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

partlclpaling in the tests were gh·en an oppor1unity
to act as arbituton and gave opin_
ions on actual arbitration cases. Attorney
Bruce Feldad:er spoke to the stewards on
the provisions of Workman·s Compensation
and responded to qucstions h om the group
concerning rights of employees involved in
job related accidents.
Following the workshop and a buffet dinner,
Internationa l Vice President Moore
•
•
Stewards Dinner
Inlernation.t v,,,. Pr.sldenl Jad Moore beine
Introdu"ed 10 I.h. Slewards. officers. and 8uesls
al Ih. lo:al 14]9 .nnuat st_a.ds I(;.hool din,
.. oer held In St. louis. Mo .• in November.
spoke to the ste ..... ards and again reminded
them of their responsibilities and stressed
the impl.>r1anCC of capable union office~
and stewards. He reminded all those present
to make sure they and their families vote
and recommended that serious consideration
be given to COPE-cndorsed candidates. In_
ternational Representative Ken Sawyer from
Brother Moore·s staff also addressed those
present pointing out the importance of membership
participation in the local unions.
Husiness Representative Kraus complimented
and thanked the stewards and officers for
their attentiveness at the ..... orkshop and their
willingness to use their day off to gain more
knowledge of their local union in order to
beller serve the members they represent.
Eugene McMahon. president of l ocal 1439,
thanked the stewards for the flne job! they
have done over the past years. Other guests
of Ihe local included Robert Kellcy, sC("retary-treasurer
of the St. louis Labor Council:
Don Burke. business manager of Local
1455: and Terry Allen, busines~ manager
of local 1464.
In closing, Business Managcr Durham
lave special recognition to steward Willie
Emerson '" ho has been a ~hop ~teward in
local 1439 for 21 )ears.
Congratulations to Business Manager
Durham and Business Representative Kraus
for a very informative and enjoyable day
and evening. The 1976 stewards school din_
ner was one of the best ever conducted.
RtCIIARD SlItNNtCJ:, P.S.
Local Mourns For McMasters;
Scribe at Handicapped Meeting
L.U_ 1459, EVANSTON, Ill.-The membership
was deeply 5lIddened by the tragic
and untimely death of Brother David Mc­
Masters, a lineman in our local. Brother
McMasters was injured fatally on September
14, 1976, "'hile painting on a 138-KV to"'er.
On behalf of the officers_ members. and
myself, I extend to his wife and family our
d~pest sympathy.
Contract proposals have been recched
and will be reviewed by the Negotiating
Committee in preparation for our up1;oming
negotiations.
Our thanks to Brothers Ray Kulpins, Raul
Richards, Pat McGrady, Roy Halvorson,
and Jim Ebilsisor for their participation in
a Iwo-day workshop on Workman's Compensation.
Our thanli.s also to Pr~ident Bernie
Haggerty and local 1460 for making
Ibis "ery impor1ant workshop possible.
On November 18, 1976, I allended the
Chicago Regional meeting of the White
House Conference on Handicapped Individuals,
held at the University of Illinois Circle
Campus. This was one of four regionnl
mectings conducted by the Inoustry-labor
CoundJ to provide unions and companies
with a forum for sharing ideas, problems,
and opportunities and for preparing special
recommendations in areas of interest
to labor and industry for submission to the
White House Conference. the PrC'oidenl, and
Congress. I left this meeting impre~d by
the dedication of the oflkers and workshop
leaders in their elTorlS to galher ideas for
the elimination of the barriers that confront
handicapped individuals and deny them the
opportunity of receiving meaningful employ_
ment.
First Monday of the month_:lltend your
local union meeting.
J. Loct.:wooo. PR[S.
Thes. three Iclnl' It>ow the .. Iew"rds. speakers .• nd officers of Lac,,1 1439 a t Ih. d,nner and
. ....orkShop.
Brothers, we want you to have your JOURNAl! When you have a
change of address, please let us know_ Be sure to include your old
address and please don't forget to filt in loU. and Card No. This information
witt be helpful in checking and keeping our records straight_
Use coupon on page 22.
Seniority Still The
Best System
l ,U_ 1505, "AtTIIA:\I, M,\ SS_- In recent
years thc seniority system, the bedrocl.. upon
..... hich the house of trade unionism has been
erected, has eome under attack from a new
and unellpected quarler-lhe political left.
Ever since the Wagner Act became the law
of the land. labor's implacable enemies in
the right wings of both parlics have Irained
their oratorical artillery upon seniority rights
on the indisputably logical theory that the
structure would topple if the foundation
were first de'>tfO)ed.
The propaganda is by !lOW familiar to all:
the seniority system hinders the advancement
of the more qua.lified and guarantees
tenure 10 the incompetent_ If the emp\o)"er
were free, Iruly free, to hire the willing,
retain the deserving, promote the talented,
"