Eighteen new people have been picked up as Electrical Craft Helpers. They are: David Campbell; Rodney Campbell; Johnny Carter; Anthony Casillas; Seth Christian; Chad Clabaugh; Jesus Coronado; Joel Coronado; Jesus Lopez; Keith Lord; Juanita Luna; Gonzalo Monje, III; Kenneth Morgan, III; Jabulani N'Namdi; Michael Sabourin; Michael Saucedo; Jose Torres, and Daniel Watson. We welcome them both as Local 18 members and co-workers.

Unit 6 — Warehouse/Storage
By Gus Corona

At long last, after many meetings and delays, the Joint Labor-Management Committee (Material Management & Logistics) held its first meeting on July 3, 2002. This Committee aims to deal with warehouse matters throughout the Department of Water & Power. We plan regular meetings on the first Wednesday of each month. Among the issues to be discussed between us are training and staffing concerns, and Bidnet/Reqnet.
Local 18 Committee representatives are: Joe Augino; Steve Bassett; Jan Deichen; Val Fernandez; Ben Jimenez; Mark Miller; Elliot Oliver, and Gary West. If you have any ideas or issues you would like to have the Committee consider, please contact any of these members.

Unit 8 — Clerical
By Shawn McCloud and Geralyn Tatum

The Voice Operation Communications group has formed a committee to address their specific workplace issues. A major committee priority is safety, and members have concentrated on ways to address concerns in this area. Delivery drivers have been encouraged to discuss the pros and cons of having all their workplace concerns handled by one organization centralized under the ISS organization; their deliberations should be completed at the end of February. The Half-Time Customer Service Representative Committee is working on specific benefits language. This has been a long, detailed process, but great progress has been made, and a committee draft should be ready by the end of February. The current Civil Service list has been extended to June, 2003. We have removed the Parking component from this draft; it is in the final stage of getting signatures, and will be effective this month.
Please note that due to an overwhelming response at our Saturday unit meeting in 2002, we have made some changes. Our first unit meeting for 2003 is set for 9:30 a.m., Saturday, January 11, at the Local 18 hall. If you are conducting safety tours, please be sure to contact your training coordinator so that you can attend this class in CSBU organization. Hats off to CSBU, which completed 82 clerical safety tours in 2002! Joint Safety Institute classes have begun for the Advanced Worker Safety Group.

Units 8 & 18 — Clerical
By Shawn McCloud and Geralyn Tatum

The Clerical Worker Safety Committee is reviewing workplace safety issues. It is responsible for hiring the full-time ergonomics (worker safety/comfort expert) specialist on the Department of Water & Power staff. The Committee has notified management that the area underneath a clerical desk cannot be used as a storage area because workers must be able to take cover in case of an emergency. If you have a safety concern you want the Committee to review, please call Geralyn Tatum or Shawn McCloud at the Local 18 office.
In non-CSBU news, we are starting clerical worker workplace safety tours and evaluations in 2003. We have trained several Shop Stewards, who will ensure that our reporting and visit follow-ups are consistent. If you want to be part of this exciting, rewarding process, please e-mail Shawn at smccloud@ibewlocal18.com or Geralyn at gtatum@ibewlocal18.com Include your name, phone number, work hours and days off. Safety is everyone's concern and we can use your help. We will train you to be effective and efficient. If you need a work site ergonomic assessment and do not have a worker comp case, please contact Marc Hendon at 213/367-1240 and ask for an evaluation.
The kickoff for the Clerical, Supervisory Clerical and Administrative Bid Plan Committee is set for February. Please be sure to send any suggestions or concerns you think should be addressed by this Committee to Geralyn, at the Local 18 office, or by e-mail at gtatum@ibew
local18.com

Unit 9 — Steam Plants
By Bill Lewis

We are finally nearing completion on a revised training program for our members at the four in-basin plants. In other news about the plants, roughly 80 new people—all Local 18 members—were hired in 2002. Approximately 20 of our assistants will be promoted to Steam Plant Operator in early 2003. With a shortage of supervisors, the Department will hire new ones from the ranks of our operators, opening up an equal number of new operator positions. The Maintenance Mechanic exam is coming up soon—at the end of January, 2003. Look for the Civil Service exam bulletin that we will soon be posting at the plants. By early March, 2003, more assistants will be rotated. They will move into maintenance and instrument shops to help relieve the workload and continue their training.

Unit 15/20 — Pasadena
By Barry Poole

We are meeting with members of the Pasadena City Council to discuss, among other things, retiree medical benefits, enhancements and survivor benefit levels, contract negotiations, and new power plant construction. These are all matters of great concern to our members; you should stay current with the progress of our talks on these issues. The best way to do this is to attend your unit meeting, which is held at 4:15 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month.

Unit 19 — Station Maintenance
By Gus Corona

Local 18 began discussions with management regarding the Electrical Mechanic System Wide Bid Plan. Department of Water & Power representatives expressed some concerns about the Plan; we will work with them to try and resolve the matter. We will discuss these concerns with the Bid Plan Committee, with the goal of sending out a draft bid plan to the membership for approval in early 2003. If you would like to see a draft of the bid plan, please contact your Shop Steward or any of these Committee members: Gary Brown, Jim Clabaugh, Joe Copeland, Stan Deichen, Rick Garcia, Dave Huff, and Steve Leyva.

Unit 19b — Shops
By Hank O'Neil

Congratulations to Electrical Repairer Richard David on his Suggestion Plan Award of $7,500 for retrofitting the lighting at the JFB. We thank Brother David for his patience and persistence while using the grievance procedure, because we had to deal with several Suggestion Plan managers over a period of two years in order for him to receive his just reward. Several other suggestions were brought to light from the same grievance.
I regret to report that attendance at the unit meetings has fallen off. I ask all members to get active and attend your meetings so that you can find out what your Union, Local 18, is trying to accomplish on your behalf. We have a lot to do this year, and we really need to do it together.

Unit 22 — Electric Service Representatives
By Bill Lewis

Leslie Abbott, an able and experienced union rep, who most recently worked for the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers in San Francisco, has joined our staff and will take over responsibility for this unit. I will continue to work with Leslie to finalize the Bid-Plan, which will be completed shortly. We are in discussions to create a new Service Investigation group.

Unit 24 — Water Supply
By Hank O'Neil

Unit Chair David Moore, Vice-Chair John Zambory and Secretary Brian Serazio have done a highly commendable job of organizing this unit into a positive force that has benefited all Local 18 members. I want to thank you all for your great attendance at the unit meetings that are held at the LAAFP. We will have quite a lot to report on the key issues we have been working on by the time you receive the next Surge. The first unit dinner meeting in many years was held; attendance was high and everyone had a good time.

Unit 50 — Burbank
By Barry Poole

The Burbank City Council has agreed to contribute $2.4 million in start-up funding for a retiree medical plan. We will shortly get more details about this plan and pass them on to you. Then unit members will vote on it. Burbank City Council elections are coming up in a few months and we are working out Local 18's campaign strategies for these races.

Unit 52 — Owens Valley
By Hank O'Neil

Our members, working with Aqueduct management, have pressed forward on substantial issues—with very beneficial results. Safety-sensitive positions in the shops—that were never previously filled during absences—are now being filled with one to five appointments.
Recognizing the very harmful effects of over-exposure to the sun, long-sleeve cotton shirts will be available at no cost to field personnel on a voluntary basis. Laundering service will be supplied at Department of Water & Power expense.
The Aqueduct Joint Labor-Management Committee is presently discussing staffing matters on the Owens Lake Project, with positions now being allocated and filled. A new safety position has also been allocated and should be filled soon.
We hope to finalize soon—and meet—the insurance needs of our members who are required to live in remote locations but are unable to afford the cost of homeowner insurance (even if it is available). Our unit celebrated all these gains, along with our great contract, at our Christmas dinner, which was attended by over 100 members from across the Owens Valley. For 2003, I wish to remind members that only through your valuable input into worker safety and the joint labor-management process will we continue to enact the positive changes we need for an even better year! Keep up all your great work, and thank you again for supporting your Local 18 reps!

Unit 52a — Mojave
By Hank O'Neil

Even though employees are working long hours on a "shut down," their commitment to the Joint Labor-Management process, Safety Committee and worker safety tours has remained dedicated and steadfast. I wish to thank every member whose effort makes the entire process work. Our unit meetings will resume after the "shut down."

Unit 53 — Water Quality and Distribution
By Hank O'Neil

Unit Chair Jim Schrein is still disabled because of two shoulder surgeries. We all wish him a speedy and complete recovery; we want Jim to know that he is sorely missed! Unit Shop Steward Jim Yeager has returned after being out with a badly sprained ankle. Their participation on the Joint Labor-Management and Safety Committees has been very important and positive—and missed. Get better, brothers!
I ask for better attendance at our unit meetings because the information exchanged there has been instrumental in guiding us on the issues we are working on—on your behalf.

Unit 64 — City of Azusa
By Bill Lewis

Congratulations to Brother Rick Cortez, who graduated from his apprentice lineman course and is now a fully qualified Journeyman Lineman.

Unit 65 — Los Angeles County Sanitation District
By Bill Lewis

In July, 2002, we finalized a five-year contract extension. Some of the significant provisions in the new agreement are: elimination of one-person shifts and a rewriting of the grievance process (we have held two grievance procedures since then and the new system works well because there is a better exchange of information about the cases). Further, we won the recent agency shop election.