IN Charge Magazine 1st Quarter 2014

Transcription

IN
Contents
OFFICERS
Chuck Graham, Business Manager Butch Ramos, President
Larry Greenhill, Sr., Vice President
Mike Shoemaker, Financial Secretary
Richard Murphy, Recording Secretary
Jerry Lozupone, Treasurer
FROM THE DESK OF BUSINESS MANAGER
CHUCK GRAHAM
Yes, Your One Vote Does Matter
3
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Accentuate the Positive
4
VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Make “Time” Your Priority this New Year
ORGANIZERS’ REPORT
5
6
Organizing Must Be Attacked from a Different Position Now
FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S REPORT
Don’t Forget About the Dues Increase; Great Time to Check Your
Beneficiary Information
26
COVE POINT LNG LIQUEFACTION FACILITY:
Brought to You by a Partnership Between Dominion and Local Union 26
7
EXECUTIVE BOARD
John Collins
Joe Dabbs
George Hogan
Mike Hoyt
Jerry Lewis
Steve Zimmerman
EXAMINING BOARD
Violet Carter
Melvin Cherry
Lorne Seay
www.ibewlocal26.org
www.facebook.com/ibew26
Business Office, Finance Office
& JW/RW/TD Referrals
301-459-2900
Apprenticeship & Training
301-429-2575
Health & Welfare Office
301-731-1050
IBEW 26 Federal Credit Union
301-306-0610
8
ACE ELECTRIC
Local 26 Members Greet a New Project and New Contractor with
Craftsmanship and Pride
12
FAMILY TRADITION
14
The Noonan Family: Providing Over 400 Years of Service to Local 26
MUSIC TO CHILDREN’S EARS
Local 26’s Donation Helps Bring Music Back to DC Public Schools
SCHOLARSHIPS
Four Opportunities for You and/or Your Children
2
26
28
T H E M A G A Z I N E O F I B E W LO C A L 2 6 , S E R V I N G M A R Y L A N D, V I R G I N I A A N D W A S H I N G TO N, D. C .
ON THE COVER
Local 26 and Dominion Work Together
to Gain Work at Cove Point for Our
Members
FROM THE DESK OF Business Manager Chuck Graham
Yes, Your One Vote
Does Matter!
I
have said it before but I will continue to
say it again and again: Every vote counts!
If you are a latecomer to this idea and still
need more proof that your one vote does
truly matter, take a look at Virginia’s election
results from the General Election this past
November.
Virginia was a big win for the Democratic
Party, and I mean big, but that’s not the only
noteworthy thing to come from the
November 5th election. As the polls closed
on election night, the Democratic candidates
for governor and lieutenant governor, Terry
McAuliffe and Ralph Northam respectively,
were announced the winners.
The results were far less certain for the
candidates for attorney general. As election
day came to a close, Republican candidate
Mark Obenshain was believed to be victorious over Democratic candidate Mark
Herring and congratulations were being
doled out to Obenshain from his fellow
members of Virginia’s Republican party.
However, a few hours later, Herring believed
he had been elected and announced that he
looked forward to working on behalf of
Virginians.
Despite the uncertainty about the office of
attorney general, on the whole, I would say
labor felt satisfied with the results.
Democrats took at least two out of the three
top elected offices in the state of Virginia—a
Right-to-Work state and a state that has
leaned very Republican for many decades.
For five days following the election, the
provisional ballots were counted and what
had been a 17-vote lead for Obenshain one
morning, turned into a 117-vote lead for
Herring by night. The election was wrought
with faulty tabulation machines that
required recounting (which is what led to
Herring’s 117-vote lead), officials in
Richmond who failed to enter in more than
200 votes (which gave Herring an even
greater lead), and other accounts of human
error. Mark Herring was ultimately declared
victorious by a margin of 165 votes, out of
2.2 million votes cast.
Take a minute and think about this: Just
165 votes determined the outcome in an
important election, an election to seat one of
the highest offices in the state of Virginia.
Those 165 people who voted for Mark
Herring gave the Democratic party a full
sweep of the three top offices in Virginia,
and when you consider that the two U.S.
Senate seats in Virginia are held by
Democrats, that means Democrats are controlling Virginia politics. This is the first
time in nearly 45 years that Virginia has
been under Democratic leadership like this.
However, electing a Democrat to attorney
general is even more important than it initially seems. Historically in Virginia, attorney generals have gone on to have the best
chance at being elected governor. (Governor
Bob McDonnell was the attorney general as
was Ken Cuccinelli, who gave Terry
McAuliffe a tough race.) And, with Virginia’s
one-term limit for governor, this means that
just four short years away, we will be looking
once again at another gubernatorial election.
If history is any indicator, the attorney general will be throwing his name in the ring. If
Obenshain had been elected, we would likely be facing a formidable gubernatorial candidate with values that more closely mirror
the Tea Party than the Labor Movement.
Herring’s win makes it less likely that
Obenshain will stand much of a chance if he
were to run for governor in the next election.
I N C h a r g e / 1 ST Q U A R T E R 2 0 1 4
Of course, electing a labor-friendly attorney general, and governor and lieutenant
governor for that matter, means a great deal
in the short term as well. It is an indicator
that Virginia is leaning far more to the left
and that is usually good news for labor,
especially in a state that’s Right-to-Work. It
means that we will have leaders in office
who are sensitive to the concerns of workers,
not just the checkbooks of big business, as
this has been the case in Virginia for a long
time. A Democratic controlled Virginia will
make the work of our Local 26 leaders, particularly our organizers, a little bit easier.
Local 26 has long found itself in a challenging position with a jurisdiction that
includes a historically Republican Virginia
and a historically Democratic Maryland. We
have had to have two very different “game
plans” in regards to organizing, political
action, marketing, and even in securing jobs
for our one jurisdiction. I hope that this
changing of the tide in Virginia will enable
us to put into use some of the highly effective programs we have used in Maryland
when it comes to securing work for our
members and protecting their rights on the
job. We have had great success building solid
working relationships with our elected leaders in Maryland, and I look forward to
building those kinds of relationships in
Virginia.
So next November, and every November
to come, will you still think your one vote
won’t make a difference? I hope Virginia’s
2013 elections are all the proof you need to
get out and vote every single election. I may
have had to write a very different editorial if
not for those 165 Virginians whose votes
secured a win for Mark Herring.
3
President’sReport
Accentuate the Positive
R
Butch Ramos
President
“You can
communicate a
positive message
about unions just
by making others
aware that you are
a union member.”
4
and R: reputation and recognition.
Those two things matter the most in
the aggressive public relations campaign
the IBEW is conducting to bring jobs to
the electrical industry. Union electricians
are at the top of their craft, but if no one
knows it, it won’t matter how good we are.
As the foundation of the union and indeed,
its greatest asset, the membership plays the
most important role in making this an
effective campaign that will influence
political and business decisions in our
favor.
If you watch NFL football or listen to
local sports radio, you have seen and heard
a campaign showcasing the skills and talents of Local 26 members. Being a union
electrician distinguishes you from other
workers in many professional capacities.
The IBEW Local 26 logo stands for
advanced professional skills and competence. Other crafts recognize and respect
that achievement.
Being known as “union” should be a
source of pride and self-respect. If you’re
asked how you make a living, do you
answer, “I’m an electrician,” or do you
include the one word that creates a real,
lasting impression—“union?”
I believe that word transcends all others
when a person forms their opinion about
you and your career choice. It’s a word that
captures the positive force of brotherhood,
workers’ rights, wages, and benefits. Each
of those things can stand on its own, but
when they are mentioned in the context of
a union, they take on a different meaning.
The notion of brotherhood becomes stronger, workers’ rights are upheld, wages and
benefits increase. Workers know a job is
better when it’s “union.”
You can communicate a positive message
about unions just by making others aware
that you are a union member. That’s more
powerful than you realize. Do people associate you with Local 26? Do they know
you’re a union worker or part of a union
family?
T H E M A G A Z I N E O F I B E W LO C A L 2 6 , S E R V I N G M A R Y L A N D, V I R G I N I A A N D W A S H I N G TO N, D C
Contrary to the media and political
campaign speeches, union members are
not the problem. We are not union “bosses” or “Big Labor.” We are neighbors, and
PTA parents. We support the high school
booster club and volunteer for chaperone
duty at the prom. We work hard and do
our best to attain a higher standard of living for our families.
Others need to consider that we make a
choice to become union members. How do
we make that known? There are many
ways you can help give the IBEW a presence in your local community. Some are
simple, but they all have an impact:
• Wear your Local 26 pin every day. If you
need one, call me.
• Display the IBEW Local 26 logo.
Window and bumper stickers on vehicles
are advertising tools. Everyone sees them
when they’re stuck in traffic.
• Use an IBEW Local 26 license plate
holder.
• Wear IBEW Local 26 apparel and hats,
particularly when you’re not at work.
• Talk about Worker’s Memorial Day to
your children. It is history they won’t hear
in the classroom.
• Educate your family, friends, and coworkers by sharing what the union does
for your family. First-hand experience matters.
• When you participate in your community, do it as a parent and neighbor who is
also a proud Local 26 member.
• Make Labor Day a family holiday that’s
as important as Thanksgiving.
There is no finer tribute than being
described as “union” or having someone
say you’re a “union man” or “union
woman.” In the working world it stands for
workers’ rights and social justice through
fair wages, decent benefits, and a dignified
pension. We are proud to be union. Let
other people know it and you’ll increase
public awareness of labor in your community and of the great work being done by
IBEW Local 26.
VicePresident’sReport
Make “Time” Your Priority this
New Year
A
s I prepared for this article, one of
the most important and relevant
words in the human vocabulary (in my
opinion) kept resonating in my mind—
the word “time.” To underscore its
importance and relevance, Webster’s
New Collegiate Dictionary dedicates
almost a full page of definitions and references to the word “time.” Somewhere I
read that minutes of time are equally as
precious as 24-carat gold nuggets. If
that’s the case, why haven’t we (regardless of our station in life) learned to
make better use of our time? Why do the
majority of us still waste countless hours
of this precious commodity? I don’t
know about you but I often find myself
wondering, “Where did the time go?”
For example, we are heading into a new
year and yet it seems like only yesterday
that we rung in 2013. Remember the old
adage “time is flying?” Well, in some
cases it really is.
This brings me to the other very interesting point about time, and I suspect
most of us have experienced this. I’m
talking about the guilty feeling that
comes over us after we procrastinate or
willfully misuse our time. Have you ever
experienced this? If you have, believe me
you’re not alone. It’s like deep down
inside we know we could have completed
that job or home project or made it to
work or the voter’s booth on time or finished that homework assignment, but
because we do not understand the
urgency of time management as it relates
to meaningful progress, we fall short
time and time again. Brothers and
Sisters, this is not a condemnation on
anyone. I’m simply bringing to light a
recurring situation that, if properly
addressed, will probably make most of
our lives better, particularly as leaders,
members, and workers in our families,
our Union, and on our jobs.
As vanguards of our Union, we should
all agree to use our time wisely by agree-
ing, in the coming year, to take or set
aside time to: 1) volunteer to help the
Local in its many endeavors; 2) register
to vote, if you haven’t already; 3) attend
Union meetings and the Union
Christmas party meetings; 4) attend your
Union’s picnic in VA or MD; 5) register
and take a journeyman skills improvement course; 6) maintain a stable
address, phone number, and/or email
address with the Finance Office; 7) give
a helping hand or sound advice to a fellow member; 8) tell someone about the
Union; 9) mentor a younger member;
and, 10) inform the Local Union of any
member who is suffering from an
extended illness or who has passed away.
Thanks to those of you who took the
time to build the Union’s strength by volunteering time away from your loved
ones to support elected officials or those
seeking elected office who support the
union way. A big thank you goes out
particularly to those of you who volunteered in Virginia to help Labor’s friends
get elected to the top three offices. Every
vote counts. Great job!
To those who have faced challenging
and difficult times this year because of
sustained unemployment, loss of loved
ones or unexpected illnesses, be encouraged as better times are ahead. Just hold
on and avoid, at all costs, the three C’s of
failure—criticism, condemnation, and
complaining.
The Local Union 26 Minority
Coalition will be holding its Annual
Black History Month Celebration on
Saturday, February 15, 2014. Please
make plans to join us. Contact me at
301-918-8804 for ticket information.
May God bless you and your families
this coming year.
Larry Greenhill, Sr.
Vice President/Minority
Coalition President
“Thanks to those
of you who took
the time to build
the Union’s
strength by
volunteering time
away from your
loved ones to
support elected
officials or those
seeking elected
office who support
the union way.”
5
ORGANIZERS’REPORT
Organizing Must Be
Attacked from a Different
Position Now
M
John Collins
Organizer
“Faced with a
decline in union
membership,
organizing is
more important
than ever, yet
more challenging
than ever.”
6
any people believe that a union organizer’s job is to just organize nonunion workers and contractors. Yes, this is an
important part of our work but it is only one of
the things we do to achieve our larger goal—to
elevate workplace standards and wages for
union members.
I don’t believe that an organizer’s job has ever
been “easy” but I do believe our job has gotten
harder in recent years. It used to be that our
biggest opposition was non-union contractors
but today the forces working against us are
organizations and people that hide behind acronyms, lobbying groups and jobs in public office.
Half of our time these days is spent just trying
to learn more about the people and groups trying to tear us down. Faced with a decline in
union membership, organizing is more important than ever, yet more challenging than ever.
There are many layers that lie behind the
non-union forces in our industry. What we see
on the surface—non-union contractors and
non-union workers—are only the puppets for
politicians, big businesses, and special interest
groups. Although here in Local 26 we have
been relatively fortunate to have fairly steady
work and good union contractors, we can’t rest
on our laurels and foolishly think that the
attacks others in organized labor have endured
won’t come knocking on our door.
In one year, 2011-2012:
• Four states passed laws restricting minimum
wage.
• Four states lifted restrictions on child labor.
• Sixteen states imposed new limits on benefits
for the unemployed.
• States passed laws stripping workers of overtime rights, repealing or restricting rights for
sick leave, undermining workplace safety protections, making it harder to sue an employer
for race or sex discrimination.
• Fifteen states passed laws restricting public
employees’ collective bargaining rights or ability
to collect fair share dues through payroll deductions.
• Nineteen states introduced Right-to-Work
bills and Right-to-Work laws affecting private
sector collective bargaining agreements were
enacted in Michigan and Indiana.
Of course the most famous attack that year
came from Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker
whose budget repair bill largely eliminated col-
lective bargaining rights for the state’s 175,000
public employees.
So why am I sharing this information with
you? I want you to understand that the tactics
of our opponents have changed; they’re more
sophisticated and more underhanded. This has
forced us to change our method of organizing.
Organizing is a much slower process than it
ever used to be. We used to see success in “salting” a job and reaching out to non-union
employees with leaflets. This approach is not
nearly as successful these days because jobs are
not as plentiful as they used to be and nonunion workers are even more fearful of giving
up their job, as low paying as it may be, for the
unknown with a union.
We have to approach organizing from a different perspective—by getting to the real forces
behind the laws and efforts to keep workers
down. Your Local 26 organizers view their job
as part union representative, part private detective. Organizations like American Legislative
Exchange Council (ALEC), Americans for
Prosperity, Americans for Tax Reform, the
Business Roundtable, and the Associated
Builders and Contractors hide behind pleasant
sounding names but are really focused on driving down wages, eliminating unions, and pushing forward a corporate agenda at the expense
of working men and women. And for each of
these organizations, there are dozens of others
and new ones popping up every day.
The threat of the non-union is a bigger beast
now than it ever was before. Anti-union sentiments are starting on a local level and expanding to a national level so issues we used to be
able to address locally or even regionally are
now being played out on a grander, national
scale. This has put a tremendous drain on
unions’ manpower and financial resources
when it comes to organizing.
Of course, our success in organizing still
depends heavily on the support and involvement of our membership. As we are but a few
working to learn more about the non-union
contractors and workers, our members are in
the thousands on the jobsites each and every
day perhaps with access to information that
could prove tremendously important.
Remember, every effort and every bit of information, no matter how small, is helpful to us. FINANCEREPORT
Don’t Forget About the Dues
Increase; Great Time to Check
Your Beneficiary Information
H
appy New Year to all of our brothers
and sisters and their families! The new
year is a great time to be reminded of some
very important information and to do some
personal organizing.
First and foremost, I want to remind you of
the dues increase that became effective as of
January 1, 2014. The increase is $2 per month
or $6 per quarter and it applies to all members. The increase was mandated by the
International, not Local 26.
The new quarterly dues are as follows:
Journeyman Wireman - $110.10
Apprentice - $100.80
Residential Wireman - $110.10
Residential Trainee (R1 thru R8) - $100.80
Instrument Technician - $110.10
Maintenance Worker - $110.10
Service Contract Employee - $58.80
Sign Worker - $110.10
Test Technician - $110.10
Teledata Classifications - $110.10
Communications Worker - $100.80
Motor Repairman - $110.10
Please don’t forget that dues payments are
due in the Finance Office by the first day of
each quarter. Our quarters begin on January
1st, April 1st, July 1st, and October 1st. The
International dues account for, among other
things, your International Pension, and that
pension is calculated based on continuous
years of membership. If you get behind on
your dues, you will likely get dropped from
the membership system and will lose your
pension benefit for the years in which you
failed, or were even late, to pay your dues.
Local 26 has made it extremely convenient
for members to pay their dues and, therefore,
avoid being dropped from membership. You
can pay in person at the Lanham, MD office,
you can call us at the Lanham office and pay
by phone using a credit card (Visa,
Mastercard or Discover), or you can mail
your payment to the Lanham office and we
will mail a receipt back to you. If you belong
to the Local 26 Credit Union, you can also
call the Credit Union at 301-306-0610, and
authorize them to make your dues payment
out of your account and they will bring the
payment over to the Finance Office. I urge
you not to fall behind in your dues payment.
The benefits that come with that dues payment are far too valuable to risk losing.
On a final note, I want to remind you to
review your beneficiary information at least
annually, or more often as needed. Have you
recently experienced a change in marital status, a death in the family, or another life
change? Beneficiary payments are made to
the individual listed in your file at the time of
your death. If that information is not accurate, your actual beneficiaries will not receive
your benefits in a timely manner or possibly
at all. It has happened too many times in the
past; don’t let it happen to you!
Please take a minute and confirm that your
beneficiary information is up-to-date for both
the Local 26 Pension and the International
Pension. You can check this information and/
or request change forms by calling the EWTF
office (for the Local 26 Pension) at 301-7311050, and the International’s benefits department at 202-833-7000.
As always, if you should have any other
questions about your dues, need retirement
information, or have questions about your
membership status, please don’t hesitate to
contact me in the Finance Office.
Mike Shoemaker
Financial Secretary
Congratulations to the following
members who have retired:
October 2013
Roger A. Barnes #2038
David A. Clark #2039
David S. Duarte #2040
Roderick R. George #2041
Joseph M. Haugh, Sr. #2042
Thomas C. Miller #2043
Martin J. Reedy #2044
Robert M. Wines #2045
November 2013
Warren R. Cobean, III #2046
Ronald V. Friend #2047
Thomas O. Johns #2048
John C. Taugner #2049
December 2013
Dennis M. Burton #2050
William Flemming #2051
Thomas C. Friedrich #2052
Stephen R. Kight #2053
-----------------------------------------------------------DUES PAYMENT COUPON
Name:
Classification: Dues Card #: Address:
Dues Payment: $
Retirement Assessment: $
Miscellaneous Payments: $
Total Payment: $
7
ProjectSpotlight
Cove Point
LNG Liquefaction Facility:
E
very single day, thousands of Local 26 members are at work all
around Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia plying the
skills they honed through our Local Union. Our brothers and
sisters do their job to the highest of standards, ensuring that our
Local Union maintains its reputation of excellence in the electrical trades.
8
Brought to You by a Partnership Between
Dominion and Local Union 26
In an era where the bottom line has
placed sometimes unreasonable expectations
on workers, delivering a high quality product on time and on budget while maintaining safe work practices is a balancing act few
can handle. Our members, however, handle
this balancing act time and again with the
greatest of ease. This dedication on the part
of our members is all the more reason our
Local 26 officers are committed to working
tirelessly to secure contracts for our Local.
And, sometimes those contracts are years in
the making.
You don’t have to look very hard in the
Washington, DC, metro area to find a Local
26 electrician on the job. Local 26 is highly
regarded in our jurisdiction by developers
and contractors alike and our reputation is
well known. However, that doesn’t mean that
projects come easy and all we need to do is
sign on the dotted line. Quite the opposite,
in fact.
Bringing work to our members is a process that usually takes many months or in
the case of Dominion’s Cove Point, many,
many years. Furthermore, securing work
requires a tremendous amount of cooperation from all parties. While our detractors
believe that unions work in opposition of
their employers, this couldn’t be farther from
the truth. Just ask Dominion.
Dominion is one of our nation’s largest
producers and transporters of energy and it
operates one of the nation’s largest natural
gas storage systems. Here in Lusby,
Maryland in Calvert County, Dominion
operates the Cove Point LNG Terminal,
which has been in existence since the 1970s.
The history of Cove Point has seen its peaks
and valleys including a time when it fell into
disuse in the 1980s. However, Cove Point’s
history, and the history of our Local Union,
is about to experience another peak when a
new chapter for the facility gets underway in
2014.
After a period of disuse, Cove Point,
which was originally commissioned for
importing natural gas, became a storage
facility for liquefied natural gas (LNG) for
many years. LNG arrives on specially
designed ships known as LNG carriers (pictured below). In 2003, after construction of a
fifth LNG storage tank, Dominion began
importing once again. With essentially a
new lease on life, Dominion decided to take
Cove Point even further and convert it to
also include export and liquefaction capabilities. In September 2011, Dominion filed
with the Department of Energy for permission to export natural gas to countries with a
free trade agreement and the company
received permission just one month later in
October 2011. Also in October, the company
filed for permission to export to countries
with which the U.S. does not have a free
trade agreement. Conditional approval for
this took two full years. Meanwhile,
Dominion began seeking approval from the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(FERC) to expand Cove Point to an export
facility and build liquefaction capabilities.
Local 26 rolled up its sleeves and began
9
Congressman John Delaney
and Local 26 Business
Manager Chuck Graham
working side by side with Dominion right
from the start.
Months before Dominion filed its request
with FERC, it initiated a meeting with
Business Manager Chuck Graham to inform
Local 26 of the company’s plans to expand
the facilities and the impact such a project
could have on the Local. Dominion knew
that Local 26 would be a valuable partner
because the two had worked together on
existing generation facilities in Virginia. The
bottom line was that expanding Cove Point
would mean hundreds of jobs for Local 26,
and hundreds more for the Building Trades.
Dominion wanted Local 26’s help in gaining
approval from FERC and the support of the
community, and Local 26 was willing to
offer our valuable resources to the fullest
degree if it meant good jobs for our members. This began a mutually beneficial relationship between Dominion and Local 26
that is expected to result in a green light for
a massive expansion to Cove Point.
At that first meeting with Business
Manager Graham, Dominion leadership
explained the federal approval process at the
Department of Energy and FERC and the
necessary federal and state permits needed
before construction could begin. Also noted
was the possibility that certain groups may
oppose such a project. The company also
pointed out the need for skilled craft labor
that would be able to build the facility on
time and within budget. With more than
8,000 highly skilled members, Local 26 knew
that manpower would not be a concern;
however, helping Dominion gain approval
10
would be a bigger challenge.
No time was wasted and Local 26 got to
work rallying support from the Washington,
DC, Building and Construction Trades
Council. Once the project had the support
of the other building trades unions, our
Local 26 leadership turned its attention to
public outreach efforts with federal, state,
and local officials. Local 26 was present at
an October 2012 FERC scoping meeting in
Lusby and voiced its strong support for
Cove Point’s expansion. Just a
few months later, the Local
hosted a meeting with
Congressman-elect John
Delaney at our Union Hall in
Lanham and spearheaded a letter writing campaign to
Governor O’Malley and members of Congress on the benefits
of the expansion. In 2013, Local
26 was in attendance at Maryland
General Assembly sessions to continue our leadership and advocacy
and participated in briefings with
members from Maryland’s
Congressional delegation.
It is important to understand that
Local 26 didn’t just simply show up
at these meetings. Our leaders educated themselves on the merits of the
expansion, not just in regards to
employment opportunities for skilled
labor in the DC area, but also in
regards to the economic impact the
facility will have on the region and the
opportunity to benefit from the
resources located at Cove Point, as it is very
close to an abundant supply of natural gas. If
we were going to serve as a partner with
Dominion, our leadership wanted to be able
to answer questions and address concerns
elected leaders and residents of Calvert
County may have regarding the expansion.
Local 26 didn’t just want to lend its name to
the project; we wanted to lend our expertise
and be a full partner in the process.
ny Hoyer
Honorable Ste
s
Representative
US House of
20515
DC
,
Washington
sman Hoyer,
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The proposed Cove Point LNG liquefaction
project has the potential to make a significant contribution to Southern Maryland’s
economy…the project moves us closer to the
job creation that its development is expected
to bring to Calvert County and to Maryland.
-Steny Hoyer, U.S Representative
”
And, there were definitely concerns the
community had with the project, such as
concerns about traffic and construction
activity. Dominion and Local 26 allayed
those concerns by explaining plans to use
offsite construction and loading areas, parking offsite with a shuttle bus transfer, the use
of the Patuxent River for delivery of large
equipment, and moving oversize loads at a
plant at night when there is less traffic. Our
officers took great care in throwing their
support behind the project, as they are well
aware that many of our members reside in
Calvert County and this project could have
the greatest impact of all on their life and
community. This is also what made Local 26
a great asset to Dominion—the fact that
Local 26 has a vested interest in seeing
Calvert County thrive.
U.S. Representative Steny Hoyer (D-MD)
agrees that Cove Point is a positive development for Calvert County. “The proposed
Cove Point LNG liquefaction project has the
potential to make a significant contribution
to Southern Maryland’s economy…the
project moves us closer to the job creation that its development is expected to bring to Calvert County and to
Maryland.”
Now, as we enter 2014, Local 26 is
looking forward to reaping the benefits of our partnership with
Dominion. Pending the necessary
approvals, construction is expected to
begin this year and last three years.
Dominion projects manpower
needs to be between 750 and 1,500
construction workers for the
project, but ultimately the
project will create about
3,000 jobs during the con-
struction phase when non-construction
workers are factored in. Cove Point, which
will be a 5.25 MTPA (million tons per
annum) facility, will be the largest project
undertaken by Dominion and is projected to
cost about $3.8 billion. Engineering, procurement, and construction will be overseen
by IHI/Kiewit Cove Point, a joint venture
between IHI E&C International Corporation
of Houston and Kiewit Corporation of
Omaha, NE. Once complete and in service,
the facility will support another 14,000 jobs
and will produce about $1 billion annually
of federal, state, and local government revenues. The facility already has signed 20-year
terminal service agreements to export natural gas to a Japanese company
and an Indian company.
While Dominion certainly did its part to get
this project approved,
Bob McKinley,
Dominion vice president, Cove Point construction, gives a lot of credit to Local 26
and looks forward to a successful working
relationship in the future. “Local 26, with its
exceptional leadership and active members,
is a valued partner in advancing the Cove
Point export project,” he said. “We have confidence that when construction begins this
year that their commitment to safety and
quality will be critical to the successful completion of the project.”
With work set to begin on this new
expansion once approvals are received (ideally June 1st), our two years of lobbying and
advocacy will certainly seem to have paid
off. It will be both exciting and rewarding to
see our members on the job at Cove
Point, building the next chapter in
the facility’s history, and further
securing the future for our own
Local Union.
11
ProjectSpotlight
Local 26 Members Greet a
New Project and New Contractor
with Craftsmanship and Pride
V
Mike Sabatino
Below, from left: Jalon Ezzell, Charles Buchanan, and Brandon Ferguson
12
irginia has made a name for itself
as a high tech hub and corporate
distribution center on the east
coast. Major technology companies,
securities firms, and data storage facilities have planted roots in our jurisdiction in Virginia. Now, most recently,
McKesson Corporation, a healthcare services and information technology company, has invested nearly $37 million on
a distribution center in Frederick County
built by the skilled men and women of
Local 26.
The facility is located in Clear Book,
VA, along a stretch of US-11 that, until
now, was mostly farmland. The construction manager, Norwood Construction from Malvern, PA, hired Ace
Electric from Allentown, PA, to perform
the electrical work as Ace Electric was
well known for its experience working
with large distribution centers. Ace
Electric turned to Local 26 to man the
job.
At peak, 50 Local 26 members
installed all of the electrical and fire
alarm wiring to support the
450,000-square-foot warehouse, two
large generators, conveyor lines, a pick
module, and large offices. By its completion, expected this month, the project
will have taken one year to complete.
Foremen Dave Smith, Mike Hartney, and
Greg Figura oversaw the more than
150,000 manhours the Local 26 team put
into the project.
This facility will distribute medical
and surgical supplies to physicians’ offices, surgery centers, long-term care facilities, and home care businesses along the
east coast from New Jersey to North
Carolina. It will create more than 200
jobs, making Virginia one of the company’s largest employee bases in the U.S.
The distribution facility will be the third
facility in Virginia for McKesson, which
also has its medical-surgical headquarters here in the Commonwealth.
The Local 26 members on site took
great pride in building this center and
welcomed the opportunity to work for a
contractor new to our jurisdiction. Dave
Maurer, owner of Ace Electric, also
enjoyed the experience of working with
the Local 26 team from our leadership
on down to our rank-and-file members
on the job. “The work was done in a very
short period of time but we had the
utmost cooperation from Gary Hall supplying us with the right mix of quality
personnel,” remarked Maurer. He added
that the Local 26 crew were very hard
workers with great attitudes and knowledge, and even extended their warm hospitality to Ace Electric. “They welcomed
my guys into their homes for barbecues,”
added Maurer.
We are proud of these Local 26 members for displaying the finest in craftsmanship and character to all who come
to do business in our jurisdiction.
Ron Courtney
Local 26 President Butch Ramos and Dan Cushman
Ricky Brown
Back row, from left: Harvey McDonald, Greg Bickle, Joe Roman, Daniel Harper, Larry Sisk, Donnie Chambers, Joe Meannu, Bryce Bahr, Keith Folks,
Wayne Boyer, Eric Foley, Jerome Little, Lucas Hicks, Dan Cushman, Brandon Ferguson, Jalon Ezzell, Ronald Courtney, Gary Hall, and Butch Ramos.
Front row, from left: Tony O’Gorman (Local 375), Jose Martinez-Somoza, Leonel Munoz, Jason Davis (Local 375), Ricky Brown, Terrence Williams,
Greg Figura (Local 375), Mike Sabatino, Charles Buchanan, and Mike Hartney.
13
FAMILYTRADITION
The Noonan Family:
Providing Over 400 Years of Service
to Local 26
John F. Noonan, Sr.
“Jack”
John F. Noonan, Jr.
“Jack”
James D. Noonan
“Jim”
Richard J. Noonan
Shirley Noonan Hogue
John P. Noonan
“Pat”
Patrick J. Noonan
Richard J. Noonan, Jr.
“Richie”
William K. Noonan
“Bill”
John Hogue
Nicholas R. Noonan
“Nick”
Robert M. Noonan
“Bob”
Michael R. Noonan
“Mike”
John F. “Jack” Noonan, Sr.
(bottom right) receives his
service pin in 1968
F
or some families, a family tradition might be a recipe that’s been passed down
from generation to generation or a favorite vacation spot the family has long
enjoyed or maybe even a name that has been given throughout the family. For
the Noonan family, their family tradition is being part of Local 26, and it’s a tradition that began over 95 years ago.
John F. “Jack” Noonan, Sr., joined Local 26 in 1918 and spent 51 years as a proud
member of our Local Union. He held every office in the Local except recording secretary. As business manager/financial secretary he would open the Hall at 7:30 a.m.
John F. “Jack” Noonan, Sr., and
so members could sign the books and pay their dues, close the doors at 10 a.m. so
John F. “Jack” Noonan, Jr.
he could visit jobsites, and reopen the doors at 2 p.m. so he could open the books and
collect dues once again.
This sense of belonging and duty struck a chord with John’s sons and each of them decided to also join Local 26. John
F. “Jack” Jr., Richard, and James Noonan each followed in their father’s footsteps, and subsequently, John P. “Pat,”
William “Bill,” and Robert “Bob” Noonan, and John Hogue (the son of Shirley Noonan Hogue) followed in their grandfather’s footsteps. Nicholas and Michael Noonan became the fourth generation of Noonans to join Local 26 when they
became members.
14
Pictured right: Jack Noonan, Jr.;
unknown; Shirley Noonan Hogue;
James Noonan; and Richard
Noonan
Pictured below center, from left:
Mike Shoemaker, Financial
Secretary, Richard Noonan receiving his 65 year pin in 2007, and
Dick Bissell, Retired Members’
Club President
Pictured below left, from left:
Peggy Lohmeyer, Brother Dick
Lohmeyer, Lou Noonan, and Jack
Noonan, Jr., at a Local 26 dance
in 1949
Jack Jr. and Richard spent 40 and over 70
years, respectively, as members of Local 26
before they passed away. James, a 65-year
Local 26 member, stands today as the family’s patriarch.
“I remember sitting around the dinner
table with my dad and two brothers listening to them talk about the union so it just
seemed natural for me to join,” remarked
James.
Enjoying retirement since 1990, James
looks back fondly on his days working with
his tools. He spent the most time working
for Seal and Company, Inc. (27 years) and
Electrical Construction Co. (11 years) and
was a foreman throughout most of his
career. His most memorable job was installing all of the communication wiring in the
Metro system, from the very first Metro station at Rhode Island Avenue to the 40 stations that followed. This included all of the
television, radio, telephone, and fire alarm
wiring and it required a lot of long wire
pulls. This project carried him through 15
years of his career.
However, without hesitation, James says
that seeing his two sons, Bill (now deceased)
and Bob, and two grandsons, Nick and
Michael, join the Local has been the most
rewarding part of his career with Local 26.
He is so thankful that he had the opportunity to work with his sons, as well as his father
and brothers. James especially enjoyed
working with his brother Richard for the
last 15 years of his career. He enjoyed the
Pictured below, from left: Nick
Noonan, James Noonan receiving
his 65 year pin in 2013, and Bill
Noonan
camaraderie of working with his family
members, calling it a “very good experience.” He adds that it was great having people he could discuss problems and experiences with.
As one might imagine, a lot has changed
with Local 26 since James took his oath, and
a lot has changed since his father started the
Local 26 tradition. When Jack Sr. was a
business manager/financial secretary, Local
26 had under 200 members, and when
James started as a journeyman, the pay rate
was $1.80 per hour with no retirement benefits and minimal health care coverage.
Today, James is able to enjoy a comfortable
retirement with health care benefits that he
describes as “the best in the business.” This
may be because of the one thing James says
has stayed the same over years—a strong
team of officers leading the Local Union.
The third generation of Local 26
Noonans includes Pat, the son of Jack Jr.;
Bill and Bob, James’ sons; and John Hogue,
the son of Shirley Noonan Hogue. John
Hogue passed away in 2013 as a 42-year
member of the Local. Although not a member, Richard’s son, Richie, spent time as a
summer helper working at NIH with his
father, an experience Richard truly enjoyed.
Pat Noonan is currently an outside superintendent with Freestate Electric with 43
years in the union. He says that he felt no
pressure to join the union, just pleasure at
having the opportunity to be a part of a
great organization. He knew, even as a
young man, that a career as a union electrician was a coveted job and he recognized
early on that the people who called Local 26
home were the people he enjoyed being
around. From his grandfather, father, and
uncles, to his father’s friends who were
mostly Local 26 members, Pat knew that
Local 26 was made up of quality people.
“Most of my father’s friends were members of Local 26 and as a young man I was
able to spend time with them hunting, fishing, and camping. I looked up to these guys.
They always made me feel like I was part of
the crowd,” remarked Pat. “These guys were
my heroes and when I started in the trade I
was fortunate enough to work side by side
with some of them.”
Although Pat never had the opportunity
to work with his father, uncles, or cousins,
he does enjoy working with his cousin’s son,
Nick. And, he says the most memorable
experience he’s had so far in his 43 years is
seeing his son, Patrick, working with seasoned electricians at Freestate and receiving
nothing but positive feedback. “It makes me
proud,” he says.
When it comes to the work, Pat says that
as a Freestate employee for the past 25
years, he has enjoyed working for a union
man who cares about his employees. Pat
even says that he tries hard to emulate his
boss. The biggest challenge, Pat says, is that
his role as superintendent requires him to
make tough decisions in slow times regarding who stays employed.
15
Pictured above, from left:
Lou, Jack Jr., Debbie, and Pat Noonan
Patrick and Pat Noonan
As for the Local, Pat says that he appreciates how it has grown over the years and
how it has become more diverse and more
transparent. He credits the success of the
Local to the officers and to NECA for making decisions that have kept Local 26 competitive in the market. Pat is quick to point
out that the one thing that has stayed the
same over the years is the strong camaraderie among the members of the Local. Pat
especially enjoys the camaraderie when it
comes in the form of stories—stories about
his family told by fellow members who
worked with a Noonan or two over the
years. William “Bill” Noonan was a proud
41-year member of Local 26 before he
passed away a few months ago. He joined
the apprenticeship in the fall of 1972 and,
although he may have initially felt the pull
from his family to join the union, he quickly realized that a career as a union electrician provided him with a good steady
income, noted his wife Ann. This is why he
hoped his son, Nick, would choose a career
with Local 26.
Ann says that Bill most loved the friends
he met over the years and the opportunity
to work with those friends. He also loved
that he had the opportunity to work with
his son, his dad, his brother, and his nephew, at various times in his career. Bill’s
16
Chuck Graham, Business Manager;
Bill Noonan receiving his 40-year pin in
2013; Mike Shoemaker, Financial
Secretary; and Butch Ramos, President
James, Nick, and Bill Noonan at Nick’s
wedding
Nick and Bill Noonan
father, James, was even his boss at one
point.
Bill and Nick worked together at
Georgetown University and Northview
Elementary School, which made these jobs
especially memorable for Bill. Ann noted
that Bill even picked up some gardening
tips from the landscapers at Northview.
Local 26 meant a lot to Bill as it provided
a good income for his family and great
friends. He enjoyed everything the Local
had to offer from the union picnics and the
Christmas parties to the bowling league.
Today, Nick Noonan, Bill’s son, proudly
carries on the Local 26 tradition he witnessed firsthand from his father. He has
been a member of the Local for 10 years
and chose his career because he recognized
that the Union provided a good life for his
family and hoped it would do the same for
him. (It has!) He also says that he enjoys
working with his hands. He admits that
before he joined the Local, he wasn’t on a
great a career path so he appreciates the
“nudge” he received from his father to join
the Union.
He started his electrical career working
for a year and a half with his father, first as
a summer helper, then in the R program
while waiting to start his apprenticeship,
and finally as an apprentice. He says that
his father was the best teacher he could
have hoped for. He considers himself lucky
that if he ever had any questions about the
apprenticeship or work, he always had
someone to talk to. Now, Nick is able to
turn to his dad’s cousin Pat, who is Nick’s
boss today at Freestate Electric.
Nick says that his most memorable experience in the trade so far also includes his
most challenging experience. For the past
four years, Nick has enjoyed working at the
National Institutes of Health in Bethesda,
redoing the power infrastructure on several
buildings originally built in the 1950s and
1960s. He is amazed at how things have
changed over the past 50 plus years; however, that same dated architecture made it
especially challenging in a data center
building on the campus where the conduit
and bus duct raceways had to fit in incredibly tight spaces. Nick and the tight knit
crew he works with won a craftsmanship
award and the star award from the
Washington Building Congress for their
work in this building. In fact, Nick has
actually won two craftsmanship awards for
work he has completed—an honor of
which his father was certainly proud!
Robert “Bob” Noonan, along with his
brother Bill and cousin Pat, is another
member of the third generation of Local 26
members in the Noonan family. He had his
first experience in the electrical trade at age
Pictured above:
Bob, James, and Bill Noonan
James, Michael, Nick, and Bill Noonan at
Nick’s apprenticeship graduation in 2010
7 when his father brought him to work
with him installing lights along the Capital
Beltway. By his senior year of high school,
Bob was working for Seal and Co. as a
truck driver and warehouse helper. The following year, he entered the apprenticeship.
Like his father James, Bob has spent the
majority of his 35 years in the trade working on the Metro line. In fact, he spent 15
years working for his father until his father
retired. He described this experience as a
great learning experience and a “pleasure
to work for him.”
Bob also worked with his brother, Bill,
for many years on various Metro jobs. Most
recently, before Bill passed away, the two
worked on the Silver Line project. Bob is
now finishing his work on the Silver Line
working for Truland. Bob also worked with
his son Michael, a fourth generation member, before Michael moved on to another
contractor.
In addition to working on the Metro system, Bob remembers working an especially
challenging switchgear job where all of the
breakers were controlled from a mosaic
control board in another part of the building. But like every job he’s been on, he
enjoyed this opportunity to work with talented people and complete a job of which
he could be proud.
Bob has seen a lot change over the
Chuck Graham, Business Manager;
Bob Noonan receiving his 30-year pin in
2008; Mike Shoemaker, Financial
Secretary; and Butch Ramos, President
James, Michael, and Bob Noonan at
Michael’s wedding in 2012
Michael and Bob Noonan
course of his career in the Union, most
notably the state-of-the-art Union Hall and
apprenticeship school, from which he
believes the apprentices are graduating with
even better skills and training than ever. He
says that this is securing the future of the
Local. Admittedly, he has also enjoyed the
pay increases and improved benefits that
have come over the years.
For Bob, passing along stories from jobsite experiences and running into people
who know his family have made it quite
special to be a multi-generational Local 26
member. He also cherishes the opportunities he has had to work around family and
see to it that everyone has gone home safely
each and every day.
Michael Noonan, Bob’s son, is an eightyear member of Local 26. After graduating
high school and working a variety of jobs
he calls “dead end,” he sought advice from
his father, who suggested the Local’s
apprenticeship. Having worked as a summer helper in the warehouse at Walker Seal
(the same company his father worked for),
Michael was familiar with the trade.
He went on to work as an R worker driving trucks, working in the warehouse and
doing pre-fab, before working for his father
as a first-year apprentice. The two worked
together on the Greenbelt Metro and Shady
Grove Metro when Bob was a superinten-
dent for Walker Seal, and most recently on
the Silver Line with Truland. These experiences have been the most memorable for
Michael so far.
He says that there was no pressure from
his family to join the Union because his
family would have supported him in any
career he would have chosen. However, he
does appreciate all of the positives to having family in the Local Union, such as
always having someone to turn to with
questions about school, work, or the
Union. Now that Michael has firmly established himself in the Local and the trade,
he says that the most rewarding part of his
career is being able to work on a project
from start to finish and seeing the final
product. And, getting paid to do a job you
love is a big plus too, he says!
When you add up all the years of service
among the 10 Noonan members who have
made their career and made their mark in
Local 26, it totals over 400 years! And,
while it could be easily said that the
Noonan family has contributed a great deal
to Local 26, each of them would say that it’s
the other way around—they are the ones
who have benefitted from the Local. Given
how strongly this family feels about our
Local Union, there is a good chance Local
26 may see many more generations of
Local 26 Noonans to come.
17
SERVICEPINS
October
SERVICE PINS
Pictured above, from left: Mike Shoemaker, Financial Secretary; Keith Brown, 20 years; Timothy Byram, 25 years; Frank Szumilo, 30 years; Christopher Toborek, 20 years; Gregory Tewell, 25 years; Chuck Graham, Business Manager; and Butch Ramos, President
November
SERVICE PINS
Pictured above, from left: Mike Shoemaker, Financial Secretary; George Conley, 25 years; John Jenkins, 25 years; Doug Meador (back), 30 years;
Thomas Barber, 25 years; Randal Colbert (back), 35 years; Chuck Graham, Business Manager; and Butch Ramos, President
Retiree
SERVICE PINS
Jerry Lewis, Business Agent; and John
Jones, 30 years
18
James Kieffer, 45 years; and Dick Bissell,
Retired Members' Club President
Durward (Butch) Lichliter, 45 years;
and Dick Bissell, Retired Members' Club
President
RetiredMembers’Club
Retired Members’ Club Enjoys Traveling;
Raises Money to Fund Medical
Equipment Supplies
W
e held our annual crab feast in
October and had almost 80 retired
and active members and their families
share crabs and good times. All should
mark their calendars for the 2014 crab
feast which will be held on the second
Saturday of October. Come join us!
Also in October, we took another cruise
up the coast of New England and Canada.
We visited the ports of call of Portland and
Bar Harbor, ME; St. John, New Brunswick;
and Halifax, Nova Scotia. Ever seen a blue
lobsta? We did! Fifty-eight of our closest
friends joined us this year. Our next cruise
will be to Europe in June.
In November we drew the winners of
our annual raffle. The big winners this
year were: Fifth place-Gilbert
Quackenbush, fourth place-William and
Melinda Hileman, third place-Larry
Hyson, second place-Gabrielle Meadows,
and first place ($2,000.00)-William
Roland.
Recently a member wrote to us about his
gratitude for being able to borrow medical
equipment from the Retired Members’
Club supply at no charge, and that he was
able to keep it for as long as he needed.
When he returned to work, he was surprised that none of his coworkers knew
about the program. The RMC has been
doing this for a long time, and since moving into our new headquarters in Lanham,
we have had a room dedicated to storing
this equipment. This is what our annual
raffle is all about, so next time you come
to a union meeting, ask RMC President
Dick Bissell to show the room to you! (If
you come during regular hours, an officer
can find a key to the room.)
Our travel plans continue for 2014. This
year’s cruise will be scheduled to leave
from London, England in June, 2014. It
will visit the Baltic States, and much more,
including St. Petersburg, Russia. Stay
tuned, or come to any Retired Members’
Club meeting to learn more from our
travel coordinator, Rick Warner. We meet
the second Saturday of the month between
September and May at noon on the second floor of the Lanham, MD, Hall.
One final note: In March we usually
take a gambling trip, so let Rick know if
you are interested—240-472-0438.
19
HOLIDAYPARTIES
Local 26 Christmas Honors the Meaning of the Season
I
f ever there is a time to put your cares
aside and simply enjoy, it’s the holiday
season. Thanks to the help of some special
elves and a little Christmas magic, the families of our out-of-work members were able
to take a day to truly experience the joys of
the season.
On December 21st, the Union Hall in
Lanham was transformed into a Christmas
wonderland complete with a sparkling tree,
a toy steam train circling around, presents,
and of course, the man himself, Old St.
Nick. The children’s eyes lit up at the sight
of a party all their own.
The Local 26 elves left no stone
unturned. Holiday music filled the air and
20
hotdogs, cotton candy, popcorn, cookies,
and cupcakes filled the kids’ tummies (and
the tummies of a few “bigger” kids). While
the adults mingled, kids decorated stockings, were entertained by a magician, had
their face painted, and took advantage of
Santa’s undivided attention as they rattled
off their holiday wish list. Everyone took a
picture with Santa to remember the special
day.
The children each received a stuffed animal from Santa and each family received a
special gift from the Local. The Local 26
Credit Union also raffled off gift cards to
Toys “R” Us. Special thanks goes out to the
Local 26 elves and Recording Secretary
Rich Murphy for stepping into Santa’s shoes
and big red suit for the day.
This was the fourth year Local 26 has
hosted a holiday party for the families of
our out-of-work members. It began in 2010
when our Local suffered from extremely
high unemployment. The officers recognized that the holidays can be a source of
stress for those struggling through difficult
times and, on behalf of the entire membership, they wanted to give a little back to
their fellow brothers and sisters. This holiday party has become a tradition of which
everyone in Local 26 is proud. It reminds us
that we are not just co-workers but rather a
union family that takes care of one another.
21
HOLIDAYPARTIES
Sardo Hall
22
Sardo Hall and Front Royal
23
HOLIDAYPARTIES
Roanoke
Coat Drive Made a Big Difference
A
warm coat is something many of us
take for granted. It’s simply there for us
when we need it. But, this isn’t the case for
far too many of our friends and neighbors
here in the DC metropolitan area. Many
people go cold each winter because they
simply can’t afford proper winter clothes.
For some, choosing between food on the
table and a winter coat is a harsh reality.
However, it is a reality that no one should
have to face, especially in a region where
winter weather is becoming more brutal
every year.
Under the charge of Sister Violet Carter,
Local 26 held its third annual coat drive to
benefit those in need among our own rank
and file and within our community. About
24
150 coats, along with boots, hats, gloves, and
scarves, were donated by our members and
various friends of Local 26. Each piece of
clothing was dry cleaned before being distributed.
The items were first offered to our own
members in need and the remaining items
were donated to United Communities
Against Poverty, Inc. (UAP), which is the
official community action agency in Prince
George’s County. UAP’s mission is to “alleviate poverty, improve awareness of the needs
of low and moderate income residents, and
maximize the quality of life for residents of
Prince George’s County and impoverished
individuals throughout the State of
Maryland.”
A special thank you goes out to all who
donated coats and other
winter items and to Mr.
and Mrs. Panciera, the
owners of Senseny
Cleaners in Winchester,
VA. Your generosity
went a long way toward
giving the gift of
warmth to many in
need.
PHILANTHROPY
Local 26 Food Drive Feeds Our Neighbors in Need
L
ocal 26 was proud once again to help
those in need this year by stocking the
shelves of a local food bank. With generous
donations from our members, officers, and
day and night school students, Local 26
donated over $6000 worth of food to Loretta
and Mary’s Food Pantry in LaPlata, MD.
The pantry is located behind Sacred Heart
Church.
The Pantry was originally operating out of
the church’s garage, with no heat or air conditioning, until Cap Mona, president and
CEO of Mona Electric stepped in to lead the
charge to build a new, larger facility that
could better serve the pantry’s and the community’s needs. The new facility was named
in honor of Cap’s mom, Loretta Mona, and
one of her sisters, Mary Krug.
The new pantry, staffed entirely by volunteers, opened its doors this past November.
On opening day, people were lined up at 4
a.m. to receive food, and for Thanksgiving,
the pantry assisted 240 families with nonperishable goods and turkeys.
Typically, the supplies of area food pantries run critically low this time of year as
the holidays put a strain on struggling families. Since these food pantries operate largely
on the generosity of those in the community,
donations such as the one made by Local 26
are crucial to helping those who depend on
food banks to feed their family.
This was the 6th year that Local 26 held
its food drive. Candice Quinn Kelly, president of Charles County’s Board of County
Commissioners (pictured below in the center of the apprentices), came to the Hall to
thank everyone for helping the people of
Charles County
through the generous donations of
food and money to
our drive.
The amount of
food we were able to
collect and distribute to the Pantry
was truly extraordinary, something all
of us can be proud
of. “Your generosity
went beyond anything that we have ever
seen,” noted Carol Ricciardi, liaison of the
Pantry. “It is always heartwarming to work
with the community in order to serve our
less fortunate brothers and sisters.” An extra
thank you goes out to Recording Secretary
Rich Murphy for
organizing the
drive, Shepherd
Electric Supply
for donating the
truck to transport
the food to the
pantry, and to
everyone within
Local 26 who
donated to this
most worthy
effort.
Above, from left: Eric Husselbaugh, Shepherd Electric
Supply; Larry Jackson and William Marshall, Mona
Electric; and Rich Murphy, Recording Secretary
25
PHILANTHROPY
Music
to Children’s Ears
Local 26’s Donation Helps Bring
Music Back to DC Public Schools
I
t may sound cliché but music truly is a universal language. It transcends culture, gender, race,
socio-economic standing and, yes, even age!
Music evokes emotion and that is something
everyone can experience.
Above, from left: Mr. Roy, Brightwood Education Campus’ Music Teacher; Chuck Graham, Local 26
Business Manager; Dave Wish, Executive Director of Little Kids Rock; Butch Ramos, Local 26 President;
and Dan Rodrigues, CBS EcoMedia, Inc.
26
The students in Mr. Roy’s music class at
Brightwood Education Campus in the
District say that music makes them feel free
and allows them to express themselves.
And, when IBEW Local 26 made a surprise
visit to the school to donate 50 brand new
guitars to the school’s music program, the
students did not hold back in expressing
themselves!
On a very special morning this past
November, Business Manager Chuck
Graham, President Butch Ramos, and
Business Agent Violet Carter, along with
DC Public Schools’ Director of Music, paid
a visit to Brightwood to promote the Local’s
generous support of the program Little
Kids Rock, which provides musical instruments, music instruction, and teacher
training free of charge to schools that lack
funding for music education. Little Kids
Rock is a national organization that has
supported schools in cities such as New
York City and San Francisco, and now,
thanks to Local 26, Washington, DC,
makes that list.
The children proudly put their musical
talents on display for their honored guests,
highlighting their instrumental skills and
their singing chops. Perhaps the most
amazing part was that all of their talent was
developed in just a few short months of
music education. This illustrates the value
of music education and the impact it can
have on a child’s life.
Local 26’s donation will make it possible
to train 20 new music teachers, offer professional development to 13 existing Little
Kids Rock teachers (like Mr. Roy), and pay
for as many as 500 new instruments. The
funding provided by Local 26 will be distributed across DC Public Schools.
It was an honor for Local 26 to partner
with Little Kids Rock and a natural fit as we
understand the importance of a solid education and appreciate the opportunity to
pursue a passion. We can’t wait to hear the
sweet sounds that are sure to come from
this next generation of great musicians. 27
SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarship
IBEW Local Union 26
Awards
Scholarship Award
T
he Local Union Scholarship
Committee will be accepting applications for the annual Local 26
Scholarship Award starting this month.
This scholarship is only open to the
children of those Local 26 members
who have been in good standing for
at least five years. Two winners will be
selected as recipients of the four-year,
$2,500 per year award. Applicants
must be in their senior year of high
school or be a high school graduate
between the ages of 17 and 21, with
less than two years of college
completed.
You may stop by the Lanham,
MD, Union Hall and pick up an
application form, or call the Hall
at 301-459-2900 to request that one be
mailed to your home. You may also go
to the Local 26 website, www.ibewlocal26.org, to download the form from the
“Current Events” page. The deadline for
returning completed applications
is March 31, 2014.
IBEW Founders’
Scholarship Award
E
ach year, the officers of the IBEW are
pleased to offer working members
scholarships on a competitive basis. This
award is for $200 per semester credit hour
at any accredited college or university
toward an associate’s, bachelor’s, or postgraduate degree in an approved field. The
maximum distribution is $24,000 over a
period not to exceed eight years. The IBEW
Founders’ Scholarship is awarded only to
IBEW members who have been in continuous good standing for the four years preceding May 1, 2014. The scholarship is not
offered to the spouses or children of IBEW
members. For more information or a printable application, visit the IBEW website at
www.ibew.org, or pick one up from the Hall
in Lanham, MD. All applications must be
postmarked prior to May 1, 2014.
28
Ashcraft & Gerel, LLP,
Building Trades
Union Scholarship
T
IBEW 26 FCU
Scholarship Award
A
re you or a family member headed
off to college in 2014? IBEW 26 FCU
and the Credit Union Foundation of MD &
DC are pleased to announce a college scholarship opportunity that may make it easier
for you to meet your tuition costs. The
$11,000 Credit Union College Scholarship
Program for 2014 is now underway!
College-bound members are eligible to
apply for one of ten $1,000 essay-based
scholarships and one $1,000 video-based
scholarship. This year’s essay and video topic
is: You know that personal financial knowledge is important. What can you do for
yourself to help improve your financial literacy?
The deadline for applications is March 31,
2014. Awards will be made in May 2014.
Visit www.cufound.org/scholarship.htm for
more information.
he law firm of Ashcraft
& Gerel, LLP, has always
valued their connection with
the
Washington
Building &
Construction
Trades. In
recognition of
this special
relationship,
the firm established a union
scholarship program
more than 30 years ago.
They are pleased to honor
this commitment by providing a scholarship in memory
of Lee C. Ashcraft.
The law firm of Ashcraft &
Gerel, LLP, offers this scholarship
to Washington Building &
Construction Trades Union members and their families to help with
the high cost of education. Each year they
award a one-time grant of $5,000 to an eligible student for education expenses.
If you, your spouse or child, plan to pursue education or training full-time, you can
apply now. Applicants must be enrolled for
their post-high school education or training
by fall of 2014 to be eligible for this year’s
award.
A committee of union volunteers screens
the applications and a finalist is chosen by
an independent party. No one at Ashcraft &
Gerel, LLP, participates in the selection process. This is an equal opportunity program,
conducted without regard to race, gender,
religion, age, or disability.
April 30, 2014 is the deadline to submit
your application. To obtain your scholarship application, call 703-931-5500. You
may also go to the “Current Events” page of
the Local 26 website to download the form.
Sister Kevin Burton Awarded
Prestigious Scholarship
Birth
Announcement
Brother David J. Bonilla and his fiancée,
Allison Gurman, welcomed a baby boy on
December 5, 2013. Daniel Jonathan Bonilla
was born weighing 9 lbs., 2 oz. and measuring 20" long.
M
any people in Local 26 know Sister
Kevin Burton. She is one of our
most active members of the Local, an
instructor with the JATC, one of the
founding members of our apprenticeship
club ARC-DC, and, of course, a talented
electrician. But few may know that she is
also a law student at George Washington
University nearing the end of her first
year of law school.
We are proud to announce that in recognition of her dedication to the IBEW
and her outstanding leadership, Kevin has
been awarded the IBEW Founder’s
Scholarship Award. The scholarship is
reserved for working members of the
IBEW who are enrolled in any accredited
college or university toward an associate’s,
bachelor’s, or postgraduate degree in an
approved field. Recipients receive up to
$200 per semester credit with a maximum
distribution of $24,000 over a period not
to exceed eight years.
Kevin would like to pursue the labor
and employment law track offered at
George Washington as it allows for a mix
of ERISA, corporate finance, and policy.
On her current track, she has a little more
than three years to complete her program
(although she is tempted to accelerate her
course load) but she already knows what
she would like to do with her degree. She
would ultimately like to use her degree to
continue working with the IBEW, perhaps
as in-house legal counsel. She knows that
the IBEW puts forth a lot of money and
time on outside legal resources, and she
would like to eventually use her law
expertise to provide legal service from
inside the Union.
Sister Burton is extremely honored to
have received this highly competitive
scholarship. “It’s nice to know that the
organization I am so passionate about
believes in me too,” she says. “With this
scholarship, I am not only working hard
for myself; I am working for all those who
came before me to build the IBEW, as well
as those who serve it today.”
A big congratulations goes out to Kevin,
who makes us proud to call her one of our
own!
29
APPRENTICESHIPTRAINING
&
NJATC Revamps Training
Method for All Future
Apprentices
T
o stay at the forefront of the electrical
industry, we need to start with our
apprenticeship program. Our industry is
ever-evolving and so, too, must our training programs. The electrical industry of 15
years ago is barely recognizable today as
the electrical systems, tools, and techniques
our members must master today are cutting edge.
To address this high-tech trend, the
National Joint Apprenticeship and Training
Committee (NJATC) has revamped the way
in which our apprentices will be trained.
The new approach is called “Blended
Learning” and will be implemented for all
new apprentices entering IBEW apprenticeships beginning in September 2014. The
idea behind Blended Learning is to incorporate online course work with in-class
work.
The NJATC has been touring the country on a “Blast Tour” to promote this new
approach to training and educating IBEW
local unions on how to implement Blended
Learning into their existing apprenticeship
programs. Local 26 JATC was part of the
beta session of the Blast Tour and allowed
the NJATC to educate our staff and practice their presentation before hitting the
road to other local unions.
We were impressed with this new
approach to training and are eager to
implement it in Local 26. Blended Learning
will be implemented in stages, beginning
with new incoming apprentices this fall.
These apprentices will do all of their homework online and will no longer have traditional workbooks. Once the students complete the homework, the instructors are
able to review the students’ work prior to
class to gain a better understanding of the
areas in which the students may need more
help or those areas in which the students
are mastering quickly. The idea behind this
is to avoid having the instructors teach the
material in which the students are already
30
comfortable and instead focus on
the subject areas in which the students may need more help. This
will also allow the instructors to better
manage class time and incorporate more
hands-on training in the classroom. By
using the online component, the class
schedule will be more fluid, better adapting
to the needs of the students.
While this new program will begin this
fall for incoming apprentices, in September
2015, both first- and second-year students
will participate in Blended Learning, in
2016 first-, second- and third-year students
will be part of the new program and ultimately in five years, all apprenticeship
classes will do their homework online.
Because of the new programs, Local 26
JATC has changed from a three-year to a
four-year day school program. This means
apprentices will go to school one day every
other week for the first four years of their
apprenticeship. After the fourth year, students will have completed the day school
portion and will take two night electives to
complete their training.
The Blended Learning concept will prove
beneficial to students and instructors alike.
It will enable the students to learn in a way
that is consistent with the technology
employed by our industry, and it will provide quicker feedback for our instructors to
gain a clear understanding of their students’ learning styles.
Electrical Alliance Fall Outreach
I
n addition to supporting industry collaboration, the Electrical Alliance
serves to promote the valuable outreach
activities of Local 26, NECA DC
Chapter, and the JATC. The Electrical
Alliance uses a variety of means for
awareness, including press releases to
local media, articles in the Electric
Current eNewsletter and Client Currents
direct mailer, Facebook posts and
Tweets, and regular updates to the two
websites—www.electricalalliance.org
and www.getchargedup.org.
Electrical Education Provides
Value for Local Construction
Industry
Building owners and managers, engineers, specifiers, general contractors,
and insurers in Washington, DC, were
taught about electrical safety and quality
installation at the two free sessions the
Electrical Alliance hosted in conjunction with the 2013 NECA Convention
and Show.
Vince Miller, CSP (pictured far right),
Washington, DC, Chapter of NECA
safety director, presented “Business
Sustainability—NEC, OSHA and NFPA
70E,” and Mike Johnston, NECA executive director of standards and safety,
presented “NEIS, The Benchmark of
Quality.” The two sessions provided
information to attendees that can add
value to their construction projects,
improve safety, and benefit the entire
local electrical construction industry.
Attendees felt that the sessions were
informative and interesting.
Electrical Alliance Events
Spread Through Social Media
The Electrical Alliance has developed
a significant following on Twitter and
Facebook that continues to grow each
day. The Electrical Alliance’s Facebook
page (www.facebook.com/
electricalalliance) has over 670 followers, and efforts to promote activities via
Twitter (@DCElec_Alliance) have proven to be successful, as it received multiple retweets of events. Some of the retweeters included The Washington Star,
IBEW, and the NECA Convention.
Fall Advertisements Increase
Web Traffic
The Electrical Alliance promotes the
JATC year-round through print,
online, and radio ads. When the fall
comes, advertising is ramped up due
to the start of the school year, among
other reasons. The Electrical Alliance
had commercials on four different
radio stations throughout September
and October. This resulted in a more
than 100% increase in web traffic on
www.getchargedup.org during that
time.
Pictured at the NECA Show, above from left: Thang Nguyen, Assistant Executive Director at
Washington, DC Chapter, NECA; JATC Instructors Sean Myers, Tom Myers, Mark Thompson, and
Chris Cash; and Vince Miller, Safety Director at Washington, DC Chapter, NECA.
31
NECASHOW
Local 26 Apprentices Enjoyed a
Front Row View of the Industry
at the NECA Convention
T
his past fall,
our apprentices got a unique
glimpse inside the electrical industry via the
NECA Convention, which was held here in Washington, DC.
The convention is held in a different city each year so our apprentices and
their instructors took full advantage of the convention being held here in our
hometown.
The convention attracts attendees from around the world and the General
Session offers management education, technical workshops, professional
development sessions, seminars, and special guest speakers. Our apprentices
took special interest in the Exposition—The NECA Show, a highlight for all
attendees, which showcases the latest in electrical contracting tools, software,
equipment, techniques, and services.
“This was my first time at a NECA Conference and I was amazed at the
sheer size and amount of vendors at this event. I was very impressed with
how well it was organized and enjoyed seeing all the new technologies each
vendor was producing to enhance our industry,” noted Local 26 JATC
Instructor Roy Reeves.
Each year the NECA Convention expands its offerings and continues to
impress all in attendance. It was a rare opportunity for our apprentices to get
a first-hand look at the vast opportunities within the electrical industry. It
was an experience no one will soon forget.
A special thanks goes out to Milwaukee Tool and Westex for providing the
hats and shirts our apprentices proudly wore at the convention.
32
33
YOUNGIBEW
T
he future of the labor movement
depends heavily on our ability to
recruit and retain younger generations of
trade unionists. And that window to do so is
a short one. The IBEW recognizes this and
understands that in order to remain strong,
we need to bring younger members in our
fold before our legions of seasoned electricians retire, taking their numbers, their
leadership, and their skills with them.
To address this, the IBEW put forth a
union-wide effort called RENEW at the
International’s most recent convention in
2011. Although RENEW, which stands for
Reach out and Engage Next-gen Electrical
Workers, was created on the International
level, its goal is to create action on the local
union level to engage younger members. By
all accounts, that goal seems to be well on its
way. Dozens of RENEW committees, or
committees similar in nature, have been created in IBEW local unions across the country.
RENEW is being spearheaded by AFLCIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler, an
IBEW member herself from Local 125,
Portland, OR, who has worked tirelessly to
re-market labor unions to younger workers
and the general public.
Here in Local 26, we have our ARC-DC,
which stands for Apprentices Reaching our
Community-DC, as well as our own Tarn
Puvapiromquan, one of our Local’s younger
members, serving as an IBEW International
Representative in the Civic and Community
Engagement Department. ARC-DC started
as a social club to bring our apprentices
together to reinforce the idea of “brotherhood” though community service projects,
but it has quickly evolved into much more.
34
ARC-DC’s community service has become a
showcase of the leadership we have among
many of our younger Local 26 members.
RENEW hosted its first-ever conference
this past September here in Washington,
DC. Over 100 young IBEW members (pictured above), rising stars in our Union,
came to the conference from all over the
U.S. and Canada. Conference workshops
covered subjects such as parliamentary procedure and fighting workplace discrimination to planning a career on the job and in
the union. Sister Puvapiromquan said, “The
event is run by young workers and directed
toward young workers. We want attendees
to know that this is about collectively envisioning our future as IBEW members.”
The conference also focused on bridging
the gaps between the different generations
of IBEW members and encouraged participants to find mentors. A participant from
California said, “It’s important to listen to
what the more seasoned members can teach
us. There is always someone willing to teach
you something if you are willing to listen.”
Our International leadership strongly
believes that RENEW, and the principles
that support it, will be a driving force
behind the success of the IBEW in the years
ahead. Local 26 believes in this too. We look
forward to more participation from our
younger members in Local 26 events and
ARC-DC events.
Pictured left:
Ed Hill, IBEW
International
President
Pictured right:
R. “Tarn”
Puvapiromquan,
International
Representative,
IBEW Civic &
Community
Engagement
Pictured left: Violet
Carter, Local 26
Business Agent;
Cory McCray,
IBEW District 4
Organizer; and
Kevin Burton, JATC
Assistant Director
Pictured right:
Sister Maria Z.
Silva and Sister
Violet Carter
CREDITUNION
Shape Up Your
Finances in
2014!
F
ix up post-holiday budget headaches with a little help
from IBEW 26 FCU!
Financial fitness is our wish for you for 2014. So start
the ball rolling by wrapping up bills into one low-rate, fixed
payment with our VISA® credit line or a debt consolidation
loan.
NO BALANCE TRANSFER FEE FOR A LIMITED TIME**
Transfer your balances with NO FEE to a VISA® Platinum Card
offered at three money-saving rates:
6% APR*
10% APR*
18% APR*
OR, roll those bills into a personal loan with
rates as low as 6.95% APR*!
APPLY ONLINE OR AT OUR BRANCH!
Not a member yet? A minimum deposit of $5 is your first step to financial
fitness for the new year! Contact us for more details!
4371 Parliament Place Suite C
Lanham, MD 20706
*APR = annual percentage rate. Actual rate based on creditworthiness. Members approved for Platinum Visa Credit Card will receive one
of these rates. Personal loan rates are determined by credit rating and
amount financed.
**Balance transfer fee waived for transfers completed by March 14, 2014.
www.ibew26fcu.com | 301-306-0610
35
Local 26 Members Take Their
Skills to Career Day
T
he members of Local 26 are honored
to be a part of the Washington, DC,
community and our members also take
great pride in being part of the electrical
industry and the labor movement. This
sense of community and pride in our
trade is what brought Sister Violet Carter
and Brothers Melvin Cherry, Robert
Smith, and Anthony Spivey, Sr. to
Gaywood Elementary in Seabrook, MD,
for Career Day last fall.
Sister Carter and Brothers Cherry,
Smith, and Spivey addressed 22 students
in the elementary’s special needs program.
They came to Career Day equipped with
wire, switches, lightbulbs, and pipe and
left the event with a full heart and a lot of
gratification. They helped the students
wire a switch to turn on a light and even
helped them bend some pipe. The students were able to take home their pipe
and show their parents what they learned.
Local 26 was approached by the elementary school’s Career Day Coordinator.
She knew of the rewards of being a union
electrician and wanted to share the skill,
generosity, and brotherhood of Local 26
with the students.
“It was heartwarming to see the
response from the kids and the expression
MEMORIAM
Members
Brother Steven R. Haffer, Jr.
Retired Brother Bart J. Myers
Brother James S. Shazer (also brother
of member Jeffery P. Shazer)
Retired Brother Theodore F. Moseley, Jr.
Brother James C. Polk, Jr.
Retired Brother Joseph E. Wade
on their faces,” noted Sister Carter. “We
were honored to give those kids, kids who
are often left behind, some special attention.”
There was no question that Sister Carter
and Brothers Cherry, Smith, and Spivey
made a huge impression on the kids.
“They didn’t want us to leave,” added
Sister Carter. And, there is no question
that those kids made a huge impression
on their Career Day guests!
Brother Leroy R. Windsor
Retired Brother Charles F. Kennedy
Retired Brother Charles R. Stanley
Family Members
Brother Michael L. Massenburg’s
brother, Calvin Massenburg
Brother William P. Burnette’s son,
William P. Burnette, III
Retired Brother William P. Gallagher’s
wife, Carol A. Gallagher
Brother Ricardo V. Lee’s mother,
Miriam Gilbert
Brother Mike D. Hoyt’s father,
Clarence W. Hoyt
Brother Stanley J. Kowal’s mother,
Rose Ann Kowal
36
-------------------------------------------------------------Sponsors
Please return this completed form by May 12, 2014, with your check made payable to:
IBEW Local Union 26 Golf Outing
4371 Parliament Place
Lanham, MD 20706
A sign with your company’s name will be placed at a tee or green.
The cost for one sign on one course is $300.00; a sign on all four courses will cost $600.00
PLEASE PRINT YOUR COMPANY NAME BELOW
AS YOU WANT IT TO APPEAR ON THE SIGN:
4 Courses:
Glenn Dale Golf Club
The Courses at Andrews
(3 courses)
-------------------------------------------------------------Golfers
Please return this completed form by May 12, 2014, with your check made payable to:
IBEW Local Union 26 Golf Outing
Lanham, MD 20706
*The Committee will attempt to
make course assignments with your
choices in mind. Your contact person
will be notified.
$100.00/player
Retired Members-$30.00/player
Schedule:
7:00-8:00 a.m.
Coffee, Donuts, & Registration
8:00 a.m.
Scramble Format/Shotgun Start
1:00-4:30 p.m.
Social Hour, Awards, & Banquet
at Martin’s Crosswinds
Names of Players:
1st Choice Course:
1.
2.
2nd Choice Course:
3.
4.
Contact Person:
# of Players: (
)
Amount Enclosed: $
Phone #:
Email:
37
PersonalInjuryLawFirm
Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Claims
A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its
weakest members. – Mahatma Gandhi
David M. Layton,
Partner
C
ertain businesses in our society are a
public trust. Due to the safety implications of air travel, we as a society, insist
that airlines don’t cut corners on safety. We
insist on qualified technicians, mechanics, and
pilots. We insist on the best machinery and
technology to protect the millions of individuals
who fly every day across our nation. Likewise,
the food industry is heavily regulated. We insist
on a certain level of professionalism in our food
industry since the ingestion of food products
has the possibility to affect the health of millions
of people. Even businesses that take care of our
pets are held to high standards because in many
instances our dogs or cats are like a part of our
family and unnecessarily endangering them is
simply unacceptable. As a society, we generally
demand a higher level of care for those businesses that make their money in an area that
affects the health of our loved ones; as we
should.
Unfortunately, one of the most vulnerable
sectors of our society has for far too long been
denied these basic protections – our institutionalized elderly. There are over 16,000 nursing
homes in the United States housing over 1.5
million elderly and disabled individuals. It’s
been estimated that 1 out of every 10 nursing
home residents has been the victim of abuse
and/or neglect. That is approximately 150,000
vulnerable people abused or neglected in the
place that is tasked with protecting and keeping
them safe. This is simply unacceptable.
Nursing Home abuse and neglect is particularly insidious because the nursing home staff
often hide the neglect behind medical terminology or the underlying condition of the resident.
When family members ask questions, they are
often told “don’t worry, we are handling it” or
“that’s just part of her illness/the aging process.”
After 15 years practicing as a nursing home
38
abuse and neglect attorney, I am still saddened
when I have to tell my client that they were lied
to and their loved one died as a result of abuse
and not their underlying medical condition.
“A nursing home is a business”
Ultimately, to the nursing home owners, the
facility is a business and the goal of any business
is to make money. Every business has two intersecting components: 1) Income and 2)
Expenses. When income is greater than expenses, the business makes a profit. When income is
less than expenses, the business fails. The more
income is above expenses, the more successful
the business is. Unlike most businesses, however, nursing homes aren’t able to raise the price of
their services because most of their services are
paid for by insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid
which have specific limits on the amounts of
money they will pay for the care provided by
the facility. Unlike traditional businesses, nursing homes can’t just charge more money for
their product to increase profits. This leaves
only one side of the equation—expenses. By
cutting expenses, nursing homes can increase
their profits. Unfortunately, most expenses are
very difficult to cut. Lowering rent or mortgage
payments isn’t easy. Finding a much better cost
for medical supplies is certainly difficult as well.
The one area where expenses are very controllable is staff. By cutting down on staffing levels,
facilities can save significant amounts of expenses and thereby create profitability. Unfortunately,
nothing is more clearly associated with neglect
and abuse than understaffing.
Nursing home residents often need help with
even the most basic activities of daily living
including, feeding, toileting, dressing, and even
turning or repositioning in bed. This kind of
assistance requires staff members. The consequences of not bringing residents to the toilet in
time is soiled and wet clothes and skin for hours
leading to loss of dignity and skin breakdown.
Individuals who need assistance with ambulating are at grave risk for falls when they don’t
receive that assistance from the staff entrusted
with their care. Failing to help those who can’t
turn and reposition themselves in a timely manner leads to horrible bedsores and contractures.
Failing to timely help those who need assistance
with eating and drinking leads to malnutrition
and dehydration. Unfortunately, these are the
exact results we are seeing all over the country.
Ashcraft & Gerel, LLP is changing the
financial equation that leads to neglect and
abuse.
My clients often come to my office angry and
wanting to “shut down” the facility that abused
or neglected their loved one—and understandably so. While I can’t guarantee that, I can say
that over the three decades Ashcraft & Gerel has
been prosecuting nursing home abuse and
neglect claims, we have changed the equation
for these facilities. No longer can they make a
decision to understaff the facility to increase
their profit. Now, they have to figure in the cost
of a large verdict or settlement as well as the
legal fees they will have to pay to defend the
lawsuit when someone is abused or neglected as
a result of their decision to consciously understaff their facility. Here at Ashcraft & Gerel, LLP
we gladly accept the challenge of changing the
mindset of nursing home administration. I consider every single one of my clients as a partner
in our fight against nursing home abuse and
neglect. With the clients I have already represented coupled with those I will represent in the
future, we will change the decision-making process that leads to abuse and neglect and ensure
that these facilities honor the public trust they
are charged with by our society to protect the
weakest and most vulnerable among us.
ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELLORS AT LAW
Workers’ Compensation • Social Security • Industrial Diseases • Serious
Personal Injury • Construction Accidents • Medical Malpractice •
Automobile Accidents • Pharmaceutical Litigation
2000 L Street, N.W.
Suite 400
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 783-6400
11300 Rockville Pike
Suite 1002
Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 770-3737
10 East Baltimore Street
Suite 1212
Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 539-1122
4301 Garden City Drive
Suite 301
Landover, MD 20785
(301) 459-8400
4900 Seminary Road
Suite 650
Alexandria, VA 22311
(703) 931-5500
10432 Balls Ford Road
Suite 300
Manassas, VA 20109
(703) 881-7758
www.ashcraftandgerel.com
www.ashcraftandgerel.com
Representing Union Members for over 55 years.
39
I.B.E.W. Local Union 26
Lanham, MD 20706
Non-Profit Org.
US Postage Paid
Permit No. 6235
Washington, DC

IN Charge Magazine 1st Quarter 2014

Transcription

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