Monday, February 1, 2021
National Grid:
  • We have begun the discipline review process, anyone involved in that should be notified when the process is complete.
  • The company and union continue to discuss the upcoming rate case and the details that affect our membership.
  • We continue to struggle with issues surrounding Covid, the company has canceled grievance hearings and we still have issues with the daily symptom check process. Please remember to call in on a daily basis, we have been seeing disciplines due to non-compliance. We have been discussing the process changes that will undoubtedly take place when we start seeing the vaccine rolled out to the membership.
  • The company is still in the process of yet another re-organization so some discussions have been stalled until that process is complete.
  • We are continuing our talks with labor twice a week with the COVID-19 issues that surround us. I can’t stress enough to do your daily check-ins. This will not only help with compliance it will get you to think about whether you should be at work or not. This virus is very tough to determine if you have it or not and it is so difficult that most have contracted this through someone without any symptoms at all. If you’re sick, please stay home.
  • What is the new norm going to look like? This is being discussed each day on the news and on social media. I believe no matter what this is going to be we need to stay vigilant with staying safe. Take a step back when you’re talking with people, wear your mask if you need to be closer, wash your hands more frequently and clean touch points frequently.
  • As we begin 2021 let us hope we will be in a much better place. Let us not forget though that many people in the world today might not be in a good place. Together we can get through this, I have found myself spending local more now than ever. Please consider supporting local businesses as much as ever right now.
 
In closing continue to stay safe and watch over each other. We want everyone to go home better than they came in. Should you need anything contact your steward, contact the union hall, or look at the website. We are constantly discussing how to better our communications throughout this time.
 
Regards
Bill Maloney
 
Brookfield
  • Local 97 is happy to welcome Don Netto to the staff. Don is a 30-year member of the local with a long history of involvement. He has been a steward, grievance committee member (as well as numerous other committees), and is currently serving as an Executive Board Representative. Don will be representing many of our non-National grid members as well as holding the position of Organizer and mentor/facilitator for the youth committee.
  • We continue to work to control the company’s changes to the HOP and HSSE manuals most recently the lockout and diving procedures.
  • We will be pursuing the annual discipline review and dates for the project review meetings.
 
PSEG
  • The local continues to work with the company on all the Covid issues that have arisen at the plant.
  • We’ve recently signed agreements to once again this year continue the Juneteenth time off, also an agreement for time to cover the possibility of a Covid related issue and an additional Holiday will be added to Art XIII as Martin Luther King will be added to the holiday schedule.
  • We have also been in conversation with the company concerning the upcoming negotiations in October and expect to hear more from them in the next month.
 
Liberty Utility
  • We have been working through the details surrounding the recently negotiated contract on this property and hope to have that finalized soon.
  • The company has been working to secure vaccines for the membership that is required to work with the public and should have them available as soon as the state allows it.
 
The Eastern Division staff recognizes the difficulty involved in getting information in the field especially without having our General body and subdivisional meetings. We continue to explore ways to better stay in contact with the membership and as always if you have any questions or concerns please reach out to your stewards or business reps.
 
Respectfully
Steve Givney
IBEW Local 97
Assistant Business Manager East

 

Found In: 
Eastern Division