http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2004/06/10/build/state/75-nwe-strike.inc
NWE union authorizes strike
Associated Press
BUTTE (AP) - NorthWestern Energy's largest union on Wednesday turned down the company's final contract offer and authorized a strike, although a strike was not imminent, a union official said.
"We want to give them every opportunity to visit with us and work it out," said Don Hendrickson, business manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 44 in Butte. The union represents more than 300 NorthWestern workers, who have been without a contract since April.
"We're going to take some time and let things settle down. There's a lot of emotion right now," Hendrickson said.
Hendrickson would not disclose the vote results in Wednesday's tabulation but said the turnout was excellent.
NorthWestern officials said they were surprised by the rejection of what the company labeled its final offer.
"We are willing to listen to what the union has to say, but at the same time we had reached a tentative agreement on all the issues except for wages," said spokeswoman Claudia Rapkoch.
The union said the three-year contract offer failed in areas of crew makeup, vacation issues and benefits.
The company offered a 10 percent general wage increase over the next three years, and Hendrickson said "this is not about money.
"It's about benefits and selling benefits back รข€¦ we just don't want a benefit taken away."
He said some of the concerns involve years when the utility was owned by the former Montana Power Co.
Union members do various tasks for the utility, including running the system's operating and control center, conducting high-voltage switching, working on power lines and reading meters.
Union officials said the other three unions would likely honor the IBEW's pickets if a strike occurs. However, NorthWestern people said specific contract language with all the unions prevents them from walking out in a sympathy strike.
NorthWestern Energy's parent company, based in Sioux Falls, S.D., is in the midst of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization plan.
"For a company that's reorganizing and will emerge as a slow-growth utility, we believed that this was an attractive offer," Rapkoch said.
NorthWestern has said it has contingency plans to deal with a strike, if necessary.
"The company certainly does not want this; we'd much rather have an agreement. It's best for all involved, best for the employees and the customers," Rapkoch said.
Thursday, June 10, 2004
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
IBEW LU 1985 will try to represent workers "for the next 100 years"
Wednesday, June 9, 2004
Timken, Hoover closings tear northeast Ohio roots
Factories part of the fabric of two cities
By Connie Mabin
The Associated Press
CANTON, Ohio - For Robert Chaney, Timken Co. is more than a steel mill. It's a family tradition, a company that offered generations of Chaneys job security and the comfort of a stable retirement.
But the tradition is ending for Chaney and hundreds of other families who've never known life without Timken and vacuum maker Hoover Co. The companies with 105 combined years of history plan to close some plants, and within three years, nearly 2,000 jobs will be gone in this northeast Ohio area.
"A lot of people around here worked at Timken at one time or another," Chaney said Tuesday. "At one time, I counted 11 family members who worked there. And now it is going away and taking Hoover with it."
Timken, which makes alloy steel and bearings, announced May 14 it would shut down three area plants that employ 1,300 people, about a third of the company's local work force. Chaney's son, a 15-year steelworker following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, was among those given pink slips.
Three weeks after the Timken announcement, news came that vacuum maker Hoover was relocating its North Canton headquarters to Iowa. As many as 500 salaried jobs could be cut.
Timken's ties are obvious in Canton, a city of 80,000 about 60 miles south of Cleveland. Massive plants seem to swallow the downtown. There's Timken High School, Timken Center and a street with the steel maker's name.
Company, town intertwined
A few miles north in North Canton, Hoover has similar stature - roots of the once-mighty employer intertwine with those of the 16,300 residents.
The firm, now owned by Newton, Iowa-based Maytag Corp., is North Canton's biggest taxpayer ($1.5 million annually) and a major contributor to charities.
To many, Hoover and North Canton are one and the same, said Mayor Tom Rice.
"Hoover has been involved in building this community. The high school here is Hoover, and that says a lot," Rice said. "It has been the pillar and the backbone of this community."
The company began when W.H. "Boss" Hoover bought a vacuum-cleaner patent in 1908 from a Canton inventor and began assembling them with a six-member staff. Today, Hoover employs about 1,755 in Stark County.
Maytag says moving the headquarters is part of a restructuring plan that will save the corporation $150 million.
Timken's history is just as deep. The family run company was founded in 1934 by Henry Timken, his son and two daughters. It employs 4,800 in the Canton area and about 26,000 worldwide. Timken, too, says the shutdown is needed to save money.
Officials from both companies have said their decisions were difficult.
Still, the communities worry about the future.
"Everybody knows somebody who works at Timken or Hoover," said 24-year-old James Curry during a break from his job at Wal-Mart. "I have friends from high school who went to work there, but that won't happen anymore.
"I hope some good paying jobs follow," he said. "These retail jobs don't pay much."
Unions try to save some jobs
Union officials hope last-minute negotiations will ultimately save some jobs.
"We've been here almost 100 years and we're trying to be here another 100 years," said Jim Repace, president of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1985. The union represents more than 1,100 Hoover workers.
Stan Jasionowski, president of the United Steelworkers of America Local 1123, said the Hoover announcement made the Timken news harder to take. His union represents all Canton-area Timken plant workers.
From the union hall window, he has seen lines at the food bank grow longer.
The line, Jasionowski said, reminds him there's too much at stake to let the remaining jobs go without a fight.
"We can't let it die," he said.
"We have to do whatever we can to save as many jobs as we can."
Timken, Hoover closings tear northeast Ohio roots
Factories part of the fabric of two cities
By Connie Mabin
The Associated Press
CANTON, Ohio - For Robert Chaney, Timken Co. is more than a steel mill. It's a family tradition, a company that offered generations of Chaneys job security and the comfort of a stable retirement.
But the tradition is ending for Chaney and hundreds of other families who've never known life without Timken and vacuum maker Hoover Co. The companies with 105 combined years of history plan to close some plants, and within three years, nearly 2,000 jobs will be gone in this northeast Ohio area.
"A lot of people around here worked at Timken at one time or another," Chaney said Tuesday. "At one time, I counted 11 family members who worked there. And now it is going away and taking Hoover with it."
Timken, which makes alloy steel and bearings, announced May 14 it would shut down three area plants that employ 1,300 people, about a third of the company's local work force. Chaney's son, a 15-year steelworker following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, was among those given pink slips.
Three weeks after the Timken announcement, news came that vacuum maker Hoover was relocating its North Canton headquarters to Iowa. As many as 500 salaried jobs could be cut.
Timken's ties are obvious in Canton, a city of 80,000 about 60 miles south of Cleveland. Massive plants seem to swallow the downtown. There's Timken High School, Timken Center and a street with the steel maker's name.
Company, town intertwined
A few miles north in North Canton, Hoover has similar stature - roots of the once-mighty employer intertwine with those of the 16,300 residents.
The firm, now owned by Newton, Iowa-based Maytag Corp., is North Canton's biggest taxpayer ($1.5 million annually) and a major contributor to charities.
To many, Hoover and North Canton are one and the same, said Mayor Tom Rice.
"Hoover has been involved in building this community. The high school here is Hoover, and that says a lot," Rice said. "It has been the pillar and the backbone of this community."
The company began when W.H. "Boss" Hoover bought a vacuum-cleaner patent in 1908 from a Canton inventor and began assembling them with a six-member staff. Today, Hoover employs about 1,755 in Stark County.
Maytag says moving the headquarters is part of a restructuring plan that will save the corporation $150 million.
Timken's history is just as deep. The family run company was founded in 1934 by Henry Timken, his son and two daughters. It employs 4,800 in the Canton area and about 26,000 worldwide. Timken, too, says the shutdown is needed to save money.
Officials from both companies have said their decisions were difficult.
Still, the communities worry about the future.
"Everybody knows somebody who works at Timken or Hoover," said 24-year-old James Curry during a break from his job at Wal-Mart. "I have friends from high school who went to work there, but that won't happen anymore.
"I hope some good paying jobs follow," he said. "These retail jobs don't pay much."
Unions try to save some jobs
Union officials hope last-minute negotiations will ultimately save some jobs.
"We've been here almost 100 years and we're trying to be here another 100 years," said Jim Repace, president of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1985. The union represents more than 1,100 Hoover workers.
Stan Jasionowski, president of the United Steelworkers of America Local 1123, said the Hoover announcement made the Timken news harder to take. His union represents all Canton-area Timken plant workers.
From the union hall window, he has seen lines at the food bank grow longer.
The line, Jasionowski said, reminds him there's too much at stake to let the remaining jobs go without a fight.
"We can't let it die," he said.
"We have to do whatever we can to save as many jobs as we can."
Monday, June 07, 2004
Local 20 Faces off Against Lamar Electric Coop
http://web.theparisnews.com/story.lasso?wcd=13823
LEC labor talks may be on again
By Mary Madewell
The Paris News
Published June 03, 2004
On-again off-again contract negotiations between Lamar Electric Cooper-ative and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 20 are expected to resume this month.
Negotiations are scheduled June 17-18 prior to the cooperative's annual membership meeting set for June 26 at Love Civic Center.
Wages may not be as much at issue as termination procedures, IBEW International Local 20 Representative George Crawford said Thursday.
Cooperative employees voted for union representation in February 2003 with initial contract negotiations beginning shortly thereafter. After about 18 sessions, negotiations ground to a halt when representatives could not agree on key issues including salaries, benefits and termination policies.
LEC called off negotiations, and the union filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board alleging bad faith bargaining.
A charge filed by the union over the steps taken by LEC to reduce its work force was dismissed by the National Labor Relations Board which stated that the reduction was for legitimate business reasons and not motivated by union activity, LEC labor attorney William Ashcraft of Dallas said.
After an NLRB board investigation, both sides agreed to resume negotiations.
The IBEW has never met with so much resistance in negotiating a fair contract for the workers as we have had here at LEC, Crawford said.
When the employees exercised their legal right and voted to have a union represent them, they did not expect to be harassed and treated with so much disrespect, Crawford charged.
Negotiations between IBEW and LEC have been going on for more than a year now, a year that has included layoffs, terminations, reductions in member services, shifting of insurance cost to the employees and little, if any, wage increases to the workers that voted to go union, Foreman said.
At that time, union representatives charge that the elimination of six positions in April 2003, ”two servicemen, one equipment operator, one groundsman, a lineman and the operations manager” became the focus of negotiations rather than the negotiating team making progress toward a contract.
Co-op officials said then that the workload was insufficient to maintain the level of staffing that existed. One of the workers was rehired after the loss of another employee through attrition, Lamar General Manager Walter Cooper said at that time.
This has left LEC with the optimal work force necessary to meet the demands of our customers and reduce the possibility of a rate increase in the future, Cooper said in June 2003.
With the restructuring, we are now more efficient and capable of handling the same work with less people. Cooper concluded.
Lamar County Electric Co-op labor attorney William Ashcraft of Dallas agreed with Cooper's earlier assessment.
Steps to reduce costs and make itself more efficient are projected to result in savings of about $3 million to LEC's members and should allow LEC to avoid increasing the rates members pay for their electricity, Ashcraft said early Friday.
"It has now been more than a year since we streamlined our work force, and I'm pleased to report that our outstanding employees have continued to effectively meet our customers' requirements with no increase in overtime," Cooper said. "Contrary to the union's assertion, there has been no reduction in service to our members," Cooper said.
Labor leaders also charged that the Co-op had tightened supervisory control over workers, but Cooper said work conditions have not changed.
"We have, however, placed greater emphasis on compliance with safety procedures to promote employee safety," Cooper added.
When bargainers return to the table, union representatives have said their major push will be for a just cause provision for termination. While wages are an issue, Foreman said he believed the the union and LEC could come to terms on fiscal aspects of a contract.
The union's first demand was that beginning wages be immediately increased by an average of 19 percent and wages for all line operations employees be raised by an additional average of 15 percent over two years, Ashcraft said.
"Such exorbitant wage increases would be totally out of line with wages paid by other companies and would ultimately have to be paid by our customers, Cooper said. "This is simply unacceptable and contrary to our members' interest."
While Foreman said the union is willing to negotiate wages, a just cause provision for termination may be a harder bargain.
Foreman claims that most union contracts include a just cause provision requiring an arbitration process for employees who file unfair termination complaints.
"We only terminate employees for just cause," Ashcraft said. "But we believe it is important for the interest for our members to maintain the right to terminate employees as provided by state law and to protect the company for numerous termination lawsuits."
Both sides expressed a willingness to negotiate.
"We remain committed to reaching an agreement that is fair to both our employees and our members." Cooper said.
IBEW representatives also expressed interest that a fair contract settlement could be reached as soon as possible.
"We want our employees to have an opportunity to continue doing the best job they can for LEC members without interference and undue pressure from top management," Foreman said.
LEC labor talks may be on again
By Mary Madewell
The Paris News
Published June 03, 2004
On-again off-again contract negotiations between Lamar Electric Cooper-ative and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 20 are expected to resume this month.
Negotiations are scheduled June 17-18 prior to the cooperative's annual membership meeting set for June 26 at Love Civic Center.
Wages may not be as much at issue as termination procedures, IBEW International Local 20 Representative George Crawford said Thursday.
Cooperative employees voted for union representation in February 2003 with initial contract negotiations beginning shortly thereafter. After about 18 sessions, negotiations ground to a halt when representatives could not agree on key issues including salaries, benefits and termination policies.
LEC called off negotiations, and the union filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board alleging bad faith bargaining.
A charge filed by the union over the steps taken by LEC to reduce its work force was dismissed by the National Labor Relations Board which stated that the reduction was for legitimate business reasons and not motivated by union activity, LEC labor attorney William Ashcraft of Dallas said.
After an NLRB board investigation, both sides agreed to resume negotiations.
The IBEW has never met with so much resistance in negotiating a fair contract for the workers as we have had here at LEC, Crawford said.
When the employees exercised their legal right and voted to have a union represent them, they did not expect to be harassed and treated with so much disrespect, Crawford charged.
Negotiations between IBEW and LEC have been going on for more than a year now, a year that has included layoffs, terminations, reductions in member services, shifting of insurance cost to the employees and little, if any, wage increases to the workers that voted to go union, Foreman said.
At that time, union representatives charge that the elimination of six positions in April 2003, ”two servicemen, one equipment operator, one groundsman, a lineman and the operations manager” became the focus of negotiations rather than the negotiating team making progress toward a contract.
Co-op officials said then that the workload was insufficient to maintain the level of staffing that existed. One of the workers was rehired after the loss of another employee through attrition, Lamar General Manager Walter Cooper said at that time.
This has left LEC with the optimal work force necessary to meet the demands of our customers and reduce the possibility of a rate increase in the future, Cooper said in June 2003.
With the restructuring, we are now more efficient and capable of handling the same work with less people. Cooper concluded.
Lamar County Electric Co-op labor attorney William Ashcraft of Dallas agreed with Cooper's earlier assessment.
Steps to reduce costs and make itself more efficient are projected to result in savings of about $3 million to LEC's members and should allow LEC to avoid increasing the rates members pay for their electricity, Ashcraft said early Friday.
"It has now been more than a year since we streamlined our work force, and I'm pleased to report that our outstanding employees have continued to effectively meet our customers' requirements with no increase in overtime," Cooper said. "Contrary to the union's assertion, there has been no reduction in service to our members," Cooper said.
Labor leaders also charged that the Co-op had tightened supervisory control over workers, but Cooper said work conditions have not changed.
"We have, however, placed greater emphasis on compliance with safety procedures to promote employee safety," Cooper added.
When bargainers return to the table, union representatives have said their major push will be for a just cause provision for termination. While wages are an issue, Foreman said he believed the the union and LEC could come to terms on fiscal aspects of a contract.
The union's first demand was that beginning wages be immediately increased by an average of 19 percent and wages for all line operations employees be raised by an additional average of 15 percent over two years, Ashcraft said.
"Such exorbitant wage increases would be totally out of line with wages paid by other companies and would ultimately have to be paid by our customers, Cooper said. "This is simply unacceptable and contrary to our members' interest."
While Foreman said the union is willing to negotiate wages, a just cause provision for termination may be a harder bargain.
Foreman claims that most union contracts include a just cause provision requiring an arbitration process for employees who file unfair termination complaints.
"We only terminate employees for just cause," Ashcraft said. "But we believe it is important for the interest for our members to maintain the right to terminate employees as provided by state law and to protect the company for numerous termination lawsuits."
Both sides expressed a willingness to negotiate.
"We remain committed to reaching an agreement that is fair to both our employees and our members." Cooper said.
IBEW representatives also expressed interest that a fair contract settlement could be reached as soon as possible.
"We want our employees to have an opportunity to continue doing the best job they can for LEC members without interference and undue pressure from top management," Foreman said.
IBEW Members Rally Against Imported Workers
Union Rally Texas Instruments
Date: Wednesday, June 9, 2004
Time: 6:00PM - 7:30PM CDT (GMT-05:00)
There will be an IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers) union organizing rally in front of Texas Instruments Dallas,
Texas on Wednesday, June 9, 2004 from 6:00PM to 7:30PM to protest H1B
hiring.
Date: Wednesday, June 9, 2004
Time: 6:00PM - 7:30PM CDT (GMT-05:00)
There will be an IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers) union organizing rally in front of Texas Instruments Dallas,
Texas on Wednesday, June 9, 2004 from 6:00PM to 7:30PM to protest H1B
hiring.
IBEW LU 965 Members Donate and Deliver 50,000 pounds of potatoes as a memorial
http://portage.scwn.com/articles/2004/06/06/news/news3.txt
Tons of taters
By Tori Rosin
The possibilities are endless with potatoes.
If potatoes are cut and fried, you've made French fries. If they are boiled and mashed, you've made potato soup. If you combine them with vegetables, mayonnaise and eggs, you have potato salad.
Jackie and Jim Mortenson proved something else can be done with potatoes Saturday morning. Along with Jackie's coworkers at Alliant Energy's Baraboo office, members of the IBEW 965, they gave 50,000 pounds of potatoes to social service organizations across six counties. "It took the effort of 45 people to do this," Jackie said. "I couldn't have done it if they didn't help me."
The Mortenson family gave the gift of spuds in memory of their father Jack, a Plainfield, Wisconsin farmer who grew potatoes for 38 years. Jim farmed with Jack, who died in March. Jim will continue to farm there. "He worked with my dad since he was a little kid," Jackie said.
`
Tons of taters
By Tori Rosin
The possibilities are endless with potatoes.
If potatoes are cut and fried, you've made French fries. If they are boiled and mashed, you've made potato soup. If you combine them with vegetables, mayonnaise and eggs, you have potato salad.
Jackie and Jim Mortenson proved something else can be done with potatoes Saturday morning. Along with Jackie's coworkers at Alliant Energy's Baraboo office, members of the IBEW 965, they gave 50,000 pounds of potatoes to social service organizations across six counties. "It took the effort of 45 people to do this," Jackie said. "I couldn't have done it if they didn't help me."
The Mortenson family gave the gift of spuds in memory of their father Jack, a Plainfield, Wisconsin farmer who grew potatoes for 38 years. Jim farmed with Jack, who died in March. Jim will continue to farm there. "He worked with my dad since he was a little kid," Jackie said.
`
IBEW LU 103 Members Ticketed by Police in Contract Dispute
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/06/05/labor_dispute_denied_in_ticket_spat/
Labor dispute denied in ticket spat
Area union leader sees intimidation
By Rick Klein, Globe Staff | June 5, 2004
Just days before construction is set to begin for the Democratic National Convention, the leader of the Boston area's building trade union council is accusing the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association of trying to intimidate his members out of working by writing them parking tickets.
Thursday night, as newly trained electrical workers filed out of their union hall in Dorchester, many found bright-orange $40 tickets on their cars, said Joe Nigro, secretary-treasurer of the Building and Construction Trades Council of the Metropolitan District.
Police said the tickets had nothing to do with labor disputes, and union officials acknowledged that the cars were parked illegally. But Nigro said he believes the tickets were an attempt by the union to send a message to the building trades. Those same parking spots have been used for years during special events without problems, he said.
Leaders of Local 103 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers have publicly stated their commitment to working on convention-related construction, despite the police union's promise to set up a picket line at the FleetCenter when construction begins Tuesday.
"I don't know if it's one bad apple or what, trying to get even with the building trades," Nigro said. "But we'll be there [at the FleetCenter] working."
According to the Boston Police Department, Officer Patrick Rose -- a traffic enforcement officer who also serves as a union delegate -- wrote 43 tickets to cars parked on Freeport Street that evening, mostly because they were parked on curbs.
Leaders of the patrolmen's association denied any involvement in the ticket-writing, and said Rose appears to have been simply enforcing the law. He reported that the cars were significantly blocking traffic flow, said Deputy Superintendent Patrick Crossen of the department's Bureau of Field Services.
"I don't think anyone's looking to pick a fight with them," said Thomas J. Nee, the union's president. "The timing probably couldn't be worse, but the union has taken no position on anything. . . . Obviously it was conduct that needed attention. Certainly, there was no one down there who would ask for special treatment."
Michael Monahan, business manager for Local 103, said the fines will be paid in full by the union.
"We're not crying," Monahan said. "But it is the first time in 26 years that I'm aware of that there's been a ticket given."
On Monday, the Greater Boston Labor Council -- an umbrella group that includes both public- and private-sector unions -- is scheduled to vote on whether to sign a project labor agreement with convention organizers.
Such an agreement has been sought by the local convention host committee for months to guarantee that construction proceeds without interruption at the FleetCenter.
The patrolmen's association is arguing against signing the agreement, because it and several other city unions are working without contracts. The building trades -- including IBEW Local 103 -- support signing it, since they are eager for convention-related business. The police union is planning a picket line starting Tuesday morning at the FleetCenter, and will ask construction workers not to cross.
Meanwhile, talks between the patrolmen's association and the city ended yesterday in a bout of finger-pointing. Nee accused city negotiators of refusing to tender a counter-proposal, and said the city turned down a request to appoint an impartial mediator.
Rick Klein can be reached at rklein@globe.com.
Labor dispute denied in ticket spat
Area union leader sees intimidation
By Rick Klein, Globe Staff | June 5, 2004
Just days before construction is set to begin for the Democratic National Convention, the leader of the Boston area's building trade union council is accusing the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association of trying to intimidate his members out of working by writing them parking tickets.
Thursday night, as newly trained electrical workers filed out of their union hall in Dorchester, many found bright-orange $40 tickets on their cars, said Joe Nigro, secretary-treasurer of the Building and Construction Trades Council of the Metropolitan District.
Police said the tickets had nothing to do with labor disputes, and union officials acknowledged that the cars were parked illegally. But Nigro said he believes the tickets were an attempt by the union to send a message to the building trades. Those same parking spots have been used for years during special events without problems, he said.
Leaders of Local 103 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers have publicly stated their commitment to working on convention-related construction, despite the police union's promise to set up a picket line at the FleetCenter when construction begins Tuesday.
"I don't know if it's one bad apple or what, trying to get even with the building trades," Nigro said. "But we'll be there [at the FleetCenter] working."
According to the Boston Police Department, Officer Patrick Rose -- a traffic enforcement officer who also serves as a union delegate -- wrote 43 tickets to cars parked on Freeport Street that evening, mostly because they were parked on curbs.
Leaders of the patrolmen's association denied any involvement in the ticket-writing, and said Rose appears to have been simply enforcing the law. He reported that the cars were significantly blocking traffic flow, said Deputy Superintendent Patrick Crossen of the department's Bureau of Field Services.
"I don't think anyone's looking to pick a fight with them," said Thomas J. Nee, the union's president. "The timing probably couldn't be worse, but the union has taken no position on anything. . . . Obviously it was conduct that needed attention. Certainly, there was no one down there who would ask for special treatment."
Michael Monahan, business manager for Local 103, said the fines will be paid in full by the union.
"We're not crying," Monahan said. "But it is the first time in 26 years that I'm aware of that there's been a ticket given."
On Monday, the Greater Boston Labor Council -- an umbrella group that includes both public- and private-sector unions -- is scheduled to vote on whether to sign a project labor agreement with convention organizers.
Such an agreement has been sought by the local convention host committee for months to guarantee that construction proceeds without interruption at the FleetCenter.
The patrolmen's association is arguing against signing the agreement, because it and several other city unions are working without contracts. The building trades -- including IBEW Local 103 -- support signing it, since they are eager for convention-related business. The police union is planning a picket line starting Tuesday morning at the FleetCenter, and will ask construction workers not to cross.
Meanwhile, talks between the patrolmen's association and the city ended yesterday in a bout of finger-pointing. Nee accused city negotiators of refusing to tender a counter-proposal, and said the city turned down a request to appoint an impartial mediator.
Rick Klein can be reached at rklein@globe.com.
IBEW LU 2222 To Recognize Police Picket in Boston
Electrical Workers Union Zaps Convention Plans
Union Sides With Police Union, Puts Pressure On Mayor
POSTED: 9:04 am EDT June 6, 2004
UPDATED: 9:10 am EDT June 6, 2004
BOSTON -- An electrical workers union is promising to honor a police union
picket at the FleetCenter this week, throwing a wrench into Democratic National
Convention organizers plans to install telephone and data wiring in time for
next month's event.
Some members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local
2222 will join Boston Police Patrolman's Association on the picket line starting
Tuesday. The police union is in a contract dispute with Mayor Thomas M.
Menino.
"Our members will not cross, absolutely, positively, unequivocally," Myles
Calvey, business manager for Local 2222, told the Boston Sunday Globe. "We're
hoping everything gets resolved. If everything gets resolved, we'll go in and do
a great job. If it doesn't, they'll have to go wireless."
The electrical union is the first to commit to staying away from the
FleetCenter while the police picket, but others could follow, hampering efforts to
have the FleetCenter ready by the July 26 start of the convention.
That in turn puts more pressure on Menino to settle with the police union to
avoid a potentially embarrassing situation.
Local 2222, which represents about 3,800 Boston-area Verizon workers, was
supposed to have about 50 members install telephone and telecom equipment for the
convention. Work must begin next week to ensure completion by the start of
the convention.
DNC organizers refused to comment on how they will handle the electrical
workers' decision. Verizon could provide nonunion managers to do the job, or the
host committee could use nonunion workers.
Another electrical workers union, the IBEW Local 103, intends to work despite
the police pickets, but it will not do the work of Local 2222.
"That's their work, and if they choose not to cross the picket line, that's
their decision," said Local 103 business manager Michael Monahan.
The decision by Local 2222 could hinder the Greater Boston Labor Council's
efforts to sign a project labor agreement with convention organizers before
construction is scheduled to start on Tuesday.
The labor agreement is being sought by organizers because it includes a
labor-peace guarantee. The council is scheduled to vote on the measure Monday
night.
The police union and the city resume negotiations on Monday, and Richard
Rogers, executive secretary-treasurer of the labor council, said he hopes a
settlement can be reached.
"The stakes are so high that it's incumbent that both sides explore every
option in an effort to reach an agreement," he said.
Even though talks between the city and the police union have shown some
progress in recent weeks with the involvement of Police Commissioner Kathleen
O'Toole, the police union welcomed the electrical workers' support.
"There's been so much support pledged and we're honored by it," said Thomas
Nee, president of the patrolman's association. He called on other building
trade unions to refuse to work on the convention as long as the police and other
city unions are without contracts.
The city's firefighters, police detectives and supervisors, and service
employees are also working without contracts.
Union Sides With Police Union, Puts Pressure On Mayor
POSTED: 9:04 am EDT June 6, 2004
UPDATED: 9:10 am EDT June 6, 2004
BOSTON -- An electrical workers union is promising to honor a police union
picket at the FleetCenter this week, throwing a wrench into Democratic National
Convention organizers plans to install telephone and data wiring in time for
next month's event.
Some members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local
2222 will join Boston Police Patrolman's Association on the picket line starting
Tuesday. The police union is in a contract dispute with Mayor Thomas M.
Menino.
"Our members will not cross, absolutely, positively, unequivocally," Myles
Calvey, business manager for Local 2222, told the Boston Sunday Globe. "We're
hoping everything gets resolved. If everything gets resolved, we'll go in and do
a great job. If it doesn't, they'll have to go wireless."
The electrical union is the first to commit to staying away from the
FleetCenter while the police picket, but others could follow, hampering efforts to
have the FleetCenter ready by the July 26 start of the convention.
That in turn puts more pressure on Menino to settle with the police union to
avoid a potentially embarrassing situation.
Local 2222, which represents about 3,800 Boston-area Verizon workers, was
supposed to have about 50 members install telephone and telecom equipment for the
convention. Work must begin next week to ensure completion by the start of
the convention.
DNC organizers refused to comment on how they will handle the electrical
workers' decision. Verizon could provide nonunion managers to do the job, or the
host committee could use nonunion workers.
Another electrical workers union, the IBEW Local 103, intends to work despite
the police pickets, but it will not do the work of Local 2222.
"That's their work, and if they choose not to cross the picket line, that's
their decision," said Local 103 business manager Michael Monahan.
The decision by Local 2222 could hinder the Greater Boston Labor Council's
efforts to sign a project labor agreement with convention organizers before
construction is scheduled to start on Tuesday.
The labor agreement is being sought by organizers because it includes a
labor-peace guarantee. The council is scheduled to vote on the measure Monday
night.
The police union and the city resume negotiations on Monday, and Richard
Rogers, executive secretary-treasurer of the labor council, said he hopes a
settlement can be reached.
"The stakes are so high that it's incumbent that both sides explore every
option in an effort to reach an agreement," he said.
Even though talks between the city and the police union have shown some
progress in recent weeks with the involvement of Police Commissioner Kathleen
O'Toole, the police union welcomed the electrical workers' support.
"There's been so much support pledged and we're honored by it," said Thomas
Nee, president of the patrolman's association. He called on other building
trade unions to refuse to work on the convention as long as the police and other
city unions are without contracts.
The city's firefighters, police detectives and supervisors, and service
employees are also working without contracts.
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