Redding citizens marched on City Hall on Oct. 5 to show support for public employees at a time when their jobs and living standards are under attack.
Local 1245 members joined the march and rally, sponsored by Citizens for Democracy.
“Attendees marched in front of City Hall along Cypress Avenue, where we met with hundreds of motorists who honked and cheered in support of the City employees,” said Local 1245 Senior Business Rep. Ray Thomas. “Many who drove by gave a thumbs up to the marchers,” Thomas said.
The lone dissenting motorist was current Redding Mayor Patrick Jones, who in normal form, gave a thumbs down and mouthed the word “boo” to the marching Redding employees.
In all about 250 people joined the march and rally, including Thomas, Local 1245 Senior Assistant Business Manager Dennis Seyfer, and some 70 Local 1245 members from the City of Redding and the City of Shasta Lake.
Several IBEW 1245 retirees from the City of Redding also attended to show their support. Former Shop Stewards and Unit Chairmen Joe Kropholler and John Trunnell, along with retired Redding Electric Troubleman Dennis Mathews, were among the retirees in attendance.
Currently, the majority on Redding City Council have not been working in good faith with any of the eight bargaining units at the City of Redding, demanding specific cuts in employee retiree medical and Cal-PERS pensions. While Local 1245 and the Police and Fire Associations have offered to make financial cuts in other areas, the majority of the Council members refuse to accept any concession unless it comes specifically from retiree medical and pensions, according to Thomas.
“The members of IBEW Local 1245 have been working tirelessly to help educate voters on the need for a change on Redding City Council,” said Thomas. Those efforts have included mailers, phone banking and precinct walking.
“We will continue to educate the voters of Redding through the morning of Nov. 2,” Thomas said.
