Negotiations Update.
January 18, 2012

Joint Steering Committee Update
 

Sisters and Brothers,
The Joint Steering Committee understands that productive conversations bearing on negotiations took place this morning between high-level national union officials and executives of the Gas Co.  Those discussions will continue in Southern California on January 27th and 28th in the hope of concluding an agreement. 

As result of these positive discussions and as a sign of good faith, the JSC is agreeing to the request of our national officials to stand down from any picketing or striking until after those discussions have either produced an agreement or failed.

However, while we are postponing any immediate action, we will be using the time to continue making all necessary preparations for whatever action is required should those talks fail.  In our view it is only your actions, solidarity and determination which have resulted in these discussions.  We hope they succeed.
 
In Solidarity,
 
Art Frias          Dave Sherman  Mike Barber     Bob Hoffman
Nancy Logan   Robin Downs     Marvin Turner  Rick Lankford
Jackie Allen     George Garcia  Javier Salas    Ken Balderama
 

Negotiation Update 

January 19, 2012
 
Today the Company continued their charade in negotiations by bringing package number 5!    Once again the changes in the package were miniscule,   a 6 months date change on the post retirement medical and on some of the Company’s proposals on ordinary medical (like doing away with Pacific Care, something they proposed and did without negotiating or getting the Union to agree.  Now it appears they want to put it back, and are proposing to do away with it again but six months later.  Charge with NLRB (Labor Board) already filed!!!

 The Union made a proposal in an effort to come to some agreement on the issue of ETR schedules (trying to ensure a three day weekend for employees scheduled to work Saturdays), trying to improve the racial and gender diversity of the arbitration panel, and giving potential bidders another chance at a job before the Company hires from the outside if the Company takes more than 30 days to start the hiring process. 

Yesterday, we corrected an underestimate of the UFCW pension benefit proposed by the Union last week.  Turns out that at age 65 our proposed plan produces an annuity benefit worth almost twice as much as the Company’s cash balance plan and would save the Company and the rate payers a lot of money – millions of dollars – over the next 30 years.

Stay united and stay strong.

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT!!!

Stay tuned...

 

GAS WORKERS MARCH