1977-02 February IBEW Journal.pdf - International Brotherhood of ...

local. I hope in the (uture to keep evcryone
well informed of the progress done in our
area and of the Brothers involved.
JAMES T. DICKINSON, P.S.
Accident Site
Scribe Urges Safety
To Avoid F.t.lity
,~,
L. U. 702, WEST FRANKFORT, II.L-I
would like to pass on the details of a fatality
that occu rred in the coal crew at onc of the
generating stations where our members nrc
employed. The accident occurred while the
coal operator wns allempting co remove coal
that was ~tucli. to the inside walls of the silo.
r would hope reporting Ihis wi ll make others
aware of the dangers involved in such work
and, addition:'lIy. perhaps s()me of YOIl IHlve
knowledge of ways to prevent the need for
even entering coal silos in the first place.
This fatal llccident occurred in a gunite
lincd coal silo approximately 6!i feet tall
and 28 feet in diameter. The operator had
entered the silo on a bm.un·s chair fa~lcned
to an elrctric hoist positioned ovcr a man·
hole :j\ thc hlp of the silo. Since there was
only ()ne m;mhole and it y,as located ncar
Ihe 1'.;111. 1\ y,a~ difficult to re;Ieh the olher
side of Ihe ~i lo .... ithout taking slad.. in thc
hoi,t line. After cleaning onc sidr of the silo
the \\orlcr , Iael.ened his hoist line and some
time thereafter, a large amount of cool di~·
lodged from the wall burying him. The cool
fceder under the silo was running at the
time \\hieh could have contributed to causing
the c;,,·e·in. I ..... ou ld urge that all of you
examine Ihe procedures you arc usin!; to
enter and .... orl. in closed \'es~els of nny kind.
,\ sk you r ~clf the following questiom:
Is rescue equipment in good ~hnpe ond
readilyavuil:lblc?
Is lighling adcquate and safe?
Is someone SI:llioned at the entranCe?
Can tlte worker eQ",municnte ensily with
those on Ihe outside?
Ftb .... ory, 1977
Has the air been checled7
Is there a sa fel y line on the mao?
Have new and ineXperienced workers been
fully trained nnd made aware of the haz·
ards?
How will you ~ummon nddilional help If
it is needed?
The stainless 5\eel silos in this same planl
do not gel Slopped up and require cleaning.
If any of you care 10 share ideas and su,.
Gestions, plea~ wrile to me at the following
address:
local 702, I BEW
David E. McNeely. Bu ~ine5s Representative
106 North Monroe Sueet
West Frankfort. Illinois 62896
0,,\\1) McNllI Y, B. R
Retirees
Albina LaPiel.a. thl.d I.om I.f!. wllh mlny of
he. Iriends al Ih •• ellrem.nt PI"" held 1o. he.
II LocII 713. Chlueo. III.
See'ed. Jimm" Pele.l~ Il'Id hi, wife. end Iland·
Ing. are Robert Lindell. lefl. Il'Id Edward S".elk.
9t the rellfemenl PI"Y 10' JImmy
Two Retirement
Parties Held
I .. U. 713. CHI CAGO, I LL.- "' cmber~ of
Local 713 turned out in full force on t .... o
separate occasions to honor their retirees
The first party .... as held al the Diplomat
West for Albina L;I Pietra. a member of
our local for almoSI 30 )'ean. Albina was
a leader in her area for many years and her
knowledge. expcri~nce. and friendship will
be missed by her fellow workers. The sec·
ond party was for James [letenk flI the Millionaire's
Club. Jimmy has been a member
uf our local for o'er 411 )'enr'>--not just a
member y,ho belonged 10 ;, lnhor organization.
but a member \\ ho li'ed it. On evcry
occasion he .... ould always sl:lnd by his fel·
low workers in Ihe be~1 interest of union·
ism. I can only say to Albina and lilll.
"When retirement parties arc filled with a~
many good people a~ YOllr. were. hOlh of
yOll mU~ 1 be ~red"l pcopl{' .. To !\lhina and
Jun, may Ihe sun always rise 10 meet you,
may the wind always be at your back, and
may the good Lord always hold you both
in the palm of bis hand. Happy retirement I
Several contracts arc under negotiation.
They are General Time, Chicago Dynamic
Industrics, and R and A Distributing. In
Ihe pasl few ..... eeks the following have
reached a peaceful and satisfaclory conclu·
sion: C. J. Anderson and Company, Bally
Manufacturing Corporation, Alcom-Flor·
ence Corporation, and b:nith Control" Inc_
Remember. '''wage increases do not caU5t
innation." Wage demands and scllicments
begin to push up unit labor COSts only after
it is necessary for the workers to catch up
wilh the cost of inflation which has been
ignited by continuing big profits enjoyed by
employers.
Until next month.
HAJlRV Z. PaVOR, P.S
Houston Local Holds
Annual Christmas Party
I..U. 716, HOUSTON, TEX.-The local c). ­
tends greetings to our Brother. and Sis!{'r,
everywhere.
Our annual Christmas party Wh held
Friday, Deeember to. It wu a greal party
enhanced by a bit of noslalgia since il will
probably be the last Christmas party held
at the old hall . Local 716 proudly announces
that plans have beeo finalized and construction
will soon begin 0 0 our new hall. The
location is Loop 610 North, between Ella
Boulevard and Shepard Drive, in a growing
and vibrant area or HOllsl0n. Planl have
nearly beeo eompleled for Ihc Medical Trusl
10 construct a H)-story building ncxt door
wilh the intent to consolidate all of Ihe
business or our local in a single area. Con·
gratulations 10 an administration with an
eye 10 the future and an answer 10 Ihe
request of the membership ror a new
buUdin,.
As everyone could see from the last Presi·
dential election. politics is becoming Inereas·
ingly important to organized labor in our
balllc, not only for growth, but for our
very existence. We need people to become
involved in evcry aspect of the political
process, 10 carry our message, 10 fight for
our riahts, from the communities we live
in to the state legislatures, to the national
leai~lature5. to the President. Local 716 is
proud to have Brothers that arc workin, in
this direction. Our presid~nl, Alford A. Cook,
will be the lobbyist for the Texas State
Association of Electrical Worken for the
1977 le,islative 5ession. Brother Cook will
also serve on the Citizens Advisory Com·
mince for the Industrial Accident Board for
Worlman's Compensluion.
A Conlmunity Affairs Committee, headed
by Brother Makolm Gibson. has bun
formed. The purpo~ of this commiltte will
be for our members to become involved
in their various school boards lind civic
clubs lind to 5pread the word of llrotherhood
and the benefits of using fair labor.
Congratulations to Brother Cook and
llrother Gibson for the dedication requirel!
t" fill Ihe~e important positions.
CHUCK BURNFlT, I'.S
"