LABOR BULLETIN
By
BUSINESS MANAGER BOB WARD
JUNE 2026
INSIDE WIREMAN NEGOTIATIONS
Thank you to those members who attended our Special Called Ratification meeting on May 13th. It was a great discussion amongst the 300+ members in attendance. We are pleased to announce that our newly agreed upon contract has been sent to our International Office for final approval. Once we receive the approved copy back, we will send it off for printing and have new booklets available for pick up at the office. Thank you to our Inside Wireman Negotiations Team: John Roden, Michael Franklin, Matt Nootenboom, Mark Steelman, Zackery Collins, and Michael Falconer for helping our membership achieve a successful bargaining agreement.
EXCITING PICNIC NEWS
If you attended the June membership meeting, we informed our membership of the exciting news about a change for this year’s picnic. While we couldn’t secure the park for our picnic this year due to circumstances outside of our control, we are pleased to announce that this year’s picnic will be held at the Sacramento Zoo! Once invitations are sent please be sure to RSVP, as the zoo will check for names upon entry. We look forward to seeing our members and their families.
NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION
Our next class is scheduled for July 14th here at the Sacramento Hall for 5PM. We have sent out reschedule letters and invite letters to those who are scheduled to attend this class. We encourage members to bring their spouses/significant others to this very informative class. This is a great opportunity to get to know your union and the benefits offered to you. A reminder email will be sent out a week prior.
NEBF – RETIREE TEMPORARY RETURN TO WORK NOTICE
To help with the Journeyman Inside Wireman and Sound & Communication Installer manpower shortage that all IBEW Locals are experiencing, NEBF has once again changed the working rules for Retirees. If you are currently retired and would like to go back to work for about 3 months or perhaps take some short calls, this temporary Return to Work Amendment changes the suspension rules for certain eligible retirees. Following are the features of the amendment:
- The temporary amendment is effective from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026.
- All normal and early retirees with a pension effective date of December 2025 or earlier will be permitted to return to covered and contributory employment only and will be permitted to work for up to 600 hours during the above period without a loss of NEBF benefits. This amendment applies only to the NEBF Plan. (In order to receive benefits from other funds it will depend on the rules of those funds.)
- Once an individual has worked for 600 hours in covered and contributory employment during the term of the temporary amendment, the individual will no longer be able to take advantage of this amendment and the normal rules (permitting work in the electrical industry for less than forty (40) hours per month without a suspension of benefits) will apply.
- Disability pensioners are not eligible (the existing rules applicable to disabled pensioners remain in effect).
- Only retirees who return to NEBF covered and contributory employment will be able to take advantage of this amendment – this amendment will not apply to persons who work for covered employers where no NEBF contributions are required or to persons who work for non-covered employers in the electrical industry.
OFFICE CLOSURES
Friday, July 3rd – Observed day for 4th of July
Monday, September 7th – Labor Day
MEMBER NEWS
REST IN PEACE
Retired Member Melvin Crets passed on 3/19/26. He was a 54-year member and 79 years of age.
Retired Member Thomas Plymesser passed on 2/13/26. He was a 66-year member and 91 years of age.
Our thoughts and prayers go out these members’ family and friends.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
SACRAMENTO MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS – 1st Wednesdays @ 6PM – 10240 Systems Parkway, Sacramento 95827
REDDING UNIT MEETING – 1st Wednesdays
Chico Union Hall @ 5:30 (Odd Months)
Redding Union Hall @ 5:30 (Even Months)
For Northern Area business and then join in the Sacramento meeting @ 6PM via webinar
SOUND & COMMUNICATIONS UNIT MEETING – Quarterly on the 4TH Tuesdays of January, April, July & October at the Hall – NEXT QUARTERLY S&C MEETING Tuesday July 28, 2026 @ 5:00PM – Note: Seven (7) members needed to have a quorum.
CIVIL SERVICE UNIT MEETING – Quarterly on the 3RD Thursdays of January, April, July & October at the Hall. NEXT QUARTERLY CIVIL SERVICE MEETING Thursday July 16, 2026 @ 5:00PM – Note: Five (5) members needed to have a quorum.
