Members begin gathering for the SRT Board meeting on Feb. 24.
IBEW 1245 members put on a great show of solidarity at the Sacramento Regional Transit Board of Directors meeting on Feb. 24.
Employees representing each department—Bus and Rail Maintenance, Wayside, Facilities and Procurement—showed up in uniform “in an effort to show Board members who we are,” said IBEW 1245 Business Representative Sheila Lawton.
Two long-time employees, Lauren Bartlett from Procurement and Ron Hoff from Wayside, addressed the Board, as did Lawton. They expressed to the Board the importance of giving serious consideration to the union’s position on bargaining. They also pointed out the vital work that IBEW 1245 members perform every day to keep Regional Transit running.
A few days earlier, on Feb. 20, members turned out in record numbers to reject management’s contract offer. The vote was 3 yes, 184 no.
“Out of 202 members, 187 marked their ballot—a 93% turn-out for this vote,” said Lawton. “This shows just how far we have come in recent years to be a more unified group. Thanks to everyone who made this happen.”
Lawton urged members to “Stand strong!” in the days ahead.