IBEW 1245 Organizing Stewards Meet at the Hall

Organizing Today to Win Tomorrow

Vacaville, CA – On a beautiful October day, seventy IBEW 1245 Organizing Stewards filled the LL Mitchell room at the Union Hall in Vacaville for the Fall Organizing Steward Training.

Assistant Business Manager and Organizing Director Rene Cruz Martinez welcomed the men and women who hailed from as far south as Lompoc, CA and as far north as Reno, NV and everywhere in between.  “Thank you for volunteering your Saturday to be here! What a difference you make,” he declared.

“You provide the strength behind our movement.   You’re kicking ass answering the call everywhere help is needed!” added Senior Assistant Business Manager Al Fortier.  Nearly a third of the stewards in the room were new.

The goal of the day: to celebrate the Union Difference, stake out the challenges before us, and plan for the final three months of 2025.

The State of the Union

Senior Assistant Business Manager Raph Armstrong kicked off by thanking the stewards on behalf of Business Manager Bob Dean, 1245’s leadership and the 30,000 members “for all the hard work you’ve done and continue to do.”

A third generation, 40-year IBEW member and journeyman lineman, Brother Armstrong started his career in the east coast before transferring to 1245 after working for his first ten years in a “Right to Work” state.  “When I first started, we fought for jobs – we actually had to cut our wages to get the work.  When I  came out to California it was night and day, thanks in large part to the power and strength of this Local union.”

Eighteen years ago, in 2007, he joined the staff and never looked back, overseeing Outside Construction, Vegetation Management and Line Clearance, among other responsibilities.

“Today, from a political standpoint, we are facing numerous challenges:   a federal government hostile to labor, the government shutdown, layoffs, a country divided, attacks on unions and immigrants, A.I., drones.  We’ll continue to fight,  at the bargaining table, at the capitol, at the worksite.  Your continuing involvement is critical.”

Brother Armstrong noted that in just the last few weeks, the power and strength of the Organizing program was on full display.

At the State Capitol Organizing Stewards joined IBEW 1245 leadership to secure SB 254, the Wildfire Fund, providing a modicum of financial stability, and SB 825, the Pathways Bill that established a framework for a regional energy market. Both bills help safeguard the interests of IBEW 1245 members and communities.

The Union is fighting for 1245 members who are federal employees at the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) and the US Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) who are impacted by the arbitrary and illegal stripping of contract rights overnight and by the federal government shutdown,  impacting hundreds of thousands of federal workers and their families. Organizing Staff, led by Charlotte Stevens, is working with Business Representative Gerald Williams to support our members at WAPA and USBR.  IBEW 1245 has joined a class action lawsuit to challenge the illegal nullification of longstanding contracts.

The union is educating our staff on immigration issues, finding ways to support our members who are wrongfully persecuted.

This year the  Union is bargaining 20 contracts, including at PG&E , SMUD, and South San Joaquin Irrigation District (SSJID) where organizing stewards have joined the picket line.

Brother Armstrong noted that the Union is addressing other threats to the work, including A.I. and drones. “We’ve developed model language that we are introducing at every table. ” We can’t beat it back. It’s coming. But we want to be part of the conversation.”

U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson – the Union Difference

U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson, (4^th Congressional District) addressed the room thanking IBEW 1245 for the incredible work performed in the field, from building and maintaining the power grid to service centers.

“My grandmother worked for the Napa Glove factory during World War II. Most of the men were in the military or too old to serve.  It was predominantly women running the business. My grandmother led the working women. Management declared, “You’re going to work 24/7, but when it’s all done we’ll take care of you. Our door is always open.”  My grandmother told me they worked 24-hour shifts.  When they finished the order, my grandmother went to see management. The door was locked and there was a sign that said, “Your Services are No Longer Needed.”  She drilled into me the need for organized labor as the only way to protect worker rights.”

The Congressman decried the mass firings of workers and the government shutdown.  “Every firing, every grant they’ve rescinded is impacting someone’s family.”

As for Proposition 50, he said,  “We don’t have a choice.  I support the Independent Commission.  I believe we should have it in all 50 states.  But we don’t. … we’re not going to unilaterally disarm.

Origins

Organizer Charlotte Stevens introduced the “origins” video of the Organizing Steward program produced by the IBEW. The intergenerational leadership development program grew out of two successful contract fights in 2009 – at NV Energy and PG&E.   It placed a laser beam focus on recruiting and integrating younger members into the work of the union, educating them about 1245’s history and training them on how to fight at the Table, in the halls of power and in electoral politics.  Most importantly, it taught them how to share their own stories and the Union difference with their co-workers at their work sites.

“Learning by doing” in real fights – contract fights, electoral battles, new organizing – at  home and across the country became valuable opportunities, and cultivated solidarity and a spirit of camaraderie, supplemented by regular trainings at the Union Hall. In 2013, The IBEW 1245 Executive Board formalized the program into the Organizing Steward program. The first class was inducted in 2014. What started as twenty-eight organizing stewards has blossomed to more than one hundred twenty any given year.

Today, Organizing Stewards serve on 1245’s Executive Board, Advisory Council, and Central Labor Councils;  they lead trainings, staff GOTV drives, and lead the 1245 Welcome Calls to every new member.  Many have joined the staff.

One of the first Organizing Stewards, Georgette Carrillo, a PG&E Service Representative II declared, ”It is amazing to see how {the Organizing Program} has come from a handful of us to what it is to today:  a sea of blue. We are warriors, fighting for people’s rights, saving our jobs, our benefits, not just for us but for others.   I bring my kids with me – educating them … it’s not taught in school. I didn’t know anything until I got involved.”

The Union Difference – Stories & Insights from the Field

Newer Organizing Stewards shared their experience in an array of campaigns – from the Siemens Organizing Drive to Get Out the Vote (GOTV) drives at Central Labor Councils to conversations at work and at the dinner table.

PG&E Gas Service Representative, Luis Vega, shared, “One of the hardest things when I was door knocking during the Siemens campaign was dealing with people being scared when we came to the door. But letting them know I’m from the  union and trying to help them get a better life … I shared my story. And I realized that everything I like about my job was something fought for by the union – whether wages, the right to bargaining, my right to safety.”

Iyasha Davis, a PG&E Customer Service Representative and Women’s Committee member added, “The Siemens’ campaign humbles you when you hear about workers work two jobs (when we have the luxury of working one job) just to make ends meet.  It made me aware that “we’re covered as IBEW 1245 members.  It’s shocking to learn that I have security that they don’t.”

Brandon Fosselman, a PG&E W&R Dispatcher – Electric and Organizing Lead, reflecting on his success as a Lead, said,  “I have had great teams. I don’t have to ask twice. … One thing I think is important: You have to go to the Unit Meetings. …Politics is only part of the picture.  …Go to the conference, get the experience so that you understand the whole picture. By me being here, by going to the capitol I’m helping my own cause.  I’m protecting my job security, the wages, benefits, the stability … everything that I have personally passes it to my kids. At 42, my purpose on earth is my three kids.  Union job vs nonunion.”

Other Organizing Stewards called in from three Central Labor Councils in Fresno, Sacramento and the North Valley where they are leading GOTV drives for the special election.

Stewards broke into regional groups to enlist volunteers for the next three weeks of GOTV and for making Welcome Calls to new IBEW 1245 members.

Representatives of the IBEW 1245 Veterans Committee, the Women’s Committee and the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus (EWMC) invited all present to get involved – including in the November 7^th Veterans Gala and the November 15^th EWMC National Day of Service.

With the business of the day concluded, IBEW 1245 Organizers Rick Thompson and Charlotte Stevens led the raffle.

Brother Cruz Martinez closed the meeting with a moment of silence, honoring those who have passed, including:  Pam Pendleton, Fred Ross, Alyssa Fernandez, Ron Borst and Jesse Hoch.

He thanked everyone for dedicating their Saturday to come together, celebrate, and recommit to the work that keeps the Union growing and strong.