SEASON’S
Greetings M LO C A O L FR
UTILITY WORKERS UNION OF AMERICA LOCAL 369
THE CURRENT HOLIDAY 2020 NE WSLET TER
C ON T EN T S 03 FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK 04 LE ADING OUR UNION TOGETHER 2020 OFFICER ELECTIONS
0 6 S TAY I N G V I G I L A N T:
PROTECTING YOURSELF DURING COV ID -19
07 THE TREASURER’S REPORT 08 ANSWERING THE CALL:
EVERSOURCE-WESTWOOD CUSTOMER INTERACTION CENTER
10 LOCAL 369 SUPPORTS OUR STUDENTS 11 IN MEMORIAM & RE TIREES
ABOUT OUR MEMBERS UWUA Local 369 represents over 2,900 workers across the utility industry in Massachusetts. Our members are proud to bring power, heat, and telecommunications to homes and businesses across the Commonwealth. We’re dedicated to fighting for our members and all working families in Massachusetts.
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HOLIDAY 2020 NEWSLETTER | UWUA LOCAL 369
FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT
CRAIG A. PINKHAM BROTHERS AND SISTERS, As we approach the winter season, our members will be ready to take customer calls, keep the lights on, gas flowing, and generation running, while meeting any emergency or urgent needs that may surface in our communities. As essential workers, we must also prepare to keep ourselves and our co-workers safe during this ongoing pandemic. That means we need to stay vigilant by following work site social distancing guidelines, along with our state and local policies. I recognize that this is a difficult request, but COVID-19 rates continue to spike across the region. The illness can spread easily from person to person, especially when in close contact (within about six feet) of each other. Please avoid big crowds, wash your hands regularly, wear masks, and follow all travel guidance. Remember that someone does not have to have symptoms or look sick to spread the virus. This is an unsettling time, but I have faith that the Utility Workers Union of America Local 369 and its members will live up to our reputation as the safest, most productive, highest skilled workers in the world. A vaccine is coming soon and with our rich health care benefit plans, our members and their families have access to some of the finest hospitals in the world to protect us against this deadly and disruptive disease. I would like to officially welcome our Brothers and Sisters from Local 273 into our Union. Every member that joins our family makes our Union strong, especially when we are united. Together, we have been able to negotiate great wages, benefits, and safe working conditions. Our solidarity has also helped us navigate our country’s public health and economic challenges over the last few months while avoiding financial hardships — and we’ll emerge strong and united. Welcome! Although 2020 has been a challenging year for everyone, Local 369 has thrived during these difficult times. From the beginning of the year and through this pandemic, we have successfully negotiated seven (7) expiring collective bargaining agreements, negotiated a merger of two strong unions, restructured our organization to increase membership representation, and held four (4) outdoor in-person membership meetings. These outdoor membership meetings allowed the membership to vote on bylaw amendments, attend election nominations, and witness all uncontested candidates get sworn in and take the oath of office at our September membership meeting.
Thank you to all who came out to support our endorsed candidates this election season. Whether you voted, volunteered your time, or helped friends and neighbors vote, your efforts made a big difference. President-elect Biden has a strong track record of standing with American workers. He recently appointed 27 labor leaders to his transition team and he has committed to increasing worker protections, securing pro-Labor government contracts, and punishing companies who thwart organizing efforts. It is now on us to continue holding our elected leaders accountable for their actions and their votes. I am also pleased to congratulate our new leadership team that was elected by the entire membership this fall. I look forward to leading and working alongside this dedicated team over our new three-year term. To learn more about the full team and the election process, please see pages 4 and 5 of this issue. Thank you to everyone who came out to make nominations and participate. Lastly, as our Union grows, it is more important than ever for us to stay in touch. To keep up to date on union news through emails, texts, and our quarterly newsletter, please go to page 11 of this issue and scan the QR code to update your information with Local 369. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication this year. On behalf of our whole team at Local 369, I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a safe, healthy holiday season. Remember, it is never about the money…..because it is ALWAYS about the money! In Solidarity,
Craig A. Pinkham President UWUA Local 369
UWUA LOCAL 369 | HOLIDAY 2020 NEWSLETTER
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President Craig A. Pinkham at the September Membership Meeting
2020 OFFICER ELECTIONS
LEADING OUR UNION TOGETHER Great leadership starts with electing the best individuals who will represent us and our collective interests. That’s why every three years, we proudly hold a democratic nomination and election process. At our September Regular Membership Meeting, we accepted nominations for the positions of President, Secretary-Treasurer, Executive Vice President, Business Agents, five Trustees At-Large, and all Executive Board Member Vice Presidents and Chief Stewards. Members voted throughout September, October, and November – and the results were finalized on November 19. Thank you to everyone who participated in this election and made your voice heard for our Union’s future. Congratulations to all!
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HOLIDAY 2020 NEWSLETTER | UWUA LOCAL 369
PRESIDENT Craig A. Pinkham SECRETARY-TREASURER Daniel Leary EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Craig M. Connolly BUSINESS AGENTS AT-LARGE Robert Senier Stephen A. Milionis TRUSTEES AT-LARGE Jim Pinkham Mark A. Wisnes Brendan Lee Matt Marifone Shannon Lee Kain
Members participate in Officer Nominations and Elections at the September Membership Meeting.
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER VICE PRESIDENTS National Grid, Brockton & Nantucket and Hingham Municipal L.P. Bobby Durbin National Grid, Malden & Waltham John Taglieri National Grid, Northboro Kelly Mullen Eversource, Yarmouth & Martha’s Vineyard Shaune Perry Eversource, Plymouth & Wareham Jared Smith Eversource, New Bedford & Plymouth Gas Adrien Boulay Eversource, New Bedford Electric Wayne Lima Eversource, OM Metro & North and Dispatch North Richie Hughes Eversource, Misc. Support, Central Shop & Garage Scott Miller Eversource, Field Services North Ralph Spano Eversource, Customer Care Donna Moretti Eversource, Engineering, Design & Drafting Darlene Arcese Eversource, O.T.P Services Steve Sullivan Eversource, Overhead & ECSD Metro & North Mark Teixeira Eversource Underground & FST’s Metro & North, ElecComm, Sunbelt, City Generators Tom Roche Eversource Gas Brockton Construction & Distribution Scot Hunter Eversource Gas Brockton Clerical & Services Tim Heath Fossil Generation – Calpine, Canal, Exelon, Distrigas LNG, Pilgrim, Vicinity Bill Burke
CHIEF STEWARDS
Eversource, FST North Jill Crawford
Eversource, Overhead Waltham Nathan Punzel
Eversource, Garage North Michael “Shoe” Sheehan
Eversource, Overhead Walpole Brendan Murray
Eversource Gas Brockton Customer Care/Planning Angela Gately
Eversource, Underground URD Jack O’Keefe Eversource, Stores North John Collins Eversource, Overhead Southboro Gerry McGreal Eversource, Overhead Somerville Danny Oliveria Eversource, Plymouth & Wareham Brian Blair Eversource, New Bedford Electric Adrienne Silvia Eversource, Central Shop & Facilities Joe Sanda Eversource, Dispatch North & Bulk Power Paul Williams Eversource, Call Center Christine Roycroft Eversource, Billing Barbara Bernard Eversource, Engineering Westwood & Distribution Engineers Shawn Gauvin Eversource, CSE, Survey Drafting & Energy Efficiency North Chuck Partridge Eversource, Field Engineering & PST North Jonathan Jenks Eversource, O.T.P Accounts Payable & IT Support Christopher Lomba Eversource, FSR & FSC North Mike Gillis Eversource, Yarmouth & Martha’s Vineyard Tony Knight Eversource, OM Southeast/NE Jim Moran Eversource, OM Central/Mass Avenue Phil Howley
Eversource Gas Brockton Maintenance/Construction Greg Gesek Eversource Gas Brockton Service/ Gas Control Andrew Standring National Grid, Brockton Charlie Secord National Grid, Waltham Heather Mitko National Grid, Nantucket Ronnie Conway National Grid, Malden Chris McKie National Grid, Northborough Heather Musorofiti National Grid, Webster Gas Rich MacLeod Liberty Utilities, Fall River Gas & Call Center Paul Leite Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant & Call Center Brian Thomas Vicinity Energy, Kendall Station Mike Fitzgerald Exelon, Medway Jets Dave Cataloni Exelon, Mystic 7 Bob Kiklis Exelon, Mystic 8 & 9 Arthur Devlin Underground, UG1, Trouble, C/I, Apprentice, OCIM John Duggan Canal Generating, LLC Scott Raymond Calpine Fore River Station Tom Laranjo
Eversource, Gas NB & Ply Tyrone Edwards
UWUA LOCAL 369 | HOLIDAY 2020 NEWSLETTER
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STAYING VIGILANT:
PROTECTING YOURSELF DURING COVID-19 As essential workers, we’re on the front lines of the pandemic. With winter and the holidays upon us, it’s critical that we stay safe and healthy for our co-workers and families.
You can mitigate your risk for COVID-19 in several ways: ɦ Maintain social distancing at the work site whenever possible, and wear a mask, as well as any other required PPE. ɦ Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before putting on and after taking off your mask. ɦ Avoid touching your face, mouth, nose, or eyes when taking your mask on and off. ɦ Wash your mask regularly and consider carrying a spare cloth mask. ɦ Avoid sharing tools and supplies. When leaving a work site or at the end of a shift, sanitize all equipment, including steering wheels, handles, levers, dashboards, shared phones, keyboards, seat coverings, and keys.
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HOLIDAY 2020 NEWSLETTER | UWUA LOCAL 369
Pay close attention for symptoms of COVID-19, and stay home if you feel sick or if you've been exposed. Stay in close communication with your supervisor and your doctor about when it's safe to return to work. In addition, we encourage all members to follow the CDC's guidelines for holiday gatherings, including closely monitoring state-by-state travel restrictions and avoiding crowds.
As always, your safety is our top priority. Do not hesitate to reach out to your Union Steward or Business Agent if you have questions or see something unsafe.
TREASURER’S REPORT: DEFENDING FRONTLINE WORKERS
BROTHERS AND SISTERS, First and foremost, I’d like to express my sincere thanks to everyone who came out for our officer nominations and election. I am grateful for your votes and the opportunity to continue serving you and your families. I’d also like to extend my sincere congratulations to all those who ran and to our newly elected and re-elected Officers, Executive Board Vice Presidents, and Chief Stewards. We all recently saw an election of greater consequence pan out in favor of the American worker. President-elect Joe Biden is slated to be the most pro-Union president in recent history. He won 56 percent of union households, and he’s already appointed dozens of labor leaders to his transition teams. But whether the President is a Republican or a Democrat, we’ll keep advocating for policies that protect workers. At the top of the agenda will be rolling back anti-union policies against workers’ right to organize and fighting for protections against employer retaliation. We all worked hard to turn out the vote on Election Day. Now it’s time to work proactively with the incoming Biden-Harris administration to ensure that working families remain front and center. In the coming weeks, the UWUA is focused on the following key priorities.
STRENGTHENING WORKER SAFETY Biden is expected to order the Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to step up worker safety enforcement. OSHA has received over 10,000 reports of unsafe working conditions related to COVID-19, but has issued few citations. With an estimated 72,015 workers having tested positive for COVID-19, such reform is long overdue.
RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE During his campaign, Biden said he would push to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, and eliminate the so-called tipped wage, which allows employers to count tips toward servers’ mandated wages. Both provisions were in a bill approved by the House of Representatives. The federal minimum wage hasn’t budged since 2009, when it was upped to $7.25.
BALANCING THE NLRB Biden will need to rebalance the National Labor Relations Board, the agency responsible for enforcing the National Labor Relations Act and settling disputes between unions and employers. During the Trump administration, the board lurched to the right. Decisions are now made by three Trump appointees and only one Democrat, while a second Democratic seat has been left empty. We need strong leadership in Washington. Over the past four years, there’s been increased pay inequity and decreased enforcement of labor regulations. The UWUA will continue fighting for good jobs, benefits, and safety protections — no matter who’s president. I encourage you all to stay informed and involved in the coming months, and most of all, stay safe. In Solidarity, Dan Leary Secretary-Treasurer
UWUA LOCAL 369 | HOLIDAY 2020 NEWSLETTER
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ANSWERING THE CALL: EVERSOURCE-WESTWOOD CUSTOMER INTERACTION CENTER Residents all across Eastern Massachusetts depend on our work to power their homes, run their businesses, cook for their families, and stay warm during the winter months. And when they need help, the men and women at the Eversource Customer Interaction Center (CIC) in Westwood, MA are the first to respond. The center is staffed by our 95-person team of Local 369 Customer Service Representatives, who field hundreds of calls a day from residents in need. They help customers plan for moves, assist with bill payments, and more. While most representatives have been working from home during the pandemic, a small on-site group continues to run key operations for the CIC throughout the winter. “COVID has hit a lot of key customers hard, and our main focus as essential workers is to be compassionate, kind, and reassuring,” shares Customer Service Representative Joanie McAlear, who fields calls and assists with operations. The team is specially trained to troubleshoot “one call resolutions” so customers don’t have to call back multiple times.
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HOLIDAY 2020 NEWSLETTER | UWUA LOCAL 369
When there’s a gas or electric emergency, Local 369 representatives coordinate on-the-ground solutions to make sure power is safely restored as quickly as possible. If customers are worried about bill payments, the team connects them with key resources and support. “You can hear the relief in their voice when they hear that their power and gas won’t be shut off,” says Heather Munroe, who’s been working with Eversource for seven years. “It makes you feel better because we’re usually telling them that they have a shut off notice, and we’re here to help people.” The Westwood team’s commitment to the community doesn’t stop when they hang up the phone, either. One team member, Dave Cash, sends well-wishes to customers around the holidays. For others, he’s even helped coordinate assistance from local nonprofits. Dave’s mantra is “always help someone – you might be the only one that does.” This winter season, we’re proud of all our Customer Service Representatives. Thank you for answering the call for our communities during this difficult time.
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1. Heather Munroe. 2. Joanie McAlear. 3. Monique Bassila.
4. Robyn Adler shows her Local 369 pride at her desk. 5. Dave Cash. 6. Robyn Adler.
UWUA LOCAL 369 | HOLIDAY 2020 NEWSLETTER
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LOCAL 369 SUPPORTS OUR STUDENTS
At Local 369, we’re proud to create opportunities for hardworking students and put them on the path to success. That's why we're pleased to announce our 2021 scholarships for children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews of active or retired Local 369 members. To be eligible, students must be entering an accredited college in the Fall of 2021 or currently attending college. To apply, complete Local 369's scholarship application, then return it to the Union Hall by April 15, 2021.
Scan the QR code with your phone’s camera to download the application
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HOLIDAY 2020 NEWSLETTER | UWUA LOCAL 369
IN MEMORIAM & RETIREES In Memoriam Ed Braga Kenny Jordan Doreen McPherson
Dave Nagle Kevin Sousa
Retirees William Boudreau Richard W. Bridgeo Peter Casey Michael D. Gomes William Heffernan
James Huxley Mary C. Locke Bryan Macomber Dave Ward
STAY CONNECTED WITH LOCAL 369 Through storms, blizzards, and even a pandemic — our strength comes from our connections with each other. That's why we're asking all Local 369 members to ensure that your contact information is updated with the Union Hall. Stay up to date on all the latest news through emails, texts, and our quarterly newsletter. Just scan the QR code with your phone’s camera to update your contact information:
UWUA LOCAL 369 | HOLIDAY 2020 NEWSLETTER
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UWUA Local 369 120 Bay State Drive Braintree, MA 02184
In times like these, it’s more important than ever to protect your family’s future. That’s why we’re making it easy for members to quickly and easily enroll in insurance benefits right from home.
To schedule an appointment with a Colonial Life representative, visit TENenroll.com/Local369 or scan the QR code with your smartphone.