STAFF REPORTS
November 2025
SUB- We started negotiations on October 15, 2025. This session was just to hash out ground rules. Our next session will be on November 13, 2025. We have finalized our list of proposals.
The top asks are:
- 100% medical coverage
- 401k from 11% to15%
- Higher retirement insurance stipend
I feel pretty good about getting these passed by management. Most of these I have been working with management the past year anticipating some push back. We have been meeting often looking at comps and the team is ready to go.
Lane- Went sent out the opening letter for Unit B Contract Negotiations. Unit B is the clerical staff. We will meet to talk proposals in the coming weeks. I have been talking with management over the past year and I have secured at least a five percent (5%) pay increase as well as all OT (overtime) will now be double time. We have not discussed any proposals outside of these two (2). Unit A is currently happy with their contract.
Carestream- We have not had any recent negotiations. I received a call from their attorney asking if we could wait till November 30, 2025 to start back up. She was not able to tell me much but if something doesn’t change by then there will be no reason for us to talk. I interpret this has the plant will be shut down. The company has been hit hard by tariffs as well as the price of silver. This plant makes XRAY film and their main client was China.
We have been able to get everything we have asked for in negotiations and have now made our proposal for wages. We asked for a twenty-two percent (22%) wage increase. I feel pretty good ending up close to our offer.
EWEB- The investigation is still continuing and the only thing I can report is they are still in discussions about what that should be. This investigation has shined light on many issues EWEB needs to fix. The biggest one, other than the original cause for the investigation, is their hiring and interview process. The process scores an individual on three (3) criteria none of which is really experience in the field. The reason they choose to use this type of scoring is it gives them the ability to hand pick people they want but still gives the appearance it is non-bias. In my research, courts have not made this illegal but have told companies using this scoring method they need to be very careful. The company must be able to validate how interpersonal skills can have such an impact on the total scoring. There is also a good amount of training involved.
EWEB has many supervisors that have had zero experience in leadership or the field they are in charge of. Employees with much better resumes continually get passed up and told it was because of interpersonal skill score.
I submitted an RFI (Request For Information) on the hiring practices. I have asked for all score sheets, notes, training records, and scoring matrix. I don’t believe they can produce these. If I am right, EWEB has been involved in bias hiring for years. I will ask for an immediate overhaul of the system in place.
I want to thank everyone for the continued support as we go through this battle. Let’s all stay the course and keep the pressure on.
OSMOSE, NECA TELEDATA, AND HENKELS have nothing to report.
Tom Hutton
tom@ibew659.org
541-601-0844
Good afternoon, brothers and sisters,
October has been a busy month. With two (2) negotiation meetings scheduled, most of my time was spent preparing for them. Progress has been slow, and as of now, we’ve filed for CIR. We do have an interim meeting the week before we head to Washington, D.C. for CIR, so I’m hopeful we can reach a local resolution. However, it seems we may be too far apart. Because of this, much of the month was spent preparing for CIR day and night, as the timeline is a quick one.
I also met with a non-Union contractor over in Klamath Falls, Oregon. The meeting went really well and lasted about three and a half hours. We’re not going to be overly pushy with them but they said they’d be in touch very soon.
We had another issue in Klamath Falls, Oregon that was on its way to becoming a grievance. Fortunately, we were able to resolve it before it reached that point and we successfully walked back some of the discipline we believed was a sign of targeting. I appreciate everyone who participated in the investigation.
I also attended a mental health seminar hosted by IBEW LU48. It was a joint effort between NECA and the IBEW. While we’re still exploring all options to help address these issues, I want to remind everyone that through EAP and 988, there are many resources available if you’re struggling. Please reach out if you need help. I’m no stranger to these conversations and the brothers and sisters around you care more than you might realize.
Lastly, the solar project that was underway has come to a standstill due to funding. This came as a shock to many, as the solar projects in LU280 have also been shut down. What I know for certain is that Solve is still trying to keep these projects going; they’re just working through financial issues with the current investors. I’ve reached out to several parties to discuss the situation but everyone has been quiet, which tells me they’re likely trying to work through it and provide positive updates once they know more.
As always, please reach out to me with any questions and stay safe out there.
In solidarity,
Johnny Walker
johnny@ibew659.org
541-601-0843
This month, I met with the City of Myrtle Creek, City of Canyonville, and participated in Labor-Management Committee (LMC) discussions with Avista to address current topics and ongoing issues.
I am continuing to prepare for upcoming negotiations with the City of Myrtle Creek, City of Canyonville, Avista, and Central Lincoln. This includes completing pre-work, reviewing submitted proposals, and having ongoing conversations with members to ensure their voices and priorities are well represented during bargaining.
A key focus this month has been supporting members in maintaining and strengthening their skills, particularly around weld testing requirements for Avista projects. After a recent situation where a job was nearly lost due to gaps in structure and readiness, I, along with members who perform the work at Avista, helped provide the necessary training and guidance to ensure everyone is prepared for future opportunities. We continue to discuss ways to establish a more consistent training structure moving forward.
Overall, this month has centered on communication, preparation, and engagement—spending time with members to listen, understand what they value, and identify how I can continue improving support for each of my groups.
Terra Clevenger
terra@ibew659.org
458-220-6416
Consumers Power (CPI)
- Continuing working on language defining Journeyman Lineman and Apprentice Lineman to clarify our test being what qualifies people as Journeyman Lineman.
- I’m meeting with the group very soon to show comparable wages and discuss contract sections to open. We should be starting negotiations very soon. CPI will be a tough one for wages as their benefits package is phenomenal compared to others. I hope for a great outcome that the members are happy with.
Outside Line Construction
- is the most mismanaged shit show I’ve ever seen.
- Contractors are having problems with Pacific Power only giving holds to the General Foremen, this isn’t fitting for all the contractors. Nick Carpenter and I are continually trying to meet with the company to discuss this work practice being rolled out without any conversation with the IBEW, however, they are not being receptive to our meeting requests. More news to come.
- was successful in their Unfair Labor Practice process demanding to bargain with Potelco about the use of cameras and audio recordings. Cole Bailey plans to approach the other three (3) locals soon for a four (4) Local demand to bargain with NECA. I will keep this updated as I know more information.
NW Line JATC
- We are still indenturing Apprentices; I know the online Apprentice reviews are a pain but please continue doing them. As a committee we only have your information to use when it comes to disciplinary action on Apprentices. Continue to give back to our trade and teach Apprentices everything you can.
- Substation Apprenticeship is still stalled out with NECA wanting a 2:1 ratio. No new news.
I appreciate what you guys are doing out there, I know it’s a shit show, just keep showing we are better than them. Look after one another and bring these incidents down to zero. Keep your brothers and sisters safe and continue to make the trade better.
In Partnership,
Logan Fry
Business Rep for Outside Line and Consumers Power
logan@ibew659.org
458-274-7195
Hello Brothers and Sisters,
October was a good month in certain aspects and not so good in others.
Asplundh had some issues with sending employees to California to work on a project down there. As always, employees were not given certain important bits of information. This led to many issues, most of which were resolved without a grievance. However, one (1) issue did require filing a grievance and that is still ongoing. In the future, if you are asked to work out of town for your employer, ask questions, and make sure you have every bit of information about the project so you do not end up in a bad situation. I feel like the contractors sometimes intentionally leave out key information and/or church up information to make things sound better in order to get employees to go on these projects.
I believe everyone has finally been paid for the February storm pay grievance against both Trees and Asplundh. I currently have an ongoing grievance with Asplundh for per diem that should be settled soon. When it is settled there should be back pay involved. There is also another per diem issue with them that I am hoping to have resolved very soon as well. My apologies to those of you affected by these issues. Getting these guys to admit they were wrong and pay the money they owe you can be an uphill battle but it is a battle that we will win.
Asplundh has continued to lay off employees in the Medford and Grants Pass areas amid utility budget issues. I personally have not seen layoffs to this extent since I started in the tree industry. I am hoping that a lot of those who were laid off will be hired back on when the new year begins, so my fingers crossed for that.
Things are continuing to pick up for ArborWorks and ArborVista. So far, I have been getting great feedback from the members that have gone to work for them. It sounds like they are a quality contractor and it’s nice to have them here in LU659.
As the year is winding down, I just want to remind everyone with an Herbicide Applicators License not to forget about your required CEU’s. I believe there are still a couple of classes left. You can call NW Line JATC to check on openings. You can also obtain credits through an online course. So don’t procrastinate, get signed up before the classes fill up.
That’s all I have for now. Stay safe!
Cody Stafford
cody@ibew659.org
458-274-7218
LU659 Brothers and Sisters,
Below are some highlights for October:
October was a productive month with a strong focus on outreach, education, and engagement with both Apprentices and members. Several key initiatives were carried out to strengthen connections within the trade, promote growth opportunities, and support the next generation of electricians.
- Business Development Course March 23-27, 2026: Matt Kolbinsky Pro Union Consulting Business Development and the Emerging Markets courses have been scheduled March,23-27, 2026. Contact Johnny or myself to sign up ASAP to reserve your spot.
- $200.00 Contractor Coupon: Please share our Contractor Coupon opportunity by sending those interested to our website @ ibew659.org and have them click on the $200.00 in free electrical work button. This is funded by IBEW LU659 and NECA (Oregon Pacific Cascade Chapter) LMCC funds. This LIMITED-TIME offer provides $200.00 in free electrical work. Simply fill out the form on our website and follow the instructions. We hope this test run proves successful so we can expand the program, strengthening relationships between contractors and the public.
- Oregon/Washington Joint Association Meeting: Attended the Oregon/Washington Joint Association meeting held in Washington. The event offered valuable networking opportunities and insights into regional labor issues, training standards, and collaborative goals between both states. Key topics included workforce development and ongoing project coordination efforts.
- Member Engagement: Lunch with multiples crews as part of our ongoing member engagement. I would like to extend an open invitation to other involved members; if you’re active in the Local and would like to schedule a lunch for your crew, please reach out so we can plan accordingly. These lunches are a great way to connect with members in the field and discuss current needs or future ideas.
- RENEW Conference: Attended the 2025 RENEW (Reach out and Engage Next-gen Electrical Workers) Conference in Portland, Oregon alongside three (3) other active LU659 RENEW members. This event focused on mentorship, leadership, and building stronger engagement among younger members of the IBEW. It was a great opportunity to share experiences and bring back ideas to enhance our Local’s outreach efforts.
- ARC- Presented ARC (Apprentice Reimbursement Challenge) Incentive to the Apprentices his month, as of now we have fourteen (14) participants signed up on the Inside. Don’t forget we have expanded this to the Outside Line Apprentices and Line Clearance Tree Trimmer Apprentices so please reach out if you’re in these groups and would like to participate.
- RENEW Committee: The RENEW Committee is actively seeking new participants. To make meetings more accessible, Zoom links will be sent out before each session via the text thread. If you would like to be added to the RENEW text group, please contact me by email or phone.
- Career Fair at Lincoln County School District in Newport, Oregon: To continue promoting the electrical trade to future workers, I represented our organization at the Lincoln County School District Career Fair in Newport, Oregon. Students showed strong interest in apprenticeship opportunities and career pathways in the electrical industry. The event helped strengthen relationships with local schools and supported our ongoing recruitment goals.
Summary- October reflected continued growth and active engagement across multiple fronts; from Apprentice support and regional collaboration to youth outreach and member involvement. Each of these efforts contributes to building a stronger, more connected local community and ensuring the long-term success of our trade.
In solidarity,
Ryan Smith
Membership Development Representative
ryan@ibew659.org
541-326-9185
