UTILITY WORKERS UNION OF AMERICA

AFL-CIO, LOCAL 483

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING

JANUARY 17TH, 2004

ONTARIO AIRPORT MARRIOTT

ONTARIO CALIFORNIA

 

 

Call to Order

Flag salute lead by Dennis Zukowski

Roll Call

 

          Officers:    President:  Dennis Zukowski

                                      Vice-President:  Roy Bozarth

                                      Secretary Treasurer:  Dave Brown

                                      Secretary Treasurer:  Lisa Guidry

 

          Trustees:              Jim Shirley

                                      Joe Armstrong

                                      Erhard Hofmann

 

          Area Officers:     Bill Kimble

                                      Glen Milberger

 

          Absent:                Robin Downs

                                      Art Thomas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item I:  Secretary/Treasurers Report: Reading and Approval of Minutes

Minutes from November 15th meeting was handed out to E-Board there were no corrections and a motion was made to approve the minutes, also seconded.  The financial statement was also handed out and approved by E-Board.  Motion carried.

 

 

Item 2:  Swearing in of New Officer:

Lisa Guidry sworn in as Secretary Treasurer for 2004-2006. 

 

Item 3:  Trustee Report:

Trustees found that all disbursements matched the union records.  There was a typographical error in the report with regard to the date being incorrect.  It should have read “For the period ending December 31, 2003, instead it read “For the period ending June 30, 2003”.  They also reported their dissatisfaction with the untimely payments of the per capita tax to the National.  The rate case and attorney fees for arbitrations adversely affected our finances and one of the two remaining CD’s had to be liquidated to pay some bills.  Bill Kimble says it would be a good idea to have written documentation of the Trustees Report.  Trustees agreed that there should be a written report from them in the future.  First and Second motion made to approve Trustees Report.  Motion carried.

 

Item 4:  Safety Officers Report: Roy Bozarth-Storage and Robin Downs-Transmission (absent).  Roy reports that there were 14 industrial accidents.  It was recommended that Roy visit the storage fields.    

 

Item 5:  Unfinished Business- A-Satellite Web Changes; Dennis decided to sign up for DSL instead of dial-up.  In Reach will likely be eliminated as we’ve already reached 10mb.  The new host costs between $6.95 - $17.00 monthly and offers 9,000 m.b.

 

Item 5: B-Rate Case Update; Second phase of rate case includes PBR.  All paperwork needs to be submitted by the end of February.  Second phase goes after performance, historical data and saving money due to fewer employees.  Ventura’s move to Oxnard cost company roughly $350,000.00 to renovate.  Dennis submitted a brief statement that if topics are not served in writing they tend to be overlooked.  There is a time limit for each speaker and the Union did not have enough time to discuss all of their issues.  This phase we will ask for more time.  Voted 4 to 1 in favor for us to seek compensation.  Settlement has to be accepted by the PUC.  Eligibility for compensation is 1. Have to show hardship and 2. Have to show you’ve gained something.  The E-Board members need to decide how to use the settlement.  Reimbursement will consist of expert wages of $150.00 per hr instead of the regular hourly wages.

 

Item 5: C- Arbitration Update:

Three arbitrations have been completed to date.  Compensation is due soon, one is pending or postponed.  Possibility of changing of law firms after this last one is completed.  There have been 4 arbitrations ytd. 

 

Item 6:  New Business/Open Topics:  A-Meeting with National Union;

Dennis, Roy and Lisa met with the President and Vice President of the National in December.  The meeting was social with the underlying purpose of discussing possible merging of the locals.  Negotiations are due to begin in May 2004 and we feel they are trying to merge the unions prior to negotiations.

 

Item 6:  New Business/Open Topics:  B-Medical Conference; Meeting scheduled for February 10th – 13th in Washington D.C.  President of the National wants to meet with us to continue discussing merging of locals.  Areas of concern are what happens to the current E-Board members if locals merged.  Normal circumstances would be to send the President Dennis Zukowski and Secretary Treasurer.  However, due to the fact that Lisa is new and lack experience in this area, there were discussions to send the Vice President Roy Bozarth in place of Lisa.  Motion was made to send Roy in addition to Lisa and Dennis.  Motion denied by Jim Shirley because of his concern with the finances.  Motion carried.

 

Open discussion:  E-Board agreed to purchase a gift for Butch Hamilton for the next meeting. 

 

Meeting adjourned by Dennis Zukowski at 1:48pm

 

Next meeting will be held in Palmdale Ca on April 24th 2004.