On May 16. 2000 Local Union 180 signed an agreement with NECA on a 3 year agreement effective for our Residential Unit. The wage rate for Journeyman Residential Wireman is now set at $18.50 per hour. On June 8, 2000 at 5:00 P. M. there will be a Residential Unit meeting. This is prior to our Regular General meeting and it will be followed by a social hour with snacks and refreshments.  At the Residential Unit meeting the changes in the agreement will be explained. The future of the residential program in Napa & Solano counties will be discussed. The input and support of our members is critical to be able to increase the Union market share in this most important segment of our industry.

Another result of the recent negotiations is an implementation of a 401k program. This is a Defined Contribution plan and is funded in part by a contribution of $.50 per hour by our Signatory Con-tractors.  Members working under the terms of the Residential Agreement will have the option of supplementing this with wage redirection. Three possible options will be offered;  $1.50.  $3.00,  or $4.50. This money would be Tax-deferred.

See the schedule for Journeyman Level Classes that will help our members prepare for state licensing.
 

Upcoming Events Residential Unit Meeting June 8.2000 5:00 P. M. Regular Meeting June 8, 2000 7:00 P. M. (refreshments) Holiday (Independence Day) Sound & Comm. Unit Meeting July 3. (Carpenters off day) July 4, 2000 July 19.2000 7:00 P.M. Annual Picnic July 15.2000 Lake Solano Centennial Celebration May 5, 2001 Vallejo All meetings will be held at the Training Center  720 Technology Way Napa CA, 94558

Inside this issue. Picnic Update  Congratulations Condolences  New Arrivals From the President Financial Issues Organizing RSVP Pension News State Licensing SPECIAL NOTICE Profile

Immediately following the June 8th meetings we will  have a social hour.

Annual Picnic July 15,2000 11:00 TILL.......

Plans for the Local's Annual Picnic are being finalized and it is time to get a head count of those that will attend. Enclosed in the Newsletter is an RSVP. Please return to the office so the Picnic committee can get an accurate count for food and refreshments by July 1, 2000.

Events will include: Swimming, Horse shoes, A "bouncy" pad and IBEW "washable" tattoos for the kids (of all ages), balloons, etc.. The Park has paddleboats,  canoes and swim ponds. The Menu includes Chicken, Tri-tip, hot-dogs, corn on the cob, watermelon, and condiments.

Everything is FREE!!!

Congratulations To the Graduating Class of 2000
 

Residential	Inside		Sound & Communications
Jeremy Maher Troy HensIey Ryan Edwards Dominic Paris Erik Jones	Peter Alsbury Bill Nipper Kris Anderson Jeff Lucas Victor Chavez John Pinckard	Robin Dewan Abel Rojas James Grey David Soils Bret Parrick Warren Wright	Martin Cueva  Louis Silva Bobby Westmoreland Robert Young

Best wishes to the  NEWLYWEDS: Steve and Jill Teer Married May 6, 2000

WELCOME TO THE NEW ADDITION: Kim Anderson & Derrick Reina: A son born May 4, 2000

CONDOLENCES: Our member, Bobby Taylor lost his mother recently. She was the widow of Retiree James Taylor who passed away in 1990.

Moving On! Notice of Pension approval for our member  Jerry Hale has been received from our International Office We wish you happiness in your retirement.

Financial issues Monthly Dues ....... Where does the money go?
Of the $25.00 that our members pay in monthly dues, sometimes referred to as Per/Capita or non-working dues $19.30 goes to the International Office. Of that, $11.30 goes to the IBEW Pension Benefit Fund (PBF).

The Cost to Benefit comparison is as follows:
Cost to the member  $11.30 Per month
Benefits;
$5000 Life Insurance prior to retirement
$2400 Life Insurance minimum after Retirement
$10,000 Accidental Death Life Insurance (not retired)
Through 1991 $3.50 per month per covered year
From 1992 $4.50 per month per covered year

Example of Benefit at  “NormaI" Retirement
30 year Member 1970 - 2000
30 yrs X $11.30 X 12 months - $4068 (total PBF dues Pd.) Your Benefit would be:
21 yrs X 12 months X $3.50- $882 per yr.
9 yrs X 12 months x $4.50 = $486 per yr.
Returned to member   $1368 per yr.

The total dues cost to the member is returned in only 3 yrs.

Of the remaining $5.70 that Local 180 retains we pay out in Subscriptions and Dues to other organizations approximately $4.00, leaving about $1.70.

THIS NEWSLETTER COSTS $.33 in POSTAGE

From the President
The ripple effect from the Bay Area is about to hit Local 180. While our Sister Locals have been experiencing boom conditions and unfilled calls we have pretty' much been holding our own. Work is breaking and manpower needs are increasing. To our brothers and sisters working out of the area; If you are looking to cut your commute and enhance your pension benefits, please call the recorder.  We are trying to give as
much notice and information on Job Calls as possible. Seven school jobs in Napa are due to start in the second week of June. Work at Genentech, Napa Wastewater Treatment Plant, a new Treatment Facility in American Canyon will all need manpower by July. The Easterly Water Treatment Plant in Vacaville will start in August. Due to the Napa Solano Building trades with co-operation from Mission 2000, prequalification of bidders is mandatory on this project, and the main contractors are all Signatory. Prequalification is important in that it insures that only qualified contractors (including subs) will be considered for jobs.  Once again the work is coming and no one expects you to Sit home and wait Call the office and I will update you on the work situation.

Thanks,
Dan Broadwater

From the Organizer
President Broadwater and myself recently attended the first Industry Voice. Data. Video Conference. (VDV) This is the fastest growing segment of the Electrical Industry.  Some estimates indicate that for every Inside Wireman there will be five S&C workers. It is imperative that we welcome these workers into our ranks and embrace them as Brothers & Sisters of the IBEW.

Local 180 has recently signed two new contractors.  VDF Telecom based in Vallejo  When VDF became signatory they brought with them 3 employees. Within a week they requested an additional 10. The local was able to meet the challenge and supply the contractor with manpower.  We were able to demonstrate the benefits of being Union. Pacific Electric from Napa has signed as our most recent Inside Contractor. They are an expanding local company and have already added to their employees by hiring off the books. They bring with them 15 new members to Local 180. Lets all welcome our new Brothers and Sisters.
 

Rich Mattson, Organizer

PENSION IMPROVEMENTS
At the Special Call meeting held on May 15, 2000 the members voted almost 2 to 1 to apply $ .50 of the wage increase to pension.  Input from the plan participants is encouraged. We need to carefully evaluate how this increase in contribution to the pension plan can best be spent

As of June 1, 2000 Local 180 will also have a Defined Contribution Plan. This plan is funded by a $.50 per hour contribution from our Signatory Contractors. Members working under our Local 180 Collective Bargaining Agreement will have the ability to add "tax-deferred" dollars to this supplemental pension plan by "redirection of wages."  This can, when added to our Defined Benefit Plan enable members working locally to have $9.00 per hour applied to Pension benefits

The "redirection of wages" can be done in the following increments. A member can elect zero reduction in wage compensation. He may elect to reduce his wage compensation by $1.50, $3.00, or $4.50 per hour. This, when added to the $4.00 per hour Defined Benefit Plan gives Local 180 Members the option of up to $9.00 per hour for pension benefits.

Forms for the election of deferral options will need to be filled out with your employer.  The election for “redirection of wages" can only be changed yearly. The changes must be made in May of each year and will become effective on June 1st. This year, due to the newness of this program, elections can be made through September.

Upcoming Journeyman Classes
We are still being told by those involved in the Licensing of Electricians in California that January 1, 2001 is when it will become a reality. This does not solve all of the problems faced by our industry, but it will raise the bar for Union and non-union alike. Safety is the issue and I am confident that our membership is up to the challenge.

The 9th District has a large presence on the commission that will oversee the implementation of State Licensing of Electricians. The committee make up is roughly 80% IBEW, including Business Managers. Contractors, and I/O Reps.
CALL OUR LOCAL JATC AND SIGN UP FOR JOURNEYMEN CLASSES NOW (707) 251-0315

Currently there are 5 levels of competency to be tested and licensed.

I. Master Electrician (4 yrs as Journeyman + Test)
2. Journeyman Electrician (4 yrs experience + Test)
3. Residential Electrician (Limited to Residences)
4. "Low Voltage" (S &C)
5. Life Safety (Fire Alarm, Etc.)

PICNIC RSVP

YES WE PLAN ON ATTENDING, AND THERE WILL BE ________ ADULTS AND _________ CHILDREN.

Please print name and return by July 1, 2000
IBEW L. U. 180
720 B Technology Way
Napa CA 94558
Phone: (707) 251-9180
Fax: (707) 251-8040

Special Notice
At the Regular Meeting to be held June 8, 2000 we will be honoring several of our long time retired members with a presentation of 50 & 60 Year Pins.  Please plan on attending and help to recognize this achievement.

This by no means is meant to take the place of our "Old Timers" Celebration. This will take place on May 5, 2001 in conjunction with our Centennial celebration. It is however an attempt to recognize our Retirees now and in the future  They served the local well for many years and two nights of respect is not near enough.

Our Organizer
Rich Mattson has been a member of Local 180 since 1987  He began as a Residential Trainee, and graduated from the first Residential class.  He took the Journeyman  upgrade class and  successfully passed the Inside Wireman's Test in 1992.  Since then he has worked in all phases of our industry, including Residential, Inside, and Sound & Communications.

This has Certainly been evident considering his success as Our Organizer.   Rich is currently teaching in our Apprenticeship program and continues to be an asset to the IBEW and Local 180.  As an assistant to the Business Manager and Local 180 Organizer, Rich brings to this office a commitment and focus on unionism that is exemplary.  Rich is married, has 3 children, and lives in Napa.

BUILT  Quick Facts
Building Trades Unions Ignite Less Tobacco
May 31, 2000

"Passive" smoke impacts non-smokers

Recent studies have showed small but significant increases in risk of coronary heart disease and cancer among non-smokers exposed to cigarette and cigar smoke - a risk that increases with higher levels and longer duration of smoke exposure.

Passive smoke has been linked with development of lung cancer, heart attack, low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, chronic respiratory problems, eye and nasal irritation, and middle ear infection.

Children are particularly at risk to adverse health effects from passive smoke

Passive smoke has twice as much nicotine and tar; three times as much of the cancer causing chemical 3,4 benzpyrene, five times as much carbon monoxide, and perhaps 50 times as much ammonia

Medical experts consider the smoke from pipe and cigars just as potentially harmful to non-smokers as cigarette smoke.

Sources:
Based on information from MSN/HeaIth by WebMD, American Journal or Preventive Medicine and the American Lung Association.
 

BUILT is a project of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California.
· The BUILT project provides resources on preventing and quitting tobacco use, educates union members about the dangers of tobacco smoke and the toxics they work with, promotes smoke-free environments and is investigating how the tobacco industry has targeted blue collar workers.
· Feel free to reproduce this Quick Fact in newsletters, web sites, or any communication with union members. All we ask is that you send us a copy.
· For more information about BUILT or this quick fact, contact us at:
916-442-8368 built@sbctc.org 921 11th Street, Suite 110 Sacramento, CA 95814
 
 

Bruce Gourley, Business Manager
 

Updated 05/14/00 Copyright© 2000 IBEW L.U. 180 Information on this site has been approved by the Business Manager and L.U. President