From the trenches...
Reports from your Business Reps
Unit 1 – Electrical Distribution/Transmission
By Barry Poole
On June 4, we held a meeting in order to clarify Senior EDM job duties. IBEW Local 18 was represented by Brothers John Blondeel-Timmerman, Terry Meeks, Carlos Lopez, Marvin Friesel, Russ Butow and myself. We continue to work on this agreement.
Unit 2 – Electrical Station Operators
By Bill Lewis
• The mileage/per diem issue has finally been resolved. Thanks to everyone who participated in our show of solidarity!
• HMI Program seems to be moving forward with only some minor problems. One problem is rumored to be the ability of the Load Dispatchers to take a station off of local control. This is not only an invasion of our bargaining unit, but also a potential safety hazard. We will be addressing this issue as soon as possible.
• On another important subject, we hopefully will have another trainee class starting shortly.
Unit 3 – Electrical Testers
By Leslie Abbott
The Electrical Tester Training Committee has completed the initial draft of an apprentice curriculum. The committee will pursue the refinement and implementation of the proposal, with support from the new Joint Training Institute, which is co-administered by Local 18 President Frank Miramontes and DWP management representative Susana Reyes.
Unit 4 – General Construction
By Hank O’Neil
• The first Unit 4 meeting was held at Main Street on June 9. The meeting was successful in that we went over the history of IBEW Local 18. Also, the unit members discussed issues, possible solutions to them, and future goals.
• Under the General Construction Letter of Agreement, the Department is now in the process of hiring 47 Annual Rated employees under the “Full-Time Equivalent” clause.
• We have had two well-attended unit meetings, at which a good number of issues were brought forward for discussion and resolution. Please make every effort to attend your August meeting because we will definitely elect unit officers.
Unit 6 – Warehouse/Stores
By Leslie Abbott
The renewed Materials Management and Logistics Joint Labor-Management Committee (JLMC) is off to a great start! The JLMC has four standing subcommittees: 1) the Staffing Subcommittee is doing a Department-wide assessment to ensure that all Warehouse and Stores employees are in proper DDRs per the consolidation agreement. 2) The Training Subcommittee is considering several possible continuing-education programs. 3 & 4) The Materials Upkeep and Facilities Upkeep Subcommittees are each assessing workplaces for efficient and safe equipment and facilities.
Unit 8 – CSRs
By Shawn McCloud & Geralyn Washington-Tatum
• Clerical Worker Safety Tours (WST) are off and running throughout various Department of Water & Power locations. The Customer Services Business Unit kicked off its July WST with the branch offices. We have also conducted tours in Water, Power, City Attorney and Corporate Services organizations.
• The Half-Time Civil Service process is nearly completed. The committee has completed the benefits statement and it was approved by the Joint Resolution Board. The next stop is submission for approval to the Department’s Board of Commissioners at its next meeting. After final approval from the Los Angeles City Council, a meeting will be scheduled in order to introduce the Half-Time Civil Service Part II MOU to the part-time CSRs and discuss its implementation. I will keep you informed on our progress in this matter.
• A reminder: you must get prior approval before working under Article 33.
Unit 8/18 – Clerical Supervisory
By Geralyn Washington-Tatum & Shawn McCloud
By now, every clerical and supervisory clerical employee should have received a survey from his or her respective Clerical, Supervisory Clerical & Administrative Bid Plan Committees. The Bid Plan Committee currently is discussing the core elements for the proposed bid plan. The various subcommittees are meeting regularly to discuss your survey responses and address concerns that are specific to your classification. Thanks again to the subcommittee members for all their hard work!
Retirees’ corner: at our last meeting, June 11, we enjoyed a truly awesome presentation about the viability of the Department’s retirement plan. Retirement Manager Duamel Vellon answered questions patiently and in great detail, assuring the attendees that their retirement plan is very sound. We offer a very special “thank you” to Mr. Vellon for an excellent presentation. The next meeting is set for Wednesday, September 10; please mark your calendar.
Unit 12 – Senior/Principal Security Officers
By Leslie Abbott
The proposal to improve annual uniform and monthly cleaning allowances for Senior and Principal Security Officers has been approved in concept by the Joint Resolution Board (JRB). The details of the language for a Letter of Agreement have been referred back to Local 18 and DWP Labor Relations to refine and return to the JRB for final approval. We’ll keep you posted on the adoption process!
Unit 13 – Automotive
By Bill Lewis
At the last Joint Labor-Management Committee meeting, the matter of the computer diagnostic of the newer equipment was brought up for discussion. Apparently, the software for some of the equipment has expired licenses. We also addressed the issue of cutback on overtime. It was made very clear to management that there is still some contracting-out going on, and that means the mechanics should be receiving a minimum of eight hours overtime per pay period. I can report that management is looking into both of these issues.
Unit 14 – Transportation
By Bill Lewis
• We have made some changes in the membership of the Joint Labor-Management Committee. The new members are Robert Saunders and John Smith. Our thanks go to Dan Born, Larry Escobedo, Pete Poland and Al Vasquez for all their hard work while they were on the committee.
• As this is written, I have just come back from the second-level grievance meeting regarding The Transmission Section driving their new three-axle tractor. A memo is being drafted to all business units that have truck drivers who are required to operate this kind of equipment. This would include Haz-Mat trucks. It has taken a while, but upper management has agreed that this is truck driver work.
Unit 15/20 – Pasadena
By Barry Poole
• We have set up Negotiating Committee meetings. The first meeting was for reviewing and discussing ground rules. Now, we will arrange contract negotiation meetings.
• We will continue to correspond with the City regarding budget reductions.
• We held a meeting with several of the other City of Pasadena unions on the retiree medical issue. We are seeking to form a coalition in order to put together an overall retiree medical program.
Unit 17 – Customer Service Field Groups
By Nancy Romero
• The first meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee on Confrontations in the Field was held on July 8, 2003. Initial discussions should provide members with clear direction and information they can use if they get involved in a confrontation with a customer in the field. You are urged to contact Ad Hoc Committee members to voice concerns and offer recommendations regarding policy. Please note that legal questions and issues will be forwarded to appropriate managerial personnel for the Department’s official position.
Ad Hoc Committee members include Tony Marufo, Laura Kellgreen, Cindy
Coffin, Earl
Rodgers, Joe Villareal, Skip Westbrook, Dave Sanchez, and Donley Minor.
Concerned
Members may also contact me at the Union office (ext. 113). We are pleased
to be working
with management in deliberations about this important matter.
The committee discussed four major topics:
Legal—All questions regarding the legal aspects of a confrontation, including: what happens if a member gets arrested?; who bails him or her out?; will DWP provide members with an attorney?; what happens to members who have to physically defend themselves?; what is “equal force” in a mutual combat situation?, and what must be done to discourage customers from accosting members? Please note that many of these issues may have to go to the City Attorney’s Office and maybe DWP Corporate Safety for opinions and follow-up.
Day of the incident—What should the Utility Services Manager/Supervisor/Assistant Supervisor/Local 18 response be during or right after a member is involved in a confrontation?
Follow-up—What information or support will the members need after a confrontation (depending on the severity of the incident)? Who will provide this information or support to our members?
Training—Additional training needs may be identified once the committee makes recommendations.
In the labor-management process, once this committee meets and makes recommendations, they will be forwarded to the CSBU Joint Labor-Management Committee. The JLMC will also have an opportunity to discuss these recommendations, and then will forward them to the Joint Resolution Board for final adoption and implementation.
• Update: We have met with CSBU management regarding replacement of the Teletrac with a Global Positioning System (GPS) in conjunction with the Mobile Data Dispatch System. To date, GPS has been installed on all vehicles driven by Commercial Field reps and Re Reads. It is located on top of the vehicle and housed in a small white dome. We have learned that Teletrac and GPS will run concurrently for a year. The Department has extended the Teletrac contract for another year, allowing it to phase in GPS. We are working with DWP to assure that guidelines are established for the intent and use of GPS. We will keep you abreast of developments.
• Attention Field Investigators: please be aware that the issue of “OK 2 Bill” orders were discussed by the Senior Commercial Field Representative JLMC. As of now, FI members are to complete “OK 2 Bill” orders only on a voluntary basis. We encourage members to perform only the work described in their DDRs. It is understood that you may do light clerical work as part of your daily job—but doing Clerk Typist work is out. For now, please do your normal work until we have resolved this issue.
• The Special Assignment Letter of Agreement has been signed (see page XX). Any Unit 17 member who currently works in a special assignment should contact me for further information. A special assignment is any task that takes you out of your normal duties under your DDR. Examples are MDDS, training assignments and light duty.
• Thanks to all members who attended our Annual Dinner Meeting. Everyone had a good time, and we will do it again next year!
• Reminder: If you are not on mileage and per diem, please submit a request for mileage reimbursement any time you are sent to training outside your unit. You will not be reimbursed for your normal commute, only for excess miles. Please speak with your Shop Steward(s) or call me with any questions.
• Members are advised to request representation when speaking with supervisors regarding any possible disciplinary action. Please be aware that you should not participate in any conversation that could get you fired or suspended unless you are joined at the meeting by either your Shop Steward or union rep. Recently, there have been several cases where members have provided management with written statements regarding various incidents. These statements have ended up being used against the members in disciplinary proceedings that occur months after the incident. Please do not make it difficult for your Shop Stewards or union rep to defend you and your rights.
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EMT Class of 2003-A Back Row: (Left to right): David Trumpler,
Michael Norman, Ronald Beck and Adam Kingsford |
Unit 19 – Electrical Station Maintenance
By Gus Corona
• The first of the two EMT classes completed their training and graduated on May 30. The 2003 A’s celebrated their achievement at the Truesdale Training Center. They were presented with completion certificates by the training staff. Brother Vincent Kasai received special recognition for achieving the highest grade point average for the class. He averaged 98.39 during the three-year program. Congratulations on a job very well done!
• Because of failure to reach a consensus on how the bid plan should be applied to the Senior Electrical Mechanics, we have decided to send the proposed plan to the Joint Resolution Board. The disagreement is over the long-standing issue of bids being awarded solely on Department seniority versus management’s desire to hold interviews in order to select the person it feels is most qualified. The JRB will review the bid plans and determine which one is sent out for a vote of the members.
Unit 19B – Shops
By Leslie Abbott
• The long-standing agreement between Local 18 and DWP to create an Electrical Repair Trainee DDR and apprenticeship program is underway. The committee is making progress in writing the new DDR, revising the class specification for Electrical Repairer and developing the training program. Once the proposal package is completed and approved, it will still take some time to implement it—because of the necessity to wind through the City’s Personnel process and get the apprenticeship program up and running. We are, however, confident that the combined efforts of Local 18 and the Department will bring this effort to fruition.
• The committee that shepherded the changes to the Welder DDRs and pay levels in 2000 has reconvened in order to review progress on Department-provided classroom and on-the-job training for the required extra certificates per the new DDRs. Hopefully, with uniform communication, guaranteed opportunities and regular progress tracking, all DWP Welders will be able to complete the training by the end of the year.
• Two issues of importance to Shops are being revisited in order to determine if the current Local 18-Department agreements are meeting the needs of the members in the sections covered by the pact. Further, we are considering possible updates that would benefit all concerned parties. The first key issue is the General Shops Bid Plan, which has instituted in 1994. The second issue is the Accumulative Overtime Log Agreement for the Central Repair and Fabrication Services Business Group, which was instituted in Spring, 2002. I will keep you informed on the status of these deliberations.
Unit 22 – Electric Service Reps
By Leslie Abbott
In May, I reported that the ESR Bid Plan negotiations and unit approval had been completed, and that the only remaining step was consideration and approval by the Joint Resolution Board (JRB). Unfortunately, after a positive meeting at the JRB, DWP’s Department of Labor Relations admitted that they failed to review the bid plan prior to that JRB meeting. We held two meetings with Labor Relations in order to discuss its concerns. The result is that very few minor clarifications were made, with no substantive changes to the plan. We will be able to re-submit the bid plan for consideration at the August JRB meeting.
Unit 24 – Water Supply
By Leslie Abbott
• Unit Chair Dave Moore resigned in May, and Vice-Chair John Zambory has assumed leadership of the unit. Many thanks to Dave for everything that he has done to bring together and energize Unit 24! Despite his resignation, we are grateful that Dave is continuing on as Shop Steward at the Filtration Plant, and is helping in the transition of the chair duties to Brother Zambory.
• Beginning in July, Unit 24 will meet every other month at Tujunga Pump Station and every other month at the LAAFP. Please note that the new unit meeting time will be 4:00 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month. Please plan to attend!
Unit 26 – Custodial
By Nancy Romero
• For the past year, ISS management has asked to meet informally with us about restructuring custodial work in outside facilities. CSA Seniors, CSA Supervisors, Local 18 and Department management have participated. We have continued discussions about restructuring, with respect to staffing with permanent CSAs, Senior CSAs and CSA Supervisors, and also work distribution among designated areas. For now, management proposes to add two new permanent CSA Supervisor positions for outside facilities. This is a good step, but we also need to maintain both the existing Senior CSA and permanent CSA positions. We will update you as discussions continue.
• All CSAs are reminded that safety is very important while performing your duties. Please take every precaution on the job. If you find an unsafe working condition, please contact your immediate supervisor. If you want a safety tour for your area, contact your senior or supervisor. Safety tours work; many unsafe working conditions have been addressed as a result of these tours. I encourage all CSAs to fully participate in them. Any member who wants to join a tour as a labor rep should call me immediately for more information (213/387-8274, ext. 113).
• Members are encouraged to report any CSA Supervisor who is performing custodial work to me at the Union office (ext. 113). Supervisors are not to do work beyond their DDR. It has come to our attention that several supervisors have been performing work that is clearly outside of their DDR, and a grievance was filed on July 16. We will keep you informed of any developments.
• Any member who is interested in becoming a Shop Steward should contact me for further information. We welcome and encourage more participation from all Department CSAs.
• Management has recently stated that all custodians will be limited to 10% overtime per the MOU and the directive from DWP General Manager David Wiggs. Be aware that many custodians work under a bid plan that provides members with overtime opportunities beyond the required 10% minimum. Please be diligent in assuring your adherence to this policy.
Unit 50 – Burbank
By Barry Poole
• The retiree benefit level increases from Level 1 to Level 4, effective July 1, 2003. This is a PERS insurance benefit for people who pass away during the time they are actively employed. An employee’s survivor who previously received $300/month will now get about $2,000/month. This is a very significant and welcome increase!
• Wage negotiations for 2003-2004 are on-going.
• Negotiations continue on the overtime issue. The committee that is working on this issue consists of Brothers John Washington, Tom Wilke, Jeff Hancock, Jim Anderson, Barry Heller, Chuck Malys, Bill Hamilton, Russ Riegler, and myself. If you have any suggestions or input for this committee, please contact any one of the members.
Unit 52 – Owens Valley
By Hank O’Neil
• Local 18 and Department management are meeting on staffing requirements and other issues concerning the Owens Lake Dust Mitigation Project. Positions have already been added.
• Dave Huff, Administrator of Joint Labor-Management, is setting up an all-committees meeting for Owens Valley Mojave. Please keep an eye out for the date of this important meeting.
Unit 52A – Mojave
By Hank O’Neil
We wish to welcome aboard Robert Turner as a Local 18 Shop Steward. We know that Brother Turner will be up to all the challenges of this important position. He joins our very experienced Unit Chair, John Miller, and Shop Steward, Judy Fuentes, to round out our Local 18 Mojave team.
Unit 53 – Water
By Hank O’Neil
• Thanks to the Water Distribution employees who volunteered to have their shifts changed to afternoons so that the Santa Monica Water Plan line construction could be performed by DWP personnel. We hope the Department also appreciates our gesture.
• The Water Distribution Joint Labor-Management Committee has agreed to a policy for handling broken gas lines, and it is being presented to the Joint Resolution Board for approval. Further, the JLMC is currently forming a subcommittee for the purpose of negotiating alternate work-schedule agreements (9/80) in the districts.
• The Unit 53 meeting is canceled for August, as voted upon by the members. Meetings will resume on a monthly basis in September. We are working on a lot of issues and should have a lot to report at the September meeting.
Unit 55 – Communications
By Nancy Romero
• Special thanks to all Unit 55 members who attended the Annual Dinner Meeting on June 18. We had a great time discussing issues and reviewing our successes from last year.
• Recently, a Letter of Agreement was signed regarding special assignments (see page XX). We will join in implementing this Letter in ITS. The new Letter meets the criteria of the Telecomm Bid Plan and it expands labor’s role in the decision-making process of filling assignments.
• With this Letter signed, the Safety Rep position will shortly be filled by using this new process. We will work with ITS management to get more details on this new position.
• Unit 55 is looking for new Shop Stewards. Any interested member should call me for information.
• Concerning staffing, management has recommended filling several positions in the upcoming fiscal year. During staffing discussions, its proposed recommendations were cut. Management will add new positions, but not at the level anticipated at the May 21 Unit meeting. We are meeting with ITS management to discuss the future needs of the Network Operations Center. Management has proposed to establish a 24/7 operation for NOC. This means we will need four new Senior CEs and another Senior CE slot that was converted from another classification. Once these senior positions are filled, they must be backfilled permanently. This expanded operation will be supervised by the current Data Shop Supervisor. We will keep members abreast of on-going discussions.
• As of this writing, ITS is interviewing for 11 Assistant Communication Cable workers and one Communication Electrician.
• We want to send a special thank you to Senior CE David Ray for all his hard work and dedication while participating on the Telecomm Joint Labor-Management Committee (JLMC). Brother Ray has recently submitted his official resignation as a committee member. We acknowledge his leadership and vision on the committee, and wish him well in his new endeavors.
• Any member who wishes to join this committee should contact me at the Union office (ext. 113) for more information. The Telecomm JLMC meets on the second Thursday of the month, either at the Union office or the Boylston Yard. Meetings begin at 9:00 a.m. and run about two hours.
• We have been in discussions with management with regard to the expansion of the Network Operation Center. Management has proposed a 24/7 operation, with a 5/40 shift. We encourage all eligible members to apply for the bids in relation to all the new Senior CE positions that will become available. Depending on the shifts that they bid into, members will enjoy additional monetary compensation.
• Through the Telecomm JLMC, we are drafting an emergency response plan for all Telecomm members. This plan includes on-duty and off-duty call-in procedures. The plan will be presented to all members once it is reviewed and approved by the proper channels.
Unit 60 – Waterworks Mechanics
By Gus Corona
We have formed a subcommittee in order to deal with classifications performing duties which cross over into activities outside of their DDRs. This Jurisdictional Subcommittee was formed under the Joint Labor-Management process, and is made up of an equal number of labor and management representatives. Our goal is to define duties as they are established by the DDRs. We are focusing on the classifications of Electrical Mechanic, Waterworks Mechanic, Water Utility Operator, and Water Treatment Operator. Please direct any questions, concerns or ideas to your business representative or to any one of the subcommittee members:
Mike Fitzpatrick
Rick Garcia
Dave Godinez
John Zambory
Unit 64 – Azusa
By Bill Lewis
• We have talked with management about water issues and realignment. Management has indicated that it would like to resolve these issues prior to next year’s negotiations. We are confident that we will be able to arrive at a mutually agreeable resolution.
• A grievance has been filed aiming to allow you to be part of
Local 18’s medical plan. If we prevail, the City will have to pay
for the benefit from your flex benefit funds. We believe that the contract
allows for this provision, but we are still getting resistance from the
personnel director.