Business Managers Report

 

Hopefully everyone enjoyed Labor Day. It is a reminder of what Labor has done for you.

 

I attended the Progress Meeting in Atlantic City. They announced there was a small increase in 3rd District membership but they still are pursuing organizing.  They recognized outgoing President Ed Hill and introduced new President Lonnie Stephenson. The Youth Caucus also attended and participated in a couple of projects.

 

The International sent a letter reminding us that there is no audio recording allowed at any meetings. They are also looking for any members who are running for a local office or currently hold one. Please notify the hall so we can help support in any way we can.

 

Also as I have reported we are updating our web site. Please make sure we have your e-mail. Also on the web site there is information on a petition supporting the Steelworkers. Please show our solidarity by signing the petition.

 

 

We are still continuing with negotiations for Bear Swamp. The E-board is questioning why it is taking so long to negotiate.  Unfortunately it is a slow process and hopefully we will be able to get a contract soon.

 

We have some asbestos grievances we are looking to settle as part of negotiations.

 

 

Negotiations continue and we have requested dates to meet. Company has notified me that they will be doing a feasibility study of the Fitzpatrick plant to see if they will be refueling the plant next year which could affect 300 members.

 

 

They were looking to merge with Pepco and it was denied by the PSC. They are reviewing their options to move forward.

 

 

I wanted to give everyone a reminder about Facebook. We had a member call in sick on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday. He attended a wedding on Saturday and someone took pictures and posted it on Facebook. Company ended up seeing the pictures and brought him in for discipline. Please be careful.

 

We will be having a System Safety meeting with the Union Committee on September 10th in Syracuse. We will be meeting the Company on September 23rd.

 

We will be having an I&R meeting on September 14th in Utica.

 

We will be meeting on September 15th in Syracuse on M&T proposal review.

 

We will be having a Gas Committee meeting on September 16th in Syracuse to go over the Gas proposal.

 

 

We have negotiations scheduled for October 6th and 7th. Their contract expires October 31, 2015.

 

 

Company has announced they will be shutting down Huntley Steam Station and mothballing Dunkirk Steam Station which will be a bleak outlook for Dunkirk. We went to the plant today about contractors on the property. I wish I had more concrete information to give our membership. We have to wait for a reliability study to be completed hopefully by the end of the month to see if Huntley or Dunkirk were to go down what is needed for reliability. We will prepare for the worse if Huntley were to shut down and Dunkirk to be put in a mothball status. This affects about 150 members.