A Message from Your Business Manager
A Message from Assistant Business Manager, Dale Blank
A Message from Assistant Business Manager, Roger Erickson
A Message from Assistant Business Manager, Dave Loechler
Issues Being Addressed by the IBEW in Madison
2006 Local Union 953 Golf Outing

A Message from Your Business Manager

Hello brothers and sisters.

I hope you have all enjoyed your spring season; so far we have been very fortunate that we have not experienced any major storms. I hope we continue to have that good luck.

I have been busy planning and putting together the agenda for Local Union 953's first ever Stewards Conference. The conference will take place February 7 & 8, 2007, at the Plaza Hotel in Eau Claire. The two day event will be filled with speakers of interest to all of us, along with some training for the stewards. I am excited about this event and look forward to seeing all the stewards. Notices will be sent out at a later date to notify all stewards.

The Wisconsin Health Care Plan has been introduced as a bipartisan bill by Senator Russ Decker, Democrat (Schofield) and Representative Terry Musser, Republican (Black River Falls). The Bill is S.B. 698, you can find out more details about the bill by going to the links page on our web site and clicking on the Wisconsin AFL-CIO page. This is a very important bill and if accomplished, it would be a major step in the right direction to get affordable health care for everyone in Wisconsin, along with retirees. Since Wisconsin was the first state in the Nation to get Workman's Comp and Unemployment, then it would be only right that they should be the first to get a form of National Health Care. We will keep you posted on this because it will take a lot of phone calls, e-mails, and letters to all the political people in your areas to ask that they back this bill.

Until our next newsletter, work safe, be smart and be careful!

Solidarity forever and God Bless!

John A. Marincel
Business Manager/Financial Secretary

From Assistant Business Manager, Dale Blank

HELLO BROTHERS AND SISTERS!

I recently had the opportunity to attend the I.B.E.W. Utility Conference. One of the discussion items was the concern about the aging workforce in the Utility Industry and how these employees are going to be replaced when they retire. We have all been hearing that the "baby boomers" are getting ready to retire. Just for informational purposes, baby boomers are people that were born anytime after 1946 through 1964. This group of people currently makes up 37% of the workforce in the Utility Industry. Needless to say, the employers are getting nervous as they try to figure out how they are going to attract and keep this many new employees over the next 10 years or so. Current statistics show that 74% of people that are coming of age to join the workforce have taken training for computer related work. Only a small percentage of people are taking training for trade related work. Then, the next problem, of the small percentage of people wanting to get into the trades workforce, about one third of them cannot pass the entry level tests that the Utilities require to have a chance to become employed. Now you can see why Utility employers are getting nervous. There has been some discussion by employers as to how they can entice existing employees to stay and work instead of retiring. Good Luck with that one!

Have a safe and enjoyable summer!

Dale Blank
Asstistant Business Manager

From Assistant Business Manager, Roger Erickson

On May 3 - 5, 2006, I was privileged to attend the 48th Annual I.B.E.W. Utility Conference in Palm Springs, California. At the opening session speakers from the International Office included I.O. President, Edwin Hill, I. O., Secretary/Treasurer, Jon Walters, and Utility Department Director Jim Hunter. The speakers voiced remarks relative to deregulation (a failed experiment) and the lasting effects to California and its economies. Additionally, there was discussion regarding the pending Florida Power and Light, and Constellation Energy Group Merger. The I.B.E.W., has made application for Intervention, however, at present, the position of the I.O. is to remain neutral and monitor the process. In subsequent sessions a variety of subjects were covered, which included Pension Reform, Future of Social Security and Medicare, along with work practice issues.

At the local level a series of discussions had taken place in December, 2005 and January 2006, relative to the Xcel Automated Meter Reading Project. The last of those meetings was held on February 2, 2006. At the present time, it appears that the time frame forecast by the Company to begin the project was, shall we say, somewhat on the aggressive side. I can say that a meeting has been scheduled for June 22, 2006, which will include all the Xcel Local Unions to continue the dialogue regarding this project.

Have a great summer!

Roger Erickson
Asstistant Business Manager

From Assistant Business Manager, Dave Loechler

Local Union ’s 953 and 2150 jointly negotiated the Outside Power Agreement. After three bargaining sessions with the contractors, we ended up at an impasse on several issues. The decision then was made to file for CIR (Council on Industrial Relations). CIR is a form of arbitration, whereby both the Union and the Contractors present evidence supporting their positions. When a CIR decision is made on a contract, there is no ratification vote by the membership; the terms are simply incorporated into the new agreement. The first step of CIR is an Interim Meeting. It was at this Interim Meeting that a new (3) three-year agreement was ratified.

During the week of May 14th, 2006, Executive Board Member, Julie Edmond and I attended the 6th District Progress Meeting, held in Indianapolis, Indiana.

This Progress Meeting was the 61st Annual Progress Meeting and the 23rd Annual Women's Conference. The theme for the Progress Meeting was "Racing to the Future!" and "The Race, the Finish, the Win!" appropriately fitting with the location being Indianapolis. At this conference I was proud to present to IBEW International Secretary-Treasurer, Jon Walters, a COPE check from Local Union 953 in the amount of $7,800.00. At this time, I want to thank the 953 members that voluntarily donate to COPE (this is where the $7,800.00 came from). I would like to encourage more of the membership to donate to COPE as well.

School’s out; summer is just around the corner and family vacations will be starting. I hope everyone has an enjoyable summer!

Work safe and smart! Be Union, Buy Union and God Bless America!

Dave Loechler
Asstistant Business Manager

Issues Being Addressed by the IBEW in Madison

Details on the status of any of these efforts can by obtained by contacting: Chad Bilderback

Governor’s Energy Task Force (ETF) – SB 459: On Friday, March 17 th Governor Doyle signed the Energy Task Force bill in Green Bay. The site for the bill signing was solar Mining Company. They manufacture solar water heating systems for schools, hospitals, and other large facilities. Utility Workers Coalition Member, Forest Ceel, introduced Governor Doyle at the ceremonies. The Governor commented on how Wisconsin was going to be a leader in energy efficiency and renewable projects. Millions of dollars of investments will open up job opportunities for the construction, operations, and maintenance for hundreds of megawatts of wind energy project.

Firearms Discharge Toward Transmission Facilities – AB 748: The UWC attended the bill signing ceremonies for AB 748. With Governor Doyle’s signature this statue will impose penalties (jail and/or fines) if a firearm is discharged in the direction of transmission facilities. The UWC testified in favor of the bill citing the threats to construction and utility worker who construct, operate, and maintain the interstate transmission system.

The “Wal-Mart” Health Care Bill – AB 860: This bill would assess “large employers” (those with at least 10,000 part-time or full-time employees) an amount as determined by the State of Wisconsin for the cost of health care to citizens who work for these employers. Wal-Mart currently refers more employees to be covered by Badger Care than any other employer in the state: costing fellow taxpayers to pay for care not provided by Wal-Mart. UWC appeared at the hearing in support of the bill. Business groups lined up in opposition. When a motion was made by the Democratic leadership on March 9 th to bring this to a vote, the motion was defeated 59 to 35. 58 Republicans and 1 Democrat voted to keep your taxes higher. 35 Democrats voted to lower your taxes. Wal-Mart employs over 30,000 workers in the State of Wisconsin.

Electrician Licensing: Would increase safety of the general public by having trained, tested, and licensed inside electricians. This is an excellent opportunity for the IBEW to be seen as the source of safety and quality work. Look for this bill to be introduced in the fall. The UWC along with the Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives support this bill.