More contractors signed, work remains strong

Outside Construction Report

By Ron Cochran

We’ve signed the following contractors in the month of June 2012:

– M.A. Steiner Construction– Gas Maintenance
– RMS Life Safety – Gas Survey
– Greer Trenching – Ca OSL
– J&D Excavation – CA OSL
– Solar Hygienics, LLC – CA OSL
– Transformers Lifecycle Service – CA OSL

Work Outlook

As been reported the previous months Outside Line Construction work remains steady with all aspects of our work being performed at some level. There are currently 52 crews on board and that number was expected to increase during May over 70 by midyear for wood distribution. PGE has added Asplundh as a contractor for 3rd and 4th quarter poles replacement work at which time there are over 1,000 poles scheduled.

Asplundh was awarded some infrared patrol work and should be starting in the next couple of weeks. This work will employ at least one Journeyman Lineman to operate the equipment and one groundman or apprentice to drive the vehicle.

Transmission overhead work number of hours has decreased as some work was returned to GC. Substation work including the civil portion has remained steady.

Regarding overhead work, the number of hours has decreased as some work was returned to GC. Hours for large project work of 2,000 hours per month are not broken down on this month’s report although they are included in the total hours. Company explained the term “blitz” work which includes such tasks as pole maintenance, cross-arm repairs, and tags.

Richard Ingle

Richard Ingle started on June 18 and is working as a temporary representative to the Outside Line Construction group. Richard has been a member of IBEW since 1972 and has worked as Lineman, Foreman and General Foreman while working in Outside Construction. More about Richard.

Grievances

We had a Labor Management hearing on June 14, 2012 where 5 grievances were heard and an industry meeting cleaned up some language as to what a Fabricator Technician Classification could perform. Two grievance were settled outside of the Labor Management hearing, and were not heard.

With respect to the 5 grievances Local 1245 prevailed on all 5 grievances with fines and restitution as a result of the contract violations over $28,000.

The clarification of what a Fabricator Technician can and cannot do was clarified. This classification was created to make sure we had a workforce that could perform concrete civil work and was never intended to take work from the other classifications such as groundman and line equipment men. Through the course of implementing this relatively new classification a lot of work that should have been done by these other classifications was actually being done by Fab Techs. This meeting cleaned up this requirement and should make it clear what the classification was intended to be for. Below is the new language that is being handled through a Letter of Understanding (LOU) because it was too late to insert into the new agreement.

LOU Language

The purpose of this LOU is for clarifying the Scope of Work of a Fabricator Technician Classification as set forth in Article VI, Section 6.6 of the Agreement.

Additional Definition Item 6:

Civil Work is clarified to include all below grade concrete work including stub outs. Cable trench, conduit, cable pulling or terminating and pull boxes are electrical work and are not civil work. Fabricator Technicians cannot work in an elevated position (cannot climb).

Foreman Clarification

A Fabricator Technician may act as a Foreman for the Scope of Work set forth above (Civil Work Only) per Article VI, Section 6.2 Item 4.

We have also had a couple of other grievances last month, all of which were handled in the first step of the process. Three terminations and one improper use of the Foreman by name requirement which resulted in the contractor agreeing to full restitution for this offense.

2011/2012 Training Schedule

Crane Training: This class was held in Vacaville during the week of June 11. There will be no more crane classes scheduled this year in Local 1245’s jurisdiction and we will plan on having one next year. Anyone interested in obtaining this training should contact the California Nevada JATC for training schedules of future classes

OHSA ETD Classes: We are trying to offer this class at least once a month over the next couple of months or until attendance drops. If interested check with our dispatch office for class schedules and to add your name to the list of those wishing to attend.

First Aid & CPR is the 2nd Saturday of every month at our Riverside and Sacramento facility.

Special Events

• The 16th Annual 9th District Softball Tournament will be hosted by Local 595/Dublin at Big League Dreams Park in Manteca, CA. It will be held Aug. 11 and 12.
• International Lineman’s Rodeo – October 10-14, 2012, Overland Park, KS

Injured Workers Fund

The balance as of May 31, 2012 was $ 440,347.20. We paid out two existing claims in the month of June.

Dispatch

	June 2012	Year to Date
Lineman	120	646
Apprentice Lineman	19	126
Equipment Man	24	103
Groundman	61	357
Fabricator Tech	45	155
Cable Splicer	7	24
Total	276	1411

 

Apprentices

We currently have 294 outside line apprentices registered in our JATC program.

• 1 traveling apprentice working in our jurisdiction.
• 88 apprentices are working out of local 1245
• 146 are working out of 47
• 16 – working out of 396
• 44 are off of work (2 are on disability – 6 are on leave of absence)
• 20 apprentices have graduated this year to journeyman lineman.
• 14 outside line apprentices have been indentured this year.
• 3 traffic signal maintenance apprentices registered.
• 1 is working for Republic Electric in 1245’s jurisdiction.
• 2 are working for Republic Electric in 47’s jurisdiction.
• 17 traffic signal apprentices have graduated this year.

Ron Cochran is Senior Assistant Business Manager, IBEW Local 1245