In Volusia County, major construction projects include the new Justice Center (court house) in Deland, the Ocean Walk project beachside and the 514 megawatt combined cycle generation facility to be built by Duke Energy and the New Smyrna Beach Utility Commission.

The latter of these examples raises concerns that need to be addressed by Duke and the NSB Utility Commission. Duke Energy is an out of state producer of electrical power and sole investor in the construction of the plant. When a project of this magnitude is financed and constructed with out of state resources, building and construction tradesmen must ask, what is the impact on our community and those of us who live and pay taxes here? Legitimate questions are, who will build the plant? Will it be local tradesmen (hundreds for 3 years) or will it be a transient work force from out of state and neighboring countries with little or no community interest.. What impact will be placed on our school system, judicial system and indigent health care delivery system of which we all contribute to. These are a few concerns that I have been assured will be addressed by the Director of the New Smyrna Beach Utility Commission. I continue to wait patiently for these issues to be discussed fully and I am told that will happen after the ongoing permitting process has concluded before the Public Service Commission.

Another concern that effects us all is that of Journeyman licensure (competency). You all know the history and politics of this issue. Greed prevailed over public safety. This was successful this past legislative session. This battle, however, is not over. Legislators must realize that they are charged with the responsibility of protecting the safety, health and welfare of the citizens of Florida. By definition, that should include competency levels with reasonable ratios as it relates to electrical construction.

To that end, the State Building and Construction Trades Council led by President Michael Williams will be forming coalitions. These coalitions will work together in making certain that legislation is introduced this session to either rescind or correct the terrible miscarriage placed against our trade by the special interest groups that continue to place profits over consumer safety. The following editorial (page 2) tells a tragic story of simple greed over public safety.

Stephen R. Williams
Business Manager L.U. 756 IBEW

Without question, the untimely death of young Jorge Luis Cabrera at a Miami bus shelter was a great tragedy. The accidental electrocution of this 12-year-old child at the bus shelter on Oct. 12 should never have happened. While Miami-Dade County Manager Merritt Stierheim stated that those responsible will be held accountable. Jorge’s death will be even more tragic if the blame for his death is placed upon those immediately and obviously responsible but does not lay bare the root of the cause for Jorge’s death.

The ultimate responsibility for young Jorge’s death goes back to the heart of our political process. The fact that monied interests and lobbyist can persuade our legislators to enact legislation that compromises the safety of Florida’s citizens should cause great alarm and outrage in each and every one of us.

I make reference to the despicable legislation that was passed by the Florida legislature in 1997 that stripped away the right of local government, like Miami-Dade Counties, to provide for training, education and journeyman licensing requirements in local building codes. This legislative change now allows state certified contractors to utilize unlicensed workers to perform electrical, plumbing and other work, in contrast to the former law, which required that workers performing such work had to be trained, qualified, licensed journeymen or work under the direct supervision of licensed journeymen.

The promise of the present legislation is that a state licensed contractor will supervise and inspect the work of the unlicensed worker. But from a practical standpoint, since the law does not require that a licensed journeyman be present while the work is being performed, this premise is specious, as is evidenced by this tragedy. The chilling assumption that many homes and businesses are subject to the same kind of incompetent workmanship has to be made.

Yes, the trail of responsibility should go all the way back to Tallahassee, to the door of Rep. Carlos Lacusa (Rep. House District 117), who sponsored this onerous piece of legislation that put lives of residents of Broward and Miami-Dade counties in jeopardy. One might reasonably ask, "Why would anyone want to see such obviously bad legislation passed?" The simple answer is that the home building industry is a major campaign contributor and does not want to pay for the cost of training required to produce skilled qualified journeymen or to pay them the wages that their qualifications demand, and they have the political clout to pass legislation to protect that interest.

Young Jorge Cabrera should be remembered as a martyr. He is the poor canary in the mine shaft, warning us of a poisoned political atmosphere in Tallahassee that will sacrifice the preservation of our safety and the integrity of our political system for "generous campaign contributions." There must be something we can do to prevent this monstrous travesty from repeating itself.

written by Gary Waters, President
Miami Building & Construction Trades Council

When requesting a Visioncare Plan Benefit Form by telephone, be sure to tell them you are with the Electricians Local Union 756 Health and Welfare Fund. They provide coverage for numerous other crafts, therefore, it is very important that you give them the above information.

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