L.U. 1 (as,c,ees,ei,em,es,et,fm,i,mt,rts,s,se,spa,st&ws), ST. LOUIS, MO — Local 1 thanks members and their families for attending our evening meetings where St. Louis Electrical Connection's Gov't. Affairs Dir. Timothy Green, an IBEW Local 1 member, explained the economic damage that so-called "right-to-work" would bring to Missouri. We continue our efforts to educate and empower working families to defend against such legislative attacks on workers. Local 1 also thanks Bro. Anthony West, of IBEW Local 4, for producing a video of Green's presentation, which can be viewed on our website www.ibewlocal1.org.

We're proud to report that Local 1 member and St. Louis Electrical JATC instructor Dr. Linda Little was named to chair NFPA's National Electrical Code Panel 13, which covers emergency systems. She has been a member of this panel for over 12 years, helping to set guidelines for safe electrical installations that address the growing complexity of our industry.

Local 1 also thanks Bro. Jake Hummel, IBEW Local 1 member and Missouri House minority leader, for his tireless leadership in defense of Missouri's working families against legislative attacks that include right-to-work, paycheck deception and an effort to eliminate prevailing wage protections. Bro. Hummel received the St. Louis Building & Construction Trades Council's leadership award.

We mourn the death of: members Dorris Johnson, Francis Biri, Vincent Maniaci, Francis Graham, William May, Ronald McDonald, Michael Muckler, Norman Kunkel, Gordon Aldridge, Norman Hoffmann, Irvin Frick, Roger Dudley, Delores Allen, Thomas Elkins, Ben Sansoucie and Harold Williams.

John Moyle, P.S.

L.U. 11 (i,rts&spa), LOS ANGELES, CA — For the fourth consecutive year, the Electrical Training Institute will serve as the home base to collect all donated food for the National Association of Letter Carriers' annual "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive during the week of May 5-12, 2014. We will need volunteers all week long to collect, sort and distribute the food. Last year, the food drive collected 500,000+ pounds of food for families needing assistance in the Los Angeles area. Please help give back to our communities by assisting those in need. Contact Kevin Norton at Norton@joinlocal11.org, or drop by the ETI during the food drive week to help.

Calls into our hiring hall have continued to come in for convention work. For the first time in the history of this local, convention contractors are hiring our members to do shows such as the L.A. Auto Show, The Grammy Awards, Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), and the Anime Expo. Due to high demand, Convention Center Orientation Classes have been ongoing at the ETI. This course is required to be dispatched to shows that could last from one day up to two weeks. If you haven't done so already, enroll in the course to ensure that we can fill the calls and keep this work!

Diana Limon, P.S.

L.U. 15 (u), DOWNERS GROVE, IL — After multiple extensions spanning up to six months and dozens of meetings, our local reached a tentative agreement with Exelon, ComEd and BSC. In March, the membership voted to ratify the agreements. Ballots were counted March 31. The Exelon contract was ratified by a vote of 1,045 to 52; and ComEd/BSC by 1,592 to 116. These are both six-year packages with 2.5 percent annual wage increases each year of the agreements. These agreements cover 5,500+ members.

On the generating side, Nuclear is having meetings discussing traveling our fuel handlers for outages and projects. The fossil division is still going through a bankruptcy and sale (from EME to NRG). As of this writing, we expect that to be finalized in early April.

The commercial side is having ongoing discussions about AMI installations (smart meters). The company has proposed shortening the time frame to install these 4 million electronic kilowatt-hour meters, from an original end date of 2021 to having them all installed by 2018.

Our clerical side is having pilot programs in their different regions to standardize clerical duties and transition additional duties to the represented members.

We held a stewards school in February and 16 new stewards attended. At this writing, another stewards school was planned for March.

Local 15 Electrical Workers Minority Caucus members elected the following new EWMC officers: president – Andrea Simmons; vice president – Mario Bright; treasurer – Beth Zirbes; secretary – Karen Morgan; and executive board – Ricky Johnson, Nestor Moreno, Jaqueline Robinson, Annette Kisala and Leroy Barnes. EWMC members also attended the annual EWMC conference in Kansas City, MO.

Doug Vedas, P.S.

L.U. 21 (catv,govt&t), DOWNERS GROVE, IL — We proudly welcome our new members working for DirectSat USA, a subcontractor for DirectTV. After months of management's union busting, 47 workers voted and joined our local in January. We are very proud of the way they stood in solidarity. Since the representation election, they have begun working to achieve a first contract by completing their bargaining surveys. Obviously management wasn't happy with the workers' decision, so they started "turning the screws"; in response these new members filed their first grievance! To increase their strength, our new brothers are helping to organize their co-workers at other DirectSat locations in the Chicagoland area.

Our community outreach program continues to move forward with our members' March for Kids events. We were contacted by Mercy Home for Boys and Girls and asked if we would like to help with its annual fundraiser. Our members hit the streets and collected donations at various Chicago-area St. Patrick's Day parades. They helped spread awareness about the plight of abused, neglected and abandoned young people served by Mercy Home, while also building IBEW solidarity. It is our goal to rebuild a sense of community among our members by assisting those in our communities who need our help.

Bob Przybylinski, R.S./P.S.

L.U. 37 (em,o&u), FREDERICTON, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA — During this past winter, New Brunswick was hit with the worst storm here in 15 years, knocking out power to 88,000 customers over the Christmas season. For 11 days, Local 37's linemen battled icy roads, cold temperatures, and short days to restore power. Our members working in NB Power System Operations and Energy Control, in the Customer Interaction Centre, Engineering, and in our generating stations as well as many, many others all worked around the clock so New Brunswickers would have electricity.

During times of emergency, it is also vital to maintain communications for the public, and our members also played an important role in that regard. Our Emera Utility Services communications members kept us connected to the Internet, and our Rogers TV members made sure we all stayed informed and in-the-know.

I'm proud of all the highly skilled, hard-working members of Local 37 who are always ready when disaster strikes — these members are first responders too, just like fire and police personnel. A big thank-you goes to everyone who works so hard, sacrificing their time with family, so the rest of us can have power.

Ross Galbraith, B.M.

L.U. 41 (em,es,govt,i,se&spa), BUFFALO, NY — New Happenings at Local 41: RENEW has taken root within Local 41! Our local's RENEW group (Reach out and Energize Next-gen Electrical Workers) has been meeting regularly since late 2013, prior to the general membership meeting. At RENEW meetings, members have welcomed speakers who discussed topics including: the local pension, Robert's Rules of Order, and how the union works. Members of RENEW have also taken the opportunity to volunteer in the community. When you get together with others to help those in need, it helps to solidify the bond of brotherhood. I like it!

In February we rolled out our newly designed Local 41 website. Visit us at www.ibewlocal41.com to discover the new features we have available. We offer links to upcoming events, apprenticeship class schedules and re-sign options. Once registered to the site, additional items will be available for members to opt into, such as automatic e-mail or text options for Local 41 communications and announcements. Members can also register for journeyman education classes or join in a conversation on the message board.

Don't forget to enjoy our events this summer. It's great to see our membership get together outside of work and spend time with one another. Whether you're an active member or a retiree, it's always good to be around "family."

Gregory R. Inglut, A.B.M.

L.U. 43 (em,i&rts), SYRACUSE, NY — Feb. 25 this year marked the 100th birthday for retired member James W. Baxter. Bro. Baxter is a 67-year Local 43 member. He was initiated into the IBEW in January 1947.

Bus. Mgr. Don Morgan and Pres. Pat Costello paid a visit to Jim to honor the occasion. On behalf of Local 43's members, they presented Jim with a cake and some Local 43 souvenirs, as well as a card signed by attendees of the February 2014 local union meeting.

During their visit, Bro. Baxter recalled many projects he was involved in as an electrician and general foreman for Kay-R Electric. Notable projects include the Holiday Inn downtown (now Crowne Plaza), Syracuse University tower dormitories, Hancock Airport and Clary Middle School. He also recalled working on several Syracuse landmarks — including The Hotel Syracuse and Dey Brother's Department store — that generated their own DC power using steam-driven generators.

When asked by Pres. Costello what his secret to longevity and good health is, Jim shared two things — first, a daily beer with his lunch; and second, an annual month-long vacation. Starting in 1952, Jim took an RV to Florida for a month every spring.

Cheers to you, Jim, from all at Local 43!

Gene Townsend, P.S.

L.U. 47 (lctt,mo,o,u&uow), DIAMOND BAR, CA — Enjoy Memorial Day, but also remember the veterans who have passed and in whose memory we honor the day.

Work at the local continues to look promising. On the drawing board are two new transmission lines. Southern California Edison wants to put a line through Morongo tribal land, and there is a projected 189-mile line from a proposed 1,800 kV geothermal generation site in the Salton Sea area.

Our members at Bear Valley Electric and Mowbray's Tree Service Inc. have ratified successor agreements. At press time, we are still negotiating with the cities of Riverside, Anaheim, and Vernon.

Membership development continues to be a priority. We are in the process of organizing several line clearance companies in our jurisdiction. We are also actively organizing in the public sector.

The election season will soon be upon us, with a primary in June and the general election in November. We urge all of our members to register to vote.

We are saddened to report the passing of Ben Dunkin. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

Work safe, live well, work union!

Stan Stosel, P.S.

L.U. 51 (catv,lctt,o,ptc,rtb,t,u&uow), SPRINGFIELD, IL — The local union recently received approval from our membership and the International to purchase a new office building in Springfield. We will sell our existing building. We should get moved into our new hall this summer. Our new address will be 3171 Greenhead Drive, Springfield, IL 62711. The new office building is conveniently located right off I-72.

Our construction outlook is very favorable. We have many open calls for our line construction.

The local mourns the loss of Bro. Ryan Regan. Bro. Regan was 35 years old and his home local was 111 out of Denver, CO. He was killed on the job in February 2014 and leaves behind a wife and four children.

Our longtime office assistant, Judy Sprinkel, will be retiring in May 2014. Judy started with our local in 1967. Anyone who has traveled through our jurisdiction and stopped by the local to sign up has had the pleasure of meeting Judy. We wish her the very best retirement possible. Enjoy your family, Judy!

The first quarter of 2014 marks the retirement of many long-standing members. We thank them for their years of service and wish them all an enjoyable retirement. Work safely, today and every day. Please attend your monthly unit meetings.

Karlene Knisley, B.R.

L.U. 53 (lctt,o,rts&u), KANSAS CITY, MO — We currently have full employment for outside construction with more than 100 travelers working.

Getting It Done: Bus. Rep. Dexter Drerup recently helped conclude a three-year contract extension with Webster Electric Co-op in Marshfield, MO. The contract runs from April 16, 2014, through April 16, 2017. The contract includes a 2 percent wage increase for each year of the contract, and all union employees are now on the HSA Plan. The groundmen also got a $1.00 an hour wage adjustment along with the across-the-board pay increases.

Current Negotiations: As of this writing, Bus. Rep. Bruce VanCompernolle is participating in negotiations with Missouri Gas Energy, which was recently acquired by Laclede Gas out of St. Louis, MO. He is in a full campaign to save the jobs of 87 employees. At press time, the contract was set to expire April 30. The campaign website is www.KEEPKCJOBS.ORG.

Convenience Reminder: For our brothers and sisters traveling abroad — you still have the option of making your payments by phone by credit card. And of course without fees!

Strength in Solidarity: Our attendance at the local's monthly meetings has been great. Keep up the good work!

Hope all finds and keeps you well … Local 53!

Tracy A. Riley, V.P.

L.U. 57 (lctt,mo,o,t&u), SALT LAKE CITY, UT — While inspecting equipment outside of a substation on a hot July afternoon near Salt Lake City, Local 57 Pres. Willie Murnin felt as if he were going to faint. Soon thereafter he was lying face down in grass next to the truck. Fortunately, he was not alone; Apprentice Estimator Becky Corbett was working with Willie that day. She noticed that he had not returned to the truck and saw him on the ground. He appeared to be lifeless and was unresponsive. Having been trained at the utility company, she checked for signs of life, then contacted EMS and began to administer CPR.

Slightly dazed and confused, Willie was transported by ambulance to the hospital and was released the next day. He is doing fine and appreciates that he was with a co-worker who was trained and certified in first aid and CPR.

Local 57 would encourage everyone in the Brotherhood to seek First Aid and CPR training. It just may come in handy someday.

Scott Long, P.S.

L.U. 77 (lctt,mt,o,t&u), SEATTLE, WA — Continuing education should aim at keeping trade unionists professionally active, growing and productive. IBEW Local 77 believes further education and training allows members and staff, at whatever level, to develop their full potential and be of maximum value to this industry.

In order to achieve this, Local 77 has developed a comprehensive learning program by tapping into the expertise of the Washington State Labor Education & Research Center, the Grace Carroll Rocky Mountain Labor School and also, as of this year, the Harvard Trade Union Program.

On Jan. 6, Local 77 sent three members (Bus. Rep. Nichole Reedy, and business rep mentees Joe Spallino and Steve Kovac) to Harvard's intensive six-week training program, where they had the opportunity to: gain insight into the complex political, social and economic forces that shape our operating environment; learn essential skills for the management and leadership of unions; and develop relationships amongst people who work in the national and international labor communities.

After graduating from the Harvard Trade Union Program, our members brought back keener analytical, managerial and problem-solving skills, as well as widely developed ways to deepen understanding of the value and importance of labor unions.

Louis R. Walter, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 83 (u), BINGHAMTON, NY — It is with great sadness that we report the death of Bro. Darryl Coots. Darryl, a garage mechanic first-class, was traveling in a NYSEG company vehicle in the town of Grove, near Hornell, NY, when he was involved in a car accident. Bro. Darryl joined the IBEW in April 2009. A veteran of the U.S. Army serving his country from 1996-2000, Darryl was stationed for a time in Korea. He is survived by his fiancé and three young children.

Legislatively, we have six goals in Albany. These goals pertain to: 1) Staffing levels, day-to-day and storm specific. 2) Opposing the Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE). 3) Transco legislation and projects. 4) Utility-worker-assault legislation. 5) Unresolvable contract negotiations (binding arbitration). 6) Call center relocation/closure; strongly oppose PSC interpretation of the legislation.

Don S. Tuttel, P.S.

L.U. 97 (u), SYRACUSE, NY — At the recent Third District Workshop in Atlantic City, Local 97 Asst. Bus. Mgr. James Card invited union member Timothy Collins to present a safety demonstration regarding the importance of working safely on the jobsite.

Tim, a former "hot stick line mechanic" with Niagara Mohawk Power Corp., at the age of 39, lost both of his arms after making double contact with 7,200 volts. The first contact tripped the substation off-line, only to have it re-close back on for a second contact, which actually started Tim's heart beating again. Tim has triumphed through numerous surgeries, rehabilitation, counseling and prosthetic care over the last 16 years.

James Card and Union Safety Advocate Frank Hilliker approached Tim about giving his safety presentation across Local 97's territory in upstate New York. Tim agreed, put together a program and now shares his profound message of safety that resonates deeply with audiences, both professionally and personally.

If your local would like to utilize Tim's message, he can be contacted by e-mail at 7200vlts@twcny.rr.com.

James Zabinski, V.P.

L.U. 103 (cs&i), BOSTON, MA — Local 103 has informed the public for some time now about our exceptional training in both the electrical and telecommunications industries; we have utilized television and radio commercials for this purpose. These innovative steps help to recapture lost market share while improving our image as a union. Displaying a positive message gives us a leg up on our nonunion competition. That is why Local 103 also has been broadcasting with WBZ 1030-AM radio, where every Friday morning at 8:15 a.m. Bus. Mgr. Michael Monahan updates listeners on the latest developments of Local 103 projects in and around the Boston area.

Additionally, Local 103's new mission statement can be found on our website www.the103advantage.com, where a video displays our ties to the communities where we live and work here in the Boston area. The video shows that our service does not end after our eight hours. It explains our active participation as community members, including such activities as coaching our kids' teams, volunteering to assist many charitable organizations and helping in countless ways to improve our communities. This is just one of many informational videos posted at www.the103advantage.com.

Kevin C. Molineaux, P.S.

L.U. 105 (catv,i&o), HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA — At this writing, it appears we have a Provincial election coming up and this is a reminder to our brothers and sisters that beyond emphasizing the importance of voting, we hope to raise awareness of all political issues that concern us as working families. There are no small issues in politics. That is why it is important for us to be aware and take action, casting our vote and making our voice heard. It is our right, it is our duty and our responsibility, so mark the date and show up to cast your vote.

We welcome all of the new journeymen and apprentices to the hall. Welcome and well-done, brothers.

We also remember our brothers who passed away this past year; take a moment to reflect upon their time with us and their families who carry on.

In closing, remember to take the opportunity the local offers to upgrade your skills; it's never too late to learn. Take advantage of the top-notch facilities at the training centre. Knowledge is power. Times are changing so let's prepare ourselves by continuing to be competitive and prepared for the present and the future of our trade.

Phil Brown, P.S.

L.U. 111 (em,govt,lctt,mt,o,rtb,spa&u), DENVER, CO — Another era comes to an end. Effective April 1, Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. Michael A. Byrd officially retired. Senior Asst. Bus. Mgr. Sean P. McCarville was appointed business manager/financial secretary to fill the remainder of Byrd's unexpired term.

Bro. Byrd graciously said: "Most of all I want to thank the membership of Local 111 for voting for me in the last four general elections. You have allowed me the privilege and honor to serve you for 10 years as business manager/financial secretary, and for 27 years of total service. I will always be grateful to you. Thank you so very much."

We sincerely thank Bro. Byrd for his tenure and wish him well in his future endeavors.

Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. McCarville brings several years of experience and considerable knowledge to the table. He is a journeyman lineman out of the Construction Unit and has been a member of IBEW Local 111 for 18 years. Bro. McCarville came on staff in 2001, and has worked endlessly to bring the younger workers into active union roles and to create membership participation, among many other duties. He will be a great asset to Local 111.

Mike Kostelecky, P.S.

L.U. 125 (lctt,o,t&u), PORTLAND, OR — The local is pleased to announce the addition of Jeff Carson and John Kutrowski to its staff. Carson will assume responsibility for Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative, Skamania PUD, Harney Electric Cooperative, Clark Public Utilities and Hood River Electric Cooperative. Carson was employed by Portland General Electric prior to accepting this new role. A BPA employee, Kutrowski has been assigned to Bonneville Power Administration, the City of Milton-Freewater, and Umatilla Electric Cooperative. Carson came on board as part of staff restructuring, while Kutrowski filled a vacancy created when Brian Gray took a position with Local 77. Welcome to both!

Congratulations to Jim Sweet, Executive Board treasurer, on his retirement from Portland General Electric. With 42 years of service, Sweet has served the local union in a variety of roles throughout his career, including as an Executive Board member and as a trustee on the PGE IBEW Medical Plan. He continually gave back to the local and always set an extraordinary example of what it means to be an IBEW member. On behalf of the Executive Board, staff and members of Local 125, we wish Sweet and his wife, Jeannie, many years of healthy and safe retirement.

Marcy Grail, A.B.M.

L.U. 141 (ees,i,o&u), WHEELING, WV — We continue to enjoy full employment in our local thanks to several natural gas related projects. We are also looking forward to several other projects that may be in the near future.

Our local's 2013 Christmas party was a success, and we are currently looking forward to a spring dinner/dance for the membership.

I would also like to congratulate our newest journeyman inside wiremen: Wayne Crall, Danni Christie, Korrie O'Donnell, Joseph Wycherle, Brian Vivod, Kevin Schramm, Bruce Francis and Matt Stottlemyer. Congratulations to all, and good work!

Michael Parker, R.S./P.S.

L.U. 191 (c,i,mo,rtb&st), EVERETT, WA — As reported in January, the work picture looks real good this year. As of this writing the books are starting to move and more of our brothers and sisters are getting back to work as we begin to dip into Book 2.

Recently I was reminded of the importance of communication. With that said, I wish to thank the staff of The Electrical Worker and the brothers and sisters who keep the information flowing. By using resources such as The Electrical Worker, local newsletters or websites, our members find out what's happening in our locals. As I read through Local Lines news, I also see mention of events such as local picnics, golf tournaments and retiree clubs. Communicating to the membership reminds us that the union is more than a hiring hall and encourages participation.

Local 191 will hold elections in June. Like any election, participation is critical! Please voice your opinion, and vote! To the staff and members who step forward to serve on committees and trusts, as delegates or elected officers, I commend you and wish you good luck. For those who have served in the past, thank you!

Tim Silsbee, P.S.

L.U. 193 (i,lctt,o,rts,spa&u), SPRINGFIELD, IL — Greetings, brothers and sisters.

The City Water Light & Power Dallman 33 Power Station had a precipitator rebuild scheduled for this spring and it will be completed by the time this article is published.

The St. John's Hospital addition and remodel is nearing completion at this writing.

The Hy-Vee Grocery Store project employed 20-30 Local 193 electricians; the store is scheduled to open in May. Local 193 extends appreciation to all involved for demonstrating confidence in IBEW Local 193 by selecting a union contractor and skilled IBEW electricians.

Five IBEW Local 193 electricians were added to employment by the Illinois secretary of state.

W.D. Right of Way Clearing (outside contractor) and Synergy Electric (inside contractor) signed agreements with Local 193. We welcome them to Local 193 as new signatory union contractors.

Congratulations go to Charles Barber and Jim Fisher on receiving their 65-year service pins. They both served as officers of Local 193 for many years and are still faithful attendees of the retiree meetings.

With the coldest winter since 1981 still gripping the jurisdiction at this writing, we must turn our attention to summer stuff — Cards, Cubs, White Sox, golf. Old Man Winter, please hobo away; it will be a glad farewell indeed. Think Spring!

Our condolences go to the families of Carl Gillock and Edgar Hoover, who recently passed away.

Don Hudson, P.S.

L.U. 241 (i), ITHACA, NY — Congratulations to our most recent apprenticeship graduates, who have become Local 241's newest journeyman wiremen. All successfully completed the inside wireman apprenticeship program. The 2013 graduates (pictured right) are: Kyle Sutliff (left), Joel Walsh, Tony Sudnikovich, Billy Maul, Matt Whittaker and Terry Strednick. We also commend all of our "apprentices of the year" as follows: first year class – Carlos Ribella; second year – Greg Sondrel; fourth year – Patrick Spirawk; and fifth year – Matt Whittaker.

Local 241 has received Excellence in Training Awards for 14 years in a row, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our training staff. Kudos to all.

We extend our condolences to the family of John Aagaard, who passed away Feb. 24, 2014. John was a member of Local 241 for more than 55 years and also served as a trustee. He will be missed.

Work productively and safely.

Michael A. Creasy, P.S.

L.U. 257 (em,i,rtb,rts,spa&t), JEFFERSON CITY, MO — Congratulations to our 2013 graduates. We have another group of fine electricians who have worked hard and successfully completed their five-year apprenticeship training to become journeyman electricians.

As for our Local 257 work picture, we have been steadily busy over the past few months with the new St. Mary's hospital being built in Jefferson City, as well as other surrounding projects. We have all our hands working with a few travelers also. We thank all involved for their hard work to keep the contractors picking up projects! The new St. Mary's project has approximately 80 electricians working on-site, with a completion date around August 2014.

The new CW/CE program has also brought more work to our local, getting local contractors more jobs than they had before.

As I write this article, we are rallying to oppose so-called "right-to-work" legislation in the Missouri Legislature. Foes of working people are trying to get it passed. Such "right-to-work-for-less" legislation would mean lower wages for working people and the middle class that has kept America going.

On a sad note, our condolences go out to the families of those we lost this year. We will miss: Dennis Vanloo, Loyd William, Patrick Francis, Ron Tagert, Piper Carroll, Terry Joe Rowland, Bill Fisher, Carol Pulliam and Butch Scheppers.

Support your local unions, so we can keep our unions strong!

Ryan Buschjost, P.S.

L.U. 269 (i&o), TRENTON, NJ — Green was the scene for the beginning of March throughout our territory as local members participated in three separate St. Patrick's Day parades spread out over three weeks. Spirits were high and the weather co-operated (for a change), as brothers and sisters marched side by side in a show of solidarity and union pride. All the major trade unions were represented as parade watchers were reminded of just how many of us are woven into the fabric of their communities. Hats off to the organizers and participants for their hard work and enthusiasm.

Economic green shoots were also visible at yet another large-scale solar installation in Pemberton, NJ. The steel posts that will eventually support acres of solar panels represent more work for our members and an additional clean, affordable energy source. Every day, solar power becomes an increasingly viable and prevalent source of alternative renewable energy. Solar continues making great strides. Projects such as these will help maintain New Jersey's status as a national leader in the field of solar power.

Brian Jacoppo, P.S.

L.U. 343 (i,spa&st), LE SUEUR, MN — Thirty-five years ago, in April 1979, Local 343 was chartered as an independent local union separating from Local 949, a utility local. The hall was located near the center of the jurisdiction … Le Sueur, MN. Since then, the hall has moved several times. Now, there is a new Mankato location, at 709 S. Front Street. A union's physical address may change, but never its mission: to serve its membership through seeking better wages and working conditions, protecting workers' rights, promoting dignity on and off the job, and helping our own in need.

Speaking of his military service in Afghanistan, former Local 343 apprentice Jack Zimmerman stated: "I remember stepping on the IED (improvised explosive device) and hearing a poof. I looked down and saw that my right leg was missing and my left leg was pretty messed up." Jack had taken a military withdrawal from the apprenticeship to join the Army. His life changed beyond belief that day in March 2011 on patrol in Afghanistan. Today, Jack and his wife have a child. They anticipate moving into their new, custom home with a roll-in shower and elevator. Among those making this possible are the Mankato Area Building Trades, Local 343 Brotherhood Fund, and Local 343 volunteers.

A union is only as strong as its members. Amen, brothers and sisters. Keep Americans working. Buy Made in USA.

Tom Small, P.S.

L.U. 347 (em,i,mt,rtb,rts&spa), DES MOINES, IA — Local 347 is currently in the enviable position of having nearly 200 travelers working in the jurisdiction. We wish to thank those brothers and sisters for bringing their skills to central Iowa and helping with the work. This is the first time that I know of, in the history of this local, that we have had this magnitude of work and this many calls for travelers. Thanks to all for your assistance.

Speaking of the history of the local, a 100 year anniversary party is being planned for Oct. 11 of this year. Watch for more details. Also a spring picnic is planned for May 31. Mark your calendars.

The inside labor contract negotiating committee has been assembled and is currently working on the contract issues. Happy May Day (International Labor Day).

Mike Schweiger, P.S.

L.U. 349 (em,es,i,mps,rtb,rts,spa&u), MIAMI, FL — Miami Local 349, West Coast Division, Asst. Bus. Mgr. Mike Nagle recently helped out a cancer patient who needed assistance with electrical power. WINK-TV News reported that the patient's power had been turned off, due to a new landlord's mistake and the necessity for a meter upgrade. Bro. Nagle, on hearing the report, contacted IBEW signatory contractor Unity Data & Electrical Services to help supply labor and materials to bring the meter up to code. Then Nagle contacted the city's electrical inspection department to help expedite getting the power turned back on for the patient.

Bro. Nagle told WINK-TV News, "We couldn't let her be without electric power; we wanted to help and get the power back on. Hopefully this will never happen to her again."

In other news, our West Coast Division has three pump stations in the works. Merritt canal pump station (CR Dunn) is in the testing and startup phase. Faka Union pump station (Dynalectric) is approximately 45 percent complete. Miller pump station bid in December 2013; Cogburn Brothers Inc. is in negotiations with the general contractor at the time of this writing.

Remember our servicemen and servicewomen overseas; bring them back home safe.

Remember to attend your union meetings.

Frank Albury, P.S./Exec. Bd.

L.U. 357 (c,i,mt&se), LAS VEGAS, NV — We congratulate our apprenticeship graduating class of 2014! We are very proud of the graduates.

The new installation technician graduates are: Joshua Barragan, Rory Christel, William Orozco, James Roy and Joshua Whinery.

The 2014 journeyman wireman graduates are: Kelly Abercrombie, James Anderson, Brendan Barboza, Bryan Barnett, Gavino Bautista, Earl Brady, Geoffrey Bright, Javier Cabrera, Shane Cady, Howard Caldwell, Sandra Castro, Robert Chandler, Jorge Chavez, Michael Cobb, Marlin Cobwell, Bryan Crowel, Scott Davey, Guerrero Diaz, James Dickens, Michael Dietrich, Donald Dietzel, Michael Eastman, Todd Elliott, Brian Farr, Ryan Ferguson, Justin Fischer, Christopher Gallagher, Christina Georgi, Joshua Grapes, Kodi Green, Daniel Groneman, Jack Hagewood, Nicholas Harvey, Zachary Heier, Jason Heinz, James Hill, Derrick Holzer, Killis Howard, Adam Jenkins, Heather Johnson, Philip Johnson, Eden Jones, Michael Katz, Carole Kilburn, Lacy King, Waldo Kline, Emily Knight, Julie Kulling, Gregory Leal, Courtney Leija, Chad Lozier, Jessie Madrid, Matthew Maloney, Murphy Maloney, Marshall Marion, Rene Marquez, Adam Marx, Kevin McGee, Michael Mergenthaler, Timothy Mills, Donald Morris, Michael Morris, Carlos Mota, Chad New, Tam Ngo, Dominic Nolan, Ricardo Ortiz, Matthew Park, Travis Parnell, Mihai Paun, Juan Perez, Chauncey Pereza, Anthony Pope Sr., Audra Porter, Shannon Renteria, Jerry Rodriguez, Victor Rodriguez, Travis Rowley, Kevin Sanderson, Tom Schoonover, Blake Scott, Ronald Shaw, Benjamin Sherwood, Taelor Singh, Dionna Smith, Jonathan Smith, Robert Smith, Xavier Smith, Erin Sullivan, Charles Tippitt, Donald Tolbert, Joel Valice, James Vanroy, David Varney, Bennett, Villanueva, Shane Willett, Dale Willhite, Ahmad Williams, George Williams, Harry Williams, Daniel Young and Douglas Ziegenhagan.

Jennifer Tabor, P.S.

L.U. 449 (catv,em,i,o,rtb,spa&u), POCATELLO, ID — As we look ahead to gain more market share in 2014, we see that we have to be more inventive. One way to make this happen is to get more union shops. Local 449 is going about this in two ways, by continuing to organizing and also by helping start shops from within our membership. We started several in 2013 and will start more this year. We are going after as much of the residential market as we can get.

With a heavy heart we report the passing of our Bro. Jeff Jaggar, who died as a result of a workplace accident in February. The overwhelming support that the local and the family received from our organization from across the country was absolutely amazing. It just goes to show that we are the finest organization in the world. I just want to say thank-you to all those who helped the family out in this time of need.

It is a great pleasure to recognize several Local 449 members who have taken the next step in life and retired from all the hard work they have put forth in helping to make the IBEW the great organization that it is. Congratulations to recent retirees: former Eighth District Int. Vice Pres. Ted C. Jensen, Bro. Scott Colson and Bro. Dale Baisch.

Rodney James, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 453 (govt,i,rtb,rts&spa), SPRINGFIELD, MO — Local 453 held our Annual Retirees Christmas Dinner Dec. 19 last year with approximately 70 people in attendance. This is my favorite celebration that Local 453 sponsors, as we get to see longtime friends and mentors, who share stories of events from the previous year and revisit the tales remembered from the past. Local 453 presents retirees with their years-of-service pins at this holiday dinner gathering.

The 2013 pin recipients not present were Charley Higgins and Ron Robinson (55-year members), Lee Austin (65-year member) and Floyd Blue (70-year member). Int. Sec. Emeritus Jack Moore attended the dinner and I had the honor of presenting his 65-year pin. Thank you, Bro. Moore, for all you have contributed to the IBEW, Local 453, and all of organized labor. Thanks to all who attended. Stay in touch and see you soon.

Randy Appleby, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 459 (ees,em,govt,mt,so&u), JOHNSTOWN, PA — Recently, seven members of Local 459 met for the first meeting of the Active Member Outreach (AMO) in Johnstown, PA. The AMO is a committee of workers under 35 years of age now working closely with the Local 459 officers to educate and increase youth member participation. The AMO is composed of a president, vice president and five members at large. They are all from different geographic regions of the local and will act as a representative of the group from their respective areas.

We are all very excited to learn and help educate other young and new members. As a member of the IBEW Third District Youth Caucus and seeing what great work is being done there, I am excited to take part in starting the Local 459 AMO with the help of other great members of our local.

Jeremy Tarbay, P.S. Pro Tem

L.U. 477 (i&rts), SAN BERNARDINO, CA — Brothers and sisters, I hope this writing finds everyone doing well and working. Every year our neighboring Riverside, CA, Local 440 puts on a clay shooting event. Shown in the accompanying photo is our team from 2013. Appearing left to right are John Handcock, Ryan Falk, Leo Gonzales, Jeff Kilgore, Justin Gaudin (and his young son), Joe Madrid, Sam Heminger, Mike Felts, Victor Rodriguez, Matt Garbo and Dean McKernan. Everyone involved had a great time. We are already looking forward to the next clay shoot event, scheduled for November 2014. Until next time, everyone be safe.

Kenny Felts, Pres.

L.U. 569 (i,mar,mt,rts&spa), SAN DIEGO, CA — We had a great volunteer turnout for the recent special election for mayor of San Diego. Our membership showed up in full force to carry the message about the importance of electing a mayor who supports middle-class working families. We enjoyed the participation of journeymen and apprentices from both our Inside and Sound Units. Although we didn't get the results we had hoped for in the election, we are very proud of the effort from our membership and the help from our sister locals in California including Locals 11, 47, 302, 332, 440, 441 and 595.

Our campaign volunteering helped strengthen our partnerships with community, social-justice and environmental allies who share our vision for union jobs and healthy, sustainable communities — shining a light on the increasing inequality in our city and emphasizing why a strong middle-class depends on a vibrant labor movement.

Our heartfelt thanks go out to all who gave of their time in this effort.

David Taylor, Pres./P.S.

L.U. 589 (rr), JAMAICA, NY — As of this writing, our members have been without a contract for nearly four years. But unlike our employers, the Metropolitan Transit Authority, we will continue to bargain in good faith and hope to prevent an unnecessary strike that would adversely affect millions who commute daily in and out of New York City on the Long Island Rail Road. The members of Local 589 are up for the fight!

Augie Maccarone, R.S.

L.U. 595 (c,cs,govt,i,mt,o,se&st), DUBLIN, CA — The Local 595 Annual Benefits Fair was held at our new ZNE training center in February. More than 175 members and spouses attended and visited the many informational booths set up in the Grand Lecture Room. Booths were staffed by: providers who offered information pertaining to health care, dental and vision care; representative of the credit union; plan administrators; home finance representatives; and the Local 595 Retirees Club. Thanks to a strong financial market recovery, our pension managers brought in a ray of sunshine on a rainy day.

In honor of Black History Month, Local 595, the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus Northern California Chapter, and EWMC RENEW 595 hosted a dinner for Local 595's first African-American inside wireman. Bro. Wheeler "Bill" Briant is now age 94 and has been a member for 66 years. Growing up in New Orleans during the Great Depression taught him much about life and the value of hard work. His advice for young IBEW members: "Don't smoke or take pills; use your own mind and do the right thing."

We are saddened by the loss of past president Larry Call, who represented former Local 591. Bro. Call was an active member for 43 of his 53 years in the IBEW. He had a passion for old cars, trains and most of all the love of his wife, Brijida, and three children.

Bob Tieman, B.R.

L.U. 611 (catv,es,govt,i,lctt,o,spa,t&u), ALBUQUERQUE, NM — On Feb. 17, the local held an open house to celebrate its 100 year charter. Throughout the day members could drop by, enjoy refreshments and look through all the vintage pictures and articles about the local that Tracy Hall compiled over the last 40 years.

On Feb. 22, the local held its official extravaganza at the Isleta Casino and Resort. The day started with a golf tournament in the morning and fishing at the lakes; for adults there was also poolside relaxation to enjoy. The fun center was open to the kids from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., where they bowled, played laser tag and enjoyed lots of food.

Evening events began with a welcome reception from 6-7 p.m., where attendees enjoyed hors d'oeuvres and heard a speech by U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, whose father was an IBEW member. Dinner was from 7-8 p.m. and the evening featured dancing, casino night and lots of door prizes. It was one of the finest events the local has ever had. More than 600 people attended to celebrate the occasion.

Darrell J. Blair, P.S.

L.U. 625 (c,ees,em,i,it,mar&mt), HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA — Congratulations to Bros. Ben O'Brien, Justin Campbell, Daniel Lagan, Evan Bennett and Justin MacKay for successfully completing their apprenticeship and passing the Red Seal exam. You are journeymen now, brothers … time to help some apprentices learn the trade.

A big shout-out to our friends on the West Coast at IBEW Local 993, Kamloops, British Columbia, for the job calls to the Kitimat Modernization Project. Thank you, Darryl and Mollie, for your help putting our members to work.

Recently retired are Bros. Ken Keller and Wilfred Hughes. Hope to see you at the Retirees Banquet and Dance in the fall.

It's election time in Local 625. Don't forget to cast your vote.

The big work for 2014 will be the new Convention Centre downtown, a half-billion-dollar project, as well as the Irving Shipyard restructuring, a one-third-billion-dollar project. We're hoping Northern Pulp proceeds with plans to add a precipitator in Pictou County.

Tom Griffiths, A.B.M.

L.U. 627 (u), FORT PIERCE, FL — Our largest fundraising event is happening on June 21 this year. "The Ironman" event — a day of golf, dart throwing and billiards — requires only a willingness to make children smile. We know "there is no skill involved," so no need to worry about that. A desire to help your community and the positive results of that desire do not go unnoticed. Please consider registering for this year's event.

The OSHA safety record for the Florida Power & Light transmission and distribution (T&D) yards and the service centers now stands at more than one year of safe practices. Congratulations to everyone for watching out for your fellow members. At press time, the refueling outage was underway and I hope it was completed as an event-free period for everyone.

On a somber note, FP&L ended the nuclear apprentice program. This cancellation ended the pipeline of workers we had developed to provide a younger workforce. To all the union officials and journeymen who made this a viable source of trained workers, we say thank-you.

Please attend union meetings, not only to show support for the members, but also to stay informed about all the latest news.

Ray Vos, P.S.

L.U. 639 (i&rts), SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA — IBEW Local 639 journeymen, apprentices, Bus. Mgr. Mark Simonin, and member-contractor Francois Beraud recently volunteered to complete the electrical work at the ECHO Homeless Shelter in Atascadero, CA.

Thank you to all who participated on this project as a way to give back to the community.

Kurt McClave, P.S.

L.U. 659 (c,catv,em,i,lctt,o,st,t&u), MEDFORD, OR — The Trees Inc. contract was recently settled. A three-year contract was agreed to with a 2 percent pay increase each year of the contract. Any increase in the LINECO premiums, up to 25 cents per hour, will be picked up by the contractor. If there isn't any increase in LINECO, then the 25 cents per hour will go into the employees N.E.A.P. account.

Two large potential projects in our jurisdiction show promise to provide work for our inside members. One is a solar project in Fort Rock, OR, that needs to be completed this year to get promised funding.

The other is the Karuk Indian tribe casino in Yreka, CA. If built they have said it will be built with a project labor agreement. As planned it would be built in two phases. The first would be a 36,000-square-foot gaming center; the second would be an 80-room hotel with an additional 20,000 square feet of gaming.

The annual union picnic will be at Richardson Park outside of Eugene, OR, on June 21. The park is on Fern Ridge reservoir, with campsites available. Please attend this family friendly event.

Tom Legg, Pres.

L.U. 673 (catv,,rts,spa,t&u), PAINESVILLE, OH — This past fall our business manager along with the E-Board began investigating the feasibility of doing a lighting retrofit on our local's buildings. A number of supply houses were brought in to price out the materials and calculate the energy savings, which would also provide us with energy credits from our electric utility. At our December 2013 meeting, a supplier was chosen and the material was ordered.

The lighting was finally delivered in early February, but problems quickly surfaced when the kits did not fit our fixtures. The lighting rep was quick to respond but had no easy solution for our issue. It was decided to replace some of the kits with new fixtures and we moved on.

The membership came up big with many volunteers who quickly installed these fixtures throughout our property. Special thanks go out to Bro. Jim Howard for taking the lead on organizing this project. There were many tenants to deal with and even an unforeseen power outage. Thanks to all of our members who helped make this project work!

Jim Braunlich, P.S.

L.U. 681 (i,o&spa), WICHITA FALLS, TX — On Feb. 9 this year, IBEW Local 681's charter became 100 years old and we had a party to celebrate this event. We had members in attendance ranging from those with 65 years of IBEW service to brand new member with less than a year of service.

The celebration was held at the Wellington Banquet and Conference Center in Wichita Falls. Approximately 120 members and their spouses attended, as well as IBEW Int. Vice Pres. Steven M. Speer and our Int. Reps. Clayton White and Laurence Chamberlain. Larry was one of the two former business managers present and Michael Kelly was the other. This was also an opportunity to honor members by presenting service pins to eligible recipients with 5-65 years of IBEW membership. It was a great evening we had to celebrate this occasion.

The work situation has been fair on the outside with several transmission jobs; however they are pretty much finished up. The inside division has been slow with only one shutdown that has almost cleared the books. The work situation for the inside may be picking up and may be able to keep all of our local members working.

Leland Welborn, A.B.M.

L.U. 683 (em&i), COLUMBUS, OH — Officer nominations were held in the month of May and elections are in June; please plan on attending the meetings.

We will also host our annual members-only Fish Fry in June. Come down and join your brothers and sisters for this event.

Thanks to Bro. Malcolm Giffen for his hard work on the blood drives. The Brotherhood and the community appreciate it.

Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Bro. George Litchfield, who passed away. He will be missed.

Eric M. Evans, V.P./P.S.

L.U. 697 (c,es,i,mt&se), GARY AND HAMMOND, IN — Wind energy is at work at Local 697! This winter Local 697 installed a 100-kilowatt wind turbine manufactured by Northern Power Systems of Vermont.

In addition, we specified that the tower itself would be manufactured in the U.S. with American made steel! While this demand caused some delay and created some added expense, the leaders of Local 697 recognized the impact that the steel industry has had on the lives of everyone who lives in Local 697's jurisdiction.

The tower will function as a Local 697 training tool. Additionally, One Energy Wind of Findlay, OH, acted as a construction manager and vocational instructor as the firm worked with apprentice electricians from IBEW Local 697 as well as apprentices from fellow trades including the local Ironworkers, Carpenters and Cement Masons who worked on the installation. All the apprentices became familiar with wind turbine construction and the associated unique safety requirements.

Community Service: Thank you to all who participated in our March Blood Drive and all those who took part in Local 697's annual team effort for the March for Babies campaign. These are just a few of the civic activities we participate in throughout the year. You should all be proud!

Dan Waldrop, B.M.

L.U. 725 (i,rts&spa), TERRE HAUTE, IN — We escaped this year the repeal of our state prevailing wage law, the Indiana Common Construction Wage, as the Republican-controlled state Legislature focused on other election year issues. However, just as we saw previously what was on the horizon a year before "RTW for less" passed, we need to continue educating our friends, neighbors and elected officials about how prevailing wages protect local jobs, keep local people working and keep our local economies strong.

Even more importantly, please register to vote and vote your pocketbook in the primary and in November! Without work, it will be hard to be worried much about anything else, right? In 2015, an attempt to repeal the prevailing wage will happen, so please start acting now before it is too late.

Congratulations to members Ryan Hughes, our new JATC training director, and Shawn Stewart, our new assistant training director. We wish them the best of luck!

Finally, a big thank-you to all of our members who volunteered their time this past year to the local by bannering, sitting on committees, donating their labor, and running for office. Our local union is only as strong as our members! You make our union proud!

Tom Szymanski, P.S.

L.U. 861 (i), LAKE CHARLES, LA — Local 861 officers, staff and members wish to thank Karen Miller for her 27 years of service as office manager of Local 861. Karen's devotion to our local will be sorely missed, but we all wish her the best in her retirement. IBEW Fifth District Int. Vice Pres. Joseph S. Davis presented Karen with a 25-year pin.

We also wish to announce that Bus. Mgr. Jeff Sanders has hired an additional organizer, Jesse Fontenot. Jesse will help with field organizing efforts across our jurisdiction. Organizing remains Local 861's No. 1 priority.

In brotherhood,

Dwayne "Tink" Reeves, R.S.

L.U. 1015 (em&i), WESLACO, TX — Cinemark Pharr Town Center, the newest addition to the Rio Grande Valley, is proud to say that it was union made!

Journeymen, construction electricians, construction wiremen and apprentices worked together on this luxurious addition to the city of Pharr. Our Code of Excellence was greatly enforced during construction of this grand building. We are proud to say that these brothers worked their hearts out for this theater project, which they successfully completed with zero accidents, within budget and with all deadlines met.

The contractors and owners congratulated all the guys who worked on this JBI Electrical Systems project, as well as Local 1015 Bus. Mgr. Sergio A. Salinas, for the great job they did. The commitment and effort put forth by all involved led to our successful outcome. We are proud of the excellent work and construction, and we look forward to all the great work that is yet to come. Union members are proud of the majestic building and their work.

Sergio A. Salinas, B.M.

L.U. 1249 (catv,lctt,o,t&u), SYRACUSE, NY — We at Local 1249 wish to recognize a great member of the IBEW. After 40 years with Local 1249, Charlie Brigham decided to retire in March of this year. Charlie has gone from apprentice lineman, to journeyman lineman, to holding several office positions with the local. He has been an Executive Board member, president and chairman of the Executive Board, as well as assistant business manager. He has also been a trustee for our IBEW Local 1249 Pension and Insurance Fund. Charlie has had quite the career! We thank Charlie for his dedication to this local.

Words cannot express how much we will miss such a great colleague and friend. I don't think that there is one person at this local whose life hasn't been positively affected by Charlie. We wish him the best in his newfound "freedom" and hope his retirement is everything that he has worked so hard for.

Jennifer Schneider, P.S.

L.U. 1393 (catv,lctt,o,t&u), INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Congratulations to Sister Kayla Ripley, traffic signal apprentice-3rd step, who won the IBEW Hour Power Apprentice of the Year award. Sister Ripley is a third-generation IBEW member who has demonstrated excellence while training in the Traffic Signal and Lighting apprenticeship program. She was at the top of her class at ALBAT. She was working for Shambaugh & Son during a Local 1393 organizing campaign; while working in a hostile environment, she assisted her local in giving her co-workers information they needed in order to make the right choice in choosing the IBEW.

The Vectren Energy Delivery of Indiana Inc. apprenticeship graduation was in January 2014 — with 16 IBEW Local 1393 members graduating after four years of instruction and hands-on learning. The apprenticeship training is a joint program of Vectren Energy, the IBEW and the United Steelworkers for Service and Distribution Dept. members working for Vectren Energy.

The ReNew committee of Local 1393 is busy energizing the younger members and promoting the IBEW in the community. Various 2014 events are planned across the state, so take this opportunity to get involved in your local.

Robert C. Fox, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 1439 (u), ST. LOUIS, MO — This year's Missouri legislative session has seen a number of anti-union bills being pushed in the House. So-called "right to work/freedom to work, paycheck protection," and prevailing wage bills have all been introduced by Republicans. In order to defeat these anti-worker measures, it is imperative that all of our members stay informed and get involved in any way possible.

On Friday, Feb. 7, the Gen-Up committee hosted a trivia night at the St. Cletus School Gymnasium. The event was well-attended and a good time for all. We appreciate the hard work of those involved in organizing and setting up the event.

Congratulations to our members at the Callaway Energy Center for surpassing their 15th year without a "LWA" (Lost Workdays Away) accident. The Storeroom team includes Charlie Powell, Wade Orr, Sam Mantle, Kent Wulff, Chip Holtkamp, Shane Clines, Jason Bright, Lucas McClain, Mark Harvey and Matt Curry. Keep up the good work, brothers.

The 19th Annual Tom Kraus Memorial Golf Tournament will be June 21. Get a team together and make plans to attend.

Matt Curry, R.S./P.S.

L.U. 1501 (ees,em,mo,pet,rts&t), BALTIMORE, MD — The Metropolitan Baltimore Council of AFL-CIO Unions held its 23rd Annual Leadership Conference on Jan. 8-10. Representing our local were Bus. Mgr./Pres. Dion F. Guthrie and myself, Rec. Sec. Tom Rostkowski.

The conference agenda covered issues of concern to the labor movement. Of particular interest were conference workshops, including one I thought especially important: "Recent Labor Law Decisions that Every Union Leader Should Know." Management never hesitates to use shrewd lawyers to accomplish in the courtroom what they failed to gain in contract negotiations. We were pleased that the conference invited Kimberly L. Bradley, Heather Hellman and James Rosenberg, of Abato, Rubenstein and Abato, P.A., the law firm that represents our local, to conduct several workshops. Having a competent law firm on your side in a labor dispute is a necessity today. Representatives from several other law firms that provide services to unions also attended.

Guest speaker Michael Sacco, president of Seafarers International Union, spoke on "The Importance of the Maritime Trade in Maryland." The Port of Baltimore is sometimes referred to as "the port that built a city."

Baltimore Harbor, guarded by Fort McHenry, held back a British fleet in the War of 1812 — and Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the Star Spangled Banner. Our local is well aware of the importance of the port. Bus. Mgr./Pres. Guthrie is president of the Baltimore Port Council and was introduced to conference members by Sacco.

Attendees viewed the conference as a success.

Thomas J. Rostkowski, R.S.

L.U. 1523 (u), WICHITA, KS — Greetings to all. Tough weather conditions are frequently a factor for our IBEW members on the job. Kansas is known for its buffalo and wheat fields. But the weather is tops on my list. The elements can make or break the workday, often creating increased stress and great challenges.

Some of our members must combat the elements every day at work. Whether our members are on the phone helping our customers or working outside in rough weather, the stress is always on hand. I know the physical work is dangerous, and the mental demands also require stamina. So, as we come to work every day, all of our members face challenges. I know that long hours are hard no matter which job we carry. We as brothers and sisters of the union have a tough battle watching out for each other on the job. Sometimes it seems that things are changing so quickly we can hardly catch our breath.

We will stay strong, and that will take the actions of every member. Keeping all of our union members safe requires an ongoing effort by each one of us.

Solidarity and participation are keys to our continued success. When was the last time you went to a meeting? And again I ask: do you know who your shop steward is? Stay safe, stay focused.

Candy C. Cruz-Dodd, P.S.

L.U. 1579 (i&o), AUGUSTA, GA — Our work situation is good. Many sisters and brothers from other locals are working here; we thank them for their help. Work at Plant Vogtle is slowly manning up. The Mixed Oxide (MOX) project is unique. Budget issues are being ironed out; we are meeting with our legislators, who are giving their full support.

National midterm elections are approaching. Living in the South, the political environment is often tough. Many politicians are campaigning against unions; they misrepresent and malign labor and working people, stating that unions are unwanted in the South. They are wrong! Support the candidates who support you.

Remember to attend union meetings on the third Monday of each month; dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting at 7:30 p.m. Until next time, may God bless.

Will Salters, A.B.M.

L.U. 1837 (rtb&u), MANCHESTER, ME — Fiber microwave technicians and customer service representatives at Central Maine Power Company (CMP) have overwhelmingly ratified their first union contracts. The 52 workers are now part of the largest existing bargaining unit at CMP along with hundreds of other IBEW members.

"There's no doubt in my mind that we're better off," said Phil Fessenden, a fiber microwave technician at CMP.

Both the fiber microwave technicians and the customer service representatives employed at CMP's Augusta general office voted for union representation in National Labor Relations Board elections held last May and June, respectively. CMP is Maine's largest electric utility.

"I'm excited that the committee was able to negotiate an acceptable first contract," said Joe Giuffrida, a customer service representative and member of the union negotiating committee. "I'm blessed to work with such a great group of individuals both at the Call Center and at IBEW Local 1837."

Both contracts provide the workers their first grievance and arbitration procedures, the protection of a "just cause" provision and improvements in wages and benefits.

IBEW 1837 Bus. Mgr. Dick Rogers noted that the contract votes represent a significant achievement for the workers and for the local union.

"These successful organizing campaigns and first contract ratifications mark the continuation of successful efforts by IBEW Local 1837 to grow our membership and represent more workers at electric utilities in Maine and New Hampshire," Rogers said.

Matthew Beck, Organizer