Utilities Industry Council Charter

Preamble:
This Charter is intended to provide overall guidance and continuity for the Utilities Industry Council, which operates under the auspices of the Labor and Employment Relations Association. It is a living document, subject to periodic review and calibration.

Title:
The Utilities Industry Council

Aim:
We are committed to promoting constructive dialogue and action on issues of policy, practice, theory and research that lie at the intersection of the interests of labor, management, government, neutrals and scholars in the utilities industry.

Our overall focus is on workforce, organizational and regulatory challenges that face the utilities (Electric, Gas & Water) industry as a means to insure an adequate supply of energy and water resources in a reliable, secure and affordable manner over the long term for both the public and private sectors. Among some of the substantive issues to be addressed are:

(1) An examination of the current legal, political, structural and community barriers the Utilities Industry face in providing (a) low cost, (b) "clean" and environmentally sound, (c) reliable, (d) safe and (e) secure supplies of electricity, gas and water;
(2) The role labor-management relations can play in enhancing industry efficiency and productivity; and,
(3) The role of human resource management and labor-management relations in securing the safety of the network systems that transport energy resources.

Structure and Operations:
This Council will have a minimum of three co-chairs representing the management, labor and neutral, academic or policy-making communities.

The Council membership will include a minimum of 12 members (inclusive of the leadership co-chairs).

The Council will meet a minimum of once per year, concurrent with the annual LERA meetings or at another time as appropriate.

Decision making within the Council will be on a consensus basis, including modifications to this Charter.

Consistent with the LERA Constitution and tax laws which govern 501 (C) (3) non profit organizations, the Council may act as a forum for constructive dialogue on policy matters, but it will not act in a lobbying capacity on a partisan basis unless there is a consensus of the Council membership and written approval from the LERA executive board.

This Charter is granted to the Council by the LERA Executive Board for a period of five years and is renewable thereafter for additional five-year terms.

Scope of Activities:
The Council is encouraged to develop programming relevant to its industry for sessions during the pre or post-conference portions of the LERA National Meeting, as well as to submit session proposals for consideration during the regular conference program and the National Policy Forum.

The Council is encouraged to establish links with appropriate LERA Chapters and professional associations relevant to its industry/occupation and engage in other activities consistent with its aim (stated above) and the broader mission of the LERA.

Date approved by LERA board: June 15, 2005

Founding Co-Chairs:
Labor: Michael Langford, Utility Workers of America
Management: Lew Barr, DTE Energy (Retired)
Neutral: Thomas J. Schneider, President/CEO, Restructuring Associates

Founding Members:
Scott Adams, Restructuring Associates, Inc.
Jerald W. Bailey, Director of Employee Relations, American Water
Doug Bowden, Controls Analysis, IBEW Local Union 108
Thomas J. Croyle, Director of Employee Benefits, PPL Services Corporation
Dennis Dabney, DTE Energy
Brent W. Donohue, Business Representative, IBEW Local Union 57
William M. Dwyer, Industrial Relations Manager, Public Service Electric & Gas
Joseph A. Gelinas, Employee Relations Manager, Salt River Project
Maureen Hanson, Director of Labor Relations, Boston Water & Sewer Communications
David Hollenback, Public Service Electric & Gas
Philip Roberts, International Representative, Graphic Communications International Union
Luis E. Rodriquez, Executive Director, Pro Bono, Inc.

Labor and Employment Relations Association
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
121 Labor and Employment Relations Bldg., 504 E. Armory Ave., Champaign, IL 61820
Tel: 217-333-0072 | Fax: 217-265-5130 | LERAoffice@illinois.edu| www.lera.illinois.edu