Related Articles

October 2004 IBEW Journal

On Their Way

L.U. 1116 (em,lctt&u), TUCSON, AZTo all our new union brothers and sisters at UniSource Gas in northern Arizona: Welcome to our IBEW family. By now you are familiarizing yourself with the benefits of a fair labor agreement and what benefits you will have in the years to come, as your voice is heard and things improve. Starting from scratch, developing a contract and finding new members to step into the roles that make a local unit tick was long coming but an experience he will never forget, says Local 1116 Bus. Mgr. Joe Carl.

Two teams from TEP and one from UES in Nogales participated in the Sept. 11, 2004, Linemans Rodeo. While working their regular hours on the job, these union brothers also worked on honing their skills after hours. We will have more on the results at a later date. On the TEP team were: Jim Bentley, Bill Christ, Mike Elias, Jason Mozingo, Dustin Christmas, John Poels and alternate Charlie Dilday. On the Nogales (UES) team were: Lino Vega, Oswald Abril, Enrique Rodriguez and alternate Alejandro Hidalgo.

Reminder to all members: Get out on election day and make a difference. Cast your vote!

R. Cavaletto, P.S.

Treat Workers Fairly

Hi Def-LowPay: Local 1220 members employed by WGN-TV came up with a number of slogans for T-shirts they wear when working high-definition cameras that broadcast the Chicago Cubs or White Sox games.

L.U. 1220 (rtb), CHICAGO, ILOn May 12 the Tribune Corporation held its annual stockholders meeting in Chicago. The Tribune owns WGN-TV, which is powered by Local 1220 members whose contract has been left open since 2000.

Some 1220 members who are stockholders were allowed into the meeting. Questions concerning a fair contract were asked of CEO Dennis Fitzsimmons, whose salary and bonus last year totaled over $2 million. Local 1220 members have not had a raise in four years.

Outside the event, 1220 members employed at WGN-TV, WTTW and as freelancersalong with workers in solidarity from AFTRA-SAG, NABET Local 41, and the Chicago Federation of Laborpassed out pamphlets urging people to call or write the Tribune Corporation to advocate fair treatment of workers (see photo).

Local 1220 asked and received permission from the I.O. to purchase shares of companies that have contracts with the union. Local 1220 can now purchase a few shares of a contracting company so members can attend these stockholders meetings to give labor a voice.

Jim Sterne, P.S.

Recorders Conference

Local 1260 delegates attend the Chair and Recorders Conference held at the local union hall in Honolulu.

L.U. 1260 (catv,ees,mo,rtb,rts,spa &u), HONOLULU HIIn March 2004, Local 1260 held its Chair and Recorders Conference at the union hall in Honolulu. Representatives from various units included members from Maui, Kauai, Hawaii, Molokai, Guam and Oahu. One of the highlights was welcoming the newest members from Guam.

William Puette, Ph.D., director of the Center for Labor Education and Research at the University of Hawaii, gave classes for our chair and recorders and conducted shop stewards training. Puette was a guest speaker at the 2003 IBEW Ninth District Progress Meeting and at the recent Telecommunications and Broadcasting Conference.

Guest speaker at the Recorders Conference was U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), a long-time supporter of Local 1260.

In the past year, new contracts were negotiated for all the TV stations, Hawaiian Electric Industries, and many other companies we represent. Many of you know two of our famous retirees, Annie Freitas, former president of Local 1260 and Alvin Vierra, former treasurer. Well miss seeing their signatures on checks (just kidding). We wish them well.

Remember: An injury to one is an injury to all.

Ned Sperling, Recorder, Unit 6.

Your Union

L.U. 1306 (uow), DECATUR, ILLocal 1306 recently elected officers for a three-year term: Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. Karlene Knisley, Pres. Lucinda Wyatt, Vice Pres. Cindy Redding, Treas. Teresa Boehm and Rec. Sec. Connie Shabowski. Executive Board members are: Lori Hearring, Mary Jo Hendricks, Faith Jinks, Bo Slaw, Sarah Sylvester and Arlene Trusner.

I am pleased to announce we have two new Senior Engineering Representatives, Julie Baumgardner and Vickie Darmer. We have four new Lead Customer Service Reps: Kimberly Barnett, Gwendolyn Childress, Tonya Sanders and Jan Schmidt. Congratulations to all members on their accomplishments.

Our annual Kenneth G. Coleman Scholarship had several applicants this year and each wrote an essay on the topic, "How has 9/11/01 Affected You and the World Around You?" The winning entry, submitted by Sheena Freeman, was selected by an independent panel of union teachers.

I encourage all comments, suggestions, ideas and assistance from members. Please contact the union office if you would like more information about an issue or would like to help out on a project. Remember that our union is your union. Please continue to attend your unit meetings and vote pro-labor in November.

Karlene Knisley, B.M/F.S.

Retirement Cookout

Local 1316 Bro. James Harrington (front row, fifth from right) at a retirement picnic in his honor. Extending congratulations are some of his co-workers employed at Mid-Georgia Electrical Services and company co- owners Bros. Randy Tidwell (far left) and Steve Carter  (far right).

L.U. 1316 (i&o), MACON, GAEmployees of Mid-Georgia Electrical Service turned out for a retirement cookout for Bro. James Harrington on July 8. Bro. Harrington is a 43-year IBEW member and longtime employee of Mid-Georgia Electrical Services.

Mid-Georgia Electrical co-owners Randy Tidwell and Steve Carter are both longtime members of Local 1316. Approximately one-half of the employees who work for the company are pictured in the photo.

Local 1316 members and Mid-Georgia Electrical Services wish Bro. Harrington a long and happy retirement.

-Johnny Mack Nickles B.M./F.S.