Labor-Management Effort Provides Employment for Out-of-Work Union Electricians While Ensuring Homes Are Safely Wired

ST. LOUIS — At a time when the slumping housing market has many union electricians out of work, The Electrical Connection has come up with a novel way to support workers as it fulfills its 2008 pledge to Habitat for Humanity St. Louis. The labor-management group is donating $190,000 in materials and services, including full-time pay and fringe benefits to out-of-work electricians, to wire a record 27 Habitat homes. The annual house building blitz for disadvantaged families began in June and will continue through fall. In all, the donation for Habitat for Humanity includes more than 21 miles of wiring will be installed in new homes in the Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood of North St. Louis.

“Given how difficult a year it has been for the housing industry, we decided to boost our commitment to Habitat for Humanity while providing paying jobs for out-of-work union electricians,” said Douglas R. Martin, executive vice president of the St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). St. Louis Chapter NECA partners with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local #1 to form the Electrical Connection. More than 50 electricians will be employed in the effort.

Most of the new homes are located on Sheridan Avenue and Thomas Street and are part of Habitat’s first-ever Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified project. The project has three phases with 10 houses in the first phase, nine in the second, and eight in the third.

“This is the fifth consecutive year we’ve partnered with Habitat,” said Steve Schoemehl, IBEW Local #1 business manager. “And this year not only does it receive the benefit of IBEW Local #1 quality and safe installations, but families of union electricians can continue to put food on the table.”

Since 2004, the Electrical Connection has donated more than $500,000 to wire more than 140 Habitat homes.

Participating union electrical contractors include: Dickherber Electric, Inc., J. Bathe Electric Co., M.R. Bathe Electric, Superb Electric, L.C.,Schaeffer Electric Co., Inc. and Wentzel Electric.

The Electrical Connection has also donated services to Rebuilding Together to improve homes for low-income, elderly persons in the area, and for 12 years it has donated skills and material in support of St. Louis City’s “National Night Out” anti-crime program.

Chris Brewer, 38, of Barnhart, Mo. and a Superb Electric, L.C. team member, installs a junction box as part of the Electrical Connection’s $190,000 donation in services and materials to wire a record 27 homes for Habitat for Humanity St. Louis.