LABOR BULLETIN
By
BUSINESS MANAGER BOB WARD
November 2024
2024 ELECTIONS
We hope everyone cast their vote in this very important election season, presidential election aside there were some very important measures on the ballots that impacted our labor and union members. We hope members stay involved in important matters that affect our local for present and future members to come.
PIN PRESENTATION
Invites have been sent and we hope to see many familiar faces at our scheduled Pin Presentation on November 16th to honor those members who have been in service for 50 years and more. It is truly an honor to celebrate the legacy of those before us who helped pave the way for our local today. We will be honoring those from both last year and this year at this event. If received an invitation to this event and have not yet RSVP’d, please call our hall today so we can mark you as attending. We look forward to seeing all those being presented with a pin at this event.
OPERATION CHRISTMAS BASKET
Our kickoff for this year’s annual Christmas Basket happened at our October membership meeting. You can stop by the hall to donate to this notable cause. Every year for the past 43 years our local has raised money to help those union members and their families in need during the holiday season. We will have a collection bin for you to drop off non-perishable food items or unwrapped toys to help out any union Brother or Sister in need. You can also help this cause by picking up your raffle ticket at the hall, suggested donation is $1 per ticket or $10 a booklet. The prizes this year are $1,500 cash, a Shotgun, or $250 worth of lottery tickets! Tickets are available at union meetings as well, the drawing will be held at the December membership meeting where we will also be cooking up a delicious Christmas dinner for our Union Brothers and Sisters.
NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION
The next scheduled New Member Orientation class will be held on January 21st. The class is scheduled at the hall for 5 PM. If you reside in the Northern area, please note your class will be in the Redding Hall. We hope to see you there and encourage you to bring your spouse or significant other. This is a great opportunity for any questions you may have regarding your union membership and understanding the local union.
EWMC
The Annual Rib Cook off held October 12th was a hit. Thank you to those members who came out and showed their support for the cooks.
Winners were:
1st place went to Team Schetter Electric
2nd place was a tie between our Brothers Chris Griffith and Chris Tillery
We look forward to next year’s event and hope to see more members and their families in attendance.
VOLT
As we come to a close with political events, we want to bring attention to those who have helped out VOLT in any capacity throughout this year as we started our rebranding. VOLT will be hosting a “Deck the Hall” event that is kid friendly set for Thursday, November 21st at 6PM. We will be getting in the holiday spirit and decorating the hall, there will be crafts for kids, light refreshments, and snacks. Please contact VOLT for more information or RSVP today via email 340volt@ibewlocal340.org.
ACCIDENTS/ILLNESSES
There are no accidents or illnesses to report this month, we hope everyone continues to stay safe.
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, 2024 through December 31, 2024.
- All normal and early retirees with a pension effective date of December 2022 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
Thursday and Friday, November 28th and 29th – Thanksgiving
Tuesday and Wednesday, December 24th and 25th – Christmas
Tuesday, December 31st – NYE close at noon
Wednesday, January 1, 2025 – NYE
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 January 28, 2025 @ 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 January 16, 2025 @ 5:00PM – Note: Five (5) members needed to have a quorum.
