From the trenches...

           Reports from your Business Reps

Unit 2 – Electrical Station Operators
By Bill Lewis

• There appears to be some interest in discussing the System Wide Operator issue again. At our last labor-management meeting, this matter was brought up and reviewed. Management needs to see if there is support from “higher-ups” before we journey down this road again.

• As promised, there have been more bid positions put on the October bid sheet. This is a start, but more need to be posted in Substation Operations. With a new class graduating in January, 2004, there should be more bids posted at that time.

Unit 3 – Testers
By Leslie Abbott

On October 15, the committee that drafted the Electrical Tester Apprentice Curriculum presented its proposed training program to management. The committee members are Cris Martinez, Gilman Jung, Randy Lubs, Romeo Segui, Steven Andersen, Bill Stark, Hoi Lee, Jesse Perez, Dave Almanzan, Roger Luna and Bill Choate. Attending the meeting were Nick Kezman, Dave Pardave, Milton Doucette and Mark Hollister.

The proposal was well received, and management expressed a lot of support for it. A sub-committee is being formed to deal with the technical and logistical aspects of the implementation. We will keep you informed of the progress.

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

• Clerical Bid Plan: committee members are working diligently to sort out the data from the survey. Work on this plan is hard, tedious and time-consuming. We are sorting out several difficult issues, including: single bidder; multiple classifications bid, and step-two bidders.

We’ve said it before, but it deserves repeating: thanks to all of you who took time out of your schedule to complete the bid plan surveys for your respective classifications. Your input has been the driving force for the various committees. We are making every effort to ensure that your thoughts and concerns are considered during the negotiation of your bid plan.

For those of you who did not complete a survey, remember this is your bid plan. We urge you to participate in the process, because you will have to work (and live) with the final product. Make your voice heard! Contact a committee member, or fax your comments to Local 18 (213/739-6937), attention either of us. Your name and phone number must accompany the fax.

• Our Unit 8 Dinner meeting was held on Tuesday, October 14. We had a financial presentation, and reports and discussions about workplace issues. Thanks to everyone who participated; your enthusiastic conversation generated good questions. Our next Unit meeting is set for Saturday, January 10, 2004.

• If you would like:

*A lunch-time site meeting at your location
*To become a worker safety team member
*Learn how you can become more active in your Union

Please contact us at the Local 18 office (213/387-8274; Geralyn, ext. 105, Shawn, ext. 111).

• Attention part-time CSRs:

Just a reminder: if you are a part-time Customer Service Representative, and would like to become a full-time CSR, you must apply for, and take, the CSR examination.

After implementation of the Half-Time Civil Service, it will be at least one year before we negotiate a process allowing employees to go from half-time to full-time. Currently, the provision is for the CSR and Clerk classifications only.

The bulletin announcing half-time CSR will be out soon. Once the examination opens, all applications received from the Saturday, September 13 meeting will be hand-delivered to City personnel for the half-time CSR position only. Shortly thereafter, there will be another bulletin announcing the full-time CSR examination (please note the difference in salary). We encourage anyone who wants to become a full-time CSR to complete and submit an application for this examination.

• Unit 8 Kids Corner
Young Christopher McCrary offered this impression of last summer’s Local 18 picnic.

“A Day in the Park: On a Saturday in July, my mom and I went to Griffith Park to help set up the Local 18 picnic. This is important to my mom and I because it is free. When we get there, I get to see my friend Stuart, Jr. and his little brother, Warren. Griffith Park looks like a festival. In the morning, while my mom helps set up, my friends and I eat donuts. They are frosted donuts.

“In the afternoon, while the games are going on, my friend and I get into a water gun fight. The games are sack races, candy guessing and egg toss. After the games end, my friend and I get ready for the water truck. I know when the truck is there because the kids are screaming. The water truck squirts water out of this hole on the side of the truck. When the water truck is gone, everybody packs up to leave.

“It was a great day at Griffith Park!”

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

• If you want to have scheduled Unit meetings in 2004, please contact Geralyn at the Union office (213/387-8274, ext. 105).

• The Personnel Records Supervisor classification has been added to our bargaining units. Congratulations and welcome!

Unit 9 – Generating Stations
By Gus Corona

Our October dinner meeting was a great success! More than 60 members attended. It is important that you continue to participate in your Union’s activities by attending Unit meetings as frequently as you can. These meetings not only keep you informed about work-related issues, but they also help Local 18 respond to issues that are of concern to you.

Unit 15/20 – Pasadena
By Barry Poole

• The negotiations committee met again on September 30. At this time, we finalized our comprehensive proposal to management. Management is going to the City Council for instruction.

• Monthly meetings have been scheduled on the health plans. We are looking at alternatives to PERS health care. Please attend your Unit meetings in order to get updates on progress on this very important issue.

Unit 17 – Customer Service Field Groups
By Nancy Romero

• We will soon be meeting with CSBU managers and Assistant General Manager of Labor Relations Hal Lindsey in order to continue our conversations regarding confrontations in the field. On a positive note, management has been more responsive in dealing with the recent confrontations that have occurred. DWP customers who have verbally attacked or threatened our members recently have been finding that Department personnel will show up with the LAPD by their side.

• We want to remind all Unit 17 members to please be aware that you are not to perform each other’s work, especially not each other’s overtime work. Recently, Commercial Field Representatives were asked to do meter reading work on overtime, and Field Collectors were asked to perform the work of the Field Service Representatives—also on overtime. We will continue to work with CSBU management in order to find better solutions to the staffing issues, as opposed to having our members work outside of their normal duties.

Unit 19 – Electrical Station Maintenance
By Gus Corona

The Joint Resolution Board has approved the Electrical Mechanic Bid Plan. Now, the next step in the process is to get approval of the membership. Members who will be affected by the Bid Plan will receive a copy of the plan. It is very important that you review the plan and mail in your ballots as soon as possible. Please direct any questions about the Bid Plan to your Shop Steward or Local 18 Business Rep.

Unit 19b – Shops
By Leslie Abbott

Last month, I wrote about Welder Ds who were temporarily upgraded to the B-level on the condition that they obtain additional certifications. The deadline to get these certificates is February 29, 2004. Any B Welder who has not gotten the certifications by that date will be placed on the D-level DDR, effective March 1, 2004.

All Welders and their supervisors, managers and business-unit directors received memos with details concerning the required certifications and timelines. These memos are meant to track the uniform implementation of the agreement, ensuring that Welders have been informed of their rights, and that supervisors are held accountable for granting Welders release time for practice and test-taking. The memos have a return form with signature lines for both Welders and supervisors. Please make sure that the forms are returned as soon as possible. If you have not received a copy of the memo, please contact me immediately at the Union office (213/387-8274, ext. 110).

Unit 24 – Water Supply
By Leslie Abbott

• Unit 24 is now meeting every other month at Tujunga Pump Station, and every other month at the LAAFP. The meetings are at 4:00 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month. Please make every effort to attend these important meetings!

• The November 12 Unit 24 meeting will be a dinner event, so please be sure to RSVP to the Union office (213/387-8274) if you plan to attend. All Unit members will receive a postcard with specific information on the dinner.

Unit 26 – Custodial
By Nancy Romero

• Attention all Unit 26 members: your meeting scheduled for Thursday, November 20 has been postponed because of the Thanksgiving holiday.

• As of this writing, the Facilities Maintenance Business Group has undergone yet another structural change. Al Sosa now has the sole responsibility for all of the Custodial Service Attendants who report directly to supervisors working under the FMBG.

Unit 50 – Burbank
By Barry Poole

On October 14, our Negotiations Committee met in regard to a final side letter of agreement for the Burbank Employees’ Retiree Medical Trust. The side letter was approved and signed off. A check was disbursed to the Trust to pay the final costs, on behalf of the employees, for the set up of the Trust. If you have questions about the Trust, please direct them to trustees John Washington or Barry Heller.

Unit 52 – Owens Valley
By Hank O’Neil

• The work of your local Joint Labor-Management Committee continues to break new ground in the Owens Valley. Working with management representatives Tom Erb, Gene Coufal and Terry Williams, Local 18 has overseen the creation of 36 new positions for the Owens Lake Dust Mitigation Project and the newly formed Enhancement Mitigation Crew. Positions for both water and power have been created; they include new avenues for advancement that were not previously available to some classifications.

• We are pleased to welcome our new members who are coming to us from the ranks of the EAA. You will find many opportunities to use your individual talents and knowledge in being an active contributor to both IBEW Local 18 and Unit 52. Through the tireless efforts of our Union’s membership, you have the unique change to have a hands-on role in shaping your workplace through your input and representation on groups like the Joint Labor-Management Committee and Worker Safety Groups. Again, welcome aboard!

• The Unit 52 Annual Christmas Dinner is set for Tuesday, December 16, 2003. The event will probably again be held at Rossi’s Steak and Spaghetti in Big Pine, but please watch your Union bulletin board for details.

• As always, rumors and rumors of rumors abound when so much activity is taking place. This is an exciting time, and I encourage you to contact your Shop Stewards for the straight facts and updates on everything that is happening. Of course, the best source of information is your attendance at your Unit meetings; this allows not only a chance to hear about what is going on, but also provides your opportunity for direct input.

Keep safe, watch out for, and respect each other, and pray for snow!

Unit 53 – Water
By Hank O’Neil

The Water Distribution Joint Labor-Management Committee has formed a subcommittee to address 9/80 Alternate Work and Schedule for the Districts and Trunkline. After the final meeting, an agreement is close to being ready for submission to the affected Local 18 members for a vote. If successful, the agreement will be sent to the Joint Resolution Board for approval.

Unit 55 – Communications
By Nancy Romero

Currently, we are working with management on filling the Safety Coordinator position for the ITS Business Unit. This new position will be filled by using the new language in the letter of agreement pertaining to this move. The Safety Coordinator will be responsible for assuring that the ITS Business Unit fully participates in the Department of Water & Power safety programs, meetings and activities. Among many other responsibilities, the coordinator will schedule worker safety tours and participation in Joint Safety Institute classes.

Unit 65 – County Sanitation Districts
By Bill Lewis

I am sorry to report that we currently are conducting an agency shop-rescission vote. This was brought forward by some very short-sighted individuals. Not one of the arguments that was used to convince the members to sign the petition for the vote is legitimate! The vote we took to implement agency shop was conducted in full compliance with state law. The agreement is also completely in compliance with state law. I encourage all those who are represented to vote NO on this attempt to collect the benefits that we fought so hard for without paying their fair share for them.