IBEW Local 440 Bulletin Board

Please note that the General Meeting for Oct 3rd, 2007 was incorrectly listed on the calendar as a start time of 7:30PM. The correct start time for the meeting is 6PM. We have updated the site to reflect this and apologize for any inconvenience.

-IBEW Local 440

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9/5/2007

Riverside County News Update! (Aug ‘07)

Filed under:

General

— Bob Frost @ 9:41 am

Work in the Area

Work is at a steady pace at this time.
Construction on 45 one-megawatt Windmill towers will start the week of August 20 in Desert Hot Springs. Rosendin Electric is the contractor for all the electrical work. Southern Contracting will be gearing up for the Henry Mills Water Treatment Plant. PEC has several projects in the area, RIS is busy as well as Gregg & Daniels Electric. Johnson Peltier has work in the Lower Desert and Blythe. Baker has work from Blythe to Temecula. Neal is about to start their projects in the Temecula area. The power plant in Romoland with Van Ert is going with 130 plus men on site.

We would like to welcome our newest contractors Menne Electric, Riverland Electric, Able Electric, Creative Energy Electric. Three of the four are IBEW members who started their own business; the other we need to help get up to speed on how to work with IBEW and what tools are supplied by the contractor. As with any contractor for whom you work, give them your best effort using tools and materials they provide to get the job done.

Several large and some not so large projects are bidding in the area. In the hall we are working to get contractors to come out and bid this work. So continue with the high-quality work, our members are known for and do the best you can with tools and information given you.

Issues are on the rise from members taking wire off the jobsites. If you do not have written permission to remove any scrap wire from the contractor. It is in your best interest not to take any of the wire off the job. If you need to borrow a tool you need authorization to take it home and must return it on the next working day.

9th District Progress Meeting

In July the 9th District had their annual Progress Meeting. I would like to thank the members for allowing President Mark Heers, Executive board members Bernard Garcia & John Harrison and myself to represent the members of Local 440.

International President Ed Hill Spoke to the attendees with a clear message saying, “ We must be Diligent and Stead Fast in our Organizing Efforts to Gain Back the Work”. “We must support leaders in politics to be labor friendly to gain their support of our goals of requiring qualified workers on the jobsites”. “Our members have to be involved in promoting Unionism and getting involved with their communities by participating in Special Events and speaking out with Pride about our IBEW organization”. Another comment that was clear discussed work in a local jurisdiction; “We cannot continue the practice of drawing a circle around our homes, We Must Man the Work wherever the Contractors are able to win the Bids on Projects”.

President Hill said, “you must be watchful in your areas to protect the electrical work. There are other unions looking to claim part and at times all the electrical work as theirs”.

International 9th District Vice President Mike Mowery discussed the growth in the 9th District commending the organizers and members of the district for doing what it takes to steadily increase our IBEW membership.

General Membership Meeting

Wednesday, September 5 @ 6 pm

IBEW 440 Annual PICNIC!

Saturday, September 8th

Bogart Park in Cherry Valley

Mark your Calendars!!!

Food

Fun

Bounce Houses

Music

Raffle

Bingo

Horseshoe
Tournament

Bring the Family and lets have some fun!!!
Please bring your favorite desert to share!

Recommendations on what else to bring:
Sun Screen, something to sit on, a Smile.
If your children play in the bounce house please keep an eye on them.

By-Laws Committee

Local 440 President Heers is establishing a By-Laws review Committee.

The committee will review the new By-laws language from the International and make changes in our existing By-laws. There is language that no longer pertains to our jurisdiction.

If you would like to participate in this process please contact the hall. The first meeting will be announced at the September 5th General Membership Meeting.

Sound & Communications Agreement

Negotiations will be starting soon on this agreement. We need the members working under this agreement to participate. Your tool list is out of touch with the industry, what changes need to be made? Please Contact your Business Manager with recommendations and concerns on this agreement. Openers for negotiations will in September.

Union Membership Dues

Members remember that your International Dues must be current to qualify for Local area Benefits. If you are not current, your medical & Pension rights may be at risk. Waiting for a red letter from the hall as a reminder costs you an additional $30 in reinstatement fees; just over one month of international dues. Take the time to keep your dues current.

October 12, 2007: RE-Sign

All Out of Work List Books

RE SIGN
will be In Person
or FAX

NOTICE !
Re-sign
In Person at IBEW
Local 440’s Union Hall
1074 E. La Cadena Dr.
Suite # 15
10 am - 4 pm
July 13, 2007

Faxes will be accepted - NOT Phone Calls:

You Must Designate what zone you will work in Zone A = Western Riverside, Zone C = County Wide, Zone D = Desert Area, (Zone B will be offered to all out of work applicants with no strikes!)

Fax: must have Members Name, Card Number, Current Address, Current Phone Numbers, Local Union Number and Book signed. Must have proof of CA State Certification or J.W. Trainee Status with State of Ca., include legible copy of CA State issued Card with fax or in person. Faxes must be signed.

Fax info to 951-369-9032 between 6am to 4 pm October 12 only.

Inside Wireman’s Benefits and Agreement

At our last Health and Welfare Trust meeting the following changes were made and letters will be sent out to all participants in our plans.

There will be no open enrollment period after 1-1-2008. Members after this date will be able to change medical providers at any time.

REMINDER

If you change providers, you must stay with the new provider for a period for 12 months before you can make any other changes. This may help when something happens that require a change in medical coverage.

If you leave California for a long period of time, you should look at changing to the Beech Street PPO/Indemnity plan; Aetna and Kaiser may not cover you when you’re out of state except for emergencies.

Beech Street PPO/Indemnity Plan the out of pocket maximum will be reduced to $ 2,500, reducing the existing out of pocket cost by half on 10-1-2007.

Banked and Monthly Qualification Hours

We now have a reserve of 750 hours which will not be changed at this time. In April of 2006 our monthly hours for maintaining coverage went from 120 hours to 130 hours due to contributions at that time. Members have requested information on what it would take to go back to the 120 hours a month to qualify for coverage.

The cost to the members would be about $ .30 cents per hour more than the current $ 5.40 per hour, to protect the plan and go back to the base of 120 hours. If this is what members would like to do, the discussion may be held at our next general membership meeting.

Wage Allocation for Inside Wireman’s Agreement

Wage Allocation discussion on September 5, 2007 for the 12-3-2007 increase of $1.05 for Inside Wiremen .

If you wish to have this money go to Health & Welfare or Pension a motion must be made under new business.

If you wish to have the full $ 1.05 go on the check no motion is necessary.

Cisco Certification Training

Riverside Community College is offering classes for Sound Installers who want to get the Cisco Certification. The first class starts on September 4th at the Riverside Campus. If we have 20 participants, they will set up a class for our group.

The course will be one night a week, two courses per term or semester, four courses total. Each course is 8 weeks long. At the end of the fourth course you can take the Cisco certification exam.

To register contact RCC Occupational Education Department at 951-222-8963

Journeyman & Installer Training

MSHA Mining Safety
Sept-12 & 13, Oct 17 & 18,
Nov 14 & 15, 2007

300 Multi-pair Cabling
September 22, 2007

Pipe Bending
September 22 & 29, 2007
November 10 & 17, 2007

Grounding & Bonding
October 8, 2007 (8 weeks)

Arc Shield Class
October 13, 2007

Fire Alarm Class
November 10, 2007

First Aid/CPR
November 10, 2007

Contact Training Center @
909-890-1703 to sign up

Volunteers Needed

Several opportunities exist for our members, their spouses and teenage children to assist in Political Campaigns throughout Riverside County & the Festa Italiana. This is a great opportunity to get to know key people in your community and do something with your family or join up with some other members to help promote local candidates that will be supportive of labor issues when they arise in your city and or community. There are various ways to assist; walking precincts handing out information, making phone calls, or putting signs out for the candidates, to name a few.

Festa Italiana IV

is a big event at White Park in Riverside. It take’s place this year on Sunday October 21st.

We have participated in it the last three years supplying lighting and power hook ups to the booths. The event raises funds for the Riverside Arts Museum. There will be all types of Italian food, Italian heritage history in Riverside, Car show and great entertainment. To help out please call the hall.

We need about 8 people to set up in the morning 7 am, 2 people to work the event in case of power failure from 12 noon to 8 pm, and 4 people to help tear down at the end of the event @ 8 pm.

This is a great family event even if you cannot give a few hours to help out. Cost is $5 in advance, $10 at the gate.

New Office & Meeting Hall is Under Construction

Two of our long time Union Contractors are underway on construction at our new office facility located at 1405 Spruce Street in Riverside.

Meredith/Simpson is doing the overall construction. They are a general contractor signatory with most trades, and subbed out to union trades they do not handle.

P.A. Thompson Engineering is doing all our low voltage systems for the project.

We hope to be in the new office by November if the inspections and materials come in on time.

Blythe Power Plant Employees file for Representational Election

Thanks to the assistance of Chuck Mc Daniel of Local 440 and Stan Stosel of Local 47. After many phone calls and meetings for the employees, Local 47 was able to get enough support from the 18 employees to file for an NLRB election for representation by the IBEW.

Several years ago the company prevented the employees from gaining representation. Now the employees have a much stronger stance; after dealing with the non-union burden for the last few years.

If you know any of these employees in Blythe, let them know we support their efforts to organize.

Rusty Bailey
Riverside City Council

IBEW 440
Supports Rusty & he
is COPE
Endorsed
By the C.L.C.

Ward 3 - The Hub of Riverside”
I see Ward 3 as the Hub for the City of Riverside. Most of the major avenues and thoroughfares for cars and trains run through our Ward from the 91 Freeway, to Arlington and Victoria, Central and Van Buren, to Brockton and Magnolia these streets carry thousands of cars a day. The Union Pacific Railroad line bisects our ward and sends hundreds of trains through our ward each day. We are also a center of economic activity, from the newly revitalized Plaza to the historic Brockton Arcade, Magnolia Center is a regional destination. Hardman Center and the Arlington Corridor are working on becoming a destination for the Ramona neighborhoods and beyond. Two of our city’s seven high schools fall inside the ward boundaries, which means we have a large number of kids living with and around us.
Some questions we should have?
Where does Ward 3 stand in gaining our fair share of the $760 million Riverside Renaissance money recently approved by the City Council?
Why is our city below all of the state averages when it comes to park space and amenities?
Do the trains keep you up at night? Or do they just keep you from getting to where you want to go?
Can you find a parking space at the Plaza?
Do our kids have meaningful after-school activities or places to go when not in class? Do we provide them an outlet for their physical or artistic expression parks and museums?

I hope to continue to build on the successes of the existing business as well as protect the historically significant buildings and places that remain in our neighborhoods. I do not agree with using eminent domain in return for corporate money. I do not plan on being a City Council member who takes a home through eminent domain for corporate America.

Conclusion
Leadership isn’t a job for me, it is a calling. I believe that it is time for my generation to enter the political arena and bring our skills to bear to benefit the City of Riverside. Thank you for joining me on this journey. I hope you will share this vision with me.

Dom Betro
Riverside City Council

IBEW 440
Supports Dom & he
is COPE
Endorsed
By the C.L.C.

Ward 1 Downtown Area

Making A Difference. Making Things Happen.
Presreving Neighborhoods
Creating a Vibrant Downtown
Building a Strong Local Economy
Insuring Responsive City Government

Dom Betro was elected to serve as the Councilmember for Ward 1 in January 2004. Since 1985 he has been president of Family Services Association, a non-profit organization with an annual budget of $13 Million and staff of 425 that aids in providing child care centers, neighborhood centers for youth, housing and services for seniors, and economic self-sufficiency projects for families and communities.

Dom has been an Instructor of Management at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) since 1989. He helped originate and has been the lead instructor in a Certificate Program in Not-For-Profit Management, and is an Adjunct Faculty Member at California State University, San Bernardino, where he teaches in the Graduate School of Social Services.

Dom has a B.S. degree in Psychology, and a Masters Degree in Social Work. Both degrees are from Fordham University in New York. He also has a certificate in Non- Profit Management from the Columbia University Non-Profit Institute.

Mr. Betro welcomes your ideas and input regarding issues facing the First Ward of the City of Riverside. You can call him at (951) 826-5991 more info at www.betroforcouncil.com

IBEW LOCAL 440 MEMBERSHIP ORIENTATION

Starts on Monday August 27, 2007 and will be repeated the first Monday of each month.
Member orientation will help you:
1) feel comfortable as members of local 440.
2) understand the value and functions of the IBEW Local 440.
3) understand your rights as a members.
4) understand your role and responsibility to the IBEW.
You will be contacted by letter and phone; we will be expecting full attendance.

Thank you,
Carl Villegas
Assistant Business Manager

COMET Classes

Begin on September 10, 2007 and will be held every second Monday of the month.
Construction Organizing Membership Education Training is a key component of our organizing efforts.
It is our goal to put every active member through COMET in one year.
You will be receiving a letter in the mail to participate. As a member of the IBEW Local 440 it is your responsibility to help continue the education of organizing.
We look forward to seeing you at these classes.

Thank you,
Carl Villegas
Assistant Business Manager

Member Updates

Alfonso and Ivana Nava: were blessed with a baby boy on 7-10-07, 6 lbs 13 oz. Ivan

In Memoriam:

Ernest Mike Mathews Passed away on 6-21-2007, after complications due to surgery.
DB # 211
Bill Miter
Passed away on 7-19-2007 of congestive heart failure.
DB # 212
Tony Holt
Passed away on 7-23-2007 due to kidney failure after lung surgery back in May.
DB # 213

To all our members families, please accept our condolences in this time of loss from all of Local 440.

Members please send in the DB contribution of $ 5 ea, with your next dues payment or by its self as soon as possible.

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3/21/2007

JATC Upcoming Class Schedule

Filed under:

General

— Bob Frost @ 2:32 pm

JATC class dates and times are now listed in the calendar section of our site : http://ibew440.org/calendar/month.php

All classes will be held at the training center:

1855 Business Center Dr. in San Bernardino, 92408
Phone: (909) 890-1703
Fax: (909)890-1746

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1/4/2007

General Membership Meeting Feb. 7th

Filed under:

General

— Bob Frost @ 3:07 pm

There will be a General Membership Meeting February 7th.

The topic is an overview of the new “Screen Safe” drug testing process for all members.

The meeting will start at 6PM, dinner will be provided.

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NOTICE!!! : Re-sign

Filed under:

General

— Bob Frost @ 7:25 am

Re-Sign fax or in person January 12th, 2007

Re-Sign in person at IBEW Local 440’s Union Hall
1074 E. La Cadena Dr. Suite #15
10 A.M. - 4 P.M.

Faxes will be accepted - NOT Phone Calls:

You must designate what zone you will work in:

Zone A = Western Riverside
Zone C = County Wide
Zone D = Desert Area
(Zone B will be offered to all out of work applicants with no strikes!)

Fax:

Name, Card Number, Current Address, Current Phone Numbers, Local Union Number.

Fax info to 951-369-9032 between 6am to 4pm January 12th only. Must have proof of CA State Certification or J.W. Trainee Status with State of CA, include legible copy of CA State issued Card with fax or in person.

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12/2/2005

Annual Retirees Christmas Luncheon

Filed under:

General

— Bob Frost @ 9:23 am

All Retirees

Annual Luncheon and updates will be held here at the hall prior to the Christmas Party
and Year Pin Awards Ceremony

December 10, 2005

Lunch will start @ 11:30 am to 1 pm

Business Manager Perez will give up dates on benefits and other related items at that time

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Christmas Party

Filed under:

General

— Bob Frost @ 9:20 am

Annual Christmas Party

December 10
1 pm to 4 pm

Santa will be there from 1 pm to 2 pm

Bounce House for Kids

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State Certification Required

Filed under:

General

— Bob Frost @ 9:18 am

State Cerification will be required after January 1, 2006 for most projects

if you do not have your application in yet go to

www.dir.ca.gov to get the application needed

This requirement will not stop you from signing the books
but you must have certification to be dispatched as a journeyman wireman
this includes book one, two, three and four for inside wireman

Sound and Communications Installers and Techs do not fall under this requirement.
When the State comes out with a test for this classification we will start training classes for this Certification

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