IBEW Local 41 Buffalo, N. Y.

BUSINESS MANAGERS CORNER

TO ALL MEMBERS OF LOCAL #41, IBEW

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

Work Picture

The work picture as of this writing is still slow with 143 members on Inside Book I, 2 members on Inside Residential Book I, and 9 members on Teledata Book I.

Phase Four of the Buffalo Schools has only let one school thus far with the second coming to bid this month.  There are eleven total in this phase.

We are still waiting to see which of one our contractors will be awarded the $283 million Global Vascular Institute Project at the medical corridor downtown.

There are a number of jobs our contractors have been awarded but are slow getting started.  These jobs should be seeing some manpower soon.

Health Care Reform

Approximately 47 million Americans are without health insurance, with 14,000 losing coverage every day.  Eight million, seven hundred thousand children are without health care coverage.

In the past year the average family premium for employer sponsored coverage rose to an all time high of $13,375.  No country in the world pays more for health care than the United States and our costs are expected to double by 2016.  Health care costs are so far out of control that medically related debt is one of the leading causes of personal bankruptcy in the United States.

In a recent political conference in Washington, DC, the IBEW lobbied our Senators and Congressmen to support comprehensive health care reform.  While we recognize there are many issues to consider in reforming health care, the IBEW stands in opposition to any attempt to tax our health care benefits.

I strongly urge all Local #41 members to handwrite a letter to your Senators and Congressmen stating that any consideration of taxing health care benefits is totally unacceptable to you.  Brothers and Sisters, we need everyone to be united on this issue or we will pay a strong price down the road.

Food Pantry

As in the past, Local #41 will begin collecting non-perishable food for distribution to the food pantry in Blasdell.  Beginning December 1st we will have a drop off barrel located at the Union Office.  Your help in these times of severe unemployment in Western New York would be greatly appreciated.

Local #41 Blood Program

The Local #41 Blood Program continues to be a great success.  Simply bring in your blood donor card or certificate showing proof of donation and you are eligible to receive a $10.00 gift certificate to Philipps Brothers Supply Co.  The following Local #41 members donated in 2009:

Peter Campanella         John Kiener          Richard Derrah       David Liska              

Richard Ehlers              Vincent Lombardo                        Glenn Stuber        

The officers and I would like to thank everyone who participates in the program and Philipps Brothers Supply Co.

Helping Hand

Thank you to all our members, contractors and vendors listed below for their great service and participation with the wiring of the Eisenhardt family home in Machias.   A special thank you goes out to Dennis Pollinger, who was instrumental in organizing this worthwhile effort. Our members and NECA truly showed we are the Union of hearts and minds.  Great job everyone!

Ramee Abdallah                   Jim Dunphy                              Dennis Reszka

Aaron Arnold                       Dave Edwards                           Dan Roberts

Tom Bensch                        Mike Eustace                            Todd Rosser

Bob Chilson                         Roy Gritzke                             David J. Stengel

John Sawicz                        John Clunie                             Ted Koeth

John Terpolilli                       Aaron Coventry                       Vince Lombardo 

Howard Toy                        Shawn Creighton                      Kevin Phelan                         

Ed Wesolowski                     Brian Duke                              Garrett Punaro 

Pete Winstel

Deltex Electric                         Industrial Power & Lighting              Quermback Electric

Frey Electric                            Metro Electric                              Shanor Electric

Graybar Electric                       O'Connell Electric                          Tunney Electric

                                            Weydman Electric