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Brother McSpedon became a journeyman electrician in Local 3 in 1966 and was appointed a business representative in June 1980 by Bus. Mgr. Thomas Van Arsdale. He was then elected president of Local 3 by the Executive Board on July 28, 1986, and was re-elected by an overwhelming majority at the six subsequent general elections of Local 3 officers.

Brother McSpedon played a vital role in the merger of the former IBEW Local 501 (Westchester County, N.Y. & Fairfield County, CT) with Local 3 (New York City). McSpedon also served on the National and New York City Electrical Code Committees and is the vice chairman of the Westchester Electrical Licensing Board. He also serves on the School Construction Authority Project Pathways Apprentice Committee.

As treasurer of the Joint Industry Board of the Electrical Industry, he serves as a trustee for its funds, including Pension, Health, Annuity and 401(k), which serve more than 39,000 electrical workers and pensioners. He is also vice president of the NYC Central Labor Council since 1995, and has served as chairman of the Law Committee at the 1991, 1996 and 2001 IBEW International Conventions.

Brother McSpedons multiple awards include the Greek Orthodox Council Man of the Year Award (1986), the United Jewish Appeal Award (1987), the Catholic Council of Electrical Workers Man of the Year (1987), the Black Trade Unionist Award of Merit (1995), the Allied Club of Queens Man of the Year Award (1989) and the NYC Chapter of the NAACP Labor Award (2003). On May 2, 1995, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor Award, awarded by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations.

Dennis and his late wife, Helen, are proud parents of three children, Mrs. Kerry Anne Jacobson, Dennis Howard and Christine Marie. He also has two beautiful granddaughters, Kaileen McSpedon and Helen Jacobson.

Vincent McElroen, P.S.

New Exelon Unit

L.U. 15 (u), DOWNERS GROVE, ILCongratulations to our new IBEW brothers and sisters employed at the Exelon Fossil Generating Stations at various locations in the Mideast United States.

The Exelon Corporation is the parent company formed by the 2000 merger of Commonwealth Edison Company in Chicago and the infamously non-union Philadelphia Electric Company. Exelon subsidiaries include Transmission & Distribution, as well as several nuclear and fossil generating facilities in the Midwest and Mideast areas. Our local sent Vice Pres. Nick Citta and Bus. Reps. Gene Kelly and Terry McGoldrick to Philadelphia to assist the IBEW Third District in the organizing campaign.

Local 15 recently established its own Safety Committee, necessary because serious safety issues are being consistently ignored by management despite the existence of a negotiated Safety Committee.

On the Midwest Generation property, our members continue to bear the brunt of managements inability to operate the plants. As usual, workers are blamed for managements inefficiencies and lack of planning. Contract negotiations with Dominion Energy began in early July for a new agreement for the members at Kincaid Fossil Generating Station located south of Springfield.

Remember as the 2003-2004 school year begins: drive carefully in school zones and obey all school speed zones and school bus signals.

Ronald V. Welte, P.S.

Election Results

L.U. 17 (catv,lctt,o&u), DETROIT, MIWinners of the June elections are Pres. Bob Eckhout; Vice Pres. Bill Hartwick; Rec. Sec. Mike Kozlowski; Treas. Mike Spensley; Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. Charlie Kerszykowski. Executive Board members are Jim Beaubien, Timothy Head, Dean Bradley, Ken Moore and Tom Swayne. Examining board members are Ron Polley, Dave Allen and John D. Smith. Thanks to all the candidates and to all the members who exercised their American right and voted.

At the June monthly meeting of the Local 17 Retirees Club, officers and members donated a flagpole and American flag to Local 17. Our thanks to the retirees for a patriotic act that makes a welcome improvement for our facility. The work picture remains steady with a few yards working extended hours on major projects.

It is with sadness and sorrow that we report the loss of Bros. John Harned, Arvil Hatfield, Rosaire Marcotte, Louis Selenis and Duane Sheridan.

Bob Eckhout, P.S.

Major Negotiation Victory

L.U. 21 (catv,govt&t), DOWNERS GROVE, ILWe are all in tough economic times. However, in June, Local 21 members at SBC/Ameritech enjoyed the implementation of an unprecedented 5 percent wage increase. This increase was negotiated in the historic Summer 2001 bargaining, where a simple wage re-opener was maneuvered by our local leadership into a full-blown re-negotiation resulting in extensive improvements to the whole agreement. Members are reminded that this deal expires next June, and we need to be prepared to defend our gains.

The victory on fair wholesale telephone pricing in the Illinois legislature is tied up in federal court by non-union, scavenger resellers like AT&T and MCI at this writing. This is a direct threat to employment of Local 21 members in the public switched network of our industry. Our local is following this issue closely and will stay involved in every way possible.

A flood in our union office over Easter weekend forced all the locals staff and officers to struggle under difficult conditions for nearly a month to continue to serve our 14,000 members. The flood was caused by a plumbing failure and was repaired, along with all of the floors, walls, furniture and equipment by the landlord and their insurers.

Michael Sacco, P.S.

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