ELECTION Õ`iÊÃ`i 6ÕiÊÈ£Ê °{ÊUÊ"VÌ iVÊÓä£Ó PG&E Telecom .6. Vigilance /ÀiiÃÊVÕ`ÊÌ>iÊÕÌÊÌ iÊiiVÌÀVÊÃÞÃÌi°Ê 7ÊiÊ i>À>ViÊ/ÀiiÊ/ÀiÀÃÊ Dalzell: Reasons for Hope .2. >iÊÃÕÀiÊÌ >ÌÊ`iýÌÊ >««i°Ê-ÌÀÞÊÊ«>}iÃÊ£äÊ>`Ê££° Helen Gan: No on 32! .3. Pacts Ratifi ed: PG&E, .4. SMUD, Shasta Tree Master Agreement .5. ratifi ed Advisory Council .8. Outside Line Report .9. Clay Shoot for Charity .12. Retiree Corner: No on 32! .14. Smallwood Heading Home .15. Softball: It Was Hot! .16. Safety: First Responders .17 Rodeo: Public Sector .20 News briefs 26,000 Chicago teachers struck the nation’s third-largest public school district Sept. 10 over com- pensation, evaluation procedures, and conditions within the class- room. At least 289 workers lost their lives in a garment factory fi re in Karachi, Pakistan. Hundreds were trapped inside a building that had metal grilles on the windows and no fi re exits. The fi re began just hours after another fi re killed 25 people at a Lahore, Pakistan shoe factory. 34 miners were killed by police during a strike for higher wages at a platinum mine in South Africa, spark- ing a wave of pro- tests and strikes at other South African mines in September. Leaders from two labor unions climbed 70 meters to the top of silos at an Alcoa aluminum plant that has been targeted for clo- sure in Italy. “They reneged on every- thing,” said Franco Photo: John Storey Bardi, one of the union leaders. Miguel Alcazar cuts a large tree down to size. Working above him are Gabino Chavez, Leo Mendoza and Luis Perez. recently. After 12 weeks of very tough tionships with management. I miss him the northwest and Fresno and his fellow negotiations, our members negotiated and I know that his pipeline members in workers in Stockton miss him as well. and ratified a solid agreement at the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, an agency we’ve had an agreement with for 65 years. I recognize that very Labor journalism awards tough battles continue at Modesto ocal 1245 won several journalism awards in the International Labor Com- Irrigation District, Turlock Irrigation Lmunications Association competition for work published in 2011. District and many public sector The Utility Reporter won third place in the General Excellence category for employers. But the tenacity shown by local union publications, and took second place for Best Design. our members at SMUD inspires me to The photo feature “Twin Monsters”—featuring Line Clearance Tree Reasons believe that we will see better days at Trimmers at Trees, Inc.—won third place for Best Photo Essay or Photo MID and TID as well because I know Gallery. See the feature on-line at ibew1245.com/Group_Profiles/ for Hope for a fact those members are as tough Trees_Inc.pdf. as any in our union. Communications Director Eric Wolfe took a first place Saul Miller award for here’s no denying that our union One of the most exciting develop- Best Political Action Story, “Door to Door Democracy,” which showcased the is facing some very serious chal- ments of the past decade, to me, is hap- efforts of eight Local 1245 members who traveled to Wisconsin to assist the T lenges. But when I look at how pening in our units. We challenged our recall campaign against Gov. Scott Walker. Read the story at our members have faced up to these unit leaders last spring to come up with ibew1245.com/news-1245/Door-to-Door-Democracy.pdf. challenges, I feel hope for our future. ways to re-engage and re-energize our Business Manager Tom Dalzell is Executive Editor of the Utility Reporter; Line Clearance Tree Trimmers took a members. Already we are seeing the Wolfe is Managing Editor. bold step forward in September by rati- units’ potential to become a spring- fying a new Master Agreement. This board for sports events, charitable agreement has immediate improve- activities, and community engage- APPOINTMENTS ments for most tree trimmers, but even ment. We will take further steps along UtilityReporter October – December 2012 more importantly it gives us a united this road in November with four Volume 61 No. 4 front for bargaining with tree contrac- regional meetings of unit leaders, Circulation: 22,200 tors in the future. Several dozen tree which will also include some basic FRONTIER trimmers served on the union’s “Yes instruction in running a meeting for 2012 Bargaining Committee Business Manager Committee” that promoted this agree- our newer unit leaders. William Bryan, Bryan Coleman & Executive Editor Tom Dalzell ment. This committee, along with all the Finally, this year marks the 10th Thomas Greer, Eric Tanaka tree trimmers who made the effort to anniversary of the untimely death of Communications Director vote, sent an important message to all of PG&E & Managing Editor Business Rep. Jim Lynn. Jim understood Eric Wolfe us: unity matters. contracts, he had great rapport with Helicopter Committee President There has been other good news members, and he built productive rela- Shad Baldwin Mike Davis Executive Board CONFERENCES Art Freitas & CONVENTIONS Chris Habecker Fund for critically-injured lineman Mike Jacobson IBEW International Women's Anna Bayless-Martinez Conference Tom Cornell fund has been set up at Bank of Shell Refinery in Martinez on Aug. 7. Mike Cottrell America to help the family of Hanson, 29, is a member of IBEW Erika Barron, Lauren Bartlett Treasurer Anna Bayless, Constance Bibbs A David Hanson. Anyone wanting Local Union 953 and had been working Cecelia De La Torre to make a donation may visit a local in California for a little over a year. He Gloria Burrell, Cecelia De La Torre branch of Bank of America. Indicate you was part of a 5-man crew working to Chris Habecker, Natalia Jonas Published bi-monthly at want to make a donation to Rachel install a ground-operated switch, which Margie Pimentel, Sheryl White 30 Orange Tree Circle, Vacaville, CA Hanson, account # 000006507867. was located in the primary circuit an National Safety Council Fall 95687. Official publication of Local Union David Hanson, a construction line- estimated 50 feet above ground. 1245, International Brotherhood of Labor Division Meeting Electrical Workers, AFL-CIO, P.O. Box man working for Contra Costa Electric, Investigations by CalOSHA, Shell Dan Boschee, Mike Gomes 2547, Vacaville, CA 95696. suffered critical injuries in a fall from Refinery and the employer are all Joe Joaquim, Al White Periodical postage paid at Vacaville and height. The incident occurred at the underway. California Labor Federation at additional mailing offices. USPS No. 654640, ISSN No. 0190-4965. Convention CALENDAR Mike Davis, Anna Bayless POSTMASTER: Please send Form 3579, Change of Address, and all Unit meeting Cecelia De La Torre, Art Freitas correspondence to Utility Reporter, Lorenso Arciniega, Steve Gallow P.O. Box 2547, Vacaville, CA 95696. Oct 6 Last day to register to vote changes Jennifer Gray, Donchele Soper Single copies $1. Subscription by (Nevada) in Nov. 6 General Election Unit 2311, Oakland, has changed Kevin Krummes arrangement. Have you moved recently? its unit meeting location back to Please send complete new address and Oct 13 Lineman’s Rodeo, Overland IBEW Ninth District your Social Security Number (by U.S. Francesco's on Hegenberger Road. Progress Meeting Mail) to: “Address Change,” IBEW Local Park, KS Meetings are on the first Tuesday of Jammi Angeles, Lorenso Arciniega 1245, P.O. Box 2547, Vacaville, CA 95696. Oct 20 1245 Golf Tournament the month at 5 p.m. Anna Bayless, Tom Cornell Our Web Site can be viewed at Lou Mennel, Business Rep Oct 22 Last day to register to vote Mike Cottrell, Mike Davis www.IBEW1245.com. (California) in Nov. 6 General Unit #3415, Colusa Power Plant, Cecelia De La Torre, Art Freitas Find us on Facebook at Election will now hold its unit meeting every Steve Gallow, Jennifer Gray www.facebook.com/IBEW other month. The new date is the Local1245 Oct 27 Advisory Council, Vacaville Mike Jacobson, Natalia Jonas 2nd Wednesday of the month and Jose Leal, Pat Patterson Our phone number is (707) 452-2700. Nov. 6 GENERAL ELECTION: VOTE! the new start time for the meetings Veronica Rivera, Donchele Soper “NO ON PROP 32” is 4:30 pm. Next regular meeting is Wednesday, November 14. Location Inter-Union Gas Conference Nov 8 Unit Leader Conf. - Reno is Kim’s Diner in Maxwell. The unit Pat Earl, Mike Frasu, Matt Fritz Nov 9 Unit Leader Conf. - Fresno has elected new officers: Karl Neil Isley, Joe Joaquim Nov 15 Unit Leader Conf. - Santa Rosa Parker, chair, and Michelle Marty Krumle, Randy Lassus Benjamin, recorder. Leo Lopez, Mike Newsome Nov 16 Unit Leader Conf. - Vacaville Arlene Edwards, Business Rep Mike Rapozo, Mike Scafani 2 October – December 2012 Vote “NO” on Proposition 32 A personal opinion by Helen Gan, 52-year member of IBEW 1245 ello, I’m Helen Gan, a member haps for months, without trial. When affirmative action came in, lar golden handshakes, who “lost the of IBEW Local 1245. In 1929, the Supreme Court declared Chinese women were the first hired. way.” H I want to persuade you to that trying to limit the number of hours The company figured that Chinese girls The only way unions can influence vote NO on Proposition 32. Prop 32 is a a child worked was unconstitutional. would be quiet. And not create prob- laws is through lobbying legislators. measure that will prohibit unions from Since then, the benefits we have to- lems. Boy, were they in for a surprise! Without contributing to political cam- contributing to political campaigns. It day, Social Security, unemployment in- Chinese women are strong, not the paigns, you would have no: is part of an attempt, going on all across surance, and all the rest, came into law china dolls seen in movies; as soon as Social security, minimum wage laws, the country, for businesses to roll back because unions fought for them.