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IBEW 8th District Progress Meeting

August 8, 2001

The 2001 8th District Progress Meeting was held in Pueblo, Colorado on April 18th and 19th, 2001, at the Pueblo Convention Center.

On April 18, Mike Gregorich, past business manager of Local Union 2300, Northglenn, Colorado, presented the first of a three-part series on U.S. Labor History.

The talk covered the colonial period up to the 1890's, and focused primarily on post-civil war economic and industrial development, the impact of this development on working people and the rise of organized labor.  Parallels were drawn between economic trends then and now.

In the afternoon of April 18th, Marty Letsinger, director of the IBEW Education Department, presented a class on time management.  As always, she presented a very worthwhile and valuable class on how all of us can and should manage our time. There were many helpful items that could be put to use immediately.

The day concluded with a joint meeting of the 8th District railroad local unions.   Many of the District inside construction local unions discussed the practice of subcontracting of railroad electrician work to inside employers.  All agreed that the meeting was very productive and helped our inside local union members understand problems our railroad locals are facing.

April 19 began with a 7 A.M. meeting on utility deregulation.  The meeting was chaired by John Davis, Senior Assistant Business Manager, Local Union 111, Denver, Colorado.  Brother Davis opened the meeting with an update on deregulation activities in Colorado and the surrounding states where Excel is operating.  Excel is today's name for a group of utilities that are either merging or being bought by other utilities throughout the Midwest.

International Executive Council Chairman Jack McNally, Business Manager Local Union 1245, and member of the IBEW Electric Restructuring Committee, gave the delegates a quick report on the problems facing California and the operating utilities there.  At this point Brother McNally does not see anything good ahead for either California or the rest of the U.S. regarding electrical rates and/or deregulation.

International Vice-President Jon F. Walters reported on IBEW internal issues regarding utility construction work.

The general session of the progress meeting opened with a welcome from Robert Grinstead, Jr., Business Manager Local Union 12, Pueblo, Colorado.  He called on International Representative Ted Jensen to give the invocation, followed by the pledge of allegiance given by Chris Grinstead, Business Manager Local Union 667, Pueblo, Colorado.  Following the pledge of allegiance, the gavel was handed to permanent chairman 8th District Vice President Jon F. Walters.

IVP Walters introduced 9th District IVP Michael Mowrey who spoke on utility deregulation problems reminding the delegates that we must work together to deal with this problem.

He urged the delegates to assist each other regardless of branch of the Brotherhood to allow the IBEW to better serve all our members.  He thanked the members of the 8th district for the excellent working relationship that exists between the two districts.

International President Edwin D. Hill was introduced and received a very warm reception from all attending.  He commented to the delegates that he will work tirelessly to move the IBEW forward and continue the good work that was started by International President Emeritus J.J. Barry.  President Hill reminded us that we are living in "interesting times" that require interesting solutions to our problems.  He also discussed the problems created by the deregulation issue.  He discussed the idea of "virtual utilities" in Washington State and Kentucky and the problems that have evolved.  He explained what the International intends to do to assist with outside organizing, including assisted funding and the hiring of an outside organizer into the Organizing Department in Washington.  He congratulated the inside construction branch on being at an all time high in organizing new members.  He also reminded the delegates that organizing remains a number one priority for the IBEW.  He said he has appointed a committee to make recommendations on how the operation of the railroad locals could be made better for our members and said the recommendations will be thoroughly reviewed and if changes need to be made, they will be implemented.  He also reported on activity within the telecommunications and manufacturing branches of the brotherhood.  President Hill re-emphasized what IVP Mowrey stated, that we all work best when we work together to solve our problems.

Following an introduction of attending guests and staff, IVP Walters introduced International Secretary-Treasurer Jeremiah J. O'Connor.

IST O'Connor also committed to the delegates to stand side by side with International President Hill and to energize all members of the Brotherhood for the benefit of the whole organization.  While reporting on the membership numbers of the IBEW he thanked the 8th District for their efforts in obtaining a 13%- plus increase in membership-the highest percentage increase in the IBEW.

IST O'Connor spoke on the political mess that the country faces as a result of the election of President George W. Bush.  It is going to be an uphill challenge, but one that he is looking forward to with the help of the IBEW membership.

He congratulated Local Union 57, Salt Lake City, Utah on being the 8th District top dollar contributor to COPE in 2000, and Local Union 1638, Colstrip, Montana on being the 8th district leader for per member contributor in 2000.

International President Hill, International Secretary-Treasurer O'Connor and IEC Chairman McNally then presented COPE Awards to al of the locals that had earned them in 2000.

IVP Walters then introduced 11th District IVP William C. Eads who told the delegates of his proud experiences as an organizer for the IBEW.  He also expressed his pleasure to be a part of the IBEW leadership team and how, with the help of the membership, the IBEW will continue to move forward under the leadership of International President Hill and International Secretary-Treasurer O'Connor.  He explained that by working together the IBEW exemplifies the true meaning of unionism.

IEC Chairman McNally, Business Manager Local Union 1245, was introduced and he thanked everyone for the opportunity to serve and pledged his support to the leadership team of the IBEW.  He then gave a brief report on the electric utility industry and the new generation that is being proposed.  He suggested that this may all be lip service, because in the "free market" that has evolved, additional generation would not be in the best interest of those currently in the generation market.  They do not see anything happening that would cause them to want to lose their ability to charge what they are currently charging.

Fifth District Executive Council Member Lyle Keith Querry, Business Manager, Local Union 53 was introduced next.  Brother Querry told the delegates that he is taking another look at the idea that deregulation has been a failed project.  In his view, deregulation is going just as the modern day robber barons want it to.  They have the system in disarray and are making more money than they can spend.  It is going just as they planned - just a new twist on an existing problem.

Seventh District IEC member Milt Foster, Business Manager Local Union 191, was the next speaker.  He encouraged everyone to continue their organizing efforts and to increase the education of our members.  These two efforts will allow us to maintain our place of prominence in the electrical industry, he said.

NECA Vice President William Dale, Cheyenne, Wyoming spoke on the value of cooperation between the IBEW and NECA.  NECA contractors are the best contractors and the IBEW provides the best-trained electricians, he said.  "When we join forces, we are an unbeatable team.  We must work together to regain our rightful place as leaders in our industry."