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IBEW Florida Local Bounces Back by Organizing

April 2001 IBEW Journal

Eight years of dogged member determination in pursuit of organizing have brought Local 1205, Gainesville, Florida, back from the dismal status of fewer than 300 members, a "For Sale" sign at the union hall and a distinct chance of amalgamation with another local.

The success story of recovery by Local 1205 is not unlike the resurgence of Local 995, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with a highly successful organizing and training strategy. Each is an IBEW local in the right-to-work (for less) U.S. South that has overcome huge obstacles in recent years.

Local 1205 faced dire circumstances as recently as the early 1990s. Since that time, however, the local has rebuilt and pulled through with terrific success once again, as with Local 995, a success achieved through organizing and extraordinary member commitment.

By 1994 Local 1205 membership had dropped to fewer than 300 "A" members. Only about 70 members were working in the jurisdiction, and there was a "For Sale" sign in the parking lot. The locals treasury had dwindled and there was no money to pay the light bills. The local faced the possibility of amalgamation with a sister local. In the intervening years, the local has rebounded, made great strides in many areas and now averages about 830 "A" members.

"In the summer of 1993, after a union meeting one night, three Local 1205 members (Kenny Sykes, Harold Higginbotham and Ernest Cooper) were discussing the bleak work picture and the state of the local," said Business Manager Jeffery Henderson, who took office in February 1999. "All three of these Brothers had been traveling and working in other jurisdictions and had seen some of the successes that other locals were having with their organizing efforts." They recognized that drastic action would be requiredand organizing was the only option. All three Brothers were working the night shift on a nuclear power plant shutdown at the time. They arranged a meeting with the then-business manager, which led to scheduling a COMET (Construction Organizing Membership Education Training) class so the members could learn how to organize.

"The COMET class provided a sense of direction," said Higginbotham, who later served the local as business manager, from June 1995 to February 1999, and is now an International Representative assigned to the Fifth District staff.

Over the next few months, while working the night shift, Sykes, Higgenbotham and Cooper visited non-union job sites for a few hours each day, and at night talked with other IBEW members on the job about what they were doing. Other members in the local started pitching in to help with the organizing efforts. After the shutdown, this group of local members intensified their organizing campaign and began to bring in new members.

Throughout 1994 and 1995, about 15 members helped keep the organizing effort alive. The local secured an I.O. loan that enabled it to stay afloat. A number of Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges were filed, several small contractors were signed, and signatory contractors who had been with the local for years began to take a renewed interest.

Higginbotham said that after his election as business manager in 1995, "Sykes volunteered to work full-time for the local for free. Sykes worked as a full-time volunteer organizer for almost nine months, and many other members were helping all they could."

Also in 1995, the business manager went to the membership to seek a dues increase and to implement a $10 a month special assessment. "After they heard all the facts, the members voted overwhelmingly for the 5 percent increase in regular dues and the special assessment," said Higginbotham. "The local was now back on the road to financial stability."

"Every year since, the members have voted to keep the $10 special dues assessment," said Business Manager Henderson, "because they recognize the value this money has contributed to them in jobs, rebuilding the jurisdiction and recapturing market share."

Since 1994 the local has made tremendous advances on many fronts. In 1996 Kenny Sykes was hired as the full-time organizer, and today Local 1205 has five full-time organizers. Other organizers are Calvin Bennett and Sean Graves in Gainesville, Charlie Sapp and Tommy Ward in Tallahassee and Dave Thompson in Panama City.

In addition to achieving a big growth in membership, the local now has full employment, is in good financial condition and has expanded its organizing and apprenticeship training programs. In addition to its original Gainesville office, Local 1205 opened new offices in Tallahassee in 1997 and in Panama City in 1999. And it now operates JATC apprenticeship training schools in each of those three cities.

"Determined membership support, aggressive organizing and committed leadership remain vital to the continued success of Local 1205," said Henderson.