2nd Quarter Newsletter, Business Office by IBEWLocal77

Bringing Power to the People since 1897

BUSINESS OFFICES 2ND QUARTER NEWSLETTER

Bringing Power to the People since 1897

IBEW Local 77 was granted our

About Local 77

charter on August 28, 1897, so forIBEW nearly 125 Local 77on Local 77 wasyears, granted our charter 1897, so in August thisto year, we hasAugust been28,bringing power the will celebrate 125 years Local 77 people. Local 77 isofone ofbringing the

power to the people. Local 77 is one of the largest IBEW Local Unions within the United within the United States representing moreStates than 8,000 members throughout Washington and parts representing more than 8,000 of Idahothroughout and Montana. members

largest IBEW Local Unions

Washington and parts of Idaho and Montana. Our membership represents a variety of classifications within the electrical industry, including: Journeyman Linemen, Journeyman Line Clearance Tree Trimmers, Journeyman Metermen, Journeyman Cablesplicers, Power Dispatchers, Customer Service Representatives, Call Center Responders, Protection Relay System Operators, Journeyman Substation

Celebrating 125 Years August 28, 2022!

Wiremen, & Journeyman Hydro Operators to name a few.

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Bringing Power to the People since 1897

BUSINESS OFFICES 2ND QUARTER NEWSLETTER

Bringing Power to the People since 1897

IBEW Local 77 was granted our

Seatac Office

charter on August 28, 1897, so for nearly 125 years, Local 77

Spokane Office

Phone: 206-323-4505 has been bringing power to the

Phone: 509-328-8670 Fax: 509-325-9104 Email: jimnelson@ibew77.com

within theAddress: United States WA. 98188

Address: 7903 East Broadway Spokane Valley, WA. 99212

LOCATION MAP

Fax: 206-323-0186 people. LocalEmail: 77 is one of the ibew77@ibew77.com largest IBEW Local Unions

19415 International Blvd. Seatac, representing more than 8,000

members throughout Washington and parts of Idaho and Montana.

Kennewick Office Phone: 509-783-4136 Fax: 509-783-9453 Email: ibew77@gmail.com Address: 7025 W. Grandridge Blvd., Suite A Kennewick, WA 99336 LOCATION MAP

Office Hours

Our membership represents a variety of classifications within the electrical industry, including:

Seatac Office:

Journeyman Linemen, Journeyman M-F: 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Line Clearance Tree Trimmers,

Spokane Office:

Journeyman Journeyman M-F: 8:00Metermen, A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Cablesplicers, Power Dispatchers,

Kennewick Office:

Customer Service Representatives, M-F: 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.

Call Center Responders, Protection Relay System Operators, Journeyman Substation Wiremen, & Journeyman Hydro Operators to name a few. /km opeiu8 afl-cio

Bringing Power to the People since 1897

BUSINESS STAFF 2ND QUARTER NEWSLETTER

Bringing Power to the People since 1897

IBEW Local 77 was granted our

Business Manager & Assistants

charter on August 28, 1897, so for nearly 125 years, Local 77 has

Rex Habner, Business been bringing power to the Manager/Financial Secretary

Asst. people.Nichole LocalReedy, 77 isSr. one of the Business Manager

largest IBEW Local Seatac OfficeUnions within the United States Mike Brown, Asst. Bus. Mgr.

Spokane Office representing more than 8,000 Brian Gray, Asst. Bus. Mgr. members throughout Kennewick Office

Washington and parts of Idaho

Business Representatives Dave Garegnani, Bus. Rep., Spokane & Kennewick Offices Chris Henning, Bus. Rep. Seatac Office Steve Kovac, Bus. Rep. Seatac Office Will Power, Bus. Rep. Spokane & Kennewick Offices Jen Watson, Bus. Rep. Seatac Office

and Montana.

Business Representatives Cole Bailey, Bus. Rep. Seatac Office Tim Barnett, Bus. Rep., Spokane & Kennewick Offices Steve Cant, Bus. Rep. Seatac Office Randy Coleman, Bus. Rep. Kennewick Office Jonathan Finch, Bus. Rep. Seatac Office

Organizer & Political Director Sara Langus, Organizer Seatac Office

Christine Reid, Political Director Seatac Office

Rex Habner, Business Manager/Financial Secretary

Summer is here! As the Pacific Northwest brings ever changing weather, the hot summer days are just around the corner. Our Ninth District Progress meeting was held in Las Vegas on April 18th. There was much discussion about climate change and the opportunity for jobs in our industry, including EVITP (Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program) EVITP.org. Break out workshops took place for the Broadcast, Outside, Telecom, Utilities, Inside Construction, Government, Manufacturing and Railroad divisions. The 40th IBEW International Convention was May 9th in Chicago. Locals from all over the country and Canada were in attendance. Guest speakers from Ireland, Denmark and other countries spoke on the state of labor. The official business at hand was accomplished and President Stephenson was re-elected as President of our International. Kenny Cooper was re-elected as Secretary Treasurer. Ninth District Vice-President John O'Rourke was re-elected. The Band of Brothers 3rd annual Convention Celebration was held with over 1,500 attending. I was asked to speak on behalf of Local 77 in its support for this event. In our near future, work in 77’s jurisdiction will secure steady employment for this decade and beyond. Apprenticeships will only be part of the answer. Recruiting highly skilled Journey level workers will be a competition among employers. Battery storage, pump storage, solar generation, wind generation, small modular nuclear generation, green hydrogen, 5G, EVIP charging stations, transmission, distribution upgrades to our grid will be fast tracked. Local 77 will continue to advocate for carbon free power with sustainable resources. Protecting our current resources and assuring consistent power supply is paramount as we move into the next theologies of generation. Today, IBEW Local 77 is in better shape than it has been in decades. Hard work and dedication by our employees have produced significant changes that have taken back our Local from predatory practices. I am very proud to assist our highly dedicated Staff Representatives in their success and dedication to our membership, which is paramount in securing the highest compensation and benefits in decades.

Rex Habner, Business Manager/Financial Secretary

It is an honor to serve our membership. I want to thank each of you who are involved in making this union their own. I highly encourage every member to get engaged in our future. In August of this year IBEW Local 77 will have been chartered for 125 years. We have been serving our membership longer than most businesses in our jurisdiction. Our forefathers have helped secure the future of this Local. Today that responsibility lies with every one of us. Change is often seen as a threat to our norm while complacency hides us in a silo with limited growth. Our Local is no longer in that silo. Our future is bright, and together we can supply the needs to our communities, and to our employers, and our solidarity to each other. Have a great summer, be safe and enjoy the fruits of your labor. IBEW 77 Business Office will continue as it has for 125 years, to secure the best wages hours and working conditions for every member we serve. In solidarity Rex Habner #D927900

Nichole Reedy, Sr. Assistant Business Mgr. Seatac Office OPALCO and Snohomish County PUD

As my youngest child prepares to graduate, I have been asking him about what he has learned in school. Specifically, I asked him what, if anything, he learned about labor history or about being a worker in the United States. I’m not surprised by his answer, but it is disappointing to hear nonetheless. Pondering this lack of education on the rights of workers – to a bunch of children who will predominantly go on to be workers themselves – led me to do some research. Rewind to a time more than 200 years ago and you will find education was accessible primarily to the wealthy. As the industrial revolution emerged, it created a need that has become the system we now know as public schooling. Why was there a need? Those factory owners (liken this to today’s corporate C-suite folks) needed a group of obedient workers who would show up every day, on time, and do what they were told. The best way to achieve that? Create a system whereby young children learn to sit in a classroom all day with a teacher at the helm. This indoctrination creates workers who are used to compliance paired with a daily routine. With that understanding it makes sense why labor history is not taught in public schools. To empower people, especially impressionable young people, with the information that can help them make informed decisions about what they want to do with their lives would be at the detriment to those company owners that need the cogs to make their machines work. Moreover, if they are taught what their rights at work are and how organizing into a collective group can give them more leverage and power, they might think that they get a say at those companies that they work for. We talk a lot about apprenticeship in the trades – a hands on learning approach that many people are more naturally geared to. Industrialized education is not intended to teach thought and innovation. Rather, as Northwestern University economist Joel Mokyr explains it: “Much of this education, however, was not technical in nature but social and moral. Workers who had always spent their working days in a domestic setting, had to be taught to follow orders, to respect the space and property rights of others, be punctual, docile, and sober. The early industrial capitalists spent a great deal of effort and time in the social conditioning of their labor force, especially in Sunday schools which were designed to inculcate middle class values and attitudes, so as to make the workers more susceptible to the incentives that the factory needed.” /km opeiu8 afl-cio

Nichole Reedy, Sr. Assistant Business Mgr. Seatac Office OPALCO and Snohomish County PUD

For many younger workers (those 25 or younger) the thought of being a company man is an idea of yesteryear – an antique creation from old people who don’t know how to enjoy life. They don't think of retiring from the same company they start work at after high school or college. Their priorities are different, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t need to know what right they have, or should have, at work. We have to be better at teaching the history of workers in America to our children. I recently had someone tell me, “Nichole, unions were good for workers when we didn’t have all of these laws that protect us. Now, we just don’t need them.” Unfortunately, the blood, sweat and tears that it took to get those laws passed (and in some cases lives were lost) does not compare to the ease at which a stroke of a pen can take them away. We are not guaranteed any rights, even with legislation, for the law is a living being which changes and adapts at the whim of whomever currently holds power. If you want to learn more, here are a few suggestions:

Schrager, A. (2018, June 29). The modern education system was designed to train future factory workers to be "docile". Quartz. Retrieved June 1, 2022, from https://qz.com/1314814/universal-education-was-first-promoted-by-industrialists-whowanted-docile-factory-workers/ /km opeiu8 afl-cio

Mike Brown, Assistant Business Mgr. Spokane Office Avista Utilities; Avista Distribution Operators & Gas Controllers; Avista Bunkhouse Cooks; City of Cheney and City of Chewelah

Trust: Has anyone ever examined the word trust? It’s an amazing word. It’s also a very fragile word. The definition of trust is firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. We all know the word and apply it every day. All of us have had our own personal experiences with it, the good experiences, and the bad experiences. The interesting thing about the word trust is it’s hardly ever instantaneous. The good and bad experiences usually take time to determine. Why is that? For those that know me know that I geek out on things and research them and study them. When it comes to things like a word, I will find its definition, but I will also study it in various ways. With the word trust, I have been studying it in people and with myself. When you look up the word and its synonyms it helps explain the word more in a deeper way. Some of its synonyms are confidence, belief, faith, sureness, certainty, assurance, reliance, and conviction. Its also interesting when you examine the word further in a different form. For instance, the word trustworthy. What are the qualities or characteristics one must carry in order to be trustworthy? The qualities I think a person should have, they need to be respectful, caring, authentic, consistent, positive, resourceful, reliable, selfless, and genuine. It is awesome when we meet these types of people because when someone is truly trustworthy, they possess these things. It usually takes a while for you to say someone is trustworthy because that’s a lot to examine and figure out in a person. On the flip side, we usually get heartbroken when we determine that someone is not trustworthy. It’s because we will go awhile and start checking the boxes on these characteristics and then one of the qualities won’t get a checkmark, and then it wrecks the whole thing. All of this seems like a lot, but it's not. It's simple really, the first thing that must be examined and done by a person is selflessness. Once that one is figured out, the rest becomes easier. How fragile is the word trust? A few years back I was in a negotiation with an employer, and I asked them how fragile trust is. I picked up a glass of water off the table. I said let’s say that this glass is trust. Look how pure it is. Glass is pure, with out blemish. It's also strong, and transparent. If I take this glass and drop it on the floor, what’s it going to do? More often than not, it will break. In rare occasions it will not break, but in most cases, it will. The next question is, did it just break, or did it shatter? Most people when trust is broken do exactly what we do in the real-life example of breaking a glass, they sweep it up and throw it away. A few might try to fix it. I have had times in my life where the glass was dropped on the floor. I have swept it up and thrown it away, but I also have gotten down and picked it all up and tried to fix it. In the analogy, can we get down, pick it up, try to glue it? Maybe. But we all know that the glass won’t ever be the same as it once was. It may hold water again, but it won’t be pure. It will have cracks in it. It won’t be as transparent, and this will impact how another person views your trustworthiness. /km opeiu8 afl-cio

Mike Brown, Assistant Business Mgr. Spokane Office Avista Utilities; Avista Distribution Operators & Gas Controllers; Avista Bunkhouse Cooks; City of Cheney and City of Chewelah

Utility Worker Assault Bill – SB1321: About 4 years ago, we at Local 77 were successful in getting legislation passed in Washington for penalties to be more extensive if someone assaults a Utility Worker. After we did that, we thought we should try to get this through Idaho as well. We knew it was going to be a challenge because the legislators in Boise do not like or work with Unions very often. So, we strategized on this. We took an approach where it could help all Utility Workers. Below are pictures of the bill signing and also when we were presented with our commemorative copies of the bill. Local 77 worked with the Idaho AFL-CIO on this bill. The other Unions that contributed to it were United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 296 and the Communication Workers of America Local 7603.

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Brian Gray, Assistant Business Mgr. Kennewick Office Benton Co. PUD; City of Ellensburg; Franklin Co. PUD; Grant Co. PUD; Kittitas Co. PUD; and USBR (Columbia-Cascades, Hungry Horse Dam, & Umatilla)

USBR – Columbia Cascades Area Office: Members are still concerned with current Administrative vaccine mandate, which is being held up in Federal court. Members will be receiving a 6.01% wage increase in early June. USBR – Hungry Horse, Montana: Members will receive the Congressional approved 2.91% wage increase. They are not happy with current administration/Congress’s low wage increase. Grant Co. PUD: Members are preparing proposals for upcoming negotiations to begin in August. Held several Labor/Management meetings to discuss the PUD’s new Communicable Disease Policy. The District is trying to prepare for the next pandemic/epidemic. Management has proposed new 4x10 shifts for CSR’s – split Monday-Thursday and Tuesday-Friday, with variable start times of either 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM or 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM. They would add two (2) additional CSR positions to support the Line General Foreman. Hopefully, we will have this issue wrapped up by mid-June. Franklin Co. PUD: Labor/Management meeting held to discuss increase in Standby pay for the Dispatcher. Currently only receiving $400/month. Also, members asked for increase in Footwear Allowance for Warehouseman. Benton Co. PUD: Everything is going well. City of Ellensburg: Lots going on! Bryan Ring, Foreman, quit the City in late March causing the City to contract some work to Potelco (construction). City was left with one Journeyman Lineman to perform Standby duties for several weeks due to the other Lineman being/kmoff opeiu8on afl-cio PFMLA for birth of new child.

Brian Gray, Assistant Business Mgr. Kennewick Office Benton Co. PUD; City of Ellensburg; Franklin Co. PUD; Grant Co. PUD; Kittitas Co. PUD; and USBR (Columbia-Cascades, Hungry Horse Dam, & Umatilla)

City of Ellensburg, Cont.: City has reached out to IBEW Local 77 to offer a package deal with incentives to keep the 2 current Linemen from quitting. They have offered to double the current Standby pay from 10 hours to 20 hours compensation. City increased FR clothing allowance - $1,300 new hire, and $775 annual replacement allowance Standby vehicle will no longer be required to be taken home. The best news is the City removed the supervisor from his role. Kennewick Hall: Upgrades are almost complete. Have received bids to update sign. We are getting bids for fencing the back lot and repairing the roof “leak”. Fraternally, Brian Gray,

Assistant Business Manager

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Cole Bailey, Business Representative Seatac Office Aclara; Henkels & McCoy; NECA Westside Construction; Potelco Fleet Operation Mechanics; Tanner Electric, and Westside Powerline Clearance Tree Trimmers

I have recently taken on the task of representing the Powerline Clearance Tree Trimmers. I am excited for this opportunity, as we have negotiations beginning in a couple months. Historically this is a tough negotiation but I think that we have a great team with a fresh perspective to get the job done. The work outlook for Journeyman Tree Trimmers is strong right now. We have multiple open calls and no Journeyman Tree Trimmers on the books, giving members opportunity all over Western Washington. Journeyman Linemen are in a similar situation. Standing calls and clear books are becoming a regular occurrence on the Westside. That being said, I think we remain slower than expected for this time of year. Material shortage and engineering seem to be the big problems holding back the workload. Thank you and I look forward to seeing all of you at the next union meeting.

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Tim Barnett, Business Representative Spokane & Kennewick Offices Douglas Co. PUD; Ferry County PUD; Okanogan Co. PUD; Pend Oreille PUD; Chelan Co. PUD; Northern Lights; and Okanogan Coop.

STAND UP AND SHOUT

As I sit to write this, I am simultaneously in attendance for the 40th International Convention as one of your elected Delegates from IBEW Local 77. What an experience and it couldn’t be timelier. At a time when, on the news and social media, on any given day we hear terms about indoctrination and a shot in the arm. It took a literal shot in the arm to be present here, but the analogy of needing a shot in the arm comes as a reminder associated with the ideology of Union pride and why we do what we do. I do believe that, even with current economic uncertainties, our choice to work Union, to be Union in the electrical and utility industry, we are poised to weather those uncertainties as long as it takes and come out on top, stronger with confidence and dignity to face the future.

Recently, I have been approached by members about their voice and how their voice might better be heard. To answer that question, it requires further understanding, for instance, who is the audience and what is the message. Of course, the canned message is to come to the Unit Meetings where you can hear and be heard. We all know that life can get in the way and family, along with other obligations, can hamper our ability to make every meeting. However, it is equally true that a more concerted effort could be made to attend or, at the very least, send a proxy in your place to share your interest and bring back pertinent information. Even if Unit Meeting attendance is not in the cards, Shop Stewards are available for vetting issues, as well as the Business Representatives of the Local who are dedicated to knowing, learning, and finding the answers being sought. Sometimes the results are not always pleasant, but knowledge is power, and change comes when we recognize the desire for something better. /km opeiu8 afl-cio

Tim Barnett, Business Representative Spokane & Kennewick Offices Douglas Co. PUD; Ferry County PUD; Okanogan Co. PUD; Pend Oreille PUD; Chelan Co. PUD; Northern Lights; and Okanogan Coop.

Back to the question, “Where’s our voice?” Metaphorically speaking, the voices of Bargaining Unit Members is funneled to their Union Reps. That funnel is then turned around to become a megaphone, amplifying the message to management with a chorus of support of the multiple employees with a common interest behind it. At times it can seem that the message is falling on deaf ears, but that funnel can also be turned into an ear trumpet to continue the effort to be heard. Sometimes, it can appear that the desired messages from some in the bargaining unit are not being funneled to the Union. Some funnels have screens to filter out that which does not belong, and the Union, as the exclusive bargaining agent on matters pertaining to wages, hours, and working conditions, and as a party to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, has an obligation to screen issues that might have adverse or unforeseen consequences. Following up and following through usually clears up any misunderstandings.

Chelan Co. PUD: Recently ratified 3-year successor Agreement. GWI all classifications: 2022 – 5.95%, 2023 – 4.5%, 2024 – 4%; Increase HRA VEBA contribution from $100 to $200, lump sum contribution into the HRA VEBA of $1,000 in 2022, $500 in 2023. Douglas Co. PUD: Partial settlement for the affected member on the Foreman Selection Process Grievance - issue continuing to arbitration. Okanogan Co. PUD: LOA on temporary Foreman upgrade in the Fiber Department when three or more are performing the work. /km opeiu8 afl-cio

Tim Barnett, Business Representative Spokane & Kennewick Offices Douglas Co. PUD; Ferry County PUD; Okanogan Co. PUD; Pend Oreille PUD; Chelan Co. PUD; Northern Lights; and Okanogan Coop.

Okanogan Co. Electric Cooperative: LOA for casual employees. Pend Oreille Co. PUD: Monthly Labor/Management meetings with no significant movement. Northern Lights, Inc.: Memorandum of Agreement signed by the Union and the Cooperative on a wage adjustment for the “A” Group matching Avista’s Lineman rate and maintaining the percentage of wage for all classifications in the “A” Group Ferry Co. PUD: Quiet. CWPU: Plans are being made to schedule joint negotiations on matters pertaining to the Unified Insurance Program (UIP). Thank you again for the opportunity to be you Delegate to the 40th International Convention. It has been my honor, as a contributor and witness to these historic events. In solidarity, Tim Barnett

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Steve Cant, Business Representative/CIH Seatac Office City of Centralia Light; City of Centralia Water Wastewater; Cowlitz Co. PUD; Grays Harbor Energy LLC; Lewis Co. PUD; and PacifiCorp - Chehalis Gas Plant

COVID-19 Update: All signatory employer workplaces currently have only minor incursions by COVID-19 and yet we still see an infrequent outbreak for three or four people at a time due to the new mild but very infectious variant. Essentially all pandemic era policies and procedures have been returned to normal with minor exceptions. Those policies which have demonstrated effectiveness remain readily available for re-implementation should significant COVID-19 issues re-emerge. Wildfire Smoke Exposure on the Job: The State Department of Labor & Industries will again issue an emergency rule on wildfire smoke exposure. Although there will be some changes from last year’s rule, the rule will again not require general respirator fit testing and medicals except where respirators are mandated to be worn for high levels of smoke particulate. Most respirator use will be voluntary with the employer providing them and the worker deciding whether to wear one. A permanent rule is still on the horizon and will completed over the next several months. PacifiCorp Chehalis Generation Plant: The facility is currently engaged in its major planned maintenance outage with all hands-onboard. There are no grievances or other administrative matters in play, and we are about a year and a half away from preparing for our next contract negotiation. In general things are running smoothly, but we are looking forward to the next opportunity to gain reasonable and responsible wage adjustments for our members. According to an advance heads up from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the complaint we filed during our last negotiation related to the Company’s substantial failure to properly provide requested financial information to the Union is expected to be decided in our favor. We expect to receive a written decision soon. Grays Harbor Energy Center (An Invenergy, LLC Company): GHEC has had a history of multiple vacancies and this past several months has been able to essentially fill almost all of them. Certainly, it is a plus for both management and labor when we have a full crew of qualified personnel. As in the case of PacifiCorp, GHEC is currently engaged in its annual major maintenance outage. There are currently no grievances or other administrative issues in conflict. We recently agreed that a person leaving their position and subsequently deciding to return to employment would be eligible to re-establish their seniority where they left off rather than be required to start from scratch. Later in the year we will be preparing for negotiation of our second/kmcontract. opeiu8 afl-cio Currently, we are seeking volunteers for a negotiating committee and identifying subjects to address.

City of Centralia – Public Works and City Light: As is the case at our other Southwest utilities, our Unit 133 members have done an excellent job maintaining the electrical system and restoring power as needed throughout the winter. Water and wastewater operations serve the public well and continue to provide above average systems and service. Currently, there are no new grievances in process, but much work remains in the engineering technician series to update and clarify each position in the classification series. Workloads are a significant issue as is the difficulty of filling positions. At City Light management has produced draft updates for each position in the engineering tech series and the Union has provided a detailed response to each. Currently, we are awaiting feedback on our comments and look forward to mutually negotiating a final product. Recent negotiated wage increases for the current and final fourth year of the City Light contract have been accepted by the IBEW International Office. Since we are on a calendar year basis, negotiations will begin anew for a new multi-year contract in the fall. Although negotiations are not imminent, we expect to begin a careful comparison of wage rates for both water and wastewater with other comparable entities which we believe will show a significant disparity for those at the City of Centralia. Regardless of fairness and equity issues, we are very pleased to note the professional and competent service our Centralia members provide each day. Lewis Co. PUD: There are currently no negotiations or new grievances, but like any complex multi-tasking utility, there are many issues to be considered or clarified that have been raised. The following subjects have had recent or ongoing attention: Health and Welfare related to injury/illness experience and any trends particularly related to maximum coverage caps. Meeting bid and fill dates in a timely manner. Create separation of duties between exempt Engineering staff and bargaining unit members within Engineering Tech positions. Proper accrual of overtime hours to determine callout rotation. New hire Union orientation. Break in service between classification and resumption of seniority accrual. /km opeiu8 afl-cio Adjustment and re-alignment of working hours at the Cowlitz Falls Dam.

Cowlitz Co. PUD: There are currently no negotiation or new grievance issues. COVID-19 issues have become well under control and the District has moved to a full return to the office and other working operations. Current and ongoing issues include the following: Contract language for dispatching and operations under review and being updated. Hiring process for part-time workers through Temp Agency. Continuing discussion regarding the severe impact of inflation and consumer costs. Hiring retirees through the SeaTac Hall for part-time assignments. Medical coverages including CDL medical tests. Life insurance limitations and caps. Long term disability cap and associated consequences. Customer Service Representative performance evaluations.

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Randy Coleman, Business Representative Kennewick Office Battelle; CPCC; Energy Northwest (Admin., HAMTC, Nuclear, Plant, & Travelers); Framatone (TCCA & HSTs); Johnson Control; HMIS; Navarro Research & Engineering, Inc.; and WRPS

Our members working at Columbia Generating Station have gone above and beyond to support the significant maintenance and upgrade project for one of the Plant’s five cooling towers. Their extraordinary commitment will ensure that needed repairs and improvements are completed in time for our seasonal peak load, usually experienced late June.

Condensate columns signal the plant is online, generating clean electric power.

Columbia Generating Station produces a tremendous amount of energy from water that is boiled to make steam. To make that happen, there are two separate closed-loop systems at work – reactor recirculation water and cooling tower recirculation water. The steam generated from the reactor recirculation system is turned back into water after passing through our steam condenser - a giant heat exchanger that uses the cooling tower recirculation water system. Cooling water from the Columbia River carries the heat from the condenser to six mechanical draft cooling towers where it is dissipated into the atmosphere as water vapor. This is known as a closed-loop or closed-cycle cooling system.

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Department of Energy’s Hanford Cleanup Projects: Classifications represented by IBEW Local 77 on the Hanford site have several open requisitions that contractors are unable to fill, primarily Electricians and Instrument Technicians. The resulting labor resource shortage was predictable and communicated to contractors November of 2021, along with a wage adjustment proposal that would have avoided this developing labor resource shortage. The Business Office continues to provide additional compensation data comparable to contractors and anticipates a response from contractors soon.

Jonathan Finch, Business Representative Seatac Office City of Bellevue; CenTrio Energy; Jefferson Co. PUD; King Co. DOT Signal/Comm.; and Westin Hotel

Hello Family, City of Bellevue: In Bellevue, we have four new hires, a new Shop Steward and members progressing toward Master classification.We have been working at Labor Management to secure some compensation for those affected by COVID and had to sit out of the workplace while other City employees continued to telework; this is a huge equity issue. Centrio Energy: In Seattle, at Centrio Energy, the company is investigating ways to reduce its carbon footprint while maintaining its critical utility services. Our members will be at the forefront of any changes. Jefferson Co. PUD: Jefferson County PUD is down several line workers and has been working on a recruiting plan. We will be bargaining any impacts to members and are hopeful that their awareness of the market will result in better conditions for our members in the greater Port Townsend area. The unit is a strong one and members have been great at working together on issues that affect each other. We anticipate an increased bargaining pace as the PUD completes its Fiber Optic plan for its distribution area. Westin Hotel: In Seattle, at the Westin Hotel, we are gearing up for bargaining; meeting with the Stewards/committee members to assess needs and strategy City of Seattle: The City of Seattle has multiple departments with our CMEO classifications in them. The City continues to come up short on recruiting/hiring efforts for vacant positions. We have been working with leadership to address this issue. It comes down to dollars. We have also been working to secure training and transfer language/structure to allow members to fulfill their career goals and become more diverse in their skills. /km opeiu8 afl-cio

Jonathan Finch, Business Representative Seatac Office City of Bellevue; CenTrio Energy; Jefferson Co. PUD; King Co. DOT Signal/Comm.; and Westin Hotel

King County: Bargaining continues at the small table for our IT/Roads contract with the King County Coalition contract. The employer added another 2% to wages for the large table increases in hopes of completing bargaining in May. We are still a ways apart on some OT language and must figure out how to address a new Emergency Radio Network that is starting up in the greater King County area and affects a half dozen members in the KC Radio Shop… their jobs are scheduled to sunset when the new network becomes operational. King County Transit (Power) and Rail: King County Transit (Power) and Rail have been busy with grievances, arbitrations and general contract management. The Power side is undergoing a management change and it remains to be seen if this is better for our members and reduces the need for Labor and Industries to have a presence on the employer’s property. The Rail side of the house is still pretty new (as an electrical operator in this state) and is having some growing pains around WAC-45 compliance. Keep up the good work, stay safe and strong, Jonathan

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Dave Garegnani Business Representative Spokane and Kennewick Offices Columbia Basin Hydropower; Inland Power & Light; Kootenai Electric; Modern Electric; Nespelem Valley Coop.; Vera Water & Power; and USBR (Grand Coulee)

In the summer of 2018, after only being in Spokane for almost 2 years, I was appointed as a delegate for Local 77 on the Spokane Regional Labor Council, without really knowing what to do or what to expect. My first duty as a newly appointed delegate was to attend the yearly Washington State Labor Council Convention, which was held that year in Wenatchee. Again, I had no clue what to expect, but when I arrived, I was greeted by several of the other Local 77 delegates and Executive Board members. The convention was 3 days, and the first day was filled with several very inspirational speakers from all over the country that were a huge part of the labor movement. Two speakers that left a lasting impression on me that day were Sister Elise Bryant, who is President of the Coalition of Labor Union Women and the Executive Director of the Labor Heritage Foundation, and Brother Bill Fletcher, Jr., who has been a long-time labor activist since his teen years, an author, and former Senior Staff person in the national AFL-CIO. Elise Bryant’s speech was filled with smiles, laughter, and songs, but she played a video called “The False Slogan” which was a brief look at the racist roots and origins of right to work. Bill Fletcher, Jr. came out swinging in his speech talking about his history on the shipyard docks on the east coast and solidarity within his local. One thing that he said that has stuck with me was, “if you’re not fighting for justice, you’re no better than a scab”. In my almost 24 years as an IBEW member, there have been several speeches that have resonated with me, but that one hit me like a ton of bricks. To me, it all comes down to solidarity. SOLIDARITY – unity (as of a group or class) that produces or is based on community of interests, objectives, and standards. A fine example of solidarity is this past March when several members and their families participated in the 2022 Spokane St. Patrick’s Day Parade. As most events the last couple years, the Spokane parade had been cancelled due to COVID. Luckily this year, Local 77 showed up in full solidarity!!! This year we joined up with Avista, Modern Electric, Inland Power and Light, and Vera Water Power to show the community that Union and Company can represent our trades. A total of 7 trucks ranging from bucket trucks to crane trucks were decorated by our members and their families. Buckets of candy and IBEW stickers were handed out by the members walking along the parade route. We even had a Leprechaun tag along this year with the Union. It was a huge success and quite the spectacle seeing several large fleet vehicles parading through the streets of Downtown Spokane. I can't wait to do this again next year and have even more members and their families join in on the fun!!!! /km opeiu8 afl-cio

2022 Spokane St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

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2022 Spokane St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Inland Power & Light: On Wednesday, May 11th Inland and IBEW Local 77 kicked off their first Code of Excellence Committee meeting. The committee included 6 members of Local 77 including Business Rep, Dave Garegnani, and 6 members of management, including Inland CEO Jasen Bronec, and General Counsel Tim O’Brien. The first meeting was a great introduction on what the COE is and the history. It was also a good meeting to get to know each member and why they volunteered to be a part of the COE Committee. At this point the committee has decided to go back to their respected work groups and try to get a feel for what the culture is at Inland Power. The committee will report back at the next meeting. It was also decided that the Committee will meet monthly after each safety meeting. Kootenai Electric: On Monday, May 16th Business Representative, Dave Garegnani, attended the annual Kootenai Electric Cooperative Membership Meeting. The meeting was held in Hayden, Idaho and was an annual event for the members of KEC. The KEC Board of Directors were there to give a presentation of recent events and financials for KEC. On Wednesday, May 18th KEC and LU 77 met to negotiate the 2022 “A” Group wage opener. The parties came to an agreement that on June 1, 2022, the KEC/km“A” Group will opeiu8 afl-cio have an increase of 5% for all classifications under the CBA.

Vera Water & Power: Setting up a meeting with Vera General Manager Kevin Wells to discuss the possibility of extending the current CBA and possible a market adjustment. Meeting to be held on June 6. Modern Electric: I.O. has approved the recent CBA. Modern is currently building a climbing/training pit for practice and for skills assessment for new hires. Nespelem Valley Cooperative: Waiting to hear back from manager about a possible spot wage increase for bargaining unit. Columbia Basin Hydro: Quiet. USBR Grand Coulee: Local 77 was victorious in the Holiday Pay grievance. The employer was ordered to make all employees whole. A HUGE victory for Local 77 members at Grand Coulee. City of Plummer: No response from City attorney at this time.

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Chris Henning, Business Representative Seatac Office City of McCleary; Grays Harbor PUD; Grays Harbor PUD Customer Service Engineers; Grays Harbor PUD System Engineers; Mason County PUD #1; Mason County PUD #3; Pacific County PUD; and Wahkiakum County PUD

These past few years have been a struggle for everyone, with mental health issues being at an all-time high. Please reach out if you need help and be on the look out for each other. Let’s start practicing what we preach about being our brother’s/sister’s keeper. There is help out there so please don’t be too proud to get help or just talk to someone. We are in the final year of the term for the majority of the southwest PUD contracts. I have started handing out proposal forms; please take time to fill them out. If you have questions or need a form, reach out to your stewards or myself. I would like to thank the stewards for all their hard work and give them a shout out. Thank you for all you do for the members and IBEW Local 77 your efforts are appreciated. In solidarity, Chris Henning

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Mason County PUD No. 1 Members in their "I'm In" shirts.

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Steve Kovac, Business Representative Seatac Office City of Seattle CMEO; City of Seattle InfoTechs; King Co. Metro/Traction Rail; Seattle City Light; Seattle City Light Material Controllers/Apprenticeship Coordinators; Seattle City Light Power Marketers; and Seattle DOT

City of Seattle and King Co.: Members at the City of Seattle have received their frontline worker pay and their Civil emergency pay. Frontline worker pay was up to $1750 and Civil emergency pay was $150 per day between December 24th and January 3rd. Thanks to all members who continue to show up and get their jobs done. City and County continue to terminate people who refused to be vaccinated. We have had two mediation sessions with the City of Seattle over the MOU requiring vaccinations. We filed on members being put off on their own leave time and the City not allowing testing as an option. Third session is scheduled for June. All our City of Seattle contracts will receive two additional holidays starting in 2022. Both Juneteenth and Indigenous People’s Day are now holidays. Currently in negotiations with the City on contract extension for our Power Marketing Group. We received a draft of a tentative agreement and are reviewing it. We are still working on Talent Modernization within the IT Department. We received the job families from the vendor and met with out committee and other members. We have suggested that the vendor use the Milliman survey of job families and working titles. This is being considered. Both City and County workers have come back to the office. Most of the workers who were working from home are now working a modified scheduled of in office and at home. Negotiated a settlement to avoid arbitration for a member who was terminated by SPU. He has moved out of state and had no intention of coming back. The settlement was for $9,500. This is about the amount of money he would have made had he stayed with the City. It has been great to be able to return to in person meetings. Seeing some members for the first time in two years has been great. We will continue to provide the Zoom options to our meetings where it is possible. Seattle Department of Transportation: SDOT contract was ratified by the City Council. It is a two-year extension for 21 and 22. Members will receive an increase of 6.5% over the two years. We have language for a wage review, additional certifications paid for by the City and two additional holidays. Members will also see an increase in bereavement leave from one day to 5 /km days. opeiu8 afl-cio Again, thanks to all our members who always show up and keep the City and County moving. Steve

Will Power, Business Representative Kennewick & Spokane Offices

Benton REA; Big Bend REA; City of Richland; Columbia REA; Clearwater Power; Henkels & McCoy (Eastside); Idaho Co. Power & Light; Intec Services; National Metering & Technical Services; Neal’s Flagging; NECA Eastside Construction; Osmose; and Eastside Line Clearance Tree Trimmers

Hello members, The work outlook remains strong going into summer, with many more projects waiting on engineering from the utilities or materials. There are a few standing calls out of Kennewick and the books are moving slowly. The JATC has indentured over 170 apprentices last year and currently have over 320 in the program. This amount or indentured apprentices last year is an historic benchmark that had not been exceeded previously. The JATC decided to start interviews in January with a new schedule to interview every other month for most of 2022. This, they feel will ensure that they get the best candidates for apprenticeship. The Online Book Portal and Standing Call Button are up and running! Construction members are now able to pay dues online at their convenience if they so choose. If choosing to pay online, processing is done in batches the next day and dues receipts will be mailed the next business day. If you need immediate dues assistance call the closest hall. This fever pitch of work and strain on the labor pool has again shown its drawbacks as multiple incidents occurred late last year. Please remember that cutting corners always catches up to you eventually and lost time incidents wipes out any perceived gain. Stay vigilant Brothers and Sisters, as we look forward to a challenging year, with manpower and possible material shortages. These items draw the mind away from the work at hand, and that is all it takes to change lives forever. Cole Bailey and I have taken over the Tree assignment. It is now split the same as Construction is. Cole is covering West of the Columbia River and I have East of the Columbia River, Yakima County, and the 10 Northern counties of Idaho. Trees work remains at a fever pitch with more work coming. Cole and I are working hard to educate the contractors on the dispatch system and enforce both dispatch and the contract. Our work also includes evaluating and bringing non-union Trimmers into our Union as there are not enough IBEW trimmers available to travel to our Jurisdiction. We also are preparing for a contentious and difficult negotiations session later this fall. Many of my utility assignments are starting to wonder if they will have transformers and wire available as they experience shortages due to COVID impacts of their own material and manpower shortages, with concerns mounting as the east coast enters hurricane season and its possibility to exacerbate material shortages.

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Will Power, Business Representative Kennewick & Spokane Offices

Benton REA: Benton REA is looking to hire a few Journeymen Lineman with current needs and plans to add another crew in West Richland. Benton REA’s operations manager has left his position to move out of state, this vacancy, plus the future addition of a COO position is sure to add a few bumps in the road as management and the Business office create new relationships. We were recently successful in convincing management to increase the FR allowance. They are also considering new precautions regarding heat stress as we anticipate another summer of higher than normal temperatures. Big Bend Cooperative: Big Bend members are also very busy at this time and may have apprentice or Journeyman openings soon. We just completed and ratified a new contract that will have them having the highest utility wage in Eastern Washington come October 1st. Clearwater Power: Clearwater Power is busy and we have renegotiated wages to match Avista’s new wage package. Columbia REA: Has as hired two linemen, one in Walla Walla and Dayton, and a recently announced internal foreman opening. This may lead to them looking for one more lineman. City of Richland: Has 3 Journeyman Lineman positions open currently and one management position over the crews. That relationship with management continues to improve with recent replacement of personnel at that level. The City decided to end their contract with the labor relations consultant they used during our negotiations and subsequent rally/campaign which will also lead to better communications. I am hopeful that time and effort will heal the relationship and it becomes a destination for our membership seeking employment in the area. Idaho County Light and Power: Members successfully negotiated a successor agreement. It was one of the largest gains for the members of any contract cycle. A big thank you to the negotiating team and all the /km opeiu8 afl-cio members for sticking together during a difficult negotiation.

Will Power, Business Representative Kennewick & Spokane Offices

Osmose Utilities: The new CBA is currently in negotiations with hopes of being wrapped up by the time of this publication. Intec Inc.: Members continue to enjoy full employment as they work around Avista Utilities property testing distribution and transmission structures.

Photos: Wilson Construction South Hill, non-accessible pole.

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Jen Watson, Business Representative Seatac Office Puget Sound Energy

Greetings! While the weather hasn’t seemed to figure out it is spring, the year keeps rolling on and soon it will be summer. In April I attended the 9th District Progress Meeting. Highlights included presentations on the Veteran’s Electrical Entry Program (VEEP), which solves two issues-providing opportunities for veterans to join the civilian workforce and helping to combat the shortage of skilled labor; and the Electrical Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP), which encourages us to partner with our utilities to ensure that EV charging stations built with funds from the Federal Infrastructure Bill will utilize union labor. In early May, I accompanied some members to the Washington Women in Trades Fair in Seattle. The event was well-attended despite the rain. Our members had the opportunity to speak to prospective members about opportunities to choose a career within Local 77. Others who had booths were PSE, Seattle City Light, and Snohomish County PUD. At PSE, bargaining continues for the Load Office, ARCOS, and Work From Home as well as in several Labor Management Committees. We were able to resolve an unjust termination grievance in the call center resulting in backpay for the member. Please remember that Unit meetings in May and June will continue to be held in person only due to Local 77 and Unit elections. While we do plan to return to hybrid meetings in July, it has been great to see everyone in person.

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Jen Watson, Business Representative Seatac Office Puget Sound Energy

All had a great time at the 2022 Women in Trades Fair held on May 6th at the Seattle Center.

Left to Right: Jen Watson, Local 77 Bus. Rep. Cody James, Apprentice Lineman, Construction Cassy Scheibel, Journeyman Meterman, PSE Van Peiper, Apprentice Electrician Constructor, Seattle City Light Courtney McCue, Combustion /km opeiu8 afl-cio Turbine Apprentice, PSE