2023 Inter Union Gas Workers Conference

2023 INTER-UNION GAS CONFERENCE

Falls Avenue Hotels & Conference Center

Niagara Falls, Ontario

October 23-26

Natural Gas Workers in an

Ever-Changing Working Environment

Host Union

Other Hosting Unions

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)

International Chemical Workers Union Council (ICWUC)

United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA)

United Steelworkers (USW)

Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA)

2023 INTER-UNION GAS WORKERS CONFERENCE

Natural Gas Workers in an Ever-Changing Working Environment

Monday October 23, 2023

8:00 a.m. Coordinators Meeting Rainbow Salon

8:30 a.m. Coffee Niagara Foyer

9:00 a.m. Unifor Caucus Brock Room

International Brotherhood of

Electrical Workers (IBEW) Caucus Niagara Room

International Chemical Workers

Union Council (ICWUC)/United

Food and Commercial Workers

(UFCW) Caucus King George Room

United Association of Journeymen and

Apprentices of the Plumbing and

Pipefitting Industry of the United States

And Canada (UA) Caucus Victoria Room

United Steelworkers (USW) Caucus Elizabeth Room

Utility Workers Union of America

(UWUA) Caucus Canadian A/B Room

1:30 p.m. General Session Niagara Room

Conference Opening

Conference Introductions and Welcoming

Doug Carter President Local 975

Wayne Beaumont President Unifor Gas Workers Council

1:45 p.m. Speaker: Lana Payne, President Unifor

2:30 p.m. Speaker: Michele Harradence, Executive Vice President and

President, Gas Distribution and Storage Enbridge Inc.

3:15 p.m. Speaker: Dave Gosling, Chief Operating Officer, Enercare.

Adjourned

2023 INTER-UNION GAS WORKERS CONFERENCE

Natural Gas Workers in an Ever-Changing Working Environment

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

8:00 a.m. Coffee Niagara Foyer

8:30 a.m. Workshops

Clerical Workshop Elizabeth Room

Facilitators: Melissa Sparks, UWUA

Brook Lauber, UWUA

Lynn Knowlton, Unifor

Distribution Workshop Niagara Room

Facilitators: Michael Adayan, IBEW

Tony Bucci, IBEW

Adam Weber, IBEW

Service Workshop Canadian A/B Room

Facilitators: Ken Baird, Unifor

Andrew Steenson, Unifor

Transmission, Storage &

Field Operations Workshop Victoria Room

Facilitators: Nicole Brooks, IBEW

Vern Beck, USW

Jeff Gray, Unifor

Safety Workshop Rainbow Salon

Facilitators: Scotty MacNeill, UWUA

Ryan Rodrigues, Unifor

1:30 p.m. General Session Niagara Room

Speaker: Kevin Hedges, Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario

Workers- “Health and Safety Presentation”

Panel Discussion: Kevin Hedges, OHCOW

Ryan Rodrigues, Unifor Health & Safety

Doug Carter, Unifor Local 975

Peter Pirillo, Unifor Local 975

“Hidden Hazards in the Workplace- Lead”

Adjourned

6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Dinner- Cash Bar Niagara Room

2023 INTER-UNION GAS WORKERS CONFERENCE

Natural Gas Workers in an Ever-Changing Working Environment

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

8:00 a.m. Coffee Niagara Foyer

8:30 a.m. Workshops

Clerical Workshop Elizabeth Room

Facilitators: Melissa Sparks, UWUA

Brook Lauber, UWUA

Lynn Knowlton, Unifor

Distribution Workshop Niagara Room

Facilitators: Michael Adayan, IBEW

Tony Bucci, IBEW

Adam Weber, IBEW

Service Workshop Canadian A/B Room

Facilitators: Ken Baird, Unifor

Andrew Steenson, Unifor

Transmission, Storage &

Field Operations Workshop Victoria Room

Facilitators: Nicole Brooks, IBEW

Vern Beck, USW

Jeff Gray, Unifor

Safety Workshop Rainbow Salon

Facilitators: Scotty MacNeill, UWUA

Ryan Rodrigues, Unifor

1:30 p.m. General Session Niagara Room

Panel Discussion: John Buonopane, USW

Doug Carter, Unifor Local 975

Troy Shopin, UA Local 32

Andy Nacke, IBEW Local 19

Jim Harrison, UWUA

“Changes and Challenges in the Natural Gas Industry”

Adjourned

2023 INTER-UNION GAS WORKERS CONFERENCE

Natural Gas Workers in an Ever-Changing Working Environment

Thursday, October 26, 2023

8:30 a.m. Coffee Niagara Foyer

9:00 a.m. General Session Niagara Room

Report from Workshops

Clerical

Distribution

Safety

Service

Storage, Transmission & Field Operations

Guidelines amendment(s) vote (if any)

2024 Conference Report and Announcement

Questions/Comments

Adjourned

DISTRIBUTION WORKSHOP

Absenteeism, arbitrator decisions, attendance incentives, controls

Overtime, call-out response, distribution of overtime rules, excessive overtime,

mandatory overtime

Cathodic protection monitoring, classifications, wage rate

Plastic pipe, certification tests, fusion problems, handling of plastic, insertion of old pipe, max. Operating pressures, purging practices and problems, recommended crew size auguring-electric hazards

Combining gas & electric dept, combination crews joint trenching

Combination jobs, job morphing

Contracting, how much, inspecting contractor work, contractors working on live gas, new mains vs replacements

Quality control, auditing work performed, discipline for poor workmanship

Crew size—make-up, restrictions on two-person crew assignments, safety concerns on small crews, two-person crews, safety aspects two person and three-person teams

Safety-fresh air breathing apparatus, safe work practices, safety watch-when required benzene in natural gas

Stand-by time, methods of covering hours, pay rate

Supervisors performing unit work

Fringe benefits, 401K plans, medical insurance, sick leave

Residency requirements, effect on promotion, transfer, distance from reporting

location, jobs affected

Hours of work, scheduled weekends, shifts, 4-10’s

Testing, in promotion, job relatedness, psychological testing

Leak calls, response times

Training, apprenticeship programs, company training programs, education

Requirements

Locating underground facilities, classifications, wage rates, one-call systems, work loads, interface with other utilities

Welding, federal & state, provincial regulations, testing problems

Confined space

Work rule

New tools, technology & materials, HDD

GPS-telematics—drive camera

Communications-internet, Facebook, Twitter, rapid response, car confrontation

Mutual aid

Operator qualifications

Automated call-outs

Exposure to designated substances

Crew Safety- Attacked by the Public- Robbery.

Note: Topics for discussion are not limited to those in the above list.

CLERICAL WORKSHOP

Absenteeism- Arbitrator Decisions, Attendance Incentives, Controls

Meter Reading- Curb Reading, Inclement Weather, AMR, Meter Readers

Assignment of Work- To Lower Classification, To Management, To Exempt Workers

Office Safety- Violence in the Workplace

Attrition of Work Force

Part-time and Temps- By Agreement, Fringe Benefits, Hired from Agency

Automation- Computerized Dispatching, Computer Monitoring

Personal Computers/Word Processors- Classifications and Wage Rates, What Functions are Performed, Who Operates, Potential Telecommuting, PC Work by Non-Union Employees

Child Care- Cost, Employer Sponsored, On Premises, Legislation, Working from Home

Reduction in Force- Other than through attrition

Clerical Negotiations Collection to Past Due Accounts

Testing in Promotion- Job Relatedness, Psychological Tests

Comparable Worth- Equal Pay, Pros and Cons Stae-Fed.-Provincial Legislation

Two-Tier Pay Systems- Extending Time Steps, Job Affected, Lowering Starting Rates, Problems Encountered

Video Terminal/CRT- Effect on Eyes, Health Hazards, Ergonomics

Hours of Work- Change in Hours, Flextime, Job Sharing, Scheduled Weekend Shifts

Wage Rates- Variable, Pay Trends, Lump Sum-Bonus in Lieu of Increase

Integrating Jobs- Combining Jobs, Merging Duties, Job Morphing

Job Descriptions/Job Evaluation Work Assignments- to Unclassified Employees

Maternity Leave of Absence- FMLA

Communications- Internet, Facebook, Twitter, Rapid Response

Note: Topics for discussion are not limited to those published in above list

TRANSMISSION, STORAGE & PRODUCTION OPERATIONS WORKSHOP

Compressor Station Operations Training

Welding on Transmission Lines- Testing, Training

Coupling on Transmission Lines

Designated Substances- Benzene, Asbestos, Lead, Arsenic in Transmission Lines

Compressed Natural Gas- Safety Concerns, Use in Fleet Operations, Welder Certification, X-Ray of Welds

Computerized Systems

Contracting- Re-hire Back

Job Morphing

Leak Detection/Leak Replacement on Transmission Lines

Liquefied Natural Gas- Future of LNG in Gas Supply Manning Facilities, New Development, Plant Closing, Safe Work Rules, Storage, Transporting

Lock-out/Tag-out- O.Q.

Pipeline Integrity

Underground Storage- Fire Safety Rules, Manning, Training, Horsepower at Stations

Fracking & Cracking Plants

Marcellus Formation

Communications- Internet, Facebook, Twitter, Rapid Response

G.P.S.- On Board Cameras

Cathodic Protection

Note: Topics for discussion are not limited to those published in above list

SERVICE WORKSHOP

Appliance Service- Discontinuation of Service and Installation, Electronic Ignition, Type of Service Performed

Inspection of Work Done by Plumbing Contractors

Appliance Service Contracts- Appliance Dealer Opposition, Are They Profitable, Effect on Workforce

Job Progression- Automatic or Based on Need, Method of Achieving Top Job, Number of Years to Top, Wage Rates in Customer Service

Assignment of Work- To Lower Classification, Job Morphing

Job Training- Bonafide Apprenticeship Program, Formal Company Program, For Shift Workers

Automation- Microcomputers for Field Use G.P.S- Telematics

Leak Calls- Classification Performing Wage Rates, Per Customer Request Response Time

Auditing Work Performance- Discipline for Poor Workmanship, Work Quotas

Collection of Past Due Accounts- Cut-off and Restoration

Meter Repair- Contracting Repair Work, Gas and Electric Meter Shops, Purchase of New Meters Instead of Repair Exiting the Business New Equipment CSST

Gas Air Conditioning- Current Status, Safety Copper House Piping, 2 PSI System

Government Regulations- State, Federal, DOT, Provincial

High Crime Areas- Number of Workers Assigned, Police Protection, Radio Communication. Restriction on Hours in Area, Security Guards Accompanying Servicemen

Scheduled Weekends- Premium Pay, Restriction on Assignments, Sunday Premium

Hours of Work- Day Workers, New Shifts, Night and Weekend Coverage Premium, Shift, Shift Rotation, Hours Covered

Testing- In Promotion, Job Relatedness, Progression Tests, Placement When Test is failed

Communications- Internet, Facebook, Twitter, Rapid Response

Exposure to Designated Substances Geothermic Heating Heat Pumps

Inspection- Utilities

Note: Topics for discussion are not limited to those published in above list.

Inter-Union Gas Conference Niagara Falls 2023

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Inter-Union Gas Conference Niagara Falls 2023

GUIDELINES TO GOVERN THE FUNCTIONS OF

THE INTER-UNION GAS INDUSTRY WORKERS CONFERENCE

PREAMBLE

Believing that all workers employees in the Gas Industry should be united in a Conference to provide mutual assistance and to exchange information for the purpose of advancing the collective bargaining and legislative goals, and the overall economic well being of all employees in the Industry, we do herby pledge ourselves to unite so that such objective may be more readily achieved.

ARTICLE I-NAME

The name of this Conference shall be the INTER-UNION GAS INDUSTRY WORKERS CONFERENCE.

ARTICLE II-ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION

All local unions, representing workers in the Gas Industry affiliated with a National or an International Union of the AFL-CIO-CLC willing to share in responsibilities in hosting the conference, shall be eligible to participate in the Conference.

ARTICLE III-STRUCTURE

The following operating structure shall be established for the purpose of carrying out the objectives and programs of this Conference:

Section 1

The Conference shall hold one (1) meeting each year.

Section 2

Conference Officers shall be Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary. The term of office shall be one (1) year.

The officers shall be determined by the Host Union of the annual Gas Conference meeting.

Section 3

A Chairperson shall preside over all meetings of the Conference whenever possible and in cooperation with the Coordinators of the International Unions, shall carry out all details that are directed to him/her by the Conference or by the Steering Committee.

A Vice-Chairperson shall assume the duties of the Chairperson, his/her absence and shall perform such duties as may be delegated to him/her by the Chairman.

A Secretary shall take the minutes of all Conference meetings, as well as Steering Committee meetings whenever possible, and the official minutes shall be those agreed upon by the Secretary and the Coordinators. He/She shall also send copies of the Guidelines and any amendments thereto, as well as all minutes of meetings, to each National and International Union. Copies of the minutes shall become a permanent record of the Conference and the Coordinators shall be responsible for mailing each affiliated Local Union the minutes of all Conference meetings and Steering Committee meetings.

Section 4

A Steering Committee composed of a maximum of seven (7) official delegates from each AFL-CIO-CLC affiliated National or International Union shall be selected by and from the official delegates representing each organization. Such selection shall take place in a caucus of each organization. Additionally, the Steering Committee shall include a Coordinator from each AFL-CIO-CLC affiliated National of International Union who shall be appointed by their respective National or International President.

Section 5

Each AFL-CIO-CLC affiliated National or International Union shall be entitled to a total, up to a maximum of seven (7) votes in all decisions of the Steering Committee. One vote shall be cast by each member of the Steering Committee that are present and voting.

Section 6

The Steering Committee, in conjunction with the Coordinators of the National and International Unions, shall be charged with the responsibility of carrying out programs that may be adopted by the Conference. They shall meet at least once between annual Conferences to study problems of the Gas Industry workers, to review minutes of conferences and to recommend to the respective National and International Unions the necessary studies to be made of the problems presented with recommended solutions; to recommend and agenda for the annual Conference, subject to the approval of the Coordinators; to recommend the issuance of the Call for the Conference to all affiliates; to recommend the formation of any necessary study groups, or committees of the delegated assembled at the annual Conference, for specific purpose related to the work of the Conference.

The Steering Committee may meet the day prior to the convening of the annual Conference as directed by the Committee at their Fall meeting. This meeting shall be for the purpose of conducting “Conference business.”

ARTICLE IV-EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION

Section 1

The Conference will act as a clearing house for information. To accomplish this purpose:

Each Union may designate a Union correspondent

The Correspondent will send immediate reports to the Coordinator of his/her National or International Union on important developments, such as: results of contract negotiations; unusual and outstanding grievances; result of arbitration case; and improvements on Pension and Insurance Plans; or any other matter that a Correspondent feels would be beneficial to the workers employed in the Gas Industry. The Coordinators will exchange all information received from their Correspondents, and shall disseminate such information to the Unions within the Conference.

ARTICLE V-CONFERENCE BARGAINING PROGRAMS

Section 1

Collective bargaining programs which are developed by the Conference shall be submitted to each affiliated Union for his consideration and action.

ARTICLE VI-RESOLUTIONS

Resolutions shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary prior to adjournment on the first day of the annual Conference. These resolutions shall be reviewed and acted upon by the Steering Committee and submitted to the Conference for final action.

There shall be no action taken by the Gas Industry Workers Inter-Union Conference that is in conflict with either the policies of the Constitution of an affiliated National in International Union, AFL-CIO-CLC.

ARTICLE VII-AMENDMENTS

These guidelines may be amended by the Steering Committee by a majority vote conducted in accordance with Article III, Section 6.

Amended by the Inter-Union Gas Industry Workers Conference at the annual meeting held on March 4, 1964, and further amended March 29, 1968; March 26, 1969; April 2, 1971; January 28, 1976; November 21, 1981; October 6, 2011; September 11, 2014 and October 6, 2016