This month we braved the rumors of the Hell’s Angels and Pagans War and made it through the monthly meeting unscathed. We covered many topics as always and there was no shortage of input. We went over upcoming events as these next couple of months will be busy ones for our Local.
We got an update on the 2nd Annual 304 Family Picnic. We went over the menu, activities, raffles, etc. we will have there. Unfortunately, we will not have last years DJ to MC the event, but there will be music and entertainment provided by one of our members. The picnic will be held on September 21st at the Clarksburg Veterans Park in the Osbourne Shelter from 1200 to 1800. This is the same venue as last year and should prove to be an enjoyable time for all who attend.
We went over the current issues affecting our members. The big thing on everyone’s mind seemed to be the Volunteer Time Off Program and the Work Life Balance Program both proposed by First Energy. The Volunteer Time Off Program is designed to allow First Energy employees the opportunity to volunteer for nonprofit organizations and charities up to 16 paid hours a year. This was offered recently to Union members, but there are still some details that need to be hammered out before we decide to participate. The Work Life Balance Program seems to present a different set of problems. Since we have employees that work many different shifts at different times and schedules, it has been tough to get something that works for everybody without bringing Trade or Flex Time back. Flex Time is one of the issues being discussed and there is a push from Chuck Jones himself to make Work Life Balance possible for ALL employees, both Union and Company alike. Both sides are taking this seriously and we hope to have some information on both programs soon.
Lastly, we covered nominations and elections coming up. It’s that time to elect your officers once again. We will have nominations of Union Officers at our regular September Monthly Meeting flowed by elections for our Union Officers at October’s Monthly Meeting. If you would like to run for office or think you know someone who would be good at the job, next month is your time to shine.
This is a busy time of year for all of us especially with school in the local counties starting up later this month. There will be increased traffic on the roads and plenty of student drivers to look out for. If you’re like me, there is one bus that just messes your whole day up, but try to stay calm and safe while you’re out on the roads. Our next Monthly Meeting will be held September 10th at Brickside Bar and Grill at 1545. Come out and enjoy some food and get a little information about what’s been happening at work while you eat.