There has been some confusion lately concerning "portability". Local #180 is signatory to the Northern California Manpower Portability Memorandum of Understanding In as much we have filed several grievances against contractors, as well as charges against IBEW members who have violated this agreement, following are pertinent sections.

A desirable plan for the portability of employees across geographical jurisdiction lines is essential to the union employer' competitive position in obtaining work under union contracts. The ability of signatory employers to follow long-standing electrical industry customers and provide a level of service consistent with that relationship can mean the difference between union or open-shop projects.

Employees entering another Local Unions' jurisdiction, before performing any work. shall properly dear through and inform that Local Union of the location and duration of the job where they will be working They shall be subject to and work in conformance with the appropriate collective bargaining agreement in force where the work is being performed.

Employees properly cleared into a jurisdiction for a traveling employer shall have all benefits as contained in the work agreement paid to the jurisdiction diction in which the work is performed.

The Local Union where the work is. performed shall he allowed to assess the employees of the traveling employer the proper working assessment uniformly paid by all employees working in that jurisdiction.
 

Upcoming Events Holidays REGULAR MEETING  SEPTEMBER 12, 2002@ 7:00 P.M. BAR-B-QUE @5:30  LABOR DAY  FRIDAY AUGUST 30 CARPENTER'S OFF DAY MONDAY SEPTEMBER 2 LABOR DAY BOTH DAYS OBSERVED BAY ALL CLASSIFICATIONS ADMISSION DAY NO LONGER OBSERVED (traded for day before or after Christmas) All meetings will be held at:  720 Technology Way Napa CA, 94558

Inside this issue. Business Manager's Report Labor Day "ETRS" Congratulations Recovering Condolences Retiree's Corner From the President Organizing JATC Picnic

Labor Day may be a fitting tribute to America's workers. But what about the other 364 days of the year? Despite all the talk about the importance and dignity of working people, they get little power or glory in the everyday world of news media. What if the situation were reversed? Once a year, big investors and corporate owners could be honored on Business Day. To celebrate the holiday, politicians might march arm in arm through downtown Manhattan with the likes of Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and Donald Trump. Executives could have the day off while media outlets said some nice things about them.
During the rest of they year, in this inverted scenario, journalists would focus on the real lives of the nation's workforce. Instead of making heroes out of billionaire investors-and instead of reporting on Wall Street as the ultimate center of people's economic lives-the news media would provide extensive coverage of the workplace. For instance, such coverage would reflect the health hazards that workers face. On an average day, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 17 Americans die from on-the-job injuries. Meanwhile, the daily rate of occupational injuries and illnesses in U.S. private industry is upwards of 18,350 people. If media outlets can keep us so closely informed about stock prices every day, they could also keep us posted on exactly which industrial workplaces are killing and injuring America's workers. Much of the toll is less than obvious: Researchers have found that for each American killed by a workplace injury another 10 or so job-related deaths occur to disease. If these grim events were reported on a daily basis, with the intensity and attention to detail now reserved for coverage of the stock market, then our society would be much more aware of working conditions across the country-and there would be more public pressure for improvement.
Labor Day lasts 24 hours. Too bad we need it.

* By Norman Solomon: Exerts from http://www.fair.org/media-beat/980903.html
 

AUTOMATED RECIPROCITY SYSTEM MAKES DEBUT
"ERTS" Will Ease Transfer of Pension, H&W Payments for Traveling Members*

Since the earliest days of the IBEW members have hit the road to follow work, leaving their home area to work on projects in another local union's jurisdiction. There was a time when IBEW "road warriors" took risks other than the normal job hazards, like losing proper crediting of their pension and health & Welfare benefits. In the 1980's the Brotherhood developed and refined its reciprocity system to allow participants to be able to have all their pension money transferred back to their selected home fluid, and to have an amount of money transferred back to their home H&W fluid, allowing them to maintain eligibility for themselves and their families at their home fluid. That was a big step forward, but the system has proven to be slow in processing the forms and paper reports and checks by local union fluids.
Now there is ERTS. This new Electronic Reciprocal Transfer System is going live. It is web-based and increases the speed, ease and accuracy of transferring money to members' selected home fluids. IBEW Members will now be allowed pre-register with ERTS, entering all information necessary to have blanket authorizations on file. The authorizations will be effective once the members' selected home funds confirm their acceptance, and will remain in effect until modified or canceled by the plan participant.
The IBEW and NECA have accomplished what members of Congress have only talked about for years, portability of benefits. Now they have worked together to develop a truly state-of-the-art, web-based system that no other union has.

*IBEW Journal, May 2002.

Congratulations
To: Steve and Cindy Nordahl on the birth of a son, Seth R. on August 1, 2002.
To: Bryan Klokow and Jessica Rae on their marriage June 22, 2002.
To: John Judson and Stacie Marie on their marriage also June 22, 2002.

Retirement Notice

To Brother James (Jim) Feigel for whom we recently received notification of his approved IBEW pension effective May 2002. Enjoy your well earned retirement.

Retiree's Corner
The monthly meetings for the Retirees Club are held the first Wednesday of each month. They are held at the Training Center. All retirees and spouses are welcome. Widows of retired members are encouraged to be involved.

Las Vegas & Mesquite 6 day Trip
Ken has scheduled a six day trip from March 17, to March 22,2003. The trip will depart Vallejo and stop in Sparks Nevada for a two hour Casino stop and then to Hawthorne Nevada for the night at the El Capitan Lodge. Day two, on to Tonapah and Mesquite for dinner and overnight at the Oasis Casino. Day three will include a tour of Zion National Park with a Tram ride and then on to Las Vegas for a two day stay at Hotel San Remo. Day four will offer a trip to Pahrump Winery for tour and a hosted lunch. The fifth day will find you on your way to Bakersfield with accommodations at the Clarion Inn and Basque Dinner. Day six is a return to home. Most meals are included as is baggage handling and bonus tickets at most Casinos.
 

For additional information;
Ken can be reached at (707) 643-4139.

From the President
Work is finally picking up after a slow winter and spring. We currently have 38
Journeymen on the available for work list 130 Travelers, and 4 Apprentices.

The Lambie Peaker Project has hired 30 hands and is in a hiring lull until the
Underground is completed. The supervision for Contra Costa is looking at the 2nd or 3rd week of September for the next calls to be coming in.

Cupertino Electric has cleared in their Supervision for the 4th Peaker site, which is located next to the Fairfield Treatment Plant. Cal-Pine wanted a completion date the same as the Lambie site but have since extended it until January 10th.

Blattner Constructors out of Minnesota has a contract to install 85 - 1.8-megawatt windmills out in the Collinsville area. They want to meet with the Building Trades to get this project under a Project Labor Agreement. Unfortunately, this will not require very many hands, but we will take what we can get.

On the political front, we as Organized Labor can make a difference at the polls. If Simon is elected as the Governor of California, you can count on an all out attack on Unions. He will repeal Prevailing Wages, PLA's, and make California a right to work state (right to work for less state). This isn't a threat, this is fact! Partisanship should not matter, Republican or Democrat.
If you care for what you work for and stand for, vote for someone that supports Organized Labor. Gray Davis has made some decisions that have concerned us, but the majority of his decisions have been a blessing.

Dan Broadwater
President Local 180

From the Organizer:
The work outlook in the jurisdiction is very promising at present and shows no sign of slowing soon. We are fortunate, as other areas do not have much work. We must strike when the iron is hot and take advantage of any opportunity to organize our jurisdiction.
The International is not looking at membership increases as successful organizing. We have been tasked with selecting Contractors in our area and organizing them. The I/O will be tracking the progress of all locals in the Brotherhood in this endeavor. With the support of the office, Executive board, and membership, I'm confident we will be successful in our mission as we have in the past.

The Residential market is still booming and wireman are needed. We are slowly becoming the dominant force in this industry again. We will control this market in the near future.

Rich Mattson, Organizer

JATC
Apprentice classes will begin in early September. The Inside and Sound & Communications Apprentices will attend a week at a time during the day. Residential and Journeyman classes will be held at night. Notice of class schedules will be mailed to all apprentices.

JOURNEYMAN CLASSES

The following Journeyman level classes will be offered in the near future. Class sizes and times will depend on interest. If you wish to sign-up for any of the classes being offered contact Larry Poyser at the JATC office. (707) 251-0315.
CODE THEORY
TRANSFORMERS             CONDUIT BENDING
MOTOR CONTROLS         VOICE-DATA-VIDEO
SUPERVISION & PRODUCTIVITY

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 the IBEW & NECA were instrument in establishing mandatory state Licensing in California.  Why? Because we believe that our work is superior & we stand behind it!

 Bruce Gourley, Business Manager
 

Updated 9/01/02 Copyright© 2002 IBEW L.U. 180 Information on this site has been approved by the Business Manager and L.U. President