Picnics
Our two picnics were a huge success, enjoyed by about 150 people in Roanoke and over 900 in Clarksburg. Thanks to everyone who came out for a day of family fun and brotherhood. It was great seeing so many brothers and sisters and meeting your families. I’d like to thank Butch Ramos for doing a great job organizing the Clarksburg picnic. Also, thanks to Thomas Miller for his efforts on a great Roanoke picnic. See below for pictures of the picnics.
Softball Tournament
Local 26 hosted the IBEW’s National Softball Tournament on July 29th and 30th at Watkins Park. It was a fantastic affair, kicked off by festivities here at our headquarters building on Friday night. Again this year, your Local 26 team took first place in the tournament and both teams finished first in their bracket. Congratulations to our plaque and trophy-winning softball players! Also, I’d like to thank John Collins for his hard work in coordinating the event. See below for some more photos and the photo gallery for all the photos of the tournament.
Pictured above, from left to right: Front row— Mike Lilley, Greg Pritt, Kyle McMillian, Mark Pontello, George “Jiggy” Giggetts, Mark Duncan, Joe Masson; Back row— Chris Greinert, John Collins, Nick Delongis, Al Patterson, Justin Kirchner, Paul Winner, Tim Niehenke, Dave Haddad, Bill Rhodes. See below for pictures of both Local 26 teams at the tournament.
Job Listings
I’d like to remind you that we are putting job calls on the web site so that members can go on-line and see what jobs are available for the next day. If you can’t get through on the phone, then you will have that option. Go to the ibewlocal26.org web site and click on the link for “A” Journeyman or “R” Wireman. That will bring the jobs up.
Upcoming Primary Elections
I’m sure you are aware that primary elections are Tuesday, September 12. Everyone needs to participate and help us get our labor-endorsed candidates elected. I will be sending a letter out to the members with a list of the candidates we are supporting. If you live in Calvert County, remember to get out and vote for Brother Steve Zimmerman who is running for the Democratic Central Committee. He needs your support. If you are not registered, please contact Larry Greenhill at 301-459-2900, and he will give you the information you need to get registered so that you can vote.
DC Office
Our DC office on Blair Road, NW is finally to the point where the base building is completed, and we should start the tenant space in the near future. Hopefully, by mid-October that office will be up and running.
Agreement Books
We have received the Inside and Residential Wireman Agreements back from the IO, and will be sending them out to get our new agreement books printed. When they are completed, we will mail each member a new agreement book.
Teledata Agreement
We negotiated a new teledata agreement, and the telecommunications unit ratified this agreement. It is a 3-year contract in which they received $3.20 over the three years. I would like to acknowledge the negotiating committee who worked along with me to reach an agreement that the membership would approve. Thanks Butch Ramos, Mike McArtor, and Joe Dabbs for your help.
Credit Union website www.ibew26fcu.com
Email: information@ibew26fcu.com
Telephone: 301-306-0610
Toll free: 888-306-0610
Fax: 301-306-0746
Audio response: 800-724-7573
The Building Trades Council has some of our own people and their family members running for Democratic Central Committees. We need to support them with financial donations and any other kind of help we can offer.
Steve Zimmerman, Calvert County
Business Agent IBEW Local 26
Ron Milligan, Calvert County
President IUEC Local 10
Walt Powell, St. Mary’s County
Organizer IUOE Local 77
Joe Knoefel, St. Mary’s County
Business Agent Laborers 657
Ruth Lowery, St. Mary’s County
Wife of Business Agent IUEC Local 10
Bill Grooms, Charles County
Chairman Tri-County Cope, retired IUOE Local 77
Kurt Walter, Prince George’s County
Plumbers Local 5
Pictured above, from left to right— Mike Shoemaker, Financial Secretary; Timothy Ogle, 30 Yrs; Michael Young, 30 Yrs; Cris Ritter, 25 Yrs; Paul Abbott (front), 30 Yrs; James Wallace (back), 35 Yrs; Gregory Ledbetter, Sr., 35 Yrs; George Tedesco (front), 35 Yrs; Patrick Mullady, 40 Yrs; Chuck Graham, Business Manager; George Edmonston, 45 Yrs; Butch Ramos, President
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There will be a Pension Seminar at the Union Hall located at 4371 Parliament Place in Lanham, MD. The seminar will be held on October 21st and start at 8:00 AM. We will discuss the Local 26 Pension, the International Pension, and the NEBF Pension. The seminar is mainly for those members and spouses who are near the age to start planning for retirement, but all members are welcome to attend. We have also scheduled a representative from Social Security to be present to discuss Social Security benefits and answer any questions you may have. Again, the seminar will start at 8:00 AM and should end around noon. We will have refreshments in the morning. Space is limited, so please call the Finance Office at 301-459-2900 to register.
As a reminder, quarterly dues can be mailed to the Finance Office, or you can pay in person at the Finance Office window with cash, check or a credit card. Credit card payments are not taken over the phone. Those members with a Credit Union account can contact the Credit Union to have their dues paid with a Credit Union check.
THIRD QUARTER DUES WERE DUE JULY 1ST.
RETIREMENT ASSESSMENTS DUE FOR THE QUARTER ARE $40.00
by Mike Shoemaker, Financial Secretary
Hello Brothers and Sisters. Allow me to preface my article with a “charge to the membership”. The time could not be any better for “you” as a member to leave your comfortable seat – on the sidelines - and get into the arena! What do I mean by that? Listen, we’re in a beautiful new building. We have a new agreement. We have sufficient work for our members. Our trust funds are healthy. We now have a training center that will, undoubtedly, set the standard here in Prince George’s County for electrical training. I am convinced the time is right! Drop the excuses! Take ownership of your Local by getting into the arena and GETTING INVOLVED!!
You are probably saying, “What can I do?” Well, you can start by supporting the efforts of your Local Union. Get involved by spreading unionism to our non-union brothers and sisters, regularly attending your monthly union business meetings, answering the call when asked to volunteer a couple of hours of your time to help out on an important matter, and by attending your annual picnic(s) and Christmas parties.
I do not mean to sound like an alarmist Brothers and Sisters, but if we don’t, at the very least, step up to the plate and take a swing, organized labor will continue to lose ground. If organized labor is losing ground, at some point so will our Local. We are not an “island”! No one of us is stronger than all of us. Make yourselves valuable to your family, your union and your employer by committing to yourself to be the best electrician, union member and employee by being responsible, dependable and reliable. So, will you respond to the charge or not? See you at the next Coalition meeting, 6:00 p.m. and Union/Business meeting at 8:00 p.m., 2nd Friday of every month.
by Larry Greenhill, Sr., Minority Coalition President
