Industry Issue Spotlight

Contractors who work for PG&E are already familiar that PG&E recently adopted a new policy that requires using IBEW signatories and members on various scopes of work traditionally performed by other crafts. For example, traffic control contractors who have traditionally performed work with Laborers are now losing work to IBEW signatories under this mandate. However, this change not only jeopardizes the work of traffic control contractors, but also that PG&E will enact this mandate on current and future electrical line undergrounding work and even other scopes. This real threat has been a core focus for UCON for over a year.

We are working closely with the Basic Crafts (Laborers, OEs, and Carpenters) and a growing coalition of contractors, associations, and other unions statewide seeking a legislative solution to prevent Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs) from enforcing jurisdictional preferences that undermine our contractors' abilities to win work and perform it with craft workers of their choice. UCON's efforts appear to have already made some impact as we expect PG&E to shortly issue a memo reversing their position on their traffic control jurisdiction mandate. Stay tuned for further updates on this critical industry issue.