It all started in 2012, when IBEW 1245 and PG&E negotiated two new apprenticeships for Transmission and Distribution Gas System Operators. We accomplished this within a three-month span in preparation for the new Distribution Control Center in San Ramon.
Then, Local 1245 and the Company went to work to develop new job definitions & lines of progression for Gas Service and Division Gas T&D & Corrosion departments. The goal: to build a 21st Century Gas Operations that would stand the test of time, with new or updated training programs, clear career paths and advancement opportunities for IBEW Gas members. With leadership and guidance from Tom Dalzell and Nick Stavropoulos, nearly 40 IBEW Gas stewards and members participated in ad hoc negotiations and/or presentations to Gas employees. In addition, the committee members and IBEW staff members received input from Gas workers throughout the system. We are pleased to announce that both of these agreements are now in place.
Now, GC Gas and Measurement & Control and Gas System Maintenance/Gas System Operations joint ad hoc committees have developed their own updates to their job definitions and lines of progression. These committees will be meeting in the next few weeks to develop joint presentations to explain the changes and benefits. All of the changes in these two new agreements provide for positive benefits for the members of these departments.
- For GC Gas, benefits include combining some classifications together which will lead to immediate promotions for many GC Gas members. In addition, the agreement provides for a “Construction Inspector” progression to perform oversight of contractors who perform applicant installed work (Option II), including a new “Pipeline Inspector” classification. This new progression will provide another career path for GC Gas Members while simultaneously bringing pipeline inspection work into the bargaining unit. Other classifications in Division Gas and GC Gas will still perform inspection work as provided for in previous agreements. Click here for the GC Gas LOP Overview.
- For Measurement and Control and Gas System Maintenance/Gas System Operations, benefits include two new lead classifications which will result in 33 promotions, the standard journeyman wage rate for Transmission Mechanics, a new apprenticeship program for the “Station Operator” and new wage rates for retention and attraction of the “Station Operator” progression.
These agreements are the result of the hard work of our joint Union/Company committees, and are based on simple fundamentals and common sense that our Gas members always bring to the table. Although these new agreements mark significant progress, our work is far from over, as the oversight committees will be coming together to solve issues, begin the staffing process, keep moving forward on the new training programs and continue negotiations where necessary to finish the job.
More information will be appearing on our website soon, so please visit us at www.ibew1245.com/pge for the latest updates.