Dear Brothers and Sisters,
As Local 180 retiree, Bud Huss, urged in our last newsletter, “Honor your right to vote, it has never been more important in our lifetime.” He’s RIGHT!!! While EVERY election is important, THIS ONE IS CRITICAL TO THE SURVIVAL OF OUR UNION! We must do everything we can to protect our union and elect Jerry Brown as Governor on November 2.
I hope you’ve had a chance to watch the televised gubernatorial debates between Meg Whitman and Jerry Brown. If you have, you can clearly see the radical difference between them and their regard for common working men and women.
Seldom does Meg Whitman open her mouth without bashing and downgrading people like you and me – union workers. Whitman complained that, if Brown wins, he’ll hold a meeting with “all the special interests and the unions who are there to collect their IOUs from the campaign they have funded.” She stated, because Brown isn’t hostile to unions, putting him in charge of the State budget is “like putting Count Dracula in charge of the blood bank.”
Actually, as demonstrated by Whitman’s performance as a CEO, it’s Whitman herself who hopes to sink her greedy fangs into what little is left of working people’s pocket books. Who on earth would be better off if Whitman were to become Governor? Not us!
Whitman is opposed to project labor agreements and prevailing wage laws. She stated that the era of the defined benefit pension plan is over! She has proposed the elimination of collective bargaining rights, and plans to kick 30,000 employees out on the street the minute she takes office. Again, who would be better off with Whitman as Governor? The answer is people like her who are extremely rich and could care less about us and our hard working brothers and sisters; people whom Whitman promises to exempt from capital gains taxes, which would put even a deeper dent into our budget and reduce the State’s ability to fund desperately needed public works projects.
As Jerry Brown noted, “One of her targeted tax cuts is targeted to billionaires like Ms. Whitman, and millionaires. It’s about a $5 billion tax break that will go to the richest people in California. Eighty-two percent goes to those making over $500,000. That’s not fair, that’s not right, and I think it reflects the difference in our values.”
Whitman has already spent 140 million dollars of her own money for a chance to execute her anti-worker initiatives. And don’t think for a second that she won’t continue that spending spree to hurt us even further if she is elected.
Jerry Brown appreciates and values working men and women. He supports good wages and benefits. He has a plan to create good paying jobs. He recognizes the pivotal role that renewable energy, energy efficiency, bio-tech, software, medical advancement and other cutting-edge enterprises play in the world’s 8th largest economy. He will return California to a thriving state without demoting common men and women to beggars in the process.
Jerry Brown has met with our Statewide Association many times throughout the years and is a friend of the IBEW. Please vote for Jerry Brown and our slate of locally endorsed candidates on November 2. Our survival really does depend on YOUR VOTE.
Fraternally,
The $25 BevMo card went to Josh Hagerman, the mini-fridge went to Glen Flores and the membership drawing for $100 was #383, Gerald McCurdy, who was not present. The drawing will remain at $100 for the November 10th meeting.
Events
Santa At The Hall
Santa has confirmed an arrival date of December 4th at the Hall. Time and activities pending. So put this down in your calendar and plan on attending!
Look for the “Local Events” on the lower left of the menu and click on it and then scroll down the page to our calendar. Sign up for email reminders via Google and never miss an event! Sign-up to Help www.ibewlu180.org email us to help support community projects
Veteran’s Day is on the Union Meeting night so we have moved the Union Meeting to Wednesday the 10th before the normal meeting night.
December Union Meeting
We have also moved this Union Meeting… for our annual holiday party. To better enjoy the food, friends and fun the Union Meeting has been moved to Friday the 10th that follows the normal union meeting night.
Reminders via our phone system will also go out about two days before the meetings. Some have asked why they don’t receive the phone calls or they are cut-off. Answer is that our system senses if there is a person or answering machine on the line before playing the recorded message. It has trouble with some answering machines and cell phones.
Our Heroes from the April Blood Drive: Michael Ambrose, John Bogart, Craig Cathcart, Edward Dayton, David Doss, William Finkel, Glen Flores, Steve Garcia, Samuel Haines, Gerald Johnson, Michael Jones, Stanley Nelson, Rick Row, Konan Timberlake, Herbert Watts, Jonathan Wilson & Patrick Wirsing
The Valero Refinery has reduced manpower down below 80 after the last round of reductions. The project completion remains December 2010 and Newtron will continue into the turnaround. No details yet on the turnaround.
AMS Electric has cleared in two guys for the Solano Irrigation District office—they took this job away from our competition due to “qualifications issues”! It is a small short duration project that will take a couple of JIWs.
Mike Brown has the Vallejo Parking Garage and the project has started forming the footings. No manpower projections at this time. Mike Brown is on the job hit and miss.
The Verizon call center is more like a switch center; Last month Redwood City foresaw no additional hiring and completion by the end of the November. However, after some 3-4 week calls, they have changed to short calls.
Rosendin has reduced manpower at the Montezuma Hills Wind Project and started to demobilize. They spoke highly of the crews and short learning curve. Productivity and workflow was to be commended. The next phase of 34 will start in March 2011.
Outside a short call, Sprig Electric has no plans for additional hiring at the Franklin Distillery in Fairfield and completion remains October 2010. Below are a few photos.
On both the VacaValley Hospital site (Schetter) and the Queen of the Valley (Rosendin) there is not much to report. We have no updates for hiring and will have to see how weather impacts the site work phase and tie-ins between the existing and new buildings.
Michels Construction has the SMUD wind farm in Rio Vista. We do not know how long the easement negotiations will take, so it is hard to project a start date. However, site work cannot proceed during the winter raining season. This year is projected to be a wet one.
We have leads on over a billion dollars in projects on Mare Island and are all over it. They project the economy recovering around 2013 or 2015. It takes a few years to get a project through the planning department, so now is the time developers will start discussions with cities.
Book one is filling up due to Newtron’s Valero project, Sprig’s Franklin project and Redwood City’s Version project - all completing in the next few months. Please don’t miss resign. Fax your resign or drop it off every 2-3 weeks—don’t wait until the last minute! Speaking of resign… we do stress you call to confirm we have received your fax. This is for two very good reasons:
1. The fax is blank because it was put in the fax backwards or you used a pencil;
2. It was faxed and you have rolled off, or it was faxed on your 4th Wednesday and you must resign in person
Visit ibewlu180.org’s work picture page to see how many are on the books, where the calls went and any news on projects.
The Annual IBEW Local 180 Picnic was held Saturday, September 25th. It was a warm day at Lake Solano that was filled with activities for the kids. A huge jump house, rock climbing wall, hover t-ball game and snow cone machine kept all the kids smiling. There was a lot of great food and plenty to drink for everyone. We ended the day with a nice raffle. The best part of the day was spending time with old friends and their families.
The day was made possible due to a lot of help. The contractors that helped out with donations were Angelo Utilities, Blocka Construction, Napa Electric, Schetter Electric and NECA. Our third party administrator, BeneSys, also provided a donation to the event. We thank everyone for their support.
This year we had a picnic committee who helped pull the fun day together and they are Christie Best, Doug Van Buskirk, Amy Franco, Brandy & Brandon O'Neill, Rick Row, Tom Sgrenci and Todd Tohm. There were so many volunteers who helped out throughout the day I cannot name them all but I will try. Steve Barnes, Russell Bartz, Clark Driggars, Josh Dunbar, Eric Duran, Justin Haley, Tom Houseman, Kerry McCard, Joe Moore, Scott Torrez and Herb Watts. Mike Evans donated a huge remote control car a great raffle prize and Dave Doss took hundreds and hundreds of pictures all day long. Pictures will be available at the Union Hall for viewing and doubles are being made for you to pick-up ones you like to take home.
Thank you to all who helped make this a great day, Dean Lloyd
Commercial buildings can save up to 40% in energy savings by simply turning lights off in unoccupied offices, conference rooms, and restrooms during business hours.
California Advanced Lighting Controls Training Program (CALCTP) partner utilities, which encompass over 90% of the California market, will require CALCTP-certified contractors and CALCTP-certified general electricians for installation. Bruce Gourley and Mike Smith are certified instructors for the CALCTP. In November the JATC will start classes for members to become CALCTP-certified.
Bruce Gourley will teach a day class starting November 15th and running Monday through Friday starting at 8:00 A.M. Mike Smith will teach a night class starting on November 30th to offer flexibility and certify members as soon as possible. The training boards (shown at right) are located in the lobby of the Training Center/Union Hall. Two students are trained on each side with one instructor supervising eight students max. Therefore, a class of eight will have 32 hours of “hands-on” and eight hours in the classroom. There is no cost for the class!
The training hours will qualify for the State Recertification continuing education requirement. For the people on the class interest list—the JATC will be calling you very soon and looking for teacher’s aides from the attendees of the first class. If you have not signed up—call the JATC at 251-0315 and let them know if you want day or night classes.
The California Advanced Lighting Controls Training Program (CALCTP) is a statewide initiative aimed at increasing the use of lighting controls in commercial buildings and industrial facilities.
Through proper installation, advanced lighting controls improve energy efficiency in commercial facilities and save significant dollars. CALCTP will educate, train and certify licensed electrical contractors, and state certified general electricians in the proper design, installation and commissioning of advanced lighting control systems.
What are the prerequisites? Because the lecture and lab work move along at a challenging pace, all participants must be equally prepared prior to enrollment. The prerequisite studies are on the Lighting Controls Association website—modules EE101, EE102, EE103, and EE201 (Approximately 12 hours). You can start now. These courses can be found at:
http://www.aboutlightingcontrols.org/Education_Express/accr_orgs.php.
IBEW POLTICAL/LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
The attached document is from an unknown source, but the facts are accurate. It’s up to us to remind our members what the real story is.
BAILOUT FACTS
As the 2010 campaign heats up, a lot of blame has been directed towards the Democrats and, in particular, President Obama for the billions of tax dollars given away to corporations in the form of bailouts.
The facts tell a different story. According to the U.S. Department of Treasury, all amounts in 2008 U.S dollars: President Richard Nixon bailed out Penn Central Railroad in 1970 for $3.2 billion, Lockheed in 1971 for $1.4 billion and Franklin National Bank in 1974 for $7.8 billion. President Gerald Ford bailed out New York City in 1975 for $9.4 billion. President Jimmy Carter bailed out Chrysler Motors in 1980 for $4 billion. President Ronald Reagan bailed out Continental Illinois National Bank in 1984 for $9.5 billion. President George H. Bush bailed out the savings and loans industry in 1989 for $293.3 billion.
In 2001, President George W. Bush bailed out: the airline industry for $18.6 billion; in 2008, Bear Stearns for $30 billion; Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac for $400 billion; AIG for $180 billion, including $40 billion from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (T.A.R.P.); the automobile industry for $25 billion; Citigroup for $280 billion, with $45 billion from T.A.R.P.; and established T.A.R.P. for $700 billion, of which $85 billion was already counted above. President Barack Obama in 2009 bailed out Bank of America for $142.2 billion, with $45 billion from T.A.R.P..
Many of us forget that the bailouts attributed to Obama were initiated during the last four months of Bush's term. In October 2008, recognizing the need for avoiding total collapse of the financial system, both presidential candidates -- Sens. John McCain and Obama -- voted for the bailouts. But the economy had already tanked under Bush, and the deregulation orgy, which allowed Wall Street to gamble and lose trillions, went on for 10 years before Obama took office.
Portions or all of several of the above bailouts have been repaid, and some even generated a profit for the government; we do not have space to provide the details here.
As for the totals, Republican presidents are responsible for 13 of 15 bailouts and $1.87 trillion, while Democratic presidents for only two bailouts and $146.2 billion. It's yet another proof of the campaign of falsehoods and misinformation carried out by those that would like to see this administration, and the Democrats fail…at any cost.
For how long will they be insulting the intelligence of the American people? And the media would allow them to get away with it? Why should we give back the keys to those who drove us into the ditch?
VOTER INFO OUTSIDE OF NAPA/SOLANO COUNTY
Local 180 Members live in various counties. You can find the endorsed Ballot Measures for your county at the county’s Central Labor Council, a/k/a “CLC”.
Each IBEW Local Union is very active in the CLC and assisting in the interviewing and endorsements of candidates.
You can find your county’s CLC via a Google search. Don’t search “CLC”, search “California Central Labor Council” and the State’s site comes up on top: www.calaborfed.org
Search your county name followed by “Central Labor Council” all in quotes and you should get to where you need to be.
Also use the local CLC website to find ways to help get out the vote and support candidates. WWW.NAPASOLANOCLC.ORG
Phone Bank & Precinct Walk Locations Phone Banks-–All Phone Banks run from 5-8pm Plumbers & Steamfitters, Local 343, 425 Nebraska Street, Vallejo Iron Workers Local #378, 3120 Bayshore Road, Benicia Operating Engineers Local #3, 2540 N. Watney Way, Fairfield SEIU Local #1021, 2300 Boynton Ave, Fairfield Precinct Walks-All Precinct Walks run from 9am to 12pm Teamsters’ Local #315, 445 Nebraska Street, Vallejo IBEW Local #180, 720-B Technology Way, Napa IBEW Local #1245, 30 Orange Tree Circle, Vacaville Napa Firefighters Local #3124, 1201 Main Street, Napa Operating Engineers Local #3, 2540 N. Watney Way, Fairfield Iron Workers Local #378, 3120 Bayshore Road, Benicia
Additional Information
All Phone Banks open at 5pm and close at 8pm. Weekly updates for Phone Banking and Precinct Walks will be sent out weekly. Updates will also be provided as information is received regarding candidate events.
We need affiliates to host Phone Bank nights or we may have to drop some of the ones listed. To host a phone bank, you would need to have someone available to be present from the opening to close of the evening (approximately 4:30-8:30pm), you would provide assistance and overview to the people manning the phones, you would provide drinks/snacks for the callers and you would collect all information (Phone Banking Packets, call sheets and lists) at the end of the night. Please contact Shirley at 707-552-6602 or sherbert1186@sbcglobal.net if you/your union is interested. Phone Banks are available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays.
Precinct Walk locations may change as the campaign or candidate needs change. Please provide Shirley with contact information for the person who will be handling your political program so that we can keep them informed.
If you have members that live in jurisdictions covered by other cities, we will be providing a list of Phone Bank locations in other areas. We will have tracking capabilities so that your members will get the credit for their time.
If we hope to win this election, it will require us to contact all of our members through our phone banking efforts. We want to make this as easy as we can for your individual members.
VACAVILLE PRECINT WALK—PRESIDENT CLINTON IN NAPA
We had a great showing for our precinct walk Saturday with over 40 walkers finishing up the rest of Vacaville and even covering a couple of Fairfield neighborhoods! John Garamendi showed up to thank our volunteers as well as John Vasquez, Steve Hardy, Curtis Hunt, and Mitch Mashburn. The momentum is definitely picking up and we had a number of unions send members including: Our hosts IBEW #1245 and Firefighters #3501,Operating Engineers #3,Plumbers and Steamfitters # 343, SEIU Local # 1000,UFCW #3,Ironworkers #378,Vacaville POA, IBEW # 180,Sheetmetal Workers #104, SEIU ULTCW’s and I am sure I am forgetting someone!
The Mike Thompson in Napa, featuring Bill Clinton was a GREAT success! People started lining up to get in at 8:30 AM and by the time the tea-baggers got there we were a couple hundred strong! And all this in a steady downpour! The doors opened at 1PM sharp and the house was packed (the theater holds 900) leaving behind about 50 soaked and sullen tea-folks who never really had an impact on the enthusiastic crowd who showed up to support our Congressman and Former President. Bill Clinton was at his best and illustrated in frank detail WHY we need to keep moving forward and not return to the policies of the past that got us where we are today.
Jon Riley
Executive Director
Napa/Solano Central Labor Council
There’s power in NUMBERS. Power to bring about change when needed. Power to keep labor-friendly conditions in full force and effect. Power to ensure that the common working man and woman and have a voice in the workplace. Power to elect candidates to elected office who respect and value Labor. Power to keep billionaires – like Meg Whitman - from spending millions of dollars of their own money to kick working men and women to the curb and fill the pockets of the ultra-rich.
Our challenge is, and will always be, to recruit and retain those NUMBERS. Who are these NUMBERS? These NUMBERS are union members who see and appreciate the value of the hard-won right to associate and bargain collectively; who recognize the crucial role of local political activism; who offer to phone-bank local members, walk precincts, stuff envelopes and pound in campaign signs; and finally, who VOTE. Without these NUMBERS, the power of our local union to bring about good things for working men and women dwindles; our political clout diminishes, and our pocketbooks become thinner.
With a small but dedicated group of local NUMBERS, we’ve aggressively worked to get unregistered members registered to vote, to inform members of the extraordinary stakes involved in this election, and to encourage everyone to VOTE for Jerry Brown for Governor and others whom we’ve endorsed locally. I wish to thank Dan Broadwater, Herb Watts, Val Miller, Steve Garcia, Dean Lloyd, Dave Doss, Todd Thom, Mike Smith, Thomas Sgrenci, Russell Bartz, Justin Haley, Shannon Nalley and Kevin Coleman, who, in addition to their ordinary obligations and duties, have played a vital role in advancing the interests of Local 180 during Campaign 2010. Don’t let their hard work be for nothing. Vote for Jerry Brown for Governor and our locally endorsed candidates on November 2. Don’t give Meg Whitman the chance to harm us – she has promised that she will.
Upcoming Meetings Events & Holidays: REGULAR MEETING 7 P.M. SECOND THURSDAY B-B-Q - 5 P.M. ONLY ON BLOOD DRIVES RETIREES MEETING FIRST WEDNESDAY @ 12:30 P.M. E-BOARD MEETING 6 P.M. FOURTH TUESDAY EXAM BOARD MEETING 6 P.M. By appointment |
Dan Broadwater, Business Manager
UNION BUILT MEANS BETTER BUILT
You want a “ no-worry” electrical system installed in your home safe, reliable and guaranteed. Then you need an electrical system installed by a union electrical contractor. That’s right– UNION! A competent union electrical contractor who employs qualified IBEW union electricians.
Each IBEW journeyman learns the trade through a 3 to 5 year Apprenticeship program. This extensive training combines on–the-job practical experience with classroom theory and testing. And the training doesn’t stop there. Continuing education constantly up-dates the union electrician’s skills through programs sponsored by the IBEW and NECA.
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