Business Manager’s Report
October 2011
I just wanted to thank everybody and to give my appreciation for all the work that was done by all the staff while we were tied up in negotiations.
I attended the International Convention which is held every five years and this year was in Vancouver. Your officers were re-elected including International President Edwin Hill, International Secretary-Treasurer Salvatore Chilia and Don Siegel Third District Vice President. We had 65 resolutions that were acted upon and 24 in the Law Committee acted upon. One of the resolutions passed was a $5.00 increase in the Per Capita Tax. The monthly per capita tax for each member shall be 1/1/12 a $2.00 increase, 1/1/14 a $2.00 increase and 1/1/16 a $1.00 increase held in abeyance. This increase was mainly due to organizing. We had a lot of good speakers including Richard Trumka AFL-CIO President and Ed Schultz from MSNBC’s “Ed Show”. He was an excellent speaker and very pro union. I would highly recommend you listen to his show. John Rowe CEO from Exelon who will be merging with Constellation also spoke. He was telling us how important it was to have a relationship with the union. I was able to talk to him a week later where he stated he was retiring but will be around for the merger. Once the new Constitution is printed I will be reviewing with all officers and the E-Board and everyone will get an updated copy.
On the political front I have been talking about the last few months on the Transmission upgrade. We are finally getting attention on this. Phil Wilcox will be attending all meetings next month to give us a rollout to all our members. We are encouraging a letter writing campaign and more information will follow.
We are revamping our Local 97 website and email. You will now see Twitter available on our web page. You will need to sign up on our web site to receive messages. We will also be getting into text messages.
BROOKFIELD
We had arbitration on an upgrade issue we were able to settle.
We have spent several days working on a discharge arbitration.
We will be negotiating with Brookfield next year and it is looking to be difficult. They already want to take a look at all job specs.
CONSTELLATION
We still have some bumps in the road after the strike. Originally members had starting hours coming in at 6:00 and now have been told they cannot come in before 7:00. Also being told while on strike there was no accrual of pension or vacation which we will be grieving.
We also pulled the intervention on the merger.
ENTERGY
We had a successful 85% ratification of their contract. It will be a 4 year contract with a 2% general wage increase each year. They will have a $1,000 signing bonus. We were able to maintain the pension with modifications for new hires. There were a few changes in the medical plan and we were able to keep MVP and their cost sharing.
The company decided we could no longer represent Security guards which was their legal right. We were able to keep them under Local 97’s umbrella and will be negotiating a contract for them in March of next year.
NGRID
The reorganization of management has been completed. We are trying to get a meeting with NGrid to see where we are with outstanding issues and how we will be moving forward.
Meeting on issues with Gas and Planning on October 17th.
Platform Attendant meeting will be held on October 19th. If we cannot come up with a solution, we will be moving forward with the arbitration. We are trying to get some flaggers year round and maybe can combine these positions.
On October 25th we will be having a Neil Proudman meeting.
November 22nd we will be having a Flex/Relay meeting.
Company will finally sit down with us on storm issues and how to best utilize our workforce.
NRG
We talked about coal burning at the convention and its future. We have done well with our contract and hopefully will keep moving forward.
There will be a benefits rollout shortly with some issues that Gus Potkovick is working on.
PSE&G
We have some issues with filling jobs and with turnover. Company wants to change the way it is being completed. Company wants a formal turnover which will cost more to the company. We will not do on our own time.
SERVICE EMPLOYEES
This is an eight member group and the board has decided they want to lay off a full time position. We had just negotiated a part time job. We will be having a meeting on the possible layoff.
TOWN WORCESTER
This will be our next set of negotiations. I have reached out to the Town Supervisor. We have six members we represent in this contract. Their contract expires at the end of December.
Theodore J. Skerpon
President/Business Manager 10/11/11