From the trenches...
Reports from your Business Reps
Unit 1 (Electrical Distribution/Transmission/Trouble/Street Lights)—Restructuring of the lineman/splicer program is moving forward. The new program takes the lead out of the curriculum. Also, the jurisdiction over cross-training of linemen will now fall under the EDMT committee. Labor members are Stuart McCloud, John Blondeel-Timmerman, Jim Haner and Paul Gonzales...
The Underground Work Practices L/M Committee is still trying to find solutions for switching synthetic systems in the underground up to 600 amps. Labor members on this committee are Marvin Friesel, Carlos Lopez, John Bondio, Dave Donovan and John Blondeel-Timmerman...
Members with input for either of these committees should contact individual members or call Russ or Barry at the Hall.
Units 8 and 18 (Clerical/Supervisory & Administrative)—The Clerical Class Level Consolidation L/M Committee had its first meeting in July. The committee is looking at the classes of clerk, clerk typist and the senior clerical series to determine how many levels are needed in each class. Labor committee members are Lilly Calvache, Sabra Davis, Rosemarie Guzman and Billie Washington. If you have information or ideas for the committee, contact one of these members or call Annemarie or Shawn at the Union Hall...
Ergonomics training is moving into ISS even though the Department’s computer changeout appears to be slowed down temporarily. All clerical ISS employees will receive ergonomics training. If you would like to be part of an ergonomics resource program, call Annemarie or Shawn...
It is INAPPROPRIATE for you to be working OUT OF CLASS. The Department is willing to use you and abuse you, but not willing to pay you! Don’t fall into this trap!
Units 15/20 (Pasadena)—The City Council was expected to decide in July whether to have Edison take over customer services, billing and meter-reading or keep those functions in house. The city manager’s position (and ours) is that those functions should be kept in house, and that the city should look for partnerships with other public utilities. Although this does not directly affect our members, we are keeping an eye on this issue. Contracting with Edison, we feel, would be a bad precedence.
Unit 24 and 53 (Water Supply/Water Quality and Distribution)—We are looking into joint L/M Subcommittees for Worker Safety.
Unit 50 (Burbank)—We are beginning to work cooperatively with management on issues of open access. We are also studying the maximization of generation asset and possible transition plan.
Unit 53 (Water Quality and Distribution)—We are still working with the Department to staff up with M&Cs.
Unit 64 (Azusa)—We have resolved the issue of part-time workers. Current usage of part-time employees will cease. Full-time employees will be hired to take over those duties. Future use of part-timers to perform our bargaining unit’s work will be curtailed.
Unit 65 (County Sanitation District)—The contract is complete. Members should be receiving the new MOU soon.