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It has been about one year since we first heard of COVID-19. Much has happened in that year. Most of the world was shut down for part of it. Now, the State and the Region starts to lift restrictions on gathering and other protective measures, but we cannot let our guard down on what needs to be done to prevent the spread. There have been COVID outbreaks at several reporting locations around the state, leaving those locations short-handed and putting a strain on other locations to keep the system running. We need to continue to practice social distancing, wearing a face covering, and staying home when sick, as we wait our turn to get vaccinated, in order to keep ourselves, our families, friends, and coworkers safe from COVID-19. The Company has approved three new FR face coverings; they have been ordered, and should be available soon. The face shield will no longer be required as COVID-19 PPE. We have met with the Company on Overhead and Underground training. Overhead training is scheduled to start March 1. The initial five weeks of line school will be conducted in the divisions that followed up by three weeks, and Hot Secondary conducted at Edison Training Center. We have 48 Apprentice Linemen waiting to start training that has been delayed for far too long. Doing the five weeks concurrently in the division, then doing two classes of eight in Edison will make it possible to get all 48 apprentices through line school and hot secondary training by the end of June. We will need volunteers to be Adjunct Instructors in the division to get this done. The Adjunct Instructors will need to be dedicated through the duration of the initial five weeks of training for this to work. Please consider volunteering to be an Adjunct Instructor. The Underground has 26 Apprentice Division Mechanics in progress, and all of the training is still being conducted in Edison. All 26 Apprentices are scheduled to complete Underground Safety Orientation and Basic Cable Splicing by June 25. COVID has made training a real challenge for everyone, but we will continue to work to get everyone all of the training that they need.
