Motor Shop

Business Representative: Harry Thompson, Jr.

If you are LAID OFF or TERMINATED by your employer it is important that you receive a termination notice. If your employer does not automatically give you a notice you should ask for one. First, you need the notice to sign the OUT OF WORK books at the Local. You need to do this immediately because Employment Security is inquiring what your status is with the Local.

Our response is, you’re either on the books or not. If you are on our out of work book, you are covered by the Full Referral Rules of Unions. If not, then you are required to do the standard job searches required by the Employment Security. It is much easier to comply immediately than trying to backtrack to correct the situation with the Employment Security.

For those being placed ON CALL or STANDBY there are rules you may not be aware of. ON CALL/STANDBY is only covered for a maximum of 4 weeks, with additional extended time if requested by your employer and approved. Your employer can ask for an extension that may or may not be approved. If your employer fails to ask for the extension you might be required to pay back unemployment payments for the period not covered after the expiration of your ON CALL/STANDBY status. The requirements of Washington State STANDBY rules are in WAC 192-110-015.

For anyone retired from the IBEW Pacific Coast Pension Trust who is working or intending to work after retirement, it is very important that you contact the Union or the trust fund. Retirees need to understand all the rules for working so your pension checks will not be interrupted. If you have any questions about this process call me at the Union Hall or the Trust Fund at (800) 533-9364.

As always, if someone is injured on or off the job or a medical condition exists that prevents them from working, I would like to know about it immediately. It is very important that the members are informed of what is available to them and that the Pension Trust is aware of time lost. If it is a Non Industrial Injury/Non Industrial Medical Leave of Absence or an Industrial Injury, there are time lost benefits that need to be applied for.