Dear Brothers & Sisters,

Work is bidding locally but not enough to clear our books any time soon. To motivate more bidding activity, I am going to allow contractors to utilize the CE/CW on sites that we have lost contact and Market Share in. This is not to displace Inside Wiremen but to get our contractors composite rates competitive with their competition. This will be allowed on a project by project basis.

I have been working with a group for several years to bring a facility to our jurisdiction. We are still working with them to keep the facility on Solano County. The rumor mill is running rampant and once a land deal is complete, details will be shared with the membership.

A letter will be coming from the Hall soon outlining the Benevolence Fund and its access to the membership.  It will point you in the direction of our website to download the program and forms. This is a hand up not a handout.

The National Health Plan has changed some of its requirements, namely the ability to retain the current carrier (Kaiser) and also lower the monthly hour requirement which in the past was 140 hours. Local 617 is in the process of negotiating a quote and I will be meeting with Dominic Nolan for the details. We have requested quotes from Health Plan professionals from Northern and Southern California without results; no one wants to compete with Kaiser. I will keep you advised as to the status of the National Plan.

I have been appointed by President Hill to sit on The Council on Industrial Relations. I am honored to be selected and look forward to what surely will be an educational and rewarding assignment.

Fraternally,

Dan Broadwater
Business Manager

Dues Increases
We have reported that from the recent International Convention the International per capita was increased by $2 in 2012 and 2014 and possibly a third, in 2016, if membership growth projections fall short.

In Addition
The IBEW Pension Benefit Fund was strengthened by delegates approving an increase in payments of $1 per month in 2013, and an additional $1 beginning in January 2015.

Please make these adjustments in your membership dues payments. The Local monthly dues did not increase and remains at $5.70.

Total Monthly Dues:
2012 $34.70
2013 $35.70
2014 $37.70
2015 $38.70
2016 to be determined

NEWS & EVENTS

From the Union Meeting

The April drawings: the $25 Home Depot card went to Mike Ambrose. Trevor Neideffer won a DVD player. The membership drawing for $100 went to Mike Hubbard, who was not present, so it will remain at $100 for the May Union Meeting.

Retirees’ Club

The Retiree’s Club Meetings have returned to the first Wednesday of the month and start at 12:30 P.M. here at the Training Center in classroom two. All retired members and spouses are welcome.

New 401 Classification

May is open enrollment/change for the 401/VEBA. On page 7 you will find the 401/VEBA form and see the 410 has been increased by $1.50.

NAPA MEMBERS

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

We need your help.  Can we count on you to put up a “No on Napa Pipe” lawn sign?

In collaboration with union plumbers and sheet metal workers, and environmental groups, Local 180 has taken a stance on the proposed Napa Pipe project.  We are opposed to the project as it is presently conceived.

Significant issues with respect to water, traffic congestion, education, and job opportunities for Napa County Citizens have not been adequately addressed by the developer.  Our role at this point is to raise awareness as to the significant impacts that would inevitably harm Napa County citizens if the project were approved.

We are convinced that Napa Pipe is a bad idea for Napa County.  Please help us get the word out.

You can pick up lawn signs at the Hall.  Or, we’ll deliver them to your home.  Just call (707) 251-9180 or email.

Fraternally,

Kevin J. Coleman

Retirees’ Club

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Union meeting attendance is down. This is not necessarily a surprise to most of you. There is a core group that shows up a majority of the time and for the most part, they are the members that are making the decisions for the rest of us. They are also the members that participate in the open discussions that take place during the meetings. I say all this to remind everybody that we are a sum of all of our parts and if you want IBEW 180 to grow and be strong then we have to be willing to put forth some kind of effort. I don’t expect everybody to jump right into going every month. Start with one meeting and go from there. If you just plan on one meeting at a time it does not seem so burdensome to think about every month. It is also a great place to meet up with your friends that you might not see all the time. You can even get a group together and carpool in for a good bonding session. However you want to get here, the key is getting here.

Benevolence Report

You can now find all the information and forms covering the Benevolence Committee on our website. Look on the left side of the home page for “Committee” and this will take you to the right spot.

Thank You For Your Support,

Stan Nelson

WORK PICTURE

SHILOH 4 is 55 towers with Blatner/Rosendin doing the job.  They will start cutting roads in May.  Hiring will possibly start in June.

Queen of the Valley Hospital, fully manned and completion is 2013.

The Kaiser Project in Napa, Cupertino has about peaked and has send a few people back. They will start tapering down in the later part of 2012.

Solano County Jail, the project is out to bid and should break ground in the spring of 2012.  The project is under a PLA so local hire will be in place.  Perhaps late July the calls will come in.  No manpower projections at this time.

Solano County Old Court House Renovation, the latest news is the State plans to bid this out Summer 2012 and start in the late Summer of 2012.  We have to keep our fingers crossed for our contractors.

Lagoon Valley Vacaville, The final steps between the developer and the city are underway.  Thousands of homes and a million square feet of commercial are under a PLA but no hiring is expected for a couple of years.

From the JATC

The Following classes are being offered:

May 1, 2, 3- Wind Turbine Generation $50.00, 12 hours

May 7, 14, 21- OSHA 10 $ 50.00, 12 hours

May 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 29, 30 & June 2nd- Solar/Photovoltaics $ 100.00, 32 hours

May 10, 17, 24, NFPA70E- $ 75.00 12 hours

Call 707-251-0315. Visit the JATC's Calendar at:
http://www.jatclu180.org/?zone=/unionactive/private_view_page.cfm&page=ContEd20Info
Link opens in a new window

Classes are subject to cancellation without prior notice

12 Student MINIMUM / Per Class

Must attend all classes to receive Cont. Ed Credits

PAYMENT for Journeyman Cont. Ed Classes:

CASH ~ MONEY ORDER ~ Credit/Debit Card: VISA or MasterCard

CALCTP - We need people to sign up and take this course.  Currently we are only offering day classes. If you haven’t taken this course and would like to, contact the JATC office and get the prerequisite information to get you started. Remember, this course will give you a certification, is free, and will give you more than enough hours to recertify with the state.

Also, for the 52 who have completed the course, the JATC has tee shirts, patches and hard hat emblems. Go to the JATC office to pick yours up soon.

Continuing Education -

We have a new schedule posted at our website and in the lobby showing classes from now till June 2nd.  We have a variety of classes from 4, 8, 12, and 32 hours available. Sign up early to reserve your place in the desired class.

State Certification renewal procedure -

To renew with the state, please do the following: For all hours attended at our training facility contact the JATC office @ 707 251 0315 for the renewal application and a copy of your transcript to send to the State of California.

For all courses and classes taken somewhere else- make a photocopy of the course information/certification, state how many hours the course was, include the dates attended, sign the photocopy and send it in with the renewal application and the 100 bucks.

 In most cases, you will have a combination of the JATC transcript and your hours accrued somewhere else. Make sure you have at least 32 hours completed for recertification.

Check your renewal DATE ON YOUR State Certification.  Most electricians will need to renew in 2012.

Win $100

Enter the Survey Contest to WIN...

We are doing a web survey to measure interest in something really big and very important.

Just a few questions, nothing personal or political. Your answers can help shape the Local’s future.

You do not need an email address and you can use any computer that is connected to the internet.

This starts with a simple request that you visit this very article and click --> “Start Survey”.

At the end of the survey you enter your IBEW card number and then are entered into the drawing for a $100 Safeway card. Open to IBEW Local Union 180 members only.

Local 180 Members Help Champion Opposition to the Napa Pipe Project

In collaboration with union plumbers and sheet metal workers, Local 180 made its stance publicly known with regard to the proposed Napa Pipe Project.

Thanks to the activism of Larry Glen, Dan Huss, Bud Huss, John Draper and Joel Pickett, our opposition to the project was made loud and clear at the Napa County Planning Commission meeting on March 19th.

We’re continuing to raise public awareness about significant issues that the developer has failed to adequately address – specifically, water, traffic congestion, educational facilities, and job opportunities for Napa County citizens – as well as the need for smart, controlled and sustainable growth oriented toward sensible economic development.

“No To Napa Pipe” lawn signs are available for the asking. Members living in Napa County are encouraged to take one and amplify our position.

My Friend and Mentor Ken Breckenridge

I never worked with Ken or even knew him till after I decided to check out the Local 180 Retiree’s Club. That was in the year 2000, this was a good decision for me. Prior to joining the Retiree Club, I missed the male companionship I had working in construction.

was President of the retiree’s club, I’m not sure how long but looking through his papers I found records of his collections for the annual Christmas Party starting in 1987 some 25 years ago. Ken was the perfect choice for being our President. He did everything he could to make the club enjoyable to the membership; no matter how much extra work and expense it was for him. He would bring videos that were educational and comedy; this was enjoyed during our lunch. Also he would have a bingo game on occasion, which his wife Alice loved to play. Another thing he did would be to organize tours and trips all over the world. This is a lot of hard work and takes a lot of time. Next Ken made sure that we had an active membership with the California Congress of Seniors and The California Alliance for Retired Americans. Both of these organizations unites retired workers and community groups to win social and economic justice, full civil rights, and a better, more secure future for ourselves, our families, and future generations.

few years back we discontinued our membership with the California Congress of Seniors. The reasons being that both groups were much the same in their goals. We felt that the California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA) was the more effective group. Ken and I seldom missed one of the monthly meetings and annual convention with CARA.

was always amazed at how much energy and drive this man who was 20 years my senior had. I suggested to him recently that perhaps he should think about giving up the tour & trips. He wasted no time letting me know that he had no intention of doing such a thing. I found out a long time ago that you don’t argue with someone his age.

and the other members of our club will surely miss Ken and his leadership, but we intend to keep the club going and we welcome you retiree’s to come down and be a part of our group. That includes widows of retiree’s who we welcome as well. I was surprised to see that there were more women than men in the club when I joined. The reason being that most women outlive their mate and they continue to keep up their membership in our club. This is good news for us since the ladies bring food and treats for our luncheon after the business meeting. So you don’t forget, circle the first Wednesday of the month on your calendar, the meeting starts at 12:30 PM.

Bud Huss

Condolences

Merle W. Moody
May 14, 1936 - April 1, 2012

Merle joined IBEW Local Union 180 in April of 1956 and worked as Basalt Rock in Napa. He then worked at nuclear power plants in California, Wyoming and Pennsylvania. He worked for 15 years at Rhodes Jamison in Pleasanton, California and then retired from Zeco Electric. At the April Union Meeting Mike Moody shared some stories about this wonderful person. If you are working with a “seasoned” member, ask them if they worked with Merle and what stories they have. For those of you that did have the honor, can you hear “Dirty White Boy” in your head?

Judy McAuliffe

Judy met Kevin McAuliffe, IBEW 180 member, in Santa Rosa and hey married in 1988. Judy taught for 20 years at Maria Carrillo and Santa Rosa high schools. She was 64. Please see the her obituary on www.pressdemocrat.com.

Don’t Be Fooled by the “Stop Special Interest Money Now Act” in November!

 

 

One of the most pressing concerns addressed during the Joint Labor Conference in March was the “Stop Special Interest Money Now Act” initiative, which will appear on the November ballot.

This is a big one that could really hurt us. Proponents of this initiative have deceptively couched it in terms of reining in special interest campaign contributions. On the surface, its rhetoric sounds appealing to the average voter. After all, most people think that some sort of campaign reform is needed. But the devil is in the details.

Experts say that the initiative pretends to reduce special interest money in elections by prohibiting both corporations and unions from making deductions from paychecks to raise money for political expenditures.

But the problem with this is that CORPORATE POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS DON’T COME FROM PACHECK DEDUCTIONS. Instead, corporations dip directly into the corporate till to finance their political activity. And the initiative proposes nothing to stop that. This initiative would just place a chokehold on a critical fundraising tool used by unions to secure a voice in the political process.

If we can’t continue to collect our political funds through payroll deductions, we’ll be impotent to get labor friendly candidates elected. And if that happens, Labor’s enemies will be quick to enact RIGHT-TO-WORK, ANTI-PREVAILING WAGE, ANTI-PROJTECT LABOR AGREEMENT and other ANTI-UNION LEGISLATION.

The only possible way to defeat this measure is for all of us to get the word out that this measure is bad and inherently unfair policy, and then vote against it.

Wireless Controls

Imagine retrofitting a home or commercial building so you can control lighting, HVAC, security, stereo and other loads via your smartphone or tablet computer… and have the those loads send you a text when they turn on or off… set your lighting and irrigation to Google calendar and weather… now imagine you can sell and install the system and thus generate work for yourself and others without going into business or getting a contractors license!

The reality is almost here AND it is better than imagined.  Through our relationship with the founder and principal for myLinkx—who manufacturers and sells the system as completely installed… myLinkx has selected IBEW as the exclusive installer nationwide.  However, IBEW has to act as one...

The opportunity has been placed in our hands. 
We can grasp it or let it fall through our fingers.

It is up to IBEW Local 180 to have all the Locals act as one and get our members certified as installers and contractors signed up as well.  myLinkx requires the relationship be with you—the IBEW member.

Are you interested in changing out switches, thermostats and adding cameras?  You must send a email to mikes@ibewlu180.org to be placed on the interest list for upcoming classes to become certified and receive additional information on this opportunity.

T-SHIRTS

T-Shirts are offered for sale in various sizes; all shirts will have one front pocket with the bug. Prices are as follows:

Safety Orange Short Sleeve - $20.00

Grey Long Sleeve—$25.00

It’s OUR Work

You have seen it, we have asked you to report it… electrical work installed by non-electricians.  The membership has been great to call in about the LED street lighting retro fits and laborers installing conduit.  What happens when it happens on your job?

I do remember many a time as the project manager that some work was not “in our scope” and the “other guy” did it.  Well that is fine if the other guy is a state certified electrician.

We just won battles on a public works jobs that the solar was going to be installed with certified electricians, same for LED street lighting.  We are again battling “conduit and wire” with CalTrans.

You cannot turn a blind eye to non-electricians installing solar on the roof, lighting for the site and low voltage systems within the building.  Call us.

I visit larger jobs and jobs under PLA’s to check on who is doing what and follow-up on the Code of Excellence.  Remember, we pitch PLA’s as delivering the best project possible in partnership with management.  If you have the tools, materials and information—you will be the most productive craftspeople in the industry. 

If you have any issue—let me know.                  Mike Smith

YOUR UNION WANTS YOU . . .

TO REGISTER TO VOTE!!!   WHY?  BECAUSE YOUR VOTE IS CRITICAL TO OUR SUCCESS IN ELECTING THOSE WHO CARE ABOUT THE MEMBERS OF LOCAL 180.

YOU MAY REGISTER TO VOTE IN CALIFORNIA IF:

• You are a United States citizen,
• You are a resident of California,
• You are at least 18 years of age, or will be, by Election Day,
• You are not in prison or in county jail (serving a state prison sentence or serving a term of more than one year in jail for a defined “low-level” felony), or on parole, post release community supervision, or post-sentencing probation for a felony conviction, AND
• You have not been judged by a court to be mentally incompetent.

YOU MUST RE-REGISTER TO VOTE IF:

• You have moved to a new permanent residence,
• You have changed your name, or
• You have changed your political party choice.

THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR THE NEXT ELECTION IS MAY 21, 2012.

CONSIDER REGISTERING TO VOTE BY MAIL (ABSENTEE)

(It’s easy, and ensures that your vote will count even if you can’t make it to the polls.)

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE FOLLOWING:

NAPA COUNTY	SOLANO COUNTY	ALL COUNTIES
Napa County Registrar of Voters	Solano County Registrar of Voters	CA Secretary of State
900 Coombs St. Rm. 256	675 Texas St. Ste 2600	1500 11th St
Napa, CA 94559	Fairfield, CA 94533	Sacramento, CA 95841
www.co.napa.ca.us/gov	www.solanocounty.com	www.sos.ca.gov
(707) 253-4321	(707) 784-6675	(800) 345-VOTE (8683)

LOCAL UNION 180 ENDORSEMENTS

Following weeks of joint Building Trades / Central Labor Council (CLC) interviews as well as unilateral interviews of candidates running for federal, state, county and city elected office, Local 180 has assembled a slate of candidates who we think will act in our best interests and a list of measures that will benefit our community.

President of the United States Barack Obama
U.S. Senate (CA) Dianne Feinstein
Congressional District #3 John Garamendi
Congressional District #5 Mike Thompson
CA Assembly District #4 Mariko Yamada
CA Assembly District #11 Len Augustine or Jim Frazier (Open Endorsement)
CA Assembly District #14 Susan Bonilla
CA Senate District #5 Lois Wolk
Napa County Board of Supervisors
District #2 Mark van Gorder
District #4 Bill Dodd District
#5 Keith Caldwell
Solano County Board of Supervisors
District #1 Erin Hannigan
District #2 Linda Seifert
District #5 Mike Reagan
Solano County Library Measure L Yes
Greater Vallejo Recreation District Measure K Yes (May 8 Mail Ballot)
SMUD Board of Directors Ward #2 Nancy Bui-Thompson
Sacramento City Council District #2 Rob Kerth
Yolo County Board of Supervisors District #1 Mike McGowan
May 21, 2012 is the last day to register to vote for the June 5th Primary Election.
May 29, 2012 is the last day to apply for a vote-by-mail ballot by mail.

Local 180 is hosting CLC phone banks to promote our endorsed Napa candidates every Monday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. You are encouraged to participate. We have six landlines, and numerous cell phones available. The more hands on deck, the more effective we’ll be. Refreshments are provided during phone bank hours.

PRE-QUALIFICATION OF BIDDERS POLICY UPDATE

Thanks to the help of our friends, Supervisor Diane Dillon and Supervisor Keith Caldwell, we were able to persuade the Napa County Public Works Department to formulate a pre-qualification of bidders policy that will help keep shoddy, fly-by-night contractors from the valley, the foothills and beyond from bidding large County construction projects.

The policy should ensure that large, complex construction projects will be awarded only to those contractors and subcontractors who 1) have the technical and financial wherewithal to perform the work, 2) have a history of completing projects in a safe and efficient manner, 3) hire apprentices from state-approved apprenticeship programs, and 4) consistently abide by state and federal labor laws. The Board unanimously adopted this policy on April 17th. This will definitely help to level the playing field for our signatory contractors. We’re continuing to work with cities throughout our jurisdiction to establish similar policies.

Holiday Calendars

Inside

Bay to Borders

S&C

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. Benevolence Committee 5 P.M. FOURTH WEDNESDAY E-BOARD MEETING 6 P.M. FOURTH WEDNESDAY 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.