WORK OUTLOOK
The first couple months of the year are usually slow, and 2015 is no different. There are a lot of projects going on, but for the most part, it’s the type of work that is done in the warmer months when it is easier to take outages. Construction season usually starts around April, and we don’t really see a huge increase in the number of crews on property until around that time frame.
Outside of the normal construction work, we should see some additional work being generated with arrestor compliance jobs as well as some work involving the cut-over of trailer parks. This work will require all new conduit and cables installed directly to the customers inside the park.
Most crews are being visited on a routine basis and the members like to see their Rep on the job. To date, we have performed close to 3,000 safety orientations, and there has been a reduction in incidents and work procedure errors in this area over the last couple of months. We attribute this to the combined efforts by everyone from the utility, the contractor and the members in the field, as well as the frank discussions on safety and personal responsibility everyone gets before taking a call. We want to continue to see this focus on safety trend in a positive way through 2015 and beyond.
Atmospheric Corrosion Work
The atmospheric corrosion work that was awarded to Canus Corporation over the past couple of years shifted last year. Canus was still getting the largest portion of the work, but other contractors are also able to bid the work and some are being awarded a portion of it. For 2015, a new contractor to 1245 has been awarded about 75% of this work. Alisto Engineering Group will start the hiring process the first couple of weeks of February. Anyone who had worked on this project in the past and wants to work on it this year should contact Alisto and submit their resume.
BACKGROUND CHECKS AND PRE-SCREENING
We have been reporting on the new PG&E requirement for background checks and pre-employment screening that went into effect back in September. We have had a handful of members get told they were ineligible to work on property when it first came out in September, and we have been appealing these decisions with various levels of success. In some cases, the decisions are quick which other cases have taken months. Last month, we saw a much larger number of people show up on this list and we are working them all. Even if a member has worked for PG&E in the past (including Hiring Hall) they should be prepared to go through this process. We will be meeting with PG&E’s HR group on February 13 to discuss the issues associated with the way this is being implemented as well as the guidelines being used on these decisions.
CRANE SURVEY
All members who have current crane certifications will be asked over the next couple of months to fill out a survey when they come into the union hall. This survey is associated with our desire to create our own crane certification program which would be specific to our electric line industry and cover topics such as working near energized lines and equipment. A brief description is below. If anyone who has a current crane certification wishes to fill out this survey, please contact the dispatch office for a copy.
FROM THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY CERTIFICATION ASSOCIATION
Survey Purpose
As part of the process for developing certification exams and in meeting the requirements of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), The Electrical Industry Certifications Association (EICA) and its committees of subject matter experts has produced a Job-‐Analysis Survey that encompass the essential knowledge, skills and abilities of personnel performing crane operations within the scope of duties for the electrical industry. The EICA committees are comprised of various electrical industry representatives including electrical contractors, JATCs, trainers, and independent crane operators who identified those knowledge, skills and abilities of crane and digger derrick operators. EICA is distributing this survey to electrical industry members in order to gain input and perspective regarding the accuracy of the knowledge, skills and abilities identified by the committees. The input supplied by those returning the survey will enable EICA to substantiate and/or revise the essential occupational elements and the certification exam content for operators of cranes and digger derricks.
CRANE CERTIFICATION TRAINING
Cal Nevada JATC will be offering crane training in Vacaville in 2015. Please contact the JATC if you are interested in obtaining the certification based on your job description. Dates to be determined but will be in the May time frame.
SUBSTATION TECHNICIANS
It’s that time of the year when line work slows down and substation work picks up, and the questions around this work and the Substation Technician classification start to come in. Two years ago, Local 1245 implemented the Substation Technician classification, and the program is administered by the Cal Nevada JATC. The Sub Tech classification has the ability to perform all work inside of the substation fence including control wiring.
Two rounds of tests have been offered with hopes that Journeyman members could pass them and test out of the program. This was not the case, and we wound up placing people in different levels of the program as Sub Tech trainees. These trainees must work in an apprentice-like position and need to be under the direction of a Journeyman or a Sub Tech. The trainee program has been tough to monitor since most in 1245 are already journeymen, and the way that they got on the job with regards to referral classification makes a big difference in what they are and are not allowed to do on a site.
We are also getting a lot of inquiries into the possibility of adding more trainees. Our desire to add more trainees is limited at this time due to the current number of trainees still in the program, and their limitations by classification. Until we get the current group to progress to Sub Techs we are not looking to add to the training program. We would prefer more Journeyman to test out, and we are considering offering more tests in the near future. This test would also provide a list of people to add to the program at a later date when the need for more trainees become available. If there are questions, we encourage a phone call to one of the reps for clarification.
CONTRACTS
We have several contracts set to expire on May 31, and we will be spending a considerable amount of time over the next couple of months getting those contracts ratified and/or extended. We will also be working to convert several stand alone-agreements to Letter of Assents which will lower the work load in the future on negotiations.
4th ANNUAL CLAY SHOOT
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2015
Northern California IBEW Locals would like to invite you to enjoy a day of brotherhood with fellow IBEW Union Members, Families, Friends and other Trade Unions. This year due to the growing popularity of the annual shoot, arrangements have been made at two (2) locations to run simultaneously! Both locations have overnight RV parking available and plenty of local hotels to choose from. So, mark your calendar for a Saturday of fun!
Date: Saturday, March 28, 2015
Locations: Raahuagee’s Pheasant, Chucker & Sporting Clays
25835 County Road 8
Dunnigan, CA 95937
www.lincraahauges.com
OR
Rooster Ranch Wings & Clays
26166 Kelley Road
Hilmar, CA 95324
www.roosterranchonline.com
Time: 08:00 – 09:00 Registration (donuts and coffee will be served)
09:00 -09:25 Tailboard and safety briefing
09:30 – Shotgun Start
NOON-ISH Luncheon following shoot
Awards & Raffle to follow luncheon
SPACE IS LIMITED. FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE, BASIS. REGISTER TODAY!
ALL PROCEEDS WILL BE DONATED TO THE PATHWAY HOME: www.thepathwayhome.org
OSHA ETD TRAINING CLASS SET
The Cal Nevada JATC will be offering an OSHA ETD class on Feb. 27 and 28 at the Vacaville union hall. Please contact the JATC if you have interest in attending this class. It’s a two-day class with approximately 3 hours on Friday and the remainder on Saturday.