National UWUA Mandate

As reported in the last Live Wire and at several Membership Meetings, the Utility Workers National Union is aggressively directing their efforts and energy toward organizing the unorganized. The directive from President Langford has been clear. “We must organize and grow if we are going to survive.” I agree 100% with this strategy and I consider it a long overdue, refreshing direction for our union.

I am proud to say that Local 369 is carrying out this directive with several organizing drives. We are looking to retrieve work that is being outsourced as well as organizing workers already in our industry. As an example of workers already in our industry there are several areas in the utility industry where professional employees, who in the past have not been organized, are realizing they need the protection of a union. We are receiving calls from these professionals and are promptly dispatching our organizers to them. Because of this we are always in need of organizers and we are asking any members who may be interested in becoming an organizer to notify the Local.

It’s hard to believe that it has been four years since our near strike at Entergy. The time seems to have gone by so fast since those most difficult negotiations. Although the time has gone by quickly, our preparation has been thorough and complete. Make no mistake; we are ready for these negotiations and looking forward to negotiating a fair contract for our members. The Local in conjunction with Dave Leonardi and his committee will be informing you all along the way.

The Local is also engaged in very difficult negotiations with the Call Center and Billing group at National Grid. National Grid has announced its intention to consolidate nine call centers into three call centers. This will weigh heavily in these negotiations.

Lastly, we will be beginning negotiations at Distrigas very soon. The Distrigas members are in the very capable hands of Business Agent Bob Senier who will be the lead negotiator of their Bargaining Committee. He too will be keeping everyone well informed as negotiations progress.

In closing, for those of you who are not presently involved in contract negotiations you have the toughest job of all. ENFORCING YOUR CONTRACTS!! More and more we are seeing companies in the utility industry unilaterally enforcing change after change without bargaining these changes. We must be diligent in policing and enforcing our contracts. You need to question anything out of the ordinary. This will not only protect what you have negotiated in your contracts, it will also prepare us for your next contract negotiations by identifying the hot button issues. So enjoy the Spring, but be vigilent.