IBEW 984 Members,

Fall has arrived and winter is not far behind.  I hope eveyone is able to spend time with family and friends during the holiday season. 
I would like to take this opportunity to update you on some recent success stories and challenges that lie ahead for Local 984.

SUCCESS STORIES 

- On 8/10/2009 the IHTs won a jurisdictional decision brought forward by the Steelworkers.  This victory has given them the collection of all head space source sampling on nuclear process waste tanks and associated tank equipment; including all gaseous and vapor sampling of tank contents. Congratulations!

- As a direct result of President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), membership in our local has grown from `570 members on March 25th to `763 members on December 1st.

- On 10/15/2009 our Local and CHPRC approved a Pre-Arbitration Settlement Agreement dealing with four IHT grievances.  I see this as the first step toward improved relations between the Company and our IHTs.

- WRPS and CHPRC are each starting another RCT Trainee class in the near future. It has been decades since we have seen this many Trainees at Hanford.

- Efforts were successful in ensuring the HPT/RCT Trainees received the correct six month wage increase, as specified in our Appendix 'A' agreement.

UPCOMING CHALLENGES 

- The first of our WRPS suspension/termination grievances was postponed by mutual agreement.  The next scheduled arbitration will be in March of 2010.

- Special shift lanugage with CHPRC has been very challenging over the past few months. The Local continues to require "volunteer only" language and we are still the only affiliate that doesn't force members to special shifts.

- HAMTC voted on 12/9/2009 to apply an assessment of $100/capita to each affilate in an effort to make up for legal fees resulting from a lawsuit by the United Steelworker's President. This will cost our Local $75,800.

- AREVA has a couple of grievances related to training non-bargaining workers to do our work.  Efforts are ongoing.

I would like to thank our Local 984 Stewards for the great work they do on behalf of all the members. Being a Steward can be a thankless job.  If you get the opportunity, please thank them for their efforts!

It is my hope that all of our members at Hanford and AREVA have a happy and safe holiday season. 
Merry Christmas to all and have a very happy New Year!


Fraternally,

Terry Cherney
Business Manager/Financial Secretary
IBEW Local 984