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
Procedure for Election of Local Union Officers and Delegates to the International Convetion
Annual Meeting
Letter from President Bernie Pagenkopfi
We Are Not Politically Affiliated 12 Most Asked Questions

A Message from Your Business Manager

Hello brothers and sisters, I hope this newsletter finds you and your family in good health.

On Saturday, February 7th, Local 953 had it's Third Annual Ice Fishing Derby. This event has been growing each year. At the writing of this article the Derby has not occurred, I sincerely hope that everyone enjoyed themselves. I know the committee worked hard to put it together gathering prizes, ordering food, planning raffles, etc. The COPE Committee sold tickets to raffle a Local 953 jacket with all proceeds to go towards COPE. The Local Union COPE Committee has been active trying to get our membership more active in the political process, along with educating the members on the importance of COPE and COPE contributions. The year of 2004 will be a very busy year for all of labor, with the election in November. We need to get our members out to vote!

During the first week of March, I have scheduled Stewards Training. This year the training is a little different than it has been in the past. The training is a two day event and it is put on by the University of Wisconsin School for Workers. It covers more than just the typical stewards training, it also covers labor history and what Unions do, mobilizing the membership, Union's and Society and grievance role playing exercises. I feel if the Local continues to train the stewards, as we have done and also add to the training like we are presently doing, the Local Union will have highly skilled stewards, which is in everyone's best interest. The Stewards are the foundation of the Local Union and whether you are building a house or building strength in your Local Union, it starts with a solid foundation. I would like to take this time to thank each and every steward for all of their hard work. Without the stewards, all the Union Representative's jobs would be more difficult then they are.

Local 953, along with the University of Wisconsin School for Workers and other Local Unions in the state, are in the process of putting a statewide database together. When this is complete it will be extremely helpful when we are in negotiations or arbitration.

I hope everyone has had the opportunity to look over our Web Site, as I have said before, we can make changes to this site on a regular basis, if needed. Let us know if there are any changes you would like to see. We will try to make improvements along the way.

So as you see, we have been pro-active. The Web Page is up and running, the COPE Committee has been active, stewards training has taken place, a database for our cooperatives and muni's is being worked on, we also have the Executive Board and myself looking for ways to lower the dues, if possible. I can promise you this as long as I am your Business Manager, my staff and I will continue to be pro-active and look for ways to improve and get stronger each and every day. This task can be done much easier when we all do this together. We must show our solidarity each day and when this occurs, Management will know that we are a force that they cannot take lightly.

Until the next newsletter article, solidarity forever and God Bless!

John Marincel
Business Manager/Financial Secretary

From Assistant Business Manager, Dale Blank

We have survived an old fashioned winter, that is something that we haven't had the pleasure of experiencing for the last few winters. That is, if you consider cold, snow, and ice pleasure! I'm sure anyone who owns a snowmobile enjoyed the fact that they could finally ride them without having to travel a long distance to do so.

Last year's round of negotiations for the contracts that had reached their expiration dates have been completed. On average the wage increases were being settled at right around the 3% mark, with a few a little lower and some a little higher. As was expected, the cost of Health Insurance was the number 1 issue at the bargaining table. At this time, I would also like to say; "Welcome Aboard" to our new members at Creative Energy Solutions. After almost a year long battle, we were able to complete negotiations on their first contract. Creative Energy Solutions is a small gas company that is associated with Riverland Energy Cooperative located in Arcadia, Wisconsin.

On the legislative side of things, the United States Senate took the issue of the DOT Hours-of-Service Regulation into their own hands and provided a temporary exemption for electric utilities from the rule. This exemption will stay in place until October 1, 2004. In the mean time, there will be work to make this a permanent exemption.

Until the next time, work safe, enjoy the spring time weather and since it's election year, make sure you vote!

Dale Blank
Asstistant Business Manager

From Assistant Business Manager, Roger Erickson

Well it's official! Winter is here with all it's splendor, cold temperatures and a possible record snowfall for the month of February. If cabin fever has got you down don't fret, spring is just around the corner!

This year promises to be busier than normal with all that is going on here at Local 953. First of all, it's an election year for all Union Officers, nominations for officers will be held at this year's April Regional Meetings. This is followed by a mail ballot to be returned and counted in June. Officers elected begin their three (3) year term on July 1st.

Stewards Training is scheduled for 2 large groups. One group will be held in Eau Claire, on March 1st & 2nd and the other group is scheduled for March 3rd & 4th in La Crosse. David Nack, School for Workers - University of Wisconsin Extension will be facilitating the 2 day sessions. The agenda includes presenting grievances, labor history and the role of Unions in the workplace. It is our belief that this training will be very beneficial to the Union Stewards and ultimately make them better Union advocates.

A tentative three year extension to the Labor Agreement at Xcel Energy is out for consideration. Nine explanation meetings were held at various sites around the state throughout the month of February. Ballots were mailed out on March 8th and will be counted on March 30, 2004.

The current Labor Agreement for Line Clearance expires on May 20th this year. An amendment meeting was held at the Union Hall on February 11th to discuss priorities. Negotiation sessions will be scheduled to commence in March.

The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin approved the Arrowhead-Weston Project in December, 2003. It would appear that construction of the project may begin late 2004, in Wisconsin.

Congratulations to Timothy Thill for achieving the status of Journeyman Lineman.

In closing, I wish to announce that I will not be running for the Local Union Executive Board, a position that I have held for the last 12 years. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you that have supported me in the past.

Have a great spring!

Roger Erickson
Asstistant Business Manager

From Assistant Business Manager, Dave Loechler

The 2004 Ice Fishing Derby was a great success. Great weather, great fun! I would like to give a special thanks to everyone that assisted this year. Looking forward to seeing everyone next year!

Wisconsin's Public Service Commission has once again received the green light for the Duluth to Wausau Transmission Line. The Commission was forced into revisiting the project, which was approved in October 2001, because new cost estimates revealed a year later it would cost more than twice as much as the initial estimate of $160 - $170 million.

I would also encourage all members to visit www.aflcio.org and send-a-fax: Tell President Bush to withdraw is overtime pay take-away. Some facts about overtime pay; Many workers who earn overtime derive 25% percent or more of their annual income from their extra hours on the job. Overtime is not pocket change or a luxury, it is essential family income that is used to pay for feeding children, saving for retirement and paying off mortgages. The new regulation would tell police and fire fighters who have been eligible for overtime pay for decades that they are no longer eligible. Many workers who receive time-and-a- half for their overtime work will be required to work longer hours for less money under the new regulations. Under this new proposed regulation the Labor Department is planning to implement in March, up to 8 million workers could be denied overtime pay.

Work Safe!

Dave Loechler
Asstistant Business Manager

From Assistant Business Manager, Mike Priem

Organizing Update:Intek Plastics - The Union election was scheduled for December 18 & 19, at Intek. As you may know on December 2, 2003, Intek Plastics, through a press release, announced that it was closing the Eau Claire facility, due to economic reasons, and consolidating operations back to it's Hastings, MN plants. It announced it would cease operations in Eau Claire on or about March 31, 2003.

IBEW 953's position on the plant closing is that the Company's actions are retaliation against the employee's for trying to form their own Union. On December 11th, we filed unfair labor practice charges against the Company for freezing normal pay increases, threatening to close the plant, transferring the work from Eau Claire to Hastings, illegally suspending and terminating an employee for engaging in Union activities, and announcing plant closure and relocation. Since late December and through January, we have been busy with depositions from employees regarding the above charges. Currently, the investigator for the NLRB is meeting with and taking depositions from the Company management regarding our allegations. We experienced some difficulty getting our people to come forward as Intek has offered Union jobs and $7500.00 in moving allowances to those who are willing to relocate to Hastings. Many are afraid of losing that offer if they testify against the Company regarding the ULP's.

The announcement of the plant closing destroyed any chance of having a fair, clean election consequently, the Union is asking the National Labor Relations Board for a (10J) injunction to stop the plant closing and to issue a bargaining order. This would certify the Union as their representative without an election, due to the violations of the NLRA that the Company has committed. We are waiting to hear from the labor board about which way this case will go.

In October of 2003, we had a hearing with WERC over whether or not the Medford library could appoint one of the employees as a (confidential) thereby removing that employee from the potential bargaining unit and disallowing that person's vote to count in a Union Election. The Commission allowed the vote to be cast, however would not count the ballot until the outcome of the hearing. The briefs had to be filed with the Commission by November 20 and we received their decision on January 15th. The decision was in favor of the Union and the vote was counted on January 22nd. The Vote was the deciding vote and was cast for the Union, consequently, we will be negotiating for a contract with the Medford Public Library in the near future.

Congratulations to the new members of Local 953 that work at Creative Energy Solutions, a small propane company in Arcadia. Their election was many months ago, together with Dale Blank, the employees worked through some tough negotiations and finally ratified their 1st contract! Good work Dale, Bill and Kory!

Fraternally,

Mike Priem
Organizer/Asstistant Business Manager

NOTICE TO ALL LOCAL 954 MEMBERS:
Procedure for Election of Local Union Officers and Delegates to the International Convetion

In compliance with the Bylaws of Local Union 953, IBEW, this is to inform you of the nomination and election of Local Union Officers. The list of offices to be filled are as follows:

• President/Delegate to the International Convention
• Vice President
• Recording Secretary
• Treasurer
• Business Manager/Financial Secretary/Delegate to the International Convention
• Five Executive Board Members (two from group 1, one from each group 2, 3, & 4)
  1. Xcel Energy. Utility Units
  2. Electric Distribution Cooperative Units
  3. Dairyland Power Cooperative Units
  4. At Large (all other electrical workers not aforementioned)

• Delegates to the International Convention (one from group 1, one from group 2, one from group 3, one from group 4, as follows:
  1. NSP Utility Units
  2. All Cooperative Units
  3. Outside Construction Units
  4. At Large (all other electrical workers not aforementioned)

The Procedure as outlined in Article III of the Bylaws:
Nominations for Local Union Officers and Delegates to the International Convention shall be held at the regular meeting of each Unit in APRIL 2004, and elections shall be held in JUNE 2004. Notice shall be mailed to all members at least twenty (20) days prior to the meeting for nominations in election year with all information regarding nominations, list of offices to be filled, date, time, and place of election, and the date, time, and place of run-off election, if required.

Every candidate shall have the right, once, within 30 days prior to the election to inspect a list containing the names and last known addresses of all members of the Local Union. Such list of members shall be maintained and kept by the Local Union. The membership list shall not be copied for the use of any candidate.

No apprentice shall be eligible for office unless he/she has been a member of Local Union 953 in continuous good standing for at least 2 years immediately prior to nominations.

Members of one Unit may nominate members of another Unit for Local Union Office. It is not necessary that such nominees be confined to a particular Unit. A member placing the name of another member in nomination for office when the nominated member is not present, shall at the time the nomination is made, give to the Unit Recorder evidence in writing signed by the nominee, that the nominee agrees to be a candidate for a specific Local Union Office. However, any member being nominated in this manner cannot signify his/her intentions to be a candidate for more than one (1) specific Local Union Office.

Immediately after nominations the Unit Recorder shall forward a list of the names of the candidates, signed by the Unit Recorder and the Unit Chairman, to the Recording Secretary of the Local Union.

After nominations have closed, the President shall appoint an Election Judge and as many Tellers as are required who shall serve as an Election Board to conduct the election. No candidate for office shall be eligible to serve on the board.

After nominations have been made and those nominated are found to be qualified, the Election Board shall have ballots prepared, listing in alphabetical order, the names of all candidates for each respective office, beginning with President and continuing in the order named in the IBEW Constitution. Such ballots shall not contain any identifying numbers or marks. ALL VOTING SHALL BE BY MAIL BALLOT.

The Financial Secretary shall furnish to the Election Judge not less than twenty-one (21) days before the election, an alphabetical list of all members eligible to vote. All members in good standing and qualified shall be entitled to vote.

The Executive Board shall decide the last day on which ballots shall be received, and the date, time, and place when the ballots will be counted. This date shall be in the month of June and this information shall be enclosed with the ballot sent to each member eligible to vote.

The Election Judge shall mail or cause to be mailed to all eligible voters, an official ballot and two (2) envelopes. One envelope shall be smaller than the other and shall have the words "OFFICIAL BALLOT" stamped or printed on it. The larger envelope shall be pre-addressed to the Election Board and shall contain a space in the upper left hand corner where the member shall place his/her name and address.

Upon receiving his/her ballot, the member shall mark same and enclose it in the smaller envelope marked "OFFICIAL BALLOT". This envelope shall be placed in the larger pre-addressed envelope and mailed to the Election Board.

The Election Board shall select a depository to which the envelopes containing the ballot shall be mailed. This shall not be the Local Union Post Office Box or the Local Union Headquarters. (Cost of such depository shall be paid by the Local Union.) This Board shall advise the Local Union of such depository in sufficient time to prepare the pre-addressed envelopes.

The Election Board shall open the envelopes, remove the smaller envelope marked "OFFICIAL BALLOT", and deposit same in the ballot box with the other ballots. No envelope received later than the time and date as determined and announced by the Executive Board shall be opened by the Election Board.

The Election Board shall count the ballots and certify the results in writing to the Executive Board immediately after the ballots have been counted.

All election records including ballots shall be preserved for one (1) year from the date of election, after which same shall be destroyed unless a question has arisen in connection therewith.

Any candidate for office may be present or have an IBEW member as an observer present at the counting of the ballots.

Write-in votes shall not be permitted.

The election shall be decided for the candidate receiving the most votes for a specific office. All nominations will be made at the regular meetings of the local union in April 2004. Voting will be in June and will be by mail ballot. Information as to the last day ballots will be received, the date, time, and place the ballots will counted will be enclosed with the ballot sent to each member eligible to vote. This letter is important, so please keep it for reference during nomination and election of local union officers.

Annual Meeting

Satuday, April 3, 2004
9 AM
Eau Claire Labor Temple
2233 Birch Street
Eau Claire, Wisconsin

This meeting is for ALL members. The agenda will include the Electrical Workers Club meeting and the Local Union By-laws Meeting. Hor d'oeuvres, beverages and drawings for prizes will be after the meeting. MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN!!

Please send us an email by March 26, 2004 to enter into the prize drawing. Include your name and employer.

Letter from President Bernie Pagenkopfi

I attended the IBEW State Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on January 22, 2004. Mr. Pat Curley, the 6th District Vice President gave a speech that contained an interesting theme: We will no longer conduct business as usual in the IBEW. He indicated that all locals will take an active role in such things as COPE, Utility Workers Coalition, Legislative Committee, IBEW-Legislative Committee, and others. He went on to say that if such changes did not take place, he or one of his staff would visit the non-participating local. I think he was very clear in what he wants.

Mr. Diegel, the International Officer in charge of Political Action in Washington, D.C. gave a very provocative speech concerning the current administration in Washington. He covered topics such as NAFTA, overtime pay, open immigration and other changes to undercut unions. He did not sugar coat topics, but he was blunt and direct. Wow!

I imagine most of you have heard that we formed a Committee for Political Education (COPE) at Local 953. During the month of October, Mr. Dahlberg, along with John, directed me to form a COPE Committee that would generate voluntary COPE dollars. The committee's goal is to help any labor friendly political leader regardless of party affiliation at the federal, state or local level. It is important to note, we will be more effective at the local level starting out.

A committee was formed in November, 2003, consisting of Mark Brovold, Todd Risberg, Brady Wiess, Chad Bilderback and myself. I would like to take this opportunity to thank these members for stepping forward and volunteering their time and energy to this very important cause. We hope a volunteer will step forward from a Co-op and Manufacturing to grow this committee. We had a couple meetings in December and January to develop a strategy on how we were going to accomplish our goal. We feel the Stewards will be a valuable asset in promoting our COPE Program. They will receive a COPE Presentation at the Stewards Training in March, along with the necessary material to take back to you, the Local 953 members. The Stewards, along with the help of the COPE Committee or the Staff at Local 953 are expected to present the program to all other members.

For your benefit, below is a list of the twelve most asked questions with the correct answer.

We Are Not Politically Affiliated 12 Most Asked Questions

1) What is the Committee on Political Education (COPE)?

AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education

Legislation has such a great impact on the lives of working people, it is essential that Central Labor Councils get involved in the political process to maximize Labor's impact in Congress, the State Legislature, and City Hall.

Through the Committee on Political Education (COPE), the Labor Movement works to involve Union Members and their families in the democratic process and may help to elect officials at all levels of Government who are understanding of the needs of working people.

COPE exists at all three levels of the AFL-CIO structure. National COPE works with State Federations for the purpose of electing friends of Labor to public office. The State and Local AFL-CIO COPE endorses all other Federal Candidates, as well as all State and Local Candidates. At all levels of the AFL-CIO, our members can become involved to shape the political environment of one's City, State, and Federal Government.

2) Are COPE donations tax deductible?

NO!! Minnesota residents have an exception. You may donate to Minnesota political leaders and then only if your check is made out to an individual candidate, you may get reimbursed by the State. Call the Minnesota State AFL-CIO for more information.

3) How are COPE dollars collected?

Dairyland and Xcel employees have COPE check-offs on their payroll checks. Those members need to pick up a COPE check-off card from their steward and fill it out and return it to their steward. He in turn will sent it to Dale Blank or Roger Erickson who will deliver them to your respective employers.

The Co-op's, Manufacturing, Municipals, Line Clearance, Outside Construction, and any others without payroll check-offs will need to write monthly or yearly checks to COPE. They need to be inserted into the envelope, with the receipt provided and returned to their steward. The checks will be sent with your respective representatives at Local 953's union hall for process. Please make checks payable to "953 Cope". For your information, there is no maximum on the amount of money you can contribute per year.

4) Where does the COPE Money go?

The voluntary donations go from you to a non-interest bearing COPE account at Local 953. Tentatively, on a quarterly basis the money at Local 953 COPE account will be sent to the International COPE account in Washington, DC. We cannot retain COPE dollars for a long period of time or distribute money to political leaders from this account without getting into expensive accounting and auditing busyworK.

5)What is the COPE committee's role?

The COPE Committee is appointed by the president of the local. We currently have five members; they are: Todd Risberg, Mark Brovold, Chad Bilderback, Brady Weiss, and me, Bernie Pagenkopf. This committee needs to grow by one to three more members as we get going forward.

The role of this committee is to promote COPE and distribute money raised to the appropriate labor friendly political leaders. We will periodically have COPE drives and gather information on voting records of all elected officials -regardless of party affiliations.

6)How is this money returned for distributions?

The COPE committees will gather requests for money from Local 953 members and match the request up to the labor friendly voting record of the political leader. If the Political Leader's voting record meets a yet undetermined minimum, the request will be approved. The COPE committee will request money from Rick Diegal, the International Official Officer in Washington, DC. who is the caretaker of all COPE dollars in the IBEW's account. Mr. Diegal indicated to us that all requests are honored because it is our local's mo

ney to distribute. They only hold it for account purposes. The requested dollars will be sent to the steward and requesting member. That check will be personally handed to the political leader. The requests that are denied will be returned to the requesting member with an explanation of why the request was denied.

Points of Clarification:

• If you want to see the voting record of the political leader you may want to request money for, go to the IBEW 953 Web Page at www.ibew953.org . The COPE committee will also be using this sight to determine a political leader's eligibility.
• If you do not contribute to the COPE, you may request money for political leaders and you may have your request honored, but you will receive a COPE check-off card in the mail with the political contribution check.
• Unlike Corporate conduit, you do not need to sign an authorization form with contributions to a political leader. We fall under different rules than conduits.
• If your political leaders have no voting record, please submit their platform with your request for COPE dollars.
• The committee has the authority to adjust the dollars requested up or down.

7)How is the money delivered to the political people?

The requesting member or members along with the steward will go to the political leader fund raiser or office. A talking points card will be provided that will indicate what points should be covered in the short period of time you have with the political leader. Use this time wisely!!

Talking Points:

• Use your time Wisely!
• Keep it short!
• Introduce yourself: Who you represent: IBEW Local 953
• Thank them for supporting our issues:
  • Voting record
  • Point out a particular bill
• Give our view on current hot issues.
• Thank them for their time.

8)What will be the steward's role in COPE?

You will promote COPE and get any many check-off cards signed as possible. You may request help from the COPE committee or your Business Rep. You will deliver all monthly or yearly checks and all check-off cards to your Business Rep. When requests for money start coming in, you will deliver those to your Business Rep. or mail them to the Union Hall. When the political contributions come back from Washington, you will be responsible that the requesting parties deliver them properly.

9) In the 6th District which locals contribute and how much?

Send us an email for more information.

10) Examples of how political money can help us

There is no quid pro quo, but they remember you.

Recent extension (until September) of utility workers' exclusion on DOT hours of service restrictions.

Support from our friends in our efforts to stave off administrations changes to overtime laws.

Support from our friends in our effort to reverse damage done to us by deregulation of the electric utility industry.

11) What expenses can come out of the COPE fund?

Only money used for political purposes.

12) How can I win one of the two $500 travel vouchers?

To be eligible to win a $500 travel voucher, you must give $5.00 per paycheck or $120.00 per year minimum. The drawing will take place at the July 2004 Executive Board Meeting. The tickets can be used anywhere you want to go, but are limited to a one-year time frame.