Advisory Council member Cloudell Douglas (right) thanks Keith Sondersen for his years of service
A dozen Local 1245 members from the Richmond unit attended the Advisory Council meeting on Oct. 24 to honor their colleague and long-time member Garland “Keith” Sondersen.
When Sondersen started with PG&E in 1963, he was earning just $104 per week. He was initiated into the IBEW in 1966. Now, almost 50 years later, he is still hard at work as an electric crew foreman. His dedication, expertise and work ethic have made a lasting impact on countless members over the years, prompting Advisory Council member Cloudell Douglas to make a unit motion to formally recognize Sondersen’s years of service at the recent Advisory Council meeting.
“When I say Keith is a working electric crew foreman, I mean he is working. He’s not just sitting around. He’s up in the air, rubber-gloving all the time,” Douglas told the Advisory Council, noting that Sondersen’s decades of experience have made him nearly flawless at his craft. “Watching him work… there are never any extra moves. Everything is seamless.”
“It’s a privilege to be able to work with you,” Douglas told Sondersen as the entire Advisory Council looked on. “These guys up here are privileged to work with you as well. And the company is blessed to have you still here.”