SDG&E Layoffs Spark Union Backlash

The head of the union representing SDG&E workers says the company has laid off 50 non-union workers.  

Nate Fairman, business manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 465, first started dropping warnings of layoffs back in August. But he told his over 3,000 members in an Aug. 4 Facebook post that SDG&E’s layoffs wouldn’t affect unionized members. 

“I made my position very clear that over my dead body would SDG&E layoff or negatively impact one of our represented families,” Fairman said. 

On Monday, San Diego Gas and Electric, via spokesman Anthony Wagner, didn’t deny the layoffs. At this time, there are no plans for further workforce reductions, he wrote in an email. 

The company blamed legislative and regulatory expectations and rising cost pressures. 

In a call with a reporter, Fairman blamed “corporate greed” and the SDG&E’s parent company, Sempra, “worrying about its stock price.” 

“It’s obviously cheaper to have contractors than internal employees,” Fairman said.  

Earlier this year, Fairman said the company offered an early retirement incentive program that hundreds of workers took. And there were layoffs in other departments like billing, customer service and facilities.  

“That says they want to downsize the workforce across the board,” Fairman said. “All we see is them cutting spending and profits continue to go up and up and (energy) rates aren’t coming down.” 

On Aug. 5, Josh Kaze who says he helped unionize SDG&E’s energy generation plants, posted a Facebook message imploring the company’s IT workers to get representation.  

“It’s dangerous to go alone. Take this,” Kaze said as he handed a binder reading “union contract” to a boy in the video.  

“SDG&E is pursing broad efforts to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and help reduce customer bills,” Wagner wrote. “As part of this broader transformation, SDG&E made strategic workforce reductions across select business functions and are working with managed service providers to drive operational efficiencies, adopt innovative technologies, and improve service to our customers.” 

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