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Local News

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Union, utility at odds over terminations
Horizon Eyecare - Findlay
By LOU WILIN

STAFF WRITER

NORTH BALTIMORE -- Unionized employees have filed unfair labor practice charges against Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative, alleging several employees were terminated in the past week without cause.

Hancock-Wood Electric President George Walton last Friday told workers that more unionized employees would be terminated, said International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 245 President Phil LaCourse.

When Walton made the remark, four unionized employees had been terminated. A fifth unionized worker was terminated Monday, LaCourse said.

The union filed its charges with the National Labor Relations Board on Friday. It also is seeking an order through U.S. District Court, Toledo, to ban Hancock-Wood from more terminations and to require it to reinstate the terminated employees.

About 14 of Hancock-Wood's 39 full-time employees are unionized, LaCourse said.

Walton declined to comment for this story Tuesday because he had not seen the union's charges filed with the National Labor Relations Board in Cleveland.

Hancock-Wood is trying to destroy the union, said attorney Marilyn Widman of the law firm Allotta, Farley & Widman, which represents the union.

In a labor negotiation March 3, Hancock-Wood representatives presented a resolution announcing the utility was canceling its agreement with the union, the union's complaint to the National Labor Relations Board states.

Federal labor law requires that employment conditions remain unchanged while negotiations proceed for a new labor contract, Widman said.

The union's agreement with Hancock-Wood expired Feb. 12, but negotiations had seemed to be going "pretty well," LaCourse said. Three meetings were held between labor and management over the past few months.

"We had no inclination anything was going on other than productive negotiations," he said.

Then everything turned for the worse in the meeting on March 3, LaCourse said. Another labor-management meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Widman said.

Wilin: 419-427-8413, Send an e-mail to Lou Wilin


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27 Comments (3 pages)

Latest comments listed first.
Kathy wrote:
Hancock-Wood
“ The person who needs to be downsized is Walton! He did this stuff a while back to look good to the board in order to build the new Palace for himself. Anyone who dumps the senior employees who have made this company what it is, needs to be shown the door first.
The union needs to win this one. ”
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 7:24:17 PM
Neal wrote:
Hancock Wood Eletric
“ The Board Members need to remember who put them on the Board, Let's remind them, The same people that can see to it that you don't get voted on it next Election.
Why is it that so many people forget how to treat people once they attain a position of authority. It seems that they need to be reminded of "The Golden Rule, Do unto others as you would have others do unto you".
It may sound simple but people with Authority sure forget or just plain don't care about the people who do the work that they get the credit for.
I'll spell it out for the Board "It is time to send George Walton down the road. Fire his ass. No Severance, No Un-employment, No Retirement. Let Him learn how it feel's!" ”
Saturday, March 13, 2010 10:17:39 PM
Laughing wrote:
Laughable
“ From, $200.00 car detailing to taking his favorite salaried people on a motorcycle and a fishing trip, to salaried employees getting hotels with a jacuzzi, to writing off salaried employees FAMILY expenses the Co-op paid for! There is a lot of money wasted by GW's management! And why a separate Christmas dinner for the board and salaried employees and one with all employees and salaried members? Come on HWE Board, your just as guilty of the waste as the management!

GW once said, well actually he said it quite a few times, the snowflakes were this big, (shows the size of golf balls) second time he told it, they were this big, (shows size of softball), and they got bigger each time he told the story! ”
Saturday, March 13, 2010 9:26:12 PM
Jackson wrote:
Union, utility at odds over terminations
“ Wake up HWE Board members!Let the truth be known. Word has it the union and HWE union employees on the first day of negotiations offered a wage and pension benefit freeze which Mr. Walton, his management negotiation team and your approved out of town attorney flat out rejected. We as the members of the Co-Op can't beleive you know the truth about these negotiations. To treat these hard working men and women of HWE like this is a disgrace!I am sure this isn't about saving a dime. If it was you would have gotten rid of our overpriced management team, the out of town attorney and lets not forget the newly hired security guards. Word also has it that while the union and employees revised their one year freeze to two years George was having his car (our car) detailed. This isn't about saving a dime this is called union busting. Wake up Board Members and do whats right! Look each other in the eye and take a good hard look at all of our management they are the ones that need to go! You have a chance to save face as they are dragging each of you with them right down the gutter! ”
Saturday, March 13, 2010 6:27:09 AM
Former Employee of HWE wrote:
De'Ja'Voo George Walton
“ This all really seems like Deja Voo to me. It doesnt seem so long ago the same type of activity was going on by the CEO of HWE and the Board of Trustees. It happened to a few office workers at HWE. However; the office employees didnt receive the same type of media attention the linemen are now deservingly getting.

As I recall; the ladies who were let go were helped greatly by the Union and if ever there was a place that needs a union, it is at HWE. They never really had to worry about this when Mr. Chaney was the President of HWE. He believed in fair wages and good hard work. The employees of HWE knew this and both worked hand in hand to make things work for the real owners of HWE; THE MEMBERS. The Members were always first and foremost. The employees didnt have to worry about a good wage or having to worry about losing their jobs. I noticed a big change once George Walton was hired as the President and CEO. Promises were made to the Board of Trustees to clean up the mess Mr. Bill Ceti left for the Co-op, but George only managed to hire someone into the accounting department to do his bidding. This made it easier to show the Board just what George wanted them to see. The Board bought what was presented to them Lock-Stock-And Barrel; no questions asked. This was the beginning of a huge down-fall for the members of HWE.

George Walton knows the Board is made up of farmers, but he really hasnt been made aware of the knowledge these people posses because they arent asking questions. You of all people should be the ones asking him questions and not just setting there during your monthly meeting with your thumbs up you know where. Be the proud farmers and rural people the co-op works for. Thats right, they work for you! Believe me, the employees know this, but George sure doesnt. He has acted as though HWE is owned by him and he runs the show ever since he set foot in the door. Some of you may remember him saying; if he was ever let go, he would file for discrimination, well guess what, you hired him as an Engineer and shortly after you promoted him to the highest position as the President and CEO of HWE. How could this ever be seen as a discriminatory act? Wake up people and stop being manipulated by George Walton. You are the voices of the many you represent.

Go out there and start talking to your members in your districts and find out what they really need. Im sure they wouldnt have agreed that George needed a fancy new building and lavishly designed private bathroom. George sold you folks on the new building and when he overloaded his mouth with numbers you accepted; he had to begin letting go good hard working office employees, no questions were asked. It was easy enough to sell, because new packages were being drawn up for newly hired employees. Retirement wouldnt be the same, so why not get rid of employees who carried good packages and hire in new employees with fewer benefits? Once again, he sold this as being politically correct.

I know these office workers are still thought of by friends and co-workers at HWE, because they still remember when HWE was like working with family. It has never been the same. I realize HWE is a business, but does it need to be ran by someone who really only thinks about himself, even within his own family?

It would do my heart good to see HWE surrounded by concerned members, and have them go in and escort George Walton out of his fancy office, ask him to hand over his keys and walked him down the hall, out the door!

Please keep up the fight, because no one deserves it better than the hard working and loyal workers from HWE.
 ”
Friday, March 12, 2010 12:07:02 PM
Michigan wrote:
hancock wood
“ If it were not for the sad circumstances surrounding conditions at Hancock-Wood, it would truly warm my heart to read of all the anger directed at George Walton. I could be the president of the "I Hate George" club. Because of him and your Kelleys Island trustee, (who also needs to go), my husband left his job with HWE after being employed since 1991. We are well aware of the bullying tactics that have gone on since George reigned. My husband was the lone employee at the Kelleys Island office for over eight years, after his co-worker retired but was not replaced. He loved his job, but you can't work all week, be on call every single night and weekend, carry the phone constantly, etc. Most importantly, you shouldn't have to work on power lines ALONE! George, and I presume the board, didn't want to hear it. And surprising enough from such a great guy, before my husband left, George never once said goodbye, glad to have worked with you, good luck, NOTHING. We fondly remember HWE under Cheney's leadership, when the company was a great place to work, and everyone seemed like one big family. So, we sympathize with all the workers, union and non, at Hancock-Wood. It sucks waking up every morning with your stomach in knots. Hang in there. ”
Friday, March 12, 2010 9:14:12 AM
Bob wrote:
Protest
“ I will be paying my bill to Hancock Wood in pennies until this problem is fixed. ”
Thursday, March 11, 2010 11:41:41 PM
Lexie wrote:
My Union Brother and Sisters
“ Just want to say that I am a strong and proud union member of IBEW Local 245. Although I do not work for Hancock-Wood, I want to let all of them know that I am behind them 100%. What Mr. Walton has done is wrong and it is going to cost him in the long run and hopefully it will be his job. IBEW Local 245 will not back down from this and we as Brothers and Sisters will fight him until the very end. And I know that when it is all said and done, IBEW Local 245 and my fellow Brothers and Sisters will come out the winners. Remember a Union is only as strong as it's members, so let's have voices be heard.

Proud member of IBEW Local 245 ”
Thursday, March 11, 2010 11:31:13 PM
Maurice wrote:
Job
“ So my electric bill has gone up too. But so has everything else. Word I hear is employees were laid off not terminated and the union was asked to accept what all the non-union employees have already swallowed to try to keep costs in line. Times are tight. The plant I worked for shut down and I been outta work for over a year. I woulda gladly paid more for my benefits if I coulda keep my job. My heart goes out to those outta work. Its bad for lots of us. I for one hope things pick up around here soon. ”
Thursday, March 11, 2010 10:06:37 PM
referee wrote:
to reality
“ Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but maybe when you have no idea what youre talking about its best to keep it to yourself. As far as union people being better than normal people not sure what happened to you that you have an inferiority complex with union people but its really apparent and quite sad. Im not union and I understand they have their flaws but they also help people defend themselves against tyrants like Mr Walton.
Im curious what you think a lineman should make, lets think about their hazards. They climb 40 poles with little spikes on their legs and if they make a mistake they fall and their ankles shatter, legs break, and possibly die. They handle power lines that will burn their hands and arms off if they make a mistake or burn to death in hot transformer oil and many more horrible things just by making one little mistake. They have to worry about cars running into them because drivers dont pay attention when they drive. Apparently to you minimum wage seems fair, and thats pretty easy to say when youre ignorant to what they do for people.
As you can probably tell by now I am a close friend with some linemen and really dont like it when an ignorant person like yourself needs educated in front of a bunch of people.
As for everyone else who wrote here, thanks for supporting your linemen, they very greatly appreciate it and take your kind comments to heart.
”
Thursday, March 11, 2010 9:42:59 PM
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