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Address of International President Edwin D. Hill
IBEW Construction & Maintenance Conference
Washington, D.C.
April 11, 2003

Thank you, Mark. For your kind introduction -- And thank you, brothers and sisters for your warm welcome. It is always humbling --as well as comforting -- to hear such heartfelt applause from such a dedicated and accomplished group of union leaders. I mean it when I tell you that every day, -- I pray to my God that I can live up to the faith you have placed in me. And I ask Him to give me the strength to stand up straight and meet the demands of leading this great Brotherhood.

For the second year in a row, -- we meet at a time when brave American men and women of our armed services -- and those of our staunch allies -- are in harms way. When we went into Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks, -- the world applauded our efforts. Today, -- our troops are fighting a much bigger, -- more costly and more controversial war in Iraq. While we are confident of military victory, -- we must ask at what cost it will come and what the world will look like in the aftermath. As we know, -- no place on earth is immune from becoming a battlefield in the war against terrorism.

Among those brave troops in the field of battle are a number of our members -- on leave from their jobs -- and proudly wearing their countrys uniform. There are also numerous sons, daughters and other relatives of IBEW members in the field. We support our brothers and sisters and all their fellow soldiers. We pray for their safety and their victorious return home. And we also pray for our commander-in-chief that God may grant him wisdom in these times.

In the meantime, -- the task at home remains the same. We continue the never-ending struggle to bring justice and dignity to the lives of our members and all working people. We strive to help the United States and Canada put the ideals of freedom and democracy -- the same things we are trying to help others obtain -- into practice here at home. This conference as always is intended to help us do just that. I hope all of you use your time here well, and take home some new information or piece of knowledge that will help make life better in your area.

As is our tradition at this and other meetings, I would like to introduce some of the finest labor leaders I have ever had the privilege to know -- and to work with -- our International officers.

First, -- please join me in welcoming my good friend, -- my working partner, -- the tall, -- tough guy in cowboy boots, -- John Wayne -- wrong script -- our International Secretary-Treasurer Jerry OConnor.

And from the other Washington -- some might call it the real Washington -- in the Pacific Northwest, please welcome the dedicated leader of Local 191 in Everett, Washington, -- the Chairman of the International Executive Council -- Milt Foster.

Those of you who are veterans of these conferences know whats coming next. Id like to introduce our International Vice Presidents in the time honored way. Well give them each one clap as I ask them to stand and follow with a rousing round of applause for them as a group. Ready?

• From the First District, Don Lounds;
• Second District, Frank Carroll;
• Third District, Don Siegel;
• Fourth District, Paul Witte;
• Fifth District, Mel Horton;
• Sixth District, Pat Curley;
• Seventh District, Jon Gardner;
• Eight District, Jon Walters;
• Ninth District, Mike Mowrey;
• Tenth District, in his first appearance at a construction conference as Vice president, Bobby Klein.
• And from the Eleventh District, Bill Eads.

Lets hear it for our Vice Presidents.

Since were on a roll, -- lets continue with the introductions of the International Executive Council. Were privileged to have such dedicated local union leaders to help guide this Brotherhood. Lets do the same one clap rule.

• From the First District, Tony McCafferty;
• Second District, Rui Carrinho;
• Third District, Sam Chilia;
• Fourth District, Lonnie Plott;
• Fifth District, Keith Querry;
• Sixth District, Bill Turner;
• Seventh District, Pat Lavin;
• And the newest member of the IEC from the great city of Toronto representing the Eighth District, Joe Fashion.

Lets give them a big round of applause.

Before we go any further, -- I want to recognize three men whose talents and fighting spirit helped keep our Brotherhood going in the difficult years of late 20^th century. Each of them -- in their own way -- taught us all a lot about what it means to lead a great union. If there are some among you who never met these gentlemen in person, -- please make sure to shake their hands while you are here. You and your members back home owe them more than you will ever know. Brothers and sisters, please give a warm thank you to our International President Emeritus Jack Barry, who was unable to be with us today and he wanted to make sure that you knew that his heart is with you. Here with us -- fresh off the farm and still going strong is our International Secretary Emeritus Jack Moore, -- and last but certainly not least -- our International Treasurer Emeritus, and Business Manager of Local 3 -- Tom Van Arsdale.

One more. I want to recognize a trusted and dedicated brother who works tirelessly to help keep the IBEWs ship of state on course. He deserves our thanks for all he does every day for our members. Please welcome the Senior Executive Assistant to the International Officers, -- Larry Neidig.

News of the war in Iraq has drowned out most everything else these days. That is understandable, -- but it is also very dangerous. The building trades, -- ourselves included, -- are bastions of patriotism, -- full of men and women who answer the call of duty, -- wherever it may lead.

But the vast majority of us are not in the Middle East right now. We are at home working to make sure that the promise of freedom and democracy is fulfilled here on the continent where those concepts first took full root. We must not forget that we have been engaged in an economic war here at home, -- fighting for our work, -- but also fighting against political forces that would run us out of business in a heartbeat -- if they could.

We have just about taken Iraq. Now, our leaders say they are going to rebuild a democratic country over there. There is talk of billions of dollars for roads, hospitals, schools, bridges and a whole new infrastructure in Iraq. Where is the same commitment to our own roads, our own bridges, our won schools, factories, hospitals and infrastructure right here on the North American continent? Instead of cutting the taxes of the rich and powerful, how about putting that money to create jobs for real people building things that will help everybody?

We know our priorities. We are fully capable of separating George Bush the commander-in-chief from George Bush the political leader of the United States. Even though the president is occupied with matters of war and peace now,-- his accomplices in the administration continue to take aim at the foundation of trade unionism in this country.

Our political opponents hold us in such contempt that they have attempted to paint trade unionism as somehow -- unpatriotic. It began last fall with the debate over whether or not to allow employees of the patchwork Homeland Security Department to unionize. It continued with the same debate over the new federal baggage screener work force. The charges became even more scurrilous in a letter sent by House Majority leader Tom DeLay to contributors of the National Right to Work Committee in which he accused the International Association of Fire Fighters of undermining homeland security by daring to seek collective bargaining rights for public workers. So even the heroes of September 11 are not immune from these despicable attacks. Later this morning you will hear from an honored guest, -- Fire Fighters President Harold Schaitberger, -- who, I expect, will have something to say on this subject.

The 112-year history of this Brotherhood -- and the numbers of our own members now on active duty -- make one thing clear. Attacks on our patriotism do not deserve even the dignity of a rebuttal. I see the extreme and shameful rhetoric of our opponents for what it is -- an attempt to intimidate organized labor from asserting the rights of working men and women, -- and an effort to weaken our standing as an effective voice for justice and dignity in the workplace.

But we will not be silenced. The troops fighting in Iraq are our heroes because they are fighting for a better and a freer world. We owe it to them to make sure that democracy and the exercise of our basic rights as trade union members and citizens remains as vigorous as ever.

That is what we can and will do.

To be frank, -- while I dont underestimate the political forces lined up against us, I dont fear them either. Their brand of attacks has often served to inspire labor. And like the USA itself, when the labor movement stands united and fights to win, we will not be beaten.

The biggest threat we face is our own failure to fight, whether it is because we get comfortable or lazy, or forget who we are and what our principles are. The fight over the rights of Homeland Security workers to organize reminds me of another fight some 20 years ago when we shirked our duty as trade unionists -- and a shameful day it was.

Im talking about the dark days when it became apparent that Ronald Reagan was setting the course for the weakening of organized labor. We let ourselves down -- -- when we did not rebel and fight for those who needed our help the Air Traffic Controllers. Some of our leaders said at that time -- we could not help -- because after all they did break the law and they knew what would happen.

Well, damn it, brothers and sisters, I think some civil disobedience may have been called for at that time, and it may be needed in our time. Lets get real if everyone who has not stretched the civil law to the point of breaking were to leave this room -- there would be no one here except the good Father -- and maybe not even him. Its times like those -- and these today -- that try the soul of a strong trade unionist.

Like those times, we are not only being hit with heavy political opposition we are also in the grip of a bad economy. Its the factor that I know is hanging over everything were doing these days. In just a few short years, the North American economy has gone from dizzying heights -- to a black pit. Just when we think weve hit bottom,-- it seems theres further to fall.

We managed to avoid a downturn in construction during the early part of this recession, -- but now it has hit. The work picture was very bad this winter in most parts of the continent, and the spring has offered only partial relief. Books are full in local after local.

Dont think for one minute that Ive forgotten what its like to be on the front lines in times like these. I was business manager of Local 712 when Western Pennsylvanias industrial base was beginning to fall apart. I was business manager during the energy shocks of the 1970s -- and the Reagan recession. The times then were a lot like today.

Bad economic times create anxiety among the members and their families. Nerves are frayed. Emotions are raw. Times are ripe for internal discord in a local -- trying to place blame. The trades start to bicker even more than usual over jurisdiction. There is a tendency among local union and contractor alike to take frustrations out on each other. To be a business manager at times like this means you have to have the nerve of a cop, -- the patience of a saint -- and the wisdom to know which to use at what time. Thats what happens when the construction cycle turns ugly, as it always has and probably always will.

I understand that. --- I know what you are going through. Ive been there.

And its because I as well as the other officers have been there that we take our jobs seriously and that we try to point the way, -- even when you might not always like the message or the direction. All of you are looking to the officers as well as myself -- to try to create the best conditions in which our locals can grow and prosper and make life better for every member of this Brotherhood. Thats my job and that is our job.

Now is not the time to pack it in. Now is the time to take stock and do what we do best -- stick to the basics. Live up to our core principles as trade union leaders. The theme of this conference is Diagram for Success. By that we mean that all of the elements that we need to move forward even in tough times -- are in place. We need only to recognize them -- and use them -- but use them wisely.

I didnt set the definition of what our core principles are. Ten tough and far-sighted men did that in 1891. The eleven objects of the IBEW are right in front of our constitution. Theyre worth reading on a regular basis because they have a way of helping you keep your head on straight -- I know that I do.

Lets start with who we are. Were still the most productive, -- best trained work force that our industry has to offer. Thats our bread and butter. So it makes sense to keep your local training programs strong and use them to instill the right work ethic in apprentice and journeyman alike. And it makes sense to work with the NJATC to keep abreast of the latest techniques and course available.

Weve also talked about professionalism on the job in recent years. Again, -- this was meant to help you in the bad times. When times are flush, and our services are in demand, the customer may have to put up with less than perfect behavior. But when times are tight, -- do you think that he or she is going to choose a work force that created headaches or didnt deliver as promised? Professionalism isnt something I invented just to have something to talk about. Its an investment in your locals future.

Solidarity means that we stand by one another, -- but it also means that we have to look out for each other. While we still deal with many Mom and Pop contractors who operate in one jurisdiction or within neighboring ones, -- thats getting to be the exception. There has been tremendous consolidation among contractors in recent years, -- especially in the outside branch. Therefore, -- what you do in your local can have an impact on a local on the other side of the country. How your members perform on the job reflects on your brothers and sisters everywhere. So solidarity demands that we live up to the high standards we set for ourselves.

I never felt that being a strong advocate for the men and women of the IBEW meant not facing up to what we were doing wrong and take steps to correct it. In my speeches and other communications to you, I have stressed the need to live up to the highest possible standards of behavior and craftsmanship because that and nothing less is what our customers expect and what our contractor partners deserve.

Last year, I was angered at a growing number of work stoppages that were taking place at too many job sites throughout the country. At a time when we were spending big dollars to promote ourselves to users of construction, this made no sense. I made it clear to our members that failing to follow negotiated dispute resolution procedures was unacceptable. I stressed that living up to our agreements was critical to our credibility as a union and as highly skilled building tradesmen.

According to the reports I am getting, the number of unauthorized work stoppages or slowdowns has fallen dramatically. Even though my message was not always met with the happiest of responses, it apparently was taken to heart.

I want to say that Im proud of how you responded to my call last year for greater professionalism. I want to personally thank you for your answer to the call to end the wobbles and walk offs. I want to openly thank those of our members who travel within our Brotherhood to seek employment opportunities for also assisting in stopping this type of action -- as I requested at their annual reunion that I attended last summer. This is an example of the IBEW at its best working together to stop a problem and keep this Brotherhood on the right track.

I would also note, as I did last year, that some of the problems on the job site were due to the behavior of the contractors. So rest assured, I didnt just give you hell. I took the same message to their meetings too. And some of them took steps to address the problem, and they deserve some credit too.

We talk about cooperation, and how important it has been to our working relationship with the contractors for the better part of a century. Cooperation doesnt mean the absence of conflict, but rather how smoothly and reasonably it is resolved.

Make no mistake about where Im coming from here. I push our people to be the best because its the right thing to do for our future. We want to live up to our agreements with the contractors and the customers, but that doesnt mean giving in to all their whims. In fact, in about another week, Ill be talking to a group of large contractors, and Im going to have a few words to say about the right-to-reject language. Well do what we have to do to clean up our act, and I expect them to do the same.

I guess the question -- or complaint -- I hear most these days concerns organizing. Many of you want to know why -- in hard times when the books are full, and you have a hall full of unhappy members -- should you organize?

I think that question makes a lot of sense. What good does it do a local to bring in a former nonunion hand and then tell him to take his place at the back of the line; maybe youll have some work in six months? Thats not logical.

But organizing does matter, in fact it matters even more in hard times because it is the one positive step you can take to increase your membership and enhance your revenues.

Look at it this way. In flush times, -- you organize the individual. That way, when demand is high, you have the manpower to get the work done. Your competition doesnt. In flush times, you go after the nonunion sectors labor supply.

Tough times dont undercut the reason for organizing; -- they simply call for a change in strategy.

In lean times, -- strategy dictates that you organize the work. You go to where your competitions jobs are and seek to bring in the contractor, -- or convince his workers to seek a representation election. Either way, -- you now have that work and whatever other jobs the contractor may have lined up. This gives you a chance to put some of your other members back to work as well, -- because now you have a bigger share of the local market. You might even regain a foothold in the residential market that so many of us let slip away some 20 years ago. And on top of this, your local is in better financial shape.

And this might be a good time to go after the voice/data/video work that you may have been ignoring when the books were empty. This might be the right time to cross train some of your journeymen as technicians using our training curriculum designed for that purpose. This might be a good time to take a look at the VDV national agreement we unveiled in March.

Lets not forget, -- that our construction organizing efforts took off during the lean years of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Since then, -- we have gone through another cycle. But our program has evolved and matured to the point where it offers a variety of strategies and methods to go after the work in different market conditions. These arent the dictates of a distant organization -- these are solid, practical tools for you to use to build your base to withstand whatever the economic cycle can throw at us.

In the year to come -- we will be tackling some other very difficult issues and will be making some changes that will prickle the hair on your neck. Tough times call for tough action. Im just going to ask that when you get ready to criticize take a look at the alternative. Ask yourself: How high is the cost of doing nothing?

We are going to implement a Substance Abuse policy. We will be organizing in some rather unorthodox ways. We are going to count on you to swallow hard and try some new things and look to the long-term benefits.

You have now and will have a lat of latitude in operating your Local Union. However with that latitude comes responsibility. Your Vice President will be demanding that you are accountable for your jurisdiction. Now all of that may sound easy to some of you -- but believe me -- it will not be easy not for you and not for me. But I know that there is real leadership out there, and I know we have a lot of good minds that will make these ideas work. You will be the masters of your own destiny, but you will also fulfill your obligation to the constitution of the IBEW. It is the responsibility of the International Officers and International Representatives of this Brotherhood to see that all of us keep our constitutional promise to the membership.

There is another promise to the membership that we have been working on. For years, IBEW locals and rank and file members have been urging and demanding that the International negotiate a nationwide health care plan in the United States to which all IBEW locals could subscribe. The argument has been that our nationwide numbers would give us the clout to negotiate a better plan than could be done at the local level.

The arguments were always sound,-- but some very hard realities prevented the International from getting very far in developing such a plan. There always seemed to be obstacles of expense, -- questions about participation, -- risk factors that could threaten financial disaster, and so on. It was very easy to make speeches on the convention floor calling for a national health plan, -- but much harder to get it done.

Secretary-Treasurer OConnor and I decided, however, -- that we could not let the obstacles -- however difficult -- stand in the way of trying to scale that mountain. We have been engaged in serious negotiations to make a national health care plan a reality.

I would like to stand here and say we are done. But I think that those of you who are trustees of your local health plan can appreciate the condition of todays health insurance market -- and it is not very pretty. We still have a long way to go. But I can say that the goal is in sight, and we will continue our very best efforts.

I am also proud to say that at least one major milestone on that journey has been reached. We are prepared to launch a national prescription drug coverage plan for IBEW members. We have negotiated very favorable terms that will take much of the cost pressure off local plans by giving you a valuable option. I dont have to tell you what has happened to the cost of prescription drugs in this country. The politicians are moving far too slowly toward any meaningful national plan. So we have gone ahead with one of our own, and Jerry -- and his staff who have done all of the work -- will provide you with more detail in his remarks to you this morning.

Brothers and sisters, -- theres something I want everyone here to understand. Since I became International President two years ago, -- I have been hammering on the hard issues and delivered some tough messages about what we need to do. Why? For one reason, -- patience isnt my strong suit. I see so much good going on in the Brotherhood and so much that needs to be done to make it better, and I want it all to happen now. I want this Brotherhood to be the best it can be right now.

I know just how hard it is to keep a construction local running right -- keeping the members happy, -- dealing with contractors and customers, --working with the politicians, -- organizing and policing a jurisdiction, -- and the countless other demands that turn being a local officer into a 24/7 job. Its easy to lose sight of the big picture -- but its my job and the job of all of the International Officers and Representatives to keep the big picture in front of us.

So I want to leave you with one very important part of the big picture. The job of being a trade union leader at any level is difficult in the best of times. It is scary as hell at times like these -- with hostile political leaders, -- corporations running rampant over the world economy, -- war, -- threats of terrorism -- and a sour economy. At times like this, there is at least one force in our lives that can give us the support we need -- this very Brotherhood.

Just as every allied soldier in Iraq knows that he or she is not alone that they re in it together so do we. Each of us should know that no matter how lonely the struggle for dignity and justice on the job can become, we are not alone. We too stand shoulder to shoulder with men and women in the IBEW. Many of them we will never meet, but we know they share our struggle, our problems, and our hopes.

The IBEW has been a major influence in my life -- since the day I was born; it has been the same for most of you. I want all of us to look around at our brothers and sisters and thank God -- that we have each other and stand together as part of a great Brotherhood. This is something we dont do very often. But with our solidarity comes a strength that can be shared and can bolster each and every one of us when we need it the most.

I am grateful for the Brotherhood we share. I am grateful for every one of you and what you do to make the IBEW the proud union that it is. So let us carry the fight onward in these difficult times knowing that our unity will carry us through. We will never give in and never give up.

Thank you, and may your God bless each and every one of you.