Any IBEW Local 332 member who has been around a while has met – or at least heard of – Semyon Solomon – or Sem as most of us know him. Even though he’s been retired from the trade since October 2004, he didn’t disappear to a faraway island in the sun. Instead, he started teaching CAD at the JATC (now ETASV) – and stayed for 15 years, until the pandemic hit. And even since then, you’ll find him with tools in hand.
“To this day, if I have to fix something in the house, I get a little buzz in my head. I enjoy working with the tools. I enjoy the trade. It’s what I was cut out to be.”
Sem started his apprenticeship in 1962, became a journeyman in 1967, and got more involved with the local in 1968 – a decision that led him to two terms as recording secretary (starting in 1975), one term as vice president (1981-84) and three terms as president (1984-1993). He’s seen a lot of change over the past 61 years.
“When I started the trade, we had no retirement at all. None,” he recalled. “On my first commercial job in 1963, there was a charter member of our union, Jack Davis – he was part of Local 332 when it was formed in 1912 and he was still working at 87. He had no retirement benefits, no health and welfare. Medicare hadn’t started yet. In 1966 Medicare kicked in, we started health and welfare plans. The local started a couple of pension plans along with NECA that had a pension benefits fund. It makes for a very nice retirement.”
Sem advises current members to think ahead to when they too will want to take their retirement. “Some guys will let jobs go by, waiting for an overtime job. If there’s a job, take it. For every hour you work, you get one hour’s benefits. You don’t get double time benefits. Somewhere down the line you’ll retire, and the more hours you work, the more benefits you’ll have. Think of how long you might live; look at your family. You might want a nice pension to last a long time.”
Today you’ll see Sem at many of 332’s union events. Say hello if you get a chance and catch up!
