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January/February 2004 IBEW Journal
L.U. 557 (i,mt,rts&spa), SAGINAW, MI-Our Organizer Dale Wehner is putting forth lots of effort and getting support. Continued gains in residential hands should continue to create more union-wired homes. People are considering opening contracting firms and, with Dale's encouragement, may have a needed positive attitude. Income from this summer's work will help for the moment, but we need to get more hands working. National politics are of great importance-our grandchildren will be paying debts the Bush administration has incurred. Union volunteers on the Veteran's Plaza project have gotten the underground lights set and much of the wire pulled. This major project of bringing all the war memorials into one location and supporting them with state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems will be a great legacy. Local 557 members also recently volunteered on a Habitat for Humanity project. The Habitat house on Williamson Street was a three-day build. Blessed with warm weather, the first day saw completion of walls, the roof and a lot of drywall work. Job action to aid organizing is everyone's job-members can help identify where the jobs are and help turn those jobs around. John E. Clemens, P.S. L.U. 569 (i,mar,mt,o,rts&spa), SAN DIEGO, CA-A line has been drawn in the sand of Southern California's sunny beaches. As of this writing Local 569 continues to stand with the UFCW's 70,000 strikers as they hold the line for health care. The strike began on October 11. Local 569 members and their families have stepped up to the plate by offering much-needed financial support, attending rallies, walking picket lines in our neighborhoods, and by "adopting" the striking stores near the union hall to provide UFCW workers assistance and solidarity. We thank the members of SEIU and Teamsters who have honored UFCW picket lines and held strong for all of us. While the strike was in full swing, San Diego was struck by tragedy as fires swept through the county. Ten Local 569 families lost their homes in the blazes, which took weeks to extinguish. Once again 569 members volunteered in their neighborhoods, held a work party at a retired member's home, and reached into their pockets to help sisters and brothers in need. We look forward to the new year and the many challenges it will bring. With the Bush administration's continued attacks on working families, we are gearing up to make sure IBEW has a strong voice in the 2004 elections. Jennifer Badgley, P.S. L.U. 577 (em&i), APPLETON, WI-Work is still slow here and for our sister locals as well. Economists predict a "jobless" recovery, which our members are living every day. We hope that a year from now we will see former President Bush collecting a paycheck from someone else. The N.E.W. Building Trades worked tirelessly to convince Calpine Corporation to sign on to a project labor agreement for the Fox Energy Center. More than 200 building trade members gathered for a rally at the site of a groundbreaking ceremony on Oct. 22, 2003. We weren't allowed to enter the project, but we stood shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters and advertised "Calpine's Broken Promise." I hope that as this article is published, that we will have come to an agreement. With a projection of 600,000 man-hours for the first phase, this is the largest project in this area for a long time. This year's annual safety training classes include aerial lift platforms, fork truck, and one module devoted to NFPA 70E. Practice safety awareness everyday at home and on the job. Greg Breaker, P.S.
L.U. 595 (c,govt,i,o&st), DUBLIN, CA-Local 595 invited members' children to meet Santa, and canned goods were collected at the event for the Alameda County Food Bank. Later that evening attention was turned to the recognition of long-time members. "Old Timer's Night," usually a midweek event, was held on a Saturday. The big moment of the evening was when Jeannie Morris, who worked in the 595 office from 1962 to 1981, was given an honorary membership. Since Jeannie's term as president of Local 595's Retirees Club, it has grown from 60 members to over 400. We were fortunate to honor eight members with 60-year pins: William Geiger, Jr., Elbert Hutchens, Wallace Joost, Albert Kwasky, Earnest Nelson, Albert Schoux, Sr., Albert Servold and Henry Weaver. Thank you to all who made this evening so memorable. Marta Schultz, P.S. L.U. 596 (i,o&u), CLARKSBURG, WV-Longtime member and recent retiree Ronnie Hitt lost his life in an ATV accident in Oct. 2003. Ronnie was a 47-year IBEW member. He was 65. Work is still very slow in central West Virginia. The Institute of Scientific Research, a nine-story office building in the Fairmont, WV, area, is starting to staff up. Phase one of the Ruby Hospital expansion in Morgantown, WV, has also started. The $950 million, coal-fired Longview Power Plant is back on schedule. According to the Longview Power Web site the plant will use cutting edge technology to protect the environment. It will use acid mine drainage water as its primary water source. This project has had a lot of roadblocks to being built, but we're keeping our fingers crossed. Local 596 Bus. Mgr. Darwin Snyder, president of North Central WV Building Trades, reports that a Project Labor Agreement has been signed with United Hospital Center for a new $265 million hospital in Clarksburg, starting in the spring of 2004. Butch Adams, P.S. |
