IBEW Local 1245 members will have the opportunity to vote on an offer to extend the current labor agreements with Asplundh Tree Expert Co., Trees, Inc. and Utility Tree Service, Inc. Balloting will be conducted by mail, with ballots to be counted on Sept. 30.

The following letter will be sent to all members employed by Asplundh Tree Expert Co., Trees, Inc. and Utility Tree Service, Inc., along with a ballot. Voting instructions will accompany the ballot.

Letter: 

IBEW Local Union 1245 Line Clearance Tree Trimmers and Vegetation Control Members working for Asplundh Tree Expert Co., Trees, Inc. and Utility Tree Service, Inc.:

Re: Contract Extension Offer for Membership Vote

Dear IBEW Member,

As you are aware our labor agreements with Asplundh, Trees, Inc., and Utility Tree expire on December 31, 2009.  While Local 1245 is actively accepting your proposals for contract negotiations in your August and September unit meetings, the Companies have agreed to offer IBEW 1245 terms for a two-year contract extension.

While IBEW 1245 takes negotiations on your behalf very seriously, we also must be aware of the overall poor state of the economy when considering whether or not put an offer such as this to a membership vote.  IBEW Local 1245 strongly feels that the following extension offer is worthy of your consideration and vote:

*ARTICLE XVI HEALTH AND WELFARE:

“Employer agrees to pay 50% of any increase in LINECO that occurs effective January 1, 2011, only.”

Explanation:

*LINECO Administration has informed IBEW Local 1245 that no increases are scheduled for 2010, and that Trustees will meet in December of this year in order to determine if there will be any increase in the hourly LINECO costs for 2011.  In the event that the Trustees approve an increase, this proposal would require that employees pay one half of that increase while the Companies pay for half also. Currently, your employer pays, and will continue to pay, $4.75 to LINECO for each hour you work.

While there is no guarantee of any increase amounts which LINECO Trustees may implement in the future, here are a listing of past LINECO increases, 2004 to current:

*1-01-04: Increase of .50 cents per-hour to $3.75.

*7-01-04: Increase of .50 cents per hour to $4.25

*1-01-05: Increase of .25 cents per hour to $4.50

ARTICLE XIX TERM

Please follow the enclosed voting instructions and return your vote as soon as possible.  Membership mail ballots for all companies must be received at the IBEW 1245 Vacaville P.O. Box no later than 10 am, September 30, 2009.  Ballots for all three companies will be tallied individually on September 30, 2009 and the vote results will be posted.

In Solidarity,

Tom Dalzell Business Manager

IBEW Local Union 1245