IBEW1245

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Public_Sector

Whitman: Repeal Collective Bargaining

Republican Meg Whitman said she would possibly put up her own money–and she has a lot of it–to finance a ballot measure to slash public employee pensions. Whitman, who is running for governor, told the Sacramento Bee that a ballot measure was not her “first choice,” but that cutting public employee pensions “is an issue we… [Read More]

Just Blame Bob for Everything

The economy is wrecked. People are mad. Who’s to blame for the mess we’re in? Some prominent journalists and politicians have decided the culprits are those damn public employees. You know the ones—teachers and municipal workers who have the gall to expect a modest pension when they retire. Here’s the viewpoint we’re all supposed to… [Read More]

RT Contract Goes to Arbitration

Local 1245 members at Sacramento Regional Transit twice rejected settlement offers negotiated with the assistance of a mediator. The first offer was rejected on a vote of 13-152 on July 19. The second offer was rejected 21-137 on Aug. 19. On-going problems in the California economy have complicated the RT talks as well as other… [Read More]

Public Employee Pensions

This story by Timm Herdt appeared Aug. 24, 2010 in the Ventura County Star. Here’s a little piece of information that will probably surprise you if all you know about public employee pensions is what you’ve picked up from recent political rhetoric: Among the 492,000 retired government workers receiving checks from the state’s Public Employees’… [Read More]

City of Willits Pact Ratified

Members of Local 1245 at the City of Willits unanimously ratified a one-year agreement that leaves most elements of the existing agreement–including medical benefits–intact. The new agreement modifies members’ employee contributions to their PERS retirement from 0% to 8% and defers a 3% wage increase until July 1, 2011. Gerry Campbell served with Assistant Business… [Read More]

Resort Improvement Pact Ratified

Local 1245 members at Resort Improvement District #1 unanimously ratified a three-year agreement that provides wage increases equal to the Northern California DOL Consumer Price Index. The agreement includes up to 6% worth of merit increases. The agreement also provides an increase of more than $300 to the employer’s medical premium contribution cap, taking it… [Read More]

Healdsburg Pact Rejected

Members of Local 1245 at the City of Healdsburg rejected a contract proposal in a July 13 vote. The proposal included major takeaways with respect to medical premiums, a 2% increase to PERS contributions for our members, and the elimination of a basic workweek. The vote was 0 to 38. The parties have met several… [Read More]

MID Linemen Save Life

IBEW Local 1245 members Jason Hardy and Max Sherwood have won the IBEW Life Saving Award, the highest honor bestowed by the International union. Hardy and Sherwood, electric linemen in Modesto Irrigation District‘s service maintenance department, didn’t set out to be heroes. But they were quick to take action when they arrived at a residence… [Read More]

Scapegoating Public Workers

The following article by economist Dean Baker was published August 16, 2010 on truthout. In recent weeks, there has been a serious effort by the conservatives and even many centrists to whip up anger at public sector workers over their pensions. The basic story is that public sector workers get better pensions on average than… [Read More]

RT Members Reject TA

IBEW Local 1245 members at Sacramento Regional Transit rejected a mediated Tentative Agreement. The vote, conducted on July 19, was 152 against and 13 in favor. The union is scheduled to meet with the District on Aug. 4 for another mediated session in an effort to reach an agreement that is acceptable to the members…. [Read More]