Unit 3 (Testers)—There are several grievances still outstanding. Management is holding them up because it was agreed that DWP worked these employees out of class and that they should be paid the difference between their wages and the wages of the employees they temporarily replaced. Now management’s position is that out of class payments are prohibited by civil service rules. We are still working to get these settlements paid. • Two committees will be selected by Chair David Almanzan to work on a couple of issues: 1) The proposed 9/80 in the Main Street Test Lab and 2) ongoing issues affecting testers.

Unit 8 (Clerical)—The Clerical Realignment Committee received instructions from the Joint Resolution Board regarding the Sr. Clerk, Sr. Clerk Typist and Sr. Clerk Steno classifications. We are in the process of compiling all the pieces into one comprehensive proposal to go before the JRB on June 15. We hope to have a signed agreement soon. • The next issue we need to deal with is revamping the clerical bid plan. We are looking to break it apart into smaller, more relevant sections instead of the "one size fits all" plan that doesn’t fit anywhere anymore. We need to have representative members from all the different clerical classifications that will be affected. Please call Annemarie or Shawn if you are interested in participating. • We are trying to set up a joint L/M committee for the Communication Operators and Sr. Communication Operators in the Voice Operators Center. A number of issues need to be addressed in a cooperative manner. • Attention all clerical personnel: The Customer Service Representative exam should be open for filing soon. Study, study, study, and good luck to all. The Department needs more CSRs who have effective communication skills! Here’s another opportunity; take advantage of it. Part-time CSR’s currently are exempt from civil service; if you take the CSR exam and pass, you will be eligible to become part-time civil service, which will give you more benefits. It’s to your advantage. • If you would like a list of all the Customer Service Joint L/M committees and their participants, ask your shop steward or call Shawn. • The Revenue Management 9/80 Joint L/M Committee reached agreement and signed a letter of agreement to implement the 9/80 in their area effective May 8. • CSR Realignment Committee Update: The committee is still in the data-gathering stage. Managers and supervisors are giving their input on what level of responsibility is appropriate for each of the CSR pay grades. Once this task is completed, each CSR will be asked for her or his input. Then the committee will review and make its recommendation. • If you would like a listing of all clerical shop stewards, call Local 18 and leave your name and fax number. • Site Meeting: If you would like to have a site meeting at your work location, contact your Business Rep.

Unit 12 (Supervisors)—Supervisors are affected by two new agreements. The first gives all Supervisors and other classes a five per cent bonus for working at the various training centers (EDMT, EMT). The second is that the wording in the overtime article of the MOU that bars supervisors over the level of Electric Maintenance Supervisor from receiving double time will be removed.

Unit 14 (Transportation)—The incident that occurred at RSB with the crane operator has not yet been investigated. We moved it over to the Joint L/M Safety Committee on April 25. One of the issues we will look into is why no investigation was initiated until now. • Local 18 will also be pushing to bring back the towing of department vehicles to our fleet operations instead of contracting it out. • Crane operation by appropriate personnel is being investigated. There has been crane operation by personnel working out of class. Fifteen ton or less is to be run by an Equipment Operator and above 15 ton by a Power Shovel Operator.

Unit 15 (Pasadena)—Negotiations are in full swing. Your negotiating committee (Chris Alexander, power line mechanic; Metric Edwards, Unit Chair; Larry Husted, instrument mechanic; Brad Secreto, senior cable splicer; Mohamed Youines, utilities equipment operator; Andy Torres, street light and signal repairer) are working hard to secure a quality contract for the members. • We are now in discussions with the City over 2% at 55 at no cost to the members. The City has also offered a Cafeteria Plan, which they have designed without bargaining with the Union. We are discussing this with the Union’s health plan consultatnt, who will be assisting us in responding to this proposal. • Leadman language for the construction crew went into effect on May 22. This will compensate a journeyman 5% above salary when assigned to lead other journeymen. This provision has been implemented by a side letter of agreement but will be included in the MOU at the conclusion of negotiations.

Unit 17 (Customer Service Field Units)—Progress on the 9/80 Alternate Work Schedule has slowed to a snail’s pace due to management concerns, be they legitimate or not, about coverage on an employee’s ASDO. Unfortunately, we were unable to achieve our May 1 implementation target. We will continue to meet and keep you informed of our progress. • There has been discussion of centralizing our unit meetings in order to have greater membership participation. If you have any suggestions or a possible location, please let your Shop Steward or Business Rep know.

Unit 19 (Electrical Station Maintenance/Elect. Mechs.)—The Department finally got through the hiring process and brought 14 new EMTs on board. They will hire 14 more as soon as they can get Civil Service to process the certs. This will bring the number of EMs to within about 40 of what is needed in the next three years.

Units 19B and 60 (Mechanical Shops/Generating Station Crafts/FMBG/Waterworks Mechanics)—The Unit meetings are predominantly attended by Water Works Mechanics, Welders and Carpenters. Good for them! But where are the rest of you? Meetings are the fourth Thursday of each month at 4:30 pm. We are dealing with many issues that affect all of you, and your input at these meetings is important. And here’s a little secret: Not only do you help your Union when you get involved, you help yourself as well! Try it and you’ll see…as your involvement grows, so does your sense of empowerment and connectedness. Take the first step: Come to a Unit meeting.

Unit 24 (Water Supply)—Worker Safety Groups are still doing well. Everyone is getting comfortable with their tours and a real exchange of information and concerns is taking place between the Worker Safety Groups and the frontline worker. Together we can and will make all of our operations safer.

Unit 25 (Gardeners)—We have received a commitment from management to hire more landscapers. They will be filling 23 more positions. This is in response to our members voicing their concerns about the increase in workload and reduction in staff that has occurred over the last few years. The Union approached Management and convinced them that our members were working too many hours and still unable to keep up with the workload, and that something needed to be done immediately. Once again, our members’ active participation has been able to resolve an important workplace issue.

Unit 26 (Custodians)—Management has yet to present their proposed re-evaluation of the workstations at the GOB. Until an agreement is reached that is satisfactory to the membership, we must continue to empty the wastebaskets at the workstations. We will make all information available to the members as we receive it. • Congratulations are in order for 15-year IBEW member Rosie Duckett, who is retiring after 23 years of dedicated service to the Department. All of us at Local 18 wish Rosie the best.

Unit 28 (Reprographics/Print Shop)—The Print Shop/Reprographics Joint L/M Committee has successfully completed its first issue, which was getting the 9/80 work schedule for print shop, reprographics and office machine repair section. A job well done. The 9/80 schedule for these areas has been in effect since April 24. Committee members are Luis Alderate, Robert Castillo, Darnell Jones, Troy D. Jones, Brett MacDonald, Shawn McCloud, JoDel Navarro, Joe Reynoso, Jr., Sandra Tanaka and Roy Yabarra.

Unit 50 (Burbank)—Fire retardant rain gear has been put out to the field for test. Review and revision of the line section’s Joint Apprenticeship rules are being worked on. Discussions are ongoing over intrusive pole inspection contracts. Negotiations over the Electrician’s survey continue.

Unit 52 (Owens Valley)—As discussed at the last unit meeting, there will be Pin Presentation Ceremony before the June 21 meeting in Independence at 6 pm. Refreshments will be served. Please attend and honor our longtime members.

Unit 52B (Mojave)—The next Unit meeting will be June 13 at 5:30 pm. Please see John Miller (Shop Steward) for meeting location.

Unit 53 (Water Quality and Distribution)—The major accident at the Central Water District on March 25 has been addressed through a formal accident investigation and the recommendation will be out shortly. • Worker Safety Group tours are doing fine in the districts. Safety concerns of field personnel are being addressed in a timely manner.

Unit 55 (Communications)—The first class of Communication Cable Worker Trainees has completed their training and promoted to Communication Cable Workers in ITS. Congratulations to all.

Unit 63 (Underground Construction)—Locaters are being given many tickets and being asked to accomplish a large workload. This is a job with a great deal of responsibility involved. Be sure to take the time to thoroughly finish all your jobs. Remember that the Department needs the work done, and they will hire more people to do the job or they will have to allot more overtime to finish the jobs completely. Do not rush through this critical work. • Also, Locaters are not required to carry pagers to be eligible for overtime. Management is required to maintain an AOTL and keep it current. If managemnent is saying you have to carrry a pager to be contacted for overtime in your off hours, please contact your Business Representative at the Union hall. • If the equipment being issued is not working properly, do not use it. Request replacement equipment and turn in a Defective Tool Report.

Unit 64 (Azusa)—Negotiations have begun and proposals have been discussed with the City of Azusa. Your negotiation committee is doing a great job.

Unit 65 (County Sanitation District)—The grievance regarding the hiring of a temporary PPO1 has been resolved with a letter from management. • The One-Man Shift labor committee met to discuss the problems that may arise from the one-man shift. There has been no meeting scheduled with management since the last meeting was cancelled at the last minute. • Local 18 will be meeting with management regarding possible salary adjustment and one non-economic issue.

General Orders 95/128/165

State rules-making committee

Russ Butow and Barry Poole are members of the committee for reviewing and revising CPUC General Orders 95, 128 and 165 for the State of California. If you see changes that should be made to the General Orders to improve them, suggestions can be made to Russ or Barry for submission to the General Orders review and revision committee.