Category Archives: IBEW Local 24

If You Think Trump Is Good For Union Members, Read This

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The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) issued a report earlier this month that details numerous ways in which President Donald Trump, through his appointees on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), has weakened worker protections and rights, and given employers ever more power.

In a press release dated October 16, 2019, the EPI said

Examples of harmful actions the Trump NLRB has taken or proposed include:

  • Undermining collective bargaining rights by giving employers more power to make unilateral changes without consulting with the union, gerrymandering bargaining units to undermine organizing drives, and withdrawing recognition from existing unions
  • Stripping tens of thousands of student workers and Uber drivers of their right to organize under the National Labor Relations Act
  • Narrowing the definition of “joint employer” – which makes it harder for temporary and contract workers to bargain with the firms that control their wages and working conditions
  • Giving employers more power to prevent workers and union organizers from organizing and protesting on the employer’s property, even when employers let other groups on their property to solicit

“The Trump NLRB has systematically rolled back workers’ right under the NLRA and they show no sign of slowing down,” said Lynn Rhinehart, one of the report’s authors. “Congress has a responsibility to hold the NLRB accountable for their actions, and policymakers should pass legislation to restore and strengthen workers’ rights to organize and collectively bargain.”

You can read the entire report and decide for yourself.

UNPRECEDENTED_The Trump NLRB’s attack on workers’ rights

The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) is a non-profit, nonpartisan think tank created in 1986 to include the needs of low- and middle-income workers in economic policy discussions. EPI believes every working person deserves a good job with fair pay, affordable health care, and retirement security. To achieve this goal, EPI conducts research and analysis on the economic status of working America. EPI proposes public policies that protect and improve the economic conditions of low- and middle-income workers and assesses policies with respect to how they affect those workers.

 

Important Reminder: For 100% COVERAGE Of Flu Shot Cost, Use SavRx Benefit

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It’s well into that time of year – when there are signs everywhere encouraging you to get your flu shot. Don’t forget that coverage for your flu shot was changed this year, and now the cost of your flu vaccine is covered 100% if the claim is filed through your prescription benefit provider, SaveRx.

This change went into effect on September 1, 2019 and our health & welfare benefits administrator, Maryland Electrical Industry Funds, sent the notification letter below to all participants in mid-August.

 

It is important to note that if the flu shot is given to you at your physician’s office and the flu vaccine is not purchased through SaveRx, the claim will be processed under your major medical coverage and you will be responsible for part of the cost, as specified in the notification letter.

 

 

Important Dates To Put On Your Calendar

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A vote will be held at the membership meeting on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 to decide where to put the $1.00 wage/fringe increase (Baltimore Inside Agreement) due December 1, 2019. Please make every effort to attend and participate in the allocation of this increase. (Only Active members are eligible to vote.) The meeting is at 7 p.m.

The December membership meeting has been moved to December 17, 2019 at 7 p.m. -Due to the regular meeting date falling on Christmas Eve this year, we have been granted permission to reschedule the meeting by the 4th District International Vice President, Brian Malloy. Please plan to attend; we will have light refreshments after the meeting.

Congratulations, Class of 2019!

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It takes 5 years of on-the-job training, combined with classes, homework and tests to make an I.B.E.W. inside journeyman wireman. Many candidates can’t or don’t make it through our apprenticeship program – but these 46 men and women have crossed the finish line!

Congratulations to each of our 2019 graduates, who received their certificates from IBEW Local 24 Business Manager Pete Demchuk, Maryland Acting Secretary of Labor James Rzepkowski, and Will Yull, MD National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Representative.

Several of the graduates were also recognized for their excellence in grades and attendance. Awards for highest total grades went to Chloe Alexandra Starcher in the Baltimore program and Dylan McNeil Brooks in the Eastern Shore program. Jonathan Patrick McLaughlin was recognized as the Outstanding Apprentice in the class of 2019. Perfect attendance awards were earned by Dustin Frederick Guthmann, Jonathan Patrick McLaughlin, Eric Michael Milstred, Michael Eric Panza, James Maurice Peele, Jr., Kirk Andrew Shiloh, and Michael Nicholas Tarbert.

The Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee for the Maryland Electrical Industry is sponsored by IBEW Local 24 and the Maryland Chapter of the National Association of Electrical Contractors.

Click on our Facebook link in the upper right corner of this page to view and share photos from the graduation ceremony and learn more about our training opportunities here.

 

 

BALTIMORE ELECTRICAL GRADUATES

Nicholas Andrew Boddiford Dustin Frederick Guthmann James Maurice Peele, Jr.
Nong Emmanuel Bouh Brice John Hartsell Charles David Phoebus
Tobias David Eintou Brown Daniel Douglas Hayes Benjamin Cody Rixham
Jason Richard Carr Donald Oswaldo Herrera Joseph Elmer Sank
Timothy Dale Cox, Jr. Brandon Norwood Hofler Michael Charles Selander
Anthony Vincent DiVenanzio Zachary Michael Hynson Kirk Andrew Shiloh
Patrick Galbert Dolan Joseph Louis Iobbi Chloe Alexandra Starcher
Shane Tyler Duncan Shane Benjamin Keene Andrew Thomas Stark
Jonathan Logan Ebberts Raymond John Kilstrom, Jr. Kevin Matthew Strickland
Devan Keith Feathers Jonathan Patrick McLaughlin Michael Nicholas Tarbert
Anthony Joseph Feltz Odakwei Kofi Tendayi Mills Cory James Whidby
Adam Edward Geier Eric Michael Milstred Alec Steven Wolinski
Jesse James Glackin Nathan Urian Moser
Richard Allen Golliday Michael Eric Panza
Markist Boyce Goode Angelo Paraskevaidis

 

EASTERN SHORE ELECTRICAL GRADUATES

Dylan McNeil Brooks Matthew Thomas Reed Joseph Christian Shipley

 

WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW! Protect Our Apprenticeship Program

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It only takes 5 minutes to click on the link below and tell the U.S. Labor Department not to destroy our apprenticeship program!

www.saveIBEWapprenticeships.org

The I.B.E.W., along with many other building trade unions, have created apprenticeship programs that produce tradespeople with the best training and most up-to-date technical knowledge in their fields. These programs are registered with, and overseen by, state and federal Labor Departments in order to guarantee that standards remain high and curriculum keeps pace with industry advancement.  Our apprenticeship programs are the key to allowing our union, our contractors and our members to continue to thrive in a healthy and growing electrical industry.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is finalizing a regulation that will allow companies and industries to establish and recognize their own “apprenticeship programs” that would not be closely monitored and regulated by the DOL. These Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Programs, or IRAPs, are one of the latest examples of allowing the foxes to guard the henhouse. Companies will be free to cut corners and lower standards in the name of increasing their profits.

Currently, the construction industry is excluded from the new IRAP regulation, and we want to make sure our industry is excluded from the final version, too.

PLEASE click on the link above and use our quick and easy tool to send a letter to the DOL, telling them that you think IRAPs should be kept out of the construction industry.

The future of our apprenticeship programs
DEPENDS ON YOU!

Apprenticeship Programs Under Attack – ACT NOW To Support Our Training Programs

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IBEW International President Lonnie Stephenson has issued a call for all IBEW members and their families and friends to mobilize in support of our apprenticeship training programs. These programs are in danger of being undercut by a proposed Department of Labor (DOL) regulation called Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Program (IRAP).

“This proposal establishes a system in which a non-union contractor could recognize its own “apprenticeship program” that would not be subject to many of the same requirements that our DOL-recognized apprenticeships are,” President Stephens said in a letter to all IBEW Business Managers.

“At this time, the construction industry is temporarily exempted from the proposal,” Stephens continued. “However, I am very concerned that this exemption will not be part of the final regulation.”

Along with President Stephens, Local 24 Business Manager Pete Demchuk is asking that all members, regardless of classification, submit comments to the DOL in support of making the construction industry exemption permanent. You can do that in 5 easy steps by going to

www.saveIBEWapprenticeships.org

Building trades unions and our contractor partners spend millions of dollars every year creating the best-trained workforce in the world. Our programs train 75% of all construction apprentices in the U.S. IBEW members complete projects in a safe, efficient manner, using craftsmanship learned through our DOL registered training programs. Don’t let non-union contractors drag down our training and apprenticeship standards!

“While this proposed regulation directly impacts all members of the construction branch, it indirectly impacts all members, their families, and friends. The IBEW prides itself on its electrical ALLIANCE training programs. These programs have graduated hundreds of thousands of journeyman wiremen and journeyman linemen. These individuals are our members; each day they perform their jobs safely and efficiently. They are in part responsible for ensuring our country’s critical infrastructure and emergency response systems are powered. Their training allows them to do so and impacts us all,” Stephens concluded.

 

 

Local 24 Leadership Re-elected

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On Saturday, June 15, 2019, Local 24 I.B.E.W. held its triennial election for all local leadership positions, as well as delegates to the I.B.E.W. International Convention. The election results were announced in the letter below, mailed to all Local 24 members.

These local leaders will be sworn in at the regular membership meeting on July 23, 2019 at 7 pm.

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.