IBEW Local 490

Nominations

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:28:00 -0400

A Message from the President
Re: May 1, 2008 Notified Union Meeting:-Disbursement ($0.50 increase for 6-1-08)-Nominations for LU Officers

Hello members. It’s that time of year again! Spring is near, and so is our next wage/benefit disbursement.

Training Facility

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:25:02 -0400

We are nearing the completion of our brand new training facility and with it we will begin a new chapter in the history of L.U. 490. Our National Joint Apprenticeship Training Council in Tennessee is the leader in acquiring the latest training curriculum for all the Local Unions of the IBEW. This curriculum includes our already superior apprenticeship program, supervisor training, PLC, instrumentation and the most up to date Alternative Energy Training. Our apprentices will now have opportunities to take the theory that they learn in the classroom and apply it to on site practical training, the link that has been missing since the inception of our training program. Our journeymen will now have opportunities never before available. These skills acquired will give our mechanics an advantage over our competition as we lead the way in advanced electrical education. Our office staff will also have a valuable tool now to work with. Imagine a non-union contractor who struggles with unqualified help day in and day out, touring our facility, knowing that by signing with us will give him access to the best trained electrical work force the State of N.H. has to offer. We have also recently obtained a training grant from the state Workforce Opportunity Council that will financially assist us in installing a train the trainer photovoltaic (solar) power system. This system, along with the training, will be available to our people. This will also bring interest and open doors to our future potential clients. This is definitely an exciting time for all of us and we have all sacrificed greatly to make this a reality. Without the overwhelming support of our membership progress can not happen. Plans are being made for a ribbon cutting ceremony. I hope you all will attend and support our future.Fraternally Yours

L.U. 490 J.A.T.C. Expansion

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:49:57 -0500

REWIRED: Check out the article in the Concord Monitor about your training center.

Code Update 2008

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 10:16:02 -0500

Local 490 IBEW
2008 Update!!!
National Electrical Code
15 Hour Presentation

Dates & Times:

02/09/08 Saturday       7:00am to 3:30pm
02/16/08 Saturday       7:00am to 3:30pm

03/08/08 Saturday       7:00am to 3:30pm
03/15/08 Saturday       7:00am to 3:30pm

04/12/08 Saturday       7:00am to 3:30pm
04/19/08 Saturday       7:00am to 3:30pm

Place: 48 Airport Rd. Concord, N.H.

Workers Rights!!

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 14:33:34 -0400

Senator Sununu’s article in the NH Union Leader U.S. workers right to a secret ballot must be protected 6/21/07 further proves the points that a. Senator Sununu has never worked in an environment were he has had to answer to an employer and he thinks when real wages are down in his State he must be doing a good job. The senator emphasizes in his article that big labor is trying to pass legislation that makes it easier for employees to form unions in their work place by stripping the secret ballot process that is currently in place. That by doing this labor is acting un-American and trying to strip Americans of their democracy. Senator Sununu also mentions the declining membership of unions in his article insinuating that employees are losing interest or refuse to join unions.

Notified Meeting

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 10:22:12 -0400

Work continues to be slow. Many of our members are working out of state. Be sure to check with us here at the hall for the latest information if you are considering traveling to another local.
I would like to give you an update on the progress of our training center. The apprenticeship committee along with the building committee have been meeting and working with both an architect and a building contractor in hopes of finalizing a construction plan that we can bring in front of the city for approval. Both groups have done much research on what the needs will be for the best possible electrical training for our apprentices in future years. I believe you will soon see the beginning of the next phase of local 490. Remember for every 1$ spent on education you get $4 in market share. An investment we cannot afford not to make!
Our current contract expires 6/1/07. I along with the executive board have been discussing possible options for our upcoming contract. It is very important that you show up at the next couple of union meetings and voice your opinion.
The April meeting will be a notified meeting.

2007

Mon, 05 Feb 2007 14:36:27 -0500

   As we begin 2007 we find ourselves in a very different climate here in Concord not only has the temperature outside been warm and unseasonable, the political climate has also changed dramatically, hopefully it will also be warm.
Never before have we been in a position where the Democrats have controlled all branches of the NH state government. Only time will tell if this is a good thing or not.
I can only tell you that my experience when dealing with the legislatures over the past couple of years is that I have had much more success dealing with the Democrats on issues that directly affect us.
The NH state Government is not going to solve all of our problems, the NH state Government doesn’t make quality electrical installations or make the customers of our contractors have the piece of mind that if the job was done by one of our people than the job was done right Only we can do that !
The NH building trades have numerous bills they have filed and that will be heard this legislative session that could help level the playing field for our contractors whom play by the rules.
When some of these bills are heard in committee, the legislatures would much rather here from the actual workers that are affected than from me “The compensated labor boss” I hope if we ask for some assistance from you, you would be willing to help if needed.
I will keep you posted on what bills we will need to oppose and which we will need to support as the session progresses.
The work situation for 2007 at this time continues to be slow although we remain optimistic that this spring and summer will be busy.
                                                                                                      Fraternally Yours

Greetings From Iraq

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 13:44:39 -0500

Hey Local 490,

Greetings from Iraq,

Things are going well here. It's cold and rainy. We work a lot here, not much else to do. I apologize for not writing sooner have been real busy setting everything up. The internet is spotty at best, it doesn't work half of the time. I wish you all the best for the holidays.

If you write you can e-mail at the address above or at jonathan.j.carter@us.army.mil. My mailing address is:

Jonathan J Carter

3643rd SECFOR

Business Manager's Report

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 14:28:02 -0500

Over the past 5 years the trustees of our different funds have been put to the test. We have been forced to make some very difficult decisions. All of our different funds were set up previous to any of the trustees who reside over the funds now. As a new trustee I thought that because the hard work of setting up the funds was over now all there was to do was to listen to our paid consultants take their professional advice and maintain the funds. Nothing has been further from the truth. We have had to make some very difficult decisions.
       Each fund currently has 6 trustees; 3 from labor, 3 from management. All of the trustees work together and try to make decisions that are in the best interest to the majority of the membership. I feel that currently all of our trustees work very well together and have made the very best decisions they could make on every issue that has come before us.
     Of course the most difficult decisions over the past few years have been made to our Health Insurance. The latest decision to change coverage from Cigna to Blue Cross, we felt, had to be made for many reasons. I am confident that this was the right move. The trustees do not make moves without weighing out all the differences good and bad understanding who will be affected and how to best alleviate some of the problems that may occur .Given the fact that we are competing against contractors that either do not offer health care or pass the cost over to its employees, it is very important that we get the best product for the best price.
     We have also heard from many members who would like to have easier access to their annuity funds. Although we hope you would consider all other options before withdrawing from this important retirement account, we have asked our actuary to begin the process of changing the rules of accessibility. You will be notified of these changes when they occur.
      I hope you will support the trustees of your various funds and understand they are trying to make the best decisions they can make on behalf of the entire membership.
       On behalf of all of us in the office @ Local 490, I would like to wish all of you a happy and prosperous 2007.
                                                               Joe Casey

Business Manager's Report

Thu, 30 Nov 2006 16:35:15 -0500

The work has slowed considerably since the Seabrook shutdown. I am anticipating a slow winter as well. If you are out of work and planning on traveling to another local to work please make sure you contact us before you go. You will want to make sure you have all your credentials that you may need before you leave town. Each local may require different documentation such as good guy letters, apprentice completion certificates OSHA 10 certificates etc. If you haven’t already signed up on the Electronic Reciprocity Transfer System “ERTS” make sure you contact the benefits office so your benefits monies are sent home.
We have scheduled an emergency OSHA 10 class for those of you out of work whom need this important class for December 4th and 5th from 8:00am to 1:30pm here at the hall, since space is limited we must limit to members who plan on traveling and will need the certification to get referred. Please contact Jonathan ASAP @ 226-3964 Other classes will be scheduled in the future.

Business Manager's Update

Wed, 30 Aug 2006 20:09:22 -0400

With the Seabrook shutdown scheduled for the month of October I believe everyone has been offered employment.The final bids for the federal prison in Berlin went in on the 29th of September, I will keep you posted on the results of that project.

Denis Beaudoin and I spent the week of 9/11 @ the IBEW convention held in Cleveland Ohio. Other than the scheduled format of the convention we had the opportunity to speak with other labor leaders throughout the entire country. Please believe me when I tell you we are not alone in the quest for work in a world where construction wages and benefits are currently stagnant .

During the convention there were many resolutions passed, we will read and discuss these resolutions @ our upcoming union meetings.

The IBEW is on the right track to revitalize our union we must work together in a positive way for the IBEW to rise again.

After hearing many concerns about our current health care coverage with Cigna ,I have had many discussions with the business managers and trustees of the New England electrical workers benefit plan. Kathy and I have scheduled a very important meeting with the membership to discuss the two different insurance programs, this will be your opportunity to compare these two plans and give us your input . There will be no insurance representatives @ this meeting just us trying to compare and gather your questions in a non-bias way to help make the right decision for the members. We have had insurance meetings in the past with very little turnout. Please make every effort to attend this meeting.

The time and date is in the Health and Welfare notice of this newsletter.

Fraternally

Joe Casey

Business Manager

Organizing Efforts

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 15:37:39 -0400

We would like to congratulate the latest electrical contractor who has signed with us!!!

FM Electric:

Owned by, Andrew Fletcher & Dave Miller

Andrew and Dave have been working very hard growing their business so they could become a strong union contractor. They have been aggressively bidding jobs in hopes to one day employ our people.

All of us in L.U. 490 should be very proud of all the member/contractors who have remembered their roots, and signed with us for a stronger I.B.E.W. future.

Don’t forget the next time you see these guys out there working to congratulate them for being "a part of..."