IBEW 39th International Convention:

09/28/2016 - Closing Day and Convention Highlights Video Here

IBEW 39th International Convention Newsletters:

09/23/2016 - Friday Newsletter

09/22/2016 - Thursday Newsletter

09/21/2016 - Wednesday Newsletter

09/20/2016 - Tuesday Newsletter

09/19/2016 - Monday Newsletter 

IBEW 39th International Convention: 

09/15/2016 - Celebrating 125 Years, IBEW Returns Home

The IBEW's 39th International Convention convenes this month just a mile and a half from the St. Louis boardinghouse where 10 delegates met 125 years ago to form what would become the greatest union of electrical tradesmen and tradeswomen in the world.

We return to the banks of the Mississippi River at an important juncture for the United States, for the IBEW and for the state of Missouri.

"Coming back here to St. Louis, the birthplace of our union, is a reminder of the sacrifices our brothers and sisters have made over the years fighting for better working conditions, higher wages and secure retirements," said International President Lonnie R. Stephenson. "We owe them so much, and it's a privilege to be here in this city celebrating their contributions to our way of life."

In 1890, when Henry Miller arrived in St. Louis, the booming Gateway City was a hotbed of labor activism. That year, Miller and other electricians working at the city's grand Exposition Hall formed Local 5221, affiliated with Samuel Gompers' American Federation of Labor. But Miller had bigger dreams, and just a year later, he and nine delegates from around the country came together at 2728 Franklin Ave. and drew up the constitution for what became the National Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

With that legacy in mind, and in the shadow of the city's famous Gateway Arch, more than 3,000 IBEW delegates, alternates and guests will gather this month to elect leaders, debate laws and resolutions and to celebrate the Brotherhood and its origins in St. Louis.

And this year, convention delegates plan to give back to the city, holding the IBEW's inaugural Day of Service on Sept. 15. Delegates and guests will fan out across St. Louis to volunteer at homeless shelters, food banks, local parks, ballfields and more. "It's a fitting way to head into our convention," Stephenson said, "to give back to a community that has given us so much."

St. Louis Local 1 and the Electrical Workers Historical Society will also cut the ribbon on the Henry Miller Museum, the boardinghouse restored during the past year to open in time for the convention. Hundreds of IBEW members and local unions have generously donated to its preservation, and they’ll soon have the opportunity to visit the place they helped make a reality.

The convention also comes to Missouri — always a presidential battleground state — at a moment when the country is poised to make fundamental decisions about the future. In Jefferson City last year, Gov. Jay Nixon’s veto was the only thing standing between the state’s working people and a disastrous right-to-work law. Since IBEW delegates last convened in 2011, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and West Virginia have passed right-to-work laws and IBEW members and working families have been forced to fight dozens of attacks on prevailing wage laws across the country. “Between now and November, we’ve got the opportunity to choose leaders who will lift working people up instead of blaming them for wanting to earn a living wage or to come together to improve their lot in life,” Stephenson said. “By working together to elect allies in November, we can help ensure the legacy of our founding fathers lives on for another 125 years.”

Source:http://www.ibew.org/articles/16ElectricalWorker/EW1609/IBEW%20EW%20V10%20N09.pdf

 Member Volunteer Spotlight:

09/15/2016 - Tyler Gardiner, an Equipment Operator who volunteered at the Fort Wayne Labor Day Celebration for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 1393 out of Indianapolis, blows up balloons to pass out to children. “We work in a profession that’s never going to be taken over by a robot or a computer, and you got to have people that are willing to show up for work every day,” Gardiner says. “Coming out here and handing balloons to kids, maybe they’ll see this is something they want to do.”

Heat Sickness is Preventable:

07/14/16 - “Heat can kill,” warned the head of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, David Michaels, as he kicked off the agency’s summer campaign raising awareness of heat-related illnesses. “Dozens of workers die from heat exposure every year. Every heat-related death we investigate was preventable.”

Each year, over 200 workers are hospitalized while working in hot conditions and in 2014 alone more than 2,600 reported suffering from heat stroke or exhaustion.

“Sometimes workers are unable to realize that they’re suffering through a heat-related illness,” IBEW Director of Safety and Health David Mullen said. “When they finally realize it, it’s too late.”

OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention Campaign aims to remind workers to drink water every 15 minutes and rest in the shade to cool down.

Symptoms of heat stroke include red, hot and dry skin, high body temperature, confusion and body convulsions. Indicators for heat exhaustion include dizziness, headaches, weakness, cramps and nausea.

“When you can identify the symptoms, you’re not only keeping yourself safe, you’re keeping all of your co-workers safe.” Mullen said.

These warning signs can afflict anyone who works in extreme heat, with the most at risk group being new workers.

“Fatalities most often occur to workers that have been on the job only a few days or less,” Michaels said, because it takes time to become acclimated to work environments.

Those working outdoors, in spaces where temperatures are not regulated and around hot machinery are most susceptible, though workers who frequently move between hot and cool environments can experience the adverse effects of heat as well.

The IBEW’s Safety and Health webpage, ibew.org/Safety-Health, contains a list of ways to protect members from heat-related illness. OSHA’s water-rest-shade campaign site, osha.gov/heat, also offers information along with training modules and worksite posters. The site also contains a Heat Safety Tool app for the Android and iOS platforms, which calculates the heat index for individual worksites and displays a risk level to outdoor workers.

Every heat related death is preventable. Stay safe this summer by arming yourself with the knowledge to prevent heat-related illnesses.

Source: http://www.ibew.org/media-center/Articles/16Daily/1607/160713_OSHA_Heat

Reminder - Charity Golf Outing on July 16, 2016!

07/05/16 - The money raised will benefit the Richard M. Fairbanks Burn Center at Eskenazi Health which is one of only 64 burn centers in the United States that is verified by the American College of Surgeons and the American Burn Association. Regarded as one of the finest and most progressive burn centers in the United States, the facility utilizes the most advanced medical techniques and equipment available in the treatment of burns. It was the first burn center in the state and is the only adult burn center that serves Central and Southern Indiana. The Richard M. Fairbanks Burn Center at Eskenazi Health, located on the fourth floor of the Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital in downtown Indianapolis.

Please plan on joining us for this great event. We still have a few spots open! Contact the Hall for details and click here to download the form.

Friendly competition at the 2016 Duke Energy Midwest Lineman's Rodeo:

06/28/16 - The annual rodeo hosts Duke Energy linemen from the midwest (IBEW 1393 & 1347) in a series of challenges to see who's the best. Check out the video from the event below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZJiDiey6ek

We're continuing to accept clothing and items for the Randolph family:

06/21/16 - Thank you to our Members and those of other Locals in the state that have assisted the family. Those donations made it to the family on Monday evening. We expect to make another delivery by this Friday.

Looking to help Brother Randolph's family? See Below:

06/13/16 - Brother Randolph's surviving wife (Laken), and Children (Piper, Caroline, & Rhett) are in need of clothing and shoes. Items may be collected and given to your Union Steward. Please have these items turned over to your Steward by Friday, June 17.

A flyer may be downloaded by clicking here. 

Union Stewards: Contact Michael Miller (Local 1393’s Organizer) at 317-670-0063 by the evening of Friday, June 17 to coordinate pickup of donations. Donations will likely be picked up on Sunday and/or Monday, so make sure to have the donated items accessible.

Clothing sizes are listed below:

Laken (Mother):

Piper (Daughter):

Caroline (Daughter):

Rhett (Son):

Local 1393 Mourns the Loss of Jarrod Randolph

06/13/16 – Brother Randolph was 27, a Member of IBEW Local 1393 and an employee at Vectren Energy. He was from Mitchell, IN and worked in Bloomington, IN. He perished in a house fire very early Saturday morning on June 11, 2016. His wife, Laken, and three young children, Piper, Caroline, & Rhett, were able to escape the blaze safely. The visitation will be held from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM this Tuesday, with the funeral service at 11:00 AM this Wednesday.

The funeral home is:

A fund has been started to assist his surviving spouse and three children with expenses. The contact person at the bank is Teresa Holler. Information for the fund is below:

Jarrod’s obituary may be found here: http://daycarter.com/tribute/details/2899/Jarrod-Randolph/obituary.html

Local Witnesses Fourth Generation IBEW 1393 Journeyman Lineman

06/11/16 - On the same evening of our executive board meeting each month, is an opportunity for our apprentices to take their journeyman’s exam. It’s always a special time for the apprentices topping out, but this last time it was a little extra special for one of them.

Some things are common in families. Maybe it’s that quirky trait, or other times it might be a shared hobby such as hunting or fishing that is so irresistible, other’s might say it’s just in your blood. For the Breeden family, it’s all about being IBEW Linemen. The family tradition began when Frank Breeden joined Local B-9 in 1935 (Local 1393 was formed out of B-9 in 1944). Our records indicate that Frank retired from Local 1393 on January 1, 1970. In 1952, Frank’s son, William, started with our local. He passed the Journeyman’s exam on June 16, 1955 and retired in 1990. William’s son, Michael Breeden, was a lineman with Duke Energy from 1974-2012. Michael has two sons which are lineman through our Local. Jay, which passed his exam on June 18, 2015, and William, which passed his exam on May 19, 2016. William also took over duties as Steward for the Loogootee District Office (Duke Energy).

William’s brother, his father, and his grandfather were all present for the moment that Will passed his examination, and earned the title, Journeyman Lineman. It was a special moment for all to witness. To see such a dedication to both the craft, and to the Union ideals, is quite a sight. We hope to see family traditions such as this continue for many years to come.

Savings for Union Members only:

06/03/16 - Did you know of the many discounts to Union Members only that are available through Union Plus? Discounts on financial services, vehicle purchases, new wireless phone plans, & travel discounts are just the beginning.

New Transformer Delivered North of Bloomington

5/25/16 - A new 200,000 pound transformer was delivered to the joint Duke Energy/Hoosier Energy substation last week. The delivery was a multi-step process and included delivery by rail to Martinsville, IN, where it was then loaded on a special self-propelled platform trailer and transported to the substation two days later. The delivery required the assistance of the Indiana State Police to facilitate traffic control.

How safe is your employer?

05/19/16 - The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced sweeping new public disclosure requirements for workplace injuries and illnesses on May 11, ushering in a new era of transparency and accountability for employers who were previously able to hide safety records from employees, investors and the general public.

Under the old law, OSHA required employers in high-hazard industries to keep a record of injuries and illnesses, but little if any of that information ever became public or was even reported directly to the agency.

Employers were only obligated to file an annual summary of incidents, which provided little useful information. The new rule takes those requirements a step further, modernizing the reporting system and increasing transparency by making the new data publicly available on the internet.

“We welcome this new OSHA rule as a positive step toward holding employers accountable for workplace safety problems,” said IBEW International President Lonnie R. Stephenson. “Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis once said, ‘Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants,’ and that holds true for employers’ safety records just as it does for restaurants’ sanitation ratings or campaign donation disclosures. More information helps consumers, employees and citizens make better-informed choices.”

Regulators hope the new rule will lead not just to better reporting and research on workplace injuries, but to employers taking active steps to protect their workers on the job. Government statistics show that more than 3 million workers suffer a workplace injury or illness every year.

“High injury rates are a sign of poor management,” said David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health, in announcing the new rule. “No employer wants to be seen publicly as operating a dangerous workplace.

“Our new reporting requirements will ‘nudge’ employers to prevent worker injuries and illnesses to demonstrate to investors, job seekers, customers and the public that they operate safe and well-managed facilities,” Michaels said.

In addition to the disclosure requirements, the new rule also strengthens protections for employees so that those who report injuries and illnesses can do so without fear of retaliation.

“The beefed-up employee protections are especially important to the accuracy of these reports,” said IBEW Director of Safety David Mullen. “Too many employers claim to have a culture of safety when their policies really serve to discourage reporting of injuries and illnesses. OSHA has really gone a long way here to make sure accidents are reported accurately and that the data is made available to the public.”

The new requirements take effect on August 10, with data submissions phased in starting in 2017. OSHA and researchers will be eagerly awaiting the results, which should create the largest publicly available data set on workplace injuries and illnesses.

“Access to injury data will help OSHA better target compliance assistance and enforcement resources, and enable ‘big data’ researchers to apply their skills to making workplaces safer,” Michaels said.

“That’s a great thing for everyone,” said Stephenson. “We hope this new rule will lead to a lot more information about why accidents happen and to better ways to prevent them in the future. Every working person deserves to come home as healthy as they were when they left for the job.”

http://www.ibew.org/media-center/Articles/16Daily/1605/160513_HowSafe

Thanks to our Generation Members:

05/09/16 - Many of our members work in Generating Stations. These members do vital work in providing generation capacity to the grid not only here in Indiana, but throughout the Midwest.

The work is performed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Often, the work hours are long. A twelve hour shift is a typical work day. Shifts are rotating, so our members may be working days on one week, and nights the next. The work conditions are rarely pleasant. High heat and humidity, combined with high noise levels, can make for a very long day inside the dimly lit, dusty and damp power plant.

Tool Promotion Assists our Apprentices:

05/06/16 - Milwaukee Tools is running a promotion that if you purchase some select tools from them, they'll donate some free products to our training center!

We mourn with IBEW Local 369:

The Senate has passed the first comprehensive, bipartisan energy bill since 2007:

04/25/16

The Members look to ride again for charity in 2017:

04/21/16 - The charity motorcycle ride to benefit the families of patients at the Richard M. Fairbanks Burn Center at Eskenazi Health was a great success! Over $500 was raised for our first ever event!

We couldn't have asked for nicer weather. The ride begun at IndyWest Harley Davidson, with our first stop at the American Legion in Martinsville. From there, the riders took scenic Route 252 on the way to Brown County to stop at the Pine Room Tavern. Our next stop was at the Bloomington Harley Davidson, which graciously gave away a few shirts to the participants. Our final stop was at a picnic shelter overlooking beautiful Lake Monroe for a cook out. Everyone had a great time and we look forward to holding another (and bigger!) event next year. A great big thank you to the volunteers that made this event possible!

Today is our 72nd Anniversary!

04/21/16 - Those seventy two years have seen the Local fight corporate greed and protect the Members’ livelihood. We have continued to show that our Members provide the best value in the industry with quality training and strong safety practices. Within the last few years, the Local has seen many changes to continue the march forward. There has been a significant increase in communication to the Membership utilizing tools such as email/texting services, a brand new web site, and social media. During this time the Local has also become involved in supporting community events as well as reaching out to our schools to educate students about union ideals and career opportunities in our industry.

Our beginnings as Local 1393:

04/20/16 - Our 1st Business Manager was a man by the name of Edwin Sager. We don't know much about him, but it's believed that he was from Terre Haute.

The location of our 1st Union Hall was at 130 E. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN. We had a room on the 11th floor of the building. Pictured is the building as it appeared in 1946.

How have we grown?

04/19/16 - Local Union 1393 was chartered on April 21st, 1944. The Local was granted jurisdiction over electric light and power, and all outside electrical construction work by then International President E.J. Brown. Since that time, we've grown to represent over 2700 Members at multiple companies covered by over 35 Collective Bargaining Agreements.

It's our 72nd anniversary this week as Local 1393!

04/18/16 - Seventy two years ago, leading up to an election petition for Public Service Company of Indiana (today known as Duke Energy Indiana) Local 1393 was formed into it's own. Prior to this, we were originally part of IBEW Local 9, which dates back to January 14th, 1892. We were then known as Local B-9.

Charity Golf Outing on July 16, 2016!

04/18/16 - The money raised will benefit the Richard M. Fairbanks Burn Center at Eskenazi Health which is one of only 64 burn centers in the United States that is verified by the American College of Surgeons and the American Burn Association. Regarded as one of the finest and most progressive burn centers in the United States, the facility utilizes the most advanced medical techniques and equipment available in the treatment of burns. It was the first burn center in the state and is the only adult burn center that serves Central and Southern Indiana. The Richard M. Fairbanks Burn Center at Eskenazi Health, located on the fourth floor of the Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital in downtown Indianapolis.

Please plan on joining us for this great event. There will be a limit of 144 golfers, which will fill fast. Register early to secure your spot. You may download the form by clicking here. Forms and payments must be returned to the Union Hall by June 17, 2016.

High Voltage DC is coming to the midwest:

04/11/16 - It's a rather uncommon sight to see high voltage DC lines in the midwest, but they're coming. IBEW International President Lonnie Stephenson recently issued the following statement regarding the Plains and Eastern Clean Line:

“The transmission project will have the capacity to deliver 4,000 megawatts of low-cost, clean wind energy... That’s enough electricity to power more than one million homes annually. 

“That not only means more affordable, clean energy for America. It means thousands of good construction and maintenance jobs, which will give the region a needed economic boost. 

“The Energy Department recognizes that our nation desperately needs billions of dollars in new investment in our electrical infrastructure, which can lower costs and provide millions of people easy access to alternative, non-carbon emitting energy sources such as wind and solar.

“As the president of the largest union of electrical workers in North America, I am committed to working with lawmakers, community activists and business leaders to build an energy infrastructure that will power the American economy in the 21st century."

We have a similar project that will be terminating in the Sullivan, IN area, called the Grain Belt Express Clean Line. The construction is being done by IBEW Members through PAR Electric.

Where the IBEW was born:

04/04/16 - The IBEW museum project going on with Local 1 in St. Louis is well underway. Extensive work has been required to repair the building in which Henry Miller lived during the forming of the NBEW, which is today known as the IBEW. For more information about the project, check out the following links:

http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/st-louis-boardinghouse-where-a-union-was-born-will-be/article_43f901f5-1eb2-5c63-a42b-10248c397a3e.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share

http://www.nbew-ibewmuseum.org/

New Department of Labor Rule to provide transparency when Union Busters are used during organizing drives:

03/28/16 - Did you know that employers can often employ third-party consultants - known as Union Busters - to craft anti-union messages without workers’ knowledge?

To increase the transparency of these relationships, the U.S. Department of Labor will be clarifying section 203 of the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA). In the coming months, these employer-consultant agreements—commonly called “persuader agreements”—are required to be reported, in addition to the information commonly reported by unions on organizing expenditures.

While the rule takes effect on April 25, 2016, it will be start to be applicable to arrangements, agreements, and payments made on or after July 1, 2016.

“With workers having a better understanding of the true source of persuader communications, worker-supervisor and other workplace relationships are likely to proceed more smoothly no matter what is decided regarding union representation,” said Office of Labor-Management Standards Director Michael Hayes.

Previously, the LMRDA contained a loophole whereby employers were allowed to hire consultants without workers’ knowledge—as long as the consultants did not directly contact employees. Now, reporting is required on “actions, conduct or communications that are undertaken with an object, explicitly or implicitly, directly or indirectly, to affect an employee’s decisions regarding his or her representation or collective bargaining rights.”

“This new rule will allow workers to know whether the messages they’re hearing are coming directly from their employer or from a paid, third-party consultant,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. “Full disclosure of persuader agreements gives workers the information they need to make informed choices about how they pursue their rights to organize and bargain collectively. As in all elections, more information means better decisions.”

To find out more information on the final rule, click here to visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s website.

Sign up soon for the Motorcycle Benefit Ride!

 

02/29/16 - The RENEW Committee of IBEW Local 1393 has been hard at work organizing a charity motorcycle ride to benefit the families of patients at the Richard M. Fairbanks Burn Center at Eskenazi Health. The event will take place on Saturday, April 16th. The registration fee will be $50 per rider and you'll receive a shirt and a pin for participating in the event. You must register by March 31st!

Click here to register!

IBEW Local 1393 forms a Motorcycle Riding Group:

02/26/16 - The winter weather will soon be coming to an end, and with the warmer temperatures approaching many of our Members will be opening their garages and getting out their motorcycles.

Those machines for many are ways to escape the stresses of our work, and to form bonds of friendship with other riders. With this in mind, our Local has been seeking some assistance from Local 3 (New York City, NY) which has had a motorcycle group for over 20 years. This is a trend that has been happening at a lot of Locals across the United States as the Members look for a way to ride together.

A few Members in the Ft. Wayne area have taken the initiative to oversee the group. You can find their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/Ibew1393MotorcycleGroup/?fref=ts

Asplundh Tree negotiations for this week have been delayed:

02/16/16 - We had negotiations scheduled for Asplundh Tree Members that work on Indiana & Michigan Power property scheduled for today, the 16th, and they have been delayed until March 29th. Some of the company representatives were unable to make it due to weather delays in other parts of the United States.

The negotiations scheduled for Asplundh Tree Members that work on Heartland REMC property were scheduled for February 18th. They have been delayed until March 30th due to a death in the family of one of the company representatives this week.

Upcoming Motorcycle Charity Ride

02/11/16 - We're planning a charity ride for April 16th starting in Plainfield and finishing at Lake Monroe. Proceeds will benefit families of patients at the Richard M. Fairbanks Burn Center at Eskenazi Health. More information is coming soon!

Scholarship for Union families:

01/28/16 - For the past 22 years, Union Plus has distributed over 3.7 million scholarship dollars to working families. This year's scholarship application is available until January 31, 2016. Head to UnionPlus.org/Scholarship to learn more and apply. 

We're on our way!

01/21/16 - Approximately 250 of our Members in Construction are now preparing, or already on their way, to the east coast to assist with the incoming winter storm that is set to make a large impact for much of the eastern United States. That number is likely to grow as Members that work for electric utility companies in the state may be sent to assist as well. We look forward to their safe return!

Safety improves under the IBEW's Code of Excellence program:

01/19/16 - As IBEW members, we take on-the-job excellence seriously...

The Code of Excellence is turning heads around the industry. Our work leaves no margin for error and no room for mistakes. We’re the best – thanks to our Code of Excellence

The IBEW’s Code of Excellence program ensures that everyone is on the same page when it comes to a job. Our unique approach, a partnership jointly administered by both labor and management, allows our Members to be more productive. Emphasis is placed on communication, leading to increasing returns on worker productivity, job site efficiency and accountability.

Being competitive is about more than just wages and compensation. It’s also about efficiency and accountability. Through classroom training and continuing education, each worker has a clearly defined role and conduct expectation on each job site.

Each Member in the IBEW is expected to adhere to the strictest standards of professionalism. This creates increased confidence about the value provided by IBEW workers and signatory contractors.

By setting clear standards of conduct, accountability procedures and working to educate members, IBEW workers and their employers are the best value in the business.

Check out this video about FPL's decrease in accidents due to the Code of Excellence program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmdGxF1rqvM

Union Plus has a mortgage program for all life stages:

01/11/16 - Whether you’re looking to downsize your home, relocate to a warmer climate or initiate improvements to make your home more comfortable, check out the mortgage program built for Union Members here. Active and retired Members are eligible!

From the Founder of the Nation's Labor Law:

01/04/16 -