Sisters and Brothers, it has been a few months since my last Conduit article due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. I hope all active members, retirees and all family members are doing ok during these difficult times. This country has now changed forever. When this pandemic is over, this country will come out of it better and stronger than before. The history of this country has always proven this to be true.
The Local Union has fared very well through this pandemic. At the beginning of the pandemic, when Governor Cuomo shutdown non-essential construction projects, we had over 200 layoffs. Within a week of all these layoffs the Army Corps of Engineers decided to build two temporary hospitals; one at SUNY Old Westbury and one at SUNY Stony Brook. These two projects took a total of 517 IBEW members 4 weeks, with over 300 travelers coming from all over the country. It was a huge undertaking, dispatching that much manpower in such a short time, especially with not having all the travelers come to the hall to sign the book in person due to the pandemic. The secretaries, Business Agents, President and I worked Saturdays and Sundays answering the phones and making calls to get all these members dispatched in such a short duration. I just want to thank all the members who worked on these projects. A true hero is someone who puts their safety and lives in jeopardy to help and save others. And that is what all of you who worked on these projects did when you took these jobs to help your fellow Long Islanders.
Employment is still very good with full employment and travelers starting to go out to work again. The rest of the year should be very good pending anymore Coronavirus shutdowns.
Renovations to the hall are still underway. The outside facade is done. The outside of the building is painted and a new neon sign was installed on the building. We still have to do the roof and some brick work. We will also be installing new LED wall wash lighting on the outside of the building. We have been in this building for 28 years and the building needed some major repairs. By the end of the summer, the building will look brand new.
We just had our elections in June, and it went pretty well considering what has been going on with the Coronavirus and having to follow all the CDC guidelines. I would like to thank Dennis Shay, our Election Judge, and all the Tellers for doing a great job. I would like to congratulate all the newly elected Officers and I look forward to working with all of you over the next three years.
In ending, I would like to thank the membership for having the confidence in me to be your Business Manager and to run this Local Union for the next three years.
Brothers and Sisters, that ends my report for this article of the Conduit. Remember to shut off energized circuits and always stick together out there. IN UNITY THERE IS STRENGTH!