January 2010
To All Union Brothers and Sisters,
We are starting a new year and we are hoping this one will be better than the last. Our membership had a net loss of 24 members. We went from 565 to 541 by the end of the year, that is a 4% loss.
Looking forward to 2010. Negotiations with Delmarva will start in April or May. Choptank will also have negotiations in October of this year. All the companies we represent, A & N, Choptank, Delmarva Power and NRG have jobs on hold or are filling very few positions off the street. This is an indication of the national economy. Also reflecting the current economic status of the country, NRG will be "mothballing" unit #2 in May of this year at the Indian River Power Plant. In May of 2011 they will be "mothballing" unit #1. On another note, NRG recently acquired Blue Water Wind Generation, this is the company that plans to put the wind turbines off the coast of Delaware. Indian River pollution controls have begun construction. This project is costing over 500 million dollars and hopes to generate new positions or save positions that may be lost due to mothballing units 1 and 2.
The Union and Choptank have jointly implemented a shop steward's handbook. Handbooks will be given to Buster and Ginny on January 14th for distribution to shop stewards. More additions to the handbook will be forthcoming, one of which is a "Q and A". The company is also taking a more agressive stance towards getting work completed in a safe manner. Any proposals for negotiations, please forward to your shop steward or directly to the Union Hall.
At A & N, we are happy to welcome some new members. We are saying goodbye to longtime Executive Board member Jane Daisey and we are glad to welcome Jack Sturgis, who is a transplant from Delmarva Power. With upcoming negotiations please compel the non-union employees to join as soon as possible prior to negotiations, remember Divided we Beg, United we Bargin.
Delmarva is under going a lot of changes, from their philosophy to their equipment. The deployment of AMI meter has started in Delaware and the target completion date is November this year, however, that date could change. With retirements and upcoming meter reader surplus, some vacant beginning jobs have been placed on hold. A new groundman class should start in the first quarter and a class of temps will be coming out of training to work on the Customer Care floor in February.
The MAPP (Mid Atlantic Power Pathway) project has been put on hold until additional studies have been completed.
Please give any negotiation proposals to your shop steward or give them directly to the Union office.
Please try to attend monthly Union meetings. They are held the 2nd Thursday of each month beginning at 7:30PM. If you hear a rumor, call the Union office and get the real information.
Divided we Beg, United we Bargain!
Fraternally,
David Adkins
President Local 1307
