Puget Sound Energy Report

---

---

Puget Sound Energy

 

We have entered the last year of a (4) year agreement. The Agreement expires October 1^st 2010. The last wage increase of this agreement 3% went into affect October 1^st.  I am expecting changes to the CBA next year; the biggest issue we will face is the on-going call-out policy implemented by the company. We have spent years trying to work out a workable solution. It’s not the fact that call outs are not being answered in fact, you are responding at an all time high. We are losing our personal time with our families and the fact that we have to share our weekend plans with management has gone too far. This has been discussed at length in Labor Management. It’s the last year of the agreement so prepare.

 

Other potential changes to the agreement:

v    Posting requirements and dates.

v    Gas Worker Training language updates.

v    Accrual vacation pay

v    Uniforms

 

Gas Workers Conference

 

This past September, I attended a Gas Workers Conference and took Shop Stewards, Ray Brickell CFS, Troy Shopin Fitter and Gary Spolestra, Pressure Control. The United Association hosted the conference and we where able to reach out to gas workers from all over the country to discuss many of the same issues we face at the Utility. The conference is and continues to be an informative way to learn about changes in this ever changing industry that you work in.  We all have common issues that we face regardless if you’re in Seattle Washington or New Jersey.

 

 

 

 

Local 32 Gas Training Trust

 

In 2010, the Training Trust will begin its eighth (8^th) year.  Next year, a Customer Field Service and Fitter school are already scheduled. A new Gas Worker Training Group Six (6) is scheduled to start in February, 2010.

 

The first year of the Training Trust was January, 2003, Steve Jones was hired as a Training Coordinator, and Tony Smith was hired as the Welding Coordinator performing the mandatory weld and fusion certification for both the contractors and PSE. Tony teaches BOA Weld School for PSE employees and our members working for the contractors.  He also teaches Weld Inspection Schools, when they are needed or required by PSE.

 

In June of 2003, Fred de Leest joined the team as a Training Coordinator and, at that time, the training staff was complete, or so we thought.  We never fully imagined it would grow into what it is today.

 

The early years were one of growth and catching up with all the training needed at the Utility. As the training needs increased, so did the need for support.

 

In June, 2005, Ronda Young joined the team to give the group much needed operational support.   Today, she operates and maintains all the training and OQ records for both the PSE and the contractors. She also works with scheduling and preparing curriculum needed for the schools. She has been diligent in upgrading our computer software to meet the continuous needs required by Operator Qualification and maintaining the training records.

 

Dave Wooten joined the team in January of 2007, as we needed help in Cathodic Protection Training and none could argue his expertise in this area. With the training needs picking up and schools going back-to-back, Dave was able to help in both the Fitter Schools and Customer Service Schools, along with overseeing the annual Nace Training that was being held at the hall.  This past year, Dave taught a successful Pressure Control School.

 

2007 was also a year of loss. Steve Jones succumbed to an illness in April.  Losing Steve was a great loss, not just as a trainer, but he was also a supervisor for many years at the Utility and he had a profound effect on anyone who knew him. He will never be forgotten. 

 

Dan Perdue joined the team in June of 2007, and immediately jumped in and started where Steve left off. Many of the online training programs being utilized by PSE members was initialing developed by Dan and Ronda.  Now all the trainers use the online training software as way to develop and store training materials needed for future Gas Workers Schools and Journeymen schools.  I don’t know if anyone imagined that we would be doing online training to the extent that we are today. 

 

 

Gas Worker Training Program

With the conclusion of 2006, PSE negotiations began the start of the Gas Worker Training Program.  Previous to this program, a Helper would have to wait years to get into a Journeyman class. With the Gas Worker Trainee Program, that process has been greatly reduced.  The first GWT began in January, 2007, with 15 students, also known as Group One (1).   In January, 2010, Group Six (6) will start with 15 new students. As of today, PSE has hired over 60 new employees who have entered and successfully passed the program. Gas Worker Trainee Groups One (1) Two (2) and Three (3) have all passed either a Customer Service or Fitter School. Group Four (4) will start either Fitter School or Customer Service School in January, 2010.  It’s hard to fully summarize all the full- time training going on at the Utility, but the dedication by the training staffs, at both the Gas Training trust and the Utility, has helped to provide good journeymen jobs for our members.

 

As we get ready to start 2010, one thing that hasn’t changed is the need for ongoing, continuous training, along with the Operator Qualification requirement, the training group is always learning new techniques and preparing for the future. And I thank them for their dedication to the membership.

 

Respectfully submitted

 

Jeffery J Owen

Assistant Business Manager

Local 32