Related Articles
Related Articles
L.U. 1245 (catv,em,govt,lctt,o,pet,t& u), VACAVILLE, CA—In wage re-opener negotiations with Local 1245, Pacific Gas & Electric agreed to pass on the approximately $4 million in subsidies and premium enhancements it can receive when Medicare Part D goes into effect in 2006. PG&E agreed to use all of the government subsidies and premium enhancements to reduce premiums for Medicare retirees. The monthly value of the subsidies and premium enhancements (doubled for employee and spouse) for each member will range from $22.08 to $62.20. Wage negotiations for current employees were continuing at press time. Local 1245’s challenge to PG&E’s decision to close all 84 of its local offices is scheduled for arbitration. Local 1245 is also in discussion with PG&E regarding its proposal to automate meter reading. In Outside Construction news, the union hiring hall recently reported 56 calls for journeyman linemen; six for equipment specialists; 23 for groundmen; five for cable splicers; 38 for U.G. Tech; and five for apprentices, for a total of 133 calls. Total crews working on Outside Agreement were 118; 40 on the Underground Agreement; 40 on the Pole Test Agreement; and 14 on the Teledata Agreement. Eric Wolfe, P.S.
L.U. 1307 (u), SALISBURY, MD—Local 1307 ratified a new five-year agreement with Delmarva Power. It includes a 16 percent increase in base wages over the course of the contract; prescription plan modifications and employee contributions toward major medical insurance. We gained 21 new jobs, increased shift differentials and other improvements. Local 1307’s annual picnic and golf tournament June 11 were fun for all. Bros. Craig Kormanik, Billy Nichols, Steve Causey and Chuck Harris won golf trophies. Bro. Paul Andrews celebrated his June 2005 retirement at the picnic. Paul began employment with Delmarva Power in Salisbury in 1970. He completed his apprenticeship, advanced through numerous utility positions and served with great dedication. E.D. Sparks, F.S.
L.U. 1381 (uow) HICKSVILLE, NY—Local 1381 had an activity-filled summer. The local recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of newly elected Bus. Mgr. Donald J. Daley Jr. Along with training classes and shop steward workshops, Bus. Mgr. Daley has focused on uniting and strengthening our membership. Local 1381 held a summer social gathering for members to meet one another and share views on the future of our local. Our Voluntary Organizing Committee is teaching leadership and democratic principles, and encourages members to be politically active. Local 1381’s annual golf outing raised funds for our Committee on Political Education and for the Donald J. Daley Memorial Scholarship Fund. The 2005 scholarship award went to Kate Caramico, daughter of Local 1381 member Marylynn Caramico. Catherine Malinowski, P.S. L.U. 1439 (u), ST. LOUIS, MO—On March 12, 2005, Bro. Patrick Cooney, a former Union Electric (Ameren) employee, reached his 100th birthday with great fanfare, thanks to his family and former co-workers. Pat started his occupational journey with Union Electric on Jan. 1, 1930, and was initiated into Local 1439 in 1946. He worked as an electrical mechanic and retired from the Midland Reporting Center in 1970. Pat was appreciated as a hard worker and was friendly to all—a good legacy for all of us to strive for which speaks volumes about his character. God bless you, Patrick, and thanks for your contribution to the IBEW! We mourn the loss of Jettie Casey, John Savage and Floyd Taber. Ken Carroll, P.S. L.U. 1501 (ees,em,mo,pet,t&rts), BALTIMORE, MD—The newly chartered unit of our local union, designated 1501-3, represents Maryland Relay operators, who are employed by AT&T and provide a public service offered through the state of Maryland, which enables deaf, hard-of-hearing, or speech-disabled people to communicate with standard telephone users. Our members are integral to the success of Maryland Relay. They maintain strict confidentiality regarding the conversation of users. The Relay operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and processes nearly 2.5 million calls annually. Maryland Relay works by enabling users of a TTY (text telephone) or a standard phone to initiate a call by giving a phone number of a person or business being called to a Relay operator, who dials the number typing the standard phone user’s spoken words to the person using the TTY, and voices the TTY user’s written text. The state of Maryland provides informative brochures explaining services offered. Additional information is available from Maryland Relay at 1-800-552-7724 or at Web site www.mdrelay.org. Thomas J. Rostkowski, P.S. |
