a mobilization rally is being held May 7th at 5:00pm in front of 234 Washington St. Please make every effort to attend and show solidarity. August 1st is rapidly approaching.

May 31st IBEW Local 2323 Annual Golf Tournament

This year’s golf tournament will take place at the Swansea Country Club in Swansea, Massachusetts. The tournament was moved to the Swansea Country Club in an effort to accommodate our members who are traveling from Massachusetts. The tournament will begin at 1:00 p.m. with a shotgun start. The price is $125 per person or $500 for a foursome. Included in the price are 18 holes with a cart, driving range, and dinner.

Election Guidelines 2015

Election Judge Tim Beaudry asked the following to be posted.

Nominations were held on Wednesday April 15, 2015 at 5:00pm.

The Election Committee met on Friday April 17, 2015 and prepared ballots & mailing.

The Election Committee will meet on June 1st, 2015 to pick up ballots and to count the vote.

The Election Judge asked that the candidate rules be posted (see attached link above)

If you have any questions or do not receive your ballot please call Tim Beaudry – (401)-339-0247

IBEW Local 2323 will be supporting the 13th Annual Autism Project walk. This year we will walk in honor of long time members Ron Dickinson and Kat Geary’s son Austin. They lead a team to raise money in honor of Austin. The event will be held at Goddard memorial State Park in Warwick Rhode Island We hope to see you there.

Please donate generously to this worthy cause @ www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/ibew2323

Goddard State Park
1095 Ives Rd, East Greenwich, RI 02818

Questions please call Tom Plunkett 401-374-8259

Beloved IBEW Local 222 President Ed Fitzpatrick, recently announced his retirement, his last day as an active employee will be tomorrow March 31, 2015. In his almost 55 year career, Fitzy has been at the front leading the charge. His now famous speeches have rallied many over the years and carried us through many difficult fights.

In addition to his leadership, he has also been instrumental in helping countless Brothers & Sisters over the years through the Member Assistance Program, and through his tireless efforts helping those battling addiction.

The members, officers and staff of IBEW Local 2323 wish Brother Fitzpatrick all the best in retirement and thank you for all your hard work and dedication to Labor and our Union.

IBEW Local 2222 will be holding a retirement party in his honor. If you would like to attend tickets are $25 each, please call 617-929-6000 to RSVP.

Thursday, April 30th
Florian Hall – 55 Halet Street, Dorchester, MA
6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

IBEW Local 2323 will be holding a Retiree Club luncheon in the Union office on March 25, 2015.

11:30am-2:00pm with Lunch served at 12:00pm

The company has notified the Union that The Attendance Award & the CPS check will be paid on the following dates. If you have any questions please call the Union office: (401)-946-2323

Attendance Award – March 6th, 2015

CPS Award – March 13, 2015

The Officers & Staff of the local would like to thank all those who donated and attended the Fundraiser for Brother Mike Gowdey. Our membership through its generosity raised a significant amount of money to benefit Brother Gowdey and his family.

UNION MEMBERS APPROVE AGREEMENT WITH FAIRPOINT

Workers to Return to Work on Wednesday, February 25

AUGUSTA, ME—After three days of voting, IBEW and CWA members in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont have ratified tentative agreements with FairPoint Communications. The new agreements protect good jobs and ensure quality telecommunications service for New England communities.

“This is great news for our members, their families, and our communities,” said Peter McLaughlin, chair of the union bargaining committee and Business Manager of IBEW Local 2327 in Maine. “Our members remained united and committed to this fight for more than four months and today we have a fair deal that will bring them back to work and good service back to our communities.”

After initially demanding $700 million in concessions from workers, FairPoint implemented the terms of its proposals on August 28 saying the parties had reached an impasse in bargaining. The implemented terms included a dramatic increase in health care costs, a two-tier wage structure that would have paid new hires as much as 20 percent less to do the same jobs as current workers, and a greatly increased ability to outsource union members’ work to low-wage contractors from outside our region.

Ultimately, FairPoint agreed to a union-administered health insurance plan with better benefits that will cost workers and the company less. FairPoint also agreed to eliminate the two-tier wage structure.
“This agreement is a win for our members and for future FairPoint employees,” said Don Trementozzi, President of CWA Local 1400. “We went on strike last October because we are committed to keeping good, middle-class jobs in New England. Our members walked the lines for more than four months, not just for themselves, but for future generations. Our success will benefit FairPoint workers—and New England’s working families—for years to come.”

The unions also successfully negotiated to protect jobs from outsourcing. During the strike, FairPoint brought in replacement contract workers to do the jobs of experienced, union workers. Complaints skyrocketed in all three states as customers experienced inadequate service, delays for repairs and installations, and increased wait times when calling customer service.

“Our communities have seen the results of outsourcing these last four months, and it has not been pretty,” said Glenn Brackett, Business Manager of IBEW Local 2320 in New Hampshire. “There’s no replacement for well-trained, skilled workers. Our members are eager to get back to work and get our network functioning the way it should.”

Approximately 1,800 FairPoint workers in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont launched their strike on October 17. The longest strike in the United States in 2014, workers picketed for 18 weeks.

“Our members are incredible. They walked the picket lines in blizzards and sub-zero temperatures. They stayed strong and they stayed together,” said Mike Spillane, Business Manager of IBEW Local 2326 in Vermont.

The strikers enjoyed widespread support from their communities and from thousands of allies around the world. Lawmakers in all three states walked the picket lines with members; individuals delivered hot beverages and snacks to picketers; and people and organizations contributed more than $350,000 to the Solidarity Fund to provide financial aid for striking workers to pay for everything from prescription medicine to heating oil.

“The support we’ve received over the past four months has been overwhelming,” said McLaughlin. “Union brothers and sisters from all over the country sent financial help and messages of support. And our friends and neighbors right here in New England showed us their appreciation for our sacrifice every day. They knew that our members were not just striking to protect their own jobs, but that they were fighting for good jobs and quality service for all of New England.”

The new contracts will be in effect until August 4, 2018.

IBEW Local 2323 will be hosting a Macaroni dinner in honor of Brother Mike Gowdey on February 22, 2015 @ 2:00pm in the union office.

Tickets are $20 per a person please call Ray Silvestri (401)413-8937

Also please see a steward or call the union office if you would like to purchase raffle tickets to support Brother Gowdey