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November 2002 IBEW Journal

Take the First Step

L.U. 51 (catv,lctt,o,rtb,t&u), SPRINGFIELD, ILUnion by choicethree words that mean something different for each IBEW member. Where would we be without choice? Where would we be without unions?

Locals 21, 51 and 702 are challenging the Illinois Commerce Commission regulation that would allow telecommunication companies 90 days to provide service to consumers in case of a labor dispute (lockout or strike). The Third Appellate Circuit Court has ruled in favor of the IBEW. The ICC has appealed the case to the Illinois Supreme Court. This issue is about IBEW jobs in Illinois. We have seen what occurred at AES, Enron, Global Crossing and World Com, and how our union brothers and sisters can lose their dreams of financial security.

Unions and their members cannot sit and watch government continue to ignore and dismantle the labor movement. Becoming involved is the first step. The work picture for our construction members remains stagnant. Transmission and distribution remains somewhat stable, tree trimming is slowing and telephone work is almost non-existent.

Until the economy turns around, and with the pending sale of one utility and rumors of another to be soldthe work picture will not be good in Central Illinois.

Attend your local union meetingsthis is the place where it all begins.

Dominic F. Rivara, B.M.

Querry Awarded 45-Year Pin

L.U. 53 (lctt,o,rts&u), KANSAS CITY, MOWe held our crappie tournament in July and had a beautiful day for the event. Cash prizes were awarded to the winners after the weigh-in, and a fish fry and refreshments for participants followed.

Congratulations to first-place winners Ed Fisher and Mark Rowden (Laclede Electric Coop), second-place winners Charles Brooks and Gary Jump (Southwest Electric Coop), third-place winners Larry and Marjie Noah (AECIThomas Hill), fourth-place winners Ron and Jody Kapp (construction) and fifth-place winners Gary Spoor and Roger Wainwright (construction).

Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. Keith Querry was awarded his 45-year pin. We congratulate and thank Bro. Querry for his years of dedicated service to Local 53 and all he does for the union.

Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. Querry, along with Bus. Reps Jim Lynch, Bobby Stuart, Terry Younghans, Bruce VanCompernolle, Dexter Drerup and Pres. Steve White attended the Progress Meeting in South Dakota.

Negotiations with Osage Valley Coop, Butler, MO, began in August. The Negotiating Committee members are Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. Keith Querry, Bus. Rep. Jim Lynch, Rocky Austin, Randy Kershner, Rick Pinkman and Scott Long. Alternates are Matt Petry and Mike Master.

Construction has been slowing in our area. We have a few members on the books.

Duane Pearce, V.P./P.S.

Blaine Newman Retires

L.U. 57 (lctt,mo,o,t&u), SALT LAKE CITY, UTAfter 28 years of dedicated service, Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. Blaine Newman retired in June 2002.

Bro. Newman served Local 57 as assistant business manager starting in 1974 and was elected business manager in 1978 where he served until his retirement. We thank him for his hard work and devotion to the membership. He has been a friend to all working men and women and will be long remembered and appreciated. We congratulate him and wish him a long and happy retirement.

Bro. Byron Nielsen has been elected as our new business manager. He served as assistant business manager from 1978 through June of this year. The members, officers and staff welcome Bro. Nielsen and look forward to working with him in the years to come.

Other officers and Executive Board members elected in June are Pres. Art Ledesma, Vice Pres. Bruce Herd, Treas. Cal Ockey and Rec. Sec. Bob Liedtke, and Executive Broad members Phil Cordova, Olin Johnson, Terry Krauss, Troy Passey, Larry Walker and John Wiscombe. Best of luck to all.

Deanna Gill, P.S.

Successful Picnic

L.U. 77 (lctt,mt,o,t&u), SEATTLE, WAThis years Local 77 picnic in August at Cle Elum Park in Central Washington attracted more than 200 members, family and friends, and we were happy to see quite a few retirees.

There was fun for all, including horseshoes, sack races and hidden coins in the hay for the children. The children kept all the coins they found, and the child that found the colored coin received an additional prize, a Walkman CD player.

The picnic was funded by the Construction Units Brotherhood Fund. Several contractors donated gifts, i.e., hats, shirts, a shop vac, cordless drill, electric blower, etc, that were either raffled off or used as door prizes. Also, a few contractors made cash donations. Thanks to all who donated door prizes.

The only nonunion transmission contractor in this area at this writing is Maslonka & Associates, Inc., which will be completely out of our area by the end of September. Top-down and bottom-up attempts to organize them were unsuccessful, but we did strip some key personnel, who have passed the IBEW Journeyman Linemans test and are now dues paying IBEW members.

At this writing, the work picture is improving.

For more information call (206) 323-0585, or visit us on the web at www.ibew77.com.

Sherman Williams, Jr., P.S.

Promoting Our Profession

L.U. 81 (i), SCRANTON, PATraining Dir. Paul Casparro and Organizer Gino Arcurie recently spent time at two area malls promoting electrical safety, the apprenticeship program and the IBEW. A number of brochures, as well as the IBEW Safety Brochure, were passed out to all who came by the booth. Recent high school graduates were extremely interested in acquiring information about the apprenticeship program and a possible career in the electrical industry.

Work is good, with some travelers in our area. Organizing continues to be our number one objective, with several campaigns in progress.

Journeyman training is continuing with a NECA sponsored Level I Effective Supervision course coming up in the near future. Call the hall for more information.

All members are urged to attend union meetings. Our strength is in those who are informed and active.

Please visit our web site at www.ibew81.com.

Francis Delesky, P.S.