The construction boom that we have been hearing about for the past few years is now upon us. This is just the beginning.

We have all heard about all of the work up North and out West. You don’t have to travel to either of these areas to take advantage of the boom in the electrical construction industry.

Take a look right here in the local area. There are motels, drug stores (Walgreens), and department stores (Super Wal-Mart), just to name a few of the

commercial type projects currently in progress in our area.

There are also industrial projects underway and more planned for the near future. Many of these

(water/waste-water/power plants) will be necessary to support the continued growth in our community.

In addition to the types of electrical work mentioned above, we are witnessing expansion at the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Patrick Air Force Base.

All of this falls in the jurisdiction of IBEW Local Union 756. On many jobs in the jurisdiction hundreds of union electricians enjoy good wages, health care benefits, pensions and safer jobs.

Unfortunately, hundreds of non-union electricians,

who like union members, are doing skilled electrical work and taking the same risks on the job; but are not getting the wages and benefits they deserve.

The construction boom should work for all of us. Join our campaign to build a secure, high wage future for all Electrical Workers in our jurisdiction.

I was once where you are now. Since becoming a proud member of IBEW Local 756, not only have I enjoyed all of the benefits mentioned above, but I have also experienced and enjoyed the true meaning of brotherhood.

I have been fortunate to have the privilege to serve on the Executive Board of our Local for the past three years. Recently, I was elected Vice-President and have been appointed Assistant Business Manager and Organizer.

These recent appointments provide me the opportunity to devote full time to the job of getting the truth to the unrepresented Electrical Workers in this jurisdiction.

Many others have recently realized what they have been missing and made the positive move to membership in our Local Union. I am sure they are anxious to tell you about their experiences. Especially the part about how they added $7.00 to $8.00 an hour to their income, including in pocket and benefits. This is for work in town and it happened overnight!

For those of you interested in work at "The Cape" our current scale is $17.25 plus a benefit package of $5.09.

There are major projects coming up there very soon and other smaller projects continually on-going. Future increases have been negotiated, both in town and at the cape.

There are those who have, and will, continue to attempt to distort the truth and deny you access to the real facts about membership in Local 756.

Please give me the opportunity to provide you with the true facts. You are already out there doing the work, why not be getting the wages and benefits you deserve.

Bill Sweeney

Vice President

I recently responded to the News-Journal regarding a letter that appeared in their letter to the editor section. They obviously chose not to print the following: This is in response to the ignorant comments by an obvious transplant to the state of Florida, regarding mandatory union membership. " They must become union members and pay their dues", was the quote that irritates me.. Florida is a right to work state and provides in its constitution that it is illegal to require employees to join labor unions. Florida’s pathetic wages are evidence of the fallacy of the above quote. As Business Manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 756, I can assure you that all of our members are members because they want to be. It is illegal to require membership as a condition of employment.

The truth of the matter is, issues regarding Political Action Committees (PAC) and the wish of some to restrict those funded by unions is just one more attack on working men and women and their ability to have a voice in local , state and national politics. The ploy will not work, as workers need and demand a voice in the political arena.

The writer is quick to criticize unions, but my guess is that the writer, and many like him, are living quite well on benefits received through the efforts of unions from the Northeast and elsewhere and now have relocated to Florida and are living on those negotiated pensions, health benefits, etc.

I guess it would not be so disturbing if the law also did not require that unions represent equally those who choose not to join the union the same as those who do. If union members do not agree with their leadership they can simply elect new leadership. Labor organizations are no different than other organization. They are no better or worse than those that participate. Finally those that enjoy the benefits but object to contributing towards obtaining them are like hitchhikers who want a ride but are not interested in contributing to the trip.

Steve Williams

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The Central Labor Council is sponsoring the first annual Labor Day Picnic to be held on Sunday, September 6th, at 2PM at the Daytona Beach City Island Park, Pavilion A. Food and soft drinks provided. More details later.

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Congratulations are in order for our newly elected officers and executive board members. The new officers were sworn into office at our regular meeting on July 8th. They are as follows:

Executive Board Members:

Jerome G. "Butch" Bostick

Stanley "Paul" Ching

Gary D. "Doug" Dill

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Dates to remember:

August 12th - Union Meeting

September 6th - Labor Day Picnic

We witnessed this past summer, something that is rare, a strike with a happy ending for the workers. The Teamsters, after a 15 day walkout which stopped UPS cold, prevailed in its key demands. That settlement hardly tells us a turnaround is here in the strife of labor. The trend that has weakened us is as strong as ever. (When I refer to us, we, our etc., I’m speaking of labor in general.) Our membership has to grow so we may be able to gain back the clout we had in the post war period. We all know that union membership is low and has continued to shrink. In the 50's and 60's about 1 in 3 was affiliated with a union, and even higher in some areas. Then by the mid 90's it dropped to 1 in 6 and as low as 1 in 10 in certain locals. That, as far as I’m concerned, is scary. We older members can remember the power of the coal miners, truckers, auto workers, construction and many others. With all the non-union competitors out there today, that power has diminished. Labor’s problems rarely result in a major strike, which tells you why the media made such a tremendous thing out of the UPS strike. Thanks to Reagan and his cronies, "worker replacement" is their answer to all labor unrest such as what happened to the air traffic controllers, Eastern Airlines, Detroit Free Press and on and on. It makes striking, for the union an ineffective weapon. Most of the fringes and benefit we enjoy today was gotten in the 50's and 60's through hard bargaining, but the days of management concessions are a thing of the past. Today the top management people have gained the outrageous salaries and benefits at the expense of the low man on the totem pole (the worker). We have to gain back our clout and to do it, as the saying goes, "strength is in the membership and membership is strength." Every one and everything has to become organized and then we will make our comeback.

On to us (756). We just recently had elections and have new officers installed, but a few things to ponder. Your man may not have been elected, but remember the majority put one in, so work with them for the betterment of the local. Remind them they work for you and to work together for our local, our beliefs, family and the trade. Good luck to all the new officers, work hard for the members. Brothers, give 8 for 8 to the employer. Be fair to him, as you expect him to be fair with you. We have enough job scared contractor stooges out there, so don’t become one. Live up to your responsibilities to him and if they don’t, we have channels. Use them. I’m not anti-employer, I’m just strong pro-labor. We need them, but don’t ever forget that they need us, LU 756 JW’s the best in the world. Don’t believe me? Ask some of the newly organized if we’re not. Lets sign up some shops....

Frank Fusco, Retired

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Nina and Gregory Puustinen

are the proud parents of a son

Ian Matthew Puustinen - born June 11^th

Shannon and Rick Rumnock

are the proud parents of a daughter

Amberley Lynn Rumnock - born June 27th