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Ameren Vote 8-18-17

Today the System Council U-05 membership votes were counted on the July 27th tentative agreement. The proposed agreement was rejected by a vote of 636 No and 537 Yes.

The System Council is contacting the Company to try to arrange a future meeting date. We will communicate the date of the meeting when it is scheduled.

All contracts remain extended until Midnight on August 31st.

Senator Andy Manar

Join State Senator Andy Manar at the Illinois State Fair Twilight Parade on Thursday, August 10. Volunteers should arrive by 5:00 PM and assemble with entry #8 which is just north of the pavilion in Lincoln Park. The parade kicks off promptly at 5:30 PM. 

Senator Manar will be joined by Illinois AFL-CIO-endorsed candidate for governor JB Pritzker for the parade and he is hoping to have many supporters walking with him.

The regular parade route has changed this year. It will step-off from the southeast corner of the Nelson Park loop, located in Lincoln Park on Springfield's north end. From there, the parade will travel north to Sangamon Avenue. It will then trek east down Sangamon Avenue and turn left into the Main Gate of the fairgrounds. The parade then will follow Main Street through the fairgrounds to Grandstand Avenue before concluding at the north end of the Grandstand. A map of the parade route is attached. Please contact Chris Shallow at 312-505-9087 for more information.

Michael T. Carrigan, President
Illinois AFL-CIO

Ameren Vote

Dates/Places/Times to vote the Ameren Tentative Agreement:

8/7, Lincoln KC Hall, 3-6pm
8/8, Bloomington Local 197 hall, 1pm-end of regular meeting
8/8, Champaign VFW Post 5520, 1pm-end of regular meeting
8/9, Hillsboro
8/9, Jacksonville AmVets Post 100, 3pm-end of regular meeting
8/9, Springfield Local 51 hall, 1-6pm
8/10, Decatur Local 146 hall, 1-7:30pm
8/10, Peoria VFW 2602, 1pm-end of regular meeting
8/11, Mt. Vernon/Centralia
8/14, Galesburg-Knoxville American Legion, 1-6pm
8/16, LaSalle Eagles Lodge, 1-6pm
8/17, Collinsville Local 309 hall, 3-6pm
 

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