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Afternoon Session

October/November 2001 IBEW Journal

Immediately after the convention was called to order Wednesday afternoon, President Hill recognized two delegates who outlined severe threats to the IBEW that are unfolding in their statesthe lockout of Local 15 members by Midwest Generation in Chicago and the September 25 election to impose a right-to-work law on Oklahoma.

"Right from the start, we knew we were in trouble," Local 15 Business Manager William H. Starr said. After arriving as a new owner in 1999, Midwest Generation took a hard-line approach. Starr said members walked out June 28 and have been out ever since. [Ed Note: On October 17, Local 15 members ratified a new contract. Story]

Last week, the members voted to return to work unconditionally, he said, but were locked out "and the sad part, Im sorry to say, is many members of the UA and the Operating Engineers have crossed our picket lines." Starr thanked the IBEW officers and members for their strong support and "the IBEW locals of northern Illinois who have stayed out, despite the pressure thats been placed on them."

Kevin Blackburn, business manager of Local 1002 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, rose to extend "gratitude to you for the significant financial contributions and staff to fight against right-to-work in Oklahoma." Blackburn said that "if enough states have ratified right-to-work, a U.S. constitutional amendment pursuing a national right to work will be sought." [ Ed. Note: The right-to-work initiative passed in Oklahoma on September 25. Oklahoma Enacts Right-to-Work in Special Election ]

Blackburn said he had talked to Oklahoma AFL-CIO President Jim Curry, "who believes that the additional money (in excess of $340,000) contributed here could put us over the top; and he wished he could be here personally to thank the IBEW from the bottom of his heart." [ Story: IBEW Sends $341,500 to Fight Right-to-Work ]

President Hill introduced four fraternal delegates from the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) of Australia. The unions national secretary, Peter Tighe, expressed international solidarity with IBEW brothers and sisters and said "how devastated we were yesterday when we saw the innocent lives lost in that horrific attack on your country." Others in the delegation were Richard Williams, state secretary of the Communications Electrical Plumbing Union and two other ETU officers, National President Dean Mighell and Secretary Bernie Riordan.

Tighe expressed optimism about the potential for interchange of information between the IBEW and the ETU following his conversations with President Hill and Secretary-Treasurer OConnor. He presented President Hill with a piece of "authentic aboriginal art, from our indigenous people."

Saying, "thank you" to delegates from the First District for breaking their deadlock on the third try, President Hill began the formal nomination and election of candidates for District Vice President and International Executive Council seats.

Following convention ratification of the caucus choices for office, President Hill announced that Debbie Harget, business manager of Local 2300, Northglenn, Colorado, was the winner of the IBEW-PAC raffle of a denim IBEW jacket covered with numerous pins from local unions.

The captain of the legendary 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, Mike Eruzione, was one of the scheduled speakers unable to reach San Francisco. In his place, President Hill introduced Fred Horvath of PacifiCorp, a labor relations officer and former member of the IBEW who works with four IBEW locals. He has done extensive work with the IBEW in promoting the 2002 Olympics.

Following a video presentation on the Olympics, Horvath told the delegates of the close cooperation between PacifiCorp and the IBEW in acting as sponsors of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games to be held in Salt Lake City, Utah. "We truly appreciate the opportunity to partner with the IBEW during the 2002 Winter Olympics," Horvath said. "PacifiCorp and Local 57, Salt Lake City, will provide power and logistics for 10 competition venues and four other facilities, including the media center." [ Horvath Speech ]

Following Horvaths remarks, Winter Olympic hopeful Mark Hoaglin, an IBEW journeyman lineman from Local 57, greeted the convention. Hoaglin is part of a four-man bobsled team that is one of up to 10 competing for two spots on the U.S. bobsleigh team. PacifiCorp is paying him while he trains full time and Local 57 is giving financial support to his team. A Mr. Utah bodybuilder at age 41, he was recruited by a member of the bobsled team at the gym where he works out. [ Convention Visitors Catch the Olympic Spirit ]

After a video presentation on the 2002 Winter Olympics, President Hall recessed the convention.

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