Journeyman Day School - February 2012 Seminars

New February Day School Seminar Classes

 
Mon Feb 6th  7:00am - 12:00pm  Room 101  Grounding and Bonding 

Tues Feb 7th  7:00am - 11:00am  Room 200  Transformers

Wed Feb 8th  7:00am - 12:00pm  Room 101  Top 25 NEC Changes 

Thur Feb 9th  7:00am - 12:00pm  Room 101  Motor Calculations

Fri Feb 10th  7:00am - 11:00am  Room 205  Motor Controls

Mon Feb 13th  7:00am - 11:00am  Room 200  Transformers

Tues Feb 14th  7:00am - 12:00pm  Room 101  NEC and CEC Differences 

Wed Feb15th  7:00am - 12:00pm  Room 101  Conduit Fill

Thur Feb 16th 7:00am - 11:00am  Room 123  Segment Bending

Fri Feb 17th  7:00am - 12:00pm  Room 101  Conductor Ampacity

 
2012 POLITICAL ACTION FUNDRAISER

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Our Thoughts and Prayers to Henry George Mavrinac

 Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Henry George Mavrinac who passed away last fall after his battle with Parkinson's Disease.  Mr. Mavrinac was a sixty-five year member of the Local 134 Union and all three of his sons are also proud members of the Local 134 Union.  

 
Local 134 Membership Meeting on January 5, 2012

Office Manager, Tim Fitzgibbons, presents at the Local 134 Membership Meeting on January 5, 2012.

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Business Manager, Terry Allen, presents at the Local 134 Membership Meeting on January 5, 2012.

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BUSINESS MANAGER TERRY ALLEN'S SPEECH TO THE MEMBERSHIP:

Brother and Sisters,

Happy New Year!

Tonight I would like to share with you some of the progress our Local has made since the start of our Administration three months ago.  Since becoming your Business Manager in October, I have been stressing the need for change in Local 134.  In three short months, we have initiated changes at Referral, we have started to negotiate changes in our B Agreements to help us get back into our buildings downtown and our manufacturing facilities where the non-union has made inroads.  We have also taken huge steps at the LMCC to truly become a Labor Management Committee.  I have met with John Donohue, the Apprenticeship Coordinator at our Apprentice School, and we are starting to work on many new ideas to take advantage of the great asset we have at our Apprentice Training Center.

Brothers and Sisters, when I became Business Manager, I pledged to have an open, transparent, and honest administration.  AT that time, I brought in a new office manager.  I told him to focus on, and take a hard close look into, our finances at Local134.  Brothers and sisters, tonight we will share with you a detailed presentation of our finances.  So with that I would like to introduce Office Manager, Brother Tim Fitzgibbons.

(PRESENTATION OF FINANCES BY OFFICE MANAGER TIM FITZGIBBONS)

Thank you Brother Fitzgibbons.   I truly appreciate your tireless work on behalf of the members.

Brothers and Sisters - In October of last year, I was asked by the I.O. to go to an organizing conference.  At that conference, International President Ed Hill said something that stuck with me.  He said that as a Business Manager, your members are giving you a sacred trust.  As I thought about this it struck me how true that is.  All of you are placing your trust in me to look after your pension, your wages and your health and welfare benefits.  Basically, you are placing your trust in me to look after you and your family’s finances.  I am proud of what we have done with our finances at the local in these three months.  I hope this shows you how seriously I have taken that trust that you have given me.

In the last couple of months, I have had a couple of opportunities to talk to our apprentices.  I spoke with one group getting their first permit and I spoke with another group of apprentices who were “topping out” and getting their Hard Cards.  One common theme I have been speaking about is “personal accountability”.  Myself, and your BA’s, are personally accountable to you, the members. So must our members be personally accountable to the Local and to their employers. We must demonstrate the work ethic that has made this great Local what it is today. We are making a lot of positive changes here at Local 134 and personal accountability is going to be a very important part of these upcoming changes.

Brothers and Sisters – In October of last year, I received an e-mail from a very close friend of mine - you can even call him a mentor, who is a forty plus year member of our local union.   

It said, "Terry, Congratulations and remember, always work each day as if it is your first day in office and always keep the working men and women and their families as your first and only priority.”

Brothers and Sisters, I keep that advice in my thoughts and prayers every day. 

As we were working on the finances of our local, one item that kept jumping out at me was the $2 million check that Local 134 must write each year to fund  the officers’ pension.  I asked our EIT Trustees, John Dalton, Kevin Connolly, Sam Evans, and Office Manager, Tim Fitzgibbons, to contact the financial consultants that handle the officers’ pension and ask them to come down to the Union hall.  I met with them and asked for a clear explanation about this $2 million dollars.  The way it was explained to me was that the $2 million dollars would be necessary for years and could quite possibly go up.  I was told there were two reasons why. 

First - Due to changes in the federal law several years ago that number had jumped to roughly $2 million dollars.  They further explained that most other Local Union’s Officers pensions are through their international, while ours is a stand-alone pension.    

Secondly - quite simply this is a very generous pension. Brothers and Sisters, our “A” members get $55.00 per credit year for their pension.  That is what it is now and I hope we can look at that number down the road. Under the current officers’ pension, your Business Manager, Terry Allen, an electrician, gets roughly $250.00 per credit year.  Let me say that again. Under the current officers’ pension, your Business Manager, an electrician, gets roughly $250.00 per credit year.

Brothers and Sisters, this pension is excessive and a financial burden to the working men and women of this local.

Pause…..

#1.        Sacred Trust

#2.        Personal Accountability

#3.        We are all in this together.

Brothers and Sisters, I can truly say that we are all in this together, because tonight I am freezing the officers’ pension.  In the spirit of working together, the contractor’s trustees at our EIT have tentatively agreed to let the BA’s and Business Manager participate in Pensions 2 and 5.  We will now truly be in this together.  If Pension Plan #2 and #5 are good enough for the members than they are good enough for the officers of this local.

Brothers and Sisters, there is only one way that we can surely fail, and that is to live in the past. We have accomplished a lot in our first hundred days.  We still have a lot to do, but if we stay united, and work together, there is nothing that we can’t accomplish.

Thank you.  God Bless you. Let’s make 2012 a great year and remember we are truly all in this together!    

 
Schedule for the LMCC Certification Cards
The following dates are the schedule for the LMCC Certification Cards.  All times are from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM at the Union Hall on the 2nd Floor.
 
January 14, 2102
February 11, 2012
March 31, 2012
April 14, 2012
May 12, 2012
 
 
 
The Passing of Former Business Manager Warren Jennings
Former Business Manager Warren Jennings has passed away.  Brother Jennings served as Business Manager from 1992 until 1995.  Warren also served the members of Local 134 as a delegate to the 100th Anniversary I.B.E.W. International Convention in St. Louis in 1991 and prior to that as a Trustee at the Electrical Insurance Trustees.  Brother Jennings' spirit will be greatly missed.  Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time.
 
Warren Jennings Services
December 28th 
11:30 AM
Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery & Mausoleum
6001 W. 111th Street
Alsip, IL 60803
 
Prayers out to the families of our brothers and sisters.

Prayers out to the families of our brothers who have recently passed - Chester Wnek, Gene McCutcheon, Allen Peterson, Marvin Sholar, George Hammond, Warren Jennings, Eugene Disbrow, George Stathakes, Albert Capizzi, Joseph Filion, Joseph Bialas, Robert Olsen, David Quirk, Maryalice Tosh, Carmen Falbo Jr., Walter Mader, Sydni Hacker and George Neubauer.  We will always remember you.

 
Christmas wishes come true in Tinley Park

Read the SouthtownStar's article by Hannah Kohut about how Cathy Kowski, of Tinley Park, was surprised with a Dodge Stratus as part of the 16th annual Tinley Wish program this past Saturday morning.  Other benefactors of the Tinley Wish program included Brett Lucas' family and Abby Skarbek.

The program was founded by police officer Dennis Mahoney 16 years ago.  The Tinley Park Wish program takes in nomination every year from the community for families who are in need.

Read the entire article here.

 
Dreams for Kids "Holiday for Hope" Event - December 17, 2011

Chicago, IL - December, 17, 2011 – Dreams for Kids is set to host their annual Holiday for Hope celebration event on Saturday, December 17th at the IBEW Hall, 600 W. Washington Boulevard. The event will run from 9:00AM – 4:00PM.

Holiday for Hope is the Chicago area’s largest holiday celebration for homeless and underprivileged children. This day of giving will bring over 1000 area youth and 100 volunteers together to experience a once in a lifetime holiday experience. The children will take part in a day of games, entertainment, music, magic, meetings with Santa and of course, every child will go home with a bag full of presents.

This is Dreams For Kids 22nd Holiday For Hope and it is shaping up to be our best ever. Dreams For Kids mission is to empower young people by giving them opportunities to help other young people and focuses on the engagement of at-risk groups of youth. Programs help kids build a foundation of self worth, while also obtaining the skills and experience necessary to succeed in school and life.

Thanks to the generosity of IBEW local 134 we will again have Holiday for Hope at the IBEW Hall 9am-4pm. With the founder of Dreams For Kids in attendance, we will also be welcoming specials guests Representative Derrick Smith as well as Representative Annazette Collins, Tommy Hawk (the Blackhawks Mascot), Secretary of State Jesse White and other Chicago area celebrities.

Check out video from last year’s event here.

Event organizers encourage the media to join for what is sure to be a purposeful and enriching day for not only our participants but volunteers as well. For more information on the event please contact:

Andrew Horn, COO

Dreams for Kids, National Office

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 
NOTICE: Change in start time for Membership Meetings

Please note that from this time forward, membership meetings with begin at 7:00 PM.  Membership meetings previously started at 8:00 PM, but from this time on, they will start at 7:00 PM.

 
PRAYERS OUT TO THE FAMILIES OF OUR BROTHERS

Prayers out to the families of our brothers who have recently passed -- Jordon Mann, Bernard Kurgans, Hyman Fishman, Boguslaw Curyllo, Peter Khamoo, Howard Taymor, Hubert Mertes, Richard Damato, Anthony Dalberti.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the families during this time of grieving.

 
PRAYERS OUT TO THE FAMILIES OF OUR BROTHERS

Prayers out to the families of our brothers who have recently passed -- Vallan M. Reynolds, Stanley J. Kedzior, Mario Moreno, Peter A. Delpage, Michael F. Delaurentis, August A. Bartocci, Roman Dybala, Arthur H. Ryan III, and Robert Dabrowski.  Our thoughts and prayers are always with you.

 
BUSINESS MANAGER TERRY ALLEN SPEECH TO MEMBERS 12/01/2011

Good Evening Brothers and Sisters. First let me take this opportunity to wish all of you Happy Holidays. I will keep my comments brief.  I would like to report on a few things since our last union meeting.

Last week we had a L.M.C.C. meeting. While I believe that the L.M.C.C. has been successful in the past it is time to move forward. We will no longer be spending money on radio advertising and baseball tickets.  We plan on being more hands on. We are going to rebuild are relationships in these buildings downtown building by building. We are going to use the L.M.C.C. to its full potential.

In the last month we have also met at the Apprentice training center to talk about the "B" Members education fund. The "B" members have been paying in to this fund for many years without any plan to move forward. We are working with "B" members and our counterparts at the Contractors association to change that.

I can also report that our efforts towards transparency at the Referral hall took a step forward this month with the posting of every call out on the website.

As part of any new administration there comes the responsibility of evaluating the financial health of the Local. There is an audit currently under way and I will report back to you soon.

As most of you know at the last few union meetings we have announced many cost saving items.  I reported on the reduction in the number of law firms, the savings in our I.T

spending, the updating of the Local's auto policy, and a consolidation of the Local Union staff. In these difficult economic  times we as a Local need to adapt.  I strongly encourage every member to attend the January Union meeting.

We are going to talk in great detail about the financial health of Local 134.

Thank you Brothers and Sisters

Happy Holidays

 
CHANGE IS COMING TO UNION BUTTONS!

Beginning with 2012, Local 134 will change the way quarterly union buttons are issued.  Effective with buttons for the first quarter of 2012 (January-February-March), we will issue each member only one button per year.  When the next three quarters of dues are paid, you will receive a decal to put on your union button to convert it to use for the next three quarters.

The reason for the change relates directly to the high cost of mailing the buttons.  Because of the buttons’ unusual size and shape, the U.S. Post Office cannot use its automated equipment to process the mailings. The USPS considers these pieces to be hazardous mail and adds extra postage and surcharges to the normal fees, making the mailings very expensive.  Switching to the decal system saves money.

 
Donate Toys This Thursday for "Dreams for Kids"

The IBEW Local 134 has been involved with "Dreams for Kids" for a number of years, and we're pleased to announce that we will begin collecting children's toys for the organization at Thurday's membership meeting.  "Dreams for Kids" needs toys for children ages 0-12 and especially for the older children (examples: basketballs, backpacks, etc.).  Any contribution is greatly appreciated.  Please note, though, that all gifts must come unwrapped so that the staff can organize the gifts based on age and gender before distribution.  Thank you in advance for your help and support of "Dreams for Kids"!

If you are unable to donate this Thursday, we will be accepting toys up until Tuesday, December 13th.  If shopping for toys isn't on the "to do list", but you still want to help, we will also accept cash donations, or checks made payable to "Dreams for Kids" (tax-deductible).

If you are interested in sponsoring a collection on your jobsite, please contact Karen Daly at our union hall.

Please join us for the Wrapping Party at our hall on Thursday, December 15 at 5:30pm.  Bring your friends and family!  Or consider volunteering at the Christmas Party on Saturday, December 17.  RSVP to Karen Daly at 312-474-4146.

www.DreamsForKids.org 

 
2012 WILLIAM A. LEE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

The Chicago Federation of Labor will offer five (5) academic-based scholarships and five (5) random-drawing scholarships in the amount of $2,000 to students graduating from a Chicago or suburban high school. Students or their parents must belong to a union affiliated with the Chicago Federation of Labor and may apply in only one of the two categories.  The period for submitting applications is January 1 through March 1. For more information and an application, please visit http://www.ChicagoLabor.org/scholarship 

 
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