June 2020 Craftsman Article

 Brothers and Sisters I hope this month’s article finds you and your family healthy, wealthy, and wise. There have been rumors of IBEW Local 69 members contracting COVID-19. Our local is required to submit confirmed cases of COVID-19 to the International Office each week. This has been extremely difficult because, companies will not divulge this information due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and are willing to share that information our office can confirm cases without releasing anyone’s name. I have been told that hospitals are inflating the COVID-19 numbers because they are receiving government funding for every case they report. Therefore, the number of cases are spiking and the new norm continues such as social distancing, masks, etc.etc. Oncor has stated since the COVID-19 cases are increasing employees are not allowed to swap overtime calls at this time. The Company has no problem with employees eating at restaurants as long as it’s no more than one crew and you can maintain distancing.

IBEW Local 69 has a grievance meeting scheduled for Wednesday, June 24, 2020. The grievance meeting will be a teleconference to keep everyone safe. There are two (2) grievances to be heard. The first is in regards to an employee not being allowed to transfer and the second is an employee was sent home without pay pending the outcome of an investigation.

The Executive Board met and voted not to have Unit Meetings in July. During these trying times remember how blessed we truly are. We will get through this.

Until next time may God bless you, your family, and IBEW Local 69.

Bobby W. Reed

Business Manager

Craftsman Article April 2020

Brothers and Sisters it is difficult to write this article without writing about the affects and effects of the COVID-19 Virus that has our nation in a precarious position. I realize we are all saturated with information regarding the COVID-19 virus. Hopefully, by the time the Craftsman Article is printed in the last week of May we can go outside in Dallas County without a mask or being fined and jailed if you do not have a mask on.

Many of our members have asked about “hazard pay” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Business Managers in the 7th District of the IBEW had a conference call on April 8, 2020, with International Vice President Steve Speer to discuss the pandemic and what issues are confronting our members due to the virus. There are no Utility Locals in the 7th District receiving “hazard pay”. IBEW Local 69 members at KDFW-TV Fox 4 were offered hazard pay. However, the Company wanted the ability to make unilateral changes to staffing, pay, jurisdiction, and work conditions without being able to file a grievance in exchange for “hazard pay”. I would like to thank the members at Fox 4 for standing united and resolutely telling the Company that our contract is not for sell. Shame on the Company for trying to exploit their employees during this crisis.

The Unfair Labor Practice charge filed by IBEW Local 69 regarding members not receiving union representation in Taylor, Texas, has been closed on compliance. The closing is conditioned upon continued observance of the informal Settlement Agreement. Oncor should have posted a Notice To Employees at the Taylor, Texas, Service Center stating what the employer needed to do to comply with the Agreement. Bottom line, if you are asked to attend a meeting with Management and you believe the discussions could lead to you being disciplined you have the right of union representation. If the Company does not allow you to have a union representative in the meeting call me immediately at 972-965-1382.

OSHA has completed their investigation into the fatality that occurred on November 20, 2019, at CR 1536, 3-miles South of Chico, Texas. Oncor Electric Delivery was cited with four (4) serious violations that totaled $53,976.00 in penalties. The Company now has three (3) options, they can request a meeting with OSHA to negotiate a settlement, agree with the citation, penalties, and correction deadlines, and do not contest, or not agree with the citation, penalties, and/or correction deadlines, to contest the Citation. This was a tragic accident that should have never happened.

Until next time may God continue to bless you, your family, and IBEW Local 69.