From the trenches...

           Reports from your Business Reps

Unit 1 – Electric Distribution
By Barry Poole

• The 21 st Annual International Lineman’s Rodeo and Expo was held September 11, 2004, in Bonner Springs, Kansas. I am very pleased to report that IBEW Local 18 teams from the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power did exceptionally well.

In the Journey Level Class, 184 teams competed. Forty-one of them were from Municipal Utilities.

The top Overall Municipal Journey Level Team consisted of Ben Rodriguez, Troy Couch, and Randy Bowen.
Third Overall Municipal Journey Level Team consisted of Omar Diaz, Armando Estrella, and Randy Bowen.
Thirteenth Overall Municipal Journey Level Team consisted of Graham Peace, Dave Schneider, and Sean Nicklaw.
In the Apprentice Class, 193 teams competed. Forty were from Municipal Utilities.
Second Overall Municipal Apprentice went to Monte Notton.
Eleventh Overall Municipal Apprentice went to Randy Pierson.
Sixteenth Overall Municipal Apprentice went to Curt McMillon.
Seventeenth Overall Municipal Apprentice went to Dave Martinez.

These were great finishes for IBEW Local 18’s DWP teams! To all participants: terrific job, and keep up the good work.

Many volunteers contributed a lot of hard work to make this event a success. Special thanks go to: Allan Strafford, the Kansas City representative; Brothers Matt Vaughn, Steve Frost, Ashton Flores, and Mark Berenbach, who worked as teamsters; Judges Dick Brown, Marvin Friesel, Tory Viso, Bruce Martin, and Daryl Buckley; Managers Ed Miller, Mark Hollister, William Davis and Alex Valkoff, and Russ Butow, Local 18’s Senior Assistant Business Manager.

• The Department of Water and Power team, consisting of Graham Peace, Dave Schneider, and Sean Nicklaw finished second overall in the journey-level competition at the Southern California Edison Annual Lineman’s Rodeo. The Rodeo was held on June 12, 2004 at the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area. Twenty-one journey-level teams competed, representing Edison, San Diego Gas and Electric, DWP, Riverside and the Imperial Irrigation District. Great job, guys, and keep up your terrific work!

• We had a big turnout for the Unit 1 dinner meeting on August 12, with 72 people on hand. There was a lot of discussion about the new training programs. Please plan to attend your unit meetings in order to learn more about these programs.

Unit 2 - ESOs
By Bill Lewis

• The subject of System Wide Operator for Substations has surfaced again. At our last Joint Labor-Management Committee meeting, it was decided that before we go down this path, we needed to know what the operators felt. Two questions need to be answered: 1) What does system wide operator mean to you?, and 2) How do you see it working? The committee members are tasked to answer these questions using input from their respective areas. Any ideas you have should be given to your JLMC representative.

• A new Civil Service bulletin is in the final stages of approval. A key provision in the new bulletin is an increase in the length of the training program from 18 months to two years. With any luck, there should be a list some time in the spring of next year.

Unit 3 – Testers
By Bill Lewis

The training committee is continuing its hard work on developing the curriculum for the new training program. We are meeting with management and personnel in order to determine the best course of action with respect to re-classifying the Assistant Tester position to a training position, and grandfathering the current Assistant Testers in their permanent positions. Much work is still needed in order to reach the training committee’s goals. We are moving forward, and we are confident that in the end, we will have a superior program for present and future Testers.

Unit 4 – ISS General Construction
By Hank O’Neil

• We now have approximately 220 annual rated employees in General Construction. This has been achieved in a relatively short period of time, about three years. I want to credit the Joint Labor-Management process for improvements in working conditions, job site safety, training, up-grades in certain positions, and other policies agreed to under the JLM process.

• We still have a long way to go, but the committee is working hard to continue to improve and progress towards future challenges. Please make every effort to attend your Unit meetings.

Unit 6 – Materials Management and Logistics
By Hank O’Neil

• The MM&L Joint Labor-Management Committee’s (JLMC) meeting schedule for the rest of 2004 is November 3 and December 1 (the October meeting was held on the 6 th). Please communicate with your committee members if you have any issues you want to have looked into and discussed.

• MM&L’s JLMC has accomplished a lot, and continues to work towards even more. We have gotten pay upgrades (including back pay) for several employees—Warehouse and Toolroom workers and Senior Storekeepers. We have been working to get the appropriate personnel trained on computers, and for safety (first aid, CPR and fire), and purchasing. We have created and sent out a survey to employees, seeking to find out what they need at their various facilities, with respect to materials and equipment. We are awaiting survey results. We have made tours of outside vendor stores and a trade show in Long Beach, in order to update our knowledge of modern material-management techniques that could improve our own operations. Much of this activity could not have been accomplished without the guidance and assistance of the JLM program administrators.

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

• Using the Mutual Gains process, we have held meetings in order to discuss Clerical staffing concerns in the Water Quality and Operations sections at the Los Angeles Trailer, Los Angeles Filtration Plant and the Ripple Yard. We have repeatedly informed employees that it is not their fault that management is not backfilling clerical positions. Further, it is not your responsibility to do the work of two or more people. Your responsibility is simply to do an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. However, because management’s needs and workflow will have an impact on clerical employees, IBEW Local 18 is willing to discuss these issues. Clerical members and affected Shop Stewards will be involved in this process.

• When the Power System first completed its reorganizing and restructuring, management was not sure how clerical employees would be impacted by it. We have reached an agreement with Eileen Lau and Karyn Grime that when changes in working conditions that affect clerical are identified, you will be notified. Some Power Operating & Maintenance clerical personnel became alarmed after receiving an e-mail stating that changes would take place within a few days. They called the Union office, only to find out that we had not been aware of the expedited changes. Using the Mutual Gains process, Local 18 and management reached an agreement to talk about the changes in a meeting with clerical employees.

• We have been on the road again! Since July, we have visited the following locations: Lone Pine; Owens Valley; Bishop; East Valley Water; West Valley Water; Valley Metro Service Planning; Wilmington Service Center; Harbor Generating Station; Harbor District Water; Ripple Yard; Central Office; Van Nuys Branch Office; Mission Hills, and Watts Branch Office.

• Just a reminder: if you are an employee in the Clerk/Clerk-Typist or Senior Clerk/Senior Clerk-Typist/Senior Clerk Stenographer Classification and have received an “A-level” appointment by means of the clerical realignment in 2000, you do not have bid rights. You must bid to your position in order to have bid rights. Bid rights can be a determining factor when there is a reorganization or layoffs. Bid rights will be defined in the glossary of the new Clerical Bid Plan that is coming soon.

• Recently, some of our active Union members attended the Summer Institute of Union Women Conference at the UCLA Labor Center. Here is what some of them had to say about their experience:

  Lynette – Senior Clerk Typist: “Ignorance has been replaced with a wealth of knowledge. The class entitled, ‘Our Broken Health Care System’, has helped me to understand the important components of the health-care industry.”

  Kristie – Customer Services Representative: “Hearing other points of view from several different countries, and hearing about their laws, was enlightening. In the Grievance Class, we discussed how it [a grievance] would be handled here in the U.S.; in Canada, it was a totally different resolution.”

  Cindy – Senior Commercial Field Representative: “I’ve enjoyed the camaraderie and the common goals we shared here.”

  Billie – Clerk Typist: “In the Women in Global Economy Class, hearing [representatives] from Japan and British Columbia, I saw that their experiences in the union struggle with issues like back pay are similar to those here in the U.S. The commitment shown by the group was inspiring to see. The Labor Law updates were focused on the use of e-mail and laws protecting the employee. Also, we were provided information about disability and the Family Medical Leave Act.”

  Laura – Senior Commercial Field Representative: “My Political Action Class is hard work!”

  Karen – Commercial Field Representative: “I found the Grievance and Arbitration Class interesting. We actually had to work a case from the investigation through to the resolution. Although the process can be time-consuming, it is well worth it if the resolution is fair.”

All in all, it seems that the conference was a big success!

• Earlier this year, Sisters Leslie Bryant and Kristie Leslie-King attended the IBEW’s Ninth CSR Summit in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Six Local unions were represented by Business Reps., Shop Stewards and CSRs. Safety was a very important agenda item. IBEW Local 2286 ( Baton Rouge) has experienced the problem of “sick building syndrome”. Sisters Bryant and King reported that Local 18 Business Rep. Geralyn Washington-Tatum offered tips on reporting incidents, collecting information, and using company and personal doctors when necessary. Summit topics also included: staffing, training, site meetings and company-issued cell phones. Both sisters reported a wonderful feeling of friendship, togetherness and brotherhood/sisterhood from a group of people sharing a common cause.

• If you would like to become active in your Union, please contact one of us!

• If you want to schedule a Unit 18 meeting, please contact Geralyn at 213/387-8274, ext. 105.

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

• The Personnel Issues Committee currently is reviewing the Utility Executive Secretary Bulletin. If you have any ideas or comments, please fax them to us at 213/739-6937 as soon as possible. Be sure to include your name and telephone number in case we need to contact you for any clarification.

On a Safety Note:

• Safety is our first concern. Do you know how to evacuate your work location in time of emergency? If not, please ask your supervisor for the proper procedures. If you are unsuccessful in this, please contact your Union rep.!

• On another safety note, we are looking for volunteers to update the Safety Bulletin Boards in the Water and Power District Yards. If you are interested, please contact Shawn at 213/387-8274, ext. 111.

Unit 9 – Generation
By Gus Corona

At the recent In-Basin Joint Labor-Management Committee, we discussed at great length the matter of scheduling plant maintenance. Many issues were raised, including the fact that work is being deferred because of an inability to work overtime. We explained to management that Local 18 members take pride in having generating units that are both safe and reliable. However when the Department places unrealistic time frames for performing maintenance, that prevents plant personnel from completing their work to the best of their ability. This not only hurts plant morale, but DWP as a whole. Management has agreed that these problems must be addressed, and will work with us in order to find a solution. I will have more information at Unit 9 meetings and in the Surge.

Unit 13 – Automotive
By Ken Delgado

• It has been brought to my attention that through the Department intranet (M4 program), you can access the Local 18 website. So now you can look up where and when your next Unit meeting is, or simply find out what’s happening at our Union—events like the annual picnic and the golf tournament.

• At our last meeting, we discussed holding our annual Dinner Meeting on Monday, November 15 th, but we have not yet settled on a place. We will hold Unit officer elections at our Dinner Meeting.

• I have been getting some good feedback and interest from members who are interested in becoming Shop Stewards. If you are interested, please remember that participation in our Unit’s regularly meetings is very important.

Unit 14 – Transportation
By Bill Lewis

It appears we are finally making some progress on re-capturing your work. Water Operating has agreed to bid an Operator for each district, and ISS has agreed to two positions. These positions will be filled on an interim basis and then bid through the normal process in February, 2005.

Unit 15/20 – Pasadena
By Barry Poole

• We continue to meet on the health plans. The rate for PERS health plans has gone down, and that is very good news. The private health plan provider for the rest of City of Pasadena employees has said that it cannot maintain its rates, and expects them to rise steeply in the next cycle!

• It was agreed to change from Blue Cross dental insurance to UCCI. UCCI has the same benefit/cost level as Blue Cross, and the cap on the annual usage is $2,000, whereas Blue Cross is capped at $1,000.

• We met with City representatives on August 19 in order to discuss the implementation dates for various classifications.

• The City has agreed to maintain the 2.5% spread between the Power Troubleshooter and the Senior Cable Splicer. This means that the Power Troubleshooter receives an additional 0.41% that also includes retroactivity.

• Negotiations have concluded. Salary increases and retro checks have been paid out. We continue to work on outstanding issues including, two Electronic Technicians moved up to the Senior level, two Instrument Mechanics moved up to the Senior level, retroactivity for the new positions of Field Design Technician and Vault Inspector, creating new job specifications for the two new Senior Electrical Mechanics, clarifying the job duties and pay for the Electrical Construction Workers, and a new title/job specification for the USA Locater.

Unit 17- Field Groups
By Nancy Romero

• After several meetings, the changes to the meter-reading routes were suspended until a full discussion is held. The changes to the meter-reading routes that occurred in late July were unilaterally implemented by Customer Services Business Unit Meter Reading Management and Supervisors. In an effort to discuss this issue collectively, we expect to meet with the top CSBU Leadership and air the issues raised by our members during the short implementation period. Concern was voiced over how the decision was made to increase the work in the routes, and the consequences these decisions had on the Meter Readers’ daily working conditions. Among the concerns shared by Local 18 members were significant shifts in the meter-reading routes, especially routes that were issued last. Several members found that the elimination of 20 minutes of discretionary time in the route caused a half hour (or more) of actual work. I want to thank all the members who called to help resolve this matter. We will be looking to you for input and leadership as these discussions are held.

• We are currently trying to address the issue of whether or not the Field Investigators should be installing any meters on new panels. This safety issue was raised by the members of the SCFR JLMC, and will be followed up at subsequent committee meetings.

• Attention Field Investigators: the Joint Resolutions Board (JRB) discussed the option of expanding the existing FI uniforms to include shorts. At its August 19 meeting, an agreement was reached to allow Field Investigators to wear shorts.

• The Commercial Field Representative Joint Labor-Management Committee (JLMC) has been reviewing existing positions for Dispatchers, and has come up with several recommendations to better implement the Mobile Data Dispatch System program, including consolidation of Field Service and Field Collections Dispatchers’ duties. There will now be just one kind of Dispatcher, who will have multi-functional dispatching duties (dispatching to both Field Service and Field Collections). From now on, responsibility for the roughly 45 “special pickups” orders will be distributed to the Field Collectors in whose territories the collections lie. We are attempting to remove the Dispatchers from the Unit Accumulative Overtime Log lists in order to address some of the concerns our members raised about the distribution of overtime. A training manual and module will be developed to assure consistency in the deployment of the work for the CFRs. And, finally, a back-up plan will be put in place to assure fair rotation into those positions that are now all multifunctional.

• We hope that labor members of the three Field Group JLMCs will post the final minutes of all of our meetings. In addition, the Senior Commercial Field Representative JLMC will have its minutes also available online on the DWP intranet. Any member who is interested in tracking any issues that are being discussed at the JLMC can either review the posted minutes, or in the case of the SCFRs can also log on to the intranet. All members are encouraged to raise any issues, recommendations or opinions on the topics in discussion. We welcome you to contact any of the JLMC members in order to discuss any issues.

• Several members are working with the CSBU Safety Coordinator and department managers on how best to address the ergonomic issues that have been raised with the implementation of the MDDS System. To date, previous DWP consultants have provided two reports. Several members were asked to help identify specific issues concerning laptop use. While the reports are somewhat inconsistent, one thing is perfectly clear: our members must be able to work safely with these new tools. They must be able to work with them in the most efficient manner, but also in a manner that makes sense to them. If you have a suggestion on how to work with the new handhelds, please share it with any of the CFR or Senior CFR JLMC members. We will continue to report on this issue at the unit meetings and in the Surge.

Unit 19 – Station Maintenance
By Gus Corona

Along with rank-and-file representatives, IBEW Local 18 has been meeting with management with+ respect to the staffing levels at the new Sylmar Converter Station. Management’s original proposal was unacceptable to us. Using information provided by the members on the committee, we were able to show management that its proposal would not be feasible. The committee members compiled a comprehensive report showing the amount of maintenance that will be required at the new station, and how many man-hours it would entail. With this information on hand, it will be hard for management to question our reasoning concerning our proposed personnel strength for the new facility. Currently, we await management’s response. As new information becomes available, I will keep you informed at unit meetings and through the Surge.

Unit 19B – Generating Station Crafts
By Gus Corona

In dealing with the Accumulative Overtime Log (AOTL), committee members representing labor have been meeting on a regular basis. Our goal is to present a proposal to management in a few weeks. We want to have a revised shops AOTL agreement ready to be implemented by the start of the new year. The committee is working hard to find solutions for issues that have existed for quite some time, and we are confident that we will make our goal. I urge all members to attend our unit meetings in order to insure that your concerns are being addressed, and to stay informed of the progress we are making.

Unit 22 – ESRs
By Bill Lewis

The Electric Service Representatives’ grievance over the additional work they have taken on is progressing well. A tentative settlement has been reached, but the details are still being worked out. More to come!

Unit 24 – Water Supply
By Ken Delgado

• Currently, labor and management have been meeting over the Department of Health Services’ (DHS) certification issue. We are discussing the grade of license for classifications, based on each group’s responsibilities. We have Water Utility Operators, Water Utility Workers and Water Works Mechanics, who all do installations, repairs and maintenance. But how much of this work do you do on your own, by making your own decisions?

I am now hearing from the Water Treatment Operators that DHS wants them to have a distribution license, along with their treatment license, because the operators work out at the reservoir. On August 20, we met with a DHS representative in order to get some clarification concerning exactly who needs what grade of license—based on your work responsibilities.

• The Water Supply Bid Plan is in its final stage of preparation, and it go into effect by the end of October. Hopefully, this will help take care of some of the other issues such as work order, back log, job assignments, and the double runs. I am sure we all look forward to that!

• The Unit 24 meeting was held on October 13. We discussed our annual Dinner Meeting, which will be held in November, and which will include Unit officer elections. The members who attended, had a say in the planning of our Dinner Meeting.

Unit 25 – Gardeners
By Hank O’Neil

The 9/80 alternate-work schedule proposal was discussed by the Joint Resolution Board (JRB). Since there were a number of items the JRB wants to research, a decision on the agreement will be delayed until the September Board meeting. Both Union and management are still discussing staffing and contracting issues.

Unit 26- Custodial Services
By Nancy Romero

• We are currently in discussions with management about a possible increase in Custodial Supervisor positions. We agree that by increasing the number of these Supervisor positions, rank-and-file members will have additional opportunities to promote and, further, that there is a demonstrated structural business need to warrant such an increase. But, we are interested in discussing this option and its effect on the existing Senior CSA positions. These new Supervisor positions are also being proposed as limited positions. We hope that if they are to be added to the CSO Budget, they would be funded as permanent, rather than limited positions, and not by the elimination of the Senior CSA positions. We are also interested in further discussions concerning the filling of permanent CSA positions.

• Any Custodial Services Attendant at JFB who would like to work on a different shift should contact Irv Chou. Accommodations have already been made with several JFB CSAs. I want to encourage other members who may be interested in taking this opportunity to do so now.

• We are working with the Safety Coordinator in order to set up Worker Safety Tours (WSTs) in the outlying facilities. So far, we have had several WSTs and they have brought about several positive changes at those facilities. Any member who is interested in joining the CSA Worker Safety Group should contact me. We encourage you to welcome tour members when they visit, and we especially want you to fully participate in the tour process once it is scheduled. We aim to cover as many facilities as are possible this year.

• At their September safety meeting for the South District, CSAs viewed a video on asbestos. Reminder: please be sure to follow proper procedures when entering the facilities where asbestos has been detected. If you suspect the presence of asbestos, ask DWP’s Industrial Hygienist to visit and survey the area. If you are not clear about what to look for, please contact your senior or supervisor. You can log onto DWP’s intranet and go to the Corporate Health and Safety website for more information on this very important topic. We will keep on working hard for you in order to resolve some of these potentially hazardous conditions.

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

• Business Rep. Kerry McCorkle and I are just finishing a second series of site meetings for members in the Administrative, Technical, Professional, Supervisory Professional and Supervisory Technical units.  The 20 site meetings held at the beginning of 2004 gave us an opportunity to meet each other and introduce you to the basic structure of Local 18 so that you could participate fully as members.  The 20 site meetings this fall offered a chance to review our shared progress over the last year, and to revisit all the ways that we can resolve issues by working together.

The major areas that were covered include:

• The basic structure/arenas of work for Local 18 – including units, Joint Labor-Management Committees, the Joint Safety Institute, and the Joint Training Institute.

• Accomplishments in the “new” units since last year, including member communications and contacts, member involvement and leadership, and progress on your issues and in securing wages and benefits.

• Greater member participation in unit meetings and general membership meetings, and also as Shop Stewards, joint labor-management committee members and Worker Safety Tour participants.

• I want to extend a special thanks to all of the members who reserved meeting rooms and publicized the meetings to their colleagues. And thanks to all of you who attended! Your participation, questions and shared insights are what make these meetings meaningful.

• There are many ways that Local 18 members can stay in touch with what is going on in your Union. The opportunities are there, please take advantage of them!

• Participate in your monthly Unit meetings. Pro is the first Wednesday of the month, at 5:30 at the Union Hall. Super Tech is the fourth Wednesday of the month, at 5:30 at the Union Hall. The monthly meeting schedules are always posted at www.ibewlocal18.com

• Parent Body, Local 18’s General Membership Meeting, meets every fourth Thursday of the month, at 6:00, at the Union Hall.

• For the Professional Unit: Talk to any one of your current Shop Stewards. They are Carlos Cadena, Cliff Damron, John Gutenberger, Mostafa Haji, Guillermo Honles and Geoff Rolik. And, if you or any of your colleagues are interested in becoming a Shop Steward, please contact me! Ultimately, the 650-member Professional Unit should have considerably more stewards to better represent you, and they should be spread out over large geographical and functional lines.

• For the Super Tech Unit: There are advantages in being a smaller bargaining unit! You already have a good network to spread the word. If the news is not always getting to you, please let me know, and your fellow Super Tech-ers will make sure you get in the loop.

• Coordinate with the folks at your workplace in order to make sure at least one or two people attend meetings at the Hall, bringing along questions and issues, and relaying information back to the rest of the members at the site. Several of the more remote locations have already been working out rotations that ensure representation at the unit meetings. Follow their lead!

• Read the Surge newsletter (as you are now!)

• Check out the Local 18 website at www.ibewlocal18.com

• For JFB folks, check the Local 18 bulletin board on the A-level near the cafeteria

• Attention Pro, Tech, Admin, Super Pro and Super Tech Unit members who are in Northern and Southern Owens Valley: Even though your bargaining units remain the same, your Local18 unit is geographically-based. You are members of Unit 52. Unit 52 meets at 6:30, on the third Wednesday of even months, in Big Pine. In addition to the Surge and the Local 18 website, you can get information from the Union bulletin boards in the Bishop Office Building, Bishop Construction HQ, Independence, Lone Pine and the Control Gorge. Owens Valley also has a number of Shop Stewards who are great resources for our new OV members. Unit 52’s Business Representative is Hank O’Neil, and he can be reached at 213/387-8274, ext. 107.

• In October, 2003, the Business Process Improvement JointLabor-ManagementCommittees were formed in order to support an integrated approach to information technology at DWP (please see the article on BPI JLMCs by Dave Huff, JLMC Labor Administrator, from the February-March 2004 Surge. As part of that process, all requests for funding of IT projects will be reviewed by the BPI JLMCs prior to being reviewed through the normal Notice of Compliance process. Please know that if you plan to pursue IT funding, you should budget the time to go through both of these review procedures. The BPI JLMC information, procedures and forms can be found on the DWP intranet at “BPI”. The NOC procedure is coordinated, as it has been, through DWP Labor Relations in JFB Room 507.

• Please continue to stay involved and keep in touch! Local 18’s monthly meeting schedules and locations are always posted at www.ibewlocal18.com. And I can always be reached at labbott@ibewlocal18.com or 213/387-8274 x 110.

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

• I am pleased to tell you that your IBEW Local 18 MOUs have been approved by the Los Angeles City Council on an 11-1 vote. As reported previously, there is still a lot of work to be done. Your participation and attendance at upcoming Union meetings is very important. I need your input as we prepare to work on the remaining issues. Please be sure to attend your monthly meetings and get involved and informed.
  
• We will be soon begin the process of starting the Worker Safety Group Tour (WST) process. WSTs feature a supervisor and rank-and-file union member. Labor and management work hand in hand as equals in order to resolve safety problems or issues. Training for WSTs is provided by the Joint Safety Institute. Please see your supervisor to get scheduled for the Safety Information and Action Class, which is the prerequisite training course. I am seeking members interested in participating in Worker Safety Groups. You can find information about them at the Joint Safety Institute Intranet site, at “JSI”.

• Leslie Abbott and I will be conducting another round of site meetings for members in the Administrative, Professional, Technical, Supervisory Professional, and Supervisory Technical Units. We will update you on the gains we have made since we began representing you. We will also be informing you about on-going issues. Please look for more information both at your worksite and on the Local 18 Bulletin Board on the A-Level at JFB
  
• I continue to look for members who want to lead in the Technical, Administrative, and Supervisory Professional Units. Please contact me if you are interested in becoming a Shop Steward or a Joint Labor-Management Committee (JLMC) participant. There are already several Technical Unit and Supervisory Professional Unit members appointed or nominated to JLM Committees. There are opportunities for you to take an active role in your Union’s activities, such as monthly unit meetings, WSTs, and JLM Committees. Come to the monthly unit meetings and get involved!

• I am pleased to announce the recent appointment of Willie Gaskins from ITS as the newest Technical Unit Shop Steward.
  
• Technical Unit meetings are scheduled on the second Wednesday of every month, at 5:30 p.m., at the Local 18 Union Hall.
  
• Administrative Unit meetings are scheduled on the third Wednesday of every month, at 5:30 p.m., at the Local 18 Union Hall.

• Supervisory Professional Unit meetings are scheduled on the first Tuesday of every month, at 5:30 p.m., at the Local 18 Union Hall.

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

Unit 50 - Burbank
By Barry Poole

• We continue to meet with City representatives on enhanced retirement programs. The City has not been receptive to the idea. Therefore, a coalition made up of IBEW, BCEA and BMA is going directly to City Council members in order to discuss the issue with them.

• We have secured a new meeting place! We will meet at the Burbank Elks Hall, at 2232 North Hollywood Way. Starting time for the meetings has been changed to 4:30 p.m. The next meeting will be Monday, October 25. The November unit meeting will be held on the fifth Monday, the 29 th. Our Christmas Party is set for Monday, December 13. Please be sure to mark your calendar.

Unit 52 – Owens Valley
By Hank O’Neil

• The Owens Valley Electric System Joint Labor-Management Committee is discussing the addition of one Instrument Mechanic and two Electrical Mechanic positions. Further, the committee is considering an addition of a much-needed Electrical Mechanic Supervisor slot for the Owens Lake District Mitigation Project, well maintenance, and the New Line Canyon Wind Farm Project.

• A new well at Haiwee has been drilled, and the test results are pending. The next step will be installing the piping.

• Robert Mannatt has come forward to serve as the Shop Steward for our new Professional and Technical members in Northern and Southern Owens Valley. He will be working closely with the other Local 18 Shop Stewards and officers in order to learn how we operate in the Owens Valley. Bob is based in Independence.

• The Electric Distribution Section has a vacant Electrical Craft Helper position. The notice concerning the filling of this vacancy should be posted soon. In addition, there were no bidders for a Line Patrol Mechanic (LPM) position. The list has come out for LPM, and it may become necessary to fill this slot from it.

• The new Bishop employee parking lot engineering design should be completed by mid-September.

Unit 52A – Mojave
By Hank O’Neil

• Congratulations to Unit Chair and Shop Steward Robert Turner on his promotion to Building Repair Supervisor.

• Welcome aboard to new Shop Steward Lou Mannatt! Lou will be undergoing Mutual Gains Bargaining training in the near future. He will also be the Mojave representative on the Aqueduct Joint Labor-Management Committee. Thanks for coming forward, Brother Mannatt, and making a commitment to serve!

• Mojave’s commitment to safety and the Worker Safety Tour process is among the best! Employees have been very active, and the tour reports are very professional. Keep up the good work!

Unit 53 – Water
By Ken Delgado

• Currently, labor and management have been meeting over the Department of Health Services’ (DHS) certification issue. We are discussing the grade of license for classifications, based on each group’s responsibilities. We have Water Utility Operators, Water Utility Workers and Water Works Mechanics, who all do installations, repairs and maintenance. But how much of this work do you do on your own, by making your own decisions?

I am now hearing from the Water Treatment Operators that DHS wants them to have a distribution license, along with their treatment license, because the operators work out at the reservoir. On August 20, we met with a DHS representative in order to get some clarification concerning exactly who needs what grade of license—based on your work responsibilities.

• Our annual Unit Dinner Meeting has been scheduled as part of our regular November meeting, which is set for Monday, the 15 th . At this time, we will elect Unit officers. If you are interested in running for office, please advise your Shop Steward.

Unit 55 – Communications
By Nancy Romero

• In our July meeting, we discussed the approved Emergency Response Plan (ERP) for the Information Technology Services Business Unit (ITSBU). After many discussions, we finally are implementing this agenda item. Supervisors will first distribute the ERP to all identified “essential employees” for their review, and then the plan will be distributed throughout the ITSBU. We want to encourage those members identified as “essential employees” to review the plan of action and determine whether they want to continue to retain that designation.

• The issue of training was the main subject of discussion during the Mutual Gains Refresher training in August. We will keep members abreast of the many items related to this issue as we continue to meet. For additional information, please contact me (213/387-8274, ext. 113) or any of the Joint Labor-Management Committee members.

• I want to thank all of the members who joined us for the Unit 55 dinner at the Acapulco Restaurant in July. We had an excellent opportunity to review important issues and share a good meal. I hope that the word gets around about the good time we all had, and that more members join us at next year’s unit dinner.

• At the Telecomm Joint Labor Management Committee (JLMC) meetings, we have had serious discussions about the need to establish a better method of identifying, tracking and assessing our members’ training needs. To date, we have identified sources for records detailing the training our members have already completed. We need to establish a procedure for entering these records into your training portfolios. We hope to reach an agreement with Information Technology Services Business Unit (ITSBU) management on hiring a Training Coordinator. We hope that, with an agreement, we can fill that position by using the Special Assignments Letter of Agreement—the way the Safety Coordinators position was filled. For now, we will continue to press forward with the acquisition of the existing training records and entering them into HRMS (Human Resources Management System).

• The Standards Review Group is meeting, and we are encouraged by the participation we have had from both labor and management. The first issue being addressed concerns the need to set tagging standards for the installation of cable. The group works well, and has received a lot of positive feedback from members. The Telecomm JLMC may set up similar discussion groups in the future.

• We want to thank all of you who regularly attend Unit 55 meetings at the Boylston yard on the third Wednesday of the month. We have been discussing some very important issues and giving updates from the Union and the Telecomm JLMC. All members are welcome to join us at these very informative meetings!

Unit 60 – Waterworks Mechanic
By Ken Delgado

• Currently, labor and management have been meeting over the Department of Health Services’ (DHS) certification issue. We are discussing the grade of license for classifications, based on each group’s responsibilities. We have Water Utility Operators, Water Utility Workers and Water Works Mechanics, who all do installations, repairs and maintenance. But how much of this work do you do on your own, by making your own decisions?

I am now hearing from the Water Treatment Operators that DHS wants them to have a distribution license, along with their treatment license, because the operators work out at the reservoir. On August 20, we met with a DHS representative in order to get some clarification concerning exactly who needs what grade of license—based on your work responsibilities.

• At our last Unit meeting, members raised the subject of a bid plan for Waterworks Mechanics. We are currently looking for knowledgeable candidates to become members of such a committee. If you are interested, or if you can suggest someone, please contact your Shop Steward.

• At the October Unit 60 meeting, we will discuss our annual Dinner Meeting, which will be held in November. We will also hold Unit officer elections; please participate! I will see you there; remember that members who attend will be making decisions on your behalf!

Unit 63 – Underground Construction
By Barry Poole