On Sunday December 13th, 2015 IBEW Local 2323 members gathered at VZ Wireless in Warwick RI to out pressure on Verizon for a fair contract. The effort was an overwhelming success with close to 200 members attending. See gallery for photos of event.

IBEW Local 2323 sadly has learned of the passing of Katharine McGowan, mother of long-time IBEW Local 2323 Business Manager Bill McGowan, and his brother also a long time IBEW Local 2323 member Larry McGowan. Our deepest sympathies go out to the McGowan family. Details on service arrangements are listed below.

McGOWAN, KATHARINE V. (WARD) 96, of Greenville, died on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 in her home she loved so much, surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved wife of the late Lawrence McGowan. Born in Providence, she was a daughter of the late William and Elizabeth (Curran) Ward. Mrs. McGowan was a member of St. Philip Church in Greenville for 50 years where she served as Eucharistic Minister. She was a past president of the Catholic Womens Club of the Providence diocese. She and her husband wintered in Vero Beach, Florida for many years. She is survived by her daughter Paula Gray and her husband George of Southington, Connecticut, her son Lawrence J. McGowan and his wife Kathleen of Burrillville, and her son William McGowan and his wife Kathryn of North Kingstown. She was the sister of the late Elizabeth Fanning, William H. Ward, Jr., Paul A. Ward, and Patricia O’Connor. She is survived by her six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Her funeral will be held on Friday, December 11, 2015 at 9:30 am from the Russell J. Boyle & Son Funeral Home, 331 Smith Street, Providence. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am in St. Philip Church, 622 Putnam Pike, Greenville. Burial will be in Swan Point Cemetery, Providence. Visiting hours, Thursday, December 10, 2015 from 4-8 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to St. Philip School, 618 Putnam Pike, Greenville, RI 02828. boyleandsonfuneralhome.com

IBEW 2323 will be holding a Christmas Party on Dec 19 @ 7pm.
The party will be held at The Twin River event center .

Tickets are $20 per person
Call Ray Silvestri 413-8937 or see a Union steward if interested.

IBEW Local 2323 will be holding our Annual Thanksgiving Feed a Family event on Sunday November 22nd, 2015 @ 8:00am. We are able to provide baskets for hundreds of families in need the past few years. Donations are encouraged if interested please see a Union steward.

IBEW Local 2323 will be having an night at the Providence Bruins on November 13, 2015 7:05pm.

1 Ticket
1 Hotdog
1 Drink
$20.00 per person
Free hats for the kids!!!

Contact Ray Silvestri for tickets 401-413-8937

Virtual Open House Copy:

Attend the Virtual Open House on October, 20th to hear from and ask questions of the Pace University staff. Register Today! www.nactel.org/ibew/voh

Join Pace University Staff online on October 20th to learn more about online classes that will advance your career.
Grab Your Seat Today!

www.nactel.org/ibew/voh

NACTEL’s Telecommunications education is designed specifically for working adults like you.
Learn more at the upcoming Virtual Open House on October 20th. Times are offered to work with your busy schedule. Register Today! www.nactel.org/ibew/voh

NACTEL can help you turn your Associate’s degree into a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. Learn more at the Virtual Open House on October 20th. Times are offered in the evening as well.
Space is limited. Sign Up Today! www.nactel.org/ibew/voh
Virtual Open House images:

The 3rd Annual Chuck Austin Memorial Golf Tournament will be held at Fenner Hill Golf club on October 15, 2015 at 9:00am, $125 per golfer (includes dinner) or $30 dinner only. Please call 401-539-0645 if interested in attending.

application

CLICK THE ABOVE LINK TO DOWNLOAD APPLICATION

Enclosed is the information for the 2015 Scholarship:

NOTICE

September 24, 2015

Local 2323, I.B.E.W. Telephone Division in Rhode Island is pleased to announce the
annual renewal for 2015 of its scholarship in the amount of $1000.00 per year for the sons and
daughters of active dues paying members.
In order for you to understand the rules for eligibility and selection of the scholarships
for 2015, the Executive Board of this Local has drawn up the following guidelines:
Eligibility

1. The applicant shall be the natural or legally adopted child up to the age of 25 of an
active dues paying member in good standing of Local 2323 for six months at the time of this
application or a retired dues paying member in good standing of Local 2323.
2. Graduate of any public, private or parochial high school or the equivalent who plan to
attend a school of higher education.
3. Acceptance at an accredited college or school of higher education.
4. Verification of union membership of Local 2323 of parent and address of employment,
if applicable.
5. The deadline will be date of the Executive Board meeting in October.
Committee Rules
1. The Scholarship Committee appointed by the President will be the Executive Board.

2. The winner will be selected at a union meeting in November.

3. There will be three names drawn.
(a) The first name drawn will be the winner of the 2015 IBEW Local 2323 Scholarship
(b) in the amount of $1000.00.
(b) The second name drawn will be the 1 st runner up. The third name drawn will be the
2nd runner up.

4. The scholarship will not be confined to academic programs, but will also be granted to
students planning post-graduate or vocational studies.

5. Should the winner of the scholarship transfer to another college or school of higher
education during the term of the scholarship, the Scholarship Committee must be notified and
may review whether the scholarship should continue.

6. The award will be paid to the parent of the $1000.00 scholarship recipient upon proof
of receipt or proof of payment to the institution of higher learning for that semester, not to
exceed $1000.00.

7. The scholarship for 2015 will be terminated when the recipient:

(a) has received a total of $1000.00 from the Scholarship fund;
(b) has completed the course of study for an undergraduate degree or post graduate degree:
(c) is expelled, suspended or withdraws from the selected college or school of high education.

8. It is expected that the scholarship program will continue indefinitely, however,
conditions may require changes or modifications. The right to modify or terminate the program,
in whole or in part is reserved by the committee. In the event of such changes, scholarships in
effect will be continued for their duration.

If you wish to make an application, fill out the application form and forward the same to
the Local’s Business Office by mail to Local 2323 Scholarship Fund, 22 Amflex Drive,
Cranston, RI 02901 or fax the application to 946-2327 where they will be reviewed.

Fraternally yours,

Dan Musard
President
IBEW Local 2323

Even Tom Brady needed union
By George H. Nee

Last Thursday, Tom Brady was able to lead the New England Patriots onto the field against the Pittsburgh Steelers because he is a member of a union: the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA). We are proud of the fact that Brady and the other 51 members of the New England Patriots Chapter are affiliated with the Rhode Island AFL-CIO.
Amid the pomp and circumstance of the Patriots raising their fourth Super Bowl banner over Gillette Stadium, one could be forgiven for thinking that this was football as usual in New England. However, the past several months have been Brady’s season of discontent, which mercifully came to an end when a federal judge in New York overturned NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s four-game “Deflategate” suspension. Thanks to the protections provided by the NFLPA contract, Brady took the field as the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots, just as he hasevery season since 2002.
Since Brady is a member of the NFLPA, he plays under the NFL and the union’s collectively bargained contract, which lays out work rules, pay and benefits, health and safety regulations and — most importantly for Patriots fans — disciplinary measures and due process.

There are many occupations where workers are represented by a union, and all are afforded rights that provide for good wages and benefits, safe working conditions, and a voice on the job. Many people regard construction workers, teachers and school support staff, state and municipal workers, truck and bus drivers, nurses and allied health care workers, and grocery store workers as traditional union members.

Today’s labor movement is much more diverse and varied than it once was. The union ranks include scientists, engineers, reporters, airline pilots, doctors and, yes, even professional athletes who are protected by a union, just as traditional union workers are.

Workers who are not covered by a union contract are considered to be “at-will” employees who can be disciplined or even fired at the whim of their boss with no recourse or due process. If the four-game suspension had been allowed to stand, Brady would have suffered a 25 percent pay cut, costing him millions of dollars in salary and performance bonuses.

Yes, Brady is a highly paid professional athlete, but his livelihood was still jeopardized because of an autocratic and vindictive boss. To put the suspension into perspective, imagine if an average Rhode Islander earning $48,838 were to be treated the same as Brady. He or she would be barred from going to work and providing for his or her family for 13 weeks, costing more than $12,000 in salary.

If you have a Roger Goodell in your workplace, you can stand up to him and do what Tom Brady and millions of other American workers have done and join a union. Having a union provides workers with a voice on the job, dignity on the job and respect on the job, as well as a path to the middle class.

As President Obama said at a Labor Day breakfast in Boston: “Even Brady’s happy he’s got a union. They had his back. You know if Brady needs a union, we definitely need unions.”
—George H. Nee is president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady shouts on the sideline during last Thursday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. AP PHOTO

As our fight for a fair contract reaches 2 months since expiration of our CBA we will be holding a rally @ 234 Washington Street Thursday Oct 1, 2015 at 530pm. We will be joined by fellow Rhode Island Labor leaders to show solidarity with us in our fight for a fair contract.