APPRENTICE GRADUATION

Graduation ceremony was held May 27, 2010.  Congratulations to all the graduating apprentices:  Nicholas Allen, James Coleman, Ryan Donovan, Chad Garza, Thomas Hanser, Jr., Alex Harrell, Devin Hart, Ryan Lyytinen, Brandon Martin, Matthew Todd Metzler, Jonathan Pytka, Eric Randall, Louis Reseland, Anthony Schmaltz, Kelly Stolp, Mark Stricker, Jeremy Tobel, Chris Willis.  This year’s top apprentice is Jonathan Pytka.  Jonathan will be representing the Montana JATC in the upcoming Western States Electrical Competition on September 17-18, 2010 in Salt Lake City.  We wish him well in the competition and know he will represent us well and make us proud.

 

CONTINUED EDUCATION NEWS: 

Letter from Mitch Hegman, Training Coordinator, MEJATC

 

To all holding a Washington State License:

 

As you know, Washington State is no longer party to the licensing reciprocity agreement shared by most of the Western states.  Washington State stopped accepting CEU credits for any of our classes as of October 31, 2009.   In order for Washington State to again accept any of our Montana Electrical JATC CEU classes we will now have to submit outlines of each class (for approval) individually and certify all instructors through their Electrical Board.  With this in mind, we will not issue CEU certificates for Washington until such time as we have courses that they will recognize for CEU credits.

 

Washington State, in addition to the standard Code and Industry courses, requires credits for WAC (state regulation) upgrades.  Though gaining approval for a WAC course is difficult outside Washington, they will sometimes certify an outside class.  We will also attempt to get a WAC class put into place.

 

We have already started submitting materials for the acceptance of several of our Code/Industry courses.  Although we are expediting the Washington State CEU process on our end, we do not expect a timely response from Washington.  At such a time as we gain approval of both courses and instructors, we will schedule classes with specific notice that they will be accepted both in Montana and in Washington.  In addition, providing we are successful with a WAC course, we will try to conduct such a class in each Local at least once every year beyond initial approval.

 

Due to the time and resources required to get this entire system put into place, we urge anyone nearing the expiration date of a Washington License to seek needed credits online now.  We expect months to pass before we have a class approval, certified instructors, and a solid process in place.

 

Thank you for your cooperation and patience. 

 

 

Mitch Hegman

Training Coordinator

Montana Electrical JATC      

 

 

Upgrade Classes Currently Scheduled for Billings at the Training Center. Please call to reserve your spot if you haven’t already.

 

June 19th  – Arc Flash (8 hrs Code)

 

Training Center Improvements:

Replaced two doors

Purchased 10 lightweight tables

Currently accepting bids to repair cracks in parking lot.

 

Inside Advancement Committee

Pres. Jason Krum has called for the next meeting to be held June 17, 2010 at 7:00 PM.  Bring some new ideas to help further our industry.

 

State Electrical Board News:

The License renewal notice will be sent out May 14, 2010 for the next cycle. The notice will be in a tri-fold form and will include all pertinent information on how to renew your license online. Please note that the tri-fold is not the written renewal form. If you choose to renew your license by mail instead of electronically, you will have to request the renewal form from the State. The renewal fees have increased this year to $100 for a two year cycle for journeyman and masters and $200 for contractors. The original application fees will increase as well to $240 by examination and to $250 for reciprocity or endorsement.

Compliance has been instructed to “cite and fine” if a person does not have their license with them when they check. The board will not waive any fines for proof of license after the fact.          CARRY YOUR LICENSE WITH YOU ON THE JOB!!!

The adoption of the 2008 NEC was heard before the Building Codes Council and is nearly ready to file with the Secretary of State. Following a public hearing on the matter, the 2008 NEC should be final in late June or July 2010.

 

Montana Lineman’s Rodeo – 2010

Where:  Pelican Point (just off the Missouri River approximately 35 minutes from Great Falls and 45 minutes Helena.

When:  July 16 & 17, 2010

 

22nd Annual IBEW 532 / UA 30

Golf Tournament

Date: Saturday, July 24, 2010

Place: Pryor Creek Golf Course

It is 532’s turn to host this annual event.  Registration will start at noon for a 2:00 PM shotgun start. Cost will be $60 per golfer which includes green fees, ½ cart, and flag prizes. Make up your own 2 person team (members only, no family or friends on the team) Contact the hall to register your team 248-9119. Entries are limited to the first 15 teams.

 

Bozeman Inside and Residential Agreements

The following items were agreed to by both Labor and Management:

1.  Article 1, Section 1 – Term: One year agreement – June 1, 2010 through May 31, 2011.
2. Article 3, Section 12(d) to read the following:  On all jobs performed in the “Big Sky/West Yellowstone Area” workmen shall receive a per diem of $75/day in lieu of any other travel time or travel allowance when directed to report to the job. The “Big Sky/West Yellowstone Area” shall be defined as all areas along U.S. Highway 191 from mile marker 49 to the Idaho state border inclusive of the Big Sky and West Yellowstone Resorts and Townships.
3. Amend Short Call MOU to read fifteen (15) working days.

Labor and Management took wages back to CIR as an unresolved issued of bargaining.  The decision that CIR handed down was a wage freeze for the one year term of the agreement.

 

Billings Inside and Residential Agreements

 The following items were agreed to by both Labor and Management:

1. Article 1, Section 1 – Term = 1 year
2. Article 2, Section 14 – “Foreman Call by Name” – He shall not be transferred from Agreement to Agreement
3. Article 3, Section 1(h) – “No work shall be performed on Labor Day except in case of emergency, and then only after permission is granted by Business Manager of Local Union.”
4. Article 3, Section 5(a) – “Paychecks shall be cashable with a local branch of a financial institution, or a suitable free paycheck cashing means shall be made available by the employer.”
5. Article 4, Section 1(a) – Clean up language to update H&W contribution rate ($5.00).
6. Amend Short Call MOU to read fifteen (15) working days.
7. Insert 401K MOU language in CBA.
8. Agree to set meeting schedule for LMCC Meetings.

Labor and Management took back to CIR six unresolved issues of bargaining.  The decision that CIR handed down was a wage freeze for the one year term of the agreement. CIR declined to rule on all other issues brought before them.

International Dues Increase Effective January 1, 2011:

Delegates to the 37th IBEW International Convention approved amendments to Article IX of the IBEW Constitution. Accordingly, effective January 1, 2011, there will be a pension benefit fund increase of one dollar ($1.00) for all members, and the following rates will apply to the I.O portion of all monthly dues payments covering January 2011 and thereafter:

“A” Members       “BA” Members

Per cap   $13.00          $13.00

Pension  $14.00              Not Applicable

Total      $27.00          $13.00 

This increase applies to the International portion of the dues only; there has been no change to the Local portion of the dues or assessments.

GOOD STUFF

The Local has t-shirts for sale $13/short sleeve and $16/long sleeve.  We also have windbreaker pullovers available for $25/each.  Hooded sweatshirts are here and they are $30.  2008 Code Books are available here for $43.50.

 

LOCAL 532 INSIDE REFERRAL RULES

There has been a change in the definition of a short call for the Billings and Bozeman Inside and Residential Agreements.  For your reference we have printed a complete version of the corrected Inside Referral Rules. 

(Billings and Bozeman)  Effective 06-01-10

1. 1.      Original Sign Up:  Applicants for employment must initially sign the referral list in person. Applicants may sign by fax within five working days from date of termination after being terminated from Local 532’s geographical area only. Requirements are current dues receipt or verifiable documentation of qualifications and a current phone number.

 

1. 2.      Dispatch:  All job calls will be placed on the hot line (406) 248-9110 after 5 p.m.

Call-In:  If interested in a job that is on the hot line, you must notify the hall either in person or by telephone (406) 248-9119 between 8 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. the next business day. Dispatch will then be by phone between 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. MST to the phone number given by you.  You must be personally available at that number to accept a call as there will be no call-backs.  Dispatches can be picked up at the hall in person or mailed or faxed to the contractor.  NO DISPATCHES WILL BE GIVEN WITHOUT A MONTANA STATE ELECTRICAL LICENSE OR PERMIT per Montana State Law. State Electrical Board phone – 406-841-2339.  Or access on internet at Discovering Montana.com.

 

The Business Manager is responsible to fill calls in a timely manner as needed by the Employers. This means in an emergency, referrals may have to be made outside normal hours using whatever means are available to fill calls and place registrants.

Dispatch will remain open until all unfilled calls are filled.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

3.   Calls (Regular & short calls):  A short call is one that lasts fifteen available working days or less.  If a regular call happens to last 15 available working days or less, and, through no fault of your own, you are laid off, you will be returned to your original position on the books as long as you, in no way, solicited a lay-off. Short calls will be dispatched from the appropriate short call book. Upon termination of a short call, applicants will re-sign at the bottom of the appropriate short call book. Applicants may sign by fax within five working days from date of termination after being terminated from Local 532’s geographical area only.

 

4.  Monthly Re-Sign: To remain on the out-of-work list, you must re-sign once each month during the first five working days of that month by one of the following four methods:

1.    In person at the Local Union Office, 5200 Midland Road, Billings MT 59101.                                                                                                                  

2.    By Postcard to IBEW L.U. 532,  P.O. Box 80005,  Billings MT 59108

3.    By Fax at (406) 248-9952

4.    By email to  local532@usadig.com

 

• Anyone who wishes to remove his or her name from the out of work list must do so in writing, by fax, or in person.

 

• Referral procedures and rules shall be at the sole discretion of the Business Manager, as per IBEW Local 532 By-Laws and respective Collective Bargaining Agreement. Any change in the above procedures or rules, when posted, shall automatically become a part of this document.

 

• It shall be the function of the Appeals Committee to consider any complaint of any employee or applicant for employment arising out of the administration by the Local Union of Article X, Section 13 through 19 of the respective Collective Bargaining Agreement.

 

Once an applicant qualifies for, requests and is granted Group I status in any local union, he shall retain that status in the local union and shall not be required to re-qualify unless he qualifies for, requests and is granted Group I status in another local union. If that situation occurs, the applicant would have to re-qualify for Group I status in any previous local unions(s) in which he enjoyed Group I Status.   

 

For the latest news and information, please go to the local’s website at www.ibew532.com

 

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY SUMMER!