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May 2003 IBEW Journal L.U. 1579 (i&o), AUGUSTA, GADo we really want CHANGE? Two months of change currently equates to countless years of loss! Having defeated Sen. Max Cleland, who energetically and effectively prevented the closing of Georgia military bases, Saxby Chambliss apparently has thrown in the towel. He can find no reason to keep Fort Gordon and Eisenhower Hospital open. We must send a clear message to Chambliss, Burns and Norwood: we expect you to respect your duty by defending our area against any further job loss. After 130 years with a Democratic governor and the past 12 years with a Democratic controlled state House, taxes were reduced $1.9 billion. Two months of change, Republicans in control, and they want to raise taxes and damage the states public education system by refusing raises to teachers. Twelve years with Democratic leadership in Washington, a broken country on the road to economic recovery. Two and a half years with a Republican president, projections of budget deficits in the untold trillions, prescription drugs and a health care system out of control, job losses in the millions, stock market down 5,000 points, corporate scandals, tax cuts for the wealthy and Medicare and Social Security cuts for seniors. A country on the verge of war. How much CHANGE can you stand? With sadness we mourn the loss of Bros. Rufus E. Sizemore and Cecil C. Larymore. Our condolences to their families and friends. Dennis G. Rocque, PRES. L.U. 1701 (catv,ees,i,o&u), OWENSBORO, KYAt a special meeting in December, the membership voted to reject proposed agreements on early increases to offset health and welfare increases and extending our Inside and Outside Working Agreements. Work is still slow, with 135 on Book I and several apprentices off. Dynalectric and Dezyne Electric picked up some commercial projects and will be calling soon. Organizer Gary Osborne reports H. B. Zachary, a nonunion contractor from Texas, picked up work at the Henderson Municipal Power & Light (HMP&L) plant in Henderson County and the W.K.E. power plant near Sebree, KY. Bro. Osborne is pursuing the fact HMP&L has a record of violating prevailing wage lawsboth recently and in the pastand is trying to secure a project labor agreement with Zachary on both projects. He needs salts. If interested please contact the hall. By the time you read this, the State of Kentucky may possibly have Electrical Licensing. In sadness we report the passing of retired members Rufus Burch, Boyd Jackson and B.A. member Wally Puckett. May they rest in peace. Tim Blandford, P.S. L.U. 1739 (i&o), BARRIE, ON, CANADAThere is some improvement in the outlook for work in our area, particularly in Bracebridge and Parry Sound, as winter reluctantly eases its grip. However, at this writing many of our members wish the work were here now rather than later. The Hydro One Project is virtually complete. Local 1739 and the Electrical Contractors Association cross-promoted each other with erection of a large sign on the project. It is good to see cooperation between the two groups, as one cannot exist without the other. Local 1739 made substantial donations to four charitable groups that provided help to less fortunate folk over the Christmas season. Bill Carson, P.S. L.U. 1837 (rtb&u), MANCHESTER, MEIBEW 1837 members in New Hampshire have been working to prevent passage of a "right-to-work-for-less" bill. Local members have sent over 600 postcards to legislators. In Maine, members participated in a statewide Labor Legislation Conference that included a tour of the statehouse and attendance at a Labor Committee public hearing. The union has filed numerous grievances and Unfair Labor Practice charges against Florida Power & Light for refusing to follow seniority or divulge employee statistics during a recent layoff. We have also had layoffs at Bangor Hydro, and have been communicating with Local 37 in New Brunswick, which is facing a possible takeover of a plant by the same company that controls Bangor Hydro. In recent negotiations with both FPL and the NH Electric Co-op, members have been switched over to an IBEW health insurance plan that provides better coverage for lower premiums than what the employers were offering. Cynthia Phinney, P.S.
L.U. 2019 (rr), BRANTFORD, ON, CANADALocal 2019 recently celebrated the retirement of Bros. Denis Brady, Gary Frederick, George Harron, Mike Murphy, Brian King, Gord Bell and Bob Fitzgibbon. These members retired in 2002 from service with the Canadian National Railway in the Department of Signals and Communications. A party was held in their honor in Burlington, ON, where each received gifts presented by Pres. Ken Roberts, Fin. Sec./Treas. Ron Hewson and Senior System General Chairman Luc Couture. Ken Roberts, Pres. L.U. 2213 (t), SYRACUSE, NYOn Dec. 19, 2002, Verizon laid off more than 2,700 New York IBEW and CWA members. At the last moment, the IBEW was able to secure more work in our bargaining unit, which resulted in saving 141 representative jobs. Unfortunately, we were not able to save 17 of our brothers and sisters from being let go. Our hope is that the "external event" court case will be decided in our favor and all of these members will be returned to their jobs and made whole in every way. This year will prove to be very trying as our contract expires in August 2003. We will band together with the other locals representing Verizon against this greedy corporate giant. Mary Beth Irving, P.S.
L.U. 2295 (em&mo), LOS ANGELES, CABro. Glenn Yates saw Bro. George Ficket collapse and fall from a massive heart attack in our American Suzuki warehouse in Brea, CA. Bro. Yates initiated CPR, continuing for 15 minutes until paramedics arrived and relieved him. Bus. Mgr. David Clay recently presented him with a life-saving award. We congratulate and thank him for his quick thinking and swift action. David Clay, B.M.
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