Business Manager’s Report
Hello, Sisters and Brothers,
As I write, there are 185 on Book 1 and 13 on Book 2 of the Inside Available-for-Work list, and five members on Teledata Book I. The work picture is slow in our jurisdiction, and the weather has delayed work opportunites in other jurisdictions.
Between the ongoing Covid issues, slowing work, and unprecedented weather, 2021 has been off to a challenging start for many of us.
On the political front, we are watching several bills at the state legislature involving licensing which have made it out of committee, and mustering all the support we can to oppose provisions which would be harmful to our industry. Some provisions we oppose include the “listed apprentice” classification, which would allow anyone with 10,000 documented hours to become classified as a “listed apprentice,” and would then not count toward the allowable ratio on a job site. This and many other provisions are straight ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) language seeking to end skilled trades licensing in the US.
We have pretty good bipartisan support, but it’s not guaranteed. And, there is one licensing bill we strongly support, HB2873, which contains compromise language we, and other skilled trades Unions, have been working on for a couple of years. We will be asking you to please – for the good of your Union and your profession -- contact your state legislators and ask them to support HB2873. And while you are emailing or talking to lawmakers, please encourage them to also oppose HB1981. In its current form, HB1981 puts forth a piece of legislation that has minimum support, harms Oklahoma businesses, and has no support from professional and occupational licensing businesses.
Hopefully your water pipes held up through the coldest recorded temperatures in quite some time. On the plus side, positive Covid tests have been declining, and we are hoping to be able to start meeting in person again soon.
Fraternally,
Dewayne Wilcox
IBEW 1141 Business Manager / Financial Secretary
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Training Director’ Report
Good Day Brothers and Sisters,
I hope everyone is as well as can be expected. We have made it through another winter and look forward to a new spring. We have continued with our apprentice classes via Zoom and are looking forward to the time we can start coming in for face-to-face instruction. Thank you again to our staff and the membership for the extra effort to keep things going.
The work picture has been fairly stagnant, with little to no movement on the Available-for-Work list. Please be patient and hang in there, as it will turn around.
The JATC resumed CW/CE classes on February 24. Classes are every Wednesday from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Face coverings are required, and temperature checks will be conducted. We ask that if you are not feeling well, please do not try to come to class.
There have been a few inquiries about another NEC Code Update class. We have tentatively scheduled a class to be held on March 27, pending approval by the CIB. If you are interested, please contact the JATC office so we can order the appropriate amount of books. All other CEU classes are still available online.
As always, thank you for your support.
Helpful Links:
Apprenticeship Applications: http://etawok.org/applications
CW/CE Applications: http://etawok.org/cw-ce
CW/CE Resign the Available-to-Work book: http://etawok.org/resign
CEU Online Classes:
(call our office to pay by credit card & be enrolled)
Torque Theory Level I – 6 CEUs - $25.84
Hazardous Locations – 12 CEUs - $28.99
Motors I & II – 18 CEUs - $96.07
Photovoltaic Systems – 18 CEUs - $106.44
Healthcare Systems I & II – 18 CEUs - $79.58
Electric Motor Drives – 18 CEUs - $114.48
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Organizing Department Report
We are stepping up our efforts to organize more work and retain members in the face of the recent construction slowdown.
As we all know, the industry has peaks and valleys, and we will continue to ride this one out as we ready ourselves for a turnaround.
This month, we initiated nine top-down contacts with the following contractors: Top, Crown, KB, Apex, Genesis, Meadows, Michael’s-Power, Dolese, and Harris-Sooner. While we have yet to sign any, we feel we are laying the groundwork for productive conversations and the potential for work opportunities for our Brothers and Sisters. We will keep you updated.
We also continue reaching out to future members, this month contacting a total of 80: 56 Journeymen, 23 Sub-Journeymen, and 1 TeleData worker. We conducted eight Jobsite Visits, 41 Top-Down Visits, and 80 Home Visits. We scheduled a member evaluation with one JW and had one cancellation. For the month, we welcomed five new members: two Journeymen, one CE, and 2 TeleData members.
Four Journeymen, 2 workers without classifications, 3 CEs, 3 CWs, and 2 TeleData workers dropped their membership tickets this month.
All said, we would like these numbers to be better, and for there to be solid work opportunities for all of us. To assist, we are utilizing our salt program and looking to maximize traveling opportunities for member retention. We are also focusing on helping signatory employers have improved bidding opportunities, while signing new employers.
Some other initiatives include holding an estimating class for recently-organized contractors, as well as working with Locals 271 (Wichita) and 124 (Kansas City) to organize across jurisdictions. We had a meeting with Sheet Metal Local 29 (Wichita) regarding starting a new sub-classification program, and we have worked with our communications coordinator to help launch our online New Member Orientation module, our online Code Of Excellence training, and a resources page to our website that includes a list of CIB-approved code update courses.
Our goals for the following month are member retention and more work opportunities for members and contractors.
We appreciate your continued support for the Organizing Department, and we will continue to work hard for you.
Lastly, if you are available for work and could benefit from some resources for yourself or your family -- or if now is a good opportunity for you to take time to update some skills and training, please visit this page at our official website for more information.
Fraternally,
Don Mullens and Steve Myers, IBEW 1141 Marketing Representatives
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Meeting Cancellation
The regular Union meeting scheduled for 7 pm, Friday, March 5, 2021, is canceled. This decision is made out of concern for the health of our members, officers, staff and our families. Thank you for your understanding.
Future meetings remain as scheduled, but may also be canceled depending upon the situation.
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IBEW Apprenticeship On Display in New YouTube Spot
Click here to watch a great story about IBEW 1141 Brother Joshua Lira’s transition to becoming a power professional, sponsored by Oklahoma Works.
Nice work, Josh!
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President Biden Delivers Special Message to IBEW Members
President Joe Biden highlights the importance of Union members -- especially electricians -- in building up American infrastructure, manufacturing, and more, in this message for Brothers and Sisters of the International Brotherhood Of Electrical Workers.
Click here to watch the video.
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COVID-19 Vaccination Appointment Information
News on the COVID-19 vaccination in Oklahoma is continuously being updated.
Here’s a helpful way to stay informed of the facts, avoid the rumors, and learn more about getting your shots:
Click here for the latest information regarding COVID vaccine appointments, as reported at the official Oklahoma State Department of Health website.
More at https://vaccinate.oklahoma.gov/
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Western Oklahoma Building Trades Scholarship
Do you or someone in your family need help paying for college?
The Oklahoma City Community Foundation is once again offering a $1,500 scholarship to aspiring students from Union households in the area. Deadline to apply is April 1, 2021.
Here are the eligibility requirements, as reported by the Foundation:
“Union members, their spouses, or their children. A spouse must be currently eligible to be on a Union member's insurance. A child is defined as a birth child or legally adopted child who is a tax dependent and currently eligible to be on a Union member's insurance. A dependent who is eligible at the age of 23 remains eligible to apply if they are continuously enrolled in college.
“Traditional applicants must be concurrently enrolled Oklahoma high school seniors, or a recent high school graduate who has completed two semesters of full time academic or technology courses or students continuing academic study after high school with one year of completed college.
“Non-traditional applicants can be a Union member or the spouse of a Union member seeking to improve the quality of life through traditional training/study in a full-time academic or vocational program (20 years of age or older).”
For more details and information about applying, visit the Oklahoma City Community Foundation’s scholarship page by clicking this link.
What: Western Oklahoma Building Trades Scholarship
Deadline: April 1st, 2021
Award: $1,500
More info: www.occf.org
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Helpful Resources From Your Local Union
Whether you need to keep your license current or obtain resources, here’s some information that may be helpful for you and your family. Click here.
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Retirement Alert: Empower Retirement has Acquired MassMutual
The company Empower Retirement has bought MassMutual, our Supplemental Pension and 401(k) provider.
What does this mean?
Instead of MassMutual’s logo on your mail and other communications, you’ll see Empower Retirement’s logo.
This goes for their website, your statement, any required notices, confirmations, forms, and any educational materials.
What is staying the same?
You can still use the same website and login credentials. Also, your contributions and investments have not changed. The phone number is still 1-800-743-5274.
Do I need to do anything?
Just make sure your contact information is up to date so you continue to receive communications and notices about your retirement.
What if I have questions?
Feel free to call Becky Powell with Capstone Retirement Services at (405) 310-7028.
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IBEW 1141 President’s Letter
Hello Brothers & Sisters, I hope that everyone is well. Even though we passed an unfortunately historic milestone with the number of COVID related deaths, the numbers appear to be slowing. Great news. Also the Great Blizzard of ’21 has gone and left us relatively unscathed. More good news. Maybe things can get back to some semblance of normalcy. Work is a little slow, but that’s to be expected this time of year, let’s hope that it picks up quickly so that everyone who wants to work, can. As always, I am optimistic for the future.
I would like for you to know about some important things coming up in the near future.
As you are probably aware, our 100th Birthday party has been postponed indefinitely, but our History Book is still going to be published this April. If you have any photos or stories to tell please email them to me as soon as possible. We also have some merchandise available, most of this is limited edition stuff so be sure to check out what’s available at the Hall. If you miss out on something, there will be other items available in the future. We are hoping that the Party can be held sometime this Fall or next Spring.
Speaking of the future, we have 2 Contracts due up this year. The first, in May, is the Teledata Contract with OESCO. A Proposals Committee has been formed, with a Negotiating Committee to follow, and all of the Members involved should receive an email in the near future. Please make sure that the Hall has your current personal email address so that you can stay informed.
The other Contract is the Electrician’s Inside Agreement which will be negotiated later this summer for ratification at the end of August. As of this writing, no Committees have been formed but several Members have expressed an interest. Please email me if you too, are interested or if you have a proposal idea. And, of course, you can always email me with any questions, concerns, comments, or snide remarks.
Once again, I’ll leave you with a Vince Lombardi quote:
“Unless a man believes in himself and makes a total commitment to his career and puts everything he has into it—his mind, his body, his heart—what’s life worth to him?”
Please, believe in yourselves and in our Brotherhood.
Fraternally,
Scott Hammersberg
Sh.ibew1141@gmail.com
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In Memoriam
Brother Robert Foreman
February 4, 1953 – February 2, 2021
DB #507
IBEW 1141 regrets to inform you of the passing of Brother Robert Foreman, who passed away Tuesday, February 2, 2021. He was 67 years old.
Brother Foreman was born on February 4, 1953. He enjoyed a successful career in the electrical trade, initiating into the IBEW on April 10, 1998. Robert retired from the industry in January of 2019.
Brother Foreman is survived by his son, Robert “Brandon” Foreman, and grandchildren Jet, 20, and Macy, 13.
IBEW 1141 offers our prayers, sympathies, and condolences to Brother Foreman’s family, friends and loved ones during this time of bereavement.
Brother James R. Cotton
October 14, 1939 – February 11, 2021
DB #508
IBEW 1141 regrets to inform the membership of the passing of Brother James Robert Cotton, who passed away Thursday, February 11, 2021. He was 81 years old.
Brother Cotton was born on October 14, 1939, to Orange Houston Cotton and Irene (Schwieger) Cotton in Oklahoma City. He graduated from Northeast High School in 1957, after which he joined the IBEW and became a Journeyman Electrician. Brother Cotton was initiated into the IBEW on April 7, 1967 and had the opportunity to work on numerous electrical projects across the state, as well as in Texas, Kansas, and Arkansas for various electrical contractors. He retired in January of 2002.
James is survived by Glenda, his wife of 55 years; children Robin Cotton White (spouse Kevin), and Robert Houston Cotton. He also had a chosen family, Andrew, Ellie, James and Ariel Haywood, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings Richard, Doris, Mary, and Martha; brothers-in-law Jack Gilbert, Bill Mitchell, Alan Johnson, Bill Vinyard, and John Garrison; nephew Michael, and sister-in-law, Laqueta Garrison.
IBEW 1141 offers our prayers, sympathies, and condolences to Brother Cotton’s family, friends and loved ones during this time of bereavement.
Brother Milton Lewis
February 17, 1928 – December 24, 2020
DB #509
IBEW 1141 is saddened to report the loss of Brother Milton Lewis, who passed away Thursday, December 24, 2020. He was 92 years old.
Brother Lewis was born on February 17, 1928. He was initiated into the IBEW on June 2, 1970 and spent two decades in the electrical trade, retiring from the craft in July 1990.
Milton is survived by his daughter, Debbie Buys. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred, his parents, and his two sons, Luke and Ronnie.
Brother Lewis proudly served his nation for six years as a member of the US Coast Guard.
IBEW 1141 extends our deep condolences to Brother Lewis’ friends, family, and loved ones during this time of bereavement.
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