March 16, 2009

Dear Delegates and Secretary-Treasurers:

The next regular meeting of the MSUWC will be held on Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2, 2009 at the Lansing Sheraton. A block of rooms has been reserved at the rate of $97.00, single or double occupancy. Please call 517-323-7100 prior to April 1, 2009 to make your room reservations, and be sure to mention the Council to receive the proper room rates.

Friday night's schedule:

Local Presidents and Secretary-Treasurers, please plan to attend the Financial Seminar on Friday afternoon, 1-3 PM. Please RSVP by April 20, 2009.

Saturday's meeting will begin at 8:30 AM. Also, as a reminder, in accordance with the Council's Constitution and By-Laws, Article XIV, Section 2(b), "Once each year at the May Regular Council Meeting, the Delegates shall vote on whether there shall be a dues increase for Local Union Members affiliated with the Council. Should a majority of the Delegates voting approve an increase, it will amount to one cent (1¢) per hour based on a forty-hour week and become effective on the first Monday in June of the same year."

Local Presidents, please return the Delegate form that was mailed to you ASAP (thank you!).

In Solidarity,

/s/

Tony Elliott
Secretary-Treasurer

PRESIDENTS' MEETING NOTICE

                 ANOTHER DATE CHANGE
DECEMBER 17, 2009 (Not December 4 or 11)

DATE:  Thursday, December 17, 2009

TIME:  8:30 AM - Coffee and doughnuts
           9 AM - Meeting

LOCATION:  Soaring Eagle Inn, Mt. Pleasant
                    5665 E. Pickard (M-20 at US-127)

PRESIDENTS' MEETING NOTICE
 

IN ORDER TO REVIEW CONTRACT PROPOSALS,
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS MEETING MAY RESULT IN A
LONGER THAN NORMAL MEETING -
LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED

DATE:  Friday, October 16, 2009

TIME:  8:30 AM - Coffee and doughnuts
           9 AM - Meeting / Review Contract Proposals
           11:30 AM - Lunch provided for a "working lunch"

LOCATION:  Soaring Eagle Inn, Mt. Pleasant
                    5665 E. Pickard (M-20 at US-127)

Local Presidents:

The Council would like to have a copy of each local's Constitution - please bring one copy of your local Constitution to the Presidents' Meeting on October 16.

8:30 AM coffee and doughnuts
9 AM Meeting

Local 123 Hall, Lansing

Michigan State Utility Workers Council 4815 Lansing Road Charlotte, MI  48813 (517) 645-4555

DIRECTIONS TO THE STATE COUNCIL OFFICE

The Company issued the following policy in 1978 to deal with after hours calls and threats of violence. The Company said they were working on a revision to this policy but they have not yet released it. We certainly hope that if the Company comes out with any revision that they make it stronger and not weaken it if they are truly concerned about safety.

Use the following procedures in good faith for your protection and do not compromise your safety. You should also protest and grieve unnecessary after hours calls for turn-ons and/or turn-offs or other unnecessary work that could have been performed during the because assigning unnecessary work of this type of work late at night may endanger your safety.

The National Safety Council has issued an advisory for employers which support withdrawing from any unsafe situation and calling for assistance and/or police escort. Do not compromise your safety, be aware of your environment and insist on your right to a safe workplace.

DATE: MARCH 31, 1978

PURPOSE

The purpose of this bulletin is to outline precautionary measures which should
be exercised by Meter Services personnel during "after-hours operations" or
whenever a threat is conveyed to personnel in this department. This letter
shall be reviewed at least annually with all affected personnel and documentation
maintained as to dates and time an employee attended such meetings.

THREAT PROCEDURES

All threats of a serious nature to Company personnel or Company property shall
be reported immediately to the departmental supervision and Region Management.
General Office Property Protection section and the General Supervisor of Region
Electric Metering shall be notified via a copy of the Property Protection Incident
and Investigation Report (Form 1195). In addition, it may be appropriate to tele-
phone serious incidents to General Office on the same day.

AFTER-HOURS OPERATION

1. It is suggested that the employee taking the customer's call inform the
customer to turn on the porch light, if possible, and to meet the meterman
at the front entrance for all calls scheduled after hours. The Region
Appliance and Meter Superintendent shall establish the effective time for
actuating after-hours procedures.

2. It is also recommended that the dispatcher verify after-hours, same day
calls, via return telephone calls to the customer, preferably at the time
the order is being dispatched and as specified by the Region Appliance arid
Meter Superintendent.

3. If the dispatcher is unable to contact the customer via telephone due to a
wrong number or an unlisted telephone number and information is unavailable
by use of the telephone directory, classified directory and/or directory
assistance, the specifics of the effort made to contact the customer shall
be noted on the order. The order shall then be left with all details for
follow-up by a field supervisor the next day.

4. Metermen should be especially alert in high incident areas and notify the
dispatcher of any unusual circumstances. When it is requested by the meter-
man for follow-up by the dispatcher, he shall notify the operator at the
time he is leaving the vehicle. If the meterman has not reported back in a
reasonable length of time (approximately 15 minutes) the dispatcher will
attempt to call the meterman by radio and, if possible, by selective signaling
device. If no response is received within three minutes, the dispatcher shall
attempt to contact the customer by telephone and if unsuccessful, send an
on-duty supervisor to investigate. If there is no on-duty supervisor, the
local police department should be requested to investigate.

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

THREAT INCIDENTS

The following are recommended steps to be considered in avoiding threat incidents
to Meter Services field personnel.

1. Upon arrival at the customer's premises if you sense apparent abnormalities
in the area, ie, groups of people, vandalism, abandoned homes, etc, proceed
cautiously (it may be wise to verify the address with the dispatcher).

2. If a possible threatening situation should occur, return to your vehicle.
Always leave the premises immediately when requested to do so without remarks
or rebuttal. Notify the dispatcher immediately as you leave the area.

3. When collecting money for turnon for nonpay, perform the money transaction
outside the building whenever possible

4. Exercise good judgment and caution in high-incident areas.

5. Exercising good customer relations practices will serve as a means of
preventing an upset customer and consequently a threat.

WHEN A THREAT INCIDENT OCCURS

Whenever a threat is conveyed to any Meter Services personnel, the "reasonable
man" concept will dictate how the employee should react. The employee should
make every effort to withdraw from the scene and contact the dispatcher and
apprise him of the situation. He shall then proceed to the service center
and make a complete report of all details, ie, witnesses, weapons, time of
threat and other pertinent information. Also, Remark Code 116, Threat of
Violence, is to be entered into the Customer Records System, to alert other
Company personnel who may be required to visit the premises.

Note: All threats shall be reported to a departmental supervisor immediately.

GENERAL INFORMATION REGARDING THREATS

Threats are legally classified as follows:

1. Misdemeanor - Threat, assault and battery (90 days or $100 fine; maximum,
up to one year).

2. Felony - Assault with a deadly weapon, destruction of utilities' property
(more than one year).

When an employee is confronted with a threat incident, he may want to press
charges. The Company does not normally recommend an employee to press charges;
however, if he or she elects to do so, the Company will furnish all necessary
aid for any litigation arising from the threat incident. The Company cannot
act as a complainant unless there is damage to Company property or interference
of normal business activity.

Notice of Alleged Occupational Safety and Health Hazards - Instruction/Handling

For the General Public:

The Department of Consumer and Industry Services has developed this NOTICE in order to promptly and efficiently investigate the nature and extent of those conditions which you feel are creating a hazard to safety or health or otherwise violate Michigan's Occupational Safety and Health Standards. This NOTICE is not intended to constitute the exclusive means by which a complaint may be filed.

Section 28(1) of Michigan's Occupational Safety and Health Act (Act 154, P.A. 1974) describes the procedures by which complaints may be filed and the actions which will be taken by the Department. An employee or employee representative who believes that a violation of a safety or health standard exists that threatens physical harm to an employee, or that an imminent danger exists, may request an inspection by giving written notice of the condition to the department. The notice shall be reduced to writing, shall set forth with reasonable detail the grounds for the request, and shall be signed by the employee or employee representative giving the notice. A copy of the complaint shall be provided to the employer or his agent not later than at the time of the inspection. Upon the request of the person giving the notice, his or her name and the names of employees referred to therein shall not appear in the copy or on the record which is published, released, or made available. If the department determines that there are no reasonable grounds to believe that an inspection should be conducted, it shall notify, in writing, the complainant of its determination.

Sections 65(1) and (2) make it unlawful for an employer to discharge or in any manner discriminate against an employee for filing a complaint with the Department or exercising any other rights provided by the act. Any employee who believes that they may have been discharged or otherwise discriminated against by a person in violation of this section may file a complaint with the department alleging the discrimination within 30 days after the violation occurs.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Complete the "Notice of Alleged Safety or Health Hazards" form as accurately as possible. Describe each hazard you think exists in as much detail as you can. If the hazards described in your complaint are not all in the same area, please identify where each hazard can be found at the worksite. If there is any particular evidence that supports your suspicion that a hazard exists (for instance, a recent accident or physical symptoms of employees at your site) include the information in your description. If you need more space than is provided on the form, continue on another sheet and attach.

If your complaint issues are mostly safety related, return the completed form to:

If your complaint issues are mostly health related, return the completed form to:

MI DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER & INDUSTRY SERVICES
BUREAU OF SAFETY AND REGULATION
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH DIVISION
7150 Harris Drive
P O BOX 30649
LANSING MI 48909-8149
TELEPHONE: (517) 322-1608

NOTE: It is unlawful to make any false statement representation or certification in any document filed pursuant to the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1974, as amended. Violations can be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000, or by imprisonment of not more than six months, or by both (Section 35(7)).

All Gerogine class members are hereby notified that the Gerogine class was decertified (ended) and there is no settlement. Any tolling or suspension of the statute of limitation against the CCR defendants ended as of August 5, 1997. Therefore, any former Georgine class member who has a claim for an asbestos-related condition must file that claim in court within the time allowed under state law.

In January 1993, a proposed class action settlement known as Georgine v. Amchem Products, Inc. was filed in the United States District Court in Philadelphia. (The Georgine class action as formerly known as the Carlough class action.) The class actin involved the proposed settlement of personal injury asbestos claims against the companies that are members of the Center for Claims Resolution (CCR).

The U.S. Supreme Court held that this classaction could not go forward, and the class action was decertified (ended) on August 5, 1997. Accordingly, any tolling or suspension of the statute of limitations for claims against the CCR companies ended on August 5, 1997. Any asbestos personal injury claim against a CCR company must be filed in court in a timely fashion under state law.

All class members should direct any further questions about this notice to their own counsel, or to one of the following class counsel, who were appointed by the U.S. District Court as counsel for the Georgine class: