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Official Publication of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 1186, AFL-CIO UNIT I CONSTRUCTION OCEANIC CABLE TELECOM UNIT II DOD CIVIL SERVICE HICKAM PEARL HARBOR Volume XXXII No. 6 December 2008 Trump Change in Waikiki IBEW HAWAII munity involvement. We will start our advertising on television with sponsor- ing of shows on Oceanic's OC 16 .

Legislatively we will be working with the Plumbers Union to see about passing legislation on work done by licensed crafts and securing both of our work. Peter Akamu , Dennis Kaloi , and Brian Lee will continue working with the Electricians & Plumbers Board and Contractors Licensing Board in bring- ing current language up to date. The President-elect and our friends in the State Legislature recognize these are hard economic times and are put- ting together a stimulus package to create construction jobs for the next 18 months.

In the meantime we need to put every effort to keep working hard with fewer mistakes and keep the profitabil- ity up so that our contractors can get more jobs to keep us busy. Financially the markets may go on for another year or two of being in a slump; however we will be positioning ourselves to ... more. less.

a more protective stance. Only time will tell. MELE KALIKIMAKA AND HAU 9OLI MAKAHIKI HOU I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Please be safe throughout this New Year. Remember, if you drink, please drink responsibly, and we will see you again next year. RECAP S o ends an exciting year! July started with the new Unity Team 2008 taking the helm with exciting new changes ahead. The Union elec- tions were challenged, but the results were upheld by the IBEW International Union and the State and Federal Departments of Labor . We added to the Unity Team with Richard Jose as our Kauai Representative. Public elections were held nation- ally and state-wide, including the hotly contested Mayoral race won by Mufi Hannemann on Oahu, and keeping the Rail Transit project on the move. Americans voted for Barack Obama , the first Afro-American and Hawaii-born as President of the United States. We re-affiliated back with the Hawaii Building & Construction Trades Council and are making amends with the other trades in hopes of work- ing together again, including with the Carpenters Union and the Hawaii State AFL-CIO . However, marring the good news was the economic downfall of the stock markets, the worst we have seen in the last 70 years. Even the government 9s 700 billion dollar bailout can 9t seem to help. Our investments in Pension and Annuity took a hit just like everyone else did, only not as worse, with roughly a low double-digit loss. LOOKING TO NEXT YEAR We are looking forward to have the Union office on the 4 th floor start its renovation. We also are having a Leadership Training class that will be open to all members, and our first Stewards Training and Union Picnic in a long time. We are starting to get noticed in a positive way and hope to continue doing so thru charity events and com- By Damien Kim Business Manager-Financial Secretary IBEW HAWAII is the official publication of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 1186, AFL-CIO, 1935 Hau Street, Room 401, Honolulu, Hawaii 96819, Phone (808) 847-5341. Damien Kim Business Manager-Financial Secretary Peter Akamu President / Assistant Business Manager (Telecommunications) Tracy Hayashi Vice President / Assistant Business Manager (Construction) Dennis Kaloi Recording Secretary / Organizer / Compliance (Construction) Michael Tanaka Treasurer Rebecca Navarro Executive Board - Unit 1 Terry Uyehara Executive Board - Unit 1 Scot Ah Yuen Executive Board - Unit 2 Alan Kimoto Executive Board - Unit 2 Dalmas Jones Executive Board - At Large Eric Okazaki Executive Board - At Large Keith Yamashiro Executive Board - At Large Leonard Egdamin Referral Agent (Construction) Donn dela Cruz Business Representative (Big Island) Ray Shimabuku Business Representative (Maui) Richard Jose Business Representative (Kauai) Ron Henderson Business Representative (Federal Sector Unit 2) Brian Lee Research & Communications Examining Board William Chang Don Minatoya Lyle Miyahira Eli Tangonan Brian Uyeno ON THE COVER : Steve Koide from Wasa Electrical Services works on the Trump Tower project, part of the recent exciting facelift for Waikiki . STATE OF THE UNION BUSINESS MANAGER 9S MESSAGE "We are starting to get noticed in a positive way and hope to continue doing so . . . ." 2 3 T he 2008 elections are history, but the benefits will be felt by Labor for years to come. On the national, state, and county levels, labor-friendly candidates won large and sometimes overwhelming victories on November 4, 2008. President-elect Barack Obama will enter into his first presidential term with solid congressional majorities in both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. Labor Unions mounted an unprecedented campaign this year to " Get Out The Vote " and support candidates for office who have pledged to fight for working men and women. LOCAL 1186 MEMBERS PLAY A PART IBEW Local 1186 members supported candidates nation- ally and locally by waving signs, giving monetary campaign contributions, and educating their friends and neighbors about candidates and issues for the primary and general elections. Your union also worked hard in registering members to vote and using absentee ballots. The important Oahu Rail Transit ballot question also passed in large part because of the grassroots efforts of Local 1186 and the Hawaii Building Trades Council in a heated general elec- tion issue. The four billion dollar project will go a long way towards keeping construction jobs going, providing transpor- tation alternatives, and promoting smart community planning for future generations. IBEW International President Ed Hill sent this message to all the IBEW Locals on General Election night: I am not sure that everyone knows the significance of winning this election. We all have counted in one way or another on the IBEW and the Trade Union movement for the quality of life that we have and we enjoy . . . I want to thank you for every envelope you stuffed, every call you made, every door you knocked on, every piece of literature that you handed out and most important the vote 2008 Elections Produce Historic Victories Labor Movement Gains On National & Local Levels that you cast, regardless of who you cast it for, this has strengthened the Trade Union Movement and America. Lest I forget, thank you for being a part of this great Brotherhood we call the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers , whether it is by membership or employment, thank you for the work you do. God Bless you and Good Night. IBEW International Vice President Mike Mowrey added the follow- ing for Ninth District mem- bers, including Hawaii: Thank you for your out- standing effort in the 2008 election. We have achieved victories in every State of the 9 th District both nationally and locally. The Political Action Program President Hill initiated throughout the IBEW with State Coordinators, Local Union Registrars and a District Coordinator worked very well. We had outstanding partici- pation and success at every level. Please thank and congratulate the members of the IBEW who volunteered in this historic election. We have advanced our inter- ests and will be better prepared to meet the challenges we face in the future. We can take pride in the victories we achieved and look forward to future success for working men and women of our industries. Again thank you and best wishes for the future. "Yes We Can" and "Yes We Did" IBEW International President Edwin D. Hill & Local 1186 Business Manager-Financial Secretary Damien Kim. L ocal 1186 welcomes Marketing & Compliance Director Kim Lehano , who was recently hired under the Hawaii Electricians Market Enhancement Fund (HEMEP). HEMEP is a partnership between the Electrical Contractors Association of Hawaii and IBEW Local Union 1186 to improve and pro- mote the electrical indus- try in Hawaii. Ms. Lehano comes to Local 1186 with years of experience in television production, ( HEROES and Hawaii . . . Beyond Paradise on OC 16), media and com- munications, classroom instruction (college level) and a Master 9s Degree in Organizational Management. Her goals will be to increase positive promotion of our industry in all aspects - through marketing, community involvement, education, and working with vari- ous community, city/state and government enti- ties. On the compliance side, she will be work- ing to ensure that compliance and enforcement of licensing, prevailing wages, and regulatory requirements are being upheld. Merry Christmas 2008 IBEW On The Job: Island Currents R ob Van Geen was a computer systems administrator for nearly 25 years, but quit to start in the IBEW Local 1186 apprenticeship program in 2006. As if that wasn't enough to have on his plate, brother Van Geen is a serious marathon athlete who has paddled for Kawaihae Canoe Club since 2000, and began training for competitive swimming, cycling, and running in 2005. Van Geen has qualified and participated in the Ironman World Championship every year since 2006 and competed in the Ultraman World Championship in 2007, which consists of a 6.2 mile swim, a 261.4 mile bike race, and a 52.4 mile run. His weekly training averages swimming for seven miles, biking for 100 miles, and run- ning for 20 miles. Brother Van Geen is currently training for the Hawaiian Ultra Running Team (HURT) 100-mile endurance run, which takes place on January 17-18, 2009 on Oahu. The grueling trail race features 25,000 feet of climbs and 25,000 feet of descents, with a 36-hour contest cutoff. Donn K. dela Cruz Big Island Business Representative T his month we would like to introduce TG Electric LLC , another signatory contractor on the Garden Isle. TG Electric owner Clark Tyler traveled to Kaua`i in 1987 from Local Union 3 in New York. His first assignment was the renovation of the Westin Kaua`i where he worked for the R- Electric and American Electric joint venture. After the Westin Kaua`i job, he worked for other contractors such as Wasa Electric and Tri Young Electric . Clark later found a home at R-Electric where he worked nine years, first as a journey- man, then later moved his way up the ladder to become a General Foreman. Anticipating that work in the islands would be headed into a slow period, Clark picked up his tools and traveled to Las Vegas where he worked for approximately five years. The warm island breezes and quiet life- style of Kaua`i called him back home, and he soon returned to start his new electrical con- tracting business, TG Electric. Clark began his one-man operation working on smaller proj- ects with the state and county, then progressed to taking on bigger jobs with Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC), doing the motor control center change out at the Port Allen steam plant. Today, TG Electric employs five Local 1186 members: Steve Melanson , Craig King , John Gibb , Bill Snyder and apprentice Colten Yamase . Mahalo Brother Clark for being part of the 1186 Local Union `ohana! While our country is experiencing tough economic times, we look towards the remainder of 2008 with hope and promise for a better tomorrow. Best wishes and Happy Holidays to everyone! Richard Jose Kauai Business Representative 4 Rob Van Geen working at the Kings Land Condo project at Waikoloa. TG Electric Blossoms In The Garden Isle IBEW Marathoner Goes Big on Big Island Top: Steve Melanson & Craig King look over plans at the Kauai Department of Water Kilauea Booster Pump Station; Left: Clark Tyler stands in front of his company truck; Bottom: TG Electric crews work at the KIUC Port Allen Power Plant to replace the 480 Volt MCC at the steam plant. Bottom left to right: Steve Melanson, Craig King, Sean Uits, and Jon Gibb. S ometime between the evening of November 12 th and November 13 th , when the students of Waimalu Elementary School were vic- tims of a burglary of their recyclables, they lost something not only precious to their fundraising goals, but more so, a loss of the school 9s pride and the students' feelings of accomplishment. For weeks, students had been bringing in their recyclables, involv- ing family and community donations, to fund future field trips as well as school supplies. The recycling bin was at full capacity when thieves struck, cut the locks, and drove off with an enormous amount of recyclables from the school grounds after hours. The school and HPD asks that you call 9-1-1 immediately should you know anything about the burglary. cWhomever took this from the kids, they are literally stealing right from them, d said Keith Hui , Waimalu Elementary Vice Principal. Local 1186 staff gathered their own recyclables and dropped them off at the school, to a grateful staff and student body. cYou guys are awe- some, this is great, the kids will be thrilled! d said Hui, after Big Island Representative Donn dela Cruz and Organizer Dennis Kaloi came to drop off an entire truckload of recyclables. Kim Lehano HEMEP Marketing & Compliance Director 5 QN Electric Keeps Working At Kapalua Bay Q N Electric, Inc. continues to employ a large num- ber of IBEW Local 1186 members at the Ritz- Carlton Residences at Kapalua Bay project in Maui. While some projects have been slowed or post- poned due to the economic climate, "It's business as usual," according to Tom Neutzel and Project Manager Jason Allen . The former Kapalua Bay Hotel site has been under construction since late 2006, and is scheduled for com- pletion in April 2009 despite the economic situation. Kapalua Bay has been named America 9s Best Beach by such publications as Conde Naste and the Travel Channel . The project homes begin at the shoreline and are terraced up a gentle slope. The residences are com- prised of just 84 three and four-bedroom fee simple condominiums, grouped into four intimate low-rise structures. Ranging from approximately 3,000 3 4,300 square feet including approximately 600 3 1,150 square feet of lanai, these luxury homes have striking ocean, moun- tain and uninterrupted neighbor island views of Lana 8i and Moloka 8i. Prices begin at approximately $3,900,000. The Residences at Kapalua Bay will be managed by The Ritz-Carlton , and are located on 24 oceanfront acres within the Kapalua Resort. Also working on the project is Lite Electric contract- ed for the landscape lighting, and American Electric contracted for the air conditioning controls work. Ray Shimabuku Maui Business Representative Top: Jim Bouhuys, Bill Ratliffe Sr., Bill Ratliffe Jr., Wade Burgeson, Mark Devereaux, Jesse Williams, Scott Matison, Gene Kaniaupio, Mike Arista, Manny Martinez, and Andy Idian; Bottom: aerial view of the project in progress. IBEW Donates To Aiea School After Burglary Union Pays It Forward & Recycles Students' Hopes Left to right: Custodians Andres Juan and Imelda Aquino, brother Dennis Kaloi and brother Donn dela Cruz, Vice Principal Keith Hui, and Educational Assistant Karen Guerreiro. 6 Pension & Annuity Funds Ride Out The Recession As mentioned in recent Union meetings and issues of IBEW Hawaii , the stock markets have been severe- ly impacted by the financial industry crisis. As the troubles for financial com- panies continue, the effects have now spread all the way down to the consum- ers. Companies are now facing the challenge of meeting payroll, making loan payments, and purchasing inven- tory. Banks are tightening their lending policies which place further stress on a company 9s cash flow. The crisis has even hit home here in Hawaii as several well known companies have recently closed or have filed for bankruptcy pro- tection. As nearly everyone expected, the National Bureau of Economic Research , a group of academic econo- mists, concluded that the country has been suffering through a recession since December 2007. Clobbered by job losses, hard-to-get credit and hits to their wealth from sinking home values and plunging portfolio investments, con- Hawaii Electricians Administrative Office sumers have cut back sharply on their spending. Against that backdrop, many economists believe the current reces- sion will be the worst since the 1981-82 downturn. Watching customers 9 appe- tites wane, employers have throttled back on hiring. The unemployment rate in October zoomed to 6.5 percent, a 14- year high. So far this year, 1.2 million positions have disappeared. The job- less rate is likely to climb to 8 percent or higher next year. To help ease the pain, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said additional interest-rate cuts are ccer- tainly feasible, d but he warned there are limits to how much such action would revive the economy, which is likely to stay mired in weakness well into next year. (from the Associated Press ) The Federal Government has taken action to help the economy and confidence in our financial system. This includes invest- ing in banks, increasing FDIC insur- ance, and taking measures to stabilize the mortgage markets. Other govern- ments have coordinated monetary pol- icy to reduce the stress in the finan- cial markets. The economic downturn has negatively affected the investment performance of the Hawaii Electricians Pension and Annuity Funds which are partially invested in the stock mar- ket for the long term. Both Funds are going through their annual Independent Audit review for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008. Both Funds are projected to have approximately -11% to -12% of investment losses for the fis- cal year. On a positive note, both Funds have performed well in comparison to other multi-employer retirement funds. Against a universe of multi-employer defined benefit plans, the Pension and Annuity Funds are at or near the first quartile for the three and five year peri- ods ended September 30, 2008. This means that our Funds are outperform- ing approximately 75% of similar type retirement funds. Although we are in tough economic times, you can be reas- sured that the Trustees, with help from the Fund 9s investment consultants have taken many steps to preserve the assets of the Pension and Annuity Funds. In time, the US economy will ride out this storm. As in the past, the stock mar- kets have usually improved before the economy fully recovers. Apprentice Textbook Loan Program NEED FINANCING FOR YOUR APPRENTICE TEXT BOOKS ? WANT TO KEEP YOUR CASH FOR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING ? The Local Union 1186 IBEW Federal Credit Union is proud to introduce the Apprentice Text Book Loan Program PURPOSE : To Purchase APPRENTICE TEXT BOOKS AMOUNT : Cost of Books RATE : 6.00% TERMS : 6 months or 12 months (Same rate, you decide the term) REQUIREMENTS : " Must be a credit union member. To open an account the initial deposit is $100.25. " Check for books will be issued to the Hawaii Electricians Training Fund. " Payroll deduction required for loan payment. You are responsible to set up a Credit Union deduction with your employer. " Applications are subject to approval by the Credit Committee. For more details, please call the credit union office at 848-1599; or toll-free from the neighbor islands at 1-800-622-3830, ext. 237. 7 KEEP INFORMED BY E-MAIL Sign Up for the Union E-mail List to receive alerts, updates, notifications, and opportunities to get involve d. Send your E-mail address to: IBEW1186@hawaii.rr.com E-Mail Your Daily Progress Reports (DPR) To Training Department as Attachments to: HETF1186@HEAO.US.COM Reminder: All DPRs must be sent to the Training Office no later than the 10th of the month. Please keep records of when you sent your e-mail or give us a call. Can a 3-phase 480 volt delta system be paralleled to a 3-phase 480 volt Y sys- tem? TECH TALK Answer: No. Because the vector relationship of the Delta System and the Y-System are 30 degrees out-of-phase. sistersinthebuildingtrades.org nawic.org H igh school students are notorious for not knowing what to do with their lives or even just after they graduate from school. It often helps to hear about some success stories from people who were once in their position and undecided about their careers. Transition Hawaii , a career education magazine for high school students in Hawaii, recently profiled Local 1186 journeyman electri- cian Lance Kawada after calling IBEW Training Coordinator Robert Aquino looking for interesting candidates to interview. Transition Hawaii helps make classroom educa- tion relevant in the lives of Hawaii 9s young adults by featuring real people who pursued and realized their goals and dreams. The magazine hopes to provide a bridge for stu- dents transferring from high IBEW Electrician Featured In Career Magazine Lance Kawada Shares His Journey To Journeyman school into higher education; and subsequently into the professions. It stresses the importance of post-secondary school education of all types, and guides students and career seekers to resources that are available through schools and other organizations. Their Career Pathways program allows students to share in the journey to achieve success in a career. Brother Kawada described to Transition Hawaii his experience in the Wireperson Apprenticeship Training Program offered by IBEW Local Union 1186. Since 2002, the program's signatory contractors paid Lance an hourly wage while train- ing him as an electrician in the classroom and on the jobsite. cWe get paid well, but it 9s not about the money for me, d said broth- er Kawada. cI chose this career because I know that my end product is going to last, and others are going to benefit from something I created. d Today, Lance is a tradesman working for A-1 A-lectrician Inc . The 28-year-old is currently classified as a journeyman electrician, because he has accumulated 10,000 hours and passed the state 9s electri- cian licensing exam. LOCAL UNION 1186, IBEW 1935 Hau Street, Room 401 Honolulu, Hawaii 96819 Staying Connected IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS LU 1186, IBEW Office Honolulu . . . . . . . . . . . . . 847-5341 Hilo Office . . . . . . . . . . . . 961-6444 Maui Office . . . . . . . . . . . 244-8002 Kauai Office . . . . . . . . . . . 645-0968 Hawaii Electricians Administrative Office . . . 841-6169 Health & Welfare, Pension, Annuity, SUB, Vacation & Holiday, General Education, Prepaid Legal Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 847-0629 Credit Union. . . . . . . . . . . . . 848-1599 * Neighbor Islands call toll-free 1-800-622-3830 Attention: In our effort to keep our members well informed, we would appreciate your cooperation in notifying us of any change of address. Please call the Union Office at 847-5341 to report any change. * 12/08 JANUARY OAHU MEETINGS WEDNESDAY Unit 2 Executive Committee Room 202 5:00 p.m. WEDNESDAY Unit 2 Membership (Federal Sector) Room 202 5:30 p.m. THURSDAY Unit 1 Executive Committee Room 202 4:30 p.m. THURSDAY Unit 1 Membership (Private Ind.) Room 202 5:00 p.m. WEDNESDAY LU 1186 Executive Board Fifth Floor 4:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY LU 1186 General Membership Room 202 6:00 p.m. FEBRUARY OAHU MEETINGS WEDNESDAY Unit 2 Executive Committee Room 202 5:00 p.m. WEDNESDAY Unit 2 Membership (Federal Sector) Room 202 5:30 p.m. THURSDAY Unit 1 Executive Committee Room 202 4:30 p.m. THURSDAY Unit 1 Membership (Private Ind.) Room 202 5:00 p.m. 7 4 4 WEDNESDAY LU 1186 Executive Board Fifth Floor 4:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY LU 1186 General Membership Room 202 6:00 p.m. 8 12 12 IN MEMORIAM Our deepest sympathies and condolences are conveyed to the families of the following members who recently passed away: Takao Ide " Herbert S. Oki www.hawaiielectricians.com 21 7 21 18 18 8 Nonprofit Organization US Postage PAID Honolulu, Hawaii Permit No. 719 Welcome Our Newly Organized IBEW Company " Electrical Control Innovations LLC EXCESS DUES WITHDRAWALS REVISED HOLIDAY SCHEDULE: Amended process for the upcoming holidays are as follows: Christmas : Office open all day on Wednesday, December 24, and closed all day Thursday, December 25 and Friday, December 26, 2008. 1. Check request cut-off time is Friday, December 19, 2008 before 4:00 p.m. 2. Checks will be ready for pick-up on Wednesday, December 24 after 7:30 a.m. New Years : Office open all day on Wednesday, December 31, and closed all day Thursday, January 1 and Friday, January 2, 2009. 1. Check request cut-off time is Wednesday, December 24, 2008 before 4:00 p.m. 2. Checks will be ready for pick-up on Wednesday, December 31 after 7:30 a.m. NOTE : On holidays that fall on Mondays, the check request cut-off time is 12:00 Noon on the Friday before the holiday. Checks will be ready for pick-up on the Thursday following the holiday. If you have any ques- tions, please feel free to contact the office at 847-5341.

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