Clif Davis has resigned as business manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 48, effective April 8. The union’s Executive Board appointed Gary Young to finish out the term, which expires in June. Davis will remain at the local during the transition. His last day will be no later than May 17 — which is the 100th anniversary of the local.
“I came into Local 48 on May 16, 1988. I’ll say goodbye on May 17, 2013,” Davis said.
The whirlwind of change happened unexpectedly, after Davis, 56, was offered a job by the international union as a business development representative for the 8th and 9th districts. Those districts cover Oregon, Washington, California, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and parts of Idaho and Montana.
Business development is a relatively new program within the IBEW’s Construction and Maintenance Department. The mission statement is to establish strategies to maintain and develop personal customer relationships that will result in more work opportunities for union members in the electrical industry. Jerry Westerholm is the director.
“To be honest, I’m not sure what it all entails,” said Davis, who had just launched his re-election campaign for a third term as business manager.
“I did not see this offer coming when it did. It was a tough decision given the times we are in, and I did not take it lightly,” he said.
Davis will work out of his home in Fairview.
Davis is a 25-year member of Local 48, having come through the apprenticeship program. Seventeen of those years were spent working for Local 48 as lead organizer, a part-time dispatcher, and as a business agent. He was elected business manager in 2007.
Under Davis’ administration, the local changed its dues structure; implemented an online dispatch system; turned the meeting hall into a state-of-the-art facility with video and PowerPoint capabilities; built a 75 kW solar array to showcase members’ expertise in green technology; and installed electric car charging stations.
Davis said the local’s public and political profile also saw a boost through outreach and creation of a new union branding logo.
He said he is most proud of the diversity and unity he brought to the local. “Our meeting attendance is up by 40 to 50 percent,” he said.
Young is a 24-year member of Local 48. He was serving his first term as vice president when he was tapped by the Executive Board to be business manager. Prior to that he served one term on the general Executive Board.
A graduate of Barlow High School in Gresham, Young, 52, entered the electrical apprenticeship training program at the age of 28. His father, three cousins, and a nephew are members of Local 48; an uncle and several more cousins are IBEW members in California.
Young has worked for numerous contractors throughout his career, but most recently he was a foreman for Oregon Electric. In years past he was superintendent on the InFlow data center project in Portland and a general foreman on the LSI (now ONSemiconductor Corp.) job in Gresham.
As business manager, Young represents 4,200 members working under 25 different contracts, and oversees a staff of 23.
Young said he will continue to focus on bringing more jobs to the local. “I am committed to further strengthening our partnerships and increase our visibility in the community. I am dedicated to growing our membership,” he said.
Young told the Labor Press he will run for a full three-year term. Nominations for all IBEW Local 48 offices are in May, and the election is in June.
One of Young’s first big tasks will be to get through Local 48’s 100th Anniversary Gala slated for May 17 at the Oregon Convention Center. IBEW’s Ninth District progress meeting is scheduled to coincide with the anniversary. Meetings will be held at the Benson Hotel.
I wil hate to see Cliff go as he has always been a good listener and stayed connected with the members of the local. I have appreciated your candor and the way you have conducted business. I hope that all goes well with you in your new endeavor. Good luck to Mr. Young also.
Dan Brown