PG&E bargaining to resume

Federal mediator to participate

Why were the PG&E contract offers–both Physical and Benefits–rejected by such overwhelming margins by IBEW Local 1245 members? What direction should the union take when bargaining resumes?

The union has sought answers to these questions in several ways during the month of March.

• A survey was mailed to over 10,000 IBEW members at PG&E, asking members’ views on why the contract offers were rejected.
• The same survey was passed out at unit meetings so that members could fill it out and return to their business rep the same night.
• A few members who were openly opposed to proposed changes in medical benefits were invited to participate in small group meetings with union staff at seven locations around the PG&E system so that the union could get a more detailed understanding of members’ objections to the medical proposal that was voted down.

The Local 1245 bargaining committee is scheduled to meet at Weakley Hall in Vacaville on March 26-27 to evaluate the surveys and other feedback from members, and to prepare for negotiations with PG&E management.

Talks with PG&E are scheduled to resume on Wednesday, March 28. A federal mediator will be present to assist with the negotiations.

The bargaining committee plans to post an update here on the Local 1245 website on Thursday, March 29, to give members an update on the mediated negotiations.

Thank you one and all for sharing your views over the past several weeks.