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Morning Session

October/November 2001 IBEW Journal

As the Tuesday morning session opened, the nation and the convention were stunned and dismayed at news of the horrific terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Prior to the opening of the days session, and at breaks in convention business throughout the rest of the week, the video crew showed television news reports on the large screens in the hall.

President Hill began by asking the delegates to pray. "We had a long discussion this morning, Secretary-Treasurer OConnor and I and a few of the vice presidents, trying to decide what we wanted to do and thought that the best thing we could possibly do is pray, pray for those who have lost their lives and pray for the families and for their loved ones and pray for guidance," President Hill said. The IBEWas well as other labor organizationshas many members at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, he told the delegates.

After silent prayer, President Hill introduced Reverend Cecil Williams of the Glide Memorial United Methodist Church, San Francisco, to deliver the morning invocation. Williams said the country cannot allow terrorists to defeat our national spirit and added, "We want to take our time to express our deep feelings of hurt our deep feelings of trying to put all of this together. And we know its not easy to put together.

"When tragedy occurs, as a people, we are always hopeful that change can occur from the most adverse circumstances," Williams said. "And so we come today. We come with our arms stretched out. We come with our lives on the line and we come knowing that in Your power and Your will, we must find ways to stay together, to work together, to be together, to love each other, to care for those who are hurting this morning."

President Hill then took a moment to recognize a 78-year member of Local 3, New York, New York, in attendance at the convention. Brother Joe Jacobson, who is 103 years old, received a rousing ovation. [ Convention Honors IBEW Centenarian ]

In a special memorial, the delegation paid silent tribute to International Representatives, local union members and International Officers who have died since the last convention in 1996.

Law Committee Chairman Dennis McSpedon, of Local 3, New York City, began the committees report, assisted by Michael Fitzgerald of Local 134, Chicago, the committee secretary.

Delegates voted to put to rest the debate over mandatory retirement of International Officers. By voice vote, delegates overwhelmingly concurred with the recommendation of the Law Committee that mandatory retirement of officers at any age is inappropriate.

On the question of mandatory retirement of International Officers, delegates heard three proposals: (1) a proposal to amend Article III, Section 1, of the IBEW Constitution to mandate retirement of the International President and International Secretary-Treasurer at age 65; (2) a proposal opposing mandatory retirement and calling for no change in the Constitution; and (3) a proposal to amend Article III, Section 2, to state that no one who has reached the age of 70 shall be eligible for election as International President or International Secretary-Treasurer, provided, however, that anyone reaching a 70th birthday while serving in either of these offices may continue to serve out the remainder of the term.

The committee concurred with the proposal opposing mandatory retirement and nonconcurred with the other two proposals. The Law Committee noted that: "The subject of mandatory retirement of International Officers has been debated numerous times at International Conventions. In 1996 a referendum vote for age 65 mandatory retirement was overwhelmingly defeated by 503,123 to 183,365."

Several delegates rose to speak in support of the Law Committees recommendation to "put this convention on record as opposing the forced retirement of our top officers at any age."

"Weve debated the issue of forced retirement at several recent conventions, and each time the convention has rejected attempts to put limitations on our International Officers," said one delegate. "Also, let us not forget that a proposal for an age 65 mandatory retirement was actually sent out to the locals for a referendum vote five years ago and was defeated almost three-to-one. The idea of forcing competent officers out just because they reach a magic age didnt make any sense before, and it doesnt make any sense now."

Next up on the Law Committee report for delegate consideration was a proposal to change the way salaries of International Officers, Representatives, Executive Assistants and Directors are determined.

The proposal to amend Article III, Section 8, stipulates that annual salary increases for the above mentioned "shall be equal to the combined average of the percentage increases negotiated and approved for the members of the Construction, Manufacturing, Telephone, and Utility branches of the IBEW for the 12-month period ending August 31 of each year."

Since 1982, salary increases for International Officers and Representatives have been limited to 75 percent of the average of the increases negotiated for members in IBEW contracts. The amendment deletes the 75 percent figure and makes the annual increase fully equal to the members average increase.

The Law Committee concurred with the proposed amendment, noting that the "present formula for wage increases, over a period of 20 years, has led to the decline of approximately 19 percent [in the pay of officers and staff in comparison to the represented members."

Several IBEW members spoke in support of the proposal. "My membership would not ask me as a business representative to work for less of an increase than they would receive under our collective bargaining agreements, so why should we ask our leaders to do so?" asked one delegate. "This amendment should have been made years ago." In a voice vote, delegates readily supported the committee recommendation.

President Hill dismissed the Law Committee for the morning and introduced guest speaker Forrest "Frosty" Troy, editor of the Oklahoma Observer. "If the English language didnt have the expression comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable, it would have to invent that saying for our next speaker, Frosty Troy," said President Hill. "As editor of the Oklahoma Observer, he does most of his afflicting against the entrenched wealthy interests of OklahomaFrosty fights back for Americas working families."

Troy harshly denounced the domination of Oklahoma by right-wing forcesincluding several daily newspapersthat led to a special election September 25 on enacting a so-called "right-to-work" law to ban union security clauses in collective bargaining agreements.
[ Troy Speech ]

On a point of order, delegate Marty Crane, business manager of Local 1141, Oklahoma City, reminded delegates of the battle in Oklahoma. "My local, 1,200 members strong, has contributed $120,000 to date to stop this union-busting legislation," said Crane, who also thanked the International Office, the hard-working COPE staff and others for their assistance in fighting this battle. President Hill added that the IBEW has sent $100,000 to Oklahoma to fight for working people in this cause, and that the Brotherhood also sent a staff person to assist in the campaign. [ Related Story ]

President Hill then announced that the count for the election of chairman of the International Executive Council was complete and that Milt Foster had been elected.

Mike Datillo, business manager of Local 1455, St. Louis, Missouri, raised a point of personal privilege suggesting that the convention contact the Red Cross to ask if they would like to set up a blood bank at the convention so delegates could donate. President Hill said IBEW staff was contacting the Red Cross to see about setting that up.

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