Preparations are underway and the Picnic committe is hard at work to make this an event worth attending.  Food and beverage plans are being finalized.

Parking at Lake Solano Park is $4.00.  Present the enclosed "Picnic Parking Ticket" to the attendant and the local will pay at the end of the day.
 

Upcoming Events Holiday July 3.2000 (Carpenters off day) July 4, 2000 Regular Meeting July 13, 2000 7:00 P. M. Special Meeting (Pension Benefit Improvements July 14, 2000 7:00 P.M. Annual Picnic July 15.2000 Lake Solano Sound & Comm. Unit Meeting July 19, 2000 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 Our Thoughts  New Arrivals From the President Financial Issues Organizing RSVP Pension News State Licensing SPECIAL NOTICE Retiree's Corner S&C Residential

To All Union Members and Staff
June 12, 2000

I would just like to thank you all for the support I have received in my time of loss.  Everyone I have spoken with has been so kind and generou.  The loss I have suffered is tremendous.  And I am not sure I could have gotten through it without so much support.  I am very thankful Adam belonged to such a wonderful organization.  I would also like to especially thank the satff from Local 180.  Every last one of you have bent over backwards for me and i do appreciate it so much.  You are just a wonderful group of people.

Thank you ever so much,

Jennifer Pelphrey

Best wishes to the  NEWLYWEDS:
Andre & Andrea Rendon Married June 3, 2000
Erik & Jeanette Jones Married April 16, 2000

WELCOME TO THE NEW ADDITION:
John & Kristin Pinckard, a son "Cage" born 6/8/00
Pete and Heather Hagy, a daughter "Sarah" born 6/13/00

In our Thoughts: The 13 month old grandson of our member Jerry Johnson, "Bailey Austin Johnson" has been diagnosed with a rae form of cancer.  Our hearts go out to the johnson family.  Although the treatments are covered, the cost of frequent trips from their home in South lake Tahoe to U.C. Medical Center in San Francisco, for these treatments, and other uncovered expenses is staggering.  With this in mind, donations are being accepted for the "Bailey Cancer Fund" at the Local Union office.

Financial issues Monthly Dues International Portion to increase
At the 35th IBEW International Convention held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1996 an increase in the per Capita tax was approved. It is to take effect January 1, 2001 This will raise our monthly Per Capita or non-working Dues to $26.00. The I/O portion will go from $19.30 to $20.30. The Local amount remains at $5.70.

S&C will now pay $22.30.

From the President
The  upcoming  Presidential Election in November will have a bearing on how your standard of living is affected. George W.  Bush will be Reagonimics all over again. Right to work laws will inundate the legislature.   This threatens every thing we have worked for and won in the last eight years. We need to get all of our members registered to vote and educated in the political process. Please call the office if you can help.

A forum on "Common Sense Economics" will be offered in the near future.  Watch for dates. This program was developed by our International and is extremely timely and informative.

Calls are coming in on a regular basis. Anyone tired of commuting please give us a call. On July 20, 2000 the Fairfield Suisun School District will have a meeting to discuss Prequalification Language.  This issue was already approved by 7-0 vote.  The ABC is trying to make a case that this is discriminatory  against  "Open Shops". The Building Trades plan on making a show of solidarity at this meeting. If you can attend call me at the office for directions.

A thank you to the Retirees that were able to attend our last meeting.  We appreciate you presence and encourage you to continue. Your input and advice is not only welcome but encouraged. Nothing is a better teacher than experience.

Thanks,
Dan Broadwater

From the Organizer
The "man-power shortage" has become reality in our jurisdiction. We have been fortunate to be able to fill the calls coming in, however, the books are near empty and it is common to dispatch from book 3. With recent contract ratification's in neighboring locals it is evident that those of our members working in other areas may not be coming home soon. The Future of our market share is at risk. When local contractors can't man work it won't be long until they stop bidding. This will certainly lead to nonunion domination of work in Napa-Solano counties. We must ORGANIZE now! The time is ripe to strip skilled electricians from the open shops. We need these men to man work now and for future projects soon to start. If any member knows skilled Electricians working non-union, please send them our way, our local needs them.

Rich Mattson, Organizer

PENSION IMPROVEMENTS
“At the Special Call meeting held on May 15, 2000 the members voted almost 2 to 1 to apply $1.50 of the wage increase to pension.  Input from the plan panrticipants is encouraged.  We need to carefully evaluate how this increase in contribution to the pension plan can best be spent”

On July 14, 2000 Steve DeLapp of Segal Company will be present at the special meeting of Local 180 Defined Benefit Participants. He will be able to answer questions of a technical nature as in regards to cost for different improvements.  The Segal Company prepares actuarial data for our Trusts. Please fill out the enclosed "Defined Benefit Wish List" and return it to the office either by mail or drop it off.
 
 

Defined Benefit Wish List At our Special Call Meeting held on May 15, 2000 the members by a better that 2:1 margin voted to apply $1.50 in wage increase to the Defined Benefit Pension Plan. This increase takes effect on June 1, 2000. Discussion was lengthy and positive. The final determination of actual Pension Improvements that will be purchased is the responsibility of Trust and the Trustees. Input from the Plan Participants is being solicited. The guidance from our Members will dominate how our committee members approach improvement decisions. With that in mind, please look at the list (not complete) of possible improvements to the Pension and rank it from 1-10, 10 being of the greatest importance. (You may have more than one item that is of great importance.) Benefit                                                                             Aprox. Cost per/hour             Importance 30 Year service pension                                                                   $.42                          ______ Increase Joint & Survivor adjustment by 1% (currently at 90%)         $.04                          ______ Increase early retirement factors by 1%                                            $.10                          ______ Raise benefit                                                                                      %                          ______ Reduce Regular Retirement Age Per Year                                                                        ______ Increase current Retiree's Benefits                                                                                   ______ other options to price and consider: ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ We Will have a Special Meeting on July 14, 2000 at 7:00 P. M. with plan Professionals to assist us in making this most important decision. Please plan on attending!

Upcoming Journeyman Classes
Journeyman level classes are currently underway. AC Theory started on June 20th. There are openings available and it is possible to enter late. This is a class that has segments and the first class was mostly review. There will be two additional Journeyman level classes starting in September. The main focus will be on State Licensing. The classes will start on Tuesday September 12, and Thursday September 14, 2000. They will be two separate classes.

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

1. 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 held on June 8, 2000 we honored several of our retirees with Service Awards". Marv Vorshall was in attendance and received his 50 year pin. Lorin Gillespie and 'Rip Ripley were given their 60 year pins. Congratulations to them and thanks for paving the way for the benefits we enjoy today.  There were other retirees in attendance to honor their brothers.  The meeting was suspended to allow Lorin Gillespies wife Patricia to participate. We hope to see these and all of the other eligible recipients at the Centennial/Old timer night next year.  Again, CONGRATULATIONS!
 

President & Assistant Business Manager
Dan Broadwater
Dan was initiated into the Local on March 1, 1979. He turned out and has worked steadily since. Dan is not one to let any grass grow under his feet, so when work was slow Dan hit the road. He thanks his time spent as a 'tramp" for enabling him to make a living and more importantly for the knowledge he gained from the experience.  He is glad to be "home" and working in the Local.  As President he is doing a splendid job.  As Assistant Business Manager Dan brings to the office an unparalleled work ethic and focus on what Unionism is all about.  We are fortunate to have someone with his character in that position.

Thank you Dan.

Retiree's Corner
The Retirees meet on the first Wednesday of each month at the Training Center Meetings start at noon. The retiree's group is very active and assist in political activities sensitive to labor issues. Their President, Ken Breckenridge attends many of the legislative matters in Sacramento as a Delegate and mentor for us.

Thanks, Ken.

The group also coordinates many tours and outings. In September (the 21st-30th) they have a trip scheduled.

The "Southwest Adventure" It will be Motorcoach tour of six western states and all of the sightseeing associated with the selected areas. Yosemite, Death Valley, Grand Canyon, and many more. For more information contact:

Ken Breckenridge (707)643 -4139
or
Gordon Darling (707)644-8366

Sound & Communications
At the last S&C Unit meeting we mainly discussed the upcoming contract negotiations and problems associated with the current contract. Information was shared and a formal proposal was given to the labor side of the Negotiation Committee. It is not to late to add to this list. If you have concerns over wages or working conditions attend the Unit meeting to be held July 19, 2000 at the office.  Work calls in other locals are going unfilled. If you know of someone qualified, give us a call and we will do what we can to organize them.

Residential
Work in the Residential Market is on the rise and several new projects are starting. Manpower continues to be a problem, and if you know of any skilled craftsman interested in joining our ranks have them contact the office. We will welcome them into the Brotherhood.

Bruce Gourley, Business Manager
 

Updated 07/4/00 Copyright© 2000 IBEW L.U. 180 Information on this site has been approved by the Business Manager and L.U. President