worker. More importantly,Barnes, who comes from Goodwin’shometown of Mableton, has a solidrecord of accomplishment in better-ing the lives of working families.

“We have lostGeneralMotorsand Fordmanufacturing plantswithin25miles of Atlanta,” said AtlantaLocal 613 Assistant BusinessManagerJerome Jackson. “Ourmembers couldhave been building transit and bullettrains. Roy Barnes is a proactive guywho cares about people andwill fightfor funding for transportation projectsto revive our economy.” �

ILLINOIS

ChallengingBigBusinessPolitics in Illinois

Mike Clemmons, a member of Joliet,Ill., Local 176, will never forget AlexiGiannoulias coming to the aid of600 union workers at the Hartmarxclothing factory outside of Chicago.

With Wells Fargo threatening towithdraw credit from the famousproducer of men’s suits—whichwould effectively shut the businessdown—Giannoulias, the state’streasurer, who is running for theSenate seat once held by PresidentBarack Obama, told the bank that itwould lose all state business if itmoved against Hartmarx. One yearlater, the factory, now under newmanagement, is thriving.

“Alexi is formiddle-income indi-viduals,” said Clemmons, amemberof Local 176’s voluntary politicalaction committee. “He wants to givetax breaks to people whowill putmoney back into the economy, unlikehis opponent, Rep. Mark Kirk, who isin lock-step with the old Bush trickle-down economics.”

Michael Carrigan, president ofthe Illinois AFL-CIO and former busi-ness manager of Decatur Local 146,applauds Giannoulias’ proposal foran ambitious public works andinfrastructure plan paid for byrepealing big oil tax breaks and rein-vesting in American jobs.

“Alexi Giannoulias shows us heknows what it takes to get this coun-try back on track,” Carrigan says.“This election is about jobs andreinvestment in American workers. Ifwe invest in the work force, thatinvestment is returned in middle-class buying power and the strengthof sustainable employment.” �

INDIANA

IndianaMobilizesAgainst Right-to-WorkLegislation

The future of the labor movement inIndiana could hinge on the results ofa handful of state House races, saysSouth Bend Local 153 MembershipDevelopment Director Troy Warner.The Republican Party—which con-trols the state Senate—is only threeseats away from a House majority,which would allow Gov. MitchDaniels to realize his goal of making

CaliforniaIBEWmembersattend a rallyin favor ofcandidatesin support ofgood jobs.

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Indiana a right-to-work state.Daniels has also promised to doaway with prevailing wage laws.

“We have tomake sure that pro-worker lawmakers keep the House,because our jobs and our livelihoodsare at stake,”Warner said.

The state AFL-CIO reports thatworkers in right-to-work states earnabout $5,333 less than workers inother states; the rate of workplacedeaths is 51 percent higher.

The IBEW is mobilizing to makesure state Rep. Nancy Michael, whorepresents a key district, holds ontoher seat, while helping challengersJesse James, the son of anIndianapolis Local 1393 member,and Linton Township Trustee BioncaGambill in their bids to unseat anti-worker incumbents. �

KENTUCKY

Louisville Lineman Looksfor Unity in ’10

Kevin Harris, a 29-year member ofLouisville, Ky., Local 2100, a linemanat Louisville Gas and Electric, hasn’tfound a politician that he agreeswith on every issue. He says hedecides who to vote for based onwhether they are “generally pushingin the right direction.”

That approach leaves no doubtwhere he stands on the Senate racebetween Republican Tea Party-sup-ported candidate Rand Paul andDemocrat Jack Conway, Kentucky’sAttorney General.

Responding to Paul’s state-ment, made at the start of his cam-paign, that the Civil Rights Act of1964 was “unfair” to businesses bytelling them they couldn’t discrimi-nate, Harris says:

“I’ve learned that we often fearpeople we don’t understand,” Harris

said. “Rand Paul has a right to hisbeliefs and so do his supporters,but Kentucky and America needunity, not division.” �

MARYLAND

YoungMd. TradeUnionistSupportsPro-Labor Governor

Cory McCray is a busy man. Businessrepresentative for Baltimore Local24, a founder of the Young TradeUnionists, McCray is spending hisweekends knocking on doors cam-paigning for a seat on Maryland’sDemocratic Central Committee.

“I’m running to serve on thestate’s central committee to give labora voice, to engage and educate youthinmy community and to be involvedin the political process,” he said.

For McCray and his local union,involvement means re-electingMartin O’Malley as the state’s gover-nor. He points to O’Malley’s supportof legislation to stem the rampantmisclassification of workers in thestate that deprives many of earningsand the right to organize. And hepraises O’Malley’s courage in sup-porting prevailing wage legislationin some counties where organizedlabor is often marginalized. �

MISSOURI

MissouriMembers Lookto Rout Anti-WorkerCandidate

When Kansas City, Mo., Local 124Business Manager Terry Akinsrequested his member of Congress,Rep. Roy Blunt, to support unem-ployment benefits for laid-off work-ers, Akins was taken aback by

Blunt’s brusque response.“This guy has zero compassion

for workers suffering hard times,”Akins said.

Activists like Akins are high-lighting Blunt’s anti-worker stance inadvance of the November Senateelections, in which Blunt is runningagainst the popular and union-endorsed Missouri Secretary ofState Robin Carnahan. Blunt is a 14-year congressman and was a mem-ber of the House GOP leadershipduring the Bush years. He garnereda near-perfect Chamber ofCommerce voting record.

Since 2004, Carnahan hassolidified her bonds with the work-ing class and organized labor, Akinssaid: “With her recent appointmentsto the Missouri Department ofLabor, it is once again theDepartment of Labor and not the‘Department of Management.’Carnahan works closely with thoseappointees to ensure compliancewith state prevailing wage laws.”

Journeyman wireman JamesWilkinson is volunteering his time asa state registrar to mobilize mem-bers to vote for Carnahan.

“For this election, we need tovote in leaders likeCarnahanwhohaveworkers’ interests at heart,”Wilkinson said. “It’s important tocommunicate howdrastic the differ-ence is between these two candi-dates.With Blunt, If you’re not richalready, he doesn’t care about you.” �

NEVADA

Nevada IBEWMobilizesfor Good Jobs,RetirementSecurity

For Vacaville, Calif., Local 1245mem-ber Mike Grimm, the right choice inthis year’s Senate election in Nevadacouldn’t be anymore obvious.

“You’ve gotSharronAngle, atotal extremistwhowants to eliminateSocial Security,Medicare, theDepartments of Education andEnergy, unemployment insurance andwho knowswhat else,” said the NVEnergy troubleman. “And then youhaveSen. Harry Reid, who has a solidrecord of bringing good paying jobs toNevada and supports creating a faireconomicplaying field forworkers.”

IBEWmembers throughout theSilver State are mobilizing to letworking families know about Angle’sextreme anti-worker agenda.

“She’s made it clear she wants

to privatize Social Security, just likeBush tried to do,” said Tom Bird,vice president of the Sparks/RenoLocal 1245 Retirees Club. He hasbeen working with members of theNevada Alliance for RetiredAmericans to call attention toAngle’s anti-Social Security agenda.They have held emergency meetingsacross the state and have organizedpickets at Angle’s office.

Many elected GOP officials,including the mayor of Reno, see herpositions as so extreme that theyhave endorsed Reid. �

NEW HAMPSHIRE

NewHampshire IBEWSays: ‘WorkersCan’tAfford toSitThisOneOut’

SecondDistrict InternationalRepresentative andNewHampshirenative KevinCash saysheunder-stands the frustrations IBEWmembersfeel about the slowpace of change inWashington, D.C. But unionmemberscan’t afford to sit this one out.

“Wall Street, the Chamber ofCommerce, ABC, they’re spendingmillions to get their candidates intooffice and if they win Congress, theywill come after everything we havefought for in the IBEW and the labormovement,” Cash said.

Dover Local 490 BusinessManager Joseph Casey says the IBEWismobilizing its members to help re-elect Carol Shea-Porter, who hasracked up a strong pro-worker recordas amember of the House ArmedServices Committee, leading theeffort to eliminate the Bush-era per-sonnel rules that were highly unpop-ular among government workers.

The IBEW is also mobilizingbehind Rep. Paul Hodes, who is run-ning to replace retiring Sen. JuddGregg. Hodes sponsored the Trade,Reform, Accountability, Developmentand Employment (TRADE) Act, whichsets tough new standards to pro-tect American jobs in the globaleconomy. �

NEW YORK

WithStrongSenateCandidates in Tow, N.Y.Activists Focus onHouse Races

Boasting solid Senate records ofsupporting project labor agree-ments, the Employee Free Choice Actand prevailing wage laws, IBEW-endorsed candidates Sens. CharlesSchumer and Kirsten Gillibrand areon the right side of the issues con-cerning working families, labor lead-ers in New York say.

Third District InternationalRepresentative Larry Davis coordi-nates the IBEWmobilization effortacross the Empire State. The GenevaLocal 840 member said re-electingSchumer and Gillibrand would begood news to a state where morethan a quarter of residents haveunion dues receipts in their pockets.

“Sen. Schumer has been afriend of labor for years,” Davis said.“Gillibrand is with us on manyissues like stopping misclassifica-tion of workers, so we’re working toget the membership pumped up fora high turnout. But it’s not a lock,and we need to put our effortsbehind them to make this happen.”

With 29 contests statewide,IBEW activists are mobilizing mem-bers to get out the vote for candi-dates like Rep. Scott Murphy, whosepro-labor voting record has madehim a friend of workers in the state’s20th District. �

NORTH CAROLINA

Moving Forward inNorth Carolina

It’s never been easy to be a unionmember in NorthCarolina, which hasone of the lowest union density ratesin the country. But the labormove-ment’s recent successes inmobilizingmembers in support of pro-workercandidates is helpingmake theTarHeel state a lotmoreworker-friendly.

The unionmovement is nowlooking to unseat incumbentSen.RichardBurr, whohasbeenwidely crit-icized for putting the interests of bigbusiness andWallStreet over those ofhis constituents, says IBEWstate polit-ical coordinatorDavidHaynes.

Haynes, a Durham Local 289

POLITICAL ROUNDUP continued on page 4

Louisville,Ky., Local2100memberKevin Harrisfavors JackConway forU.S. Senateover RandPaul, who’sspoken outagainst theCivil RightsAct.

ONLINE NOWGet the Facts.Vote Your Job.www.ibew.org/election2010

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member, says, “He has a nonexist-ent record when it comes to creatingjobs or helping working families.”

Burr most recently opposed abill that would help local communi-ties keep teachers, firefighters andpolice officers on the job by closingtax loopholes that benefit U.S. busi-nesses that ship jobs overseas.

His opponent, Secretary ofState Elaine Marshall, is catching upin the polls, despite his lopsidedfinancial advantage. Marshall hasopposed unfair trade deals that havedevastated North Carolina’s manu-facturing industry and supportsinvesting in our nation’s infrastruc-ture by updating the power grid. �

OHIO

Ohio ElectricianUrges:‘Don’tSlowDown theRecovery’

GreggOgden, a 17-yearmember ofMarietta Local 972, hasworked onlysevenweeks out of the last 20months. Despite the hard times,Ogden sees signs thatOhio is begin-ning to turn the corner, thanks to someof the policies of theObamaadminis-tration and leaders inCongress.

Ogden says that he is support-ing Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher for U.S.Senate because he doesn’t want tosee this progress sideswiped by areturn to measures promoted byRepublican nominee Rob Portman.As the Bush administration’s traderepresentative, Portman supportedbillions of dollars in tax breaks andother measures that helped send100,000 Ohio jobs overseas.

Drawing the contrast betweencandidates, Fisher says, “If Ohioanswant to see the jobs thatCongressmanPortmanhas created after spending20 years inWashington, theyhave togo toChina, India andMexico.”

Choices for IBEWmembers inNovember couldn’t be clearer thanin Ohio. Gov. Ted Strickland, electedfour years ago with strong labor sup-port, began his term by appointingFisher as head of economic develop-ment. They both won national recog-nition for attracting employers toOhio. A June report from the PewCharitable Trusts found that Ohio isfourth among states in the numberof workers employed in green energymanufacturing and development. �

PENNSYLVANIA

Pa. ActivistsMobilize forIBEW-FriendlyCandidates

Paul Mullen knows it’s nice to be ona first-name basis with his congress-man. That’s why when the Chester,Pa., Local 654 business managertalks about Rep. Joe Sestak, Mullenspeaks of the pro-labor lawmakerlike a solid friend.

“Joe’s out front about his advo-cacy for labor,” Mullen said. “A lot ofpoliticians say they’ll support youwhen they run, then they turn theirbacks on you. Joe’s the opposite. Hestands tall with the IBEW. Membershere—they know Joe. He’s been tothe hall several times and he’stoured our training facility. He’s defi-nitely one of us.”

Now in a tight Senate race,Sestak has built a strong followingamong working families. He is anoriginal co-sponsor of the EmployeeFree Choice Act. He is against extend-ing the Bush tax cuts for the wealthi-est Americans but supports taxbreaks for themiddle class. Sestakalso worked with the Department ofLabor in creating the Labor AdvisoryCommittee—which counts IBEWInternational President Edwin D. Hillas a member—to focus on challengesworking families experience.

Sestak faces businessman PatToomey in the November race.Toomey opposed the 2009 stimulus,which reversed job loss in a statewith 9 percent unemployment. Hesupports eliminating corporatetaxes altogether and boasts a 90percent approval rating by theUnited States Chamber ofCommerce—a group that opposesworkers’ rights to organize. �

TEXAS

Good Jobs In Texas

Houston Local 716 AssistantBusiness Manager Paul Puenteknows what it is like not to have avoice on the job, having worked as anonunion electrician for nearly adecade. “Without a union, you don’thave the power to make change,”Puente said.

And as an organizer for the local,he learned thatmany issues thataffect IBEWmembers—job creation,prevailing wage, health care and laborlaw—can’t be changed at thework

site alone. “We need tomake sureworkers express their voice in Austinand inWashington, D.C. aswell as onthe jobsite,” he said.

One of the hottest races in Texasthis year is the gubernatorial contestbetween HoustonMayor Bill Whiteand incumbent Rick Perry. White istied with Perry in public polls.Houston Local 66 Assistant BusinessManagerMikeMosteit chalks upPerry’s precarious position to his fail-ure to create good jobs statewide.

“West Texas has become aleader in wind power, but we needinvestment in renovating our powersystem so it can transmit that powerto the large population centers inthe east,” Mosteit said.

But Perry, who has run up arecord state deficit, has promisednothing but budget cuts. �

VERMONT

Vermont Local EndorsesRepublican for Governor

Jeffrey Wimette, business managerof Montpelier, Vt., Local 300, didn’tknow how his members wouldrespond when the local’s executiveboard voted to endorse Lt. Gov.Brian Dubie against five Democratsrunning in the state’s gubernatorialprimary. It was the first time thelocal had endorsed a Republican.

“I received more congratula-tory e-mails than ever before,”Wimette said.

Representing 1,000 utilitymembers and 200 construction elec-tricians, Local 300 had waged a pro-tracted campaign to support there-licensing of the Vermont Yankeenuclear power plant which employshundreds of local members. All ofthe Democratic candidates hadopposed the plant’s continued oper-ation. But Dubie supported the localunion’s position.

It wasn’t the first time thatDubie, an Air National Guard veteran,an American Airlines pilot, andmem-ber of the Allied Pilots Associationhad gone to bat for union jobs. Dubiealso gave voice to IBEWmembers’concerns during the sale of Verizon’scopper land lines to Fairpoint.

“Why are we supporting BrianDubie? One word—integrity. He hasshown loyalty, respect, honor andselfless service,” Wimette said. �

WASHINGTON

Washington ActivistsMobilizeMembers

Seattle Local 46memberNicoleGrant’s task ismobilizingmembers toget out the vote forSen. PattyMurray.The 32-year-old journeymanwiremanis the state’s political coordinator.

Murray is a proponent of higherwages and tax-funded projects, instark contrast to her challenger, DinoRossi. “We have construction localswith upward of 60 percent unem-ployment,” Grant said. “We’ve got-ten some stimulusmoney, but weneedmore to put people back on thejob doing infrastructure projects.”

Murray successfully fought forfederal funding to bolster the state’sinfrastructure, veterans’ hospitalsand schools. She was an originalsponsor of the Employee Free ChoiceAct, has fought to raise theminimumwage and boasts a 90 percent laborvoting record. Murray voted for unem-ployment extensions for laid-off work-ers and is an enthusiastic supporterof project labor agreements.

Rossi’s approval rating on laborissues sags at 6 percent. The realestate salesman supported cuttingjobless benefits as well as support-ing President Bush’s restrictions onovertime pay. As a state legislator,he voted against collective bargain-ing rights for public employees.

Recent polling showsMurray andRossi in a deadheat among voters. �

WEST VIRGINIA

Sen. Byrd’s Legacy onthe Line inW.Va.

Charleston, W.Va., Local 466Business Representative John Boydknows that it will be difficult for any-one to fill the legendary shoes ofSen. Robert Byrd, who died in Juneat age 93 after 51 years in office. But

Boyd says IBEW’s choice in thisyear’s election, Gov. Joe Manchin,shares Byrd’s deep respect for theworking people in his state.

Boyd recalls the tough timeunions had bargaining with CSX,owners of the exclusive GreenbrierResort in his native Mercer County.With CSX leaning toward declaringthe Greenbrier bankrupt last year,Manchin supported the efforts ofentrepreneur Jim Justice to purchasethe resort and help save the healthinsurance andpensions of 1,700work-ers there, including 11 IBEWmembers.

Dave Efaw, the former businessmanager of Local 466, now secre-tary-treasurer of the state buildingand construction trades, remembersManchin first running for office with-out labor support. Today, says Efaw,“Manchin has an open door tounions. He has supported prevailingwages and has lobbied employers togive priority to state residents ontheir construction projects.” �

WISCONSIN

Feingold FacesDeep-Pocketed Challenger

In Wisconsin, the IBEW and thelabor movement are getting behindSen. Russ Feingold, who is facing achallenge from Oshkosh millionaireRon Johnson.

Feingold hasbeen a champion ofworking families for years, supportingpolicies that createAmerican jobs andhonorworkers’ rights.SaysWisconsinAFL-CIO ExecutiveVice PresidentSaraRogers: “Wewill dowhateverweneedto do to get themessage out that RonJohnson is not forworking families.”

Johnson hasmade keeping hisplastics company nonunion a priorityand supports tax breaks for compa-nies that ship jobs overseas. He evenadmitted during a radio interviewthat China has a better business cli-mate than the United States. �

GOPgubernatorialcandidateBrian Dubie,right, countsIBEWmembersamong hissupporters.

Young workers in Canadatoday face a rapidlychanging economy andworkplace—changes that

First District Vice President PhilFlemming says he could have neverpredicted when he first joined theIBEWmore than 40 years ago.

“The economy, technology andour culture—on and off the job—isdifferent,” he says. “Younger workershave needs and expectations differ-ent from those of my generation.”

They also are not as familiarwith unions as older generations.Flemming says thatmore than 60percent of nonunion electricians inCanada are under the age of 40. “Wecan recruit them, but we have tochange our culture, our approach andthemeanswith which we communi-cate if we want this Brotherhood togrow,” he says. “If we want the IBEWto be relevant to a new generation ofCanadian workers, we have to be will-ing tomeet them on their level.”

To help with youth outreach, theFirst District commissioned a nationalsurvey of younger IBEWmembers thissummer to gauge their attitudesabout the labourmovement.

The poll found thatmore than60 percent of them think becomingmembers was the right choice, butthey want to seemore openness andtransparency from union leaders. Thepolling found that one of their biggestturn-offs are local officials who don’trespect or listen to the needs of theirgeneration. “We can’t have a countryclubmentality,” Flemming says. “Wehave to open the doors wide andmake sure we are welcoming.”

Young trade unionists alsowant to see their locals strive forhigher visibility—both on the worksite and on social media networksthat are increasingly some of theirmain tools of communication.

Surveyedmembers also adviseorganizers to skip the rhetoric andfocus on explaining the concretebenefits of unionmembership. “Thisis a generation that grew up with theInternet. You have to tell them thewhys and do it fast,” Flemming says.

The poll’s resultswere presentedat the FirstDistrict’s progressmeeting

inAugust aspart of a new campaign tomake the IBEWamorewelcomingplace for youngworkers.More than 40young IBEWactivists caucusedduringthemeeting to help develop ablue-print for youth outreach.

Fredericton, NewBrunswick,Local 37Membership andOrganizational Development LeadMaryWilliamson—aGeneration Xerherself—says that one of the firststeps oldermembers can take is tojust stop and listen to youngermem-

bers’ concerns. “By listening, the FirstDistrict has taken a giant step inreaching out to youngerworkers,” shesays. “Better communicationmayhelp breaksome of the barriers toprogress—such asmaking assump-tions that are just not correct.”

Williamson, who helps incorpo-rate social media tools like Facebookand YouTube into Local 37’s outreachefforts, says that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all tool for communicatinganymore. “We know that attendance

at unionmeetings is down, butmembers still need to be informedso we have added Facebook, Twitter,YouTube and blogs to our communi-cations toolbox.”

Flemming says that manyyounger members are interested inestablishing a mentoring programthat would partner seasoned IBEWveterans with newer union leaders.“We need our young people to beour public face, but we have to makesure that we give them all the help

they need to flourish.”There are plans to establish a

permanent FirstDistrict youth commit-tee to continue outreach andbring thecampaign to every local. “I witnessedabrilliant exchange of ideas and infor-mation onhowwe can all worktogether to improvemember engage-ment, recruitment and the future ofthe IBEW,”Williamson says. “This isthe start of something great.” �

North of 49° | Au nord du 49° parallèle

IBEWConnectswith NextGeneration ofWorkers

La FIOE se rapproche de la prochainegénération de travailleurs au Canada

Lorsqu’il a joint les rangs dela FIOE, il y a plus de quar-ante ans déjà, PhilFlemming, Vice-président

du Premier District, n’aurait jamaispu prédire que les jeunes tra-vailleurs canadiens auraient à faireface à tous ces changements rapi-des de l’économie et de la nature deleur travail.

« L’économie, la technologieainsi que notre culture, au travail ouà l’extérieur, est bien différente. Lesbesoins et les attentes des jeunestravailleurs d’aujourd’hui ne sontpas les mêmes que ceux de magénération » dit-il.

Ces jeunes travailleurs sontaussi moins familiers avec les syndi-cats que les générations plus âgées.« Au Canada, plus de soixante pourcent des électriciens non syndiquésont moins de quarante ans. Nouspouvons les recruter comme nou-veaux membres mais pour ce faire,nous devons modifier nos habi-tudes, notre approche et les moyensde communication utilisés si nousvoulons augmenter les effectifs denotre Fraternité. Afin que la FIOEpuisse intéresser la nouvellegénération de travailleurs canadi-ens, nous devons être prêts à lesrencontrer à leur niveau » déclare leVice-président Flemming.

Afin de pouvoir rejoindre les je-unes travailleurs, le bureau du

Premier District amené, au cours del’été, un sondage national auprèsdes jeunesmembres de la FIOEvisant à évaluer leurs comportementsà l’égard dumouvement syndical.

Le sondage a démontré quesoixante pour cent d’entre euxcroient avoir fait le bon choix en de-venant membres; toutefois, ilssouhaiteraient une plus grande fran-chise et plus de transparence chezles dirigeants syndicaux. Selon lemême sondage, il semble qu’unedes choses qui les répugnent le plussoit le refus des dirigeants des sec-tions locales de respecter ou d’être àl’écoute des besoins de leur généra-tion. « Nous ne devons pas avoir unementalité de club fermé, nous de-vons élargir nos portes et nous as-surer de bien accueillir les nouveauxvenus » poursuit le Vice-président.

Les jeunes ouvriers syndiquéss’attendent aussi à ce que leurs sec-tions locales s’efforcent d’atteindreune plus grande visibilité, autant àleur travail que sur les médias et lesréseaux sociaux lesquels con-stituent, de plus en plus, leurs prin-cipaux outils de communication.

Lesmembres qui ont réponduau sondage ont également informéles organisateurs syndicauxqu’ils de-vraient laisser tomber le côté rhé-torique et se concentrer plutôt sur unebonne explication des avantages con-crets reliés à l’adhésion syndicale.

« Cette génération a grandiavec l’Internet. Vous devez donc êtreen mesure de répondre à leursquestions sur le champ » souligne leconfrère Flemming.

Ce sondage fait partie d’unenouvelle campagne visant à faire dela FIOE une fraternité plus accueil-lante pour les jeunes travailleurs etles résultats ont été présentés lorsde la conférence canadienne duPremier District qui a eu lieu aumois d’août. Plus d’une quarantainede jeunes militants de la FIOE s’é-taient regroupés durant la con-férence afin de développer un planvisant à tendre la main aux jeunes.

La consoeur Mary Williamson,elle-même de la génération X, quiagit à titre de Responsable dudéveloppement organisationnelpour les membres à la S.L. 37 deFrédéricton au Nouveau-Brunswick,croit que « l’écoute » pourrait con-stituer une des premières étapes;les membres plus âgés devraientprendre le temps d’écouter les plusjeunes lorsque ces derniers leur fontpart de leurs préoccupations. Unemeilleure communication peut con-tribuer à abaisser certaines bar-rières, souvent causées à partir defausses idées.

Dans les efforts de sensibilisa-tion de laS.L. 37 auprès desmem-bres, lesmédias sociaux tels queFacebooketYouTube ont été intégrés

avec l’aide de la consoeurWilliamson.« Il n’existe plus d’outil de communi-cation unique pour rejoindre lesmembres. Compte tenu de la baissedu tauxd’assistance aux réunions delaS.L., il fallait trouver unmoyen pourinformer lesmembres; nous avonsdoncajouté Facebook, Twitter, YouTube et les blogues à notre boîte àoutils » affirme-t-elle.

Le confrère Flemming affirmeque plusieurs de nos jeunesmem-bres seraient intéressés à instaurerun programme dementorat qui pour-rait jumeler des vétérans aguerris dela FIOE avec les nouveaux dirigeantssyndicaux. « Nous comptons sur nosjeunes pour promouvoir notre imagepublique, alors nous devons nousassurer de leur procurer l’aide néces-saire pour qu’ils puissent aller del’avant et s’épanouir ».

Des projets sont en cours pourétablir un Comité permanent pourles jeunes membres du PremierDistrict afin de poursuivre ce pro-gramme de sensibilisation et d’êtreen mesure de le transmettre àtoutes les sections locales. « J’ai as-sisté à un échange d’idées et d’in-formation génial démontrant com-ment nous pouvons tous travaillerensemble en vue d’améliorer l’en-gagement, le recrutement et l’avenirde la FIOE. C’est le début d’une for-midable expérience » conclut la con-soeur Williamson. �




Circuits

SafetyTraining Kicks inDuring Life-or-DeathMoment

Quick thinking and past CPR trainingenabled a Texas IBEW leader to helpsave the life of a co-worker sufferinga heart attack.

OnApril 17, Amarillo Local 1146BusinessManager/PresidentAndyBaileywasworking in his office at theBurlingtonNorthernSanta Fe RailwayCo.’s car repair stationwhen he heardconcerning sounds coming from thenext-door office ofMike Hardy.

“I could hearMike talking with awoman on the cleaning staff aboutfeeling indigestion and chest pains,”Bailey said. “A fewminutes later, Iheard a thud and the woman startedscreaming.” Hardy had passed out,hit his head against his desk andwasbleeding from a gash near his nose.

With calmandprecision, Baileysprang into action. After dialing 911, hedirectedBNSF employees Ismael Uriasto gomeet the ambulance at the gate,ShannonVineyard to talk to the 911operatorwhileMikeTrask teamedupwithBailey giving chest compressionsandmouth-to-mouth resuscitation toHardy, whohad stoppedbreathingandhadnodetectable pulse.

Five minutes later, a police offi-cer arrived on the scene and used adefibrillator on Hardy. Another roundof CPR followed before paramedicsarrived to take him to the hospital,where he immediately underwentquadruple bypass surgery.

After several months of conva-lescing, Hardy is back on the joband grateful for his co-workers’quick efforts.

“As far as I’m concerned, theysavedmy life,” Hardy said. “Andy andthe other guys—I’m grateful for themevery day. They’re all good friends ofmine now. I was very lucky.”

BNSF has stepped up its safetytraining in the wake of the emer-gency. Management has offeredemployees more CPR classes—whichare garnering record turnout—andpurchased an on-site defibrillator.

Bailey said that’s a welcomedevelopment. His last CPR trainingwas when he managed a swimmingpool facility in 1989, and Hardy’sheart attack served as a wake-upcall for Bailey and others to shore uptheir skills.

“I never tookaCPR refresherclass until afterMike’s heart attack,”Bailey said. “Trainingwas out there,but I never felt that I really needed arefresher class since I was no longer ina field of high risk. Boy, was I wrong.Mike’s heart attackopened our eyeson how important it is to be ready.”

Bailey and the other lifesaverswere honored at a company eventwhere they were presented with cer-tificates of thanks.

“It was nice for BNSF to dothat—but our best sense of satisfac-tion is seeing Mike alive, well and onthe job again,” Bailey said. “He’sback to his old self.”

Hardy, Trask, Vineyard and Uriasaremembers of the BrotherhoodRailwayCarmen division of theTransportation CommunicationsInternational Union. �

Solidarity in Action:N.J.MembersSendRelief to Haiti

For months, Joe Licinski had beenon the bench. So the Jersey City, N.J.,Local 164 journeyman wireman wasdoing what all laid-off workers try todo to weather the recession—slimdown the family budget, live frugallyand hope for a phone call that wouldsend him reaching for his tools.

But when a 7.0 magnitudeearthquake ripped through Haiti lastJanuary, Licinski played a key role inthe local’s effort to provide aid—vol-unteering days of his time to helppeople suffering from the cata-clysmic disaster that claimed thou-sands of lives and severely damagedor destroyed vital infrastructure.

“Everyone knows that times aretight, but this was the right thing todo to help people going throughsuch a tragedy,” he said.

Licinski was not alone. EachSaturday in March, more than 100members convened with other vol-unteers from the YMCA, the RotaryClub and a local charitable founda-tion to organize, box and pack adozen 40-foot containers full ofdonated clothes that were shippedto the stricken country. A local busi-ness volunteered warehouse spacefor the sprawling project.

Licinski—who local leadersdubbed the “general foreman” of theproject—said that the task conjuredan atmosphere similar to a work sitefor many unemployedmembers.

“We handled it like any otherjob, and it went pretty smoothly,”Licinski said. “Once people weredirected, it worked like clockwork.Members had fun and were happy tohelp those in need.”

The first couple of Saturdays

were primarily spent folding andboxing up clothes. But the latter halfof the month was when the men andwomen of Local 164 really stood out,said President John DeBouter.“Being journeymen and mechanics,we were very organized. We put theyoung, strong apprentices up frontand loaded half the crates the firstSaturday.” Some of the boxes werebundled on pallets, and membersused forklifts to place the heavierbundles in the containers.

The giant crates are similar tothose hauled by trains and semisand serve a dual purpose for therelief effort. In September, volunteerworkers staying in Haiti will cut win-dows and doors in the containers,which will be converted into tempo-rary shelters for children, many ofwhom are now orphaned. Each con-tainer will have basic electricity withone overhead light. While not ideallong-term housing, the solid metalframes will provide better protectionfrom the elements than themakeshift tents and plastic tarpsthat many Haitians have been livingunder for months.

DeBouter said that volunteerismis key to the local’s culture. Membershave wired area cabins for BoyScoutgroups, helped senior citizens withhome renovations, and logged timeon Habitat for Humanity projects.

“We get charged up aboutthings like this,” DeBouter said.“The whole philosophy is that wefeel fortunate for the trade we have,and we want to instill that in theyounger people who join our local.The feeling becomes contagious.Once a new apprentice gets a taste

of what the Brotherhood is all about,they come back again and again tohelp those in need.”

After 10 months of unemploy-ment, Licinski is now back on thejob completing an upgrade atHudson Generating Station, a coal-fired plant in Jersey City.

“We’ve gone through a longperiod of unemployment and are stillhaving a bit of a dry spell,” he said.“But that’s why the Haiti project wasimportant. A lot of the volunteershad been out of work for a while, andthis was a chance to do somethingtogether, something that offers thekind of camaraderie we were missingaway from the job site.”

Business Manager RichardDressel, who also volunteered,offered accolades to the membersfor their efforts.

“It spoke volumes to the com-munity and the recipients in Haitiwhat Local 164 members and therest of the IBEW are all about,”Dressel said. �

NJATC-MilwaukeeToolPartner forMeasurementDevice Training

Since 1924, when the companydeveloped the “Hole-Shooter,” thefirst lightweight portable one-handed quarter-inch capacity drill,Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp. prod-ucts have been some of the mosttrusted in the electrician’s pouch.

Last year, the company beganmanufacturing measuring tools forthe electrical industry, devices likeclampmeters, digital multimetersand infrared scopes, which can

More than 100members ofJersey City, N.J.,Local 164 andothercommunitymembersvolunteered tosend aid to Haitiin the wake ofthe devastatingearthquake.

Amarillo, Texas, Local 1146 Business Manager Andy Bailey, second fromthe left, and his colleagues, from left, Mike Trask, Shannon Vineyard andIsmael Urias, helped save a co-worker’s life.

PhotocourtesyofBNSFRailway.



sense when electrical connectionsare hotter than they should be.

For electricians and for thecompany, new training in the uses ofthe devices was needed to continuethe trusted relationship betweenMilwaukee Electric Tool and workersin the field.

In July, the National JointApprenticeship Training Committee,the IBEW and the National ElectricalContractors Association announced along-term agreement withMilwaukeeElectricTool to train electricians, jour-neymen andworkers in newer classi-fications in the safe and effective useofmeasurement devices.

The agreement, announced inJuly at the National Training Institute’sgraduation ceremonies in AnnArbor,Mich., provides for a blended learningtest andmeasurement academy.State-of-the-art simulation and 3-Dtechnologywill help electricians learndo’s and don’ts before putting them-selves in the line of danger on the job.

“The program is modeled afterairline pilot training,” says MikeCallanan, executive director of theNJATC. Students, he says, will grabtheir personal protective equipment,assume proper positions to takemeasurements and simulate workscenarios. “When they make a mis-take there may be a ‘boom’,” but noone will be hurt,” he says.

All training modules will uselifelike animation of Milwaukee testand measurement equipment andinclude information on productapplications, safe work practices,code and standards references, fieldapplications and troubleshooting.

“Milwaukee ElectricTool hasestablished a new standard for com-panies doing business in the electri-cal industry,” saysCallanan. Thetraining, using equipment purchasedby the company, will expand businessopportunities for contractors and helpin upgrade training for journeymen.

“We are extremely proud topartner with the NJATC to develop aneducational tool for future genera-tions of apprentices, journeymenand electrical contractors,” saysSteven Richman, president ofMilwaukee Electric Tool Corp.

Recently, the NJATC awardedMilwaukee Electric Tool Corp. the2010 NECA Industry Partner of theYear award. �

RETIREDHarold Higginbotham

Fifth DistrictInternationalRepresentativeHaroldHigginbothamretired effectiveOct. 1, ending

an IBEW career marked by a commit-ment to volunteer organizing.

Initiated intoGainesville, Fla.,Local 1205 in 1972, Higginbothamwasmentored in his apprenticeship byjourneyman electricianswho encour-aged him to attend unionmeetingsand get involved in the local union.

Higginbotham served on sev-eral committees and held variousoffices in the local before his elec-tion as business manager in 1995.

A story in the April 2001 issue ofthe IBEW Journal describes how, in1993, Higginbotham and fellow work-ers NelsonMathis, Kenny Sykes andErnest Cooper brought their localback from the brink of extinction byvolunteering to organize during theday while working the night shift asjourneymen inside wiremen on anuclear power plant shutdown.

Local 1205’smembership haddwindled to fewer than 300 “A”members, with only 70 working.There was a “ForSale” sign on theparking lot and nomoney to pay thelight bills when Higginbotham pro-posed that the local establish aConstruction OrganizingMembershipEducation Training (COMET) class atthe union hall.

With a 15-member volunteer

committee and a loan from theInternational, Higginbotham led therebuilding of the local union, con-vincing members to support a $10dues assessment to finance organiz-ing campaigns. The local member-ship increased to more than 800and new offices were opened inTallahassee and Panama City.

“We were real fortunate thatthe members supported us. We surecouldn’t have turned things aroundwithout them,” says Higginbotham,whose father and grandfather wereunion railroad men.

BrotherHigginbotham, aVietnam-eraNavy veteran,wasappointed as one of the FifthDistrict’sorganizing coordinators in 1999andgarnered success, initially in theNLRB-election phase of organizing and,

later, in using top-downmethods.Leaving his official duties

behind, Higginbotham still seesorganizing as the union’s prime mis-sion. “The biggest thing is for eachmember to understand that if thereis an unorganized electrician outthere, he’s already got your job. TheIBEW can’t compete on a level play-ing field without reaching out andbringing these workers into ourunion,” says Higginbotham.

Higginbotham ‘s retirementwillfulfill a longtimedream. “For 40 years,mywife, Val, and I have beenplanningto travel around theU.S. and see ourgreat country,” saysHigginbotham.

On behalf of the entire unionmembership, the officers and staffwish Brother Higginbotham a rich,healthy and happy retirement. �

Transitions

Spotlight on Safety

Illinois Local HelpsOSHA InspectorsBeefUpSkills

Eric Patrick knows that when safety watchdogs get a shot in the arm of unionexpertise, job sites are less dangerous for all workers in electrical construction.

That’s why the Rockford, Ill., Local 196 business manager hosted atraining for dozens of Occupational Safety and Health Administration compli-ance officers throughout the region to improve their knowledge of potentialhazards around high-voltage lines.

Compliance officers from Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin joined theirIllinois colleagues at the local hall in April for an OSHA 10 Transmission andDistribution course. The daylong session covered ways to identify properunderground and overhead grounding, as well as how to zero in on possiblered flags on a construction site.

“This training has been just part of a growing relationship between thelocal and OSHA representatives,” Patrick said. “I’m very happy that we’vebeen able to come together and share information to help workers.”

One of the compliance officers’ chief responsibilities is to investigatepossible safety violations at work sites and submit their findings to theDepartment of Labor, which can then issue appropriate fines to contractorsfailing to play by the rules.

Local 196 brought in George Arhos and Bryan Stage, two employees ofthe American Line Builders Apprenticeship Training who have taught thecourse to hundreds of budding and seasoned IBEW linemen over the pastthree years. Arhos and Stage—from Local 196 and Columbus, Ohio, Local 71,respectively—head up area training coordination at ALBAT and are regardedas some of the finest in the trade.

“George and Bryan are experts,” said Dan Dade, director of ALBAT anda Local 71 member for more than three decades. “They’re constantly up tospeed with new information and are definitely committed to the industry.”

Following the training, KathyWebb—area director of the North Aurora, Ill.,OSHA office—metwith Local 196 leaders and one compliance officer to debriefon the impact of themeeting. In a letter to Local 196’s office, Webbwrote:

“The compliance officers received a great deal of information and

knowledge about your industry and really enjoyed the class. Without thegenerosity of union members like you to volunteer your time and knowledge,it would not be possible for us to get this type of training.”

The number of OSHAemployeeswho investigate work sites dropped dur-ing the Bush years—but that amount is increasing,making input fromunionsmore effective, said IBEWSafety andHealth Department Director JimTomaseski.

“Anytime our local unions can present safety issues from a unionworker’s point of view, OSHA’s ability to enforce critical safety regulations isgreatly enhanced,” Tomaseski said.

Plans are in the works for future collaborations between the complianceofficers and the ALBAT trainers.

“Through this joint effort, our objective is to continually build on andimprove the relationship between the IBEW and OSHA to help ensure that allworkers are provided the safe workplace they deserve,” Patrick said. “Wewant everyone to be able to return home to their families after working in oneof the most dangerous and demanding trades.” �

Leaders of Rockford, Ill., Local 196 hosted 26 OSHA workers from fourstates for an intensive training in high-voltage line safety.

Local Lines


Election ofOfficersL.U. 8 (as,em,i,mar,mt,rts,s&spa), TOLEDO, OH—Congratulations to Joe Cousino on his election as thenew businessmanager of Local 8. Best wishes, Bus.Mgr. Cousino, for much success in your new position.Congratulations also to the following newly electedofficers: Pres. EricGrosswiler, Vice Pres. Lee Arnott,Rec. Sec. Greg Hammer, Fin. Sec. Mike Brubaker,Treas. Tom Enright; new Executive BoardmembersBill Box, Charlie Condon, Shaun Enright, KevinHurley, Shawn Robaszkiewicz; and new ExaminingBoardmembers Josh Abernathy, Carl Cochenour,Nate Eaton, Mike Klocinski and Terry Short.

Thanks to all who participated in the electionprocess. To those of you who ran for an office anddid not win, we appreciate your interest in servingyour union brothers and sisters.

Thanks to former business manager JimKozlowski for all his years of service. Bro. Kozlowski,we appreciate everything you’ve done for this localserving on the various committees and in officesheld. Best wishes on your future endeavors.

Congratulations to the 32 Inside apprenticesand seven Teledata apprentices who recently gradu-ated. As you move forward in your new career,please take advantage of the continuing educationcourses available through our JATC.

Ben “Red” Tackett, P.S.

NorthTexas JATCGraduatesL.U. 20 (em,i,mt,spa,t&u), DALLAS/FORTWORTH,TX—The North Texas Electrical JATCheld its AnnualCompletion Dinner at the Sheraton Grand Hotel onJune 4.

IBEW Local 20 and the North Texas ChapterNECA both give an Outstanding Apprentice Award toa graduating apprentice for an overall outstandingperformance. This year, both awards were presentedto David Thetford.

Awards are presented to apprentices for out-standing performance at school and on the job. Takeninto consideration are their grades, attendance, jobevaluation, attitude and community involvement.

Award recipients were as follows:• Local 20 Gold Pliers Award: Ronald Pratt Jr. (1styear), Jason Raburn (2nd year), John Moncevais(3rd year) and James Irvin (4th year).

• NECA Achievement Award: Timothy Vernon (1styear), Jason Raburn (2nd year), John Moncevais(3rd year) and James Irvin (4th year).

• The Local 20 Dallas Federal Credit Union Award:Ronald Pratt Jr. (1st year), Charles Towb (2nd

year), Kenneth Branson (3rd year), AugustinMontoya (4th year) and James Flowers (5th year).

• The Fort Worth Local 116 Federal Credit UnionAward: David Thetford and James Flowers.

• Perfect Attendance Award: James Flowers,Freddie Lopez, Michael Martinez, TimothyMartinez, Walter Maultsby, David Sanchez, DavidThetford and Pablin Vela Jr.

A.C. McAfee, B.M.

National Training InstituteL.U. 24 (es,i&spa), BALTIMORE, MD—Local 24proudly attended the National Training Instituteagain this year. The Baltimore JATChad 14 peopleattend a wide variety of courses at the TrainingInstitute, held at the University of Michigan in AnnArbor. NTI is a very educational and impressive pro-gram. Our participating members look forward tothe program every year. I hope everyone had a greatsummer. Stay cool and stay safe.

Gary R. Griffin, B.M.

Re-elect Friends of LaborL.U. 26 (ees,em,es,govt,i&mt), WASHINGTON, DC—I would like to remind everyone of the importance ofthe midterm elections on Tuesday, Nov. 2. It isextremely important that you help re-elect ourfriends in the national, state and local races.

Local 26 elections were held in June, and pic-tured (on pg. 9) is the swearing in of the newlyelected officers at our union meeting held July 9.The swearing in was performed by now-retiredbrother and former business manager Cecil H.“Buddy” Satterfield Jr., who prior to his retirementwas special assistant to the International President.

The following members passed away since ourlast article: Michael B. Mang, Paul C. Tomlin, WilliamF. Hauhn, Larry T. Hill, Bruce C. Smith, John E.Hannon, John R. Nalley andWilliam F. Durnbaugh Jr.

Best wishes to recent retirees: Ronald L.Bloss, Joseph F. Bohon Jr., Fred K. Bowers, Terry W.Cox, Timothy O. Foster, Garry H. Griffis, Carlos W.Altizer, Eugene G. Burgan, Neal J. Gregory, AnthonyC. Smith and Stephen E. Webb.

Charles E. Graham, B.M.

Renewable Energy FacilityL.U. 38 (i) CLEVELAND, OH—Construction hasstarted at the new $100 million Northeast OhioRegional Sewer District’s Renewable Energy Facilityproject. The project will include a new 53,000-square-foot multistory building that will contain thefollowing processes: chemical dewatering ofbiosolids, fluid bed incineration of biosolids, andenergy production utilizing steam produced via heattransfer technology in the incineration process.

Trade Classifications(as) Alarm & Signal (ei) Electrical Inspection (lctt) Line Clearance Tree Trimming (mps) Motion Picture Studios (rr) Railroad (spa) Sound & Public Address

(ars) Atomic Research Service (em) Electrical Manufacturing (lpt) Lightning ProtectionTechnicians

(nst) Nuclear Service Technicians (rtb) Radio-Television Broadcasting (st) Sound Technicians

(bo) Bridge Operators (es) Electric Signs (o) Outside (rtm) Radio-TelevisionManufacturing

(t) Telephone

(cs) Cable Splicers (et) Electronic Technicians (mt) Maintenance (p) Powerhouse (u) Utility

(catv) Cable Television (fm) Fixture Manufacturing (mo) Maintenance & Operation (pet) Professional, Engineers &Technicians

(rts) Radio-Television Service (uow) Utility Office Workers

(c Communications (govt) Governmentmow) Manufacturing Office Workers

(so) Service Occupations (ws) Warehouse and Supply

(cr) Cranemen (i) Inside (ptc) Professional, Technical &Clerical

(s) Shopmen

(ees) Electrical Equipment Service (it) Instrument Technicians (mar) Marine (se) Sign Erector

Efforts are made to make this list as inclusive as possible, but the various job categories of IBEW members are too numerous to comprehensively list all.

Local 20 North Texas JATC 2010 graduates and committeemembers attend apprenticeshipcompletion dinner. From left, front row, Pablin Vela Jr., David Thetford, David Sanchez, JamesRudolph, KevinMcGarity, James Pringle, Samuel Peacock and Taylor Parish; back row,committeemembers Kent Pippin and Lyndon Hanson, StephenMcDonald, Antonio Vital, WalterMaultsby, AlbertoMartinez, TimothyMartinez, Michael Martinez, AlfredMaldonado, FreddieLopez, Andrew Jones, Daniel Cruz, James Flowers and committeemember Karsten Frentrup.

In attendance at the NTI are unionmembers from IBEW Local 24 and the Baltimore JATC. Fromleft are: Instructors TimMedford, Jim Smith, Dave Springham; Local 24 Bus. Mgr. Gary Griffin;JATC Dir. Dave Norfolk; Instructors Jack Ryan, Chris Ardoin; Training Coordinator Neil Wilford;and Instructors Larry Ryan, Mike Maksim and Ray Starks. Also attending, but not pictured: JATCCommittee member Curtis Reed and Instructors John Dalfonzo and Anthony Enfield.

Local 38 members employed by ESI Inc.standing in front of the new RenewableEnergy Faciilty at the Southerly WastewaterTreatment Plant are, from left: Paul Wadle,job steward Mike “Rambo” Krieger, RichBruner and foreman Jim Svab.



The three-year project includes work through-out the plant totaling more than $12 million in elec-trical work, which will provide manyman-hours forour membership.

Local 38 officers have beenmeeting and speak-ing with elected officials about various proposedprojects. It appears that workwill finally be starting inthe near future on some of the larger projects, suchas theMedical Mart andConvention Center and thePhase OneCasino Project at the Higbee Building.

Dennis Meaney, A.B.M.

MemorialMonumentL.U. 42 (catv,em,govt,lctt&o), HARTFORD,CT—IBEWLocal 42 erected a newmonument inmemory of ourdepartedmembers. Once a year every fall, wewill addthe names ofmemberswho passed during that year.

We extend special thanks to Jean Risley, wife ofLocal 42 Treas. R. William Risley Jr., for all her timeand effort planning and researching for thememorialproject. Jean worked closely with the engravers tocreate a beautiful monument, located outside Local42’s union hall.

We also extend special thanks to the RetireesClub for their assistance with the researching ofmembers’ names. Finally, we thankSusan Davis atthe I.O. for her help with researching the names ofall departed Local 42 members.

Jacquelyn Moffitt, Mbr. Services

Rally atSeattle’s CityHallL.U. 46 (as,c,cs,em,es,et,i,mar,mo,mt,rtb,rts&st),SEATTLE, WA—Nearly 200 unionmembers from theconstruction trades packedSeattle City Council’shouse in July to weigh in on the Deep Bore Tunnelconstruction project that officials approved in January

2009. The current seis-mically unsoundviaduct has been inneed ofmajor repair fornearly 10 years, but thedebate on how andwhen to replace the ail-ing structure continues.

Local 46 memberShannon Hagen spoketo the city council stat-ing, “We have takenample time to evaluateall possible [known]issues, but spendingany more time creat-ing problems thatcannot be foreseenwill only stalematethis project and weneed jobs now!”

Membersmobilized becausewe need thesejobs. “I’m amember of Electrical Workers Local 46and I’m looking forwork,” said BenjaminArron, whoreceived overwhelming applause in response to hisstatement. The city council will postpone the vote untilFebruary 2011, but the statemay still award contracts.

The city council is in favor of this project, butthe newmayor is creating roadblocks to keep theproject frommoving forward. As the debate contin-ues, we are working toward more public-actionefforts to make the statement to our city mayor thatthis project needs to happen now.

Angela Marshall, P.S.

StepUp forMidtermElectionsL.U. 68 (i), DENVER, CO—At the Aug. 21 annual picnic,Local 68members, their families and guests enjoyeda wonderful day of bright sunshine, barbecue, bever-ages and brotherhood. Photographs are available atthe local’sWeb sitewww.ultimateelectricians.com.

Wayne Shelton won the horse shoe tourna-ment. And every kid in attendance won the kidsgames. Wiremans’ Brotherhood Fund was on handto liven up the festivities even more, with 50-50 tick-ets, positive vibes and popcorn! (Not to mentionselling a few hundred shirts and hats for fundrais-ing to benefit the WBF.)

Get ready for November midterm elections!Make sure your voter registration is OK for your cur-rent address. We truly need a worker-friendly major-ity in political offices throughout the nation. Pleasedo your part to make it so! For more information,visit Web sitewww.sos.state.co.us or send ane-mail to [email protected] or [email protected].

COPE: Two cents is all it takes. Are you puttingin your two cents worth? Add it up and donate at thedues window. Two cents for each hour you workwould total $41.60 per year for COPE! Thesemoneyshelp support local candidates and issues that aregood for our cause. Please give your two-cents worth!

We extend condolences to the families of ourrecently deceased brothers: William Hughes, JamesBerger and Howard Blair.

Ed Knox, Pres.

WorkOutlook ImprovesLU. 80 (i&o), NORFOLK, VA—The work outlook hascontinued to improve over the fall. Currently, severalprojects are moving forward to keep our membersbusy. Our contractors are still diligently working tosecure more work for the future.

Congratulations to those who received servicepins this fall. We thank you all for your many yearsof service. We would not be where we are todaywithout your hard work over the years.

Thank you to Terry and Maureen McPhillips foranother successful picnic. Everyone seemed to trulyenjoy themselves once again. It was good to see somany familiar faces as well as some we have notseen in a while.

Local 80 wishes to remind anyone who plansto travel and sign Book II here that you must be reg-istered on ERTS prior to signing.

The officers and staff of IBEWLocal 80wisheveryone ahappy, safe andprosperous season ahead.

W. Dennis Floyd, A.B.M.

Solar TrainingGrantL.U. 90 (i), NEWHAVEN, CT—Gov. Jodi Rell signed oursolar bill into law at the state capitol. This lawwillremove barriers that were in place that hindered ourcontractors from securing rebatemoney from thestate. Among those attending the signing ceremonywereMichael Moconyi, Connecticut Chapter NECAexecutive director; Local 90 Pres. Sean Daly; and sev-eral state senators who helped pass this legislation.

Recently, we also secured a grant from thestate for $100,000 for solar training. Thanks to ourJATCDir. Paul Costello.

Local 90 held an election of officers in July. Wewish our officers the best in all their efforts. Electedwere: Bus Mgr. Frank Halloran, Pres. Sean Daly, VicePres. James Malone, Rec. Sec. Mike Crisci, Treas.Robert Wytowich, and E-Board members SteveAsplund, Russ Cooper Jr., James Fainer, EricMelisoand Thomas Ryan.

Our businessmanager for the past 15 years,Kenneth King, retired. Local 90 thanks Bro. King for allhis hardworkand leadership. Hewas amember for47 years andwas an officer in the local formore than20 years. He can now enjoy the benefits in retirementthat he fought diligently to protect for all. Hewill bemissed by us all. Enjoy, brother—you deserve it.

Sean Daly, Pres.

Local 94 Labor CandidatesL.U. 94 (lctt,nst&u), CRANBURY, NJ—Four Local 94members are running for public office this November.No one can represent working families and theirunions better than working people themselves. Weask all IBEWmembers to vote this November.Support your local brothers.

The Local 94 candidates are:• H. Kirk Craver—for Pittsgrove Committee• George Fecanin—for Rutherford Council• Sherman Wood—for Salem County Freeholder• Robert Breslin—for LowerAllowaysCreekCommittee

We thank these brothers for taking time torepresent the membership and the community. Wewish you all the best of luck.

When we vote we win!

Chip Gerrity, P.S.

Reminder toVoteL.U. 96 (i), WORCESTER, MA—Local 96 welcomedsome hot summer fun with a picnic and WorcesterTornadoes baseball game in June. Although ourhometown team fell short of victory, Chris Colabellohad his 511th hit, with a home run in the firstinning, taking the lead for most career hits in thehistory of the Can-Am League.

Members are reminded to vote. Elections areNov. 2, 2010. To learn more about candidates thelocal is endorsing or to volunteer as a supporter,contact the hall or visit us online atwww.ibewlo-cal96.org.

In tribute to those we’ve lost, this article is inmemory of brothers who passed away earlier thisyear: John Buffone, Ralph Giangrande, MichaelLennon, Wilford Rock and Robert Zinckevich. Ourthoughts are with their families.

Luke E. Carpenter, Treas./P.S.

Statewide ElectionNov. 2L.U. 100 (c,em,i,rts&st), FRESNO, CA—The statewidegeneral election is Tuesday, Nov. 2. Election regis-tration deadline is Oct 18. Please do your part in thepolitical process! Help with a phone bank and/orwalk a precinct. It is in your best interest to getinvolved; and it’s an excellent opportunity to furtherspread our labor message, which will strengthenour ability to provide our communities with a livingwage, pension and health care.

The State Federation of Labor supports JerryBrown for governor, as does our local Central LaborCouncil.

Efforts are ongoing to build the heavy mainte-nance facility for the California High Speed Rail sys-tem in Fresno.

Local 100 is proud to announce Bro. RichardTuck will receive his 75-year service pin award.

Local 100 election results: Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec.Kevin Cole, Vice Pres. Christian Howell, Pres. Stefan

Local 26 officers are sworn in, from left: Executive Board memberMikeHoyt, Examining Board members Melvin Cherry and Lorne Seay,Executive Board members Joe Dabbs and John Collins, Fin. Sec. MikeShoemaker, Examining Board memberWalter Carroll, Bus. Mgr. ChuckGraham, Executive Board members Jerry Lozupone and Jerry Lewis,Vice Pres. Larry Greenhill Sr., Rec. Sec. Frank Laddbush, Pres. ButchRamos, Executive Board members Steve Zimmerman (partiallyobscured) and George Hogan.

IBEW Local 42 memorial monument in tributeto departed members.

At the Local 68 picnic, Kathy Jordan (gesturing) directs children of members in a rousinggame of Tug-O-War.

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Davis, Rec. Sec. Michael Caglia, Treas. Ronny Jungk;and E-Board members Lou Gutierrez, Bob Andersonand ChuckStanton.

Attend your local union meetings on the sec-ond Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m. at the TrainingCenter.

Think safety always.

M.A. Caglia, R.S.

Pres. CorriganGraduatesNLCL.U. 102(c,catv,i,it,o&t),PATERSON, NJ—On June 26,Pres. Bernard T.Corriganattained aBachelor of Artsdegree in unionleadership andadministrationfrom theNational LaborCollege.

Originallycalled theGeorgeMeanyCenter for Labor

Studies (founded as a training center by the AFL-CIO),the National LaborCollege is the nation’s only accred-ited higher education institution devoted exclusivelyto educating unionmembers, leaders and staff.

At our July union meeting, retired member andformer IBEW business manager Andrew Cuvo pre-sented Bernie with a plaque from our membershipin honor of his achievement. Andy was in fact thefirst IBEWmember to graduate from the MeanyCenter in partnership with Antioch College back in1979. Bro. Cuvos was business manager of formerLocal 367 and later business agent at Local 102.

We are proud of these two brothers and theircommitment to acquire the highest levels of leader-ship skills.

Patrick R. DelleCava, F.S.

2010ApprenticeGraduatesL.U. 130 (i), NEW ORLEANS, LA—Greetings, unionbrothers and sisters.

Bus. Mgr. Clay Leon, officers andmemberscongratulate the 2010 class of apprentice graduates:Kenneth J. Bauer, Dale M. Delpit, Scott V. Fontaine Jr.,Kenneth C. Jackson, Michael C. Martin, Viet H. Sam,Terron J. Williams and Joshua J. Wismer. Brothersand sisters, if you are on the job with one of thesemembers take amoment to thank them for theirhard work and dedication; they are our future.

M.J. Branighan, Local 130 training director,reports that Kenneth Jackson was selected as NOJATCoutstanding apprentice for 2010 and that Kennethattended the statewide competition heldMay 12,2010, in Shreveport, LA. Kenneth also participated inthe 21st annual National Training Institute at theUniversity of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Best wishes to all the graduates for a success-ful career in the electrical industry.

Bro. Leon reminds all our new journeymenthat: You are the future of this local, and to keepthis local strong and vibrant you must be willing togive back, get involved, attend union meetings,become an activist, and educate your families and

friends about organized labor. Talk to your politicalrepresentatives; make them aware that the unionsupports working families, who are the true back-bone of our great country.

Sandra Theriot, R.S.

OfficersTraining CourseL.U. 146 (ei,i&rts), DECATUR, IL—We held our annualLabor Day parade and picnic in September andonce again it was a huge success. Everyone had agreat time, thanks to the Labor Day committee.

All the officers and Executive Board membersrecently attended an officer training course con-ducted by IBEW Int. Rep. Dave Ruhmkorff.

The work picture has not improved as thethreemajor jobs we were hoping for have notmate-rialized i.e., Secure Energy, Future Gen, and Tenaska.

We thank the other locals that have been ableto put some of our members to work.

Condolences to the family of Ammon “Digger”Odell. Digger was a 61-year member of the IBEWand will be missed.

Don’t forget to check us out at Web sitewww.ibew146.com and also on Facebook.

Rich Underwood, R.S.

Labor DayPicnicL.U. 158 (i,it,mar,mt&spa), GREEN BAY, WI—Local 158held its election of officers in June. Congratulationsgo out to all who won. It was good to see some newmembers get involved. The election judge and tellersdid an excellent job and should be commended.

Work has slowed up quite a bit. We hope forsome work to develop for the fall and winter. We areoptimistic that 2011 will be a banner year for work.But 2011 is still some time away and we have toomany people unemployed!

Once again a Labor Day picnic was held at BayBeach Amusement Park in Green Bay, and it waswell attended by our local. We had food, refresh-ments, games, rides and other entertainment.Many politicians also attended. It’s that time onceagain! Hope everyone had a great summer.

Donald C. Allen, B.M.

Election ofOfficersL.U. 176 (es,i,rts&spa), JOLIET, IL—Our local officerelection was June 5. Newly elected officers weresworn in at the July meeting by past president BillKoehler. Thank you to Gregg Vershay, who served aselection judge and oversaw a completely smoothand fair process.

After serving 21 years as an assistant, SteveMagruder was elected to his first term as businessmanager. Returning as Steve’s assistant businessmanagers: Jim Conness, Jim Kollman, DaleMagruder, Jim Watters and Matt Kenney.

Jim Ryanwas re-elected president (second term)andwill be assisted by newVice Pres. Joe Dubrovich.Running unopposedwere: Rec. Sec.Mark Ferry (firstterm), Treas. Fred Kempes (second term) and Fin. Sec.JohnWarren (fifth term).

Jerry Sheedy (fifth term) and Steve Newcomer(third term) are joined on the Executive Board bynewmembers Jeff Farrar, Bob Jimenez, ChuckMcBroom, TomThrush and Billie Van Duyne. NewExamining BoardmembersMike Barnes, KurtRohrbach, Jeff Tutt and Victor Woods join ClaySchulte, who returns for his fourth term. Local 176delegates to the IBEW International Convention inVancouver: Steve Magruder, Jim Ryan, Fred Kempes,JohnWarren, Steve Tutt and Joe Van Duyne. Alternatedelegates: Jerry Sheedy and Bob Battistelli.

All officers attended training on July 29.Thank you to all who participated in the local

election as voters, candidates and on the ElectionBoard.

Mark Ferry, R.S.

WorkPictureL.U. 180 (c,i&st), VALEJO, CA—As reported in thepast, the lack of credit emptied our pipeline ofwork. Our area had a number of large projects thatwere completed just before and just after the creditcrunch began.

Future predictions are as follows. Private busi-ness remains in capital preservation mode, if notsurvival mode. Public works (when there is funding)bids are far below the engineer’s estimate. Biddersreduce prices far below reasonable efficiencies andgo bankrupt halfway through the project.

The only large project, Valero Refinery, is fullystaffed with a peak of approximately 180 electricians.Valero will be winding downwhen you receive thisissue. Manywaited two years for the project to start.Many travelingmembers signed andmade numer-ous re-signs only to see a few job calls hitting the topof BookTwo.

We thank the travelerswho helped us staff theValero Refinery, andwe are heavy hearted for thosewho came very close to landing a job call. Regrettably,we sadly report that it tookwell over two years for ajob call to hit BookTwo, andwe foresee the same fromthis point forward. Please be so advisedwhen signingour books—itwill be a very longwait.

Michael C. Smith, B.A.

Cast Your Ballots forWorkersL.U. 196 (govt,mt,o,t&u), ROCKFORD, IL—As we nearanother “most important election of our lives,” Ihope all IBEWmembers in the U.S. exercise theirright to vote.

In the Illinois governor’s race theGOPcandidate,Bill Brady, is a nonunionhomebuilderwhohas votedagainst prevailingwage laws,wants to lower themini-mumwageby$1/hour, has opposed “Equal Pay for

EqualWork” legislation and voted against safetyrequirements and standards on construction projects.

Is this what any of us want from a governor? I,for one, can say “No.” Brady also voted against the“Illinois Jobs Now” capital bill, which has createdwork for an estimated 500,000 unemployed work-ing class men and women in Illinois through a terri-ble economy.

Vote for candidates who support workingclass citizens.

Our local isworkingwith the FederalMediation&ConciliationService office in our area to help improveandbuild upon the relationshipswehavewith severalmunicipalities in our jurisdiction bybecomingmorepro-active in avoiding problems instead of reacting tothem. Responses fromcity and village leaders havebeen very positive. Your union needs you!

Kudos to Steve Jones, who won a trophy at the35th IBEW Fishing Tournament held in Pierre, SD. Hiswinning walleye weighed 4 lbs. 2 oz. The trophy willreside at the Local 196 union hall for another year!

Eric Patrick, B.M.

CommunityServiceL.U. 234 (i&mt), CASTROVILLE, CA—Our local supportsworking families and their children. In this effort, onMay 18, Local 234 Bus.Mgr. KenScherpinski gave apresentation to theYMCABoard of Directors ofSanBenitoCounty alongwith a contribution of $250 fortheir annual CommunitySupportCampaign. Thesefunds are used for after-school care, “camperships,”sports, activities andmany other programs for allages—a real benefit to our community. Ourmembersare proud tomake contributions toworthy area organ-izations and look forward to a better economywhenour giftsmay increase.

As of this writing, wewere looking forward to ourannual barbecue onSept. 25, 2010, atToro RegionalPark onHighway 68. This event is a fun time for allmembers and their families.Wewere again teamingupwith our brothers and sisters fromUA Local 62.

Stephen Slovacek, P.S.

NJATCApprenticeGraduatesL.U. 246 (ees,i,rts&spa), STEUBENVILLE, OH—At thetime of this writing our work is slow, but we havebeen very fortunate over the last couple of years dueto a large project at the W. H. Sammis Plant for FirstEnergy. That project is now on line and we thank allfrom the IBEW who participated.

We congratulate our 14 newest journeymanwiremen, who successfully completed the NJATCtraining. All 14 also earned enough credits to beawarded an associate degree of technical studiesthrough Eastern Gateway Community College. Adam

Local 102 Pres. BernardCorrigan (left) acceptsplaque presented by retiredformer IBEW businessmanager Andy Cuvo.

Local 196 journeyman lineman Steve Jones(left) displays his winning trophy as Bus.Mgr. Eric Patrick extends congratulations.

Local 176 newly elected officers were sworn into office in July.



Maruca received the John Habash award forOutstanding Apprentice and attended the NationalTraining Institute in Grand Rapids, MI.

Please keep our brave military men andwomen in your thoughts and prayers, especiallyIBEWmembers. One of our own, first-year appren-tice Ryan Omaits, recently was deployed to Iraq.Now he works as hard for the citizens of the UnitedStates as he has and will for the IBEW.

Kyle N. Brown, B.M.

LocalMourns Eric RoseL.U. 280 (c,ees,em,es,i,mo,mt,rts&st), SALEM, OR—Our members mourn the loss of Bro. Eric Rose, 38,who died in a tragic accident loading a celebratorycannon that exploded. Eric leaves behind a wifeand two children. Our local will miss him greatly.Eric joined Local 280 in 2008 and worked forDynaelectric and was regarded highly by all. Also,Bro. Randy Rasher, 78, passed away recently andwe send his family our condolences.

Please checkout the new links at ourWeb sitewww.ibew280.org! Our fantastic secretaries, DonnaEvans andSherri Wallman, have done an outstandingjob of installing links to our own classified section,401(k) calculator, Health andWelfare information, etc.

Kudos to Local 280memberswho participatedin the UnitedWayGolf Tournament including: TracePrivratsky,MikeSliper, Pete Parker, Bill Kisselburgh,Joe Rundle, JoshMiller, Chris Bate andTravis Johnson.

As of this writing in August, work has pickedup in our local but nothing will get to Book II in2010. Jobs at Facebook, SalemMental Hospital,Home Depot Distribution Center, and EWEB havestarted to get our out-of-work list moving, but westill have more than 200 on Book I.

The good news is that all our apprentices arecurrently working, after some of them had beenunemployed for almost a year. Many thanks toLocals 12, 60, 112, 340, 424 and others for the workduring these hard times. Please work safe!

Jerry Fletcher, P.S.

UnionUtilities RecognizedL.U. 300 (govt,i,mt&u), MONTPELIER, VT—Local 300employers Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee andGreen Mountain Power were recently listed amongthe 15 best places to work by the Vermont Chamberof Commerce and Vermont Business Magazine.

Companies that make the cut undergo a two-

part assessment which compiles information aboutwages, benefits, employee engagement and satis-faction, company policies, demographics, training,leadership and planning. Up to 400 companies arerandomly judged each year.

“This award recognizes what those of us inorganized labor have always known: Union shopsare the healthiest environments to work in,” saidBus. Mgr. Jeffrey Wimette. “IBEW employers aresome of the most socially responsible businessesaround and believe the first step to success is treat-ing employees well. We are enormously proud.”

GreenMountain Power isVermont’s secondlargest electricutility, serving 90,000 customers.EntergyNuclearVermontYankeeproduces one-third ofthe state’s electricity and employs 650people.Severalhundred IBEWmemberswork for both companies.

Matthew Lash, P.S.

Back to BusinessLU. 306 (i), AKRON, OH—Our local’s summer activi-ties were a great time for all! The annual picnic atClay’s Park and the golf outing at Mayfair were wellattended and we thank the respective committeesfor a job well done.

A special thanks to our members who volun-teered at the Furnace Street Mission FirstResponder Counseling Clinic and the Equine RescueCenter. More than 500 hours were donated to thesegreat humanitarian efforts.

Work is slow but slowly improving, a storyheard around our nation and certainly not new. Thisfall we will continue to look for work as we head tothe polls to cast our votes. The negative TV adsbegan in June, each party blaming the other for thetanked economy andmassive manufacturing joblosses. The banking industry, wallowing in TARP dol-lars, spins blarney about how banking and citizen-ship are one and the same. The truth is out there,but I wouldn’t look for it on the World WideWeb.

Wemourn the loss of retired Bro. Thomas Kost.Work safe and work smart!

Bob Sallaz, P.S.

Relay for Life FundraiserL.U. 322 (govt,i,it,lctt,o&u), CASPER, WY—In July, thelocal sponsored a team to walk in the AmericanCancer Society’s Relay for Life in Casper, WY. Theevent was held July 30-31 at the Natrona CountyHigh School football field in Casper.

Team captainwasChrisMorgan. Fifteen peoplewere on the Local 322 team—nine local unionmem-bers and six familymembers, who in total spent 17hours on theNCHS football field andwalked 75miles.

The Local 322 team raised $2,000 throughdonations and on-field fundraisers. Some of themoney was raised at the Casper picnic by having adunk tank where Bus. Mgr. Charlie Dockham volun-teered to be dunked. This was the second year Local322 sponsored a team, and the local surpassed thegoal of $1,500 set last year.

The Casper event raised a total of $110,000 tohelp fight cancer. Big thanks to all the membersand their families who walked and those whodonated to a worthy cause.

Local 322 will hold a food drive during Octoberto help the needy. In 2009, the local collected morethan 3,500 pounds of food donated for distributionto food banks in the Casper area.

Chris Morgan, P.S.

Wiremen/MusiciansPerformL.U. 332 (c,ees,i&st), SAN JOSE, CA—The Local 332Annual Picnic was a big success. More than 1,300members and their families attended this year’spicnic at Coyote Ranch. The food lines were long buteveryone did get a steak or hot dog. Many thanks toall the volunteers who made this a great event.Don’t miss next year’s picnic at Coyote Ranch. It isalways the second Saturday in July.

At the recent IBEW Ninth District ProgressMeeting in Anaheim, CA, IBEW 332 was representedby a group of wiremen who are also musicians. TheKavanaugh Brothers Celtic Experience band washired by I.E.C. member/Local 47 Bus. Mgr. Pat Lavinto play at the reception for all the delegates and

families. The band brought the house down withtheir rousing interpretation of Irish songs with someGrateful Dead mixed in. The band members are:Asst. Bus. Mgr. Sal Ventura, Vice Pres. KevinKavanaugh, Rec. Sec. Alan Wieteska, E-Board mem-ber Mark Cosentino, IBEW 332 journeyman wiremenTom Kavanaugh and Tim Kavanaugh, and Tim’ssons Nate and Sean. Check them out on Facebook.

Gerald Pfeiffer, Pres.

Election ofOfficersL.U. 340 (i,rts&spa), SACRAMENTO, CA—As a resultof our June local union elections, the following weregiven the oath of obligation at the July membershipmeeting: Bus. Mgr. A. C. Steelman, Pres. TomMeredith, Vice Pres. AndrewMeredith, Treas. DougLarson, Rec. Sec. Ray Romo; Executive Board mem-bers Brian Bailey, Heerey “Charlie” Gaston, GregoryLarkins, Thomas Okumura, Michael Williams; andExamining Board members Tim Bailey, Ralph“Scott” Beasley, Cynthia “CC” Moore, Jason Prasadand Ignacio “Iggy” Rodriguez. Delegates to the 2011International Convention are: Toby Anderson, DavidBianco, Paul Bianco and TimWyatt. I look forward toworking with this fine group for this next term!

Running for office is not always easy—but inthe end, when the members make their decision,I’ve always found it worth the effort to serve theunion cause. I commend all the local members whoran for an office in June and I also thank the outgo-ing officers for their years of dedication to the local.

I wish I could change this statement, but onceagain I have to report our work picture is very slow.We hope things turn around soon!

I’m saddened to report retired Bro. ClarenceVan Hoy passed away on July 4 this year.

A.C. Steelman, B.M.

NSAData CenterL.U. 354 (i,mt,rts&spa), SALT LAKE CITY,UT—Midterm elections are coming upsoon; make sure to vote for candidateswho support labor’s cause.

Newly elected officers of Local 354are: Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. Rich Kingery, Pres.Steve Woodman, Vice Pres. Mike Barney,Rec. Sec. Manya Blackburn, Treas. TylerJudd; Executive Board members BoyceChristensen, Alan Peterson, RussellLamoreaux, Mike Meredith, Dale Evans,

Local 246 new journeyman wiremen: from left, seated, Scottie Smith, Greg Bellville, AdamMaruca, KimMcCalla, Rob Parrish, Chris Basich; standing, David Pietro, John Fenske, DavidOsaba, Eric Nutter, George Zatezalo, Jason Keffer, Adam Firm and Dan Voght.

IBEW Local 332 wiremen/musicians with theKavanaugh Brothers Celtic Experience bandentertained at the Ninth District Progress Meeting.

Several Local 340 officers gather for a photo. From left, seated, are: Examining Board memberRalph “Scott” Beasley, Rec. Sec. Ray Romo, Executive Board members Greg Larkins, CharlieGaston and Brian Bailey; standing, Examining Board members Cynthia “CC” Moore and TimBailey, Bus. Mgr. A. C. Steelman, Vice Pres. AndrewMeredith, Executive Board memberMikeWilliams, Pres. TomMeredith, Examining Board member Jason Prasad, Treas. Doug Larsonand Executive Board member Tom Okumura.

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Aaron Bottrell; and Examining Board membersGeorge Halliday, William Jacobs and Mike Pennie.Congratulations to all.

The National Security Agency data center proj-ect at Fort Williams in Utah will be awarded late inthe year. It is not known at this time howmany wire-men will be needed. If we need any help from ourtraveling brothers and sisters, we will make itknown on the IBEW jobs board.

The hard times across the country havemade itdifficult for all of our IBEW familymembers, whetherworking or not, but let’s not forget whowe are andwhat we stand for. Bless all of those who are strug-gling; know that your brothers and sisters care aboutyou. Call your union hall if you need help. We haveresources available, andmost have access to foodbanks or additional support for you and your family.

Manya Blackburn, R.S.

‘GetOut theVote’ DriveL.U. 364 (catv,ees,em,es,i,mt,rts&spa), ROCKFORD,IL—Finally, work is picking up a bit in our areaalthough there may not be calls for Book II until theByron Nuclear Plant refuel outage coming in earlyspring 2011.

It is the season here again in Illinois. Not foot-ball season, rather the political season. Local 364has been working diligently to register every mem-ber of our local to vote. We are at well over 90 per-cent registered and will be working to make that100 percent by registration deadline.

Following the membership voter drive, we willrefocus on the upcoming midterm elections, whichtake place Nov. 2 in Illinois. It is expected that thiswill be a down year for voter turnout, which is why itis important to work hard to get union members outto the polls.

Local 364 Bro. Ray Pendzinski is running forIllinois state representative in our area, and we areworking hard to make certain he is elected alongwith other Illinois candidates friendly to workingfamilies such as Gov. Pat Quinn and U.S. Senatecandidate Alexi Giannoulias. Remember to do yourpart to get out the vote. One of the jobs you save bydoing so may well be your own!

Charles Laskonis, B.A./Organizer

Wisconsin AFL-CIOAwardL.U. 388 (em,i,rts&spa), STEVENS POINT, WI—Local388 congratulates LukeWachowiak, one of our sig-natory contractors, on receiving the prestigiousRalph A. JirikowicAward for community service pre-sented by the Wisconsin AFL-CIO. The state AFL-CIOseeks nominations from its affiliates and after care-

ful screening presents the annual award to one indi-vidual who has demonstrated dedication to thelabormovement and commitment to the community.

Luke has volunteered and donated much timeand talent to numerous organizations throughoutthe Stevens Point area over the years. Luke believesin giving back to the community that has given somuch to him and his family.

The work picture for our area is very slow, notmuch different from what we are hearing fromaround the country. We look forward to next springwhen we anticipate the construction of a new bio-mass facility in our jurisdiction.

Local 388 is saddened by the death of Bro.James Schreiter, who passed away in July at age 66.Condolences go out to his family.

Guy LePage, P.S.

ApprenticeGraduatesL.U. 440 (i,rts&spa), RIVERSIDE, CA—Local 440 con-gratulates our 2010 class graduates. Nineteen jour-neyman wiremen and three Sound andCommunications installers received their certifi-cates of completion on June 12. [See photo below.]

This class is a perfect example of the excellentcareer path created by the IBEW and the apprentice-ship to train the future work force of our industry.Some of the graduates have served our country inone branch or another of the military, and someentered the apprenticeship through the Helmets toHardhats program.

Two of the students who received awards forthe InsideWireman program are Helmets toHardhats participants CandidaSpicer and ArnulfoMagdaleno. Joel Espinoza, a Sound andCommunicationsSystems graduate, received the“Outstanding Apprentice of the Year” award. To ourgraduates: We are proud of you all and know that youwill do your part to keep our local strong and con-tinue in the tradition of training future apprentices.

Bernie Balland, Organizer

Traverse CitySolar ProjectL.U. 498 (c,catv,em,i&spa), TRAVERSE CITY, MI—Atthis writing the work outlook in our area appearschallenging. On the positive side, service work andoil field work have been steady.

We congratulate Voltage Electric, whichrecently completed a large solar installation on topof the new parking structure in Traverse City.

Our annual picnic was Aug. 21 and we extendour thanks for all those who volunteered time and

energy for the event.The fourth-year inside apprenticeship class, in

partnership with Voltage Electric, recently com-pleted another Habitat for Humanity home in ourarea. Thanks to all those who assisted!

We send a hello to our members travelingaround the country and overseas.

On a sad note, our local recently lost memberScott Miller in a tragicmotorcycle accident. Our con-dolences go to his family.

Timothy R. Babcock, P.S.

BigSolar FarmProjectL.U. 530 (i,o&rtb), SARNIA, ONTARIO, CANADA—OnJuly 25, Local 530 held our annual summer picnic atBluewater Fun Park. All members, along with theirspouses and children, were invited to enjoy thepark’s swimming pools, bumper boats and water-slides. Hot dogs, hamburgers and pop and chipswere provided and as usual everyone who attendedhad a great time.

Huron Oaks Golf Club was the site for Local530’s annual golf tournament on Aug. 6. Semi-prosand hackers alike enjoyed 18 holes of golf followedby a steak dinner and prizes for all. The winningteam this year: Bros. Nick Powell, DerrickMacKinley, Kevin Morgan and Dave Rand, with abest ball score of -14.

By the time this article is printed,Canada’slargest solar farmwill be complete.We thankall themembers fromOntariowhohelpedus complete thisproject.With their help a total of 80megawatts ofgreen energywas completedby the peoplewhoshould bebuildingCanada’s newenergyprojects.

Local 530 is saddened by the recent passing ofBro. Dario Maola, who was the owner of DMWElectrical Instrumentation, Inc.

Al Byers, P.S.

WindTurbineTrainingL.U. 538 (i), DANVILLE, IL—Work in our area remainsslow. We are grateful for thelocals that have providedjobs for our members.

Results of our June elec-tion of officers: Bus. Mgr. JimBailey, Pres. Terry Crawford,Vice Pres. John Gallez, Treas.Larry VanVickle, Rec. Sec.Schuyler Bailey, andExecutive Board members Jeff

Owen, Luke Modglin and Matt Hinchee. Thank youto all members who ran for office.

We mourn the loss of William Schingel andMichael Noel Jr. Bill worked as an electrician for 32

years. He volun-teered with LynchArea Fire ProtectionDistrict and was aveteran of the BoyScouts of America.He is survived by hiswife, Dorothy, fourchildren and sevengrandchildren.

Mike was start-ing his fourth year ofapprenticeship. Hewas a U.S. Marine

Corps veteran and avid community volunteer. Mike issurvived by his wife, Amanda, and four children.

Congratulations to Matt Hinchee on complet-ing wind turbine training. Matt will instruct theupcoming course in Danville. Please contact theJATC office if you wish to take this class.

The JATC congratulatesMark Price on complet-ing his apprenticeship. Mark is the son of retiredinside wireman Gene Price. The JATCalso thanks JackLand and Gary Pollard for their recent donations.

The local picnic will be Oct. 9 at Forrest GlenPreserve. See you at the union meetings: thirdTuesdays at 7 p.m. (CST).

Kathie Porter, Training Dir.

Officers ElectedL.U. 558 (catv,em,i,mt,o,rtb,rts,spa&u), SHEFFIELD,AL—Our spring picnic on April 10 was a great suc-cess and attendance was wonderful. We had SwampJohn’s Restaurant catering, a car show (won by IBEWretiree Billy West, with a beautiful 1956 Chevy con-vertible), and live music from the band “ParkTheCar,” made up of IBEWmembers. Thanks to all whohelpedmake the day a success. [See photo, pg. 13.]

Our Local 558 election of officers was June 4.Elected were: Bus. Mgr. Steve Crunk, Pres. RalphMayes, Vice Pres. Tony Quillen, Rec. Sec. ToddOsborn, Treas. Charles Lamon; Executive Boardmembers: RonWeaver, Russ Allen, Ken Bratcher, JimWallace, Neal Quinn, Gary Dale Blackstock, and forour Decatur-Huntsville Unit—Eric Embry. ExaminingBoardmembers: Bros. TimMontgomery, wiremanexaminer; MarkMassey, lineman examiner; DavidMillsaps, maintenance wireman examiner; and TonyRutledge, instrumentmechanic examiner.

Delegates to the International Convention are:Bros. MacSloan, Ron Weaver, Tony Quillen, MacMcCreless and David Crunk. Congratulations to all!

Mac Sloan, Mbr. Dev.

Local 440 Class of 2010 apprentice graduates: from left, back row, Robert Reyes, DeonteWalker,Candida Spicer, KaceyWooldridge, GreggMcDaniel, Alex Guerrero, Travis Riner; front row, MikeMaddox, EdMansfield, Sean Canaday, Michael Lopez, ArnulfoMagdaleno, Eli McLees andChristoper Roehm. Graduates not pictured: Robert Canales, Joshua Cross, Danny Esau, PabloGil, Daniel Guerro, DavidWeinbrenner, Joel Espinoza, AdamGomber and Steve Lemm.

Local 498 congratulates its most recent group to complete theInside and Residential apprenticeship training: from left, BenBrandt, George Shumar, Brandon Ingersol, Gary Downey andKris Weathers. Not pictured: Aaron Vineyard.

Local 538 apprenticeMichael Noel Jr. (June 8,1981 – June 19, 2010).

Local 388 signatory contractor LukeWachowiak (right) receives the Ralph A.Jirikowic Award presented by Wisconsin AFL-CIO Pres. David Newby.



JATCGraduatesWelcomedL.U. 584 (ees,em,es,i,rts,spa&u), TULSA, OK—Local584 welcomed its newest group of journeyman wire-men at a ceremony on June 4 during our regularmonthly union meeting. As graduates of theNortheast Oklahoma JATCTraining Program, theywere presented with American-made, union-madeCarhartt jackets bearing the IBEW symbol, eachwith the recipient’s name stitched on it. Each grad-uate was also given a commemorative medal signi-fying their advancement to journeyman status.

Members of the graduating class were: JamesCarman, EricHopkins, Brandon Hernandez, Jeff Sims,Krystle Watson, StanMcElmurry, Joe Burnside, MartisOverstreet, KenCohenour and Bonnie Super. Bro. KenCohenour was selected as this year’s OutstandingApprentice and will represent Local 584 in theSeventh District Apprentice Skills Competition.

We wish each of our new journeyman wirementhe best of luck.

Johnny Patterson, A.B.M.

Report From the Front LinesL.U. 636 (as,catv,em,spa&u), TORONTO, ONTARIO,CANADA—Congratulations to our new and returningofficers and representatives, who will share theirtime and talents in pursuit of justice. It was a busyelection year with members choosing a leadershipteam that includes fresh and familiar faces in unitsacross our local and at the provincial ExecutiveBoard table. As we move forward, we say thanks toall the activists whose courage, commitment andsupport have brought us to where we are and thosewho will take us where we need to go.

Our local is especially grateful for the sacrificesand lifelong service of leaders such as John and LoriThornton, Brenda Boles, Jane Dusome,WendyDunford and Larry Collins. Throughout their careers,these sisters and brothers have served the IBEWwithhonour and distinction. As they step away from cen-ter stage, we applaud their contributions andwishthem happiness and success in future endeavours.

We are proud to announce the appointment ofSister Linda Georgiu to the Executive Board of theOntario Federation of Labour. This marks the firsttime that a member of our local has been selectedfor this prestigious post. An advocate with unparal-leled passion, Linda will add the voice of the IBEWto the chorus in the ‘House of Labour’ and helpinfluence positive change for all workers.

Paddy Vlanich, Ed. & Training

Officers, Grads&RetirementL.U. 654 (i), CHESTER, PA—Officers elected for the termof 2010-2013 are: Bus.Mgr. PaulMullen, Pres. JamesRussell, Vice Pres.WilliamAdams, Rec. Sec. JamesThompson Jr., Fin. Sec. Thomas Edgcumbe, Treas.Edward Kikut; Executive Boardmembers Karl BlaierJr., David Bonaventure, John Bondrowski, ThomasHeron, Brian Kelly; and Examining BoardmembersKevin Anderson, Louis Freeman andWilliamSweeny.

Congratulations, gentle-men, and thankyou foryourwillingness to servethe local.

Our local also con-gratulates our newestjourneymen from thisyear’s apprentice graduat-ing class: Mike Garvey,Cory Goebel, RyanHughes, Greg Kowall,James Lafferty, Brian Paul,Kevin Robinson, MichaelSmith and Ben Tyson.

We also thank Bus. Mgr. Steve McNally for hisyears of service to the local. The devotion he hasshown to our organization throughout his career isunparalleled. The innovation and tireless effort hehas demonstrated over the years has certainly ben-efited our members and their families. His retire-ment is well earned and we wish him all the best.

Jim Russell, Pres.

Annual AwardsBanquetL.U. 666 (i,mt&o), RICHMOND, VA—The CentennialPicnic held June 19 at Cobblestones Park was agreat success! There were 634 members and theirfamilies in attendance. Thank you to all the brothersand sisters who made this event possible.

In July, the International Office hosted the2010 IBEWWomen’s Conference in Washington, DC.Highlights included beneficial workshops and inter-esting speakers.

Mid-term elections are looming. We have onlya few weeks left to make a difference in the elec-tion. Please get involved! The work situation in ourarea remains dismal. Thank you to all the localsputting our members to work.

Congratulations to recent retirees: H. PaulPowers, William “Bill” Powell, Jerry D. Robinson andMichael Wirt. We mourn the passing of Bro. John W.Hall Jr.

The annual award ceremony and banquet wasSept. 17 at the Virginia Crossing Resort.

Congratulations to all award recipients.Awarded 50-year service pinswereStewart Bell,James Joyner and LeroyVanfossen; 55-year pins—Louis Bernier, RobertGilley, BenjaminGoins, Donald Lipe,ErnestMartin, EdwardStephens andBeverlyTaylor; 60-year pins—EmmettAlcock, Fontaine Bowles, J. IrvingJamerson and James Ligon; and a 65-year pin—ThomasW.Stone Jr. Tenmemberswere recognized for 25 yearsof service and 24members for 40years’ service.

Please attend union meetingsheld the second Friday of eachmonth at 8 p.m.

Kendra Logan, P.S.

ElectionSeasonL.U. 692 (i,,mt&spa), BAYCITY, MI—Atthis writing, we have 120 on Book 1. There are 971 onBook 2. Book 1 may pick up in late 2010. We do notforesee getting into Book 2 in 2010.

Our Junemembership election results are: Bus.Mgr./Fin. Sec.MarkBauer, Pres. Brian Klele, Vice Pres.Karl Shawl, Treas. TomBarbeau, Rec. Sec. TammyGottleber; Executive Boardmembers Ron Eurich,JeremyKiley, Howard Renigar, Tim Rupp, RichRytlewski,MarkThompson; and Examining BoardmembersToddAultman, Travis Aultman,WilliamNutt,Randy Rippee and JeffWilcox. Appointedwere: Asst.Bus.Mgr. JackTobias andDirector ofMembershipDevelopment Jess Peil.

Most of these positions pay no salary and allrequire dedication and time to serve the local. Wecongratulate the officers and thank them for com-mitment and service.

With Virg Bernero running for governor, wehave a chance for themiddle-class to be heard withhis fierce determination. But you have to help.

Remember to vote. Despite any inconvenience votingmay be, you will feel proud walking from the booth.

A continued thanks to all our brother locals forhelping keep ourmembers employed in these times.

Our condolences to the family of retired Bro.Doyle E. Terry, who recently passed away.

Tom Bartosek, P.S.

GolfOuting FundraiserL.U. 702 (as,c,catv,cs,em,es,et,govt,i,it,lctt,mo,mt,o,p,pet,ptc,rtb,rts,se,spa,st,t,u,uow&,ws), WESTFRANKFORT, IL—Our Annual Golf Outing on June 18held at the Franklin County Country Club was a hugesuccess. We raised more than $10,000 for thePoshard Foundation for Abused Children. A goodtime was had by all for a good cause.

Local 702 hosted the Outside BusinessManager’s Conference held July 28-29 at the RendLake Resort and Conference Center. Presentationswere given concerning outside construction work,and vendors exhibited their tools of the trade. Wethank everyone for their attendance at these inform-ative and important meetings.

At the Lively Grove Project (Prairie State EnergyCampus), we currently have 430 wiremen working.The entire project has worked more than 2.5 millionconsecutive hours without a lost time accident.

The summer heat was ruthless on our mem-bers, so much so that the Lively Grove and Baldwinprojects shut down for a couple of days with heatindexes at 121 degrees.

Marsha Steele, P.S.

50-YearMember AwardedL.U. 704 (catv,em&i), DUBUQUE, IA—Bus. Mgr. DanHammel presented Bro. Stan Thor with a 50-yearservice pin and certificate. Bro. Thor was initiatedinto Local 740 on Oct. 10, 1960. We congratulateStan on his 50 years of service. This is somethingwe all hope to achieve.

At press time Thermofisher Scientific, a manu-facturing branch of Local 704, was scheduled tocease production in mid-September of this year.Thermofisher manufactured laboratory equipmentused to perform scientific research. Production willbe moved to other plants, with a substantial por-tion of the product to be built in Shanghai, China.

Bus. Mgr. Hammel stated it was great workingwith all of the 290 former Thermofisher employees.In a “right-to-work” state, this group had a 100 per-cent membership in the IBEW! The employees’ com-mitment to loyal membership was quite impressive.Sheffield, AL, Local 558’s spring picnic was a great success.

Some of the graduates from Local 584’sJATC class of 2010 gather for a photo.From left are: James Carman, Eric Hopkins,Brandon Hernandez, Jeff Sims, KrystleWatson, Stan McElmurry, Joe Burnsideand Martis Overstreet.

Participating in the Local 702 Annual Golf Outing are, fromleft: Tom Trammel, Jim Holderfield, Hal Nicholson, JohnHowat, Mick Emery and Jack Stilley.

IBEW Alexandria, LA, Local 576 congratulates recent apprentice graduates. From left:DonnyHudnall, Keith Davis, Willie Brown, Jamie Brown, Lee Vaughn, Martin Sanders,Robert Brister and Will Sanders.

Local 576ApprenticeGraduates

Local Lines


We will miss their contribution to the local and wishthem the best in future endeavors.

At the time of this writing, work is slow withapproximately 25 percent of our membership laidoff and recorded on Book One.

Ronald C. Heitzman, P.S.

Your Right toVoteL.U. 716 (em,i,lctt,rts&spa), HOUSTON, TX—Greetings, brothers and sisters. I hope all are welland working. The work situation in Houston is stillholding its own.

Local 716 recently participated in the HarrisCountyAFL-CIO Labor DayCelebration andBarbecuecook-off. We had a great turnout from themembershipaswell as elected officials and candidates for theupcoming November elections. The foodwas greatand everyone had a good time. Thanks to the cookingteamaswell as the volunteers, who also helpedwithmaking the Labor Day celebration a success.

We welcome all our newmembers who justmade membership, including the second-yearapprentices. We encourage our newmembers tostay informed by attending union meetings.

Local 716 also completed our voter registrationdrive to ensure that all members have the opportu-nity to exercise their right to vote in the Novemberelections. Please exercise your right and encourageyour family members to do the same. We have got toget our labor-friendly candidates elected.

Local 716 encourages all members to con-tribute to the PAC Fund, and also to participate inthe Local Union Death Benefit Fund and the Sickand Needy Accident Fund.

John E. Easton Jr., B.M./F.S.

Labor DayPicnicL.U. 756 (es&i), DAYTONA BEACH, FL—The Volusia/Flagler Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, held itsannual Labor Day picnic on Sept. 6 in the City ofSouth Daytona.

IBEW Local 756was one ofmany affiliated laborunions in the council that participated in the after-noon of fun and brotherhood. Other unions and localsrepresented included theTeachers local and supportstaff, PostalWorkers, AFSCME, Police, Firefighters,UAW,CWA, IBEWutilities local, SheetMetalWorkersand the UAaswell as retirees fromvarious unions.

Approximately 1,200 union members andtheir families attended. There was entertainmentfor all with live music, and water slide and bouncehouse for the kids.

Special thanks go to our CLCpicnic coordina-tor Lu-Ann Blankenship, educational support staff,for pulling off another successful picnic. Anothershout-out to our fearless cooks: Tom Remigio (IBEWutility Local 1066), Andrew Spar (Volusia Teacherspresident), Rusty Olsen (Postal Workers), and GaryWells (UAW) for manning the grills.

Along with the fun and brotherhood there waspolitics. As usual, local politicians and our endorsedcandidates were all invited. Our annual picnic hasbecome a hot spot for politicians to see and be seen.

Gubernatorial candidate AlexSink, U.S. Rep.Suzanne Kosmas and Florida attorney general candi-date Dan Gelber all gave brief speeches to thecrowd. We endorsed U.S. Rep. KendrickMeek forU.S. Senate. Labor supports candidates with arecord of standing up for working people.

Daniel Hunt, P.S.

‘GetOut&Vote’L.U. 776 (i,o,rts&spa), CHARLESTON, SC—Theupcoming November election could not be moreimportant to the issues at hand. Our issues. Notjust here in South Carolina, but nationwide. Itseems the hurdles never end as we race from oneelection to another. We have asked for and receivedCOPE/PAC funding for the candidates we endorsed;we have taken the photos and shook hands; wehave sent out newsletters—but now the effort fallson each of us to stand in line and cast our vote.

If we want our voices heard, our way of lifecontinued, the American dream renewed, then let’sremember our Brotherhood—train together, worktogether, vote together.

Chuck Moore, B.M.

Lance LondonAwardsL.U. 824 (t), TAMPA, FL—Every year, Local 824 pres-ents the Lance London Award to a unionmemberwho has shown outstanding effort and dedication toeducate, inform and involve fellow unionmembers.

At the May 7, 2010, general meeting Bus. Mgr.Robert Prunn announced two members had earnedthe Lance London Award. Sister Tina Tyler and Bro.Dan Wagner have made significant contributions tobringing union members together in solidarity andcommitment.

Sister Tyler, a union member since 1998, hasserved as steward and chief steward. Tina serves onthe Solidarity Committee, where she helped organ-ize the Family Fun Day. Tina worked researchinginformation to assist Bus. Mgr. Prunn and Asst. Bus.Mgr. Dan Wagner to design Membership TrainingClasses. By helping with membership training andsharing her personal experiences, Tina showed newmembers how important union membership is.

Bro. Wagner, a loyal union member since 1997,has served as steward, chief steward, negotiationcommittee member, executive board member andis now an assistant business manager. Dan workedwith Robert and Tina to organize the membershiptraining and he conducts the Local 824 trainingclasses. More than 600 members were trained in

the last nine months.Sister Tyler and Bro. Wagner continue training

and reaching out to newmembers. They lead byexample, which helps keep the local strong.

Dawn Livingston, P.S.

SummerWorkPictureGoodL.U. 910 (ees,i&t), WATERTOWN, NY—Work in ourlocal has been good as of this summer writing.Many area schools have had new constructionand/or renovation. Fort Drum construction has beenslow as of summer. Many other work projects havehelped keep our members working.

This last spring, seven new journeymen com-pleted their apprenticeship training. Congratulationsto all apprentices for their hard work. Kudos to: BryanFrank (high average, Plattsburgh), Steve Young (highaverage, Watertown), Nathan Irwin, Jason Kemp,Daniel Ossant, Michael Roy and Justin Sixberry.

Local 910 recognizes Pat Travis, WhitneyChambers and Ben Wood for their efforts attempt-ing to save the life of a custodial worker at theGeneral Brown School district, where they wereworking for Billitier Electric. Journeyman Pat Travisand apprentice Whitney Chambers performed CPRon the man, who had collapsed with a heart attackand was unresponsive. Ben Wood called 911 andthe three worked to help the sickman until para-medics could arrive and get him to the hospital.Unfortunately, doctors were unable to save thepatient, but he was given a chance at survival dueto the quick actions of these Local 919 members.

Roger LaPlatney, P.S.

KudosonAppointmentL.U. 1096 (em), BLAIRSVILLE, PA—We are pleased tohave our own former Local 1096 business man-ager/president, Phil Horrell, advance to the positionof IBEW Third District International Representative.

Phil was at ourmanufacturing facility that pro-duces nuclear fuel tubes for 42 years. He led Local1096 for the last 18 years. Through six contracts, hekept hismembers’ interest at the forefront. Alwaysthe good listener, fair with all, and with a long rangevision, hemoved our union forward. We are allthrilled that he hasmoved into the International fam-ily. A large party was given to commemorate the occa-sion andwas attended by approximately 140 people.

The attached photo shows some of our mem-bers wishing Phil good luck at his last local unionmeeting. Best wishes, Phil, from your Local 1096.

Mark Schrack, Treas.

Local 704 Bus. Mgr. Dan Hammel (left)presents Bro. Stan Thor with his 50-yearservice award.

Local 1096 members congratulate then-business manager Philip H. Horrell (front center, inwhite shirt) on his appointment as IBEW Third District International Representative.


ApprenticeGraduatesL.U. 1116 (em,lctt&u), TUCSON,AZ—The following sixmembers finished their apprenticeship this summer:fromTucson ElectricPower—RandyBartlett andFranciscoAbarca (journeymansubstation technicians),JesusMartinez andGerronGraham (journeyman relaytechnicians), andRonBreaux (journeymanHEATOperations); and fromTricoCooperative, Inc.—SteveWilson (journeyman lineman). These new journeymenrepresent awork force dedicated to safety, quality andpride in craftsmanship. Keepup the tradition!

Meanwhile, practicing under the watchful eyesof Bros. MikeMaibauer andMikeMorrissey for thecompetition in this year’s KansasCity, MO, Linemen’sRodeo are: Bros. LucasCummings, Joe Breda,Leander Johnson,Matt Halbur andMike Halbur—allworking on their skills. We wish them good luck!

Welcome to newmembers: Charles Hastings,Lacinda Irvine, Vincent Waters, Michael Craig, DanaBrumett, Steven Schofield, Israel Zazueta, KeaneCucuel and Samuel Fullen.

R. Cavaletto, P.S.

MorganBowenMournedL.U. 1316 (i&o),MACON, GA—Withgreat regret weannounce the pass-ing of Morgan H.Bowen, former Local1316 business man-ager/financial secre-tary. Bro. Bowenpassed away July 15,at age 83.

Bro. Bowenjoined the U.S. Navyin 1945. Followingmilitary service, he

entered the Local 1316 apprenticeship programandwas initiated into the IBEW in 1947. Hewas appointedto the JATCcommittee in 1956, became local unionpresident in 1958, andwas appointed businessman-ager/financial secretary in 1961. Bro. Bowen served asbusinessmanager/ financial secretary for 31 yearsuntil his retirement in April 1992.

Bro. Bowen also served on the AdvisoryCouncil for the Georgia Department of Labor. Hewas secretary/treasurer of the Macon Federation ofTrades and Labor Council and served on the City ofMacon Electrical Examining Board. He was vice-president of the Georgia AFL-CIO; vice president ofthe Georgia Electrical Workers Association; servedon the National Electrical Code Panel and on theSelective Service Appeal Board.

Bro. Bowen was a visionary and saw the needsof his membership years ahead of most people. Hewas instrumental in establishing Local 1316’s firstlocal pension plan and health insurance plan.

Bro. Bowen was a proud 63-year member ofLocal 1316. He will be missed, but his accomplish-ments and legacy in the IBEW will live on.

Mike Gardner, P.S.

Election ofOfficersL.U. 1466 (u), COLUMBUS, OH—On June 16, elec-tions were held for both local officers and for dele-gates to the IBEW 2011 International Convention, tobe held in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Elected to office: Bus. Mgr./Pres./Fin. Sec.Charles “Chuck” Tippie, Vice Pres. Kent Cline, Rec.Sec. Dan German and Treas. John Biskner. Electedto the Executive Board: Shane Cooke (Columbus),Bill Buzzard (Conesville), Rod Cockrell (Chillicothe),Larry Douglas (Ohio Power Units 1 & 2), and AndyMatson (Athens). Kim West-Herhalt was appointedassistant business manager. Members elected asdelegates to the International Convention are: KentCline, Shane Cooke and Barry “Bubba” Hickle.Congratulations to all those elected. Your dedica-tion to the local is greatly appreciated.

We also say thank you and good luck to broth-ers and sisters who recently retired due to the AEPbuyout program. A union is only as strong as itsmembers, and your years of service helped makethis local what it is today.

James T. Jette, P.S.

Five-Year Contract RatifiedL.U. 1900 (so&u), WASHINGTON, DC—The Local1900 negotiating committee representing our fourgenerating stations fromMirant Mid-Atlantic LLCnegotiated a five-year contract, which was ratifiedMay 27. The local’s negotiating committee was ledby Bus. Mgr./Pres./Fin. Sec. John Holt and includedVice Pres. Greg Waller Sr., Rec. Sec./Bus. Rep. KarlFurbush, Jameta Rose (Potomac River), Jeff Harris(Dickerson), Joe DiMarco (Chalk Point) and TommySwann (Morgantown).

Contract highlights include: a 21 percent gen-eral wage increase over the five-year term, a 15-centincrease on the companymatch on the 401(k), oneadditional floating holiday, six weeks’ vacation at30 years of service, an increase on our shift differen-tials, a choice of two medical plans under UnitedHealth Care for our active members and retireeswith caps on premium increases, and an option forour members to opt out of the medical plans andreceive $1,000 per year. We also have a union-spon-sored Supplemental Benefit Program administeredby National Group Protection.

At Potomac Electric Power Co. (Pepco), we arein the second year of a three-year contract. Alongwith the contractual obligation to hire 120 new bar-gaining unit members in operations, we have estab-lished joint company/union committees onselection of leads and overtime disputes. Also atPepco we have started a process, which was alreadyin place at Mirant, in which stewards, managementand union representatives meet monthly to discussand resolve departmental issues.

Despite the bleak economic climate, we stillhave contract language insuring job security anddefined benefit pension plans at both companies,thanks to the membership’s support.

Karl Furbush, R.S./B.R.

Officers ElectedL.U. 2084 (ees&em), SYRACUSE, NY—On June 22,2010, we held our election of officers for the nextthree years. Elected were: Pres. David Pickard, VicePres. Pete Desimone, Rec. Sec. Harold Mosher, Fin.Sec. David Phillips, Treas. William Annicharico, Bus.Mgr. James E. Jackson Jr.; and seven Executive boardmembers, John Annal, Sylvester Beeles, PatrickHadley, William Paninski, Robert Robinson, DonSteinbaugh and Lynn Taylor. Congratulations to all.

James E. Jackson Jr., B.M.

The late Morgan H.Bowen, labor leader andformer businessman-ager of IBEW Local 1316.


Brian Wood hasalways been anardent promoterof safety on the

jobsite, and now he has thepaper to prove it. The TerreHaute, Ind., Local 725 mem-ber recently earned hisbachelor’s degree in laborsafety and health from theNational Labor College.

Now the 10-year mem-ber is taking his practicalknow-how and academiccred to the next level with anew job as a labor liaison for the Occupational Health and Safety Administration’s regionaloffice in Kansas City, Mo. His prime task will be to work as a bridge between OSHA and arealabor leaders to provide trainings and meet the needs of groups representing workers inKansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri. Wood is the first Labor College graduate and only thesecond IBEWmember to get hired by OSHA for such a position.

“I do what I do because I care deeply about people having a right to go home in thesame condition that they came to work in,” said Wood, 38. “It’s as simple as that. But safetymeans the world to countless men and women who face danger on the job every day.”

Wood knows this all too well.In 2007, hewasworking as a journeymanwiremanat an oil refinery on aprojectwhich

required frequent use of a scissor lift. Onemorning, he “tied on” to the lift—securing himselfinside the devicewith a lanyard—then raised the device about 20 feet in the air along the side of abuilding so he could reach the outer edge of the rooftop to pull wire. But amalfunctionwith thelift’s alarmsystem failed to alertWood that onewheel had rolled over a large hole in the dirtbelow, leaving themechanismunsteady. AsWoodwalked fromone endof the lift’s platform to theother, themachine began to pitch sideways as the unstablewheel rolled into the deephole.

As the lift began to tumble, Wood couldn’t reach his lanyard on the other side of the liftto detach himself. His only option was to quickly grab onto an overhead steel beam beforethe lift capsized. Balancing precariously in the air with the weight of the lift pulling down-ward, Wood called out to a nearby co-worker who was able to help him out of the restraints.

Had the lift crashed to the earth withWood tethered inside, it could have been disastrous.“That was an early incident thatmademe passionate about safety,” Wood said. “If I could

have unhookedmyself from the lift before trying to tie on to the roof, I would never have been indanger. But since the job requiredme to be tied off 100 percent of the time, I got stuck inside.”

Wood used lessons gleaned from the nearmiss to address the practices of tying on and offin his senior thesis. Reading the 30-page analysis of an industry-wide standard, one gets thesense that a serious intellect and streak of advocacy informWood’s sense of what safe jobsitesrequire, even when thatmeans challenging long-held beliefs of what constitutes best practices.

“Brian’s an impressive guy,” said Ruth Ruttenberg, Ph.D., Wood’s advisor at the LaborCollege. “He took what was a personal near-death experience and put the academic framingaround it to address a challenge in the industry.”

Ruttenberg—an economist who has taught full-time at the NLC for nine years—saidtrade unionists are the best people to enforce and advocate for safety laws.

Wood’s hiring is a signal of continuously improving relationships between the LaborDepartment and unions since President Obama’s election two years ago. Secretary of LaborHilda Solis—an Obama appointee—spoke at the Labor College’s 2009 commencement andtold the graduating class that she is creating more than 600 jobs in her department andhopes to hire NLC grads to fill some of those spots.

ThatmakesWood one of labor’s pioneers in taking on a very largemission. Kansas,Nebraska and Iowa all have right-to-work laws on the books.

“We hated to see him go, but we knew it was the best thing for the industry,” said Local725 Business Manager Todd Thacker, who earned his degree in union leadership in adminis-tration from the NLC in 2008.

Wood was awarded outstanding apprentice honors in 2005, moving quickly up the chainto serve as a business representative. Wood served in the Navy Reserve from 1990 to 1993 andin the National Guard for three more years.

“I’m very fortunate, and I’m very committed to this,” Wood said. “I hope to make asmuch as an impact as I can on the continued health and safety of workers.” �

Labor CollegeGradBringsHonedSafetySkills toOSHAPosition

Terre Haute, Ind., Local 725 member Brian Wood, third fromright, is the first National Labor College graduate hired byOSHA to serve as a labor liaison.

In Memoriam

1 Fischer, F. H. 7/25/20101 Hall, G. A. 8/1/20101 Hein, O. G. 7/21/20101 Hepler,W. H. 7/17/20101 Jennewein, K. R. 5/21/20101 Myers, A. J. 7/29/20101 Tyler, J. E. 7/10/20102 Suddarth, L. C. 4/13/20103 Catarcio, J. J. 5/24/20103 Conway, R. A. 4/2/20103 Davis, B. A. 6/23/20103 Declementi, V. 6/21/20103 Di Stefano, M. 6/27/20103 Duhon, L. J. 6/26/20103 Kahn, G. P. 6/18/20103 Keefe, F. D. 6/15/20103 Kleiner, E. J. 7/3/20103 Leon, E. J. 5/25/20103 Mechlin, J. R. 6/15/20103 Moskowitz, S. 4/1/20103 Nacincik, D. E. 6/12/20103 Peacock, A. G. 5/29/20103 Quijano, R. 7/14/20103 Rodriguez, J. 4/27/20103 Rondinelli, A. 6/15/20103 Scarlett, O. A. 7/25/20103 Simon, D. 5/7/20103 Stola, M. 6/24/20103 Vargas, E. 7/18/20103 Vassar, K.W. 6/29/20103 Wiles, H. E. 7/7/20104 Towns, O. 6/14/20075 Bruschi, J. J. 6/7/20105 Pounds, R. M. 5/10/20106 Miller, N. 7/23/20106 Wisecarver,W. H. 7/7/20108 Gill, C.W. 7/14/20109 Gibson, J. L. 6/29/20109 Negus, M.W. 3/28/201011 Fernandez, C. C. 7/14/201011 Gunnarson, E. J. 6/28/201011 Johnson, J. A. 7/2/201011 Mancini, N. A. 7/17/201011 Meyerhofer, M. F. 5/17/201011 Samia, S. 4/18/201011 Subotic, J. 5/28/200917 Dyotte, J. J. 7/6/201018 McAllister, J. T. 6/23/201020 Baker, Z. C. 5/22/201020 Bradshaw, R. E. 5/20/201020 Crowe, D. L. 6/29/201020 Freeman, J. L. 12/10/200920 Scott, C. B. 7/3/201022 Bowers,W. K. 7/1/201023 Fletcher, R. J. 7/9/201024 Eisenzopf, R. J. 7/5/201024 Underkoffler, J. T. 7/18/201025 Bennet, M. 5/16/200825 Wiswall, T. F. 7/20/201026 Hill, L. T. 6/15/201026 Jordan, L. 3/10/201026 Nalley, J. R. 6/27/201034 Partlow, C. H. 7/1/201038 Booker, R. L. 6/19/201038 Bostwick, H. R. 7/12/201040 Post, S. N. 7/5/201041 Klein, R. H. 6/22/201043 Boris, B. 7/31/201046 Billing, H.W. 6/20/201046 English, G. R. 7/3/201046 Lango, B. N. 6/28/201046 Lee, J. D. 7/13/201046 Raiford, D. 1/25/201046 White, T. V. 6/19/201047 Stombaugh, R. L. 9/22/2007

48 Mackie, J. R. 7/20/201051 Smith, T. M. 7/20/201055 Burgduff,W. M. 7/11/201057 McGavin, M. D. 4/30/200958 Cleveland, C. T. 7/9/201058 Cloutier,W. E. 3/20/201058 Cohen, I. 2/27/201058 Schweiger, L. G. 7/18/201066 Morris, R. J. 5/28/201066 Wooderson, S. E. 7/15/201068 Berger, J. F. 6/25/201076 Betrozoff, S. T. 4/14/201077 Gonzalez, L. E. 7/31/201077 Jones, R. S. 3/21/201077 Riley, D. G. 7/27/201077 Rockne, R. B. 7/26/201077 Stecker, M. V. 5/26/201080 Vicik, J. P. 6/25/201082 Holdeman, G. L. 7/19/201084 Carson, H. 7/9/201084 Whitlock, G. C. 6/11/201090 Canning, E. T. 6/21/201097 Lodinsky, E. S. 5/1/201098 Fields, J.W. 7/1/201098 Focht, A. J. 4/11/201098 Gratz, R. A. 7/27/201098 Jordan, L. J. 7/8/201098 Moser, P. K. 9/23/200998 Neamand, D. E. 6/21/201099 Davies, E.W. 3/30/201099 Huling, B. E. 7/8/2010102 Christoffers,W. A. 2/9/2010102 Sena, N. A. 7/19/2010103 Pagley, S. T. 7/9/2010103 Robinson, B. 6/27/2010115 Simpson, J. V. 6/12/2010120 Scott, G. L. 6/28/2010124 Davey, F. A. 7/27/2010124 Long, R. P. 2/9/2010124 Woods, K. L. 5/17/2010125 Alexander, E. L. 7/13/2010125 Briggs, R. A. 6/28/2010125 Cantil, B. D. 6/18/2010125 Helsel, M. E. 4/27/2010125 Johnston, C. H. 6/1/2010125 Newman, G. D. 12/10/2009126 Glass, R. E. 7/20/2010130 April, L. A. 7/6/2010130 Carter, J. E. 6/18/2010130 Lambert, H. J. 4/7/2009134 Broege, R. F. 7/12/2010134 Brown, J.W. 7/7/2010134 Campbell, J. J. 4/10/2006134 Cohen, H. J. 7/21/2010134 Cottrell, T. R. 4/24/2010134 Duncan, E. 7/15/2010134 Johnson, P.W. 7/5/2010134 Kendricks, D. E. 6/13/2010134 Maish, G. D. 6/25/2010134 Ramirez, R. 3/31/2010134 Rieck, A. C. 5/17/2010134 Sobottke, D. M. 4/8/2010134 Swabowski, J.W. 5/24/2010145 Stiles, R. J. 5/30/2010145 Wilder, L.W. 7/17/2010146 Odell, A. B. 7/4/2010164 Hoeckele,W. K. 7/4/2010164 Ruggiero, P. 7/3/2010164 Washkau,W. R. 7/19/2010175 Munsey,W. L. 5/13/2010176 Dinoto, J. L. 6/22/2010177 Baker,W. H. 7/2/2010177 Mulkey, E. H. 6/10/2010180 McCoy, G. E. 7/10/2010180 Polk, L. S. 3/19/2010

191 Heinrich, R. J. 6/27/2010193 Webber, R. B. 6/29/2010206 Cash, F. 7/1/2010212 Boone, D.W. 5/26/2010212 Fair, J.W. 5/28/2010212 Penick, L. A. 3/7/2010213 Pinnell, J. E. 5/16/2010223 Nee, R. 7/4/2010234 Whitehead, J. R. 7/8/2010236 Hermans, A. D. 7/25/2010242 Welter,W. J. 6/5/2010252 Kruger, P. G. 6/20/2010258 Agar, F. K. 6/8/2010258 Nazaruk, T. 9/19/2009265 Fletcher, A. D. 6/23/2010280 Rasher, R. K. 6/27/2010292 Peterson, K. E. 5/27/2010292 Ruffenach, D. R. 2/16/2010301 Hadaway, T. L. 2/6/2009302 Luna, F. J. 6/14/2010303 Klassen, D. G. 7/31/2009303 Sawyer, G. D. 7/20/2010303 Steven, R. G. 7/7/2010304 Zimmerman, J. L. 5/20/2010306 Kost, T. J. 7/2/2010306 Young, M. R. 5/20/2010307 Morris, K. F. 7/18/2010322 Tripp, E. L. 5/16/2010322 Warren, J. R. 12/5/2009332 Bunnell, R. F. 6/18/2010332 Donnelly, V. J. 7/1/2010332 Oller, E. H. 6/30/2010347 Crouse, G. A. 7/18/2010347 Shedd, J. 4/2/2010347 Stephens, M. E. 7/17/2010349 Clark, M. P. 6/17/2010349 Shepitka, J. 5/16/2010349 Turk,W. L. 7/12/2009351 Livengood, B. E. 6/23/2010352 Horaney, S. L. 5/29/2010353 Dimitrakopoul, S. 7/25/2010353 Hamilton, J.W. 6/1/2004353 Majesky,W. 12/9/2005353 Marshall, J. 6/29/2010353 Minielli, I. A. 8/29/2009353 Ranonis, S. A. 12/25/2009353 Russell, F. J. 7/15/2010353 Weldon, R. 7/7/2010354 Derbidge, S. G. 6/17/2010354 Scott, E. A. 7/24/2010357 Carlson, R. S. 6/29/2010357 Gassett, M. S. 6/8/2010357 Vanepps, F. 6/20/2010364 Tucker, O. R. 5/23/2010364 Walters, P. 6/19/2010364 Woodard, E. L. 4/29/2010369 Hayden,W. F. 6/22/2010369 Johnson, K. L. 6/18/2010369 Pearson, R. M. 6/21/2010369 Powell, J. A. 7/9/2010369 Spoelker, R. M. 6/16/2010369 White, D. K. 6/23/2010375 Zernicek, L. L. 8/4/2009380 Derbyshire, C. A. 7/21/2010380 Uba, A. S. 6/13/2010387 Page, P. A. 8/1/2009387 Rogers, B. J. 7/1/2010391 Gaddy, K. 6/19/2010391 Gibbs, J. R. 9/3/2007402 Harja, H. S. 6/30/2010413 Grayum, H.W. 7/14/2010413 Lindsey, L. D. 6/24/2010415 Gose, J. J. 6/12/2010424 Giasson, A. 10/9/2009424 Kenney, J. A. 6/5/2010

429 Wilson, D. E. 7/2/2010436 Waldrop, C.W. 7/10/2010441 Cote, F. R. 6/25/2010441 Hammond, M. T. 5/23/2010441 Roy, J.W. 6/23/2010459 Jozefczyk, R. J. 6/29/2008461 Berg, D. T. 7/8/2010473 Arand,W. 4/5/2010477 Felts, J. M. 7/14/2010481 Gilliam, E. C. 7/12/2010481 Humbel, B. L. 7/5/2010481 Lackey, C.W. 7/19/2010481 Piccione, F. J. 8/1/2010494 Arildsen, R. A. 5/15/2010494 Kohlmann, J. F. 6/23/2010494 Rumocki, D. J. 7/1/2010494 Stapelfeldt,W. E. 6/17/2010494 Thierfelder, H. R. 4/27/2010500 Johnson, E. G. 7/2/2009505 Brooks, R. I. 4/20/2010505 Hamilton, J. P. 7/19/2010518 Gooch, E. G. 6/17/2010520 Stanley, H. F. 5/11/2010520 Williamson, E.W. 7/4/2010527 Dempsey, M. H. 10/28/2009532 Gruel, R. 7/26/2010538 Schingel,W. P. 6/24/2010540 Wycuff, A. T. 7/1/2010545 Logan, M. D. 6/13/2010553 Hubbard, R. 6/4/2008557 Wray, J. N. 7/5/2010569 Daniels, D. L. 7/9/2010569 Lovin,W. E. 1/12/2007569 Spears, T. E. 3/7/2010569 Youtsey, M. 6/29/2010577 Jack, N. H. 7/5/2010583 Winn, J. N. 3/2/2010584 Garrison, M. 7/26/2010586 Kahl, G. L. 6/30/2010595 Bishop, K. H. 3/15/2010595 Sandoval, E. R. 7/2/2010596 Rush, G. A. 7/27/2010601 Henning, R. D. 7/4/2010605 Moak, S. U. 11/16/2009611 Frazier, F. G. 6/24/2010611 Lynch, J. E. 5/17/2010611 Maez, L. S. 7/4/2010613 Grantham, B. R. 7/26/2010613 Lawton,W. L. 6/29/2010613 Terrell, E. C. 7/6/2010617 Frankoni, E. J. 6/23/2010625 Holman, F. A. 7/9/2010640 Henderson, G. L. 7/1/2010640 Wittmeyer, H. J. 4/17/2010647 Keeton, J. E. 6/30/2010654 Drabkoski, E. P. 7/5/2010659 Page, R. 5/28/2010659 Westfall, S. 10/1/2009666 Hall, J.W. 6/28/2010676 Metz, J. A. 7/3/2010692 Terry, D. E. 7/2/2010697 Knoth, J. O. 7/30/2010702 Lovette,W. H. 5/15/2010702 Walters, J. F. 7/13/2010714 Rintoul,W. L. 7/11/2010716 Kainer, E. T. 7/16/2010716 Watts, E. 7/8/2010725 Jones, G. G. 6/18/2010733 Balius,W. E. 6/24/2010738 Williams, N. A. 6/11/2010743 Snavely, B. D. 6/27/2010753 Peck, L. F. 7/4/2010760 Allison, E. O. 7/7/2010760 Ellis, S. E. 6/21/2010760 Walls, P. C. 1/13/2010

766 Pollock, J. R. 6/3/2010772 Epting, R. E. 3/29/2010772 Johnson, J. S. 7/29/2010776 Rudd, G. D. 12/15/2009816 Sledd, H. M. 6/29/2009855 Davies,W. E. 10/17/2009890 Hady, T. J. 6/19/2010915 Linton, G. A. 7/7/2010949 Carroll, L. A. 6/3/2010952 Matthews, P. C. 5/13/2010970 Mars, R. J. 7/14/2010979 Thompson, B. P. 6/17/2010993 Pipe,W. R. 7/31/2010995 Davis, B. J. 5/25/20101002 Hargrove, L.W. 7/7/20101003 Podovinnikoff,W. F. 5/10/20101141 Bear, C. L. 6/16/20101186 Takayama, R. T. 6/18/20101186 Taomae, V. M. 6/13/20101186 Tokuda, G. Y. 6/23/20101186 Watanabe, T. T. 6/26/20101205 McLendon, R. B. 7/19/20101220 Callahan,W. A. 7/1/20101220 Tracokas, M. G. 9/9/20091249 Fahey, T. H. 4/15/20101249 Man Warren, C. R. 6/24/20101319 Arledge, M. 7/14/20101319 Janosky, J. J. 7/20/20101393 Shannon,W. J. 6/6/20101439 Spinner, H. 6/30/20101547 Kann, P. A. 7/21/20101547 Nienkark, F. D. 7/7/20101579 Parks, M. S. 6/14/20101666 Reider,W. K. 11/23/20072038 Frerotte, M. J. 7/14/20102144 Pache, J. M. 7/14/20102150 Glodowski, C. J. 7/12/2010I.O. (3) Gennaro, D. F. 6/28/2010I.O. (5) Gemmell, J. M. 6/12/2010I.O. (354) Hannay, R. J. 6/23/2010I.O. (459) Pittsley, J. M. 7/13/2010Pens. (1) Foerster, J. 6/6/2010Pens. (353) Pogson, D. K. 7/6/2010Pens. (558) Haygood, J. H. 7/27/2010Pens. (I.O.) Abbott, C. H. 6/1/2010Pens. (I.O.) Ames, H. O. 6/25/2010Pens. (I.O.) Beaver, H. 5/27/2010Pens. (I.O.) Brown, G. R. 7/3/2010Pens. (I.O.) Christian, E. A. 6/30/2010Pens. (I.O.) Cipollone,W. F. 6/18/2010Pens. (I.O.) Coe, R. C. 6/18/2010Pens. (I.O.) Gomoll, R. F. 7/19/2010Pens. (I.O.) Good, J. E. 11/8/2009Pens. (I.O.) Grantham, J. J. 6/20/2010Pens. (I.O.) Greeno, C.W. 7/3/2010Pens. (I.O.) Hake,W. L. 2/19/2010Pens. (I.O.) Heyne, S. A. 7/9/2010Pens. (I.O.) Klemann, A. P. 7/21/2010Pens. (I.O.) Kreager, C. L. 4/10/2010Pens. (I.O.) Lee, R. E. 4/29/2010Pens. (I.O.) Lykowski, S. 4/7/2006Pens. (I.O.) O’Brien, K. 1/31/2010Pens. (I.O.) Ockman, N. J. 6/17/2010Pens. (I.O.) Oddo, C. S. 7/18/2010Pens. (I.O.) Olson, R. H. 7/14/2010Pens. (I.O.) Rheingans, J. J. 6/19/2010Pens. (I.O.) Smith, F.W. 6/10/2010Pens. (I.O.) Tappe,W. 6/30/2010Pens. (I.O.) Trocki, J. S. 7/11/2010Pens. (I.O.) Vanvliet, J. E. 5/13/2010Pens. (I.O.) Wardle, L. 6/23/2009Pens. (I.O.) Wells, C. A. 5/5/2010Pens. (I.O.) West, R. O. 7/8/2010

Local Surname Date of Death Local Surname Date of Death Local Surname Date of Death Local Surname Date of Death Local Surname Date of Death

Members forWhomPBFDeathClaimswereApproved inAugust2010


Notice to Employees Covered by IBEWUnionSecurityAgreements: Fee PayersObjection Plan for 2011

Many collective bargaining agreementsbetween employers and the IBEW or its localunions include “union security” provisionsstating that employees must become andremain members of the union as a conditionof employment. The National Labor RelationsAct permits employers and unions to negoti-ate these clauses where they are not other-wise prohibited by state law. These provisionsare also permitted under the Railway LaborAct and under many state public employeebargaining laws. Under these laws, employ-ees may fulfill their “union security” obliga-tions either by joining the union and therebyenjoying the full rights and benefits of unionmembership, or by simply fulfilling theirfinancial obligations to the union.

Employees who elect to become agency feepayers—that is, who choose not to becomefull-fledged IBEWmembers—forfeit the rightto enjoy a number of benefits available onlyto union members. For example, only unionmembers are entitled to attend and partici-pate in union meetings; to run for union officeand to nominate and vote for candidates forunion office; to participate in contract ratifica-tion and strike votes; to participate in thedevelopment and formulation of IBEW poli-cies; to participate in the formulation of IBEWcollective bargaining demands; and to serveas delegates to the International Convention.

Agency fee payers are generally charged thesame dues and initiation fees uniformlyrequired of IBEWmembers. However, agencyfee payers who object to supporting certainunion activities may pay a reduced fee toensure that none of their money is used tosupport those activities. In particular, objec-tors are charged only for activities or projectsthat are reasonably related to collective bar-gaining. Examples of such “chargeable” activ-ities are negotiating collective bargainingagreements; meeting with employer repre-sentatives; meeting with employees onemployment-related issues; participating inproceedings on behalf of workers under thegrievance procedure, including arbitration;and managing internal union affairs.

Among activities considered “nonchargeable,”which objectors are not required to support,are support of political candidates, generalcommunity service, legislative activities, cer-tain costs of affiliation with non-IBEW organiza-tions, andmembers-only benefits.

The IBEWAgency Fee PayersObjection Planestablishes the procedure for obtaining a feereduction and is set forth in full below. Bywayofsummary, the objection plan runs on a calendaryear basis, and objectionsmustbe filed annu-ally. Current fee payerswhowish to file objec-tions for calendar year 2011mustdo soduringthemonth ofNovember 2010.Objectionsmustbe addressed to the InternationalSecretary-Treasurer, IBEW, 900SeventhStreet, N.W.,Washington, D.C. 20001, andmustbepost-markedduring theNovember openperiod.

No special form is required to register anobjection. However, please include your fullname, your mailing address, the local unionto which you pay fees, your nonmember iden-tification number (if known), and your SocialSecurity number. In addition, if you move dur-ing the year, please advise the InternationalSecretary-Treasurer of your new address.

Dues and fees paid by employees covered by

IBEW bargaining agreements consist of a por-tion payable to the local union and a portionthat is transferred to the International. DuringJanuary 2011, the International will mail acheck reflecting the reduction in theInternational’s portion of the fees to eachobjector who has filed a timely objection withthe International Secretary-Treasurer, alongwith a detailed explanation of the basis for thefee reduction. Also during January, the localunion that represents the objector will providehim or her with a reduction in its portion of thefees, either by sending a reduction check or byadjusting the amount of the objector’s peri-odic payments, and will provide informationexplaining the basis for its reduction.

Employees who become fee payers at othertimes during the year (either because they arenewly hired into the bargaining unit or becausethey resign from unionmembership) may filetheir objections for the balance of the calendaryear during the first 30 days in which they arerequired to pay agency fees. Objectionsmustbe addressed to the International Secretary-Treasurer, andmust be postmarked during the30 days after the employee becomes obligatedto pay agency fees. The International and theapplicable local union will provide the objectorwith his or her reduction in fees for the balanceof the calendar year as soon as they are able toverify the objector’s status.

The reductions are based on the percentageof the unions’ expenditures that weredevoted to “chargeable” and “noncharge-able” activities during the previous fiscalyear, as defined above. For example, theInternational determined that during its 2009fiscal year, 50.68% of its expenditures werefor “chargeable” activities and 49.32% of itsexpenditures were for “nonchargeable” activ-ities. The locals’ portions vary, with most localunions devoting between 90 and 95 percentof their annual expenditures to “chargeable”activities. In no year has any IBEW local unionspent a smaller percentage of its expendi-tures on “chargeable” activities than theInternational, although some of the localsuse the International’s percentage to calcu-late their own annual reduction—thereby giv-ing objectors a larger reduction than if thelocals used their own figures.

The IBEW Agency Fee PayersObjection Plan

1. Nonmembers’ Right to Object.Any employee who is not a member of theIBEW and who pays agency fees to an IBEWlocal union (LU) pursuant to a collectively bar-gained union security provision in the UnitedStates has the right to object to expendituresof his or her fees for activities that are not rea-sonably related to collective bargaining. Forpurposes of this plan, such activities will bereferred to as “nonchargeable activities.” Theagency fees paid by a fee payer who perfectsan objection under the procedures set forthbelow will be reduced to reflect the expendi-tures of the LU and the IBEW that are used for“chargeable activities” (including, for exam-ple, negotiating and enforcing collective bar-gaining agreements, dealing with employerson employment-related concerns, and unionadministration).

2. Procedure for Filing Objections.Objections must be made annually and willbe effective for a single calendar year (January 1

to December 31). Notice of this plan will bepublished annually by the IBEW. Each feepayer who wishes to file an objection must doso in writing, addressed to the InternationalSecretary-Treasurer (IST) at the InternationalOffice of the IBEW, 900 Seventh Street, N.W.,Washington, D.C. 20001. In registering theirobjections, objectors must include theirname and address, the LU to which they payfees, their nonmember identification number,if known, and their Social Security number.Objections must be post marked during themonth of November preceding the calendaryear for which the objection will be in effect,or during the first 30 days after an employeebecomes an agency fee payer (either by beinghired or transferred into the bargaining unit,or by resigning from union membership) andbecomes obligated to pay agency fees to anIBEW LU under a collective bargaining agree-ment. All objections must be renewed annu-ally, during the month of November.

3. Reduction in Agency Fees.The agency fees of nonmembers who file timelyobjections will be reduced for the 12-monthperiod beginning January 1 of the year forwhich they are registering their objections, andending December 31 of that calendar year.(Timely objections filed by employees whobegin paying agency fees during the course ofthe year will be effective through December 31of that year). Unless advised otherwise by theirrespective LUs, objectors will be expected toremit the full amount of fees charged by theirrespective LUs. No later than January 31 (or assoon as possible, in the case of timelymid-year objections), both the International andthe LU to which the objector pays agency feeswill mail to each objector who perfects his orher objection under this plan a check reflectingthe reduction in payments to which he or sheis entitled, or will otherwise advise the objec-tors how their payments will be reduced.

Agency fees are composed of a portion for-warded to the International as per capita pay-ments, and a portion retained by the LU.When the IST receives timely objections, hewill forward the names of the objectors to theLUs to which they pay their agency fees. As setforth in greater detail below, the Internationalwill determine the percentage reduction to beapplied to the per capita portion of the objec-tor’s fees, and will issue checks reflecting thereduction in per capita payments to whichobjectors are entitled. In addition, each IBEWLU will establish its own procedure for deter-mining the reduction in its portion of theagency fees and for reducing the objectors’payments by the appropriate amounts.

4. Calculation of Reduction inPer Capita Payments.Before the beginning of the calendar year, theISTwill calculate the International’s per capitareduction as follows: The ISTwill determine theInternational’s total operating expenditures forall purposes during the preceding fiscal year,the expendituresmade for activities that arechargeable to objectors, and the noncharge-able expenditures. The ISTwill then calculatethe ratio of chargeable and nonchargeableexpenditures to total expenditures. TheInternational’s expenditures and calculationswill be verified by an independent auditor.

5. Per Capita Reduction Check.No later than January 31 (or as soon as possi-ble after receiving a timelymid-year objec-

tion), the IST will mail each individual who hasfiled a timely objection a check representingthe reduction in per capita payments to whichhe or she is entitled for the entire calendaryear. The reduction checks will be accompa-nied by a description of themajor categoriesof expenditures, an explanation of how theamount of the reduction was determined andan explanation of the appeal procedure.

6. Appeal to Impartial Arbitrator.An objector who has filed a timely objectionand who believes that the per capita reduc-tion provided by the IST does not accuratelyreflect the International’s expenditures onchargeable activities may appeal to an inde-pendent arbitrator.

a. The appeal must be made in writing andmust be received in the office of the ISTwithin 30 days of the date on which theIST mails the objector his or her per capitareduction check. The appeal shouldexplain the basis of the challenge.

b. The impartial arbitratorwill be appointedbytheAmericanArbitrationAssociation (AAA)through its Rules for Impartial Determinationof Union Fees, issued on June 1, 1986.

c. Such appeals will be consolidated to theextent practicable and heard as soon as theAAA can schedule the arbitration. The pres-entation to the arbitrator will be either inwriting or at a hearing, if requested by anyobjector(s). If a hearing is held, any objectorwho does not wish to attendmay submithis or her views in writing by the date of thehearing. If a hearing is not requested, thearbitrator will set a date bywhich all writtensubmissionsmust be received andwilldecide the case based on the records sub-mitted. The International will bear the bur-den of justifying its calculations.

d. The costs of the arbitrator’s services andany proceedings before the arbitrator willbe borne by the International. Individuallyincurred costs will be borne by the partyincurring them.

e. While the appeal is pending, the IST willhold in escrow a portion of the fees paidby objectors in an amount sufficient toinsure that the portion of the fee reason-ably in dispute will not be expended dur-ing the appeal procedure. In the event thatthe impartial arbitrator determines thatthe objectors are entitled to a greaterreduction in their fee payments than thatcalculated by the IST, additional checkswill be issued for the balance of the reduc-tion due, as determined by the arbitrator.

7. Appeals from Local UnionFee Reductions.An objector who has filed a timely objectionand who believes that the reduction providedby the LU to which he or she pays agency feesdoes not accurately reflect the LU’s expendi-tures on chargeable activities may appealthrough procedures established by the LU. Anobjector challenging both the International’sand the LU’s reductions must appeal throughthe procedure specified in paragraph 6.a.,except that the appeal must be received inthe office of the IST within 30 days of (a) thedate on which the International mailed theobjector the per capita reduction or (b) thedate on which the LU mailed its reduction,whichever is later. �



www.ibew.orgFrom breaking news tovideo stories, ourupdatedWeb site hasinformation not availableanywhere else. Visit us toconnect with the IBEWonFacebook and to followInternational PresidentEdwin D. Hill on Twitter!

IBEW on theHuffington PostPresident Hill has a blogchampioning good jobsandmore. Read it atwww.huffingtonpost.com/edwin-d-hill.

YouTubeThe IBEW has its ownchannel on YouTube,devoted exclusively tovideos about the unionand its members.Watch online atwww.youtube.com/user/theelectricalworker.

HourPowerThe IBEWHourPower Facebookpage is yourplace for ex-clusive contentand IBEWnews. Ifyou haven’t joined,now is the time tomakeconnectionswithmembers acrossNorth America!Check it out at www.IBEWHourPower.com.

ElectricTVIBEWelectricians are thebest—but the onlywaythey become the best isby having top-notchinstructors. In the latestedition of Electric TV,weprofile the latest graduatingclass from theNationalTraining Institute.

IBEWMEDIAWORLD

Inaddition to yourmonthlyissue of The ElectricalWorker, check out thewealth of IBEW-relatedinformation in cyberspace.


HOWTO REACH US

We welcome letters from our readers.The writer should include his or hername, address and, if applicable, IBEW local union number and cardnumber. Family members should include the local union number of theIBEW member to whom The Electrical Worker is mailed. Please keepletters as brief as possible. The Electrical Worker reserves the right toselect letters for publication and edit all 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: [email protected]

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All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. on Union-made paper.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Electrical Worker,900 Seventh Street, N.W.,Washington, D.C. 20001.

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Publications Mail Agreement No. 40011756.Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:P.O. Box 503RPOWest Beaver CreekRichmond Hill, ON L4B 4R6

Bill Brady, who made his fortune in his family’s nonunion resi-dential construction business, says that passing right-to-worklegislation in Illinois is an “intriguing” possibility. That fact

alone doesn’t make him remarkable. But what would be truly historic—if not alarming—is if votes from working families, including Illinois IBEWmembers, help send Brady to live in the state’s oldest historic resi-dence, Springfield’s governor’s mansion, in November.

Electing Brady and other leaders who have no appreciation orrespect for organized labor is not the kind of history we need to be mak-ing in 2010—at a time when millions of workers are down on their luck,out of jobs and wondering if anyone in political office really cares aboutwhat they are going through.

For manymembers, our hopes for reversing the anti-worker poli-cies of the Bush administration soared high after the 2008 presidentialelection. Then the winds changed.

SomeblameRepublicans orweakDemocrats for sabotaging PresidentObama’s program to turn aroundour economy.Others blame theObamaadministration forwasting opportunities to pull our nation out of the deephole dugby the prior administration. Both points have legitimacy.

But now it’s decision time. And before we punish incumbent mem-bers of Congress and state officeholders for what they haven’t done, weneed to do a gut check.

Our union’s own history should tell us that revenge is not a strat-egy. Neither is burying our heads in the sand.

Unlike some of our neighbors who vote their emotions or stayhome on Election Day, we—as disciplined, hard-working, patriotic cit-izens—have a responsibility to dig into the issues and support candi-

dates who have tried to set our nation on the road to progress. Then we need to effectively engage ouradversaries who would take us backward. Let’s review just a couple of political battles since 2008.

Remember when some governors and members of Congress railed against a federal stimulus as“wasteful government spending,” despite its saving or creating tens of thousands of jobs? Many of themjumped in front of the cameras when it was time to award projects in their districts and states.

Let’s not forget the battle over the future of our nation’s auto industry. The President and our friendsin Congress who dared to save this industry—for its workers and tens of thousands more, including ourownmembers, who manufacture parts and maintain the plants—were accused by Republicans of “sellingout” to unions. “Let the free market rule. This is America,” they said. If they had their way, these self-pro-claimed patriots would have shipped more U.S. manufacturing offshore.

Despite the clear choices in 2010, media commentators tell us there is an “enthusiasm gap” betweenAmericans who support the new wave of Tea Party candidates and the rest of the electorate. If you’re notenthusiastic about the upcoming election, so be it.

But, brothers and sisters, let’s not kid ourselves aboutwhat is at stake if ourmembers don’t vote or ifthey registerwhat they believe are protest votes for candidates like Bill Brady in Illinois, or U.S. Senate candi-date Rob Portman inOhio. Remember Portman? HewasGeorge Bush’s trade representative, a “free trader”who presided over tens of thousands of good-paying jobs being shipped toMexico, India andChina.

Have you ever worked good-paying prevailing wage jobs or on projects covered by project labor agree-ments? Kiss a lot of them goodbye if this wave of phony populists wins in November. Don’t take our wordfor it—just listen to candidates like Meg Whitman in California, who is pouring millions of dollars of herownmoney into the California governor’s race and supports the already-frightening trend of municipalitiesin her state and across the U.S. setting aside PLA’s.

All of us want to see more job growth here at home, from rebuilding our nation’s electrical grid tolaunching more nuclear power plants. Yet some of the same right-wingers who accuse leaders in Congressand the Obama administration of “big government waste” and “passing our debts on to our children”would deprive the treasury of trillions of dollars that could be spent on worthwhile projects by refusing toraise taxes on super-wealthy Americans. Will we fall for their hypocrisy?

The activists interviewed for this issue and for the IBEWWeb site (www.ibew.org/Election2010)know which candidates have stood with us on the issues. And they know which candidates have helpedperpetuate the anti-worker sentiments and policies that have gained far too much traction over the lastfew decades across North America. Let’s heed their advice and experience.

IBEWmembers at every level of our union worked so hard in 2008 to set our nation on a new road.We have seen some progress, but every day we are reminded howmuch further we need to go. Change hasnever come easy and 2010 could be the toughest test of our lifetimes.

Let’s not wake up on Nov. 3 to find that we have elected leaders who are promising to build a bonfireout of our efforts to establish and sustain a fairer, stronger domestic economy. �

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

The Electrical Worker was the name of the first officialpublication of the National Brotherhood of ElectricalWorkers in 1893 (the NBEW became the IBEW in 1899 withthe expansion of the union into Canada). The name andformat of the publication have changed over the years.This newspaper is the official publication of the IBEW andseeks to capture the courage and spirit that motivated thefounders of the Brotherhood and continue to inspire theunion’s members today. The masthead of this newspaperis an adaptation of that of the first edition in 1893.

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

EXECUTIVEOFFICERS

Edwin D. HillInternational President

Lindell K. LeeInternationalSecretary-Treasurer

INTERNATIONALEXECUTIVECOUNCIL

ChairmanRobert W. Pierson

First DistrictJoseph P. Calabro

Second DistrictMyles J. Calvey

Third DistrictJohn R. Clarke

Fourth DistrictWilliam W. Riley

Fifth DistrictStephen Schoemehl

Sixth DistrictGregory A. Lucero

Seventh DistrictPatrick Lavin

Eighth DistrictJohn F. Briegel

INTERNATIONALVICEPRESIDENTS

First DistrictPhillip J. Flemming

Second DistrictFrank J. Carroll

Third DistrictDonald C. Siegel

Fourth DistrictSalvatore J. Chilia

Fifth DistrictJoe S. Davis

Sixth DistrictLonnie R. Stephenson

Seventh DistrictJonathan B. Gardner

Eighth DistrictTed C. Jensen

Ninth DistrictMichael S. Mowrey

Tenth DistrictRobert P. Klein

Eleventh DistrictCurtis E. Henke

THEELECTRICALWORKER

EditorEdwin D. Hill

C. James Spellane

MarkBrueggenjohann

Malinda Brent

Len Shindel

Carol Fisher

Alex Hogan

Lucas Oswalt

James H. Jones

Len Turner

Tim Prendergast

Curtis D. Bateman

John Sellman

Lindell K. LeeInternational Secretary-Treasurer

Edwin D. HillInternational President

Partisan Hype or RealSolutions?



National attention isfocusing on MegWhitman and CarlyFiorina, two former CEOs

pouring their personal fortunes intoRepublican campaigns for governorand U.S. Senate in California. Moneybellows loudly in politics. But theoutcome of these elections in theGolden State could well be deter-mined by activists who have moreenergy and more passion than cash,workers like journeymen wiremenJane Templin and Jennifer Murphy,members of Los Angeles Local 11.

Murphy, who topped out of herapprenticeship last June, was one of50 local members who attended agrassroots political training schoolconducted byWhitman’s opponentfor governor, Jerry Brown. She joinedTemplin, a 34-yearmember, leg-endary mentor, vice president ofLocal 11 and outreach director ofLocal 11’s electrical training institute.

Involvement in November’s elec-tion, saysMurphy, is an investment tohelpmake certain that labor’s voice isnever ignored by powerful office hold-ers, or overcome by “greedy, anti-union profit vultureswho are trying totake our lunchmoney away.”Sheloves being part of Local 11’s growingclub of activists, drawing comparisonsbetween grassroots politics and therules of the road.

“Onemotorcyclist on the freewayis easy to ignore,” saysMurphy. Carswill cut him off without even realizingit and somewill doworse. “Butwhena bigmotorcycle club travels togetherwith tailpipes roaring, no one canignore them.Cars stay a safe distanceaway and show some respect.”

Respect is themotor forTemplin’s political activism. A formergeneral foreman and 10-year, full-timesenior JATC instructor, she says thatwhen unionmembers share issuesand candidates’ positionswith theirco-workers and families on a personallevel, “it ismuchmoremeaningfulthan getting a flier in themail.”

Attending the IBEWWomen’sconference in July with their businessmanager and 11 womenmembers oftheir local, Templin andMurphy com-

pared their activist roots while dis-cussing Local 11’s progressiveapproach to engaging its base.

Templin, a tall and broad-shoul-dered grandmother, says her leader-ship skills were nurtured in the local.Self-confidence buildswhen oneshares knowledge, she says.

A graduate of Evergreen StateCollege, Murphy says she nevermade a choice to become anactivist. A course on women in theworkplace made her want to “buildthe world I was in and be a part ofit,” she says. She met Templin at atable where she picked up herapprenticeship application.

Templin saysMurphy’s skills inmaking connections, coalition-build-ing and goingmember-to-memberare outstanding and youngmemberslike her keep the veterans engaged.

Both women say thatmomen-tum has helped cultivate the respon-sive approach of BusinessManagerMarvin Kropke and other leaders tothe 11,000-member local’s diversemembership.

Templin, who now visits careerfairs and promotes the apprentice-ship’s curriculum to teachers andschool boards, says that interactionbetween men and women in theclassroom and the workplacedestroys stereotypes and encour-ages more members to succeed.

As they visit other unionmem-bers to talk about the upcoming elec-tions, Murphy and Templin knowthey havemoreminds to change.

Unemployed since September,along with one in seven Local 11members, Murphy understands thatsomemembers are in a sour moodabout politics.

Local 11 has been addressingjob issues for nine to 10 years atevery union meeting, says Murphy.Because of that proactive orienta-tion, she says, unemployed mem-bers are more likely to engage inactivities like taking banners out tononunion jobs to support decent payand benefits, or becoming involvedin grassroots political campaigns.

Templin promotes day classesfor unemployedmembers to gainadditional skills and credentials, andhas helped write grant proposals tofund trainingmembers on the streetfor newwork. When the economic sit-uation gets better, she says, they willbe ahead of the game in getting jobs.

Addressing challenges on theeconomic front and thebigmoneywashing acrossher state’s politicalcontests,Murphy tells her fellowunionmembers theyhave a lifetime to enjoythe rewards of an unwavering union,to bepart of something bigger thanthemand “pass strength, dignity andtradition on to the next generation.” �

Lettersto the Editor

Who We Are

AThreat to Unionism?[The following letter is in response to an article in the August issue of the ElectricalWorker reporting on a unity rally in St. Louis following the establishment of aCarpenters’-sponsored rogue electrical union, Local 57.]

I am a 22-year member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. What DouglasMcCarron is doing to the IBEW is just the beginning and if not checked, threatensall of organized labor. We in the UBCdo not support these actions and we do notsupport McCarron’s destruction of unionism as we know it. We suffer under theyoke of McCarron every day.

The UBC in New York is infested with organized crime. McCarron and his dis-trict vice presidents have supported and kept in office common criminals. Of thenine recently indicted in N.Y., eight have confessed and are headed to jail. Twenty-seven union officers under McCarron are accused or suspected of criminal activityin N.Y. alone. The Empire Council of N.Y. has been recently seized in trusteeship forcorruption. This is the reality of the UBC.

If you do not make a larger effort to expose and fight off McCarron and theUBC, this is the future that will be imposed by McCarron on all trades, includingthe IBEW. He just got five more years by removing, out-financing or silencing anyopposition at the UBCConvention. This will only make himmore aggressive. Manyrank and file Carpenters do not even know about Local 57 and many refuse tobelieve it’s true. The majority would not support such behavior.

The defeat ofMcCarron andhis raidingwill be a victory, not only to all of organizedlaborbut can only help the rankand fileCarpenter oppressed and fleecedbyMcCarronandhis brand of unionism.Our fundshave been raided forMcCarron’s personal use,our locals destroyed andourdemocratic rights gone. An educatedCarpenterwill notsupportMcCarron’s raids on your trade or anyother. Timing is everything and the rankand file of theUBCare ready to revolt. Nowork, no health insurance, funds robbed andraided and families suffering, all due toMcCarron’s cutthroat unionism.

Let’s hope the IBEW steps it up and joins with the other trades who will benext if McCarron and the UBCare not stopped.

Richard DorroughAlbany, N.Y.

Health Care Propaganda?When President Obama proposed a publically-run universal health care system forthe American nation, the private health care industry immediately spent hundredsof millions of dollars in order to protect their vested and horrendous profit interests.

Most of the funds were spent on propaganda to oppose and protect a loss ofhuge profit margins. Somemay have also given favors to elected representatives towater down this bill and make people think it would be expensive to implement,lead to bigger government, higher taxes, socialism, less freedom. These elite fewhave convinced others to confuse social justice with socialism. It appears that thispropaganda effort made quite a large percentage of voters buy this crap.

As theNazi propagandaminister inGermany’s fascist reign said, “It didn’t have tobe true; justmake the lies anddeceptions to be near the gospel truth. Keep repeating itoften enough that themajority ofGermanswould come to believe itmust be the truth.”

It’s ironic that 50million Americans cannot afford to have this expensive privatehealth care insurance. Yet all Canadians enjoy public health care, with no attempt tolimit coverage for anyone here. And if we can’t obtain the services here, treatment,entirely paid for by our tax dollar, will be available in theStates. Thismuch despisedsystem (by privately owned and run corporations ) cost half asmuch in Canada.

Bernard LangdonToronto, Ontario, Local 353 retiree

NiceWork, IBEWI would like to say thanks to all the brother linemen of Local 400 and others, employedby JPL, thatwereworking during the power blackout onAugust 30 inMonmouthCounty, N.J. The outage happened on very hot 90 degree afternoon about 4 p.m. andpowerwas restored by 10 p.m. here in OceanGrove.We had just bought at least $200worth ofmeat in our freezer, and just becoming recently unemployed, I didn’t wantthat to get ruined. The radio stationwasn’t surewhen the powerwould be on, andwehave a friend thatworks at the fire station said hewas told it would be 24 hours. I wastalking to some neighbors outside and telling themwhat I knew about it and how Iknewhowmyunion brotherswould have it backon soon, and it was. I justwant to saythanks frommyself andmyneighbors here on the Jersey shore. Y’all did a good job.

Douglas EmisonLocal 898 member, Ocean Grove, N.J.

Local 11 journeyman wireman Jennifer Murphy, left, attends a session ofIBEWWomen’s Conference with the local’s vice president, Jane Templin.

Sister ElectriciansCampaignfor California’s Future

If you have a story to tell about your IBEW experience,please send it [email protected].


Early Voting by State

STATE DATE ON THIS DAYIN PERSONEARLY VOTE

Alabama No specific early voting option offered

Alaska 10/12/2010 Vote by Mail 10/18/2010

Arizona 10/7/2010 Vote by Mail 10/7/2010

Arkansas 10/18/2010 Early Voting 10/18/2010

California 10/4/2010 Vote by Mail 10/4/2010

Colorado 10/11/2010 Vote by Mail 10/18/2010

Connecticut No specific early voting option offered

Delaware No specific early voting option offered

Florida 9/18/2010 Vote by Mail 10/18/2010

Georgia 9/18/2010 Vote by Mail 10/18/2010

Hawaii 9/28/2010 Vote by Mail 10/19/2010

Idaho 9/18/2020 Vote by Mail

Illinois 9/23/2010 Vote by Mail 10/12/2010

Indiana 10/4/2010 Early Voting 10/4/2010

Iowa 9/23/2010 Vote by Mail 9/23/2010

Kansas 10/13/2010 Vote by Mail 10/13/2010

Kentucky No specific early voting option offered

Louisiana 10/19/2010 Early Voting 10/19/2010

Maine 9/19/2010 Vote by Mail

Maryland 10/12/2010 Vote by Mail 10/22/2010

Massachusetts No specific early voting option offered

Michigan No specific early voting option offered

Minnesota 9/17/2010 Early Voting 9/17/2010

Mississippi 9/20/2010 Early Voting 9/20/2010

Missouri No specific early voting option offered

Montana 10/4/2010 Vote by Mail

Nebraska 9/27/2010 Vote by Mail 11/1/2010

Nevada 10/15/2010 Vote by Mail 10/15/2010

New Hampshire No specific early voting option offered

New Jersey 9/23/2010 Vote by Mail

NewMexico 10/5/2010 Vote by Mail 10/16/2010

New York No specific early voting option offered

North Carolina 9/3/2010 Vote by Mail 10/14/2010

North Dakota 9/23/2010 Vote by Mail 10/18/2010

Ohio 9/28/2010 Vote by Mail 9/28/2010

Oklahoma 9/18/2010 Vote by Mail 10/29/2010

Oregon 10/14/2010 Vote by Mail

Pennsylvania No specific early voting option offered

Rhode Island No specific early voting option offered

South Carolina 10/3/2010 Early Voting 10/3/2010

South Dakota 9/18/2010 Vote by Mail 9/18/2010

Tennessee 10/13/2010 Early Voting 10/13/2010

Texas 10/18/2010 Early Voting 10/18/2010

Utah 10/4/2010 Vote by Mail 10/19/2010

Vermont 9/20/2010 Vote by Mail 9/18/2010

Virginia No specific early voting option offered

Washington 10/14/2010 Vote by Mail

West Virginia 10/13/2010 Early Voting 10/13/2010

Wisconsin 10/3/2010 Vote by Mail 10/18/2010

Wyoming 9/18/2010 Vote by Mail 9/23/2010

Name ____________________________________________________

Address____________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

City and state ______________________________________________

Zip code __________________________________________________

Phone number______________________________________________

E-mail address ____________________________________________

Local union number ________________________________________

IBEW card number __________________________________________

Photo description __________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

First Place$200

Second Place$150

Third Place$100

HonorableMentions$50

2010 IBEW PHOTO CONTESTGrab your camera. We challenge you to capture a scene, aportrait, a moment, in pursuit of the soul and spirit of the IBEW. It’stime for the IBEW’s annual photo contest.

We have an online tool to upload entries electronically, with a limitof five. As always, you can also send in your prints via the mail.

At the contest’s close, we will narrow the entries down to 15finalists, which we’ll place on the IBEW Web site for the

final judging by members and the public.

Keep in mind what our judges look for in a goodphoto: technical quality, clarity and composition.

Watch the Electrical Worker and the Web sitefor judging information.

CONTEST ENTRY FORM

1. The contest is open to active or retired IBEWmembers only. The person submitting the photomust be the person who took the photograph. Members may enter more than one photo.

2. International Officers and staff are not eligible.3. Photos can be submitted as digital files of at least 300 dpi, in color or black and white, on slides

or prints. The preferred print size is 8x10.4. All submissions become the property of the IBEWMedia Department.5. Photo entries must have an IBEW theme of some sort, with IBEW members at work, engaged

in a union-related activity or subjects conveying images of the electrical industry or the union.6. If members are featured in the photo, they should be identified. If large groups are pictured,

the name of the group or the purpose of the gathering (e.g. a safety committee, a lineman’srodeo, a union meeting) can be submitted in place of individual names.

7. Photos previously published in IBEW publications or theWeb site are not eligible for submission.8. All entries must include a completed contest entry form. Please note that photo entries may

be submitted through the IBEWWeb site at www.ibew.org.9. Please fill out the contest entry form and affix it to each photo you submit for the contest and

mail it to the IBEW Photo Contest, 900 Seventh Street NW, Washington, DC, 20001.

PHOTO CONTEST RULES:

DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 30, 2010

VOTENov. 2

The Electrical Worker October 2010

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