August 2025

Greetings,

            July started off with a bang with Independence Day/4^th of July.  Some of our local staff and members participated in the Central Point, 4^th of July Parade.  We plan to make this an annual event.  We received the notice and registration late this year.  If you would like to participate next year either with us at the Hall or perhaps also your employer in one of their rigs, please reach out to us and we will put you on a contact list for next year.  We are allowed ten (10) vehicles with our non-profit registration and want to grow our showing for the coming years.  I attended the Crescent City, Albany, Medford, and Toketee meetings in July.  We had a quorum at most meetings despite being around the holiday.  This month was also the 9^th District Progress Meeting up in Alaska, Kathy Joy from our Executive Board along with Organizer Ryan Smith and Asst. Bus. Mgr’s Johnny Walker and Cody Stafford.  We were presented with an award this year also recognizing the Crater Lake Electrical Training Center and NECA for our Training opportunities for Journeyman and our progress with our Pre-Apprenticeship before that program was stopped due to State and Federal grants being put on hold.  Towards the end of the month, some of our staff along with myself attended the Pacific Northwest Lineman Rodeo in Gresham, Oregon. This was the first time attending for many of us as staff at the Hall.  It was great to witness the pride and grit shown by all the competitors.  Special thanks to brother Danny Mendez, Journeyman Wireman, and owner of Local Creations for making the plaques and trophies this year and also special thanks to brother Cody Malloy for his donation of a Transformer Kegerator for one of the raffle prizes.  Also, special thanks to all the members that attended and volunteered as judges as well.

Pacific Power Updates

• Grievance Regarding use of FireDawg and new company fire personnel staff, company presented resolution instead of 2^nd step which we denied as per their resolution they are not following as we speak.
• Grievance regarding Fiber work on poles, company also attempted to present resolution for work moving forward but failed to address the current problem and past practice. Rejected that and waiting company response.
• Grievance Regarding Termination due to driving policy and LCA (Last Chance Agreement), advances to 3^rd step immediately since it involves termination and may end up at arbitration. Attorney believes I have strong arguments but if in arbitrations, ultimately in their hands.
• Grievance Regarding Company utilizing Asplundh contracted Estimators instead of internal resources. Past grievance resolution involved meetings with company prior to using contract Estimators though contract language does allow to contract as long as internal resources are not laid off or reducing FTE (Full Time Employee) counts.
• Grievance Regarding District Lineman (DL) and standby pay/opportunity within own District. Company put Sub-Ops resources on standby but did not afford the same to DL.
• Discussion not yet at grievance regarding DL being incented or use standby when covering adjacent district for long periods of time due to vacant positions or people out on disability.
• Company wanting to move to weekly pay in 2026 working on draft MOU (Memo of Understanding) per new contract language but current draft includes language that allows them to revert back to current pay. Not willing to sign since contract language states they can make payroll periods more frequent but not less frequent. Allowing them to revert back when they choose bypasses language we agreed on.
• Working on FAQ/guidance when employees utilize STD/LTD with contact emails and numbers to aid employees/members in filing.
• Discussions with company on complaints received from members about disability department not responding timely and delays in claim processing time.
• Site Agent Upgrade Backpay from 2021 to current: recently identified an oversite from 2021 where a 3% spot raise was not applied to this classification from 2021 until identified in early 2025. This was corrected from that point forward but working through the numbers myself and with the company for all identified as using that upgrade that are owed.

IBEW LU659 Office/General

• Remote server upgrade nearly complete to allow access for Reps to our membership database for offsite use.
• Continuing work to digitize member files and scan in relevant info needed for efficiency and reducing time searching for paper files checked out by others.
• At our Hall, our first Pre-Apprentice mobile training lab is being stored for summertime or until further notice when the program can be started as this was solely funded by state and federal grants to expand knowledge of how to get into electrical trades in rural communities.
• All staff is now out of probationary periods and learning continues for all but becoming more efficient with new employees.
• IBEW LU659 Unit Officer Training, Shop Steward Training, and Unit Conference August 7-9, 2025 at Seven Feathers Casino.
• As of August 1, 2025 we will go live with Trust and Will to offer a free Will for all our members and if you choose to also have a Trust created it will only cost $300.00 (see info in unit meeting binders or check with your stewards and call the hall for the link).
• Working with Medford Railroad Park/ Southern Oregon Live Steamers (SOLS) to help via volunteers and our utility/employer partners to assist in moving materials to a new location in Butte Falls, Oregon they are building for a scenic larger scale train ride.

Nick Carpenter

nick@ibew659.org

541-227-9736