In this edition of IBEW Hour Power News Briefs, we will take you from Portland, to Las Vegas, to DC covering all aspects of the IBEW such as growth in numbers, new development, and the brotherhood outside of the job site. Tune in, check it out, and don’t forget to share this with a friend!
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TRANSCRIPT – News Brief: Fall 2015
Hello, thanks for being here and welcome to another edition of IBEW Hour Power News Brief, I’m your host Vic Lombardi. Today on the program, we are talking to the Vice President of the leading provider of shipbuilding and repair in Portland about why IBEW workers are the way to go for his high profile jobs. Also, we will get a look at Local 357’s new hall in Las Vegas. Then we will talk to Local 26 in DC about the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance and what it is doing for the brotherhood.
It all starts now, on Hour Power.
Vigor Industrial is one of the biggest providers in ship repair and building. They have 12 locations, including the 60-acre Swan 
Island shipyard in Portland, OR.
Alan Sprott – Vice President, Vigor Industrial: “We look for high skill set, a commitment to productivity, a commitment to the organization and the operation to help us grow. The IBEW has been great as well as all of our other trade unions that we are associated with. Not only in working on our projects in various shipyards, but also in working in the communities in which we operate to grow industrial jobs.”
Alan says his biggest worry is having a quality workforce to replace the turnover as members get ready for retirement. His idea is to teach kids that this industry is a great career path.
Sprott: “I think that continuing to push on the educational system in all of the states that we are operating in and putting trades back in the high schools to develop the skill set in the kids coming up and also the unions themselves keeping up what they are doing, starting apprenticeship programs to draw people into the profession and showing them what kind of livelihood you can make. It’s a good living.”
When Local 357 in Las Vegas opened its first building, the membership was around 400. But now, membership is around 4,000. So 5 years ago, they new it was time for a new facility. Business Manager Al Davis gives a tour of the new hall where history and technology merge.
Al Davis – Business Manager, Local 357: “This building is 36,000 sq. ft. It was built 5 years ago and it has over 60 kilawats of solar power, a third of our energy is supplied on a summer day like here in Las Vegas, its supplied by our renewable energy and that meters back. We have fit 1,000 people into our meeting hall, this building could take us into the next 20-30 years into the future. More things that need to happen to this building continue, we are going to get an electric charging station out here for electric cars, we have one at our apprenticeship. We are going to continue to evolve and bring the standard of Las Vegas and the IBEW up with this building.
“The building is dedicated to Ralph Leigon, he was the Business Manager of Local 357 from 1950 to 1969. In 1960 he was elected into the IEC and from 1960 to 1976 he was on the IEC. He retired as Business Manager in 1969, and then in 1976 he was appointed as Secretary of the International and he served in that term until 1985.”
The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance is connecting union members on a lifestyle level to create solidarity through the great outdoors and to help support the outdoor way of life.
Richard Murphy – Business Representative, Local 26: “It’s important because it ties into the brotherhood. Team building, getting together with some other brothers and sisters, and giving back to our community that has provided well for us.
“Competition is always something good to be a part of, it keeps you young at heart, energetic, and it’s just fun to compete.”
Any local can get involved to start their own chapter.
Murphy: “Once you do get started with undertaking a conservation dinner, Union Sportsmen’s Alliance has a great work staff that will help you through every aspect of it, so it’s not as much work as you think it is, but the enjoyment is tenfold.”
You can go to www.unionsportsmen.org to join or just to get more information.
That will do it for this edition of IBEW Hour Power News Briefs. If you ever have a story that we should include, send us an email at info@ibewhourpower.com. It may make it into one of our future news briefs! And if you like this video, be sure to share it with a friend! Until next time, I’m Vic Lombardi.
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