On Saturday, April 13, 80 organizing stewards and prospects met at the IBEW 1245 union hall in Vacaville for the first formal training of 2024. As people started arriving, I could feel the high energy. Turnout exceeded expectations and we quickly added chairs to the room.
For nearly half of the members, this training represented their first time attending an organizing event. For some, it was their first time at the union hall. The goals of the day were for attendees to learn more about IBEW 1245’s work and get ready for upcoming fights and challenges.
Celebrating Our Victories
We started off by celebrating two major triumphs over the past year — our defeat of SB 284, which sought to sell out union jobs to the lowest bidder, and the passage of the Safe Work ordinance in the city of Oakland. Both victories were made possible, in part, by the willingness of our organizing stewards to mobilize quickly in answer to the call.
1245 Assistant Business Manager Rene Cruz Martinez
The March 5 California primary election was another highlight for our union. (Highlights from that election can be found here). These elections matter to us because, without working relationships with policymakers locally and in Sacramento, we would have no power, particularly in the public sector where city council and board members have a direct say in our members’ wages, benefits and working conditions.
Standing in Solidarity
IBEW 1245 is proud to stand in solidarity with workers in organizing drives across the country and lend support. Lead Organizing Steward Donny Davis and Organizing Steward Kimberly Kendrick represented our union in South Carolina where Westinghouse engaged in a brutal anti-union campaign, including making promises. Notwithstanding every effort, the unionizing campaign came up short due to extreme employer interference (read more here). After the defeat, the company was quick in going back on their promises.
“It is heartbreaking that we must wait one year and one day to go back and try to organize again, but one thing is for certain — those that believed the company’s lies will be able to see this and support the union efforts,” reflected Kendrick.
Lead Organizing Steward Brenda Balcazar and Organizing Steward Rocio Gianelli shared their experience working with workers organizing at San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E).
“This was my first time doing this work after being an organizing steward for eight years. This campaign is important and dear to my heart as my friend who is no longer with us spoke about it so much,” said Balcazar, referring to our late sister Alyssa Fernandez who passed away a couple of years ago.
Fernandez had worked on the previous organizing drive at SDG&E in 2017, when the union lost the election by just six votes. This time, IBEW Local 465 secured card check neutrality, which is a far less obstructive path to unionization. They are now only 25 authorization cards away from getting majority and recognition.
Sister Balcazar closed her remarks with a heart touching highlight, “Don’t take what you have for granted … and don’t think that, because of what you have, you can’t speak up for others who don’t have the same benefits.”
The Union Difference
The training carved out substantial time for stewards to share personal stories, describe the difference that 1245 has made in their lives, and get to know one another.
Nina Sprinkle remarked, “I worked as a dental assistant, and it was stressful and working conditions were not the best. This is the first time I feel secure about my job.”
Jose Lugo added, “I worked union in my past job, but the union presence was not there. It feels good to be part of a strong union that cares about its members.”
First time attendee Kim Lacuesta shared, “I like the energy, I feel accepted and welcomed here. I can feel the sense of family.”
The Political Landscape
1245 Political Director Hunter Stern presented the political state of the union, which includes our focus on safety and looking ahead to the general election in November.
“We must continue to support the current administration which has invested billions of dollars into our industry, placed labor standards in areas that have not been there for over 40 years, appointed pro-worker leaders to the National Labor Relations Board and defended the right to organize,” said Stern. “We now have a chance to continue that success.”
Ongoing Campaigns
IBEW 1245 Organizer Charlotte Stevens spoke about the organizing drive at the City of Vallejo and invited leaders Josh Sosa and James Olson to report on the member-to-member organizing drive ahead of bargaining. In just six months, they have grown the union from 52% density to over 70%, an extraordinary accomplishment.
Josh and James from City of Vallejo
We also talked about the current external organizing campaign at Siemens Mobility in south Sacramento and the struggles of the workers to organize there. We shared our partnership with Boilermakers, the Sacramento Labor Council, and the California Labor Federation in making our first organizing institute training in Sacramento a big success.
Membership Engagement
In everything we do, membership engagement and building relationships is essential. Each and every one of us needs to get out of our comfort zone and continue to engage our peers. We have general elections in November 2024. PG&E and SMUD contract negotiations are also happening next year, and IBEW 1245 union leadership election will follow. We will be busy, and this is the time to begin talking to people about why they need to be involved and paying attention to the issues that impact all of us.
I have a deep sense of appreciation for all of our members who attended the training, and I especially want to recognize the hard work that the organizing leads put into recruiting and mobilizing their co-workers for this training.
Now is the time to get ready to work for the upcoming general elections and the fights ahead. Fired up and ready to GO!!
–Rene Cruz Martinez, IBEW 1245 Assistant Business Manager