We are getting a great deal of interest in the IBEW 1245 First Annual Gold Cup Soccer Tournament. The tournament will take place in Livermore on May 21, 2011 and will include a family picnic.
The tournament will be held at Independence Park off of Highways 680 & 84. This is an 8-team tournament. The number of players per team is 14 maximum. Team captains must take charge and form their team. The first eight teams to complete their roster list with contact information will be guaranteed placement in the tournament.
Bring your family, hang with your friends, go!
Contact Information
We are still gathering cell phone numbers and e-mail addresses from members in line clearance tree trimming. We are already at 70%, but we need members’ assistance to complete this task. Many members have dropped their home phones and we have no way to communicate with them.
Remember: communication is the key to building strength. We have negotiations at the end of this year! We plan on launching a Facebook page for our tree trimming and vegetation control members.
NORTHERN AREA
Davey Tree Surgery
Davey Tree has a “Critical Violation” policy in place. This policy has enhanced discipline for violations. A first offense results in a two-day suspension and a second offense results in termination.
We have agreed that safety should have the highest priority but disagree with the accelerated discipline. Originally the company forwarded a list of “Critical Violations” to the union. Recently the company has added to the list but failed to inform the union, and more importantly, has not adequately notified the employees.
In late February a 70-foot aerial lift truck near Forestville tipped over with a man in the basket. The individual was hospitalized with several broken ribs, bruised lung and a concussion.
Investigation of the accident continues but it seems that the outrigger sank into the ground causing the truck to topple.
Trees Inc.
Seasonal hiring for the spring has begun in the Vegetation Control Department. Most of these folks will work until October and many will be returning from last year’s layoff.
SOUTHERN AREA
Asplundh Tree Expert
In the Yosemite Division we have had an abundance of emergency work due to the recent snow activity in the mountainous areas. Crews have been doing storm work in Sonora, Mariposa and Oakhurst. All the San Joaquin crews have been called up for action.
Davey Tree Surgery
The next OSHA hearing regarding the 2008 Lucas fatality will be in Oakland on May 10. All witnesses are being required to testify.
Mountain Enterprises
Crews were called up from Placerville to work the storms in Yosemite Division in Sonora alongside the Asplundh Tree crews at the same PG&E service center.
Local 1245 is encountering problems with progressions in pay with the company. We are also being told employees are having problems with their medical coverage for their families. The union has been informing the employees that communication is the key in getting proper representation. We need phone calls from these members when they have any issues or concerns.
We now plan on holding a labor-management meeting with the company after the storm work in March to discuss all open matters.
Trees Inc.
Due to the recent storm work in Yosemite crews have been getting into the action in Jackson, Angels Camp, and Oakhurst.
The medical contribution is causing heartache with the membership. Many members are having problems with the medical due to the PPO coverage. The majority of the membership had been accustomed to the HMO type coverage like Kaiser.
Windy Tree
Windy Tree crews got into action in Sonora due to the snow storms. This was the first time Windy had been called for storm work. This is Asplundh Territory in Yosemite Division. The company has still been working reliability work for PG&E in the system.
There is strong interest here in the upcoming soccer tournament.
Junior Ornelas, Carl Lamers and Ron Cochran contributed to this report.