FROM THE BUSINESS MANAGER

Dear Brothers and Sisters;
The spring season brings a renewal of sorts. There is new energy at the hall and lots of interest by members to get involved. We have assembled a negotiating committee with both veterans and newcomers. I asked that one member employed by Milliken, ESB, Sullivan and Merit and Eastern be invited to join Don, Al, and me to represent you at the bargaining table. We welcome Jim Hustus, Jeff Baillargeon, Jim Valente, and Ron Obrion to the table. Our first meeting will be at 7:30 am on April 17. The contractors will join us at 9:00 am at the hall.
Our newly formed PAC committee has hit the ground running. The five new members attended a seminar in Augusta earlier this month and they will be working to educate our members on candidates that support labor and working families. Please plan on attending our regular meetings for guidance on these issues and to get answers to political questions.
I have asked Al Shepard to pull the organizing committee back together as soon as possible to start a new campaign to revisit some old contacts and to implement the new organizing strategy mandated by the I/O. If you have any interest is joining this committee, please call the hall. Apprentices are encouraged to participate.
I have just returned from the IBEW construction conference in Washington DC. It was a productive three days. I met with the business managers of local 1253 and 490 on several issues, and we have reintroduced a spirit of cooperation and communication between the three locals. The keynote address from IBEW president Hill was inspiring and demonstrated that the I/O is aware of the every day challenges of capturing and maintaining market share. During the course of the conference I met with BA’s from all over New England and I/O reps from around the country. Time well spent I think.
As we move into what is normally the busiest time of the year for construction, I am optimistic about the short term prospects for work in this area. There is however no let up in the need to chase more work, so with the help of the E Board, I will use market recovery and productivity options to keep us in the hunt in the bidding process.
With the authorization of the membership, we have arranged for a picnic on July 12 this year. The location will be at Point Sebago, keep an eye on the mail box for specific information as we get closer to the date. Turn out in the prior years has been limited; I hope that you can plan to make this year’s summer celebration a part of your plans.
On May 21 there will be a special notified meeting in order to conduct nominations for local union officers and E Board positions at the Lewiston location. There will also be a special notified meeting on May 19 at The Governors restaurant in Houlton for nominations for the Northern unit. You must be a member in good standing for two years or more to be eligible to run for office. Apprentices cannot be a candidate. The official notice will be mailed to you.
Please continue to check back to this page for future messages and updates of interest to the membership.

Fraternally:
Dick Deering
Business Manager

Greetings Brothers and Sisters:  There have been significant changes in the leadership at the union hall in the last couple of weeks. On March 10, 2008 Milton McBreairty called for an emergency meeting of the Executive board to present to the Financial Secretary a letter declaring he was retiring as Business Manager from the local union effective immediately. He then left the meeting. Union president Al Shephard instructed the board on their duties as defined by the constitution pertaining to appointing replacements for vacated constitutional offices. The two members of the E Board (myself included) that were being considered to fill the position left the room and the members of the board began their deliberations. The final vote left me with the appointment as interim Business Manager till the end of the current term and I was sworn in and began assuming those responsibilities immediately. The normal election cycle remains intact and in May there will be a notified meeting to hold nominations for all of the constitutional offices including Business Manager.My appointment has opened up a seat on the pension committee. Jeff Baillargeon was appointed to fill that vacancy by Al after he and I had consulted and interviewed a couple of prospective trustees. I feel Jeff will bring a fresh and innovative perspective to the committee and I welcome him aboard. According to the IBEW constitution, the Business Manager will be seated on all trust committees. I will now serve on the Health and Welfare, JATC, LMCC and negotiations committee. There will be no changes in my current staff. Kim and Sara are here just as they were prior to my appointment. Al has been considering a move, but I remain hopeful that he will decide to stay on as organizer. Don Berry continues as training director.   Our local union and the trustees of our benefit plans are encountering some significant challenges right now. I assure you that we at the hall are up for those challenges and are using all of the resources available to us to resolve these issues.  I believe the changes in leadership have been implemented with virtually no direct impact on the vast majority of our members or the day to day operations of local 567. It is my desire to provide our members with the highest level of service and representation attainable under the terms of our union documents while serving in this position. Please feel free to contact me at the union hall with any questions or concerns.  Fraternally;   Richard Deering  Business Manager IBEW Local 567

We encourage you to sign up at www.ibewfightback.com it is an online political activist tool, which will enable Second District members to have a voice in support or opposition to legislative issues effecting workers in all branches of the I.B.E.W. This site will also be working in collaboration with the I.B.E.W. Political department and the AFLO-CIO to send out messages to all participants for national legislative issues effecting the I.B.E.W such as the Employee Free Choice Act.