At the May 13th Union Meeting, I reported that refusals (a.k.a. strikes), currently suspended to June, will be suspended until September 1st. This is due to current economic conditions. The pre-job start-up for Rosendin on the windmill project will be in two weeks; about the time you are reading this newsletter.
Another item I reported on was the Inside wage allocation. We had a good discussion on the responses from the three vendors, and reviewed the matrix of options. The future healthcare solution looks to be the IBEW National Healthcare plan supplemented with the rate savings being sent to VEBA to cover the co-pays and deductibles with tax-free money.
Any option to our current out-of-control Kaiser costs must involve the membership. We have one more year before our next allocation meeting and I am very interested in hearing from any member on options and ideas. Additionally, any member wishing to help with the solution should contact me about sitting on a subcommittee with our health and welfare trustees to work through the ideas.
A short discussion was had on what to do with the $.93 remaining; if the membership supported allocating $1.07 to health and welfare. Perhaps, placing $.25 toward the building fund for our future Union Hall. This would be an item of discussion at the wage allocation. Another question was to add the extra monies to health and welfare to build reserves. However, the trust does not feel this was necessary due to past trends.
At the Special Called Meeting held on May 20th, a vote for $1.07 for health and welfare passed. Then wage discussions started with a motion for $.93 towards the check. This was quickly amended to apply $.18 towards the building of our own Union Hall and only place $.75 towards the check. A good discussion took place and the question was called. The amended motion passed and thus the meeting was closed at about 8:00 P.M.
Dan Broadwater, Business Manager
Kevin & Tatiana Clark, a baby girl, Ana born 03/14/2010
Lawrence "Larry" Polk
5/19/1921 ~ 3/19/2010
Larry was born May 9, 1921 in Oakvale, Miss. Upon graduation, he hitchhiked to Napa to marry his childhood sweetheart, Dorothy. After one year of marriage, he joined the Navy CB’s and was involved with the building of airstrips on Guam. Returning to Napa after World War II, Larry became an electrician working 42 years and retiring from Napa Electric in 1982.
See the Business Manager's Report
Almost Picnic Time
Saturday, September 25th, is the date set for the Union Picnic to be held at Lake Solano. We need volunteers to form a committee to help organize and keep it rolling. It has become the biggest and best event we have. It takes a lot of planning and help to pull this event off. The picnic always seems to come together at the last moment and everyone has a great time. This year I am asking for your help early. We need ideas to make it better and people to get involved. If you, or someone in your family, would like to get involved call me at ( 707) 337-0347 and get on the committee. We need help in a lot of different ways examples are:
Kids activities, shop for food, organizing the cooks, picking up ice, serving food, persons to set up, organize raffle, shop for drinks, persons to clean up, next day clean up, pick up kegs, truck to haul things.
We need to form a committee and meet sometime this month over a pizza and drinks. Helping hands contact me at 337-0347, thank you, Dean Lloyd.
BLOOD DRIVE
Would like to invite you to help Save A Life
All Donors are invited to a Bar-B-Que after donating!
Donor Mobile parked in the Parking Lot 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Contact the office at 251-9180 or register online at www.bloodheroes.com
Click "Donate Blood" and enter Sponsor Code: obew
To schedule your life saving appointment.
We hosted a Spaghetti dinner - Family night out at the Hall back in April. It was fun evening for everyone. There was a nice dinner shared with nice friends. The kids had a blast eating the many different desserts, making new friends and watching a movie upstairs on a big screen. The adults had time to share stories and laughs with each other over a glass of wine or a beer. New friendships were formed some old friendships were strengthened. I wanted to thank the persons who came to the first Night Out at the Hall. I want to especially thank Tom Houseman and Kerry McCard for their help in the kitchen preparing the meal. We will have to make time to do this again in our future. Thanks again, Dean
EPS—Electrical Project Supervision NECA Napa: May 3, 4, 5, 10, 11 & 12, 2010 Location: Training Center, 720 Technology. Look for a flyer at the hall or download it. This is a NECA class.
The classes ARE NOT managed by the JATC or the IBEW.
You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. This concept has been running through my mind a lot lately. For the first time in my electrical career, I find myself out of work. I have been extremely fortunate to have gone so long without a break in my employment. Losing my job has actually been a positive thing for me in the sense that when we lose things in life it suddenly becomes clear to us just how important they were. Becoming unemployed, I began to look around at what would be an available option for employment for me to occupy my time with until I was able to return to work as a Union Electrician. The truth of the matter is that being part of the IBEW and the JATC program enables an individual to make an extremely good living which is comparable with those who decide to go the college route. The options that I find around me are nowhere near the level of income that I am able to earn as an IBEW Electrician. This makes me very thankful for the opportunity that we all have been given to provide such a good living for ourselves through the hard work of those who established this Brotherhood and those who presently strive to bring us through these dark economic times. As always, questions or comments can be sent to davidiloff@ymail.com.
David IloffGreetings Retiree's,
Retired Electrician Club (May 5th, 2010)
My report is concerning the upcoming primary election on June 8th. My recommendations are supported by the California Alliance for Retired Americans of which we are all members. Obviously the recommendations are intended to be beneficial to seniors and middleclass Americans. Voting is the little mans way to make a better America. A famous American said the water won’t clear up till you get the hogs out of the creek and you don’t get the hogs out of the creek by saying, “Here Hog, Here Hog”. You have to get in the water and push the Hogs out. That being said, lets talk about the Propositions.
Prop 13. Limits on property tax assessment on seismic retrofitting of existing buildings.
This measure would exclude from the definition of “newly constructed” the portion of an existing structure that consists of the construction or reconstruction of seismic retrofitting components, as defined by the Legislature. Real property taxes would not be raised on this portion of the property, even if the property is reassessed at a higher rate because of these improvements. It would encourage building owners to make seismic upgrades without worrying about higher property taxes on those improvements. Vote Yes!!
Prop 14. Increases right to participate in primary elections.
This measure would provide for a “voter-nominated primary election” for each state elective office and congressional or state elected office without regard to the political party preference disclosed by the candidate or the voter. The two candidates receiving the two highest vote totals for each office at a primary election would then compete for the office at the general election. Proposition 14 if enacted, will increase the costs of campaigns, because it requires major party members to run two separate election campaigns each of which must reach out to the full electorate. Vote No!!
Prop 15. California Fair Elections Act.
Prop 15 sole purpose is that elected officials should be accountable to voters-not donors and special interests. Prop 15 is based on a system that has been tested in seven states and creates a pilot project to make voluntary public financing available to candidates running for Secretary of State in 2014 and 2018. Will help to get the influence of big business money out of our election process. Vote Yes!!
Prop 16. New 2/3 Requirement for Local Public Electricity Providers.
Prop 16 requires local governments to obtain the approval of two-thirds of the voters before providing electricity to new customers or expanding such service to new territories if any public funds or bonds are involved. It also requires the same two-thirds approval to provide electricity through a community choice program if any public funds or bonds are involved. Prop 16 was put on the ballot by PG&E to make it next to impossible for communities to vote to form their own power purchasing agencies or join other municipal utilities in order to get lower rates and cleaner and greener energy. CARA is also opposed to the 2/3-vote requirement and the fact that it is a constitutional amendment.
If you watch television at all you can’t miss the constant borage of commercials that is paid for by PG&E to buy a yes vote on Prop 16, for PG&E’s financial benefit. Some of these corporations think they are the Big Dogs and Middle-class Americans are fire hydrants. Vote No!!
Prop 17. Allows Auto Insurance Companies to Base Rates in Part on a Driver’s History of Insurance Coverage.
Prop 17 is sponsored by Mercury Insurance, one of California’s largest auto insurance companies. If passed, Prop 17 will roll back Prop 103 insurance regulations that protect motorists from unfair rate hikes by allowing companies to raise auto premium rates for consumers who have had a lapse in coverage for 90 days (for any reason, including illness, being out of the country, etc.) or who missed a single payment and was cancelled in the past five years. Prop 17, if passed, will penalize unemployed worker, soldiers serving on base in the U.S., senior citizens, students and many others. It is a corporate power grab and must be defeated. This is just another of the Big Dogs trying to enhance their bottom line at our expense.
That’s my report.
Bud Huss
VP Retired Electrician Club 
FUTURE TRIPS: 15-night cruise via the Panama Canal from San Francisco to Ft. Lauderdale on October 6-21, 2010 - four months to plan!!! Information about upcoming trips is posted on www.ibewlu180.org. (Click on “Retirees” and then “Latest News”.)
Information about upcoming trips is posted on www.ibewlu180.org—click on retirees and then latest news.
The JATC has a number of classes listed at their website, www.jatclu180.org. They also have the Solar Trainer up and running - or should we say spinning!
Career Advancement Training
JATC Upcoming Classes
Class
|
Hours
|
Start Date |
Call the JATC at 707-251-0315—www.jatclu180.org
TBD = to be determined
F = flexible hours and days to meet your needs!
IBEW Salting / Comet / Code of Excellence is the last Wednesday of every month – RSVP to the office by phone or email – richm@ibewlu180.org
Details of where the job calls went on the books and refusals will be provided in a timely manner on both the work picture page via www.ibewlu180.org and the recorded work picture message at extension 180 on our phone system. You can access the website 24/7 and reach the recorded message after hours or by asking for extension 180 during business hours.
Newtron requires steel toed boots. If you must purchase a pair, turn in the receipt to Newtron and you will receive a reimbursement up to $150.
Newtron has been slow to man up the Scrubber Project. Once the mechanical subs get out in front the calls should resume in late April and the completion date has been moved to December 2010. Please remember to verify your TWIC pin code prior to taking a call. See our help PDF for resetting your PIN; if such is needed.
At time of dispatch, you will have to present all of your documentation (Driver’s License, SSN card, TWIC card and BAT card), complete some paperwork for your badge/parking and then complete a drug test in Vallejo. You will report two days later to the Valero East Building for safety training and to complete the Newtron new-hire paperwork.
Additional information concerning TWIC is available at
http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/twic/twic_faqs.shtm#twic_cost
Redwood City Electric; Verizon Call Center in Fairfield. 8-10 more JW’s will be needed and calls should be expected in May. Completion is scheduled for July 2010.
Del Monte Electric; Solano Government Center in Vallejo. Another 4 to 6 JW’s will be required, calls may come at any time, completion is scheduled for June 2010.
Recent Projects
Rosendin has been awarded the Queen of the Valley Hospital expansion in Napa. 6 JW’s will be needed for the rest of 2010, 15 to 20 JW’s for the duration of the project, completion is scheduled for 2011.
White Construction has the first phase of the Windmill Project. There will be 13 towers in the 1st phase, manpower needs are unknown, completion is scheduled for late 2010.
R.A Heaps has been awarded the Napa River Trail Project; no manpower estimates at this time.
For those on the out-of-work list, please remember to re-sign. You can use the fax re-sign forms provided at the hall, or you can get one off the web site. Do not wait for the forth Wednesday - resign often!
Health Insurance Reform at a Glance Implementation Timeline **How the timeline affects collective bargaining agreements
2010
No Discrimination Against Children With Pre-Existing Conditions. ** (Beginning in 2014, or upon expiration of the current union contract, collectively bargained group plans will not be allowed to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions for all individuals.)
Relief for Seniors Who Hit the Medicare Part D ‘Donut Hole.’ ** (The donut hole coverage gap in the Medicare prescription drug benefit will be closed completely by 2020. Seniors continue to pay the standard 25 percent of drug costs until they reach the threshold for Medicare catastrophic coverage, when their co-payments drop to five percent.)
Prohibits Dropping Coverage When People Get Sick. **(In the first plan year after September 2010, or upon expiration of the current union contract, whichever is later, collectively bargained plans will not be allowed to rescind coverage.) Effective six months after enactment and applying to all plans.
Eliminating Lifetime Limits on Insurance Coverage. **(In the first plan year after September 2010, or upon expiration of the current union contract, whichever is later, collectively bargained plans will not be allowed to have lifetime limits.) Effective six months after enactment and applying to all plans.
Prohibits the use of restrictive annual limits. ** (In the first plan year after September 2010, or upon expiration of the current union contract, whichever is later, annual limits will be restricted. Beginning in 2014 or upon expiration of the current union contract, whichever is later, collectively bargained group plans will not be allowed to have annual limits.)
Extending Coverage for Young Adults. **(In the first plan year after September 2010, or upon expiration of the current union contract, whichever is later, adult children up to age 26 must be allowed to enroll in their parent’s plan if they have no employer offer of coverage. Beginning in 2014 or upon expiration of the current union contract, whichever is later, adult children up to age 26 must be allowed to enroll in their parent’s plan, regardless of whether they have an employer offer of coverage.) Effective for plans starting six months after enactment.
2020
**Ends the doughnut hole coverage gap in the Medicare prescription drug benefit. Seniors continue to pay the standard 25 percent of drug costs until they reach the threshold for Medicare catastrophic coverage, when their co-payments drop to five percent.
Health Insurance Reform Timelines
Brothers and Sisters,
I know it seems like we just had an election, but there is another one coming in June. Once again you will be asked to vote for your city’s elected leaders and officials. This is an important part of living in this part of the world and it is all of our responsibilities to let our voices be heard. With all that being said, the first part of the process is making sure that we are all registered to vote.
If you have moved, changed your name or your party affiliation you need to re-register to vote. For more information in Solano County, go to www.solanocounty.com and hit the Registrar of Voters link. In Napa County, go to www.countyofnapa.org and hit the Elections link. You can register online at either of these sites or come down to the Union Hall and fill out an application.
Remember, the politicians can’t hear you if you don’t vote.
Stan Nelson
President
We Need Involvement; Not Lip Service!
It’s been a couple of years since I submitted an article aimed at eliciting political action at the local level. It went something like this –
The late British author, G.K. Chesterton once remarked, “A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it.” Essentially, this remark was intended to promote action rather than apathy (giving up and just going with the flow).
For too many years, the basic welfare of the common person has been forfeited for the profit of the elite. Our current economic and political situation underscores this fact. Corporations continue to enjoy hefty profits, bonuses and tax relief, despite having transplanted our manufacturing base to foreign soil. Job opportunities for common people have dwindled to unprecedented lows. Yet the cost of living continues to rise, and education and health care are becoming increasingly unaffordable commodities.
The old maxim, “THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY,” has devolved to “THINK GLOBALLY, AND FORGET ABOUT THE LOCALS.”
Only living, politically active things – like us – having the courage to go against this stream can prevent the further degradation of the common person.
We’ve only got a few tools to leverage change for a more reasonable and equitable distribution of our country’s wealth.
- Registering to vote;
- Actually voting;
- Actively supporting the candidates we endorse.
(Endorsements are fine. And candidates truly appreciate them. But actively helping the ones we endorse get elected is where the rubber hits the road. This is where we can have a concrete impact. And this sort of involvement distinguishes mere lip service from REAL HELP. And it’s the REAL HELP that creates a sense that we are deserving of help in return.)
If you are interested in getting candidates elected who truly appreciate the value of organized labor and look to make our country a more fair and reasonable place for the ordinary person please let me know. With elections right around the corner, we will have plenty of opportunity to turn our endorsements in real help. (Phone Banking, Precinct Walking, Pounding in Campaign signs) – Call Me 707-363-0277 or drop me an email
Kevin Coleman
Building Trades Candidate Endorsements
CANDIDATE |
PUBLIC OFFICE |
Noreen Evans 1275 4th St., #249 Santa Rosa, CA 95404 ID #1293159 |
CA Senate, District 2 |
Michael Allen PO Box 4870 Santa Rosa, CA 95402 ID #1317457 |
CA Assembly, District 7 |
Mariko Yamada PO Box 528 Sacramento, CA 95812 ID #1314088 |
CA Assembly, District 8 |
Jim Spering 675 Texas St., Ste. 6500 Fairfield, CA 94533-6352 |
Solano County Board of Supervisors, District 3 |
John Vasquez 675 Texas St., Ste. 6500 Fairfield, CA 94533-6352 |
Solano County Board of Supervisors, District 4 |
Dan Healy 1930 Sonoma Blvd. Vallejo, CA 94590 |
Solano County Superior Court Judge |
Gary Stanton PO Box 2552 Fairfield, CA 94533 ID #1235662 |
Solano County Sheriff/Coroner |
Jay Speck 2460 Clay Bank Rd. Fairfield, CA 94533 |
Solano County Superintendent of Public Schools |
Brad Wagenknecht 547 E Spring St. Napa, CA 94559 |
Napa County Board of Supervisors, District 1 |
Diane Dillon 1195 Third St., Ste. 310 Napa, CA 94559 |
Napa County Board of Supervisors, District 3 |
Marc Tonnesen P.O. Box 531 Fairfield, CA 94533 ID #1280593 |
Solano County Assessor/Recorder |
Tom Torlakson P.O. Box 21636 Concord, CA 94521 |
State Superintendent of Public Instruction |
Alberto Torrico 1127 11th St., Ste. 550 Sacramento, CA 95814 |
Attorney General |
Also: US Senator Barbara Boxer, District 6; Congressman George Miller, District 7; Congressman John Garamendi, District 10; Congressman Mike Thompson, District 1
IBEW Local Union 180 Supports Brown for Governor
Upcoming Meetings Events & Holidays: REGULAR MEETING 7 P.M. SECOND THURSDAY B-B-Q - 5 P.M. ONLY ON BLOOD DRIVES RETIREES MEETING FIRST WEDNESDAY @ 12:30 P.M. E-BOARD MEETING 6 P.M. FOURTH TUESDAY EXAM BOARD MEETING 6 P.M. By appointment |
Dan Broadwater, Business Manager
UNION BUILT MEANS BETTER BUILT
You want a “ no-worry” electrical system installed in your home safe, reliable and guaranteed. Then you need an electrical system installed by a union electrical contractor. That’s right– UNION! A competent union electrical contractor who employs qualified IBEW union electricians.
Each IBEW journeyman learns the trade through a 3 to 5 year Apprenticeship program. This extensive training combines on–the-job practical experience with classroom theory and testing. And the training doesn’t stop there. Continuing education constantly up-dates the union electrician’s skills through programs sponsored by the IBEW and NECA.
| 6/2/2010 |
|
