November 6, 2014
By Chris Erikson Jr.
IBEW Local 3 Youth Committee Chair
New York, NY – Over 100 members of IBEW Local 3 recently fanned out across the five boroughs as part of the union’s nationwide “Day of Action” aimed at harnessing the spirit of volunteerism, and instilling union pride in the next generation of union electricians.
Members of Local 3’s Youth Committee and affiliated clubs tackled eight clean up projects around town. The day's work began in the community of Electchester near Local 3's union hall in Flushing, Queens. Members of the Electrical Welfare Club replaced a number of light fixtures in the meeting room of local Boy Scout Troop 357, while four members of the Allied Club of Queens volunteered at the AABR school in Jamaica where they supplied the school’s music and computer rooms with some extra power. AABR is one of the Allied Club’s charities that helps children and adults with development disabilities.
In Brooklyn, members of the Bedsole Kingsboro Club went to Kaiser Park in Coney Island for a special clean up detail that was sponsored by the Coney Island Memorial Funeral Home.
An overgrown lot belonging to the parish of St. Joseph – St. Thomas on Staten Island, also got a much needed makeover when more than 15 members of the Staten Island Electrical Club rolled up their sleeves and went to work clearing the scrub.
A similar group from the Colony Club and Catholic Council of Electrical Workers visited the Church of Holy Innocents in Midtown and set about painting, sweeping, and making necessary repairs. Over 30 members of the Lewis H. Latimer Progressive Association also teamed up with New York State Senator Bill Perkins [D-30th District], the Marcus Garvey Park Alliance, and the NYC Parks Department, to plant over 3000 daffodil bulbs that will bloom come springtime.
In the Bronx, fifteen members of the Westchester Mechanics Association helped spruce up American Legion Post 620, while ten brothers and sisters from the Bronx Acorn Club helped install new field lights so that the Throgs Neck Little League can keep playing ball after dusk.
IBEW’s “Day of Action” was a success largely because of the spirited participation of active Local 3 members – both young and seasoned brothers and sisters alike. Local 3's Youth Committee continues to help grow the labor movement with a new generation of workers. It is also through community service projects like this that our reputation in NYC as helpful and caring union workers ready to help our communities is reinforced and grows.
