Covers 1&4 TEMP - International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

IBEWCURRENTS
Canada Utility Mergers
Net New IBEW Members
While Ontario’s government has set about streamlining the vast
province’s utility distribution network in the past five years, Toronto
Local 636 has taken advantage of the consolidation to pick up hundreds
of new members.
The mergers—which
have so far consolidated
307 utilities into 93—
have resulted in representation
elections
Ontario
pitting the IBEW against
other unions.
“We have been very successful
over the past couple
years in winning almost
every one of the votes,” said
Local 636 Business Manager
Rick Wacheski. After union
presentations and elections, the
IBEW has defeated such unions as the
Power Workers Union and the Canadian Auto
Workers. “When given a choice, brothers and
sisters choose the IBEW.”
Ottawa
Toronto
CHANGES IN IEC
The local picked up 120 members
last summer with the reconstituted
PowerStream utility, an amalgamation
of Markham Hydro, Richmond Hill
Hydro and Vaughn Hydro. Power-
Stream workers have just ratified
their first contract.
Most recently, 80
members joined Local 636
after a merger of Hamilton
Hydro and St. Catharines
Hydro, forming Horizon Utilities
Corporation.
Mergers will continue and
might be mandatory since
provincial officials have stated a final goal of
nine or 10 utilities serving everyone in
Ontario, Wacheski said. 1
Stephen Schoemehl, business manager of St. Louis Local 1 was appointed IEC
member from the Fifth District, effective November 1, 2005, to replace Robert Pierson
who has become IEC Chairman.
Myles Calvey, business manager of Boston Local 2222 and of Telephone System
Council T-6, has been appointed to the IEC representing the Second District, effective
November 1, 2005. Brother Calvey replaces Rui Carrinho who has been appointed to
the International staff and assigned to the IVP Second District.
Profiles of Brothers Foster, Schoemehl and Calvey will appear in the December
issue. A profile of Brother Pierson appears on page 6. 1
MONTANA CITY
WORKERS BARGAIN
FIRST CONTRACT
Nearly three years after
a majority of workers at
Helena, Montana’s, municipal
water treatment plant
signed IBEW authorization
cards, they finally have
their first ratified contract.
Now seven workers
have the protection of a
collective bargaining agreement
and a means to pursue
workplace safety
improvements, said Helena
Local 233 Organizer Keith
Allen.
The bargaining process
with the city that voluntarily
recognized IBEW Local
233 was slowed by the filing
of an unfair labor practice
charge related to pay
for emergency call-outs,
which the IBEW eventually
won.
Although contract negotiations
had been slow for
years, in the meantime the
local was making progress
on the political front. Forging
closer ties with the
mayor and the city commissioners,
Local 233 is hoping
for a change in city policy
that will require the municipality
to automatically recognize
a union if it can
show that 50 percent plus
one worker has signed
authorization cards. 1
Manitoba Utility Workers Compete, Raise Money
Nearly 60 IBEW utility members from across
the Canadian province of Manitoba participated
in a firefighter’s rodeo in June, raising nearly
$2,000 for a children’s burn fund.
The 26th Annual Nelson River Firefighters
Rodeo is a friendly competition among more
than 10 teams of utility workers, virtually all
volunteer firefighters and members of Winnipeg
Local 2034. Events like hose
lay/change and bucket brigade tested firefighting
skills. Participants, many of whom
traveled up to 14 hours to attend, reveled
in the once-a-year event that brings together
workers from remote generating outposts and
converter stations for Manitoba Hydro.
The vast majority of the 100 volunteers who
put on the four-day event were IBEW members,
said Local 2034 Business Manager Wally Chudo.
Members enjoyed the camaraderie and the
focus on their jobs. “These guys rarely get recognized
in their own communities,” he said. 1
Winners of the annual Nelson River
(Manitoba) Fire Fighters Rodeo are Winnipeg
Local 2034 members Roland Mousseau, left,
Darren Walker, Ray Anderson and Sam
Cocquyt, all employed by Manitoba Hydro.
Checks may be made payable to:
“The IBEW Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund”
and sent to:
The IBEW Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund
Chevy Chase Bank
7501 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, Maryland 20814
or contribute via credit card
at www.ibew.org
The IBEW has established
a hotline for members affected
by Hurricane Katrina
who need help.
Call
866-389-4239
4 IBEW JOURNAL, NOVEMBER 2005
I BEW JOURNAL, NOVEMBER 2005 5