Craftsman - May 2017

Brothers and Sisters, I would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Memorial Day Holiday. Memorial Day is an American Holiday observed on the last Monday of May. On Memorial Day Americans honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Military. Thank God for all the military men and women that gave all to their country.  In 1961 the IBEW Local 69 contract had five (5) paid holidays. The holidays in the 1961 contract were New Year’s Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas. IBEW Local 69 and the Company negotiated to add Memorial Day Holiday to the 1962 Labor Agreement. All Americans should enjoy the Memorial Day Holiday and take time to thank a veteran or any active military person for their service to our country.

Local 69 has a grievance filed with the Company in regards to office personnel performing bargaining unit work. The Company violated the contract when they utilized office personnel to troubleshoot the electrical grid in Fort Worth, Texas, after a storm on or about March 29, 2017. The grievance has been presented to the Company at the written step and the Union is waiting for their response. As a remedy, the Union respectfully requests that the Company make whole the Union and any and all bargaining unit employees affected, cease and desist from such acts in violation of the collective bargaining agreement, and publicly announce at meetings and in writing to all Oncor employees and the Public Utility Commission of Texas and notify the Union in writing that the Company is ceasing and desisting, that the act complained of was a violation of the contract, and that the act was dangerous and irresponsible. If you have any information regarding non-bargaining unit employees performing bargaining unit work please, notify our local union.

The Union is in the process of scheduling the second quarter meetings with the Company. If you have any concerns regarding safety, work practices, or any issues that needs to be addressed with management please relay your concerns to any of the Union Committee Members. The committee is as follows: Ross McAuley, James Chapman, Charlie Jackson, Rodney Deleon, Justin Snyder, Jeremy Smith, Don Gray, Don Scott, and Bobby Reed.

The saga of the sale of Oncor goes on with no end in sight. However, at the rate hearings in Austin, Texas, Oncor and Sharyland are in discussions regarding swapping some Transmission for Distribution. I will update you as I receive any information regarding a swap or sale of any Oncor property.

To all of Oncor Management that reads the IBEW Craftsman Article, on behalf of all represented employees at Oncor, have a happy Memorial Day holiday. Just remember the Unions are the folks that brought you the weekend. My brothers and sisters until next time may God bless you, your family, and our local union.

Craftsman - April 2017

Brothers and Sisters, Spring has sprung. The grass is green, the flowers have bloomed, and the spring storms of Texas are inevitable. While working the spring storms, always work as safe as possible and watch your brothers back. Congratulations to the last group of Journeymen to make Troublemen. As a new Troubleman, if there is ever a question in your mind on the work to be performed, never hesitate to call on a brother for advise before making a decision you are not completely comfortable with. If the job is not already dangerous enough the Company is utilizing office personnel to troubleshoot after a storm. We recently had a WDOC Troubleman work a ticket from the WDOC that instructed him to close in a cut out. When the Troubleman closed the cut out to energize the primary, a flash occurred because there was wire down. After investigating the matter it was discovered the work order was turned in by an office worker. The Union has filed a grievance on the matter but, in the meantime watch your back. The Union has pleaded with the Company at our quarterly safety meetings not to send office personnel to work in the field after storms. The Company continues to send unqualified Oncor workers into the field to assist in power restoration after a storm. The Union has told the Company they are playing a dangerous game and will get someone injured or killed if this practice continues. Do not let this be you. Do not trust any work order turned in by an office worker during or after a storm.  

I would like to thank everyone that took the time to attend a Unit Meeting this month. The unit meetings are vitally important to the continued success of our organization. At the meetings we can communicate about the work issues that face us on a daily basis, like the Company using office personnel to troubleshoot during and after storms.

I would elaborate on the failure of the NextEra deal except, it is too painful. The word is Berkshire Hathaway could be in the picture or Oncor could be a stand-alone company. The good news is the Hunts are not in the picture to buy Oncor. The bad news is if Oncor is made to be a stand-alone company, the same management that has decided to utilize office people to shoot trouble will still be in charge. At this point I do not know anyone that knows what will happen with Oncor. Please continue to stay focused and work safe so we can go home each day to our families and loved ones.

Until next time may God bless you, your family, and our Local Union.