Ameren Contract 7/27/17

Today Ameren Illinois and IBEW System Council U-05 reached a tentative agreement on a 3 year agreement for all contracts and benefits. We believe nothing was left on the table and the Company withdrew proposals that caused us to vote "no" 2 weeks ago. 

All Locals are recommending a "yes" vote. 

The Company withdrew all changes to the rest period language and the 1.8 overtime/elimination of overtime meals and meal periods. 

Agreement was reached to change the provisions for working thru the IP regular lunch period. Under the agreement IP physical employees will work an 8 hour day from 7 am-3pm. If an IP employee does not stop for lunch by 1:30 pm they will be provided 30 minutes of time and one-half. 

The Company agreed to allow Call Center employees to wear denim jeans while at work.  The Company will have the discretion to declare a non-Jean day due to business situations (an example given was when the ICC is doing an audit or if CSR's are sent out of the call center for business).

All contracts were extended until August 31st.  We will send out contract information sometime next week. Voting will likely begin the 2nd week of August. 

Contact your Business Representative if you have questions. 


John Johnson
Business Manager/Financial Secretary
IBEW Local 51

ATTENTION "A" MEMBERS !!

The Local Union received the following letter from Kennth W. Cooper, International Secretary-Treasurer. 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
It has come to my attention that with increasing frequency, some IBEW "A" members who reach retirement age - or take an early retirement from their local union - stop paying their dues and are subsequently dropped from membership six months thereafter [Article XI, Section 6(a) of the IBEW Constitution].  In some cases, members are unaware of the pension and death benefits available to them from the Pension Benefit Fund (PBF), or mistakenly believe that having reached retirement age for the local union pension plan, are no longer required to pay dues.  As you know, "A" members who9 are dropped from membership forfeit all accrued pension and death benefits from the PBF.  To remain eligible, a member must maintain continuous good standing by paying dues monthly or quarterly until the member is placed on PBF pension.

Union Benefits on Real Estate

Janna Durkee of the Real Estate Group is offering IBEW Local 51 members a union benefit when you use her services for a real estate transaction. 

Home Closing Price        Refund After Closing
$0-$100,000                      $300
$100,000-$150,000           $500
$150,000-$250,000           $800
$250,000-$350,000          $1100
$350,000-$400,000         $1400  

Please contact Janna for more details:
www.JannaDurkee.com
Mobile:  217-381-7705
Email:  JDurkee@TheGroup.com

Child Identification Packages

We ordered child identification packages for our interested members and they will be available at the annual picnic scheduled for September 23 at the Hall.  Additionally, we will have the kids available at upcoming unit meetings or call your business representative.

Golf Scholarship Outing

The annual Local 51 Scholarship Golf Outing was held June 3 at Piper Glen golf course.  104 golfers participated.  The winning team was a foursome from IBEW Local 702:  Mike Bumgartner, JT Savage, Jimmy Yost, Cooper Mixer.  This year we gave away 12 $500 scholarships at the outing.  The weather cooperated and the course was in great shape.  Next year's outing is set for June 2, 2018 at Piper Glen. 

Winners of the scholarships were:  Ranae Spannagel (daughter of Tim Spannagel), Brittiney Lewis (step-daughter of Tony Himmel), Kaitlyn Nelson (daughter of Kendra Kitner), Mackenzie Wilson (daughter of Randy Wilson), Isabella Chandler (daughter of Stracy Chandler), Candice Feldmann (wife of Dustin Feldmann), Erin Wildman (daughter of Mike Wildman), Alex Harrison (son of Roger Harrison), Morgan Calvert (daughter of Molly Calvert), Alyssa Rook (daughter of Mike Rook), Landon Thomas (son of Rick Thomas), and Aubrey Testa (daughter of Brian Testa).  Special shout out to our Dead Last trophy winners, Jason Trower, Chet Utterback, Bryce Hayes and Tyler VanVleet.  Thank you to all of the sponsors, donors, participants and volunteers.

IBEW Local 702 captured first place

Ameren Contract Vote

On Friday, July 14, IBEW System Council U-05 met to tabulate the votes on the "final offer" from Ameren Illinois.  The count was 1163-No, 10-Yes, and 2 unmarked ballots.

The System Council and Ameren are scheduled to meet again on Thursday, July 27.  We also have tentatively scheduled meetings on August 2 and 3.  A Federal Mediator and the IBEW International are both scheduled to be in attendance at our next meeting.

Fraternally,
John Johnson
Business Manager/Financial Secretary

Ameren Negotiations - Final Package 6/23/17

System Council U-05 and Ameren Illinois Company (AIC) met on Friday, June 23, 2017 to continue bargaining. The Company provided what they referred to as their “final” offer.

SC U-05 countered the final offer with a proposal we would recommend a “yes” vote on by our members. The Company rejected our counter proposal and reiterated their last proposal was the final offer and asked us to vote the offer.

SC U-05 notified the Company that we would vote their final offer and that we would recommend our members reject the proposals by voting “NO”.

We will get the company’s final offer out to all IBEW Local 51 AIC members. At this time, we plan to vote at all July Unit Meetings with Ameren membership.

All SC U-05 collective bargaining agreements and benefits have been extended to August 6, 2017.

Ameren Negotiations 6/19/17

On Monday, June 19, AIC and IBEW System Council U-05 met to continue bargaining.

The subcommittee on the Company's proposal on contractors working live gas at CILCO met several times to discuss the proposal.

The Company spent a portion of the morning explaining where they believed the negotiations stood at this time.  After lunch, System Council U-05 rejected the Company's June 12 comprehensive proposal.

The Council then presented a comprehensive counter proposal to the Company which includes a tentative agreement on the Meter Specialist at CILCO and a tentative agreement on a tuition assistance program for all contracts.  After a review by the Company, the parties met to answer questions about our proposal.  The Company was not prepared to respond to the proposal and the meeting adjourned at about 4:45 p.m.

We are scheduled to meet on Friday, June 23 and Monday, June 26.

Fraternally,
John Johnson, Business Manager
and the IBEW Local 51 Negotiating Committee

Ameren Contract/Benefit Negotiations 6-12-17

Representatives from Ameren Illinois and IBEW System Council U-05 met on Monday June 12th to continue bargaining on new Labor and Benefits Agreements.  The sub-committee on First Responder at CILCO and CIPS met; it appears the Company may have lost interest in moving forward on their First Responder proposal.

As far as the terms, conditions, wages and length of the contracts the Company provided a comprehensive proposal in response to the proposal the System Council provided last week.  It included the benefits package that had been discussed earlier.

Although there are approximately seven (7) tentative agreements on proposals, at this time, the parties are not close to reaching an agreement on the more significant proposals that remain on the table.  There is a CILCO live gas sub-committee meeting on Thursday June 15th.

We are scheduled to meet again on June 19, 23 and 26. 

Ameren Contract/Benefit Negotiations Update 060917

Representatives from Ameren Illinois and IBEW System Council U-05 met on Thursday, June 8, to continue bargaining on new Labor and Benefits Agreements.  The parties tentatively agreed on a proposal to add a new sunset date to the Jurisdiction Agreement; it would expire on the last day of the new contracts and a tentative agreement was reached on the tuition assistance program.  Yesterday evening, SC U-05 provided the Company with a comprehensive supposal.  Given the time of the day, the Company did not respond.  We expect their response at our next meeting.

We are scheduled to meet again on June 12, 19, 23 and 26.