The gas industry is changing. Updated technology, new regulations and modernized equipment have completely transformed the face of the gas industry, and the old lines of progression and job duties for Gas Transmission and Distribution workers at PG&E simply haven’t kept up.
For more than two years, the IBEW 1245 Gas committee has worked closely with PG&E to revamp the lines of progression and job classifications for PG&E gas workers. After numerous sessions and hours of work, the union and the employer have agreed to a complete overhaul to the Lines of Progression (LOP) that benefits both the workers and the company.
The revamped Lines of Progression, as outlined in a new Letter of Agreement (LA) 14-35, includes 11 new job classifications and a wealth of new opportunities for PG&E gas workers to move their careers forward. The Letter of Agreement also establishes an oversight committee to hammer out any issues and ensure the transition to the new Lines of Progression goes smoothly. Additionally, this Letter of Agreement gives PG&E and IBEW the opportunity to in-source some types of work that have been contracted out in the past, including compliance and traffic control.
The new LA is pending ratification by the PG&E gas workers. Ballots will be mailed out around August 19, and will be counted on September 12. Ballots must be in the IBEW 1245 PO Box by 10:00 am on September 12 to be counted. To ensure all Gas workers understand the new Letter of Agreement, members of the Gas LOP committee will be holding informational sessions at 28 worksites across PG&E’s jurisdiction over the coming weeks. Effected members are encouraged to review the Lines of Progression, attend a meeting and review the detailed outline the committee has compiled. Questions about the new Letter of Agreement can be submitted through our website: www.ibew1245.com/pge (click the link to Questions and Answers).