LABOR BULLETIN
JANUARY 2012
by A. C. Steelman, Business Manager
IBEW/NECA DRUG POLICY
Just a reminder, if you have been on the out of work list for awhile, you have not been receiving random drug test notices. Therefore, you are probably not in good standing to take a dispatch to a “drug free employer” and go to work right away. If you are on the out of work list, please take care of this now, so that when you are dispatched, there will be no delay in you going to work. The forms can be picked up at the office, or we can mail one to you. Members are still getting $50 for getting in compliance with our current drug policy. Thank you.
LOCAL 340 CHRISTMAS DRIVES
Operation Christmas Basket Drawing brought in over $7,000.00 this year. The charities who received these monies were very grateful to our members, Business Affiliates and Employers for your generosity.
The prize winners were: Brother Ted Smith - $1,000.00
Brother Dwight Evans - Shotgun
Brother Mike Wilson – Lottery Tickets
As for our own Member Christmas Toy and Food Drive, we were able to help 22 Local 340 families (including 52 children) during the Holidays. Thank you to my Office Staff, the Trust Office and the members (several active and retired) who came in and made generous money/toy and food donations to this drive. They were greatly appreciated. A special thanks to the EWMC members for their help in buying, organizing and delivering these gifts.
BENEFICIARY UPDATES
When was the last time you filled out beneficiary paperwork? Have you updated this paperwork with new information such as: married, divorced, children, name change, etc.? To obtain forms for updating beneficiary information you can call the following numbers:
916-927-4239 (International Death Benefit for “A” members)
916-923-0666 (Sacramento Area Electrical Trust Fund-Local Pension)
800-748-6417 (Sound & Communications Pension & Death Benefit)
END OF YEAR STATEMENTS
These will be mailed to you before the end of January.
3rd ANNUAL SOFTBALL TEAM CRAB FEED
There are still a few tickets left for the Crab Feed scheduled at the Hall on Saturday, February 4th, 2012 at the Hall. Doors open at 5:00 PM, Dinner is at 6:00 PM. Cost of a ticket is $ 40.00 per person. Contact Art Mendoza @ 916-524-5441 or Tim Wyatt or Scott Steelman at the Business Office to purchase a ticket. Tickets will not be sold at the door.
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
1.UNION PLUS Scholarship Program (union members or family members) – LAST CHANCE!
The Union Plus Scholarship Difference: Helping union members and their children attend college. For the past 19 years, Union Plus has distributed over 3.2 million scholarship dollars to working families. These cash awards are anywhere from $ 500.00 to $ 4,000.00 and are available to union members and their child dependents. This year, the entire application process must be done on-line. So, for further information, log on to http://www.unionplus.org . The deadline is January 31, 2012.
2. IBEW Local 340 Harry R. Bain Scholarship Award (for dependents)
IBEW Local 340 is once again going to award two college scholarships ($ 1,000.00 and $ 500.00). These scholarships are available to sons, grandsons, daughters, granddaughters or legal dependents of members of Local 340. The General Rules and Instructions, as well as the application, can be picked up from the Sacramento Business Office or the Redding Office. You can also call either of these offices to request they be mailed to you. Please note: the completed application must be received in the Sacramento Business Office by March 23, 2012 to be considered.
3. IBEW Founders Scholarship (for member’s only-not dependents)
Any member interested in applying for the IBEW Founders Scholarship can do so by going on-line at www.ibew.org, click on “Resources and Links” at the top, and scroll down to the box labeled “Founders Scholarship”. You can get information as well as download the application. You can also stop in the Business Offices (Sacramento and Redding) to pick up an application. Remember, this scholarship is for any member who has been in continuous good standing and paid dues without an Honorary Withdrawal for the four years prior to May 1st. (This is not a scholarship for your dependents.) The Scholarship Award is for
$ 200.00 per semester credit hour at any accredited college or university toward an initial bachelor’s degree in an approved field. These awards help contribute to the personal development of our members and also steward the electrical industry that our Founders envisioned. All applications and required information must be mailed directly to the IBEW in Washington, DC and be postmarked May 1, 2012.
FROM THE TRUST OFFICE
HEALTH & WELFARE
If you were a prior Health Net member that was automatically transferred to “Western Health Advantage” (WHA) and have not completed the enrollment form, please do so immediately. The form may be faxed to the Trust Office at 916-923-2553 or mailed to the SAEW Trust Fund Office at 2840 El Centro Rd. #114, Sacramento, CA 95833.
MEMBER NEWS
Brother Roy Heacock (58 year member / 91 years of age) passed away on December 15th.
Brother Ray Hughes’ father-in-law “Johnny Lee Grizzle” also passed away.
HOLIDAY NEWS:
MONDAY FEBRUARY 20TH IS PRESIDENT’S DAY HOLIDAY. THIS IS A HOLIDAY FOR ALL IBEW MEMBERS. THE BUSINESS OFFICE & TRUST FUND OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED.
DATES FOR UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
REGULAR UNION MEETING – 1st Wednesday
Wednesday February 1st @ 6:00 PM (Sacramento Hall)
REDDING UNIT MEETING
2nd Thursday of the Month @ 6:30 PM (Redding Union Hall)
CIVIL SERVICE UNIT MEETING -
(Sacramento Hall)
Next meeting – Thursday April 19th @ 5:00 (Sacramento Hall)
SOUND & COMM. UNIT MEETING
4th Tuesday of the Month @ 6:00 PM (Sacramento Hall)
OUT-OF-WORK LIST RESIGN DATES (8 AM - NOON!)
Monday - March 5th
Monday – June 4th
Monday – September 10th
Monday - December 3rd.