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IBEW1245

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PART-III

Chapter 48: Season of Strikes

The late 1970s became a season of strikes when IBEW 1245 members walked off the job at the City of Gridley, Sacramento Regional Transit, Pacific Tree, Monterey Peninsula Cable TV, and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District.

The SMUD strike, the largest in Local 1245’s history, was prompted by management’s inadequate wage proposals during a time of high inflation. On the second day of the strike, in early 1980, a dozen IBEW 1245 members were arrested while walking picket at SMUD’s Rancho Seco Nuclear Power Plant. A court injunction soon forced the strikers back to work. Members ratified a new two-year agreement after management sweetened its wage offer.

Members of IBEW 1245 on strike at the City of Gridley in 1978. IBEW 1245 Archive

Members of IBEW 1245 on strike at the City of Gridley in 1978. IBEW 1245 Archive

When City of Gridley employees walked off the job on September 22, 1978 the City revoked its recognition of the union and fired all 18 strikers. IBEW 1245 sued. The employees were rehired before the legal case was resolved, but the California Supreme Court ruled in 1983 that the City’s decision to withdraw recognition from the union during the strike was a violation of the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act.

Members of IBEW 1245 at Pacific Tree Expert Co. went on strike on May 11, 1977 rather than accept drastic concessions regarding leave. Management finally agreed to raise wages 14.5%, more than double the rate of inflation at that time, but some members remained unhappy with changes to the vacation, sick leave and holiday sections of the agreement.

Members walked off the job at Sacramento Regional Transit on April 25, 1979 after management sought big concessions. All of management’s take-away proposals came off the table during state mediation. Members ratified a new three-year agreement.

Three dozen members at Monterey Peninsula TV Cable walked out on December 13, 1979 to protest sub-standard wages. After two months off the job, members ratified a pact that provided substantial gains in wages and benefits.

Next: Chapter 49

  • Introduction to the History of IBEW Local 1245
    • Return to Part I
    • Return to Part II
  • Chapter 40: The Logic of Solidarity
  • Chapter 41: Organizing Sierra Pacific Power
  • Chapter 42: Organizing the Sacramento Municipal Utility District
  • Chapter 43: Organizing Citizens Utilities
  • Chapter 44: Organizing the Work
  • Chapter 45: Organizing Irrigation Districts
  • Chapter 46: Welcoming All Comers
  • Chapter 47: The Mechanic
  • Chapter 48: Season of Strikes
  • Chapter 49: Health, Safety … and Politics
  • Chapter 50: The Asplundh Strike of 1992
  • Chapter 51: The War Over Downsizing
  • Chapter 52: The Enron Debacle
  • Chapter 53: An Industry Out of Joint
  • Chapter 54: All Out Dog Fights
  • Chapter 55: Service and Sacrifice
  • Chapter 56: Mobilizing the Future
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