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In an upgrade that leapfrogs several generations in technology, the IBEW is transitioning from its 1970s-era mainframe computer system to one of the most highly advanced record-keeping systems available. The change will result in a more efficient use of member dues money and make administering the day-to-day business of the organization easier-providing a direct benefit to local unions.

The change, which is the biggest in 30 years in the unions administration, is set to occur on December 1, 2003.

"Were moving into the future," said Larry Neidig, IBEW Senior Executive Assistant to the International President and International Secretary-Treasurer. "This is going to mean less paper, less mail and faxes. Its also going to be easier, more efficient and less costly."

It has taken four years to complete the changeover from the old COBOL-based mainframe to the new fourth-generation relational database, which will have an impact on locals and district offices, and the International Office. The most dramatic change will be felt in the Per Capita Membership and Pension and Death Claims departments, where an entirely new Microsoft Windows-compatible program will replace three systems that still rely on carbon copy printouts from dot-matrix printers.

The new system will give computer users, primarily in the International Office, a superior database that provides more powerful methods of retrieving data, without the help of computer staff. "Within the last 30 years, with the architecture weve had, seeking certain data required meeting with the computer staff," said Richard Shepler, Computer Services Department director. "In many cases we would need to write [computer] programs. Now the end user has at their fingertips the ability to extract information instantly."

Reports may be compiled in several different formats at any time, and unlike the old system, they dont have to be printed. They can be saved electronically or e-mailed, Shepler said, giving users an enormous amount of flexibility they didnt have before. Security and privacy have been major considerations in the development of the program, so access to the database will be limited and users will enter only through secure connections.

Custom-tailored to meet the specifications of the IBEW Constitution, the new system will track members dues payments and various transactions such as name changes, membership transfers, withdrawals, and much more, said Per Capita Department Director Dmytro Halkyn. In addition, this system will feature a searchable cache of historical membership records and back issues of the IBEW Journal dating to the publications inception in 1893.

In general, it will make it easier to keep track of the organizations finances. And streamlined procedures will free up time of local union staff for other tasks to better serve members.

The new system will not require locals to drastically change how they provide information to the International Office-at least initially, Shepler said. For those local union offices using computerized programs to process dues accounting, grievance and job referral data, a looming ICS Windows upgrade may call for a corresponding hardware upgrade too. Local unions that send in hand-written journal sheets should continue to do so, but there will be some minor changes to activity codes the new system will introduce. For details on procedural changes, locals should watch for letters from the International Office.

Another important benefit of the more efficient new system, called TIMSS (the "T" stands for TMA Resources-the company that developed the program-and the rest stand for Integrated Member Services Solution), is the cost savings. Better methods of retrieving, deciphering and analyzing data result in incalculable cost savings, Shepler said. What previously required nine Computer Services Department staff to accomplish can be done by three using the new system.

Local unions will be better served when the new system is up and running, because of the faster turnaround of per capita processing, pension and death claims and assistance for local unions who need information about their members.

The next phase of a continuing technical upgrade, Shepler said, could include installation of an additional T-1 line to bring the web site www.ibew.org in-house. Today, its server is off-site at an AT&T server farm.

Journal and Media Department Director C. James Spellane said the organization is relying more and more on the web site to increase the level of interactivity between the district offices, field staff, organizers and local unions. The web unit of the Journal and Media Department works with numerous other departments of the International Office to facilitate the flow of information across the organization.

Recent additions to the web site, www.ibew.org include a new organizing reporting system that allows organizers to log on to enter monthly reports as well as to query information and coordinate campaigns with other organizers. Another tool available soon on the web site is a mapping system that traces the jurisdictional lines of local unions. It also contains a virtual "tramp guide" with officers and contact numbers listed for each local.

The old sheet-fed printer and tape back-up will be replaced with a state-of-the-art system.

At some point the International Office is hoping to install a single server database that allows off-site users to enter information on the web, where it is stored-rather than printed and re-entered as it is now-and integrated and validated directly in the database, Shepler said.

In preparation for that change, Shepler recommends that the local unions install a high-speed data line with a good computer and a secure hook-up. "Wed like to be as accessible, yet secure, and as interactive as possible," he said.

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