A Slap in the Face

EN OP CHANNELS The Newsletter of IBEW Local 45 www.ibew45.org FALL 2014 Charter Communications Meet Local 45’s Executive Retirees Corner Contract Ratified Board JUAN LARA AND MARC DRAGHI SIGN OFF TWO-YEAR PROCESS RESULTS IN RAISES, A FEW WORDS FROM THE FOLKS WHO SERVE YOU PROMOTIONS PAGE 03 PAGE 04-05 PAGE 07 CityA of L.SlapA.’s proposal could in put safety the in the hands ofFace the lowest bidder BY MICHAEL MESSINA he City of Los Angeles has of negotiations. Business Repre- kicked up some dust in its ne- sentative Victor Marrero called it Tgotiations with IBEW 45 and a dangerous proposal that would the Information Technology Agency put the well-being of the citizens of (ITA) workers the local represents. Los Angeles at risk in the case of a The Los Angeles/Orange County major emergency. Building and Construction Trades The jobs in question are ones that Council, in conjunction with IBEW ensure that critical communication Labor Day 45, is currently in negotiations with between the police department, the Members of IBEW Local 45 had the City of Los Angeles, but prog- fire department, 911 and others a great time marching in the ress has stalled and a Request For are working properly. Ocasio and annual Labor Day parade in Proposal (RFP) by the City has IBEW Marrero both spoke at a Los Angeles Wilmington, CA on Sept. 1. Local 45 and others on edge. City Council meeting on Oct. 10 and 45 Business Rep Victor Mar- An RFP essentially means the City voiced their displeasure of such a rero (left) and Executive Board wants to contract out all of the ITA proposal. Twenty members of IBEW Vice President Eduardo Nunez positions that are currently held by 45 were in attendance. flank the head of the Los Ange- City employees. IBEW 45 Business “The contractors would not re- les County Federation of Labor Manager Elaine Ocasio called it an spond to our needs,” Marrero said. Maria Elena Durazo. action of bad faith to attempt to give away members’ jobs in the middle (CONTINUED ON PAGE 3) Photo by IBEW LOCAL 45 Jobsite Visit: USC Medical Center Medical Electronics Technicians hen considering the that creates a rhythmic beep- most important fea- ing sound when things are Wtures of a hospital, operating smoothly or a hor- great doctors, nurses and other rible alert when something has staff come to mind. gone wrong. These are highly- But what about all that equip- technical pieces of equipment, ment? Take, for instance, the machines at their core, and they defibrillator that gets a heart to restart. Or that monitor (CONTINUED ON PAGE 8) Hollywood, CA 90028 CA Hollywood, Photo by TED SOQUI 6255 Sunset Blvd., Ste. 721 Ste. Blvd., Sunset 6255 The IBEW Local 45 team at the USC Medical Center keeps all the high-tech medical equipment in the IBEW Local 45 Local IBEW hospital running. With Local 45 Business Manager Elaine Ocasio and Business Rep Victor Marrero. Leading the Charge By Elaine Ocasio Business Manager, IBEW Local 45 Greetings Local 45 Members! stand for this gesture of bad faith. I was talking with a friend the other day. I had just • I’m tired of companies like FOX, new own- gotten off a plane from the Bay Area, where I was ers of Oakland’s KTVU, who do not honor working on negotiations with our Northern Califor- successor language. nia Rep, Hugh McGuigan, at KTXL. I told my friend • I’m tired of companies like Nexstar (KSEE how I was meeting the electronic technicians who Fresno) and Media General (KRON San work at the USC Medical Center, then meeting with Francisco) who want to gut decades-old the area’s 911 operators before prepping to speak in agreements – asking for non-consecutive front of the LA City Council the next day. My friend days off and no seniority and no jurisdic- looked at me slack-jawed and said: “You must be tion! tired!” So why keep fighting? We continue because The answer is, honestly, both yes and no. the victories are so sweet. It’s for the ratifica- Yes, multiple flights around the region to sit in on tion of new contracts with Charter Communica- seemingly endless meetings can be exhausting. But tions (read more about that in this newsletter) the truth is, I don’t really ever get tired of fighting and KGET in Bakersfield. It’s meeting with folks the good fight when it comes to what’s best for Local like those techs at USC and hearing their stories 45 members. If there is an issue that comes up that and understanding how valuable they are to impacts the members of this great local, I do not tire the County’s health care system, and that they in the face of adversity and forces intent on exploit- deserve fair compensation, good benefits and ing our workers and eroding our rights as a union. overall respect from their employer, as do we all. Staff Box Come to think of it, here is what I’m truly tired of: Tired? Sure. We all get tired. • I’m tired of situations such as the one at Running out of steam? Not even close. IBEW Local 45 KTXL. We were supposed to have a two-day I want to conclude my message with a little 6255 Sunset Blvd # 721 bargaining session on Oct. 6, but talks quickly holiday cheer. On Saturday, Dec. 13, we are hold- Hollywood, CA 90028 broke down over the exempt/nonexempt is- ing our annual holiday party at the Sportsmen’s (323) 851-5515 sue. I hope to have a positive update for you Lodge in Studio City (see the flyer on this page). Business Manager/Financial Secretary in a later issue of Open Channels. We are also holding parties in Sacramento on Elaine Ocasio • I’m tired of actions such as the one taken by Dec 4th, Fresno on Dec. 5th, the Bay area on Dec Executive Assistant Lupe Perez the City of Los Angeles. The City of L.A. sent 6th and Bakersfield on Dec. 12. Come on out and Dues Administrator have some fun with your fellow Local 45 mem- out a Request for Proposals to contract out Marceil Wright bers, and I hope to see you there! our work for its Information Technology Bookkeeper Agency right in the middle of our negotia- Anthony Wainaina tions with them. You can read more about In solidarity, Membership Department this issue on the front page of this newsletter, Elaine Ocasio Tara Garner but believe me when I say we’re not going to Business Manager/Financial Secretary Business Representatives Southern California Victor Marrero Northern California Hugh McGuigan This newsletter produced by Senders Communications Group Publisher - Cherri Senders Editor - Robert Fulton Writer - Michael Messina Art Director - Michael Teitelbaum Find Us On Facebook! www.facebook.com/IBEW45 Have a photo you’d like to share? Email us at [email protected] 2 OPEN CHANNELS Fall 2014 www.ibew45.org Charter Communications Contract Ratified Nearly two-year process ends with raises, promotions embers of IBEW 45 recently ratified sion is pending until early next year,” Akl trouble down the line. a new contract with cable company said. “So we needed to wrap it before the “It was important that we made a deal so MCharter Communications. Negotia- changes occurred and guys could get some that we’re locked in and that we have succes- tions for this contract had been slow going benefits.” sorship and our guys are protected,” Ocasio over the course of nearly two years, and Those benefits included a 2 percent raise said. In the end, the local recommended that it while the panning out of the deal did not on ratification, along with another 2 percent be passed and it was ratified easily. “Everyone come to fruition in the ideal timeframe, bump in 12 months, as well as a $600 sign- could see this was a good deal.” members voted overwhelmingly in favor of ing bonus. There were 11 positions, mostly Akl said negotiations with Charter often take the new pact. IBEW 45 ended up negotiating installers, that also received promotions. time, but that this one was particularly lengthy. raises, a signing bonus and for some mem- IBEW 45 Business Manager Elaine Ocasio “This was probably the longest,” he said. And bers, promotions. said it was not easy going with these nego- while not entirely satisfied with the results, he The IBEW 45 shop steward at Charter, tiations. is content to move on knowing they procured Nagi Akl, said that while these negotiations “It was rough,” Ocasio said. “We had un- some wins in the contract. were not a model of collaboration, the deal fair labor practice charges, we had all kinds “Overall, we maintained most of what we was necessary given an impending merger of things. They knew we needed an agree- had and we were able to get some promotions between cable provider giants Time Warner ment, so they were trying to push some for the installers,” Akl said. “It was a tough Cable and Comcast. Charter is involved in heavy duty stuff on us. We pushed a lot of it battle because the company came with the in- that proposal and IBEW 45 wanted to come aside.” tent of takeaways mostly. We needed to get the to an agreement before things became more Ocasio echoed the sentiment that the job done and get the guys some of the raises complicated. ratification of this contract was something that they wanted.

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