LIVE WIRE - IBEW Local 602

LIVE
WIRE
April 2015
IBEW 602 NEWSLETTER
Message from the Business Manager
Greetings My Brothers and Sisters,
We’ve all heard the sayings, “Today is the first day of the rest of your
life”, and “There’s no time like the present to start”. They are the
things we say when we need to change or start motivating ourselves
for a long, hard battle. Sometimes we have to stop and look back at
where we came to remember where we need to be in order to reset
our focus. The IBEW was started by a few men and women who realized that we need ALL of those around us to be strong. A few were
never going to revolutionize the industry. A few were never going to
be enough to create a workforce. A few were never going to be
enough to create the IBEW!
It’s time to stop and take a look at how we became WHO we are and
WHAT we stand for: Union, brotherhood, solidarity, loyalty, integrity,
and craftsmanship. These are not just words. They are the foundation on which we stand; the creed that we live by!! We CANNOT let
these ideas die in vain or just fall by the wayside. My brothers and
sisters, we are at the crossroads of which path our brotherhood will
take. If we do nothing, our Union way of life will continue to slowly
dwindle out and become an era of the past, only to be taught to our
children’s children in school about what we used to be. We like to
think of ourselves as a great and strong Union, but in fact across this
great country of ours Union labor is only doing about 15% of the jobs
that are out there. That means that 85% of our country is being built
by non-Union companies. Eighty-five percent! If that doesn’t make
your blood boil, then you’re dead!!
Continued on back page...
“I'm always looking for
ways to bring passion
for Union Labor back to
our local. Tell me what
Union labor means to
you.”
- Robert Melton
In This Issue

Message from the BA

From Organizing

From the Dispatcher

Service Pins

From the President

SPS

From the JATC
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From Amarillo Membership Development
In case you haven’t heard, we have signed a site specific agreement with JBI Electrical Systems on
the Sam’s Club project at I-40 and Soncy behind Home Depot and Conns. They are an open shop
contractor out of the Dallas area. This project has led to several new members and a potential for
more in the months to come. I have been meeting with multiple open shop contractors and discussing site specific agreements with them. I am letting them know that this allows them a “try it before
you buy it” option and offers our members a chance to show them why they want to be signatory. If
you personally know any open shop owners or managers, do me a favor and let them know about
this option or help me get in touch with them. If we can get our foot in the door to some of these
open shop contractors, I feel that they will gradually become more receptive to unionized labor.
Local 602 gained 73 new members in the months of January, February, and March. A good portion
of our growth comes from those of you in the field whether in a plant, on a construction site, or out
on the line. For this I thank you. Now more than ever, I need everyone’s help and continued efforts. I
am creating an organizing committee and I need members from all divisions of the local. I understand that everyone’s lives consist of work and family and I realize that many of you don’t have a lot
of time to volunteer. I am not asking for large commitments from anyone, but if I can get little favors
here and there, we can unlock our true potential. If you are interested in helping out give me a call at
(806)316-2663 or shoot me an email mlundegreen@ibew602.org. Our number one priority is to
grow from the inside out. We have staggering numbers of non-members and we need to find out
WHY these brothers and sisters have dropped membership and HOW to bring them back on board.
In Solidarity, Marcus Lundegreen
From the Dispatcher
Hello Again Local 602,
The good news is that we have stayed extremely busy throughout the jurisdiction since the last
issue of Live Wire was sent out. The only down side is that with everybody as busy as they are
sometimes it makes it difficult to man the smaller projects. But all in all we are doing a fine job of
manning our work. Work in the Outside Realm is really starting to fire up, especially down south in
the Midland area. Be sure to check the Job Call page at ibew602.org and also call the Job Line at
376-4143 to stay up to date on all the latest manpower requests. Also I encourage you to stop by
the Hall when you have an extra minute or two and let us know what you have going on right now
and also what you have coming up in the future. As always I hope everybody stays safe out there as
we work into the warmer months of the year.
Fraternally, Drew Downs
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From Lubbock
First of all, the Lubbock Unit would like to Thank All of You that have been and will continue to
be at the Union and Unit Meetings. We, as Staff Members along with the Officers of IBEW Local
Union 602, will be inviting all of our past members and non-members of the Trade to join with us
and take an active part in the Union for the benefit of all Electricians throughout this great country. We would ask all Units, Facilities, Shops and Jobsites of the IBEW Local Union 602, that if
there are Non-Members working in the Trade where you are working, that you as a Union Member would talk with them about becoming or re-joining the Local, and remind them that they only
get out of this Organization what they are willing to put in to it. We understand that everyone has
issues at various times, but we would like to let everyone know that all of the Staff of IBEW Local Union 602 are here to help with any issues you may currently have or issues you may have
had in the past.
The Lubbock Unit will be starting the ”Foreman Development” series very soon, along with
“OSHA 10”, “Continuing Education” for Licenses renewal and “Code of Excellence”, for any and
all Union Members. Be sure and check the web site for Dates and Times. Please make an effort
to invite a Brother or Sister to the next meeting in your area and bring them along.
So in closing we would like to invite you to call us, or come by and visit with us in person and to
invest in your future in the Electrical Trade by participate in the Union Meetings.
Thank all of you for your interest in OUR UNION because together we can make it better for all
of us.
Gilbert Salazar Membership Development/Assistant BA
Mack Ray Membership Development/Assistant BA
From Midland
Another short note from the Midland office, to all the brothers and sisters past and present. We
at local 602 are always in need of qualified help, from the CE/CW classifications, apprentices
and journeymen level. Organizing help is needed from all members of IBEW 602, call your family and friends and let them know the opportunities and benefits the union has to offer. If you’re
working alongside someone that hasn’t become a member yet, encourage and inform them the
benefits of doing so.
Make sure you stay current on the latest news and updates on our new website for the three
offices. The Midland office has full employment and getting into book 2 both inside and outside
divisions, from commercial projects to new sub stations ,distribution upgrades, new transmission
lines and windfarms. Help get the word out about our organizing efforts.
IBEW Objectives: To encourage all workers in the entire electrical industry in the United
States and Canada, including all those in public utilities and electrical manufacturing, into local
unions. Until next time.
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Scott Little Assistant BA/Membership Development
IBEW Local Union 602 Staff would like to congratulate the following Active and Retired members for
their years of Service. It would be an honor to present your Years of Service Pin and certificate at the
Regular Meeting, which is on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7:30pm.
5 years of service:
Manuel A. Altamirano, Donald Sherman, James C. Walker, Robert E. Westbrook
10 years of service:
Stephen L. Bailey, Jaime Cruz, John Perez, Michael R. Schreur, Joe L. Trent,
Filemon G. Valdez
15 years of service:
William D. Ingle, Jamie R. Lloyd, Craig S. Paxton, Cody G. Potter, Phillip Reyes
20 years of service:
Tony K. Davis, James G. Inman, Robby E. Rogers
25 years of service:
William R. Bass, David Carrillo, Julio Garcia Jr., Gregg D. Long, James C. Mercer,
Joseph D. Padilla, Terry R. Smith, Tink Stewart, Billy G. Tosh
30 years of service:
David N. Ingles, Jerry Whitfield
35 years of service:
Ronald J. Barnett, Vinson R. Blackerby, Cecil W. Gwyn, David L. Smith
40 years of service:
Leonard C. Bauer, Ricky D. Jones, Mark L. Moore, Garry A. Reed
45 years of service:
Robert Swan
50 years of service:
William, J. Bell, Reagan Cox, Jerry L. Hooks, A.D. Shaffer, William C. Smith
55 years of service:
Joe N. Crow, Jimmie B. Estes, Lowell D. Folkner, M.L. Pierson Jr., William C. Shellberg Jr. Robert B.
Stultz, Edward N. Whitehead
65 years of service:
Charles D. Hulsey
We’ll begin to mail out pins in the next couple of weeks. If you would like to have yours presented at
the meeting, please call the hall so we can hold on to it.
Thank you all for all your hard work!!!
Stephanie Pantoja, Front Office Manager
Tina Brown, Front Office Assistant
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Dues and Death Assessments:
Payments: You can now pay dues, death assessment online at ibew602.org When making a payment online, please
make sure and enter your First and Last name and Telephone #. If you only enter your first name, there is no way of
us knowing who to post the payment for. If you don’t have access to the internet, you are more than welcome to call
the Hall, and make a payment.
Also, if you receive an Arrears letter, online payments must be made no later than 4:30p.m., on
the last day of that month.
Death Benefits: It is very important that Death Benefits are current so that the Beneficiary can be paid in a timely manner. Local 602’s current DB is #192, Brother David Comer. Notices are mailed to participants of the Death Benefit Fund.
Once notified, please pay the required fee of $5.00 each death. *Note: Read all notices carefully, there are times we
do inform you of two or three deaths on one notice. Please call the Hall if you are unsure if you have a balance or if
you haven’t been receiving notices.
Members Record: It is important we have your correct information on file. This includes; new mailing address, contact
number, beneficiary, etc. If we don’t have the correct info, it’s a sure bet the International Office, NEBF, Health & Welfare and Annuity Office don’t have it either.
Please email or call any changes to:
Stephanie Pantoja spantoja@ibew602.org
Tina Brown
tbrown@ibew602.org
(806) 376-9945fax: (806) 376-9407
From the Podium
3/25/2015
Hello Brothers and Sisters, let me introduce myself. My name is Gus Wilson, card #D710842, I am
the new president of Local 602. I am proud to have the opportunity to serve each and every one of
you.
At the time of this writing, our Brothers and Sisters at Xcel Energy and Metal Trades at Pantex are
in the middle of arbitration and contract negotiations. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers at this time of uncertainty.
I am happy to see the increased attendance at the local's general meeting.
Lets keep the enthusiasm going!
Be safe and take care of each other!
In Brotherhood Everyone Wins!
Your Brother,
Gus
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From the Training Director
As of this writing, we currently have three apprentices not working in the Amarillo area. However, the need for apprentices in the Lubbock and Midland area will increase over the next several months. If any one know of a good applicant in
those areas, please give them our contact information. We take applications every Monday through Thursday from 1 PM
to 4:30 PM at the Amarillo, Lubbock, and Midland Halls. Or at nay other time by calling and making an appointment.
Minimum qualifications are 17 to apply (18 years old to work), high school diploma or GED, and a valid drivers license.
Everyone applying will be required to take the Aptitude Test.
We are currently conducting continuing education classes for license renewal as well as OSHA, Code of Excellence,
and the Foremen Development Series. Go to www.wtxjatc.org or www.ibew602.org for more information.
Also, anyone interested in becoming an instructor please send me a current resume. As openings become available, I
will contact anyone interested about an interview with the committee.
For the Committee, Paul Salazar
Upcoming Courses:
2015 Electricians Continuing Education Class:
Amarillo (200 S. Fannin St.):
Saturday May 9, 2015
Saturday July 11, 2015
Lubbock (405 50th Street):
Saturday May 16, 2015
Saturday July 18, 2015
Midland (1002 Liberator Lane):
None Scheduled
*Cost for the class is $30.00 and members must have a paid up dues receipt.*
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WHERE ARE WE HEADED?
Time absolutely does not stand still, it’s hard to believe that we are already in the second
quarter of 2015. Many things are changing and many things more need to change. As a membership
we are going thru a great transition, many of our older members are retiring or preparing to retire. We
are seeing an exodus of our new journeymen leaving. I believe that the new journeymen are leaving
because our contract is subpar compared to many other Union Contracts. The Company is refusing to
acknowledge that they have a problem. The 5% cash balance retirement is terrible, we have been
informed that the insurance plan that we currently have is one of the worst in the Country, and many
of our job classifications are well below the National Market. It is my opinion that that is the reason our
young journeymen are leaving. Much of our experience is going out the door and isn’t being transferred to our newer journeymen because the Company is waiting too long to fill the vacancies being
left by our retirees. The Company is too FRUGAL to pre-hire. Our dedicated employees that work on
Substation Construction and Construction Services are ensnared and being kept from transferring
into Local Departments, because they can’t afford to let them go. So what is happening, The Company is hiring people off of the street to fill these local positions. I believe that these Local Positions
should be awarded to the dedicated employees that work in Construction Services and Substation
Construction and let the new hires take their place in the field. Of course the Company management’s
response is “that is the way it has always been. I paid my dues out there”, go figure!! The Company is
always asking the membership to think out of the box when it comes to doing things faster and safer,
but their response to our issues is “THAT’S THE WAY WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE IT. ’ There is
something very wrong with the way that is being handled. At our next Negotiations, we need to go after this change hard. When I was still working with my tools, I heard many of our younger employees
state that they don’t believe that we really need a Union, the federal government would make the
Company do the right thing. Boy are they in for a rude awakening!!! We currently have 709 Union
members out of 814 bargaining unit employees. Our strength at the Hall comes from you!!! You are
the Union, we have to start working on our non-union employees. Our strength is in numbers and it is
time these non-union employees quit riding on our skirts. You work with these guys every day and
you can make a difference on how many members we have and how members we don’t have. Many
of our non-members are judging the Union because of the past, well the past is gone and all we have
is the future! It’s time we stood together. There many rumors out there and many misunderstandings
about what is going on at the Union hall and everything else in general. I say quit hiding behind your
phone, and your computers and COME TO THE UNION MEETINGS!!! Every member is welcome
and entitled to their opinion, and your opinion counts, but come and get the facts. We have 26 unit
meetings every month, surely you can make it to one of these meetings. Many are held at your facilities or in close proximity to where you work and live. I have heard that it isn’t CONVENIENT FOR
YOU, you need to remember that what goes on at these meetings affect all of us. The Construction
branch only has one meeting a month and if they don’t make it to the monthly meeting, then they
have no say so in the affairs of our Local Union. Our Xcel employees have many more opportunities
to stay connected. Come to the meetings and hear the truth and then you don’t have to pass on rumors. We are a BROTHERHOOD let’s start acting like one.
Your Brother, Mike Andrade
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Message from the Business Manager (Cont. from the front)
As our forefathers did, we must rally to the belief in Union labor! We
must work to gather our members to return to what made us what we
are. Every day when we go to work, “WE” as Union brothers and sisters should be talking to everybody who will listen about the need to
bind together to join as one Local. At work or at home, anywhere you
go! You don’t have to knock on doors or talk union 24/7, but you can
show people what you believe in by wearing IBEW clothing, and sporting IBEW pins, stickers and buttons. Let’s all stand up and show the
world that WE ARE PROUD TO BE IBEW MEMBERS. We want everybody who works in the field to join us. All of “YOU” are ambassadors
of the IBEW. The only way we grow is if we ALL work to organize.
Yes, we have organizers here at the hall, but they can only contact so
many people. An army of organizers is what we need, an army of
voices for the IBEW. Our forbearers did this, and we need to work just
as hard to get our Union strength back and reclaim our market share
and stature in this industry. “Today is the first day of the rest of our
UNION’s life”. LONG LIVE THE IBEW!!!
Contact Us
IBEW 602
200 S. Fannin
Amarillo, TX 79106
(806) 376-9945
Visit us on the web at
www.ibew602.org
Scan the code below to
sign up for a digital copy
of the newsletter.
Robert Melton
IBEW: The Right Choice for your Future!
IBEW 602
P.O. Box 143
Amarillo, TX 79105
PLACE
STAMP
HERE
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