A Message from Your Business Manager
A Message from Executive Board Member, Dave Hogan
A Message from Assistant Business Manager, Dave Loechler
A Message from Assistant Business Manager, Dale Blank
A Message from Assistant Business Manager, Roger Erickson
Support Comprehensive Health Care for All
2006 Local Union 953 Golf Outing

A Message from Your Business Manager

Hello Brothers and Sisters! I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all the members that have supported me through the years at Local 953 as an Assistant Business Manager and as your Business Manager. THere have been many good and bad times through those 17 1/2 years. I feel comfortable that over those years we made many changes and for the most part, those changes were positive. I feel you must always look for ways to improve and the membership has to learn how to accept change, because be prepared brothers and sisters, there will be more on its way. To be successful, you must make the changes needed and you need to be pro-active.

Please remember brothers and sisters, keep active and participate within your Local Union. Take and active role. it is real easy to sit back and complain about everything but it takes courage and effort to take an active role. Support your elected officers and work with them so they can make all the proper decisions. In colsing, thank you for your support over the years and good luck to you and your family.

In solidarity and God Bless,

John Marincel
Business Manager/Financial Secretary

From Executive Board Member, Dave Hogan

Hello Brothers and Sisters! We are coming into the time of year that most of us are really busy; but we should all keep in the backs of our minds "solidarity." BEcause, no matter what company we are working for at the time, we are all trying to attain the same goal. The best way to achieve this is through "strength" and "solidarity" speaking as one large voice.

I would also like to commend JOhn and his staff for their work in turning around the financial stability of our local. It will allow for new investment opportunities that will only make our local stronger. Also, thanks for their diligence in negotiating new contracts with companies that are increasingly looking more and more only at their bottom lines.

Fraternally yours,

Dave Hogan
Executive Board Member

From Assistant Business Manager, Dave Loechler

It’s going to be a busy 2007 at Local 953, we have roughly 24 contracts to negotiate this year. So far, once again, health insurance appears to be an issue at the top of the list. The health insurance issue is that employers want to switch to HRA or HSA high deductible policies.

Another area of interest would be construction. Line Construction has been busy in the State of Wisconsin and will continue to be busy. We presently have no construction linemen on our out of work books. The big construction project going on now is the Arrowhead-Weston Transmission Line between Weston and Duluth, Minnesota. This project is ahead of schedule at this time. The transmission line between the Weston Power Plant and the Stone Lake Substation in Sawyer County is now in service. What remains to be finished on this project is a 40 mile stretch between Hayward, Wisconsin and Duluth, Minnesota. This project was not scheduled to be complete until August of 2008, but the last word I received as that it now looks like it will be completed the end of 2007. To all members working on this project, continue to work safe and congratulations on a great job!

Manufacturing membership is growing at Winona Lighting and business for the future looks good. To all Winona Lighting members – great job done and continue to work safe! In closing, to all members – keep up the good work and continue to work safe!

Solidarity Forever,

Dave Loechler
Assistant Business Manager

From Assistant Business Manager, Dale Blank

Hello Brothers and Sisters!

I recently had the opportunity to attend a LAMPAC Meeting for the Cooperative side of the Utility Industry. One of the topics of discussion was the Health Savings Account (HSA). A representative from NRECA put on this presentation since this is a program that NRECA offers for some of their health insurance plans. In a very brief description, an HSA is a high deductible insurance plan that is meant to be used for catastrophic coverage. The minimum deductibles are set by the government along with the maximum out of pocket levels. The savings account is in an individuals name and it is your money that continues to roll over from year to year. For more information on HSA’s go to this website www.hsainsider.com.

Replacing the aging workforce was another topic of discussion. Utilities are now starting to face the reality that almost half of their employees will be eligible to retire within the next 5 to 10 years and this is happing at the same time that a wave of new construction is about to take place. So if you know any young people that are wondering what to do with the rest of their working life, point them in the electrical industries direction. After all, these are good union jobs with good pay and benefits and I don’t believe electricity is going away anytime in the near future. Have a safe and enjoyable summer!

Dale Blank
Assistant Business Manager

From Assistant Business Manager, Roger J. Erickson

Hello Brothers and Sisters!

I hope all of your summers are off to an enjoyable start!

At this time we are in contract negotiations with Xcel Energy, both here in Wisconsin and in Minneapolis. The major issue at the table is health care. Although, we currently haven’t completed any package, it looks very likely that an HSA/High Deductible type plan may be part of the package. If you are not familiar with this type of plan, please take the time to educate yourself about them.

At the Local level, I would like to recognize and ask for your continued patience on the constant juggling of meeting dates, as the summer is busy for everyone.

In closing, I would like to thank John Marincel for the opportunity to serve the Local Union under his leadership and I hope he enjoys a long and healthy retirement.

Looking ahead, our Local Union will continue to face many tough challenges and I hope and trust that each and every one of us can stand together and support our officers and staff.

Roger J. Erickson
Assistant Business Manager

Support Comprehensive Health Care for All

SUPPORT THE WISCONSIN HEALTHCARE
PARTNERSHIP PLAN

Wisconsin Is Facing a Health Care Crisis: Rising costs are putting health care out of reach for working families. Employers are shifting the costs of rising insurance premiums to workers. Already in Wisconsin, more than 500,000 residents cannot afford health care.

The Solution:The Wisconsin Health Care Partnership Plan Proposed by a coalition of employers, physicians, unions and concerned community and seniors groups, the plan will make comprehensive, quality health care affordable for all of Wisconsin's residents. The plan:

Lowers costs, eliminates cost shifting and levels the playing field by requiring all employers, both public and private, to pay their fair share of health care costs.

Reduces the number of uninsured in Wisconsin by 415,000because all workers, public and private, and their dependents will be covered.

Makes comprehensive health care affordable to small businesses because they will pay the same per-employee costs as big businesses.

Lowers prescription drug costs by making it possible to bargain effectively with pharmaceutical companies.

Makes comprehensive health care available to everyone because anyone not covered can buy in at cost.

Splits costs fairly between employees and employers, but employees can still bargain for additional benefits and payment of part or all of their costs.

Tell Your Legislator to Suppor the Wisconsin HealthCare Partnership Plan Call1-800-362-9472 To Get Connected to Your Legislator's Office.

For more information,visit www.whcpp.org.