Category Archives: Legislative & Political

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!

URGENT – Wednesday, July 10 – Rally With Us For Pension Protection!

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Local 24’s leadership is gathering as many people as possible to participate in a rally at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, July 10, 2019 at 9 a.m. The rally is in support of H.R. 397, the Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions Act, which would establish a safety net for pension plans that are struggling.

Local 24 members are fortunate to be part of a pension plan that is healthy, properly funded and in the “green” zone. However, union members across the country are facing a national crisis as more than a hundred multiemployer pension plans face the threat of collapse within the next 10 years.

H.R. 397 establishes the Pension Rehabilitation Administration within the Department of the Treasury and a related trust fund to make loans to certain multiemployer defined benefit pension plans.

To receive a loan, a plan must be either in critical and declining status (including any plan with respect to which a suspension of benefits has been approved) or insolvent, if the plan became insolvent after December 16, 2014, and has not been terminated.

Treasury must issue bonds to fund the loan program and transfer amounts equal to the proceeds to the trust fund established by this bill. The Pension Rehabilitation Administration may use the funds, without a further appropriation, to make loans, pay principal and interest on the bonds, or for administrative and operating expenses.

WE NEED YOU to stand with your labor brothers and sisters and millions of Americans facing an uncertain future as their retirement security is threatened through no fault of their own.

PLEASE CALL THE HALL TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS IMPORTANT RALLY  – 410 247-5511

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.

 

 

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

MD Early Voting Starts Today

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Raise your voice on November 6
…or right now, during Maryland’s early voting period from Oct 25 – Nov 1   

 

Election Day, November 6, is now less than two weeks away. Early voting, however, starts today – and during early voting you can also register to vote on-site if  you have not already done so.

According to the Maryland State Board of Elections website, now individuals who are eligible but not yet registered can register AND vote.

To register and vote during early voting, go to an early voting center (see link below) in the county where you live and bring a document that proves where you live. This document can be your MVA-issued license, ID card, or change of address card, or your paycheck, bank statement, utility bill, or other government document with your name and new address. You will be able to register to vote and vote.

Between now and Thursday, November 1, you can cast your vote in a designated polling place between 10 am and 8 pm.  For information about which candidates are endorsed by Local 24 IBEW and the Maryland & D.C. AFL-CIO, please contact the Local at 410 247-5511 (Baltimore) and 410 742-0234 (Salisbury).

To see the list of Early Voting Centers in Maryland, click here.

 

 

June 5th Is The Last Day To Register To Vote In Maryland Primary

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Primary Election Day in Maryland is Tuesday, June 26, 2018. If you aren’t already registered to vote and need to do so, or if you want to change your party affiliation before the Primary, you must do it by Tuesday, June 5.

It is easier than ever to register in Maryland, because you can now register to vote and update your voter registration information online by going to Maryland’s State Board of Elections website. For details about all the options available, click here.

Early Voting will once again be possible in Maryland, for both the Primary and the General Elections. Check out the fact sheet below for important dates and details.

Action Needed To Support Offshore Wind Program – Clean Energy And Good Jobs

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We have an exciting opportunity to bring hundreds of jobs to Maryland through the offshore wind program, including jobs in manufacturing, construction, and engineering.  These jobs will be located throughout the state from the Eastern Shore to Baltimore to Frederick. The offshore wind program also brings multi-million dollar investments in local ports and fabrication facilities.

Today we are asking you to empower our great state to lead the way. This is your opportunity to put politics aside and be a leader in a new energy sector that benefits Maryland in many ways!

 

 

What Can You Do?

We need you to tell your state legislature you support offshore wind.  Please go supportmdjobs.com and fill out the petition.  You can do this as a private citizen. Also spread the word- tell your friends and family.  All of our voices need heard.

 

Stop Senate Bill 1058 and House Bill 1135! This bill will kill the progress we’ve made.

Two bills (Senate Bill  1058 and HB 1135) will be he heard in Annapolis for public hearings for on Tuesday, March 6th before the Senate Finance Committee  and Thursday, March 8th before  the House Economic Matters Committee at 1:00pm.  These two pieces of legislation are identical bills and require that offshore wind projects to be constructed and operated no closer than 26 nautical miles.  This will delay and potentially stop the two Maryland projects approved by the MD Public Service Commission from being built.   You may have seen press on OC’s opposition.

If you have been following the offshore wind market is happening in the United States.  States like MA, NY, and NJ are moving forward with large 3500 MWs,  The only loser in this view shed issue fight will be the Maryland business community. As a reminder, the MD PSC requires both developers to spend $1.8B in state spending, spurring the creation of almost 9,700 new direct and indirect jobs and contributing $74 million in state tax revenues over 20 years.

Ocean City uses the argument that they will lose tourists and property will be devalued when the offshore wind project goes forward. Many years ago, OC along with other municipalities felt the same way when the State was going to ban smoking in restaurants.  Obviously, the economy continued to thrive.  Block Island tourism economy has not been damaged from the Block Island Wind Farm. In fact recreational fishing is thriving. Check this out:  https://awea.filecamp.com/public/file/2d2f-dbj8mbdu

 

Keep The High-Speed Train Project On Track – Call or Email MD Delegates

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The following bills are being heard TOMORROW, Thursday February 15, 2018 in the House Environment & Transportation Committee. Please contact the committee members listed below and tell them that we support  the Maglev project and the 74,000 jobs it will bring for our members and our community.

According to Jeff Guido of the Baltimore DC Building Trades, these “bills are intended to slow down and impede and create obstacles for the project to the point it becomes impossible to proceed through the red tape.”

HB 637(SB1004) – Requiring the governing body of a county to hold a public hearing before the transfer of an asset of the county as part of the development of a high-speed transportation system; requiring notice of the public hearing to be delivered by first-class mail to homeowners and businesses within 500 feet of the asset; requiring a supermajority vote for approval by certain county and municipal entities of a transfer of an asset of a county as part of the development of a high-speed transportation system; etc.

HB 638 (SB1005) – Requiring a county, before the transfer of an asset of the county as part of the development of a high-speed transportation system that passes through the county, if the asset is located in a municipality, to negotiate a certain written agreement with the municipality concerning the approval by and financial remuneration to the municipality.

 

Environment & Transportation Committee

Chair
Kumar Barve: Kumar.barve@house.state.md.us Phone: 410-841-3990 | 301-858-3990 | Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3990

Vice Chair
Dana Stein: dana.stein@house.state.md.us Phone: 410-841-3527 | 301-858-3527 | Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3527

Members
Carl Anderton: carl.anderton@house.state.md.us  Phone: 410-841-3431 | 301-858-3431 | Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3431

Pamela Beidle: pamela.beidle@house.state.md.usPhone: 410-841-3370 | 301-858-3370 | Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3370

Alfred Carr, Jr: Alfred.carr@house.state.md.us Phone: 410-841-3638 | 301-858-3638 | Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3638

Andrew Cassilly: Andrew.cassilly@house.state.md.us Phone: 410-841-3444 | 301-858-3444 | Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3444

Jerry Clark: jerry.clark@house.state.md.us Phone: 410-841-3314 | 301-858-3314 | Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3314

Robert Flanagan: bob.flanagan@house.state.md.us Phone: 410-841-3077 | 301-858-3077 | Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3077

William Folden: William.folden@house.state.md.us Phone: 410-841-3240 | 301-858-3240 | Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3240

Davis Fraser Hildago: david.fraser.hildago@house.state.md.us Phone: 410-841-3186 | 301-858-3186 | Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3186

Barbara Frush: Barbara.frush@house.state.md.us Phone: 410-841-3114 | 301-858-3114 | Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3114

Jim Gilchrist: jim.gilchrist@house.state.md.us Phone: 410-841-3744 | 301-858-3744 | Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3744

Anne Healy: anne.healy@house.state.md.us Phone: 410-841-3961 | 301-858-3961 | Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3961

Marvin Holmes: marvin.holmes@house.state.md.us Phone: 410-841-3310 | 301-858-3310 | Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3310

Jay Jacobs: jay.jacobs@house.state.md.us Phone: 410-841-3449 | 301-858-3449 | Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3449

Jay Jalisi: jay.jalisi@house.state.md.us Phone: 410-841-3358 | 301-858-3358 | Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3358

Tony Knotts: tony.knotts@house.state.md.us Phone: 410-841-3212 | 301-858-3212 | Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3212

Stephen Lafferty: Stephen.lafferty@house.state.md.us Phone: 410-841-3487 | 301-858-3487 | Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3487

Robbyn Lewis: robbyn.lewis@house.state.md.us Phone: 410-841-3772 | 301-858-3772 | Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3772

Cory McCray: cory.mccray@house.state.md.us Phone: 410-841-3486 | 301-858-3486 | Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3486

Herb McMillan: herb.mcmillan@house.state.md.us Phone: 410-841-3211 | 301-858-3211 | Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3211

Charles Otto: Charles.otto@house.state.md.us Phone: 410-841-3433 | 301-858-3433 | Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3433

Shane Robinson: shane.robinson@house.state.md.us Phone: 410-841-3021 | 301-858-3021 | Toll-free in MD: 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3021

Build Union Rally on Monday, Feb. 12 at 6PM – Member Support Needed

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LOCAL 24 MEMBERS NEEDED to come out for a Building Trades rally on Monday, February 12 at 6 PM in Annapolis on Lawyers Mall. Call the hall at 410 247-5511 if you can attend, and come out wearing your union gear to show your union pride!

Local 24 IBEW and the Baltimore DC Building Trades want to make sure the high speed Maglev train from Baltimore to DC is union-built. The project has the potential to provide quality training and lasting careers for the people in our community.