IBEW 1245 Business Rep Keith Hopp is retiring this year after eight years on staff, and 41 years as a member of the union.
Brother Hopp started his career at PG&E in 1983 as a utility worker in the gas department. He spent the next 33 years working his way up on the gas side, from field person, to fitter arc, to gas crew foreman, to a stint as a temporary first line supervisor, to work and resource coordinator.
Hopp (right) and his crew in the late 90s, when he was working for PG&E as a gas crew foreman
A dedicated union activist, Hopp served as a 1245 unit chair, shop steward, and ballot judge for the ballot committee during his time as a rank-and-file member, and he also represented the union during PG&E’s business transformation. A staunch advocate for safety, Hopp sat on 1245’s Health & Safety committee, wrote several safety articles for the union newspaper, and was also a founding member of 1245’s Control the Pressure gas peer safety committee.
Hopp joined the IBEW 1245 staff in 2016, representing PG&E gas members in the Sacramento area. He’s remained a vital member of 1245’s safety culture team during that time as well.
Keith Hopp
When asked about his most memorable assignments during his time on staff, Hopp first recalled how impactful it was to support the mutual aid gas crews and service people who responded to the Boston over-pressurization incident in 2018. He also mentioned how much enjoyed playing an active role in the gas rodeos and various safety committees he’s supported over the years.
“The thing I will miss the most about 1245 is the teamwork,” he said as he reflected over his career as a Business Rep. “At many places I’ve worked, they would throw the word team around, but this is the only job I’ve ever had where teamwork was the only way you would succeed.”
When asked what he was looking forward to most in retirement, his answer was succinct and highly relatable:
“Not having to look at my phone.”