D.C. Stadium
I met with Clark Construction on the new DC Stadium, and they are still shooting for a March 1, 2006 start date. There are some contracts that have already been let, like the demolition contract and the excavation of the area. I have been told that the electrical project should be let within the next couple of weeks and that the two contractors in the running for the job are Freestate and Truland. So, this job will be a very important one regardless of which union contractor gets it.
If you have been listening to the news, you would know that the Mayor had quite a battle on his hands trying to get the City Council to accept major league baseball’s proposal. After the first vote taken on February 7 was rejected by the Council, the Mayor had to go back to major league baseball. He then brought the Council another proposal, and that one resulted in a vote of 9 to 4 for a victory.
For your information, the Council members who voted against the stadium were David Catania, Phil Mendelson, Adrian Fenty, and Jim Graham (no relation). So, we will have to remember those individuals when they come knocking at our door for support in the future.
Vision Coverage Change
You should have received a letter in the mail from the EWTF on new eyeglass coverage. In the notice, it explains that eyeglass lenses are now covered once every two calendar years where before it was once per calendar year. However, if your lens prescription changes before you are eligible for new lenses and the prescription meets the following criteria, lenses and frames will be replaced every calendar year instead of every two calendar years.
The criteria is: (a) a new prescription differs from the original by at least a .50 diopter sphere or cylinder; (b) an axis change of 15 degrees or more; (c) a .5 prism diopter change in at least one eye. For the first time, safety glasses are now provided to members actively working in the field once every calendar year. Lenses are covered in full. Safety frames are covered up to $65 plus 20% of any out-of-pocket costs. Optional side shields are included in the $65 frame allowance.
Wal-Mart Unfair
The Maryland Legislature overrode Governor Ehrlich’s veto on the Wal-Mart healthcare bill. The Bill will require private companies in Maryland who have more than 10,000 employees to spend at least 8% of their payroll on employee health benefits or make a contribution to the state’s insurance program for the poor. Wal-Mart, who employs about 17,000 Marylanders, is the only company of such size that does not meet that spending requirement.
The lawmakers said that this bill would provide many people with health care and take them off of the state-funded programs that they now must rely on for health benefits. It doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be okay to shop at Wal-Mart, but it is a step in the right direction to help those people working there obtain proper medical coverage for themselves and their families.
New Secretary of the Commonwealth
Former President of the VA State AFL-CIO, Dan LeBlanc, was sworn in last month to become the Secretary of the Commonwealth which is a very prestigious appointment for Governor-Elect Tim Kaine. Dan’s duties will include, but not be limited to, about 4000 appointments in the state of Virginia on special commissions and boards, and in other state-run areas. He was in a confirmation hearing this past week where the Republicans tried to deface his credibility and make him sound like a right-winger who would not be for all the people. They brought up several issues about his 33 years in the labor movement, and attempted to tarnish his getting that appointment.
Negotiations
Negotiation letters were sent out to NECA to open negotiations for the Inside and Residential Agreements in the Metro and Shenandoah zones as well as the Roanoke zone. We should be starting our negotiating sessions this month.
Apprentices Wanted
Every year, Local 26 struggles to get qualified applicants for our apprenticeship program. If you know of anyone interested in going through our apprenticeship, now is the time to have them come down and apply. They will go through the application process, take an aptitude test, and be interviewed. Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED and some algebra. The newly selected class of apprentices will start in September.
Well, I guess it’s that time. I’ll be retiring on April 1st of this year. Thank God this is the last article I have to write, or plagiarize. I want to thank everyone for allowing me to serve you as President for the last 13 ½ years. It has been both an honor and privilege to have known and worked with you. So, I’ll just end by saying, thank you, God bless you, and see you on the next big one.
by Franny Olshefski, President
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Pictured above from left to right-- Mike Shoemaker, Financial Secretary; Robert Wood, Jr., 25 Yrs; Walter Williams, 20 Yrs; Robert Cunningham (back), 25 Yrs; Bruce Besmen, 30 Yrs; Craig Leary (back), 25 Yrs; Richard Poss, 30 Yrs; Frank Laddbush, Jr. (back), Recording Secretary, 40 Yrs; Patrick Burke, 30 Yrs; William Koennel (back), 40 Yrs; Joseph Pittore, Jr., 30 Yrs; Robert Staton (back), 35 Yrs; Walter Hughes, 35 Yrs; Joseph Horstkamp (back), 40 Yrs; Chuck Graham, Business Manager
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Pictured above from left to right—back row: Kevin Williams; Rafael Cruz; Bernie Durkin, Business Agent; William Riker, General Foreman; Marty Everson, Foreman; Johnny Eiler (GDS, union affiliate); Ryan Niland; front row: Tom Nquyen; Jose Raudales; Joe Suero. |
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| Coakley Williams, General Contractor for the Potomac School project, presented safety awards to Local 26 members, all working for Freestate Electric, at the Topping Out lunch-in on January 12, 2006. Nine of the eleven workers helping to put out a fire on the jobsite were our brothers.
The fire was started in one of the buildings on the jobsite | jobsite due to a spark igniting from a welding contractor. Thanks to the excellent training and quick response of the Local 26 members, the large fire that developed was minimized and extinguished without injury and with minimal damage to the job. The Freestate crew is led by General Foreman, William Riker, as well as Foremen Mike Zelaya and Marty Everson. |
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The Local Union Scholarship Committee is now accepting applications for the annual Local 26 Scholarship Award. Two winners will be selected as recipients of the 4-year, $1,000 per year, award. Applicants must be in their senior year of high school or be a high school graduate between the ages of 17 and 21, with less than two years of college completed. This scholarship is open to the children of Local 26 members who have been in good standing for at least five years.
Stop by the Washington, DC Union Hall and pick up an application form, or call the business office at 202-829-2900 to request that one be mailed to your home. The deadline for returning completed applications is March 31, 2006.
The IBEW Founders’ Scholarships honor the dedicated wiremen and linemen who, on November 28, 1891, organized the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Each year, the officers of the IBEW are pleased to offer its working members scholarships on a competitive basis. It is hoped that the awards will not only contribute to the personal development of our members but also steward the electrical industry that our founders envisioned.
This award is for $200 per semester credit hour
at any accredited college or university toward an associate’s, bachelor’s or postgraduate degree in an approved field. The maximum distribution is $24,000 over a period not to exceed eight years. The IBEW Founders’ Scholarship is awarded only to IBEW members who have been in continuous good standing for the four years preceding May 1, 2006. The Scholarship is not offered to the spouses or children of IBEW members. For more information or a printable application, visit the IBEW Web site at www.ibew.org, or pick one up from the main hall of Local 26. All applications are due by May 1, 2006.
All residential wiremen who have a current jurisdictional license and three or more years of good standing membership in the IBEW may be eligible for the 2006-2007 Residential Upgrade Program. Please contact Wendy Escolero at (202) 829-2900 ext. 19, for an application. The deadline for returning applications to the Examining Board is June 30, 2006. No applications will be accepted for review after that date.
Applicants who are approved by the Examining Board will be notified of the date, time and location for Upgrade Program placement testing.
To obtain a clear view of labor organizing, you must take a broad look at globalization events. The trends of plant 
closings and outsourcing of jobs in the US is a result of political and economic world events. Until the early ’90’s, the socialist systems of European countries acted as a brake on capitalist globalization, but capitalist globalization had already begun. The technology revolution caused an accelerated collapse of Socialism and a new aggressiveness to capitalism. US capital had become the precedent protected by the world’s single remaining military super power.
Ronald Reagan’s election in 1980 signaled a sharpening corporate and government attack on labor. More plant closings and downsizing in manufacturing were seen. An increase in US corporate investments overseas began. This led to mergers creating new manufacturing and financial empires, which resulted in transnational, capital-fueled, conservative political trends. Meanwhile, organized labor was suffering. US workers were pitted against workers in other countries and immigrant workers. Global capitalist competitiveness was packaged as worker against worker competition requiring workers to make sacrifices to beat the competition.
Capitalist globalization continues to develop with the establishment of the World Trade Organization and the North American Free Trade Agreement. More US capital has left the country resulting in more job losses and the destruction of working class communities. The globalization process continues during both Democratic and Republican administrations. Under a Democratic administration, more favorable legislation has been passed for relief towards workers. With a Republican administration, more aggressive attacks are directed toward workers’ rights and any attempts to lessen globalization.
Our changing workforce is partly due to the effects of globalization. One of the biggest products of capitalist globalization is migration. As a result of corporate plunder in developing countries, over 175 million workers left their own countries looking for work by 2002.
Events around the world are impacting workers in the US. The decline in union membership, plant closings, unfair labor laws, union busting, and limiting the right to organize are issues in the US as well as in most industrialized countries. The effects of capitalist globalization attacks can be seen in the United Airlines contract disputes and in GM’s and Ford’s job cuts. Each time it is the worker that suffers. We read and hear how these attacks affect health care, pensions, and wages. The difficult times unions face today are due to the pressures of capitalist globalization.
As Union members, we need to understand the importance of continuing to fight the good fight. In view of globalization, we should be confident to take on larger battles at home. Unions will have to come together to win the fights that are bigger than one union. Many of these battles will be in local city councils and state capitols. Next, workers of the world will need to unify to elevate the working class standard of living.
by Joe Dabbs, Organizer
Rebuilding Together Alexandria (formerly Christmas in April) is looking for any IBEW Local 26 members who would like to volunteer their time and skills in April. Rebuilding Together Alexandria is a non-profit organization that partners with volunteers and communities to rehabilitate the homes of low-income homeowners so that they may continue to live independently with warmth and safety. They are committed to donating home repairs to the in-need families of our Alexandria, Virginia community. There are many homeowners in Alexandria who have simple electrical issues, but are physically or financially unable to perform these repairs and don’t always have the skilled tradesmen to help.
National Rebuilding Day is Saturday April 29th. Most of the work is done throughout April, leading up to National Rebuilding Day. But, whenever you might be able to volunteer, there are always clients needing help, year round! Please contact Kim Tyrrell in the business office at 202-829-2900, if there is ANY amount of time you can volunteer in April. We are aiming for a huge turn out on April 29th, especially. If you are interested in volunteering ANY amount of time in months other than April, please contact Katharine Medina at 703-836-1021 or e-mail km@rebuildingtogetheralex.org.
There are some basic restrictions on working after retirement. The following is a brief overview of those restrictions. There may be other specifics and exceptions.
Local 26
After retiring on Local 26 pension, you are restricted from working more than 39 hours in a given calendar month in prohibited employment. Prohibited employment is work in the industry, trade or craft, and geographic area in which you were earning credit under the Plan when you retired.
NEBF
Again, under the NEBF plan, you are restricted from working more than 39 hours in a given calendar month. The restriction applies to work in the electrical industry, at a trade or craft in which you were employed at any time while covered by the NEBF. There may be certain exceptions, and you should contact the NEBF at 301-556-4300 if you are considering working.
IBEW
A member who retires from the International (IBEW) cannot work in the electrical industry and collect retirement benefits. A retired member who wants to return to work must notify the Financial Secretary’s office of their Local Union and the International Secretary-Treasurer of the IBEW. The member must then start paying dues and forfeit IBEW pension checks while working.
Remember, 2nd quarter dues are due April 1st .
by Mike Shoemaker, Financial Secretary
Saturday March 25, 2006
Time: Luncheon at Noon, Meeting will follow
Place: Rips Country Village, 3809 North Crain Hwy, Mitchellville, MD 20716
Phone: 301-805-5901
Tickets $10.00 per Credit Union member
Tickets must be purchased in advance, no later than March 15, 2006. The Business Meeting will follow the luncheon. There is no charge for attending the business meeting, but you must make a reservation. Contact the Credit Union office at 202-829-5404.
Attend and support YOUR Credit Union!
The Luncheon Buffet Menu includes: Roast Beef Au Jus, Roast Turkey, Chef’s Broiled Cod, Mashed Potatoes, Tossed Salad, Green Beans, Rolls, Coffee, Tea, or Soda
Congratulations!
The winner of the Giant 8” Stocking was Jacob Cleland grandson of Brother Billy Cleland.
