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Business Manager's Message

ALOHA & HAFA ADAI

I’m very happy to announce that our latest newsletter is now available - ONLINE! The January/February edition (along with past editions) can be found by clicking on “Newsletters” under “Latest News” on the menu bar above. Our mission to improve communication continues with our 3^rd bi-monthly edition in just our first few months in office. In addition to the newsletter, my staff and I have worked to maintain lines of communication with our members through phone calls, emails, texts, site visits, and of course, this website.

And we’re not done yet. Be sure to check back soon for more exciting announcements, as we look to take communication with our members to another level.

Brian F. Ahakuelo | Business Manager-Financial Secretary | IBEW Local 1260

BREAKING NEWS!!! A HUGE Victory for local 1260 members!

Imagine showing up for work one day to find out that almost one-third of your pay was going to be cut - and there was nothing you could do about it.

That was the prospect faced by a host of Local 1260 members recently, when several civilian contractors in Hawaii were put on notice by the U.S. Navy. Facing military-wide budget cuts, the Navy sought to invoke a “substantial wage variance” on these contractors by ordering an immediate 28% cut in wages - no questions asked.

Local 1260 Business Manager Brian Ahakuelo and Senior Assistant Business Manager Teresa Morrison would have none of it. After conducting discussions with the principals involved, it became clear that the Navy was not going to soften its stance and Local 1260 had no choice but to take the Navy to Federal Court.

Relying on her background as an accomplished attorney, Morrison built the Union’s case against the Navy and its contractors, who had taken a less than favorable stance against its union members. A Federal judge was flown into Hawaii from the east coast to hear the arguments. Business Manager Ahakuelo was among those called to testify on behalf our members, along with a couple of the affected employees.

In a courtroom often filled with Navy supporters, the Local 1260 staff went to work. On one side, the full resources of the U.S. Navy, trying to cut nearly 30% of the wages from a host of 1260 members; on the other side, the Local 1260 staff, staunchly defending the wages of our members and the well-being of their families.

After a week of testimony, the judge took several more weeks to issue a decision and in mid-February, the ruling was announced IN FAVOR OF LOCAL 1260! Ahakuelo & Morrison had faced off against the United States Navy and WON!

The decision was huge for not only the affected Local 1260 members, but for our entire Local Union as well! It’s this type of proactive, experienced leadership, that (in this case, literally) pays dividends for our members and it sends the message that Local 1260 is a strong, united and progressive Local Union, able to stand-up and fight for our members…and WIN!

BREAKING NEWS!!! ANOTHER ORGANIZING VICTORY FOR LOCAL 1260!

Business Manager/Financial Secretary Brian Ahakuelo is proud to announce another organizing victory for IBEW Local 1260 by coming to terms with Advance Management Incorporated in Harmon, Guam. AMI is an important facilities management contractor with operations at the U.S. Naval Base Guam.

The announcement culminates a 6-month organizing effort, with AMI’s 30 employees now set to join the 3,300 members of our Local Union, of which, some 950-plus call Guam home.

According to Assistant Business Manager/Director of Organizing Tommy Decano, it was an effort that involved a lot of research and hard work.

“At first, it was tough to get the Company on board,” said Decano, “because management thought our Union had left (the Territory). In the years before Brian (current Business Manager) took over, our Local Union had almost no presence in Guam’s civic community, so management thought the Union was gone. Not only were we able to show AMI that we are STILL on Guam, but also that we are making big strides to advance our Local Union and our members.”

Organizer Ken Laguana added, “Guam is a tight knit community and our members are out there talking about the positive changes they’ve seen from our Local Union over the past few months. People hear about those improvements and want to be a part of it.”

Membership Development has always a key initiative for Business Manager Ahakuelo.

“I am happy and proud to see our strategic organizing efforts pay such dividends,” said Ahakuelo, “as we continue to re-invent the Labor Movement.”