As summer comes to a close and fall quickly approaches, many of us change gears. We prepare our children for school, we put away our summer toys and get ready for our hibernation period. I hope that everyone had an enjoyable summer. I thank everyone for their diligence, perseverance and patience during this very trying time. I’m hopeful that sometime in the future, there will be some sense of normalcy returning to our lives. Until then please keep safety in the forefront at home and at work. Wear a mask, wash your hands and maintain social distancing (6’ or more).
Here are some of the issues I’ve been working on since my last article:
Comcast
20COM-001 through 20COM-012 – Change in Holiday recognition – grievances were filed due to the Company changing the date the July 4thholiday was recognized by employees that are normally scheduled to work the weekend. These grievances have been settled and the Company will recognize future holidays on the actual date for employees that are normally scheduled to work the weekend.
20COM-013 – Union work being performed by non-union employees – currently at 2nd step.
20COM-014 – Payroll discrepancies – Employees were not being paid correctly within the new payroll system. Settlement pending.
Ephrata Borough
Update on the Journeyman Lineman that was electrocuted in mid-April – Bruce Haws has been progressing through the recovery process with determination to return to a sense of normalcy. Bruce has been released to return to work, light duty and no extreme temperatures. I was able to speak with Bruce on August 12thto welcome him back. He is in good spirits and is thankful to be back at work. His recovery is not complete, but it is on a positive track.
Hansen
I’ve been notified that Hansen has lost a large client which has resulted in the layoff of 11 bargaining unit positions, effective 8/17/2020.
PPL
Grievance Resolution Meeting
20GO-001 – Vacancy not filled Output Center
20GO-002 – Vacancy not filled Facilities Management – Settled promotions offered in the progression line and Company filled a Facilities Logistics Worker position
20GO-004 – Management performing Bargaining Unit work – the duties of the bookkeeper are being performed by management. No settlement was reached. This has been submitted for mediation.
20GO-005 – Vacancy not filled in drafting
20GO-006 – Vacancy not filled in Facilities
20CEN-003 – Discrimination
20CEN-004 – Company denied change in retirement date – Employee submitted paper to retire 6/1/20 and then sent a follow up note correcting the initial date. The Company denied the follow up and retained the employee’s retirement date.
20LEH-010 – Management performing BU work – additional information requested will reconvene after receiving information.
20LEH-011 – Management performing BU work – additional information requested will reconvene after receiving information.
20LEH-012 – Management performing BU work – additional information requested will reconvene after receiving information.
20LEH-013 – Management performing BU work – additional information requested will reconvene after receiving information.
20LEH-014 – Management performing BU work – additional information requested will reconvene after receiving information.
In addition to the above GRMs:
- A meet and discuss was held regarding the work being done in the “Einstein” program. “Einstein” is the online Dial Directory created by the CCC BU and used as an online reference manual for any and all tasks performed. Information has been requested and a reconvene will be scheduled.
- A meet and discuss was held to discuss the newly established Temporary Records Center. Management has advised LU 1600 that the contractor BerksOne was no longer involved with the project to digitize all Company records. The remaining documents have been sent to a Temporary Records Center, located in the Lehigh Valley. Management has been advised that work performed at the Record Center is specifically enumerated in the Output Operator job classification and is BU work.
- A discussion was held with regards to the Designer test. The parties have agreed to waive this testing requirement for the one-time promotion opportunity defined in MA 19-0350.
- The Union proposal for the revision to the CCC progression has been sent to the Company. We are waiting for a Company response.
One last item, the arbitration was held for the denial to access Article X for the closure of the Schuylkill Service Center. The Company position is that the locations (Schuylkill SC and Frackville SC) are within close proximity of each other and the work was moved to Frackville therefore, Article X does not apply. The Union position is that the service center was closed, and the work was reassigned to another location. Briefs will be submitted by both parties by the end of September and a decision should be received within 30 to 60 days after the briefs are submitted.
