Communications Specialists Jaime Price, Melanie Price, Jennifer Green and Rene Picazo. (Not pictured: Jesse Garcia)
Joining a union is a new experience for most workers. In today’s workforce, few people know the benefits of union membership, and even fewer have been union members. For the Communications Specialists who work at PG&E’s Bishop Ranch campus, however, the decision to join IBEW 1245 was informed by past experience in unionized workplaces and, more importantly, by positive experiences as union members.
On September 7, PG&E’s Communications Specialists unanimously voted Yes to join IBEW 1245 in an NLRB election.
“It felt weird not to be in the union,” said Jennifer Green, who has worked union since her first job. Two of her colleagues, Senior Communications Specialists Rene Picazo and Jesse Garcia, had been members of IBEW 1245 in previous positions they held at PG&E, and they all felt that joining 1245 was the natural choice.
Their classification is fairly new, so having a voice in shaping their roles within the company is a priority for the group. They chose union representation with Local 1245 in order to help provide clarity for their job duties and lines of progression, as well as job security and workplace protection.
The Communications Specialists handle many types of gas emergencies including dig-ins, fires and vehicle impacts. They serve as point persons between internal and external parties, including dispatch, gas service personnel and management until the emergency is controlled.
–Rick Thompson, IBEW International Organizer