Dear Members of Gas Workers Local 18007,
I am writing to you today as your Business Manager to address some pressing concerns regarding our ongoing relationship with People’s Gas Company, particularly in relation to the pipeline replacement program. It is disheartening to see the lack of collaboration, transparency and teamwork that has characterized our interactions on this critical initiative. Despite our shared goal of ensuring safe and reliable gas infrastructure for our communities, the company’s approach has left much to be desired, resulting in reduced opportunities for work and overtime for our dedicated members.
As many of you are aware, the driving factor behind this slowdown appears to be tied to the company filing for a rate case with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), which is likely early next year. This filing creates a bottleneck, as the company will await ICC decisions before committing to further projects, effectively stalling progress and limiting job hours for our workforce. We understand the importance of the regulatory process, but it should not come at the expense of replacing critical infrastructure and ultimately our members’ livelihoods. Once again, we will intervene to protect and advance the interests of the membership.
Rest assured, your Executive Board has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to advocate for you. We have engaged at every level to push for fair treatment and continued employment opportunities. In particular, I have personally intervened in several regulatory proceedings, submitting testimony and arguments on behalf of the union to emphasize the importance of maintaining steady work pipelines. We are currently fighting to maintain our PRP customer-facing work and to increase 18007 resources for the project via promotions and new member hires. We believe we have strong arguments to back up our position centering around work jurisdiction, cost and the experience and diversity of our membership.
Additionally, our involvement in the ultrasonic meter docket has been instrumental in challenging proposals that could undermine job security and safety standards. These efforts are ongoing, and we remain committed to fighting for outcomes that benefit our membership and ensure the safety of customers.
On a related note, I want to alert you to the upcoming town hall meeting hosted by the company. While it may be presented as an open forum for discussion, we believe it is largely fluff designed to appease the ICC and project an image of transparency without substantive action. We encourage you to attend and voice your concerns but approach it with a critical eye—real change will come from our collective advocacy, not performative gestures.
Together, we are stronger. Please reach out to me or any member of the Executive Board if you have questions or ideas. We will continue to keep you informed as developments unfold.
In solidarity,
Sean Gaurige
Business Manager Local 18007
