INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF
ELECTRICAL WORKERS
LOCAL UNION NO. 756
Vol. 7 No. 4

July 2000

THE SIDE-CUTTER

The Side-CutterEAST COAST EDITION 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

A MESSAGE TO ALL IN OUR INDUSTRY.

WHO REPRESENTS YOU???? If you happen to be a tradesman who chooses not to be represented by a labor group and without the protection of a collective bargaining agreement please consider the following. The only protections you enjoy as a worker are the few provided by federal law and the even fewer provided by the State. All workers are at a real risk of losing those few worker protections if we do not stand up and be counted this November. The following is a summary of comments made by Laurence Cohen, General Counsel for the IBEW.

"How our labor laws are administered by government agencies, and how they are interpreted by the courts depends on the man in the White House. My message to you is very simple: if George W. Bush is elected President in November, fairness and justice under our labor laws will be lost for many years.

Contrast our experiences during the twelve Reagan-Bush years, with the eight years under the Clinton-Gore Administration.

  1. The Reagan-Bush Years. The people appointed to the federal government agencies that administer the labor laws had a clear anti-union, anti-worker bias. SOME EXAMPLES:
  1. The Labor Department issued new regulations that gutted major parts of the Davis-Bacon Act and the Service Contracts Act.

    2.  
  2. The Labor Department also virtually stopped enforcing the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Workers were left without protection.

    3.  
  3. At the National Labor Relations Board, there was a stream of anti-labor decisions by the Republican Board. Many of them reversed earlier cases that had been in effect for many years. The most biased Board that I have witnessed in my 36 years as an IBEW lawyer.

    4.  
  4. Our situation was made even worse because of the judges appointed by Reagan and Bush. By the time that Bush left office, they had appointed well over half the federal judges. And, they appointed five of the nine Justices on the U.S. Supreme Court.

 

  1. The Clinton-Gore Years. The most pro-worker, pro-union Administration since the 1960’s.
  1. The people appointed to the NLRB, the Department of Labor and other key government agencies have been friendly to labor and have aggressively enforced our worker protection laws.

    2.  
  2. At the NLRB today, there is a favorable 3-2 majority, and the General Counsel of the Board is a former union lawyer.

    3.  
  3. The Clinton Labor Department reversed the Reagan Labor Department’s attack on Davis- Bacon, by issuing new regulations that undid the damage of the Reagan regs.

    4.  
  4. We have faced a hostile Congress since 1995, and only the active help of this Administration – and particularly the use and the threat of Clinton vetoes – has prevented the enactment of a host of anti-worker laws that the Republicans favored.

    5.  
  5. With the appointment of many new federal judges by President Clinton, there is a better balance in the courts. He also has made two labor-friendly appointments to the Supreme Court.

 

  1. If Al Gore is elected, we can count on more of the same. But, if Bush is elected:
  1. At the NLRB, he will be able – immediately after taking office – to name a new General Counsel and to appoint three of the five Board Members. There will be an immediate anti-labor Board majority.

    2.  
  2. At other federal agencies, such as the Department of Labor, OSHA, etc., we would get a repeat of the experiences of the Reagan-Bush years.

    3.  
  3. In the courts, many new hostile judges will be appointed.

    4.  
  4. In the Supreme Court, five of the nine Justices were appointed by Reagan and Bush. In most labor cases, we can count on only three, or at most four, votes. Three of the nine Justices are 70 or older, and experts predict that the next President may appoint three new Justices. That’s enough either to give us a friendly majority on the court for the first time in years, or to stack it against us for decades.

 

  1. The bottom line is:
  1. In a Bush, Jr., Administration, labor and workers will face the same attacks on their rights that we faced under his father and Reagan. And if a Republican Congress is returned, we will have no source of protection in the federal government, and must expect a series of anti-labor laws.

    2.  
  2. In a Gore Administration, we will continue to get the fairness and justice that we have had for the last eight years – and that we deserve."

 

We would be wise to heed this distinguished and respected labor attorney’s words. The above mentioned comments reflect the very important protections available for working men and women of this country. Again this is especially critical for those working outside the protections of a collective bargaining agreement. Simply put we should all register to vote and participate in the election process and of course I encourage all to join our ranks in helping to protect the interest of working families. One final thought. It is a good idea to base your standard of living on 40 hours of work and always remember to VOTE YOUR JOB, LOBBY YOUR INTEREST. Just say no to trickle down economics. Say it November 7th at the polls.

Stephen R. Williams

Business Manager

 

Member's Corner

Thanks to the hard work of all the volunteers, our picnic was a great success again this year. A good time was had by all.

New Prescription Drug Benefit Program

Effective June 1, 2000, every covered participant should have received our new prescription drug card. If you have not received yours please call 904-255-8331. Karen will be happy to assist you.

Dates to Remember:

July 12th - Union Meeting 7:30 PM

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UNION MADE

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Frank and Karina Dudley

are the proud parents of a son

Ryan Franklin Dudley – May 17, 2000

 

John and Catherine Marshall

are the proud parents of a son

Brett Robert Marshall – March 31, 2000

 

 

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We have regrettably lost two of our Brothers since the last issue of the Sidecutter.

William D. "Bill" Sproul May 26, 2000

Harold A. "Hal" Brahms June 4, 2000

They will surely be missed. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to their families.

Reminder

Please make sure that your beneficiary cards are up to date. Due to marriages, divorces and unfortunately death, the beneficiary cards need to be updated from time to time. We will be glad to assist you.

________________________________

 

To IBEW and NECA Members

September 1, 1990, was my first day as the new Training Director for the Daytona Beach Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee. Rusty Stelliltano had held that position for 39 years. Rusty had a hand in training most of the Journeymen now working in this local. After completing my apprenticeship, I attended many JW classes that he set up. The things I learned in those classes I have used many times during the past 42 years in our trade.

This training was only available through the leadership of IBEW & NECA and their agreements. These agreements allowed me to raise a family, get two sons through school, a wife through college and have a comfortable living at the same time. I worked on many projects that I was proud to have been a part of. The time has now come for me to retire. Again through the IBEW & NECA agreements I will be able to do that in a comfortable way.

As Training Director I was able to make some changes, some good and some not so good. I had thought that I could make more, but found there was not enough time available. The daily tasks required are like running a business and you are the only one in the office to accomplish them. I have heard over the years that no one would take this job, that I put in too many hours. I put those hours in because I knew, through my experience, that training is essential. I have what I have because of the training I received.

The hours I put in may also be due to bad management, but I looked at it as my pay back for the life that I was afforded by the IBEW and NECA organizations. And yes, one cannot work without the other. You can see what has been accomplished across these United States when these two work together.

The demands for the type of work that we do today and will do in the future requires us to continually improve our skills, abilities and technology. Our contractors can only be competitive with our knowledge and implementation of these skills and with a positive attitude. Training does not and cannot stop at the end of apprenticeship. It has just begun!

Soon a new training director will be hired. There will be a training period of a month to six weeks. That’s not much time for all that’s involved. This person will need the support of each and everyone in the IBEW & NECA.

My hopes are that journeymen classes will be increased, one of my nonsuccesses; that journeymen take their responsibility in the training of apprentices; that every apprentice be assigned to a JW for training. Foremen and supervisors have their jobs, and one of those jobs is to see that the JW’s do the training. If the JW is not training, the JW is not complying with the agreement and is doing harm to both organizations. The foreman needs to send that JW to the hall.

My sincere thanks to the IBEW and it’s members, brothers and sisters, and to the contractors and their employees, to each and every one that I have worked for and with over the years.

 

Fraternally,

Holmes Davis
Training Director

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR WHO?

The "Buzz" words among our state and local government and business leaders these days are "Economic Development". This has been so for years and, I’m sure, will continue to be the case.

In all of the discussions regarding economic development there are a few more "key" words always rising to the surface. They are "High Paying Jobs". The types of jobs derived from the majority of the development in this area is service type jobs and are not high paying jobs. High paying jobs for who? Certainly not the workers.

Our young people are being trained here and then leaving our area to work in other states where they are more adequately compensated for their skills. This applies to those trained in business/management and in the skilled trades.

Isn’t it ironic that our area and the State of Florida as a whole has such an inclement environment for unionization and it is areas with a high unionization rate that have high paying jobs and good economic development? Isn’t that what our leaders tell us they are trying to bring to the area?

Those of us who are unionized enjoy the best the area has to offer within our respective trade and careers including full health care, pensions for our retirement and conditions of employment which cannot change at the whim of an employer having a bad day.

Unions are perhaps the primary mechanism for U.S. workers to raise their living and working standards. On average, union members earn between 30-40% more than non-union workers do. They also exert greater influence over the working conditions, and they have contractual guarantees against arbitrary or discriminatory treatment.

Apparently, we are very good teachers in this area and not very good students, when it comes to retaining our most valuable resource, our skilled young people. We train our police and sheriff deputies and they go elsewhere for better standards. We train the best skilled tradesmen and many leave for better standards. This scenario applies across the board.

Our political and business leaders (what’s the difference?) are constantly saying that there is a shortage of teachers, skilled craftsmen, policemen and a labor shortage in general. They are not telling it like it really is. There is a shortage of these professionals who will work for the substandard wages that they are willing to pay locally and throughout the state.

Florida’s public policies have not given worker’s issues a high priority. Our legislators have provided inferior legislation protections for workers and their organizations as well as the general public. This is especially true when it comes to public safety and health issues.

This can be easily seen with such things as 19.6% of Florida’s citizens with no health insurance. How about the legislature doing away with the Division of Safety when accidents and fatalities are at all time highs in construction? How about doing away with enforcement of licensing and competency levels for skilled crafts like electricians, plumbers and others dealing with public safety?

We have an opportunity to improve the policies of our state in November, by electing some leaders who recognize that economic development and high paying jobs go hand in hand with worker well being. It is not a coincidence that worker well being goes hand in hand with strong unionization rates.

Let’s keep ourselves informed of the issues affecting worker well being and elect new leaders who will work for these issues. The "Economic Development" and High Paying Jobs" will come when we do this.

Bill Sweeney
Organizer

For Southerners Only

A bus driver was conducting a tour of famous Civil War battle sites. "Here," he pointed to one spot, "is where the Southern troops routed a whole regiment of Yankees. Over there, the rebs wiped out a whole platoon of Yanks. Down about a mile, there’s another valley where we captured a thousand Union soldiers." A tourist from the north scornfully asked, "Didn’t the North ever win a battle?" "Yes ma’am," replied the southern bus driver, "but not while I’m driving this bus."

 

MORE FACTS

Where Will the Next President Stand on Health Care? Will he support:

Making Health Care a Priority?

Al Gore consistently has proven that he is committed to providing universal, high-quality, affordable health care to every single American. (World News Now, Nov. 11, 1999)

Since George W. Bush became Texas governor in 1995, his aides admit, "he has not made health care a priority." (The New York Times, April 11, 2000)

A Strong or Weak Patients’ Bill of Rights?

Gore backs a strong Patients’ Bill of Rights, such as the one passed in 1999 by the U.S. House of Representatives with bipartisan support that allows patients to hold health plans accountable and ensures access to emergency rooms and prescription drugs. (Democratic debate, Manchester, NH, Jan. 26, 2000)

Bush supports the weak Patients’ Bill of Rights proposed by Senate Republicans that excludes 100 million people in "self-funded" health plans, gives health plans the final say on medical treatment decisions and lacks such important patient protections as access to specialists. As governor, Bush vetoed a patient protection bill because he said it placed too many new regulations on managed care organizations. (The New York Times, March 20, 2000)

Health Care for All Children or Just Some?

Gore wants to insure every child in America. He seeks to expand the 1997 Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to include children in families earning up to 250 percent of the federal poverty level for a family of four—or $41,750—and to enable all other families to buy into the program voluntarily. (National Association of Children’s Hospitals survey, Jan. 8, 2000)

Texas under Bush has the highest percentage of children without health insurance of any state, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Yet Bush tried to restrict CHIP eligibility. Under Bush, Texas was one of the last states to take part in CHIP. (The Sacramento Bee, Aug. 29, 1999)

Check Their Records

Longtime Champion of Health Care

As vice president, Gore fought the 1996 Health Insurance portability and Accountability Act that helps people keep their health coverage when they change jobs. He has been a strong advocate of the Family and Medical Leave Act that was signed into law in 1993. He also fought for the $24 billion Children’s Health Insurance Program. Since Gore became vice president, federal funding for breast cancer research, prevention and treatment has doubled.

Texas Ranks Last in Health Coverage

Bush consistently has failed to make health care available in his five years as governor of Texas, where 200,000 children are uninsured and where fewer women have health insurance than in any other state. In April, Bush announced a tax credit program he described as a major health care initiative. In fact, the program would make health insurance more affordable only to a tiny percentage of people who make too much to qualify for Medicaid and whose employers don’t provide it.

A recent U.S. Census Bureau study shows that under Bush, Texas ranks worst in the nation in percentage of population with health insurance. According to The Wall Street Journal: "Another vulnerable area for Mr. Bush is the uninsured problem in Texas. Even some Bush supporters wince at these numbers: In 1998…24.5 percent of Texans had no health insurance….Per capita spending for prenatal care and public health is among the lowest nationwide." (March 16, 2000)

 

 

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.

Journeyman Wireman upgrading classes or home study classes available. For information contact Holmes Davis.

ORGANIZING: Call Bill Sweeney 756-2756

IBEW #756 Home Page | What We Believe

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INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF
ELECTRICAL WORKERS
LOCAL UNION NO. 756
5901 Airport Rd.
Daytona Beach, Florida 32124
904-756-2756
FAX 904-756-2785
info@ibew756.com

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