news • Holiday 2008
Support Fox Chase Cancer Center Expansion We need your help to save a critically needed expansion of Northeast Philadelphia’s Fox Chase Cancer Center that will dramatically improve patient care, create thousands of temporary and permanent jobs, and significantly expand the city’s tax base. On Tuesday, December 9, 2009, Philadelphia Orphans Court Judge John W. Herron ruled against Fox Chase’s plan to lease 19 acres of the city-owned, 65-acre Burlhome Park needed to expand the world-class cancer research and treatment hospital. The judge’s ruling was based on his belief that, so long as a community or neighborhood actively uses dedicated park land, the City is required to hold such land in trust for their use. Fox Chase believes Judge Herron erred in his decision and plans to appeal. We applaud their decision to appeal. Although the preservation of park land is certainly important, so, too, is ensuring the continued viability of a world-class hospital and creating thousands of good jobs in an otherwise terrible economy. The planned Fox Chase expansion would still leave nearly 46 acres of park land intact, which is
considerable and would seem to be more than adequate to fulfill the recreational needs of nearby residents. We urge all Local 98 members to call or write Councilman Brian O’Neill, in whose Northeast district Fox Chase is located, and urge him to do everything in his power to assist Fox Chase in its appeal and speak with his constituents about all that stands to be lost if Fox Chase is prohibited from expanding its operations. The contact information is as follows:
Councilman Brian O’Neill City Of Philadelphia City Hall – Room 562 Philadelphia, PA 19107-3290 Phone: 215-686-3422 Email: brian.O’neill@phila.gov
Brian Hickey, prior to running the Dougherty for Senate ca mpaign with passion, dignity and creativity, helped keep everyone in the Philadelphia area well informed as a talented and respected journalist. Now he needs our help. On Friday, November 28th, he was severely injured in a horrific hit and run accident. Brian remains in serious condition at Cooper Medical Center in New Jersey. Although there have been some positive signs of recovery recently, he is far from being out of trouble. Please stay tuned for the “Helping Hand for Hickey” fundraiser. It will be a great opportunity to show Brian how much you appreciate him and send along your best wishes for his full recovery. 100% of the proceeds from this upcoming event will go directly to the Hickey fa mily.
Dear Brothers and Sisters: First, allow me to wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season and a happy and prosperous new year. Despite the challenging economic times we Americans find ourselves in at present, there is cause for hope and optimism. With the election of Barack Obama, a true friend of labor and of America’s forgotten middle-class, there is a growing confidence that he and his high-powered Cabinet appointees will get our national economy moving again soon. For example, President-Elect Obama understands that funding major infrastructure improvement programs, like highways, bridges, roads, ports, air, and train systems, is a smart way to rebuild our nation and put people back to work. The President-Elect is creating a National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank to expand and enhance, not supplant, existing federal transportation investments. The Bank will receive an infusion of $60 billion in federal monies over 10 years to provide financing to transportation infrastructure projects across the nation. These projects will create up to two million new direct and indirect jobs and stimulate approximately $35 billion per year in new economic activity. The President-Elect has also vowed to rescind the Bush administration’s 2001 executive order barring agencies from requiring project labor agreements for federal projects. I expect that an Executive Order clearing the way for PLAs will be signed as early as February. These are the kind of economic shots in the arm our nation needs to get back on track and one of the reasons why I supported Barack Obama for president from day one. As we move towards an economic rebound, know that your local union will continue to monitor all job sites in
our jurisdiction to ensure that we are capitalizing on every opportunity for work for our members. We will continue to forge strategic alliances with elected officials, captains of industry, and contractors to ensure our continued success. We will continue to closely watch and evaluate the local’s investment portfolios to be certain we are protecting, nurturing and growing your hard-earned money. And we will continue to protect your immediate and long-term interests as we all fight our way back to economic prosperity. We are doing everything in our collective power to keep our members working and put those who are out of a job back to work as quickly as possible. This is YOUR UNION. You elected us to protect it. It is a responsibility we take very seriously. Do not hesitate to call upon us for help. I hope you and your family enjoy a safe and wonderful holiday season.
Yours in solidarity, John J. Dougherty Business Manager IBEW Local Union 98
Dear Brothers and Sisters: As we prepare to say goodbye (good riddance?) to 2008, a year that will be remembered for dramatic volatility in the worldwide financial markets, please be assured that your local union continues to have a steady hand on the wheel as we navigate our way through these turbulent times. Make no mistake, we are in a tough economic climate and Local 98 has had to make some difficult decisions in order to maintain our competitive edge in the marketplace. However, we are well-positioned to weather these storms and have made the right moves at the right times to protect ourselves from harm. One such example: This fall, when rumblings began about the dire fiscal woes of Wachovia Bank, Local 98 moved nearly $30 million in funds out of Wachovia and into PNC Bank. Shortly thereafter, the full extent of Wachovia’s financial problems became public and talk of a federal bail-out intensified. Not only did we move our money into a much more stable financial institution that has Pennsylvania roots, we also negotiated better interest rates. That’s the type of foresight you have come to expect of your leadership team and which we’re proud to be able to deliver. Local 98 also engineered a recent change in our Health and Welfare benefits package that is saving the local and our membership money without sacrificing our high standards of health care. By joining the Delaware Valley Healthcare Coalition, we are saving 2% per year on our health care premiums, plus an additional 6% annual savings on administration costs. Our outstanding medical coverage benefits remain exactly the same. In our continuing effort to save our members money, we recently launched a Mail Order Prescription Plan. The idea is catching on, as 27% of our members have now signed on to the program. The 27% enrollment in the Mail Order Prescription Plan has already saved our local approximately $400,000 in the cost of the premium. If you haven’t already, please look into the Mail Order Prescription Plan,
which provides you with the same medicine you need more conveniently and economically. The good news continues: Despite the down national economy this year, Local 98’s total man hours in 2008 were up 8% over 2007. And although our pension fund took a hit this year (and whose didn’t?), our focus on diversifying our funds protected us from more significant losses. This year, we also enjoyed our biggest and most successful Health Fair to date. More than 1,200 members attended the event at the Sheet Metal Workers Hall on Columbus Boulevard, where more than 600 people received flu shots and some 40 pints of blood were donated to the American Red Cross. Local 98 also hosted a very successful Pre-Retirees Seminar, which attracted more than 200 members who got retirement planning advice from IRS officials and various fund administrators. As a result of the positive feedback from members in attendance, we plan to schedule this event every two years. Finally, we should all feel hopeful about 2009 and beyond. President-Elect Obama understands that by supporting the goals of the labor movement, he will be throwing a lifeline to America’s struggling middle class. And, as the expression goes, a rising tide lifts all boats. I wish you and your loved ones the happiest of holidays and a healthy and prosperous New Year! Yours in Solidarity,
Brian Burrows President IBEW Local Union 98
On January 20, 2009, Barack Obama will be sworn-in as the 44th President of the United States of America. The national labor movement chose Obama as its clear-cut candidate in the 2008 presidential election because he alone had a nearly 100% voting record on pro-labor issues. Judging by his recent strong, supportive positions on three issues of major importance to the labor movement, the year 2009 is trending upwards for America’s working families.
National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank President-Elect Obama has pledged to fund major infrastructure improvement programs across the country, including highways, bridges, roads, ports, air, and train systems. He understands that investing in our nation’s infrastructure will reinvigorate the economy and put people back to work. The Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank will receive $60 billion in new federal monies over 10 years for new infrastructure projects. These projects will create up to two million new direct and indirect jobs and stimulate approximately $35 billion per year in new economic activity.
Employee Free Choice Act President-Elect Obama is a steadfast supporter of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), which would enable working people to bargain for better wages, benefits and working conditions by restoring workers’ freedom to choose for themselves whether or not to join a union. Currently, elections for company unionization are overseen by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and require that employees cast pro or con votes in a secret ballot process. The current system is often fraught with employer coercion and intimidation. The EFCA will make the process fairer and more transparent.
Project Labor Agreement The President-Elect has also vowed to rescind the Bush administration’s 2001 executive order barring agencies from requiring project labor agreements (PLAs) for federal projects. As you know, PLAs are a comprehensive prehire collective bargaining agreement, which establishes all terms and conditions for labor in advance for everyone involved in the project: the public sector employer, contractors and subcontractors, and the labor force.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Congratulations to Local 98 Facilities Supervisor Brian Young on his recent engagement. Also, we send hearty congratulations to Local 98 Senior Marketing Director Ed McBride, whose son, Ed McBride, Jr., was just appointed Chief of Staff to New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine.
Stephen W. Aument 11/02/08 Francis P. Filoon Jr. 11/06/08 Thomas M. Loeffel 11/27/08 Chester Pondo 12/05/08
A HUGE SU CCESS!
is th r fa so s e ili m fa y d ee n r fo 0 0 0 We’ve ra is ed $40, is th h it w g in p el h r fo ll a to s k n a h h olid a y sea so n! T . r ea y e th h g u ro th ll a s ie rit a ch a n d ot h er worth y
— Jo h n n y Doc
Are you working in an Electrically Safe Work Condition? What is an electrically safe work condition?
An electrically safe work condition exists where: (1) The conductors, equipment or circuit parts being worked on or those that are exposed to employees are not connected to an electrical source and can not be energized or: (2) The conductors, equipment or circuit parts being worked on or those that are exposed to employees are locked-out, tagged-out and the absence of voltage has been verified. OSHA prohibits employees from working on or being exposed to conductors, equipment or circuit parts that are or could be energized. Where energized work is justified, (as outlined in NFPA 70E) OSHA will recognize the implementation of the safe work practices contained in NFPA 70E. Employers must have written electrical safe work practice programs, training, qualified persons and all of the necessary PPE and voltage rated tools. As the clock ticks and we move into 2009, we may be growing closer to our next fatality in Local 98. The ignorance of lock-out tag-out procedures and programs place members of our Local in harms way every day. Apprentices and Journeyman wireman suffer electrical shocks on a regular basis and we think it is part of the business. It’s not. Eventually one of those shock incidents will result in a fatality. Are you working in an electrically safe work condition? Is the apprentice down the hall in working in an electrically safe work condition? Will the next fatality in our Local be you, on your job or in your gang? Working in an electrically safe work condition is not something that is nice to do or a best practice; it is the law in the United States of America. At times, we are our own worst enemy, ignoring lock-out tag-out procedures under the false premise of saving time or because we did not plan properly or because it seems more convenient. As you enjoy the Holidays this season, take a minute or two and consider how much you love your family and friends and what they mean to you. Remember, you mean as much to them as they do you, and they would not want you to put yourself into a situation where a circuit breaker or switch could be inadvertently closed resulting in your death. Demand an electrically safe work condition for you and fellow members. Make working in an electrically safe work condition your resolution for 2009.
1701 Spring Garden St. Philadelphia, PA 19130