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 Seated from l-r, Charles Lusk, Local 2022; Debra Harget, Local 2300; International Representative Mike Quinlan, International Representative Donald Shaputis, 8th District; Bryan Flickinger, Local 1599; Troy Johnson, Local 2021; Carol Weber, Local 1612; Senior Executive Assistant to the International President Vincent OReilly; Director of IBEW Manufacturing Department Bob Stander; International Representative Thomas Cook, 4th District; and Paul Smith, Local 2020. New
System Council January 24, 2002 In the wake of Lucent Technologies break-up, six IBEW locals across the United States have now split from EM-3 to form new System Council EM-1. The new system council was chartered to serve the locals employed by Celestica, a contract manufacturer for Lucent. International President Hill ordered the restructuring of System Council EM-3 to provide the best possible representation of IBEW members, said Manufacturing Director Robert Stander. Its officers were chosen during a two-day meeting in January. "The chartering of this system council creates an environment where we can create an effective relationship at the corporate level," Stander said. "We hope this structure lends to collective gain for mutual benefit." Today, 2,500 members of the IBEW from the following cities come under the jurisdiction of EM-1:
The councils leadership hopes the numbers will climb as organizing campaigns target three dozen other factories and thousands of workers across United States and Canada. The system councils mission is ambitious but daunting: convincing Celestica and other manufacturers of the value of staying in North America, instead of moving operations overseas as many manufacturers have done in recent years. "We have to prove that our members are valuable for their operations as well as to those of other manufacturers," said EM-1 Chairman Troy Johnson, business manager and president of Local 2021. EM-1 will also serve to consolidate and strengthen collective bargaining, improve working conditions and coordinate organizing efforts, Stander said. "Ultimately the goal is to have a single contract, but until that can be accomplished, the system council will improve the bargaining strength of our members," he said, adding the council will work with the company to address job security issues and discuss portability of employment. EM-1 follows in the footsteps of EM-3, which was formed in the late 1950s to represent the electrical manufacturing locals of AT&T. The past 15 years has brought great change to electronic manufacturing, with the latest blow being Lucents production facility sell-off in 2001, which resulted in Celesticas purchase of the plants. In contrast to Lucent as its business focus changed, Celestica has so far shown a promising willingness to work with the IBEW and recognizes the value of skilled workers, Johnson said. The months between October and the councils January meeting were spent developing the bylaws, and financial and leadership structure. Those governing rules were cemented during a two-day meeting in January, when representatives of the six locals met in Washington to formalize the council. Its officers are:
Based in Toronto, Canada, Celestica produces equipment for the computer and communications sectors and has more than 40,000 employees worldwide.
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