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| Posted on Thu, Mar. 16, 2006 So far, about five members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 98, have agreed to pull out of their races, according to union spokesman Frank Keel. "But this is America and people have civil rights," Keel said in a statement delivered to reporters, striking a tone that was less than apologetic. "If they choose to run for elected office, that's their right as an American citizen. No one should appreciate that right more than a local Democratic Party chairman who also happens to be a U.S. congressman." Brady returned a call from the Daily News yesterday but refused to comment on his dispute with union president John Dougherty, also the city's Democratic Party treasurer. Last week, Brady sent a letter to the city's ward leaders accusing Dougherty of an effort "to polarize and destroy this party." And in a two-hour, face-to-face meeting Monday, Brady asked Dougherty to resign as party treasurer. Dougherty refused. More than 3,000 Democratic committee members are elected every four years, for two spots in each of the city's 1,681 voting divisions. All it takes to run are 10 signatures on nominating petitions from registered Democrats living in the division. Keel said this week that the IBEW had agreed to participate in a national effort by organized labor to put union members into vacant committeeman positions. But in numerous situations around the city - several dozen, according to annoyed ward leaders - people identifying themselves as electricians filed papers to challenge incumbent committeemen. If they continue running, their neighbors will choose between the candidates in the Democratic primary election, May 16. In subsequent weeks, elected committeemen will choose the city's 69 ward leaders, and then the ward leaders will elect a city chairman and treasurer, among other offices. Dougherty would not answer questions yesterday from the Daily News, but his spokesman tried to minimize the significance of his confrontation with Brady earlier this week. "John [Dougherty] still thinks this is somewhat overblown," Keel said. "He doesn't deny Bob Brady was angry, but he thinks this is part and parcel of the Democratic infighting that goes on all the time in this city... . John Dougherty is not one to hold a grudge. He thinks that he and the chairman will get over this and be back on the same page quickly." Pat Eiding, president of the Philadelphia Council of the AFL-CIO, said yesterday that union leaders had hoped to find union members to fill vacant committeeman spots but "never intended to get into any kind of head-butting with anybody." He said Local 98 members tend to "react a little bit quicker" when their leaders ask them to get involved in something. "Without me knowing anything more, I think that's what might have happened here," Eiding said. "A couple people ran where they shouldn't have, and it just got blown up too much." Eiding said he discussed the situation yesterday with the IBEW's political director, Bobby Henon, who agreed that the union would try to correct any "slips" that set up contested races for committeemen spots. | ||
Monday, March 27, 2006
IBEW Local 98 (Philadelphia PA) Members Attacked by Democratic Party Chair
IBEW Local 123 (Boston MA) Requests Slot Machine Legislation
Legislators protest at Statehouse with workers
Hundreds of union workers, track employees, family members and protesters gathered at the Statehouse Monday calling for legislation that would allow for up to 2,000 slot machines to be installed in each of the state's four struggling racetracks if it were passed by the House of Representatives.
Rep. Bob Coughlin (D-Dedham) said the proposed legislation would serve as "a chance to generate revenue which is rightfully ours," citing the revenues lost to gambling institutions in neighboring states.
Although there are no tracks in his district, Coughlin said he cares about this legislation because of its potential to provide local aid to the towns and cities of the Commonwealth.
"This is about Massachusetts losing money every year," he said.
Although no one in opposition to the bill attended the rally, those in support of the legislation mockingly acknowledged the alleged "social ills" and the moral argument critics make against the proposed legislation.
"What about the social ills of denying cities and towns millions of dollars in revenue?" said Revere Mayor Tom Ambrosino. "This industry can't afford anymore delay."
Support for the passage of this legislation has been bolstered by the assistance of many local unions, primarily the Teamsters 25, the I.V.W. 103, the IBEW 123 and the AFL-CIO, along with the trade unions of many professions whose members say their job security is at risk while the struggling racetracks attempt to remain afloat.
"The time is now," said IBEW Local 123 President Louis Ciarlone, who argued that both the State Treasury and The Boston Globe do not traditionally support the unions but had both put out information in favor of this legislation.
"According to the Treasury, over $1 billion goes over the border each year," Ciarlone said. "And with it goes our jobs."
Ciarlone cited an independent study from The Boston Globe, which he said found that "a substantial majority of Massachusetts citizens are in favor of this legislation as well as three-quarters of the State Senate."
Massachusetts stands to benefit from the passage of this legislation, explained Ciarlone, adding that the bill would create between 3,000 and 4,000 new jobs.
"Real jobs for real people," he said. "Jobs with health benefits and jobs with dignity."
According to Ricky Norris, a blacksmith at Suffolk Downs, the tracks will be forced to close and many employees will be out of a job if the legislation does not pass. Norris said many Massachusetts residents already go to Rhode Island or Connecticut to gamble, and soon they will go to New Hampshire, where the state legislature is debating similar gambling legislation.
"It's really about job security," Norris said. "I've been [a blacksmith] for 30 years, but with the current law in place, keeping the tracks open is becoming economically unfeasible."
Christian Teja, a Suffolk Downs spokesman, said busing was arranged by the track to bring over 100 employees to the rally in favor of the legislation, which, according to Teja, "will preserve existing jobs and raise state revenue to support public programs that will benefit local cities and towns."
Paul Brooker, a member of the Horseman's Union, said he thought the creation of a state waging and gaming board to regulate the Massachusetts gambling industry would pool revenues brought in from taxed slot machines and will disperse much needed funds to public sector programs across the Commonwealth.
"[Just like with Prohibition], they're never going to stop people from gambling," Brooker said. "People will just go to illegal bookies. Salaries are low now, and adding slot machines will help us insure both old and new jobs."
Opponents of this legislation were not available for comment, but an Oct. 7 Boston Globe article said critics of the bill argue that the tracks are part of a dying industry, and the bill would damage society though gambling addiction or possible bankruptcy.
"There is some opposition in the State House and not much in the Senate," Ciarlone said. "Some semantic anti-gambling groups oppose this legislation, but we have scratch tickets in convenience stores, bingo in churches and keno in restaurants. We are surrounded by states who allow various forms of gambling."
"I don't get a sense right now that this [issue] is on the front burner," Rep. Thomas Petrolati (D-Ludlow) told the Globe in October 2005. When contacted by The Daily Free Press, a spokesperson for Petrolati said he was not available for comment.
Ciarlone, in his speech, urged for House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi (D-Boston) to call for a vote in the House of Representatives. The bill -- which already passed in the Senate by a 26-9 vote in October -- would be sent to Romney's desk for approval if it passes in the House.
"Mr. Speaker, allow a vote," Ciarlone said. "If we can get a vote, we can win."
IBEW Moves To Help Florida Electricians on "Safety Walkout"
Electric Workers At School Strike
Published: Mar 24, 2006
PORT RICHEY - More than a dozen electrical workers went on strike at a school construction site this week, citing safety concerns as the reason they walked off the job.
The workers, employees of Tampa-based Energy Electric, began their work stoppage Tuesday and were in the third day of their strike Thursday.
They complained of dangerous conditions. Construction materials, such as concrete blocks, were dropped from roofs, they said, and cranes swung steel beams above their heads while they worked at the Gulf Highlands Elementary construction site.
Among other concerns, they said dusty conditions and the grinding of concrete in a two-story classroom building led to breathing problems.
"The dust was so bad it would fill your ears up," said Michael Salvi, the electrical foreman, who is among striking workers.
Charles R. Sanford, owner of Energy Electric, a subcontractor on the construction job, disputed the workers' contention that the site is unsafe. He said the workers' real goal is a pay increase.
"The job has been going on for four months," Sanford said. "If it's unsafe, there would have been accidents. There haven't been."
He said the strike won't delay the construction work because he has shifted some of his electricians from other jobs to the school site, which is south of State Road 52 and west of La Madera Boulevard.
Gulf Highlands Elementary is one of six new public schools under construction in Pasco County. The school is set to open to students Aug. 8. Teachers will report a week earlier.
A strike at a Pasco school construction site is unusual, said John Petrashek, the school district's director of new construction.
"It's an anomaly," he said. "It's the first time anything like this has happened to us."
He said the district views the situation as a pay dispute between the subcontractor and his workers.
"It's really a nonissue for the schools," Petrashek said. "They aren't contractually obligated to us or us to them."
The school district's contract is with the construction manager on the project, Cutler Associates Inc. of Tampa, which hires the subcontractors.
Sanford said he was unaware of any safety complaints until someone from Cutler called him Tuesday and said his employees had walked off the job.
"We were blindsided by what was going on there," he said.
Salvi, though, said complaints about safety were made to both Energy Electric and Cutler before the workers decided to strike.
"We brought these issues up to them before," Salvi said. "We were told it would be taken care of."
Salvi said Sanford is trying to make the situation seem like a pay issue when it isn't. He said the workers would like to be paid more, but pay wasn't what prompted the walkout.
"It didn't come down to money," he said.
Salvi also expressed doubts that Energy Electric had enough workers available to bring from other work sites to continue the job at Gulf Highlands.
The striking employees have enlisted the assistance of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Jon Dehmel, an assistant business manager and organizer with the union, said the IBEW hopes to help resolve the issue, though Sanford said he has no interest in dealing with the union.
Dehmel said he hasn't worked at the site, so he can't say for sure what the conditions are. But he said safety is a problem on construction sites throughout the state because companies try to fast track the work.
"It's not going to change until more people like this say, 'I'm not doing it,'" Dehmel said. "It's dangerous enough to do electric work without doing it quickly."
IBEW Local 697 (Gary & Hammond IN) Applauds "Lowest QUALIFIED Bidder" Award
BY VANESSA RENDERMAN
vrenderman@nwitimes.com
219.933.3241
This story ran on nwitimes.com on Friday, March 24, 2006 12:36 AM CST
ST. JOHN | Town Council members awarded nearly $5.4 million in construction bids Thursday for a new public safety facility.
The electrical work was the most costly item, awarded to Midwestern Electric at $590,250. At the low end was the access flooring, awarded to Precision Builders at $16,896.
The council unanimously approved the awarding of 30 bid categories, ranging from roofing to floor covering to plumbing.
The approval was met with thunderous applause by the audience, which mainly was composed of members of IBEW Local 697.
The council rejected the lowest bidder for the electrical work because part of the proposal was incomplete and because of concerns about whether prior work the company had done in town was compliant, Town Attorney David Austgen said.
Council President Mike Fryzel said the panel was advised to reject the lowest bid.
"We followed our attorney's advice," he said.
Ray Kasmark, business manager for Local 697, said the union members showed up to support the council's decision on choosing the second lowest bidder because they believed it was a fair decision.
"We're here to support the council," said Joe Pfister, assistant business manager for Local 697.
Several of the bidders already have done work for the town, such as T&K Masonry and Midwestern Electric, council Vice President Jerri Teibel said.
"We're very familiar with their work," she said.
The town will seek proposals for the bid categories that were not awarded.
Construction of the 39,000-square-foot public safety facility is expected to begin in mid-April, Fryzel said.
Construction is expected to take a year to 14 months.
The town has been planning the facility for more than two years. It will house the police and fire departments and other government offices.
BLOG NOTE: Lowest QUALIFIED Bidder requirements save money by eliminating unqualified bidders who would otherwise hamper a construction job.
IBEW Supports Assemblman Johan Klehs to fill vacated
| |
| Dems' coffers filling, GOP's empty |
| District 10 candidates release campaign financial statements |
| By Tasha Bartholomew, STAFF WRITER Inside Bay Area From Inside Bay area.com |
| The latest wave of campaign finance disclosures shows Democrats in the state Senate District 10 race are still raking in the money, while the Republican candidates aren't raising a dime. The financial statements, which cover the period from Jan. 1 through March 17, show heavy activity by Assemblyman Johan Klehs, and former Assembly members Ellen Corbett and John Dutra. The three are vying for the seat's Democratic nomination in the June primary elections. San Leandro resident Lou Filipovich, who will face off against Laura Riffle for the Republican nomination, has not raised money. Filipovich also is a candidate in the Alameda County Board of Supervisor District 3 and San Leandro mayoral races. Riffle, a tax agent from Milpitas, said she will not begin campaigning until after tax season. The winners of each party will compete against the other in the November general election. Klehs, Corbett and Dutra all have accepted money from a wide range of contributors, including attorneys, members of the health care industry, political action committees and public employee unions. During the most recent finance cycle, Klehs of San Leandro received $91,325 in contributions and spent $78,427, leaving him with an ending cash balance of $397,765. Some of his monetary donations have come from the Southern California Pipe Trades District Council No. 16 PAC for $6,600; Northern California Chapter, NECA PAC for $2,500; and California Applicants' Attorneys Association PAC for $2,000. Other large donations listed for Klehs include $3,300 from the IBEW Educational Committee, $3,300 from Zenith Insurance Company and $3,000 from Joseph A. Barkett of Stockton. Corbett of San Leandro received $84,833 in contributions this finance period and spent $46,182, leaving her with an ending cash balance of $311,592. This amount does not include the $80,000 that she is waiting to transfer from her old Assembly account into her new Senate campaign coffer. Some examples of Corbett's contributors include $6,700 from the California League of Conservation Voters, $3,300 from the California Nurses Association PAC, $3,200 from Cummins West Inc., $2,500 each from Daniel Hale of Walnut Creek and Louis Haas of San Francisco and $2,000 from San Leandro business owner Tim Holmes. During the reporting period, Dutra of Fremont received $40,876 in contributions and spent $213,215, leaving him with an ending cash balance of $732,973. Dutra listed donations from the California Association of Highway Patrolmen PAC for $2,699, California Trustees Association PAC for $2,500, Southern Wine and Spirits of America Inc. for $2,000, Pleasanton developer Signature Properties for $1,900,and California Association of Health Facilities PAC for $1,000. The heavily Democratic district is being vacated by termed-out Sen. Liz Figueroa, D-Fremont, who is running for lieutenant governor. District 10 serves Fremont, Hayward, Milpitas, Newark, Pleasanton, San Jose, San Leandro, Union City and the unincorporated areas of Ashland, Castro Valley, Cherryland, Fairview, San Lorenzo and Sunol.
Contact staff writer Tasha Bartholomew at (510) 293-2471 or send e-mail to tbartholomew@dailyreviewonline.com. |
IBEW Local 1105 (Zanesville OH) IBEW Local hosts Debate
From WHIZ- Wiz 102 Democrat Congressional Candidates Speak Out Sun, Mar 26, 2006. 07:15 PM | |
| By: Jennifer Jarrell | |
| All four candidates for the 13th Congressional Race were at the IBEW Hall here in Zanesville today where they called for a change in Congress. WHIZ’s Jennifer Jarrell has more. It was a chance for the public to see their faces and hear their voices. Ralph Applegate, Zack Space, Jennifer Stewart and Joe Sulzer all used today’s open forum to tell the public their plans. Candidate Zack Space says, “Were here to try to communicate our message to as many people as possible, and we have been doing that now for four or five months, and it is a message that we need a change.” All four are competing for the Democratic ticket, where the winner will take on Republican Bob Ney in November. Jennifer Stewart says this year’s packed race should send a message to voters. “I think that the number of candidates is a reflection of the interest in this race and the public is ready to consider a change in representation for our district,” Stewart said. Joe Sulzer says a lot still needs to be done in the 16 counties in the district including putting people back to work. “Jobs, we need to keep the jobs that we have, we need to create more jobs. When we have unemployment at seven percent, which is higher than the national average and state. If we didn’t have a congressman playing golf in Scotland, and paying more attention to his constituents we wouldn’t have this problem,” Sulzer said. All the candidates bring something different to the table, but the one thing they have in common is they want Ney’s seat, and think this year Democrats have a chance. “I think this is a good time for change, I have spoken over the last several months to a number of republicans who themselves want him out,” Ralph Applegate said. Today was only one stop in the weeks of campaigning ahead for these candidates, and despite Ney’s ten-year congressional tenure none of these challengers are backing down. | |
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Cutbacks at Point Beach Nuclear Plant Threaten 22 IBEW Local 2150 (Milwaukee WI) Jobs
From The Milwaukee Sentinal
Point Beach nuclear plant to cut 22 jobs
February 2, 2006
In "Wisconsin Briefing" section
The Point Beach nuclear plant will eliminate 22 jobs by late April, according to Nuclear Management Co., the company that operates the facility.
The positions, which are mainly administrative and clerical, are being eliminated as part of a streamlining under which the four nuclear plants operated by Hudson-based NMC are moving to a common computer platform, Point Beach spokeswoman Sara Cassidy said. The cuts will affect members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2150.
The cuts represent about 3% of the Point Beach work force of 700, which includes employees at the two reactors, as well as contracted security officers.
Point Beach, in Two Creeks, is a two-reactor nuclear plant owned by Milwaukee-based We Energies.
IBEW Local 164 (Jersey City NJ) Adds Voluntary Membership Benefits
BSP Rewards, a subsidiary of MediaNet Group Technologies (OTC BB: MEDG), announced today that it has signed agreements that will expand its programs to Unions and Network Marketing industries.
BSP is building branded loyalty and reward programs for four unions who plan to utilize them as a value-added benefit to their membership. These initial inroads into the union market includes Local 164 IBEW, Local 2D UFCW Wine and Liquor, Local 355 HERE and Atlantic Medical IPA. Marketing to the union segment is being presented through Pat Bianco, President of National Health Solutions, a long-time provider of benefit packages to local and national unions. Mr. Bianco stated, "I am exceedingly pleased with the acceptance the BSP program is receiving. We feel that this market will generate a very high number of affinity loyal members."
Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing, Inc. of Lexington, KY has just launched its private branded loyalty and shopping mall "Fortune Rewards Mall," powered by BSP Rewards. The program is a sales-driven model for their tens of thousands of representatives and is being marketed to their hundreds of thousands of customers. Jon Johnson, Vice President Business Development of Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing noted, "Fortune is an exceptional organization with a very dedicated base of independent representatives and customers. The program launched a week ago and we are already realizing excellent purchase utilization through our network. We couldn't be more pleased with the professionalism shown us by BSP and the revenue potential the program offers us."
The program is completely free for members to join and totally unique in that it features the ability to earn rewards and discounts through its unique shopping mall of national merchants. BSP Rewards builds, customizes and administers the entire program for each client and organization and offers Members up to 15% in rewards and up to 60% in discounts when purchasing merchandise and other products from the nation's best retailers.
Details about the program can be viewed at www.bsprewards.com
MediaNet Group Technologies is a publicly held Company (OTC BB: MEDG) that encompasses an integrated group of operating divisions that revolve around the many aspects of technology and media including, branded rewards programs web portal programs, television and video production and intellectual properties.
Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: "Forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 may be included in this news release. These statements relate to future events or our future financial performance. These statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual future results or events. MediaNet Group Technologies, Inc. disclaims any intention or obligation to revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. There are important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to risks associated with changes in general economic and business conditions (including in the information technology and financial information industry), actions of our competitors, the extent to which we are able to develop new services and markets for our services, the time and expense involved in such development activities, the level of demand and market acceptance of our services, changes in our business strategies.
Martin Berns CEO MediaNet Group Technologies, Inc. (P) 954-974-5818 x202 email: mberns@medianetgroup.com