Author Archives: Maggie Young

Wage Theft Scheme Results In Jail Time And Fine For Contractor

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In November, Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh announced that Sergio Blanco, 49, pleaded guilty before the District Court for Baltimore City to stealing wages from an employee of his contracting company, BAC Contractors, Inc (BAC).

Blanco was sentenced to six months in jail with all but 50 days suspended, followed by three years of supervised probation upon release. Pursuant to a plea agreement, Blanco prepaid $50,000 in restitution which will be made available to certain workers his company underpaid in violation of Maryland’s prevailing wage laws.

“When employers steal wages from their employees, they commit a crime,” said Attorney General Frosh. “Mr. Blanco will pay a stiff penalty for exploiting his workers. More importantly, the workers who were victimized by Mr. Blanco’s fraud will receive restitution.”

Read entire press release

Wage theft happens every day in the construction industry. Contractors who cheat are not only stealing from their employees, but from every Maryland taxpayer. If you or someone you know has been a victim of Wage Theft, contact IBEW Local 24 at (410) 247-5511

ConCor Networks, Inc. Joins The IBEW Local #24 Family

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Local 24 is proud to welcome ConCor Networks, Inc., an EMCOR company, as our newest signatory contractor. ConCor is an employer that values training, skill and experience. By joining the IBEW family, ConCor has demonstrated that its workforce deserves the excellent pay, comprehensive benefits and safe working conditions that come with IBEW union membership.

Thirty of ConCor Networks, Inc.’s current employees were sworn in at our regular membership meeting on Tuesday, December 28, 2021. Please join us in welcoming our new members and signatory contractor.

Offshore Wind Farm Hearing Dates Set

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Members wanted to speak in support of Ocean City, MD wind farm during Public Service Commission (PSC) online virtual meetings on September 28 and 30.

The IBEW has established a clear record of support for wind farms and the clean energy they produce. Wind power is a source of great union jobs, both during construction and for day-to-day operation. Now that things are moving forward related to the offshore wind farm to be built off the coast of Ocean City, MD, it is time to rally Local 24 members and retirees to show our support.

Local 24 Business Manager Mike McHale is asking members to volunteer to testify in favor of the project during two PSC meetings on Tuesday, September 28, at 6:00 pm and Thursday September 30, at 6:00 pm. Because the hearings are virtual, no travel will be required in order to testify.

The Baltimore and DC Building Trades, with which Local 24 is affiliated, will provide talking points to all members who sign up to testify. The talking points will be a great resource in helping to develop testimony. If you are able to testify at one of the hearings, please send an email to NCaruso@ibewlocal24.org to get the ball rolling.

Presiden Biden Celebrated Labor Day with IBEW Members

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President Biden spent the day dedicated to workers with members of the IBEW.

Along with IBEW President Lonnie Stephenson, President Biden delivered sandwiches to members of Wilmington, DE Local 313 on Labor Day, Sept. 6.

He played cornhole and chatted with about 35 members of the local union. An article about the event described a moment when “the president began talking into an iPhone to a union member’s mom, telling her that he’d been with the union since he was first elected to public office in the early 1970s.”

“I’m with your son,” Biden said. “Mom, I wish you were here. I just stopped by to thank these guys. Happy Labor Day.”

IBEW International President Lonnie Stephenson called Biden “a longtime friend of working families and the IBEW.”

Stephenson wrote in February 2020, “Joe Biden has listened to IBEW members, and his energy policy has been shaped by deep, meaningful conversations with the professionals who will build and maintain the energy grid of the future.”

Biden’s interest in getting IBEW members’ point of view was further evidenced when Local 24 member Cory McCray, a state senator in the Maryland General Assembly, was recently invited to the White House.

Read the IBEW’s BUILDING AMERICA BACK BETTER newsletter for the whole story.

President Biden’s Agenda Is Working For The IBEW

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Negotiating A Bipartisan Deal With Congress For More Jobs, Cleaner Infrastructure

President Joe Biden proposed the largest investment in American
infrastructure since World War II back in March. Four weeks later,
he renewed his call for the $2.3 trillion American Jobs Plan during
an address to Congress, with the IBEW at the heart of his pitch.
Today, President Biden and Congress are working to pass a bill
that will upgrade America’s flagging infrastructure, better position
the U.S. as a global competitor and aggressively combat climate
change.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework deal that was
announced on June 24 includes plans to modernize the electric
grid, expand access to broadband internet, invest and electrify
the transportation sector, including public passenger rail, ports,
roads, bridges and airports. The framework will create and
sustain good-paying union jobs with strong labor protections.

“This is a once-in-a-generation chance to set America on a path to prosperity and prevail in the global economic challenges
we currently face,” said IBEW President Lonnie Stephenson.

Read the IBEW’s BUILD BACK BETTER newsletter for the whole story.

Members Can Schedule Virtual One-On-Ones With Prudential Retirement Counselors

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Whether you’re already financially savvy or looking to be more informed- why not take advantage of this opportunity for your financial future? You can register via IBEW LU 24 Labor Power App or the Labor Power website at https://ibew24.workingsystems.com/. The link to Register is in the “Announcement Section” on both the App and Website.

Instructions for our Labor Power app can be found here.

IBEW and NECA Announce End Date For National Disease Emergency Response Agreement (NDERA)

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The NDERA was established more than a year ago in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. Leaders from the IBEW and NECA recognized the need for our members to have decision-making capacity to protect their health during a worldwide pandemic, and our contractors’ need to have greater flexibility to protect their business as the economy suffered.

Now that greater numbers of Americans are getting vaccinated every day and our lives are moving toward a “new normal”, both parties agree that it will soon be time to suspend the NDERA. Therefore, earlier this week the IBEW and NECA agreed to suspend the agreement as of June 1, 2021. A copy of the signed agreement is below.