Last month, IBEW 1245 lost one of our own – former staff member Manuel “Manny” Mederos.
“Manny was a beloved husband, friend, colleague, active 1245 member and staff member who dedicated his life to improving the lives of working men and women,” said IBEW 1245 Business Manager Bob Dean.
Manny passed away on June 3, 2024.
A native of Martinez, California, Manny graduated from Alhambra High in 1957 and attended Diablo Valley College before enlisting in the United States Army later that year. He returned to Martinez in 1960 after his discharge from the military. He met Sharon Yates in 1961, and they married in 1962. Manny and Sharon complimented each other in every way for the more than 62 years they were together.
Manny and Sharon have two children: Marney and Michael, one granddaughter, one great-grandchild and Sharon is anxiously awaiting the birth of two additional great-grandchildren (twins). Sharon commented that most people don’t know that in addition to all of his other talents he was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing.
Manny was initiated into Local 1245 in September 1962 when our headquarters was located in Oakland. (IBEW Local 595 was our landlord.)
Manny’s official active involvement in Local 1245 began in 1967 when was appointed as a Shop Steward and as a member of the East Bay Joint Grievance Committee. He was later appointed to the Review Committee in 1968 and served on the 1970 Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) Negotiating Committee.
Manny first joined the staff of Local 1245 in 1970 as a Business Representative. He was assigned to represent bargaining unit employees in Diablo and East Bay Districts. In 1973 he returned to a Gas Serviceman position in Richmond and was elected to the Local 1245 Executive Board in 1974 (1974-1976). He was reemployed as a Local 1245 Business Representative in 1976 and was later promoted to Assistant Business Manager (1979-1988).*
In 1981, Manny was instrumental in the development of Local 1245’s current retirement planning services program. The initial agreement was negotiated between former retired Business Manager Jack McNally, Manny Mederos and Merrill Lynch representatives Bob Gallo and Dave Brantley.
The basic structure of the program has been in effect for over forty (40) years.
In 1988, he accepted an International Representative position in the Utility Department at the IBEW International Office in Washington DC. In 1996, Manny was appointed as Director of the IBEW Safety and Health Department where he worked until his retirement from the International in 2001.
Shortly after his retirement from the International he returned to work at Local 1245 as an Assistant Business Manager. He worked in that position for several years before he retired.
We extend our sincerest condolences to his wife, Sharon, and his entire family and renew our gratitude for the years of service he gave to the membership of IBEW 1245.
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REFLECTIONS ON Manuel “Manny” Mederos
Bob Dean, IBEW 1245 Business Manager remarked that “Manny served the membership of IBEW 1245 for his entire career, first as an active IBEW 1245 member, shop steward and member of the negotiating committee at PG&E and later as a revered Business Representative. He set the bar very high for all of us who have followed him. He will be sorely missed. On behalf of myself and IBEW 1245, we express our sympathy to Sharon, his kids and grandkids and all who knew and loved him.”
IBEW 1245 Assistant Business Manager Hunter Stern recalled “When I joined 1245 Staff, folks spoke about Manny Mederos with reverence and appreciation. At first, I thought he had retired or passed away. But later I learned that Manny had gone to work for the IBEW International Office. Fortunately, when he finished at the IO, Manny returned to Local 1245 Staff, and I learned firsthand of his capability and integrity. Manny did things the right way. He made sure you understood what was at issue, that others had a different point of view and that there could be only one outcome. I can’t speak to any specific incident or issue, but I remember clearly that if Manny was involved, everyone would be accepting of the final result. He did not make mistakes or shortchange people and their views. He was a walking, talking example of how to conduct business as a union representative. He was also a great source of information and a sounding board to test ideas. He had a depth of knowledge and experience that was second to none. Manny made each and every Staff member better. But Manny never inserted himself or pushed his ideas onto others. He would help only when he was asked, or he saw a potential train wreck in the offing. He always had a full understanding of the problems confronting Business Reps and he had a very nuanced view of the potential outcomes. Manny made IBEW 1245 Staff better, which in turn resulted in better service to IBEW 1245 members. I know I became a better Rep because of Manny’s guidance and I have continued to use his insights for the 20+ years since he retired again from 1245. Thank you, Brother Mederos!”
Robert F. “Bob” Gallo recently retired as a Merrill Lynch financial advisor. Bob recalls meeting Manny in Walnut Creek when he was cold calling to solicit new clients. He said nobody was offering financial planning seminars in the late 70’s or early 80’s. Manny arranged for him to meet Jack McNally and said that his interview included conducting a seminar for the two of them. Manny introduced Bob to many utility industry union leaders on the west coast, and he is credited with helping thousands of IBEW members enhance their financial planning skills. Bob remembers Manny treating everyone well and being a very popular person. Bob said Manny was one of the kindest individuals he ever met. Manny and Sharon often visited Bob during the holidays. They enjoyed going out for lunch and/or dinner and playing golf. Bob and Manny were friends for over forty (40) years and during that time he never observed him in an argument or heard him say a bad word.
Former Retired Business Manager Jack McNally (1980-2001) has fond memories of Manny. Their friendship began in 1970 when Manny first joined the Local 1245 Staff and continued until his death. Brother McNally remembers his unparalleled expertise in the bargaining arena, particularly in the areas of benefits, general negotiations and gas service issues, as well as his skillfulness in handling safety-related matters. He recalls that Manny was a Cal-OSHA advisor for a period of time when he was employed by the Local. Over two-hundred people attended the Appreciation Dinner in honor of Manny at the Concord Inn on November 4, 1988. More than a dozen speakers paid tribute to Manny’s years of service to Local 1245. It was clear from the event that Manny’s experience, knowledge and warm personality will be missed by his friends and business associates.**
Retired Business Manager Tom Dalzell (2006-2020) said Manny was brilliant. Tom complimented Manny’s ability to mentally recall grievance settlements and section index information from memory in the days before we had an electronic library. Tom was hired in 1981, was on Staff for 40 years and served as Business Manager for 15. Tom was our PG&E lead negotiator from 200l until his retirement, and he was particularly impressed with the positive working relationship that Manny maintained with his Company counterparts. Manny represented the Local as a grievance handler and our lead negotiator for many years. Tom stressed the importance of friendly relationships with employers as outlined in the IBEW Constitution.
David J. Bergman, Retired Director and Chief Negotiator of the Industrial Relations Department at PG&E said he was so sorry to hear about Manny’s death. “Manny was one hell of a guy to have had the privilege to have known as a friend and the opportunity to work with throughout many labor negotiations. Please give my regards to his family.”
Royetta Sanford, Retired Director of the IBEW Human Services Department, worked at the IBEW International Office in Washington DC as an International Representative and later as a department director at approximately the same time as Manny worked as an International Representative in the Utility Department and later as Director of the Safety and Health Department. Both of them were native Californians and prided themselves as being from two of the most progressive locals in the IBEW (Local 18 and Local 1245). Royetta recalls that it was always a pleasure to speak with Manny and share news from home. He had a warm smile and when she ran into him at the office it was reminiscent of seeing an old friend. He will be sincerely missed by friends and co-workers.
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*Excerpts from the October 1988 issue of the Utility Reporter
**Excerpts from the December 1988 issue of the Utility Reporter
*** Excerpts from the 2001 IBEW Journal