Health & Welfare  The Trustees are still searching for solutions to the present crisis Letter have been sent out from the Trust Fund office to all of those who currently have Health Net medical coverage. If you have not received this information please contact either the Local or the Trust Fund office (925) 847-6080. Note that if you have serious ongoing medical needs (scheduled surgery, pregnancy, etc.) or conditions that would require more immediate services through Kaiser after December 31, 2002, contact Bruce Gourley at 707 251-9180, to help expedite your changeover.
State Certification  Testing will begin this month and next. This will a pilot program and limited numbers of people will be tested. This will be done to satisfy the legislative requirement that it be done in year 2002. This also allows the testing company to work out any "bugs" in the process. Serious testing will begin in January. Applications will be available "online", we will make them available at the office. Testing sites are still being developed, including a minimum of seven statewide. As information becomes available, I will make sure Local 180 is informed and ready. Remember every person employed by a C-1 0 Licensed contractor must have a State Certification by January 1, 2005. The IBEW will be ready and continue our long tradition of Excellence in the industry.
Service Awards    Many of our members have earned awards for their years of service (50 years+) to the IBEW. We are planning to have as "Old Timers Award Dinner in the Spring. We feel however that these awards are so important that they will be presented to recipients at the Christmas Meeting/Party. Our "Old Timers" deserve recognition and receiving an award twice is a small reward for years and years of service to our Industry. Please plan to join in. See you December 12.
Work Picture     Work in our area is still good with calls going into Book II quite often. At a recent conference reports from other area Locals regarding their future work outlook considering the state of the economy. Modesto seems to be the only bright spot other than Local 180. We should look for a slow down in December and probably into January. Work should pick up after that. The Solano County Project, Kaiser Hospital, and Local Schools will generate work. None of these in and of themselves will clear our books but it seems to generate a positive outlook. Man-hours for 2002 are on track to once again go over 600,000 hrs. (10-year average is about 456,000) This will give us a 5 year average of 500,000+.
 
 

Upcoming Events Holidays REGULAR MEETING  November 14, 2002@ 7:00 P.M. BAR-B-QUE @5:30  NO BAR-B-QUE at the December Meeting Regular Meeting Dec. 12, 7:00 P.M.  Christmas Party Following Meeting  NOVEMBER 11, VETERAN'S DAY (INSIDE  AGREEMENT) THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS NOVEMBER, 28, 29, (INSIDE, RESIDENTIAL, SOUND  & COMMUNICATIONS AGREEMENTS)  CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS DECEMBER 24, (INSIDE AGREEMENT) DECEMBER 25, (ALL AGREEMENTS) DECEMBER 26, (RESIDENTIAL) JANUARY 1, 2003 NEW YEARS DAY All meetings will be held at:  720 Technology Way Napa CA, 94558

Inside this issue. Business Manager's Report Kids Christmas Party Beneficiary Update Congratulations Condolences Retiree's Corner From the President Organizing JATC

Our Annual Kids Christmas Party will be held at the Training Center on December 14, 2002.  The party will start at 12:00 with  Santa arriving around 1:00 P. M.
Refreshments, prizes, gifts and fun for all.

More in the December Newsletter.

Beneficiary Update
Please contact the office for new beneficiary forms if you have had any changes in your life, such as marriage, divorce, deaths, etc. Regardless of your age or marital status, we need that information on file so your wishes will be carried out.

While you update your beneficiary records, please take the time to make sure that the Union Office has Emergency Contact information also. We need a name of someone to call and a daytime telephone number, so if an emergency does come up with you while traveling to and from a job, or on the job itself, we would know who to contact. Remember that this information remains confidential.

Congratulations
Mark and Maria Duran on their marriage, May 20, 2002
 

Condolences
Condolences to the family of Ken Calbert who passed away On October 17. Brother Calbert was a member of the IBEW for over 52 years, and retired in 1984. His retirement years were very active, and he enjoyed fishing, golfing, family and friends. His son, Bob, is also a member of Local #180.

Condolences to the family and friends of Bette Granger who passed away September 26, 2002. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Granger.

Condolences to the family and friends of Cecelia Indrieri who passed away on September 9, 2002. She was the widow of Lonny Indrieri.

Condolences to the family and friends of Bernice Bagley who died on September 21, 2002. She was the widow of Jay Bagley.

Retiree's Corner
The monthly meetings for the Retirees Club are held the first Wednesday of each month, at 12:30 pm, at the  Training Center.  All retirees and spouses are welcome. Widows of retired members are encouraged to be involved.  At the October 2, 2002 meeting lunch will be served. Please RSVP to Ken so that enough food will be available.

The Annual Christmas Luncheon will be held December 4, 2002, at Jonesy's Steakhouse Napa Airport)

The cost is $18.00. Please plan on attending. Contact Ken for reservations. He needs the cash and a count now. Choices will be Open Face Steak Sandwich or Shrimp Louie and includes desert.

Ken has scheduled a trip in July of 2003. It will be called the "Lake Michigan Getaway". More information will be presented in future newsletters.

Ken Breckenridge 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 Tonopah 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
Hopefully, our membership got out to vote. Statistics show that Organized Labor makes up 26% of the voting population in California. Of the candidates and measures supported by the Napa/Solano Building Trades every candidate was elected except one. (That candidate was 4th in a 3 person race with 10 other candidates). Measure E was defeated. It required a two thirds majority and received only 60%. Every other item on the ballot that was supported by organized labor in Solano and Napa Counties won!

Our Available for Work List has 32 members on Book 1, 98 on Book 2 and 6 on Book 3. Calls have been getting into Book 2 for the last couple of weeks.

At the last Executive Board Meeting, I was instructed to inform the E-Board when members were dismissed for cause or when the office received complaints from the contractor about a member's workmanship and conduct. Article XIX in the IBEW Constitution empowers the Executive Board to either place a member back into the Apprenticeship or order mandatory attendance to Journeyman Upgrade Classes. If we are going to boast the most highly trained Electricians in the industry, then we are going to have to police our own. This is not punishment; it's education for our survival.

We have had several applicants come forward that have been working non-union contractors on prevailing wage projects. They have brought check stubs in and will give a statement that they not only did not receive the correct pay but also didn't receive benefits. Through our efforts and Mission 2000 we will develop a case against those contractors that continually cheat on Prevailing Wage Projects. We have been successful in the past and will continue to pursue these crooks.

Dan Broadwater
President Local 180

From the Organizer:
Last month I attended the annual Organizing Conference. The conference was very informative with many excellent classes put on by various Local Unions in the Brotherhood. The focus of the classes was all about" Top Down" organizing contractors. We will try some of these strategies to augment our organizing program.

Please contact the President or myself if you are unemployed and would like to try salting. We are currently in need of salts. Please consider this as it is the best way to build a successful organizing campaign.

Rich Mattson, Organizer

JATC
The JATC is still accepting sign-ups for Journeyman Classes. Code and Conduit Bending classes will be offered in January. If you have not signed up yet contact Larry Poyser at the JATC office. (251-0315)

As state certification becomes mandatory, classes geared towards refreshing our academic skills will be offered.

JOURNEYMAN CLASSES

The following Journeyman level classes will be offered in the near future. Class sizes and times will depend on interest.
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 12/01/02 Copyright© 2002 IBEW L.U. 180 Information on this site has been approved by the Business Manager and L.U. President