Craftsman August 2015

     Brothers and Sisters this is the Labor Day issue of the Craftsman. Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. The first Labor Day Holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day Holiday a year later, on September 5, 1883.  The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country. Through the years the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. By 1894, many states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28, of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.

The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership – the American Worker…. Wow, I wish employers today felt that way towards their employees.

By the time this article arrives at your homes school will have started. Please watch for the kids while driving. Remember the school zones and be aware of the school buses.

The Union office has great news to report. The arbitrator in the Sam Goodson case has rendered a decision. The arbitrator ruled that Mr. Goodson (Journeyman Lineman, Brownwood, Tx.) was wrongfully terminated and will be reinstated with full back pay. We are waiting on the arbitrators ruling for Donnie Moore’s (Journeyman Lineman, Jacksonville, Tx.) arbitration.

Oncor has offered the bargaining unit employees a two (2) year contract extension with three percent (3%) pay increases for eligible classifications on October 26, 2015, and October 26, 2016. A Union Committee will execute a ratification vote at various locations at Oncor.

On behalf of IBEW local 69 I would like to wish everyone a happy and blessed Labor DayHoliday! Until next time may God bless you, your family, and our local union.

Craftsman Article July 2015

After twelve months of negotiations and Federal Mediation, IBEW Local 69 Members at Fox 4 have ratified a three (3) year contract. The new contract went into effect on July 1, 2015. The bargaining unit members at KDFW-TV received a 2% wage increase upon ratification and will receive a 2% wage increase for the second year and a 2% wage increase on the third year of the three (3) year deal. I would like to thank Jack Gwyn, Steve Yakub, and John Gnann for their service and dedication negotiating the contract with the Company. Many times it is an extremely difficult and thankless task.

IBEW Local 69 Members and representatives of WFAA –TV met on July 20, 2015, for negotiations on a wage opener in the labor agreement. Paulette Hooker, Bruce Baron, and Bobby Reed represented the Union in negotiations. The Company proposed a 1.5% increase and an additional .5% merit component to be determined at management’s discretion. The offer will be presented to the members for a vote the last week of July.

Oncor Electric Delivery has proposed a two (2) year contract extension to IBEW Local 69 Members. The Memorandum of Agreement the Company sent over reads as follows: It is mutually and agreed upon and understood by the Parties that the current Labor Agreement in effect October 25, 2013 – October 25, 2015 is hereby extended for a period of two (2) years with a revised expiration date of October 25, 2017. All terms and conditions of the Agreement previously set forth will remain in force with the exception of Article VII, Section 2, Wages and Wage Rates. This article and section are hereby revised to reflect three (3) percent wage increases for eligible classifications as delineated in the attached wage schedule. After looking at the wage scale the classifications that are not eligible for the wage increase are the classifications the Company calls Legacy Employees. The Local Union is in the process of creating a schedule to have a vote on the Company proposal in the near future.

The local union should receive a decision on the Sam Goodson arbitration any day. IBEW Local Union 69 arbitrated Donnie Moore’s termination case (Journeyman /Jacksonville) on July 23 and 24. We will not receive a verdict for at least three (3) months on his case. The Union and Company have mediation scheduled for the terminations of Chris Lollar and Kyle Jones on August 24, 2015. Our local union has an arbitration scheduled on November 3 and 4 for Chris Lollar’s termination and arbitration scheduled on November 18 and 19 for James Henry’s termination.

Everywhere I go the question I hear is who will be the new owners of Oncor Electric Delivery? My answer is, your guess is as good as mine. This ordeal has been truly bizarre. The Hunt’s are in, then they are out, then they are back in. It seems EFH is working extremely hard for the Hunt’s to be the winner and new owner. The Texas Attorney General’s office has told an attorney in the Energy Future Holding’s bankruptcy case to stop making “insinuations” that Dallas billionaire Ray L. Hunt’s proposal to take over transmission/distribution company Oncor was “assured” state regulatory approval. That last part about the state regulatory approval is of great interest to IBEW local 69.

Until next time may God bless you, your family, and our local union.