This 70 page collection of memos, letters, and testimony documents the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union Local 1547's successful effort to outlaw the safe and efficient practice of working live "hot" electric wires with rubber gloves. In its place Alaska's linemen are now left with the archaic, fatiguing, and time-consuming practice of "hot sticking".

This collection of material covers the following points:

Rubber gloving is in widespread and completely legal use in 47 other states and Canada. The Safety Director of the IBEW Union International Office was on the panel that recently rewrote all electric industry safety regulations. He endorsed the final regulations which continued to permit rubber gloving. Washington and Oregon banned its use many years ago when the practice was very new, relatively unknown, and unperfected. Alaska has become a national joke in the industry as it stands alone in this attempt to stop this proven and mature work practice.

IBEW Local 1547s interest in banning rubber gloving has the effect of substantially increasing the cost of electrical work because it probably doubles the time necessary to handle "hot" wires (normally paid at premium wage rates). As such it is considered to be an example of a "featherbedding" practice that unnecessarily increases the cost of utility labor (and the ratepayer's electric bill).

Years ago IBEW Local 1547 placed bans on rubber gloving in most of its contracts with Alaska's large utilities. Several attempts to get the legislature to pass a statutory ban were tried but were unsuccessful. In 1994 Tony Knowles was elected Governor. He appointed Tom Cashen as Labor Commissioner. Prior to his appointment as Labor Commissioner, Mr. Cashen was the IBEW business agent for the Southeast Alaska region.

It is reported that an IBEW Local 1547 management employee stated during a union meeting that IBEW was responsible for contributing $70,000 to Gov. Knowles election campaign. This information has not been confirmed. Alaska's contribution limit is $1,000.

The public comment period for the Alaska Department of Labor's hearings on the proposal to ban rubber gloving by regulation ended on May 26, 1995. The heated and emotional testimony from IBEW proponents of the ban was unaccompanied by any factual material. Offsetting this was over two pounds of supporting data and facts submitted by Meera Kohler, General Manager of Naknek Electric Association and other utility professionals.

The Alaska Department of Labor completed its analysis of these extensive public comments in only two working days! This must be one of the quickest (and most superficial?) reviews ever accomplished by a regulatory agency. On June 1, 1995 Commissioner Cashen approved the rubber gloving ban regulations in his memo to the Attorney General. No technical comment or reasoning for adoption of this ban has ever been issued by Commissioner Cashen, even after repeated questions, letters, and legal inquiries. Litigation on this issue is expected.

Alaska's rubber gloving ban is a classic case history of special interest manipulation of the political process and workplace safety regulation by IBEW Local 1547 for their own selfish purposes at the expense of the public.