The 2013 Soccer Tournament planning is well underway. We have a Planning Committee made up of members who have met at Weakley Hall to plan the logistics of the tournament and to review and revise the tournament rules. All 16 teams have captains and are filling out the signup sheets.
We are being asked many questions regarding the Tree Master Agreement that took effect Jan. 1 of this new year. The change at Davey Tree Surgery from paid-time-off to vacation and paid holidays is the subject getting the most interest.
Recent storms have caused a lot of emergency call out work, Humboldt County having the most. This call out work has generated questions and complaints concerning equal distribution, expenses and rest periods.
We were successful in returning a Utility Tree Service employee to work after he was terminated for wrecking a climbing truck. He had worked for Utility Tree Service for close to 15 years and had a very clean disciplinary file. The company reconsidered the termination and decided to reinstate the employee with a temporary demotion.
Falsification of tree work orders (penciling) continues to be a problem and will continue to be a problem until a more reasonable approach to all the problems connected to work orders are dealt with by PG&E.
At this writing, the only Line Clearance Tree Trimming company without a contract for 2013 is Family Tree. We are hopeful that Family Tree will sign the Master Agreement and continue the relationship between the company and IBEW Local Union 1245.
Asplundh Tree Expert — The GRC was held Nov. 29. The Committee is finalizing the minutes of the meeting. There has been plenty of emergency work activity throughout the system. Due to the forecast the company has been allowing employees to utilize vacation time off work
Trees Inc. — Turlock Irrigation District takeover is to begin Jan. 2, 2013. The GRC was held Dec.17 in Vacaville. The Committee is working on the minutes of that meeting. In Fresno crews are still working out of state in Arizona. These crews were expected to return by the end of December 2012. At SMUD we are encountering issues regarding meal tickets. We expect to hold an all-hands meeting to get to the bottom of these issues.
Davey Tree Surgery — Lineco Medical is set to begin Jan. 1, 2013. All members currently have enrollment applications in hand. We want to encourage everyone to complete their applications and send them back to Lineco ASAP. Those who do not comply will not have dependent coverage. Due to the change in forecast on PG&E, Mission crews were shipped to work in Diablo Division to complete the year.