The work picture looks good through the rest of the year. Diablo Canyon Power Plant will be starting an outage later this year which will generate a lot of jobs out of Hiring Hall. In February 2011 we will start the first phase of construction of 50MW of solar work.
Local 1245 is sending 17 apprentice linemen from various Local 1245 properties to the International Lineman’s Rodeo in Kansas City in October 2010. We are in the processing of finalizing registration and travel details.
Invitation went out to shop stewards in August inviting them to participate in the 1st Annual Y.E.S. Conference. This conference is being led by the delegates who attended the AFL-CIO Young Workers Summit in June. This will be a give-and-take event, designed to gauge what our members aged 18-40 think about the local union and to explore ways for members to become more active.
A meeting was set up for CSI members on Aug. 28 to present the new cafeteria medical plan that Local 1245 and CSI agreed to. CSI members currently receive “in-lieu of” benefits; now they will have the option to opt in to a medical plan.
A meeting was set up for the Pole Test and Treat members on Aug. 28 to review and discuss the contracts currently out for a vote.
We met with GoodCents’ members and company regarding pre-negotiations. The contract expires at the end of the year. We hope to get early start with these negotiations.
Canus and CSI recently signed a letter of agreement improving health insurance.
Ballots are currently out for several contracts due to expire at the end of the year: Davey Pole, Osmose, Martinez Pole, Republic ITS Pole Treatment, and Utility Pole Technologies.
Organizing Continues
Local 1245 continues to sign up additional Outside contractors.
F. Connolly Company out of San Bruno signed the Outside Line and San Francisco Trolley agreements. Beeler Construction out of Browns Valley signed the Outside Line agreement. INTREN, Inc out of Union, IL signed the Outside Line agreement
A group of high voltage lineman and electricians approached Local 1245 from UC Davis. We were able to secure 25 out of the 31 employees who fall under those classifications. We submitted a request for recognition to PERB on Aug. 27.
We also continued our efforts to help our sister Local 47 in southern California in their attempts to organize Summit Construction and Probst Electric. It was a huge success for all.
Ron Cochran is Senior Assistant Business Manager for IBEW Local 1245