From the trenches...

           Reports from your Business Reps

Unit 2 – ESOs
By Bill Lewis

There will be new training classes this year. After a long, dry spell, it looks like the Department will finally be able to hire some more trainees. The Training Office has indicated that it will try to fill two classes this year, with 20 to 25 people in each section. Because of the extended program, we will not see a gain in Journey-Level Operators for two years.

Unit 3 – Testers
By Bill Lewis

The training program is starting to take shape. As of now, the class specification and the Duties Description Record (DDR) are near completion. We hope to get the Joint Resolution Board’s approval this spring. The next step will entail working with city hall in order to implement the changes and structure for hiring trainees.

Unit 6 – Stores
By Shawn McCloud

• As many of you are aware, long-time Local 18 Business Rep. Hank O’Neill has retired. We all wish him enjoyment and good health. We will be hosting his retirement party at our April 28 th Parent Body (general membership) meeting. Please call the Union Hall to RSVP.

• I am representing your unit for now, and have attended a Joint-Labor Management Committee meeting, a unit meeting, and your Safety Awards luncheon. We have addressed the issue of a position being put out as a transfer opportunity notice, instead of as a bid. We resolved it using the Mutual Gains Process. Thanks to everyone who participated in this.

• As you are aware, a consolidation of all warehouses and stores under Material Management is on the horizon. We sent a letter to Department Labor Relations, asking to meet-and-confer regarding the impact of this transition on our members. We received this response from Peter Lakatos, stating: “Please be advised that the proposed merger of functions will not take place in the foreseeable future, and there is no need to meet-and-confer at this time.” Of course, a letter was re-sent to Mr. Lakatos.

• I want to thank every member I have met so far, especially Unit Chair Mark Miller, for keeping me updated on what is going on and where I need to be. I very much appreciate your encouragement and support.

Unit 8 – Clerical
By Geralyn Washington-Tatum & Shawn McCloud

• Congratulations to our newly elected Unit officers! The Unit 8 Chair is Lorena Rosas, Vice-chair is Kristie Leslie-King, and Recording Secretary is Jeffrey Buford. Many thanks to our outgoing officers, Debbie Ferrer, Judy Litowitz and Reuben Sepulveda, for all your time, hard work and dedication!

• Thanks to every member who came to our February and March unit meetings. We trained on MOU Articles 1-5. A lot of good questions were asked, and the training class engaged in constructive feedback.

• Local 18 and Department representatives have scheduled a meeting in order to begin discussing the possibility of Customer Service Representatives going from half-time to full-time and vice versa. We will also address the questions that were asked at last year’s Half-Time meeting. We will continue to keep you informed.

• Our unit meetings are at 6:00 p.m., on the second Tuesday of the month, at the Local 18 Union Hall. Please come and arm yourself with knowledge!

Unit 8/18 – Clerical Supervisory
By Geralyn Washington-Tatum & Shawn McCloud

• The Customer Services Business Unit held its Clerical Worker Safety Tour (WST) scheduling meeting in February. This year, we are starting with the Customer Service Centers (Branch Offices). Look for a safety tour in your area soon. Remember: if you would like to conduct a WST, please contact either Shawn at 213/387-8274, ext. 111, or Geralyn at ext. 105.

• Attention: if you are committed to attending a unit meeting for Unit 18, please call Geralyn at ext. 105.

Unit 9 – Generating Stations
By Gus Corona

• Plant maintenance personnel have begun receiving training on building and inspecting scaffolding. This issue was brought up at our unit meetings, and addressed through the Joint Labor-Management Committee process. The resolution of this issue demonstrates the importance of your participation at unit meetings. With contract negotiations approaching, it becomes even more important to stay informed about issues which not only affect you, but your Union as a whole. Meeting notices are posted well in advance on the union bulletin boards. We have been rotating unit meetings to different generating stations in order to make it easier for members to attend.

• Congratulations to Brother Steve Montgomery, Maintenance Mechanic at Harbor Generating Station, who was recently appointed Shop Steward! I thank him for stepping to the forefront on behalf of his union sisters and brothers.

Unit 15/20 – Pasadena
By Barry Poole

• Local 18 Business Manager Brian D’Arcy sent a letter to the City concerning its proposal to share the cost increase for the 2% at 55. He stated that we are not willing to open the contract in order to discuss the matter at this time.

• We are meeting with the Pasadena Coalition of City Employees in order to discuss other retirement-issue options. At our last meeting, on February 17, Mohamed Youines and I reviewed retirement issues with other concerned employee-group representatives.

Unit 17 – Field Groups
By Nancy Romero

• CFRs : Training will be starting soon for Back-up Dispatchers. Forty one people have expressed interest in becoming Back-up Dispatchers. After careful review of the operational needs of the Dispatch Unit, only 20 CFRs will be selected from this list—by class-seniority order. If selected, you will be expected to perform the duties of the Dispatcher within the dispatch-operation unit—either Metro or Valley Field offices. You will be asked to fill in the vacant shift that is left when Permanent Dispatchers are given first choice of shift selection during such absences. The Back-up Dispatcher list will be used when filling vacant shifts due to vacation, illnesses, ASDOs on the late shifts, or other special assignments.

• To all members who were issued low-voltage gloves—please wear them! The gloves are an important part of your safety gear; failure to wear them can result in unexpected tragedy. We are working with management to get better-fitting gloves. We also have been working with the CSBU Safety Office to see if glove manufacturer can place a slip-resistant coating on the keepers, which would provide better traction on glass surfaces.

• CFRs and Team Leaders : the City Personnel Office will soon issue the test for Field Investigations (FI). Nance Walker Bonelli, Metro FI Supervisor, will hold a study session at the Union Hall prior to the test in order to prepare members who will take it. We will meet at the Union Hill on a Saturday to share information and prepare for the exam. Thank you, Nance, for your time and dedication in helping members further their careers. This is a Local 18-sponsored activity, RSVPs will be taken.

• FIs : DWP’s Ergonomist has taken a preliminary look at your work in order to better identify ergonomic issues that need to be addressed in the future as the MDDS is implemented in FI.

• Meter Readers : we strongly encourage you to attend your unit meetings on the first Thursday of the month, at the Union Hall. We have many issues to talk about, and we need your input. Please contact a JLMC member with any issues that affect the meter readers. Labor’s JLMC members are: Loretta Galvan, Metro Meter Reading, David Suarez, Valley Meter Reading, and myself.

• Please join us for our Annual Dinner Meeting at 6:30 p.m., May 5, at the BJ Brewery, in Burbank! RSVPs are required for this event.

Unit 19 – Station Maintenance
By Gus Corona

• The request for vacancies for Senior Electrical Mechanics and Electrical Mechanics has been sent out to all business groups, as per the Electrical Mechanic System-wide bid plan. These vacancies will be opened for bid in April.

• With the expiration date of our contract rapidly approaching, it is more important than ever that you stay informed about the important issues that affect you. Please attend your unit meetings and stay involved!

Unit 19B – CR&FS
By Gus Corona

• Martin Marrufo has been named your new Business Rep. Please see the story on page 3 that presents Brother Marrufo’s long experience in the organized-labor movement.

• With the expiration date of our contract rapidly approaching, it is more important than ever that you stay informed about the important issues that affect you. Please attend your unit meetings and stay involved!

Unit 22 - ESRs
By Bill Lewis

• We have finalized the resolution for the grievance regarding additional duties taken on by the Electric Service Representatives. The resolution will be forwarded to the Joint Resolution Board for its March meeting.

• At the last unit meeting, we had a power point presentation on the grievance procedure. It was well received. If you have any ideas for unit meeting training, please advise Bill Punches. We intend to do some union-oriented training at all our unit meetings.

Unit 25 – Gardeners
By Nancy Romero

We have reached an agreement regarding filling of temporary Senior Gardener positions. Under Article 33 of the OM& S MOU, the only qualifiedcandidates eligible for the upgrade are those noted on the official List of Certified Candidates thatis provided by the City personnel office. Upon completion of an entire rotation of every permanent DWP Gardener/Caretaker on the list, another one will begin. This next rotation will be done by in-class seniority order of those on the list of certified candidates. We have asked management to provide a list of all past upgrades in order to assure fair opportunities for every member. We have also requested maintenance and posting of this list to keep you abreast of where the rotation is in relation to your placement on it.

Unit 26 – Custodial Services
By Nancy Romero

• I encourage you to notify CSA Shop Steward Virginia Cook or me if a supervisor has given No Shift, No Pay because he or she has failed to find you at your work station or assignment.

• Reminder : there are specific steps that management must take in order to remove any pay from your paychecks as a disciplinary action. The process is well defined in the Administrative Manual (Section 50-04). We cannot allow management’s failure to follow this important procedure to cause you any loss of wages!

• Please remember that it is your right to have a Union rep. present if you believe that you will be facing disciplinary action.

• Please remember: CSA Supervisors are not to perform CSA work. They can only perform custodial duties as part of on-the-job training for new employees, or when training current employees on specific job assignments. Please call me if any supervisor is performing clearly defined CSA work.

• You should know that the Department will soon hire two new permanent supervisors for the outside facilities. Good luck to everyone on the list!

Unit 28 – Print Shop/Reprographics
By Shawn McCloud

Both Local 18 and Department management have agreed to put our Joint Labor-Management Committee back into action. The meetings will begin in April. The committee will address your workplace concerns.

Unit 31 – Professionals
By Leslie Abbott

• The first-ever Professional Unit Dinner Meeting was a smashing success! Nearly 70 members participated in the February unit meeting at the Local 18 Union Hall. Local 18 Business Manager Brian D’Arcy spoke to the members, and his presentation and substantive follow-up discussion were very informative. Another great first for the Pro Unit!

• Hard copies of the MOUs for the Professional, Administrative, Technical, Supervisory Professional and Supervisory Technical Units were distributed via DWP internal mail in December. If you did not receive an MOU, contact DWP Labor Relations at 213/367-1912, or go to JFB Room 507. Labor Relations has provided only electronic copies of the salary tables for the new bargaining units. If you would like an electronic version of the salary tables, please e-mail me at labbott@ibewlocal18.com

• As of January, 2005, the mileage reimbursement rate has increased to $.405 per mile. MOU Article 18.1 (c) states that when the standard mileage rate goes up, appropriate changes will become effective in the payroll period following January 1.  The new mileage rate was announced in a January 26 DWP bulletin. You can print the bulletin from the DWP Intranet:  http://dwphome/bulletins/bulletins.htm and file it with your MOU for reference.

• Pro Unit meetings are always at 5:30 p.m., on the first Wednesday of the month, at the Union Hall. Parent Body (General Local 18 membership) meetings are always at 6:00 p.m., on the fourth Thursday of the month, at the Union Hall. Please plan to attend in order to keep yourself informed, especially during this MOU negotiations year!

Unit 32 – Technical
By Kerry McCorkle

• The First Annual Technical Unit Dinner Meeting was held on February 9, at the Local 18 Hall; 43 members attended. Guest speakers included Local 18 Business Manager Brian D’Arcy, Union President Frank Miramontes, and Executive Board Member Dave Huff. Brian fielded questions from members, discussing upcoming contract negotiations, the Los Angeles mayoral election, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and the Local 18 Deferred Compensation program (which is still under development). Frank talked about the need for unity among Local 18 members, and Dave reviewed the work of the Joint Labor-Management Committee, organizing activities, and the Equity Committee.
  
• Your contracts expire on September 30 . We anticipate tough negotiations this year. It is very important that you get involved and become informed. Please attend your monthly unitmeetings; they provide the latest facts, while dispelling rumors. Our solidarity will be critical as we approach the deadline for a new agreement. If you have not attended a unit meeting, or have not joined us for a while, this is an excellent and timely opportunity to participate.
  
• Technical Unit meetings are scheduled on the second Wednesday of every month, at 5:00 p.m., at the Union Hall.
  
• You can always reach me at 213/387-8274, ext. 138, or at kmccorkle@ibewlocal18.com

Unit 33 – Administrative
By Kerry McCorkle

• Regrettably, due to a continuing lack of a quorum, we have been unable to hold officer elections in the Administrative Unit. Your attendance at unit meetings is important; we bring up issues that need to be discussed, decide what matters are to be worked on, and elect unit officers. We will hold officer elections at the earliest meeting where there is a quorum.

• Your contracts expire on September 30 . We anticipate tough negotiations this year. It is very important that you get involved and become informed. Please attend your monthly unitmeetings; they provide the latest facts, while dispelling rumors. Our solidarity will be critical as we approach the deadline for a new agreement. If you have not attended a unit meeting, or have not joined us for a while, this is an excellent and timely opportunity to participate.
  
• Administrative Unit meetings are scheduled on the third Wednesday of every month, at 5:30 p.m., at the Union Hall.

• You can always reach me at 213/387-8274, ext. 138, or at kmccorkle@ibewlocal18.com

Unit 34 – Supervisory Professional
By Kerry McCorkle

• The First Annual Supervisory Professional Unit Dinner Meeting was held on March 1, at the Union Hall; 27 members attended. Guest speakers included Local 18 Business Manager Brian D’Arcy and Union President Frank Miramontes. Brian took members’ questions on a wide variety of topics, including upcoming contract negotiations and the Los Angeles mayor’s race.

• Your contracts expire on September 30 . We anticipate tough negotiations this year. It is very important that you get involved and become informed. Please attend your monthly unitmeetings; they provide the latest facts, while dispelling rumors. Our solidarity will be critical as we approach the deadline for a new agreement. If you have not attended a unit meeting, or have not joined us for a while, this is an excellent and timely opportunity to participate .
  
• Supervisory Professional Unit meetings are scheduled on the first Tuesday of every month, at 5:30 p.m., at the Union Hall.

• You can always reach me at 213/387-8274, ext. 138, or at kmccorkle@ibewlocal18.com

Unit 35 – Supervisory Technical & Business Administration
By Leslie Abbott

• The Supervisory Technical Unit held its inaugural Dinner Meeting, and we had a great time! A third of the unit—11 members—gathered at a favorite location for Local 18’s smaller- units’ dinner meetings: Damon’s in Glendale. We made short order of the unit meeting, then feasted and socialized in the Tiki-décor. Welcome to another IBEW Local 18 tradition!

• Hard copies of the Local 18-DWP MOUs for the Professional, Administrative, Technical, Supervisory Professional and Supervisory Technical Units were distributed via DWP internal mail in December. If you did not receive an MOU, contact DWP Labor Relations at 213/367-1912, or go to JFB Room 507. Labor Relations has provided only electronic copies of the salary tables for the new bargaining units. If you would like an electronic version of the salary tables, please e-mail me at labbott@ibewlocal18.com

• As of January, 2005, the mileage reimbursement rate has increased to $.405 per mile. MOU Article 18.1 (c) states that when the standard mileage rate goes up, appropriate changes will become effective in the payroll period following January 1.  The new mileage rate was announced in a January 26 DWP bulletin. You can print the bulletin from the DWP Intranet:  http://dwphome/bulletins/bulletins.htm and file it with your MOU for reference.

• Super Tech Unit meetings have recently changed to 5:30 p.m., on the thirdWednesday of the month, at the Union Hall. Parent Body (General Local 18 membership) meetings are always at 6:00 p.m., on the fourth Thursday of the month, at the Union Hall. Please plan to attend in order to keep yourself informed, especially during this MOU negotiations year!

Unit 50 – Burbank
By Barry Poole

• Salary surveys for the 2005 contract negotiations have been sent out and returned. Our Labor Negotiations Committee met on February 14 to review the surveys it had so far received. We continue to gather data from other utilities in order to see where we stand comparatively in the market.

• We have a number of new Shop Stewards in the Unit to assist with any issues or problems. They are: Bruce Redmann (who is also Unit Chair); Chris Traber; Elliott Azus; John McKaskle; Pete Erickson, and Tim Morrison. Please be sure to do all you can to support our new Stewards as we all pull together during negotiations!

• Negotiations continue with regard to the Burbank Employees Retiree Medical Trust. We are currently working to set up a meeting in order to hear the City’s response to our proposal.

Unit 52 – Owens Valley
By Ken Delgado

• I made my first trip up to Owens Valley last month, and I would like to thank everyone for making me feel welcome and comfortable. While I was there, I attended three Joint Labor-Management Committee meetings and a unit meeting. I thought it was a terrific turnout by the members—thank you for attending and being involved. I also took a tour of the Dry Lake in order to get familiar with what is happening there. I thank the members in Keeler for making me aware of their key issues. I will make every effort to make sure that things are all right for you in Owens Valley. I realize that on-going issues have concerned you, and I have already begun to work on some of them. I look forward to my next trip in April, and I hope to meet more of you at our next unit meeting.

• Congratulations to Don Kunze, who was re-elected Unit Chair, Bruce Zigtema, who was elected Vice-Chair, and Adel Pratt, who is your new Unit Recording-Secretary.

Unit 53 – Water
By Ken Delgado

• The Water Utility Worker inequity matter is still being worked on; it is not a dead issue. We will keep working in order to come up with some kind of resolution to this problem. Please bear in mid that you Journeymen—now and in the near future—will also reap the benefit of longevity pay. I realize that right now it may not seem like a promotion to you because of the pay component, but in the long run it will pay off. In the meantime, we will keep working in order to resolve this matter equitably.

• I look forward to seeing you all at our next unit meeting!

Unit 55 – Telecommunications
By Nancy Romero

• Congratulations to every successful bidder! We look forward to working with all of you in your new assignments.

• Gary Schmerbeck will continue in his special assignment as Safety Coordinator for the ITS Business Unit throughout this year.

• Currently, under the JLMC process, we are working with DWP management to fill a Training Coordinator Position through the Special Assignment Letter of Agreement. We have already looked at the roles and responsibilities for this position. I will keep everyone informed about this process at your unit meetings and through Joint Labor-Management Committee minutes.

• As always, I ask you to stay involved! You can participate in many Union activities. I encourage you to take part in Worker Safety Tours, unit meetings, and other activities within the scope of the JLMC Process. If you are interested, please call or email me.

Unit 60 – Waterworks Mechanic

By Ken Delgado

• The Bid Plan Committee is now setting a schedule for bid-plan discussions for waterworks mechanics in the Los Angeles Basin. Thanks to Brent McReynolds, Brian Kanov and John Hutchinson for volunteering to serve on the committee. I will keep you informed about the progress of your bid plan.

• I very much hope to see all of you at the next unit meeting. I cannot overemphasize the importance of your participation at your unit meetings. There are a lot of issues that we need to discuss together. The negotiating process will take months, and for you to be part of that, you must attend your unit meetings so that I can keep you informed about the major issues. See you at our next meeting!

Unit 63 – Underground Construction

By Barry Poole

On February 15, the conduit inequity was passed by the Board of Water and Power Commissioners. This is another significant step in the process. I will continue to keep you informed about any further progress in this matter.

Unit 64 - Azusa

By Bill Lewis

The City has hired a consultant to do a comprehensive salary survey of all municipal classifications. We have been in discussions with Personnel over which comparable utilities to survey. The results should be finalized in April, and then we can negotiate a successor Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU). I have a commitment from the acting city manager to do “whatever it takes” to bring a contract in prior to the expiration of your current MOU.