HR1087 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1087 LRB097 21674 GRL 70031 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Ronald E. "Ron" Kastner on the occasion of his retirement as President/Business Manager/Financial Secretary of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Union 21; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Kastner has been a member of the IBEW since 1968; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Kastner has served the IBEW Local Union 21 in a variety of leadership roles, including shop steward (1974), steward (1978), chief steward (1979), and business representative (1990); he served as Local 21's Vice President from 1996 to 1998 and has served in his current post as President/Business Manager/Financial Secretary since 1999; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Kastner served as a delegate to the International Convention from 1982 to 2011; he has served as a delegate to the Telecommunications Conference and as a board member of the Telephone Division to the IBEW State Conference; he has also served as a delegate to the Chicago Federation of Labor and was the IBEW Vice President of the Illinois AFL-CIO; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Kastner served as the Chief Union Negotiator during bargaining with SBC/Ameren and AT&T; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Kastner was named the Chairman of the System Council T3 and was designated the 2011 Person of the Year by the Northeast Illinois Federation of Labor; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Kastner has been a tireless advocate for his brothers and sisters in the labor movement; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Kastner will enjoy his retirement by spending time with his wife, Judy; his sons, Ronald Jr., Jason, and Tim; and his granddaughter, Harper Elizabeth; he will also enjoy himself by collecting his most prized possessions, baseball cards; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Kastner will be sorely missed by his friends in organized labor, the telecommunications industry, and Illinois government and will be called upon for his wisdom and guidance on key issues; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Ronald E. "Ron" Kastner on his successful career in the Illinois State Capitol and thank him for his many contributions to organized labor; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Ronald Kastner as a symbol of our esteem and respect.