Vote "YES" for the Ameren Contract

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August 25, 2017

Ameren Cilco, IP and IP-Clerical
Local 51 Members

Dear Sisters and Brothers:

After the membership rejected the July 27th Ameren and IBEW System Council U-05 tentative agreement, the U-05 System Council Business Managers met with Ron Pate and Rita Zindars of Ameren Illinois on August 24th.   Ameren refused to change the July 27th tentative agreement.

Ameren said the rejected July 27th tentative agreement is their last, best and final offer.  Accordingly, there are no changes to the agreement rejected by the membership during the August meetings. 

The rejected tentative agreement that was unanimously recommended for a “yes” vote by the four (4) IBEW Locals will be voted again.  If the recommended last, best and final is rejected again, the Company has said they will change the offer.  They said if rejected they will implement a lesser offer on September 19th.  They did not say how the implemented package will be changed.

We asked the Company to extend all agreements until September 30th.  The Company said there was no need to extend the contracts.  We pointed out there are possible issues when working without a contract including the loss of the grievance/arbitration procedure.  The Company agreed to extend all contracts until midnight on September 8th, 2017.

To ensure the voting is completed by the evening of Thursday September 7th we will be voting in operating centers, at other work sites and at unit meetings scheduled the week of September 4th.  Also, from August 28th -September 7th between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm you can vote at the Local 51 Hall.

Per the System Council by-laws, we will count the ballots together and tally the results on September 8th, 2017.  Per the by-laws, there will be no absentee ballots. The times and locations of the scheduled voting are listed below. You may vote at any listed location. If due to storms, training, etc., members are away from their reporting center or their regular unit meeting on a scheduled voting day, and if they cannot vote at an alternative voting location, they should contact their Business Representative so attempts can be made to allow them to vote.

This vote is a STRIKE vote.  The ballots will have a box to vote “yes” to accept the last, best and final offer and a box to vote “no” to strike, which indicates a member’s willingness to strike.  We ask that you take this very serious and do everything possible to ensure you vote.

If the last, best and final offer is rejected, a strike would not begin on September 9th; but the Company stated a lesser package will be implemented on September 19th. 

If you have any questions, please contact Bob Wedell, Karlene Knisley, Tony Cook or myself.

In Solidarity,

John H. Johnson
Business Manager/Financial Secretary
IBEW Local 51