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Tribute to Bro. Fuller

L.U. 910 (i&rts), WATERTOWN, NY—Graduates of the Watertown JATC apprentice program for 2005 completed their training in June. Congratulations to our new journeymen: Dale Baker, Mark Bourdeau, Elvis Rasco, Richard Santor, Jeffrey Bast, Eric Bush, Shaun Maculy, Russell Neadom and Shane Premo.

Our members can be proud of their part in Massena Solidarity Labor Day parade. Our retirees’ wagons and horses won third place.

Bro. Donald Fuller is hanging up his test leads and chalk after 37 years as an apprentice instructor. Don started teaching our program in 1968 and was most recently the fifth-year class instructor. He has taught each year of the program and for some time, he taught two classes a week. Don was initiated into membership in 1957. He worked with Harron’s Electric, Brown and Tenney, and Shelly Electric, often as a foreman or general foreman. He retired from electrical work in 1995 after 38 years in the trade. He holds a degree in Electrical Technology from Canton and graduated from the NJATC National Training Institute in Knoxville, TN.

Local 910 thanks Bro. Fuller for his many years of dedication to training our members.

Roger LaPlatney, P.S.

Year’s End

Local 1116 Bro. Charlie Dilday (left) receives Lineman’s Rodeo T-shirt design award.

L.U. 1116 (em,lctt&u), TUCSON, AZ—Once again Bro. Curtis Brooks organized a great time for our members and their families at this year’s annual union picnic; with the assistance from union volunteers it was a great success. Thank you, Curtis, for your hard work and dedication.

Bro. Charlie Dilday’s Lineman’s Rodeo T-shirt design was a big hit at the Linemen’s Rodeo; Charlie received first place for the shirt design.

Congratulations to recent Local 1116 apprentice graduates. These new journeyman are: Bro. Merle Bradley, selected “outstanding apprentice of the year” as an electronics technician; Bros. John Ledesma and Tom Tovar (relay technicians); and Bros. Brian Hurley, Matthew Behncke, Estevan Jaimez and Daniel Tellez (linemen/cablemen).

Sincere best wishes to all our military personnel and those affected by hurricanes this year.

Have a safe holiday season and a prosperous 2006.

Richard Cavaletto, P.S.

Co-op Contract Ratified

L.U. 2286 (o&u), BEAUMONT, TX—The Jasper-Newton Electric Cooperative first contract was voted on Sept. 1, 2005, and unanimously accepted, after a two-year battle.

On Sept. 11, 2003, the NLRB conducted an election for Line, Service and Right-of-Way employees. Employees won and negotiations began. The cooperative was obstinate during negotiations with minimal movement, which induced a decertification vote in October 2004; the employees voted again for union representation.

In May 2005 the NLRB issued an Unfair Labor Practice complaint against the cooperative for violations of the National Labor Relations Act. The cooperative implemented wage cuts of as much as 27 percent along with cuts to benefits. On July 13, 2005, the cooperative’s attorney notified Bus. Mgr. Randy Albin that on July 14, 2005, the cooperative would implement impasse.

The community rallied around the workers with letters, phone calls and gatherings in the cooperatives’ parking lot. Citizens attended board meetings on behalf of employees. With this, the cooperative reinstated employees’ wages and benefits. In August, after another citizen-attended board meeting, the cooperative contacted Bus. Mgr. Albin stating it would negotiate the final details of the contract. Congratulations!

Kitty Prouse, P.S.

Heroic Action

L.U. 2324 (t), SPRINGFIELD, MA—Our local commends Bro. Jason Mitchell, who, assisted by his union brothers, acted courageously to save a life.

Bro. Mitchell is a journeyman splicer at the Verizon garage in Pittsfield, MA. As he returned to the garage one day after work, Jason was shocked by what he saw.

A car had driven down the embankment that abuts the garage parking lot. The car was halfway down the hill and flames shot out from underneath. Smoke billowed around the car—and Jason saw an elderly gentleman sitting in the driver’s seat. Jason ran down to assess the situation and saw the man was trapped. Jason dashed into the garage to get his union brothers, and they all ran back to the car. Joined by Bro. Dan Lawson, Jason opened the door and assured the man they would get him out. Although smoke created lack of visibility, Jason managed to release the seatbelt and pull the driver to safety. Bro. Mike Fiero helped bring the man up the hill, while Bro. Paul Pharmer put out the fire with a hose. Thanks to the bravery of Jason Mitchell and his union brothers, disaster was averted. Such heroic action inspires us all.

Paul mark, Steward/P.S.

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