Author Archives: Maggie Young

EAP Offers Support For Everyday Issues.Every Day.

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Sometimes, everyday issues are the hardest ones to manage. Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), SupportLinc can help with the demands that come with balancing home and work. They can provide a wide variety of services, confidentially and at no charge to you. SupportLinc is available 24 hours a day and 365 days of the year by calling 888 881-5462 or on the SupportLinc website with the username mei (for Maryland Electrical Industry).

Services include
  • Short-Term Counseling: In-person or video sessions with a licensed clinician to address stress, depression and more
  • Dependent Care Services: Resources and referrals for child care, elder care, adoption and more
  • Legal and Financial Services: Expert consultation with a lawyer and/or licensed financial counselor
  • Convenience Services: Resources and referrals for pet care, repair, travel and more
  • Support for Wellbeing: Health tools, exercise and fitness, nutrition and more

Fourth District Announces Design Contest

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Do you have the skills of an electrician, but the soul of an artist or graphic designer? The IBEW Fourth District has just announced a competition that gives you a chance to express both sides.

Gina Cooper, International Vice President of IBEW’s Fourth District, has put out the call for artistic electricians to try their hands at designing a unique district pin to be worn by each Fourth District delegate at the IBEW’s 40th International Convention. Traditionally, many delegates trade pins with delegates from other Districts while attending the Convention.

In a letter to Business Managers, Cooper said
“It has also been a long-standing tradition that the Fourth District designs something original every five years. I am asking for design ideas for our Fourth District Delegate pin from your Local Union Membership. When creating designs, please keep in mind the District’s motto of “The Fighting Fourth”. The imagination and creativity of our members continues to be amazing.”

 The Business Managers of the Fourth District will be presented with all of the designs that are submitted, and they will make the final design selection for the new delegate pin.

The deadline for design submission is March 1, 2021. Entries may be submitted via U.S. Mail or by email to ivpd_04@ibew.org.

Introducing Our New Mobile App, Labor Power

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We are delighted to introduce our new mobile app, Labor Power. It is a great tool to make your life easier, and who doesn’t need that these days?

 

You can update your address and contact information, see announcements and calendar events, pay your dues and more!

 

Download the app today – it is available for iOs and Android, or it can be accessed from your computer by going to ibew24.workingsystems.com .

 

For your first login:
  • Your Username is your Card Number or your Email address.
  • Your Initial Password is your Last name and the last four digits of your SSN
  • You are encouraged to change your password on your first login.

Stickers Now Available for 2021 Breast Cancer Support Fundraiser

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Breast cancer affects so many people that we all know someone whose life has been touched by it. Last year, Local 24 sold hard hat stickers to raise funds to provide services to help people in our community whose lives are being affected by a breast cancer diagnosis. Thanks to your support, the fundraiser was a great success and raised $1157.
 
This year, we are getting an earlier start and hope to raise even more money for this important cause. As Breast Cancer Awareness month (October) draws closer, Local 24 is proud to offer these Fighting For The Cure stickers, which can be purchased at the Halls in Baltimore and Salisbury for $1.00. Please stop in and pick up stickers for yourself and your fellow members on the job.
 
 
100% of the proceeds are being donated to Pinked Perspective and The Red Devils, which are both local breast cancer support organizations. Stop in to get your sticker and show your support today!

Keep The GROW Act Out Of The Next Stimulus Package!

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IBEW International President Stephenson Urges Members
To Contact Congress In Opposition To The GROW Act

In a letter dated July 23, 2020, President Lonnie Stephenson directed business managers and local officers to get the word out to IBEW members – multiemployer pension plans like ours are in jeopardy again, due to an act that is part of the new stimulus package in Congress.

To protect your pension, all members are asked to call your senators and representatives
to oppose the inclusion of the GROW Act in the upcoming stimulus bill.

Click here to find your representative or senators.

In his letter, President Stephenson explained “It is anticipated that the United States Congress and Trump Administration will consider a final pandemic stimulus bill in the coming weeks. One of our major concerns is the potential inclusion of the Give Retirement Options to Workers (GROW) Act, which would allow multiemployer pension trustees to divert contributions from an existing defined benefit multiemployer pension plan to a new composite plan with inferior benefits and not enough money to fund both plans. The GROW Act would subject workers and retirees to dramatic benefit cuts and allow employers to leave existing plans without paying their share of the plans’ liabilities.”

This fact sheet lays out a summary of concerns regarding the GROW Act. In addition, in a letter to the U.S. Congress, President Stephenson expressed the IBEW’s support for an alternative plan to assist ailing pension plans, the Emergency Pension Plan Relief Act. A link to the letter is below, along with other resources on this issue.

You can contact the Political & Legislative Affairs Department at political@ibew.org if you have any questions.

 

Stephenson Letter To Congress On Multiemployer Pension Reform

GROW Act and Composite Plans

Composite Plan Actuarial Study WCT July 2020

 

Jerome Miller Named 2019 Instructor Of The Year

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Local 24 salutes our very own Jerome Miller, who has been honored as the 2019 Instructor of the Year by IBEW Hour Power!

Kudos to you, Jerome! You are making a difference in your students’ lives and we hope you take great pride in this well-deserved honor!

 

The members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers are the best and brightest in the industry. Each year we highlight three members who are nominated by their local brothers and sisters – the IBEW Hour Power Apprentice of the Year, Instructor of the Year, and Journeyman/Business Agent of the Year.

Last week we shared and highlighted the 2019 IBEW Hour Power Apprentice of the Year Award winner. This week we celebrate the 2019 IBEW Hour Power Instructor of the Year Award winner. There is also a link below to nominate a brother or sister from your Local for the 2020 IBEW Hour Power Awards!

Click Here to Nominate a Brother or Sister from Your Local

Membership Ratifies New Agreement

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Through a mail-in voting process, the members of Local Union #24 I.B.E.W. strongly approved the tentative agreement for the Baltimore Inside CBA.

Congratulations to all Local 24 members, Local 24’s negotiating committee and the MD Chapter NECA team on the new contract!

The agreement has been sent to the International Office for approval. Once we receive an approval, we will have booklets printed and mailed to the members.

 

Bargaining Teams Reach Tentative Agreement

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*****Important Time Sensitive Notice*****

Local 24’s negotiating committee has come to a tentative agreement with NECA for the Baltimore Inside Collective Bargaining Agreement. Agreements historically are ratified at our monthly membership meetings. However, due to the current restriction imposed by the Governor of Maryland, which limits meetings and groups of assembly to 10 people or less, monthly membership meetings have been canceled. Our attorney recommended that we ratify the Contract by mail!

Notices were mailed to each member to the address that we have on file along with a self-addressed, postage paid, Ballot (postcard) on Wednesday May 6, 2020. Please check your mail for this notification!

A cover letter and the proposed language changes are also included in the notice. Our attorney has advised us to require your CARD NUMBER ON YOUR BALLOT IN ORDER FOR YOUR VOTE TO COUNT.

 

 

YOUR BALLOT MUST ARRIVE AT THE OFFICE
BY THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS, MAY 18th 2020 TO BE COUNTED!

Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Employer Paid Leave Requirements

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The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) requires certain employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19.[1] The Department of Labor’s (Department) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) administers and enforces the new law’s paid leave requirements. These provisions will apply from the effective date through December 31, 2020.

Qualifying Reasons for Leave:

Under the FFCRA, an employee qualifies for paid sick time if the employee is unable to work (or unable to telework) due to a need for leave because the employee:

  1. is subject to a Federal, State, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19;
  2. has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine related to COVID-19;
  3. is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and is seeking a medical diagnosis;
  4. is caring for an individual subject to an order described in (1) or self-quarantine as described in (2);
  5. is caring for a child whose school or place of care is closed (or child care provider is unavailable) for reasons related to COVID-19; or
  6. is experiencing any other substantially-similar condition specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretaries of Labor and Treasury.

 

Duration of Leave:

For reasons (1)-(4) and (6): A full-time employee is eligible for up to 80 hours of leave, and a part-time employee is eligible for the number of hours of leave that the employee works on average over a two-week period.

For reason (5): A full-time employee is eligible for up to 12 weeks of leave at 40 hours a week, and a part-time employee is eligible for leave for the number of hours that the employee is normally scheduled to work over that period.

For leave reasons (1), (2), or (3): employees taking leave shall be paid at either their regular rate or the applicable minimum wage, whichever is higher, up to $511 per day and $5,110 in the aggregate (over a 2-week period).

For leave reasons (4) or (6): employees taking leave shall be paid at 2/3 their regular rate or 2/3 the applicable minimum wage, whichever is higher, up to $200 per day and $2,000 in the aggregate (over a 2-week period).

For leave reason (5): employees taking leave shall be paid at 2/3 their regular rate or 2/3 the applicable minimum wage, whichever is higher, up to $200 per day and $12,000 in the aggregate (over a 12-week period—two weeks of paid sick leave followed by up to 10 weeks of paid expanded family and medical leave).

 

Source: U.S. Department of Labor https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-employer-paid-leave

Coworkers Can Protect Each Other By Wearing Cloth Masks On The Job

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Since many Local 24 members continue to report to work on job sites throughout our jurisdiction, our priority is to share any information that will help keep everyone safe and healthy.

The University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB) has just published a policy regarding the use of cloth masks on construction projects, which emphasizes that the cloth masks are an effective way to prevent workers from spreading Covid-19 to their coworkers. Local 24 Business Manager Pete Demchuk has asked the MD NECA chapter to share the policy with all of our signatory contractors, and he is encouraging all our members to wear a cloth mask in situations where social distancing is not possible. The video posted above provides directions to quickly make an easy, no-sew mask using an old t-shirt and 2 rubber bands.

The following are excerpts from UMB’s memo:

On April 3, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a
voluntary Recommendation Regarding the Use of Cloth Face Coverings, Especially in Areas of
Significant Community-Based Transmission. CDC “recommends wearing cloth face coverings in
public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery
stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.”

CDC emphasizes that the use of cloth face coverings complements existing guidelines and does
NOT change the need to follow social distancing and hand-washing guidance. As such, the
University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) is adopting the CDC recommendation into its COVID-19
Social Distancing Guidelines.

For situations where it is NOT feasible to maintain at least 6 feet of social distancing, cloth face
coverings should be worn.

Cloth face coverings are NOT intended to protect the individual wearing
the cover and should not be considered personal protective equipment (PPE). Instead, cloth face
coverings are intended to reduce the spread of the virus from people who may be carrying the
virus but are not currently exhibiting symptoms. Therefore, cloth face coverings are intended ONLY
to prevent a person carrying the disease from spreading the virus to otherpeople when interacting
in close proximity (e.g., speaking, coughing, or sneezing).

Contractors working on campus should issue similar guidance about cloth face coverings to their
employees when social distancing is not feasible, and contractors should make efforts to ensure
employees have cloth face coverings or have the ability to make/obtain cloth face coverings.
At UMB, you should wear a cloth face covering when performing all construction activity for which
social distancing cannot be maintained. Examples include:

  • Work activities that require two or more people to complete for which they must come
    within 6 feet of contact to perform the task
  • Interactions with customers in which social distancing is not feasible
  • Using public transportation to get to work

CDC advises that surgical masks, N95s, and KN95s are critical supplies that must continue to be
reserved for health care workers and other medical first responders.