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June 2003 IBEW Journal L.U. 300 (govt,i,mt&u), MONTPELLIER, VTWork continues to be slow in the Green Mountain State. We have beaten the nonunion out of some of their "promised" jobs. Organizer Leigh Girouard needs help from all of our out of work members to apply to the Fletcher Allen Hospital job. Please call her for more information. Local 300 is excited to announce Green Mountain Power as a new signatory contractor with Unit 7. We are all looking forward to working with our sister unit in the upcoming years. Local 300 would like to recognize fifth-year apprentice Jeffrey Wimette. Bro. Wimette is a sergeant first-class with the 386 EN BN USAR and recently received his orders for deployment to Kuwait. Our thoughts and best wishes go to him and his family. Leigh A. Girouard, R.S./P.S. L.U. 306 (i), AKRON, OHCongratulations to Bro. Edmund Romito on his special award for 31 years of service to Local 306. Ed served as apprenticeship instructor and a Pension Annuity Trustee from 1972-2002. Retired Bro. Connie Mack Johns received the prestigious Silver Beaver Award from the local council of the Boy Scouts of America. From the Eagles in our local, and those of us who hold the words, "On my honor" dearly, our heartiest congratulations. We wish our latest group of retirees good health and good luck. Bros. Bill Proctor, Robert Boyle, John Moore, David Strabel and Myron Stewart will finally get to empty the job jar at home. While we struggle to contain out-of-control health care costs, rising taxes, shrinking retirement savings and sanctions from unsympathetic officials, we pause to count our blessings. We chose a vocation, which quickly becomes an avocation. We live in the greatest nation on earth, where freedom and opportunities abound. We enjoy a standard of living unequalled by any civilization in recorded history. As Americans we also know the price of these blessings. When we go to work, whether we pull on our safety shoes and grab our hardhat and pouch, or lace up our combat boots and grab our weapon and helmet, we know our job and how to get it done! Robert Sallaz, V.P./P.S. L.U. 332 (c,ees,i,o&st), SAN JOSE, CAWork continues to be slow and most of the new work will be in the public sector while we try to wait out this downward cycle in the economy. One thing is surethe economy is cyclical. So, enjoy the good times when they are here, but plan ahead. It is more important than ever for our jobs to do well. We have to make sure that customers know that theyre getting a better job and a better deal by using skilled union labor. State certification is just around the corner; so dont wait until the last minute to take the exam. There are only a few testing sites, with only a few computer terminals at each site. You can imagine the logjam in the last half of the last year. This test is for all electricians, not just union electricians! Drop in classes are held the first four Saturdays of the month at the Electrical Training Center. Each class will cover a different section of the Code book, in addition to brushing up on theory. There is a great diversity of opinion in organized labor about what has been going on with our country and our government, but our workplace issues remain the same. We must stick together on all the issues that working people have in common and try to have tolerance about the rest. Alan L. Wieteska, P.S. L.U. 340 (em,i,o,rts&spa), SACRAMENTO, CAOn Saturday, April 5 our business office held an informational seminar for future Local 340 retirees. It was well attended, and our members came away with all of their questions answered, along with some very good ideas on how to proceed with their retirement plans. Special thanks to NEBF Asst. Administrator Jack Sahm, who flew in from Washington, DC, to partake in this seminar. His presentation was very well received and much appreciated by the members and myself. At present Local 340 has five members on military withdrawal. They are Bros. Brodie Bickel, John Birks, Paul Fisher, Arnold Roff and Kurt Steeby. Please remember these brothers in your thoughts and prayers, as well as all who are fighting in the war. We pray for their safe return to their families. Work remains very, very slow in our jurisdiction. I understand it is pretty much the same all over. We hope it will pick up soon. The Local 340 daily job calls are now listed on our web site at: www.ibewlocal340.org after 6 p.m. With sadness I report the deaths of retired Bros. Kenneth Gallegos, Earl H. Haltom, Earl Miller and Charles D. Rickaby. Rest in peace. A. C. Steelman, B.M./F.S./P.S. L.U. 354 (i,mt,rts&spa), SALT LAKE CITY, UTTo the brave men and women, past and present, who stand to defend these United States of America, we say thank you and may God bless and protect you and your families. The Inside branch is currently in negotiations with our NECA contractors. We have had some great suggestions from the membership to help the negotiating team. Bus. Mgr. Cliff Howard has appointed Corey Hilton, Mike Dunfield, Jason Lambourne and Gary Beckstrand to assist him in the negotiations. The Political Action Committee (PAC) has a new group called "The Young Guns." With the attacks on working people by the current Washington administration, and Utahs own closed door sessions setting public policy without public input, these committee members have a lot of work to do before the next election. Please call Mike Dunfield at the hall for more information and what you can do to help make our voices heard. Remember, public officials view silence as approval. The annual Pin Party will be held in July at the hall in a general meeting open to all units, and spouses are welcome. Hope to see you there. Manya Blackburn, R.S./P.S.
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