Business Manager, Michael Grassy

Health Insurance and Wage Raise Allocations Currently $0.20 of our Health & Welfare hourly contribution goes to the Health & Welfare fund

reserve. This reserve helps ensure that we have enough assets to fund our insurance regardless of economic times or unforeseen changes in the cost of healthcare. On June 1st, this contribution will change to $0.30. The net effect is that we will want to allocate at least $0.10 more to Health & Welfare in order to keep the dollar bank contribution the same. The hall will calculate some usual allocation choices, including this $0.10 increase. If you have a specific allocation that you would like to propose, please let Maggie know by May 1st so we can include it with the proposed

changes. The wage increases are as follows: Inside $1.85 VDV $1.85 Residential $1.89

For our newer members, we vote on how raises are allocated in the month before they take effect. The members decide what portion of each raise actually goes on the check, is allotted to health insurance premiums (Health & Welfare), allotted to flex account, and local annuity if applicable. Each raise allocation is only voted on by the members that are actually affected.

Mail Ballot Election Over the past year, there has been discussion as to the whether we should change our local election process to a mail ballot system. At the May 2018 membership meeting, we will poll the membership for their preference. If the majority has a desire to change, we will propose the appropriate bylaw change to then be voted on at the June 2018 membership meeting.

SPARKIE SENTINEL IBEW LOCAL #159

MAY 2018

2

Organizers Report, Casey Healy

Organizing is the local’s tool to gain market share. Market share is the percentage of work hours performed by the union local compared to the non-union. Organizing workers especially key journeymen and foremen takes work away from the open shops and makes it difficult for them to bid future work. We need to embrace and encourage each other to be organizers by promoting the values of the IBEW to the unrepresented workers and open shops. When we stand united and work toward a common goal that’s solidarity.

If you know somebody that is working for a non-union electrical

shop talk with them and explain what the union has to offer, higher wages, health care, pensions, long and short term disability, life insurance, dental and flex account.

When you are on a jobsite that has non-union electrical or low voltage technicians working, give me a call and let me know where the job is. This presents a great opportunity for yourself

and the local to engage in conversation with these workers about the benefits of being an IBEW 159 member.

May’s monthly membership meeting is wage allocation voting. All members that are current with their dues have the ability to vote on their wage package. In all three classification, Inside, VDV, and Residential the minimum increase is $1.85. Show up to vote, don’t let someone else decide were your money goes.

United we stand - Divided we fall,

Casey Healy Office: (608)255-2989 ~ Cell: (608)515-3552 ~ Email: chealy@ibew159.org

Referral Agent, Kevin Buntrock

Hello Brothers and Sisters,

The work picture looks great here at home for 2018! • Electric Construction Inc. has the new Pardeeville School and should

need some manpower this summer. • H&H Electric has the Lodi School, and Witte Hall in Madison and will

need some manpower this summer. • Nickles Electric has been putting in a few calls for the Summit Credit

Union project in Cottage Grove. • Morse Electric has been putting in a few calls lately for the Epic project.

• Van Ert Electric has a nice size project in Cambria, WI. Calls should start coming in late May for this job; some overtime is expected on this 4 to 6 Month project.

The 59th annual bean feed is May 23rd at the labor temple, tickets are available at the union hall.

Thank you,

Kevin Buntrock Office: (608)255-2989 Ext. 114 ~ Cell: (608)334-6224 ~ Email: kbuntrock@ibew159.org

INSIDE

Book I – 43

Book II – 15

RESIDENTIAL

Book I – 0

Book II – 0

VDV

Book I – 4

Book II – 2

Book III - 6

3

Maggie Freespirit, Business Agent

Hello Union Sisters and Brothers,

The Prudential Retirement Seminar on Thursday, March 29 was well attended by over 60 people. Art Bishop from the Wisconsin Electrical Employees Benefit Fund office was there, along with a representative from Prudential, who handles our retirement accounts. There was a lot of useful information presented. I would appreciate it if those who attended would give me feedback on what they found useful, what they did not, and any other information they would like to have

so this office can make it an even better presentation next time. Also, if you have suggestions for classes that you would

like to attend, whether they are financial, work related,

continuing education, etc. Let me know and I will try

to make them a reality.

Newsletter: If you receive the newsletter by email and would like to have it also mailed to you, let the office know. Conversely, if you are getting the newsletter mailed to you and would like to receive it only by email, let the office know.

Golf Outing: The golf outing is scheduled for Saturday, September 29, at the Bridges Golf Course with an 8:30am shotgun start. You can call the hall to sign up to volunteer and/or participate. More details will follow as they get worked out.

IBEW Day at the Mallards: This will be on Saturday, June 30 in the Duck Blind. The game starts at 6:05 PM against the Green Bay Bullfrogs. Each member can have up to four tickets – call the hall to sign up. Specify how many tickets you want with beer, and how many with soda. The Mallards will reserve an area in the Duck Blind for our group. The deadline to sign up is Thursday, June 25th at 4:30 PM.

Death Benefit Count: Several members have asked that the death benefit amount be posted in the newsletter. As of this writing, we are on death benefit number 249. We are waiting on 2 Death Certificates and then the count will go up by 2.

Enjoy the spring weather.

Thank You,

Maggie Freespirit Office: (608)255-2989 Ext. 119 ~ Cell: (608)338-9075 ~ Email: mfreespirit@ibew159.org

WOMEN’S COMMITTEE

We are working on getting the women’s committee up and

running again! Please plan to attend our next meeting at the

Labor Temple on Wednesday, May 16th, 2018 @ 4pm

4

Douglas Coddington Nicholas Slusher David Morris

Nicholas Bozacki Cole Wilkinson Nicholas DiCristina

Marcus Genrich Kayla Muhs Jeremy Levingston-Gross

Ethan Lange Matthew Ruhland Justin Collins

Dylan LeMoine Austin Johnson Tanner Boehnen

Austin Shrader Justin Anthes Ryan Golich

Branden Holt Connor Peters Karli Springer

Christian Gutierrez Levi McKenzie Tyler Kind

Jackson Rindy

APRIL - WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Herb Spradlin Ian Robertson Nicholas GrunkeDavid Kleifgen Connor Hosking Justin BestAlexander Grunke Matthew Ruhland Connor Peters Chad Davis Hunter Capadona David Cates

Alexander Manion Jonathan Yeadon John Stewart Stuart Schwartz Tammy Hollman Trenton Ott Mitchell Johnson Micah Tysk Peter Gundeck

Jeremy Levingston-Gross

5

Education Corner

Greetings Brothers and Sisters,

So as we hinted, classes are all but completed for the 2017-2018 school year. Thank you to all the instructors for all their hard work. As usual, throughout the year there were many changes and our Instructor team really came together! I look forward to next year. There may be some opportunities for members to help with building Labs at our Training Center throughout the summer. If you are interested let Maggie know at the Hall and she will direct you.

On another note, there has been some confusion on when classes at the Training Center will be canceled due to weather. If MATC Madison closes due to weather,

then classes at the Training Center will be closed. This information will be available on TV (WKOW 27) and the Radio.

Respectfully Submitted, Jeremy Crabb

EWMC Brothers and Sisters,

LU 159 is currently in the process of creating its own chapter of the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus (EWMC).

The mission of EWMC is: 1. Promote equal opportunity and employment for minorities at all levels of the IBEW structure;2. Foster leadership development and empower minorities to become active participants and

leaders in the IBEW;3. Assist IBEW minority members who have discrimination complaints;

4. Promote, support and assist the organizing of minority workers in the IBEW;5. Encourage minority workers to be greater activists in community and political affairs; and6. Be actively involved in AFL-CIO Constituency Groups, human, civil, and women’s rights

organizations to advance the cause of minority workers.

Membership is open to all who are in good standing with LU 159 and EWMC National. To learn more, visit www.ibew-ewmc.com For more information and a schedule of upcoming planning meetings, email

baxter.pablo@gmail.com

In solidarity,

Pablo Baxter

6

MAY BIRTHDAYS DUSTIN ACKER CLAYTON HAYES TERRENCE RIECK

JOHN ADAMS TIMOTHY HERBSLEB ROBERT RYAN

PATRICK ALLEN KENNETH HILLEBRAND JOHN RYAN

KEITH ATTLESON JOHN HOLLER MITCHELL RYMAROWICZ

JOSHUA AUSTIN CARMON HOWE VINCENT SCHAAF

ERIK BADE ROBERT HUMPHREY RICHARD SCHLAGENHAFT

PABLO BAXTER TIMOTHY JOHNSON JOHN SCHMIDT

CURTIS BELTER RYAN JOHNSON WILLIAM SCHRACK

JAMES BINGER RICHARD JONES MICHAEL SCHUETZ

KELLEN BLETSCH GERALD KALSCHEUR JASON SCHULTZ

TIMOTHY BOETTCHER DONALD KEMPFER ANDREW SCHWARTZ

NIKOLAS BOLIN TREVER KLEIN JONATHAN SEYMOUR

DAVID BORN DAVID KREY CODY SLAMA

RANDY BYRNE RYAN KRUEGER ANDREW SLETTEN

GORDON CASEY TERRANCE KRUSER SHANE SPARKS

TAYLOR CAYGILL TRAVIS KUJAWA JEFFERY STACY

TROY COFFEY GREGORY KURTH ANNE SWARTZ

STEVEN COLLYARD KENNETH LARSEN ANDREW TOLLEFSON

THOMAS CONNERY RAYMOND LEFEBVRE WAYNE TOMLINSON

CHRISTOPHER COTTON DONALD LEONARD BRIAN TRUJILLO

JEREMY CRABB WILBERT LIEGEL JASON TRUMPY

JORDAN DAUMAN DAVID LUDWIG NATHAN TUGGLE

KENNETH DEUBEL THOMAS MCCAULEY TIMOTHY VIERUS

KIRK EILENFELDT CHAD MECKLEY JARED VOS

BRYAN FIELDS CODY MECKLEY CATLIN WADDELL

GARY GANDER REED MILLER RICHARD WARREN

SCOTT GERRY FREDRICK MOLL FRITZ WESTPHAL

TIM GONZALES BRIAN MURPHY JOHN WHITMAN

KENNETH GOSS DONDI NELSON STEVEN WICKERSHAM

MICHAEL GRASSY JACK ORELLA HEATHER WIPPERFURTH

ELLIOTT GREGG MATTHEW PARKS DAN WOLFF

DAREN GUNDERSON JOSEPH PESTA GLEN WOLFGRAM

TRAVIS HAAG ERIC PETERSON ANDREW YAHN

JIM HAAK MASON PLUIM JUSTIN YOUNG

CRAIG HARBORT CHRISTOPHER RATHERMEL DAVID ZADNICHEK

DENNIS HAVEY DAVID REIBLE KRISTINE ZWEIFEL

THOMAS RIECHMAN

The May birthstone, the Emerald is said to symbolize Success & Love

7

Retirees Club, Jim Virnig

Our April luncheon was at the Coliseum Club. It was well attended. We had twenty-seven members there. The Door Prize Winners were Sue Blue, Jim Virnig, Dave Krey, Bill Kracke, Howard Czoschke, Roy Holm, Dennis Strander, Tom Corcoran and Ken Frederick.

Our May luncheon will be at Rex's Innkeeper in Waunakee on Monday, May 14th 2018. Hope to see you there!

Fraternally, Jim Virnig

Obituary Thomas Rowley

STOUGHTON-Thomas J. Rowley, age 59, of Stoughton formerly of Monona, passed away on Tuesday,

April 17, 2018. He was born on July 14, 1958, in Madison, the son of Evelyn and Charles Rowley.

Thomas enjoyed spending time in the outdoors, hiking, hunting, shooting trap and playing softball. He

loved to laugh, tell stories and jokes, play cards, and travel. Thomas was known to partake in a Friday

night fish fry, theater, popcorn, Snickers and root beer. He was always willing to help others, was a loyal

friend and a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. Thomas took great pride in his work as a

craftsman and rose to a challenge, including running marathons. Thomas is survived by his wife, Lucia;

sons, Clint (Mary), and their son Ryan, Charlie and Tommy; siblings, Mary, Carla, Ann, Peggy, Jeff,

Gerald and Bob. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, April 21, 2018, at 11 a.m., at

GOOD SHEPHERD PARISH AT ST. JAMES CHURCH, 1128 St. James Court, Madison, with Monsignor

Thomas Baxter presiding. A luncheon will follow the Mass. Visitation will be held at the church on

Saturday morning at 9 a.m. until the time of the Mass. Burial will take place at Highland Memory

Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Carbone Cancer Center or Agrace Hospice

Care Center. Online condolences may be made to www.gundersonfh.com.

8

If you are 35 or younger, there is a RENEW committee which meets before the

meeting at the Labor Temple in Room 201 A&B. The RENEW committee is about developing friendships, doing well for the community, and building brotherhood among

IBEW members.

Brothers and Sisters,

help with the EWMC initiative and have sat down with Local 494's RENEW. From the talks with 494 we plan on teaming up with them in the near future.

We have locked in July 21st for the RENEW Chicken Shoot at Deerfield Road and Gun Club. The event will run 12 noon to 6pm. We will have both trap houses open with hunt and cover rounds and Annie Oaklies. Come out and join us!

I’d like to thank everyone that was crazy and motivated enough to join the Tough Mudder team this year. We have 10 members from local 388 and one from 481 joining us as well.

RENEW’s adopt a highway sign is up on Stoughton Rd between Milwaukee Street and Cottage Grove Road. Please excuse their misprint, we are getting that fixed. We will have a sign up to help clean the road soon.

Our first RENEW elections are coming up. Nominations will be next month and election in June. If you have come to three of the last six meetings come help us pick next year’s leadership for RENEW.

RENEW meetings are held upstairs at the Labor Temple at 4:30pm on the second Thursday of the month. If you have any questions or would like to get involved email me at renew@ibew159.org.

In Brotherhood,

Cam Knuteson RENEW 159 Chairman

1. In ancient Rome, priests of Vulcan followed a custom on May 1st. What was it? 2. The Empire State building first opened on May 1st. Which year was it? 3. In May, Mother's Day is celebrated on a Monday. Which Monday is it celebrated on?

4. Kentucky Derby takes place on a Saturday in May. Which one is it? 5. One of the classic rock songs has a line, "It's just a spring clean for the May Queen". Name the song. 6. How many U.S. Presidents have died in this month? 7. How many U.S. Presidents were born in this month? 8. Which Roman poet said, "Bad girls wed in May"?

9. Complete this famous superstition. "Marry in May and you'll ..." 10. According to a superstition, on May 1st, young girls used to do something immediately after waking up, what was it?

ANSWERS: 1. They sacrificed a pregnant sow on May 1, every year.

2. 1931 3. It is celebrated on the Second Monday of May.

4. It takes place on the first Saturday of May. 5. "Stairway to Heaven" sung by Led Zeppelin.

6. None of them have died in May. 7. Two. Harry S. Truman and John F. Kennedy.

8. A Roman poet named "Ovid". 9. "Marry in May and you'll rue the day." 10. They used to rush out in the garden to wash their faces in the May dew.

The last month for RENEW has been another successful one. We've been reaching out to other locals to

9

CLASS: Arc-Fault/Short Circuit/Selective

Coordination 4:30pm-7:30pm

RETIREE LUNCHEON 11:30am

5th Quarter - Verona

Daylight Savings Time

!!SPRING FORWARD!!

CLASS: Electrician Prep

Exam (Section B) 4:30pm-7:30pm

EXECUTIVE MEETING:

Local 159 Labor Hall

4:30pm

UNION MEETING: Labor Temple 1602 S Park St

5:30pm

RENEW MEETING: Labor Temple

4:30pm

PLEASE SEE: Additional

Save The

Dates on the

next page!

* LaborTemple

1602 S Park St Madison, WI

CLASS: Fiber Optic Cable

Splicing 4:30pm-7:30pm

WOMEN’s COMMITTEE MEETING:

Labor Temple Bar 1602 S Park St

4pm

2018

CLASS: Electrician Prep

Exam (Section B) 4:30pm-7:30pm

CLASS: Firestopping

Requirements 4:30pm-7:30pm

CLASS: Arc-Fault/Short Circuit/Selective

Coordination 4:30pm-7:30pm

RETIREE LUNCHEON

At Rex’s Innkeeper in Waunakee, WI

11:30am

CLASS: Electrician Prep

Exam (Section B) 4:30pm-7:30pm

Local 159 Union Hall open

until 7pm

10

Additional Save the Dates - (OTC = Page 9, On Calendar)

❖ OTC - Late Night at the Union Hall: Open until 7:00pm: Wednesday, May 2nd

❖ OTC - Union Meeting: Thursday, May 10th, 5:30pm at the Labor Temple, 1602 S. Park St, Madison

❖ OTC - RENEW Meeting: Thursday, May 10th, 4:30pm at the Labor Temple, 1602 S Park St, Madison

❖ OTC - Retiree Luncheon: Monday, May 14th, 11:30am at

❖ OTC – Women Committee Meeting: Wednesday, May 16th, 4pm at the Labor Temple, 1602 S Park

St, Madison

❖ OTC - Executive Meeting: 4:30pm Tuesday May 29th at Local 159 Labor Hall

❖ Take a Kid Fishing Day: Saturday, June 2nd at Tenney Park, 9:00 – 11:30am.

❖ IBEW Day at the Mallards: Saturday, June 30th. Game time: 6:05pm. Deadline to sign up: June 25th

❖ RENEW’s Chicken Shoot: Saturday, July 21st - 12pm-6pm at the Deerfield Rod & Gun Club

❖ RENEW’s Tough Mudder Competition: Saturday, September 8

❖ Golf Outing: September 29th, Bridges Golf Course

Office/Admin What YOU need to KNOW

All Members please remember to update your Member paperwork

periodically! It is very important to keep your IBEW Member

paperwork updated at the Local Union 159 Hall. For example, when you

have a change in your life (marriage, divorce, death of a spouse or listed

beneficiary, etc.) it is important to come in and update those forms. So

that in the event that something were to happen to you, your pension(s) and benefits would go to the

right person. You may think that this is never an issue you will have to face, but we have seen it

happen where someone did not update their forms and it ended up causing more harm than good

during an already difficult time. Specific Forms that should be updated are:

• Beneficiary Designation Form

• In Case of Emergency Form

• Member Master

Thank You,

Lamarra Everson Office: (608)255-2989 Ext. 110 ~ Email: leverson@ibew159.org

11

* MONTHLY DUES (effective 1/1/2018) *

$18.00 IBEW Pension

$19.00 Due to IBEW General Fund

$ 1.75 Local 159 Dues

$38.75 Total

1st Quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) Pay by December 31st

2nd Quarter (Apr/May/June) Pay by March 31st

3rd Quarter (July/Aug/Sept) Pay by June 30th

4th Quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) Pay by September 30th

Death benefits are assessed for any active or retired member who passes away. Active members pay $1.00 for each death benefit. This is also a

benefit for all #159 active and retired members. We are currently on death

benefit #249. If you currently have your union dues set up on auto

pay with your bank, make sure you are sending $38.75 each month.

Remember to check on death benefits. We accept checks, cash (in person), debit/credit cards (in person or by phone during business hours) and money

orders.

DUES NOT PAID IN A TIMELY MANNER MAY CAUSE THE

LOSS OF SOME OR ALL BENEFITS.

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY DUES TIMELY. IBEW #159 IS

NOT REQUIRED TO SEND OUT BILLING STATEMENTS

IBEW LOCAL 159

4903 COMMERCE COURT

MCFARLAND WI 53558 608-255-2989 www.ibew159.org

Follow us on Instagram at ibewlocal159 or like us on Facebook

12

Find breaking news & information at the Local 159 Facebook page

facebook.com/IBEWLocal159

Contacts

Local 159 Office (608) 255-2989, office@ibew159.org

Apprenticeship Office (608) 221-3321, wijatc.org

Department of Safety & Professional Services (DSPS)(licensing) (608) 266-2112, dsps.wi.gov

WEEBF, Health Insurance & Benefits (608) 276-9111, weebf.org

(Wisconsin Electrical Employees Benefits Fund) or (800) 422-2128

Office open late, First Wednesday of every month, until 7:00 p.m.

Retirement Luncheon, Second Monday of every month at 11:30, location varies.

Union Meeting, Second Thursday of every month, Madison Labor Temple, 5:30 p.m.

Renew Meeting, Second Thursday of every month, Madison Labor Temple at 4:30 p.m.

Executive Meeting – Fourth Monday of every month, Union Hall at 4:30 p.m.

4903 Commerce Court

McFarland, WI 53558

IBEW LOCAL 159

MILWAUKEE • MADISON WI

Prsrt StdU.S. PostagePAID

Madison, WIPermit No. 168