Retired

Robert E. Stander

Robert E. Stander, longtime director of the IBEW Manufacturing Department, retires on August 1, 2003, after 32 years at the International Office.

Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Brother Stander was initiated into Local Union 1974 on December 1, 1962. He served in a number of positions ranging from steward to financial secretary and as a member of the local unions negotiating committee. He also pursued studies in labor relations and economics at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

On April 15, 1971, then-International President Charles H. Pillard appointed Brother Stander International Representative assigned to the International Office, where he worked in the Manufacturing Department. And in 1987, he was named director by then-International President J. J. Barry. As director, Brother Stander was responsible for assisting the manufacturing local unions and system councils on all matters relating to negotiations, coordinated bargaining, grievance processing and arbitration. He represented the IBEW on matters involving inter-union activity for the Manufacturing Branch.

Brother Stander successfully engineered the only fully coordinated bargaining program for IBEW local unions in both the United States and Canada representing employees of the same employer. He was instrumental in developing and negotiating programs to address problems associated with plant closings, work transfer, layoffs and training, which have resulted in new opportunities, saving numerous jobs.

Brother Stander represented the IBEW, and the labor movement, in a joint study program in Japan. He served on the Advisory Board for U.S.-Japan Labor Studies, and served two terms as President of the North American-Japan Labor Studies Alumni Association. He also served on several committees for the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council, a national coalition of manufacturers, educators, labor unions and public interest organizations.

Brother Stander participated in numerous IBEW training programs. He has served as an advisor and guest lecturer on labor, business and economic issues at Cornell University, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Notre Dame and the George Meany Labor Studies Center. He served on the Board of Directors for the Enhanced Training Opportunities Program, a labor/management jointly administered training program that provides a wide variety of training. He is an associate of the Center for Labor Studies at Carnegie Mellon University and a member of the Institute of Collective Bargaining at Cornell University.

Bobs hobbies include hunting, fishing, woodworking, gardening, and golfing, and he is an avid football fan.

Bob and his wife, Diane, are the proud parents of a daughter and a deceased son. They cherish the time spent with their two grandchildren. The Brotherhood wishes Bob all the best in his retirement.

Retired

Jean Hurtubise

A distinguished career as a labor activist comes to a close with the June 1, 2003, retirement of Railroad Department International Representative Jean Hurtubise.

Brother Hurtubise spent 35 years in the IBEW working in a variety of capacities for the union and the labour movement in Canada. He was a founding member of both the Canadian Federation of Labour in 1982 and the Quebec Provincial Council of the Canadian Labour Federation six years later, where he served as vice president in 1990.

Brother Hurtubise was initiated into Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Local 561 in 1969, working as a railroad locomotive electrician at Canadian National Railway where he served on the Executive Board and as president-business manager and vice president. He also served on the Railroad System Council No. 33 Executive Board.

In 1987, he was appointed International Representative, servicing three system councils and 23 railroad locals in Canada as part of the former Tenth District staff. From 1995 to 1998, Brother Hurtubise worked in the then-Tenth District office in Chicago as a labor board member handling business for the National Railroad Adjustment Board. Since 1998 he has been on the International Office staff in the Railroad Department as the Railroad Labor Board member aiding arbitration cases.

Brother Hurtubise graduated from Delorimier College with a degree in political economics and commerce. He also studied organizing and arbitration at the George Meany Center for Labor Studies.

In his retirement he plans to devote more time to favorite hobbies boating, music recording and fundraising for the homeless. A permanent resident of the United States, Brother Hurtubise plans to stay in suburban Maryland. He has two children, both of whom are IBEW members. Sylvain Hurtubise is a member of Montreal Local 568 and Dany is a member of Washington, D.C., Local 26. The IBEW wishes Brother Hurtubise and his wife, Diane, a long, healthy and happy retirement.

Retired

Gilbert Solano

Gilbert Solano, a Ninth District Organizer who has been an IBEW member for 44 years and an International Representative for 10 years, will retire effective August 1, 2003.

He was born, went to school, became an IBEW member and organized workers, all in the Los Angeles area. He was initiated into Local 1710 in 1959, became its business manager/ financial secretary in 1983 and was appointed an International Representative by then-International President John J. Barry in 1993.

In the broader labor community, Brother Solano has been active in the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), a delegate from the IBEW to the Los Angeles County AFL-CIO and a member of the Los Angeles/Orange County Organizing Committee.

Brother Solano is a second-generation IBEW member whose father, Joseph E. Solano, is a retired member of IBEW Local 18, also in Los Angeles. Brother Solano was initiated into the IBEW at age 19 and has attended Long Beach City College for a variety of labor-related courses, including accounting, labor law and grievance-arbitration.

The years of Brother Solanos active career parallel an era of intenseand highly successfulorganizing efforts in the Los Angeles area by a variety of AFL-CIO unions, with much of the emphasis on organizing Latino workers.

The IBEW greatly appreciates Brother Solanos many years of successful service to the union and wishes him and his wife, Arlene, all the best for their retirement years.

Retired

Donald R. Shaputis

After 46 years as an active member of the IBEW, Eighth District International Representative Donald R. Shaputis retired July 1, 2003.

Brother Shaputis has served on the Eighth District International staff since 1987, where one of his first assignments was to help establish two new utility locals: Delta, Utah, Local 1619 and Colstrip, Montana, Local 1638.

A journeyman lineman, he was initiated into Denver, Colorado, Local 1823 in 1957. In 1958, he transferred his membership to Local 111 in Denver, where he served as president, assistant business manager, senior assistant business manager and on the Executive Board. Brother Shaputis served as president and vice president of the Mountain States Line Apprenticeship and on the board of the Industrial Relations Research Association.

Appointed to the district staff in 1987, he has worked as a field representative, industrial organizing coordinator and provided general assistance to local unions on arbitration and other matters including industrial and construction stewards training. He serviced local unions in eastern Montana and Salt Lake City, Utah. For the past six years Brother Shaputis has been in Colorado.

Brother Shaputis attended labor courses at the University of Colorado. He enjoys reading, fly-fishing, golf, hiking, camping and woodworking. Brother Shaputis has three children and four grandchildren.

The IBEW family wishes Brother Shaputis and his wife, Joyce, a long and happy retirement.

Retired

Gary G. Gilbert

After more than 37 years of service to the IBEW, Eleventh District International Representative Gary G. Gilbert retired effective July 1, 2003.

Brother Gilbert was appointed to the Eleventh District international staff in 1985, where he acted most recently as district construction organizing coordinator.

He was initiated into Local 231, Sioux City, Iowa, in 1967 as a journeyman inside wireman and served as business manager-financial secretary from 1975 to 1985. He served on the locals Executive Board and the negotiating, labor management, pension and health and welfare committees. Brother Gilbert was a delegate to the Iowa Electric Workers Council, the state Conference of Electric Workers and the state labor federation. He also served as a labor advisor to Iowa Governor Robert Ray in the late 1970s.

During his tenure on the international staff, he taught COMET and construction steward courses and served as voice-data-video coordinator. He also served as administrative assistant to then- Eleventh Vice President Ray Edwards in the mid-1990s.

A U.S. Army veteran who served in what was then West Germany, Brother Gilbert attended Western Iowa Community College.

Brother Gilbert moved to Winter Haven, Florida, where he will pursue hobbies of fishing and photography. He also plans to travel to Europe. Both of his sons are IBEW members and journeyman inside wiremen. Ryan Gilbert is a member of Local 231 in Sioux City and Jim Gilbert is a member of Bakersfield, California, Local 428. He also has a daughter, Michelle, and three grandchildren.

The IBEW members, staff and officers wish Brother Gilbert and his wife, Peggy Ellen, a long, healthy and happy retirement.

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