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FIRST PUBLISHED IN 1893 Printed in the USA International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Vol. 9 | No. 6 | June 2015 IBEW News ★ ★ ★ A CALL TO SERVE ★ ★ ★ ‘A Huge Win’ NLRB expands worker protections IBEW’S MEMBERS in PUBLIC OFFICE at Verizon 3 Council Hearts PLAs Labor pacts the law in Long Beach 3 ‘Never Give Up’ Texas utility workers win 1 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives contract 20 IBEW Public Officials, 15 State legislators In This Issue By the Numbers 20 County legislators 14 Mayors North of 49° 4 IBEW stands near the top of the labor 87 City council members, aldermen, town supervisors Politics & Jobs 5 movement in numbers 23 School Board members of members who hold Transitions 6 public office. 71 Members of appointed commissions/councils/boards Organizing Wire 6 1 Director of the Federal Reserve IBEW Membership Privileges 7 Circuits 8 In Memoriam 9 Local Lines 10 Retirees 15 “ regularly ask our members to get involved in the Many of these members balance the responsi- community outside of the workplace,” says South “ASK NOT WHAT YOUR bilities of public office with the pressures and time Editorials 18 Bend, Ind., Local 153 Business Manager Mike constraints of jobs, union leadership and family I Compton. Compton says his creed of “leading by COUNTRY CAN DO FOR responsibilities. But, like Compton, they say their Letters to the Editor 19 example” pushed him into a successful campaign in efforts are essential to winning more influence and 2006 for a seat on the South Bend City Council. YOU ... ASK WHAT YOU respect for working families in places of power and Who We Are 19 “I found out after my election that my fellow policy. Many say they have established decent rela- Democrats do not understand organized labor, espe- CAN DO FOR YOUR tionships across partisan lines. And they urge others cially the building trades,” Compton says. And some – JOHN F. KENNEDY to join them. Republicans, he says, have never had a discussion COUNTRY.” Even when they lose their campaigns, union with a union representative. “My seat on the council members who contest for public office often come gives me the opportunity to educate everyone I work away with a sharper understanding of the importance with on the positives of organized labor and to put a of entering the political arena. friendly face on labor.” In a blog post on AFL-CIO Now, F.X. Crowley, a Compton is not alone. Dozens of IBEW mem- member of the International Alliance of Theatrical bers serve in public office. At the top of the list is Stage Employees summarizes the lessons learned in newly elected U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross (D-N.J.). But his unsuccessful campaign for a seat on the dozens more serve their communities and states on San Francisco Board of Supervisors where he lost by zoning and school boards, city councils and state 132 votes out of more than 35,000 cast. legislatures. A CALL TO SERVE continued on page 2 WWW.IBEW.ORG 2 The Electrical Worker | June 2015 Continued from page 1 A Call to Serve: IBEW’s Members in Public Office “Running for office takes you from mercy of the elected.” rights for some ex-offenders who had and meeting management. As active state Sen. Jerry Petrowski, a former mem- behind the curtain to center stage,” Crow- Last November, Cory McCray, a paid their debt to society. members of government, labor union ber of Wausau Local 1791. ley says. Even in San Francisco, a city Baltimore, Local 24 membership devel- “I learned how to organize [in the leaders would build many more bridges, What can we learn from IBEW mem- friendly to labor, he says, stereotypes opment representative, won a seat in the union] which helped me to develop and expand our opportunities to grow, and bers who serve in public office? How do prevail. “One voter said to me, ‘You’re not Maryland House of Delegates after an communicate a simple, effective message create an environment of mutual respect you win and make a difference? These are like a union guy. You’re like the police and extensive grassroots campaign which to my community and my fellow legisla- and trust,” he says. the questions we hope to answer. firemen I know.’ Stereotype or ignorance, engaged dozens of young workers. tors,” McCray says. Perspectives developed during union Next month, we will discuss the expe- the voter’s comment shows we had work McCray, a Democrat, who had run afoul Crowley amplifies the qualifications membership can be important for public rience of IBEW members in public office in to do,” he adds. Without having members of the law as a youth, immediately estab- union members bring to the political pro- officeholders even if they no longer belong Canada, where two members are cam- in public office, says Crowley, “It’s like lished relationships with Republican cess. “As negotiators, we are conditioned to the union or share labor’s agenda. paigning for federal positions north of 49. having your negotiation go into arbitra- representatives. In short measure, he to find common ground and forge solu- During the recent vote in Wisconsin approv- We invite all members in public tion. You are at the mercy of the arbitrator. became the lead House sponsor of a suc- tions. We bring a special skill set to ing right-to-work legislation, the sole office to [email protected] to dis- The same goes for politics. You are at the cessful bill that restored full voting democracy, which includes team building Republican to vote against the bill was cuss your experiences. z Cory McCray Baltimore Local 24 Maryland House of Delegates Peter Murray A member of Baltimore, Md., Local 24, Cory McCray Martinez, Calif., Local 302 was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates last Pinole City Council November. He has been working hard to promote healing and understanding in his inner city community after the tragic events following Peter Murray, a member of Martinez, Calif., Local the death of Freddie Gray, who died while in police custody. 302, began his political career as a planning com- missioner and has served on the city council of Pinole, Issues: “The main issues in my district are poverty, education and sanitation. Due to low Calif., a bedroom community east of San Francisco, for 23 incomes in some of the neighborhoods, we have food deserts, a lack of dining options, and a years. Murray, who has been mayor six times, has increased his percentage of the vote in every succeed- decreasing population. This can be resolved by bringing middle class jobs to the neighborhood, ing election in the city of 18,000. jobs which create disposable income to help grow our communities.” Keys to success: “I do things by the book. That makes it harder for anyone to question my choices. Communities like Pinole define a budget and live within it. My goal is to help maintain a balance so Inspiration: “I am dedicated to creating opportunities for others to succeed. I have been individuals can have a living wage. That means negotiating project labor agreements like we did for our successful. But the true measure of success is not just being successful, it’s how many people water treatment plant.” you can bring along with you. When legislation and budgets include public employees and their working conditions, I am sitting in the room. As workers fight for pay equity, collective bargaining, or prevailing wages, they know they have at least one voice speaking up for them.” What union members bring to public office: “A lot of members think political offices are out of their reach. But we, the workers, are the ones who make things work. When you’re on the job as an electrician, you’re a problem-solver. You compete to get things done on time and on budget. You do the job right the Mike Compton first time. Sometimes you have to get into intricate detail and then make fast, but competent decisions. My job as a legislator is to make those competent decisions.” South Bend, Ind., Local 153 South Bend City Council Mike Compton, business manager of South Bend, Ind., Local 153 has served for nine years as a city councilman, population 100,000. Nick Segura His mission: “When I am representing the citizens of my community, I try to San Diego Local 569 keep a couple things in mind: How will my actions affect middle-class taxpayers Sweetwater District School Board and how will they affect retirees living on fixed incomes? When I am representing union members, I have the same line of thought except instead of thinking of taxpayers, Nick Segura, assistant business manager, San Diego Local 569, has I think of members.” a son in high school and a daughter who is almost there. His chil- dren were at the core of his motivation to run a winning campaign last year for a seat on the board of education for their high school Reaching across the aisle: “I reach out to Republicans and invite them to tour our Electrical Training district, the state’s largest, with more than 40,000 students and 5,000 Alliance. I have found education and apprenticeships are an area that nearly everyone feels is important. employees spread over 30 sites. It usually helps break the ice a bit and opens the door for further conversation. But Segura also knew winning a board seat would help him familiarize other members and his entire district with the excellent training offered by the IBEW and help the union give back to the surround- ing community.

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