There’s a Fly America Act and a  Buy American Act how about a “Hire American Act“?
I’ve been listening to CNN all morning and hearing about the 5 million plus Americans who have lost their jobs in the US. The business that are closing. The States that are in a bind due to reduced revenues due [...]

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US-Iraq Security Pact, by the Numbers
November 28, 2008
Agence France-Presse
Iraq’s parliament on Nov. 27 endorsed a landmark military pact that will govern some 150,000 U.S. Soldiers assigned to 400 bases across the country beginning Dec. 31, when the United Nation’s mandate now governing the troops expires.
Here are the main points of the deal, spelled out in the [...]

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Uplift has ALWAYS been a HUGE issue with KBR/SEII Employees.
Uplift is a percentage in addition to the base pay. When I worked for KBR the uplift was 55% on the first 40 hours. Then in the fall of 2006 it was raised to 75%. Again, only on the first 40 hours.
Current uplift for Iraq and [...]

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Senator Casey, a democrat from Pennsylvania asks General Petraeus for an update to the electrocution issues in Iraq.
General Petraeus reports that the dedicated Task Force he established earlier this year has begun to implement action plans to reduce the risk of electrocution, shocks and electrical fires;
General Petraeus has asked the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center, [...]

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It’s past payday!! Did ANYONE get their promised raises? Plumbers, HVAC, Generator Mechanics or Electricians? Did some get it and some didn’t? People are asking from all over. Let us know what’s going on.
Also, why is it that some of the KBR recruiters are telling the Master electricians that they aren’t hiring anymore Master electricians [...]

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When I first heard that KBR was claiming all electrical installations in Iraq were being done to the British Standards and not the U.S. National Electrical Code (NEC) I just about fell out of my chair laughing. This, they claim, is why the electrical installations in Iraq don’t meet US Codes. I totally disregarded this [...]

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I am compiling some much needed information for an ongoing investigation. I need current and former KBR electricians to answer the following questions for me. PLEASE

What country did you work for KBR/SEII/OAS in? Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Other
When where you there? This is helpful info but not mandatory
What was the number and name of your Camp, [...]

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UPDATED!!! SEE BELOW!! Can it be?? Has KBR hired the electrical code expertise of Joe Tedesco? The Joe Tedesco?? “Joe Almighty?” KBR must think they are in real hot water because according to Joe, he didn’t come cheap.
Joe Tedesco has been one of those names in the electrical industry that has been around since I [...]

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The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) has been the first to step up to the plate and lobby for the rights of US citizens working on US Government projects overseas. They recently published this article “IBEW Urges Electrical Safety At U.S. Bases” (pg 3) in their monthly national magazine The Electrical Worker. It has [...]

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Somebody hasn’t been telling the truth!! Hmmm This article is from the ArmyTimes.com I am so glad to see General McHale at the helm! The top-Notch Master Electrician’s mentioned in this article are the ones that are part of the inspection team known as “Task Force Safe”.  Click HERE to see that post.
Electrical review turns [...]

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This is a follow up post to the one previous. This photo was sent to me by the same person. It is in the same bathroom. Notice I have added water marks to the photos I don’t want photo shopped. Please don’t manipulate the readings on these flukes. These readings are real. I’m sure that [...]

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This pic was sent to me today. It was taken in Iraq in March 2006. What you are seeing is 180.6 volts ac being read between the water stream and ground. No….the breaker is not tripping. Yes this photo is being sent to the appropriate people.
As you are aware there have been 18 accidental electrocutions [...]

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Someone sent me a link to this site called JobVent.com where you can rate any company you’ve worked for. It has several topics and a rating range of -5 to +5 for each topic.Then they ask you to briefly explain. It’s a real quick signup. You can read the reviews of other people and comment [...]

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In an effort to change the laws so US workers working on US funded projects overseas are protected by US laws, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) has initiated talks with the appropriate members of Congress. I know the wheels of change move slowly, but at least they are moving.
Also, the NW Labor Press, [...]

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I am getting all kinds of comments and emails about the raises for KBR crafts such as Electricians, HVAC, Plumbers and …. So I ask this question to current KBR employees, “Did you get the raise you were told you would get? What are they telling you now? Has anyone seen any money on their [...]

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I got this comment last night in response to  “My 100th Blog Post - How MsSparky.com Evolved”. I get these responses all the time in emails and I normal just disregard them…but not today!
This is a comment from “DC”.
the testifying, I get. But the public speaking and anything remotely related to work or even specifically [...]

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Keep in mind I am not pro-war. But I am pro-American and I am pro-Soldier. Every once in a while I get a glimpse of what our brave Soldiers are doing in Iraq “outside the wire”. This video clip is only 2:12 minutes and well worth the watch. The original condition of this building is [...]

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As you know I have been blogging about the changes in KBR’s hiring policies with regards to Electricians. They must be licensed and the salaries range from about 122-144K/year. That’s about 35-57K/yr higher than the old salaries. I am now told these changes in policy also include Licensed Plumbers and Licensed HVAC and who knows [...]

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The “Electrical Worker” a monthly publication of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) recently published an article spotlighting IBEW member Marijane Green, mother if two active duty Marines. This mother is seriously concerned about the safety of her sons. You can read this article entitled “Troops Endangered By Shoddy Electrical Work” by clicking [...]

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