Master Agreement, LineCo, Job Opening, Safety
The Master Line Clearance Tree Agreement between Asplundh Tree, Davey Tree Surgery, Trees Inc., Utility Tree, and Wright Tree was ratified on Sept. 14. The vote was 447- 98, with 5 void ballots. This is the largest vote in the history of Trees at Local 1245. Special thanks to Yes Committee members John Simms, Justin Casey and support staff Eileen Purcell, Carl Lamers, Junior Ornelas, Liz McInnis and rest of the team.
We are working very hard with Lineco Insurance and Davey Tree to have a smooth transition for the existing Davey medical insurance to Lineco Insurance effective Jan. 1, 2013. There are many things to get done to get the enrollment packages to members in December.
We are planning to hold labor-management meetings with the above contractors, including Martinez Tree. We are expecting GRC meetings with Asplundh Tree, Davey Tree, and Trees Inc.
Job Opening
We are currently hiring for a Business Representative position in the Line Clearance Tree Trimming and Pole Test and Treatment Department. Minimum requirements:
- Reside in, or willing to relocate to the Fresno Area
- Bilingual, must be fluent in English and Spanish
- Minimum 5 years experience with line clearance tree trimming
- Good driving record
- Basic computer knowledge: email, Microsoft Word
- Must be able to travel
We will be accepting resumes until Oct. 15, 2012. This is a salaried position based on a 52-hour work week. Submit your resume to: Ron L. Cochran, 30 Orange Tree Circle, Vacaville, CA 95687
Fatality at Davey Tree
Regretfully there was an accident which proved fatal on Sept. 27 for Davey Tree Surgery employee Rene Curiel. Rene had worked for Davey close to three years and would have been twenty-seven years old in November.
Rene was felling trees in the aftermath of the “Chips Fire” off Clear Creek Road, Canyon Dam, CA on the 60KV line coming out of Butts Lake. He was struck by a 67- foot long top that was knocked out of a tree that had been hit by the tree he was felling. Rene was living in Santa Maria, CA. The company sent several crews from Los Padres Division. Rene had worked for Davey for about 3 years.
We will be continuing to discuss with members the viability of starting an injured workers fund for Line Clearance Tree trimmers that would work like the Outside Line (OSL) Injured workers fund. The OSL fund is self-funded by the OSL members for the OSL members at $0.05 an hour for all hours worked. This discussion continues.
Safety
On Sept. 27 we had the “Keep the Clearance” peer to peer Safety Steward training for about half the Safety Stewards. We have scheduled a second training for Nov. 8 for the other half. The second training was scheduled so as to lessen the impact of taking off work some of the best employees of tree companies during their end of the year rush to complete work for this year.
We have had two terminations at Wright Tree Service in the last couple of weeks—one for insubordination which the union brother agreed and another for allegedly harassing two different co-workers in separate incidents, which we are grieving. Wright Tree is also stepping up enforcement of their absence policy in Humboldt County, the only place they have boots on the ground in our jurisdiction.
The Nick Acosta matter has been settled. Nick has returned back to work for Trees Inc. in Fresno, CA.