MARSHALL MONROE HICKS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The Council has created a scholarship program in honor of Marshall Hicks, the past president of our National Union and former Council President. Our memory of Marshall is that he was a kind and quiet man who was very knowledgeable and the Union was his life. There was not a time when you couldn't call Marshall and ask him for his advice. He helped whenever he could and was always there for us. This scholarship program is certainly a befitting honor in his memory and will help the members of the Council to educate their children. Marshall was an educator in his own right and will certainly be missed, but never forgotten.

Utility Deregulation

The National Union and many other international unions have determined that deregulation of electric utilities is one of the most important issues that we have ever had to deal with. If not done properly, it will cost us jobs and be a detriment to our communities. The Council has been working diligently to educate our legislators, members and the public of the dangers of radical deregulation and the serious consequences which could result if it is not done slowly and carefully. The deregulation of the electric utilities is proceeding in the state legislature and they are combining all of the public acts into one act so deregulation will only affect one act. The combination of these acts into one act is a difficult process. The House Public Utilities Committee is trying to draft an act which is policy neutral so that deregulation can be done next year with one act. However, there are many corporations, attorneys and lobbyists who are fighting over whether the bill is policy neutral and does not change anything currently in existence. If the bill is to be passed as a policy neutral act which will be a foundation for deregulation, those attorneys should allow it to pass and leave it alone. However, they are not doing so and the bill should probably be held until a time when the manner in which deregulation will occur is agreed upon for the State of Michigan.

The Council has been working with Region IV Director Ron LaForest to build a coalition with the Building Trades, IBEW and others who depend on the utilities in Michigan for jobs and a healthy community. There are environmental and citizen groups who are also involved and who share many of the same concerns that we have for safe reliable electric and gas service, jobs and the financial health and well being of the public and our communities. The coalition is called "Protect Michigan" and the Council has a member serving on its Executive Board.

National activity on Deregulation

Council President Ruffner has been elected to the Executive Board of our National Union and has been designated as the contact person and coordinator for deregulation in the State of Michigan for the Utility Workers Union of America. Please have your Local Union contact the Council office if you would like someone to attend a meeting in your area to explain and discuss deregulation.

National Safety Council on Deregulation

At the National Safety Council's Labor Division meeting in October, the Council representatives in attendance were able to convince the Labor Division to adopt a policy of concern for public and worker safety if deregulation is not done properly. As a result of the Labor Division adopting this position, it has been recommended that the National Safety Council adopt this concern when dealing with our legislators in Washington on passage of upcoming bills on deregulation. The National Safety Council is a non-partisan organization that knows the value of protecting public and worker safety because of the higher costs of not doing so. They know that accidents and fatalities cost corporations much more than protecting safety because of the costs of human suffering, liability and lost productivity. We are hopeful that the National Safety Council will strongly express its concerns of public and worker safety with Congress, and that if deregulation is done without standards for quality, reliability, public and worker safety, it will cost us all more and actually raise rates.

Do your part on Deregulation

It is important to our survival that each and every one of us take an active role concerning electric and gas deregulation. We know that if electric deregulation is not done properly it will result in lower rates for the few at the expense of higher rates for residential and small business customers. We also know that in conjunction with electric deregulation, if not done properly, it will have an adverse impact on the gas side of the industry. Contact or write your legislators and express your and our concerns that if deregulation is not done to benefit all classes of customers, it will most likely have an adverse effect on the environment, public and worker safety. It very well could have a negative effect on jobs, not only for utility workers but for others as well and the tax base that supports our schools, fire and police support and all the jobs in our communities which depend on a healthy utility and purchasing power of the community for all jobs which support every aspect of our communities churches, schools, etc.

Contact your legislators, talk to your friends and family so that there will be much public debate on the proper way to deregulate the electric and gas utilities.

Gas Jobs

The Council is putting together another proposal to get more gas jobs and obtain an agreement from the Company that we will do the work and not subcontractors. We have already lost some of the stake and locate work and it is clear that we will lose more work if we don't do something to keep it. We and the Company both know that the subcontractors are doing poor work and we want to reach an agreement before the Company finds a reputable contractor that will do our work without problems. There were initially problems with the stake and locate work and the Company is slowly getting those problems and complaints worked out. We have a couple of strategies (1) We can beat the Company up over the problems and have the Company dig their feet in and make sure we don't get the work while they work the problems out with the contractors, or (2) We can find a solution that will give us the work and give the Company the flexibility that they feel they need to survive in a deregulated environment. We will try the second option first but if we are not successful, we may only be left with the alternative of exposing the contractor and the Company for the poor work that the contractor does. It has been made clear to the Company that if we do not reach agreement to get the work, there may not be any reason to protect it.

Protective Clothing

The Council has been informed by the Company that they expect our Line Workers to wear only natural fiber clothing to comply with OSHA standards. The Council feels that the Company has not bargained in good faith on this issue and has asked that the Council grievance on this issue be expedited. The Company clearly agreed they were not going to implement a policy containing strict enforcement of the regulations, until a pilot program could be completed. The Company agreed to put together a joint pilot program to address the clothing that would best suit the needs of our Members and to comply with the regulations. After the agreement, the Company dragged their feet and then notified the Council that the joint committee would only be looking at outer wear that they might provide, however, they now have told us that they would only look at a protective vest.

The Company clearly violated the intent of the pilot program which was to review all clothing to determine what was appropriate to comply with the rules. The Company is now saying that everyone has to be in compliance and wear natural fiber clothing. We are not certain how they are going to enforce a rule or policy which in itself does not comply with the regulations and we have maintained our position that it is the Company's responsibility to provide protective clothing.

This issue will obviously not be resolved until an arbitrator makes a ruling, therefore, if anyone purchases clothing, save your receipts. The Council has requested arbitration and that the Company expedite the scheduling of that case.

Drug and Alcohol Testing - An important reminder for some and very important information for new employees who use drugs or alcohol.

If you use drugs and/or have an alcohol dependence, you should seek help as soon as possible. If you are unwilling to seek assistance to stop using drugs and/or a dependence on alcohol, you may be putting your job in jeopardy. The federal government has mandated that certain occupations be subject to random drug and alcohol testing. Employees who refuse to recognize that they cannot use illegal drugs or report for work under the influence of alcohol will eventually lose their jobs. Even if you are not subject to random testing, if you report for work evidencing alcohol use or impairment or get in an accident and are tested as a result of an accident, your employment may also be in jeopardy. Don't jeopardize your ability to support your family with the wages and benefits that you receive by not taking care of a drug and/or alcohol dependence.

Review Appendix #48, page 209 of the Working Agreement to see how your employment could be jeopardized by positive drug or alcohol tests.

If you have an illegal drug (including drugs not prescribed specifically for you) and/or alcohol use or dependence, contact the Employee Assistance Provider endorsed by your Local Union. Take care of your use or dependence, your job, and your family, before it takes care of you.

Health Care

Within the last six months the Council has become aware of an increase in the number of Members experiencing problems with health care payments. We found that this increase was due to "R&C" (Reasonable and Customary) cuts. After pressing the Company for an explanation, the Company found and reported to the Council that Aetna had changed the method used to calculate R&C. This was done without the Company's knowledge or consent. We have met with the Company in an effort to correct this situation. The Company has taken steps with Aetna to try to correct the problem and we are still waiting for more information to fully assess the affects on our Members. It appears that the problems began some time in March and corrective measures were instituted in mid-November. It is our position that the Company should hold Aetna responsible for any added cost to Members as a result of these changes which were not agree to by the Council. If any Members have had "R&C" cuts to their health care payments, they should contact Teresa Zaski at (517) 788-0708 for corrections and also notify their Local Union of any problems that are not corrected.