Contract Negotiations Update From the Business Manager

July 25, 2019

Sisters and Brothers,

The intent of this correspondence is to apprise you of recent communications regarding the continued attempt of your negotiating committee to secure a fair and equitable contract on your behalf. A document from NECA which is titled “LA/NECA Package Proposal No.15 Summary” is purported to have been presented and/or part of our negotiations. This is not the case. In the past few months, the IBEW and NECA negotiating committees have met for no less than 15 meetings and have not come to an agreement. Last month, NECA forced us to present you with their proposals which the members in attendance voted 98 percent to reject. With a separate and distinct vote, 92 percent of the members voted to authorize a strike. We couldn’t proceed as committees, so a NECA representative and an IBEW International Representative were called in to try and mediate an agreement. These meetings were all deemed as “off the record.” After two days of trying to negotiate an agreement we ended with no resolution. All proposals from NECA included a paid sick day exemption and waivers of legal rights afforded even unrepresented electrical workers under State and Federal Law. As it stands, we are scheduled to meet Friday, July 26, 2019, for a final attempt to reach a tentative agreement. We are prepared to meet all day and night in hopes of having something to present you at our scheduled meeting the following day. The IBEW negotiating committee will not present this “Package 15” or any other proposals which we feel are not fair and would have a negative impact on your rights as workers. If we have nothing to present, this meeting will be to appoint picket captains and give directions to those members in attendance of our strike strategy and potential targets. Plan to attend this critical meeting and remain united as one.

Remember, a “house divided against itself will not stand.” Matthew 12:22-28.

Yours in solidarity,

Joël Barton
IBEW 11 Business Manager

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