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Meet Local 15 Stewards

Donna Raschke, Rockford Clerical Chief Steward

I was hired at ComEd in March 1991 when I was 19 years old and started in the Rockford office as a Junior Clerk. After 2 weeks, I accepted a promotion to GCIII at the Byron Nuclear Plant and was released and passed N-GET all within the first 30 days of employment. In the summer of 1997, I applied to become a Union Steward because I saw many opportunities and wanted to be involved. I eventually promoted to Chief Steward and stayed working at Byron until 2002. Unfortunately, I was in a group of employees that was laid-off. Knowing full well I shouldn’t have been, it was out of my control and the Union fought for the rights of many of us. It was a rough 4 years, but I was re-hired, back at Byron and worked as an OSS for over 20 years total. I promoted to the OPIII, Plant Timekeeper position before accepting a GSR position in Rockford in 2015.

In 2008, I was asked by the Local to represent Byron Station on the MBA Full Board and I have been the MBA vice-president for a few years now. It’s a great benefit and I’m glad my brothers and sisters guided me to join right from the beginning of my career, you never know when you’ll need it.

I have represented the Union at a couple of different conferences and always felt it was an honor. Sisters in Solidarity!

If it’s a union issue or a question about our work, I’m here to do my best and will always try to support you!


Russ "Rudy" Ruettiger, Braidwood Station Chief Steward


Russ “Rudy” Ruettiger began his career on July 11, 1988, at Braidwood Station as a Station Labor. As of today, Rudy has more than 35 years of being an IBEW member. He worked as a Station Labor until he accepted the “B” Fuel Handler position in September of 1989. Rudy worked his way up to “A” Fuel Handler in June of 1991 and promoted to Senior Fuel handler in 2002. It was in the mid ninety’s that Rudy initially decided to become a steward. He filled this role until he became a chief in April 2001 where he stayed until stepping away in 2002. It was after a short break that he decided to return and serve his brothers and sisters as a steward again in 2005. Rudy filled this position until January 2013 when he accepted the Fuel Handling Chief Steward position that represents all the L15 represented nuclear plants. Brother Ruettiger has also honorably served Local 15 as the Nuclear At Large executive board member from 2016 to present. Russ lives in Channahon where he has been married to his bride for 32 years. Together they have 3 children and 1 grandchild. While he enjoys golfing and softball, the time spent with his family is the most important to him.



Jason Grable, Rockford Overhead Lineman Chief Steward




Hired 3/22/2004 - Meter Reader

8/2006 - Started OVHD Basic School

8/2006-11/2008 - OVHD Apprenticeship Belvidere

11/2008 - Graduated 3Phase Line School

11/2008-2/2015 - OVHD Lineman Glenbard

2/2015-Current - OVHD Lineman Rockford

2009-2015 - Glenbard OVHD Safety Committee Rep

2013-2015 - East Central Safety Committee Chairperson

2010-2015 - Glenbard OVHD BAPP Steering Committee

2010-2015 - Glenbard OVHD United Way Rep

5/2019 - Attended IBEW Safety Conference Kansas City

2015-2020 - Rockford OVHD Safety Committee Rep

2017-2020 - Rockford OVHD Steward

2020-Current - Rockford OVHD Chief Steward

3/2020 - Attended BAPP Safety In Action Conference Nashville,TN

11/2021 - University of Illinois Arbitration Institute

9/2022 - Attended Utility Workers Coalition (Madison, WI)

2015-Current - Rockford OVHD BAPP Steering Committee

14 Year BAPP Member


Chris Riser
President / Business Manager / Financial Secretary
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Ben Busser
Vice President / Senior Assistant Business Manager

IBEW LOCAL 15 | 6330 Belmont Road,  Suite 1 | Downers Grove,  IL 60516

Union Office - (630) 515-0381 | Union Fax - (630) 515-0835

© 2025 by IBEW Local 15 - All Rights Reserved

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