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A Message from Your Business Manager
A Message from Assistant Business Manager, Dale Blank
A Message from Assistant Business Manager, Dave Loechler
A Message from Assistant Business Manager, Roger Erickson
A Message from Assistant Business Manager, Mike Priem
NOTICE: Principal Financial Group
4th Annual Local 953 Fishing Derby
A Message from Your Business Manager
Greetings Brothers and Sisters! I hope this newsletter article finds you in good health and that you survived the summer and fall season without any injuries. With winter at our door steps, we always know in this part of the country we will have our share of snow to shovel. Be careful, slips and falls relate to a lot of pain that could stay with you for the rest of your life.
Well, the Presidential Election is over and I am sure most of you were sick of all the calls and letters you received along with all the political ads on television and radio. From the Local’s standpoint, we only put out one letter to the membership and our goal was to make sure everyone got out to vote. Every election is important and what is more important is that everyone exercises their right as an American citizen and gets out to vote. It shouldn’t only be a right – it should be a requirement! By the way, the polls indicated many people did get out and vote! For that, I say to you congratulations and good job!
I sincerely hope that the next 4 years of George Bush go better than the last 4 years! Many of our jobs were out-sourced and sent overseas. The cost of medical insurance has gone through the roof and if you are fortunate to have any investments, you have not made any money there! Things must improve! The politicians need to work together to accomplish the many tasks that they will be faced with, and if they can, forget that they are Republican or Democrat and only work on the issues. It can be done. I only hope that this can take place.
As a result of a Local Union Bylaws change, effective January 1, 2005 , working dues for everyone, with the exception of Outside Construction, Line Clearance, Teledata, and Manufacturing, will be 1.25% of all straight time earnings. This percentage replaces the old dues schedule that was in the Local Union Bylaws. This will make our dues schedule more understandable and fairer. Along with this restructure a majority of the membership should see a dues reduction. As far as the Outside Construction, Line Clearance, Teledata, and Manufacturing, there is no change in the dues structure.
The Local Union’s Strategic/Planning Meeting will take place in either the month of March or April 2005. If any member has any ideas or thoughts on how we, as a Local, can improve or any changes in general, please let me, or any of the reps know. You can also just drop us a line at the Union office. This is your Union . I, as your Business Manager, want to do what’s best for the membership and get as much feedback as possible from you. So I encourage you to think about any changes and talk to each other and if you should have any, I can assure you that they will be addressed at our meeting.
I sincerely hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas and a safe and healthy New Year! I look forward to working with you in 2005. Until my next newsletter article……….Solidarity forever and God Bless!
John Marincel
Business Manager/Financial Secretary
From Assistant Business Manager, Dale Blank
Well here it is, the Holiday Season already! Before we know it, the hustle and bustle will have come and gone and we’ll be stuck with “Old Man Winter”.
As usual, this time of the year gets extremely busy at the Union Office negotiating contracts. Again, health insurance costs are brought to the forefront at the negotiating table. But maybe, with a lot of perseverance there may be hope here in Wisconsin . The AFL-CIO has been working on a statewide health insurance plan, which if passed by the state government, would be available to all people in Wisconsin . Currently, the AFL-CIO has the insurance plan put together and it is being gone over by a large electric utility, W. E. Energies. The Plan is expected to pass their tests, once that is completed the AFL-CIO will look for more companies to come on board and check out the plan before the final process starts. That, of course, is getting our state government to approve of the plan and make the necessary changes in law to allow the plan to become available statewide. Now you might be thinking that there is a slim change of that happening! But, we must remember that Wisconsin was the founder of Workers Compensation, which is, as we know is a nation wide Federal Program. So maybe there is hope and with some encouragement from all of us, we can help get this insurance plan put into place.
Most of our congressmen and assemblymen hold local town meetings from time to time to find out what the people’s issues and concerns are. This would be a great way to let them know that all of us have great concern with the rising costs of health care and the availability of coverage for everyone in the state of Wisconsin and that it is time to do something to get a handle on this issue.
Remember, “Safety First!”
Until the next time……Happy Holidays!
Dale Blank
Asstistant Business Manager
From Assistant Business Manager, Roger Erickson
Hello Brothers and Sisters! Hopefully, all of you survived the hunting/Thanksgiving season.
Now that the fanfare of the Political Elections is over, it’s time to keep score on where our politicians really stand on the issues confronting the Country. Though it may seem a bit sarcastic on my part, I haven’t witnessed the same long lines to enlist in the military as I saw at the polls on Election Day.
Health Care remains the number #1 issue that Local Unions are faced with at the bargaining table. One of President Bush’s ideas to make health care more affordable is to “Build Coalitions” through many small businesses joining together. This principle sounds vaguely familiar, don’t you think? Webster’s defines Union as “Something formed by a combining of parts or members of independent individuals for some common purpose.” Does all this mean that Mr. Bush now suddenly realizes the importance of Union ’s? Stay tuned.
Enough bashing, on the Local scene, many Local 953 Linemen, both construction and utility, were deployed to Florida and other regions in the southeast to repair facilities that were ravaged by the onslaught of several hurricanes. By most all reports, the help was greatly appreciated by those residing in that region of the country.
The Arrowhead-Weston 345 KV project has commenced in Duluth , Minnesota . Best case scenario is construction will start in Wisconsin in January, however, the DNR permitting process has an appeal mechanism contained within that could delay beginning here as late as May 2005.
Happy Holidays!
Roger Erickson
Asstistant Business Manager
From Assistant Business Manager, Dave Loechler
The holiday season is here! But for some of our members it’s not going to be a very happy holiday season. Manufacturing Technology, Inc. (ELF) will be closing their doors on December 31, 2005 . ICS, now MTI filed to become IBEW members on March 7, 1991 . On April 8, 1991 , the National Labor Relations Board conducted an election and the employees voted “YES” to become Union . In the MTI contract we will be having approximately 18 members looking for employment, possessing skills in areas of Electronics Technicians, Antenna Specialist, Mechanical, Logistic/Supply Administrator, Facility Supervisor, Mechanic/Power Generator and HVAC Mechanic. If any members hear of job openings in these areas, please notify this office so we may pass on the information. I wish all of the MTI employees the best of luck in their job search.
Other information at Local 953 are contract settlements of the following 953 contracts; Eau Claire Energy Cooperative, Price Electric Cooperative, Clark Electric Cooperative, Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative, City of Westby and Electro-Mel.
Presently, Barron Electric Cooperative voted down an offer and is scheduled for mediation on December 1, 2005 . There are other Cooperative and Municipal contracts still open.
Last, but not least, it’s that time of year for IBEW Local 953’s 4 th Annual Ice Fishing Derby. The scheduled date is February 12, 2005 , beginning at 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. To be held in Chetek , Wisconsin in the bay between Gilligan’s and Northwood’s Bar. Registration forms can be found in this newsletter issue. This fishing event has been growing every year. The members have fund and I encourage everyone to come and join us!
Happy Holidays! Work Safe,
Dave Loechler
Asstistant Business Manager
From Assistant Business Manager, Mike Priem
The November 2 nd Elections are now over! I thought you might be interested in a short re-cap. As of this writing, Ohio and Florida have not been certified and a re-count may be underway in Ohio . There were so many complaints of voter rights being denied or interfered with that a six member committee of US Legislators is asking for a complete investigation in Ohio . Bottom line is simply this, no matter where you stand or how you voted, the American people need a universal voting system with integrity and honesty that allows all voters to cast their ballots in a timely fashion. The system must have a paper trail for each ballot cast in the event a re-count is needed. I don’t think that is too much to ask for us the voters, in a democratic country such as ours.
The IBEW in Wisconsin had over 308 volunteers working statewide for various candidates, literature dropping, get out and vote walks, and phone banking, great job! The Sixth District comprised of Wisconsin , Illinois , Michigan , Minnesota , and Indiana all carried Kerry/Edwards, except Indiana ….another great showing! Russ Feingold was re-elected to the US Senate and the state is split 50/50 on US house members. Dollars spent on the Election were as follows; the Wisconsin IBEW State Conference spent $2,000.00, the IBEW International spent $11,000.00 and IBEW, Local PAC’s spent $5,500.00 on various state assembly and senate races. Thank you to all who volunteered with money and time!
What we, as labor unions, can expect is a continuation of the last 4 years. We have seen attacks on the Fair Labor Standards Act, in place since 1938, dealing with overtime. NLRB decisions being overturned by the anti-Union General Council appointed by this administration. A continuation of outsourcing of American jobs overseas, an out of control health care system and new attacks on the Social Security Administration will be coming. We, as labor unions and union members must stay and become politically active, more than ever, to protect our rights under Federal and State laws to organize and have our voices heard. The loss of this Presidential Election will only be a setback as unions have always survived and will live to fight on for respect, fairness and dignity in the workplace.
Be Safe, Work Safe! Have a Happy and Safe Holiday Season!
Mike Priem
Organizer/Asstistant Business Manager
NOTICE: Principal Financial Group
Local 953 has been working with the Principal Financial Group to set up some financial seminars/workshops for the membership. Our plans are to set up the meetings in categories of Xcel Energy, Dairyland Power and Electric Co-ops, Municipals, Construction, etc. We hope to start this in early February and continue on until April. The stewards and membership will be notified when meetings are scheduled and we will ask for a list of who will attend. These meetings will be for the member and also their spouse. The following is a web site with information about retirement planning and investments www.johnstonfinancialservices.com.
4th Annual Local 953 Fishing Derby
Saturday, February 12, 2005
11 AM to 3 PM - Chetek, Wisconsin
View more information and registration form.
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