After three months of coping with the COVID-19 Pandemic, both New Jersey and Pennsylvania are starting to get back to normal and with that we will be moving to bring our normal referral policies back into effect.

 

Please be advised that all Temporary Referral Policies

enacted in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

will come to an end at the close of business

Friday - June 19, 2020.

 

 

Effective Monday - June 22, 2020 any member who needs to sign the out of work book must sign the book in person as normal.

 

The refusal policy for job offers will be reinstated and will be back in place starting with job offers being dispatched on June 22, 2020.

 

All members entering either of the Local 102 offices in Parsippany, NJ or Easton, PA must comply with the Local 102 re-opening policies when entering either office. Facial coverings must be worn and you must take your temperature upon entering office.

 

If you have any questions please contact the Local 102 Referral Office at 973-887-178 for clarification.

Brothers and Sisters -

The Local 102 Union Offices in both Parsippany, NJ and Easton, PA will be re-opening to members as normal on Monday - June 15, 2020.

The Easton, PA office will be back operating on a normal schedule of Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

There will be some requirements that you must follow when entering the building:

• Face coverings must be worn when entering the building.
• You will be required to take your temperature upon entering the office and anyone with a temp greater than 100.4 will be asked to leave the building and come back at another time when they have a normal temperature.
• In order to control how many people are in the lobby at one time, the door to the Local 102 office will remain locked, you will need to ring the bell to enter the office.

If you have any questions please contact the Parsippany office at 973-887-1718

OSHA UPDATE

COVID-19 Guidance for the Construction Workforce OSHA is committed to protecting the health and safety of America’s workers and workplaces during these unprecedented times. The agency will be issuing a series of industry-specific alerts designed to keep workers safe.

When working in the construction industry, the following tips can help reduce the risk of exposure to the coronavirus:

• Encourage workers to stay home if they are sick.

• Allow workers to wear masks over their nose and mouth to prevent them from spreading the virus.

• Continue to use other normal control measures, including personal protective equipment (PPE), necessary to protect workers from other job hazards associated with construction activities.

• Advise workers to avoid physical contact with others and direct employees/contractors/visitors to increase personal space to at least six feet, where possible. Where work trailers are used, all workers should maintain social distancing while inside the trailers.

• Train workers how to properly put on, use/wear, and take off protective clothing and equipment. ? Encourage respiratory etiquette, including covering coughs and sneezes.

• Promote personal hygiene. If workers do not have immediate access to soap and water for handwashing, provide alcohol-based hand rubs containing at least 60 percent alcohol. ? Use Environmental Protection Agency-approved cleaning chemicals from LIST N or that have label claims against the coronavirus.

• To the extent tools or equipment must be shared, provide and instruct workers to use alcohol based wipes to clean tools before and after use. When cleaning tools and equipment, workers should consult manufacturer recommendations for proper cleaning techniques and restrictions.

• Keep in-person meetings (including toolbox talks and safety meetings) as short as possible, limit the number of workers in attendance, and use social distancing practices.

• Clean and disinfect portable jobsite toilets regularly. Hand sanitizer dispensers should be filled regularly. Frequently-touched items (i.e., door pulls and toilet seats) should be disinfected.

• Encourage workers to report any safety and health concerns.

For more information, visit www.osha.gov/coronavirus or call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742). OSHA issues alerts to draw attention to worker safety and health issues and solutions

Due to this COVID-19 pandemic there is a group of members that have been laid off or furloughed as a result of job shutdowns or slowdowns.

If you have been LAID OFF by your employer due to the COVID-19 pandemic you are not permitted to return to work without being dispatched by the Local 102 Referral Office. If you have been registered on the Out of Work Book your employer must submit a Recall Request to formally take you back. 

If you have been FURLOUGHED by your employer and you have not signed the out of work book, you must contact the Local 102 Referral Office before you can return to work. 

The purpose of these rules is not to deny anyone the ability to return back to their employer, they are only put in place to maintain accurate records. We must keep the out of work list accurate and we have been trying to maintain an accurate Furlough List. 

If you have any questions please feel free to 
contact the referral office at 973-887-1718.

Please follow the link below for and updated summary sheet regarding COVID-19 including Executive Order 122 limiting construction projects:

Updated Summary for COVID-19

A message from our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider

Are You Taking Care of Yourself?

Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.

Stress during this time is high....

• Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones
• Changes in sleep or eating patterns
• Worsening of chronic health problems
• Worsening of mental health conditions
• Increased use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

Taking care of yourself, your friends, and your family can help you cope with stress. Helping others cope with their stress can also make your community stronger.

• Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be traumatizing.
• Take care of your body.
• Take deep breaths, stretch, or watch a progressive muscle relaxation video
• Try to eat healthy – tough when you are home all of the time.
• Exercise regularly, this is so important.
• Get enough sleep.
• Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
• Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.

Intervention Strategies is here for you. Call us at 800-663-0404!

Stay well, Drs. Ed and Tracey
Dr. Ed 201-294-5021 & Dr. Tracey 201-723-8776

CLICK HERE FOR A COPY OF THE FOLLOWING LETTER.

Brothers & Sisters,

We hope all of you and your families are healthy, safe and remain so.

By now you understand that our New Jersey Governor has shut down some of our projects deemed non-essential.Please understand our state desperately needs a revenue stream from our work to fuel the treasury and pay our state workers and our public sector pensioners.

There is no guarantee projects being shut down will reopen.

We are being advised anyone applying for unemployment will be waiting a minimum of three weeks for their first check.  The unemployment offices are working seven days a week and have an antiquated computer network.  This surge of construction workers applying will overwhelm the system.

Our employers are in a vulnerable position as many of them get paid every ninety days and when their projects closed, they will not receive the money owed until this ends.

We do have several members out of work and on unemployment who desperately need employment.  Anyone who doesn’t feel safe,if you ask for a layoff,you will be helping another brother or sister who desperately needs employment.We understand many Building Trades members have been calling the Governor and media outlets trying to get their projects shut down. 

We ask that we refrain from this behavior, the Governor’s office is overwhelmed and doesn’t need the distraction.  We also don’t need our members working against Building Trades leadership.  Shutting everything down will have a devastating effect on many locals’ funds.

We thank everyone for getting out on the front lines and recognize we already are in a very dangerous profession now amplified by this crisis.

Currently within the New Jersey construction locals of the IBEW there have been five confirmed cases out of 9,000 members and one has returned to work. 

Within the entire state IBEW there has been 10 confirmed out of over 40,000 members.  The numbers throughout the rest of the Building Trades are also quite low.

Please stay safe and take appropriate precautions if you feel you are at risk.

Patrick Delle Cava
Business Manager

Verify Your Registration On the "Out Of Work List"

As we are all coping with the pandemic, there have been several projects that have been shutdown which has resulted in many layoffs or furloughs.

We are doing our best to make sure we are keeping accurate records and trying to make sure we haven't missed anyone. With that, we are asking everyone who called in to have your name placed on the "Out of Work List" to please log on to our "Online Dispatch Site" and verify your registration on the book. You can access the Online Dispatch Site by clicking HERE.? Please call the referral office at 973-887-1718 if you have any problems.

If you are on a furlough and will be returning to your employer when the restrictions are lifted, please verify that your employer has notified us of the furlough. If you are furloughed, your name will not be placed on the out of work list unless you call the referral office and ask to be placed on the "Out of Work List"

It is our intention to have as many members as possible placed back on the jobs they were on before the governmental restrictions were implemented, as long as the project is still active and the manpower need is still there.

If there are any members that have been laid off and wish to get on the "Out of Work List" please refer to the "Emergency Referral Changes" by clicking below

Emergency Referral Changes

Governor's Announcement Regarding Non-Essential Construction

We are sure many of you have heard that Governor Murphy made an announcement this afternoon stating that all non-essential construction shall cease, effective 8:00pm Friday.

There are many questions yet to be answered and as we continue to receive updates from the Governor's office we will get a better understanding of exactly what sectors of construction will continue to operate. The statement that was put out was a little vague and as proceed over the next couple days we will have more answers. The executive order had several exclusions where construction will continue and they include:

• Construction at hospitals
• Construction at schools
• Transportation projects
• Public utilities
• Affordable housing and housing sites that can keep to strict limits on the number of workers on a site
• Other limited instances

IF YOU ARE TOLD BY YOUR EMPLOYER TO REPORT TO WORK ON MONDAY, UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR PROJECT IS MOST LIKELY EXCLUDED FROM THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.

WE ASK YOU TO PLEASE BE PATIENT!

WE WILL PASS ALONG MORE INFORMATION AS WE GET IT

**ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR ALLIANCE HEALTHCARE BELOW NEED MEDICAL CLEARANCE TO GO BACK TO WORK?

HAVING TROUBLE GETTING ACCESS TO A ?MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL?

OUR PARTNERS AT ALLIANCE COMMUNITY HEALTH ARE HERE TO HELP!

**ALLIANCE HEALTHCARE HAS PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING MEANS OF CONTACT WITH THEIR OFFICE:

    PHONE - 551-256-8404
    HEALOW app - if you download the app their site code is ECHFAA
    Click here for Link to Alliance Healthcare Patient Portal

If you have a medical question or need access to a medical professional our partners at Alliance Community Healthcare are here to help. They can be contacted at 551-256-8404

Tell them you are from Local 102. If a telemedicine vist will be adequate for you situation they will guide you through the process of utilizing their Healow App.

Members have already utilized their service for jobsites that require notes providing clearance for work as well as notes that may be required for certain benefits provided under the CARES Act.

Alliance Health is working to provide a direct link to Healow for 102 members. Once that is confirmed we will get it out to you.

In the meantime call them directly at 551-256-8404 if you need assistance. A reminder that anyone covered under our healthcare plan may utilize this service. Services are not limited to the items discussed, please feel free to contact Alliance regarding ANY of your medical concerns.

Stay safe, be well!

NJ Department of Labor issues information about the CARES ACT and how it affects NJ Unemployment

The NJ Department of Labor has issued a Q & A publication pertaining to the federally approved Cares Act and how NJ workers may or may not qualify for additional unemployment benefits. As time goes on we will get a better idea as to how the Cares Act affects us. There are still quite a few of unanswered questions but as time goes on we expect to receive more and more information as to the process and who is eligible for the additional benefits.

We have attached a copy of the most recent Q & A issued by the NJDOL for you to review. Please click on the link below.

NJ Unemployment Udate - Q & A

NEED MEDICAL CLEARANCE TO GO BACK TO WORK?

HAVING TROUBLE GETTING ACCESS TO A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL?

OUR PARTNERS AT ALLIANCE COMMUNITY HEALTH ARE HERE TO HELP!

If you have a medical question or need access to a medical professional our partners at Alliance Community Healthcare are here to help. They can be contacted at 551-256-8404

Tell them you are from Local 102. If a telemedicine vist will be adequate for you situation they will guide you through the process of utilizing their Healow App.

Members have already utilized their service for jobsites that require notes providing clearance for work as well as notes that may be required for certain benefits provided under the CARES Act.

Alliance Health is working to provide a direct link to Healow for 102 memebers. Once that is confirmed we will get it out to you.
In the meantime call them directly at 551-256-8404 if you need assistance. A reminder that anyone covered under our healthcare plan may utilize this service. Services are not limited to the items discussed, please feel free to contact Alliance regarding ANY of your medical concerns.

Stay safe, be well!

April General Membership Meeting Cancelled

May 5th ~ CALLED MEETING

REMINDER !!!
Due to the Global Health Crisis the April 7th General
Membership Meeting has been cancelled.


**CALLED MEETING FOR NOMINATIONS - May 5, 2020**

***Please note that due to COVID-19 parameters surrounding the
meeting may change. Please read the notice in it's entirety,
The notice can be found by following the link below and one
has been mailed to every member. Updates will be posted on our
website and sent via Constant Contact prior to the meeting

CALLED MEETING - Nomination / Election Notice

EMERGENCY WORK AVAILABLE

IBEW LOCAL 25 - LONG ISLAND, NY

IBEW Local 25 in Long Island, NY has emergency work available if anyone is interested in getting to work. They are in need of 100 electricians.

The details are as follows:

3 weeks of emergency work
7-12s
2 shifts / night shift differential
1.5x Saturday, 2x Sunday
Need a hundred men for Monday & Tuesday
If you are interested make sure you have a paid up dues receipt and contact
IBEW Local 25 directly at (631) 273-4567 and ask for Kevin

IBEW Local 25 has made arrangements with a Holiday Inn close to their hall with a $50 per night charge.

CALL IMMEDIATELY IF INTERESTED!

REMINDER!!

April General Membership Meeting Canceled REMINDER !!!

The International Office of the IBEW has approved the cancellation of April General Membership Meetings. Please note that the April 7, 2020 monthly meeting of Local 102 regularly held at the Barnyard and Carriage House has been canceled.

We look forward to seeing everyone in May, Stay Safe!

A message from our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider

Anxiety, Fear and Success With Crisis Home-Schooling

I have been getting numerous calls over the past two weeks from parents that are struggling with helping their children navigate through the current home-schooling, due to the corona virus school shut-downs. Some are stating, “I am failing at this home school thing” or “I can’t work at home and help my kids at school”. Others are trying to find the humor, “I wrote myself a teacher note about how misbehaved my son was today”. Social media posts are filled with feelings of success and failure when it comes to the schoolwork.

I have been a clinical psychologist for 25 years and am a mom of four. There are currently seven people living in my house together and all either working or doing school from home. During this current crisis here are some thoughts that I would like to share.

• Don’t be so hard on yourself and your children. This has been a huge change for everyone and parents and kids alike are filled with a wide range of emotions. Many of us know people on the front lines, who are sick or are in one of these situations ourselves.
• Every child is different. While some will fly through the online assignments, others will struggle with focus, understanding and processing. This is ok!
• Being home all day is NOT normal to our kids! They are going through a grieving process. Respect this! In a moment they lost their in-person time with friends, their daily routine and their security. I have heard many adults say, they have to deal. Yes they do have to deal but they are still experiencing genuine emotions. Some children will express these feelings, while others struggle to understand them. Help younger children and adolescents to label what they are going through.
• Take care of yourself! Most of us are experiencing anxiety as we are inundated with negative news and terrifying statistics. It is ok NOT to be spectacular. Ignore the social media posts that may make you feel you are lesser than…. Those that have created perfect classrooms as home…. those that post pictures five course dinners each night…. those that have perfectly folded laundry and cleans homes. Remember that they are struggling too and this may be a way for them to control the chaos.
• No one will rate you as a parent on your success in schooling your children during a worldwide crisis. Be loving with each other and create the best sense of safety you can.
• Most important is the health and safety of you and your family. Control what you can and accept that you may not be able to control all that you would like.

Your Employee Assistant Program, Intervention Strategies, is here for you and your loved ones. We are just a call away……800-663-0404! All calls are confidential!

Be Well,
Dr. Tracey 201-723-8776

Experiencing anxiety or feeling nervous? ?
Need to talk with someone?
Call Intervention Strategies
If you are feeling nervous or experiencing anxiety due to the Corona virus situation, there is help available.

The Local 102 Welfare Fund offers behavioral health coverage and there are services available to help you cope with current state of affairs. Intervention Strategies is there for you if you feel you need help or just need to speak with someone.

If you need help please call
Intervention Strategies at 1-800-663-0404

They are there to help you!

Online Dues Payments

Please note that IBEW Local 102 is open for business everyday!

We have been receiving calls from members who are requesting to make their dues payments and we offer the following as the easiest solution.

If you need to make a dues payment, we suggest that you go online and get to the "Online Dispatch Page" or just click HERE to be directed to the page. When you log into the "Online Dispatch Page", you will see there is an option to pay your dues online. You can then pay for you dues with a credit card and your dues receipt will be mailed to you. If you need your dues receipt right away and want to pick it up in person, please call ahead and your dues receipt will be taped to front door for you to pick up in person.

If you need to log in to the "Online Dispatch Page" your log in information is as follows:

User Name: (Enter IBEW Card Number from your dues receipt)

Password: (First time log in will be your last name followed by the last 4 numbers of your social security # - no spaces - you will then be prompted
to create a new password)

WE DISCOURAGE ANYONE FROM COMING TO THE UNION HALL
IN PERSON TO MAKE DUES PAYMENTS DURING THIS PANDEMIC!

JOB SITE SAFETY

We have experienced several job shutdowns or job site manpower reductions due to the pandemic. Some jobs have had someone that has tested positive and some jobs were shutdown as a precaution. We are urging all our employers and members to follow the job site safety guidelines created by the The Center For Construction Research And Training. Please protect yourself and co-workers.

We know you have heard this more than you need to but we want to reinforce job site safety.

• Wash your hands frequently
• Avoid touching your face, eyes, mouth and nose
• Practice social distancing on the job site
• Check your temperature every day before going to work
• If you are sick- stay home!

PLEASE BE SAFE!
Click on the link below to view guidelines

CPWR - Corona Virus Job Site Safety

Critical Need For N95 Masks

As we have all been hearing in the news, there is an emergent need for N95 masks to protect our healthcare providers, nursing home patients and first responders. We have been receiving calls for help from the Governors office and hospitals begging donations of N95 masks. We are reaching out to all our employer partners in plea for help. If you have any N95 masks in your inventory that you may be able to part with, please contact the Local 102 office at 973-887-1718 and we will have someone come pick them up. It doesn't matter how many you have we will gladly come get them and deliver them to the Governors office.

Thank you for your consideration and we hope everyone stays healthy in these difficult times.

A message from our ?Employee Assistance Program provider

Dear 102 Members and Families,

Our organization has committed to being there for you and your families at all times. The coronavirus has increased people's concerns about their own health and the health of their family. We have been receiving many calls from fellow 102 members and their families who are struggling with the current situation. We want to remind you that, as always, Intervention Strategies, your Behavioral Health Team, is here and happy to help you with any stress or anxiety you may be experiencing during this time of uncertainty. This simply means to just call if you need a counselor to talk to you or if you are feeling stressed or agitated. People have been reporting different ways of coping. Some are eating and drinking more than usual. Others fortunately, are walking, running and spending quality time with family.

If you have been in treatment, seeing a provider, or recently discharged from an inpatient facility, and are having difficulty reaching your provider, please call us so we can support you through our ISI Outreach Service. Many self help programs have stopped all public meetings, however, we can guide you to a number of ways to stay connected and supported.

We are there for you! Remember asking for help is a strength, not a weakness. We all need to be help to be strong right now!

All calls are confidential!

Call us at 800-663-0404!!

Sincerely,
Drs. Ed, Tracey & the Associates of Intervention Strategies

***?Funds Office Update***

Health & Welfare, Pension, Annuity

In light of the latest Gubernatorial Executive Order, all non essential businesses have been ordered to close to increase social distancing practices. This action has forced our third party providers to shutdown office operations and attempt to provide the same services off site with their employees attempting to work from home.

We ask that you please be patient and understanding during these unprecedented times. If you are trying to contact either IE Shaffer or Fabian & Byrn, please give them an opportunity to call you back. Please realize that all their records are in their offices and will be working off site so they might not have an answer for you right away.

If you have an emergency or a critical need please call the Parsippany office at 973-887-1718 and someone will help you get thru the situation.

Thank you for your understanding.

State of New Jersey Creates Online COVID-19 Information Hub

The State of New Jersey has setup an online information hub with updates and information regarding the COVID-19 virus with everything from current gubernatorial executive orders to help topics and a "what to do if" section for guidance .

If you need information or have questions about the COVID-19 virus, there are links to various websites and information pages that can help you with what you need to know.

We urge you to click on the link below if you need any assistance or guidance with any COVID-19 issues in the State of New Jersey.

NJ COVID-19 Information Hub

Coronavirus Referral Policy

Effective Immediately

In response to the situation at hand and in the interest of the health of our members and staff we will be implementing emergency temporary changes to our current referral system. The following items will be implemented immediately and will remain in effect until further notice.

1.There will be no refusal penalties attached to any job offer or posting until further notice. (The purpose of this change is so that no member is forced to go to work if they are uncomfortable with the situation or feels unsafe)

2.   Members will not be required to physically go to the union hall to sign the “Out Of Work Book” after a layoff to get their name placed on the “Out Of Work Book”. To have your name placed on the book you must call in to the referral office during business hours and speak with a staff member via telephone. You MUST provide a picture of your final pay stub or employer provided termination slip via email or fax on the day you want to get on the book. Please send a picture or copy by email to referral@ibewlocal102.org or fax to 973-887-1902.          (The purpose of this change is to eliminate the need for members to leave their home during the state of emergency, and to implement social distancing policies established by the State of NJ)

Experiencing anxiety or feeling nervous?
Need to talk with someone?
Call Intervention Strategies
If you are feeling nervous or experiencing anxiety due to the Corona virus situation, there is help available.

The Local 102 Welfare Fund offers behavioral health coverage and there are services available to help you cope with current state of affairs. Intervention Strategies is there for you if you feel you need help or just need to speak with someone.

If you need help please call
Intervention Strategies at 1-800-663-0404

They are there to help you!

The North American Building Trades Unions And The Center for Construction Research And Training
Offer Guidance For Corona Virus Jobsite Safety

The North American Building Trades Unions working through The Center for Construction Research and Training have created guidelines for job site safety during this Corona Virus pandemic. They offer these guidelines to help construction industry ensure a clean job site and to help reduce the transmission of the COVID-19 virus.

Please click on the link shown below and follow the guidelines to the best of your ability. Try to do your part in attempting to help reduce the spread of the virus. We encourage that you follow these guidelines and help protect yourself and your co-workers.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Cyber and Infrastructure Security Agency has deemed construction workers and industries that support construction as "Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers" and suggests that they should continue normal operations in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a critical need to keep buildings, infrastructure and energy providers in operation during the pandemic. We are NOT expecting many job sites to close during the pandemic. There have been some slow downs and manpower reductions but all in all, most projects will continue with normal operations.

If you have any job site concerns please contact the union hall at anytime. You can call the hall on a 24/7 basis and get to an agent by reaching his phone extension. All calls will transfer to an agents cell phone and can leave a message if there is no answer.

North American Building Trades - COVID-19  Job Site Safety Guidelines

NJ Department Of Labor Unemployment Related Corona Virus Scenarios

We have received several phone calls regarding NJ Unemployment Benefits and how it pertains to your current situation.

Due to the Corona Virus, there are quite a few members who have made a personal decision to stop going to work for their own personal reasons and have been requesting a layoff or basically quitting the job. Before you make this decision, you need to understand how the NJ Department of Labor is viewing the different scenarios that are arising. They have created a chart as a guideline for people who are affected by this pandemic. Please be careful how you state the reasons that you are now separated from employment.

Please notice that there is a column on this chart that is identified as "Earned Sick Leave", please understand that this is not something any of us have when you work under a collective bargaining agreement. You are not eligible for this benefit.

Please Click on the link below to view the chart. If you still have questions after you look this chart over, please call the Parsippany office at
973-887-1718 if you have a question and we can try to guide you in your decision or current situation.

NJ Department of Labor Unemployment - Corona Scenarios

Local 102 Easter Pageant CANCELLED

Please be advised that the Local 102 Easter Pageant that was originally scheduled for April 4, 2020, has been cancelled.

If you have any questions please contact the Parsippany office
at 973-887-1718.

ATTENTION:
Local 102 Activities Beefsteak Fundraiser Postponed

Please be advised that the Local 102 Activities Beefsteak Fundraiser that was originally scheduled for May 8, 2020, has been postponed. We will notify you when the event has been rescheduled.

If you have already purchased tickets and would like a refund please contact the Local 102 office at 973-887-1718.

Please note that the beefsteak tickets and raffles will be recognized and accepted when the event is rescheduled.

DOWNLOAD THE LETTER HERE.

A Message from the Manager

Brothers and Sisters,

I just wanted to reach out to assure you we are doing everything we can to protect our members during this government imposed shut down.

Our team has been through 9-11, the 2008 economic crash and Hurricane Sandy. 

We are a veteran crew when it comes to adapting to catastrophe.

Our financial house is solid, our funds remain healthy and are positioned in risk averse investments.

Our J.A.T.C. is exploring every avenue to continue training with minimal disruption.

We are monitoring and are deeply engaged with our local, state and federal governments.

We are on top of issues on projects and preventing similar occurrences from manifesting in the future.

We are working with our employers closely and will develop a strategy for future pandemic.

We are working diligently to assure our members get medical treatment, medicines they need and make sure pension payments continue.

We ask that everyone try to remain calm and help each other as much as possible.

Please remain flexible on your projects to help mitigate viral spread.We will get through this together as a family.

Patrick Della Cava
Business Manager

ATTENTION:
Employers Must Notify The Union Hall When Employees Are Laid Off Or Furloughed For Job Shutdowns Due To Corona Virus

Did you have layoffs or furloughs due to Corona Virus?

If you are an employer working in the jurisdiction of Local 102 and you have a job shutdown due to the COVID-19 (Corona Virus), the IBEW & NECA have implemented a national Memorandum of Understanding with the procedures and policies set in place to deal with employees and possible layoffs or furloughs.

If you experience job shutdowns that require crews to be laid off or furloughed, please notify the Local 102 Referral Office with the names of the employees who are being laid off or furloughed and the name of the project they were working on.

If you would like to review the MOU issued by the IBEW & NECA please click on the NDERA link below.

National Disease Emergency Response Agreement (NDERA)

What you need to know

I wanted to provide all of you with a brief overview of policy and schedule changes implemented here at Local 102 due to COVID-19:

• The Easter Egg Hunt has been canceled.
• The Activities Committee beefsteak has been postponed. New date TBD
• All training related to the JATC has been postponed through March 30th. Should the JATC need to remain closed after March 30th all apprentices will be notified of alternative educational plans. Any apprentice who has not been contacted by March 30th should contact their instructor immediately.
• We have been approved by our International Office to cancel our April general membership meeting.
• The main office will remain open. In order to provide a safe working environment for the office staff we ask that members limit their in person visits as much as possible. The office staff will be on a staggered schedule.
• The Easton office is closed. Please contact Fred Sisco directly with any questions.
• The referral office will not issue refusals until further notice. You do not need to come to the office to resign until further notice. (See referral update eblast for complete details or contact someone in the referral office - this policy is also posted on our website under news items)
• The aptitude test for applicants to our apprenticeship program has been postponed. New date TBD

Please stay tuned for additional updates. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will update you of any changes in a timely fashion. We appreciate your support and shared efforts to help keep our brothers and sisters safe.

Good night brothers and sisters!

In Brotherhood,
Bernie Corrigan
President

ATTENTION:
National Disease Emergency ?Response Agreement
IP Stephenson & CEO of NECA Release Agreement

President Stephenson and NECA CEO David Long signed a National Agreement in response to COVID-19

Follow the link below to access the agreement:

National Disease Emergency Response Agreement

Effective Immediately

In response to the situation at hand and in the interest of the health of our members and staff we will be implementing emergency temporary changes to our current referral system. The following items will be implemented immediately and will remain in effect until further notice.

1.     There will be no refusal penalties attached to any job offer or posting until further notice. (The purpose of this change is so that no member is forced to go to work if they are uncomfortable with the situation or feels unsafe)

2.   Members will not be required to physically go to the union hall to sign the “Out Of Work Book” after a layoff to get their name placed on the “Out Of Work Book”. To have your name placed on the book you must call in to the referral office during business hours and speak with a staff member via telephone. You MUST provide a picture of your final pay stub or employer provided termination slip via email or fax on the day you want to get on the book. Please send a picture or copy by email to referral@ibewlocal102.org or fax to 973-887-1902.          (The purpose of this change is to eliminate the need for members to leave their home during the state of emergency, and to implement social distancing policies established by the State of NJ)

In case you missed our earlier email please note that classes scheduled for this weekend have been canceled.

First, and most importantly, let me report that there are NO identified cases of coronavirus within the IBEW Local 102 Community. Like many organizations in NJ, we are continuing to closely monitor the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and will adjust accordingly.

We encourage all of our brothers and sisters to focus on preventing the spread of germs with frequent handwashing, using tissues for coughs and sneezes, and disinfecting surfaces that are frequently touched.
We encourage everyone to please see a doctor and stay home if they're exhibiting symptoms of coronavirus, including fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

We are in communication with the NJDOH and our local Department of Health.  They are closely monitoring any suspected cases of COVID-19 and will issue guidance should they feel we need to take any additional precautions to prevent the spread.

As of Friday, March 13th this is the status at our main office:

• We are operating on our normal schedule
• Our Executive Board meeting and General Membership meeting are on as scheduled
• The JATC is open and the regular schedule applies for apprentices in our "A" program and the Teledata program
• As a precaution all CW and continuing education classes scheduled at our facility are cancelled through March 30th. This includes CPR/AED, OSHA, and Licence Renewal classes.

Please contact the JATC at 973-428-2848 if you have any questions.
 
We ask that you please notify us of any possible infection so that we may properly notify our Local 102 family. We will continue to update you with any new information we receive. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as we work to keep our IBEW Local 102 Community safe, healthy, and engaged.

In Brotherhood,
Bernie Corrigan
President