President’s Message – January 2022

Taking Care of Business in 2022

Brothers and Sisters 

As we start the new year, we have quite a lot of business to take care of. Several contract negotiations are in progress (Inside, Traffic, Sound and CE/CW) and we need to communicate with one another in order to recommend the best and most important changes to these agreements.  

As our environment changes, so do our priorities. Before COVID hit us, paid sick leave wasn’t that important. Today, after the effects of COVID, our members might have changed their opinions and moved paid sick leave up the list of priorities! If employers are going to require health testing in the future, is paid sick leave too imposing? Who’s going to pay for it? Do I get paid for testing?  

Let’s be smart and do things safely. Let’s think objectively and work together to serve the common good.  

One of my objectives is to raise the overtime premium to include fringes with the goal point being to hinder overtime. It’s better to hire more of our electricians than to run a job “lean-and-mean” and work overtime with a select few.   

Put your ideas together. We look forward to receiving them. As always, if you have any questions, please call your business agent or my office.   

Thank you for the privilege to serve. 

Sincerely,

Gaylord “Rusty” Roten
President/Senior Assistant Business Manager