President’s Message — July 2020

Brothers and Sisters,

I hope all of you and your families are continuing to be safe and healthy. What challenging times we are living in and working in. Here we are all impacted with a situation that is unprecedented. No indoor gatherings, sterilization protocols, personal protection equipment, temperature checks, self-quarantining, drive-through virus tests, on and on and on! With all this taking place, know this…All the administrative functions of your union DO NOT STOP! When the state shutdown the schooling systems, the local immediately moved forward with setting up virtual classes and small group skill improvement wherever we can legally (and safely) do so. If a health benefit needs to be added or altered, your business manager is calling and enacting that change. Benefit hours still need to be recorded, reported and with the modified work environment of “work from home” everything must continue to flow. The local’s chief objective is to protect and serve the members needs and keep moving as smoothly as possible. Communication (now more than ever) must be maintained and broadened to compensate for those areas that have diminished or shutdown altogether. There are over 11,000 members in this local. The work picture is still strong. Providing our members the best options to promote “a good day’s work for a good day’s pay” is constantly on our minds and I believe we are all doing our parts very well! Thank you for the privilege to serve.

Sincerely and in Solidarity,

Gaylord “Rusty” Roten
IBEW Local 11