Local 337 Merger
Currently there are six IBEW Locals in the province of British Columbia—Locals 213, 230, 258, 337, 993 and 1003.
Local 337 (City of Prince Rupert—Telephone) have been in discussions with the IBEW First District Office and Local 213 regarding a merge for some period of time. I am happy to report that on Tuesday, January 17th, IBEW International Representative Laird Cronk and myself met with Local 337. A secret ballot vote was conducted with Local 337 members voting unanimously in favour of merging with Local 213. The Local 213 Executive Board approved the merger on Tuesday, January 24th.
It will take a period of time for the paperwork to be completed, but I wish to welcome our forty new sisters and brothers into Local 213.
Currently Local 213 represents Chubb, CityWest Cable and Pacific Northern Gas members in that strip between Prince George and Prince Rupert.
IBEW First District Scholarship
This office has received several inquiries regarding available IBEW scholarships. Below is the latest information from the First District Office.
The IBEW First District Office, in conjunction with Union Savings, AIL, TD Insurance Meloche Monnex and MWG Apparel is pleased to announce that five scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each will be made available to all Canadian IBEW members and their families, who are currently enrolled in full or part-time studies, or who are currently in pursuit of a post-secondary diploma or degree (applied to and/or accepted by institution).
The IBEW First District Office, Union Savings, AIL, TD Insurance Meloche Monnex and MWG Apparel realize the importance of continuing post-secondary education and skill development and are offering these scholarships to help interested union members and their families achieve their educational goals. The application is available online on the IBEW First District website - www.ibew.org/1stdistrict or can be obtained by contacting the Union Office.
Members interested in being awarded one of the scholarships for themselves or their family member are required to complete the application form and forward it to the First District Office. All applicants are required to submit a brief essay (the applicant must do the essay themselves) outlining the benefits of belonging to the IBEW. These essays will become the property of the IBEW and following a validation of each candidate, the successful applicants will be decided by holding a random draw. All entrants must be received by Friday, February 24, 2012 and the random draw will be held on March 2, 2012.
Port Moody By-Election Coming
Will need volunteers as the election approaches— please contact Harry Van Beest at the Union Office for information and sign up.
NextGen Committee
Under 35? We encourage all members associated within this age group to contact Mandeep Saggu at NextGen@ibew213.org to get involved, learn and better promote this great brotherhood of ours.
Since the success of the RENEW program at the last International Convention, Local 213 has taken the initiative and created the NextGen Committee. For those unaware of the RENEW program, a group of forty-eight young IBEW members were selected from states and provinces across North America. The young activists networked with delegates and attended sessions sponsored by IBEW’s Education Department on the union’s history, laws and structure. Local 213’s NextGen Committee will be responsible for engaging the younger membership (35 years and younger) at the local level. The NextGen Committee will work with local union leadership and members to determine ways in which to better involve younger members in the union; raise awareness of issues specific to young workers; advocate on behalf of young workers in the local union and in the community; support the work of other local union committees providing fresh insight through a youth perspective; put on social events to better the solidarity amongst all members; and promote the overall goals of the IBEW.
At the recent NextGen pub night held on January 27th—43 tickets were sold and over $1,100.00 was raised. This money will be forwarded to the United Steelworkers who have set up a fund for the workers at Babine Forest Products and their families in Burns Lake.
