Local 1600 IBEW is a chartered Local Union located in Central and Southeastern Pennsylvania, whose jurisdiction is primarily of an Electrical utility property nature. Its membership is primarily employed by Pennsylvania Power Light Company, yet it has members whose employer is the Municipality of Ephrata, Comcast Cable and WPS Wisconsin Power . Local 1600 is a Union Shop, and embodies all bargaining unit classifications as prescribed by the National Relations Board certification. The only exclusions are managers, professionals, guards and part-time students as defined under the act. Its jurisdictional territory includes 29 of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania.

HISTORY

Local 1600 was chartered in October of 1976, and its' officers were elected in December of that year. The predecessor of Local 1600 was the Employees Independent Association, which was comprised of 15 separate divisions, each with a President, Vice President and Treasurer. This elected group would then elect a Chairman and a Vice Chairman, who would serve in a full-time capacity, and function in a manner that attempted to emulate the I.B.E.W.'s System Council procedures. The remaining Presidents and Vice Presidents would usually serve as the negotiating committee with PP&L, and regular monthly meetings were held between the Company and the Local Unions. In addition to the "Joint Meetings" of the E.I.A., monthly meetings were held in the respective divisions, with each division maintaining it's own treasury, paying a monthly assessment towards the salaries of the Chairman and Vice Chairman. The Divisions were also charged a monthly assessment for the legal retainer, arbitration costs and other matters related to the collective bargaining procedures. The E.I.A. was able to function in this capacity until 1974, when the General Committee called for an ill advised strike that lasted for 81 days, and within tow years, the I.B.E.W. was elected and certified as the sole and exclusive bargaining agent for the employees of P.P.&L. Company.

With the certification of the I.B.E.W., the 15 divisions of the former E.I.A. locals were combined and 12 units were established which comprised the local union. The primary reason for having 12 units was due to demographics and logistics, for the service territory of Local 1600 encompassed 29 of the 67 counties in the state of Pennsylvania. Within 3 years, it was found that the 12 units could be combined into 7 units, thereby reducing costs and the amount of officers necessary to run the local union. Each of the current units still has it's own meetings in their respective area, and the organization of the Municipality of Ephrata in 1981 has created another unit. Future organizing will most likely provide additional units, and the Local Union By-Laws provide for new additions if needed. Currently, there are eight units comprising one Local Union.

Originally chartered in Bethlehem, PA, the Local has made several moves, one of which was precipitated by a disastrous fire which severally damaged most of its' records and furnishings. In 1983, Local 1600 purchased two buildings at 540 Grange Road in Trexlertown, PA, and currently services it's membership from this location.

ELECTIONS

Former International President Pillard granted a special dispensation to the Local in 1980, which enabled Local 1600 to hold nominations for office in September, with elections to be held in November of the same year. This dispensation was granted because of the on-going conflict of normal elections within the I.B.E.W. and Local 1600's contractual year-end with Pennsylvania Power and Light Company. All Local and Unit officers are elected for a three-year term. Local 1600 currently has ten (10) Delegates to the International Convention, and they are elected in the election year preceding a Convention, with the President/Financial Secretary being automatically elected as first delegate to the Convention. Nine other Delegates and Alternates are elected at large by the membership, and delegate expenses are paid by the International and the Local Union. A member may be elected to both a Local or Unit office, but may only receive the salary of one office.