On October 25th through October 27th IBEW Local 15 sent 6 representatives to the Utility Workers Coalition in Madison, Wisconsin. This was the 28th Annual conference for the Utility Workers Coalition. Business Representatives Dave Grooms, Ben Busser & Brian Daniels were present at the conference as well as Chief Steward Heath Messman, Steward Jimmy Glidic and Steward Phil Gould. The Utility Workers Coalition consists of 14 Local Unions that represent utility and generation workers. Those Locals are from Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan and Missouri. The purpose of this coalition is to share information, educate our Locals and influence legislation and regulation as it pertains to the Utility industry. Speakers consisted of Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, Commission Chairperson Rebecca Cameron Valcq with the Wisconsin Public Service Commission and MISO representative Bob Kuzman. A local union representative from each state spoke on behalf of the political environment within their state as it relates to Utility and Generation Companies and their Union workforce. Business Representative Ben Busser spoke on SB2408 as the representative on the state by state panel on behalf of the
Illinois locals. Our representatives attended a breakout session on Generation, where all Locals discussed issues that their local unions are up against.