Sacramento — Throughout 2025, the IBEW 1245 SMUD Bargaining Committee continued meeting with SMUD management to negotiate a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for more than 550 represented employees.
The committee, which includes 12 rank-and-file members, Senior Assistant Business Manager Dylan Gottfried, and Business Representative Kim Camatti, has put in hundreds of hours reviewing proposals, analyzing data, and presenting comprehensive packages at the Table, and will keep putting in the hours, the preparation, and the pressure for as long as it takes to deliver a fair agreement.
While progress has been made on several noneconomic issues, the parties had not yet reached a final agreement on the economic package by late November.
“With rising costs of living and growing pressures on working families, we understand what our members are facing, and we’re fighting for them at the bargaining table,” Camatti said. “Our negotiating team has been incredible, and Chief Negotiator Dylan Gottfried has done a fantastic job leading the charge. We are all working tirelessly to secure the best possible outcome. Member involvement is critical. Attend your unit meetings, stay informed, and show management that we stand united.”
Gottfried underscored that while this round of bargaining has stretched over many months — beginning June and continuing into mid-November — the committee’s resolve has only deepened with time.
“Negotiations of this magnitude cannot be rushed, and they shouldn’t be,” Gottfried said. “Our commitment is not to speed, but to securing a contract that truly reflects the professionalism, dedication, and vital contributions that SMUD IBEW members make to SMUD and to this community every single day. It’s time SMUD recognizes the true value of that contribution and acknowledges the pride and high standards each member brings to their craft and their work. We are unwavering, and we will not rest until a fair and just agreement is achieved. Together, we will push forward with relentless focus and unshakable resolve until the agreement our members have earned is secured.”
He emphasized that the unity and focus of the bargaining team remains its greatest strength as the parties continue to work toward an economic package. “This committee has been steadfast, disciplined, and absolutely unrelenting,” Gottfried said. “They have shown up with clarity, purpose, and an unwavering belief in the power of solidarity. And I want the membership to know that staying united and engaged is paramount. We will reach an agreement worthy of the work you do — and it’s time SMUD meets that standard. We will reach that agreement together.”
What Happens If No Agreement Is Reached by December 31?
At recent unit meetings members asked what would happen if a new MOU had not been ratified before the current agreement’s expiration date.
If the current MOU expires, “Status Quo” rules would apply:
- Your pay, hours, and benefits stay exactly the same until a new agreement is negotiated.
- SMUD cannot change mandatory terms and conditions of employment without bargaining with the union.
- The no-strike clause expires, meaning members regain certain rights that were restricted under the contract.
- Status Quo stays in place until either a new agreement is reached or both sides reach impasse and move into mediation, fact-finding, or arbitration.
By freezing wages, hours, and other working conditions, Status Quo prevents either side from using sudden changes as leverage.
Meanwhile, bargaining would continue uninterrupted. But if the bargaining unit decides it’s time to highlight how fair treatment of SMUD’s frontline workforce is essential to maintaining safe and reliable service for the community, IBEW 1245 will stand with them and help guide that effort every step of the way.
Stay Involved, Stay Informed
Please attend your monthly Unit Meetings:
Fresh Pond – 1st Wednesday of the month at 5:00 PM (Knotty Pines, 2667 Sanders Drive, Pollock Pines)
Sacramento – 2nd Wednesday of the month at 4:45 PM (Dante Club, 2330 Fair Oaks Blvd, Sacramento)
If you have questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to contact your Business Representative, Kim Camatti, at 707-416-9517 or kdc2@ibew1245.com.