LABOR BULLETIN
By
BUSINESS MANAGER BOB WARD
FEBRUARY 2023
WOMEN’S COMMITTEE
Recently our local received a certificate of recognition for the newly formed Local 340 Women’s Committee. We now proudly display the Charter’s certificate in our Union Hall. In addition to being recognized, the committee also went to the 2022 International Women’s Conference in Washington D.C. in attendance was Michelle Stoffel, Gina White, Stefanie Crockett, Brittany Hunt, and Mary Min Vincent. There were many supporters at this conference of both men and women. Much value and insight was shared at this conference which I am sure will inspire and assist our own Women’s Committee to grow and outreach in our community.
RENEW
Local 340’s RENEW group is back with their 2nd Annual Cornhole Tournament. It will be held on March 25th at the Union Hall. If you are interested in playing, please call or text Taras at 916-969-7952. Entry fees are $25 or $10 for apprentices. Any team sign ups must include at least one 340 member. There will be plenty of food and entertainment for the whole family along with raffle prizes.
SPORTSMAN’S CLUB
Events are picking up and the Sportsman’s Club is next in line to hold one of their first events for this year. The IBEW NorCal Clay Shoot will take place on Saturday, April 8th at Raahauge’s Hunting and Sporting Clays, located in Dunnigan. Admission will include all needed shotshells, a giftbag, and lunch. Join them for this family friendly event that is always a big hit! Tickets will be available for purchase on February 1st and will go fast! If interested, please contact Liz McInnis via email at ejmh@ibew1245.org or via phone 707-452-2720.
END OF THE YEAR STATEMENTS
The end of the year statements will be available online again this year by logging onto our website under the Dues section. Please note if you have not logged on before there are instructions for first time users. If you would like a copy mailed to you or are having trouble logging in, you can call the hall and we can assist you.
MONTHLY BASIC DUES INCREASE – ALL MEMBERS
Effective January 2023 dues for monthly membership for all members will be increased. Please note that all “A” members are increasing by $4.00, and all “BA” members are increasing by $2.00. If you are a BA member, we have mailed you as well as your employer noting this change.
This increase comes on behalf of the International Office, it is not something we impose or keep at the local level.
NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION
The next scheduled New Member Orientation is set for April 11, 2023. Notices have gone out to those who missed the last class in January. We had such a great turn out and many great questions were asked. As always spouses/significant others are welcome to attend with members. This upcoming class will be at 5 pm here at the IBEW Union Hall. We will send reminders as the date approaches, please be sure to mark your calendars and we hope all new members come ready with their questions.
NEBF – RETIREE TEMPORARY RETURN TO WORK NOTICE
To help with the Journeyman Inside Wireman and Sound & Communication Installer manpower shortage that all IBEW Locals are experiencing, NEBF has once again changed the working rules for Retirees. If you are currently retired and would like to go back to work for about 3 months or perhaps take some short calls, this temporary Return to Work Amendment changes the suspension rules for certain eligible retirees. Following are the features of the amendment:
- The temporary amendment is effective from January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023.
- All normal and early retirees with a pension effective date of December 2018 or earlier will be permitted to return to covered and contributory employment only and will be permitted to work for up to 600 hours during the above period without a loss of NEBF benefits. This amendment applies only to the NEBF Plan. (In order to receive benefits from other funds it will depend on the rules of those funds.)
- Once an individual has worked for 600 hours in covered and contributory employment during the term of the temporary amendment, the individual will no longer be able to take advantage of this amendment and the normal rules (permitting work in the electrical industry for less than forty (40) hours per month without a suspension of benefits) will apply.
- Disability pensioners are not eligible (the existing rules applicable to disabled pensioners remain in effect).
- Only retirees who return to NEBF covered and contributory employment will be able to take advantage of this amendment – this amendment will not apply to persons who work for covered employers where no NEBF contributions are required or to persons who work for non-covered employers in the electrical industry.
SCHOLARSHIPS (2)
IBEW Local 340 Harry R. Bain Scholarship Award – For Dependents
Local 340 is going to award 2 (two) college scholarships ($1,000 for 1st prize and $500 for 2nd prize). These scholarships are available to sons, grandsons, daughters, granddaughters or legal dependents of members of Local 340. The General Rules and Instructions, as well as the application, can be requested from the Sacramento Business Office or the Redding Office. You can either call or email the Office Manager, Reyna Jimenez, at reyna@ibewlocal340.org or 916-539-0412 to have them sent to you. Please note: the completed application must be received in the Sacramento Business Office by March 10, 2023 to be considered.
IBEW Founders Scholarship – For all IBEW Members (not dependents)
The IBEW Founders’ Scholarship honors the dedicated wiremen and linemen who organized the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers on November 28, 1981. Each year the officers of the IBEW are pleased to offer its working members scholarships on a competitive basis. It is hoped that the awards will not only contribute to the personal development of our members but also steward the electrical industry that our founders envisioned. The award is for $200 per semester credit hour at any accredited college or university toward an associate’s, bachelors or postgraduate degree in an approved field. The maximum distribution is $24,000 per person over a period not to exceed eight years.
Any member interested in applying for the IBEW Founders Scholarship can do so by going on-line at www.ibew.org. Click on “Resources and Links” at the top, scroll down to the box labeled “Founders Scholarship”. You will receive information on this scholarship as well as be able to download the application. These applications can also be picked up at the Business Office. This scholarship is for any member who has been in continuous good standing and paid dues (without an Honorary Withdrawal for the four years prior to May 1, 2023). This is not a scholarship for your dependents. All applications and required information must be mailed directly to the IBEW in Washington, DC and must be postmarked May 1, 2023.
ACCIDENTS/ILLNESSES
Retired Brother Hugh Huff passed away on 1/18/23. He was a 69-year member and 92 years of age. Services are set for May 19th at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon at 1:30 pm.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family at this time.
OFFICE CLOSURES
Monday, February 20th – President’s Day
Monday, May 29th – Memorial Day
UPCOMING MEETINGS
SACRAMENTO MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS – 1st Wednesdays @ 6PM – 10240 Systems Parkway, Sacramento 95827
REDDING UNIT MEETING – 1st Wednesdays
Chico Union Hall @ 5:30 (Odd Months)
Redding Union Hall @ 5:30 (Even Months)
For Northern Area business and then join in the Sacramento meeting @ 6PM via webinar
SOUND & COMMUNICATIONS UNIT MEETING – Quarterly on the 4TH Tuesdays of January, April, July & October at the Hall – NEXT QUARTERLY S&C MEETING Tuesday April 25th @ 5:00PM – Note: Seven (7) members needed to have a quorum.
CIVIL SERVICE UNIT MEETING – Quarterly on the 3RD Thursdays of January, April, July & October at the Hall. NEXT QUARTERLY CIVIL SERVICE MEETING Thursday April 20th @ 5:00PM – Note: Five (5) members needed to have a quorum.
