STAFF REPORTS
Well, November was an extremely busy month. Dispatch has not slowed down at all and has kept both Terra and I hopping.
At Avista Utilities, things remain quiet. We have an LMC scheduled for December 16, 2024.
At EWEB things are quiet. We are in the process of gathering information for the wage opener for 2025.
For our Line Clearance Tree Trimmers (LCTT) working on PP&L property, things are still busy. We have all six (6) of the Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) signed. We are still meeting with the contractors working on an LOA for California wages.
For our Line Clearance Tree Trimmers working for Davey Tree and West Lane Tree on EWEB property, everything is quiet.
For our Line Clearance Tree Trimmers working for Asplundh on CPI property, things are going well. We met with the management team and after two (2) days of bargaining, they asked us to give them our bottom-line proposal and they would bid the work accordingly, then if they are awarded the contract with CPI they would finalize the CBA with us.
As Always, Stay Focused and Stay Safe.
Don McElroy
don@ibew659.org
541-601-0863
Happy late Thanksgiving,
I have been working on gathering comparable wages for the City of Ashland Electrical and Clerical and Technical contracts. We will be negotiating those two (2) contracts this year and the City is also doing a wage comp. I would like to have my own numbers rather than relying solely on them. We will start to meet with both groups and start collecting ideas as well that we will present.
I am also gathering information to prepare for negotiations with Douglas Electric Co-op as well. We will be opening the contract for full negotiations this year. The past two (2) years have been wages only. I will also be sending out a vote to elect a new Steward there.
We settled an ongoing grievance with Coos Curry Electric Co-op that has taken over a year for termination of Apprenticeship. That has been a very long process mostly because of waiting for responses from BOLI.
We have submitted a Letter of Agreement with Surprise Valley Electrification Corp for a Serviceman position. We also are needing a new Steward there with the previous Steward moving away.
We continue to be in negotiations with Avangrid working towards their first Collective Bargaining Agreement. We have had five (5) sessions so far and two (2) more scheduled in December. The first contract negotiations are slower than an established Agreement; it takes a lot of time to go over every item and word that will be part of an Agreement. We also are having meetings with just the negotiation committee to continually progress the process of trying to make it fit for them and their needs.
I also have started preparing for negotiations for ACRT, this is a group of Forest Techs that have recently won their election to organize.
Be safe and happy holidays!
Mike Meek
mikemeek@ibew659.org
458-220-6779
SUB- At SUB I am working on a work plan for an employee that is receiving progressive discipline. Unfortunately, it looks like this may be the employee’s last opportunity to start acting right. He has had many writeups for insubordination. Hopefully he takes this plan seriously. Besides that issue, things are quiet.
Lane A- I have received all the information and have put a package together to present to the employees. It’s an odd time at Lane due to the GM leaving and new one coming in. I am still waiting to hear a plan from Lane on who will represent their side.
CPI- I am meeting with Labor Relations this coming week to discuss some proposals for upcoming negotiations with the Clerical group. I hope that CPI has some answers on the draft proposals I have given them. We will be starting those in January 2025.
Osmose- We had ratified the master contract weeks ago but had two (2) LOAs that needed to be signed. I was informed that the other Locals have agreed to the LOA language and we will get those signed shortly.
Henkels- I have started investigating the status of Henkels Teledata division. Many employees have migrated to Henkels Electrical side. I haven’t heard it officially but it seems they have removed some high up managers. I have not been able to verify but I am concerned that the Teledata portion of Henkels is being phased out by Mastec. This is not a surprise.
Lane B, CPI B, and NECA Teledata, have no news to report.
Tom Hutton
tom@ibew6559.org
541-601-0844
LU659 Brothers and Sisters,
Below are some highlights for November:
· Carestream Election: I'm proud to announce that the Carestream election for the electrical department, held on November 25, 2024, was a success! We won with seven (7) "Yes" votes to two (2) "No" votes. We will now begin the process of bargaining a new contract for them and moving forward with the next steps.
· Northwest Organizers Meeting: This month's meeting focused on collaborative discussions about alternative pathways for Sound & Communications and Residential classifications. We explored how each Local's standards differ and what a 9th District policy could look like in the future.
· Southern Oregon Builds: A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Southern Oregon Builds Pre-Apprenticeship Program at the Local 290 Training Center in White City, Oregon. The first cohort will receive several certifications upon completion, including OSHA 10, First Aid/CPR, and flagging, among others. This is an excellent starter program for anyone looking for a pathway into the trade. If you know someone interested, please let them know!
· Apprentice Appreciation Week: In partnership with Inside NECA and LU659 Inside LMCC, we celebrated Apprentice Appreciation Week by providing pizza for Apprentices at the training center. We also introduced the new ARC (Apprentice Reimbursement Challenge) challenge and had the LMCC board speak to Apprentices, encouraging their input on program improvements.
· ARC Challenge Expansion: I’m excited to share that ARC has been expanded beyond the Inside Wireman Apprenticeship to include Powerline Clearance Tree Trimming and Outside Line Apprenticeships. For more details, feel free to reach out to me directly.
· RENEW Committee: The RENEW Committee is actively seeking new participants! To make participation easier, Zoom links will be shared via a group text thread before each meeting. If you'd like to be added to the RENEW Committee’s text group, please contact me via email or phone.
In solidarity,
Ryan Smith
Membership Development Representative
ryan@ibew659.org
541-326-9185
Brothers and Sisters,
November flew by in a flash. As negotiations have concluded and the vote passed, I’ve been working on the new CBAs (Collective Bargaining Agreements) and RLCS (Raw Labor Cost Sheets) with NECA. We’ve also been collaborating with BOLI to update the prevailing wage for the new year. We expect to finalize the CBAs next month.
Nick and I recently met with NXT Clean Fuels, the company that purchased the Red Rock Biofuel plant in Lakeview, Oregon. This plant was never completed due to funding issues a few years ago. We had productive conversations about their current status and plans for moving forward. They’ve encountered challenges in securing sufficient power from the local grid and are now considering building a cogeneration plant on-site. Unfortunately, due to additional permitting requirements, the earliest they could proceed appears to be this fall.
The work outlook remains slow for now but spring is looking increasingly promising. Getting through this election year has been challenging but it’s starting to seem like people are ready to invest in new projects.
Nick and I attended a trustees training conference this month, where I participated in a three (3) day program focused on serving on the various boards associated with this position, including our Cascade Pension and insurance benefits. It was one of the most informative conferences I’ve attended.
The building trades, including the IBEW, have taken over a Pre-Apprenticeship program designed to help individuals obtain certifications to enter the trades. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on November 5, 2024 and several of us from the Hall attended. The event was a great success and should provide a strong boost in recruiting new members to Local Unions.
I’d like to thank the RENEW Committee for their incredible efforts on the canned food drive. It was a huge success and Table Rock Fellowship was overwhelmed by the volume of donations we delivered; it completely filled the back of my truck! I also want to thank all the members who contributed last month. The staff at Table Rock Fellowship were deeply grateful and expressed how blessed they felt to receive such a generous donation during these challenging times.
I also spent some time assisting Ryan with organizing efforts at Carestream and will continue supporting him in this area. However, I’ll let him provide the details on that front.
Lastly, I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Johnny Walker
johnny@ibew659.org
541-601-0843
As I wrap up my first month in my new role, I wanted to share an update on my journey and what I’ve been working on.
This month has been a whirlwind of learning and adapting. While still fully involved in dispatching, which has been as busy as ever, I’ve also dedicated significant time to settling into my new role. The challenge of balancing both has been demanding but it's been a great opportunity to sharpen my multitasking and time management skills.
A key focus has been learning the details of the contracts relevant to my new responsibilities. I’ve spent time reviewing both current and past contracts, familiarizing myself with the intricacies of our agreements. There’s still much to learn but I’m steadily gaining confidence and understanding in this area.
Building relationships has also been a major priority. I’ve had the chance to connect with both Central Lincoln members and Outside Line members, and I’m focused on nurturing those connections. I’m learning how best to collaborate with each member and how we can support one another going forward. These relationships, though still in the early stages, are growing and I’m excited about the opportunities for continued collaboration.
Additionally, I’m excited to share that we are in the process of hiring a new dispatcher. Once the new team member is in place, I will be able to fully transition into my new role, allowing me to dedicate more time and energy to the tasks that lie ahead.
Looking ahead, I’m excited to build on the foundation I’ve established in the past month. I plan to deepen my understanding of our contracts and strengthen the relationships I’ve begun cultivating. With each passing week, I’m gaining more confidence in my new role and I look forward to the challenges and growth that lie ahead.
Thank you for your continued support as I navigate this exciting new chapter!
Terra Thompson
terra@ibew659.org
458-220-6416
