| Vol. 9 No. 4 | August 2002 |
THE SIDE-CUTTER |
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INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF
ELECTRICAL WORKERS
LOCAL UNION NO. 756
| Vol. 9 No. 4 | August 2002 |
THE SIDE-CUTTER |
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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.
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LESS GOVERNMENT FOR WHO??
It’s a free country and no one has to hang out with anyone they don’t want to be with. I’ll learn that some day. Recently I was at a social gathering made up of friends, family and friends of friends. It’s the "friends of friends" conversations that made this social event less than social. It seems, according to these self righteous walk on water types, that all of our problems in this country stem from the immoral and socialistic mentality of liberals whose primary objective is to increase government and protect the "lazies" of the world at their expense. This in their mind is absolutely obscene. It seems that they find a lot of things obscene. Anyhow, the more I visited with these "pretty people" I learned that it even annoyed them that this country has established a few basic laws to protect workers from the abuses of unscrupulous employers. One lady said that the global economy give us less expensive products to purchase. She argued that its O.K. to have children in third world countries working long days under forced labor in order for us to enjoy the benefits. After all, that is just their culture. After digesting the vision of seven year olds making Nike soccer balls it dawned on me that she of course was right. Culture – that would justify it all! I wonder where this country would be today if our "culture" had not changed? Hell, we could have cheap goods right here in the U.S.A. It wasn’t that many years ago our little ones were working and dying in coal mines. I forgot to mention to her that it also wasn’t that long ago that our "culture" did not allow women to vote. I know, I’m getting side tracked.
The issue was less government vs. more government. The government in my view should provide services, infrastructure and democratic leadership. And guess what folks. Roads, fire, police, public education, and national security all cost tax dollars. Here’s the kick in the teeth. Every one of these "less government" advocates was employed by one of the above mentioned service providers. They have all been paid by taxpayers their entire adult lives, including medical and pension benefits. Seems to me they don’t mind more government as long as its limited to their greedy behinds. To a person, these folks wrap themselves in patriotism and complain of the obscene actions of liberals fighting for the less fortunate of society. I’ll tell ya what’s obscene. It is obscene that there is no livable minimum wage in this country, no national health care available for our children and elderly (unless of course you are employed by our Big Government). A local restaurant (national chain) whose name I won’t mention, pays it’s wait staff $2.1250 per hour. That’s right, the cheap "conservative pretty people" break down the penny to its fourth decimal place. Apparently the minimum wage for restaurant work is not the burdensome $2.13 per hour as most of us thought but rather $2.1250 per hour. So the next time you see Johnny and Uncle Damian on television touting all their family values, remember what they pay their employees. It truly is obscene to the fourth decimal place.
There is only one difference between this country and any third world country and that is that we have established a middle class of society. That is a liberal concept as is social security, public schools, workman’s compensation, unemployment compensation, Medicare, child labor laws, jobsite safety, all and much more that would have never come to pass without folks willing to fight for these basic standards involving simple quality of life issues. God bless Labor Unions. The folks that gave you the weekend… and the above mentioned entitlements.
P.S. Capitalism only works well when it is based on an even playing field. Unregulated Global trade does not make that distinction and "free trade" is not free at all. It comes at the expense of eliminating the middle class. And that’s you and me…
Steve Williams
Business Manager
ENOUGH ON POLITICS
Politics – Politics – Politics. It dominates the media whether it’s radio, TV, or in print. The same holds true for our own publications, including the Sidecutter. So I tried to come up with a topic which was not political, but still of significant importance to our members and others who receive our publication.
Let’s talk about job safety. Well, I guess that would be centered around OSHA and the Division of Safety. The Division of Safety was a state agency, but it no longer exists. The current administration apparently doesn’t think safe working conditions for workers in Florida is important enough to warrant such an agency. OSHA on the federal level has been cut to the bone and is not nearly as effective as it should be. An example would be the CARE program. We reported in the May 2000 edition of the Sidecutter, that the program was kicked off in March of 1999. The goal was to reduce accidents and fatalities in construction, and since Florida was #1, the program would start here. The results of the first year did show a decrease in accidents and fatalities, but statistic are up again. Could it be the cuts in funding for OSHA, or just a callous attitude toward worker safety on the federal level? This is getting too political, we need a different topic.
Let’s talk about jobs. We all know things are slow and two of our big jobs finished up at the Cape. There will be more developing, hopefully another LC37 or LC41. As you know, Launch Complex 37 was done with a Project Labor Agreement, as were many big jobs throughout the country. This has been proven to be a most effective way to successfully complete such large projects. Well, President Bush made them illegal throughout the country by way of an executive order. It was appealed and over turned. Re- appealed and re-installed. This was done, not through legislative procedures, but by executive order. Uh-oh! We’re getting political again. Let’s try another topic.
How about wages? We all like wages, especially high wages and overtime rates when we have to work it. We negotiate our wages through collective bargaining, including overtime wage provision when it is necessary to work overtime. For those American workers who are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement, there is the Fair Labor Standards Act, that has provisions for overtime after 40 hours. The current administration is looking into this Act and proposing drastic changes. For example, if you make a certain amount, you should not be entitled to any overtime rates. Straight time is good enough no matter how many hours you have to work. The exact rate hasn’t been mentioned, that I know of, but can you imagine what it would be, coming from an administration that doesn’t even like a minimum wage. Here we go again, politics. Let’s try something else.
We mentioned collective bargaining. That’s a topic dear to our hearts and is the heart of organized labor. We all know that the results of our collective bargaining affect all workers in America, union and non-union alike. Once again President Bush would prohibit any workers falling under the Homeland Security Department from belonging to a union. How about telling the widows, widowers and families of the police officers, firemen and building trades workers who were lost on September 11th that their loved one’s union membership would make them a threat to National Security. America should be outraged, that such a suggestion could come from their President! This one is political too, isn’t it?
Politics – Politics – Politics! It’s all about politics.
Bill Sweeney
Organizer
ELECTION 2002
We are rapidly approaching the Primary Election for 2002. I hope by now you are registered to vote. If not, you won’t be voting on September 10th. If you are not registered now, you can still register in time for the General Election on November 5th. If you are traveling, contact me here at the union hall and I’ll get you an absentee ballot request form. Don’t be on the voters DUD LIST!
Last week we attended the 2002 annual Building Trades Convention where future Florida Governor, Bill McBride, came and spoke to the body. We must work hard to win this Primary and get a Governor that will work for legislative agencies that will benefit working families.
We have enclosed a list of endorsed candidates whom after screening we feel will benefit the working families in the state of Florida. Realizing that many of you don’t have the time to follow politics, we have put together this list to help make it easier for you. However, who you vote for is obviously your choice.
Political analysts are saying that if Jeb wins in 2002, it will be a boost for George W. to win re-election ( or win his first election) in 2004. Let’s be sure this doesn’t happen. If we have four more years of George W. Bush, we will not have the right to collective bargaining as he is taking that right from union members with his homeland security plan right now.
Vote, the choice is yours.
Don’t Vote, the choice is theirs.
Don’t Vote, you have no choice.
John Barrington
President/Political Coordinator
UNION MADE
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Jason and Michelle Morgan Larry and Kym Smith
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MEMBERS’ CORNER
Reminder
Monday, Sept 2nd, 11:00 a.m. Central Labor Council Labor Day Picnic. Bethune Point, Daytona Beach from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There will be food, games, cold drinks, live music, brotherhood and fun for all. Please remember to bring sunscreen and lawn chairs. YOU MUST RSVP BY AUGUST 22ND SO WE MAY GET A HEAD COUNT FOR FOOD ORDERING. CALL US AT 386-756-2756 TODAY!
Dates to Remember:
Sept. 2nd – Labor Day Picnic 11:00 A.M.
Sept. 11th – Union meeting 7:30 P.M.
Sept. 12th – Retiree’s Meeting 11:30 A.M.
APPRENTICESHIP REPORT
Our JATC has been extremely busy over the summer in preparation for the new school year, which begins August 20th. We have over 120 apprentices in our electrical and telecommunications programs.
Our instructors for the Electrical Program are: Mr. David Mollohan, 1st year; Mr. Bob Nelson, 2nd year; Mr. Joe Moncada, 3rd year; Mr. A.J. Pascoe, 4th year; and Mr. Joseph Smallwood, 5th year. Additionally, with our new four-year format year round school in process, Mr. Jim Downs will also be teaching a fifth year class in January, 2003, as well as, a prep Journeyman Licensing Exam class that will be established in the near future.
Our instructors for Telecommunications are: Mr. Scott Jarvis, first year and Mr. Glen Howe, second year. Mr. Glen Howe will also be employed 10 hours a week, as Telecom OJT Coordinator. Glen is an IBEW member, certified Installer-Technician with over 20 years experience in the telecommunications industry. He has relocated here after being an IBEW telecommunications contractor in Alaska, as well as teaching the NJATC telecommunications curriculum to IBEW/NECA apprentices in Alaska. We are extremely fortunate to have Mr. Howe on our staff and looking forward to expanding this market for our IBEW/NECA area.
Scott Jarvis, James Downs and myself recently returned from a weeks training at the National Training Institute in Knoxville, TN. Please join me in congratulating Jim Downs on his successful completion of the four-year instructor’s institute. Jim is the first person from IBEW L.U. 756 to graduate from this prestigious program. He was honored at the graduating ceremonies and we are so very proud of his accomplishments and appreciative of his dedication to teaching.
Instructor Joe Moncada taught our first Journeyman NEC 2002 update class this month. The class had nearly 30 participants and was very well received. Any Journeymen who missed this class and are still interested should please contact the JATC office and we will be happy to set up another.
As you know, our work picture appears grim these days, as does our IBEW/NECA funding issues. I am continually searching for additional grant funding for our JATC. I believe we have been successful in our grant for Instructor Training and should receive final results within the next week.
Thanks again to everyone who gave me a letter of support. I am currently working on a new grant to the U.S. Department of Labor/Women’s Bureau for assistance in recruiting, employing, and retaining women in our non-traditional occupation. I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to IBEW L.U. 756 Journeymen: Barbara Rench, Phyllis Thibodeau and Selina Morris for agreeing to serve on this Advisory Board.
ONE FINAL NOTE: PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE!!
Gail Jackson, Training Director
We have regrettably lost one retired Brother since the last issue of the Sidecutter.
Earl J. Iler March 31, 2002
He will surely be missed. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to his family.
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:
Gail Jackson, Training Director 756-2776.
ORGANIZING: Call Bill Sweeney 756-2756
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INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF
ELECTRICAL WORKERS
LOCAL UNION NO. 756
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