WORK OUTLOOK
Work outlook continues to be steady. The number of contract crews working directly for PG&E and SMUD has remained around the same. We anticipate increases in projected man-hours in Transmission and Substation (NERC work) over the next couple of months. There are other projects underway (which aren’t counted in the above-mentioned man-hours) that our members are also performing in Nevada, where NV Energy has taken the pro-union approach to contracting. This is great news for union members in a “Right to Work” state.
We have several projects waiting in the wings to start, and a few projects that have just started but are not yet up to full steam. The trailer park conversion pilot program has had a couple of delays due to a significant portion of the work being pulled from a non-IBEW civil contractor. The contractor was suspended from performing work on PG&E property due to an excessive amount of dig-ins. That work has been resent out to bid, and we are waiting to see who it is awarded to. Some of the facility relocate work for the California High Speed Rail project has started, although the rail project itself won’t begin for quite some time. We have been told the Cal-Train Electrification project — which is the 54-mile conversion from Diesel to Electric which spans from San Francisco to San Jose — has been awarded, but work won’t begin for a couple of months. It must be noted that Local 1245 has project labor agreements in place for all the work from the bolts up on both the Cal-Train and High Speed Rail projects, and these two projects will generate a lot of work for our construction members. Another large project that hasn’t begun yet is the Google project that involves installing fiber throughout the city of San Jose. This project will involve stringing and upgrading the infrastructure in that area and require several years’ worth of work.
We are not seeing the huge spike in lineman calls as we have experienced in the past, which we attribute to the utility keeping more crews on property through the winter. This has been a major change from past years, where the construction crews would basically shut down for a couple of months each year in the winter then ramp up in the late spring. That approach came with a lot of difficulties — including building the workforces back up and developing crew continuity — which have the potential to increase work procedure errors and accidents. As of July 20, 2016, we had 15 Lineman on Book 1 and 70 on Book 2 with hopes of getting those numbers down over the next couple of months. The onset of storm season in the south and eastern U.S. will potentially drive that number on the books down as well.
CONTRACTOR SAFETY
Utility
There are several new and ongoing factors that seem to be changing in the construction safety arena. As mentioned above, a non-IBEW contractor was suspended from working on PG&E property due to too many dig-ins. It should be noted that the same criteria applies to all contractors (both union and non-union) that are working on PG&E property. Too many dig-ins and other safety infractions can lead to suspension. Additionally, the PUC’s new mandate on the utility for stronger contractor oversight is changing the landscape on safety where everyone understands that either you work safe or you are off the property. The utility will be conducting site safety audits as well as having the inspectors they employ on our jobs take a bigger role in enforcing safety. PUC compliance on this is set to begin in the next month, however the utility has already begun at different levels through the different departments, and this is something anyone wishing to work out here must be aware of.
This is a reminder that unsafe work practices could not only have a member banned from the property, but could also lead to contractors being suspended or removed from the property, causing other members to lose their jobs. The days of taking shortcuts to increase productivity, and turning a blind eye to potential safety hazards are gone. The consequences can effect our members’ ability to make a living. Safety needs to be the number one priority. Although we have seen a reduction in injuries as well as workplace errors, we believe we can continue to do better.
Red Book
We have received several inquiries regarding updated safety books. We have started a review of the California Safety Manual (Red Book) in order to reflect the Federal OSHA changes as well as in anticipation of the CalOSHA changes that have yet to be released. A committee has been formed and we have begun the process. We don’t anticipate printing or finalizing this project until the CalOSHA regulations have been posted, to make sure the information published in our manual accurately reflect the state’s new requirements. The state rules must be equal to or greater than the Federal requirements, and there are many cases where CalOSHA may require stricter policies. We want to make sure our guide is up-to-date on both the federal and state changes.
OUTSIDE LINE REPS
The 2 outside line reps continue to spend a lot of time in the field performing jobsite visits as well as safety orientations. On average, they are logging approximately 7,500 miles and holding 150 safety orientations each month.
GRIEVANCES
As is the norm for our work group, we continue to deal with contractual issues as soon as we are made aware of them. Approximately 90% are handled in the first step of the grievance process and are mostly centered on pay issues. We still get issues that aren’t as easily resolved, and we are currently working on three that have a much larger impact on those involved from both sides. We have commitments to resolve two of the issues listed below; the third is just in the beginning stages. They are:
- A contractor had multiple violations from not using an IBEW subcontractor, not paying wages and fees associated with training they required and not providing a secured parking lot as required per the agreement, and then refusing to pay for a parking ticket. The resolution that Local 1245 was asking for has been achieved, and the contractor has agreed to reimburse the affected employees in wages and fees as well as the cost of the parking ticket. With regards to the non-IBEW subcontractor, the contractor has agreed to pay the cost of the work to the IBEW Injured Workers Fund in the amount of $11,000. This will be done in three monthly payments, of which the first had already been made. Upon receiving the final two payments, the grievance will be withdrawn and considered settled.
- We had a Mark and Locate contractor pay the incorrect OT rate and not pay the applicable daily subsistence rate as required by the agreement. This had gone on over the course of several years before it was discovered, at which time payroll records were reviewed and a settlement was agreed upon to reimburse the affected employees. To date we have confirmation that the smaller amounts associated with the incorrect OT rate had been paid to those employees; however the subsistence (which makes up the majority of the payout) has not. When we receive confirmation that the subsistence has been paid, the grievance will be withdrawn and considered settled.
- The final grievance is in the very early stages, although we have reason to believe it will most likely go the distance. A small contractor that became signatory to Local 1245 in 2008 had never received work that we were aware of. However, they were recently spotted in San Francisco working as Qualified Electrical Workers (QEWs) on a fiber optic install project in energized vaults and manholes. We suspect that the contractor didn’t believe the fiber work was covered work; but the whole reason they were on the project was due to the fact that this utility company requires QEWs in their vaults and manholes. Local 1245 is demanding they cease the work as a non-union contractor and live up to the agreement they signed with 1245, as well as provide restitution for any QEW work performed on this project.
AUDITS
During a recent review of reporting practices, we received an inquiry from our International Office regarding the number of members showing up as inactive. As we performed our audits, we found several that were simply reporting errors; however we did find some that we had no paperwork for. Most of these came from contracts other than the Outside Line group, but we did find some in Outside Line as well. We are actively cleaning these up.
All of our agreements on the construction side require membership in the IBEW as a condition of employment, and non-members cannot work under these agreements or receive the benefits from them. Failure to obtain and maintain membership can lead to several different outcomes, depending on the agreement. At a minimum, the contractor may be forced to release non-members from work. It is the members’ responsibility to make sure all membership paperwork is filled out and kept up to date.
BENEFIT TRACKING
In addition to ensuring that IBEW membership is maintained, it is equally important to make sure that pension funds and health care hours are up-to-date and accurate. Each member should receive a quarterly statement of activity on their accounts, which can be verified through employees’ pay stubs. Occasionally, we have contractors who fail to report, report under wrong agreements / classifications or under wrong social security numbers. Verifying and correcting any issues early is key to ensuring the members get what is theirs.
JATC
The JATC is in the process of interviewing the 1,300 applicants who submitted applications and associated paperwork during the ten-day application period this spring. On average, about 140 applicants are interviewed each month, and it will take several more months to complete the interviews. The current list of applicants past and present will then be ranked and placed on the eligibility list as they wait for positions to open up, and it will be some time before the application period will open again.
Business Rep Richard Ingle attended the Apprentice Picnic in Ontario on July 9 which is a mandatory event for all apprentices, and supported by both Local 1245 and Local 47. He reports that a good time was had by all.
We currently have 342 outside line apprentices registered in our JATC program and two traveling apprentices in our jurisdiction.
- 55 Apprentices are working out of Local 1245
- 239 are working out of Local 47
- 2 are working out of Local 396
- 29 are unemployed (48 are technically unemployed, but 19 can’t work)
We have graduated 37 apprentices to journeyman lineman and have indentured 47 outside line apprentices.
TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND STREET LIGHT AGREEMENT
Wage increases for 2016 under the Traffic Signal and Street Light agreements were based on the one-year average for the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all Urban Wage Earners in the San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose areas ending in June. Those numbers are just in and they equate to a 2.7% wage increase for all classifications under that agreement.
ORGANIZING
The following contractors signed agreements with Local 1245 in June and July:
- ArborWorks, Inc. – Line Clearance Tree Trimming
- Inyon Corrosion Services, LLC – Gas Inspector
- California Pipeline Inspection – Gas Inspector
- Gulf Interstate Field Services- Gas Inspector
- W. Emerson, Inc. – Hydro Construction & Maintenance
- Most Wanted Drilling – Outside Line Construction Agreement
INJURED WORKERS FUND
The balance of the Injured Workers Fund as of June 30, 2016 was $946,756.90. In the month of June, one disability payment was made. The Trustees of the Injured Workers Fund have amended the Plan Document to increase the Disability Benefit payouts, which became effective July 1, 2016:
Disability Benefits
1) Initial Disability Benefit (for disabilities lasting more than ten (10) days but less than thirty (30) days): $2000.00
2) Secondary Disability Benefit (for disabilities lasting more than twenty-nine (29) days but less than ninety (90) days): $3,000.001
3) Final Disability Benefit (for disabilities lasting at least ninety (90) days): $5,000.002
1 This lump-sum benefit shall be in addition to any Initial Disability Benefit paid to the Participant.
2 This lump-sum benefit shall be in addition to any Initial and Secondary Disability Benefits paid to the Participant.
Any questions and requests for a copy of the Summary Plan Document should be directed in writing to the Trustees of the Injured Workers Fund at 30 Orange Tree Circle, Vacaville, CA 95687.
2016 TRAINING SCHEDULE & SPECIAL EVENTS
- IBEW 1245 Golf Tournament – October 8, 2016, Vacaville
- International Lineman’s Rodeo – October 15, 2016, Bonner Springs, KS
- First Aid & CPR is the second Saturday of every month at the JATC Riverside and Sacramento facilities
- OSHA 10 ETD class scheduled for July 29 and 30 in Vacaville