Reed_Answering_Brief
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS, LOCAL UNION NO. 69
page 2 – “On November 4, 2014, the Judge issued his recommended Decision and Order. In his Decision and Order, the Judge found that Respondent unlawfully discharged employee Bobby Reed for engaging in protected concerted activity and/or union activity, when he testified in a hearing before a State State Senate Committee concerning smart meters. “
page 8 – ” Childers explained that part of the problem was a loose connection between the meter and the meter base because the smart meters had thinner “blades” than the previous analog meters. Childers told Reed that the loose connection caused heat, which, in turn, caused an electrical arc, which resulted in “two pallets of burned up meters” in CenterPoint’s meter shop.
page 13 – “Childers told Reed that the loose connection caused heat, which, in turn, caused an electrical arc, which resulted in “two pallets of burned up meters” in CenterPoint’s meter shop. (Tr. 265, LL. 13-22). Childers also told Reed that when CenterPoint technicians pulled the meters out, the meters were creating arc flashes, which could burn the customers’ wiring and create “hazardous conditions.” (Tr. 267, LL. 16-21; 274, LL. 9-20). These hazardous conditions include potentially causing arc flashes, which could result in anything from minor to third degree burns to technicians who remove the meters.”
page 30 – “His testimony did not criticize Respondent’s product (electrical delivery); testimony shows that Reed’s testimony concerned products used by Respondent. Landis + Gyr is the manufacturer of the AMS meter used by Respondent and Itron is the manufacturer of the meters used by CenterPoint Energy in Houston.”
