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November 2004 IBEW Journal L.U. 1 (as,c,ees,ei,em,es,et,fm,i, mt,rts,s,se,spa,st&ws), ST. LOUIS, MOBus. Rep. Jim Reinheimer recently retired after 40 years as a journeyman wireman. Throughout his career, Jim served the local in many capacities, including vice president, recording secretary and, for the last 21 years, as business representative. Jim was a delegate to the International Convention in 1996 and served on the Joint Labor-Management Committee for many years. He represented Local 1 in the various contract negotiations held between 1991 and 2004. Congratulations, Jim, and thank you for all your service to the local. Bus. Rep. Mike Garavaglia will fill the vacancy created by Bro. Reinheimers departure. Bro. Tim Schoemehl was appointed business representative to take over Mike Garavaglias former area. Please be advised of the following members deaths: Robert Schiller, Leonard Wehner, Herman Tebbe, Rodney Stewart, David Mackay, Norma Price, Albert Workman, John Koerber, Frederick Allard, Norbert Hastings, Raymond Brockmann, Albert Kelley, Leroy Long, Robert Oster, Richard Kraus, Matthew Smith and Jerome Black. Matthew Gober, P.S. L.U. 9 (catv,govt,lctt,o&u), CHICAGO, ILBarack Obama, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate from Illinois, won hearts and minds with his keynote speech to the 2004 Democratic National Convention. He now needs to win the votes. Illinois stands to have two Democratic senators in Washington to protect workers rights. If John Kerry is elected president, he will have an opportunity to appoint Supreme Court justices if and when vacancies come open. The present court is packed with Republican appointees. Without Kerry we could face 30, 40 or more years of a court biased against labor. Because Supreme Court rulings are far-reaching in their scope, it is vital that we elect a Democratic president who will nominate qualified, fair justices without bias against working families. U.S. Senate elections are also important in this regard, as the Senate confirms judicial nominees. Help elect Barack Obama to join Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) in the U.S. Senate. As senators, Obama and Durbin will act in the best interests of labor and working people on judicial nominees. Let Kerry, Durbin and Obama shape the future of American justice, not the Republicans. John P. Conroy, P.S. L.U. 15 (u), DOWNERS GROVE, ILCongratulations to our brothers and sisters at newly formed Local 614. For a report about the newly established Exelon Utility Coordination Committee, please see "Currents" on page 6 of this months Journal. Talks continue with Midwest Generation officials concerning separation packages and early retirement incentives for members affected by the closing of the gas-fired Collins Generating Station. The company is evaluating the re-start of two coal-fired units at Will County and the possible shutdown of one unit at its Waukegan Station. We welcome 120-plus health care workers at the Lemont Rehabilitation Center who voted in April for Local 15 representation. The election followed a June 2003 defeat that was overturned by the NLRB. In June elections, Bus. Mgr./Pres. Bob Joyce was re-elected to office. Congratulations to all our newly elected officers and thanks to members who voted. All union members must vote to put an end to the Bush administrations goal to bust labor unions. Bush only looks out for his rich corporate friends. Vote For Friends of Labor! Ronald V. Welte, P.S. L.U. 17 (catv,em,lctt,o&u), DETROIT, MIThe union welcomes MJ Electric back to the jurisdiction and also W.A. Chester L.L.C., a new signatory contractor currently working on a project for the International Transmission Company. Union leadership met with representatives of Transmission Company, and all indicators appear to be positive in the area of capital spending in an effort to increase reliability and dependability of the transmission system that is so important to the state of Michigan and the nation as a whole. The work picture here has remained steady across all bargaining units through the summer. At summers end the South, especially Florida, was hit hard with catastrophic storms that disrupted the integrity of the electrical system throughout extensive regions. IBEW Local 17 pays tribute to all union members who made the personal sacrifice, and spent time away from their families, to help Floridians and others regain service and put the electric system back together. With sadness we report the passing of Bros. John I. Krugol, Thomas Malone, Arthur Finney, Ivan Hovey, Kenneth A. Collins, E. Noel Levesque, Rene Cote, Wilson L. Rowell, Joseph M. Smith and Henri Bornais. Bob Eckhout, Pres./P.S. L.U. 25 (catv,i,o&rts), LONG ISLAND, NYOur 34th IBEW Long Island Softball Tournament was again hosted by Locals 3, 25, 1049 and 1381 at Baldwin Park on Aug. 27-29. Clear skies contributed to a great weekend. The two-day barbecue hosted by the Tournament Committee was well received by the 31 participating teams. The team from Local 3, New York, NY, was the winner over Local 1049, Long Island, in the upper bracket. Local 3s Interboro team (New York City) won over Local 102 Paterson, NJ, in the lower bracket. The Brotherhood Award went to Local 99, Providence, RI. We welcome four new teams this year: Local 1579, Augusta, GA; Local 129, Lorain, OH; and two teams from Local 126, Philadelphia, PA. The six other teams that played in the tournament for the past four years were unable to attend due to economicsyou were missed and we hope to see you at next years tournament. Ed ODonnell, P.S. |