Vote "YES" for the Ameren Contract

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PLEASE POST and DISTRIBUTE THIS COMMUNICATION

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

Senator Andy Manar

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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

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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

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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