Business Managers Report

 

We are still working on Bear Swamp negotiations on Brookfield property. Further dates scheduled for May and June.

 

 

They are still going back and forth on whether transmission upgrade is necessary. They are now looking at new generation. We continue to pursue.

 

 

We are going to take one more shot on trying to see if we can get them organized.

 

 

We are still in talks with the company on a possible contract extension. We will be meeting with the company on getting answers on benefit questions.

 

 

Met with the company and went over their Code of Conduct. We will be signing the same way we are doing on NGrid property. We will see it as a training course and not sign off on it. Also went over changes to their 401k selections. We went thru grievances and were able to get resolutions.

 

 

We had a Distribution Inspector meeting to go over figures. We are in the first year of a three year PSC mandated program. Not happy with the figures we are seeing and have to do our homework on cost and quality of work being done by contractors.

 

I sat in on several Project Reviews throughout each division. We are not where I still want it to be. They keep throwing the budget in our face where they will be pushing work off for a couple of years.

 

Met with Keith McAfee on safety issues talking about what we can do. They feel every accident is avoidable. They are bringing back stretch and flex again. I feel that it is a benefit to employees to try and avoid injuries.

 

I signed Design Rep. Agreement. Should not be much of a change in work practices other than getting higher pay levels.

 

We had a meeting on Field Tester issues. We are looking at auto progression to keep people in the department.

 

We had a Gas meeting scheduled with Vice President of Gas and company has pushed meeting off to May.

 

We are getting a rash of AVL issues specifically people not being in the work zone they are supposed to be in. It makes it difficult for us as they want to terminate or getting a firm and final offer and if you do anything wrong they will fire you. You will be on the outside with no guarantee of getting your job back. Do not put yourself or us in that position. Be careful out there.

 

New Member Orientation will be held on May 26th in Buffalo, May 27th in Syracuse and May 28th in Albany at 6:00. Letter inviting new employees will be going out May 7th.