| Vol. 7 No. 3 | May 2000 |
THE SIDE-CUTTER |
|
|
|
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF
ELECTRICAL WORKERS
LOCAL UNION NO. 756
| Vol. 7 No. 3 | May 2000 |
THE SIDE-CUTTER |
|
|
|
THE OBJECTS OF THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS
TO ORGANIZE ALL WORKERS IN THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA, INCLUDING ALL THOSE IN PUBLIC UTILITIES AND ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURING INTO LOCAL UNIONS, TO PROMOTE REASONABLE METHODS OF WORK, TO CULTIVATE FEELINGS OF FRIENDSHIP AMONG THOSE OF OUR INDUSTRY, TO SETTLE ALL DISPUTES BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES BY ARBITRATION (IF POSSIBLE), TO ASSIST EACH OTHER IN SICKNESS OR DISTRESS, TO SECURE EMPLOYMENT, TO REDUCE THE HOURS OF DAILY LABOR, TO SECURE ADEQUATE PAY FOR OUR WORK, TO SEEK A HIGHER AND HIGHER STANDARD OF LIVING, TO SEEK SECURITY FOR THE INDIVIDUAL, AND BY LEGAL AND PROPER MEANS TO ELEVATE THE MORAL, INTELLECTUAL AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS OF OUR MEMBERS, THEIR FAMILIES AND DEPENDENTS, IN THE INTEREST OF A HIGHER STANDARD OF CITIZENSHIP. The Side Cutter is a publication of I.B.E.W. Local Union #756 - Daytona Beach, Florida.
ELECTION YEAR 2000
At the risk of sounding redundant, this election cycle will be the most critical of our working careers. Re-districting is one issue that will play a major role in which party controls the political geographics for the next 10 years. The prevailing political party will have a significant advantage drawing district lines in successfully controlling the composition and resulting partisanship of these areas. Additionally, consider the following reasons to be registered to vote and be active in politics. To politicians, if you’re neither registered nor intend on voting, you don’t exist. You’re a NON-PERSON. If you don’t register, you shouldn’t be surprised that elected officials or candidates aren’t spending any time thinking about you and your family. After all, you have declared yourself to be out of politics, and they have simply taken you for your word. It’s just that simple, if you’re not registered to vote you don’t have any voice at all!!!!
Currently, most polls show the presidential race between Al Gore and George W. Bush to be a dead heat. A similar race in 1960 saw John F. Kennedy defeat Richard M. Nixon for the presidency. His margin of victory was less than ONE vote per precinct nationwide. The following are other significant events decided by ONE vote. Please value your ONE vote on Election Day because it does make a difference.
In 1645, ONE vote gave Oliver Cromwell control of England.
In 1649, ONE vote caused Charles I of England to be executed.
In 1776, ONE vote gave America the English language instead of German.
In 1845, ONE vote brought Texas into the Union.
In 1868, ONE vote saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment.
In 1876, ONE vote gave Rutherford B. Hayes the United States presidency.
In 1933, ONE vote gave Adolf Hitler leadership of the Nazi Party.
PROOF POSITIVE ONE VOTE CAN AND HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE!!
You may register to vote at the Dept. of Motor Vehicles, City Hall, Libraries, most Banks and this Union Hall. You can also register at our annual picnic on May 27th. And remember to:
VOTE YOUR JOB---LOBBY YOUR INTERESTS
Member's Corner
Our annual picnic will be held at Camp Winona on Saturday, May 27th. As usual there will be plenty of food, canoeing, games and just plain fun. There will be grilled hot dogs and soft drinks provided in addition to the Bar-B-Q lunch that will be provided by Dustin’s Bar-B-Q. Don’t forget to bring lawn chairs. Journeymen, be sure to invite your Trainees and Apprentices. Please try to attend.
Dates to remember:
May 10th - Union Meeting 7:30 PM
May 11th - Retirees’ Meeting 11:30 AM
May 27th Annual Picnic Camp Winona
*******************************************
UNION MADE
Keith and Kasi McFarland
are the proud parents of a son
Karson Drake McFarland – August 17, 1999
Michael and Leah Turner
are the proud parents of a daughter
Tessa Turner – March 5, 2000
************************************************
The Daytona Beach Electrical Apprenticeship and Training Committee is now accepting applications for the position of Training Director to become available September 1, 2000. Applications may be obtained from Holmes Davis in the apprenticeship office. If you are interested in this position you need to get your completed application in as soon as possible.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We have regrettably lost one of our Brothers since the last issue of the Sidecutter.
Michael S. Jones April 23, 2000
He will surely be missed. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to his family.
________________________________
Thanks to the following for supporting the Daytona Beach Police Officers /Teamsters Local 385 in their effort to obtain a fair contract with the city. On the picket line were Brothers Steve Williams, Bill Sweeney, Greg Stone, Norman Miller, Darrin Maudlin, Ron Albury, Butch Bostick, Pete Davies, Joel Harrison and his two sons and Pre-Apprentice Kim Pettingill.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please help Brother Steve Martin with his fight against cancer.
FISH FRY BENEFIT
FOR STEVE MARTIN & FAMILY
SATURDAY, MAY 13, 2000
12:00 – 4:00 PM
MENU
FRIED CATFISH
POTATO SALAD
COLESLAW
BAKED BEANS
COST: DONATION
Sponsored by
SPRUCE CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH
1952 TAYLOR ROAD
DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32124
PHONE: 767-5381
PLEASE CALL CHURCH OFFICE
TO RESERVE NUMBER OF DINNERS NEEDED
OSHA’S CARE PROGRAM IS WORKING
Last year we reported that Florida ranked #1 in fatalities in construction and due to that unfavorable ranking OSHA initiated its CARE program. The Construction Accident Reduction Emphasis program was kicked off on 03/22/99 and its mission is to reduce construction accidents and fatalities in Florida by focusing resources on enforcement, partnership and outreach.
During the first year of the CARE program, the resources and publicity were concentrated in the Ft. Lauderdale area, where the largest number of fatalities were reported. The majority of the reduction in fatalities also occurred in that area.
The figures originally given last year have been corrected. The number of fatalities reported for Florida in 1998 was 68. That has been corrected to 65, as both the general and sub-contractors reported 3 of the deaths. The total construction related fatalities for Florida in 1999 was 54. This is a reduction of 11 and it is a step in the right direction, however, even one fatality is one to many.
In 1998 the data shows that 92% of the fatalities occurred on non-union jobs. In 1999 that percentage was 93%. The following chart shows the breakdown by districts and by type of accident:
Revised by OSHA 2/15/00
FLORIDA
FY 99 (October 1, 1998 – September 30, 1999)
54 Construction Fatalities
| Falls | Crushed By | Struck By | Electrical | Drowned | Totals | |
| Jacksonville | 6 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 13 | |
| Tampa | 7 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 18 |
| Ft. Laud | 13 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 23 |
| Statewide | 26 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 54 |
It has always been clear to most of us that agencies and departments dealing with workers‘ safety and workers’ rights are very important and should be fully funded. The results of the CARE program show what can be done with adequate resources. Why then are our legislators, both federal and state, dismantling worker-related agencies? OSHA has been under attack for years, through restricted funding. In our own state, legislators have completely
eliminated the Division of Safety at a time when accidents and fatalities are at an all time high.It’s time to hold our legislators accountable for their actions.
VOTE YOUR JOB --- LOBBY YOUR INTEREST
Bill Sweeney
Organizer
*******************************************
GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY
On Monday, April 24th, I went to a groundbreaking ceremony for the Advanced Technical Center in Volusia County. This is a state of the art facility for technical careers, including the building trades. It is a positive step in the advancement of educational opportunities for our high school students and others interested in technical careers.
Plans are for our apprenticeship school to use this facility, which will have classrooms and labs with state of the art teaching aids. Eleventh and twelfth grade students will be able to attend this facility to get a head start in the subjects needed for college and apprenticeship programs. Our state and local elected officials and leaders in the educational field are to be commended for their job in bringing this project to reality.
Two things were mentioned repeatedly by speakers at this ceremony. They were cooperation and contracts. Cooperation between two local school districts and a community college and contracts between the educational, governmental and private sector participants in this undertaking. Our local businesses, for the most part, would agree that contracts between and among themselves are a necessary part of doing business.
I am sure that in all of the business classes at our community college the students are taught that contracts are imperative before entering into any business deal, and so it should be. Why then is it such an unheard of or unreasonable request for workers to want a contract between themselves and their employers? The importance of contracts should be taught at all levels of the educational process, as it relates to jobs and business.
When the graduates of the technical center complete that portion of their education they will no doubt have received the technical training. Will they have been taught employee/employer relations and the importance of contracts and how they are achieved through collective bargaining?
Contracts are what unions are all about. Contracts are
desirable for businesses, when it comes to protecting their business interests.
Why is it so hard for some workers to understand that contracts through
collective bargaining are desirable to protect their interest?
Bill Sweeney
Tips, topics, suggestions, and criticisms are welcome. Send your responses to:
The Side Cutter c/o IBEW L.U. 756 5901 Airport Road Daytona Beach, FL 32124 Names will remain confidential upon request
Continuing Education Courses
available:
For information contact Holmes Davis, Training Director
756-2776.
ORGANIZING: Call Bill Sweeney 756-2756
IBEW #756 Home Page | What We Believe
Side Cutter | Officers | Location | Apprenticeship
Members On-Line | Comment Page
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF
ELECTRICAL WORKERS
LOCAL UNION NO. 756
Internet Design by
EAST COAST EDITION
