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  • December Newsletter
    Updated On: Apr 26, 2018

    FROM THE BUSINESS MANAGER

    Hope everyone took time out this last month to say Thanks to our Veterans and hopefully enjoy the freedoms they have preserved for us.  Personal thanks to all of you from the Hall.

    There are still 13 calls for Journeyman on the board in the Hall.  With the year end being right around the corner the push is on to get err done.  Most of the crews in the state have been working 5 tens with some working 6 tens.  Everyone should remember to sock a little away and take some time for their families when the layoffs hit, and they will.

    We currently are in negotiations with ELM and entering negotiations with Asplundh in December.  Recently Chris Troupe was appointed by President Bandy to serve on the NorthWestern Energy JATC. Chris has a huge pair of shoes to fill as he is replacing Harlan Nichols who has been a steadfast advocate for the IBEW and all the apprentices that have moved through that program for more than a decade! Thanks for your service Harlan and welcome aboard Chris! 

    Welcome aboard to the new members at OMS Dispatch Center as well.  They were successful in their effort to join the ranks of the IBEW. 

    On the Utility side we have several issues that seem to be boiling down into one.  They are trying to get more done in less time and with fewer people.  We feel the effects and we have to do a better job of communicating back to them where we see them risking collapse.  I know this is often difficult especially with certain supervisors and the pressures they have on them, they are afraid to buck this effort as well.  It has to do with the push in the work load and the reduced forces, due to many factors including planning, budgets, attrition and vacation, holidays.  So what seems to be happening and is reported as happening, is they are cutting corners, all hands meetings, safety discussions training, are being condensed into meaningless short time frames sometimes even being eliminated.  That’s at least what it appears like.  This is happening with truck and equipment maintenance as well.  Even if department managers are being told to tighten their budgets and do more with less and asking the same of you, there are limits.  What we need to do is speak up, and yes we’ll be visiting about this with them, but it is also on us to bring it to their attention because if we wait something will happen and it won’t be good.  Just a couple years back crews were allowed 2 full days if needed to clean, check and maintain their Buckets and Line Trucks and specialty tools, now they’re asked to do it in a day or less.  It’s our necks on the line so ask for the time.  I think you will agree it is important.  Go in pairs to ask about time to get things cared for, they will see it applies to all the troops.

    One note of personal privilege here, last month I wrote about the rubber goods testing, and I did hear that my wording sounded like I was taking the company side.  Well I took it up with several persons on the management side, and they owned up to falling down in that area and assured me it would be remedied.  I assured them we would do our part.  As the best and most professional workforce in the business we need to always maintain our end.  I appreciate the comments back and take them in good spirit, thanks.

    Another note is I was appointed to the board on the Western Education Foundation for Resources.  This is a great Organization that weighs in on natural resource policy issues.  They try to educate the public with factual science based information regarding our resources.  They are a good group that stays on top of energy and water issues.

    Enjoy your holiday meals, your families, our great State and Merry Christmas to each and every one of you!

     

    In Brotherhood,

                            Bill

    MEMBERSHIP & EMPLOYER DEVELOPMENT

    IBEW 44 filed for an election to represent the Outage Management System Dispatchers at NorthWestern Energy.  If you get the chance to congratulate them, give them any support or encouragement I would ask that you do so.  Ballots were mailed out on October 23rd and ballots were counted on November 13, 2017 for IBEW 44 to represent them.  This group represents currently 16 employees at the call center, so stop by, say Hello and welcome OUR new Sisters and Brothers!

    As the IBEW Constitution’s Objects state:

    To organize all workers in the entire electrical industry in the United States and Canada, including all those in public utilities and electrical manufacturing, into local unions.

    Interesting point made at the MDD Conference 83% of utilities are represented in the United States and Canada; 70% of the organized investor-owned utilities, 96% percent of the organized rural electric cooperative utilities.

    There are a handful of Montana’s REA’s that are not represented if anyone knows of anyone working at Glacier Electric Cooperative or Sun River Electric Cooperative; I would very much like to talk to anyone from those places.  Also, if anyone knows anyone that left ELM to work for Summit Utility Service, please get hold of me either by cell or email at the bottom of the article.

    If you have not checked out your new web site, please go to www.ibew44.org.

    If anyone has any hunting pics, especially any kids with their bounties to submit and have on the website photos tab, please send them to me by email to dwight@ibew44.org, please add at least a name, and optionally age, date, location.

    Please register for the website and after membership is verified you will have full access to the website.

    Fraternally,

    Dwight Rose

    406-459-3548

    dwight@ibew44.org

    FOOD BANK CHALLENGE

    IBEW partners at Missoula Electric Co-op and Northwestern Energy challenged each other and rose to the challenge!  Donating a combined 214 turkeys and 2800 pounds of food to local area Food Banks for Thanksgiving!  WAY TO GO TEAM!      

    CONSTRUCTION WORK

    Paint by the Numbers and it creates a clear picture.  Today November 16th, 2017 we have 334 members working in our outside line jurisdiction.  These are from here at 44 and other locals across the nation.  Of those 334 men and women, 200 are at home in Local 44 or simply said our members.  The eye opener is that we have a total of 376 Local 44 construction hands.  That means that with 13 open calls on our board last month ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY SIX Brothers & Sisters have chosen to work elsewhere.  Why is this?  Easy to explain, call any one of the 176 and you will hear the same story.  Seven months of work doesn’t cut it.  This year is shaping up to be a prime example.  The largest company in the state chooses to ask for everything our contractors got this time of year, and then lay off before Christmas and not fire up until after the first quarter of the year.  They then wait until May before calling crews back.  It is a problem that they don’t seem to be concerned about.  I am working with members looking for ideas about how to fix this, but what we need is a way to change the mind set at our utilities.

    DUES INCREASE REMINDER

    The Delegates of the 39th IBEW International Convention, which was held in 2016, approved amendments to Article IX of the IBEW Constitution.  Accordingly, there will be a Basic dues increase of $1.00 for ALL members starting after you have paid through December 2017.  The new Basic A rate will be $42.00 monthly and the new Basic BA rate will be $24.00 monthly.  Remember if you are on dues deduct with your employer, they will not start to deduct the extra $1.00 until January no matter when it is due for you.  So please pay attention to the receipt that is mailed to you and pay any differences that you may owe.  Printed at the top middle of the receipt will be a positive balance if you owe money, and it will print a negative balance if you have credit.  If you are not receiving dues receipts call the Union Hall to find out why.

    SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOLLOW-UP

    Being close to this issue and resolve, originally the plan was to write this to shine light and throw mud at the recent NWE "rubber glove" issue.  After much thought I realized what I had to say in that regard would only create more tension and not encourage change on our behalf.  So I would like to briefly touch on that and move on to the bigger issue. First off, the statement from Bill in our last Communicator that gave the impression we influenced the delay in the testing procedure is inaccurate and appropriate.  I do fully support the idea of being vigilant and focused on our safety equipment and procedures. Another thing to be mentioned is the condition of our rubber goods.  Although it only made up a small part of the returned rubber, there were a handful of gloves, sleeves, guts and blankets returned to the lab in terrible condition.  Safety equipment used to protect ourselves and our Brothers was without question being misused and abused.  We all know the weight of this work and how permanent the consequences are if we lack respect for it.  You know who you are, take care of your gear!

    On to the bigger reoccurring issue that most conflicts are firmly planted on, including the "rubber" issue.  This is our complacency and ignorance when it comes to our contracts (including Health and Safety Handbooks and Code of Conduct).  If we don't read and understand our contracts they have no value.  If we aren't willing to stand up for the language within our contracts and what that language protects, why do we have one? Reading and understanding what our contracts protect along with the willingness to open our mouths is critical for the success of our industry.  We forget that management, whether power company or construction, was represented during negotiations.  They had as much influence on that contract as we did and at the end of the day management signed off showing their support of all language included.  Issues will continue to come up; we just need to care enough to do something.  If you have an issue or concern call your Steward or the Hall and they can help make sense of how the contract applies to your situation.  Without conflict there can be no resolution.  Read your contract, understand it and fight together for what it protects!  

    Work safe,

    James Pearston

    IN MEMORIAM

    Local 44 mourns the loss of Brother Gene Bicknell, a retired member who passed away on October 19, 2017.  Brother Bicknell joined the IBEW in 1961.  He began his career at Cincinnati Gas and Electric before moving to Montana.  He finished his career working as a Journeyman Lineman for Williams Construction.  Our sincere condolences go out to his family and friends.

    DECEMBER UNIT MEETINGS

    So that our members and their families can take more time to enjoy the holidays, there will be only one General meeting scheduled in December. 

    The annual Great Falls Christmas party will be at the Labor Temple at Noon on December 2, 2017.

    Local 44 will have a Holiday Open House/General Meeting on December 15, 2017 at the Union Hall at 2:00pm.


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