Related Articles

January/February 2004 IBEW Journal

Work Still Slow

Local 1701 member Donna Haynes (left) received the 2003 Outstanding Achieve- ment Award from the Owensboro (Kentucky) AFL-CIO. Sister Haynes is vice chair and steward of her unit at Western Ken- tucky Energy, as well as COPE director and  trustee of the Owens- boro central labor council.

L.U. 1701 (catv,ees,i,o&u), OWENSBORO, KY-The annual Labor Day picnic sponsored by the Owensboro Council of Labor had a great turnout of Local 1701 members. Our own Donna Haynes was presented the Council's 2003 Outstanding Achievement Award.

The Local 1701 picnic Sept. 20 at Golfland USA, was a great success. The Entertainment Committee thanks all who volunteered.

A labor rally was held by the Owensboro Building & Trades Council Sept. 27 at the National Guard Armory in Owensboro. Retired U.S. Sen. Wendell Ford got the crowd motivated on the faults of the Bush/Cheney administration.

Work in the jurisdiction is still very slow, with over 100 members on Book I. We thank all locals employing our traveling members.

In sadness we report the passing of retired Bro. Joe Sparks. Bro. Sparks leaves behind two sons, Mike and Rick, who are long-time members. May Bro. Sparks rest in peace.

Tim Blandford, P.S.

Quarterly Magazine

L.U. 2249 (em), BLOOMINGTON, IN-I am proud to announce that we have started a quarterly magazine, which recognizes the personal accomplishments of our local membership. We have a Boston Marathon sister, a brother who is the World Championship Bow Shooter, a parent of the National Skeet Shooter champion and a sister who participated on "The Price is Right" show with Bob Barker! I look forward to interviewing many other members for future issues of the magazine.

Vickey Shahan, P.S.

'Fight Like Hell'

L.U. 2286 (o&u), BEAUMONT, TX-It is time to band together and "fight like hell" (in the words of Mother Jones) for our future. We were left a tremendous legacy by our forefathers: overtime pay after eight hours worked, holidays, insurance coverage, retirement benefits, safety programs, vacations, etc. But what legacy are we leaving our children?

This political season is gearing up, with our livelihood and our future at stake. North America's job force has drastically changed; livable wages are almost extinct; retirement pensions wiped out; medical insurance obsolete or outrageously expensive, with our doctors in our employers' pockets. We are still able to pay sufficient taxes to provide programs for our indigent and make adequate wages to purchase corporate America's commodities, but we are rapidly diminishing. It is past time to pull together and work for our families, our future and our country through the political arena.

Kitty Prouse, P.S.

Jeff Deshaies Mourned

L.U. 2320 (t), MANCHESTER, NH-This local is saddened to announce the death of Bro. Jeff Deshaies, a 17-year IBEW member. Bro. Deshaies, age 42, passed away Nov. 22, 2003, following a long illness. He leaves a wife, Marianne, and a young son, Justin Conner Deshaies.

Bro. John McCassin was deployed to Iraq with the U.S. Air Force Reserves. We wish him a safe return.

Bus. Mgr. Glenn Brackett is proud to nominate Bro. Mike Hogan Jr. for the IBEW Life Saving Award. Bro. Hogan used decisive action to free a man trapped by a fallen limb during a windstorm. Police said without Mike's quick action the man may have died.

John Murphy, P.S.

Dedicated Teamwork

L.U. 2321 (t), MIDDLETON, MA-Thanks to the T-6 Council and undeterred negotiating team we reached an agreement with Verizon in 2003. The 5-year contract covers the concerns voted most important by the membership. Job security, movement of work, health benefits and wages. Most amazing of all it was done without one member on a picket line or lost wages. The key to this success story was a dedicated mobilization team from IBEW and CWA. They kept the company at the bargaining table with their "rope-a- dope" tactics.

The annual Make-A-Wish softball tournament raised $1,500.

 Eileen Fleming, V.P./P.S.