On the 25th day of June, 1938, Local 103 held its annual election and President Roosevelt signed the Fair Labor Standards Act, a major piece of social legislation, which set a minimum wage of .25 cents per hour and maximum work week at 44 hours ( to be lowered to 40 hours in three years). The Act also provided for time and one half for hours over 44.

Following are the results of the Local 103 election:

President - Frank L. Kelley

Vice President - Joseph A. Slattery

Recording Secretary - Robert W. Griffin

Financial Secretary - John J. Regan

Treasurer - James T. Kilroe

Business Manager - William J. Doyle

Executive Board - Morris Berkowitz, Edward Berry, Charles P. Buckley, George E. Cappelle, and Edward C. Carroll

Examining Board - John J. Farrell, Henry Hurford, Walter J. Monahan, James G. Riley, and Fred W. Sheehan

State Electrical Workers Convention - Charles P. Buckley and John J. Regan

State Branch A.F.L. Convention - Charles P. Buckley, Edward C. Carroll, William J. Doyle, James T. Kilroe, and William F. Sheehan

For the first time in Local 103’s history, a deadlock occured for the fourth seat on the Executive Board. Eddie Berry and Charlie Buckley each received 222 votes. The first runoff election was held on July 27th and Brother Ed Berry was elected. Ed Berry was initiated into Local 103 in the mid 1920s and had three sons, Jay, Edward (Ned) and Donn Berry (who would serve in various offices in Local 103 for many years to come). He also had a brother Marty Berry, whom I worked for as an apprentice with Lord Electric. Brother Joe Slattery was elected Vice-President in a three-man race (Sam Parker who was elected in 1936 decided to stay in Panama), where he failed to get the majority of the votes cast, but ir was twenty-five years before the Local Union By-laws were changed to require a runoff election when no contestant received a majority vote.

Financial Secretary Regan received the highest vote (665) so the membership was well under 1,000 in 1938. The Election Committee was Jack Noonan, Dan Conty, Harry White, George Monahan Sr., George Mahoney and John Burke.

Press Secretary Slattery reports that since January, Brothers Carl Bonnivier, Alexander Duff, W.H. Handsford, Bill Hogan, George Horther, L.P. Moulton, Edward Noonan (son of Jack Noonan), P.F. Murphy, Joseph T. Riley, Alexander Roberts and C. Van Leeuwen, have passed away.