WORK OUTLOOK
Work has remained strong with an overall increase throughout the jurisdiction, especially in transmission, over the last couple of months. As of Friday, October 23, 2015, we had 12 standing calls for journeyman linemen in California, all of which are transmission jobs.
As we enter the fourth quarter of the year, we expect to see other increases that should require more manpower through 2016. As the weather cools and outages become easier to obtain, substation work should pick up, which is normal for these months. Additionally, there are two different rail projects that we’ve been discussing over the past year, and we should start to see the effects on manpower needs soon.
Local 1245 Business Manager Tom Dalzell has already secured two PLAs for the following projects for covered work in our jurisdiction which our members will benefit from for years to come:
- The California High speed rail project. Phase 1 of the 520-mile high speed train project that would connect Las Angeles to San Francisco is finally underway. Electrical infrastructure relocation projects have already begun in the Fresno area with a lot more to come along the proposed route. The train, when built, will be fully electric, and Local 1245 will build it. Estimated cost of the total project is around $68 billion dollars.
- The CalTrain electrification project. This 54-mile section from San Francisco to San Jose (which is subtracted from the 520-mile high speed rail project) is getting closer to being awarded. Local 1245 will have all the bolts-up work on this project when it gets underway.
There is also a pilot program getting underway that involves about 10% of the mobile home parks in the state and will entail converting these parks from customer-owned utilities (gas and electric) to utility-owned and metered equipment. The pilot project will take a couple of years to complete, and if it goes well, the plan would be to convert the rest of the mobile home parks in the state as well. This work will benefit a large number of our members — both in performing the civil work as well as the electrical portions — for years to come.
STAFF
Business Representative Mike Saner joined the Outside Line staff in September to help out in the field! Local 1245’s construction area encompasses approximately 258,000 square miles with projects spanning a large portion of California and Northern Nevada. Business Representative Richard Ingle has routinely traveling 5,000 to 6,000 miles a month visiting crews in the field. The addition of Mike Saner to the team will allow more crews to be visited monthly as well as reduce the stress on the one rep in the field. Mike has been a rep for PG&E GC members for years and we are happy to have the help.
CODE OF EXCELLENCE
Anyone who is eligible to be dispatched from this local union must complete a safety orientation which also covers the Code of Excellence, and over the past 22 months, we have given 4,469 safety/Code of Excellence orientations. It is also provides a good opportunity for our members, travelers and prospective new members to sit down with a business representative and go over contractual issues, safety questions and anything else they have on their mind.
Creating a transparent and honest environment by which lives can be saved is the driving force of our work, as our founders envisioned when our trade was so deadly. What we do here as union members and stewards is why we are union members and stewards. To forget the sacrifices and blood shed by those before us and not charge back at the risks of the industry is the coward’s way and the mark of unprofessional behavior.
Thanks to the progressive approach from our safety department, the Hold the Pull, Keep the Clearance, and Control the Pressure peer safety programs have become beacons of light not only here but in other locals as well.
GRIEVANCES
Issues related to paychecks and term slips still seem to be a daily occurrence and we have been diligent in getting all of those issues resolved in a timely manner, and usually in the first step of the grievance process. We very seldom find ourselves in position where issues aren’t handled early on, however it does occasionally happen.
We currently have one case scheduled for Labor-Management which should take place sometime in November. It involves reimbursement for damage to a personal vehicle.
ORGANIZING
During the past three months we organized the following new contractors
Outside Line Construction Agreement:
- Skyline Electric Company
- Systems Mechanical
- Mountain G. Engineering
- MacroPlastics
Gas Inspection Agreement:
- Frontline Energy Service
JATC
We currently have 343 outside line apprentices registered in our JATC program
- 23 traveling apprentice in our jurisdiction
- 79 apprentices are working out of local 1245
- 257 are working out of 47
- 7 are working out of 396
- 0 are unemployed (23 are technically unemployed-but all can’t work)
- 80 apprentices have graduated to journeyman lineman.
- 90 indentured outside line apprentices in 2015.
IBEW LOCAL 1245 INJURED WORKERS FUND
The balance of the fund as of September 30, 2015 was $817, 922.13. In the past three months the fund has paid three disability payments.
The Injured Workers Fund covers members working under the Western Line NECA California Outside Line Construction in Local 1245’s jurisdiction if they are hurt on the job. It does not cover injuries sustained while outside of work. If you are hurt outside of work, please make sure you contact Lineco Insurance right away as they have a short-term disability that you may qualify for.
The current contribution rate is $0.05 cents per hour worked under this agreement. Outside Line members should verify this deduction is coming out of their paychecks especially when they start working with a new Contractor. There are other eligibility requirements a member must meet in order to qualify. For more information about the Fund, please email Liz McInnis at ejmh@ibew1245.com or writing to the Trustees of the plan at 30 Orange Tree Circle, Vacaville, CA 95687.
TRAINING SCHEDULE & SPECIAL EVENTS
- IBEW-NorCal Clay Shoot – April 2, 2016- Location TBD
- Soccer Tournament – April 30, 2016– Ripon
- Soccer Tournament – May 14, 2016 – Fairfield
- First Aid & CPR is the 2nd Saturday of every month at the JATC Riverside and Sacramento facilities.