LOCAL 1245 HIRES BRIAN KAPAUN

Local 1245 has hired long-time union activist Brian Kapaun as business representative, effective Jan. 1.

Kapaun’s initial assignment is to represent PG&E General Construction members in the North Valley area.

Kapaun, who was initiated into Local 1245 in 1979 after hiring on at PG&E a few months earlier, resigned his position on the Local 1245 Advisory Councl to accept the job on the union staff.

“It’s like a dream come true,” said Kapaun of his new job. “It was an offer I couldn’t refuse.”

In addition to serving as a union steward since 1982, Kapaun has been a member of the last several bargaining committees during negotiations with PG&E, including talks in 2008, 2003 and 1999.

“My main goal is to educate and unify the GC members, increase their awareness and participation in the union,” said Kapaun.

Representing GC members has always been a challenge to the union because they spend so much time away from home, making them harder to contact.

“I hope the new on-line form for submitting bargaining proposals will help give GC guys a bigger voice in bargaining by making it easier for them to participate. Being on the road so much can make it hard for those guys to get to a union meeting,” Kapaun said.

Welcome aboard, Brother Kapaun!