Sign up for the lastest information from the IBEW!

Let me add my welcome to Washington, DC, for the IBEW annual rite of spring,-- also known as the Construction and Maintenance Conference. Most of us remember some conferences where the sun was shining,-- the air was warm,-- and the golf courses were beckoning. This year,-- spring in Washington has brought unseasonably cold weather.

Now -- I don't want to say that the Bush Administration caused the bad weather. But it certainly is true that trade union men and women are feeling a distinct chill from Washington these days. We'll revisit that topic later.

But there is no chill in here. There is spirit -- There is fire -- And most of all -- there is determination. So let's use some of that spirit to greet a very distinguished group of International officers who are here with us today.

First,-- allow me introduce one of the greatest leaders in our history. We had a small, intimate gathering two nights ago to honor him, attended by nearly seventeen hundred of his closest friends. I can't offer any more eloquent words than those said on Wednesday night. But let me add one thing about this man's legacy -- more than 320,000 active construction members in the IBEW and growing -- Enough said. -- Please welcome International President Emeritus Jack Barry.

I was proud to work closely with Jack for the past four years. And because I know the value of a good partnership,-- I am also pleased to be working with our International Secretary-Treasurer Jerry O'Connor. I have known Jerry for many years and witnessed first hand his dedication to the membership. He brings experience and a record of progress to the job. He will continue to be an asset to our Brotherhood in his new post.

We are privileged to have with us today the man I succeeded as International Secretary in 1997. Jack Moore accomplished many great things for our Brotherhood during his tenure in the IBEW's second highest office. Please welcome International Secretary Emeritus Jack Moore.

Two days after President Barry announced his retirement in January -- another IBEW leader stepped down from his post. Clyde Bowden gave this union nearly 15 years of distinguished service as Chairman of the International Executive Council, and I ask you to welcome him here today.

Clyde was succeeded by Jack McNally -- Business Manager of Local 1245 in Walnut Creek, California, near San Francisco. He is a high-energy,-- capable leader who is widely respected not only in the IBEW-- but also in labor and business circles in the West. Please welcome IEC Chairman Jack McNally.

I am also pleased to introduce another fine leader, International Treasurer Emeritus Thomas Van Arsdale. As business manager of Local 3 in New York, -- Tommy has always put the best interests of the IBEW first and has served his union with a distinction that few can match. The entire Brotherhood thanks him for his years of dedicated work as our International Treasurer. Please welcome Tom Van Arsdale

I am a believer in the old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Jack always used the system of a single clap for each International Vice President and each IEC member. So as I introduce the Vice Presidents -- I ask them to stand, and I ask you to give them a single clap and then a round of applause at the end. Ready?

First District Don Lounds.

Second District Frank Carroll.

Third District Larry Rossa.

Fourth District Paul Witte.

Fifth District Mel Horton.

Sixth District Pat Curley.

Seventh District Orville Tate.

Eight District Jon Walters.

Ninth District Mike Mowrey.

Tenth District Carl Lansden.

And Eleventh Bill Eads.

Please a nice round of applause.

Now for the IEC.

District One Tony McCafferty.

District Two Rui Carrinho.

District Three Wally Sickles.

District Four Lance Blackstock.

District Five Keith Querry.

District Six Bill Motley.

District Seven Milt Foster.

And from District Eight in Canada, John Cole.

Another nice hand.

We just celebrated St. Patrick's Day two weeks ago -- and I came across an Old Irish story that I thought I'd share with you today. It seems in the olden days when Ireland was divided into numerous kingdoms -- there was a powerful king from central Ireland who had many warriors at his service. One of his bravest -- named Sean -- rode out one day armed to the teeth and spoiling for a fight.

That evening, Sean returned battered and bloody, but triumphant. "Sean," cried the king, "Where have you been?"

"Your highness," replied Sean, "I have been off fighting your enemies to the West."

"But I don't have any enemies to the West," said the king.

Sean looked crestfallen for a minute, but then he brightened and said, "Well, sire, you do now."

Now this may sound like a typical joke to open a speech, but like most good stories -- there's a moral. In good times or bad -- if we don't have a coordinated plan of action -- we're going to waste time,-- energy and resources and be worse off in the long run. That's why Mark has wisely chosen this year's theme -- "Charting the Course Together." We -- all of us -- need to take a good look at where we are and where we are going -- as we navigate changing waters in the months and years ahead.

We start by taking a clear look at where we stand. We are strong. We have greater numbers in this branch of the Brotherhood than ever before. Our relationship with NECA is as good or better than it has ever been. And together -- we are a powerful force in our industry -- and continue to set the standard for excellence. We also take satisfaction in knowing that in the past two decades -- we took the best shots that our opposition could throw at us. And we not only survived -- we found new growth and new sources of strength.

You did that. The International set a tone -- pointed the way -- even twisted arms -- if we're to be honest. But none of our success could have occurred without local leadership and dedicated rank and file members who took responsibility for the future -- their future -- your future -- and made it better. You proved once again that the IBEW is blessed with the most talented -- dedicated -- and tenacious local leadership of any union on the face of the earth. And that should make all of us proud.

We will need those qualities in the 21st century. As was true in our founding year -- 1891 -- success is not assured. Even our very existence is not guaranteed.

I see enough veterans of our industry in this hall to know that this crowd understands the cyclical nature of construction. We have been in a sustained boom that has brought work for anyone who wants it. But -- watch out for those storm clouds.

The meltdown in the financial markets hasn't been widely felt in construction -- yet. History shows that this is only a lag time that will eventually close. The Fed is cutting interest rates -- which will help. But some downturn -- perhaps mild -- perhaps severe -- is inevitable. Now you know why we placed such strong emphasis the last few years on negotiating supplemental unemployment benefit funds in your local agreements.

A slowdown in and of itself is not the danger. We have ridden out many before,-- and we will ride the next one out too. The danger is that less work could cause us to lose sight of the big picture. It is human nature to get caught up in the day-to-day worries that come with the turf in a local leadership position. You have a big responsibility to your brothers and sisters on the front lines -- who are -- and must always be -- your first priority.

But I contend that the best way to look out for the well being of your members is to grow. We must make our share of the market grow -- as we fight the nonunion competition. We must work to help the business of our organized contractors grow. Should they choose not to grow or to accept our help -- then we must find additional partners. We can not allow anyone or anything to stop our momentum. Above all -- we must make our numbers grow.

Let's all understand one thing. The mandate for construction organizing stands -- it will be tweaked a time or two -- but it stands. The mandate that every construction local have an organizer stands -- should you decide that your organizer needs to be doing other things -- then look for a knock on your door and say hello to your new organizer -- who will be on your local union's payroll effective that day. Organizing is a priority that must never again be allowed to slip below number one. Remember how we got in trouble in the first place in the late 20th century? And remember the struggle it took to work our way back?

You can't view organizing as something that should be the top priority for locals in another part of the continent. You can't see it as something that is good only for your sister locals in the next town or the next county. It is your priority in your jurisdiction -- should you choose not to organize your jurisdiction then you must live with the results of your actions or inaction -- I hope that there can be no misunderstanding as to what I just said. If you have been organizing -- you will be in better shape to withstand a downturn in the construction market. If you haven't -- you may wind up watching the nonunion competition eat your lunch -- and I don't intend to invite the nonunion from one area to lunch in another jurisdiction -- if I can help it.

We have shown that we know how to educate our leadership and membership to organize. We have shown that we know how to salt -- pepper -- strip -- and all the other hardball tactics necessary to organize. We have proven to thousands and thousands of nonunion electricians that the benefits -- social and economic -- of belonging to the IBEW cannot be topped. The numbers demonstrate our success -- and the numbers don't lie.

But there is another side to the numbers. In a study commissioned by the National Labor-Management Cooperation Committee, NECA and the IBEW asked for an assessment of the current and future supply of skilled labor in the electrical construction industry. The results show that we have another challenge on our hands.

While our construction membership numbers have gone up,-- they have not increased at the same pace as the growth of the total employment market. Total employment in the electrical construction industry, the study says, increased at an annual average of 6.9 percent from 1993 through 1998. Union electrical construction employment over the same period increased at a rate of 2.9 percent.

So if we are to grow we must increase our numbers at least 4 times as fast as we have been.

The downtimes of the 1970s and 1980s created a slump in membership numbers. Therefore -- even with our organizing gains -- there are not enough in our ranks to replace the members who are retiring now and will be retiring in the next 5-10 years. That means that we must work doubly hard to fill those vacancies.

This lends new urgency to our organizing efforts -- but it also underscores the need for stronger recruitment. We have recently seen earlier predictions about skilled labor shortages -- predictions that many of us found hard to believe ten years ago -- become reality. In this day and age, many young people have more options than ever before. Even if our work slows down, we will still need to hustle to get capable young men and women into our trade.

So we can only fill the gap by continuing to organize aggressively and try to take every possible qualified nonunion electrician into our ranks -- - and continue training those with insufficient skills. We must also work with our contractors through our joint apprenticeship programs to make sure we are getting sufficient numbers of new applicants through the entry doors as well.

For many among us, -- this will require a new approach. About one in four Americans is a member of a minority group. The Hispanic and Asian populations have risen dramatically in the past decade and are still growing. Canada has also experienced profound demographic changes.

We must make sure that we are able to reach out to the changing North American work force. Any barriers that remain -- whether they be institutional or within our own heads -- should come down now. We need everyone who has the smarts -- the ability -- and the willingness to carry on the proud traditions of our trade.

There is another change needed in the IBEW. For the past several years now -- at conferences and in the Journal -- you have heard a great deal about the market for voice/data/video technology. Don't be fooled by the shocking downturns in the technology industry. Those are part of an economic shakeout. The need for -- and the uses of -- high level technology continue to grow at an astounding pace.

We are still chasing the work -- developing apprenticeship and training curricula, -- and in general doing all in our power to help our members get that work. A lot of this work belongs to us -- the members of the IBEW. However, we are not alone in our quest.

There are other International Unions out there who have been involved in the Telephone Industry for many years along with us. That's why President Barry agreed to review some jurisdictional lines with the CWA. I will keep his word. But -- I will not agree to anything that does not protect the work of the members in this Brotherhood.

Those of you who attended the VDV conference last year heard me say that we must be trained to do the job. We are working hard to institute new training programs for our journeymen. Those members who are interested must be able to participate -- not be shut out of the employment opportunities of the Voice-Data-Video industry.

This Brotherhood must be equipped to staff the work in this field. It is your responsibility to make sure that your members are trained. It is our responsibility to assist and provide you with the tools. Brothers and sisters,-- please do not allow this opportunity to pass. Don't count on the law -- any agreement or any other force to hand the work over to you. Train -- organize -- train more -- chase new employers and organize new employees. This new horizon is part of our salvation for the future.

VDV work is becoming more established every day. I want to see the IBEW do more than chase work that is already out there and where the competition is already fierce. I want to see the Brotherhood investigate and take advantage of new opportunities and new technologies as they develop. I believe that it is my responsibility-- and the responsibility of everyone who holds a leadership position within the IBEW-- to think strategically for the future.

There's no doubt that changes in the basics of our jobs can be difficult to deal with. Many of our members want to do pipe and wire work and nothing else. The best among us know that continued training and sharpening of skills is highly important. And those who have branched into new technologies understand that training and re-training are critical throughout a journeyperson's career.

There was a time when a journeyperson thought they could do anything, and was often correct in that assumption. But the times are changing fast. The jobs that a typical journeyman encounters today -- and certainly will encounter in the near future -- are more complex and varied than ever before. We can't underestimate the impact of technology on our jobs and the pressing need for more and more training and education. These have been our strengths for more than 100 years. And it will take all of our institutional knowledge and then some to keep ourselves in the forefront of our changing industry.

And let's not forget that technology is a valuable tool in the way we conduct our union business. It would be a great irony -- not to mention a shame -- if we become the leader in the field of voice/data/video, but fail to take advantage of web-based communications to run our own union better.

We have made some changes in our Internet-based communications. Our web site sports a new design and more information. For example, you can link to the U.S. Department of Labor's web site and instantly access wage survey data for our industry. Our members-only private Internet community has been up and running for some time now and provides a place for the free exchange of information and ideas. And -- at this conference -- we are introducing our long-awaited IBEW job board.

As many of you know -- numerous members have for years suggested that the IBEW post notices of where the work is and what locals need help. But it was easier said than done. I'm happy to say that we have cleared away the technical and legal impediments to providing this service to our locals and our members.

One thing must be made perfectly clear that the International is providing the technical platform to do this. We have set it up so that local leaders -- using their own certified password provided by the board's administrator -- can post information on jobs in their area directly onto the board. You can load it on at 12:00 a.m. and by 12:01, anyone can see it. You will not be sending something to the International and waiting for somebody to clear it. You will do that yourselves and be responsible for the accuracy of any listing. Likewise, when a project is nearing completion or has stopped hiring, you must take down the posting.

Remember that I was a business manager not so very long ago -- and I understand full well that work calls are carefully protected and tightly controlled. Many of you simply call up a nearby local when you need extra journeymen. Others don't want travelers. Whatever you're preference -- the job board is there for you to use-- as you see fit. With a few clicks of the keyboard and mouse, you can have access to all available hands within the IBEW. And the opportunities this could open for our members are limitless. The bottom line is we have put another tool in your hands to help you do your job and serve our members. Please use it wisely and use it well.

In addition to the job board,-- we are developing another technological tool to help serve our locals and our members -- the Online Reciprocal Transfer System -- ORTS for short.

You will be hearing shortly from Secretary-Treasurer O'Connor about ORTS --which is intended to address the timeliness of transfers under the national electrical pension and health and welfare agreements. We believe this system can speed up and improve a process that is important to our day-to-day work.

So those are just some of the factors that will guide us as we chart our course and plan to meet the challenges we face -- And we must do it all with George Bush in the White House. Make no mistake that the ABC and the entire nonunion construction industry were solidly behind Bush in his campaign. They are happy to have their man in the White House. And Bush's undercutting of project labor agreements on federal construction -- and his support for gutting the new ergonomics regulations -- tell us all we need to know about where this Administration is going on labor issues. His presence at the head of the U.S. government will be yet another obstacle we must overcome as we confront the future. Again -- I take heart in knowing that we have survived worse and will not let this guy beat us. But we certainly did not need the added burden of playing political and legislative defense while we are trying to plan for the future.

But -- we will push on. Let's remember exactly what business we are in. It is not just the electrical trade. As union leaders -- we are in the people business. In a society that is increasingly fragmented and in which individuals feel more and more isolated from one another -- unions provide a valuable island of community -- a beacon in a difficult time.

The IBEW's light shines brighter than most. Just look at the talent in this hall right now -- and multiply that many times over. We have an incredible spirit in this union that should be put to the best possible use.

We are not here just to fight for an extra dollar in a contract. We are here to help our members achieve the fullest measure of their lives. We want our members to be citizens who are leaders in their communities -- active in charitable activities -- and engaged in the political process -- just like it states in the objects of our IBEW Constitution. We want families to have opportunities to enjoy the fruits of American and Canadian society. We want every member to be able to realize his or her full potential as craftsmen and as human beings. We are here to fight for fairness -- for dignity -- and for social justice. It might sound quaint or corny in these cynical times we live in. But it is the reason we are in this business. It's what keeps us hanging in there no matter what the obstacles. That too is a very important part of our course for the future.

Let me close on a personal note. I want to express my thanks to all of you who sent words of congratulations and encouragement to me when I assumed the office of International President. I can say without reservation that it is the greatest honor of my life. And I pledge that I will do everything within my power -- heart and soul to live up to your expectations. I deeply appreciate the respect that IBEW members have for this office. And I want make sure that everything I do as your International President enables me to deserve that respect.

I am realistic about the challenges we face -- but I am also very optimistic about our future. There is nothing that can stop us if we chart our course the way our founders intended - together -- arm in arm -- side by side we will prevail.

Thank you -- and God bless you all.

Related Articles