SERVING NAPA AND SOLANO COUNTIES SINCE 1901
Election 2000
In November this year, the country will have it’s first election of
the new century. Remember, if you don’t vote, don’t complain.
Many elections have been decided by as little as one vote. Complacency
is a disease that working families can not afford. Economic gains
made over the last several years can be erased if legislators that are
not friendly to labor and working families are elected.
Over the next several weeks you may be contacted by local members who will encourage you to register and to vote. If you have not registered, please do. Make sure that you exercise this precious right (responsibility).
This office will also mail out information on candidates running for election in local, regional state and national offices. This information will be in a format that “recommends’ candidates or specific measures or initiatives. The union expects people to vote based on what they feel is best for them and their families. The information you receive from this office is obtained in several ways. For Local Offices candidates were asked to be interviewed by the local Building Trades Council. Those who responded were asked questions relative to union support and issues important to working families. Representatives for Local 180 participated. For National Candidates, their past voting records and positions on labor issues as well as how they respond to working families needs have been reviewed. This information has been compiled by the A F of L/C I O and the International Office of the IBEW.
We by no means attempt to “tell you how to vote”, but give the best information available in a way that will help you to make an informed choice.
We encourage you to carefully review the information and avoid the pitfall of being sidetracked by divisive tactics used by all candidates. Please focus on those issues that will benefit you and your family.
The last day you can REGISTER TO VOTE is October 10, 2000.
| Upcoming Events
Holidays Veterans Day November 10, 2000 Thanksgiving Day November 23, 2000 Day after Thanksgiving November 24, 2000 Christmas Day December 25, 2000 New Years Day January 1, 2001 Meetings
All meetings will be held at 720 Technology Way Napa CA, 94558 |
Inside this issue.
Election 2000 Congratulations Our Thoughts New Arrivals From the President Financial Issues Organizing Fundraiser JATC Retiree's Corner S&C Residential |
Ryan Edwards and his new bride, Esperanza. They were married March 4, 2000.
WELCOME TO THE NEW ADDITION:
Bill and Heather Nipper on their new son William Coty Nipper who weighed
in at 9 lbs. On September 25, 2000.
Mark and Renee Oliveira on the birth of their daughter, Charlie Jane
Lynn on August 9, 2000
In our Thoughts:
BETTIE ANDERSON
To the family of Member John Anderson on the death of his Mother.
She passed away on September 19, 2000. Bettie was the widow of our
retired member “Andy” Anderson, Johns father. Our thoughts and prayers
are with the family during this difficult time.
SADIE HERRMANN
Our thoughts and prayers are with our member Harold Herrmann
and his family. Harold’s wife Sadie passed away on September 26,
2000. Harold has been a member since 1937.
EILEEN FORSEY
We are saddened to hear of the death of Eileen Forsey. She was
the widow of retired member Frank Forsey. Frank was a member from
1942 untill his retirement in 1977. Frank passed away in 1983.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family.
Financial issues
After nearly a decade of struggling to add a “supplemental” retirement
plan to our already sound Defined Benefit Plan Local 180 has finally implemented
a Defined Contribution Plan. (401-k) This is due to the hard work
and foresight of our Past Business Managers, Executive Boards, Pension
Trustees, and of course our membership. We have overcome many obstacles
to achieve this goal. There are still some growing pains being experienced
by the membership and contractors alike. The Plan Administrator,
(Cummings & McMullin) and the Plan provider (Invesco) are working hard
to bring all the loose ends together. We ask for your patience.
Only newly hired employees taking their first dispatch to a local contractor
will be able to start making contributions at this time. Those
of you who have chosen not to participate at the present time may make
a selection in May of 2001 and have implementation start in the month of
June. You may also change your contribution rate at that time.
From the President
The up coming Elections is crucial to working men and women across
the country. Please, if you are registered to vote, VOTE!!!
If you are not registered you may call the office at 251-9180 and
we will get you a registration form. We presently have 39% of our
membership registered to vote. Not a strong showing considering the
severity of the situation.
I want to take an opportunity to personally thank Lou Franchimon of the Napa-Solano Building Trades for all the work that he has done for all the Union Crafts in our area. The behind the scenes work has been very fruitful. In the last month, there has been Project Labor Agreements implemented on projects in Vallejo and in Fairfield. I also want to thank the staff and retirees for showing up in numbers for our cause.
Zeco Electric was awarded the Mariani Nut Processing job in Vacaville. He beat out some strong non-union competition. Other local contractors are starting to crank it up also. If you know of any qualified journeyman, please have them contact the Organizer!
Dan Broadwater
President Local 180
From the Organizer
IBEW / NECA JOB FAIR
The job fair was very successful with nearly 40 unrepresented wireman
in attendance. The purpose of the Job Fair was two fold. It showed
our signatory contractors how serious local 180 is about manning work and
it turned out to be a great organizing effort.
COMET CLASSES
I recently attended the Comet training course put on by the International.
Comet classes will be given to all apprentices during their training. Members
are encouraged to attend if they have not been Cometized. Dinner and refreshments
will be provided. Please contact the office if you are interested, class
size is limited.
Rich Mattson, Organizer
Fundraiser
A benefit fundraiser for Mike Gayler is scheduled on Sunday, November
5, 2000 noon to 7:00 P. M. at the Splitfire Grill, (formerly Texas
Jacks), 70 Orange Tree Circle, Vacaville.
There will be continuous music throughout the day. Mike’s friends
and family are sponsoring this event to enable the conversion of his vehicle
as well as his house to allow for wheelchair accessibility. There
will be a $20.00 donation for adults and $10.00 for children under 12.
Food and beverages will be extra.
For additional information contact Lesley DePorto at (707) 452-9676
Financial
JATC
Just a quick update on our Joint Apprenticeship and Training program.
We currently have:
6 Inside Wireman Apprentice Classes
2 Residential Apprentice Classes
4 Sound and Communications Classes
5 Journeyman Classes
This represents 200 plus students and demonstrates the commitment of
Local Union 180.
This commitment is to bring people into our Industry, offer them training
and expect a level of excellence that our contractors and their customers
demand and deserve.
Starting on Monday October 2, 2000 we will be offering a Conduit Bending Class. For those of you in need of this training call the JATC for more information or just show up at the first class. It is imperative that the skill level of our wireman “be all that it can be”.
Retiree's Corner
A reminder to all the retirees; Make sure that you register for
the annual Christmas Luncheon. It will be at Tonelli’s Restaurant
on December 6, 2000. You can register no later than at the regular
Retirees meeting on November 1, 2000.
Don’t forget our October meeting to be held on the 4th. The meetings
start at 1:00 P. M.
Ken tells us that Alice is home following a short stay in the Hospital.
We all wish her well and hope for a speedy recovery.
The Retirees Club is actively seeking new members and the officers would encourage those recently retired to join with their brothers and sisters.
Some of the Retirees recently attended the Solano County Board of Supervisors meeting to support passage of a Project Labor Agreement on a major new county building in Fairfield. With their support and the support of Napa–Solano Building Trades we were able to convince the Board to approve the PLA. THANKS!
President Ken Breckenridge wants to remind people of the Hawaii Trip planned for the spring of 2001.
For information concerning reservations or membership call:
Ken Breckenridge
(707)643-4139
Sound & Communications
As this publication goes in the mail, we will be having our first formal
negotiations on contract improvements. The present contract expires
November 30, 2000. Meetings will continue on a weekly basis until
a contract is reached. Once the Labor and Management groups tentatively
agree to a contract, all those working under this agreement will be asked
to vote for acceptance (or rejection).
We anticipate improvements that will reflect what the membership has asked for. At a recent meeting, all of the participating Locals submitted lists of items to be changed or improved during negotiations. The lists were remarkably similar.
Our next regularly scheduled meeting will be on November 15, 2000.
We hope to have information relative to the new contract for you at this time. Please plan on attending.
Residential
Our first ever State Approved Residential Apprentice class has started.
Congratulations to all those who are participating. We have 21 Apprentices
enrolled and attending classes. They represent 7 Contractors signatory
with Local Union 180. Work is good and there are several new projects
on the verge of starting and needing manpower. Journeyman classes
are underway and those needing a “tune-up” for the State Certification
contact the JATC for information and class schedules.
(707) 251-0315
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
|
Information on this site has been approved by the Business Manager and L.U. President |
 |