Business Manager Tom Dalzell congratulates Mike Davis for his many years of service to IBEW 1245, while Mike Cottrell, Art Freitas and Anna Bayless-Martinez look on.
Mike Davis, who recently retired as president of IBEW 1245, received a standing ovation at Advisory Council in Reno on July 25 for his long service to the union.
Business Manager Tom Dalzell lauded Davis for leading the union into a new era of fiscal strength and for supporting new avenues of member participation, including the creation of safety stewards and organizing stewards.
“The Executive Board, and especially the president, have a very important and unrecognized role. They help guide us,” Dalzell said.
“My career in the union began five days after I hired on,” said Davis. “Lee Thomas said, ‘You’re the new kid—here are your papers, sign ‘em.’” That was in June of 1967, and Lee Thomas happened to be president of the union at that time. Little did he know that he was signing up the member who would someday follow him in that role.
Mike Davis, left, is the second-longest serving president in the history of IBEW 1245, holding office since 2004. The plaque presented to him by Business Manager Tom Dalzell notes: “We are stronger and more effective today because of Mike’s foresight and courage.”
Two years after joining the union Davis became a shop steward, a position he held throughout his career at PG&E. He has served the union in several elected positions, from Southern Area Executive Board, to Treasurer, to Vice President, until becoming President in 2004.
Davis, a graduate of the UC Berkeley Labor Studies program, represented IBEW 1245 as a delegate to many California Labor Federation conventions, to Nevada State AFL-CIO meetings, and to many IBEW Ninth District Progress meetings, among others. As President he represented the local as a delegate to the 38th IBEW International Convention. He also served as a delegate to the South Bay Labor Council—for over 40 years.
For all his many accomplishments, and his selfless devotion to our union, IBEW 1245 thanks President Mike Davis, our union brother forever.