No Room For Error

Transcription

No Room For Error

IIN
THE MAGAZINE OF IBEW LOCAL 26
S E R V I N G M A R Y L A N D, V I R G I N I A A N D W A S H I N G T O N , D C
3 RD Q U A R T E R 2 0 1 2
V O L U M E 5 , N O. 3
Laboratories, Research Facilities
and Clean Rooms But...
No Room For Error
page 8
Inside:
/
MOTORCYCLE RIDERS’ CLUB
1ST POKER RUN PAGE 22
/
APPRENTICESHIP & TRAINING DOLLARS AGAINST DIABETES
GOLF OUTING PAGE 28
GRADUATION PAGE 24
IN
Officers
Chuck Graham, Business Manager Butch Ramos, President
Larry Greenhill, Sr., Vice President
Mike Shoemaker, Financial Secretary
Rich Murphy, Recording Secretary
Jerry Lozupone, Treasurer
Contents
Executive Board
From the desk of Business Manager
Chuck Graham
Use These Next Few Months to Uncover the Truth About the
Presidential Candidates
President’s Report
The Union Needs Us and We Need the Union
3
4
vice President’s report/Minority Coalition
United We Stand, Divided We Keep Falling
5
Organizers’ Report
6
Organizing and Work Still Moving Along in the Shenandoah Valley
Financial Secretary’s Report
26
Pension Seminar to be Held in October; Hardship Distribution Option
Extended
John Collins
Joe Dabbs
George Hogan
Mike Hoyt
Jerry Lewis
Steve Zimmerman
Examining Board
Violet Carter
Melvin Cherry
Lorne Seay
www.ibewlocal26.org
www.facebook.com/ibew26
Business Office, Finance Office
& JW/RW/TD Referrals
301-459-2900
Apprenticeship & Training
301-429-2575
Health & Welfare Office
301-731-1050
IBEW 26 Federal Credit Union
301-306-0610
7
Project Spotlight
Laboratories, Research Facilities and Clean Rooms But No Room
For Error: The Demands of the FDA’s New Campus Require Perfect
Construction and That’s Just What’s Being Delivered by the Local 26
Crew Working for Truland Systems 8
Stand Up, Speak Up
Do You Think the Casinos are Good for Maryland? Do You Think
One Should be Built in Prince George's County? Why or Why Not?
14
On the Cover
construction & Maintenance Conference
2012 IBEW Construction Conference Reminds Us that Our
Goals Are Within Reach
2
16
T h e m a g a z i n e o f I B E W Lo c a l 2 6 , s e r v i n g M a r y l a n d, V i r g i n i a a n d W a s h i n g to n, D. C .
The Demands of the FDA’s New Campus
Require Perfect Construction and That’s Just
What’s Being Delivered by the Local 26
Crew Working for Truland Systems.
From The Desk of Business Manager Chuck Graham
Use These Next Few
Months to Uncover the
Truth About the
Presidential Candidates
I
’m not going to lie, the U.S. jobs numbers
reports from May and June were not
good. New jobs were created but at a slower
rate than had been predicted. On the surface, this does not reflect well on President
Obama.
However, I want to urge you to dig a little
deeper to see the complete picture of
President Obama’s record. Don’t get me
wrong; I am not suggesting that everything
is rosy. It’s still a very trying time for way
too many working families. I have seen how
Americans are struggling to find work, particularly in the construction industry. Just
like you, I know that our economy needs a
lot of help. We need a lot of jobs to put all
of our members back to work, not to mention the lack of jobs for our families, friends
and neighbors. But should the blame for
weak jobs numbers fall squarely on
President Obama?
We all want someone to blame, and we
all want someone to come along and fix the
problem immediately. The single most
important thing you must do before this
election is register to vote if you haven’t
already done so, and the second most
important thing you must do is research the
candidates. With still months to go before
Election Day, there is plenty of time for
everyone to do some research on President
Obama and Republican candidate Mitt
Romney. Watching slanted news media and
campaign ads and chatting with family and
friends does not constitute research.
Remember, anyone with enough money can
take an ad out on TV; the ad does not need
to be grounded in fact, and rarely is. As for
the news media, many news programs are
supported by corporate advertisers who pay
a lot of money to have their company
advertised during a program that shares
their political agenda. I am not saying that
all news media lies; I am saying that some
programs have their puppet strings controlled by big business’ agenda, and the
information put forth often reflects that.
News has become less fact and more opinion—the opinion of Corporate America.
There’s always a “story behind the story,”
and the truth behind some of the statistics
may need deeper digging into be uncovered.
Take for example the most recent jobs numbers reported in the end of May and June.
Think about what drives those numbers
higher and lower—employers’ willingness to
hire workers, right? Since Corporate
America has traditionally been in the back
pocket of the Republican Party, isn’t it
entirely possible that employers’ unwillingness to hire workers might just be an election-year ploy to make President Obama’s
ratings sink? Again, I am not saying that all
things are actually good with the economy,
but I am saying that there just might be
another force driving some of the bad publicity President Obama has received of late.
I know you have heard many times before
that President Obama came into office
under the worst possible economic, social
and diplomatic circumstances, including
two wars, a plummeting economy and
extreme debt, left behind by President Bush.
All of this is true—totally irrefutable.
Despite all of this, President Obama has
created over 3 million jobs—a fact—and has
made significant progress in cleaning up the
other burdens he was left with. What’s
more, President Obama’s successes are that
much more impressive considering he
I n C h a r g e / 3 rd Q u a r t e r 2 0 1 2
achieved these accomplishments by winning
uphill battles against a Republicandominated Congress determined to see him
fail.
Never forget that although our political
leaders were elected by the American people to honor and serve our citizens, each
and every one has their own political agenda and that of their political party which
will always trump all else, especially in an
election year. I hate to sound so cynical, but
it’s the truth. Every Obama-sponsored legislation our members of Congress veto, every
stall tactic they use to throw a roadblock in
the President’s path is intentional and done
with the goal of holding Obama back from
delivering the progress he is capable of creating. So, you can see that political track
records can be unfair and, without the
“whole picture,” can be misleading.
Remember that the President alone cannot effect change for the country. It has to
be a collaborative effort between the White
House and Congress. It is crucial that we
elect not only a President who has the best
interests of working people at heart, but also
members of Congress who support working
men and women—who will work in partnership with the President.
Right now, we have the benefit of time to
research and learn more about the candidates. Don’t be swayed by the talking heads
on TV or the opinions of your family and
friends. Dig deeper and get to know the
candidates. It is not only your duty to vote
on Election Day; it is your obligation to
learn as much as you possibly can about the
candidates before heading to the polls so
you can vote for the candidate who will ultimately serve working families—you—well.
3
President’s Report
The Union Needs Us and
We Need the Union
W
Butch Ramos
President
“I am afraid that
these lean times
have left us
disenfranchised
and many of our
members are
seeing themselves
as separate from
the union in which
they built their
career.”
4
e are the union.
When we take to the jobsite each
and every day, we are the union. We are not
just individuals who show up to work, clock
in, and leave at the end of the day. We are part
of a larger organization—Local 26—and as
such when we arrive to work, we arrive as
union electricians, Local 26 members.
Why am I saying this? Because I am afraid
that this idea is getting lost on too many of our
members. I am afraid that these lean times
have left us disenfranchised and many of our
members are seeing themselves as separate
from the union in which they built their
career. And this isn’t just plaguing those on the
bench. Even those with work appear to be disconnected from our Union when this is the
time that we need to be a cohesive, supportive
group.
It is everyone’s responsibility to show up to
work every day with the kind of positive attitude and work ethic employers want on their
job. The work ethic we display on the job isn’t
merely a reflection of us, but also a reflection
of Local 26 and a reflection of union labor in
general. A good work ethic will go a long way
toward getting more of our brothers and sisters
off the bench. While many things are out of
our control, the professionalism and skill we
display on the job are well within our control.
And, what happens on one jobsite could easily
have a domino effect with future work—a
good experience with union labor on one job
could lead to more work on future projects.
We are our Union’s marketing department.
Unlike fancy corporations, we do not have an
advertising, marketing and public relations
department putting a spin on the work we do
to generate more business. Yes, your Local
Union officers’ responsibilities could be viewed
as advertising, marketing and public relations;
however, our real advertising, marketing and
public relations team is our membership. We
are the people the developers, contractors, and
general public see every day all across our
jurisdiction. Over the past 120 years, our
membership has served in this capacity and
served us well. We cannot let this fall to the
T h e m a g a z i n e o f I B E W Lo c a l 2 6 , s e r v i n g M a r y l a n d, V i r g i n i a a n d W a s h i n g to n, DC
wayside now that the going is a bit tough. The
going has been tough before, but our members
held strong.
Similarly, I am urging you to take this same
positive attitude with you off the job and into
our Union meetings; Union outings, such as
our picnics, softball league, and bowling
league, to name a few; and our continuing
education program. We are a union because
we are a brotherhood off the jobsite as well as
on. If our relationship started and stopped in
conjunction with the workweek, we’d just be
co-workers. But we are much more than that.
We are a brotherhood that thrives together,
grows together and, yes, supports one another
in challenging times. That kind of support can
be felt most at our “union” events. These
events allow us to relax without the eyes of our
employers on us and without the pressure of
the job weighing heavy upon us, to reconnect
with the very people who understand us the
best—our Union brothers and sisters.
I believe we each have a responsibility to
keep these union activities going strong
through our full participation. This type of
bonding has kept our Union going and growing all these years, and it will continue to serve
us well as we face the challenges currently
before us and in the future. I am urging you to
attend our next picnic and health fair at Camp
Letts in Edgewater, MD, on August 4th and, of
course, our Union meetings held the second
Friday of every month at the Union Hall.
While you may be thinking now that you just
don’t have the time or you’re too exhausted at
the end of the day to attend a union meeting
or a continuing education course, I can guarantee you that you won’t be sorry. I have never
heard anyone say at the close of our picnic or
the completion of a continuing education
course that they wish they hadn’t participated.
You will feel more connected to the Local to
which you and your family belong, and you
will feel part of a legacy that will be left to
future generations.
We are the union, and we have a responsibility on and off the job to represent our Union
well and be an active part in keeping it strong.
vice president's report/Minority Coalition
United We Stand,
Divided We Keep
Falling
I
n my last article, I wrote about the harmful effects of internal haggling within the
labor movement and what could happen if
we didn’t unite. With that said, two scenarios, both of which you are probably aware,
come to mind. The first is the recent failed
“recall election” in Wisconsin. This valiant
effort by thousands of union members and
community allies was a desperate attempt, in
my opinion, to vindicate themselves for
being hoodwinked and duped by Governor
Scott Walker. Why do I say that? Well, the
record will reflect that a number of unions
and a hefty percentage of their members
supported this guy. Simply put, there was a
lack of unity within the labor movement in
that state. They were divided! Another consequence of labor’s division is the recent
decision by the Washington Airport
Authority (after political pressure from
Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell and his
cronies in the Virjnms about the plight of
union families. This is a lack of unity! We’re
not on the same page.
Unfortunately, this lack of unity is occurring more often than not within the labor
movement, whether it’s Wisconsin, Virginia,
Maryland or California. In 2003, I actually
played a role in trying to beat back a recall
election by Republicans in California against
its sitting Governor, the Honorable Gray
Davis (who was very pro labor by the way).
In this case, we lost. Why? If you said it was
because of a lack of unity, you’re right.
Our enemies use our differences against
us all the time. Let me be clear; it’s okay to
be different as long as we realize that we
need to support the union agenda. This
effort to play to our differences and divide
us started years ago. According to an excerpt
from a book entitled Toil and Trouble-A
History of the Labor Movement, written by
Thomas R. Brooks, it started around the end
of World War I (over 90 years ago) when
greed-driven employers linked their push for
“open shops” to Americanism. They said the
“open shop” concept would give equal
opportunity for all. Unbelievable! In 1923,
John Edgerton, president of the National
Association of Manufacturers, solemnly
declared, “I can’t conceive of any principle
that is more purely American, that comes
nearer representing the very essence of all
those traditions and institutions that are
dearest to us than the open-shop principle.”
This phrase sounds so convincing it’s scary.
The sad reality is people bought into this
foolishness back then and passed it on to
future family members.
It’s time for unity, brothers and sisters. To
those of you who look for reasons to cause
division, who find excuses not to support the
labor movement, who simply pay dues but
no longer believe in unionism, to you I say
leave! You can’t have it both ways. You can’t
enjoy excellent wages and benefits and do
nothing to defend them. You can’t continue
to disparage your brother or sister union
members and consider yourself a good member. We need people who do more than just
pay their dues. Yes, paying dues might make
you a member in good standing, but we need
more than good members—we need GREAT
members. We’re in the battle of our lives—
the “Battle of the Middle Class.” What are
you going to do?
In closing, I wish you all a safe, enjoyable
summer and maybe I’ll see you at our
Maryland picnic.
Larry Greenhill, Sr.
Vice President/Minority
Coalition President
“Yes, paying dues
might make you
a member in
good standing,
but we need more
than good
members—we
need GREAT
members.”
5
oRGanizeRs' RePoRt
Organizers'
Report
Organizing
history
has and
Taught
Work
Us Still
of
the importance
Moving
Along in
of the
Organizing
Shenandoah
Valley
A
O
Gary collins
John
Hall
Organizer
“Our
efforts
will
“
The main
lesson
only
as from
to be be
learned
successful
asis
labor’s history
our
that members
we will never
enable
them
be too successful
to
be; broken
it truly
or too
takes
a team if
to organize.”
we are going to
make our entire
Local Union thrive.”
6
bout a year ago inisthis
column,
I of our
RgAnizing
a crucial
part
informed you
exciting
existence
as aabout
trade the
union.
Theprojhistory
ectsunion
underway
in the Shenandoah
of
organizing
goes back toValley,
the late
projects
that I but
firmly
believe
we identify
accomplished
18th
century
most
people
the
thanksoftounion
the advocacy
of our
members.
birth
organizing
with
the riseOur
of
members
have
worked
to create
repuunions
that
took
placehard
in the
mid toa late
tation that’s
none throughout
the
1800s,
first second
with thetowomen
laborers workValley,
in
fact,
throughout
Local
26’s
entire
ing in mills in Lowell, MA, and then later
jurisdiction.
This fact
alone was
key contribwith
the Knights
of Labor,
the aAmerican
utor
to
this
work
being
awarded
union.
Federation of Labor and the Congress of
Additionally, our members have embraced,
Industrial Organziations. Despite some
supported, and participated in our organizing
peaks and valleys, union organizing
efforts, which has also made it possible to
remained an important component to the
bring such high-profile projects to the
labor movement all the way through the
Shenandoah Valley. I cannot thank our mem20th
century.for being our eyes and ears on
bers enough
But,
is the history
union organizthe job why
and throughout
theof
community.
It has
ing
important
to
us
today?
It
is important
been said that once the first shovel
hits dirt,
for
many
There are
is sosigned
muchwell
we in
can
it’s just
tooreasons.
late. Contracts
learn
from
this
history
and
so
much
to
advance, which is why we depend on knowlremember
as we
movecoming
our union
edge of future
projects
fromforward.
our own
As we today
facehear
a very
challenging
time
members
who may
things
on the job.
with
our troubled
economy
high unemAdvanced
knowledge
of even and
the smallest
ployment,
would
do well to helping
remember
detail couldwe
make
the difference,
our
organizers
and other continued
union leaders
bring the
that
that
our forefathers
to push
work into
our fold.forward despite so many
labor
movement
Since my
article,that
our members
com-have
hurdles.
It’s last
no secret
labor unions
pleted had
workitateasy
the Navy
Federaltheir
Credit
Union,
rarely
in securing
existence
Shenandoah
Publicrights.
Schools,
andlabor
and
fightingCounty
for workers’
Early
Valley Health Systems.
As you
may
remember,
organizations
had to deal
with
fierce
opposithe
Navy
Federal
Credit
Union
relocated
tion from similar organizations, as wasto
the
Winchester,
and
26 members
were of
case
between
theLocal
American
Federation
chargedand
with
constructing
multi-million
Labor
the
Knights of its
Columbus
and
dollar headquarters. Shenandoah County
later between the American Federation of
Public Schools used federal stimulus money
Labor and the Congress of Industrial
to remodel and retrofit their schools using
Organizations.
“green” technology. Valley Health Systems,
They also trudged ahead in the face of
headquartered in Winchester, had a Local 26
wild fluctuations in the economy. Even
contractor on site at their main facility for
when
wasto
thriving
the years
over a the
yearcountry
in response
its rapidinexpansion
just
before
the
Great
Depression,
unions
throughout Virginia and West Virginia.
took
a hit because
workers were
gainfully
Although
it’s not extremely
far from
employed
and
prosperous
and
therefore
Washington, DC, the Shenandoah Valley is far
didn’t
they
a labor
union.
enoughthink
that we
doneeded
not always
benefit
fromSuch
a
economic
prosperity
also set
theJob
stage
for
thriving major
metropolitan
area.
creation
employer
groupslocating
to put an
anti-union
from companies
to DC
is rarely agenfelt
da
in west
placeasthat
tactics to
try
as far
the used
Valley,Red
andScare
government
conto
link
unionsaretofew
communism.
tract
projects
and far between. This
means
thatthe
ourGreat
members
living in the
Valley
During
Depression,
once
loyal
either have
to commute
great distances
to and
union
members
were forced
to drop their
from work, or become part of our organizing
efforts to bring more work closer to home.
T h e m a g a z i n e o f Ii B E
e W Lo c a lL 2 6 , s e r v i n g M
m a r y Ll a n d, V
v i r g i n i a a n d W a s h i n g to
To n, DC
dc
Either way, ourbecause
members
arewere
making
a great
membership
they
unable
to
commitment
to
our
Local
Union
and
I, along
afford their union dues, which left unions
with the rest of the organizers, appreciate their
financially strapped. Nevertheless, unions
dedication. Our efforts will only be as successpushed ahead and remained a social and
ful as our members enable them to be; it truly
political force despite low membership numtakes a team if we are going to make our
bers and little work. However, due to labor’s
entire Local Union thrive.
resolve,
membership
under the
Goingunion
forward,
there are upcoming
signifiAmerican
Federation
of
Labor
jumped
cant local projects that our contractors
areto 3.4
million
just
a
few
short
years
later.
During
aware of. There are also projects your organizWorld
Warthe
II,leadership
union membership
ers, under
of Businessreached
Manager
over
14
million,
or
about
36%
ofto
the
workChuck Graham, are working
hard
secure
force.
such as the solar project in Clarke County
Unfortunately,
reached
which
I mentionedwhen
in myunions
last article.
Thistheir
peak,
began
adopt but
a “country
projectthey
is still
in itstoinfancy,
Local 26club”
has
attitude
where new
members werewith
notthe
welbeen in consistent
communication
come
unless
were related
to an existing
developers
of they
the project.
This illustrates
perhaps the biggest
challenge
with
organizing—it
member
or invited
to join.
This
attitude did
be a long and
tedious
acan
tremendous
amount
ofprocess.
damageHowever,
to the
your organizers
determination
to nonsee
labor
movementhave
andthe
only
strengthened
every
organizing
drive
through
to
the
end.
union employers who opened their doors to
They understand
that to
thework.
process
rarely
anyone
who wanted
In isfact,
we are
quick,
but
they
also
understand
that
still working to put that reputationorganizto bed.
ingThe
is our
Union’s
lifeblood.
main
lesson
to be learned from
labor’s
Of course,
we
are
always
looking
sign
history is that
we will
nevertobe
tooon
new
contractors
and
organize
quality
nonsuccessful or too broken to organize.
union electricians. If anyone knows of a nonOrganizing must take place no matter the
union contractor we should be pursuing or
economic, political or social climate we are
individuals we should organize, I strongly
experiencing. Even when we are facing high
encourage you to get that information to any
unemployment, organizing is still necessary.
one of our Local 26 organizers. No bit of
While
someismay
there’s
no need
information
too feel
small.
Organizing
is atoproorganize
new
members
when
work
is scarce,
cess that has no end; it must forever continue
organizing
non-union
members
and
stripif we are to remain the most qualified, most
ping
non-union
employers
of
their
workcompetitive force in the electrical industry
force
is exactly
what needs to be done to
throughout
our jurisdiction.
deliver
the work
to to
us.reiterate
And, even
work
In closing,
I want
whatwhen
Brother
is
plentyCherry
and our
membership
rolls are
high,
Melvin
noted
in his organizing
article
organizing
is still
necessary
to ensure
our
in our previous
magazine:
politics
and orgadominance
the electricalNot
industry.
nizing do goof
hand-in-hand!
only are we
Localup
26on
will
alwaysnational
be committed
coming
a crucial
election,towe
must also beasinvolved
here on a and
organizing
a meansinofpolitics
strengthening
local level. Let
localOur
anddoors
state leaders
protecting
ouryour
union.
will be
know to
how
you feel
about
out-of-state
open
anyone
who
wants
to learn,contracply and
tors doing
theuphold
Valley, thereby
taking
honor
ourwork
tradeinand
our union
idethose
profits
them
they of
leave
and
als.
Over
thewith
years,
thewhen
methods
organizshutting
local contractors
out of the
ing
haveour
evolved,
and will continue
to bidding
process.
If
ever
these
elected
leaders
were
evolve, but to Local 26 the importance of
to
feel
a
sense
of
obligation
to
their
constituorganizing has remained the same and will
ents, it would
beso.
now with Election Day just a
continue
to do
few short months away!
Financial Secretary’s Report
Pension Seminar to be
Held in October; Hardship
Distribution Option
Extended
O
nce again, we will be holding our annual
Pension Seminar in October. The seminar,
which will take place this year on October 6th at
the Union Hall in Lanham, MD, has proven
itself to be extremely popular and very beneficial
to those nearing retirement.
As your financial secretary, it is my goal to
help you achieve financial peace of mind so you
may fully enjoy the retirement for which you
have worked so hard. Saving diligently during
your working years is but the first step, although
a crucial step, in preparing for your retirement. It
is paramount that you create a plan to make
your savings grow and support you throughout
your retirement as well as fully understand how
your pensions and annuity work. Your pension
payments will vary depending upon the age, and
even the circumstances, in which you retire. Our
Pension Seminar explains what you can expect
from your pensions and annuity and will provide
answers to any and all questions you may have.
The seminar will begin promptly at 8:00 a.m.,
lasting about four hours, and will include
detailed discussions about our Local 26 pension,
the International pension, and the NEBF pension. Although discussion will be mainly geared
toward those nearing retirement, all are welcome, including spouses. Light refreshments will
be served. Please reserve your spot at the seminar by calling Elizabeth in the Finance Office at
301-459-2900 by September 26th, as space is
limited.
In other important news, the Trustees have
approved an extension to the 30-day Severance/
Economic Hardship Distribution option first
made available to our members in 2008. This
option, which has been extended through
December 31, 2012, allows those members who
are suffering economic hardship due to unem-
ployment to take a single lump sum distribution
from their Individual Account Fund. That
amount cannot exceed the lesser of either a sum
equal to your wage rate under the applicable collective bargaining agreement multiplied by 1,040
hours or your Accumulated Share in your
Individual Account Fund as of the date of distribution.
There are specific eligibility requirements:
• You must not have worked in employment
covered by the Plan for at least 30 calendar days
as certified by Local 26.
• Throughout the 30-day period, you must have
been available for work with a contributing
employer as certified by Local 26.
• If you are married, your spouse must provide
the Plan with his/her notarized, written consent
of the distribution on a form provided by the
Fund Office.
• If you receive a 30-Day Severance/Emergency
Economic Hardship Distribution, you must
return to covered employment and work at least
400 hours for a contributing employer before
you can again apply for a 30-day Severance/
Emergency Economic Hardship Distribution.
I do, however, feel it’s my responsibility to urge
you to use this distribution option as a means of
last resort. It is considered a taxable income and,
as such, the Plan will withhold 20% of the distribution for federal income tax purposes.
Additionally, if you are under age 50 ½, you may
be assessed a 10% excise tax on the full amount
of the distribution you choose to take.
Application for this distribution must be made
through the Fund Office.
Before you decide to exercise this option, I
encourage you to contact the Fund Office at 301731-1050 to learn more and to have all of your
questions answered.
Mike Shoemaker
Financial Secretary
Congratulations to the following
members who have retired:
April 2012
Lewis J. Denham, Jr. #1895
Kevin J. Colbert #1896
Charles T. Cusack #1897
Steve Penska #1898
Russell A. Perry #1899
Ronald L. Rohrbaugh #1900
Gary L. Hammett #1901
John M. White #1902
May 2012
Larry S. Catlett #1903
Milton G. Connor #1904
Dennis K. Levesque #1905
Andrew J. Oreilly, III #1906
James P. Tetlow #1907
June 2012
Charles W. Altman #1908
Richard W. Bartlett #1909
Mark A. Bridegum #1910
James R. Coulter #1911
Michael T. Lundregan #1912
Christopher P. Swann #1913
-----------------------------------------------------------Dues Payment Coupon
Name:
Classification: Dues Card #: Address:
Dues Payment: $
Retirement Assessment: $
Miscellaneous Payments: $
Total Payment: $
7
Laboratories, Research Facilities
and Clean Rooms But...
No Room For
From left, Senior Project Manager Ian Foster, General
Foreman Anthony Natoli, Business Manager Chuck Graham,
Site Superintendent John Blankenship and Director of Field
Operations Paul Good
Victoria Smith and James Russell
David Miller
8
2
Error
26
The demands of the FDA’s
new campus require
perfect construction and
that’s just what’s being
delivered by the Local 26
crew working for
Truland Systems.
Bart Marshall
James Bedilion, Sub-Foreman Jacob Manoogian
and Marcus Parker
T
here are some things we
just seem to take for
granted—clean drinking
water, solid roads and bridges to
travel on, and safe food and medications. However, the truth is that
a great deal of behind-the-scenes
work takes place by government
agencies located all across the
country to ensure the safety of all
Americans every single hour of
every single day. The wheels of
these agencies are constantly in
motion. One such agency is the
Food and Drug Administration
(FDA), which is charged with protecting and promoting public
health—no small feat at all!
9
Martin
Gatele
y
Material Coordinator
Ali Shahnampour
Christopher Pence and Luke Moya
Robert Swain
Hernando Bustillos
Raul Molina
10
The truth is that the FDA oversees much
more than just food and drugs. It is
charged with the regulation and research of
food safety, tobacco products, dietary supplements, prescription and over-the-counter medications, vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, blood transfusions, medical devices,
electromagnetic radiation emitting devices,
veterinary products, and cosmetics—everything we encounter daily. In fact, the FDA
may just be the one agency that has the
biggest impact on our daily lives, even if we
don’t realize it.
Needless to say the work of the FDA is of
paramount importance. Our very existence
depends on it. So when the FDA decided to
build out one of its locations to accommodate all of its departments, it was both a
huge undertaking and a huge honor for the
members of Local 26 working for Truland
Systems to be a part of it. In fact, this project is of such importance that the General
Services Administration, the agency that
secures office space for federal agencies
and employees, allocated more than half of
its fiscal year 2011 budget to the development of the FDA’s new campus.
Just outside the Beltway in White Oak,
MD, sits a 662-acre parcel of land that once
was home to the Navel Surface Warfare
Center, until the facility was ordered closed
in the mid 1990s as part of the reshuffling
and closing of naval bases nationwide. The
Navy wanted to sell the land but area residents and others fought to keep the land in
federal hands. And that’s exactly what
happed when the FDA began moving some
of its offices on campus in 2003.
Before the FDA arrived on site, all of the
li
Kel
el
Hig
old buildings used by the Naval Surface
Warfare Center were demolished except the
former Naval Ordnance Laboratory headquarters, which is now the first building
seen from the New Hampshire Avenue
entrance and the original red-brick fire station, which was converted into a backup
electric power plant. All of the other buildings on site are new and the campus continues to grow.
This is where the talents of the Local 26
members working for Truland have been
called upon. Since September 2010, Local
26 members have been on site at the FDA
campus, also known as the Federal
Research Center, performing electrical construction work on the FDA’s Center for
Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER),
which includes four buildings and a parking garage, and a central utility plant. The
buildings include office, laboratory and
research facilities, nearly 1.2 million square
feet of space in all, in addition to 930,000
square feet of parking. The two phases of
construction—the CBER campus, with a
construction total over $40 million, and the
construction of the central utility plant—
have been concurrent.
More than a dozen foremen and subforemen, as well as 90 other electricians,
have been working under the leadership of
General Superintendent Al Silcott and Site
Superintendent John Blankenship. The
foremen and sub-foremen on the labortories are Scott Blau, general foreman; and
Santos Hernandez, Rob Hayden, Jacob
Manoogian, and Victor Moore, sub-foremen. Providing leadership on the office
buildings are Nick Compofelice and Jose
Business Manager Chuck Graham
and Santos Hernandez
From left, General Foreman Nick Compofelice, Business
Manager Chuck Graham, Cameron Graham and Adam Reed
From left, Morris Schenk, Site Superintendent John Blankenship,
General Superintendent Al Silcott, Jonathan Riley, Mark Carbone
and Sub-Foreman Victor Moore
11
Torres, general foremen; and Chris Smith
and Al White, sub-foremen. Working on
the central utility plant are General
Foreman Tony Natoli and Sub-Foreman
Tim Armstrong. Ali Shahnampour has
been serving as material coordinator, Pat
Dunn has been the lead fire alarm specialist and Kenny Campbell has been the shop
steward.
The work on the CBER campus features
Biosafety Level III spaces, clean rooms and
vivaria, which are spaces for plants and
animals to live in a research environment.
Truland has been responsible for the 15KV
normal electrical service; rotary and static
UPS; lighting and controls; fire alarm and
VESDA systems; voice and data raceways,
and power for specialized equipment such
as steam sterilizers, fume hood and biosafety cabinets, and vivarium equipment.
Given the sensitive nature of the work of
the FDA scientists and the impact of their
research, construction of the labs and
research space allows no room for error.
Less than perfect installation of the electrical work in these facilities could compromise the research and even
put the scientists in danger
if something were to go
wrong.
Front row, from left, Unisa Koroma, Amos Kear and Brian Borchardt.
Standing, from left, Robert Kelly, Foreman Rob Hayden, General
Superintendent Al Silcott, Site Superintendent John Blankenship,
Derrick Coleman and Mike Schenk
Will Despres
12
The central utility plant, also under construction, is another key component to the
FDA’s expansion at the White Oak campus.
The plant will provide steam, hot water,
chilled water, and site-generated electrical
power. The Local 26 team has been
charged with utility interconnection, and
the installation of turbine generators,
black-start diesel generators, a 13.8kV substation, a 480V substation and motor control centers, as well as lighting and life safety systems. Local 26 members are also
working on a utility expansion to connect
the central utility plant to the new South
East Quadrant of the buildings. Together,
the central utility plant and the utility
expansion are projected at nearly $20 million. The new central utility plant sits next
to the original back-up electric power
plant, on which Local 26 members also
worked more than 10 years ago.
These projects are just part of what will
ultimately be five phases of construction to
both expand and consolidate the FDA’s
facilities, and eventually bring all of the
FDA’s departments and employees to one
impressive location. These first phases are
expected to be complete by November
2013. The campus will be equipped to
accommodate more than 9,000 employees
from scientists to office personnel when
the entire expansion is finished. Ultimately,
Central Utility Plant
Business Manager Chuck Graham
and Scott Rector
Frank Fisher
the Office of the Commissioner, the Office
of Regulatory Affairs, the Center for Drug
Evaluation and Research, the Center for
Devices and Radiological Health, the
Center for Biologics Evaluation and
Research, and the offices for the Center for
Veterinary Medicine will all be located in
White Oak.
Many eyes have been watching this project given the importance of the Food and
Drug Administration and the positive
impact this consolidation will have on the
efficiency of the agency. As a result, the
Local 26 team has also received a great deal
of exposure for their top-notch skills on the
job. “With the unique mix of building programs and a strong presence, the Federal
Research Center is a showcase of Local 26’s
exemplary craftsmanship,” remarked Ian
Foster, senior project manager for Truland.
There is a great deal of anticipation for
the opening of the CBER campus, as well
as a great deal of optimism for what this
expansion means for the White Oak area.
Some elected leaders and developers have
their money on White Oak becoming a
scientific and research hub, certainly for
the Washington, DC, area but also for the
entire country. If this comes to fruition, it
would not only be an economic boost to
the area, it would also bring much needed
employment, specifically construction
work, which would be welcomed with
open arms.
Local 26 is proud to be part of the stateof-the-art construction of the FDA’s new
campus. To know that our work will help
our nation’s top scientists and researchers
continue to protect the health and safety of
all Americans, is something in which we
can all take pride. And, to know that the
level of craftsmanship that went into the
project may go a long way towards securing future work, feels pretty nice as well! 26
Andre Milton and
Steward Kenny Campbell
Front row, Josiah Milloy, Robert Helms and Luz Paiz. Standing, from left,
Director of Field Operations Paul Good, Site Superintendent John
Blankenship, Business Manager Chuck Graham, Sub-Foreman Tim
Armstrong, Richie Wells and General Foreman Anthony Natoli
13
Stand Up, Speak Up
Q:
Do you think the
casinos are good
for Maryland?
Do you think one
should be built
in Prince George's
County?Why or
why not?
Adrian Hargett, a member of Local
Andrew Thompson, a member of
I believe the answer is yes. I do think
Maryland would benefit from casinos. They
would bring jobs to Maryland for those who
really need them, not just in construction, but
also in services and hospitalities. Some would
say there is a moral question but, that aside,
the needed revenue for the state and work for
its citizens must prevail. I would like to see our
schools repaired, tuitions reduced, roads fixed,
budget balanced, and gridlock in Congress
stopped. If casinos can help, and I believe they
can, then by all means let’s get started. Every
minute we spend talking about the right way
to move ahead costs Maryland tens of thousand of dollars that we don't have.
The jury is still out for the Arundel Mills
project as to how much it will gross revenue
wise. I hope it is successful as well. I am also a
musician and we rely on venues to work in. I
love Maryland. I've lived here most of my life,
a lot of that time in Prince George's County. I
can remember when we had places to go, concerts to see, a place for pop stars to perform,
and dreams to be had. It’s not just about gambling. Think in terms of five star restaurants, a
boost to the hotel industry, reduction in crime
because people will be working. I look forward
to those days again.
Lets review: Merriweather Post Pavilion
closed for a while and then was sold, the Caps
Center was closed and destroyed, both creating
countless layoffs and cutbacks in services we
need. Tax rates increased on people who don't
have good jobs to start with. Yes, I have
thought about this and I believe every
Marylander should too. I know many who
travel to Dover or Charlestown just to gamble,
taking their money elsewhere. Let’s at least try
to keep it here in P.G. County, a very powerful
county in this state. It would be a great place
for the new casino.
I’m a little biased. I'm thinking of my
livelihood and the livelihood of my fellow brothers and sisters, because the
casinos bring work and I’m a construction worker. Considering that work has
been so slow for so long, I would have to
be in favor of any project that will put
brothers and sisters back to work,
though I do understand the fear of the
element of gambling and the unrest it
may bring. The National Harbor area
already has a lot of traffic but, to me,
that area was already planned for entertainment. With a convention center,
hotel, restaurants, and a boardwalk, it’s
clear it was meant to attract people. It’s a
great location. The need to put
Americans back to work should supersede any phobia associated with the casinos. After all, we’re all betting on
America.
Local 26 for 18 years, working as an A journeyman for Heller Electric
26 since 1989, working as an A journeyman for Limbach
A:
14
26
Richard Kelly, a member of Local 26
since 2000, working as an A journeyman for
Quito Electrical
Erick McCowin, a member of
Sean Davis, a Local 26 member
Yes, casinos are good for Maryland.
The reason one should be built in Prince
George’s County is the jobs it will create
for construction workers and jobs in
general for other Marylanders. People
are going to gamble whether it’s in
Maryland or elsewhere, so why not bring
it to Maryland where it will create jobs
and create revenue for the state? The
Harbor is a very good place for it
because of the location, the environment, and the proximity to the nation’s
capital. It’s a tourist destination. If they
have table games, this casino will have a
better chance of competing with West
Virginia, Atlantic City, and Dover
Downs.
I think it would be a tremendous help
to our Local and county. It will create
jobs in the construction phase and permanent jobs in casino worker positions,
and, hopefully, Local 26 would have the
maintenance contract. Not to mention, it
would create tax revenue and other business ventures may come along if we have
a casino, as they say, in our neck of the
woods. So as you can see, I'm all for anything that will put our brothers and sisters back to work and help the county.
Hopefully, it will come to fruition.
Yes, I think casinos are good for
Maryland. Yes, I think one should be
built in P.G. County. Currently,
Maryland residents who gamble travel to
places such as Las Vegas and Atlantic
City. Building a casino in P.G. County
would not only create much needed jobs
during the construction phase, but
would also provide steady employment
once opened. Casinos are also major
tourist attractions which would contribute to county revenue and provide extra
money for schools and public programs.
6
Local 26 for 17 years, working for
Bechtel as an A journeyman
since 2011 working as an A journeyman for Truland Systems
15
construction & Maintenance Conference
2012 IBEW C o ns t r uc t i o n C o n fer en ce
R em ind s U s that O u r G o al s
A re Within Reach
Local 26 Vice President Larry Greenhill, Sr.,
sings the national anthems of the United States
and Canada for the entire IBEW delegation.
E
ach year, the IBEW Construction and
Maintenance Conference brings into
clear focus the unique challenges our
industry faces. And, perhaps even more
importantly, the conference provides an
opportunity for IBEW Local Unions from
across the country to come together and
share their experiences and ideas on how to
strengthen the unionized electrical industry.
Under the leadership of International
President Ed Hill and Director of the
Construction and Maintenance
Department Jerry Westerholm, the conference has grown to be highly anticipated by
the thousands who attend each year. Held
in downtown Washington, DC, on the
Friday before the BCTD Legislative
Conference, Local 26 has always been
proud to serve as the host local to this
important event. This year we were especially proud that our own brother, Vice
President Larry Greenhill, Sr., was asked to
sing the national anthems of the United
States and Canada.
This year’s conference was held on April
27th under the theme “Within Reach.”
Regrettably missing from the conference
was Brother Mark Ayers, former President
of the Building and Construction Trades
Department, who passed away suddenly on
April 8th. His absence was deeply felt by all
those in attendance—his brothers and sisters who considered him both a great leader
and a great friend.
In his opening remarks, Brother
Westerholm reflected on the year passed,
16
which included the IBEW’s convention and
the further implementation of various programs, such as Code of Excellence and
Project Tracker, to name a few. The Project
Tracker tool, in particular, is part of the
IBEW’s increased attention to business
development, an important area of focus at
the conference. In fact, there were pre-conference business development workshops
that many of the participants took advantage of.
A renewed focus on business development will be the key to our success at
regaining market share and creating jobs
for our members. And, of course, the creation of jobs is at the top of the list for all
IBEW International Officers and the officers here at Local 26. Brother Westerholm
warned that it’s not enough to just have the
tools for business development in your
arsenal; they must be used. Everyone needs
to stay on top of the projects going on in
their area in order for us to regain work
that may have been lost to the non-union or
to capture entirely new work.
Much of our success in improving the job
market for our members is tied into politics, and this year’s election will likely prove
to be a make or break moment for organized labor. As Brother Westerholm noted
in his remarks, “The Middle Class will continue to lose ground if Obama is not reelected.” He went on to talk about the “reality” stories of IBEW members who are out
of work in the electrical industry—the
member working at Home Depot or the
member peddling food from a hot dog cart.
He closed
his remarks by
stating that just
as we do when a
fellow member
needs help with
something like child
care or transportation,
we must come to the aid
of those sitting on the bench
and help them find a job. We
cannot just sit back satisfied that we
have a job; we must see the big picture and
make sure that everyone who wants one has
a job too.
In his remarks, President Hill thanked
the attendees and said that everything is
within our reach because we can control
our own attitude and our preparedness. He
spoke about the Code of Excellence program, which he said has been adopted by
other unions, and also spoke of the urgency
to go out and once again control the market
since right now, the non-union is doing
about 70% of the work out there. “Despite
all predictions to the contrary, I believe
electric cars are the future and we want to
be the ones installing the charging stations,”
he said. “Our future lies within new innovative ideas of working in the construction
industry today.”
In regards to the upcoming election,
President Hill stated that he’s always
advised members to vote with their paycheck; however, this year we can’t just vote
for ourselves but rather for what’s best for
our nation. He went on to note that in
IBEW Secretary-Treasurer
Sam Chilia
IBEW President Ed Hill
Local 26 delegates, from left: Greg Warner, Jerry Lewis, Barry Rose, Lorne Seay, Mike
Shoemaker, Mike Hoyt, David McCord, Rich Murphy, Larry Greenhill, Sr. and Butch Ramos
IBEW Construction and Maintenance
Department Director Jerry Westerholm
Business Agents Greg Warner, Violet Carter
and John Carter
Ironworkers’ General President
Walter Wise
IBEW Local 24 Business Manager Roger Lash, Jr.; IBEW
Local 26 Financial Secretary Mike Shoemaker; Senator
Ben Cardin (D-MD); and IBEW Local 26 President Butch Ramos
2020, nearly ¾ of all job openings will pay a
median salary of less than $35,000 a year.
“I’m afraid the Middle Class is heading for
an Armageddon,” President Hill said. “Vice
President Biden and President Obama
deserve our support. They are good men
and we can’t talk about them with a negative tone or our members will stay home.”
Secretary-Treasurer Sam Chilia took to
the dais with his first remarks to the conference since becoming secretary-treasurer
upon the retirement of Lindell Lee. He
spoke about the update to the ICS computer program for dues reporting and at length
about the IBEW/NECA Family Medical
Health Care Plan. He was also passionate
about the need to elect the right people to
office this November stating, “Let there be
no confusion about which political party
puts the destruction of unions at the top of
its agenda. Let’s remember that Barack
Obama defended Davis-Bacon and PLAs.”
Other special guests at the conference were
Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Walter
Wise, general president of the Ironworkers.
Senator Cardin gave an insider’s perspective on what’s happening on Capitol Hill.
“They’re telling seniors that Social Security
is broken; you can invest privately. They’re
telling students that education is good so
you should pay for it. They’re telling families you have to sacrifice more,” he said.
“The fundamental difference between
Democrats and Republicans is Republicans
say one group should not have to sacrifice—those making more than $1 million in
taxable income.” Similarly, President Wise
highlighted the importance of the upcom-
Business Agents Barry Rose, Lorne Seay
and Mike Shoemaker
ing general election. “If we don’t stand up
for ourselves, the result will be the same as
being dead in the street,” Wise remarked.
“They [Republicans] don’t want a better
government, a more efficient government.
They want no government, no one serving
as a watchdog for the little guy.”
At the close of the conference there was
little doubt about what is of paramount
importance for the IBEW—jobs—and what
union members need to do—put control of
the government back in the hands of working people this November. Regaining market share, putting members back to work,
empowering organized labor, and strengthening the Middle Class are all within reach.
Visit the “Local 26 News” section of the
Local 26 website to see the video of Larry
Greenhill, Sr., singing the national anthem.
17
bctd legislative conference
BCTD Seeks to
“Build A Better
Tomorrow” Through
Political Action
A tribute to the late BCTD President Mark Ayers
t
18
he 2012 Building and Construction Trades’
Legislative Conference took place April 30th
through May 2nd at the Washington Hilton in
Washington, DC. Attendance was high this year
with President Barack Obama as one of the featured speakers.
Although enthusiasm filled the room about
the roster of impressive speakers, hearts were, of
course, heavy due to the sudden passing of
BCTD President Mark Ayers. BCTD SecretaryTreasurer Sean McGarvey, in response to the
passing of Brother Ayers, was voted in as acting
BCTD President by the Governing Board of
Presidents and began serving in this capacity just
days before the conference.
The conference opened with a moving tribute
to Brother Ayers who dedicated the vast majority
of his life to organized labor, first as a member of
the IBEW and throughout the years in different
leadership positions that ultimately led him to
the BCTD. Brother Ayers’ presence was missed
at the conference, but Brother McGarvey
stepped up to the plate and served his new role
as president with great distinction.
The focus of the conference has always been
on the political involvement of our building
trades unions in local, state and national elections. This year being an extremely important
presidential election year, the delegates heard a
message that was loud and clear: This may be
the most important election of our time.
In his keynote address, Brother McGarvey
also personally paid homage to Brother Ayers
and noted that he intends to keep the Building
Trades moving forward just as Brother Ayers
would want him to do. He went on to cite the
wars waged against working families, particularly against unions, in recent months across the
Midwest—Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan,
Indiana—and he proudly highlighted the efforts
of organized labor to fight against those who
seek to destroy hard working men and women.
“It has always been America’s Building Trades
unions that have stood at the vanguard of protecting and promoting the American middle
class,” he said. “And we willingly do so again.”
President McGarvey made it very clear that
the Building Trades does not strictly align itself
with Democrats and Democrats alone. He quoted the great labor leader George Meany who
said, “We have a lot to do with the Democratic
Party but we don’t run the Democratic Party and
they don’t run us!” He had high praise for the
few Republican leaders, such as Congressmen
Jon Runyan (NJ) and Michael Grimm (NY)
both invited speakers to the conference, who
have taken the time to learn more about unions.
However, McGarvey did set the record straight
on President Obama, not simply because he is a
Democrat, but because he is a friend to organized labor.
He acknowledged that labor hasn’t always
agreed with President Obama on every decision,
but the President’s first term in office has yielded
some impressive results, from the creation of 3.7
million private sector jobs in the past two years
to saving the auto industry to creating middleclass tax cuts that provided relief to 160 million
workers.
In closing, Brother McGarvey praised all of
Chairman, President and CEO of
Southern Company Thomas Fanning
IBEW President Ed Hill and
Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis
the business managers who carry the weight of
their entire membership on their backs each and
every day, worrying about how their members are
going to pay their bills and put food on their
tables. In the same vane, McGarvey had high
praise for all union members who put a positive
face on organized labor in the communities in
which they work and play, who are proud
American citizens.
After a rousing round of applause, President
Obama took to the dais and extended his appreciation of the work of organized labor and his sympathies for the struggles we have had to endure
these past few years. “Along the way, unions like
yours made sure folks everywhere got a fair shake
and fair shot,” he said. “You believed that prosperity shouldn’t be reserved for a privileged few;
should be extended from the boardroom all the
way to the factory floor…the last decade has been
tough on everyone but the men and women of
the building and construction trades have suffered
more than most.”
He also spoke in detail about the battles he has
been facing against Congress when it comes to
rebuilding America and ultimately, job creation,
citing that Europe invests more than twice what
we invest in infrastructure and China invests four
times as much. Obama stated that Congress has
voted time and again to cut infrastructure spending and voted against measures that would put
hundreds of thousands of construction workers
back to work, while at the same time voting to
spend $4.6 trillion on lowering taxes for those
making more than $250,000 a year.
“Think about that,” he said. “Congress would
U.S. Senate Candidate and Former
Virginia Governor Tim Kaine
President of United
States Barack Obama
BCTD President
Sean McGarvey
Visit the “Local 26 News” section of
the Local 26 website to see the video
of President Obama's speech.
rather put fewer of you to work building fewer
things than ask millionaires and billionaires to
live without massive new tax cuts.”
President Obama rounded out his remarks
firmly standing by the very same ideals we, as
trade unionists, live by—that no one gets by on
their own and everyone deserves a fair shot at
prosperity. “The American story has never been
about what we can do on our own; it’s about
what we can do together,” he noted. “What’s true
for you is true for America. We can’t settle for a
country where a few people do really well and
everyone else struggles to get by.”
Other speakers to the conference included
Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis who inducted
President Ayers into the U.S. Department of
Labor’s Hall of Honor, a special place for
Americans who have made distinct contributions to Labor. A panel selects who will be honored on an annual basis and Brother Ayers was
certainly a worthy recipient of this honor.
Also at the conference were AFL-CIO
President Richard Trumka; U.S. Senate
Candidate and former Virginia Governor Tim
Kaine; Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark
Ridley-Thomas; Chairman, President and CEO
of Southern Company Thomas Fanning;
Chairman and CEO-Retired of Excelon
Company Dr. John Rowe; State Assemblyman,
Painters’ Union Member and U.S. House of
Representatives Candidate Mark Pocan (WI);
CEO of Union Labor Life Insurance Company
CEO of Union Labor Life
Insurance Company Ed Smith
Congressman Jon Runyan (NJ)
Painters’ Union Member and U.S. House of
Representatives Candidate Mark Pocan (WI)
U.S. Senate Candidate Elizabeth Warren (MA)
Ed Smith; and United States Senate Candidate
Elizabeth Warren (MA).
Given the anti-union sentiment that has taken
hold in state houses across the country these past
few years, there is certainly no doubt that this
November’s election may be crucial for the very
existence of the labor movement. We cannot let
ourselves become a watered down movement, a
shell of who we once were, by electing the wrong
people to office or by skipping the polls altogether and thereby electing our enemies by not casting a vote for our friends. The BCTD Legislative
Conference sought to provide the necessary
sense of urgency and need for political involvement that will be key to our survival and prosperity in the years to come.
Chairman and CEO-Retired of Excelon Company
Dr. John Rowe
Los Angeles County Supervisor
Mark Ridley-Thomas
19
general membership Service pins
April
Service Pins
Pictured above, from left: Mike Shoemaker, financial secretary; Steven Burgess, 20 years; Charles Bolden, 20 years; Chad Bittick (back), 25 years;
Steve Stamp, 25 years; Thomas Waesche, 25 years; Alan Cannon (back), 30 years; Michael Miller (far back), 25 years; Carlos Vitorino (front), 25
years; George Siegrist (far back), 40 years; Bucky Cannon, Retired Member/father of Alan Cannon; Charles Redding (far back), 40 years; David
Lobas, Jr. (front), 25 years; Philip Atzert (far back), 30 years; David Leesnitzer, Sr., 40 years; Chuck Graham, business manager; David Leesnitzer,
Jr., 25 years; Gerald Schauer (back), 25 years; and Butch Ramos, president
May
Service Pins
Pictured above, from left: Mike Shoemaker, financial secretary; Howdy Ritchie, 40 years; Patrick Jameson, 25 years; Pedro Cuello, 25 years; Arthur Campli (back), 25 years; Misael Martinez, 35 years; Leon Geibel, Jr. (far back), 30 years; Larry Greenhill, Sr. (front), 40 years; Kevin West (far
back), 20 years; Samuel Peoples, 35 years; Mohammad Amjad, 25 years; Chuck Graham, business manager; Craig Cockerille (back), 35 years;
and Butch Ramos, president
June
Service Pins
Pictured above, from left: Mike Shoemaker, financial secretary; Nicholas Gardner, 25 years; Albert McDowell, Jr., 30 years; Theodore Nolan, 25
years; Steve Walker (back), 30 years; Russell Low (front), 30 years; Robert Terrett, Jr. (back), 30 years; Chuck Graham, business manager; and
Butch Ramos, president
20
retired members’ club
On the Move with the Retired Members’ Club
T
he older we are, the faster the calendar
days seem to fly by. So here we are
already planning our annual crab feast for
October 13th. If you haven’t signed up, contact Susan Flashman ASAP at 301-2775823, or via email at flashmanbissell@aol.
com. This crab feast is open to all, but there
is a discount if you are a paying member of
the Retired Members’ Club (and current on
your dues).
The RMC continues to travel and in May
returned from their trip to Europe. We are
already trying to choose a cruise for 2013. If
you do not attend meetings, pay close attention to the minutes which are mailed to our
retired members. If you are not receiving
these minutes and you are retired, please let
one of our officers know. We hope to have
a train trip this fall. Please call Rick
Warner (240-472-0430) if you are
interested in joining us. On July 12th we
did a little shopping at one of our favorite
destinations, the Amish Market, followed
by a crab feast at Fisherman’s Crab House.
This has become a great annual trip.
Remember, our bus trips and cruises are
open to all members and their families.
This past May, the Retired Members’
Club donated their 50/50 drawing money,
and that of the winners, to help in the
AFL-CIO’s Community Services Agency’s
Shoebox Program. It is a program in conjunction with the United Way to help supply toiletry items to the homeless, elderly
and less fortunate. Members brought supplies to fill the shoeboxes as well. Our generosity was met with thanks from Kathy
McKirchy, the group’s director, who came to
collect the items and was surprised by our
donation of $160.00! (The program ended
June 1st.)
Our next regular meeting is September
8th. In October, we will hold the Annual
Retired Members’ Crab Feast in lieu of the
meeting at the Union Hall. We will return
there for the November meeting and the
annual raffle drawing! For those who have
never attended a regular meeting, we meet
on the 2nd floor of the Union Hall and try
to start the meeting at noon, so we ask you
to arrive a little early.
Jim Handley, Retired Members’ Club
Treasurer; Sidney Ratcliffe, Jr., 40 years,
and Rick Warner, Club Vice President
Edward Higgins, 40 years, and Dick Bissell, Retired Members’ Club President
Dick Bissell, Retired Members’ Club
President, presents a check to Kathy
McKirchy for the Shoebox Project.
The Club cruised to Normandy and Paris in France; Dublin, Ireland; Liverpool,
England; and Edinburgh, Scotland.
21
motorcycle riders’ club
Riding for a Cause
2012 Motorcycle Riders’ Club Poker Run
marked by fellowship and charitable giving.
L
ove and luck were definitely in the air at
Local 26’s 1st Annual Poker Run ride
organized by the Local 26 Motorcycle
Riders’ Club. On April 21st, over 130 riders
gathered at the Union Hall to take to the
open road and put their best hand—poker
hand—forward, all to benefit the charity
Special Love for Children with Cancer.
Even a few vintage cars joined the pack of
motorcycle riders en route to the Harley
Davidson store in Ft. Washington, MD;
American Legion Post 227 in Brandywine,
MD; and Eagle Wolf Sports Bar in Upper
Marlboro, MD; before heading back to the
Union Hall.
In the end, Tom Grass, brother-in-law of
22
Brother Steve Bergeris, won $200 for best
hand, all of which he donated back to
Special Love for Children with Cancer, and
Leila Marlow, wife of Brother John Marlow,
won $100 for worst hand. The big winner,
however, was the charity. Motorcycle Riders’
Club Treasurer/Local 26 Treasurer Jerry
Lozupone, on behalf of all who participated,
proudly presented a check for more than
$8000 to Special Love’s CEO Dave Smith.
After the ride, the party continued back
at the Union Hall where family and friends
joined the riders for a cookout and great
music performed by the band Snakebite.
The crowd was especially excited to see the
moves of stunt rider Dirty George who
entertained all with his daring moves.
Despite a rainy forecast, the weather cooperated and stayed dry and warm throughout
the day—yet an extra dose of luck.
A big thank you goes out to everyone
who helped with the event and lent their
support, including the stop sponsors—the
Minority Coalition, the Apprenticeship
Club (ARC-DC) and the Retired Members’
Club—and the leadership and members of
Local 26.
Our next poker run ride will be Spring
2013 and will take place in Virgina, in the
Manassas area. Hopefully, this will draw out
more of our Virginia brothers, sisters, families and friends!
23
apprenticeship & training
Annual Apprenticeship Graduation Honors Our
Newest Class of Journeymen
P
ride filled the room at the 66th Annual
Apprenticeship Graduation Ceremony
held Saturday, June 2, 2012. With 180 graduates accepting their diploma, the family
and friends who came to show their support beamed with pride for their graduate
as did the staff of the JATC, under the leadership of Director David McCord, who was
honored to officially bestow the title of
“journeyman” upon these talented tradespeople.
The graduates—179 men and one woman—had so much to be proud of as they
successfully completed a demanding fiveyear apprenticeship program. The graduation banquet was an opportunity for this
fine group of graduates to celebrate their
accomplishments and look ahead to the
bright future they have as the newest journeymen and woman of Local 26.
JATC Director David McCord welcomed
everyone to the ceremony with warm
remarks that included some statistics on
the graduating class. This class was the first
to serve their entire apprenticeship in the
new facilities in Lanham, MD, and 27 of
the graduates were military veterans. This
class was also in the apprenticeship program when President Obama paid a visit to
the training center in 2010. Perhaps most
important though is that for the first time
in three years, no apprentice from this
graduating class passed away over the
course of the five-year program. Additional
congratulatory remarks were delivered by
Business Manager Chuck Graham, who
noted his pride in the graduates and
Washington, DC, NECA Chapter Executive
Director Andy Porter, who reminded the
graduates that the day belonged to them.
After each of the diplomas were presented, Brother McCord noted a few special
honors such as those earned by the valedictorians and salutatorians. The Inside
Inside Wireman Graduates
24
Wireman valedictorian was Gregory
Nicolas and the R to A Upgrade valedictorian was Vincent Adams. The salutatorians
were John Frank (Inside Wireman) and
Donald Edmonds (R to A Upgrade). Each
of these four exceptional graduates received
a host of gifts, including tools and gift certificates, provided by corporate donors and
the JATC. Brother McCord also gave special recognition to the 22 graduates who
earned averages of 90% or higher, the 11
graduates who achieved perfect attendance
throughout their entire five-year apprenticeship, and the 11 graduates who finished
the program with only one deficiency.
For the graduates and their families, the
day marked the end of a demanding, yet
rewarding, apprenticeship program and the
beginning of what will surely be a successful career in the electrical industry. Congratulations, once again, to our newest journeymen!
R to A Upgrade Graduates
Perfect Attendance
25
apprenticeship & training
26
sporting clays
Local 26 Puts On a Strong Showing at USA Shoot
F
riendly competition and a good cause
is always a winning combination,
especially when this combination brings
union men and women together. The 4th
Annual AFL-CIO Capital Area Sporting
Clays Shoot did just that on Friday, June
1st, as hundreds of outdoor enthusiasts
from throughout organized labor gathered on Maryland’s Eastern Shore to support the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance
(USA).
The IBEW is a charter sponsor of the
USA and in support of this, Local 26 was
proud to be a major sponsor of the event.
The day began at 9:30 a.m. and included
lunch, beverages, door prizes, raffles, and
awards for the highest scoring teams and
top individual shooter. The Local 26
team did our Local proud, placing second
in the A division and first in the B division.
It was a spirited day for all those who
participated and a successful event overall, raising money and awareness for the
USA. Because the IBEW is a charter
sponsor, all IBEW members are entitled
to a free membership in the USA. Just go
to www.unionsportsmen.org to enroll.
Pictured above, from left: Sonny Myers, John Carter, Barry Rose, Rich Murphy, Butch Ramos,
Dave Hogan, George Hogan, and Jerry Lewis.
27
DAD's day golf outing
Golfing for a Good Cause
C
ompetition, camaraderie and clear
skies. The perfect trifecta for a successful event. That’s exactly what the
2012 Local 26 Golf Outing turned out to
be—a successful event that brought hundreds of our fellow brothers and sisters
together to raise money for Dollars
Against Diabetes (DAD), a fundraising
effort we have long been proud to support.
On June 4th, Local 26 took over four
area golf courses for a day of fun and
Glenn Dale Golf Club
28
fundraising on the links, followed by a
banquet at Martin’s Crosswinds to close
out the day. Golfers, wanna-be golfers
and even non golfers all enjoyed the
event and the spirit of brotherhood that
marked the day.
The Courses at Andrews Air Force Base
29
DAD's day golf outing
The Courses at Andrews Air Force Base &
Banquet at Martin’s Crosswinds
30
Birth
Announcements
Congratulations to Brother
Edgard V. Segura, Jr. on the
birth of his daughter Ilyana
Segura (right). Ilyana,
weighing 9 lbs. and measuring 20'' long, was born on
December 15, 2011, to
mother Yasmine Benidir.
Brother Jose E. Segura, Jr. is
Ilyana’s proud uncle.
Brother Gary W. Huff is a
proud first-time grandfather,
with the birth of his grandson Hendrix Sawyer Huff
(left). Baby Hendrix was born
June 8, 2012, weighing 8 lbs.,
3 oz. and measuring 21¾''
long. Proud parents are
Gary’s son, Vincent Judsen
Huff, and Carmen Nunez.
Brother Kevin M. Laddbush
and his wife, Litsa, welcomed
a baby boy on February 21,
2012. Anthony Michael
Laddbush (right) was born
weighing 6 lbs., 2 oz. and
measuring 19¼'' long. Baby
Anthony was also welcomed
by his excited grandfather,
Retired Brother Frank E.
Laddbush, Jr. and uncle,
Brother James F. Laddbush.
Brother David L. Riley and
his wife, Tina, are the proud
parents of David Vincent
Riley (left), born March 7,
2012. David was born
weighing 6 lbs., 3 oz. and
measuring 19¼'' long.
Congratulations to the Riley
family!
Twins Fabian Ernesto Bonilla and Ariel Antonio
Bonilla are bringing double the fun to Brother Juan
Carlos Bonilla and his wife, Jackeline. The boys were
born January 19, 2012, and join their big brother Nestor.
Fabian weighed 5 lbs., 7 oz. and measured 18'' long and
Ariel weighed 6 lbs., 8 oz. and measured 19'' long.
31
Electrical Alliance Hires First
Business Development Director
Michael Mock to Increase the Visibility of the Unionized
Electrical Trades within Washington, DC
Michael Mock,
Vice President of Industry Development
T
he Electrical Alliance has hired
recognized marketing and business
development expert Michael Mock as
vice president of industry development. This is a new position that represents a major step forward in the
Electrical Alliance’s role of promoting
union electrical construction in the
Washington, DC, region.
As vice president of industry development, Mock will generate commercial and institutional contracting
opportunities for electrical contractors. He will form building industry
organizations and individual buyer
relationships for all types of electrical
services. He will also educate the construction industry on the advantages
of utilizing Electrical Alliance contractors and create contracting opportunities with specific potential clients.
IBEW Local 26 Business Manager
Chuck Graham and Vice President
Larry Greenhill, Sr., along with
32
Washington, DC, Chapter of NECA
Executive Director Andrew Porter and
Assistant Executive Director Thang
Nguyen interviewed several qualified
candidates before deciding upon
Mock.
“We were looking for candidates
with a unique set of skills,” explained
Porter. “First and foremost, they needed to understand the commercial construction industry, and how electrical
contractors fit into the process, as well
as the local commercial real estate
landscape,” Porter added.
“We also felt it was important that
they were knowledgeable in labormanagement relations. Michael clearly
excels in all of these areas. His extensive and direct experience is an allaround benefit to our organization,”
said Greenhill.
Mock has more than 20 years of
experience in the commercial construction industry. Early in his career,
he worked as a carpenter and was a
sales manager for Lehigh Portland
Cement Company (Lehigh). Mock was
promoted to Lehigh’s Mid-Atlantic vice
president, where he managed sales and
distribution operations on the East
Coast for six years.
Leveraging his experience at Lehigh,
Mock then took on the role of vice
president of business development at
Morgan-Keller Construction. At
Morgan-Keller, he directed sales staff
and oversaw client relationship management, target marketing, advertising,
and public relations. Mock most
recently worked as a strategic consultant for Maryland-based Performance
Rx.
Michael can be reached at mmock@
electricalalliance.org or 703-402-1000.
Follow the Electrical Alliance on
Twitter @DCElec_Alliance and on
Facebook at www.facebook.com/electricalalliance.
JATC Offers Unique Training Opportunity for
Out-of-Work Members
T
he JATC was pleased to offer a special continuing education course
for our out-of-work members June 5-8.
As part of our commitment to offering
the very latest in training and working
toward returning everyone back to
work, the JATC took advantage of a
Maryland State grant to provide the
Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training
Program to those who were interested.
The grant was called the Maryland
Energy Sector Partnership (MESP).
Registration for the program was on a
first-come, first-served basis and participants had to be out of work, a
licensed electrician, and a resident of
Maryland.
Although the JATC has had access to
and offered training on the charging
stations for many months now, this
course was offered specifically to our
out-of-work members to make them
even more marketable to potential
employers. In fact, general training in
the EVITP was first reported on in the
IN Charge at the end of 2011. Since
then, we have fully embraced this program and encouraged all members to
participate in this state-of-the-art
training.
Instructor David Hill led the 32-hour
course, which was held at the training
center in Lanham, MD. Lunch was provided each day by the Local Union and
enjoyed by the twelve members who
participated in the training. Of those
twelve, eight passed the final exam
which earned them an industry-recognized third-party certification in the
installation of electric vehicle charging
stations. The curriculum covered EV
battery types, specifications and charg-
ing characteristics; utility interconnect
policies and requirements; installing,
commissioning, and maintaining electric storage devices; charging station
fundamentals including brand/modelspecific installation instructions; integration of electric vehicle infrastructure
with distributed generation; and understanding of code standards and requirements, to name just a few areas of
focus.
JATC Assistant Director Sean Myers
noted that this program is a perfect
example of how reaching out to partner
with the surrounding communities can
ultimately benefit the members of
Local 26. “Union members pay taxes
too. It’s personally gratifying to me to
have a hand in ensuring that our members get a chance to take advantage of
the opportunities provided by these
grant programs. After all, they’re funded in part with our tax dollars. We
deserve to have a seat at the table just
like everyone else.” He also added that
this course works towards the JATC’s
goal of making our members more
employable and towards our employers’
goal of creating a workforce trained in
this cutting-edge technology.
The JATC is planning to hold another
EVITP course soon and, once again,
registration will be on a first-come,
first-served basis. If you are interested in
participating, please contact the JATC at
301-429-2575.
Pictured above, from left: John Cartagirone, Michael Massenburg, Lawrence Williams (front), Bruce
Hocker, Roger Kandja (front), Shawn Young, Edinson Pinedo, David Vernet, Carl Dixon, Stephleva
Gbelee (front), David Hill (far back), David Missouri, Danny Carter, and Christopher Payne
33
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301-306-0610!
5th Annual
IBEW Local Union 26 &
IBEW Local Union 26 &
Electrical Welfare Trust Fund
Health
and
Wellness
Fair
Fit-n-Fun Run
Saturday, August 4th
Camp Letts,
Edgewater, MD
Wellness
WORKS
Focus On
• Caregivers both
in-home and
facilities-based
• Family Emergency
Preparedness:
Get a kit, make a plan,
be informed
Free Screenings
• Full Lipid Cholesterol
Panel with Glucose Test
• Prostate Specific Antigen
(PSA)
• Blood Pressure
• Body Composition
• Scoliosis Screenings
• Bone Density
• Vision Screening
and More
Saturday, August 4th
Camp Letts, Edgewater, MD
Registration - 7:00 a.m., Run Start - 8:00 a.m.
Bring your whole family to walk, jog or run the course on the beautiful Camp Letts grounds. Children under
12 years of age must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the race. There will be an official L.E.D.
timing board and runners’ bibs for this year’s event, plus t-shirts and hats. Prizes from EWTF: men’s and women’s first-place prizes (each) are $300.00 in cash and a $150.00 gift card for Sports Authority. Men’s and women’s
second-place prizes (each) are $200.00 cash and a $75.00 gift card for Sports Authority. A special membership
prize from Local 26 will be one year’s paid membership dues to the first member to cross the finish line. This is
for eligible Local 26 members only, those whose dues have been paid for the past year.
----------------------------------------------------------------Fit - n -F un R un R egistration F orm (Please Print!)
Please bring form into (D o NOT mail )
the L ocal 26 U nion H all in L anham , MD
Member’s/Runner’s Name:
Card #: Phone #:
Requested T-Shirt Size (S, M, L, XL):
Age on 08/04/12 (If under 18 years old):
Waiver of Liability: By signing below, I hereby certify that I know that running a road race is a potentially
hazardous activity and that I am medically able to participate. I agree to abide by any decision of a race official
relative to my ability to safely compete in the event. I assume all risks to my health associated with participating
in the event, including, but not limited to falls, injuries, contact with other participants, effects of weather
(including high heat and humidity), traffic and the conditions of the road—all risks being known and appreciated by me. Having read this waiver and knowing these facts, and in consideration of your accepting my entry, I,
for myself, my heirs and anyone entitled to act on my behalf, waive and release IBEW Local Union 26 and its
employees and all sponsors, their representatives and successors, from any claim or liability of any kind arising
out of their negligence or carelessness and I agree to indemnify them from any claim brought against them.
Children under 12 years of age will be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the race.
Signature (Parent or guardian if under 18 years of age)
Date
35
Local 26 Awards
2012 Memorial Scholarship
Memoriam
Members
Brother James D. Wright
Brother Rudis G. Flores
Retired Brother George M. Norfolk, Sr.
Brother Michael A. Kennedy
Retired Brother William L. Smith
Retired Brother Elmer J. Statter
Abigail Mack, daughter of 33-year
member Vincent Mack
I
t is with great pride that we announce the
winners of our 2012 IBEW Local 26
Memorial Scholarship—Abigail Mack and
Dimitre Nitchev.
Abigail, the daughter of Brother Vincent
Mack, recently graduated from Chesapeake
Senior High School and plans to attend
Millersville University in pursuit of a degree in
elementary education. Throughout high
school, she was enrolled in all honors and
Advanced Placement courses and made honor
roll all eight semesters, graduating with a 4.1
GPA. She was chosen as a member of National
Honor Society her sophomore, junior, and
senior years.
During her senior year, Abigail served as a
child development intern, working as a helper
in a first grade classroom to gain classroom
experience and learn more about her desired
career path. In addition to her rigorous coursework and internship, she was a member of the
women’s lacrosse, basketball, and soccer teams
throughout high school. She plans to continue
playing lacrosse in college.
Abigail has held various afterschool and
weekend jobs, including babysitting and serving as a hostess at two local restaurants, and
has donated countless volunteer hours through
her church and other organizations. She has
delivered food to the less fortunate, organized
a clothing drive, worked in a soup kitchen, and
even helped repair and build homes for the
needy.
She has received numerous awards including the Minds in Motion Scholar Athlete
Award, the Chesapeake High School Scholar
Athlete Award, Academic All-American in
lacrosse, and Honorable Mention All County
in lacrosse. She is also extremely honored to be
the recipient of this Local 26 scholarship.
“Earning this scholarship gives me a sense of
accomplishment. I spent many hours filling
out many different scholarships and it is very
36
Dimitre Nitchev, son of 11-year
member Valkan Nitchev
rewarding to know that my work paid off,” she
noted. “This specific scholarship will be put
towards my college tuition.”
Dimitre Nitchev, the son of Brother Valkan
Nitchev, recently graduated from Thomas
Jefferson High School for Science and
Technology and plans to attend the University
of Virginia in pursuit of a degree in pre-medicine and economics. He would like to be an
orthopedist. Dimitre was enrolled in numerous Advanced Placement courses and was a
member of National Honor Society, completing high school with a 4.1 GPA. In his senior
year, he was enrolled in the Energy Systems
Research Lab, a year-long course that focused
on the development of an underwater robot.
Most recently, Dimitre earned the ranking
of Eagle Scout. To achieve this honor, he spent
many volunteer hours restoring local parks,
selling mulch, and teaching camp and survival
skills to younger Scouts. In addition to his academic and volunteer achievements, Dimitre also excelled on the athletic field, serving as captain of his varsity football team and
earning 2011 Second-Team All-Liberty
District Selection at linebacker. He was also a
member of the varsity lacrosse team. He
received the Minuteman Award from his high
school for outstanding leadership and performance and volunteered his time with food and
clothing drives through his school’s Athletes
Serving the Community club.
Dimitre is grateful for the Local 26 scholarship. “It means a lot to me because my dad’s
been in the union for 10 years working really
hard,” he said. “It also means a lot to my parents. They have helped me out a lot.”
Once again, congratulations to Abigail and
Dimitre and their families. Local 26 is proud
to have these two exceptional students as part
of our union family. We wish the best of luck
to both of them in their educational and career
pursuits.
Brother James B. Scheff
(also son of Local 26 receptionist/
OPEIU Local 2 member Gail Scheff)
Retired Brother Norman A. Arnott
Brother Migel A. Parchment
Retired Brother Raymond W. Jones, Jr.
Brother Ronald C. Pelkey
Family Members
Brother Hung Huu Huynh’s father,
Quang Huu Huynh
Brother Jerry S. Lozupone’s sister,
Mary Lozupone Mullin
Brother Bruce E. Hocker’s father,
William W. Hocker (also Brother
Cody R. Snyder’s grandfather)
Brother Brian H. Paine, Jr.’s brother,
Gordon W. Wheaton
Brother William E. Perrero’s mother,
Margarette Perrero
Brother Michael K. Mahar’s sister,
Alice Mahar
Brother James R. Murphy’s mother,
Thelma M. Murphy
Brother Grover W. Tall’s brother,
James A. Tall
Brother Robbie L. Kilby’s mother,
Ruby L. Kilby
Brother Martyn R. Montague, III’s
mother, Juanita M. Montague
Brother Darryl A. Johnson’s father,
Lester A. Johnson
Brother Thomas C. Ruble’s father,
Carl R. Ruble
Retired Brother Larry M. Miler’s wife,
Debra Miler
md summer picnic
Camp Letts, Edgewater, Maryland
Saturday, August 4, 2012
T
he picnic is a wonderful time for families to gather and enjoy food, entertainment and brotherhood. The menu
will consist of hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecued chicken, roast beef, Italian sausages with grilled peppers and onions,
corn-on-the-cob, cole slaw, potato salad,
ice cream, cotton candy, and sno-cones.
Beverages will include beer and soft
drinks. There will also be a band, The
Oracle Band, for your listening and dancing pleasure. For the kids, or the big kid
in all of us, we will have a ferris wheel,
swing carousel, fun slide, moon bounce,
trampolines, a rock climbing wall, car
carousel, fun house, ponies, face painting,
clowns, and much more! Be sure to bring
bathing suits and towels for the pool or
for a dip in the inlet. The picnic will be
from 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Ticket prices are as follows:
Member (includes members, members’
spouse/date, and members’ children/
grandchildren ages 13 and up):
$10.00 each
Members’ children/grandchildren ages
4-12: $5.00 each
Members’ children/grandchildren under
the age of 4: FREE (no ticket required)
Retired Members
may request 2 FREE tickets
Guest tickets: $25.00 each
This event will be held rain or shine.
There are
NO REFUNDS AND NO TICKETS
WILL BE SOLD AT THE GATE.
You may come in person to
purchase tickets now through
August 3rd.
Directions
Camp Letts is easy to find—just ten minutes from Annapolis! Camp Letts is within easy driving distance of two major metropolitan areas. Located on Route 214, two miles east of Route 2
(near Mayo, MD), we're just ten minutes from Annapolis and 34 miles from Washington or
Baltimore.
From Baltimore: Baltimore Beltway to I-97 South. Take I-97 to US Route 50 East. Follow Route
50 to MD Route 665 to MD Route 2 South (all very close). Follow Route 2 to MD Route 214
East (left). Go 3 miles, turn right onto Camp Letts Road (after Stock Building Supply sign).
Follow for 1.5 miles into camp.
From Washington: Washington Beltway to US Route 50 East to MD Route 424 (Davidsonville
Road). Follow Route 424 to MD Route 214 East (left). Go about 7 miles. Turn right onto Camp
Letts Road (after Stock Building Supply sign). Follow for 1.5 miles into camp.
----------------------------------------------------------------2012 Maryland Picnic Ticket Order Form (Please Print!)
Please order your tickets using the form below. Fill it out completely, enclose your check/
money order payable to “IBEW Local Union 26” and bring (Do NOt Mail)
to the Local 26 Union Hall in Lanham, MD.
Member’s Name:
Card #: Phone #:
Address:
Member Tickets ($10 Each) Quantity:
Kid's (ages 4-12) Tickets ($5 Each) Quantity:
Retired LU26 Members Tickets (Free, 2 max.):
Guest Tickets ($25 Each) Quantity:
Total Tickets:
Total Amount Enclosed: $
Yes, I will be attending the Health Fair:
Yes, I will be running/walking the 5K Fun Run:
37
personal injury law firm
Legal Challenges to
Misclassification in DC,
Virginia and Maryland
Virginia Diamond,
Counsel
M
isclassification of employees as independent contractors robs states and
localities of millions of dollars in tax revenue, undermines the ability of law-abiding
contractors to get work, and victimizes
workers who are deprived of labor law protections. By advocating for workers who are
the victims of these fraudulent practices,
unions can strengthen their organizing
efforts.
Employers who knowingly misclassify
gain a cost advantage of 30% when bidding
against legitimate contractors. They avoid
paying for Social Security and Medicare,
unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, and overtime. They ignore OSHA,
the National Labor Relations Act, the Family
and Medical Leave, and anti-discrimination
laws. Studies have shown that between 15%
and 20% of construction employers misclassify employees.
Maryland, the District of Columbia, and
Virginia are all taking action to address
workplace fraud.
In 2009, Maryland adopted the Workplace
Fraud Act to combat misclassification. The
law applies to construction and landscaping,
and excludes businesses that only employ
family members. It presumes that a worker
is an employee unless the employer can
prove that the worker is an independent
contractor. This means the burden of proof
is on the employer, not the employee filing
the complaint. To qualify as an independent
contractor, the worker must be free from the
control or direction of the employer; must
have his own independent business; and
must be performing work that is outside the
usual business of the employer.
The Maryland Department of Labor will
investigate complaints, and employers found
38
to knowingly engage in workplace fraud
may be subject to potential civil penalties
of $5,000 to $20,000 per employee, as well
as triple backpay.
Alternatively, under the Maryland law,
workers as individuals or a class also have a
right to sue the employer within three years
after the date of the violation. If the court
finds that the employer knowingly misclassified the workers, they may be entitled to
up to three times the amount owed them,
as well as attorneys’ fees paid by the
employer.
Employers at the time of hire must provide anyone they classify as an independent
contractor with written notice and an
explanation in English and in Spanish.
Under the Maryland Act, if an employer
retaliates against a worker for filing a complaint or a court action, the worker has 180
days to file a complaint. Remedies can
include reinstatement, backpay and other
damages.
The Maryland law also requires employers to keep records of the names, classifications, payment, and hours of all employees
and independent contractors for at least
three years, as well as evidence of independent contractor status.
The District of Columbia City Council is
currently considering the adoption of a bill
that similarly imposes penalties on employers who misclassify. Employers who knowingly misclassify under the DC law may be
subject to fines between $1,000 and $5,000
per employee, restitution, and a stop-work
order. An employer who violates the law
twice in a two-year period would face a
potential $20,000 penalty per employee,
and debarment from city contracts for five
years.
A worker under the proposed DC law
can also sue individually and on behalf of
co-workers in the DC Superior Court within three years of the violation. A worker
may receive double or triple back wages
plus additional damages for other lost benefits.
Like the Maryland law, the DC law
would prohibit retaliation, require record
keeping on all employees and independent
contractors, and would require that workers classified as independent contractors
receive a notice from the employer explaining the implications of the classification.
In Virginia, a Senate Joint Resolution at
the 2011 session of the General Assembly
directed the Joint Legislative Audit and
Review Commission (JLARC) to study
misclassification of employees as independent contractors. JLARC issued a report in
June covering the status and extent of
employee misclassification in Virginia, the
revenue lost to the state and local governments from misclassification, and recommended strategies for alleviating this problem.
Construction firms and unions will seek
legislation in the 2013 Virginia General
Assembly to address the issue of misclassification.
Meanwhile, misclassified workers in
Virginia currently can take legal action for
wage and overtime violations by pursuing
either contract claims in state court or
actions in federal court under the Fair
Labor Standards Act.
[Virginia Diamond is the former chair of
the Virginia Workers’ Compensation
Commission and former assistant organizing director of the AFL-CIO. She is of
counsel with Ashcraft & Gerel, LLC.]
ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELLORS AT LAW
Workers’ Compensation • Social Security • Industrial Diseases • Serious
Personal Injury • Construction Accidents • Medical Malpractice •
Automobile Accidents • Pharmaceutical Litigation
2000 L Street, N.W.
Suite 400
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 783-6400
11300 Rockville Pike
Suite 1002
Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 770-3737
10 East Baltimore Street
Suite 1212
Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 539-1122
4301 Garden City Drive
Suite 301
Landover, MD 20785
(301) 459-8400
4900 Seminary Road
Suite 650
Alexandria, VA 22311
(703) 931-5500
10432 Balls Ford Road
Suite 300
Manassas, VA 20109
(703) 881-7758
www.ashcraftandgerel.com
www.ashcraftandgerel.com
Representing Union Members for over 55 years.
39
I.B.E.W. Local Union 26
4371 Parliament Place
Lanham, MD 20706
Non-Profit Org.
US Postage Paid
Permit No. 6235
Washington, DC

No Room For Error

Transcription

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