From the trenches...

           Reports from your Business Reps

Unit 1 – Electrical Distribution
By Barry Poole

• The Senior EDM (Electrical Distribution Mechanic) Committee continues to meet. Its goal is to more clearly define the duties of Senior EDMs. Committee members are John Blondeel-Timmerman, Marvin “Lefty” Friesel, Carlos Lopez, Terry Meeks, and Barry Poole.

• The Underground Work Practices Committee continues its effort to combine past manuals into a single, comprehensive guide for this specialized work.

• We have formed a Lead Committee. This body’s goal is to put together a Lead-Training program for EDM “A” and “C” level workers who have not previously been trained in Lead work. Local 18 members of this committee are John Blondeel-Timmerman, John Bondio, Dave Donovan, Marvin “Lefty” Friesel, Wilbert Kinsey, and Barry Poole.

• If you want more information about any of these subjects, please contact one of the committee members.

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

• Clerical Bid Plan update: the Clerical Bid Plan Committee kickoff meeting was held on February 27. It was a big success. Co-chairs for each of our committees were chosen, and we also scheduled a series of sub-committee meetings.

• Please mark your calendar: the next Clerical meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 8, at 6:00 p.m., at the Union office.

• Here is a list of Local 18 Joint Labor-Management and specific committee members. If you have any suggestions regarding the Bid Plan, please send them to the Union office, attn: Clerical Bid Plan Suggestions, or to any of the people listed below.

Local 18 JLMC Members

Lilly Calvache
Nancy Fullingim
Lynette Lee
Judy Litowitz
Shawn McCloud
Billie Washington
Geralyn Washington-Tatum
Armeda Williams-Collier

Clerical Series (Senior Level)

Vicky Chavez
Lilly Calvache
Cheri Lamb-Gutierrez
Shawn McCloud
Sherri Turner

Clerical Series (Non-Senior)

Arlette Jones
Shawn McCloud
Sheila Nesby
Kreshelle Ramey

Secretary-Legal

Shawn McCloud
Nohemi Walker

Commercial Service Reps

Joyce Brown
Kristie Leslie-King
Judy Litowitz
Lorena Rosas
Ruben Sepulveda
Geralyn Washington-Tatum

Super Clerical Series

Rosean Van Woerkem
Norma Velez
Geralyn Washington-Tatum
Armeda Williams-Collier
Helen Yee

• Half-time Civil Service Update: the committee has scheduled a meeting for the first week in April in order to review recommended changes from DWP’s Legal Department. We will keep all interested members informed of our progress.

Unit 15/20 – Pasadena
By Barry Poole

• Local 18 supported five candidates in the recent municipal elections for Pasadena Mayor and City Council. I am pleased to report that all five were elected. They are: Mayor Bill Bogaard and City Council members, Joyce Streator, Paul Little, Steve Madison, and Steve Haderlein. Once again, Local 18 has helped elect allies to local city positions.

• We have sent out a survey to unit members, in preparation for our upcoming negotiations. We will form a committee to review all contract proposals after the April 1 deadline.

Unit 18 – Clerical Supervisory
By Geralyn Washington-Tatum

I have received a number of requests from Unit 18 Supervisory Clerical and Administrative members to hold a unit meeting. I will be happy to meet with you and discuss any issues and concerns on your mind. If you are interested in attending a unit meeting, please contact me at the Union office, 213/387-8274 (ext. 105). You may also e-mail me at gtatum@ibewlocal18.com Please reach me by no later than April 18. Thank you.

Unit 19B – Shops
By Hank O’Neil

ISS General Construction will now be a new, separate unit. It will be called Unit 4, and we will soon establish a regular meeting date for the members. I will be Unit 4’s Business Representative.
Maintenance and Construction Helpers in general construction are now being trained for promotion from “D” (entry level) Helper to “C” Helper DDR when they have successfully completed their training.

Unit 50 – Burbank
By Barry Poole

• In the February 25 municipal elections, Local 18 supported Jef Vander Borght and Gary Bric for Burbank City Council. Both candidates captured the top two places in the primary, and will be in a runoff on April 8.

• We continue to work towards getting the Retiree Medical Trust off the ground. The trustees are Barry Heller and John Washington; they met again on March 18 to discuss relevant issues.