Brothers and Sisters

Once again the revolving door of the Business Office is spinning. As most of you are aware, Business Manager, Gary Scott, resigned December 17, 1997. I believe that the Local owes Gary a big "thank you" for all the hard work and long hours he put in for our benefit. The Executive Board interviewed three (3) candidates for the vacant position and decided to let me "run with the ball" and I now know what the "ticking" sound is. Along with this appointment there will be a learning period until I come up to speed with the current files and procedures which, hopefully, will be short-lived and I hope you can bear with me.

There is approximately one (1) year left in this term and during this period, myself and Phil Venoit will also give to the membership the same effort and dedication as our predecessors. This brings me to the Office Staff - Elaine and Michelle. Without their assistance, guidance and advice this job, if not impossible, would be extremely more difficult. Their efforts and loyalty over the past years, as the door keeps revolving, has made the job of all the new Business Representatives much easier and they deserve a "thank you" as much as anyone.

We have now concluded our year-end Financial Report and while things are improving, we are still not in good financial health. As such, I was forced to make a difficult decision and had to lay Paul Hoshal off. Although Paul was not in the Office for the same length of time as Gary, he nevertheless put forth a 100% effort and also deserves our appreciation.

In my short period of time in the office, one of the more time consuming items of business that keeps arising are the questions and complaints about Union dues. Here is an explanation of our dues structure in layman's terms:

When you are working, you must pay to the Local Union two times (2x) your hourly rate plus $25.30 for "A" members or two times (2x) your hourly rate plus $14.00 for "BA" members. You are required to pay working dues for the months you work (whether you work one (1) day or the entire month) PLUS working dues for the month following the last month in which you were laid off.

Also, when you are traveling and working in the jurisdiction of another I.B.E.W. Local, you must pay full working dues for six (6) months in order to maintain your position on the out-of-work list. After six (6) months your name is then removed from the out-of-work list and you revert to paying out-of-work dues.

This dues structure has been in place since approximately 1982 so, in reply to the questions and advice, I have absolutely no intention of making any changes in the remainder of this term. I understand and sympathize with the membership over the extremely tough economic times and the frustrations that arise due to lack of employment but, having said that, I point out that the Business office cannot create work and attempts to
dispatch men to whatever is available in a fair and equitable manner.

Unfortunately, with the downsizing of the Office Staff, there comes hand-in-hand, a reduction in services. The hours of the Business Office will now be 9:00 am to 5:00 pm although we are here earlier. Our Organizing efforts will also be cut back to a position of completing any ongoing Labour Relations Board/Court cases. New attempts at Certifications will be done as time and manpower come available. Funding to the Western Joint Electrical Training Society (W.J.E.T.S) was also cut back this year and, as a result, our ongoing training courses will be cutback. I hate to keep on the negative but, I would like to discuss one more item. Although I do sympathize with our members in financial difficulties, the Local Union continually incurs unwarranted costs in the form of N.S.F. cheques and, as such, the Executive Board has initiated a ten dollar ($10.00) N.S.F. charge plus the cost of bank charges to try and re-coup some of the associated costs.

The scenario on our Building doesn't appear to be going anywhere fast. The foreclosure date had been extended to April 29, 1998 and there are still ongoing negotiations. If anything develops we will, of course, be advising all members.

The Inside Wiring Sections have started negotiating on April 14, 1998. In light of our present economic times, we do not have a lot of maneuvering room and, as such, have tabled very modest proposals:

A three (3) year contract

Fifty cents ($0.50) in the first year to go to an Organizing Fund.

Fifty cents ($0.50) in each of the following years to the current wage package.

We have also offered to continue the Sunset Clauses tied to the acceptance of our proposals.

The Contractors, in contrast, came back with three (3) pages of rollbacks.

On April 27th we broke off negotiations and served notice that we will be removing all Sunset Clauses. The major stumbling block is the Hiring Policy. The Contractors are demanding fifty-fifty (50/50) name request, no layoff requirement and local hire first. I would like the members to send, in the form of a letter, their feelings regarding the Hiring Policy to the Business Office of Local 230.

We have also opened negotiations with the Motor Winders, Camco and the Independent Cable Contractors.

Over the last couple of months, we have seen a steady increase in the amount of commercial and institutional work. The Marine section is picking up with the return of two (2) Russian and one (1) American fishboat to Victoria Shipyard. The Motor Shops are also staying busy with the Pulp and Paper Mills back online and the first construction projects have been tendered. The Campbell River Co-generation Project Manager expects
construction to begin in late Summer to early Fall. This project will be done under the Allied Hydro Council Agreement.

Although the Organizing Program has been curtailed, it has proven to be too successful to stop. Useful tools such as Salting and leafleting will remain intact however, this requires the members commitment and participation to make it work. I will always maintain our future as a Trade Union relies on a pro-active Organizing Program. For those members that haven't been to a meeting lately, the Business Office has declared Tradewind "HOT".

For the past six (6) years, Local 230 has had the Top Apprentice in the Province of British Columbia and last year was no exception. We would like to congratulate Brian Van Herk as the winner of the 1997 Golden Pliers Award.

New W.C.B. regulations now require all workers to have Fall Arrest Training. Fletcher Challenge - Elk Falls - have announced that no one will be allowed entrance to their Mill site without this ticket, zero tolerance. We will be putting on Training Courses in all areas. Please call the Hall to enroll.

I hope everyone has an enjoyable and safe Summer and, hopefully, a busy Fall.

Fraternally yours,

Michael S. Kirby

Business Manager/

Financial Secretary

05/13/98