The regular meeting of the International Executive Council was called to order at 8 a.m. by Chairman Pierson, on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015, in Washington, D.C. Other members of the council in attendance were Calabro, Calvey, Burgham, Riley, Walter, Wagner, Lavin and Galbraith. The council began the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and Oath of Allegiance.

International President Stephenson

International President Lonnie R. Stephenson met with the members of the International Executive Council to discuss a variety of matters affecting all branches of the Brotherhood.

International Secretary-Treasurer Chilia

International Secretary-Treasurer Salvatore (Sam) J. Chilia presented financial reports covering the IBEW Pension Fund and the Investment Portfolio of the Brotherhood — both in Canada and in the United States. Resolution of IEC regarding Funding of the Pension Plan for International Officers, Representatives and Assistants and the Pension Plan for Office Employees of the IBEW was discussed.

Legal Defense

Payments for legal defense, made from the General Fund, were examined and approved in accordance with the requirements of Article X, Section 1, of the IBEW Constitution.

Financial Reports

The International Secretary-Treasurer's Reports for the various funds of the Brotherhood were presented to the members of the International Executive Council, examined, approved and filed.

Restated IBEW Relocation Policy

The International Executive Council discussed and approved the restated IBEW Relocation Policy, effective July 1, 2015.

Electrical Worker Historical Society Restoration Project

The International Executive Council discussed and approved to secure a line of credit for the restoration of the property known as the Henry Miller House by conference call on November 2, 2015.

Letter of Appeal to the International Convention

The International Executive Council read and discussed the appeal letter from Perry Speranza, Local Union 353, Card Number D-624320. Brother Speranza's appeal was referred to the International Convention.

Action Involving Members Receiving Pension Benefit Funds

The International Executive Council reviewed the file of retiree Larry P. Chapman Sr., Local Union 1393, Card Number D-320543. Following an investigation it was determined that Brother Chapman while receiving benefits from the Pension Benefit Fund (PBF) returned to trade and made himself available for work. As a result, the IEC requires Brother Chapman contact his local union and tender dues payments for the time period he returned to trade and made himself available for work without additional PBF credits. Brother Chapman must reimburse the PBF payments received for that time period.

The International Executive Council reviewed the file of retiree Hubert Link, Local Union 529, Card Number D-604438. Following an investigation it was determined that Brother Link while receiving benefits from the Pension Benefit Fund (PBF) returned to trade and made himself available for work. As a result, the IEC requires Brother Link contact his local union and tender dues payments for the time period he returned to trade and made himself available for work without additional PBF credits. Brother Link must reimburse the PBF payments received for that time period. In the interim, Brother Link has satisfied reimbursement to the PBF, and will be returned to pension status.

The International Executive Council reviewed the file of retiree Robert Bentz, Local Union 98, Card Number D-741629. After review, it was determined that Brother Bentz was not in violation of Article XI, Section 6(d). Brother Bentz must repay pension monies he collected while working.

Letter from IBEW International Office Retiree

The International Executive Council read, discussed and filed the letter from retiree Shirley Webber regarding International Office employee pension.

Retirement of IEC Chairman and Swearing in of
Newly Appointed IEC Chairman

Pursuant to the retirement of IEC Chairman Robert W. Pierson, President Stephenson on Nov. 10, 2015, appointed Christopher Erikson to fill the vacancy of IEC Chairman, and the IEC unanimously confirmed his appointment to be effective Jan. 1, 2016.

President Stephenson swore in newly appointed IEC Chairman Christopher Erikson.

The IEC thanked Chairman Pierson for his service to the IEC and the IBEW, presented him with a plaque and wished him well in retirement.

Article XX and XXI Cases

In 2015, the IBEW was involved in three Article XX disputes, and opposed efforts by three affiliates to register strategic campaigns under Article XXI Strategic Campaign Program.

IBEW Local Union 47 and Local Union 440 and the Southern California District Council of Laborers all have collective bargaining agreements with International Line Builders (ILB). The Laborers have filed an election petition for a unit defined as all laborers performing work for ILB under the Laborers' master multi-employer agreement; both Local Unions 47 and 440 have intervened in the election proceeding. The Laborers have filed Article XX charges against the IBEW. It is the position of the IBEW that ILB is engaged in construction, which is excluded from Article XX. In mediation, the IBEW agreed to settle the matter, with the Laborers amending its election petition to define its sought-after unit as explicitly excluding employees covered by any IBEW collective bargaining agreement, and Local Unions 47 and 440 withdrawing from the election proceedings.

United Steelworkers (USW) Local 8392 represents a unit of employees at Stearn Electric Association in Minnesota. The employees were disaffected by lack of support from the USW's national office and invited IBEW Local Union 160 representatives to a membership meeting where USW Local 8392 president presented IBEW Local Union 160 representatives with authorization cards signed by all 23 members of the bargaining unit and a letter stating that the USW was no longer interested in representing the unit. When IBEW Local Union 160 filed an election petition, the USW charged the IBEW with violating Article XX by interfering with its established collective bargaining relationship. Because Article XX rights are held by the national union and not the local union and the USW's intent to continue to represent these employers, the IBEW withdrew the election petition and settled the dispute.

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and IBEW Local Union 292 represent separate units of employees at the University of Minnesota, both of which perform some limited energy electrical work. Local Union 292 also has agreements with a number of contractors that regularly perform limited energy work at the University. Local Union 292 believed that AFSCME energy techs were limited to installing and performing routine maintenance on telecommunications equipment. When the University moved the AFSCME techs into its construction department, it was known that they were performing low voltage construction work. Local Union 292 filed a grievance demanding the University stop assigning AFSCME work that falls within its jurisdictions, and AFSCME responded by filing charges under Article XX. At mediation the parties were unable to settle their difference, and have agreed to meet again.

The IBEW was involved in two disputes under the AFL-CIO Executive Council's "Dispute Resolution Procedure for Raids Involving Unions with Solidarity Clauses", which the AFL-CIO Executive Council adopted in February 2014. The IBEW and IAMAW both filed statements of interest at the Tesla "Gigafactory" in response to the United Auto Workers Strategic Campaign Request. The parties met and were unable to reach an agreement. The next step is a hearing before the Article XXI Oversight Committee.

The IBEW filed a statement of interest for the "Cannabis Workers Rising" nationwide campaign in response to the United Food and Commercial Workers Campaign Request. To date, the AFL-CIO has not scheduled a meeting with interested parties.

Retirement of International Officers

Robert P. Klein,
International Vice President,
Tenth District
Effective — November 1, 2015

Robert W. Pierson,
Chairman,
International Executive Council
Effective — January 8, 2015

Retirement of International Representatives

James D. Denton,
International Representative,
Tenth District
Effective — October 1, 2015

Richard J. Gessler,
International Representative,
Sixth District
Effective — October 2, 2015

Debra L. Harget,
International Representative,
Education Department
Effective — October 5, 2015

Larry F. McGlamary,
International Representative,
Membership Development Department
Effective — October 2, 2015

Howard L. Ritchie,
Director,
Pension Department
Effective — November 1, 2015

Clayton W. White,
International Representative,
IBEW Seventh District
Effective — August 1, 2014

Retirement of International Office Employees

Ancelia Lee,
Supervisor,
Investments Department
Effective — September 21, 2015

Vested Pension

Christina Samson,
International Office,
Vested
Effective — December 15, 2015

This regularly scheduled meeting was adjourned on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015, at 4:48 p.m. The next regular meeting of the International Executive Council will commence at 8:30 a.m., on Monday, Feb. 1, 2016, in Naples, Florida.

For the International Executive Council

Patrick Lavin, Secretary
December 2015

The IEC acted on numerous applications under the IBEW Pension Fund. For a complete listing, www.ibew.org, clicking on the International Executive Council link on the "About Us" page.