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May 2005 IBEW Journal L.U. 1 (as,c,ees,ei,em,es,et,fm,i, mt,rts,s,se,spa,st&ws), ST. LOUIS, MOConstruction has begun on the new home of the 2004 National League champion St. Louis Cardinals. The new Busch Stadium is scheduled to open for the 2006 season. IBEW Local 1 is well represented on the project. At the time of this writing, Sachs Electric has over 50 wiremen on the power side of the project. It is estimated that the job could eventually build in manpower to almost 300 members at projects peak. This is good news since more than 300 local members are on the out-of-work list. Temperature Control Systems has several members taking care of the controls for the HVAC system, and TSI is handling a sizable portion of the communications work. The stadium is a Project Labor Agreement job. Bus. Rep. Joe Cousin advised that he was told by management at a PLA meeting that they are, "remarkably impressed with the skill and quality of construction of all the union trades work in St. Louis." Please be advised of the following member deaths: Edward Kerry, Edward Blittschau, John Irwin, Sharon Jones, Joe Feher, Jack Bolhafner, George Fleming, Arthur Watts, James McGoldrick, Gene Nothaker Jr., Harold Pekarek, Gregory Gundlach, Robert Noble, Elbert Peal, William Higgins, William Belt and Harry Brown. Matthew F. Gober, P.S.
L.U. 9 (catv,govt,lctt,o&u), CHICAGO, ILFor the past 40 years, Fred Hince served as president of Local 9. Sadly, on Nov. 13, 2004, Fred passed away after a battle with cancer. Bro. Hince swore nearly all our current members into the local. He was a general foreman in charge of linemen at the City of Chicago, Bureau of Electricity and was employed by the city for over 58 years. Bro. Hince was a long-standing delegate to the Chicago Federation of Labor, past president of the Chicago Municipal Employees Society, and delegate to many IBEW International Conventions. He was a Local 9 member for 59-plus years, Bro. Hince served with six different business managers and served on countless committees. For many years, Fred organized our locals family picnics and social and political events. A stalwart trade unionist, he helped shape federal guidelines for union elections. Even though he never retired, Fred fought for social security and pension rights of all members. He kept a watchful eye on political developments in Washington and Springfield and reported to the local at monthly membership meetings. Fred was a veteran of World War II. Godspeed, FredWe thank you for your dedication to the labor movement. John P. Conroy, Pres.
L.U. 15 (u), DOWNERS GROVE, ILBro. Mark Wilson, a fleet mechanic at Libertyville headquarters, received the IBEW Lifesaving Award for his heroic efforts on Sept. 29, 2004. Bro. Wilson was one of 40 Local 15 members dispatched to Florida in September to assist in hurricane restoration efforts. He was driving south on I-95 when a semi-truck rear-ended another truck. Bro. Wilson saved the life of a truck driver by pulling the man from his crunched cab moments before it burst into flames. Our members at Midwest Generation are preparing for contract negotiations that begin later this year. The local is also in contract negotiations for the ComEd System Services Group and medical insurance costs are a major issue. As the Exelon Corporation continues to expand, the IBEW local unions at the company have formed the Exelon Unions Coordinating Council. The EUCC comprises Locals 15, 51, 614, 777, 1289 and 1306 and will focus on coordinating efforts to respond to the companys anti-union, anti-worker efforts. Local 15s senior assistant business manager serves as chairman of this effort. Among the focal points for the EUCC is the acquisition of PSE&G in New Jersey, as well as the recent IBEW representation vote for the PECO Transmission & Distribution and customer operation Call Center employees. Ronald Welte, P.S. L.U. 17 (catv,em,lctt,o&u), DETROIT, MIAre we heading into a Perfect Storm? The long-term labor shortage continues to be a threat, allegedly a 10 million-person shortage in the United States by 2010, 40 million by 2015. A projected 43 percent of the U.S. civilian labor force will be eligible to retire in the next decade. Statistics like these should concern us all. Can there be a labor shortage? Maybe. Can there be a skill deficiency? Probably. Can there be a shortage of knowledgeable workers? Most definitely. Rapid changes in the job market and work-related technologies will necessitate increased training for virtually every worker. When opportunities arise for additional training or certifications, we must continue to take advantage of them so we can continue to be the work force of choice for customers and employers. With sadness we say goodbye to an old friend of Local 17, Bro. Russell A. Stock, who passed away in October 2004. Bro. Stock was a journeyman lineman for Detroit Edison. He served as president of Local 17 from 1968-1973. Additionally, he was an assistant business manager under three different administrations, from 1964-1987. We are also saddened to report the loss of Bros. Carl Clark, Peter Rombouts, Richard W. Thoel, William Laster and Clarence M. Gardner. Bob Eckhout, Pres./P.S. L.U. 41 (em,es,i,se&spa), BUFFALO, NYThis Mays union meeting will be nomination of officers and the June meeting will be the election of officers. Be sure to come out and exercise your right to vote! Another class of new journeyman wiremen and sound wiremen will join our ranks in June. Congratulations to allall your hard work has finally paid off. We have been very busy negotiating new contracts for the Motor Shops and wage re-opener for the Residential. Hopefully everything is complete by the time you read this and everyone is happy with the outcome. On Sept. 17 the locals annual outing will be held at VFW Post #8113 in West Senecca. More information will be provided. Journeyman update training has been very popular this year, with classes maxed out in OSHA certification in scissor lift, aerial boom and man-lifts. The temperature control, LON works and code update classes have been very well attended also. I would like to remind everyone to keep track of your pay stubs. They are very important for unemployment, accidents and pensions. It is also very important that the union office has a current address and phone number on file for all members for mailings and emergencies. Charles P. Moore, P.S. |
