Local 15 is a utility local representing approximately 6300 members in Northern/Central Illinois. Our members work for Exelon/ComEd/BSC, EquiPower, EnerTouch, Johnson Controls, NRG and System Service Group.
Local 15 is providing this web page as part of our continuing effort to better serve and communicate with our members. The UNITY will keep you updated on current news and negotiation efforts. Please be sure to visit our Download Center page for our current seniority lists, forms, MOA's, etc.
Dean F. Apple
President/Business Manager
IBEW LOCAL 15
6330 Belmont Road, Suite 1
Downers Grove, IL 60516
Contacts:
Union Office:
(630) 515-0381
Union Fax:
(630) 515-0835
ComEd/Exelon Job Posting Hotline:
877-739-3566
OHS (for Exelon/ComEd/BSC):
800-558-0039
OHS Fax: 815-458-7699
MetLife (for Midwest Generation) 888-343-6898
External Links
Horwitz Horwitz & Associates
Illinois Department of Labor
NLRB
Prospect Mortgage/Union Benefits
Latest News
Post 65 Retiree
Humana / Exelon Medicare
Advantage Prescription Drug Presentation
Meeting Scheduled:
March 16, 2015
10:30 a.m. until about 12:00 noon
Holiday Inn
7550 E. State Street (I-90 – Rt. 20)
Rockford, IL
Pizza and pop will be provided.
Please RSVP by March 13th via email Hernandez@ibewlocal15.org
or call 630-515-0869 (leave a voicemail for headcount).
The purpose of the meeting is to provide an explanation
Regarding the NEW
2015 Humana /Exelon Medicare Advantage
&
Prescription Drug Plan
**************************************************************************************
Representatives from Exelon and Humana will attend.
EWMC NATIONAL
CONFERENCE
The EWMC National Conference took place in Atlanta Georgia this year, on January 13-17. The EWMC also introduced the Renew Youth Conference, which began the first two days upon arrival, providing youth with various educational workshops and networking opportunities. These annual conferences combine several IBEW union members from Locals all across the Nation.
The mission of the EWMC is to promote Diversity and Inclusion amongst IBEW members in the workforce and all levels of the IBEW structure, with the purpose of building working relationships and building stronger unions.
Pictured above are Local 15 members that attended the EWMC National Conference: Front row (l to r) Vice President Terry McGoldrick, Recording Secretary Christine Watkins, Jessica McKinney, Elvia Garcia and President/Business Manager Dean Apple; Back row (l to r) Dejuon Battles Newby, Andrea Simmons and Mario Bright
NRG NEGOTIATIONS
The first meeting between the Union and the Company was January 14, 2015. The parties exchanged proposals and spent the rest of the day explaining their proposals and why they wanted the requested changes.
There have been four meetings since then, and the parties have been reviewing and giving counter–proposals.
With both the CBA and Benefits agreements expiring, there are a lot of proposals to discuss. “There are some big items on the table so this may take some time but we will continue negotiating until we have an agreement that we feel is fair to the membership,” stated Business Rep Doug Bedinger.
NEW STEWARDS
Local 15 welcomes the following new stewards:
Tim Rushing —Operating - Quad Cities
Renardell Burns —Underground - University Park
Dave (Hodgie) Harcharik —SSC - Streator
John Ragain —NSO - Braidwood
CONTRACT STATUS UPDATE
A proof copy of the ComEd/BSC Collective Bargaining Agreement has been received by Local 15 and is in the process of being proof read. Errors have been identified and we are currently working with the Company to make the necessary corrections. The proof reading of the Exelon Generating CBA will follow.
We are also looking at enlarging the print in the books. Once the proofs are approved, the turn-around time for production to be completed is not expected to take very long.
We are still targeting the first quarter for distribution for both contracts.
EXELON FILES COMPLAINT FOR
DECLARATORY JUDGEMENT
AGAINST LOCAL 15 IN DISTRICT COURT
For the last several years, Exelon and Local 15 have been in an on-going dispute regarding requirements that Exelon has been imposing on some Local 15 members. As part of maintaining their nuclear access, some members have received letters from Exelon requiring them to permanently abstain from alcohol at all times, even off-site while not being paid by the company. If these members don’t abstain from alcohol at all times their nuclear access will be revoked and their employment with the company terminated. After filing multiple grievances and following them through the process, an arbitration date was scheduled for February 5 and 6, 2015. As the arbitration date was drawing near Local 15 was informed (in late December of 2014) that the company was refusing to show up at the scheduled arbitration. Exelon asked the arbitrator to postpone the hearing and filed a complaint for Declaratory Judgment in the district court claiming that this issue can’t be resolved by an arbitrator. The arbitrator has granted Exelon’s request for postponement until the matter is resolved in court.
US NUCLEAR PLANTS
POST RECORD HIGH EFFICIENCY IN 2014
As power producers struggle with decisions to keep their nuclear generating plants operating, the U.S. nuclear energy fleet generated electricity at a record high level of efficiency last year, demonstrating nuclear energy’s value to the reliability and stability of the electric grid and to the nation’s economy.
One hundred nuclear power plants, operating in 31 states, posted an estimated average capacity factor of 91.9 percent in 2014, based on preliminary data compiled by the Nuclear Energy Institute, surpassing the industry’s 2007 record.
“The 2014 numbers show unequivocally how important well-performing nuclear energy is to America’s energy security, the economy and our quality of life,” NEI President and Chief Executive Officer Marvin Fertel said. “U.S. nuclear power plants continue to operate at high levels of safety while generating affordable electricity that our society and our economy rely on.”
Electricity generated from nuclear energy facilities last year was the sixth-highest ever, at an estimated 798.4 billion kilowatt-hours. The industry’s record high electricity generation was in 2010, when the 104 reactors then operating produced 806.9 billion kWh of electricity while posting an industry average capacity factor of 90.9 percent.
For the past two decades, U.S. nuclear power plants have annually produced about one-fifth of U.S. electricity supplies, even as total electricity demand has increased significantly. Because of their sector-leading capacity factors they have done so even though nuclear power plants constitute only about 10% of U.S. installed electric generating capacity.
Nuclear energy especially demonstrates its value during periods of extreme weather. At the height of the arctic blast that chilled the eastern United States on Jan. 8, nuclear power plants met significant portions of the electric demand load in their respective markets at levels well above their installed generating capacity. In the densely populated market encompassing the mid-Atlantic region and large portions of the Midwest served by grid operator PJM, the region’s 33 nuclear power plants provided about 27 percent of the region’s early afternoon electricity demand, even though they constitute only about 19 percent of the region’s installed electric generating capacity. Similar performance was seen in other regions—the New York region’s six nuclear plants and the New England area’s four plants each provided a quarter of the demand.
KINCAID SALE UPDATE
The sale of Kincaid Generating Station from EquiPower to Dynegy hit a slight snag on January 16, when FERC requested more information from the Company.
The information requested by FERC is due by February 16 and then FERC has up to 180 days to review the requested information. While this may slow the process down, EquiPower remains confident that the acquisition will be approved.