IBEW 1245 Bargaining Committee for 2025 PG&E Contract Negotiations
Vacaville – On January 7th, 2025, the PG&E Bargaining Committee for 2025 contract negotiations met at the Hall for their first meeting.
Twenty-five active IBEW 1245 members joined seasoned 1245 negotiators to be briefed on the process, their role, the tentative calendar and expectations.
IBEW 1245 Business Manager Bob Dean, who will lead the negotiations as chief negotiator, led the meeting.
Dean played a pivotal role during the during PG&E’s bankruptcy in 2019, winning an unprecedented agreement with PG&E.
The five-year agreement preserved medical benefits, provided wage increases, and included a “no involuntary lay off” clause guaranteeing job security during the severe economic downturn. The victory was the result of Dean’s leadership, IBEW 1245’s negotiators, the unified stance of our membership, and the political alliances that came to our defense. Dean has also led prior PG&E negotiations and has overseen numerous side agreements.
Dean will be joined by Senior staff who bring additional years of experience to the Table.
The twenty-five rank and file Members represent a cross section of IBEW 1245’s membership. They were selected based on geographic and departmental diversity, a strong commitment to the good of the union and the recommendation of their Business Representatives. Many declared what an honor it is to be commissioned to represent their co-workers and their desire to learn and contribute to building on the strong foundation laid by the Union.
“This work is vital; together, we are representing 14,000 members at PG&E whose lives depend on what we do during this process. Our goal: the greater good for 14,000 members and our broader membership,” declared Dean.
IBEW 1245 members at PG&E represent nearly half of 1245’s 30,000 membership, but the .
PG&E contract impacts the other 16,000 IBEW 1245 members at 60 employers across the Union’s jurisdiction, both directly and indirectly. The standards 1245 sets also affect other unions when they go to their bargaining Tables.
The Calendar: Broad Strokes & Need for Flexibility
Dean outlined the standard calendar for negotiations.
- January: First Meeting of the Bargaining Committee
- March: The Bargaining Unit submits proposals.
- March & April: The Bargaining Committee compiles and reviews proposals.
- Spring: IBEW 1245 and PG&E exchange proposals.
- Summer: IBEW 1245 & PG&E cost out the proposals
- Fall (after Labor Day): Negotiations at the Table will begin in earnest.
- Winter or beyond: A “Table Agreement”, Explanation Sessions & Ratification Vote
Dean emphasized the importance of remaining flexible. “Though we hope for the best, we are preparing for the worst. The timeline could change. But we are prepared. And the more engaged, informed and unified our 1245 membership at PG&E is, the stronger we are at the Table,” he said.
Committee members left the meeting armed with flyers, a QR code for submitting proposals in March and renewed conviction that united we are strong.
– Eileen Purcell, Sr. Advisor