Retired
Local 105 member Dale Bochek, left, receives the IBEW Life Saving
Award from Bus. Mgr. John Grimshaw and his son, active member Brent
Bochek, receives his award from Local 105 Pres. Vic Prohaska.
L.U. 105 (catv,i&o), HAMILTON, ON, CANADAAt the March regional
membership meeting, retired Bro. Dale Bochek and his son, active
member Brent Bochek, were honored for saving the lives of two boaters.
The boaters were clinging to a capsized boat in the frigid waters
of Cameron Lake in Northern Ontario in May 2002 when the Bolcheks
came to their rescue. Dale and Brent were presented with the IBEW
Life Saving Award by Bus. Mgr. John Grimshaw and Pres. Vic Prohaska.
The Electrical Contractors Association of Hamilton is in the process
of establishing a local residential agreement to attempt and recover
that market. We are looking forward to April, when the Hon. Jane
Stewart, federal minister of human resources development, will dedicate
our Training Center.
L.U. 131 (i,rtb,rts&spa),
KALAMAZOO, MIOur work picture has somewhat slowed, with 80 on Book
I and 500 on Book II.
We are currently offering our membership the opportunity to become
updated with a new safety program called Safe to Work. There are
a total of 14 modules that are now in place, and have been accepted.
This Safe to Work safety program may become a general requirement
for employment at many of the auto factories here in the state of
Michigan for the years 2004-2005. This program will continue to
update itself every three years, requiring the individual to do
the same to remain current.
L.U. 141 (ees,i,o&u), WHEELING, WVWork in our area has slowed
dramatically. A maintenance outage at American Electric Power manned
by employees of United Electric has ended. A synthetic fuel plant
being done by Erb electric is now complete. A hotel and racetrack
expansion project at Wheeling Downs, being done by Lighthouse Electric,
has begun reducing manpower.
In addition, an outlet mall project planned for downtown Wheeling
has been scrapped because of funding problems. We look forward to
the start of the Cabelas distribution center, and a shopping plaza
in South Wheeling.
Some of our members attended Workers Memorial Day ceremonies in
Moundsville at which members of AFL-CIO unions commemorate workers
injured or killed in the workplace. Upcoming events for our members
include our annual summer picnic, and IBEW officers leadership
training, which we hope will be well attended.
We are fortunate enough to report no deaths of local brothers since
our last edition of "Local Lines." We hope to make this
a trend.
L.U. 145 (em,i,o,rts,spa&u),
ROCK ISLAND, ILCongratulations to the many members who have recently
retired. Enjoy your time and thank you for your many years of service
to our local union and the electrical industry.
We have a new three-year inside agreement, however the work continues
to be slow this year. A big "Thank You" to the other local
unions that have been able to refer some of our brothers and sisters
to work in their jurisdiction. Our Community Services Committee
has been busy the past several months. Thank you to the members
who continue to volunteer their time and talent to help the community
in many different ways.
Our inaugural local golf outing was a huge success and we look
forward to watching this annual event grow over the coming years.
Also, many thanks to Tom DeBo and the entire committee for making
our annual picnic bigger and better each year.
The members and officers of Local 145 extend their sympathies to
the families of our members who have recently passed away.
L.U. 177 (bo,ees,i,mo&pet), JACKSONVILLE, FLLocal 177s work
situation is not a pretty picture. We are suffering "Double
Bush-Whacking" with the deficits being created by our United
States President George W. Bush and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. Our future
does however look a little brighter in spite of the Bush duo. We
have recently completed extensive electrical work at Alltel Stadium,
home of the Jacksonville Jaguars, in preparation for the 2005 Super
Bowl, and are expecting some airport expansion and extensive hospital
electrical work.
Bus. Mgr. Eddie L. Dedmon and Industrial Org. Joe Roberts recently
completed the contract renegotiations for our Navy Base service
contractor Johnson Controls-Hill. The innovative negotiating skills
of the negotiating committee provided a contract that will yield
a 3 percent pay increase, 12 percent health insurance increase,
and 401(k) increases annually for the life of the contract.
Also on the industrial side, Bro. Roberts successfully organized
and is currently negotiating the contract for our new brothers and
sisters of Price Brothers Company Inc., a manufacturing outfit located
in Palatka, Florida. They are the worlds largest manufacturer for
pre-stressed concrete cylinder pipe generally used in powerhouses.
Contract negotiations are said to be going well and are expected
to be completed within the next 60 days.
Related Articles
Retired
Local 105 member Dale Bochek, left, receives the IBEW Life Saving
Award from Bus. Mgr. John Grimshaw and his son, active member Brent
Bochek, receives his award from Local 105 Pres. Vic Prohaska.
