JEA and IBEW Local Union 2358

Inside you will find

As President / Business Manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 2358, I would like to thank you for taking the time to consider the enclosed information. We have developed this booklet to answer some of the questions you may have when contemplating joining IBEW 2358. Local 2358 has a long tradition of negotiating contracts with the JEA and the City of Jacksonville. IBEW Members know the benefits of belonging to a strong Union that supports their livelihood, family, and community. There is no doubt that JEA Employees have a deep respect for their employer and for the customers they service. However, there is always room for improvement. JEA Employees have decided to exercise their State right to form a Union which allows IBEW and JEA to negotiate various issues such as defined work schedules, a voice at the table, and the protection of their current benefits. IBEW Members enjoy that same security for the skills and labor they provide to JEA and the City of Jacksonville. Our IBEW 2358 contract guaranteeing the best wages, benefits, and working conditions possible. The information in this booklet is just the beginning. I look forward to working with you and your co-workers in placing your future with JEA and the City of Jacksonville. IN YOUR OWN HANDS. If you have any questions or would like to speak with an IBEW Officer, please feel free to contact us anytime. Sister in Solidarity, Valerie A. Gutierrez President/Business Manager IBEW Local Union 2358

Leadership Team and Support Staff

The Importance of Participation

Membership

Your Issues Addressed with a Contract

Workplace Rights

Getting Involved

Benefits Beyond Your Workplace

Union Sportsman Alliance

The PERC Process

Why the IBEW Started

Inside you will find………

IBEW Local 2358 Leadership Team

President / Business Manager

Valerie A. Gutierrez Email: arc7650@yahoo.com

4040 Woodcock Drive Suite 110 Jacksonville, FL 32207 (904) 396-0395 Office (904) 483-7628 Cell

Vice President Ray Olan-Diaz

Email: mxruas@aol.com (904) 477-9705

Recording Secretary

Rhody Mullis

Financial Secretary Eugene Winters

Treasure

David Dinkins

Virgil HarrisHerbert TaylorWayne McDonaldJames Taylor

Executive Board Virgil Harris Jesse Ferraraccio Herbert Taylor Travis Stratmann Wayne McDonald Richard Goodin James Taylor Jeff Milligan

Stewards Justin Pippin Randall Barlow Robin Karoly Ron Milligan Lisa Summerlin Florence Bourne-Freeman Marvin Webster Vernon Keenan Larry Shuler Jacob Wyss David Pelt Greg Johnson Richard Bakai Natasha Jackson John Merrell

I became a member because…….. “The IBEW offers serve a strong future for working people and equal pay for equal work. I am now proud to my Brothers and Sisters to further our purposes and strength-en our union” Shannon Skinner 28 Year Member

By Joining Together, We Have More of a Say in Our Working Lives.

As a union we will negotiate with JEA and the City of Jacksonville for better wages and benefits, fair treat-ment, safe working conditions and a harassment-free workplace. We do this by having a Labor and Man-agement working relationship. These goals are achieved because of the strength which comes from our unity within the membership.

WE THE PEOPLE came together IN ORDER TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION. Employers join the Chamber of Commerce and doctors join the American Medical Association. All such groups recognize the power that comes from joining together to work toward common goals.

Working people, recognizing that there is strength in numbers and joining a union achieves a common goal.

Through our unions, we achieve a strong voice, but it takes numbers to have a voice that cannot be easily dismissed by management.

The more members that join, the stronger a union will be. The more JEA Employees that belong to the IBEW 2358, the stronger their position will be at the negotiating table. IBEW has Public Employees across the United States that have had Union Contracts for many years. Using those contracts as a template to model the successful parts, and with the strength of their fellow Union members behind them, JEA Employees associated with IBEW 2358 have negotiated for better wages, safety and rights. There are now more than 500+ employees eligible to be represented by the IBEW 2358 throughout JEA. I joined the IBEW because……..

“The union provides a safe workplace so I can go home to my family. It provides us with wages and insurance. All this is through unity with my coworkers.”

Eugene Production Tech 35 Year Member

The Importance of Participation

Union Dues are voted on and decided by the membership as the necessary amount to invest in their future and secure a strong representation. Just like the Chamber of Commerce, your place of worship, or any other membership organization, financial support is a fact of life. Being part of the Interna-tional Brotherhood of Electrical Workers gives us the support and resource needed to have a strong presents at the negotiat-ing table. Dues are used to run the local union and keep it strong. There are strict accounting of funds required by federal and state laws as well as the International offices. A Financial report conducted by our CPA is available at each monthly meeting.

Having a Union Means…….. “BROTHERHOOD!!!!! Ryan Apprentice 2 Year Member

Union Dues pay for the cost of representing the members. As a non–profit organization, these funds are used to represent YOU. Here at Local 2358, the monthly dues are $40.00 per month for a “BA” membership and $60.00 for an “A” membership.

When you become an “A” member you are eligible for addi-tional pension and death benefit. An “A” member of the IBEW with continuous good standing of 5 years or more immediately preceding their application, who is at least 65, shall receive pension benefits for life from the Pension Ben-efit Fund (PBF) at the rate of $4.50/month for each full year of continuous “A” membership. Example: 20 years of con-tinuous service at 4.50 per Month per year of Service you would earn $90.00 per Month. After just 6 months as an “A” member in good standing your Named Beneficiaries may receive a $6,250 death benefit if death occurs by natural causes or $12,500 for those who die by accident.

What are the Dues?

Working under a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and Having Representation. Means you have someone negotiating the best possible

Wages, Working Conditions and Benefits in a contract that will not change unless negotiated and approved by the Membership . It is nice to know someone has your back.

Your Work Schedule will not change without 20 hour

notice. There was a time that JEA could let you know at

anytime the work schedule would change with no negotiations required. A Union Contract can clearly define shift start and stop times, how much notice must be given for changes or overtime, and when work outside of the normal shift is considered overtime.

What happens if I disagree with management over a

review, discipline, etc. Our Contract address disagreements through a

progressive GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE. The first step requires a manager to have an informal talk with the employee and/or a Union representative. Additional steps involve higher levels of management, up to binding arbitration by an independent third party.

> Your Issues: Addressing

them in the IBEW Contract

I have to turn my Prism on an hour before my shift with no pay: The Region 2 contract makes it clear that the workday starts at the be-ginning of the shift. All work time is paid time. The CSE’s are not re-quired to turn their phones or Prisms on before the start of their shifts, but they do have the option to answer calls before their shift, and that time is paid at overtime rates. I have to use a full day PTO for a one-hour doctor appointment: The Union Contract allows PTO to be used in one-hour increments. I have vacation scheduled, but the manager says I have to work: The Union Contract states no employee shall be required to work while on PTO. I have heard that FairPoint has been sub-contracting work out to Cassling: The Union Contract gives FairPoint the ability to use sub-contractors, but only for specialized work, like plumbing or refrigeration. In no case does the Union Contract allow sub-contractors to displace Union CSE’s.

We have vacation and Holidays Negotiated in Our Contract:

A Union Contract can clearly spell out the vacation and time off procedure, and which Holidays are paid. You also get a Personal Day which must be used by the end of each fiscal year.

We have set Wages for employees doing the same job according to their seniority:

A Union Contract clearly defines wages for each job classification, and the amount of steps it takes to be at the top pay.

We don’t get hassled when we need time off to take care of a sick family member, or ourselves:

Local 2358 strongly believes that families are a very important part to an employee and we make every effort to

Your Issues: Addressing

them in the IBEW Contract

support that belief. This may include Bereavement, Personal leave and making sure the employer follows the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

“The thing that most impresses an IBEW 2358 member is not the incremental improvements to the contract, but rather that they have a meaningful voice at the table.”

Valerie President/Business Manager Local 2358

Weingarten Rights

Having a Union Means…….. “A team of great people behind me for whatever I need. A family with the same interests, better work conditions, a safer workplace, and a team of people that will fight for those things.” Kevin 20 Year Member

Having a Union means you have representation that your employer cannot deny. If a Union Member feels their supervisor is having a conversation that could lead to discipline, they can invoke their Weingarten Rights! The Union defends you, and gives members a way to defend each other by standing together.

IBEW 2358 is involved within the community and engag-es our members. Our communities know who we are, and most importantly we give back to those around us. Using the principle “Strength in Numbers”, community service is the perfect opportunity for IBEW members to work together to make significant contributions to the causes that are near and dear to them.

Whether it is Adopt-a-Highway, Wounded Warrior Pro-ject or Labor Day. IBEW members prove every year our great Union is about much more than workers rights. The IBEW stands for human rights, dignity, and security.

If you so decide, you will become part of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local Union 2358, AFL-CIO, and the Florida Elec-trical Workers Association (FEWA). You will have the same voice and membership rights as all 700,000 mem-bers of the IBEW. As an IBEW Member, at the local level, you will have the right to attend union meetings, sit on committees, vote on contracts and run for office. On the national level, you will also join together with your co-workers and utilize the strength of your collective voices to ensure all sides of national issues are heard. The members of the IBEW are fighting to keep our members’ jobs secure and we need your support to make the biggest impact possible.

Having a Union Means…….. “A chance for fair wages and benefits for all members” Bennie Meterman 23 Year Member

A Place To Get Involved

Benefits Beyond Your Workplace

Legal Services Life Insurance Loan Program College advisor Access to scholarships Ear Care Plan Flower Service Accident Insurance Rental Car Discounts Mortgage and Real Estate Programs Local Discounts Ford Discount Dodge Discount Palm Dignity Memorial Discount $20,000 Accidental

Death Insurance

Work Wear Discounts Vacation Discounts Car Rental Discounts Access to Additional

Pensions & 401K Mortgage Programs Wireless Discounts Credit Counseling Moving Discounts Dental Savings Motor Club Pet Savings Union Plus And More!

Being a union member has many benefits, most importantly is having a voice in your future. The IBEW has also secured many benefits for our members outside of their workplace.

The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance is a one-of-a-kind hunting, fishing

and conservation organization dedicated to Union members, retir-

ees and their families. Whether it’s fins, feathers or fur that get

your heart pumping, the USA will make your outdoor experience

more enjoyable with exclusive discounts on outdoor gear, the

latest hunting and fishing news and tips, chances to win fantastic

prizes and trips, the opportunity to participate in shooting events

and conservation projects and a wide range of outdoor services.

More than six million active and retired AFL-CIO union members

hunt, fish or shoot. Collectively, they make up the largest

constituency of sportsmen and sportswomen in North America.

Being a sportsman or sportswoman isn’t something they do; it’s who

they are. And when they’re not on the job, they’re usually spending

their time with family, friends or union brothers and sisters on the

water, in the woods or in the field enjoying America’s great

outdoors.

As a union-operated, union-dedicated, 501(c)(3) conservation

organization, the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) is committed

to uniting these millions of union sportsmen and

sportswomen into one community with a shared commitment to

educate future generations of sportsmen, conserve healthy

wildlife habitat and volunteer their time and skills for projects

that improve access to quality places to hunt, fish and shoot.

Through its vibrant multimedia program, dynamic

programs and events, and uniquely designed place-based

conservation efforts, the USA is connecting union

members on a lifestyle level to create solidarity through

the great outdoors and help preserve the outdoor way

of life that defines North America.

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Chapter 447 LABOR ORGANIZATIONS

447.301 (2) Public employees shall have the right to be represented by any employee organization of their own choosing and to negotiate collectively, through a certi-fied bargaining agent, with their public employer in the determination of the terms and conditions of their em-ployment. Public employees shall have the right to be represented in the determination of grievances on all terms and conditions of their employment. Public em-ployees shall have the right to refrain from exercising the right to be represented.

Chapter 447

I. PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RELATIONS COMMISSION (PERC) STATUTE & RULES

447.201 Statement of policy.—The public policy of this state, and the purpose of this part, is to provide statutory implementation of s. 6, Art. I of the State Constitution, with respect to public employees; to promote harmonious and cooperative relationships between government and its employees, both collectively and individually; and to protect the public by assuring, at all times, the orderly and uninterrupted operations and functions of government. Nothing herein shall be construed either to encourage or discourage organization of public employees.

Chapter 447 FL Statutes & Rules

The IBEW is an organization that relies on members’ support and involvement for strength. The more active the members are, the stronger the union is. It is a union with a clear record of dedication to the principles of fairness and dignity at the workplace. While the IBEW is the largest, strongest, and oldest union devoted to electrical workers, it also represents workers in many other industries and occupations. You and your co-workers have the right to elect the officers of your local union, attend local union meetings where the members set policy for their officers to carry out, and vote on contracts that your representatives negotiate. Your local union has the main responsibility for enforcing your rights under the union contract.

The 10 men from five cities who met above Stolley's Dance Hall in St. Louis in 1891 had one objective: to make life better for themselves, their families, and those around them. They, and those who continued their work, have made life better for themselves and for hundreds of thousands of workers like you. If we want to continue to enjoy the benefits of union representation, we must work toward increasing our numbers. A strong union movement is one of the major factors in protecting our future. It enables us to negotiate for and win good wages, benefits, and working conditions. The IBEW is committed not only to preserving the gains fought for by our ancestors in the labor movement, but to continually improving the quality of life for all workers.

Why was the IBEW started?

“Reporting shows that Union Members have

greater access to health care, retirement and leave benefits. Today’s numbers make it clear that Union Jobs are critical to a strong economy. And a strong economy depends on a strong and growing middle class”

Hilda Solis comments re: OPA News Release 12-0169-NAT

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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IBEW Local Union 2358 4040 Woodcock Drive Suite 110 Jacksonville, FL 32207 (904) 396-0395 Office (904) 483-7628 Cell