Sisters and Brothers,

On the Inside out-of-work list

we have 9 on Book 1, 29 on

Book 2, 7 on Book 3, and 3

on Book 4. There are 3 on

CW Book 1 and 68 on CW

Book 2. There are 4

apprentices on the out-of-

work list.

C o m m u n i t y C h o i c e

Aggregation (CCA) is in the

process of forming locally. A

n e w g o v e r n m e n t

organization, called Monterey

Bay Community Power

montereybaycca.org, will

start delivering power to

customers sometime next

year. Customers will continue

to receive a PG&E bill, however, the electric portion will

come from this new government entity. The idea behind

CCA is to deliver greener power at a cheaper price. All

18 cities and the 3 counties in our jurisdiction are in the

process of deciding whether they want to join this new

Joint Powers Authority (JPA). We have been urging them

to join. However, we have also been urging them to

amend the language in the JPA document. We are asking

for a focus on local renewable buildout. We also want to

see enabling language in the JPA for a Community

Advisory Board and a Business Plan. Our community

needs to be able to give input on the function and

operation (all other CCA’s have one). Additionally

important is a Business Plan which would provide a

roadmap for the development, procurement, and

integration of local renewable and clean energy

resources. The focus on local needs to be the key

component of this program. Buying green power from

outside our region does not help us reduce greenhouse

gases, invigorate our economy with local jobs, or improve

our community. You should reach out to your elected

officials to let them know how to make Monterey Bay

Community Power better. Share these three ideas with

them: instead of a statewide approach we need to

prioritize local and regional, we need to include a

Community Advisory Board, and finally we need to

include a Business Plan.

Sav-Rx Prescription Services has once again provided

improved rates to our members. This year the projected

savings to our Inside H&W Plan will be approximately

$37k. Sav-Rx utilizes unique programs, including

manufacturer fraud and abuse programs, maximizing

patient assistance programs and high impact advocacy

programs for high cost specialty medications, all to

control costs at no additional cost to the fund. We strive

to have a high generic drug utilization since generic drugs

are cheaper for the Plan and member’s out-of-pocket

expenses. Last year our overall generic utilization rate

was 83.1%. The previous year it was 81.5%.

Sound & Comm members should have received their

benny cards after the first of the year. They currently

contribute $0.50 per hour to that account. Inside

members should have also received their benny cards.

This was a one-time contribution made for each Inside

member on behalf of the Health & Welfare Plan. Future

contributions would have to again be authorized by the

Health & Welfare Plan or be allocated by the membership

as part of a future raise. You can check the balance of

your benny card at my.wexhealthcard.com. Use your

Social Security number for the Member ID.

Inside members need to complete the online Health

Questionnaire and physician screening by November

30th, 2017, the form is on page 2.

Wednesday, March 1st is the Charter anniversary of

Local 234. Local 234 was chartered on March 1, 1970.

and celebrates it’s 47th anniversary. Our President, Mike

Ihnot, did some interesting research from the Convention

on the origin and history of our Local number 234, see

page 6 for details.

Daylight Savings begins on March 12th. Spring

forward by setting your clocks one-hour ahead at 2am on

Sunday morning.

Business Manager’s Report by Andy Hartmann

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 234

IBEW Local 234

Newsletter Local 234 Officers:

Andy Hartmann

Business Manager/

Financial Secretary

Mike Ihnot

President

Al Randall

Vice President

Nick Prelgovisk

Treasurer

Stephen Slovacek

Recording Secretary/

Registrar

Andy Gattis

Rick Keaton

Stefan Marceron

Gale Michalek

Executive Board

The Electrical Worker’s Union for Monterey, San Benito,

and Santa Cruz Counties March 2017

Page 2

IBEW Local 234

Newsletter

March 2017

Page 3

This Month in Labor History 1 March 1918

President Wilson signs into law a Post Office appropriation increasing entrance salary to

$1,000 a year and the maximum to $1,500.

2 March 1913

Postal workers granted an 8 hour day.

18 March 1970

Beginning of the first postal strike in U.S. history.

23 March 1970

President Nixon declares a national emergency, orders 30,000 troops to New York City to break postal strike.

24 March 1970

Troops enter New York City post offices. Secretary of Labor advises unions negotiations will begin March 25.

24 March 1974

Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) founded at a meeting of 3,000 women trade unionists from 58 labor organizations. The coalition was formed to promote equal rights and better wages and working conditions for women workers.

25 March 1911

Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire in New York City. Killed were 147 young workers, most of them Jewish and Italian immigrant women. The workers were locked in by their employer. The tragedy inspired new fire safety laws.

25 March 1970

Postal strike ends. Tour 3 workers in New York City return to work following mass rally outside GPO after eight days on the picket lines.

Source: Association of Flight Attendants-CWA calafa.org

Electrician Job Opening at Lhoist Lhoist North America has an opening for an Electrician at the Natividad Plant in Salinas.

IBEW Local 234 has a multi-craft Maintenance Agreement for this facility. This is a full-time

hourly position. The hiring salary is $30/hour. Lhoist is wanting someone with 5-7 years of

electrical experience. Previous heavy manufacturing and/or mining experience is highly

preferred. Lhoist requires that applicants have a High School Diploma or GED and an

Associates Degree or Certificate in Industrial Electrical Technology. They prefer a General

Certified Journeyman Electrician. The duties include: perform electrical and instrumentation

inspections, repairs and rebuilds on all plant operating equipment to ensure continuous

operation within the required quality control standards.

Apply online at https://goo.gl/WqElnh

#LoveYourCar Whether it's buying, maintaining or insuring your car, Union Plus has many ways you can

show your car a little love.

Find Your Perfect Match using the Union Plus Auto Buying Service

Take Care of Your Baby with protection from the Union Plus Auto Insurance program

Help Her Hug the Road with discounts on tires and service from Goodyear

Keep a Hero on Call for help with emergency roadside assistance from Union Plus Motor

Club

Click Here to USE YOUR UNION PLUS AUTO BENEFITS TO #LOVEYOURCAR

Tri-County Electrical JATC Training News (831) 633-3063

Page 4

OSHA 30 Class Demonstrate your commitment to workplace safety and compliance with OSHA 30. OSHA

30, with Instructor Stephen Slovacek, is scheduled for Saturday, March 4th at 7am. The

complete class schedule will be shared on the first night of class. Call to reserve your place

in the class.

This is a stand-alone OSHA 30 course. It does not matter when you last completed OSHA

10. The six month rule does not apply to this class. This is a 30-hour course.

Our LMCC incentivizes members to take classes. Members have an opportunity to win two

$100 gift cards. Two gift cards are awarded quarterly. The first $100 gift card is awarded to

the member that satisfies the most hours of upgrade classes in the quarter (i.e., October,

November, December). The second $100 gift card is awarded via a give-away. For every

four hours of training completed, members will receive an entry in the give-away; there is no

limit to the number of entries. The person who is recognized with the most hours and wins

the first $100 gift card is not eligible for the give-away. Classes must be successfully

completed for members to earn entries in the give-away.

In addition, the LMCC already pays a $125 stipend to all members that successfully complete

either CALCTP, CALCTP-AT, or EVITP 3.0.

The Monterey Bay LMCC is providing all gift cards and stipends.

Get Paid to Take Classes

2017 Significant Changes Class Instructor David Martinez will be leading the way through the Significant Changes of the

2017 National Electrical Code. Drop on in! You are welcome to attend one class or as many

as you like in this series. This is a (3) hour class. The first class, in a one-year series, is

scheduled for Tuesday, March 21st at 5:30pm.

IBEW Founders' Scholarship The IBEW Founders’ Scholarship honors the dedicated wiremen and lineman who, on

November 28, 1891, organized the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. 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. This award is for $200 per semester credit hour at any accredited college or

university toward an associate’s, bachelor’s or postgraduate degree in a field that will further

the electrical industry overall (as determined by the Founders’ Scholarship Administrator).

The maximum distribution is $24,000 per person over a period not to exceed eight years.

The application and rules are available at goo.gl/ZXdST. Applications must be postmarked

prior to May 1, 2017.

Page 5

March 2017

In an effort to help better prepare students for the electrical apprenticeship, ElectricPrep has

partnered with the NJATC/ETA to offer voluntary courses to support applicants during the

entrance process for the IBEW/NECA apprenticeship training program. ElectricPrep helps

provide a better understanding of the electrical construction industry and the requirements.

If you know of anyone that is interested in applying to the apprenticeship have them check

out the resources at www.electricprep.com.

ElectricPrep

NFPA 70E with Instructor David Martinez on February 4th:

Lyle Abraham, Antonio Castro, Matt Craddock, Alex Escobar, John Greene, Miguel Huerta,

Nick Jackson, Art Juarez, Luis Lopez, Javier Martinez, Regi Ramirez, Kevin Rategan, Ricky

Rodriguez, Jeff Singer, Jonathan Stanley, and Danny Walford

CPR/First Aid with Blood-Borne Pathogens with Instructor RJ Sudyka on February

11th:

Robert Campbell, Corey Cardenas-Perron, Sergio Castillo, Sabyn Cupples, Earl Davis,

Mohammed Garaan, John Greene, Anthony Kalstrom, Phil Karleen, David Martinez, Enrique

Ramos, Manuel Ramos, Steve Rios, Brett Ritchie, Jeff Singer, Stephen Slovacek, and

Jonathan Stanley

Motors with Instructor David Martinez on February 21st:

Antonio Castro, Miguel Huerta, Jim Shumaker, and Jonathan Stanley

Congratulations on Completing Class

Shop at AmazonSmile and Amazon will make a donation to the Tri-County Electrical JATC.

Start your shopping at smile.amazon.com/ch/23-7114317

Customers Shop. Amazon Gives.

Pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship preparation, utilizing the Building Trades Multi-Craft

Core Curriculum (MC3), is a workforce training program that prepares participants to apply

for, enter, and successfully complete any of the Building Trades apprenticeship programs.

This is a unique grant opportunity in partnership with the Monterey/Santa Cruz Building

Trades Council Training & Education Fund and the Workforce Development Boards of

Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito.

Is there someone you know that is thinking about entering the Trades? Apprenticeship

Preparation has many benefits upon completion. Encourage them to attend this free

orientation.

Tuesday, March 7th, 2017 @ 4pm

Veteran’s Building

649 San Benito Street

Hollister, CA 95023

Tri-County Apprenticeship Preparation

Effective January 1, 2017 the electrician certification examination test switched from the

2011 to the 2014 National Electrical Code. If you are taking the exam on or after January 1,

2017, use the 2014 NEC code book to study.

State Certification Update

Page 6

IBEW Local 234

Newsletter

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jly Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

2014 13,920 12,948 13,878 14,527 11,303 15,494 16,567 17,029 17,756 20,813 20,217 22,051

2015 15,808 16,735 18,600 20,315 18,445 16,883 22,729 19,384 21,314 20,552 17,278 26,290

2016 19,261 23,079 28,717 26,409 28,240 34,712 38,914 42,807 44,507 70,054 89,814 89,372

2017 58,310

010,00020,00030,00040,00050,00060,00070,00080,00090,000

100,000

Shane Fragione Rodolfo Franco

Bryce Fuller Joseph Garcia

Leonard Gentry

Charles Gillis Heath Guaracha Osvaldo Guzman Rene Hernandez Kyle Hirayama

Michael Holcroft Florentino Lozano

Kevin Manhart Michael Martinez

Mark Maschmeyer James Myers

Lyle Abraham, Jr. Stanley Arnbrister

Shavonteia Ausbie William Beauchamp

Mark Breeding

Tikiyie Brooks Abel Cabello Patrick Cotter

James Crabtree Anthony Davis

Victor Diaz Willie Dietz

Erik Dybdahl Robert Earl

Jesus Escobedo Peggy Evans

Happy March Birthdays!

Devin Quintana Juan Rodriguez

Ricardo Rubio Hermilo Ruiz Dan Ryan, III

Kenneth Scherpinski Aaron Selbicky Tiffany Sellers

Marvin Swaithes Jaime Talingo

Emmanuel Torres Manuel Valdez

Alfonso Valero Dennis Wong

Inside Monthly Hours Report

Chattanooga, Tennessee March 11, 1902 - November 30, 1902

Schenectady, New York December 23, 1902 - December 31, 1906

Richmond, Indiana September 1, 1912 - December 31, 1912

Brainerd, Minnesota May 25, 1916 - ?

Paducah, Kentucky September 25, 1926 - April 20, 1931

Missoula, Montana April 11, 1939 - March 1, 1947

Castroville, California March 1, 1970 - present

History of Local 234

Blood Drive @ the Union Hall We will be hosting a blood drive with the American Red Cross. The blood drive will take place

on Saturday, March 25th from 10am to 3pm at the Union Hall and Training Center at

10300 Merritt Street in Castroville.

Make reservations to donate online at www.redcrossblood.org

Page 7

This Month’s Local 234 Winners! March 2017

Quote of the

Month

The winners from the February union meeting.

Voluntary PAC (Political Action Committee): Gale Michalek won $5 and donated it back.

Apprentice Give-Away: Sabyn Cupples won $23.40.

Give-Away Winners: Gale Michalek won a REXEL t-shirt.

Andres Laureano won a LED flashlight. Michael Gruber won a 234 No-Dog level.

The next general membership meeting will be:

Wednesday, March 8th, 2017 @ 6:30 pm

“We must accept finite

disappointment, but

never lose infinite

hope.”

- Martin Luther King

Jr.

Click here for the online calendar or goto http://www.ibew234.org/calendar/

March 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 ASH WEDNESDAY

2 3 4 OSHA 30 @ 7am

5 6 7 8 Membership Meeting @ 6:30pm

9 10 11 OSHA 30 @ 7am

12 DAYLIGHT

SAVINGS STARTS

13 14 15 16 ST. URHO’S

DAY

17 ST. PATRICK’S

DAY

18 OSHA 30 @

7am

19 20 FIRST DAY OF SPRING

21 JATC @ 5pm Significant Changes @ 5:30pm

22 E-Board Meeting @ 6pm

23 24 25 Blood Drive @ 10am

26 End of Pay Period

27 28 29 30 31

IBEW Local 234

10300 Merritt Street

Castroville, CA 95012

www.ibew234.org

(800) 499-4239

(831) 633-2311

(831) 633-0570 fax

thehall@ibew234.org

(831) 633-JOBS (5627)

Jobline

Tri-County Electrical

JATC

www.tricountyjatc.org

(831) 633-3063

(831) 633-3068 fax

info@tricountyjatc.org

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

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International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 234

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IBEW LOCAL 234

U.S. POSTAGE PAID CASTROVILLE, CA PERMIT NO. 410