From the trenches...

           Reports from your Business Reps

Unit 2 – ESOs
By Bill Lewis

As 2005 begins, our past advancements bear fruit. This year will bring people into a new training program. The previous training program, consisting of 18 months of classroom and on-the-job training, has served well. However, some time ago, it became apparent that trainees needed more than what was being offered. After an arduous process, we will start the first class in the extended program this year. The key to the new 24-month program is the addition of a mentoring program at the end of the training. By using it, the trainees will be able to hone their skills and increase their confidence, so that they graduate with all the necessary tools to excel at their trade.

Unit 3 – Testers
By Bill Lewis

Development of a bona fide training program is progressing. As with any endeavor, some minor obstacles have cropped up. These will be resolved with the ultimate goal in mind: to turn out a superior Tester at the completion of training. Your Training Committee continues to demonstrate the commitment and expertise that would be expected from its highly qualified members.

Unit 8 – Clerical
By Shawn McCloud & Geralyn Washington-Tatum

Thanks to the hard work of the members of the Clerical Worker Joint Labor-Management Sub-Committee, we reached an agreement to train all clerical employees in the District Offices and remote locations on CPR and the use of ADT’s. If you are interested in this training, please contact your supervisor for dates and times.

Questions have arisen concerning how service credit for Half-Timers will be calculated. According to the MOU, in order to qualify to bid, it follows a ‘regular’ appointment. Regular appointment in the Civil Service Rules (Sec. 1.5 - d) is defined as “…a regular appointment from an eligible list to a permanent appointment…”. Part-time exempt employees do not meet this criteria. Service credit from the first day of exempt employment is applied to their retirement, parking seniority, and vacation seniority. It will not be applied for bid purposes.

The heavy rain didn’t stop our dedicated members from attending last month’s Clerical Unit meeting! We received positive response about the presentation of the history of IBEW Local 18. Please be sure to attend your monthly unit meeting and learn what you have to know about your contract.

Look for the announcement in February and March of a Clerical Site Meeting at the JFB. If you would like to have a Site Meeting at your location, please give us a call.

Unit 8/18 – Clerical Supervisory
By Geralyn Washington-Tatum & Shawn McCloud

The Joint Safety Institute has scheduled a series of classes designed to educate employees about conducting Worker Safety Tours. If you are interested in conducting Clerical WSTs, please contact either Shawn at 213/387-8274, ext. 111, or Geralyn at ext. 105.

Unit 14 – Transportation
By Bill Lewis

The past year produced some favorable rulings in recapturing your work. During this year, we will diligently continue our effort to increase staff and regain work. In addition, in 2004, we recognized the potential for consolidating the classes and developing a true training program for Drivers and Operators. With the consolidation of Fleet Services, we now have new avenues for starting discussions on this sensitive subject. Please know that all ideas are greatly encouraged! A window of opportunity exists, and we will make every effort to explore the possibilities of improving your opportunities.

Unit 15/20 – Pasadena
By Barry Poole

We met with City Human Resources regarding the increase in costs of the 2%-at-Age-55 Retirement Plan. Our position is that we did not agree to any increase, and we are not willing to open our contract at this time.

We continue to negotiate the new job specifications for Field Design Technician, Lead Electrical Mechanic, Senior Instrument Mechanic, and Vault Inspector.

We are working on the endorsement process for City Council candidates. We are endorsing incumbents Victor Gordo and Chris Holden.

Unit 17 – Field Groups
By Nancy Romero

Attention Commercial Field Representatives: through the Joint Labor-Management Committee process, we have reached the following agreements:

• All Dispatchers will now be multifunctional; they will dispatch both Field Service and Field Collections orders

• The special pick-ups formally worked by Field Collections Dispatchers will be sent to the Field Collectors as part of their regular assignment

• Dispatcher schedules will be established to meet the operational needs of the units

• A dispatch-procedures manual will be developed to assist training of future Dispatchers and backups

• Dispatchers’ roles and responsibilities will be assigned based on their schedule

• The entire dispatching system will be moved to AOB in the future, and later to the permanent Valley Field Groups location

• A back-up Dispatcher list will be established and interest memos will go out at the end of each year to update the list

• Each back-up Dispatcher will be rotated into the dispatch duties as the need arises

• Duration of back-up assignments will be determined by the absence of the permanent Dispatcher up to a two-week period

• Permanent Dispatchers will have the first opportunity to fill any vacant shift due to any temporary absence (vacation, illness, projects, etc.). The ultimate vacant shift will then be filled by using the back-up dispatcher list.

• We are discussing how best to dispatch Field Collections work by geographic areas

Attention Commercial Field Representatives and Field Investigators : we have reached an agreement with management that you will not be asked to remove jumpers. If you see any jumpers, please inform your supervisor. Do not, under any circumstances, attempt to remove them!

We have again met with management to discuss the installation of Radio Frequency Meters. The previous agreement we reached will be honored. This agreement called for installation of 10,000 RF meters per year. They will be installed by members of the Training and Special Projects Unit of the CSBU and Meter Setters.

We continue to meet at 6:30 p.m., on the first Thursday of the month, at the Hall. All of you are welcome to join us!

Unit 24 – Water Supply
By Ken Delgado

There has been a lot of concern over the way the trainees are being taught and used in the field. This is the first formal course in which the attendees will be trained for a period of two years. Labor and management are working together in order to work out the snags that have arisen as we go through the training process. I appreciate the input I have received from people in the field, because with your information I can work with management in order to make adjustments.

I ask that we all work through this together because this is our future. We have needed formal training for a long time, along with follow-up training for the Journey level. In the long run, this will benefit us all. The Joint Training Institute (JTI) is set up to create and oversee all on-going training programs. The JTI website (www.jti.ladwp.com) is available so you can see the latest available programs and classes. I look forward to seeing you at the next Unit 24 meeting.

Unit 25 – Gardeners
By Nancy Romero

We thank every member for attending the quarterly “all hands” meeting on January 28, at the Temple Street Yard. We encourage you to participate in all IBEW Local 18-sponsored activities, including unit meetings, Worker Safety Tours and Joint Safety Institute training. Anyone who is interested in joining us as we work to resolve the many issues that affect our day-to-day work should speak with any Shop Steward or me (213/387-8274, ext. 113, or nromero@ibewlocal18.comPlease do not use Department e-mail to contact me.

Unit 26 – Custodial Services
By Nancy Romero

We congratulate all CSAs who were awarded commendations for perfect attendance during the FMBG Safety Recognition Luncheon on January 14, 2005!

We have held Worker Safety Tours for the Outside Facilities—Southern District. Throughout the year, the WSTs will be visiting several locations to speak with you about your safety concerns and issues. We encourage your full participation when asked to participate in this very important activity.

We also encourage you to participate in the scheduled safety training that has been provided by the FMBG. We have spent many hours jointly discussing CSA training needs. We have developed a training matrix, and expect all CSAs to be given excellent training at adequate intervals to ensure your continuing safety, as well as compliance with state and federal laws.

We encourage all of you to participate in our monthly unit meetings. We are facing several great challenges this year. CSAs will deal with many difficult issues concerning staffing, organization, training and safety. We need all of you involved in order to be successful. We urge you to attend meetings at 3:30 p.m., on the third Thursday of the month, at the Hall.

Unit 31 – Professionals
Unit 35 – Supervisory Technical & Business Administration
By Leslie Abbott

Beginning this year, IBEW Local 18 will no longer send monthly meeting reminder postcards to members of the Professional, Technical, Administrative, Supervisory Professional and Supervisory Technical Units. This is because your unit meetings are regularly scheduled, and our practice is to send postcards only if there is a special meeting (like for unit elections), or a change in the regular meeting time, date or location. We sent cards to our new unit members last year to get you used to our schedule. You can always check the Local 18 website for the current monthly meeting schedule.

Local 18 Business Manager Brian D’Arcy recently appointed three new Shop Stewards for the Professional Unit. The addition of Bob Blue, Jim Chung and Jan Guerro brings to nine the number of Professional Unit Shop Stewards. Together with the three unit officers who were elected at our October meeting, our member-leadership numbers definitely are headed in the right direction!

Unit 31’s Shop Stewards now are: Bob Blue (Fleet Engineering); Carlos Cadena (PSO&M Power Quality); Jim Chung (PSPP Engineering Services); Cliff Damron (Power System Safety); Jan Guerro (PSO&M Automated Systems); John Gutenberger (EAED Solar Programs); Mostafa Haji (Harbor Generating Station); Guillermo Honles of (EAED Solar Programs), and Geoff Rolik (PSO&M Station Test).

A great thank you to all these members who have stepped up to take a leadership role in our Union! Ultimately, the 650-member Professional Unit should have even more Shop Stewards, representing the broad cross-section of geographical and functional lines that are within the unit. If you are interested in becoming a Shop Steward, please make a point of attending the monthly Professional Unit meeting and let me know about your interest.

Hard copies of the IBEW Local 18-DWP MOUs for the Professional, Administrative, Technical, Supervisory Professional and Supervisory Technical Units were distributed via DWP intra-departmental mail in December. If you did not receive an MOU, please contact DWP Labor Relations (213/367-1912), or at Room 507 in the JFB.

Based on suggestions and polling input from the unit membership, the regular Supervisory Technical Unit meetings have been changed from the fourth Wednesday of the month to the third one. Meeting time will continue to be 5:30 p.m. Please make a note of this in your calendars.

Unit 32 – Technical
Unit 33 – Administrative
Unit 34 – Supervisory Professional
By Kerry McCorkle

There is a new start time for the Technical Unit Meetings. The Technical Unit meeting will still be held on the second Wednesday of the month, the new start time is 5:00 pm. We hope moving the start time earlier will help boost attendance and participation at the unit meeting

Regrettably, due to a continuing lack of a quorum, we have been unable to hold officer elections in the Administrative Unit. Your attendance at unit meetings is important; we bring up issues that need to be discussed, decide what matters are to be worked on, and elect unit officers. We will hold officer elections at the earliest meeting where there is a quorum. Administrative Unit meetings are at 5:30 p.m., on the third Wednesday of the month, at the Union Hall.

Attention IT personnel who receive Disturbance Calls and/or Call Outs:

• In the ITS Business Unit, management has been handling Call Out pay inconsistently. I would like to clarify Local 18’s position on how you should address Call Out situations to ensure that you are paid correctly.
• MOU Article 9.4, Disturbance Call, states: “Whenever an employee is contacted by the Department, while on off-duty status, to furnish information needed to maintain the continuity of DWP business, without the necessity of having to personally report for duty, such employee shall receive compensation of one (1) hour at the appropriate overtime rate for each instance.”
• MOU Article 9.3(a), Call Outs, states: “A call out is a communication to an employee who is off duty, directing the employee to report for overtime work. Employees in this Unit who are called out shall receive a minimum of two (2) hours pay at the double-time rate.”
• We understand that some computer-related problems are able to be corrected by logging into the DWP system from home. It is Local 18’s position that logging in from home and working does constitute a Call Out, entitling you to the two-hour overtime minimum. ITSBU, however, has paid some employees according to the Call Out provisions of the MOU, and others at the 1.5% regular overtime rate for the amount of time worked. In order to make sure that you are paid at the appropriate rate, Local 18 strongly recommends that you physically report to work. Per the Call Out language, you will receive double-time pay from the time you receive the call to the time you arrive back at your home. You will be paid for the additional time invested in traveling.
• If you are not being paid properly for overtime worked, please contact me so we can resolve problems as they arise.

Technical Unit meetings are scheduled on the second Wednesday of every month, at 5:00 p.m., at the Union Hall.

Administrative Unit meetings are scheduled on the third Wednesday of every month, at 5:30 p.m., at the Union Hall.

Supervisory Professional Unit meetings are scheduled on the first Tuesday of every month, at 5:30 p.m., at the Union Hall.

You can always reach me at 213/387-8274, ext. 138, or at kmccorkle@ibewlocal18.com

Unit 50 – Burbank
By Barry Poole

On January 20, Barry Heller, Bruce Redmann and I met with the City in order to negotiate contribution rates for the fourth and fifth years of the Burbank Employees’ Retiree Medical Trust.