The IBEW Local 1245 and PG&E negotiating committees met on October 6 and 7 in Vacaville. The Company’s proposed settlement of contract issues deferred the issues of the gas and electric service crews to ad hoc negotiations, but conditioned resolution of those issues to ratification of a very straightforward contract proposal.
The general negotiating committee was close to agreement with the contract proposal, but the standing committee of linemen who have worked on the service crew issue reviewed the company proposal on the service crew and found it lacking. Although the Company proposal honored contract section 212, the linemen did not feel that the proposal was a fair exchange of concessions and improvements.
At the end of the day on October 7, the committee was sent home until Tuesday, October 11. Several options are available and all have advantages and disadvantages. The Union general negotiations committee will meet again on October 11 and will decide the best course to move forward at that time.