NEWBURGH- More than 200 union electricians from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 363 lined Route 17K in the Town of Newburgh on Wednesday afternoon to rally against a warehouse project that has awarded an electrical contract to a non-union, out of the area company.
The union members held signs that read “Local jobs gone, local wages undermined” and “We live here, you don’t,” as drivers who passed the rally honked their horns in support.
Shenita Hannon, a fifth year apprentice from Middletown, was one of the members who attended the rally. Hannon, who served eight years in the Army prior to joining IBEW Local 363, said that in addition to preserving local jobs, quality of work is important.
“I am here to support both superior work and fair wages,” said Hannon. “I am here because we must uphold the highest standards of workmanship and pay.”
Sam Fratto, business manager of IBEW Local 363 organized the rally. “The general contractor, CMC, would not accept bids from local electrical companies,” said Fratto. “We never had a shot, and they awarded the work to Panko Electric out of Binghamton because they were the cheapest. We are here today because we can’t allow local jobs to be filled by out-of-area labor.”
Fratto spoke about the greater impact out of area labor has on the union. Local 363’s apprenticeship program, which is run at their training center in Harriman, has been where many obtained their training to become licensed electricians through its department of labor certified curriculum.
“When we don’t even have the opportunity on projects like this, it means fewer apprentices and opportunities for people who live here,” said Fratto. “When local jobs are sent away, it makes it more difficult for our members to support their families, and for our organization to support it’s training center for the benefit of future electricians.”
Zecharia Flores from Poughkeepsie, who has been with the union for four years, said there is a substantial difference between working as a union electrician, and a non-union electrician. Prior to his time with Local 363, Flores worked for a company that often didn’t pay him overtime. He also said that he made significantly less working for his prior employer.
Beacon resident and new apprentice John Cohen also had experience in the construction industry prior to joining the union. After his time in the Coast Guard, Cohen worked several construction jobs, but left for Local 363 for a better wage and working conditions. “I can tell you this, nobody here makes me climb a broken ladder,” said Cohen.
Fratto hopes that today’s rally will send a message to the developer, the general contractor, and the electrical contractor and that they will be willing to sign a contract to allow local union electricians to work on the job.
