From the trenches
Reports
from your Business Reps
Unit 1 (Electrical Distribution/Transmission/Trouble/Street Lights)—The International Lineman’s rodeo in Kansas City was a huge success. The team of Todd Alden, Scott Barnes, and Ron Beech won “Second Place Overall” in the Municipal Utility Division. The team of Troy Couch, Glen Slattery and Ed Slattery won “Fourth Place Overall” in the Municipal Utility Division. The team of Jay Puklavitz, Bill Herriott and Dick Brown won “Fifth Place Overall” in the Municipal Utility Division. In the Mystery Event #2, Disconnect Change Out, the team of Alden, Barnes and Beech won the fourth place prize. In the Mystery Event #3, 12kV Preform Tie with Sticks, the team of Alden, Barnes and Beech won the second place prize. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped with the Rodeo: Mark Barenbach, Terry Rappleye, Scott Hunter, Mike Dario, Bill Helfrich, John Ferguson, Robby Rondoni, Barry Poole, Russ Butow, Allan Strafford, and Rick Schweiner. Congratulations to all participants who qualified to participate in the Rodeo, but were not mentioned in this article. And a special thanks to Business Manager Brian D’Arcy for his continued support, in making sure the funding is made available, so we can participate in the Rodeo.
Unit 8 (Clerical)—As of this writing, we are still waiting to see what “concerns” the Mayor’s office has regarding our proposed Sr. Clerical Re-alignment. Everything is on hold pending their identification and resolution. • The CSR realignment is still in progress. The committee has been meeting to evaluate all the information they are receiving. • We have a new representative on staff. Geralyn Washington-Tatum joined us on Sept. 18. She comes from CSBU and will be working with us in Shawn’s clerical areas: Customer Services, Finance, and Legal. • The Commercial Service Supervisor list has just been established. Congratulations to all who did so well. • The Department has been picking up Sr. Clerk Typists from the new list, and CSR’s from the old list. Welcome to all our new members!.
Units 8 and 18 (Clerical/Supervisory & Administrative)—The Power System Clerical and Supervisory Clerical employees received ergonomic training in August. Our next project will be the Water System. • We have a new member on our Clerical Worker Safety Subcommittee: Lynette Lee from Power Distribution.
Unit 9 (Steam Generation)—Plant committees are back on track. Staffing is still short at all the plants, but with the work that is planned at all the stations it is imperative that we have a direct line of communication with management. Attending the meetings may be hard at times, but it is vital that all members attend. • Two new shop stewards have been appointed at Haynes in maintenance. They are Brenda Fowler and Tom Holmes. We still need more stewards at all the plants; if you are interested, contact your Business Rep, Bill Lewis. • The training committee is still assessing the information that everyone presented during the site meetings. Thank you for your input; together we can develop a first-rate training program. We are looking towards hiring another class in October.
Unit 14 (Transportation)—A Labor/Management Task Force Worker Safety Subcommittee was convened Aug. 9 at the Truesdale Training Center to discuss crane issues. The committee reviewed the list of issues from the July 12 meeting. It was decided to form smaller subcommittees in three categories in order to develop solutions to the various issues. The subcommittees will be Training, Licensing and Communication. Members were to report back to the main subcommittee on Sept. 7.
Unit 17 (Customer Service Field Units)—Management has approached the Union about creating a late shift for Field Services. We met with management on this on Sept. 11 and raised the following concerns brought by the membership: Employees working after dark; supplying hand-held communication devices; and filling the late shift on a strictly voluntary basis. More information will be forthcoming as we continue to meet on this issue. • The Union met with management regarding the Meter Reader Incentive Program. It is our position that any discipline language in the Incentive Program should be removed. The Department already has a discipline process that is quite adequate to correct inappropriate behavior. Adding penalties for discipline to the incentive program would allow the Department to punish an employee twice for the same offense and would be clearly unfair. Management’s position is that they want well-rounded employees and they want to use the Incentive Program to drive the message home. We think that this is unreasonable and unfair.
Units 19B and 60 (Mechanical Shops/Generating Station Crafts/FMBG/Waterworks Mechanics)—Although General Construction Section continues to gradually hire annual rated employees to fill positions previously occupied by exempt building trades personnel, it looks doubtful that they will be able to reach the target of 150 positions by Jan. 1 if they continue at the present rate. This is not good business, as the Department cannot use the Building Trades Union Hall until the positions are filled. As a result, major projects are suffering. Also, it is hard to deal with General Construction as an annual rated organization until there are more annual rated personnel and a permanent General Construction Superintendent. • After being dark for the summer, the monthly unit meetings resumed Sept. 24.
Unit 24 (Water Supply)—We are still looking into the 9/80 schedule for LAWS-DAC operators. The schedule was reviewed by Labor Relations and sent on for review by management and the Union. • All members who were selected to be on a L/M committee are reminded that they are to attend all appropriate meetings. If your supervisor is not cooperating, please contact your Rep.
Unit 50 (Burbank)—Burbank Public Service Department has changed its name to Burbank Water and Power. • Wage increases for the current year have been signed off and submitted. The VEBA program has been implemented. • Discussions are being held about adding new generation on site at the Burbank Water and Power facility. • Six new apprentices will be hired in the Line Section. They are tentatively scheduled to start October 1st. • The Joint Line Apprenticeship Committee is working on revising the Apprentice Standards. This task is very near completion. • A “real-time trading program” is being worked on at Load Dispatch.
Left:
Frank Miramontes congratulates Dick Rude;
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Unit 52 (Owens Valley)—The first Owens Valley and Mojave All Joint L/M Committees meeting was a definite success. In addition to the excellent reports from committee members highlighting their concerns and accomplishments, many of the DWP’s top managers attended and spoke in support of the joint L/M process and highlighted the accomplishments of the committees. Local 18 President Frank Miramontes, who is co-chair of all standing committees, presented an overview of the process and what he hopes it can accomplish in the future. Labor and management speakers acknowledged the importance of Frank’s leadership and praised his dedication, knowledge and hard work. Presentations regarding the commitment of the Union and management to worker safety were given by Distribution Manager Moe Chaudry, Karl Leist of Safety Peak Performance, Corporate Safety Director Hal Lindsey, ISS Director Mike Coia and President Miramontes. • The Unit 52 meeting was well attended and included a Pin Presentation Ceremony with President Miramontes and Unit Chair Nancy Fullingim presiding. The following members received pins honoring their years of service: Don Fisher, 25 years; Tim Dunn, 30 years; Lane Courtney, 30 years; and Dick Rude, 35 years. • Election of unit officers will be held at the Oct. 18 meeting in Independence. We will be electing a Unit Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary. Thanks to Acting Chair Fullingim for an excellent job of filling in during the vacancy.
Unit 52A (Mojave)—Due to an ambitious shutoff schedule, unit meetings have been cancelled until March. The joint L/M and Safety committees will continue to meet and it is important that all committee members attend these meetings.
Unit 53 (Water Quality and Distribution)—A committee made up of Water Service Workers, Water Service Worker Specialist, Water Utility Workers and Water Utility Worker Specialists from each water district met to discuss class consolidation of Water Service Workers to Water Utility Workers. Many questions were raised and will be discussed by Labor Relations. Nothing will be done on this consolidation until all issues are heard and resolved. • Training classes for Water Utility Worker have begun and will be ongoing at the Ascot Training Center.
Unit 55 (Communications)—It has been brought to our attention that some of our members believe that EAA-represented employees are doing jobs in ITS that are under Local 18 jurisdiction. If you know of any incidents of this, please let us know. Call Shop Steward Carlos Saldena (213 367-5880) or Bus. Rep Hank O’Neil at the Hall (x107). We are arranging to meet with management to investigate these allegations. • There will be a Unit 55 meeting in the near future. Please keep an eye out for the announcement and plan on attending.
Unit
64 (Azusa)—On a close vote, the new four-year contract was accepted
by the members. Congratulations to the negotiating team members (pictured),
who did everything they could at the bargaining table to get the best
possible contract. It was no easy job!
Unit 65 (County Sanitation District)—Transition to one-man shifts at the Palos Verdes Gas-to-Energy Facility will occur over the next several months. This will be done in a methodical fashion to ensure continuity of the operation. The first and foremost concern of Local 18 and the District is personnel safety. Specific equipment and procedural changes to achieve this goal have been made or are in the works.