AEP board adopts new severance policy
Business Briefs
Richmond Times-Dispatch, Feb 19, 2005
VIRGINIA
American Electric Power's board of directors has adopted a new severance policy for senior executives that requires shareholder approval for future severance packages exceeding 2.99 times an executive's annual pay and bonus.
A similar proposal was approved by 58 percent of AEP's shareholders at the company's April 2004 annual meeting. The board adopted the new policy to be consistent with that proposal, AEP said.
When it submitted its successful shareholder proposal last year, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Pension Benefit Plan noted that executive severance agreements had not been at issue at AEP but had been at other companies, AEP said in a statement yesterday.
Columbus, Ohio-based AEP operates in Virginia as Appalachian Power Co. and is the state's second-largest electric-utility.
AEP's new policy covers severance and separation benefits as well as other special benefits that are available to senior executives and not to other groups of employees, the company said.
Saturday, February 19, 2005
Lancaster City, PA, IBEW Member Tim Roschel Fights For Family Values in City Council Race
Gray rallies city’s Demos
In high spirits, they aim to take back mayor’s office and council. They even endorse a Republican.
By Patricia Poist, Lancaster Sunday News, Feb 19, 2005
LANCASTER COUNTY, PA -
Lancaster City Democrats say they are blessed with the unity, diversity and leadership they need to wrest control of city government from Republicans in the November election.
“I look at our ticket and I do know one thing; this is our year; this is our year,” said Lancaster attorney Rick Gray, Democratic mayoral candidate, who received a resounding endorsement from the committee Saturday morning.
About 50 committee members gathered at Democratic headquarters, 53 N. Duke St., in an enthused and amicable meeting to nominate and endorse candidates.
“Rick Gray has outstanding capacity to bring this city to a whole new level,’’ said former Democratic county commissioner Ron Ford in making Gray’s endorsement.
In addition, city Democrats threw their unanimous support behind four others running for four seats on city council as well as endorsing other candidates, including a Republican.
City Democrats said they hope Gray can unseat Mayor Charlie Smithgall, who easily received the GOP endorsement to run for a third term. Smithgall has competition within his own party from city council member Luis Mendoza, who will run against Smithgall in the May primary.
Besides getting Gray elected, city Democrats hope they can regain a majority on the city council, which they lost to the GOP in 2001.
Endorsed city council candidates are:
*Civic leader Louise Williams, a longtime city district justice and now a crime victims’ representative for the the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons, who said she wants to help “uphold the values we represent in city government that are beneficial to all of the citizens of this city”;
*Tim Roschel, an electrician, member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Lancaster Planning Commission. Roschel said he wants to ensure all city residents are safe and enjoy a good quality of life;
*Jose Urdaneta, who owns Urdaneta Photography Studio, who ran unsuccessfully in 2001, but said he has never lost his interest in devoting his energies to the city;
*Kendra Saunders, a psychologist and professor at Millersville University, who said she has lived in eight other cities and can bring a fresh perspective to the council as a relative newcomer.
“The interest is there, the commitment is there,’’ said city committee chairman Gregory Paulson.
“We’ve got a group of people who are really committed to changing things.’’
City Democrats say their mission is attracting new residents, cracking down on crime, fixing up blighted neighborhoods and implementing a better trash collecting system.
They also said their goal is ensure that city residents reap the benefits of new economic development initiatives already under way. City residents should be given the first shot at jobs that will be generated by the minor league baseball stadium and the convention center, they said.
The committee also endorsed attorney Sam Mecum, for Lancaster County Court judge; Kelly Ballentine over Scott Selby for district justice in the city’s Southeast; Brook Duer for city treasurer and Craig Lehman for city controller.
Mecum, who received the highest rating from the Lancaster County Bar Association over the two Republican contenders, told the group that judicial canons prohibit judge candidates from speaking about any issues that are political or controversial.
Mecum is a proponent of putting judges on the bench via appointments as opposed to elections.
To that end, as opposed to running for judge, Mecum said he will “walk for judge.’’
“When you walk for judge, you have to be bipartisan,’’ he said. Though he said he cannot address specific political issues, Mecum revealed that his hero has always been the character Atticus Finch, the lawyer in the famous novel and movie “To Kill a Mockingbird’’ who goes up against a town’s prevalent racism to defend an innocent black man.
And then he added: “Democrats have values too.’’
Duer, an attorney, couldn’t attend the Saturday meeting because of a family emergency. In a letter he sent to the committee, however, Duer said he is “energized’’ to get involved in city government to improve life in the city.
Lehman, a budget analyst for the state House Appropriations Committee, served on city council until 2001, when he lost his seat over a controversial trash plan, which Democrats blame the Republicans for politicizing to orchestrate Lehman’s ouster.
In endorsing him, Democratic City Councilman Nelson Polite praised Lehman for sticking to his guns, no matter how politically difficult, while he was a city councilman and said Lehman is “well qualified’’ for the job as treasurer.
The committee also endorsed one Republican, Bruce Roth, to keep his district justice seat in the city’s northwest.
Paulson said he was quite happy with the Saturday meeting and said it underscores that city Democrats are living up to their fighting words: “leadership for a change.’’
“Our position is that we believe that the current administration shows no leadership whatsoever and that change is needed,’’ Paulson said.
Though supporters were pumped up at the morning meeting, Gray warned them that things could get ugly after the primary.
“When they [the GOP] are done with each other, they will focus their hostilities on us,’’ he said.
He said he expects he will be criticized for his job as a criminal defense attorney and will be portrayed as being soft on crime.
Having access to a lawyer in a court of law is a basic constitutional right, he said.
“I will call them on it and ask them if they believe in the Bill of Rights,’’ Gray said.
ppoist@lnpnews.com
© 2004 Lancaster Newspapers
In high spirits, they aim to take back mayor’s office and council. They even endorse a Republican.
By Patricia Poist, Lancaster Sunday News, Feb 19, 2005
LANCASTER COUNTY, PA -
Lancaster City Democrats say they are blessed with the unity, diversity and leadership they need to wrest control of city government from Republicans in the November election.
“I look at our ticket and I do know one thing; this is our year; this is our year,” said Lancaster attorney Rick Gray, Democratic mayoral candidate, who received a resounding endorsement from the committee Saturday morning.
About 50 committee members gathered at Democratic headquarters, 53 N. Duke St., in an enthused and amicable meeting to nominate and endorse candidates.
“Rick Gray has outstanding capacity to bring this city to a whole new level,’’ said former Democratic county commissioner Ron Ford in making Gray’s endorsement.
In addition, city Democrats threw their unanimous support behind four others running for four seats on city council as well as endorsing other candidates, including a Republican.
City Democrats said they hope Gray can unseat Mayor Charlie Smithgall, who easily received the GOP endorsement to run for a third term. Smithgall has competition within his own party from city council member Luis Mendoza, who will run against Smithgall in the May primary.
Besides getting Gray elected, city Democrats hope they can regain a majority on the city council, which they lost to the GOP in 2001.
Endorsed city council candidates are:
*Civic leader Louise Williams, a longtime city district justice and now a crime victims’ representative for the the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons, who said she wants to help “uphold the values we represent in city government that are beneficial to all of the citizens of this city”;
*Tim Roschel, an electrician, member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Lancaster Planning Commission. Roschel said he wants to ensure all city residents are safe and enjoy a good quality of life;
*Jose Urdaneta, who owns Urdaneta Photography Studio, who ran unsuccessfully in 2001, but said he has never lost his interest in devoting his energies to the city;
*Kendra Saunders, a psychologist and professor at Millersville University, who said she has lived in eight other cities and can bring a fresh perspective to the council as a relative newcomer.
“The interest is there, the commitment is there,’’ said city committee chairman Gregory Paulson.
“We’ve got a group of people who are really committed to changing things.’’
City Democrats say their mission is attracting new residents, cracking down on crime, fixing up blighted neighborhoods and implementing a better trash collecting system.
They also said their goal is ensure that city residents reap the benefits of new economic development initiatives already under way. City residents should be given the first shot at jobs that will be generated by the minor league baseball stadium and the convention center, they said.
The committee also endorsed attorney Sam Mecum, for Lancaster County Court judge; Kelly Ballentine over Scott Selby for district justice in the city’s Southeast; Brook Duer for city treasurer and Craig Lehman for city controller.
Mecum, who received the highest rating from the Lancaster County Bar Association over the two Republican contenders, told the group that judicial canons prohibit judge candidates from speaking about any issues that are political or controversial.
Mecum is a proponent of putting judges on the bench via appointments as opposed to elections.
To that end, as opposed to running for judge, Mecum said he will “walk for judge.’’
“When you walk for judge, you have to be bipartisan,’’ he said. Though he said he cannot address specific political issues, Mecum revealed that his hero has always been the character Atticus Finch, the lawyer in the famous novel and movie “To Kill a Mockingbird’’ who goes up against a town’s prevalent racism to defend an innocent black man.
And then he added: “Democrats have values too.’’
Duer, an attorney, couldn’t attend the Saturday meeting because of a family emergency. In a letter he sent to the committee, however, Duer said he is “energized’’ to get involved in city government to improve life in the city.
Lehman, a budget analyst for the state House Appropriations Committee, served on city council until 2001, when he lost his seat over a controversial trash plan, which Democrats blame the Republicans for politicizing to orchestrate Lehman’s ouster.
In endorsing him, Democratic City Councilman Nelson Polite praised Lehman for sticking to his guns, no matter how politically difficult, while he was a city councilman and said Lehman is “well qualified’’ for the job as treasurer.
The committee also endorsed one Republican, Bruce Roth, to keep his district justice seat in the city’s northwest.
Paulson said he was quite happy with the Saturday meeting and said it underscores that city Democrats are living up to their fighting words: “leadership for a change.’’
“Our position is that we believe that the current administration shows no leadership whatsoever and that change is needed,’’ Paulson said.
Though supporters were pumped up at the morning meeting, Gray warned them that things could get ugly after the primary.
“When they [the GOP] are done with each other, they will focus their hostilities on us,’’ he said.
He said he expects he will be criticized for his job as a criminal defense attorney and will be portrayed as being soft on crime.
Having access to a lawyer in a court of law is a basic constitutional right, he said.
“I will call them on it and ask them if they believe in the Bill of Rights,’’ Gray said.
ppoist@lnpnews.com
© 2004 Lancaster Newspapers
IBEW Local 1205 (Gainesville, FL) hosts Health Care Forum
Labor Party hosting health care forum
# The Alachua County Labor Party is hosting a health care forum Friday to discuss options available in other countries and how they compare to those in the United States.
Titled "Health care Around the World: What's the Truth?" the forum will examine the concept of universal health care. It will take place at the IBEW Union Hall, 2510 NW 6th St., in Gainesville.
Pizza and socializing begins at 6 p.m. and the programs starts at 6:30 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call Mark Piotrowski at 375-2832 or Jenny Brown at 373-6318 or 378-5655.
# The Alachua County Labor Party is hosting a health care forum Friday to discuss options available in other countries and how they compare to those in the United States.
Titled "Health care Around the World: What's the Truth?" the forum will examine the concept of universal health care. It will take place at the IBEW Union Hall, 2510 NW 6th St., in Gainesville.
Pizza and socializing begins at 6 p.m. and the programs starts at 6:30 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call Mark Piotrowski at 375-2832 or Jenny Brown at 373-6318 or 378-5655.
IBEW System Council U-3 (New Jersey) Urges Members To Reject Defective Contract Offer
JCP&L offers new deal; union recommends rejection
New York Newsday, February 19, 2005
NEPTUNE, N.J. -- New Jersey's second-largest utility has given 1,350 striking workers one week to accept a new contract offer, but union leaders have recommended workers reject it.
Members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers who read meters and fix lines, among other jobs, for Jersey Central Power & Light Co., walked off the job Dec. 8.
Major issues in the strike focus on health care for workers who retire and work rules. The company and the union say they have a deal on the health care issues.
Company officials propose a 54-cent per hour wage adjustment and 3 percent annual raise over the three years of a new contract.
The company also offers a new procedure for determining which workers are on-call in case of an outage and a health care plan in line with that of parent company, Akron, Ohio-based FirstEnergy Corp.
Also, JCP&L would have additional line workers between April and October when electricity demands and the chance of outages increases.
"The company's offer is another cynical attempt to exploit the working men and women of New Jersey at a time when credit card bills are running high and mortgage payments are overdue," Jack Moriarty, a union spokesman told the Asbury Park Press for Saturday's editions.
JCP&L President Steve Morgan defended the offer in a statement.
"During the past two-and-a-half months we have engaged in frank and meaningful discussions with the union negotiating team in an effort to reach a fair and equitable arrangement," he said.
Morristown-based JCP&L provides electricity to 1 million customers in 13 counties, primarily in the northern part of the state.
This week, the company reported two incidents of wrongdoing during the strike.
JCP&L said a fiber optic cable used for internal communications was cut on Jan. 22. And about two weeks ago, an independent truck driver who drove past a picket line at a company warehouse in Forked River was assaulted.
Union members have not been implicated in either incident.
New York Newsday, February 19, 2005
NEPTUNE, N.J. -- New Jersey's second-largest utility has given 1,350 striking workers one week to accept a new contract offer, but union leaders have recommended workers reject it.
Members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers who read meters and fix lines, among other jobs, for Jersey Central Power & Light Co., walked off the job Dec. 8.
Major issues in the strike focus on health care for workers who retire and work rules. The company and the union say they have a deal on the health care issues.
Company officials propose a 54-cent per hour wage adjustment and 3 percent annual raise over the three years of a new contract.
The company also offers a new procedure for determining which workers are on-call in case of an outage and a health care plan in line with that of parent company, Akron, Ohio-based FirstEnergy Corp.
Also, JCP&L would have additional line workers between April and October when electricity demands and the chance of outages increases.
"The company's offer is another cynical attempt to exploit the working men and women of New Jersey at a time when credit card bills are running high and mortgage payments are overdue," Jack Moriarty, a union spokesman told the Asbury Park Press for Saturday's editions.
JCP&L President Steve Morgan defended the offer in a statement.
"During the past two-and-a-half months we have engaged in frank and meaningful discussions with the union negotiating team in an effort to reach a fair and equitable arrangement," he said.
Morristown-based JCP&L provides electricity to 1 million customers in 13 counties, primarily in the northern part of the state.
This week, the company reported two incidents of wrongdoing during the strike.
JCP&L said a fiber optic cable used for internal communications was cut on Jan. 22. And about two weeks ago, an independent truck driver who drove past a picket line at a company warehouse in Forked River was assaulted.
Union members have not been implicated in either incident.
Friday, February 18, 2005
IBEW Local 94 (Cranbury, NJ) Members Ratify Six-Year Agreement With PSEG
Press Release Source: Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated
PSEG Represented Employees Ratify New Six-Year Contract
Agreement provides stability for employees and customers
NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) announced today that three of its four New Jersey unions ratified a new six-year collective bargaining agreement.
The agreement was approved by a majority of members of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 94, United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 855 and the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 153. The three unions represent about 5,100 of PSEG's 6,400 bargaining unit employees in the company's electric and gas utility, fossil and nuclear stations and corporate shared services. Members of a fourth union, the Utility Workers Union of America, will vote on a new contract agreement next week.
The agreement provides for wage rate increases of 3.25 percent in each of the next six years, effective immediately. The current six-year contract was set to expire on April 30, 2005.
"The agreements reflect the strong relationship and spirit of mutual respect between PSEG management, union leadership and represented employees," said E. James Ferland, chairman and CEO. "I want to commend both management and union leaders for reaching a fair agreement well before the contract was set to expire. This kind of stability is not only good for employees, but good for the company and its millions of customers who rely on us to provide safe, reliable energy services day in and day out."
Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG is a publicly traded diversified energy and energy services company with three principal subsidiaries: Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G) Company, PSEG Power, and PSEG Energy Holdings. The PSEG website address is http://www.pseg.com .
Source: Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated
PSEG Represented Employees Ratify New Six-Year Contract
Agreement provides stability for employees and customers
NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) announced today that three of its four New Jersey unions ratified a new six-year collective bargaining agreement.
The agreement was approved by a majority of members of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 94, United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 855 and the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 153. The three unions represent about 5,100 of PSEG's 6,400 bargaining unit employees in the company's electric and gas utility, fossil and nuclear stations and corporate shared services. Members of a fourth union, the Utility Workers Union of America, will vote on a new contract agreement next week.
The agreement provides for wage rate increases of 3.25 percent in each of the next six years, effective immediately. The current six-year contract was set to expire on April 30, 2005.
"The agreements reflect the strong relationship and spirit of mutual respect between PSEG management, union leadership and represented employees," said E. James Ferland, chairman and CEO. "I want to commend both management and union leaders for reaching a fair agreement well before the contract was set to expire. This kind of stability is not only good for employees, but good for the company and its millions of customers who rely on us to provide safe, reliable energy services day in and day out."
Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG is a publicly traded diversified energy and energy services company with three principal subsidiaries: Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G) Company, PSEG Power, and PSEG Energy Holdings. The PSEG website address is http://www.pseg.com .
Source: Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated
IBEW Fights City of Fairbanks over "Leave Time" for long-time employees
Thompson: IBEW vote exaggerated
By DIANA CAMPBELL, Staff Writer
City Mayor Steve Thompson said he is upset at what he calls a mischaracterization of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers' decision to sue the city.
John Giuchichi, IBEW business agent, admitted he misspoke about a Feb. 14 meeting in stating that all the union membership decided to go to court to settle a 2004 contract dispute.
Instead, a "general consensus" of 17 workers whose leave time is at the center of the contract dispute said to go to court, Giuchichi said Thursday. The union represents 32 workers in the public works, engineering, finance, police, fire and technology departments.
"I really feel he's got his own agenda and doesn't care what the members want or what they feel is a fair contract," Thompson said by telephone from California.
Giuchichi said the IBEW membership at the Feb. 14 meeting discussed the City Council's contract offer and what to do about the disputed leave time. The union plans to go to court over the leave time, Giuchichi said, and that was the general consensus of the 17 workers affected by the issue.
"At this point, we're moving forward with filing a suit," Giuchichi said.
The issue concerns extra leave time--in addition to personal leave--earned by some employees according to their length of employment. The extra time was a benefit of previous IBEW labor contracts but for the last six years new union employees haven't gotten the leave. Only the 17 workers who had the benefit grandfathered into existing contracts do.
In 2003, Thompson proposed, and the City Council approved, to not fully fund bonus leave for union and nonunion employees and to require them to pay a portion of their health insurance.
The unions complained, and one union representing the city's firefighters filed a suit. IBEW instead entered binding arbitration with the city last year.
The arbitrator, Robert Landau, ruled the city owes the money for health insurance and leave time since both were part of a signed contract. However, he added that funding the contract was the responsibility of the City Council.
"Thus the award gives the appropriate legislative body--the City Council--the discretion to fund or not to fund the monetary remedies set forth in the award, and does not obligate the Council to fund the award," Landau wrote.
Giuchichi and IBEW's associate general counsel, Bill Wielechowski, disagreed, saying the city owes the money and the city should pay.
"We are going to court," Giuchichi said, adding that if the matter can be resolved before a court appearance, they would drop the suit.
In a separate but related matter, IBEW and the city have been negotiating a contract for 2005. On Feb. 7 the City Council approved an ordinance allowing Thompson to enter into a contract that was not agreed upon by the union but gave them more money. The contract gave the union an extra $219,000, which Thompson said he'd have to rearrange the budget to fund. It also contained an offer to cash out bonus leave at 175 percent, he said.
"We can give them that in a cash payout for a tax-free annuity or they can take it as cash, pay the taxes and keep the balance," Thompson said.
Thompson said that the city is facing a financial crunch because of a multimillion-dollar debt to the Public Employees' Retirement System and reduced municipal aid, and therefore can't fully fund its union contracts.
The leave issue makes it difficult for the membership to vote on the City Council's offer because it contains wording that the union would have to give up its right to take the leave dispute or other issues to court, Giuchichi said.
The membership as a whole will vote Feb. 28 on whether to accept the contract, he said.
Both Thompson and Giuchichi said that contract negotiations are complicated and subject to misinterpretation.
"Very much so," Thompson said.
Diana Campbell can be reached at 459-7523 or dcampbell@newsminer. com.
By DIANA CAMPBELL, Staff Writer
City Mayor Steve Thompson said he is upset at what he calls a mischaracterization of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers' decision to sue the city.
John Giuchichi, IBEW business agent, admitted he misspoke about a Feb. 14 meeting in stating that all the union membership decided to go to court to settle a 2004 contract dispute.
Instead, a "general consensus" of 17 workers whose leave time is at the center of the contract dispute said to go to court, Giuchichi said Thursday. The union represents 32 workers in the public works, engineering, finance, police, fire and technology departments.
"I really feel he's got his own agenda and doesn't care what the members want or what they feel is a fair contract," Thompson said by telephone from California.
Giuchichi said the IBEW membership at the Feb. 14 meeting discussed the City Council's contract offer and what to do about the disputed leave time. The union plans to go to court over the leave time, Giuchichi said, and that was the general consensus of the 17 workers affected by the issue.
"At this point, we're moving forward with filing a suit," Giuchichi said.
The issue concerns extra leave time--in addition to personal leave--earned by some employees according to their length of employment. The extra time was a benefit of previous IBEW labor contracts but for the last six years new union employees haven't gotten the leave. Only the 17 workers who had the benefit grandfathered into existing contracts do.
In 2003, Thompson proposed, and the City Council approved, to not fully fund bonus leave for union and nonunion employees and to require them to pay a portion of their health insurance.
The unions complained, and one union representing the city's firefighters filed a suit. IBEW instead entered binding arbitration with the city last year.
The arbitrator, Robert Landau, ruled the city owes the money for health insurance and leave time since both were part of a signed contract. However, he added that funding the contract was the responsibility of the City Council.
"Thus the award gives the appropriate legislative body--the City Council--the discretion to fund or not to fund the monetary remedies set forth in the award, and does not obligate the Council to fund the award," Landau wrote.
Giuchichi and IBEW's associate general counsel, Bill Wielechowski, disagreed, saying the city owes the money and the city should pay.
"We are going to court," Giuchichi said, adding that if the matter can be resolved before a court appearance, they would drop the suit.
In a separate but related matter, IBEW and the city have been negotiating a contract for 2005. On Feb. 7 the City Council approved an ordinance allowing Thompson to enter into a contract that was not agreed upon by the union but gave them more money. The contract gave the union an extra $219,000, which Thompson said he'd have to rearrange the budget to fund. It also contained an offer to cash out bonus leave at 175 percent, he said.
"We can give them that in a cash payout for a tax-free annuity or they can take it as cash, pay the taxes and keep the balance," Thompson said.
Thompson said that the city is facing a financial crunch because of a multimillion-dollar debt to the Public Employees' Retirement System and reduced municipal aid, and therefore can't fully fund its union contracts.
The leave issue makes it difficult for the membership to vote on the City Council's offer because it contains wording that the union would have to give up its right to take the leave dispute or other issues to court, Giuchichi said.
The membership as a whole will vote Feb. 28 on whether to accept the contract, he said.
Both Thompson and Giuchichi said that contract negotiations are complicated and subject to misinterpretation.
"Very much so," Thompson said.
Diana Campbell can be reached at 459-7523 or dcampbell@newsminer. com.
IBEW Local 94 (Cranbury, NJ) Approves New Agreement With PSEG
Press Release Source: Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated
PSEG Represented Employees Ratify New Six-Year Contract
Friday February 18, 1:57 pm ET
Agreement provides stability for employees and customers
NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) announced today that three of its four New Jersey unions ratified a new six-year collective bargaining agreement.
The agreement was approved by a majority of members of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 94, United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 855 and the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 153. The three unions represent about 5,100 of PSEG's 6,400 bargaining unit employees in the company's electric and gas utility, fossil and nuclear stations and corporate shared services. Members of a fourth union, the Utility Workers Union of America, will vote on a new contract agreement next week.
The agreement provides for wage rate increases of 3.25 percent in each of the next six years, effective immediately. The current six-year contract was set to expire on April 30, 2005.
"The agreements reflect the strong relationship and spirit of mutual respect between PSEG management, union leadership and represented employees," said E. James Ferland, chairman and CEO. "I want to commend both management and union leaders for reaching a fair agreement well before the contract was set to expire. This kind of stability is not only good for employees, but good for the company and its millions of customers who rely on us to provide safe, reliable energy services day in and day out."
Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) (NYSE: PEG - News) is a publicly traded diversified energy and energy services company with three principal subsidiaries: Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G) Company, PSEG Power, and PSEG Energy Holdings. The PSEG website address is http://www.pseg.com .
PSEG Represented Employees Ratify New Six-Year Contract
Friday February 18, 1:57 pm ET
Agreement provides stability for employees and customers
NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) announced today that three of its four New Jersey unions ratified a new six-year collective bargaining agreement.
The agreement was approved by a majority of members of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 94, United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 855 and the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 153. The three unions represent about 5,100 of PSEG's 6,400 bargaining unit employees in the company's electric and gas utility, fossil and nuclear stations and corporate shared services. Members of a fourth union, the Utility Workers Union of America, will vote on a new contract agreement next week.
The agreement provides for wage rate increases of 3.25 percent in each of the next six years, effective immediately. The current six-year contract was set to expire on April 30, 2005.
"The agreements reflect the strong relationship and spirit of mutual respect between PSEG management, union leadership and represented employees," said E. James Ferland, chairman and CEO. "I want to commend both management and union leaders for reaching a fair agreement well before the contract was set to expire. This kind of stability is not only good for employees, but good for the company and its millions of customers who rely on us to provide safe, reliable energy services day in and day out."
Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) (NYSE: PEG - News) is a publicly traded diversified energy and energy services company with three principal subsidiaries: Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G) Company, PSEG Power, and PSEG Energy Holdings. The PSEG website address is http://www.pseg.com .
Thursday, February 17, 2005
IBEW Local 861 (Lake Charles, LA) Files Complaint with OSHA to Protect Casino Electrical Workers
OSHA Complaints
February 17, 2005
Reported by Shelley Brown
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, says it has five days to decide whether to do an on-site investigation of Manhattan Construction's L'Auberge du Lac Hotel and Casino project. The IBEW Union 861 filed the complaint after getting reports of unsafe and unhealthy working conditions at the site.
"I have worked all over the country, and I haven't ever seen anything like this," said Terry Mudd, local IBEW Union steward. Seventeen IBEW local union workers, including Mudd have filed complaints with OSHA against Manhattan Construction, claiming the L'Auberge job site is filthy and dangerous.
"There is no other way to describe it, but just disgusting," said Jeff Spears, another IBEW Union worker. Mudd said, "the toilet paper, as soon as they put it out there, somebody takes it off so there's no toilet paper, there are no toilet seats, and they don't clean them enough. Mudd said 40 toilets just isn't enough for the more than 1200 workers on the project.
"I felt like I was a foreigner to where I was just supposed to be happy with a hole, no toilet paper, just be happy, dig a hole in the ground, squat over that, and call yourself happy," said Spears who believes using an office bathroom is what got him fired. Other workers who wanted to remain anonymous in fear of losing their jobs said, "since April, the hotel hasn't been sealed and water has been getting into the hotel. About an inch of water collected on one floor, causing mold to grow. One worker developed a staff infection on his arm and spent a week in the hospital."
Harlan Duhon, business manager for the local IBEW Union said, "we have photographs that will confirm what these guys are saying has happened on that job." Duhon said he filed the complaints Tuesday, after repeated efforts to work out the problems.
Kerry Andersen with L'Auberge emailed us this statement: "while I appreciate your effort to reach the company regarding the story KPLC-TV is currently researching, L'Auberge du Lac Hotel and Casino, Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. and Manhattan Construction have no comment on Mr. Duhon's alleged complaints."
Meanwhile, several of the local IBEW Union workers said today that since these 17 complaints were filed to OSHA on Tuesday, Manhattan workers have basically been scrambling to get the place cleaned up. According to another worker, just today, some of the Manhattan workers were in high gear, trying to get things straightened up. He said they were on the phones saying 'let's get this place cleaned up.'
OSHA says they'll decide within five days whether they will do an on-site investigation.
One more problem workers told us about: they say when Manhattan employees were spraying fire retardant insulation, they were in protected suits to protect them from the chemicals, but the workers say they were left unprotected. That's another issue mentioned in the complaint sent to OSHA. Local pipe fitter and plumber union workers at the site say they have also voiced concerns about some of the same issues.
February 17, 2005
Reported by Shelley Brown
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, says it has five days to decide whether to do an on-site investigation of Manhattan Construction's L'Auberge du Lac Hotel and Casino project. The IBEW Union 861 filed the complaint after getting reports of unsafe and unhealthy working conditions at the site.
"I have worked all over the country, and I haven't ever seen anything like this," said Terry Mudd, local IBEW Union steward. Seventeen IBEW local union workers, including Mudd have filed complaints with OSHA against Manhattan Construction, claiming the L'Auberge job site is filthy and dangerous.
"There is no other way to describe it, but just disgusting," said Jeff Spears, another IBEW Union worker. Mudd said, "the toilet paper, as soon as they put it out there, somebody takes it off so there's no toilet paper, there are no toilet seats, and they don't clean them enough. Mudd said 40 toilets just isn't enough for the more than 1200 workers on the project.
"I felt like I was a foreigner to where I was just supposed to be happy with a hole, no toilet paper, just be happy, dig a hole in the ground, squat over that, and call yourself happy," said Spears who believes using an office bathroom is what got him fired. Other workers who wanted to remain anonymous in fear of losing their jobs said, "since April, the hotel hasn't been sealed and water has been getting into the hotel. About an inch of water collected on one floor, causing mold to grow. One worker developed a staff infection on his arm and spent a week in the hospital."
Harlan Duhon, business manager for the local IBEW Union said, "we have photographs that will confirm what these guys are saying has happened on that job." Duhon said he filed the complaints Tuesday, after repeated efforts to work out the problems.
Kerry Andersen with L'Auberge emailed us this statement: "while I appreciate your effort to reach the company regarding the story KPLC-TV is currently researching, L'Auberge du Lac Hotel and Casino, Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. and Manhattan Construction have no comment on Mr. Duhon's alleged complaints."
Meanwhile, several of the local IBEW Union workers said today that since these 17 complaints were filed to OSHA on Tuesday, Manhattan workers have basically been scrambling to get the place cleaned up. According to another worker, just today, some of the Manhattan workers were in high gear, trying to get things straightened up. He said they were on the phones saying 'let's get this place cleaned up.'
OSHA says they'll decide within five days whether they will do an on-site investigation.
One more problem workers told us about: they say when Manhattan employees were spraying fire retardant insulation, they were in protected suits to protect them from the chemicals, but the workers say they were left unprotected. That's another issue mentioned in the complaint sent to OSHA. Local pipe fitter and plumber union workers at the site say they have also voiced concerns about some of the same issues.
IBEW Local 86 (Rochester, NY) Members Vote in Salary Reduction/Incentive Pay Rise at Victor Insulators, Inc.
Pay cut passes at Victor Insulators
Amy Wu, Staff writer, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, February 17, 2005
— Workers at Victor Insulators Inc., one of the oldest insulator makers in North America, voted Wednesday to take a 20 percent pay cut rather than face the potential bankruptcy of the company.
After a week of discussion, the 96 union workers voted 61-26 in favor of accepting a salary cut. The company tried to soften the blow with an incentive system that will give its 118 employees an opportunity for bonuses based on productivity and business.
The latest developments had come as a surprise to the union and its members, whose contract does not expire until 2007.
While workers were frustrated by the unexpected turn of events, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 86 said most seemed supportive of the proposal.
"It seems to be a workable resolution because there is a plan there to recapture the lost wages," said Dan Conte, the union's business manager.
Victor Insulators, at 280 Maple Ave. in Victor, did not have alternatives, said Ira Knickerbocker, company vice president.
"If we hadn't gotten this change in compensation system, it would be too close for comfort," Knickerbocker said.
Earlier this month, management began getting pressure from the company's financial backers and board members, who were troubled by a downward spiral in sales. Although the U.S. insulator industry has been suffering for the past five years from growing overseas competition, Victor has been hit especially hard in the last few months by rising energy and labor costs.
The majority of Victor's workers have been at the company for more than 16 years, and they were paid $9.25 to $14 an hour before the reduction proposal.
Executives at Lapp Insulator Co. of Le Roy, Genesee County, a direct competitor of Victor, were saddened by Victor's news.
"Victor was the founding company of this industry. We all come from common roots ...," said Rob Johnson, vice president and general manager of 113-year-old Lapp.
"The market is weak, cost structures are difficult and competition is fierce. It's not Lapp, it's not Victor; it's the whole business."
AWU@DemocratandChronicle.com
Amy Wu, Staff writer, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, February 17, 2005
— Workers at Victor Insulators Inc., one of the oldest insulator makers in North America, voted Wednesday to take a 20 percent pay cut rather than face the potential bankruptcy of the company.
After a week of discussion, the 96 union workers voted 61-26 in favor of accepting a salary cut. The company tried to soften the blow with an incentive system that will give its 118 employees an opportunity for bonuses based on productivity and business.
The latest developments had come as a surprise to the union and its members, whose contract does not expire until 2007.
While workers were frustrated by the unexpected turn of events, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 86 said most seemed supportive of the proposal.
"It seems to be a workable resolution because there is a plan there to recapture the lost wages," said Dan Conte, the union's business manager.
Victor Insulators, at 280 Maple Ave. in Victor, did not have alternatives, said Ira Knickerbocker, company vice president.
"If we hadn't gotten this change in compensation system, it would be too close for comfort," Knickerbocker said.
Earlier this month, management began getting pressure from the company's financial backers and board members, who were troubled by a downward spiral in sales. Although the U.S. insulator industry has been suffering for the past five years from growing overseas competition, Victor has been hit especially hard in the last few months by rising energy and labor costs.
The majority of Victor's workers have been at the company for more than 16 years, and they were paid $9.25 to $14 an hour before the reduction proposal.
Executives at Lapp Insulator Co. of Le Roy, Genesee County, a direct competitor of Victor, were saddened by Victor's news.
"Victor was the founding company of this industry. We all come from common roots ...," said Rob Johnson, vice president and general manager of 113-year-old Lapp.
"The market is weak, cost structures are difficult and competition is fierce. It's not Lapp, it's not Victor; it's the whole business."
AWU@DemocratandChronicle.com
IBEW Local 1547 (Anchorage) Sues to Protect Members' Jobs
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
IBEW rejects city's offer, plans to sue
By DIANA CAMPBELL
Thursday, February 17, 2005 - , Staff Writer
City workers represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers have rejected the Fairbanks City Council's latest labor contract offer.
They've also instructed their attorney to file suit against the city for not fully funding their existing contract.
"We feel pretty strongly if we go to court, we will win," said Bill Wielechowski, IBEW's associate general council.
IBEW represents 32 city workers in the city's police, engineering, legal, public works, building and computer services departments.
Mayor Steve Thompson was out of town Wednesday and unavailable for comment.
Pat Cole, a city administrator acting on behalf of the mayor, said that the union has a limited avenue for a court case. It is up to the City Council to make sure there is enough money for the city at the end of the year and state law allows the council to not fully fund contracts for that reason.
"More than once the courts have consistently ruled that funding is at the discretion of the City Coun
IBEW rejects city's offer, plans to sue
By DIANA CAMPBELL
Thursday, February 17, 2005 - , Staff Writer
City workers represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers have rejected the Fairbanks City Council's latest labor contract offer.
They've also instructed their attorney to file suit against the city for not fully funding their existing contract.
"We feel pretty strongly if we go to court, we will win," said Bill Wielechowski, IBEW's associate general council.
IBEW represents 32 city workers in the city's police, engineering, legal, public works, building and computer services departments.
Mayor Steve Thompson was out of town Wednesday and unavailable for comment.
Pat Cole, a city administrator acting on behalf of the mayor, said that the union has a limited avenue for a court case. It is up to the City Council to make sure there is enough money for the city at the end of the year and state law allows the council to not fully fund contracts for that reason.
"More than once the courts have consistently ruled that funding is at the discretion of the City Coun
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
IBEW Local 511 (Grand Falls NL CAN) Member Slick Nash Passes at Age 77
James Simon (Slick) Nash
LAKE PARK — James Simon (Slick) Nash, 77, of Lake Park, died on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2005, at South Georgia Medical Center after a brief illness. Funeral services are scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2004, at 2 p.m. in the chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home with burial in Carter Cemetery. The family will receive friends today from 6-8 p.m. at the McLane Lakewood Funeral Home in Lake Park.
A lifelong resident of Lowndes County, Mr. Nash was born in Valdosta to Eddie Clements and Debbie Grimes Nash on Oct. 10, 1927. He was an electrician and member of the IBEW Union Local 511. A U.S. Marine, he had served during the Korean Conflict and was of the Church of God faith.
Survivors are his wife, Kathleen of Lake Park; daughters and sons-in-law, Elizabeth and Ivan Sirmans of Sylvester, Gwen and Jimmy Sheffield of Madison, Fla., Jackie and Keith Thornton of Echols County; sons and daughters-in-law, Greg and Jenny Nash, Vance and Kim Nash, Gary Nash, all of Lake Park; brother, Julian Nash of Valdosta; sisters, LouNelle Lightsey of Valdosta, Ollie Clark of Nashville, Rachael Terry of Adel; nine grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews and close friends.
Condolences may be conveyed at www.mclanefuneralservices.com on the obituary page. — Carson McLane Funeral Home and McLane Lakewood Funeral Home
LAKE PARK — James Simon (Slick) Nash, 77, of Lake Park, died on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2005, at South Georgia Medical Center after a brief illness. Funeral services are scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2004, at 2 p.m. in the chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home with burial in Carter Cemetery. The family will receive friends today from 6-8 p.m. at the McLane Lakewood Funeral Home in Lake Park.
A lifelong resident of Lowndes County, Mr. Nash was born in Valdosta to Eddie Clements and Debbie Grimes Nash on Oct. 10, 1927. He was an electrician and member of the IBEW Union Local 511. A U.S. Marine, he had served during the Korean Conflict and was of the Church of God faith.
Survivors are his wife, Kathleen of Lake Park; daughters and sons-in-law, Elizabeth and Ivan Sirmans of Sylvester, Gwen and Jimmy Sheffield of Madison, Fla., Jackie and Keith Thornton of Echols County; sons and daughters-in-law, Greg and Jenny Nash, Vance and Kim Nash, Gary Nash, all of Lake Park; brother, Julian Nash of Valdosta; sisters, LouNelle Lightsey of Valdosta, Ollie Clark of Nashville, Rachael Terry of Adel; nine grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews and close friends.
Condolences may be conveyed at www.mclanefuneralservices.com on the obituary page. — Carson McLane Funeral Home and McLane Lakewood Funeral Home
IBEW Local 17 (Detroit MI) Employer Hosts Website for Job Exports
New Website Features News About Job Exports, Wal-Mart Union Efforts
New website featuring companies who are actively outsourcing jobs is launched. Also features Wal-Mart union news.
(PRWEB) February 20, 2005 -- A new website, www.ExportingOurJobs.com, has been launched to provide current news articles and information about job exports, outsourcing, and offshoring. The site also features an extensive news section about Wal-Mart (WMT) and union organizing efforts at that company. Wal-Mart is by far the largest importer of foreign-made goods in the United States, so the part that it plays in the exporting of American jobs is huge.
Sponsored and created by Union Built PC, Inc., the website uses a content-management system designed to enable staff to update news articles on-the-fly that are linked from other sites about companies in the United States who send jobs overseas, mostly to India and China. While George Bush and the Republicans are touting the “benefits” of such activities and providing tax breaks to companies who send our jobs overseas, the real truth lies in the statistics regarding job loss and the shredding of the fabric of our society in the process. For example, a Bipartisan Congressional commission pegged the number of jobs exported from the United States to other countries at 407,000. The tech sector is a special focus for www.exportingourjobs.com, and the numbers in that arena are also staggering: in the year 2004, $51.6 billion is the value of IT (Information Technology) jobs lost from major industrialized countries including the United States, Germany, the UK, Japan, France, and Hong Kong to countries like India and China. (Source: Frost and Sullivan study).
Now that financial services, communications, help desk, programming, and other traditionally white-collar work has become the new source of job exports, even more attention is being paid to this topic by U.S. workers and labor unions.
The effort to prevent companies from moving jobs overseas is an ongoing one, and some prominent figures such as CNN’s Lou Dobbs and Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich have been at the forefront of this effort for years; www.exportingourjobs.com is the latest in an effort to stop the flow, but it’s also the only site that compiles a lot of information about the topic into one easy-to-read, extremely current news page.
Union Built PC (www.unionbuiltpc.com) is dedicated to preserving Information Technology jobs in the United States; all of its PC assembly, programming, sales, marketing, tech support, website design, and accounting staff are located here in the U.S., and are also members of three different unions - - CWA Local 1101, IBEW Local 17, and UWUA Local 223.
# # #
New website featuring companies who are actively outsourcing jobs is launched. Also features Wal-Mart union news.
(PRWEB) February 20, 2005 -- A new website, www.ExportingOurJobs.com, has been launched to provide current news articles and information about job exports, outsourcing, and offshoring. The site also features an extensive news section about Wal-Mart (WMT) and union organizing efforts at that company. Wal-Mart is by far the largest importer of foreign-made goods in the United States, so the part that it plays in the exporting of American jobs is huge.
Sponsored and created by Union Built PC, Inc., the website uses a content-management system designed to enable staff to update news articles on-the-fly that are linked from other sites about companies in the United States who send jobs overseas, mostly to India and China. While George Bush and the Republicans are touting the “benefits” of such activities and providing tax breaks to companies who send our jobs overseas, the real truth lies in the statistics regarding job loss and the shredding of the fabric of our society in the process. For example, a Bipartisan Congressional commission pegged the number of jobs exported from the United States to other countries at 407,000. The tech sector is a special focus for www.exportingourjobs.com, and the numbers in that arena are also staggering: in the year 2004, $51.6 billion is the value of IT (Information Technology) jobs lost from major industrialized countries including the United States, Germany, the UK, Japan, France, and Hong Kong to countries like India and China. (Source: Frost and Sullivan study).
Now that financial services, communications, help desk, programming, and other traditionally white-collar work has become the new source of job exports, even more attention is being paid to this topic by U.S. workers and labor unions.
The effort to prevent companies from moving jobs overseas is an ongoing one, and some prominent figures such as CNN’s Lou Dobbs and Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich have been at the forefront of this effort for years; www.exportingourjobs.com is the latest in an effort to stop the flow, but it’s also the only site that compiles a lot of information about the topic into one easy-to-read, extremely current news page.
Union Built PC (www.unionbuiltpc.com) is dedicated to preserving Information Technology jobs in the United States; all of its PC assembly, programming, sales, marketing, tech support, website design, and accounting staff are located here in the U.S., and are also members of three different unions - - CWA Local 1101, IBEW Local 17, and UWUA Local 223.
# # #
Monday, February 14, 2005
IBEW Still Negotiating With CN Rail
CN Rail Signs Tentative Agreement With Train Crews
Mon Feb 14, 4:24 PM ET
By Allan Dowd
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) - Canadian National Railway has signed a tentative agreement with the United Transportation Union (news - web sites), one of three key Canadian unions with expired contracts, officials said on Monday.
The three-year deal for about 2,600 conductors, brakemen, yard crews and traffic co-ordinators, will be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2004, and includes wage hikes and "quality of life improvements," the union and company said.
Specific details of the tentative agreement were not released pending a ratification vote by the workers. A date for the vote has not been scheduled.
CN has been without contracts since the end of 2003 with the UTU, the Teamsters, which represent 1,750 locomotive engineers, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which represents 630 signal maintainers.
The talks do not involve CN's employees in the United States or those on its newly acquired BC Rail unit. The Montreal-headquartered railway is Canada's largest rail carrier and No. 5 in North America.
A CN spokesman said the company expected talks with the Teamsters and IBEW would resume shortly.
The Teamsters and UTU are political rivals in the union movement and officials have speculated the Teamsters would not want to resume talks until the UTU contract was settled.
Unresolved issues in the Teamsters dispute include rest break rules and time off, according the union. The IBEW has said that differences over work rules are also an issue in its dispute.
The Teamsters received a strike mandate this month from the engineers, but there cannot be a strike or lockout until the Canadian Industrial Relations Board completes a review of essential service levels.
The CIRB entered the dispute in late December when rhetoric in the negotiations began to heat up. It has not said when it will release its service-level decision.
The United Steelworkers Union, which represents 2,250 CN Rail track maintenance workers in Canada, is conducting a ratification vote on a tentative agreement reached with the company in January.
Mon Feb 14, 4:24 PM ET
By Allan Dowd
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) - Canadian National Railway has signed a tentative agreement with the United Transportation Union (news - web sites), one of three key Canadian unions with expired contracts, officials said on Monday.
The three-year deal for about 2,600 conductors, brakemen, yard crews and traffic co-ordinators, will be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2004, and includes wage hikes and "quality of life improvements," the union and company said.
Specific details of the tentative agreement were not released pending a ratification vote by the workers. A date for the vote has not been scheduled.
CN has been without contracts since the end of 2003 with the UTU, the Teamsters, which represent 1,750 locomotive engineers, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which represents 630 signal maintainers.
The talks do not involve CN's employees in the United States or those on its newly acquired BC Rail unit. The Montreal-headquartered railway is Canada's largest rail carrier and No. 5 in North America.
A CN spokesman said the company expected talks with the Teamsters and IBEW would resume shortly.
The Teamsters and UTU are political rivals in the union movement and officials have speculated the Teamsters would not want to resume talks until the UTU contract was settled.
Unresolved issues in the Teamsters dispute include rest break rules and time off, according the union. The IBEW has said that differences over work rules are also an issue in its dispute.
The Teamsters received a strike mandate this month from the engineers, but there cannot be a strike or lockout until the Canadian Industrial Relations Board completes a review of essential service levels.
The CIRB entered the dispute in late December when rhetoric in the negotiations began to heat up. It has not said when it will release its service-level decision.
The United Steelworkers Union, which represents 2,250 CN Rail track maintenance workers in Canada, is conducting a ratification vote on a tentative agreement reached with the company in January.
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