From the trenches
           Reports from your Business Reps

Unit 2 (Electric Station Operators)—Is help on the way? Not for a couple of years. We have been able to convince management (finally) that they need to hire more classes. The plans are to hire two more classes from the current list before it expires in May. As you well know, this is just a small part of what is needed. We will keep on top of this issue to make sure an exam is given soon.

Unit 6 (Warehouse/Stores)—The Union and Water Stores have formed a Joint L/M Committee to deal with staffing problems. Union committee members are Val Fernandez, Ben Jimenez, William Briegel, Brent Kellerman, Howard Gardner and Nancy Hardy. We will be forming similar committees for Stores in other business units where there are similar concerns.
Unit 8 (Clerical)—The final draft of the Letter of Agreement to reassign Exempt Part-time Clerks to Exempt Part-time CSRs in the CSBU is being reviewed by all involved parties. • Meetings are ongoing regarding Civil Service Part-time classifications. We will keep you informed as progress is made. • The CSBU CSR Realignment Committee is currently identifying functions performed by the various CSR levels in each section. • Local 18 has been meeting with management over consolidating Delivery Drivers into ISS. • The Clerical Training Review Committee is meeting to identify training needs. • Please see Units 8 and 18 report for additional information.

Units 8 and 18 (Clerical/Supervisory & Administrative)—A Clerical Safety Training Class was held in March, and another has been scheduled for June. The next step is to arrange for the scheduling and follow-up of Safety Tours for clerical workers. We have implemented a few pilot tours to see how it is working, and we will be coordinating with the Joint Safety Institute. • Good news, bad news: The good news is that the new contract for ergonomic training has been increased; the bad news is that the contract will not be in place until sometime in May. • Corporate Safety is in the process of hiring an employee who will be devoted full-time to ergonomic issues. He should be on board by the time the ergonomic contract is in place. • Local 18 just won an arbitration over the issue of overtime. The decision may have far-reaching ramifications. Management is held accountable for equalizing overtime opportunities as well as training employees to be able to work in various capacities. Make sure there is an Accumulated Overtime Log (AOTL) posted in your work area. If there are questions, refer to Article 9.4 of the MOU or call your Rep.

Unit 9 (Steam Generation)—The training committee is working hard to finalize the new program. There are still many issues that need to be ironed out, so be patient. This is a work in progress and will be a top-notch training program. • All of you who have worked so hard to keep the plants running must be commended. We are slowly getting more help but it still is not enough. This summer looks like another one with long hours. All the work that is being done right now is, hopefully, going to assure that the plants will run this summer. • As you read the newspaper, the headlines are a familiar sight. “Rolling Blackouts!” “Water and Power remains an island of power!” Remember when management was convinced that the plants could not be competitive and the only thing their short-minded thoughts could come up with was to shut the plants down? It is a great day today because of the hard work that our brothers and sisters have done on the Joint Labor Management Committees to convince management to keep the plants running. It goes to show that together we can achieve great things.

Unit 14 (Transportation)—The Joint L/M Committee was scheduled to meet March 27 at Truesdale Center to settle the issue of uniforms as well as other pending issues. • Local 18 is looking into refresher training for crane operator (mobile and all-terrain cranes).

Unit 17 (Customer Service Field Units)—The Union and CSBU management, through the joint L/M process, have formed a committee to review non-vehicular accidents for the field groups. This committee will review accidents and injuries to try to come up with solutions to prevent similar occurrences. Union committee members are Jimmy Bejarano, Commercial Field Rep, Metro; Cathy Jacobson, Meter Reader, Valley; Elizabeth McClodden, Senior Commercial Field Rep, West LA; and Pamela Taylor, Customer Call Center, Clerical. Our goal was to appoint representatives from each district and field classification. Each of these members will then report the findings of the committee to their respective units.

Units 19B and 60 (Mechanical Shops/Generating Station Crafts/FMBG/Waterworks Mechanics)—The Joint L/M Committee for General Construction is finally a reality. The initial meeting was held March 19 and was “kicked off” by Jim Barham, Local 18 Joint L/M Committee Administrator. Committee members came up with several issues they feel need to be resolved. Committee members are Mike Coia (co-chair), Hank O’Neil (co-chair). Don Brink, Don Keen, Dennis Dorsey, Curt Bedlion, Ken Mix, Mark Silinger and Gary Beaman. • The FMBG Joint L/M Committee was to resume meeting on Mar. 29. We’ll list committee members in the next issue.

Unit 24 (Water Supply)—The L/M committee is ready to finalize the Safe Entry Procedure for trunk lines, which will help prevent engulfment hazards. • Bid Plan is now being brought back into compliance with the Steam Plant and Water Supply MOU. • An incident prevention and investigation committee has been formed to look into the chlorine gas incident in the LAAFP Administration Building.

Unit 52 (Owens Valley)—The week of April 16 was a busy one. There were five days of Safety Peak Performance classes, and the three L/M committees met. Also, the Unit 52 meeting was April 18. • The Joint Safety Institute Administrators, Chuck Kokoska and Local 18 President Frank Miramontes, met with Unit employees to explain the Insitute, its goals and procedures.

Unit 53 (Water Quality and Distribution)—Discussion of the Water Utility Worker/Water Service Worker consolidation and 108 transfer process is still ongoing. • An Electrical Shock Hazard Policy has been sent to all committee member from both Water and Power and also Local 18 for review. The policy should be finalized and sent out to employees soon. • Water Distribution initiated a Safety Committee with representatives from all Water Districts, Stores and Water Engineering. The committee meets the third Friday of each month.

Unit 55 (Communications)—A joint L/M committee has been formed and will meet soon. Members are Carlos Saldona, Cameron Ogan, David Ray, Cecilia Weldon, Ralph Bravo, John Collier, Hank O’Neil and Karyn Grime.
Unit 64 (Azusa)—Your Local 18 committee met with management regarding the Overtime Meal Policy. A proposal was made to management and we are awaiting their response. Stay tuned!

Unit 65 (County Sanitation District)—Management and your Local 18 committee met and discussed the training of PPOAs for board certification. It appears that we have resolved this issue. • Local 18 has met regarding grievances at the Commerce Plant and has resolved the issues with management, which has agreed to meet with Local 18 first to try and resolve any issues before they become grievances.