Category Archives: IBEW Local 24

Scholarship Honors IBEW Founders And Aims To Strengthen Electrical Industry

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Awarded only to IBEW members

 

 

The IBEW Founders’ Scholarship honors the dedicated wiremen and linemen who, on November 28, 1891, organized the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Each year the officers of the IBEW are pleased to offer its working members scholarships on a competitive basis. It is hoped that the awards will not only contribute to the personal development of our members but also steward the electrical industry that our founders envisioned.

The award is for $200 per semester credit hour at any accredited college or university toward an associate’s, bachelor’s or postgraduate degree in an approved field. The maximum distribution is $24,000 per person over a period not to exceed eight years. Scholarship application deadline is Wednesday, May 1, 2019.

Click here for Rules for Entry and printable application.

Midwest Flooding Impact On Sav-RX Is Minimal

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Our prescription drug service, Sav-Rx, has notified us that the catastrophic flooding in the Midwest should not delay the delivery of any of your orders.

However, you may experience a bit longer wait time if you call their customer service – sadly, many Sav-Rx employees’ homes have been damaged and their call center is operating with a reduced workforce.

Deals On Tools, Boots And Workwear Highlight Annual Substance Testing Event

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The annual testing for the Local 24/N.E.C.A. Substance Abuse Program is quickly approaching and your drug-free card may be due to expire. The following dates have been scheduled for the testing of Journeyman Wireman, Apprentices, VDV, CW and CE classifications:

THURSDAY         MARCH 21, 2019, 3:00 – 6:00 PM
FRIDAY                 MARCH 22, 2019, 3:00 – 6:00 PM
SATURDAY          MARCH 23, 2019, 8:00 – 11:00 AM
All testing on Saturday will be held at the Electrical Training Center

All Apprentices and CW’s will be tested at Electrical Training Center, 2699 W. Patapsco Avenue, Baltimore, MD. 21230.
Journeyman, VDV, and CE’s will be tested at the Union Hall, 2701 West Patapsco Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21230.

 This program is mandatory for the Apprentices and CW’s and voluntary for all others. If you wish to test at a time or site more convenient to your schedule or home please contact Mobile Medical Corp. @ 877-201-7474 to schedule your test. On any job where substance abuse testing is required, you must have a current Local 24/N.E.C.A. Card. If you were selected for a random test during the course of the year, you are not required to test again for one year from the random testing date.

For Local 24 members that participate in the Drug Free Program on these dates or have a current Drug Free Card, there will be cash only Tool/Boot Sale held in conjunction with the testing. The tools and steel-toed boots sale will be located at the Training Center on the same dates and times as the testing. The prices of all tools and steel-toed work boots have been subsidized by the Maryland Electrical Industry Labor Management Cooperative Committee (MEILMCC). Enclosed is a list of tools and steel-toed work boots with prices.

Again this year Carhartt products and accessories will be sold at discounted prices in the Training Center. A portion of sales benefit the 24Brotherhood Fund.

Should you have any questions regarding the testing or the program procedures, please contact John Rankin at the Local Union Office, 410-247-5511. Apprentices and CW’s should contact the JATC Training Center at 410-247-3313.

March 25th Is Labor Night In Annapolis

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***IMPORTANT UPDATE***
If you are planning to catch up with us in Annapolis rather than take a bus from the Union Hall,
the location has changed.
MEET ON SOUTHEAST LAWN AT CORNER OF BLADEN & CALVERT ST. ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401

 

Local 24 IBEW is proud to take part in Union Night in Annapolis, when our members engage with Maryland’s elected officials and express support or opposition for legislation that is being considered by the General Assembly.

Union Night is an annual event organized by the Metro Baltimore Council AFL-CIO and the Baltimore/D.C. Building Trades Union. It brings together members of many unions, both public and private sector.

Check out the flyer below for more information. Local 24 provides buses for transport from the union hall to Lawyer’s Mall.

 

 

Construction Electricians (CEs) New Referral Policy Goes Into Effect On January 1st

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Beginning in 2019, Local 24 Construction Electricians (CEs) will follow the same hiring hall rules as our Journeyman Wiremen (JWs). Available jobs for CEs will be announced on the jobline (410 247-5737) and filled using the daybook process.

Members were notified of this change in the following letter from Business Manager Pete Demchuk, which was mailed to members’ homes in late November. Below the letter, you will find links to the complete referral policies for Baltimore and the Eastern Shore. If you have any questions, please call the Hall at 410 247-5511.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This letter is to inform you of a few changes to the Local 24 Hiring Hall rules that will only affect Construction Electricians in Baltimore and Eastern Shore.

The ENCLOSED REVISED HIRING HALL RULES will go into effect January 1, 2019. (Construction Electrician’s) “CE’S”, will now follow the same Referral Policy as the Journeyman Wireman. Manpower request for Construction Electrician’s will be posted on the job line and will be filled the following business day. Please read them carefully and should you have any questions contact me or one of the agents in the hall.

I will continue to monitor the “out of work” list and will continue to get our people to work in the electrical industry. Your input is greatly appreciated. Thank you for support in this matter.

Fraternally yours,

Peter P. Demchuk

Business Manager

Effective January 1, 2019 Baltimore HIRING HALL RULES

Effective January 1, 2019 Eastern Shore HIRING HALL RULES

Your Flu Shot Is Covered – Protect Your Health!

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Your good health is precious to you, and to all the people who depend on you, too!

Local 24 wants to make sure you know that flu shots are covered by our insurance plans.

In fact, the shots are covered in 2 different ways, so you and your family have the most flexibility in how and where you get vaccinated against the flu.

 

Flu Vaccination Options

Get your flu shot at your doctor’s office. The doctor will submit a claim to our health insurance (CareFirst BC/BS) and provided your yearly deductible has been met, insurance will pay 80% of the cost of the shot and you will be responsible for paying the remaining 20%.

OR

Get your flu shot at your local pharmacy. The pharmacy will submit a claim to our prescription insurance (SavRX). Your out-of-pocket cost for the vaccine will be $15 or 25% of the cost, whichever is greater.

URGENT! Act Now To Protect Your Pension

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November 29, 2018

Dear Sisters & Brothers:

Important information about the attack on our Pensions!

National Electrical Benefit Fund (NEBF) and/or Maryland Electrical Industry Pension Fund (MEIPF).

These pensions are considered Multi-Employer Pensions. The NEBF & MEIPF are in good condition (green zone), and there are others that are not (yellow, red, critical and declining status). It is estimated there are 100 or so pensions in trouble, and 1200 that are adequately funded. The U.S. Congress and Senate put together a Joint Select Committee on Multi-Employer Pension Plans in February of 2018 to investigate how to help the troubled plans, and how to help the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC). The Congressional Budget Office or similar predict the PBGC will be defunct by 2025. We questioned why/how these plans became troubled? The answer we received, “changes in the industry”, Teamsters- deregulation of the trucking industry, Coal miners- shift to clean energy, Baker & Confectionary Workers – automation & plants relocated due to sugar cost.

The early stages of the discussion centered on Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio’s proposal of a loan program to help the troubled plans. This is similar to what was done for the auto industry and Wall Street; this would also provide relief for the PBGC. Recently a Republican proposal was put forth designed to raise $3 billion annually out of the “healthy” multiemployer funds, to support participants in “failing” plans. This would force our plans into yellow zone.

IBEW Business Mangers and trustees from around the country were in Washington D.C. on November 28th telling the legislators this is WRONG! We can give hundreds of billions of dollars to bail out corporate America. Why can’t Congress appropriate $3-6 billion to working men and women who elected to take money from their paychecks and fund their pensions in order to retire with dignity!

 

WHAT MUST WE DO AS MEMBERS AND RETIREES?

WE MUST ACT NOW!

The proposal from the committee is due to Congress by December 1, 2018. It is believed that the Republicans want to insert this in the “Omnibus bill” (the bill that funds the Federal Government for the year) before the Democrats take control of the house.

EVERYONE MUST CALL, EMAIL, or Both the members of the Joint Select Committee on Multi-Employer Pension Plans AND your Senator and Congress member.

“Tell them to keep their hand off your Pension. If they can give a TRILLION dollar tax break to the 1%, they can help the troubled plans.” Remind them that the PEOPLE elect them to the offices they hold not the Corporations. Ask them why they want to burden the healthy plans and force them into insolvency?

 

Here is a list of the Committee Members phone and web addresses along with a list of Maryland’s Senator and Congress members.

Senate:

Orin Hatch Tel: (202) 224-5251 www.hatch.senate.gov
Sherrod Brown: (202) 224-2315 www.brown.house.gov
Lamar Alexander: (202) 224-4944 www.alexander.senate.gov
Joe Manchin: (202) 224-3954 https://www.manchin.senate.gov
Mike Crapo: (202) 224-6142 https://www.crapo.senate.gov
Heidi Heitkamp: (202)224-2043 https://heitkamp.senate.gov

Rob Portman: (202) 224-3353 https://portman.senate.gov

Tina Smith: (202) 224-5641 https://www.smith.senate.gov

House:
Virginia Foxx: (202) 225-2071 https://foxx.house.gov
Richard Neal (202) 225-5601 https://neal.house.gov
Phil Roe: (202) 225-6356 https://roe.house.gov
Bobby Scott (202) 225-8351 https://bobbyscott.house.gov
Vern Buchanan: (202) 225-5015 https://buchanan.house.gov
Donald Norcross: (202) 225-6501 https://norcross.house.gov
David Schweikert: (202) 225-2190 https://schweikert.house.gov
Debbie Dingell: (202) 225-4071 https://debbiedingell.house.gov

 

Maryland Representatives:

1st Andy Harris (202) 225-5311 https://harris.house.gov

2nd Dutch Ruppersberger (202) 225-3061 https://ruppersberger.house.gov

3rd John Sarbanes (202) 225-4016 https://sarbanes.house.gov

4th Anthony Brown (202) 225-8699 https://anthonybrown.house.gov

5th Steny Hoyer (202) 225-4131 https://hoyer.house.gov

6th John Delaney (202) 225-2721 https://delaney.house.gov

7th Elijah Cummings (202) 225-4741 https://cummings.house.gov

8th Jamie Raskin (202) 225-5341 https://raskin.house.gov

Maryland Senators:

Ben Cardin (202) 224-4524 https://www.cardin.senate.gov

Chris Van Hollen (202) 224-4654 https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov

 

The following information is from the International Office which describes how these changes will affect the NEBF; they will impact The Maryland Plan similarly!

I. New Taxes and Fees on Workers and Retirees

  • The plan will create a tax on retirees’ pensions – 0% for Green Plans, 2% for Yellow Plans, 3% for Red Plans, 4% for Declining and Insolvent Plans and 6% for Plans with Liability Removal.
    National Electric Benefit Fund (NEBF) beneficiaries would pay $20-$30 million annually if the fund is moved to the Yellow or Red Zone.
  • The proposal creates a new $2 per active worker per month fee on unions AND employers.
    This fee will cost the IBEW over $6 million annually.
  • The plan changes the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)’s per participant annual premium from the current flat fee of $28 to a variable premium of $50-$150, with an average of $100 per participant.
    The new variable premium could cost the NEBF upwards of $55 million a year in additional premiums.

II. New Requirements on Multiemployer Plans

  • The Republican Proposal creates a prescribed discount rate capped at the corporate long bond rate + 2% for all plans. (Approximately 6.5%).
    A prescribed discount rate is very concerning due to the significant changes in interest rates, thereby making long-term budgeting more difficult and could potentially put a heavy burden on the NEBF. For example, a mere 0.25% decrease in the NEBF’s discount rate from 7.5% to 7.25% would increase unfunded liabilities by $500 million. Moving it from green to yellow zone.
  • The proposal would require pension funds to subtract their credit balance from plan assets in determining a plan’s zone status.
    Use of credit balances are a common industry practice that help pension funds accurately conduct long-term planning. Excluding credit balance from assets would significantly impact the NEBF, most likely moving the fund from a Green to Yellow Zone plan.
  • The proposal would eliminate asset smoothing, which are used to by fund actuaries to smooth out short-term fluctuations in market values.

III. Future for Currently Failing Plans

  • The proposal will partition failing funds that will place orphan participants’ under the PBGC.
  • The PBGC will guarantee orphaned participants maximum of $70 per month per years of service.
  • The federal Treasury will transfer up to $3 billion annually into the PBGC, depending on the level of funding needed to support partitioned participants.
  • The non-partitioned participants will stay in their pension fund and need to meet the requirements above.
  • The partitioning program and orphan participant adoption under the PBGC will be a one-time occurrence.

 

Fraternally,

Peter P. Demchuk

Business Manager

PPD:mgs

opeiu #2

AFL-CIO

Long-time Members Recognized At Membership Meeting

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Several Local 24 Brothers recently celebrated significant service anniversaries and were presented with their pins and certificates at the regular membership meeting in August. We thank them for their many years of loyalty and congratulate them on their long and successful careers. Cheers to all!

45 Year Members Lawrence S. Miller and David P. Hilker, flanked by Local 24 President John Rankin (L) and Business Manager Pete Demchuk (R).

40 Year Members Joseph G. Ross IV and James T. Loftis, Jr.

35 Year Members Alfred D. King, Sr. and Kevin J. Carlin

 

 

These loyal members opted to be among their union brothers and sisters as they were recognized for their long-time allegiance to IBEW Local 24. Local 24 President John Rankin and Business Manager Pete Demchuk were pleased to acknowledge these brothers and publicly present them with their milestone service pins and certificates at the May 2018 regular membership meeting.

 

The certificates that each member received reads:

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, in sincere affection and deep gratitude,
presents this citation and pin in honor of loyal and faithful years of membership in our Brotherhood.

RENEW Cornhole Tournament

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Little bags of corn were flying across the blacktop at 2701 W. Patapsco Avenue on a recent weekend, as Local 24’s RENEW committee hosted its 1st Annual Cornhole Tournament on the afternoon of Saturday, September 22, 2018. The event drew 12 teams of fierce competitors along with lots of interested spectators.

THE VICTORS! (from left) Runners-Up Joe Doty and Nick Lynne, Jeff our friendly Milwaukee Tool rep, and Tournament Champs Ray Gregory and Dennis Barnhardt.

When the tossing was done, the team of Dennis Barnhardt and Ray Gregory were at the top of the leader board and claimed the victory. They were rewarded with a cash prize of 50% of the entry fees (the other 50% went to event expenses and the RENEW treasury) and 2 quality laptop backpacks donated by the fine folks at Milwaukee Tools.

Hard on their heels was the runner-up team, Joe Doty and Nick Lynne. Their prize was 2 sets of vehicle floormats, also provided by Milwaukee Tools. Every entrant got a Milwaukee Tools swag bag, as well as plenty of burgers and dogs and a good time.

RENEW is an organization specifically focused on our members who are age 35 and under. The mission of the Reach out and Engage Next-gen Electrical Workers (RENEW) initiative is to inspire the next generation of IBEW workers to become active in their local union by focusing on issues important to younger workers, providing education about the IBEW and the labor movement, and fostering relationships with members and local union leadership.

Local 24’s RENEW committee meets on the fourth Tuesday of every month, the same day as the regular membership meeting. RENEW meets at 5 pm and the membership meeting is at 7 pm. The next planned RENEW activity is a community service project in honor of Veteran’s Day. Members will be working with a veterans’ charity organization for that event. To get more details, follow Ibew Renew Baltimore on Facebook.