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2010 will prove to be a year of change for Local 348 and the membership.

Local 348 IBEW was chartered on January 30, 1905 and has been representing workers in Alberta for 105 years. We were chartered the same year Alberta became a province.

Our Local Union has been through many changes and adapted to the many challenges over time. The membership and executive have risen to the occasion regarding member rights, member servicing and forward thinking resulting in collective agreements that were at times years ahead of the curve, and at other times leading in individual protection.

In 2000 the Canadian Industrial Relations Board directed a vote between Local 348 IBEW and TWU following the BC Tel and TELUS merger. Alberta membership was outnumbered by almost 4000 people in BC. Local 348 lost our 6200 members at TELUS as a result. This reduction of membership required Local 348 to layoff 13 staff and operate with only 1 full time and one part time employee responsible for 280 members.

However, the many employer ownership changes, mergers, negotiation of new agreements and re-negotiating of existing collective agreements occupied most of the available time in addition to grievances, arbitrations and administrative duties. Even though membership servicing took precedence over all administration functions, at times, it wasn뭪 where is should be. Neither was the administration

To that end, in order to return operations and membership servicing to a higher level, Local 348 entered into merger/amalgamation discussions with Local 2228 IBEW. Both Locals are bound by the same IBEW Constitution and rules. The merger between Local 348 and Local 2228 is amicable and a joint request to amalgamate was made to IBEW International President Ed Hill with the support of Canadian International Vice President Phil Flemming.

With the merge, the Local 348 Business Manager would become a staff member with Local 2228 overseeing the current Local 348 membership and collective agreements in addition to Local 2228 agreements in Alberta.

The merger presents advantages to both 348 and 2228 in that, servicing of the Local 348 agreements and relationship with the employers is maintained, union office administrative work is completed in the head office of Local 2228, and local membership response time will improve with increased face to face interaction.

Local 2228 will have an additional experienced representative in Alberta to oversee administration of their contracts and assist in other collective agreement and membership initiatives. Local 2228 Business Manager Boulet, will be responsible for the combined operations of Local 348 and Local 2228.

Both local unions gain due to economies of scale, ability to focus and enhance training opportunities, and strengthen membership support and commitment in Alberta.

International President Hill approved the merger/amalgamation which is expected to be completed in July 2010.

The amalgamation is a positive and progressive step towards our future. It ensures forward growth and future prosperity of the IBEW and its?membership. It secures the resources required to continue improving individual and collective rights and working conditions.

I look forward to the working with Local 2228 Business Manager Boulet and welcome the opportunity to jointly improve the well being of our combined membership.

In Solidarity,

Mike Semeniuk
Business Manager / Financial Secretary