Dear Mr. Dalzell,
I want to thank you and the members of IBEW 1245 for passing the recent increase in the PG&E pension for Surviving Spouses. My husband, Al Meyers, was a line crew foreman in Auburn and on Long Term Disability due to a job injury for almost one year when he died in January 1985 after 35 years with PG&E.
He worked in the hot summers in the Roseville and Auburn areas and in the snowy dangerous winters in the Donner Summit areas – never complaining. He loved his job and the people he worked with. He worked hard. For many years he had the most overtime hours of anyone else in the Auburn yard. He was always willing to help customers and to earn extra money for his family. He would be happy to know that this latest increase included Surviving Spouses.
Many of us were “full time” wives and mothers. We did not have jobs that included retirement benefits. This was our career and we and our husbands thought his work benefits would take care of us later in life. For this he paid union dues and company insurance plans.
Some of the younger Union members do not realize how quickly times passes and how quickly most of us and our loved ones age. It is important that they look ahead to the benefits needed when they are no longer working.
Again, many thanks to the members of IBEW 1245.
Sincerely,
Audrey Meyers