The Electrical Worker August 2010

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ELECTION2010

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

The jobs crisis continues. Nearly 15million workers are unemployed,with more than half of those out ofwork for six months or more. But con-

tinuing opposition to new jobs legislation fromcongressional Republicans is paralyzingCapitol Hill, putting the economic future of mil-lions of working families at risk.

A second stimulus bill meant to pump upthe economy and extend jobless benefits forthe long-term unemployed was blocked byGOP senators in June, cutting off benefits formore than 1 million jobless Americans.

The Senate fell three votes short of the 60needed to break a GOP filibuster of theAmerican Jobs, Closing Tax Loopholes andPreventing Outsourcing Act, preventing it fromcoming to the floor. Siding with the GOP wereNebraska Democrat Ben Nelson andIndependent Joe Lieberman of Connecticut.

The bill would have extended unemploy-ment and COBRA benefits while providingmore than $16 billion in aid to the states tohelp state and local governments avoid layoffsand crippling tax hikes. It included dozens oftax breaks to encourage small businesses tohire new workers.

An effort by House Democrats in late Juneto pass a six-month extension of benefits sep-arate from the stimulus was also defeated by

the GOP, with help frommore than a dozen“Blue Dog” Democrats.

“Without the funding, Iowa will be forcedto lay off thousands of teachers, police officersand nurses, among others, putting publichealth and safety at risk,” said Ken Sagar,president of the Iowa Federation of Labor, who

organized a rally in frontof the offices of IowaSen. Chuck Grassley (R),a bill opponent. “It’stime for Congress to stopplaying politics with peo-ple’s lives and our eco-nomic recovery,” saidSagar, who is a former

Cedar Rapids Local 204 business manager.With the GOP solidly against any future

spending on job creation, it looks increasinglyunlikely that Congress will make any progresson the job front before the end of the year—just as economists are predicting a possibledouble-dip recession.

ARockyRecovery

Spurred by the bursting of the real-estate bub-ble and collapse of Wall Street, nearly 8 millionjobs have been lost since 2007, with the sput-tering economy creating only one job opening

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. 8 | August 2010

RECOVERY IMPERILED continued on page 2

3 | Beware rogue carpenters

4 | IBEW video goes viral

June IECminutes

5 | Avondale shipyard risks closure

6 | North of 49°

8 | Circuits

Transitions

9 | IBEW on Duty

10 | Local Lines

17 | In Memoriam

18 | Editorials

19 | Letters to the Editor

Who We Are

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An analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers finds that the Recovery Act slowed andreversed job loss. Source: Economic Policy Institute

-1,000,000

-800,000

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0

200,000

400,000

600,000

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600,000

After Recovery ActBefore Recovery Act

December 2007 March 2009 May 2010

Recovery Act Reversed Job Loss

A RECOVERY IMPERILED

CongressionalStalemateThreatens Job Creation

2 T h e E l e c t r i c a l Wo r k e r | A u g u s t 2 0 1 0

A Recovery Imperiled

Continued from page 1

for every five job seekers, accordingto the U.S. Department of Labor.

More than two years since thecurrent recession began, unemploy-ment is still hovering near 10 per-cent, breaking double-digits in somestates, including Nevada, Californiaand Michigan. In the constructionindustry, the numbers are evenworse, with unemployment exceed-ing 30 percent.

But as daunting as thesestatistics are, most economicexperts are in agreement that with-out the American Recovery andReinvestment Act of 2009—thestimulus bill passed weeks afterPresident Obama took office—unem-ployment would have likely hit GreatDepression levels.

“The fiscal stimulus played adecisive role in reducing the depthand pain of the recession and is nowhelping to get a recovery underway,” M.I.T. economist SimonJohnson wrote in the New York Timeslast November.

President Obama’s $787 billion

stimulus package was designed tojump-start the economy and helpslow the tide of job loss by fundingmajor construction and transporta-tion projects, cutting taxes for smallbusinesses and working familiesand offering training and researchgrants to create jobs in the newenergy economy.

More than $130 billionwasdirected toward constructionprojects, putting hundreds of insidewiremen back towork,mostly on gov-ernment projects. The legislation alsoincludedmore than $500million inalternative-energy training grants, of

whichmore than $20millionwent tothe IBEWand joint apprenticeshiptraining programs across the UnitedStates, helping to boost skills ofmembers in solar, wind and buildingautomation technologies.

And “Buy America” languagein the act helped to make sure stim-ulus money went to creating manu-facturing jobs at home.

Did theStimulusWork?

Despite the continuing partisanbickering over the results of theRecovery Act, the numbers speak for

themselves. The nonpartisanCongressional Budget Office saysthe stimulus saved or created morethan 2 million jobs, halting the jobloss momentum. It is also creditedwith expanding the economy by 3.5percent, according to the EconomicPolicy Institute.

Even many of those in Congresswho voted against the stimulus billeagerly promoted jobs it created intheir districts.

Data released by the federalgovernment estimates that the actsaved or createdmore than 70,000construction jobs, not enough tomatch pre-recession employmentlevels, but still a boon for an industrythat has seen credit markets freezeup and paralyze the private market,which was the engine of economicexpansion before 2008’s crisis.

According to a survey by theAssociated General Contractors ofAmerica—a group representingunion and nonunion contractors—31percent of contractors say they wereawarded stimulus-funded projects

in the last year. More than 60 per-cent reported that it allowed them toretain or hire new workers, whichhas helped get many IBEWmembersoff the bench. (See sidebar.)

The Obama administration ispredicting this summer to be thebusiest for Recovery Act projects—including more than 10,000 high-way, 80,000 home weatherizationand 800 national park projects. Butfunds are running out; without anew burst of stimulus spending,work could dry up quickly.

As KenSimonson, chief econo-mist for the contractors’ association,told reporters during a conferencecall inMay: “The good news is thatthe stimulus has stemmed the lossesin construction employment for now.The bad news is that the stimulus istemporary. …Without long-term fed-eral investment programs, construc-tion employment is likely to suffersignificant new declines once thestimulus runs its course.”

A Jobs, Not aDeficit Crisis

The greatest obstacle to new stimu-lus legislation is an emerging coali-tion of the congressional GOP andself-declared “deficit hawks” in theDemocratic party who are calling fora freeze on new domestic federalspending, arguing the national debthas grown too large.

“Americans see what’s hap-pening in Europe, and they’re beg-ging us to bring the debt undercontrol, to cut it down before we face

OakRidge, Tennessee

“I beg to differ with anyone who says the federal stimulus is not working,”says Oak Ridge, Tenn., Local 270 journeyman inside wireman Regina Guy.Out of work since November, Guy, the local’s recording secretary, is back onthe job helping construct a new building at Oak Ridge NationalLaboratories, funded by the stimulus. Among the 60 electricians workingfor Tennessee Associated Electric is Guy’s husband Derek. “We’re bothblessed. We know the stimulus is why we are here,” she says.

While most Americans identify Oak Ridge with the enrichment of ura-nium for nuclear weapons, says Guy, the facility’s work is far broader.“Research at Oak Ridge is pushing us into the next generation of medicaltechnology and solar energy,” she says.

The $95 million Chemical and Material Sciences building will employup to 300 laboratory researchers and staff. The facility will meet tight envi-ronmental standards and be used to develop newmaterials for lithium ionbatteries, solar panels and other energy-related products.

Foreman Chris Galyon, a 13-year member, says work on the new labo-ratory is on schedule and high-quality. “I have some problems with the fed-eral money that went to big business,” says Galyon. “But on this side of thecoin, the stimulus is working.”

Milwaukee

Jeannine Powell, a third-year electrical apprentice, was pleased to hear $800million in federal stimulus dollars were approved to build a high-speed trainfromMilwaukee toMadison, Wis. The unemployedmember ofMilwaukeeLocal 494 was hopeful that the project would put her back to work.

InMay, Powell and about 14 other journeymen and apprentices went to

work for Staff Electric supplying new electrical service and lighting to a formerTower Automotive parts plant that will soon re-open tomake new generationrail cars for the new rail line and others in development. Talgo, a Spain-basedproducer of locomotive cars, chose the site over several others to build carsfor Amtrak, the new rail line and another in Oregon.

“It’s good to seeMilwaukee people working on this project,” saysPowell. She knows how deeply the economic downturn has cut into herregion’s work force. One friend is an unemployedmaster electrician.Another worked in the Tower plant before it shut down in 2004.

TheMilwaukee-Madison high-speed rail project is only one of severalthat are planned for 10 rail corridors, financed by $13 billion in federal invest-ment over the next five years. Milwaukee had previously purchased the Towersite and is spendingmoney on improvements or demolition of buildings tomake way for Century City, a project that is designed to include Talgo, othermanufacturers, retail and commercial enterprises and a residential section.

TheMilwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board requires that 40 per-cent of the workers on site must have been residents who were unemployedfor at least 30 days. Powell and eight co-workers fit the bill. The plant isexpected to employ 125 workers to start, with potential for further hiring.

David Hill, a 45-year Local 494 member and a vice president of StaffElectric, praises the work of electricians who are working weekends to fin-ish the project.

Talgo began making locomotive cars in the U.S. in 1944 whenAmerican Car and Foundry joined with the company to build trains inWilmington, Del., to supply the Spanish National Railway. In decades since,Talgo has become a key supplier to Amtrak. The company has signed a $48million contract with Wisconsin to build two 14-car trains for the passengercarrier’s Milwaukee-to-Chicago Hiawatha line. �

Back toWorkonStimulus Jobs

$787 billion American Recoveryand ReinvestmentAct

• Passed by Congress inFebruary 2009

• Centerpiece of a policy effortto stabilize the financial sectorand broader economy

• Funds federal, state, localconstruction projects andtraining grants over 10 years

• Hired and trained hundredsof IBEWmembers

What is the stimulus?

OakRidge, Tenn.,Local 270 foremanChrisGalyon, left, withjourneymenwiremenReginaGuy andDerekGuy, were out of workbefore going back totheir tools on a federalstimulus-fundedproject atOak RidgeNational Laboratories.

T h e E l e c t r i c a l Wo r k e r | A u g u s t 2 0 1 0 3


With one in three of its members out of work, St. Louis Local 1 isfacing futher job losses from an unlikely source. TheCarpenters District Council of Greater St. Louis has formed arogue electrical union—Associated Electrical Contractors

Local 57—that is aggressively going after construction projects by undercut-ting prices and lowering wages.

“They’re trying to take our jobs and right now there aren’t many jobs outthere,” said Julie Parker, a third year Local 1 apprentice and a mother of two.

Parker is one of the thousands of unionmembers angered at the carpen-ters’ efforts to steal work from other parts of the building trades. More than3,000 tradespeople—including IBEW International President Edwin D. Hill andthe top leaders of eight other trade unions—rallied against the renegade elec-trical group during an early summer protest in St. Louis’s Forest Park.

“We cannot and we will not tolerate efforts to steal work from othertrades,” Mark Ayers, President of the Building and Construction TradesDepartment, AFL-CIO, told the crowd packed with union electricians,plumbers and pipefitters, bricklayers and other allied unionmembers.

Other unions have joined the IBEW in the fight because they know theirwork could be next, Hill said.

“The carpenters’ long range plan is to reform the building trades totheir satisfaction, to the way they think it should be, and I think that’swrong,” Hill said.

The dispute has also spilled over into nearby southern Illinois, wheremembers of Alton, Ill., Local 649 staged a protest in June at the site ofWal-Martstore being constructed by the carpenters and Local 57.

Local 1 has launched an advertising blitz in the region, including bill-boards, radio ads and the Web sitewww.local57facts.com. The advertisingtouts Local 1’s experience, safety record and extensive training programs.

“Our productivity, coupled with our training and our safety record are sec-ond to none,” said Local 1 BusinessManagerSteve Schoemehl, who is also amember of the International Executive Council. “You always get what you payfor and get the bang for your buckwhen you hire the IBEW.”

IBEWmembers are trained in five-year apprenticeships that certify themasmaster electricians. Quality and safety are the top lessons, according to veteraninstructor JimKerry.

“We make sure that our apprentices understand that people’s lives andproperty depend on what you do,” Kerry said.

Several former carpenterswho nowworkunder IBEW contracts said theyleft the council because of concerns about quality of work and safety on the job.

Fred Heitkamp, a carpenter for 16 years, became an IBEW apprentice adecade ago over fears for his own safety and the safety of co-workers, he said.

“I didn’t learn a thing about electrical work as a carpenter and I thinkit’s dangerous that they’re bringing in people that haven’t been through the[IBEW] training I’ve been through,” Heitkamp said.

The fear on all sides is that the simmering dispute will cause nonunioncontractors to flood into the area, putting in jeopardy the jobs of all 30,000

union construction workers in the region.“This takes away fromwhatwe ought to bedoing,”Schoemehl said. “We

ought to beworking together andproving to customers that union construction—not just the IBEW, but union construction as awhole—should be the customer’sfirst choice.” �

R esponding to unfair labor practice charges from the IBEW, theNational Labor Relations Board initiated a July settlement thatrequires Birkel Electric, a St. Louis contractor, to set aside its con-

tract with Carpenters Local 57.IBEW filed charges with the NLRB in November when, in the midst of

an active organizing campaign, Birkel signed a sweetheart agreement withthe carpenters and then fired five supporters of the Brotherhood.

“This is a big win for us,” says Local 1 Director of MembershipDevelopment Larry Palazzolo. Birkel has a history of anti-union conduct andNLRB charges. This time—while Birkel admits to no violations of theNational Labor Relations Act—a stiff settlement, starting with reinstatementof the fired workers and $33,000 in back pay, serves as a warning to othercontractors who want to undermine IBEW pay, skill and working conditionstandards by dealing with Local 57. The carpenters must return all dues andother fees paid by Birkel employees, said to amount to around $77,000.

Other terms of the settlement mandate that Birkel:• Provide a newmedical insurance plan equivalent to the carpenters’plan, with no lapse in coverage and no additional cost.

• Terminate the company’s participation in the carpenters’ apprenticeshipprogram.

• Remove from the company’s Web site and all other printed and postedmaterials any reference to Birkel being affiliated with the carpenters.

• Will not assist, recognize, or negotiate with the carpenters unless anduntil they are certified by the Board as the collective bargaining repre-sentative of Birkel’s workers.Local 1 organizers and in-shop activists are now contacting all 36 elec-

tricians and apprentices at Birkel to set the record straight on the benefitsof joining the IBEW.

International President Edwin D. Hill says, “The NLRB’s settlementwith Birkel provides yet more evidence that Carpenters Local 57 is engagednot in legitimate organizing, but in back-door deals with contractors whohave no respect for their own employees.” �

NLRB: ContractorMustTerminate Carpenter Ties

Thousands of St. Louis-area building trades members attended a unity rally in June.

a similar fate,” said GOPSenateMinority Leader Mitch McConnell.

But asmany observers havepointed out, without real economicgrowth and job creation, the debtwill continue to spiral out of controlas our tax base shrinks and thestrains on government services grow.

“The economic case for doingmore is overwhelming,” saidEconomic Policy Institute economistHeidi Shierholz. A recent EPI reportdemonstrates that job-creation poli-cies can help pay for themselves byspurring growth and creating jobs.“How do you stimulate the economyagain and put people back to work?”asked EPI Vice President RossEisenbrey during a June appearanceon C-SPAN. “The only answer is thatthe government has to step in.”

“Right now, we have a severelydepressed economy—and that econ-omy is inflicting long-term damage,”wrote Nobel Prize-winning econo-mist Paul Krugman in the New YorkTimes. “Penny-pinching at a timelike this isn’t just cruel; it endangersour nation’s future.”

Extending unemploymentbenefits is key to keeping the recov-ery going. The Congressional BudgetOffice estimated that every dollar ofassistance provides $1.90 in eco-nomic activity, creating more than800,000 jobs.

“Unfortunately, some inCongress have shownmore concernfor the federal deficit than unem-ployed Americans,” wroteInternational President Edwin D. Hillin a June 30 letter urgingmembers ofCongress to extend unemploymentbenefits. “Abandoning the unem-ployed will not help cure the deficit, itwill only add to the breadth anddepth of the recession.”

And the American peopleagree. By overwhelmingmargins,they say that jobs and the economyare their No. 1 concern, according to asurvey by Hart Research Associates.

“The Recovery Act has done alot of good, but without bold actionby Congress to continue to invest increating jobs here at home, we facethe prospect of mass long-termunemployment,” Hill said. “There isnothing more important than gettingAmericans back to work, becausethe fastest way to fiscal health isjobs, jobs, jobs.” �

IBEW, Allies Fight Rogue Carpenter Local

Max is one of the sen-ior workers at anonunion plant—owned by a company

that is slashing benefits to enrich itstop brass while giving workers anxi-ety about their financial security.

Max’s response? Organize.But there’s a hitch: the com-

pany has hired a union-bustinglawyer—the appropriately namedRalph Cheatham—and dispatchedits no-nonsense corporate pit bull tointimidate Max and keep him awayfrom union organizers. At a confer-ence roommeeting that looks morelike a prisoner interrogation, Maxsweats and stews through his inqui-sition, taunted with lines about howworkers in Vietnam could do his jobfor less while he endures threats ofa plant closure. Behind him, hisphysically imposing supervisor glow-ers, biceps flexed.

Welcome to “WorkplaceDemocracy: Corporate Style,” anIBEW-produced video that drama-tizes the pressures and obstaclesthat individual workers frequentlyendure in an organizing campaign.The three-minute short has garneredaccolades on popular blogs and isthe IBEW’smost viewed video of theyear—with more than 5,000 hits onthe union’s official YouTube channel.

“Wewanted to counter the spotsthat you see onTV and theWeb fromthe other side,” said IBEWMediaDepartment Director JimSpellane,whowrote the screenplay. “The ene-mies of labor, the UnionFacts.compeople—they’ve done dramatizationsto try to showhowunionswill intimi-date in a card checksituation, whichis totally fictional and bogus. They’veeven hired actors from ‘TheSopranos’to try tomake the unions look fierce—which is ironic, considering thoseactors are unionmembers.

“Wewanted to showhow littlepower an individual worker haswhen their employer and the forcesof wealth are arrayed against them,”Spellane said. “Many companies inthe UnitedStates have goneextremely far in their efforts to squashworkers’ efforts to organize, andwewanted to shine a light on that.”

The Media Department hasramped up video production in thepast year-and-a-half, offering profes-sional-grade profiles about the

IBEW’s role in NASA’s shuttle mis-sions, the latest in renewable energytechnologies and an in-depth his-tory of the union’s founder, HenryMiller. But “Workplace Democracy”marks the first time the IBEW hasmoved into dramatic territory.

“With the changing face ofmedia today, we recognize that peo-ple want to be told a story,”Spellanesaid. “There’s plenty of straightfor-wardmessaging out there, but thiswas a differentway to get some atten-tion, reach awider audience andmake people thinkabout the issue.The characters in the video are a bitexaggerated for laughs—but somepeople have said it reminds themofexact situations they’ve been in.”

“Workplace Democracy” wasentirely conceived, written, filmed,edited and produced in the IBEWMedia Department. The performers

in the film are union actors who saidthat the issue of on-the-job intimi-dation is one that should resonatewith many viewers.

“The writing, directing, actingand ‘look’ of the piece reflectwhat’s going on in the workplacetoday,” said Bill Thomas, who playsMax, the plant worker. “The depic-tions of bullying techniques man-agement often employ to intimidateworkers from organizing are spot-onand presented in a fun way.”

The videowas featuredpromi-nently onblogs likeTheHuffingtonPost, TheDaily Kos and the official AFL-CIO site, receiving thousandsof hits.

Viewers posted positive com-ments about the short on the IBEW’sFacebook page and the union’sYouTube site. Dana Baker-Hill, one ofabout 12,000 Facebook users who“like” the IBEW, wrote: “I would love

to see the time come backwhenunionmembers could actually feelsecure in standing up against the[corporations] they work for … with-out fear of losing their jobs.”

YouTube commenter camaros-bob posted: “Real workplace democ-racy means no threats orinterference to employees who wantto collectively make their lives safer,healthier and better for their col-leagues and their families.”

Educators have taken note, too.National LaborCollege professor andactivist Elise Bryant has a backgroundin theater and said thewoozy imagesof the corporate representatives float-ing overMax’s head provide “thestrongest part of [the] narrative.”

“Provocateurs are effectivebecause they instill doubt and fearthat the worker carries back into theworkplace,” Bryant said.

Media DepartmentInternational Representative MarkBrueggenjohann said there’s a sim-ple reason why the video has seenwidespread success so far.

“The theme hit home,” saidBrueggenjohann, who co-producedthe piece. “It struck the right chord. Ithink that something that rings truewill be successful, and our messagerings true.”

Visitwww.ibew.org to watch“Workplace Democracy: CorporateStyle.” Under the video player, clickthe arrow pointing toward the rightto reveal a link to the clip. Or watchit on the Electrical Worker’s YouTubechannel atwww.youtube.com/the-electricalworker.

Seen the video? Shared it withfriends? Tell usmore about how you’vehelped “Workplace Democracy” goviral [email protected]. �

IBEWVideoMakesaSplashon theWeb


June International Executive Council Meeting

Minutes and Report of the International Executive Council’s Regular Meeting

The regular meeting of the International Executive Council wascalled to order at 7:30 a.m., by Secretary Lavin, on Wednesday,June 2, 2010, in Weehawken, New Jersey. Other members ofthe Council in attendance were, Riley, Calvey, Clarke, Calabro,and Lucero. Chairman Pierson was excused as he was attend-ing to personal business. Fifth District Executive CouncilMember Schoemehl was excused as he was attending to otherbusiness of the Brotherhood.

Moment of Silence for Rick Dowling and Clyde BowdenThe meeting began with a moment of silence for Eighth DistrictExecutive Council Member Rick Dowling, who passed awayMay 31, 2010, and for former council Chairman Clyde Bowden,who passed away on April 26, 2010.

International President HillInternational President Edwin D. Hill met with themembers ofthe International Executive Council a number of times to discussa variety ofmatters affecting all branches of the Brotherhood.

International Secretary-Treasurer LeeInternational Secretary-Treasurer Lindell Lee presented finan-cial reports covering the IBEW Pension Fund and theInvestment Portfolio of the Brotherhood both in Canada and inthe United States.

Legal DefensePayments for legal defense, made from the General Fund, wereexamined and approved in accordance with the requirementsof Article X, Section 1, of the IBEW Constitution.

Financial ReportsThe International Secretary-Treasurer’s reports for the variousfunds of the Brotherhood were presented to the members ofthe International Executive Council, examined and filed.

Investment StrategyInternational Secretary-Treasurer Lee discussed, with the coun-cil members, the International Brotherhood of ElectricalWorkers’ investment strategy and the impact the economy hashad on the general fund. Rebalancing and diversification werediscussed as recommended by fund consultants.

Local Union Under International Office SupervisionInternational President Hill advised the Council members thatthere are no local unions, as of this meeting, under the super-vision of the International Office.

Retirement of the Special Assistant to theInternational President For MembershipDevelopmentCecil “Buddy” H. SatterfieldMembership Development—Effective May 1, 2010

Retirement of International RepresentativesLawrence E. Liles, International RepresentativeResearch Department—Effective April 1, 2010

Gregory G. Shafranski, International RepresentativeSixth District—Effective April 1, 2010

Herbert L. Prestidge, International RepresentativeFifth District—Effective July 1, 2010

Retirement of Office EmployeeDorothy Everstine, Accountant III, Grade 7Accounting Department—Effective March 24, 2010

Images from the IBEW-produced video “Workplace Democracy: Corporate Style” dramaticallydisplay the chilling effect captive audience meetings have on workers trying to organize.



Metal Trades Fight to KeepAvondaleShipyardOpen

Cuts to the U.S. Navy’s2011 budget are throwingthe future of the Avondaleshipyard in doubt, threat-

ening the jobs of more than 5,000skilled workers in the Gulf Coast.

The Navy announced lastspring that it was scaling back on itsrequests for new ships, potentiallyfreezing work at the NorthropGrumman shipyard, outside of NewOrleans, for two or more years.

Workersat theAvondale yard,who twoyearsago completedworkontheUSSNewYorkusing steel forgedfrom the fallenWorldTradeCenter,were countingonproducingahandfulof newcommandwarships, but thenewbudgethasput thevessels onindefinitehold.Now theeconomicfuture of the region, already reelingfrom theBPoil spill, is inquestion.

“This is going to have a devas-tating impact on southern Louisianaand Mississippi,” said Pascagoula,Miss., Local 733 Business ManagerJim Couch, who represents morethan 300 electricians at Avondale.“It’s one of the biggest employers inthe state of Louisiana.”

The effect of anAvondale shut-downwould go far beyond theGulfCoast, says IBEWGovernmentEmployeesDepartmentDirectorChicoMcGill, drying upwork for industrialsuppliers across the country.

“Thiswill directly impact thejobs of thousands of skilled crafts-men,many of whomaremembers ofthe International Brotherhood ofElectrical Workers, alongwith otherAFL-CIO affiliated unions,” said IBEWInternational President Edwin D. Hillin aMay 21 letter to PresidentObama.

The Avondale shipyard has aspecial historic significance for themembers of the metal trades, being

the site of a six-and-a-half-year cam-paign for justice against a notori-ously anti-union employer.

Workers endured years ofharassment, intimidation and firingsafter voting in favor of union represen-tation in 1993, finally winning recogni-tion only after the facility was sold tonewmanagement in 2000. NorthropGrumman tookover in 2001.

The unions’ victory turned

around Avondale, which previouslyhad the worst health and safetyrecord of any shipyard receivingNavy contracts. Now labor is workingto protect its hard-fought jobs andkeep the facility running.

In addition to lobbyingPresident Obama to reverse theNavy’s cuts, leaders of the metaltrades are reaching out to civilianindustries to convince them to relo-

cate some of their work to the yard.“If the Navy goes through with theirplanned cuts, we want to fill the voidwith new work,” said Ron Ault, pres-ident of the Metal TradesDepartment, AFL-CIO.

Oil tankers and other civilianship-building projects are underconsideration, says Ault, but theyare also looking to diversify intonew industries.

“We’ve got the skills, know-how and equipment to manufactureeverything from wind turbines tosmall nuclear reactors here,” Couchsaid. “If the work is out there, we arecapable of doing it.”

Couch points to a recent down-turn in shipbuilding at the Ingallsshipyard in Pascagoula duringwhich shipyard workers filled thegap by building rail cars and oil rigsat the facility.

There are also rumors of a pos-sible sale of the yard. If that hap-pens, says Ault, union leaders wantto make sure that it doesn’t end upin the hands of an anti-unionemployer. “We don’t want to see areturn to the bad old days,” he said.

In addition to appeals toLouisiana’s congressional delega-tion, Couch and other leaders of themetal trades are also hoping to setup meetings with Govs. Bobby Jindal(R-La.) and Haley Barbour (R-Miss.)to ask for their assistance in helpingto keep the shipyard open.

“It’s important for our nationalsecurity and the economy,” Couchsaid. �

The jobs of more than 5,000 skilled shipyard workers, including those of more than 300 IBEWmembers, could beat risk if the Avondale shipyard in New Orleans shuts down.

DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 30, 2010

IBEW PHOTOCONTESTSee www.ibew.org to enter

Charges Filed with the International Executive CouncilAgainst Samuel W. Oaks, Jr.,Retired Member of Local Union 306, IBEWOn June 5, 2009, charges were filed with the InternationalExecutive Council against Samuel W. Oaks, Jr., Card NumberC18668, retired member of Local Union 306, IBEW, Akron,Ohio, by Stephen A. Stock, Organizer, also a member of IBEWLocal Union 306.

Brother Stock had charged retiree Oaks with violation ofArticle XI, Section 6 (d), and Article XXV, Sections 1(e) and (f).

After a thorough review of the facts presented, it is the councilmembers’ determination that Brother Oaks is guilty ascharged and as a result, Secretary-Treasurer Lee has beeninstructed to cease Brother Oaks’ pension payments.

Resolution Regarding Pension Coverage forIBEW Office EmployeesThe International Executive Council took action to ensure thatpension benefits, provided in the Constitution for employeesof the International Office, will be paid consistent with tax lawrequirements.

Conflict of Interest PolicyThe International Executive Council adopted the Conflict ofInterest Policy as presented.

Article XX and XXI CasesThe IBEW was not involved in any disputes arising underArticle XX of the AFL-CIO Constitution, during the first quarterof 2010. We were; however, involved in one matter involvingorganizing responsibilities under Article XXI, as follows:

Article XXI ORP 09-1—Cingular Wireless(AT&TMobility)This is the latest chapter in a dispute to which we had previ-ously reported, which stemmed from CWA’s organizing cam-paign at AT&TMobility, registered under the AFL-CIO’sStrategic Campaign Registration Program (SCRP). IBEW LocalUnion 1547, which represents a unit of DobsonCommunications technician and sales representatives innorthern Alaska, was actively organizing a second Dobson unitwhen the companymerged and became part of AT&TMobility.The local subsequently filed an election petition for that unit,and CWA charged the IBEW with violating its SCRP. The AFL-CIOExecutive Council’s Compliance Subcommittee agreed, and as

a result, Local 1547 withdrew its petition and ceased its organ-izing activities.

The Next Regular International Council MeetingThis regularly scheduled meeting was adjourned, on Thursday,June 3, 2010, at 5:00 p.m. The next regular meeting of theInternational Executive Council will commence at 8:30 a.m.,on September 10, 2010, in Los Angeles, California.

For the International Executive CouncilPatrick Lavin, SecretaryJune 2010

The IEC acted on numerous applications under the IBEWPension Benefit Fund. For a complete listing, consultwww.ibew.org, clicking on the International Executive Councillink on the “About Us” page.

2010

AMay interview on aCanadian BroadcastingCorp. radio show intro-duced the nation to Cindy

Krysac. A 52-year-old physics profes-sor, Krysac is now in her third yearin Toronto Local 353’s inside wire-man apprenticeship.

The Electrical Worker askedKrysac, who has also taught at PennState University and University ofthe Pacific in Stockton, Calif., andUniversity of Toronto, about hercareer change and her life after join-ing the union.

EW: How did you decide to enterthe electrical trade?

KRYSAC: I made the decision afterseveral years of consideration. I wasrewiringmy older home, ripping outknob and tube and aluminumwiring.I greatly enjoyed this project so I sub-mittedmy apprenticeship application.

After three years, I know thatthis is an awesome job. I began witha prejudice that the trades weresomehow a lesser choice than anacademic career. I am proud to bean electrician and grateful that I amno longer stifling behind some desk,but active every day solving real-world, hands-on problems.

EW: How were you received by thelocal union when you first applied?

KRYSAC: Local 353 instructors andrepresentatives wanted to know whyI chose to apply for this job and howI thought I would do in it. There aretwo parts to those questions, myage and my gender. The genderquestion is complex and relevantsince there are relatively few womenwho choose this career. I am theonly woman in my class.

A better rephrasing is the ques-tion which we all need to ask: “Whyis it still unusual for women to enterthe electrical trade?”

I had expected a cooler recep-tion, but my brothers in the trade,and employers and trade schoolteachers, have been mostly positiveand welcoming. Some question myabilities, but that’s business as

usual, getting through an initialperiod of evaluation before it can beseen that I do my job well, and theycan put their doubts aside.

Five guys crowded around myproject on my first evaluation. Thisdidn’t bother me much; I have confi-dence in my work. But I worry thatthis kind of excessive scrutiny woulddeter other women from continuingin the trade.

I came to my first job with myown prejudices about construction

workers. But I have met people whoare bright, friendly, creative, andloyal and protective of each otherand me. The friendships I haveforged will last a lifetime, I am sure.

EW: What was the response of yourpeers in teaching/friends/familywhen you told them you weregoing into the electrical trade?

KRYSAC: I have always been anindependent spirit. Those who knowme well are not surprised by the

unusual directions my life takes. Iinvested many years earning myPh.D., followed by another 10 years

working as a postdoctoral researchfellow and an assistant professor. Tosome of my colleagues, I appeared


North of 49° | Au nord du 49° parallèle

Toronto Physics ProfessorProud to be IBEWApprentice

Un professeur de physique deTorontoest fière d’être un apprenti de la FIOE

Une entrevue réalisée aumois de mai à la chaînede « CanadianBroadcasting

Corporation » a fait connaître CindyKrysac dans tout le pays. Ce pro-fesseur de physique de 52 ans enest à sa troisième année dans leprogramme d’apprentissage de laSection locale 353 de Toronto.

Le journal de la FIOE,l’[Electrical Worker], a voulu ensavoir plus et nous avons demandéà la consoeur Krysac qui a déjà en-seigné à l’Université de Toronto ain-si qu’aux États-Unis - au « PennState University » et à l’ « Universityof the Pacific » à Stockton enCalifornie -, de nous parler de sonchangement de carrière et de sa viesuite à son adhésion au syndicat.

FIOE : Qu’est-ce qui vous a décidéà vous diriger vers le métierd’électricien?

KRYSAC : J’ai pris cette décisionaprès plusieurs années de réflexion.J’ai dû refaire l’installation électriquedansma vieille maison, arracher lestableaux, les tuyaux et les câblesd’aluminium. J’ai beaucoup aimé ceprojet alors j’ai décidé de soumettreune demande pour suivre un pro-

gramme d’apprentissage.Après trois ans, je trouve que

c’est un travail génial. Lorsque j’aidébuté, j’avais un préjugé contre lesmétiers et je croyais que cette optionn’était pas aussi valorisante qu’unecarrière académique. Maintenant jesuis fière de travailler dans le do-maine de l’électricité et reconnais-sante de pouvoir résoudre des prob-lèmes réels et pratiques du quotidienplutôt qu’être confinée à un bureau.

FIOE : Comment avez-vous étéaccueillie par la section locale audébut lorsque vous avez présentévotre demande?

KRYSAC : Les instructeurs et lesreprésentants de la S.L. 353 m’ontdemandé pour quelles raisonsj’avais opté pour ce travail et com-ment je croyais réussir. En fait, il y adeux volets sous-entendus danscette question : mon âge et le faitque je sois une femme. Ce derniervolet est complexe et pertinentpuisque très peu de femmes choi-sissent cette carrière. Je suis laseule femme dans ma classe.

Mais la véritable question qu’ilfaut se poser est la suivante: «Pourquoi est-il si inhabituel pourune femme d’exercer le métier

d’électricien? »Jem’attendais à une réception

plus froide, maismes confrères detravail, les employeurs et les instruc-teurs ont eu, pour la plupart, une atti-tude favorable et accueillante àmonégard. Certains d’entre eux ont sem-blémettre en doutemes capacités,mais dans la vie il faut s’attendre àpasser par une période initiale d’é-valuation avant de pouvoir faire sespreuves et rassurer les sceptiques.

Lors de ma première évalua-tion, cinq types se sont attroupésautour de moi. Ils ne m’ont pas vrai-ment dérangée; je savais ce que jefaisais et j’étais confiante. Toutefois,je crains qu’une telle surveillanceexcessive puisse dissuader d’autresfemmes à poursuivre dans le métier.

J’avais moi-même des préjugéssur les travailleurs de la construc-tion lorsque j’ai débuté. Depuis, j’airencontré des gens intelligents, ami-caux, créatifs et honnêtes et qui seprotègent entre eux…moi, y compris.Je suis persuadée que les amitiésque j’ai bâties dureront toute la vie.

FIOE : Comment les personnes devotre entourage {amis, famille,collègues de travail} ont-ellesréagi lorsque vous leur avez dit

que vous vous dirigiez vers lemétier d’électricien?

KRYSAC: J’ai toujours eu un espritindépendant. Ceuxquime connais-sent bien ne sont pas surpris demeschoix de vie assez inhabituels. J’aiconsacré plusieurs années auxétudes afin d’obtenir un doctorat puisj’ai travaillé dix ans comme chercheurtitulaire d’un doctorat et assistantprofesseur. Pour certains demes col-lègues, c’était comme si j’avaisdécidé de tout laisser tomber pourmediriger vers lemétier d’électricien.

Pour les autres, commemoi,qui sont plus heureux lorsqu’ils tra-vaillent de leurs mains sur des pro-jets compliqués et délicats, il a étéplus facile de comprendre ma déci-sion. Ces amis ont admis être unpeu jaloux de ma nouvelle vie alorsque je pourrai bricoler avec descâbles et utiliser tout un assortimentde super nouveaux outils.

Les membres de ma famillem’appuient à 100 pour cent, ils meconnaissent bien et savent que j’aila détermination et l’endurancenécessaire pour réaliser les objectifsque je me suis fixés, aussi intimi-dants soient-ils.

Krysac: ‘My friends are jealous of my new life mucking about with wiresusing cool new tools.’



to be throwing it all away by enteringthe electrical trade.

Others, like me, are happiestwhen working with their hands onsome tricky project. These friendshave admitted feeling somewhatjealous of my new life muckingabout with wires using an assort-ment of cool new tools.

My family supports me 100 per-cent. They knowme well, and trustthat I have the determination andstamina to finish through to the endof my goals, however intimidatingthose goals might seem.

EW: Please tell us about yourupbringing.

KRYSAC: I am Canadian, born toRussian immigrants in the west endof Toronto. I was expected to take upmusic, art, cooking and to care formy parents and large family as a lit-tle Russian princess. But I was alsoencouraged to prepare for a careeras an architect or an engineer. I wasgiven a set of tools for Christmas oneyear, and used these to take apartand reassemble my bicycle.

When I was about 10 years old,I built a fort in the backyard whichwas so large that the neighboursasked if we had a building permit. Idon’t think it met the building code,so I had to take it down. I believethat mechanical aptitude is best

learned in childhood.

EW: What have you been most sur-prised or curious about since join-ing the electrical trade?

KRYSAC: I amhappy that there is somuch learning of both theory andskills which I still have to do. The guysmay be gruff and speakwith candor attimes, but it has been funworkingwith a bunch of smart, athleticmen.

EW: Howhave youmaintained thephysical fitness to succeed in aphysically challenging environment?

KRYSAC: I have been involved withathletics since my early adulthood

so I have the physical stamina andstrength of a younger person. Eachweek, I swim three or four kilome-ters and cycle about 50 kilometers. Ido yoga daily, and run often. Duringmy first year as a pre-apprentice, Itrained for and ran a marathon, thenwalked another marathon a monthlater. I was surprised and pleased athow physically demanding the elec-trical apprenticeship has been,especially doing slab work!

EW: What is it like working withother apprentices and journeymenwho are the age of your formerstudents?

KRYSAC: I like to put some fire underthem with the challenge that theyought to do better and faster thanthis middle-aged woman, who isprobably older than their mom. If Ican do this job better than you, youneed to rethink how you are goingabout your job.

EW: In the CBC interview, you sug-gested that everyone should takephysics in school. Why?

KRYSAC: Physics is the study of theway things are, not the way we imag-ine them to be. Physics teaches oneto approach problems with logic firstbefore flying off into wishful fan-tasies. This discipline can be appliedto every aspect of our lives. Evenhuman psychology is now beingunderstood as the functioning of theneural networkwhich is our brain.

EW: What are your interests,hobbies?

KRYSAC: Besides time spent withmy kids, I renovate my “fixer-upper”1918 Toronto house, and garden.Athletics and yoga require a big timecommitment. But I still find time toplay piano, and do some writing.

Cindy Krysac is now at work on a12-story high-rise in downtownToronto, one ofmany projects of8,000-member Local 353. Local 353,whichmaintains a 90-percent share ofthe residential homemarket in itsjurisdiction, is currently conducting anonlinemembership survey to find newopportunities for growing the local’snumbers and political influence. �

FIOE : Parlez-nous un peu de votreéducation?

KRYSAC : Canadienne, je suis née àToronto de parents immigrantsrusses. On s’attendait à ce que j’ap-prenne la musique, les arts, la cui-sine pour prendre soin de mesparents et de notre famille nom-breuse, comme une petite princesserusse. Mais j’ai aussi été encour-agée à me diriger vers une carrièred’architecte ou d’ingénieur. J’ai déjàreçu un ensemble d’outils à Noël etje m’en suis servie pour démonterpuis rassembler ma bicyclette.

Vers l’âge de 10 ans, j’ai con-struit un fort dans la cour arrière. Ilétait tellement imposant que lesvoisins ont demandé si nous avionsun permis de construction. Je nepense pas qu’il était conforme aucode du bâtiment, alors j’ai dû ledémolir. Je crois qu’il est plus faciled’acquérir des aptitudes mé-caniques lorsqu’on est enfant.

FIOE : Qu’est-ce qui vous a le plussurpris ou a piqué votre curiositédepuis votre entrée dans le métier?

KRYSAC: Je suis bien contente qu’il yait autant de choses techniques etthéoriques à étudier et que je soisencore obligée de le faire. Bien que lesgars puissent parfois être grossiers etparler franchement, c’est très amu-sant de travailler avecunebanded’hommesathlétiques et intelligents.

FIOE : Comment vous êtes-vousmaintenue en forme pour réussirdans un milieu où les défisphysiques se succèdent?

KRYSAC : J’ai commencé à m’en-traîner au tout début de l’âgeadulte, alors j’ai l’endurance et laforce physique d’une personne plusjeune. Chaque semaine, je nage detrois à quatre kilomètres et je par-cours environ 50 kilomètres en vélo.Je fais du yoga quotidiennement etje cours souvent. Durant ma pre-mière année d’apprentissage, je mesuis entraînée et j’ai couru unmarathon un mois plus tard; j’aiaussi marché un autre marathon.J’ai été agréablement surprise deconstater combien l’apprentissageen électricité est exigeant, surtout letravail sur la dalle!

FIOE : Est-ce difficile de travailleravec des apprentis et des com-pagnons qui ont l’âge de vosanciens étudiants?

KRYSAC : J’aime bien leur mettre unpeu de pression en les mettant audéfi de faire mieux et plus vitequ’une femme d’âge mûr, probable-ment plus âgée que leur mère. Si jeparviens à faire un meilleur travailqu’eux, il faudrait peut-êtrerepenser leur façon de faire.

FIOE : Lors de l’entrevue à la chaîneCBC, vous avez mentionné que toutle monde devrait suivre un cours

de physique à l’école. Pourquoi?

KRYSAC : La physique est l’étudedes phénomènes naturels et non lafaçon dont nous les imaginons. Ellenous enseigne à aborder les prob-lèmes avec logique d’abord avant denous envoler dans des fantaisiesutopiques. Cette discipline peuts’appliquer à tous les aspects denotre vie. Même la psychologie del’humain se définit maintenantcomme le fonctionnement du réseaude neurones qu’est notre cerveau.

FIOE : Quels sont vos centresd’intérêt, vos loisirs?

KRYSAC : Je passe du temps avecmes enfants. J’ai une ancienne mai-son à Toronto que je dois retaper.Elle date de 1918 et j’y effectue desrénovations et entretiens le jardin. Jeconsacre beaucoup de temps à l’en-traînement et au yoga. Malgré tout,je trouve quand même le temps dejouer du piano et d’écrire.

Cindy Krysac travaille présente-ment sur le projet d’un immeuble de12 étages situé au centre ville deToronto, un des nombreux projetspour les 8,000 membres de la S.L.353. Cette section locale qui détient90 pour cent des parts de marchédes immeubles résidentiels dans sajuridiction, mène actuellement unsondage auprès des membres afinde trouver de nouvelles opportunitéspour augmenter ses effectifs et ac-croître son influence politique. �

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.

HourPowerAll eyes are onon Americawith respectto therecovery, andthe IBEW is ina special position tocapture the work of thenew energy economy.Join President Hill onIBEWHour Power as hediscusses our role. www.IBEWHourPower.com

ElectricTVCooperation is central totheNECA-IBEWpartnership. Thismonth onelectricTV.net, we’ll showyou how, inside the 2010IBEWConstruction andMaintenanceConference.

IBEWMEDIAWORLD

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


Circuits

LinemanTraining Pushesinto Cyberspace

The 21st century offersmyriadwaysfor people to earn degrees online. Buttraining in heavy-duty industries—likepower line construction—has almostalways been exclusively hands-on.

Until now.A joint effort between the NJATC

and a Fortune 500 technology com-panymeans that aspiring union line-men of the future will not onlypractice pole-top rescues and cablesplicing—they’ll add laptops to theirarsenals to complete studies and

simulations outside of the classroom.AnewWeb-based, “blended”

learning systemsponsoredbySalisbury—aHoneywell subsidiary—will allow students the freedom to tai-lor study time to their ownschedules,receive focused feedback from instruc-tors andmaximize time in class per-forming challenging hands-on tasks.

“The programswill use anima-tion technology to replicate a trainingenvironment,” said NJATCExecutiveDirectorMikeCallanan. “Compare it toa newpilot who learns partly with asimulator—it’s a lot safer, easy to con-

trol and comes very close to condi-tions new linemenwill workunder.”

TheNJATClaunched aprototypeversion of its online training in 2009 tosatisfactory reviews fromapprentices.

“Everyone moves at their ownpace, and the ability to do ourhomework online can be helpful,”said Philadelphia Local 126 first-yearapprentice Ed O’Connor. “The indus-try is definitely changing, and newtechnology can help students andteachers stay better in touch aboutassignments and activities thatwould otherwise take valuable class

time to discuss.”Initial topics for the learning

program focus on transformer tech-nology, personal protective ground-ing and other safety trainings.

For more information, visitwww.NJATC.org. �

SecondDistrict HonorsFallen Laborer

Every year on April 3, Second DistrictVice President Frank Carroll takessome time to recall the ghastly con-struction accident that occurred in

his native Bridgeport, Conn., in 1987.Then businessmanager of

Bridgeport Local 488, Carroll receiveda call that a floor of the L’AmbiancePlaza, under construction, had col-lapsed. Twenty-eightmembers of thetrades were killed, including DonaldEmanuel, a Local 488 electrician.

As the city mourned for victimsof one of the nation’s worst con-struction accidents, public attentionfocused on the “lift-slab” construc-tion method under which concretefloors are poured on the ground andlifted into place by constructioncranes. After a safety investigationwas completed, the practice wasbarred in the state.

“I remember that one of thosekilled was the 17-year-old son of anironworker just there for the sum-mer,” says Carroll.

The trail of victims from the1987 catastrophe spreads farbeyond the graves of those who per-ished and, in the case of theL’Ambiance, the memorial that waserected by the building trades at thesite of the tragedy.

The best-known of those leftbehind was DavidWheeler. A 27-year-oldmember of the Laborers, Wheelerwas working on a construction projectnearby when the floor collapsed. “Hewas real thin and worked as a ‘mole’squeezing between the floors lookingfor bodies,” says Carroll.

Wheeler was permanentlyscarred by his rescue mission. Aseries of columns by Mike Daly inthe Connecticut Post poignantly por-trayed Wheeler’s struggle with post-traumatic stress syndrome and hisslide into homelessness and deathin 2006 at age 46. Wheeler never gotto complete a book he was writing,entitled, “Hero at a Cost.”

Since Wheeler’s death, Carroll—who knew him and had tried to helphim through his troubles—sought torecognize his sacrifice by placing astone next to thememorial for thefallen tradesmen of the L’Ambiance.

The opportunity cameduring theSecondDistrict Progressmeeting, heldin June inBridgeport. AccompaniedbyInternational President EdwinD. Hill,Senior ExecutiveAssistant LarryNeidigand city leaders,Carroll placed astone, engravedwith “DavidWheeler,1960-2006,” and “HeroAtACost” atL’Ambiance Plaza.

APPOINTEDJohn F. Briegel

Calgary, Alberta, Local 254BusinessManager John F.Briegel has been appointed tothe International ExecutiveCouncil for the Eighth District.He replaces RickDowling, whodied suddenly onMay 31.

A native of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan,Brother Briegel was initiated into Local 254 in1963, working as an inside wireman and servingthe local as unit chairman and executive boardmember until he was hired as an assistant busi-ness manager in 1979. Appointed business man-ager in 1992, he has been continuously returnedto the seat by the membership ever since.

Local 254 represents approximately 1,500members, the majority of whom are in the utilitybranch. At Briegel’s initiation, most of the insideconstruction members moved under EdmontonLocal 424’s jurisdiction in the 1990s, becausemuch of the work was in the oil sands of northernAlberta. “We restructured and transferred thewiremen to Local 424,” Briegel said.

Briegel, who was chairman of the FinanceCommittee during the 2006 IBEW Convention, is acertified human resources professional, a nation-ally recognized designation requiring ongoingwork experience and study, which is helpful innegotiations with management, he said.

“Most of the people I deal with on theemployer side have that certification, so it givesyou that equality right off the bat,” said Briegel, amember of the Alberta Labour Relations Board.

Briegel said while local unions on each sideof the border have their own local issues, many ofthe issues, strategies and solutions remain the

same. “President Hill has outlined three steps tosuccess: promoting cooperative effort withemployers—when they cooperate with us; mem-bership development; and expanding the use ofthe Code of Excellence.

“It shows up as being a very valuable tool inthe area of safety and looking at long term strate-gies versus the short-term balance sheet,” he said.

A former secretary-treasurer of the AlbertaBuilding andConstruction TradesCouncil and one-time president of the Southern Alberta BuildingTradesCouncil, Briegel is also past secretary of theIBEWAlberta Council andmember of the AlbertaApprenticeship and Industry Training Board. He isalso amember of the Electricity Sector CouncilCommittee, a national utility industry body.

The IBEWofficers, staff andmembershipwishBrother Briegelmuch success in his newposition. �

RETIREDHerbert L. Prestidge

Fifth District InternationalRepresentative HerbertPrestidge retired effectiveJuly 1.

A native of Texarkana,Texas, Brother Prestidge wasinitiated into Shreveport, La.,

Local 194 in 1971, where he worked as a journey-man wireman before serving that local as presssecretary, JATC instructor, president, recording sec-retary and businessmanager-financial secretary.He was named outstanding apprentice in 1974.

Then-Fifth District Vice President WadeGurley appointed him as an InternationalRepresentative in 1993. Prestidge served underfour district vice presidents, serving the longestunder then-Vice President Mel Horton. “He taught

me if you want to do something right, prepare, doyour homework and know your audience,”Prestidge said of Horton.

Prestidge serviced locals in all of thebranches of the IBEW, across the district:Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia andFlorida. He assisted local union leaders in negoti-ations, arbitrations and steward and safety train-ings. “I found it amazing that we’ve got all ofthese different classifications and one constitu-tion,” Prestidge said. “One set of laws and poli-cies and one common dream.”

The part of his job he found themost gratify-ing was getting to know IBEWmembers at eachlevel of the Brotherhood. “It was getting to talk tothemembers, one-on-one, and I didn’tmind themtellingme their troubles,” Prestidge said. “That’show you learn what’s really going on.”

Through the years, Prestidge attended labor-related courses at Louisiana State University, aswell as labor law seminars and workers’ compen-sation courses.

Prestidge served in the U.S. Air Force from1966 to 1970. He is a past member of the Veteransof Foreign Wars and a past board member of theWesla Federal Credit Union. He is known for hisvegetable garden and enjoyed sharing his ownspicy salsa with friends, said Fifth DistrictInternational Representative Mike Pace.

Brother Prestidge has three children, includ-ing a son, Tony, who is a wireman, and also aShreveport 194 member. After spending years inAlabama, he and his wife, Carol, are planning amove back to the Shreveport area, where heexpects to “catch a whole bunch of white perch”and teach his granddaughter to do the same.

The IBEW officers, staff and members whishBrother Prestidge a long, happy and healthyretirement. �

Transitions



In a column in theConnecticutPost after the stone laying, Dalywrote,“Thoughmanypeople forgot aboutWheeler in the years after L’Ambiance,Carroll did not. Hewas the only laborleader to attendhis funeral in 2006,the behavior of a stand-up guy.”

Beyond rememberingWheeler,the IBEWwaswidely praised inBridgeportmedia for bringing 330progressmeeting participants andguests to patronize businesses in theonce-powerful industrial city that hasseen its share of financial struggle.

In a letter to the editor of theConnecticut Post, Lorraine F.Scelfo,director ofSales andMarketing at theBridgeportHoliday InnHotel andConferenceCenter, said, “…They[IBEW] could have gone anywhere fromNewport, R.I., to theMaine shoreline…We justwantmore organizationsand individuals to experience us first-hand, as the IBEWdid. Youwill alwaysbewelcomehere.”

During the progress meeting ,Carroll was presented the key to thecity by Mayor Bill Finch, who spokeabout how Bridgeport has benefitedfrom the civic leadership of the IBEWand project labor agreements torenew its buildings. �

Metal TradesLeadersBoostSkills

Union leaders fromacross the spectrumbeefed up their nego-tiation skills and legalknowledge inMay attheMetal TradesLeadership Laws andPoliciesTraining inPlacid Harbor,Md.

Comprised ofmembers from theIBEW and the sheetmetal, plumbers,steamfitters, laborersandmachinistsunions, the five-dayevent featured in-depth instruction onhoning collective bar-gaining strategies,coordinating meet-ings and understand-ing jurisdictionalpolicy to increasecooperation betweenthe various AFL-CIOaffiliated trades.

“This is an opportunity to learncutting-edge tactics to make theMetal Trades Department evenstronger,” said IBEW GovernmentEmployees Director Chico McGill.

The training course waslaunched in 2003 as a joint effortbetween the IBEW and the machin-ists union. Organizers are in theprocess of refining the program tomake it available for leaders in all 17unions affiliated with the MetalTrades Department.

IBEW attendees were: Amarillo,Texas, Local 602 member ClarenceRashada; Pascagoula, Miss., Local733 Assistant Business Manager/Organizer J.P. Mergenshroeder;

Honolulu Local 1186 member DonBongo; Portsmouth, N.H., Local2071 member Paul O’Conner; andDennis Phelps, IBEW GovernmentEmployees DepartmentInternational Representative.

“The most important lessonlearned was to work for the overallgood of the council, and not juststrictly for each local union,”Phelps said.

Bongo, O’Conner,Mergenshroeder and Rashada areall officers of their respective MetalTrades Councils. �

SpouseThanksUnion forMedical Treatments

Margaret Halling, a lifelongRepublican, says, “I gavemyhusbandhell all of his life for being a unionman.” Dale Halling, an outside line-man andmember of Topeka, Kan.,Local 304, would have none of hiswife’s union bashing. He even oncetried to organize the housekeepingstaff in amotel thatMargaret owned.

After 38 years of marriage, theHallings have reached something ofa truce over unions. The thaw cameafter Margaret was diagnosed withtonsil cancer in 2007 and turned toher husband’s medical insurance tocover treatments to shrink a tumorthat had grown to the size of a fist.Her type-two diabetes rendered thecancer even more dangerous.

“I had to take two shots, onecosting $5,000 and another $7,500and the [union-negotiated] planpaid every penny,” says Halling. Ontwo occasions during her treatment,Halling was charged deductibles butwas reimbursed.

“For a person who has been somouthy about unions, what can Isay?” says Halling, a regular readerof The Electrical Worker. “I used to

be ashamed to tell peoplethat my husband was alineman, but I have tosay, ‘Unions take care oftheir people.’”

Cancer-free for a year,Halling has found herselfin situations where peopleare cutting down unions.“I tell them I am thankfulfor what the union did forme during my treat-ments,” she says. �

Second District Vice President Frank Carroll, secondfrom right, honored a local hero in a ceremonyattended by Assistant to the President Larry Neidig,left, Bridgeport Parks Director Charles Carroll,President Ed Hill, Robert Carroll and CIR/Bylawsand Appeals Department Director Ricky Oakland.

Photo Credit: Connecticut Post photo by Ned Gerard

IBEW On Duty

Ohio Journeyman in Afghanistan:Local is ‘Second Family’

John Rusnak’s apprenticeship instructors in Painesville, Ohio, Local 673were won over on his first interview. At 19, Rusnak spent $400 for a planeticket to fly to Cleveland from Boston, where he was in summer camp forthe Army Reserves.

“It was a big price for a 19-year-old, but a small price to pay for acareer,” he says. Rusnak had tinkered with electricity in high school andthought about getting a college degree in electronics, but “being the hands-on, outdoors, always-moving-person I am,” he says, sent him to the trade.

Nine years later, Rusnak is a journeyman inside wireman and a ser-geant first class on his second tour of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. A petro-leum laboratory specialist, Rusnak travels around making certain that fuelsfor Army generators, planes and equipment meet specifications. He alsocertifies military or civilian labs that conduct similar testing.

Balancing Army service with his job and a newmarriage has beenchallenging, says Rusnak. But he takes comfort knowing that Local 673 andhis employer, APL Electric, have teamed up to have his back.

Local members offered to help Chrissy Rusnak with yard work andsnow shoveling as she adapted to a new role. She stated many times thatbeing an Army wife was not her calling, but “Chrissy really stepped up tothe plate and made me proud,” says Rusnak.

Frequent care packages, cards and e-mails from Local 673members, saysRusnak, “showpeople on the outsidewhat being part of a union is all about.”

“It’s not just about better hours, wages, and benefits. It’s also abouttaking care of one another, like a second family,” says Rusnak. A member ofthe 475th Quartermaster Group, based in Farrell, Pa., Rusnak says, “I feelas though I am truly blessed.”

APL Electric, his most recent employer, was helpful when he had tomiss multiple days of work due to training. “That kind of support is price-less,” he says. And his trade has made life better for his Army buddies. Inthe field for training exercises, he hooks up the generators and runs powerand light sets. “It definitely makes me a more valuable asset to my unit,”says Rusnak. In the Reserves, he says, people look for you to bring “some-thing extra to the table.” The military and his trade have both instilled agood work ethic and a pride in teamwork.

Rusnak wants others in the service to experience the kind of supportthat he has known. “There are many good stories that don’t make thenews,” says Rusnak. Thousands of soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marinesare helping to defend our nation while helping other nations “put the bro-ken pieces back together,” he says. �

Five IBEW leaders—along with members ofother trades—attended a Metal Tradestraining in May.

Painesville, Ohio, Local 673member John Rusnak travels to bases in Iraqand Afghanistan as a petroleum laboratory specialist in the Army Reserves.

Local Lines


WindTurbineTrainingL.U. 8 (as,em,i,mar,mt,rts,s&spa), TOLEDO, OH—The first “Wind Turbine/Competent Climbing” train-ing class was completed. Congratulations to thosewho endured the physical requirements of theclimbing class! We hope to see these members uti-lize their new skills and certification with somerenewable energy jobs in the future.

We thank our outgoing businessmanager JimKozlowski for his many years of service to theBrotherhood. From his apprenticeship to his recentretirement in July, Jim’s career in the electrical indus-try revolved around service to members. His selflessgiving should be an inspiration to us all. He hasmade our local a better place to work andmake a liv-ing for our families. Good luck, Jim, in all that you do,and thank you again for your longtime dedication.

The annual summer picnic and Labor Dayparade on Sept. 6 are just around the corner!Remember the great times we had last year? Theycan all be relived again this year. Keep that dateopen for more family fun and good times withfriends. The planning is underway and things areshaping up for another great event.

Ben “Red” Tackett, P.S.

Jefferson Award RecipientL.U. 16 (i), EVANSVILLE, IN—Evansville was the focusfor the national labor crisis when AFL-CIO Pres.Richard Trumka earlier this year ledmore than 5,500marchers in protestingWhirlpool Corp.’s decision tomove its local factory toMexico, idlingmore than1,100 union workers. The IBEWwaswell-represented,withmembers coming from all over theMidwest insolidarity with these loyal employees. Whirlpoolreceived large tax abatements over its 50+ years inthe area and subsequently forced concessions on itsworkers, who were then abandonedwhen theEvansville plant closed its doors in June, even thoughthe company shows healthy profits. Whirlpool alsoreceived $19million in stimulusmoney.

In the spring, Local 16’s annual Easter EggHunt for the kids was again a resounding successwith approximately 150 in attendance. Many thanksto all who generously contributed to make it hap-pen; special thanks to Mr. Monquale Owsley foragain suiting up as the big fellow, ears and all!

The IBEW congratulates member Kathy Boyd,one of our newest contractors and a recipient of theprestigious Jefferson Award for Public Service. InJune, Kathy represented the tri-state area at theNational Jefferson Awards event held in

Washington, D.C. Founded in 1972 by JacquelineKennedy Onassis and others, the Jefferson Awardshonors volunteers from across the country.

Donald P. Beavin, P.S.

Scholarship AwardsL.U. 26 (ees,em,es,govt,i&mt), WASHINGTON, DC—Local 26 is proud to announce the winners of thisyear’s scholarship award—Taylor J. Good and AmberL. Ridings. Taylor is the son of Bro. Gary Good. Heplans to attend Boston College. Amber is the daugh-ter of Bro. Albert Ridings, and she plans to attendBethany College. Congratulations to all!

Local 26 enjoyed its golf outing on June 14 andour picnic inManassas, VA, on June 19. Our picnic inEdgewater,MD, will be Aug. 7. The golf outing is agreat day of fellowship, andwe thankeveryone forsupporting a great cause—Dollars Against Diabetes.The picnics provide fun for the families of ourmem-bers, andwe had a fabulous turnout for these events.

We mourn the recent passing of several mem-bers: Linda Jordan, Raymond G. Vincent, Curtis L.Rowland, Raymond A. Dicus, Gerry W. Hance,Anthony L. Tomczak, Charles R. Kelly, Patrick J.Dougherty, Gerald L. Waybright, William T.Buckeridge and Walter E. Shoemaker Jr.

Best wishes to new retirees: James Antonovich,Robert Crawford III, Noe Flores, Richard Kaplan,Samuel Kivett, Fred Prevenslik, Sherwin Rowland,George Scuffins, Robert Staton, Gregory LedbetterSr., WilliamClark Jr., John Hanna, Albert Orrison Jr.,Charles Sweitzer Jr., Alton Rhoden, CharlesFerguson, Stephen Hopper, Keith Jones, DarrylTravis, Cecil Satterfield and FrankWaterhouse.

Charles E. Graham, B.M.

Community College ProjectL.U. 38 (i), CLEVELAND, OH—A crew of IBEW Local38 members is working with Gateway Electric on aCuyahoga Community College project. The projectis called the Hospitality and Management TrainingCenter and will be equipped with a restaurant. It isin the old May Co. building on Public Square andis part of the renovation projects for the newEuclid Corridor.

All of the land was finally secured for the new$425 million Medical Mart and convention center.Work should begin this fall.

The Ohio Gaming Board was formed per thenew constitutional amendment passed lastNovember, and the board gave permission to casino

owner Dan Gilbert to build his Cleveland casino inphases. The first phase of this project could startthis fall in the Higbee building on PublicSquare.

Work has begun on the new 74,000-square-foot Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Parma onBrookpark Road, where the old driving range waslocated. Fireland Electric, which is a subsidiary ofLake Erie Electric, has the project.

Dennis Meaney, A.B.M.

NewTrainingOpportunitiesL.U. 40 (em,i&mps), HOLLYWOOD,CA—IBEW Local 40newly appointedTraining Dir. JohnDavis, a 40-yearmember, is helpingmove the local forward in the rightdirection, introducingmany new training classes.

Classes offered are designed to prepare ourmembers for the new challenges that face our elec-trical industry. This training will also help thosewho work under the newMarket AdvancementM.O.U. become trained in a broader spectrum ofwork so that the IBEW can obtain a larger marketshare of the electrical work.

Among the classes offered are: solar power(basicand advanced), conduit bending, code classes,low voltage/telecom, OSHA 10-30 safety classes, andPLCtraining aswell as HVACclasses, since Local 40

covers both HVACand soundworkaswell. The electri-cal industry is growing andwemust keep upwithtechnology in this rapidly evolving environment.

Thanks to the efforts of members like JohnDavis and many others, IBEW Local 40 is heading inthe right direction.

Marc Flynn, R.S.

ApprenticeGraduationL.U. 42 (catv,em,govt,lctt&o), HARTFORD, CT—OnSat., April 24, IBEW Local 42 held our 4th AnnualDinner Dance and Apprentice Graduation at theMarriott Hotel in downtown Hartford. Distinguishedguests included: IBEW Second District Int. Vice Pres.Frank J. Carroll; retired Int. Rep. Richard Panagrossi;Jason Ianneli, training director of Northeastern JointApprenticeship Training Committee (NEAT); and JackSkilton, assistant training director of NEAT.

IBEW Local 42 Bus. Mgr. Milton R. Moffitt Jr.and Int. Vice Pres. Carroll presented R. WilliamRisley Jr. with his 50-year service award and pin.Over the past 50 years, Bill has worked in manycapacities in the field and as an officer and contin-ues to be an asset to the Brotherhood.

Local 42 also celebrated the graduation of 11journeyman linemen. These graduates of the NEAT

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.

A crew of IBEW Local38 members fromGateway Electricincludes, from left:Gerald Lepre, foremanSteve Kramer, CraigBesserer, steward DanBell, Luis Nieves, SamWingard, James Kaniaand Beth Seymour.

Attending the Local 42dinner/dance andapprentice graduationare, from left: Local 42Treas. R. William Risley Jr.,IBEW Int. Vice Pres. FrankJ. Carroll, Local 42 Pres.Mark Fusco, and Local 42Bus. Mgr. Milton R.Moffitt Jr.



apprenticeship were each presented with a woodencommemorative plaque of a journeyman linemanand an IBEW logo watch. Congratulations to Bros.Shaun Bienkowski, Brian Dowling, Marco Gagliardi,Sean Goins, Christopher Grey, Nathan Kitchen,David Lien, Louis Richardson, Sergio Rodriguez,Darius Stepniewski and Alexander Voronkov.

Jacquelyn Moffitt, Mbr. Services

Solar PVArrayCeremonyL.U. 48 (c,em,i,rtb,rts&st), PORTLAND, OR—Saturdaymorning, May 15, looked like a “Who’s Who ofOregon” as friends of labor attended the commis-sioning of a Local 48 solar photovoltaic array.

Distinguished speakers included U.S. Sen.Ron Wyden and former governor John Kitzhaber,2010 gubernatorial candidate. Local 48 thanked theOregon friends of labor in attendance, including:U.S. Rep. David Wu; Oregon Sec. of State KateBrown; then-candidate for Metro Council memberDuke Shepard, a Local 48 member; then-candidatefor Metro Council president Rex Burkholder; andcandidate for state representative Claudia Kyle,Local 48 member.

Other partners present included representa-tives of Energy Trust of Oregon, the OregonDepartment of Energy and PGE.

IBEW Local 48 and Iron Workers Local 29 volun-teered to create a 360 PV panel system that is opti-mally designed, structurally robust and adaptable tofuture solar technologies. This was a 100 percentunion volunteer labor effort that included journeylevel, apprentice, and training center workers.

The NECA-IBEW Electrical Training Center inPortland has trained more than 1,000 members insolar technology. It is also working on electricalvehicle (EV) charging stations, wiring new street-cars, and mass transit systems.

The commissioning ceremony was a celebra-tion of IBEW’s leadership and commitment to thefuture of green technologies.

Robert Blair, P.S.

ApprenticeGraduatesL.U. 60 (i), SAN ANTONIO, TX—Congratulations toIBEW Local 60’s newest journeymen, who com-pleted the South Texas JATC apprenticeship pro-gram. You graduates have done well for yourselvesand your families, and you should take pride inwhat you have accomplished. We hope you look for-

ward to all the responsibilities and rewards thatcome with the title “journeyman wireman.”

The2010Apprenticeof theYear forLocal60 isThomasBuntyn.Congratulations,Tom!Congratulationsalso to: graduatesManolitoRodriguez,BryanUntereiner,GeorgeRocha,AlfonsoMartinez,BenRymers, FabianDeLeon,RussellBledsoe,BobbyBurnham,RobertAlvarado,RomanAvila,RodolfoPerezIII, JuanMartinez,SaulReyes,GregorySheppard,AdamMartinez,QuistoMorantes,RaymondDiaz,RichardReyes,Michael Lopez,AlvanoHerrera, JohnathanHarris,GustavoGonzalez,TommyFey,RickyRegalado,ShaunDrummonds,HeathStobaugh, JosephBrezinsky,VictorOlivares, EdwardShierk,AntonioRamos,DavidMartineau,EdwardStuart, RoyLeinweber,HasanVega,NestorRendon IbarraandDavidCastillo.

Reynaldo Vasquez, A.B.M.

‘Have YouSeenThem?’L.U. 68 (i), DENVER, CO—Have you seen them? I referto the beautiful “stress balls” distributed across theU.S., specifically at Veterans Administration hospi-tals, etc. The balls have a red, white and blue back-ground and are imprinted with “U.S. Department ofVeterans Affairs,” a toll-free telephone number and astatement about the courage of warriors who ask forhelp. (That refers to those of us who are veterans and

may have difficulties cop-ing aftermilitary service.)

Guesswhere theseballs aremade—inChina!As a veteran, I find this aninsult to thosewho foughtfor our country. Companiesin theU.S. couldmanufac-ture these balls andhireveterans.We shouldshout: “We insist that firsthiring priorities go to com-panies in theU.S.Thesecompanieswill receivegreater prioritywhen theyhire veterans, especiallydisabled veterans.”

One importantavenue to assist veteransis the Building andConstructionTrades’Helmets to Hardhats pro-

gram, providing veteransworkopportunitieswith theoption of collective bargaining agreements.

We extend deepest sympathy to families ofrecently deceased members: John Nordlander,Robert Otava Sr., David B. Lomme, Peter Hickman,Charles Elfeld, Charles L. Jackson, MaddieRobertson, Paul M. Mettam and Norman Young.

Ed Knox, Pres.

WorkOutlook ImprovingL.U. 80 (i&o), NORFOLK, VA—The work outlook hascontinued to improve over the spring and early sum-mer. Several contracts were awarded andmembersare returning to work. The Sentara Princess AnneHospital in Virginia Beach is progressing. This is thefirst large-scale project in the area to use the CW/CEprogram, and it has progressed smoothly. Throughthe CW/CE program, we have been able to securejobs previously not even considered by contractors.

At the Septembermeeting, we will award serv-ice pins. If you have been amember for 20 ormoreyears and will be receiving your pin, pleasemakeevery effort to attend this meeting. Contact the unionhall if you are unsure about your years of service.

The Local 80 annual family picnic will be heldOct. 9 at the Chesapeake Campground from noonuntil 4 p.m. Make plans now to come out and bringthe family. This is always a good time for everyone.

W. Dennis Floyd, A.B.M.

Contractor Training CourseL.U. 90 (i), NEWHAVEN, CT—OnMay 21-23, IBEWLocals 35, 90 and 488 and NECA sponsored aContractor Business Training course at Local 90’shall. We had a great turnout of 34 IBEWmemberswho have a desire to become signatory contractors.The 21-hour class was given byMatt Kolbinsky of ProUnionConsulting.

This course was fantastic for those whoattended, and full of all the information needed tostart an electrical contracting business. We thank allthe participants for their involvement and also wishthem great success in future endeavors. If they needfurther assistance we are here to help. We all know

the future of our local unions depends onmoreunion contractors, more market share, more jobs.

Sean Daly, V.P.

IBEWLifesaving AwardL.U. 94 (lctt,nst&u), CRANBURY, NJ—Bro. GeorgeStubblebine received the IBEW Lifesaving Award forsaving the life of fellow Local 94 member JohnWilson. Bus. Agent Buddy Thoman presented theaward to Bro. Stubblebine at the April 8 generalunion meeting in Hightstown, NJ.

On Jan. 4, 2010, John Wilson was leaving workbecause he was not feeling well. George noticedthat something was not quite right with him andwould not let him go home. George immediatelycontacted paramedics; he could tell that John washaving a heart attack. The paramedics, withGeorge’s assistance, administered the care Johnneeded to make a full recovery. George’s quickthinking and attention to detail undoubtedly savedBro. Wilson’s life. On behalf of all Local 94 mem-bers, we thank Bro. Stubblebine and congratulatehim for this well-deserved award.

Chip Gerrity, P.S.

NationalGridSolar ProjectL.U. 96 (i), WORCESTER, MA—National Grid’s SolarGeneration Facility in Whitinsville, MA, is now com-plete. This is the largest solar generation facility inMassachusetts. The system, consisting of 4,683solar panels, is estimated to produce more than

IBEW Local 48 is recognized for being in the forefront on green energy.Amongmembers and officials attending theMay 15 ceremony are:U.S. Sen. RonWyden (at podium) and, from left, Local 48memberDuke Shepard, John Kitzhaber, Rex Burkholder, Local 48memberClaudia Kyle and Local 48 Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. Cliff Davis.

Local 60 congratulates the new journeyman inside wiremen.

Contractor class participants gather at the Local 90 union hall.

Local 94 member George Stubblebine (left)receives IBEW Lifesaving Award presented byBus. Agent Buddy Thoman.

Local Lines


1 million kilowatt hours per year, enough power for200 homes annually. The panels will help reducecarbon emissions by more than 1 million poundseach year, which is equal to taking approximately400 cars off the road. The project was completed ontime and under budget by Local 96 workers.

The annual apprenticeship banquet was heldin June; perfect attendance awards were presentedand graduating apprentices were honored. DavidWallace, director of theMassachusetts Division ofApprenticeship &Training, provided words of encour-agement for the graduating apprentices. The keynotespeaker wasWilliam F. Kearney Jr., project executivefor GilbaneConstruction. Congratulations!

Mark your calendar: the annual GolfTournament, to benefit the Children’s ChristmasParty, is set for Sept. 24. Also, a bus trip to Foxwoodsis being coordinated for October. For more informa-tion visit us online atwww.ibewlocal96.org.

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

Green EnergySeminarL.U. 102 (c,catv,i,it,o&t), PATERSON, NJ—TheNational Photovoltaic Construction Partnershipcame to our union hall and gave a presentation onsolar panels to approximately 150 members inattendance. Samara Levine from NPCP led thedemonstration. The event was coordinated by Local102 Bus. Rep. Nick Castello. Anthony Maciorski,Local 102 JATC solar instructor, also attended toshare his expertise with members.

NPCP works in partnership with the IBEW andSharp Industries, which manufactures union-madesolar panels.

Along with all the new information provided atthe seminar, NPCP offered our members site evalu-ations and discounts on purchasing solar panels fortheir own homes.

NPCP is sponsored by the IBEW to help unions,contractors and building owners install solar powerand support the growth of the solar power industry.

For more information about NPCP, visit Websitewww.npcpsolar.com.

Ed Fredericks, P.S.

ApprenticeWinsGoldL.U. 120 (c,i&o), LONDON, ONTARIO, CANADA—Congratulations to Local 120 fourth-term apprenticeMitch Robertson, who won a gold medal at the SkillsCanada Ontario Competition, held at RIM Park inWaterloo, Ontario, onMay 18. Mitch went on to rep-resent IBEW Local 120 at the National Competitionfor TeamOntario, and received a bronzemedal, plac-ing third for all of Canada in the category of“Electrical Wiring in Construction.”

Local 120 has partnered with Habitat forHumanity to help achieve the “Ten for Ten” thisyear, as Habitat plans to build 10 homes for 10 fami-lies in London. Partnering with the ElectricalContractors Association of London, and with Local120 retiree Murray Currah directing the crew of vol-unteers, we will help to make this a success forHabitat and for the families involved.

We currently have two apprentices servingCanada at home and abroad. Third-term apprenticeJosh Waring is currently serving in Afghanistan, andfifth-term apprentice Mike Fischer is stationed inHalifax, Nova Scotia. We are honoured that thesemen have risen to the call of duty for their country,and we are proud to have them asmembers.

Thanks to our sister Locals 424, 529, 530 and804 for all the calls for travelers over the past year.

Paul Dolsen, V.P.

‘UpdateWorkCredentials’L.U. 130 (i), NEW ORLEANS, LA—Summer has cometo New Orleans and our work situation has pickedup just a little bit. Our contractors are putting in acouple of referrals every week, some for short-termcalls and a few long-term calls.

Bus.Mgr. Clay Leon asksmembers to update allof their work credentials—such asTWICcards, safetytraining, first aid andCPR training, and city electricallicenses. This couldmean the difference between yourability to take a referral or remain on the bench.

Bro. Leon wishes to thank all members whovolunteered in the recent runoff elections for District92. Thanks to Bro. Chad Lagua, our political organ-izer, for his hard work and dedication in keeping usinformed on the political scene.

Our latest class of apprentices completedtheir five years of schooling and on-the-job training.

Congratulations to all our new journeymen; mayyour lives be filled with success.

To Local 130members: Now that summer ishere with the longer daylight we would love to seemore attendance at unionmeetings. Remember:When you do not attend, your voice will not be heard.

Congratulations to our Pres. Manuel Galle,who witnessed his grandson Cody Galle beingsworn in as a third-generation IBEWmember.Congratulations to all.

Sandy Theriot, P.S.

OrganizingSuccessL.U. 136 (ees,em,i,rtb&u), BIRMINGHAM, AL—Thework situation has slowed a little, but there is a lotof work in the planning stages and we are activelypursuing everything.

We have added another full-time organizer,James “Pewee” Reece, who joins organizer Jeff“Pedro” Morris; they have already been successfulin signing four new contractors since May 1.

We welcome Pro-Electric, Iron City Electric,Bolt Electric, and AC&E to join forces with our exist-ing group of excellent contractors in reclaiming ourshare of the work in our jurisdiction.

Weare also in talkswith twomajor contractorsdoingwork in our area, trying to iron outdetails so thateveryonebenefits.We are also in preparation for anend-user blitz, a valuable tool in organizing.This blitzputs us in contactwith the actual customers, wherewecanbriefly discuss the highly skilled, state licensedwork force, JATC, green energy, andmuchmore.

We are also supporting the Jobs4Alabamagroup, which is concerned about local Alabamajobs going to undocumented and out-of-state work-ers while Alabama has an 11 percent unemploy-ment rate. Next article: BJATC class of 2010.

Bobby Hamner, P.S.

Union Activities PlannedL.U. 146 (ei,i&rts), DECATUR, IL—Local 146 recentlygraduated 12 Inside, one Residential and threeTelecom apprentices. Congratulations to the follow-ing new journeymen—Nick Buckley, Ryan Frantz,TomGolding, Ben Hoyt, Eric Karr, Travis Martin, DougMoffet, Robin Ray, Ken Roland, Dan Shewmaker,NickWest andMatt Wood; Installer/Technicians—EricCloe, Scott Hunter and Phil Myers; andResidential wireman—Nathan Phillips. OutstandingAcademicAchievement Award recipients are DougMoffet and EricCloe.

Local 146 elections were held in June. Officers

elected are: Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. Shad Etchason, Pres.Bret Krutsinger, Pres. Mary Sapp, Rec. Sec. RichUnderwood and Treas. Donna Edwards. ExecutiveBoardmembers are: Dennis Harshbarger, ChrisHays, Lynn Richards, John Shores, Steve Tilford,Susan Varvel and Chad Young. Congratulations tothose elected and to everyone who took part in theelection to help make us a better union.

Our annual golf outing was a great day, andwe will volunteer once again this year at the MaconCounty Fair and the Decatur Celebration. We willfield a team at the Local 601 softball tournament,and Labor Day activities are also being planned.

Congratulations to Scott Northway and PaulDial on their recent retirement.

We send heartfelt condolences to the familiesof Roger Riley and FrankMercer, who passed away.

Have a great and safe summer.

Rich Underwood, R.S.

‘CareersStart and End’L.U. 150 (es,i,rts&spa), WAUKEGAN, IL—The JATCgrad-uation banquetwas held recently. While it is alwaysan accomplishment to complete anything in life, it istruly something to be congratulated to finish a train-ing program given the bleakeconomic timeswe arein. The Inside apprentice graduates are:MichaelBerggren, JacobDeFilippis, David Eulberg, ColinFanning, Nicholas Furlan, JosephGagliardo, AnthonyGallo, EricGodin,Michael Guidry, Justine Hamel, JohnLopez, ChristopherMichels,Michael Nyrkkanen,Gregory Rawlings and JonathanWirtz. The 2010 RobertC. HansenScholarship Award for the highestGPA forthe 2009-2010 scholastic yearwas given toMichaelNyrkkanen. The 2010Outstanding Apprentice Awardfor the highest overall GPA for five yearswas given toNicholas Furlan. The sole Residential Trainee graduatewasTylerSchaufel. The 2010Voice, Data, Videoapprentice graduateswereMarc Findlay, Catalin

Hategan andScott Karg.The 2010Outstanding VDVApprentice Award for thehighest overall GPA for fouryearswas given toScottKarg. A hearty congratula-tions to all the graduatesandmanywishes for longand rewarding careers.

Recently Bros. MikeSodaro and DonHoughton retired. Donhas been a teacher withthe JATC for many years,the last three full-time.Don was a past businessrep. Mike also was a busi-ness rep for the past nineyears. He also served as

job stewardmany times. Thanks to both for theirmany years of service.

Wendy J. Cordts, P. S.

PositiveWorkPictureL.U. 158 (i,it,mar,mt&spa), GREEN BAY, WI—Ourlocal has been very fortunate for the most part forthe last three years regarding work. We have had alot of work at our two nuclear plants (Kewaunee andPoint Beach), marine work (at Sturgeon Bay andMarinette Marine), work at the Proctor and Gamblepaper mill, a large job at Tetra-Tech wiring a PCB

IBEW Local 96 members successfullycompleted National Grid’s new SolarGeneration Facility in Whitinsville, MA.

Local 120 apprentice Mitch Robertson (left),with Joint Apprenticeship Council memberVirginia Pohler, at the Skills CanadaCompetition held May 18-30 at RIM Park inWaterloo, Ontario. Mitch won first place forthe Ontario competition and placed third atthe nationals for all of Canada.

IBEW Galle family members, from left:Local 130 Pres. Manuel Galle, Cody Galleand Todd Galle.

IBEW Local 136 welcomes newly signed contractor Pro-Electric.From left are: Local 136 organizer Jeff “Pedro” Morris, Bus. Mgr.Jerry Keenum, Robert Humbar of Pro-Electric, and organizer James“Pewee” Reece.



dredging purifying plant, and somemajor renova-tions at several area hospitals and clinics.

We celebrated our 90th anniversary as Local158 at our annual banquet on April 17. It was well-attended by approximately 240 guests. IBEW serv-ice pins were presented to members, and ourgraduating class of apprentices was recognized. Itwas a joyous event. Many a person mentioned whata great time they had.

Donald C. Allen, B.M.

Election ofOfficersL.U. 164 (c,em,i,o&t), JERSEYCITY, NJ—Themembershipcameout on June 3 for the election of Local 164 officersanddelegates to theConvention.Sixty-twomembersran for variouspositions, a record number of candi-dates for a Local 164 election.The successful candi-dates are: Richard “Buzz”Dressel—businessmanager/financial secretary/delegate; JohnM.DeBouter—president/delegate;TomSullivan—vicepresident/delegate; Daniel Gumble—recording secre-tary/delegate;Charles J.Mattson—treasurer/delegate.Executive Boardmembers: Harold Bender, VincentCasey,MannyEspinoza,ToddHeuer, RayManfred,Paul Zawartkay and EricZebrowski. ExaminingBoard:IvanBenitez, FrankCappa, Ron Luppino, Kerwin “Bo”SampsonandWilliamWatts. Delegates to theConvention:StephenClay, R. Jeff Gallup, KeithMisciagna,MartinSchwartz and EdWerner. Alternatesto theConvention: KevinMarion andTomWalker.

Congratulations to all thewinning candidates. A“great job and heartfelt thank-you” to Election JudgeBruce Englebrecht, Asst. Election Judge RussSollederand all the election tellers. Also, special thanks to allmemberswho exercised their democratic right andvoted. Voting is a great privilege, but it is also an obli-gation in a great society. Thankyou, one and all!

John M. DeBouter, Pres./Tr. Dir.

Bus.Mgr. UdstuenRetiresL.U. 176 (es,i,rts&spa), JOLIET, IL—Bus. Mgr. DaveUdstuen retired at the close of his term in July 2010.Bro. Udstuen has been a loyal member of Local 176for 35 years, serving 14 years as assistant businessmanager and the last seven as business manager.

Dave’s commitment to the IBEW is unques-tioned andwill long be remembered. The local alsoappreciates the sacrifice and commitmentmade bythe Udstuen family, wife Jayne and daughtersKimberly UdstuenMareno and Lynette Lewis. Withoutthe support of Jayne and Dave’s family, Local 176would have suffered. Dave and the Udstuen familybattled and persevered through personal difficulties,all the while putting the IBEW and itsmembers first.

Udstuen said, “I hold many fond memories

throughout my 35 years. The IBEW has been anextended family tobothmy family and I, and Iwill neverforget the friends I’ve come to know over the years.”

In retirement, Bro. Udstuen plans to spendmore time with his grandsons, Alec and Jacob, andtravel with Jayne. Additionally, Dave has plenty ofwork to do around his shop and will always have anear for a member in need. We thank Dave and hisfamily for their longtime dedication to the IBEW andits members. We wish Dave and Jayne a much-deserved, long and healthy retirement.

Mark Ferry, R.S.

ASpecialMemorial DayL.U. 180 (c,i&st), VALLEJO, CA—OnMemorial Day, May31, 2010, at 1300 hours the Lance Cpl. Phillip Westflagpole was dedicated during a somber, but celebra-tory, dedication ceremony inmemory of all who havefallen in serving their country. In attendance wereU.S. Marine Corps representatives of Phillip’s unit,3rd Battalion, 1stMarine Regiment, 1stMarineDivision, Marine Corps BaseCamp Pendleton. LanceCpl. West was killed Nov. 19, 2004, as the result ofenemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.

This project, 18 months in themaking, wasinspired by the vision of IBEW Local 180memberSteve Garcia, a U.S. Navy veteran. Steve was proudthat Phillip’s hometown of American Canyonrenamed the aquatic center in Phillip’s honor. Stevewas concerned that no lighted flag was planned andtook on themission to see the flag fly above thisspecial place in memorial of all who have fallen. Youcan find this memorial at the Phillip West AquaticCenter, 300 BentonWay, American Canyon, CA.

Michael Smith, B.A.

WorkSafe!L.U. 196 (govt,mt,o,t&u), ROCKFORD, IL—Workopportu-nities forourOutsidemembers remainveryscarce innorthern Illinois.There isplentyofwork thatneeds tobedoneon the local utility systembut theutility com-panyseems tobe rolling thedice that it canskatethroughanotheryearwithoutperformingnecessarymaintenanceandupgrades to ensure system reliability.

Local contractors were awarded several light-ing jobs in the area that are starting to kick off.

In these times when bids are tight andemployers want the work done “yesterday,” allmembers need to stay focused on doing their jobssafely. Shortcuts and safety violations have no placein our trade. Safety is a huge part of the training wereceive and should be the No. 1 priority while work-ing. If a supervisor expects you to cut corners or workfaster than you safely can, push back and let themknow you are there to do your job safely. Discussingsafety is a good start butmust be followed with awell-thought-out plan and action. The employer isobligated to provide you a safe workplace free ofhazards. An injury or fatality does not speed up a jobormake the contractor anymore money; it has theexact opposite effect. Live, work and play safe!

Eric Patrick, B.M.

Contract NegotiationsL.U. 222 (o), ORLANDO, FL—Local 222’s NECA contractexpires this year and the negotiating committee hasprepared for the upcoming negotiations with theemployers. Themembership has given their inputand provided innovative ideas for this year’s contractbargaining. The negotiating team this year will beRobert Parker, Bill Hitt, JohnWhittle andMike Bell.

With the heat of summer comes the threat ofhurricanes. The 2010 hurricane season which offi-cially began June 1, is predicted to bemore activethan the average. The December 2009 report esti-mates approximately 11-16 named storms, six toeight hurricanes and three to five major hurricanesoccurring during the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season.Experts warn that the oil spill in the Gulf could actu-ally increase the intensity of storms in the gulf. Theoil does not allow for evaporation, which is how thegulf cools itself. So everyone should be prepared fora busy hurricane season.

We hope everyone had a safe and happyFourth of July.

Please attend the union meetings and take anactive part in your local union.

Bill Hitt, P.S. Pro Tem

ApprenticeGraduatesL.U. 234 (i&mt), CASTROVILLE, CA—On behalf of Local234, we extend our sincerest congratulations to allthe IBEW apprentice graduating classes and espe-cially to our own graduating Inside class. We honortheir dedication and hard work. We look forward totheir significant contribution to our industry. Thisclass also has the distinct honor of being the last onetaught by Fifth-Year Instructor Dennis “Mike” Ihnot,who is retiring after 23 years of teaching.

Stephen Slovacek, P.S.

National Training InstituteL.U. 252 (ees,i,rts&spa), ANNARBOR,MI—IBEW Local252 and the University of Michigan are proud to hostthe NJATC’s 21st Annual National Training Institute.The NTI relocated the yearly event to Ann Arbor in2009. With a very successful first year already accom-plished, we look forward tomaking NTI’s second visitto the University of Michigan evenmorememorable.

NTI is the annual training event for the organ-ized electrical industry. The seven-day event takesplace this year fromSat., July 31 through Fri., Aug. 6.The first two days include a trade showwhere indus-try training partners can showcase their latest innova-tions to NTI participants. This also offers an excellentopportunity to networkwith those in our industry.

Training offered by NTI is for instructors, train-ing directors, outstanding apprentices, JATCcommit-teemembers, electrical contractors, businessmanagers and industry leaders. Technical classes arealso offered to JATC instructors who have completed afour-year instructor training program, allowing themto update and expand their classroom skills.

AnnArbor is also home to national training forUAPipeTrades and Ironworkers.With somany greatopportunities to learn, grow and connect, be sure tomakeNTI one of your essential union events to attend.

Jayson Ouillette, P.S.

RecoveryAct ProjectL.U. 270 (i&o), OAK RIDGE, TN—As of this writing,work in the area has been slow. We have had a fewsmall jobs that have kept most of our local member-ship working.

The largest job we have going is theModernization of Laboratory Facilities (MLF) projectat Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This job hasapproximately 37 wiremen and apprentices and isestimated to peak at 60. Completion date is May2011. It is part of the American Recovery Act. The

Local 158 retiree Florian Jankowski (left)receives his 70-year service pin presented byBus. Mgr. Don Allen.

Local 176 congratulates then-Bus.Mgr. DaveUdstuen (right) on his retirement. Extendinggoodwishes at a “Sick, Injured andNeedy”(S.I.N) Bash is retiredmemberBernie Shreffler.

The Lance Cpl. Phillip West flagpole wasdedicated on Memorial Day 2010.

Local 234 congratulates the recent Inside class graduates. From left are: Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec.Ken Scherpinski, Instructor Dennis “Mike” Ihnot, Keith Rudd, Martin Jara, Christopher Burditt,Manuel Valdez, Tony Lazaro, Jose Parra, JATC Training Dir. Ed Sudyka, Scott McGrath, WillieDietz, Steven Luiz, Tyson Towles and Will Rust.

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project is a joint venture with Tennessee Associatedand PayneCrest Electric of St. Louis.

Recently PayneCrest purchased new lightingfor the Girls and Boys Club of Oak Ridge. We thankall the volunteers who donated their labor for agood cause, and special thanks go to PayneCrest forthe much needed donation of lights and material.

Special congratulations to the following Local270 apprentices who completed their apprentice-ship and graduated June 4, 2010: Matt Bullock, JoeMoore, Chad Acres, Scott Russell and Todd Walker.

Also, congratulations to Local 270 memberswho completed EPRI 1 certification: Tim Tudor andDerek Reed.

Remember to attend your local unionmeetings!

Regina Guy, R.S.

Welcome toNew JourneymenL.U. 280 (c,ees,em,es,i,mo,mt,rts&st), SALEM, OR—Congratulations to our class of 2010 apprentices,who finished their last day of class on May 22! Bus.Mgr. Tim Frew and Dispatcher Tom Baumann gaveadvice on how to conduct themselves here and onthe road while Pres. Drew Lindsey grilled hamburg-ers for our new journeymen.

Inside apprentice graduates are: NathanAllen, Todd Apperson, Michael Archdeacon, BrandyBankus, Jacob Bishop, Cory Boggs, Thomas Brown,Charles Cain, Brendan Chase, Troy Claspill, MichelleCleland, Curtis Crane, Jason Damgaard, ClaytonDeHann, Billy DeLoe II, Aaron Donahue, SeanDoolin, Jayson East, Nathan Fisher, Todd Hanson,Darrin Hill, Sean Johnson, Travis Johnson, ChrisKnori, Brock Kocyan, Giovani Lima, Jeffery Lockman,Curtis Mann, Keith Martin, Gabriel Morrison, JacobNeet, Michael Nicholson, Joel Purvis, Mike Randall,AdamSchmidt, Damian Shepherd, David Strahan,Adam Underwood, Daniel Walder and Arnie Watts.

Limited Energy Apprentice graduates are:Chad Alber, Kevin Bell, Brandon Chandler, JeredDoremus, Kenneth Follis, Sean Garrett, TrentMerton, Eric Reed, Christopher Rodea, ChristopherSchubert, Jason Tamamoto, Brian Trammell, RyanWampler and Dennis Wimberly.

Of the apprentices who took the Oregon StateElectrical Exam on May 24, a total of 26 out of 27passed the difficult test with an average of 82.3percent. A pat on the back also goes to our out-standing instructors!

Jerry Fletcher, P.S.

Member EarnsSolar CredentialL.U. 300 (govt,i,mt&u), MONTPELIER, VT—An IBEWLocal 300 fourth-year electricians’ apprenticerecently earned the renewable energy industry’spreeminent certification for solar electric installers.

MatthewMurphy, 28, is now certified by theNorthAmericanBoard ofCertified Energy Practitioners,which implements voluntary credentialing and certifi-cation programs for green energypractitioners. AllNABCEPprofessionalsmustmeet an extensive experi-ence prerequisite thenpass an intensive examdevel-oped in accordancewith the trade’s best practices.There are currently 16NABCEP installers inVermont.

“My NABCEP certification, along with thetraining I received through the IBEW Local 300 elec-tricians’ apprenticeship, reassures my customersthat our installations are done safely and reliably,”Murphy said. “By hiring an electrical professionalwho is NABCEP affiliated and well-versed on theNational Electrical Code, the consumer can restassured they are receiving the quality craftsman-ship they need for solar installations.”

Murphy works in the solar division at SouthBurlington’s Peck Electric, one of the largest signa-tory energy contractors in the state. He instructs theunion’s solar photovoltaic program—Vermont’s onlyyear-round training of its kind for electricians. Hehas trained nearly 100 electricians in solar technol-ogy and is approved to teach by the NJATC.

“Electricians are uniquely qualified to installsolar photovoltaic systems,” said Kip Myrick, alicensed master electrician and part of PeckElectric’s ownership team. “Matt’s generation willbe the key to transitioning Vermont trades people tothe green technology future of our state.

Under Murphy’s leadership, Peck Electriccompleted a 62-kilowatt solar installation at theMontpelier Wastewater Treatment Facility. The com-pany has several more in the pipeline for 2010.

Matthew Lash, P.S.

Craftsmanship&SkillL.U. 304 (lctt,o&u), TOPEKA, KS—Joseph Brownrecently received his IBEW 60-year pin. He retiredfrom Centel approximately 18 years ago, and it wasan honor to present this certificate to him.

Joe fits the pattern with our retirees, with a

well-maintained home and manicured lawn. Thistells me that the union ideology of craftsmanshipand pride lives past the paycheck. The next genera-tion of union members would do themselves atremendous service to adopt this philosophy.

If you find yourself at a bluegrassmusic festival,youmay see one of Joe’s approximately 300 hand-crafted dulcimers. Two special ones hemade arecalled the “Hammer” and the “Courting” dulcimer.

We all need to do our part to make Bro. Brownand other longtime members proud of what theyhelped accomplish for the union. Let’s not let theirhard work and sacrifice turn out to be for less thanwhat they fought for and earned for us.Pass on the tradition and pride of IBEWLocal 304.

Join the Retirees Club, whichmeets atthe hall every three months for good con-versation and lunch.

Paul Lira, B.M.

Training for our FutureL.U. 306 (i), AKRON, OH—Completing ourapprenticeships created a skilled pool ofelectricians for the electrical industry,which we never imagined would slowdown. In fact, a skilled work force is still the IBEWbenchmark. However, we now face an economy thatis stalled in the “global” mode, while manufactur-ing jobs have rapidly moved overseas. Until some ofthe trade and economic issues are resolved, weneed to concentrate on things that we can do toimprove our situation—such as taking advantage ofopportunities for training.

If you find that your employability needs atune-up, sign up for available classes! Are you cur-rent on your CPR and First-Aid training? Have youcompleted OSHA 10 and 30 classes? How aboutNFPA 70E, Lead and Asbestos Awareness, PLC,Instrumentation, Solar, Wind and Fuel Cell basics? Ifyou anticipate supervising work, have you com-pleted Foreman and Supervision training?Remember: “The job you save may be your own.”

We send our condolences to the families ofretired Bros. George Abraham, Maxie Young andJohn Hays.

Work safe!

Bob Sallaz, P.S.

AdvancedTrainingOpportunitiesL.U. 332 (c,ees,i&st), SAN JOSE, CA—We continue toprovide training opportunities for ourmembers,ensuring thatwe have the advanced skills to com-pete, excel and succeed. Fortunately, ourmembersrecognize this and are tak-ing advantage of advancedtraining inmotor controls,instrumentation, projectsupervision, photovoltaicsystems and other special-ties. Additionally, alongwith other JATCs inCalifornia, we receivedgrantmoney to providetraining in AdvancedLightingControls (CALCTP).

One of themostimportant aspects of ourtraining is the ability toshare itwith our appren-

tices. On June 25, Local 332presented a total of 63Insidewiremen, 10 Residential wiremen, and 14SoundandCommunication technicians for graduation.

Our congratulations to all graduates. Specialcongratulations go to the top apprentices of eachgroup. They are as follows: for Insidewiremen—GeorgeM.Melendez, outstanding apprentice (withDavid L. Bini, Eric E. Burr,Mike P.Mucci andManuelaSauve a very close second); for Residential wire-men—Nathan T. Morris; and for Sound andCommunications—Richard D. Robling.

Andrew RogersApprentice Coordinator

2010ScholarshipWinnersL.U. 340 (i,rts&spa), SACRAMENTO, CA—These dayscollege fees have escalated to a point where someyoung people, as well asmembers whowant to fur-ther their own college education, cannot necessarilyafford to do so without scholarships. The IBEW pro-vides the opportunity formembers and their depend-ents to apply for scholarships each year, (i.e., UnionPlus, IBEW Founders Scholarship, Five CountiesCentral LaborCouncil, etc.)

This year, our local was proud to presentawards to dependents of three of our members.Winners of the 2010 IBEW Local 340 Harry R. BainScholarship were: Shannon Stowers (granddaugh-ter of Bro. AL Romitti), Kaitlyn Hurwitt (daughter ofBro. Peter Hurwitt) and Rachael Higginbotham(granddaughter of Bro. Bill Smith.)

Eachwinnerwrote an essay onwhyunions aregood forAmerica. Itwas great to hearhowunionism isperceived in such apositivewayby these youngpeo-ple, duemainly to their grandfathers’ and fathers’ ded-ication to IBEWLocal 340 and the unionwayof life.

Our work picture is very slow. Projects are fin-ishing and the slow economy has adversely affectedthe start of new projects. Thanks to the travelingbrothers who helped us this last year!

I’m saddened to report the passing of retiredBro. Junior D. Jester.

A.C. Steelman, B.M.

IBEW volunteershelpedwith a lightingproject for the Girls andBoys Club of OakRidge, TN. From leftare: Tim Shellnutt,Local 595; Tim Tudor,DerekGuy and ReginaGuy, Local 270; SteveDuessel, Local 1; DanielLawson and TravisRather, Local 270.

Local 304 retired 60-yearmember JosephBrown, joined byMrs. Brown, displaysdulcimers that he handcrafted.

Local 332 top-apprentice challenge participants, fromleft: Mike P. Mucci, Manuela Sauve, George M.Melendez, Eric E. Burr and David L. Bini.

Local 340 Bros. Bill Smith (far left), PeterHurwitt (back row, center) andAl Romitti (front row, far right) and their families join Local 340’s threescholarship winners (front row, holding awards) for a group photo.



Legacy ofServiceL.U. 354 (i,mt,rts&spa), SALT LAKE CITY, UT—Local354 lost two retired business managers this year.Bro. Joseph Lamoreaux passed awayMay 11. Heserved the membership in several capacities priorto his service as the business manager/financialsecretary from 1983-’86.

Bro. JackAnderson passed awayMay 27. Heserved as businessmanager/financial secretary from1966-’83, and as International Representative for theIBEW Eighth District office from 1983-’97. The officers,members and staff send their sincere condolences tothe families of these two dedicated union leaders.

Work in Utah is slowly picking up; we hope tobe back to full employment later this year.

Themembers of Local 354 re-elected Bus.Mgr./Fin. Sec. Richard Kingery to another term.Shown in the accompanying photo with the businessmanager are several Local 354members whoweredelegates to the UtahState DemocraticConvention.

November midterm elections are right aroundthe corner; please become familiar with the candi-dates in your area who fight for working people andsupport them with your vote.

Manya Blackburn R.S.

Officers ElectedL.U. 364 (catv,ees,em,es,i,mt,rts&spa), ROCKFORD,IL—On June 24 we held an election of Local 364 offi-cers. All incumbents who sought re-election ranunopposed and were re-elected. They include: Bus.Mgr./Fin. Sec. Darrin Golden, Pres. Patrick Tomlin,Rec. Sec. Chris Molander, Executive Board membersSamWatkins, Brad Williams, Dan Schlittler, TheresaFernbaugh; and Examining Board members TimTammen and Craig Thompson.

Members not seeking re-electionwere: Bros. RayPendzinski, former vice president; DaveMcNamara,former treasurer; RichAnderson, former Executive

Boardmember; and John Linquist, former ExaminingBoardmember.Thanks to these brothers for theiryears of outstanding service.

New officers who ran unopposed and wonelection are: Vice Pres. Mike Miller, Treas. PaulStraight, Executive Board member Dave Cargill, andExamining Board member Dave McNamara.Thanksto them for taking on this responsibility.

On April 28 our Central Labor Council hostedthe annual ceremony for Workers Memorial Day inRockford. A monument has been erected in honor ofdeparted union sisters and brothers who acciden-tally sacrificed their lives while performing theiroccupation. Tragically, a Laborer and a Firemanwere both killed while working last year. Unionistsfrom the community mourned their deaths.

Please work safely. Workers shouldn’t beincapacitated due to injury or lose their lifebecause of work.

Charles Laskonis, B.A./Org.

OutstandingApprentice AwardsL.U. 388 (em,i,rts&spa), STEVENSPOINT,WI—At Local388’s Junemeeting Bus.Mgr. Dave Northup awardedtwo Klein tool kits to the twoOutstanding Apprenticeswho just completed the five-year apprenticeship pro-gram.Congratulations to AndyCrowbridge andAndyOsowski. The local also extends congratulations andgoodwishes to all the newest electricianswho alsocompleted the program.

Local 388 expects theworkpicture to pickup inthe future for ourmemberswith upcoming projects,butwe do not anticipate work for travelers. Our broth-ers and sisters have been findingworkon the road.Many thanks to those locals that have been puttingourmembers to work; it is greatly appreciated.

If any of our members plan to travel to look forwork, contact the union hall for the latest informa-tion on possible locations to sign.

For members who wish to get involved politi-cally this summer, there will be opportunities forvolunteers. Keep an eye out for more information tocome. By becoming involved you can make a differ-ence, even if it’s making phone calls to politicians.You need to let your voice be heard, and by bandingtogether our voices become even louder.

Guy LePage, P.S.

Picnic&Service PinsL.U. 428 (govt,i,rts&spa), BAKERSFIELD, CA—Ourannual picnic on April 17 was a smashing successas usual—plenty of good food, great prizes (thanksto our generous sponsors), lots of fun and great fel-lowship. Thanks to all the volunteers who preparedand served; without them we would have no picnic.

At the top of the pin presentation were two70-year members, Richard Eastman and ClaudeSwonger. Neither could attend due to health issues.

Our 60-yearmembers were Ronald Macey,Embert Smally and Lora “Bud” Spears; 55-yearmembers—John Campbell, Edward Cook, GaleHowe, Carroll Matheny, Jack Pettijohn, JamesSimpson, John Young; and 50-year members—Allan Fox, Charles Sanders, Robert Shugart, JamesWallace, Jerry Welch, Richard Hedberg, DonaldStanley and Steven Torell. Many othermembers alsoreceived service pins for 20 ormore years of service,but space limitations prevent a listing of all thenames. Congratulations to all award recipients.

At the present, work in our area is pretty slow.We hope the work picture will improve this summer.

Ivan Beavan Jr., P.S.

Overhead Crane InstalledL.U. 502 (c,em,i,it&t), SAINT JOHN, NEW BRUNSWICK,CANADA—The Local 502 training center continues tobe very busy lately offering courses in ConfinedSpace Awareness, Fall Protection, WHMIS,Construction Safety, Arc Flash Awareness and ForkliftOperation. The new overhead crane is now com-pletely installed. All Local 502members will now beable to receive crane and rigging training—asopposed to only a select few chosen by employers.

The Potash Corp Mine in Sussex continues toramp up. This project, two at the Irving Oil Refinery,the Pt. Lepreau Generating Station refurbishment,a new boiler at the Lake Utopia Paper and variouscommercial and residential projects in and aroundSaint John should keep our local close to fullemployment this summer.

Our local’s generosity is alive and well with adonation of 12 computers to the Saint John RotaryBoys and Girls Club.

The annual IBEWDaveChiltonMemorial Basstournamentwas held at the Palfrey Lake Lodge in Juneand the IBEW Family Picnicwas held at theGlenn

CarpenterCenter in July. Thanks to all volunteerswhohelpedmake these very popular events happen.

We mourn the passing of Brother Ed Martin.

Dave Stephen, P.S.

‘BestValueScorecard’L.U. 508 (i,it&o), SAVANNAH, GA—The ChathamCounty Detention Center expansion project includesapproximately 340,000 square feet of new construc-tion and renovation. In response to the outcry oflocal tradespeople, the Chatham County Board ofCommissioners presented a scorecard that incorpo-rates several pass/fail criteria which all potentialbidders must meet in order to be eligible to submita bid for this project. The scorecard is called theBest Value Scorecard and gives local contractors anedge on work. The total number of possible pointsthat can be awarded is 331. In order to be consid-ered, a firmmust achieve a minimum score of 281points or 85 percent. Only firms that achieve thecutoff score will be allowed to submit a bid.

The local Building and Trades Council hasbeen instrumental in establishing the Best ValueScorecard—with assistance from Tony Edgerly, fromIBEW Local 508; Dave Cornelius, IBEW Internationallead organizer; Brett Hulme from SavannahRegional Central Labor Council; and Meddy Settlesfrom Carpenters Local 256 in Savannah.

Work in Savannah has improved in the pastfew months. Government work, particularly at FortStewart, has been a great blessing to our membersand our local union. God bless the military!

Judith U. Sheahan, P.S.

Solar FarmProjectL.U. 530 (i,o&rtb), SARNIA, ONTARIO, CANADA—April25 marked the International Day of Mourning, a dayto remember all workers who died on the job orfrom job-related illness. As always Local 530 wasthere and we thank our members who attended.

On May 20 we held our annual ApprenticeshipBanquet, recognizing the graduation from appren-ticeship to journeyman from the past year. Thisevent was, as always, well-attended and a greatevening. Congratulations to all the new journeymen.

Recently Windsor, Ontario, Local 773 hostedthe annual men’s hockey tournament. At this timewe would like to thank them for allowing us to cap-ture both the “A” and “B” division championships.

The ongoing solar farm project in Sarnia con-tinues to roll on, employing many locals and trav-ellers. North America’s largest solar farm should becompleted this fall.

Local 354 Bus. Mgr. Rich Kingery (fifth from left) gathers with several members who served asdelegates to the Utah State Democratic Convention. From left are: LarryMariano, Carl Brailsford,Russ Lamoreaux, Joe Reilly, Bus. Mgr. Kingery, Kim Barraclough, CoryWilliams, George Hallidayand SteveWoodman.

Participating in the Workers Memorial Day ceremony in Rockford, IL, are Local 364 membersand officers: Brian Troy, Greg Cote, Bus. Mgr. Darrin Golden, Tim Casserly, Bus. Agent CharlieLaskonis, Training Dir. Todd Kindred and Matt Horn.

Local 388 Bus. Mgr. Dave Northup (center)congratulates Outstanding Apprenticeawardees Andy Crowbridge (left) andAndy Osowski.

New Gorbel overhead trolley crane is installedat the IBEW Local 502 Training Center in SaintJohn, New Brunswick, Canada.

Junemarked Local 530’s elections. Electedwere: Bus. Mgr. MickCataford, Pres. Raphael Camden(by acclamation), Vice Pres. Gary Barnes, Treas. WesSegade, Rec. Sec. Al Byers, and Executive Boardmembers RobTella, MikeMcCullough andMikeLaLonde. Thank you to all who ran and all who voted.

We thank Kitchener, Ontario, Local 804 forcontinuing to employ our members.

Local 530 is saddened to report the passing ofBros. John O’Conner, Hartley Scarrow and Igor Janes.

Al Byers, P.S.

Retirees Luncheon atHallL.U. 570 (i,mo,spa&u), TUCSON, AZ—Local 570hosted a catered luncheon April 15 at the union hallfor the retirees. [Photo above.] The Retirees Clubmeets the second Thursday of every month exceptJune and July. This was a great way to get togetherbefore the group takes their summer break.

The following Local 570 retirees were in atten-dance: Lloyd Talbot, Jack Duffy, George Vinson, JohnBaumer, TomWilson, Don Kohler, Ed Gilbert, CarlosVasquez, Harvey Ward, Jim Baumer, Charlie Reed,Clarence Reese, Ross Teeple, Bill Turner, Dale

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McCray, Johnny Chavez, Gilbert Almada, Ed Pepper,George Cooper and Don Gyuro.

Scott Toot, Organizer

BusinessManager RetiresL.U. 606 (em,es,i,rtb,spa&u), ORLANDO, FL—Formerbusiness manager Bro. Harry Brown decided toretire after 38 years of working in the IBEW. Bro.Brown served as business manager for 18 consecu-tive years. He has always been fair and committedto the truth, even when it was not what peoplewanted to hear. He will be sorely missed.

Local 606held an election of officers in June.Congratulations to newly electedBus.Mgr. BobCarrand all those elected. Bro.Carr is highly qualified tolead our local in the endeavor to increase ourmarketshare in our jurisdiction.Congratulations also to all theexcellent candidateswhoparticipated in the election.

One of our contractors, Greenway ElectricalServices, was featured on Electric TV for the workthey perform on backup emergency generators.Greenway Electrical is a small company that com-pletes jobs in record time. The customers are veryhappy with the skilled electricians who come to

their jobs. This is a great example of the IBEW andNECA working together for the satisfaction of thecustomers. Keep up the good work. Visit Web sitehttp://electrictv.net/Archives/Emergency-Power.aspx.

Our deepest sympathy goes to the families ofBros. Burr Matson, WilliamWatson and DensolLong, who passed away. They will be missed inour Brotherhood.

Janet D. Skipper, P.S.

‘It Takes aVillage…’L.U. 636 (as,catv,em,spa&u), TORONTO, ONTARIO,CANADA—”It takes a village to raise a child.”Building on this theme, members from Orillia Powerjoined with community partners (including HydroOne, the Ontario Provincial Police, CN Police, areafire departments, First Student bus, and the localEMS) in a special initiative: building a portableChildren’s Safety Village. This unique, educationalmodel debuted in the local primary schools withinOrillia and surrounding townships in 2009.

The portable, three-dimensional model vil-lage—with a fire hall, police station, hydro substa-tion and pole lines—is transported in a 28-foottrailer from school to school and to communityevents. Children can drive battery-operated carsaround the village and are taught safety messagesvia numerous posted safety banners as they travel.

The village remains set up in the school gym fora week, with representatives from sponsor organiza-tions visiting to instruct the students. Orillia PowerlinemenChris Evans and DaveMorris, IBEW Local636members, instruct students about the dangers ofelectricity and the proper use of electric equipment.

The safety village hasmade a strong and posi-tive impact on the school community. It has beenwelcomedwith smiling faces by students, teachersand school administrators. If but one child is savedfrom any possible accident because of this uniquesafety initiative, we have succeeded in ourmission:to protect and educate our youth, who are our future.

Dave Morris, E-Brd./Unit Chair

Local’s100thAnniversaryL.U. 666 (i,mt&o), RICHMOND, VA—OnMay 28,Local 666 celebrated our 100th anniversary as achartered IBEW local serving central Virginia. Webegan our celebration with a night at the ballparkwith the Richmond Flying Squirrels. We had morethan 500 people attending the game. Retired Bros.

Raymon Roberts and NickWare, both 70-year IBEWmembers, tossed out the first pitch.

The Centennial Picnic was held June 19 atCobblestones Park. We enjoyed the barbecue fromBuz & Ned’s along with many activities planned forthe families. Thanks to those who participated inthe dunk tank to raise money for our brothers andsisters in need.

The firstCode of Excellence job in our jurisdictionis theAppomattoxBio-Energy job inHopewell, VA. VanErt Electricwas awarded the contract.We appreciatethe opportunity to demonstrate our commitment toqualitywork through theCode of Excellence program.

We have one new retiree, Bro. James T.Summers. Congratulations, Jimmy!

We mourn the passing of Bro. Richard AshleyWilkinson.

During these hard times we need all of ourmembers to get involved. How long has it beensince you attended a union meeting? Wemeet onthe second Friday of each month.

Kendra Logan, P.S.

Thanks toMembersL.U. 688 (em,i,t&u), MANSFIELD, OH—The work out-look in our area is very slow, with 49 journeymen onthe out-of-work list.

Thank you to the members who have helpedaround the union hall painting the outside wall andre-roofing the entrance to the JATC training center.Those who helped include: Josh Archibald, JonMcMillan, Shannon Salyers, Andy Soliday, JeremyThoman and John Wallery.

We are saddened to report the loss of mem-bers Bob Garey and Joe Sellers Jr. We send our con-dolences to their family and friends.

Dan Lloyd, P.S.

Lineman’s RodeoL.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),WEST FRANK-FORT, IL—TheWorldChampionship Lineman’s Rodeowas a huge success. Local 702member JasonNovakwonBestOverall Lineman; his teamof 702membersBrandonDiekemper andDave Bailey tooksecond inthe BestOverall Team. Local 702 apprentices JeffGoetting, ClaytonGulley, Steven Lewis and JacobLewis ran awaywith individual awards.Wewere rep-resentedwell by several 702 teams and individualmembers. The rodeowas held in the new indoorarena at the IllinoisState Fairgrounds in DuQuoin, IL.

IBEW Local 636 members Chris Evans (left)and Dave Morris, from Orillia Power-Unit 6,demonstrate “Hazard Hamlet,” a teachingtool used in the portable Children’s SafetyVillage that they helped bring to life.

Local 702 apprentice Shawn Francis (left)receives first place Overall Champion awardin the apprentice division of the WorldChampion Lineman’s Rodeo. Forty-oneapprentices from the U.S. competed.

LOCAL LINES continued on page 20

Local 570 hosts April 2010 retirees luncheon at the union hall.

In Memoriam

1 Bock, C. A. 4/16/20101 Foster, C. K. 5/8/20101 Griffis, T. B. 3/27/20101 Stuhlman, R. J. 2/5/20103 Cafiero, J. A. 5/10/20103 Comerford, J. L. 3/11/20103 DiGangi, S. 4/16/20103 Itri, F. J. 4/27/20103 Johnson, L. L. 5/21/20103 Maggio, J. 4/23/20103 Marshall, J. H. 5/17/20103 Murphy, D. P. 4/17/20103 Palumbo, R. J. 5/16/20103 Rossello, A. J. 4/20/20103 Ryan, C. D. 5/8/20103 Samuels, S. J. 3/16/20103 Scavetta, L. R. 3/20/20103 Sellitti, G. 12/5/20093 Smith, R. 4/25/20104 Doering, M. J. 3/20/20105 McCollough, H. F. 3/4/20105 Yagodich, J. J. 5/12/20106 Ferrari, E. F. 5/13/20106 Gooch, R. L. 10/9/20096 Interdonato, B. 5/6/20106 Perfetto, A. J. 5/9/20107 Jamula, J. T. 4/15/20108 Pencheff, J. N. 5/11/20108 Sulier, E. J. 5/5/201011 Beckwith, J. G. 1/13/201011 Dalton, J. A. 7/23/200911 Liljenwell, J. E. 12/26/200911 Moore, F.W. 6/18/200911 White, S.W. 4/26/201015 Gieseke, V. E. 11/27/200916 Bell, G. M. 6/8/200717 Collier, P. E. 4/2/201018 Adams, G. R. 1/21/201018 Keller, H. H. 6/2/200818 Price,W. E. 3/19/201018 Shimooka, S. 7/12/200918 Snyder, V. L. 3/23/201018 Tharp, V. H. 5/19/200820 Allen, F. A. 5/11/201020 Fox, R. R. 5/8/201020 McClain, D. G. 4/9/201021 Pratt, S. J. 3/18/201022 Mahloch, Q. 1/9/201022 Stratman, B. P. 1/11/201024 Behringer, D. S. 5/8/201024 Boglitsch,W. G. 4/23/201024 Cathcart, M. K. 4/19/201024 Slagle, R. T. 5/10/201025 Pearlman, R. A. 12/10/200925 Scacco, G. P. 7/22/200726 Dougherty, P. J. 5/14/201026 Jordan, L. 3/10/201035 O’Neal, R. 1/9/201038 Tischler, B.W. 5/9/201040 Bibeau, R. J. 3/17/201042 Maratea, R. 5/17/201042 Newton, G. L. 5/11/201043 Lindsay, E. L. 5/4/201046 Marts, T. M. 4/10/201046 Steinruck, R. T. 5/15/201046 Weber, L. A. 4/8/201047 Hickey, L. J. 5/22/201047 Pullen, E. E. 5/7/201048 Brown, J. L. 5/14/201048 Debruyn, H. J. 3/3/201048 Gray, C. J. 3/20/201048 Johnson, J. I. 10/28/200751 Tresler, M. C. 4/22/201053 Janus, G.W. 4/23/2010

53 Quaile, J. G. 3/2/201057 Clayton, G. A. 1/31/201058 Bednarz, S.W. 5/3/201058 Gabrys, H. C. 5/11/201058 Kaufman, S. A. 5/1/201058 Lemire, P.W. 4/22/201058 Migdalewicz, G. 5/13/201058 Moody, R. C. 5/8/201058 Norton, R. L. 5/4/201058 Young, L. G. 12/18/200966 Odom, R. B. 7/18/200766 Raygor,W. H. 3/15/201068 Lomme, D. B. 4/22/201068 Otava, R. L. 5/11/201068 Ramette, D. C. 2/8/200868 Zajac, D. A. 9/21/200773 Clark, D. P. 1/10/200873 McDonald, R. I. 5/12/201077 Baxter, M. H. 6/13/200977 Myers, C. B. 11/3/200980 Gurganus, D. L. 4/17/201080 Watson, J. R. 3/31/201084 O’Neal, J. R. 5/21/201084 Waits, J. R. 4/3/201090 Glover, R. D. 4/7/201095 Elliott, D. A. 1/28/201095 Simonds, L. L. 5/6/201096 Buffone, J. M. 5/3/201096 Giangrande, R. 4/22/201096 Lennon, M. J. 4/11/201096 Trifilo, T. S. 5/8/201096 Zinkevich, R. M. 3/26/201097 Shepherd,W. 5/23/201098 Charlton, J. F. 3/5/2010100 Gaines, R. 4/20/2010100 Harbert, D.W. 5/10/2010100 Pipal, V. E. 3/31/2010100 Williams, J. A. 7/17/2009102 Corrigan, N.W. 3/13/2010102 Harrison, H. L. 4/16/2010102 Pierson, R. F. 5/16/2010103 Aham,W. B. 5/19/2010103 Bulpett, D. A. 5/16/2008105 Beattie, D. 5/15/2010110 Zierhut, R. J. 4/27/2010112 Cook, L. L. 2/26/2010113 Hatlestad, T. L. 5/22/2010124 Ford, R. F. 5/2/2010125 Curts, P. E. 4/30/2010126 Minninger, P. R. 5/5/2010130 Barocco, J. S. 5/11/2010130 Carey, J. G. 4/24/2010130 Creger, P. G. 4/21/2010130 Hoffman, G. C. 5/18/2010130 Newman, E. J. 3/1/2010131 King, M. D. 5/2/2010131 McDaniel, D. 4/21/2010134 Baron, S. S. 4/20/2010134 Bastian, B. T. 5/15/2010134 Bennett, G.W. 4/28/2010134 Conlon, J. J. 4/10/2010134 Dickert, G. R. 5/9/2010134 Egan, J. F. 5/17/2010134 Eriksen, K. E. 5/16/2010134 Hock, D. J. 4/28/2010134 Hughbanks, L. L. 5/20/2007134 O’Donnell, E. J. 10/6/2007134 O’Neil, T. E. 5/6/2010134 Perrino, V. P. 2/26/2010134 Rutzen, A. J. 5/12/2010134 Saldana, F. J. 4/16/2010134 Schippits, R.W. 5/3/2010134 Schoenenberge, R. 5/3/2010134 Schultz, C. K. 5/9/2010

134 Shymanski, E. L. 5/13/2010134 Stachura, F. T. 5/8/2010134 Steiner, L. 5/8/2010134 Winiecki, C. T. 4/8/2010134 Zuchel, C. J. 5/10/2010136 Frederick, J. C. 5/10/2010141 Palmer, E. L. 3/24/2010141 Samples, M. O. 4/24/2010146 Mercer, F. G. 5/13/2010146 Riley, R. E. 4/28/2010153 Personette, R. A. 5/8/2010159 Johanning,W. J. 12/4/2009160 Hesch, S. J. 4/22/2010164 Eagle,W. 5/10/2010175 Hodge, P. N. 5/10/2010175 Land, L. J. 5/11/2010175 Longshore, J.W. 5/9/2010180 Polk, L. S. 3/19/2010193 Thoele, J. J. 4/28/2010194 Paul,W. E. 4/25/2010210 Beebe, B. C. 7/6/2009213 Banting, R. D. 5/17/2007213 Girard, G. A. 4/14/2010213 Herrmann, P. 5/3/2010213 Waite, R. 4/23/2010223 Dumais, A. J. 5/15/2010223 Lajoie, D. E. 5/16/2010223 Peters, T. M. 5/5/2010230 Floyd, R. S. 5/22/2009231 Aalseth, G. V. 4/12/2010231 Schmidt, V. A. 4/29/2010233 Johnson, R. K. 4/12/2008233 Murphy, R. K. 5/11/2010236 Rysedorph, T. F. 5/19/2010236 Sottile, A. S. 4/3/2010245 Wannemacker, H.W. 2/2/2010246 Russell, C. A. 5/8/2010252 Keller, J. F. 3/16/2008252 Kittridge, C. H. 5/6/2010258 Kinaschuk, M. 3/31/2010258 Murton, B. G. 4/7/2010265 Strain, R. M. 4/28/2010270 Howe, G. A. 7/6/2009275 Holmes, C. D. 11/7/2009280 Mitchell, O. E. 5/13/2010288 Miller, C. E. 5/19/2010292 Meistad, J. D. 5/16/2010292 Suwalski, R. A. 4/30/2010295 Benton, E. A. 5/3/2010300 Avery,W. 5/5/2010303 Parise, T. C. 5/1/2010304 Gray, B.W. 3/11/2010305 Lloyd, C. E. 5/5/2010307 Wallizer, K. M. 4/28/2010317 Setliff, C. D. 5/25/2010332 Storms, N. B. 4/2/2010340 Benkosky, J.W. 11/9/2009340 Dow, M. I. 3/10/2010340 Taylor, D. G. 1/19/2010343 Speiser, C. 5/7/2010351 Fiorillo, V. J. 9/29/2009351 Fowler, T. B. 5/2/2007351 Muldoon, R. A. 5/4/2010353 Deveaux, A. J. 4/1/2010353 Gallaugher, M. E. 9/11/2009353 Ravizza, C. A. 5/23/2010353 Yeomans, S. 6/9/2009354 Anderson, J. P. 5/27/2010354 Lamoreaux, J. R. 5/11/2010357 Fratt, V.W. 6/9/2009357 Weeks, R. J. 5/19/2010363 Nemetz, R. J. 5/22/2010364 Struthers, D. P. 4/23/2010364 Vondriska, E. 3/10/2010

369 Lally, J. M. 7/2/2009379 Guarnera, J. P. 5/5/2010380 Jones, J. C. 3/18/2007387 Bowden, C. 4/28/2010387 Gillette, R. L. 5/3/2010387 Wyatt, H. E. 4/17/2010400 Fitzgerald, J. T. 8/29/2007400 Odonnell,W. F. 1/21/2010401 Pate, J. E. 3/31/2008415 Osborn, T.W. 5/9/2010428 Jenkins, T. 4/1/2010428 Stroud, J. A. 5/17/2010429 Cantrell, D. R. 4/14/2010430 Held, T.W. 3/21/2010441 Bryant, L. 2/22/2010441 Tubbs,W. L. 8/6/2009444 Stinson, C. A. 5/24/2010445 Pierce, E. R. 2/12/2010446 Glover, B. R. 4/14/2010446 Roberts, H. D. 5/3/2010449 Uttich, S. J. 5/12/2010456 Kipp, G. A. 2/18/2010456 Martiak, P. M. 5/21/2010459 Geary, A. J. 6/17/2009474 Nelson,W. L. 3/28/2010474 Thomas, J. C. 4/5/2010477 Dufour, J. J. 1/17/2010477 Hurt, A.W. 4/27/2010479 Libersat, C. R. 4/27/2010479 White, J. L. 5/7/2010480 Hegwood, L. G. 3/28/2010481 Elder, M. J. 4/24/2010481 Imhausen,W. E. 4/25/2010490 Grady, E. F. 5/18/2010494 Arildsen, R. A. 5/15/2010494 Falkenberg, H. 4/20/2010495 Starling, U. M. 4/16/2010499 Hagar, G. D. 1/1/2010505 Balsamo, A. J. 4/29/2010508 Counihan, M. J. 12/29/2005527 Rector, O. M. 3/25/2010527 Warren, R. D. 4/10/2010530 Oconnor, J. H. 4/24/2010532 McKean, J. C. 3/10/2010540 Edmondson, A. E. 4/17/2010551 Cooper, D. P. 3/26/2010551 Parker, D. S. 3/22/2010559 England, L.W. 3/19/2010569 Fowler, L. A. 6/28/2009569 Siegel, J. L. 4/29/2010576 Brunhoeber, S. R. 7/22/2009595 Jenkins, F. T. 3/18/2010596 Hamrick, F. A. 5/6/2010596 Strakal, C. J. 5/15/2010601 Goodwin, D. R. 5/1/2010602 Daughtry, J.W. 4/13/2010605 Corley, C. T. 5/10/2007613 Duncan, A. R. 8/16/2007617 Hecht,W. E. 3/27/2010617 Labounty, K. A. 4/15/2010636 Walker, C. O. 4/1/2010640 Huey, R. L. 4/21/2010640 Snipes, G. L. 1/27/2010656 Perrin, J. R. 4/21/2010659 Huff, S. J. 4/6/2010659 Pryor, V. H. 4/30/2010668 Rhode, D. L. 6/2/2010683 Wright, J. D. 5/10/2010688 Garey, R. E. 4/26/2010688 Sellers, J.W. 5/11/2010697 Johnson, G. D. 5/1/2010697 Koepl, M. A. 5/27/2010700 Russell, R. R. 3/28/2010701 Kron, P. T. 5/11/2010

702 Berkel, C. E. 5/19/2010702 Warren, J. J. 4/22/2010712 McCracken,W. R. 3/16/2010712 Shepard, C. D. 5/27/2010716 Gilchrest, T.W. 5/14/2010716 Perkins, D. D. 5/20/2010716 Sutton, M. R. 11/19/2009725 Belcher, F. 3/25/2010728 Weygant, T. G. 3/23/2010743 Hollinger, R. 3/18/2010760 Davis, J. A. 11/1/2009760 Maples, J. T. 5/14/2010760 Ridenour, H. E. 8/17/2009796 Barnett, J. 3/15/2008804 Golbeck, R. M. 3/31/2010855 Walls, K. C. 2/23/2010861 Hidalgo, L. L. 4/20/2010861 Vines, R. L. 12/1/2006876 Degear, J. R. 4/7/2010885 Mahometa, J. 4/13/2010894 Weaver, E. C. 3/17/2009898 Ryan,W. J. 4/19/2010903 Robinson, E. H. 5/6/2010910 Williams, R. E. 1/10/2010932 Hostetter, R. L. 4/23/2009934 Johnson, H. 2/5/2010952 Lawson, L. M. 4/11/2010995 Browning, J.W. 3/23/2010995 Celestin, S. L. 2/23/2010995 Lanoux,W. P. 9/17/2008995 Sandridge, J.W. 4/5/20101141 Wingfield, L. D. 4/13/20101186 Adric, D. S. 3/19/20101205 Beck, A. L. 4/1/20101245 Zwinge, N. J. 12/29/20091263 Kimbrough, M. 4/24/20101377 Broome, R. H. 11/25/20091393 Butler, C. E. 3/21/20081464 Robertson, T. B. 4/6/20101516 Carpenter, J. H. 1/30/20101547 Knowlton, S. 5/13/20101547 Maddocks, T. J. 7/15/20091547 McGinnis, B. L. 1/2/20101579 Corley, G. L. 4/23/20101687 Kutowy, B. 5/3/20101701 Hancock, F. D. 4/11/20101832 Babylon, R. D. 5/3/20101837 Dow, B. E. 4/10/20091984 Bibbee, O. A. 5/6/20102150 Senft, P. R. 4/4/2010I.O. (11) Thomas,W. C. 5/12/2010Pens. (467) Tomlin, P. C. 5/28/2010Pens. (485) Carter, J. B. 10/27/2005Pens. (508) Bach, R. P. 5/11/2010Pens. (637) Estes, A. R. 4/19/2010Pens. (I.O.) Angen, B. E. 5/7/2010Pens. (I.O.) Armour,W. D. 4/20/2010Pens. (I.O.) Ayres,W. H. 5/6/2010Pens. (I.O.) Ayres, E. T. 4/15/2010Pens. (I.O.) Baggett, L. R. 4/14/2010Pens. (I.O.) Bassis, T. 2/7/2010Pens. (I.O.) Beck, K. R. 5/10/2010Pens. (I.O.) Bradshaw, V. A. 4/28/2010Pens. (I.O.) Burger, C. E. 3/16/2008Pens. (I.O.) Burke, J. F. 1/15/2009Pens. (I.O.) Burke, E. A. 8/21/2009Pens. (I.O.) Caron, U. 4/5/2010Pens. (I.O.) Cooke, K. M. 2/7/2010Pens. (I.O.) Cutler, H. N. 4/3/2010Pens. (I.O.) Davis, A.W. 5/19/2010Pens. (I.O.) Derov, P. 7/5/2009Pens. (I.O.) Dias, B. C. 5/8/2010

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 in June2010

MEMORIAM continued on page 20




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]

©2010 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

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.

The Electrical Worker will not be held responsible for viewsexpressed by correspondents.

Paid advertising is not accepted.

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

More Americans are saying they don’t trust the govern-ment, but there is one federal program that hasremained consistently popular since it was first signedinto law 75 years ago this month: Social Security.

The National Academy of Social Insurance finds that two-thirds ofAmericans support strengthening the program. And it keepsmillions ofretirees, children and disabled workers out of poverty.

In the years before Social Security, more than half of the elderlywere impoverished, with retirees having to rely on whatever savingsthey might have accumulated or on the kindness of family.

The crisis of the Great Depression, which wiped out millions insavings and pension funds, pushed the federal government to takeaction. President Roosevelt wasn’t interested in creating another wel-fare program; he wanted a system of social insurance that would

reward hard work and protect Americans against disability and death.A swath of new Tea Party-inspired GOP candidates have gone on record in support of privatizing

Social Security and many GOP leaders, including House Minority Leader John Boehner, are looking toresurrect President Bush’s failed pro-privatization plans. Imagine what would have happened if thesetypes of schemes had been in place when the economy crashed in 2008.

Social Security opponents like to equate the national deficit with the long-term health of the pro-gram. The reality is Social Security has been running a big surplus since Congress made the last “fix” tothe program in 1983. If no changes are made, says retirement expert MarkMiller, the surplus will rundry by 2037, which means there would still be enough to cover 75 percent of benefits.

There are reforms that Congress must make to guarantee the future health of the Social Securitytrust fund, but the American people aren’t looking for the wholesale dismantling of our country’s great-est social program. This November we need to make sure our votes go to officials who are committed toensuring another 75 years of Social Security.

To read an expanded version of this column, go towww.huffingtonpost.com/edwin-d-hill. �

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.

Thousands of our members are sitting on the bench waitingfor work. The last thing they want to hear is more bickeringin Washington. They need action.

With nearly 1.5 million workers exhausting their 99weeks of unemployment insurance and nearly six jobless Americanslining up for every new job, members of Congress need to act. Fellowcitizens are hurting and need help. And the economy can’t recover ifthey don’t have money to spend.

Unfortunately, some anti-worker members of Congress arguethat it’s fiscally irresponsible to spend money on unemploymentextensions without cutting spending elsewhere in the federalbudget. They call themselves “deficit hawks.”

The funny thing about those in Congress who want to grandstandabout the cost of extending unemployment benefits is that most ofthem also want to extend George W. Bush’s tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. So let’s compare costs.

The unemployment extension would cost $35 billion. Extending the Bush tax cuts would cost $678billion. This isn’t complicated. Real hawks see miles into the distance. But these guys see no furtherthan their own selfish interest to keep campaign contributions rolling in from the wealthy.

If we want to rediscover the spirit of a nation that pulls together in tough times, we have to payclose attention to who is running for Congress in 2010.

Inmybook, we needmore common sense candidates like Ben Leming, who is running for the House ofRepresentatives inTennessee. AU.S.Marine, IraqWar helicopter pilot and combat veteran, Leming told theCookeville Times after his endorsement by the AFL-CIO, “MyGrandpa, whowas a strong IBEWunionman,would be extremely proud of thismoment.” And Ben had something to say about unemployment insurance:

“A good job, close to home is a reasonable piece of the American dream and we’ve got a lot of outof work families that need help right now. Retooling America’s economic engine won’t happenovernight. If we don’t extend unemployment relief to these families, entire communities will suffer.”

Compassion and common sense or hypocrisy and self-interest? These are our choices in 2010. �

F R O M 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 DistrictJoseph F. Lohman

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

Cutting the Unemployment Lifeline

Edwin D. HillInternational President

Ensuring Another 75 YearsofSocial Security

OUR JOBSOURFUTUREOURCHOICE

OOOOO

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCCCCCCCCCCC

ELECTION2010



Vacaville, Calif., Local 1245member Tom Bird knowsfirsthand that sometimesyou have to fight for what

is rightfully yours.Last year Bird and other Local

1245 retirees in Nevada got togetherto take on their former employer, NVEnergy, which announced that it wasmaking drastic cuts to retiree healthbenefits—benefits that were prom-ised to them in return for a lifetimeof hard work.

Now, Bird and other retiredunion members are taking on a newopponent—an aspiring U.S. senatorwho is looking to slash the retire-ment benefits of millions of workingAmericans: Sharron Angle.

“It’s a big concern for us,” saidScott Watts, president of the Nevadachapter of the Alliance for RetiredAmericans, a national organizationof retired union members. “Seniorscan’t afford Sharron Angle in theSenate, simple as that.”

Angle, a former state assembly-woman, won the GOP nomination tochallenge Senate Majority LeaderHarry Reid in November. Drawingsupport from the extreme right ofthe party, her controversial com-ments about privatizing SocialSecurity are raising eyebrows anddrawing the ire of Alliance activists.

At aGOP candidates’ forumheldinMay, she said “we need to phaseoutMedicare andSocial Security infavor of something privatized.”

And her campaign Web siteadvocated giving younger workersthe choice of opting out of SocialSecurity “as the Social Security sys-tem is transitioned out.”

Sounding the Alarm

Alliance members have been work-ing to alert Nevadans about Angle’ssupport for privatizing SocialSecurity and Medicare, holding “redalert” meetings across the state.

“She’smade it clear shewantsto privatizeSocial Security, just likeBush tried to,” said Bird, amember ofthe board of directors of the Nevada

Alliance for Retired Americans.What really angered Bird was

Angle’s reference to Social Securityas “welfare” during a radio interviewwith KNPR in May.

“I’ve spentmyworking careerpaying into the system,” said Bird,who is the vice president of theSparks/Reno Local 1245 RetireesClub.“It isn’t a handout, it’smy livelihood.”

In addition to organizing localmeetings, the Alliance has spon-sored pickets at Angle’s office. Theiractions made the front page, garner-ing television coverage from themajor network affiliates.

At 58, Bird has a fewmoreyears to go before he can collectSocial Security, but he says protect-ing the retirement security systemset up 75 years ago by PresidentFranklin Roosevelt is more than justa concern of seniors.

Bird notes that Social Securityprovidesmore than just retirementbenefits; it helpsmillions of chil-dren, spouses and disabled workers.

WallStreetGoesAfterSocialSecurity

While Angle’s talk on Social Securityis extreme, she is hardly alone in hercommitment to slash the system.

Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, theranking GOPmember on the Housebudget committee, has proposed aprivatization plan similar to the oneoffered by President Bush in 2005.

And in late June, HouseMinorityLeader John Boehner told thePittsburghTribune-Review that the

retirement age should be raised to 70.Peter Peterson, former chief

executive of the now-defunct LehmanBrothers, recently set up a nationalcampaign called “America Speaks”to convince voters that Social Securityis on the verge of bankruptcy due tothe the growing number of babyboomers reaching retirement age.

But as many retirement expertshave pointed out, the federal deficitis separate from Social Security,which is actually running a big sur-plus. As William Greider wrote in theJune 7 issue of the Nation, “SocialSecurity has accumulated a massivesurplus—$2.5 trillion now, rising to$4.3 trillion by 2023. This money willcover all benefits until the 2040s—unless Congress double-crossesworkers by changing the rules.”

For Bird, slashing SocialSecurity isn’t just cutting a lifelinefor millions of Americans; it meansputting at risk one of the federal gov-ernment’s most successful pro-grams. The National Academy ofSocial Insurance estimates thatwithout Social Security, nearly halfof seniors would be living in poverty.

With Boehner hoping forenough GOP victories in the fall toput him in the Speaker’s chair, Birdsays it’s vital that retirees across thecountry learn the facts about SocialSecurity and get active in defense oftheir retirement benefits. “Somepeople say their votes don’t count,”he said. “Well, elections matter andif we want to defend everythingwe’ve worked for, we need to makeour voices heard.” �

Lettersto the Editor

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

Who We Are

Another Perspective on the Code

In your June issue you featured an article on the Code of Excellence(“Standout Utility Locals Promote Code of Excellence,” June 2010). I believeit advocates a program long overdue to further the understanding of theelectrical worker about the business end of their industry.

I am a retired journey wireman with a 56-year membership. I served afour-year apprenticeship, earned mymaster electrician’s license and wasa union electrical contractor for seven years. I finished my working careeras a vice president of a savings and loan bank.

I would like to suggest that a business course be added to all appren-ticeship programs. Obviously I have been away from the hiring hall prac-tices of the local unions for a good many years. But one thing I did not seein the article is a plan to provide the worker the knowledge and under-standing of profit and loss, overhead, and most important, a fuller under-standing of productivity.

Throughmy years of working with the tools, we obtained jobs from thehiring hall and returned there for further referrals. As far as we knew thecontractor was the one writing the paychecks, and jobs came from the busi-ness agent. I distinctly remember the attitude was, “Don’t worry about thecontractor. If he went out of business, we will just send you to another job.”

It wasn’t until I became a contractor I learned a whole new side of thisworld. The keywas and still is what you paid an electrician, whether it wasthe prevailing wage ormore, was immaterial. His or her productivity was bal-anced against benefits and related expenses like workers’ compensation,insurance, and associated overhead and yes, profit. He or she has to PRO-DUCE enough work to offset those costs.

Maybe that is being taught today, but if not, it should become a para-mount subject in the apprenticeship programs.

Howard GelbmanLocal 349 retiree, Miami, Fla.

Help for theUnemployed?

I simply want to know: Where is the outrage? I grew up in a pro-unionhousehold, married a Jersey City, N.J., Local 164 electrician, and am nowfacing a fearful future, for he has been unemployed since last Christmas.

I want to organize some form of protest, not just for union workers, butfor all of us who are insulted by our government’s cowardice and inability towork together.

By voting not to extend unemployment benefits, the Republicans andDemocrats have forced millions of honest, hard-working Americans ontowelfare or into the streets.

This is not a government of the people or by the people. It’s time tostand up.

Mindy HetheringtonWife of Richard Hetherington Jr., Local 164 member, Jersey City, N.J.

MakingSpirits Bright

Following a severe snowstorm inDecember, our local power com-pany was fortunate to receiveassistance from union linemen outof Knoxville, Tenn., Local 760. Isnapped this photo of BuckPritchett, Mike Grant, MattVanwitzenburg and DrakeThompson as they were working torestore power to us and our neigh-bors, who were without electricityfor four days.

Thanks, guys, for all you didto give us the gift of electricity for Christmas.

Angie SealWife of Local 934 member Dale Seal, Kingsport, Tenn.

Nevadans protest in front of the office of U.S. Senate candidate SharronAngle, who has called for the privatization of Social Security.

RetireesMobilize AgainstGOPAttacks onSocialSecurity

Local Lines Continued from page 16


In Memoriamcontinued from page 17

Pens. (I.O.) Evans, G. C. 4/24/2010Pens. (I.O.) Fagan, G. C. 5/5/2010Pens. (I.O.) Fasso, J. F. 3/22/2010Pens. (I.O.) Frew, K. D. 4/27/2010Pens. (I.O.) Godwin, J. M. 12/11/2009Pens. (I.O.) Goff, D. M. 4/3/2010Pens. (I.O.) Griffiths, E. H. 9/29/2009Pens. (I.O.) Guillot, C.W. 12/13/2007Pens. (I.O.) Harris, D.W. 4/25/2010Pens. (I.O.) Helvie, M. S. 5/9/2010Pens. (I.O.) Henson, C. B. 10/15/2009Pens. (I.O.) Holloway, C. H. 2/25/2010Pens. (I.O.) Jackson, J. T. 2/6/2010Pens. (I.O.) Kaufman, E. K. 4/3/2010Pens. (I.O.) Lessig, C.W. 12/22/2009Pens. (I.O.) Luka, J. P. 4/27/2010Pens. (I.O.) Lundgren, V. F. 5/14/2010Pens. (I.O.) Mansfield, F.W. 4/25/2010Pens. (I.O.) Nemeth, A. 1/26/2010Pens. (I.O.) Opsahl, D. I. 5/24/2010Pens. (I.O.) Patteson, J. G. 4/30/2010Pens. (I.O.) Penney,W. C. 3/13/2010Pens. (I.O.) Pikal, G. K. 3/11/2010Pens. (I.O.) Rector, J. T. 1/10/2010Pens. (I.O.) Reynolds, J. R. 4/27/2010Pens. (I.O.) Richter, N. A. 5/9/2010Pens. (I.O.) Scott, S. L. 5/2/2010Pens. (I.O.) Sheets, C. J. 1/8/2010Pens. (I.O.) Snider, D. S. 11/2/2009Pens. (I.O.) Solberg, F. J. 4/29/2010Pens. (I.O.) St. Jean, C. M. 4/19/2010Pens. (I.O.) Strong, M. L. 5/13/2010Pens. (I.O.) Tomlinson, J. D. 5/12/2010Pens. (I.O.) Wahnert, A. E. 5/29/2010Pens. (I.O.) Warren, J. C. 1/28/2010Pens. (I.O.) Williams, R. F. 4/5/2010Pens. (I.O.) Wilson,W. F. 4/11/2010Pens. (I.O.) Youngclaus, J.W. 5/18/2010

Local Surname Date of Death

Local 702’s Annual Retiree Luncheon was heldApril 14 at the Rend Lake Convention Center. Weexceeded our attendance from last year and every-one had a good time.

Union meetings are held the first Friday ofevery month at 7:30 p.m. at the union hall. Pleasemake every effort to attend.

Marsha Steele, P.S.

Election ofOfficersL.U. 716 (em,i,lctt,rts&spa), HOUSTON, TX—Congratulations to our recently graduated new jour-neyman wiremen. Also, congratulations to JonathanHenley, who recently took top honors asOutstanding Apprentice at the Seventh DistrictApprenticeship Competition.

Our retired members recently received their50-, 55-, 60-, 65-, 70-, and 75-year service pins atthe Retirees Pin Ceremony. The retirees and theirfamilies enjoyed a catered meal and visiting withold friends. We appreciate their service to the IBEWand Local 716. Congratulations to all of our retirees.

Local 716 held its 2010 election of officers.Congratulations to the officers, elected for a three-year term: Pres. David Alley, Vice Pres. E. DaleWortham and Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. John E. Easton Jr.Elected to the Executive Board: Clyde Benoit, JohnBogney, Fred Ellis, James “J.D.” Riley, Gary Strouz,Ken Sumberlin and Carlos Villarreal. ExamingingBoard: Stephen Gonzales, Cesar Montemayor, MikeMuhl Jr., Bruce Ponce and Adrian Sauceda.

Thanks to the election judge, Robert Fulcher,and to all the tellers, for a job well-done. Also,thanks to all the members who participated andvoted in this election.

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

ApprenticeGraduationL.U. 756 (es&i), DAYTONA BEACH, FL—Local 756 isproud to present the 2010 apprentice graduatingclass. The IBEW/NECA’s JATCprogram is the bench-mark of excellence in the electrical industry. Theeconomy the past few years has been tough onmaintaining full employment for our apprentices,but this group hung in there and rolled with theadversities. They attended class twice a week andcompleted the standards and requirements set bythe National JATC. These apprentices also wererequired to take and pass the Florida journeyman’sexam before being upgraded to journeyman wire-man status. A graduation ceremony was held inAugust at the union hall meeting room. Officers ofthe local and JATCwere present to acknowledge thegraduating class and their families in attendance.Congratulations to our new journeyman wiremen.

The Local 756 Retirees Club held their annual

spring fish fry May 13 at the local. Officers JimmyWarren, Dow Graham, Joe Gardener and Greg Stonewere in attendance for an afternoon of fried fish andbrotherhood. Members from neighboring Locals606 and 177 also joined the festivities. The retireeswill be back from a summer break hosting a fall fishfry the second Thursday of September. All membersretired or active are invited to their monthly meet-ings and cookouts; if you’re in the area contactRetiree Pres. JimmyWarren for details.

Daniel Hunt, P.S.

Knoxville JATCGraduatesL.U. 760 (i,lctt,o,rts,spa&u), KNOXVILLE, TN—Congratulations to the Knoxville JATCClass of 2010.There were 16 apprentice graduates in this year’sclass. Seven graduates have passed the NECB craftcertification. Outstanding Apprentice Award recipi-ents Stephan Locke and Jeremy Bentley passed theNECB and the EPRI certification. “This is an outstand-ing class,” noted JATCTraining Dir. A. J. Pearson.

Also congratulations to our service pin recipi-ents of 2010. Bus. Mgr. Bove and Pres. LonnieHunley presented eligible members in attendancewith awards for 20 or more years of IBEW service.Thanks to all awardees for their longtime service!

George Bove, B.M./F.S.

ProgressMeetingL.U. 776 (i,o,rts&spa), CHARLESTON, SC—Work hasremained slow throughout our jurisdiction and con-tract negotiations are upon us, but that didn’t dimour annual Tenth District Progress Meeting.

Int. Vice Pres. Robert P. “Bobby” Klein set thetone for a very positive andupbeatmeeting. The setting wasnot here on the coast but up inthemountains of Asheville, NC, atLocal 238. However, theCarolinas’ Electrical WorkersAssociation was co-host whichincluded all of us from themoun-tains to the sea. As the currentassociation president, I havebeen extremely proud of theattendance, commitment andsupport of all of the locals in theCarolinas that participate in ournewly formed Electrical WorkersAssociation. Work and contracts

may go up and down, but brotherhood will alwaysremain the solid bond of our IBEW.

Chuck Moore, B.M.

NewPhotovoltaic Training LabL.U. 934 (catv,i,o&u), KINGSPORT, TN—We thank allthe traveling brothers and sisters for their hours ofservice and hard work at our AEP fossil fuel facilityin Carbo, VA. We hope to see you back when ourwork picks up. Until then we will miss the brother-hood of all those who helped showcase the IBEW’sskills and commitment to excellence.

Local 934members are embracing “GreenEnergy Technologies” with the addition of our newphotovoltaic training lab, with instructors certified totrain tomorrow’s work force today. All those complet-ing classwork andmeeting installation requirementswill be certified P.V. technicians. Our local is provid-ing the skills needed in today’s work force, whilehelping to reduce our carbon footprint for the future.

Local 934 has adopted small-works agree-ments, which has allowed us to keep Book I movingand has shown an increase of our man-hoursworked. Coupled with the local’s goal of 100 per-cent of the membership having Code of Excellenceand OSHASafety courses completed, this helps usto be more valuable to our signatory contractors.

The combined cycle project at TVA’s JohnSevier facility will not clear Book I until late winter orearly spring. Work safe and God bless.

Bob Light Jr., P.S.

Memorial TributeL.U. 1116 (em,lctt&u), TUCSON, AZ—We are fortu-nate at times to work with union brothers or sisterswho strive to make a difference. Ken Saville was justone of those persons; he believed that passingknowledge of craft work on to an apprentice is thefoundation of our industry, a proud traditionhanded down through generations. He representedthe very best of this tradition. During his 30-plusyear career, he worked as a journeymanlineman/cableman, a crew leader and served assteward and president of our local. Perhaps hisgreatest contribution was as a trainer and mentor.

Ken passed away in 1998, but through his dedi-cation, perseverance andTEP involvement from thebeginning in 1995, the Skills Training Center contin-ues to thrive today. Amemorial in Ken’s namewasbuilt this year that includes brick pavers stenciledwith the donor’s name and craft classification. Thefunds collected from brick purchases will go to ascholarship fund in Bro. Saville’s name. Thanks toBro. MikeMaibauer and other unionmembers andcompanyworkers who helped construct thismemo-rial and brick pathway honoring Bro. Saville.

Welcome to newmembers William Henley,Kyle Studenski, Kiefer Thorton, Richard Arevalo,Henrietta Noriega, Alonzo Durazo, David Corbin,

Kirk Bradley and Jesus Chavez.Our local bids farewell and congratulations

to recent retirees Manny Ruiz, Sharon Miller,Sherry Lambert and Sharon Barker-Conway, alllongtime members.

R. Cavaletto, P.S.

Instructor Jimmy Downs (right) congratulates Local 756 JATCapprentice graduates, from left: Sean Jegede, Heather Roy,Joseph Largent, Mike Shorter, Michael Elias, Aurelio GavlinJr., James Dillon and Eric Waters. Not pictured: Derrick Hatter.

Several Kingsport, TN, Local 934 members and officers gather at the union hall. From left,front row, Jeremy Basham, Josh Basham, Pres. Kevin Street, Molly Bird, Bus. Mgr. RogerFarmer, Pete Hooven, Ken Green, Doug Hamm; middle row, Harold Riddle, David Jamison,John Van Bremen, Rec. Sec. Christy Brady, Josh Groomes; back row, Charlie Hatfield, LarryLawson, Ronnie Leach, Rick King, Bob Light Jr. and Jared Carter.

Local 1116 thanks Bro. Mike Maibauer andother unionmembers and company workerswho helped construct the memorial and brickpathway in tribute to the late Ken Saville.

The Electrical Worker August 2010

Documents

Transcript of The Electrical Worker August 2010