Voter registration rules in Ohio and Florida were thrown out by federal judges in September for being overly restrictive, reported the AFL-CIO, which was a party to one of the suits that brought about the ruling.

The minimum wage in Califor-nia will go up in two steps from the current $6.75 an hour to $8 an hour in 2008.

A record 46.6 million Americans had no health insurance in 2005 and fewer people received cover-age through their employers, ac-cording to new US census fi gures. Nearly 1 in 6 Americans, or 15.9% of the country, was uninsured for some or part of last year, com-pared with 15.6%, in 2004.

The annual Equal Opportu-nity Survey, which helps the fed-eral government identify contrac-tors most likely to be engaged in systematic discrimination against women and people of color, is be-ing eliminated by the Bush Labor Department, according to Workers Independent News (WIN).

Trash talk: An information book-let distributed by Northwest Air-lines to its workers on how to weather steep wage cuts includes this money-saving tip: “Don’t be shy about pulling something you like out of the garbage.”

Volume 55 No.7 • Sept./Oct. 2006

News briefs

Nevada Hot Stix! .6.

Dalzell: SMUD, Sierra t2. members speak up

Wage hikes at Lindmore ID, t3. Shasta Lake, Truckee-Meadows

Water Authority, Healdsburg

PG&E backs limits on t4. emissions

Outside Construction t5.

report

Advisory Council meets in t6.

Reno

Sandoval Essay winner t8.

Retiree meeting in Merced t9.

hosts Senate candidate

“Long line” procedure t12.

utilized over Shasta Lake

SMUD Pact Ratifi ed

Serving on the Local 1245 Bargaining Committee

at SMUD were, from left, Dave Butler, Ike Williams,

Don Kreuter, Business Rep. Sam Glero, Dan White and

Mark Flanders.

Local 1245 members approved a new agreement with Sacramento Municipal Utility District by a

wide margin. The vote was by mail bal-lot, counted on Aug.15.

The six-year agreement provides wage hikes based on the Consumer Price In-dex, with a minimum of 4.75% annually in 2007, 2008 and 2009, and a minimum of 3.75% annually in 2010, 2011 and 2012. An annual maximum of 6.75% will apply in all years.

“The bargaining committee was very committed to protecting the interests

of all the employees represented by the union,” said Local 1245 Business Rep. Sam Glero. “The large margin of ap-proval for this package shows the com-mittee was very successful in achieving this goal.”

The agreement will phase out em-ployee payment for 2% @ age 55 PERS benefi t in the fi rst three years. In years four through six the employer will pay the full cost.

Medical cost sharing for HMO and PPO plans will be a fi xed dollar amount, changing each year depending on the

Local 1245 expects to resume ne-gotiations with Sierra Pacifi c Power in mid-September after

members overwhelmingly rejected the company’s fi rst contract offer.

The union’s bargaining committee met Sept. 1 to look at responses to a questionnaire distributed to members by the union. The questionnaire asked members to list in priority order their main objections to the company’s con-tract offer. Responses were due back no

plan of choice.The agreement provides a medical

opt-out with proof of coverage, with the District paying the employee $200 per month.

The agreement provides new 401K money, with a direct contribution by the employer depending on years of service with the District:

• Year 1-5: $75 a month• Year 6-10: $100 a month• Year 11-15: $125 a month• Year 16 +: $150 a month

continued on page 3

later than Sept. 13.Regional meetings were being held

during the second week of September in Reno, Carson, Tahoe, Fallon and Battle Mountain to give members the opportunity to offer feedback in per-son.

Interest in the negotiations is ex-tremely high, judging by the huge turn-out: 86% of eligible voters participated. Of those voting, an overwhelming 88% rejected the company’s contract offer.

Sierra Pact Rejected

Tom Dalzell, left, is sworn in as Local 1245 Business Manager on Aug. 1 at Weakley Hall in Vacaville. Administering the oath is International Rep. Art Murray. Dalzell replaces Perry Zimmerman, who retired. Photo by Jennifer Edwards

Politics is moneyPolitics is about money. The

candidates we elect will have a major impact—sooner or later—on the money we take home. Check out this month’s special 28-page Candidate Survey to fi nd out which can-didates want to help us … and which ones would be happy to step on our throats.

A s the seemingly endless occupa-tion of Iraq grinds on, US troops are fi nding some very personal

support from a Bay Area group that just wants the troops to know that somebody cares.

“Their Angels” is a Richmond-based group that gives one day a month and a

Packaging love for the troops

LEFT: Local 1245 Offi ce Manager Tonya Alston (in IBEW sweatshirt) and some of her fellow angels gather on a recent Satur-day to create care packages for the troops.

large dose of love to US troops, including those serving in Iraq. The group gathers on the fi rst Saturday of each month at Hilltop Church of Christ in Richmond to stuff care packages with the little things that can help a lonely soldier get through the day: candy, razor kits, cross-

continued on page 4

Talks to resume mid-September

‘Their Angels’ offer support

Participatorydemocracy in action

Participation in a contract ratifica-tion vote is one important way tomeasure the membership’s

involvement in the union. We often readof contract ratification votes in whichless than half the eligible membershipvotes. Low turnout can be a sign that aunion has failed to engage its members.

Good news: participatory democracyat both SMUD and Sierra Pacific Poweris alive and well. In both cases, morethan 80% of the members made theeffort to vote. The driving forces weredifferent, but the full engagement of ourmembership was the same.

At SMUD, management took a for-

ward-thinking approach to negotia-tions. Difficulty in attracting and retain-ing skilled workers led management torecognize that SMUD wages hadslipped in comparison to the market. Inresponse, SMUD management tooksteps that were bold and decisive.

In return SMUD asked for and wasgiven concessions on several issues. Butthese were issues in which market trendssupported SMUD’s arguments and theconcessions that they asked for were nei-ther extreme nor disproportionate.

Our membership at SMUD respondedwith an overwhelming “Yes” vote. Bycreating incentives and rewards, bal-anced with rational and modest conces-sions, SMUD and Local 1245 negotia-tors crafted an agreement that fullyengaged our members.

Weeks later, our members at SierraPacific Power responded with an equallyloud voice, but their message was “No.”Sierra recently emerged from financialdifficulties brought on by the energy cri-sis of 2001. The loyalty, sweat and talentof our members got the companythrough those trying times.

Sierra came to the bargaining table in2005, its financial health restored, seek-ing major concessions. Its rationale forthe concessions was never clear to ourmembers, who could only surmise that

corporate greed was driving the com-pany attack on benefits and wages.

In difficult negotiations, the Local1245 bargaining committee was able towork with Sierra’s negotiators to craftcreative solutions to many of the issueswhere Sierra had proposed concessions.At the end, though, the package sent tothe membership for ratification con-tained unacceptable concessions onwage and benefit issues.

Like their brothers and sisters atSMUD, our members at Sierraresponded with an extraordinaryturnout. Their answer was “No.”

These ratification votes showtremendous involvement by Local1245 members. The challenge ahead,especially at Sierra in the immediatefuture, is to harness that energy toachieve a contract that recognizes ourmembers’ contribution to the com-pany’s success.

Unit changeUnit 1219, Hollister, has a new locationbeginning in October: Paine’s Restau-rant, 421 East St., Hollister.

Mike Haentjens, Business Rep.

Unit 2318, Richmond has a new meet-ing time effective in October: 4:00 pm.

Lula Washington, Business Rep.

2 September/October 2006

Sept. 30: Outside ConstructionService Awards, Bakersfield,CA

Oct. 3: Retirees Club, Santa Rosa,CA

Oct. 5: Retirees Club, San Jose,CA

Oct. 11: Retirees Club, Vacaville,CA

Oct. 12: Retirees Club, Dublin, CA

Oct. 14: 1245 Golf Tournament,Vacaville, CA

Oct. 16: Retirees Club, Merced, CA(Date is different from usualdate for this month only)

Oct. 17: Nevada Voter RegistrationDeadline

Oct. 23: California VoterRegistration Deadline

Oct. 31: Last Day to RequestAbsentee Ballot in Nevada

Nov. 7: GENERAL ELECTION;BE SURE TO VOTE!

Nov. 17: Service Awards,Petaluma, CA

Nov. 18: Stewards Conference,Petaluma, CA

CC AA LL EE NN DD AA RR

US BUREAU OF RECLAMATION

Negotiating CommitteeTom McGahern

Van PenderPat Pipis

Robert SkordasDan Wyand

SIERRA PACIFIC POWERBallot Committee

Michael “Scott” HilderbrandJim Pursel

TRUCKEE DONNER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT

Negotiating CommitteeSteve Murphy

George CaballeroTami McCollumMike Connell

MERCED IRRIGATIONDISTRICT

Negotiating CommitteeIsrael HaleyCraig Tatum

Jerrid FletcherEd SlownJohn Ellett

CONFERENCES & CONVENTIONS

California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA)

3rd Annual ConventionJack Hill

Waite Anthney

IBEW-NECA Employee BenefitsConferenceRon Cochran

Inter-Union Gas ConferenceKeith Hopp

Coalition of Labor Union WomenNational Executive Board Meeting

Dorothy FortierChris Habecker

Anna Bayless-MartinezGloria Flores

Cecelia De La Torre

Nevada State AFL-CIO Constitutional Convention

Randy OsbornChip Chadwick

Vickie BorstRobert Vieira

Pat Waite

APRI 37th Annual National Education Conference

Dorothy Fortier

IBEW Inter-Union Gas ConferenceJim McCauleyLou MennelJohn FeltsBob QuinnJim Findley

Dennis Thompson

AA PP PP OO II NN TT MM EE NN TT SS

Business Manager &Executive EditorTom Dalzell

Communications Director & Managing EditorEric Wolfe

PresidentMike Davis

Executive BoardArt FreitasChris HabeckerDave ScottAnna Bayless-MartinezTom CornellMike Cottrell

TreasurerCecelia De La Torre

Published monthly, exceptfor combined issues inJanuary/February andJuly/August, at 30 OrangeTree Circle, Vacaville, CA95687. Official publication ofLocal Union 1245,International Brotherhood ofElectrical Workers, AFL-CIO, P.O. Box 2547,Vacaville, CA 95696.

Periodical postage paid atVacaville and at additionalmailing offices. USPS No. 654640, ISSN No.0190-4965.

POSTMASTER: Pleasesend Form 3579, Change ofAddress, and all

correspondence to UtilityReporter, P.O. Box 2547,Vacaville, CA 95696.

Single copies $1.Subscription byarrangement. Have youmoved recently? Pleasesend complete new addressand your Social SecurityNumber (by U.S. Mail) to:“Address Change”IBEW Local 1245P.O. Box 2547Vacaville, CA 95696.

Our Web Site can be viewedat www.IBEW1245.com.

Our phone number is(707) 452-2700.

UtilityReporterSeptember–October 2006

Volume 55 No. 7Circulation: 22,200

Utility Reporterwins top awards

IBEW Local 1245’s newspaper, theUtility Reporter, was honored withfive awards in the Labor Media con-

test sponsored by the InternationalLabor Communications Association.

Competing with local unions nation-wide, the Utility Reporter received firstprize for Best News Story for a January2005 story, “Confronting the High Costof Living.” The paper also won firstprize for Best Collective BargainingStory, “Moment of Truth,” whichrecounted last year’s wage negotiationswith PG&E.

Both stories were written by Commu-nications Director Eric Wolfe.

In addition, the Utility Reporterreceived the following prizes:• Second Award in the Best Illustration

competition for a caricature ofArnold Schwarzenegger as the Termi-nator in his attacks on teachers,nurses and other public employees,drawn for Local 1245 by artist KathyKifer.

• Third Award in the “Best Design” com-petition, perhaps reflecting the paper’srecent change to a full-color format.

• Honorable Mention in the “Best Col-umn” competition for Perry Zimmer-man’s “Helping Retirees Is In Every-one’s Interest.”

SMUD Pact, continued from page 1

New employees hired after Jan. 1, 2007 and who obtain 25 years of service at re-tirement will pay 25% of medical plan for coverage, with the District paying 75%.

Other provisions of the agreement in-clude:

• The Apprentice wage scale is in-creased, starting at 65% and moving to 95% of the journey level wage.

• Optional short term disability insur-ance will be offered to the employee and paid by the employee.

• All Mutual Aid overtime will be paid double time.

Art Torres served as judge of the elec-tion. Serving on the union’s ballot com-mittee were Carmen Guzman, Scott Hyl-ton, Scott Sutherland, Paul Easley, Owen Yuen, Deno Correia and Jim Wilhelm.

SMUD Ballot Committee Tabulating the ballots in the recent ratification vote at the Sacramento Municipal Utility District were, from left, Scott Sutherland, Dino Corriea, Art Torres, Paul Easley, Carmen Guzman, Jim Wilhelm and Owen Yuen. Seated: Scott Hilton.

United States Senator Barbara Boxer presents Perry Zimmerman with a framed copy of a tribute to his ser-vice that was read into the Congres-sional Record. Zimmerman retired as Business Manager of Local 1245 on Aug. 1. Boxer’s tribute was one of many Zimmerman received at his retirement party on Aug. 26.

Equity increases at WAPA

Members of Local 1245 working for the federal Department of Energy/Western Area Power Administration will receive wage increases and equity increases re-cently negotiated by Local 1245. The in-creases are as follows:

June 1, 2006: 3% equity increase.October 1, 2006: 3% general wage in-

crease.April 1, 2007: 3% equity increase.Negotiating for Local 1245 were Busi-

ness Reps. Sam Glero and Ron Cochran.

Wage hikes at City of Redding

Local 1245 members at the City of Redding Electric Department have ratified an agreement that raises wages 3.5% on Sept. 10 and another 3.5% fol-lowing completion of the Department’s certified training, which is estimated to be near the end of this year.

The wage adjustments are above and beyond the provisions of the current Memorandum of Understanding, which terms out in late August of 2008.

Senior Business Representative Larry Pierce assisted the union’s commit-tee, comprised of Dwayne Baker, Mark Larsen, Sean McCall, Bob Sandoval, and Business Representative Jack Osburn.

TMWA preserves benefits

Members of Local 1245 ratified a new agreement with Truckee Meadows Wa-ter Authority that raises wages 11.5% over three years.

Members received a wage increase of 3.5% on June 1, and will receive 1.9% increases every six months during the final two years of the agreement. The agreement runs 37 months, from June 1, 2006 to June 30, 2009.

The agreement also has a provision for converting unused sick leave into a health savings account when members

retire. Under this provision, any sick leave in excess of 700 hours at the time of retirement will go into a 401(h) plan.

Medical benefits for current employ-ees will remain unchanged during the term of the agreement.

Negotiating for the union were Pat Kykendall, Steve Enos, Jeff Westwood, Dennis Romeo, Chris Hires and Busi-ness Rep. Pat Waite.

Business Rep. Pat Waite

Wages hiked at Lindmore ID

Wages at Lindmore Irrigation District will go up 3% a year for three years un-der the terms of a new agreement nego-tiated by Local 1245.

Medical benefits will remain un-

changed. The pact took effect Sept. 1.Negotiating for the union were Robert

Rodriguez and Business Rep. Bob Dean.

Business Rep. Bob Dean

Shasta pact approved

A new four-year agreement with the City of Shasta Lake raises wages and im-proves the retirement formula.

General wage increases include 2% ef-fective July 1, 2006, 3% effective July 1, 2007, 4% effective July 1, 2008, with an equity adjustment in 2009 to be calcu-lated on the average lineman’s base pay

for Lassen MUD, Trinity PUD, and Plu-mas Sierra REA, but in no event lower than the City of Redding lineman’s base pay rate. In no case will the 2009 equity calculation result in a decrease of com-pensation. All City of Shasta Lake classi-fications will be indexed to this journey-man lineman rate.

Effective July 1, 2006 the Public Em-

Business Rep. Jack OsburnNew Agreement at City of Healdsburg

Local 1245 members ratified a new agreement with the City of Healdsburg that improves wages.

The Memorandum of Understanding, provides a 7% general wage increase retroactive to Jan. 1, Business Rep. Joe Osterlund reported. An additional wage increase of 6% is effective July 1, with a

Business Rep. Joe Osterlund

7% increase effective July 1, 2007. Wage increases tied to a cost-of-living

formula—with a range of 3% to 5%—will be effective on July 1, 2008 and 2009.

On Jan. 1, 2007, the PERS retirement

formula will be pegged at 2.5% at age 55, with employees to pay 3%. On July 1, 2007, employees will pick up an addi-tional 3% co-pay on PERS.

ployees Retirement System formula will be 3% at age 60, with the employer mak-ing all contributions.

Other provisions include:On-call pay calculated at two hours

regular pay per day paid at the employ-ee’s rate and based on a seven-day shift.

Group insurance cap raised to $1,268 monthly, with future increases beyond the cap paid 80% by employer and remainder paid by employee.

Increased meal allowance for meals not taken to one hour at the appropriate overtime rate.

Negotiating for the union were Dave Vandermeer and Business Rep. Jack Os-burn.

Photo by Lita Martin

CorrectionThe July/August Utility Reporter got

its wires crossed on page 4. The personidentified as Mel Hambrick is actuallyGary Abrahamson of the East Bay Chap-ter of the Local 1245 Retirees Club. Ourapologies for the mix-up.

Utility Reporter 3

PG&E backs landmark bill

Greenhouse gas emissionstargeted by new law

Leaders of the California Legisla-ture and Gov. ArnoldSchwarzenegger agreed on Aug.

30 to legislation that will mandate areduction in the state’s emissions ofgases contributing to global warming to1990 levels by 2020.

The cut would target the state’sbiggest industrial emitters of green-house gases, including power plants.The legislation was supported byPacific Gas & Electric, which workedwith the governor’s office and legisla-tive leaders to achieve a package theutility could support.

Although the legislation is notexpected to have any immediateimpact on members of Local 1245, thestate’s need to develop new, cleanertechnologies is likely to spur the cre-ation of jobs in California’s energy sec-tor, which could ultimately lead to anincrease in union jobs. Local 1245members, of course, will benefit alongwith everyone else if the movement tocut emissions and slow down globalwarming is successful.

California leaders hope to spur otherstates, and ultimately the federal gov-

ernment, to follow the state’s lead. TheBush administration was unenthusias-tic about California’s initiative, reiterat-ing its philosophical opposition toglobal-warming caps.

Mirant contractprovides security

Two contracts between Mirant andPG&E have improved the jobsecurity picture for Local 1245

members at Mirant.Under the contracts, Mirant will pro-

vide power from its natural gas-firedPittsburg and Contra Costa powerplants to PG&E. PG&E has contractedfor approximately 2,000 megawatts ofcapacity for varying terms beginning in2007. Mirant earlier had filed a notice ofintent to shut down Pittsburg Unit 7 andContra Costa Unit 6, but now will with-draw that notice.

“These agreements are criticallyimportant to IBEW employees at Mirantbecause they ensure that no employeeswill face layoff, voluntary or otherwise,this year or the foreseeable future,” saidLocal 1245 Business Rep. Hunter Stern.The agreements also provide evidencethat the company can continue efforts toturn around its business in California, hesaid.

4 September/October 2006

PG&E ShopStewards:Please Help

All IBEW Local 1245 shop stewardsare asked to have new bargainingunit employees at PG&E write

their personnel ID numbers on thepaperwork they fill out for the union.

PG&E’s new SAP payroll system isdriven by personnel ID numbers. Local1245 now needs to provide the appro-priate ID number when we sendrequests to the PG&E payroll depart-ment.

We are preparing to attach a shortnotice to each form going forward, butwe want the existing paperwork to comein with those ID numbers.

It appears that each new hire is pro-vided with their personnel number onthe first day of work. New hires may alsoobtain the number through the PG&EIntranet by clicking on “My Stuff” and“About You”.

PG&E BenefitsOpen Enrollment

Union-represented employeesat PG&E enjoy a comprehen-sive package of negotiated

benefits. Open Enrollment is ourannual opportunity to choose theoptions that best meet our individualand family needs.

Benefits Open Enrollment this yearfor current employees is tentativelyscheduled for Nov. 3-16, although thesedates are subject to change pendingimplementation of SAP.

For retired employees, Open Enroll-ment is Oct. 20 – Nov. 2.

Employees whose mailing address haschanged since last year’s Open Enroll-ment, or who plan to be on vacation dur-ing Open Enrollment, should call the HRService Center at 1-800-788-2363.

regulatory matters.The settlement agreement would

provide additional base revenues ofapproximately $213 million in 2007 toensure sufficient funding for theupkeep, improvement and growth ofPG&E’s electric and gas distributionsystems and its electric generationfacilities. The additional revenues arenot expected to result in a significantnet change in customer electric and gasrates for 2007, as declines in other rev-enue requirements are expected to par-tially offset GRC-related adjustments.

PG&E ratesettlement

Pacific Gas and Electric, the Cali-fornia Public Utilities Commis-sion Division of Ratepayer Advo-

cates and the Coalition of CaliforniaUtility Employees (CUE) in August fileda proposed settlement agreement inthe company’s 2007 General Rate Case.

CUE is a coalition of utility unions,including IBEW Local 1245, that repre-sents the interests of utility workers in

Their Angelsfounder MarvaLyons with someyouthful helpers.

word puzzles, powdered drinks, comicstrips.

Each care package is carefullyinspected to make sure it meets theguidelines for overseas mailing to thetroops. Food items, for example, mustbe manufactured and sealed.

“We want the recipient to have peaceof mind that these items are safe,” saidTheir Angels volunteer Tonya Alston,whose day job is Office Manager atIBEW Local 1245 in Vacaville.

Alston learned about Their Angelsthrough her church in Vallejo. Her sonhad recently served in the US Air Forceand the idea of doing something to sup-port the troops appealed to her.

The group got started in Novemberof 2004, when Marva Lyons, operatingout of the Hilltop Church, joined withothers to write letters and cards to thetroops. The following September, theystepped up their effort by adding mate-rial goods to their words of support.

Since then, more than 3,400 carepackages have been assembled andmailed. Each package, consisting of aquart-sized baggie stuffed with good-ies, contains a handwritten note and athemed napkin.

“For Labor Day, we did napkins witha flag on them,” said Alston.

There are 50 packages per box tomake sure that each person in the pla-toon receives a package.

Participants include those from mil-itary families, and some who are not.Kids sometimes help out, and their par-ticipation is welcomed.

“One of the parents or grandparentswill show them what to do. We inspecteach bag afterwards anyway, so wedon’t stress about it,” said Alston.

Each package includes the group’s

website and Lyons’ e-mail address, andthe Angels have received many appre-ciative notes from US troops aroundthe world.

Despite the growing controversyover the continued US occupation ofIraq, the politics of the war doesn’tmuch concern the Angels, according toAlston.

“It doesn’t matter what your particu-lar politics are regarding the war, thosetroops are there doing a job and theyneed to know they have the support oftheir countrymen and women,” Alstonsaid. “Most of these folks have sons inthe military. They just want their childto come home.”

Packages, continued from page 1

Fifty care packages go in each box. Thegroup sends out 350 packages on averageeach month.

Packages contain words of encouragementalong with the drinks, snacks and razorkits.

Utility Reporter 5

25 Years25 Years

35 Years35 Years

60 YearsGerald Bayless

40 YearsRobert Gibbs

Roy Lewis

MW Murray

Robert Perry

Michael RudickHenry Waelty

35 YearsDonald DavisLew HolstWilliam HoughBarry JensenLynn TackmierDavid Vigil

30 YearsLoren Ferguson

25 YearsDavid Brouzes

Steven Jones

Lloyd Mc Clelland

Robert Seward

Thomas Torgersen

Eureka, CAJune 9, 2006

40 Years40 Years

Gerald Bayless, left receives 60-yearaward from Business Rep. RichardCowart.

portion of your medical premiums, andthere is no longer any vision or dental inyour plan. Of course you can purchasean optional plan that will cover you andyour spouse for dental and vision. How-ever, this option is out of the financialreach of a large percent of the retire-ment community.

PG&E is a stock-driven entity and, aswe both know, business is business.PG&E has been able to pass off the costof inflation and the cost of doing busi-ness to recoup their dollars. However,we—the retirees—do not have theavenues, nor the resources, to pass onour ever-increasing expenses.

Mr. King, you are the CEO of thelargest utility this side of New York. Youcould slam your hand down and say,“This is deplorable and ludicrous. Ourretired employees deserve a betterdeal!” What a concept. Corporate execu-tives taking that giant step forward bytaking care of “that old team.” The teamthat helped us get to where we are today.

The “retired team” should be seen asan asset and not a biodegradable item.Taking steps to ensure a safe and securefuture for the retirees would be atremendous boost in the public imagearena for PG&E. We have a considerablebudget for our image. Why not spend iton an extremely valuable asset, the“retired team.” Every retired person isinvolved in his or her community. Youname it, we’re in it. We can reach out andbe heard by hundreds—no, thousands—of people. Boy, did we work for the bestcompany in the hemisphere or what?

James Haslouer, Merced, CA

Send letters to: Utility Reporter Letters, IBEW1245, PO Box 2547, Vacaville, CA 95896. Note:We can’t print personal attacks or letters dealingwith union politics. Opinions expressed in lettersare those of the individual authors and do notnecessarily reflect the views of IBEW Local1245.

What about the“retired team”?Editor’s note: The following letter fromretiree Jim Haslouer was originally sentto PG&E CEO Tom King. It is excerptedhere with Haslouer’s permission.

Dear Mr. King,I am a retired Electric Crew Foreman

with over 35 years of service. I write toyou because I believe that you are aninnovative and take-care-of-businesstype of guy.

In today’s corporate environment,stockholder and employee alike havelost faith in the “big company.” Youknow as well as I that the image of thecompany is only as stable as the deci-sions made by executives and employ-ees alike. We have been at the cuttingedge of both technology and innovativeideas, and have set the bar for other util-ities. There is an opportunity for PG&Eto step to the front of the pack.

In the past we were all part of thesame family. Now the new buzz is, “Let’sall be part of the team.” Well, there is aforgotten group of alumni that havefallen through the cracks. And that is the“retired team.” We are in dire straightsfinancially and economically.

When you retire, if you’re of theworker-bee clan, PG&E pretty muchkicks you loose; you have to pay a large

The month lead-ing up to Sept. 13we had 67 calls forJourneyman Line-man; 24 calls forApprentice Line-man; 1 call forEquipment Spe-cialist; 14 calls forGroundman; 2 calls for Cable Splicers;and 1 call for UG Tech.

Total crews working:Outside Line: 72 crewsUnderground Tech: 17 crewsPole Test & Treat: 46 crewsSignal Workers: 40 workersTech Workers: 57 workers

The books:Lineman 1: 6Lineman 2: 9Lineman 3: 2Lineman 4: 11Groundman 1: 14Groundman 2: 11Groundman 3: 17Groundman 4: 78Equipment Specialist 1: 7Equipment Specialist 2: 4Equipment Specialist 3: 5Cable Splicer 1: 1Cable Splicer 2: 0Cable Splicer 3: 2

There are 346 apprentices registeredin JATC, of which 59 are working out ofLocal 1245.

Next joint safety meeting in Vacavilleis Nov. 15.

Joint Apprenticeship Trustee Com-mittee has asked me to find property ingreater Sacramento, Woodland, Vacav-ille area for Apprentice Training Facility.

Ron Cochran, Business Representative

Ron Cochran

Hot Stix Drill Team Members of the Local 1245 Advisory Coun-

cil got a break from the usual order of busi-ness when the Sierra Pacifi c Hot Stix Drill Team gave a surprise performance. As an amazed Advisory Council looked on, the Drill Team marched around the meeting room in a variety of formations, brandishing modifi ed hot sticks to the beat of patriotic music.

Hot sticks, of course, are the tools that line-man have traditionally used to work on live conductors.

The drill team, composed of Local 1245 members, was organized 10 years ago and has performed in a variety of venues, includ-ing Veterans Day Parades in Virginia City and Reno, a Fourth of July Parade in Susanville, and the Butte Mountain Arm Pit Festival (“That was interesting,” remarks team mem-ber Leslie Stephan).

The team has also performed in Haw-thorne, Austin, Winnemucca, Tonopah, Elko, Sparks, Gardnerville and Mindin. In California, the team has put in appearances in Truckee as well as the Doo-Dah Parade in Pasadena. In case you don’t know about the

Doo-Dah Parade, “It’s Mar-di Gras and the Reno Pride Parade rolled into one,” the team explains.

Left, pictured from left to right: Rita Weisshaar is a Working Foreman, with 20 years in the union. Clerical Rep Kiki Lockhart has 4 years in the union. Customer Service Reps in the group are Vickie Borst, 25 years, and Leslie Stephan, 3 years. Other Local 1245 members in the group, but unable to attend the Advisory Council performance, are Customer Service Reps Alice Cherry and Tracy Kuykendall. Denise Stone, who is not a member of the bargaining unit, is also part of the team.

Local 1245 members heat up parades

Advisory Council, Reno, Left: President Mike Davis convened the meeting in the traditional location for the August gathering: Reno, Nev.

Right: Sam Tamimi, recently named as Local 1245’s new Senior Assistant Business Manager, reported on the sta-tus of various grievances that have moved up the ladder.

Left: Dennis Thompson, rep-resentative for San Jose, asks a question concerning the divi-sion of responsibility between Title 200 and 300 classifi ca-tions at PG&E Garage.

Right: Brian Kapaun, an alternate representing PG&E General Construc-tion, asks Sam Tamimi about SAP-Payroll.

Left: Assistanness ManagerChoate gave aon organizing

Right: Groveresentative foStockton DiviCity of Lodi, dproblem withclassifi cation Resource Coo

Left: Tom Cornell (seated be-tween Vice President Art Freitas, left, and Southern Area Member Dave Scott, right) attends his fi rst Advisory Council meeting as an Executive Board member.

Right: Assistant Business Man-ager Howard Stiefer reported on possible regulatory action to mandate additional fall protection.

Left: Lee Thomas, left, rep-resenting Humboldt Divi-sion at PG&E, confers with Terry Andreucci, representing Drum Division of PG&E, Plu-mas Sierra REC, and City of Roseville.

Right: Assistant Business Manager Dennis Seyfer re-ports on contract settlements at various employers.

Left: Line Clearance Tree Trimmer Representative Carl Lamers reported that Local 1245 prevailed in an arbitration against EPA Provco in a wrongful termi-nation dispute.

Right: Dave Morrison represents Frontier on the Advisory Council.

Left: Chip Chadwick attends his fi rst Advisory Council meeting as the Nevada representative.

Right: John Harper represents Shasta Division of PG&E, City of Redding, Lassen Municipal Utility District, Shasta Dam Area Public Utility District, and Bella Vista Water District.

6 September/October 2006

Praise for PerryLou Mennel, representing Sacramento

Division of PG&E, was one of several Advi-sory Council members to praise the work of Perry Zimmerman. Here’s what Mennel had to say:

I am sad that Perry Zimmerman re-tired.

He ran and won for Business Manager at a time when I was just starting to get involved with the union. In my fi rst 18 years with the

company I never met any business man-agers. I didn’t think you were supposed to.

Perry, you weren’t just the picture in the Utility Reporter. At any time that picture would come to life and you would walk by and meet the members.

People had a lot to say about you, most of it positive. The one question I never got was: who is our business manager?

Thank you for all you have done for me and my union.

Zimmerman expresses gratitude to the union for the opportunity to serve.

Lou Mennel pays tribute to Zimmerman.

Dalzell pledges to “sharpen focus”

Business Manager Tom Dalzell

Local 1245 members can expect both con-tinuity and change from the union’s new leadership.

Business Manag-er Tom Dalzell told the union’s Advisory Council that he in-tends to continue the emphasis on mem-ber contact that was championed by his predecessor, Perry Zimmerman. At the same time, Dalzell pledged to increase the union’s focus on the one activity that has the greatest impact on the union’s membership as a whole: collective bargaining.

Dalzell told the Ad-visory Council that he endorsed Zimmer-man’s commitment to having close contact with the members.

“Nobody did it bet-ter than Perry,” Dal-zell said. “If I can do half the job Perry’s done I will be happy.”

Dalzell said he would continue Zimmerman’s policy of designating business representatives to focus on two groups that traditionally have been diffi cult to serve due to their mobility: members in line clearance tree

continued on following page

Nevada, August 12, 2006

Chip Chadwick, left, was sworn in to the Advisory Council by President Mike Davis at the meeting in Reno on Aug. 12. Chadwick, employed by Truckee Meadows Water Authority, replaces Tom Cornell, who was recently appointed to the union’s Executive Board. Chadwick will represent members in the most eastern part of the union’s jurisdiction, including Sierra Pa-cifi c Power, Truckee Meadows Water Au-thority, Wells REA, Mt. Wheeler Power, and the City of Fallon.

nt Busi-r Bob an update g.

r Day, rep-or PG&E ision and discusses a h the new

of Work ordinator.

Left: Mike Cottrell is the new “At Large” member of the Ex-ecutive Board.

Right: Business Rep. Darryl Norris discusses Regional Transit issues with Advisory Coun-cil Member Bill Gilliam.

Left: Assistant Business Manager Dorothy Fortier reported on PG&E issues relating to Resource Man-agement Center positions and vacation scheduling.

Former Business Manager Perry Zimmerman slices a cake presented to him by the union to honor his service. Recording Secretary Chris Habecker helps serve up the slices shortly before the lunch break. No one lost any weight on that particular Saturday in August.

Left: Bill Gilliam, repre-senting Sacramento Re-gional Transit, discussed recent efforts to create a state approved appren-ticeship for Bus and Rail.

Right: Rich Perry report-ed that bargaining opens in October at the US Bu-reau of Reclamation.

Left: John Felts reported on contractors do-ing Local 1245 work at TransCanada.

Right: Larry Rodriguez reported that there is no progress in the pro-tracted negotiations with Alameda Power and Telecomm.

Left: Gloria Flores represents PG&E Cleri-cal at Large.

Right: Dan Mayo, rep-resenting San Joaquin Division of PG&E, has this to say about Tom Dalzell, the new busi-ness manager: “Tom gets results.”

Left: Bob Quinn, representing PG&E San Francisco Division and Gen-eral Offi ce, dissects some company literature.

Continuity … and change

Chadwick takes oath

Utility Reporter 7

8 September/October 2006

Son of Tri-Dam member wins Sandoval Scholarship

Travis Wilson has won the 2006 Al Sandoval Competitive Scholarship Contest for his essay-on the repeal of the Public Utilities Holding Company Act. The scholarship, worth $2,000, is awarded each year to a son or daughter of a Local 1245 member. Wilson is the son of Deb-bie Wilson (second from right) and Jim Wilson, left, a 20-year Local 1245 member and Rov-ing Operator at Tri-Dam Project in Strawberry, Ca. Judging the essay contest was former Business Manager Jack McNally, right. Travis Wilson’s essay appears below.

Essay question: With the passage of the new national energy bill and the repeal of the PUHCA (Public Utility Holding Company Act), what effect will it have on the utilities and union?

Energy Act compromises serviceBy Travis Wilson

The signing of the new Energy Policy Act of 2005, on Aug. 8, 2005 is supposed to encourage energy efficiency and conservation, as well as promote renewable en-ergy sources. In addition to this, the Energy Policy Act will reduce the United States’ dependence on foreign energy sources, therefore increasing domestic production and expansion. All of those features probably sound great to most citizens, but one provision of this act is its repeal of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, which required utility holding companies to incorporate in the same state where they operated. When the new energy bill and the repeal of the PUHCA become ef-fective on Feb. 8, 2006, geographic limitations on holding companies will be lifted and electric utilities could be bought by unrelated companies.

This new bill not only reduces some state regulation over utilities, but it compro-mises the service, safety, and reliability of the unions. With companies not in the business of electrical services suddenly seizing control of the utilities, the shift in interests will be easily seen. The well-being of the union and its workers, as well as the quality of services provided is no longer priority number one for the company. The number one interest now is simply turning a profit, regardless of the quality of the service provided, and most importantly, the safety of the electrical worker.

Electrical utilities have always been a public service. The worry now falls to the fact that this service is no longer provided just for the public, but rather to ensure the corporation that now owns utilities to turn the biggest profit. The most fright-ening factor is what these corporations may be willing to cut in order to see that their profit is made. Unfortunately most of these cuts will probably occur within the unions, affecting the workers most severely. The safety regulations currently upheld by the unions may disappear as the new owners, not knowing safety proto-col due to their inexperience in the field, take shortcuts to lower costs.

Repealing the PUHCA along with the passage of the Energy Policy Act may ap-peal to those who wish to get their hands on holdings in electrical utilities, but it is the union worker who pays most dearly for this action. The new bill is meant to benefit the country in this time of great uncertainty toward the future of energy production. While the benefits have yet to be entirely noticeable, one can already see how the unions and utilities will not benefit from this new act.

Dalzell, continued from previous page

trimming and members in PG&E’s Gen-eral Construction workforce.

At the same time, Dalzell plans some initiatives of his own, including “sharp-ening up our game on negotiations.”

“I was and continue to be impressed with our negotiators,” said Dalzell, a reference to the many negotiating com-mittees that have tangled with manage-ment across the bargaining table during the past couple of years.

Dalzell pledged to use every available tool in support of the union’s bargaining teams, including greater use of account-

the current contract, Dalzell reported.Repographics was the recent subject

of a number of meetings with PG&E, during which the union and company clarified what PG&E’s two “alliance part-ners” could and couldn’t do in terms of copying and printing.

Pension fund contributions of $250 million annually have been approved by the California Public Utilities Commis-sion, helping to strengthen the fund.

PG&E retirees will continue to dis-cuss retiree medical costs and pension benefits with management at an Oct. 11 meeting at Weakley Hall in Vacaville. Former Business Manager Perry Zim-merman will lead the union’s efforts on behalf of retired members.

South San Joaquin Irrigation Dis-trict’s effort to annex PG&E assets failed to win approval by the Local Area For-mation Committee in a June 16 vote. A municipalization campaign contin-ues at the Sacramento Municipal Util-ity District, which is seeking to annex PG&E assets in Yolo County. A vote is scheduled for November. The union has opposed both takeover attempts based on the likely negative impact on Local 1245 members, Dalzell said.

Dalzell also reported on negotiations at numerous other employers, as re-ported in this and previous issues of the Utility Reporter.

News round-upRecent developments at PG&E dis-

cussed by Business Manager Tom Dal-zell at the Advisory Council include:

Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI) won approval in July, clearing the way for Pacific Gas & Electric to install the new technology throughout its sys-tem. The company plans to begin in the Bakersfield area and work their way up the valley. PG&E and Local 1245 contin-ue to hold talks over the impact on Local 1245 Meter Readers.

PG&E Transformation has been scaled back somewhat. Engagement in the process by IBEW-represented employees “has taken off some of the sharper edges of what they’re trying to do,” Dalzell reported.

Front counters at PG&E local offices have eased away from the brink of clo-sure. Originally the company planned to close all 84 offices and lay off all 275 or so employees. PG&E later proposed keeping 13 offices open, preserving about 100 of the targeted jobs. Before the union could put that proposal out to a vote of the affected employees, how-ever, various ratepayer groups put for-ward vigorous objections to any office closures, making any action unlikely for the immediate future.

PG&E Fleet will not be shut down, contrary to recent rumors. The company cannot get rid of Fleet during the term of

ing and actuarial experts, and leveraging regulatory bodies when possible.

He reminded Advisory Council mem-bers that incremental changes won at the bargaining table may not make splashy headlines, but add up in peo-ple’s paychecks and make a big differ-ence over the years.

On a personal note, Dalzell lauded the late Joe Valentino as a business rep-resentative who had been a “friend and source of strength to the last three busi-ness managers” before his untimely death in 1993 at age 46.

miles north of Susan-ville, Ca. The exten-sion is being built to serve a new customer.

This talented group of Journeymen Line-men and Apprentice Linemen work with distribution voltages ranging from 2400kv and 4160kv to 12 kv. Whether it’s 100-plus degrees in August or below freezing in February with several

feet of snow on the ground, LMUD line crews do whatever it takes to keep the power on.

“This is the best damned group of

linemen I have ever worked with!” says General Foreman John “J.D.” Deal, a 31-year IBEW 1245 member.

Pictured, from left, are: Raymond “Cory” Kindle, 3rd Step Apprentice and one-year Local 1245 member; Jeffery “Craig” Lima, Foreman and 29-year Lo-cal 1245 member, Arthur “Tator” Lohr, Journeyman and 8-year Local 1245 member; Cort Cortez, 3rd Step Appren-

Forty-pole extension in Willow Creek Valley

tice and 2-year 1245 member; Kevin “Scotty” Merrill, Foreman and 29-year Local 1245 member; Patrick “Shawn” Norvell, Journeyman and 6-year Local 1245 member and Tim Riddle, Journey-man PAR Lineman traveling in from IBEW Local 304. Not pictured: General Foreman John “J.D.” Deal and Foreman Jim Lovercheck, an 18-year Local 1245 member.

Lassen MUD Line crews for Lassen Municipal Utility

District were hard at it on the last day of August constructing a 40-pole extension in Willow Creek Valley approximately 20

Photo by Ray Thomas

Utility Reporter 9

Congratulations newly-retired membersThe Local 1245 Retirees Club congratulates these recently-retired members of theunion. We invite you to participate in a Retiree Club chapter in the East Bay, SanJose, Sacramento/Vacaville, Santa Rosa or Merced. If you don’t have a chapternearby, call the union at 707-452-2718 and find out how you can help start one!

Daniel Avila22 yearsBakersfield, CA

Robert Fairbanks36 yearsPetaluma, CA

Walter Janson40 yearsLodi, CA

Lawrence Lancaster35 yearsPacifica, CA

Frank Lathrop35 yearsClovis, CA

Pedro Lozano36 yearsUkiah, CA

Ramon Patricio36 yearsStockton, CA

Alfredo Salinas32 yearsFremont, CA

Gordon Vallo33 yearsMedford, ORElnona Walker32 yearsOakland, CA

Alan Watson34 yearsElk Grove, CA

Richard Wilson26 yearsRound Mountain, CA

Dwight Yocum39 yearsFresno, CA

Al Zazzeron21 yearsAlameda, CA

David Albright23 yearsColfax, CA

Jay Benson34 yearsSan Ramon, CA

Lorenzo Cordova35 yearsBakersfield, CA

Daniel Droullard33 yearsPlacerville, CA

Richard Eckhart31 yearsGilroy, CA

Leslie Hallman22 yearsAlturas, CA

Stanley Hatch39 yearsFieldbrook, CA

Jerry Hernandez33 yearsSan Jose, CA

Gregory Ketchum27 yearsBakersfield, CA

Wayne Malaspina32 yearsStockton, CA

Leonard Mattos32 yearsAtwater, CA

Jose Rodriquez31 yearsFreemont, CA

Richard Silva21 yearsSanta Rosa, CA

Raymond Sinosky36 yearsMartinez, CA

Stephen Staat27 yearsGrover City, CA

Keith R. Vancil3 yearsFreemont, CA

Larry Warden34 yearsYerington, NV

William Whitney34 yearsWillits, CA

James A. Willis34 yearsOrofino, ID

Robert Allbright28 yearsCross Plains, IN

Norman Babin35 yearsSan Francisco, CA

Gerald Beasley28 yearsJerome, ID

William M. Bonds30 yearsMerced, CA

Robert M. Bude-silich29 yearsDanville, CA

Peter E. Callaghan39 yearsSan Jose, CA

Leonardo H. Coronel23 yearsSan Francisco, CA

Morris E. Cuartero32 yearsPinole, CA

Myron K. Dong31 yearsSan Francisco, CA

Stephen N. Dutro31 yearsCottonwood, CA

Philip A. Eaton38 yearsSan Francisco, CA

Joseph A. Fillippelli14 yearsRidgecrest, CA

Frederick J. Paxton30 yearsUkiah, CA

Andrew J. Peterson26 yearsDublin, CA

Thomas A. Powell27 yearsHayward, CA

Adan F. Real33 yearsFresno, CA

Anthony A. Santos33 yearsDaly City, CA

Alden L. Seid30 yearsConcord, CA

Stanley B. Simonds22 yearsRidgefield, WA

John A. Sunseri32 yearsRohnert Park, CA

Rocky W. Trujillo34 yearsSan Leandro, CA

Sandra D. Weaver25 yearsBurney, CA

Harold J. Young34 yearsPacifica, CA

Douglas E Bock44 yearsAngwin, CA

James L Butterfield10 yearsAntioch, CA

Rick B Chadband25 yearsSta Margarita, CA

Retirees to meet with PG&E Oct. 11

Senate candidateaddresses retireeconcerns

Members of the Merced Chap-ter of the Local 1245 RetireesClub gave a warm reception

on Sept. 5 to WileyNickel, Democraticcandidate for stateSenate in the 12thDistrict.

Nearly 40 peoplewere on hand tohear Nickel addressa range of topics,focusing especiallyon the escalatingcost of health care and the erodingeffect of inflation on retiree pensions.

“This young man’s view of our stateneeds is impressive, indeed,” said Chap-ter President Gordon Borges, whoextended the invitation to Nickel toaddress the club. “By day’s end the vastmajority of our IBEW retirees advocatedthe election of Wiley Nickel as State Sen-ator of the 12th District.”

Nickel’s candidacy has beenendorsed by Local 1245. In response tothe union’s survey of candidates, Nickelindicated his support for the union on arange of recent legislative issues,including hiking the minimum wage,public scrutiny of off-shore contracting,

State Senatecandidate WileyNickel

preserving the right to take lunchbreaks, and protecting public employeepensions.

Meeting with PG&ERetirees in Merced as well as the

chapters in Vacaville, Santa Rosa,Dublin and San Jose are looking for-ward to meeting with PG&E officialsOct. 11 on the pressing issues of healthcare costs and pensions.

The meeting is a follow-up to ameeting last June, during which retireesdiscussed the hardships retirees arefacing as medical costs go through theroof. PG&E officials promised to studythe issue and present their findings inthe fall.

The Oct. 11 meeting will be held atWeakley Hall in Vacaville.

Club membership is betterdeal than ever

Restrictionsremoved ondeath benefit!

Good news for members of theLocal 1245 Retirees Club! Theage limit has been removed on

the life insurance policy that all RetireeClub members automatically receive asa benefit of membership.

Now, regardless of your age, you andyour spouse automatically qualify forthe life insurance policy—also known asthe death benefit—simply by maintain-ing your membership in the RetireesClub at an annual cost of just $36. By theway, the spouse’s membership is

included for free when the retired mem-ber pays the $36 annual dues.

The life insurance policy provides$1,000 to the beneficiary upon the deathof the Retiree Club member. In theevent that the spouse dies first, a bene-fit of $500 is paid to the beneficiary. Ifthe member dies first and the spousecontinues to pay dues to the RetireesClub, the spouse’s beneficiary is entitledto the full $1,000 benefit upon the deathof the spouse.

Retiree Club membership is a greatdeal. You receive the Utility Reporter,which always includes a report on retireeactivity—including recent efforts to fightthe ever-rising cost of medical insurance.

The Retirees Club is a fantastic bar-gain for former members of Local 1245.Check it out. Contact Office ManagerTonya Alston at 707-452-2718 ortfa3@ibew1245.com.

Retiree Club Meeting ScheduleEast Bay Chapter: 2nd Thursday eachmonth, 10 a.m., IBEW Local 595, 6250Village Parkway, Dublin, CA

San Jose Chapter: 1st Thursday eachmonth, 10 a.m., at IBEW Local 332,2125 Canoas Garden, San Jose, CA.

Vacaville/Sacramento Chapter: 2ndWednesday each month, 10 a.m., atIBEW Local 1245, 30 Orange Tree Cir-cle, Vacaville, CA.

Santa Rosa Chapter: 1st Tuesday eachmonth, 10 a.m., at IBEW Local 551,2525 Cleveland Ave., Suite B, SantaRosa.

Merced Chapter: 1st Tuesday eachmonth, 10 a.m., Merced Senior Commu-nity, 755 W. 15th Street., Merced. TheOctober meeting has been changed toOct. 16.

continued on page 10

Jack S. Freeman27 yearsSan Leandro, CA

Antonio B. Garcia26 yearsDaly City, CA

James Goforth40 yearsEl Dorado Hills, CA

Salvador Gonzalez31 yearsModesto, CA

Fenwick Y. Hill28 yearsOakland, CA

Ervin Hill, Jr.31 yearsOakland, CA

Danny R. Koehler32 yearsNipomo, CA

Rudy M. Lopez32 yearsVacaville, CA

Barbara J. Mar-tinelli22 yearsMillbrae, CA

William M. Medina26 yearsUnion City, CA

Cesar Mendoza33 yearsDinuba, CA

Ronald D. Niederbrach41 yearsEureka, CA

Kenneth R. Ocon-nell34 yearsModesto, CA

David E. Owen37 yearsChico, CA

10 September/October 2006

30 Years30 Years

35 Years35 Years

65 YearsStanley Rhoads

50 YearsEdward H. Ahlf

45 YearsJohn Anderson

40 YearsDennis BergRonald BorstKenneth HawkinsDarell “Tom” HeylRobert VieiraJames Walker

35 YearsDaniel ClancyJoseph GandolfoJoseph MartinWilliam McmillenGary Rials

30 YearsRodney CraggGregory OrrJames Thomas

25 YearsDarryl AbrahamArletta AbrahamMargaret “Mickie”

BaryolRobert BellesVickie BorstClarence Brooks, Jr.

Alan DraperRobert FordJeanne GunnellGreg IrwinKevin KerrKaren KostenbaderHoward LandisJames LappinDanny LydayMike Mc GovernDavid MisanikCarmen MorleyDarlene MoyleBetty QuinnSantiago SalazarParis ShipleyNick SilvaBrian VaillancourtJohn Weller

Reno, NVApril 8, 2006

Edward Ahlf, left,receives award fromAssistant BusinessManager Dennis Seyfer.

25 Years25 Years

David B Chan36 yearsDaly City, CA

Edward Chin33 yearsPetaluma, CA

William M Culligan15 yearsSalinas, CA

Dave C De Cloedt27 yearsSan Jose, CA

James L Dean40 yearsChico, CA

Raymond L Denson42 yearsBellingham, WA

Donald T Ericksen32 yearsHayward, CA

Anthony AEscalante33 yearsLivermore, CA

Henry S Garcia38 yearsPlacerville, CA

Patrick M Gleeson32 yearsSebastopol, CA

Joseph D Green35 yearsSo. San Francisco,CA

James L Hankins30 yearsHercules, CA

Lee S Haring31 yearsBakersfield, CA

Arthur P Hein40 yearsPleasanton, CA

Donald G Hescock22 yearsGrass Valley, CA

Clyde Howe39 yearsPlacerville, CA

Frederick L Hubbard38 yearsNapa, CA

Marcus W Hunzicker30 yearsSan Francisco, CA

Everet A Keller17 yearsEagle Point, OR

Paul A Leonardo35 yearsMerced, CA

Mary Lombardo26 yearsAptos, CA

Kenneth R Low30 yearsSo San Francisco,CA

Cecil E McLemore27 yearsBrentwood, CA

David D Meier18 yearsCloverdale, CA

Michael J Nelson27 yearsNewcastle, CA

Michael A Newsom? yearsAtascadero, CA

Wade C Null10 yearsClovis, CA

Richard A O’Connor35 yearsAntioch, CA

Peter O’Driscoll39 yearsS San Francisco, CA

Pamela E Peltier18 yearsDaly City, CA

Annette C Primus28 yearsSan Francisco, CA

Jesse A Puente31 yearsFresno, CA

Marion C Quitiquit37 yearsLucerne, CA

Robert F Reyes31 yearsBakersfield, CA

Mike T Sharp37 yearsKlamath Falls, OR

Curt P Smith34 yearsManteca, CA

Ernesto M Sotto30 yearsRedwood City, CA

L A Swisher14 yearsSan Luis Obispo, CA

Joyce A Wallace29 yearsClearlake, CA

Charles E Williams9 yearsStockton, CA

Joseph V Wisher30 yearsMartinez, CA

Alan T Yoshikawa15 yearsSan Jose, CA

David R. Zoller22 yearsFall River Mills, CA

CongratulationsRetirees!

We want you to stay connected

to IBEW 1245.

Retirees, continued from page 9

Notice regardingagency fee payersobjection plan

Any employee who is not a memberof the IBEW and who pays agency feesto IBEW Local 1245 pursuant to a unionsecurity provision in Local 1245’s collec-tive bargaining agreement has the rightto object to expenditures of fees foractivities which are not reasonablyrelated to collective bargaining or under-taken to advance the employment-related interests of employees repre-sented by the Local. The agency feespaid by a fee payer who perfects anobjection will be reduced by an amountreflecting the portion of the overallexpenditures of the Local Union that areused for non-chargeable activities.

Objections must be made annually andwill be effective for a single calendaryear. Each fee payer who wishes to filean objection with Local 1245 must do soin writing, addressed to the BusinessManager, Local 1245, Post Office Box2547, Vacaville, California 95696, bycertified mail. In registering their objec-tions, objectors must state their nameand address and that they pay fees tothis Local, and provide their nonmemberidentification number, if known, and theirsocial security number. Objections mustbe postmarked during the month ofNovember preceding the calendar yearfor which the objection will be in effect,or during the first thirty days after theobjector commences paying fees to theLocal Union as required by a collectivebargaining agreement. Objections mustbe renewed annually, during the monthof November.

Utility Reporter 11

50 YearsWilliam Atkins

40 YearsErik LarsenRenwicks Moniz

35 YearsNorman BabinEdward BroussardSharon Chan OngRichard ColgateTheresa DaiPaul DavisDonald GarrettJoseph GreenGeorge HarringtonLawrence LancasterSteve LucidoLarry MageeGeorge MathisJames NgEverlyn ParanganRobert QuinnJohn SanderMark SorichRoberto TorresSteve WalkerDouglas WolffRobert Young

30 YearsWilliam Bouzek, II

Mildred CababaanVicky CarneyCarolyn CollinsRonald DereErlinda FerrandoBrian FinlaysonDavid FongDonald FujimotoJames HankinsMarcus HunzickerCarl JacksonWarren JeeSusan LeeCheryl LewisMichael MentzerThelma MoorePacifico PanisAgripino PautinWing QuockAlden SeidErnesto SottoRichard SurinaNoel TamayoRichard ThurmanJoseph Wisher, Jr.Ping Wong

25 YearsJohn Adams, Jr.Alfredo AgorillaDonna AshleyElisa CabaticGordon CallaghanElena Campbell

Michael Chan

Larry Cordova

John Dianos

Rochelle Flax

Christina Fong

F Galea

Victoria Gonzalez

Kenneth Hockaday

John Katich

Edwin Lanuza, Jr.

Lyle Larson

Susie Lee

Cornell Lee

Lana Lee

Charles Lo

George Louie

Timothy Macaulay

Larry Magnoli

Raymond Mah

Kyoko Mitchell

Pati Nunemann

James Orlando

Michael Ouellette

Laura Perez

Robert Rael

Gil-Soon Seo

James Shanahan

Margaret Singer

William Tom

Michael Velarde

Edith Wan

Sally Wong

Wilma Wong

Pacifica, CAJuly 28, 2006

Rennie Moniz, left,receives 40-year awardfrom Business Rep.Hunter Stern.

25 Years25 Years

35 Years35 Years

30 Years30 Years

Photos: Landis Marttila

Long Line

After inspecting the fi ber optics line across Shasta Lake in Redding, Ca., PG&E Transmission Lineman Greg Garretson and Transmission Apprentice Line-

man Wes Palade recently installed missing marker balls. Over the years, several of the large marker balls have

deteriorated to the point of falling off. With the long line procedure available, these two lineworkers were able to inspect and remove what was left of the old marker balls.

After the inspection was complete, the new marker balls were installed where needed. This fi ber optic line across the lake is approximately 1600 ft. and is above a 60kv/ 115kv twin circuit.

Dangling 60 ft. below a helicopter from PJ’s of Red Bluff, the Table Mountain transmission crew fl ew to the towers on both sides and grounded the conductor before accom-plishing the work. Without this work method being avail-able, the job would have been extremely time consuming and labor intensive. By using the helicopter, the job was completed safely in approximately fi ve hours.

Installing new marker balls above Shasta Lake

Story and photo by Russ Rylee

Representing Local 1245 at the 37th IBEW Convention, held Sept. 11-15 in Cleve-land, are, standing from left: Al Fortier, Art Freitas, Anna Bayless-Martinez, Landis Marttila, Mickey Harrington, Chris Habecker, Bob Choate, Linda Jurado, Jim McCauley, and John Mendoza. Seated from left: Eric Wolfe, Cecelia De La Torre, Gloria Flores, Tom Dalzell, and Dorothy Fortier.

CONVENTION

12 September/October 2006