This week, the System Dispatchers and Senior System Dispatchers who work at PG&E facilities in San Francisco and Vacaville voted to join IBEW 1245. The election was certified by the National Labor Relations Board on Tuesday, February 10.
The dispatchers first met to discuss the possibility of joining IBEW in July of 2014, and began actively organizing in October. After just four months, the dispatchers held their election and the majority of those voting chose the union. The final vote tally was a razor-thin 6-5, proving once again that every vote counts.
The union will be working to incorporate the 14 newly represented employees into the existing PG&E agreement, and union staff will be teaming up with the dispatchers to collectively bargain for lines of progression, job duties, wages and more.
IBEW already represents dispatchers at a number of other employers in the region. Local 1245 represents this classification at SMUD, and Local 111 represents dispatchers at the Western Energy Coordinating Council.