IBEW Local 659 (Medford OR) pickets Pacific Power over contracting out bargaining unit jobs

By PAUL CRAIG, pcraig@newsreview.info

October 14, 2004

GREEN -- Local Pacific Power employees are picketing this week, showing frustration over the company's decision to contract out work.

Pacific Power has begun contracting out the job of locating underground power lines statewide. The move, according to company officials, will not cost any current employees their jobs or even result in reduced wages or hours.

Instead, it is supposed to allow Pacific Power employees to spend more time on higher-priority jobs.

Some employees don't agree. They've carried signs against the decision before and after regular job shifts, saying their work is going to "non-qualified workers."

The employees, representing the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 659, have picketed in front of Pacific Power's operations center on the corner of East Happy Valley Road and Old Highway 99 South near Green.

The same has happened at Pacific Power locations across the state.

It's not a work stoppage protest, however, as all the employees are starting work on time.

"We're doing an informational picket for the public," said one picket Wednesday morning. "It's not a strike or anything like that."

The union adopted a code prohibiting individuals from giving out their names. A union-produced flier instead states their case.

It says Pacific Power will go through a company that uses an "inferior method" of doing the work, with "inexperienced, poorly trained, underpaid workers." The result, the workers claim, will reduce work for experienced employees and further erode the company's community presence.

It further states that any savings Pacific Power might incur will go straight to its parent company, Scottish Power, and not to customers.

An employee at Pacific Power's local operations center directed all questions to Bekki Witt, company spokeswoman in Portland.

Witt said the union's claims are simply not accurate.

"At Pacific Power safety is our number one priority and we would not compromise that in any way," she said.

Power line locating happens when customers request the service before starting a project, from installing a fence to building a shopping center. It's typically seasonal, like construction, but still performed regularly.

Those who are picketing, Witt said, are not losing their jobs, they just won't be asked to do that part of it any longer.

The unions were approached about contracting the work, Witt said, but declined.

The contracted, non-union employees are trained, have experience and are endorsed by other utilities and a public safety group, according to Witt.

Pacific Power provides service to 1.6 million customers in six states. Contracting underground power line location has already been employed outside of Oregon. Other utilities also frequently use contracted vendors, Witt said.

Pacific Power would have preferred contracting union workers, Witt said, and management has heard the picketing has more to do with not using a union vendor than other concerns.

The pickets' flier only discusses safety. It says without proper line location, utilities would not only be damaged, but customers could die or be burned to the point of amputation by accidentally digging into an energized power line.

"The saddest point is that Pacific Power is willing to sacrifice public safety," it states.

A picket said Wednesday morning that the union hoped to have a meeting with Pacific Power officials Oct. 25.

No meeting is officially set, according to Pacific Power.

There is no word on how long the picketing will continue.

"We'll do whatever we can to maintain those relationships," Witt said, adding, "I don't know about specific plans to halt the picketing."



* You can reach reporter Paul Craig at 957-4211 or by e-mail at pcraig@newsreview.info.























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