IBEW 569 Brothers and Sisters:
We have a new IBEW 569 Inside Contract – as determined by CIR.
This is a contract with a wage increase of $6.35 over three years – or a 13% wage increase from our last contract – which will bring us to $54.00 an hour – and the first year wage increase becomes effective August 31, 2021.
We clearly wanted more of a wage increase, but our Committee was at least successful in preserving and protecting our sick time, PAGA rights, Imperial Valley pay, and high time.
Again, IBEW 569 fought for a fair contract and higher wages, and CIR has issued their determination. Let me share with you the DECISION:
After careful consideration of the evidence submitted, the Council rules as follows:
1. The parties are instructed to amend Article I, Section 1.01, to show the period of agreement as being from June 1, 2021 through May 31, 2024.
2.
a. The hourly wage for Journeyman Wireman shall be increased $2.05 per hour, effective August 30, 2021, an additional $2.10 per hour, effective June 6, 2022, and an additional $2.20 per hour, effective June 5, 2023.
b. Any portion of the scheduled wage increases may be allocated to the existing Fringe Benefit Funds at the option of the local union.
c. The present wage and fringe benefit differentials for all classifications other than those specifically mentioned in this decision shall be maintained in accordance with the present agreement.
To summarize the background of this decision…our 2021 Inside Negotiating Committee met more than 40 hours with our NECA counterparts.
Unfortunately, NECA did not put anything fair or worthy of your vote on the table.
To that point, the best offer on wages from NECA was $3.97 over three years – and NECA expected IBEW 569 members to give up our sick days for that.
Additionally, NECA was trying to get rid of your high time, and NECA wanted a new journeyman call-by-name, that would undercut our book system.
Your committee from day 1 decided that this Local was not going to buy our own raises or negotiate away our members’ sick time.
Your IBEW negotiating committee values every member of our Local and fought hard for a fair contract, and we took our fight to CIR.
CIR (which stands for Council on Industrial Relations) hears grievances, interprets existing agreements, and arbitrates contract negotiations. We made our case to CIR for higher wages and a fair contract and CIR made the final determination.
I hope you will join me in thanking the fellow members of our 569 Inside Negotiation Committee for their service: Joe Heisler, Chad Barclay, William Stedham, Joe Page, Alexander Hernandez, and Jose Martinez.
Some members have asked about Sick Days – while we were successful in preserving and protecting our sick days, NECA had wanted us to sell our members’ sick time for a lackluster one-time 75 cent increase – these sick days which are afforded to us by law – 3 days for the state of California and 5 days for the City of San Diego – unless it is bargained away.
We heard you loud and clear – sick days are important and we are not negotiating them away – especially during a pandemic.
Our admin staff is working on updating the new contract and it will be online by end of next week.
If you have any questions, please give us a call at the Hall at 858-569-8900. And please continue to stay safe!
In Solidarity,
Jeremy Abrams
Business Manager
Card # A129528 | 858-569-8900 | jabrams@ibew569.org
