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IBEW1245

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PART-III

Chapter 55: Service and Sacrifice

When NV Energy decided in 2009 to slash medical benefits for its retirees, IBEW 1245 Business Manager Tom Dalzell responded with a “Shame on NV Energy” campaign. Besides traditional tactics like rallies that attracted hundreds in Reno and Las Vegas, the union published full page newspaper ads that succeeded in flooding the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) with complaints about NV Energy. Company executives and board members were targeted in radio, television and Google ads, as well as a “Hall of Shame” web site.

Sylvester Kelley, an early organizer of IBEW 1245 and a World War II veteran, was featured in the union’s television ad protesting cuts in retiree medical benefits. IBEW 1245 Archive

Sylvester Kelley, an early organizer of IBEW 1245 and a World War II veteran, was featured in the union’s television ad protesting cuts in retiree medical benefits. IBEW 1245 Archive

The television ad featured Sylvester Kelley, a World War II veteran who had his war-damaged finger amputated in order to qualify for a job at the Nevada utility in the 1940s. Kelley told viewers: “I served Nevada Energy for 40 years. I know the meaning of service and sacrifice. Now when I need help, they won’t lift a finger to help me.”

The Shame on NV Energy Facebook page racked up an astounding 50,000 “likes.” The union even organized a large and boisterous “Shame” rally in New York City to embarrass an NV Energy executive being honored there for supposed “Excellence in Benefits.”

Rita Weisshaar, Ron Borst and Tom Bird brought the Shame on NV Energy campaign to New York City, where they were joined by 200 New York unionists in protesting an award that company executives were receiving there. IBEW 1245 Archive

Rita Weisshaar, Ron Borst and Tom Bird brought the Shame on NV Energy campaign to New York City, where they were joined by 200 New York unionists in protesting an award that company executives were receiving there. IBEW 1245 Archive

The union also successfully petitioned the PUCN to formally investigate NV Energy’s staffing practices, filed suit in federal court charging that the company had reneged on its commitments, and engineered a shareholder resolution targeting executives’ stock options.

When the union invited its 50,000 “Shame on NV Energy” Facebook followers to rally at the PUCN, NV Energy finally backed down.

Two years later when NV Energy was acquired by billionaire Warren Buffett, Dalzell forged a new alliance with IBEW 396 in southern Nevada and five other local unions at utilities owned by Buffett. It was another example of IBEW 1245 responding to corporate power with new forms of worker unity.

Next: Chapter 56

  • 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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