IBEW L.U. 180

Volume 2003, Issue 9 September 1st, 2003

SERVING NAPA AND SOLANO COUNTIES SINCE 1901

Business Managers Report

Four-Year Inside Agreement In exchange for removing language from our agreement dealing with “Maintenance of Benefits”, our Signatory Contractors have agreed to the following;

June 1, 2004         $1.75 added to the Wage/Benefit Package
June 1, 2005         $1.75 added to the Wage/Benefit Package
June 1, 2006         $1.75 added to the Wage/Benefit Package
June 1, 2007         $1.75 added to the Wage/Benefit Package

This represents a $7.00 per hour increase over 4 years. It gives us stability in a very uncertain economy. It frees up our office resources of both time and money to pursue more productive ways of increasing our Market Share. This was not an easy decision to make nor do I expect all members to embrace it. This decision was based on information accumulated while preparing for the CIR. I truly believe this will accomplish much in the way of focusing on issues that can be much more productive for the Local than spending hundreds of hours negotiating a contract that historically has ended in a either a deadlock (1994, 2002, & 2003) or failed to be ratified by the members (1997& 1999). In almost every instance, we either went to CIR or settled just prior.

Health & Welfare After ten years of what originated as “Maintenance of Benefits” the issue has been put to rest. What started out as a good idea evolved into an issue that was involved in every failed negotiations since. When something causes this must trouble and no real solutions to the problems of the industry, they must be changed or jettisoned. Changes did not help. Enforcement was not effective. It was time to move to something more effective. At the Council on Industrial Relations in Washington, it became apparent to me that of the many cases heard 20% were grievances and the majority of those were on this same issue. We now have a plan in which our members will have control on what benefits we want to see in the Health and Welfare Plan. The Labor Trustees will not have to fight for improvements or be forced to reduce benefits. The membership will be responsible for choosing where they spend their wage increases.

Pension Our Defined Benefit Plan for the Inside Agreement remains healthy and improvements may be available next year if not this. The conversion from the 401(k) to the 401(a) is still causing some problems for the bookkeepers of our signatory contractors but they are getting the problems resolved. Anyone wishing to change their classification you must do so before the end of August. After that you can only change in May of each year.

Man-hours Our man-hours are still doing great with the first 6 months indicating that we will come close to 700,000 man-hours for 2003. This following a 10-year average of less that 500,000 and a 3-year average of just over 600,000.

Per Capita Increase At the 2001 International Convention an increase of the Per Capita dues by $1.00 was approved. In January of 2004 Basic monthly non-working dues for Local 180 will be raised that additional $1.00. If you are not sure how much your dues are, please call the Office.

Political No politician has been more supportive of Organized Labor and our fight to protect our apprenticeship programs, the 8 hour day, prevailing wages, project labor agreements, and other issues to numerous to list, than Governor Gray Davis. While Governor he appointed over 120 union members to positions of power in his administration. Marv Kropke, Business Manger of Local 11, IBEW, to the California Apprenticeship Council and Chairman in 2002. John O’Rourke, Business Manager of Local 6, IBEW, to the State Contractors Licensing Board. Chuck Cake, former Business Manager of Local 340, IBEW, as the Director of Industrial Relations. Art Murray I/O Representative from Local 1245 to the Cal OSHA Board. These powerful positions are just a drop in the bucket of the influence that Organized Labor has gained under his Leadership. This Re-Call is wrong. It will undermine the many gains made by working families in the last 5 years.
Please Vote No on the Re-Call.

Fraternally,
Bruce P. Gouley

Upcoming Events Holidays	Inside this issue.
REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 11, 2003 BAR-B-QUE @5:30 P. M. GUEST SPEAKER ON AUTISM @ REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 11, 2003 Retirees Club Meeting Guest Speaker on Aging Their Rights SEPTEMBER 3, 2003 LABOR DAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2003 Special Call meeting for Sound & Comm Members SEPTEMBER 6, 2003 @ L.U. 302’s Hall	Business Manager's Report Congratulations Condolences Retiree's Corner Labor Day Events Sound and Communications From the President From the Organizer JATC From the Agent
All meetings will be held at:	720 Technology Way Napa CA, 94558

Our Congratulations to Patricia Smagacz on her retirement. Patty has worked for Local #180 for over six years. Our best wishes to “Patty”. (The rumor of Linda’s Retirement is WAY TO EARLY!!!)

Congratulations to Lori Lauer and husband on their new addition to the family. Lori had a son on August 1, 2003, Elijah. We’re hopeful that she will be back to work soon.

Welcome to our new office employee, Anna Dalton. Anna comes to us by way of the office of Steve Whetzel, CPA, in Pleasanton.

Condolences
Tom Jackson turned in a “Notice of Termination” noting “Other - RETIREMENT!”
Larry Guldenbrein has received approval for the IBEW Pension

Napa/Solano
"Labor to Neighbor" Labor Day Picnic held jointly with the Napa-Solano Building Trades Council, at Vaca Pena Adobe Park in Vacaville, 11:00am-4:00pm. For more information, please contact 707-428-1055.

Sacramento
Labor Day Working Families Picnic. William Land Park next to Fairytale Town from 11am - 3pm. For more information, please call 916-927-9772.

The CLC is also sponsoring a September 1st Day of Community Caring at Loaves and Fishes. To volunteer call Tom Lawson at 916-927-9772 ext 224.

Labor Day Pancake breakfast from 8:30-11:30am, 1700 Corby Avenue, Santa Rosa. For more information, call 707-545-6970.

Labor Breakfast on Friday, August 29th from 8:00 - 10:00 a.m. at the Crowne Plaze Union Square 480 Sutter Street, San Francisco. R.S.V.P. to 415-440-4809
Labor Day Festival Monday, September 1st from 11am - 5pm, at Yerba Buena Gardens.

Alameda
Labor Day "Voice at Work - Honoring Workers in Organizing Campaigns" picnic at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds. Gates open at 9am. Purchase tickets from your local union or call 510-632-4242

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 get involved. So carve out a spot of your busy retirement schedule and join us...

Please join us to learn about your rights and your parents rights as we reach the golden age. Information on long term care and the costs will be covered. Our speaker is highly accredited on the subject of elder care and rights.

Looking for ideas for our next “Adventure” and new retirees to join us for the fun

We are experiencing our best year ever, and things look fair for a time to come. The Valero Refinery has a lot of work slated. The VIP project is $140 million and slated for next year. There is Turnaround scheduled for next year also. Get your BATT card; they are good for 2 years.

We have had good luck Salting contractors as of late. The Vacaville High School project had Tri West Electric walk off the job. We sent 5 salts to start and expect to send 5 or 6 more. What better advertisement for us than to show the customer what we can do. The IBEW has not been very good at advertising our skills and that is going to change in our jurisdiction.

If anyone has anything to offer the membership that may be helpful, in the way of either health or social issues, please call me at 251-9180.

From the Organizer:
Supporting and promoting our Union is the core of organizing. We know how well we have it, we know how well we have grown over the years. However, when you ask the average person on the street, they think we are on the decline, that there are but a few of us “union guys” left…

What better time to get the word out we are alive, well and growing than on the day set aside to celebrate the working class.

Labor Day is OUR holiday. There are many Union events to attend. If you have plans and can not attend - WEAR YOUR UNION SHIRTS AND/OR HATS!!!

Certification Classes: Three classes of twenty each will begin on Septemer 15, 16, & 18th and will run for eight weeks. The next classes will start In November; we already have at least sixty journeyman signed up at this time for these classes so it is very important that you sign up as soon as possible to reserve your spot. So Please note that it is most important that you respond to your letter when received from the Training Center.

As we have taught these classes we have refined the curriculum and there will now be a cost of $62.00 for materials and books that are required to take these classes. This money is due and payable on the first night of class. Sign up at the Training Center or call 707-251-0315

State Certification is upon us. Within just 17 months all electricians in the State of California will be required to be certified or will not be able to be employed. From the Department of Industrial Relations: There has not been an extension of the time to take the test; it remains December 31, 2004.

Agents Report
Continuing on the theme of increasing market share, this month’s article covers productivity. We have heard that to increase market share we must be more productive…

In the history of the United States, the industrial revolution had increased productivity as replacing the slow human with faster machines.

In modern times, we have increased productivity by removing one in five workers and apply the missing workers workload on the remaining four workers. However, the number one option is shipping the jobs overseas!

In our field, the cry to increase productivity comes from the owner’s office, down through the front office, through the shop - right to your job site.

But, is the loss of productivity totally on the worker? According to Cockshaw's, the two top administrative delays, keeping productivity low and preventing workers from doing their best work are, waiting on materials and tools.

The number one method to increasing productivity is to plan. You must have a workable plan produced from an accurate schedule. It is difficult to be productive without this information, so how can you even think to increase productivity.

If you plan to have the CORRECT quantity and type of materials and tools on site a few days before they are needed, you are on your way to increasing your productivity. Please keep in mind that time is well spent in getting the order right the first time. Additionally, everyone on the job site must keep an eye on what will be needed and when. Running out of straps and screws halfway through a project is totally unprofessional!

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! PROTECT YOURSELVES


Updated 9/10/03 Copyright© 2003 *IBEW L.U. 180* *Information on this site has been approved by the Business Manager and L.U. President*