Jammi Juarez
Local 1245 staff organizer Jammi Juarez has accepted a new position as the Director of Professional and Industrial (P&I) Organizing in the Membership Development Department for the International Office of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Juarez has mixed emotions about leaving her home local, but she’s looking forward to embracing this new opportunity.
“I initially had a difficult time accepting the position. But like I always tell everyone that I mentor, you can’t be paralyzed by fear of the unknown. Be brave, and be fearless,” said Juarez. “They see something in you that you do not see yourself. If a trusted and respected leader asks you to do something, you do it.”
“I expect to continue working with my home local, just in a different capacity. I do not see this as ‘good bye,’ but as ‘see you soon!’” Juarez continued. “With the help and support of LU 1245 and all of the locals, we will continue to grow and strengthen the IBEW. All workers deserve to be part of a union and I intend on helping those that have a desire to do so! This new chapter in my life is exciting and I can’t wait to get work!”
Juarez at a Tax Day protest in Florida in 2011
Sister Juarez began her career at PG&E in early 2006 at the Sacramento Call center, and became active in Local 1245’s Organizing Steward program in 2011. Over the years, Juarez has worked on at least a dozen political and organizing campaigns, both within and beyond Local 1245’s jurisdiction, and has been recognized on numerous occasions for her outstanding work.
She joined the Local 1245 staff as an organizer in March of 2014, and has represented Local 1245 with a wide variety of union constituency groups, committees, conferences, conventions and boards. She credits the union for opening these doors for her.
“[Business Manager] Tom Dalzell’s vision to educate and empower the rank-and-file membership through hands on training environments got me to where I am today,” said Juarez. “The Organizing Steward program really works. It gave me the exposure to organizing, leadership and union activism that I needed to spark my love and passion for our great union.”
Juarez received the IBEW’s “Above and Beyond” award in 2016
“I have been able to do and experience things I never imaged doing, all because of my union. Becoming an active union member has changed my life,” she continued. “I’ve had many mentors, and met great leaders throughout the last 7+ years doing this work who pushed me outside of my comfort zone many times; I would not be here if not for them. I want to thank my former Business Rep, Arlene Edwards, for recognizing leadership qualities in me and inviting me to participate; Organizers Fred Ross and Eileen Purcell for working with me on a daily basis teaching me the ins and outs and having the wisdom and faith to push me to do more; Tom Dalzell for taking a chance on me and bringing me on staff; and of course, IBEW International President Lonnie Stephenson for my current opportunity. It is truly an honor and privilege to serve my IBEW family.”
A Shining Star in the IBEW
Juarez at a Walmart protest in 2014
“Jammi was one of IBEW 1245 ‘s first Organizing Stewards and has been our leading ‘road warrior’ organizer since 2011,” said Local 1245 Staff Organizer Fred Ross. “Since joining our organizing staff, she has helped lead many of the election campaigns in the 19 states where we have deployed Organizing Stewards. We are proud that President Lonnie Stephenson aims to have Jammi bring the 1245 organizing model to the entire IBEW family.”
“I had never truly seen or felt worker empowerment until I met Jammi. It was the first time I had ever attended a meeting at the 1245 hall, and as a rank-and-file member she was leading a briefing on the anti-union ballot measure we were going to fight,” said IBEW International Organizer Rick Thompson. “Watching Jammi’s knowledge and confidence kindled a fire in me. I thought, ‘This is what a union is about. I want to be a leader and use my voice to make things better for working people, too.’”
Juarez (left) and Casey Salkauskas show the framed copies of The Electrical Worker that features their organizing work at Greenlee
“I first got the chance to work with Jammi in 2011 in Wisconsin, when she volunteered to help fight back against Scott Walker’s attacks on workers’ rights,” said IBEW International President Lonnie Stephenson. “Since then she has helped out on numerous political and organizing campaigns, most notably at Greenlee Textron Tools in Illinois. Jammi has the organizational skills and commitment to worker justice we need to help lead our professional and industrial efforts.”
“Jammi is a natural-born organizer, and I knew from her very first campaign that she would be a shining star in the IBEW,” said Local 1245 Business Manager Tom Dalzell. “She has been a huge asset to our local, with unrivaled energy, die-hard dedication, and innate skills that have continued to flourish over the years. While we will certainly miss her, we are exceptionally proud to have her representing Local 1245 at the International Office. On behalf of our entire staff and membership, we wish Jammi all the best in this next step in her career.”