Utility Workers Union of America Local 132 hailed SB 705 becoming law after supporting the bill by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco). Local 132 president Arturo Frias stated the bill would create “a safety culture that focuses on prevention.” The union is in the midst of contract negotiations with SoCal Gas. It represents some 4,000 SoCal Gas employees. One issue in the negotiations, according to the union, is maintaining the safety of the company’s gas lines. SoCal Gas spokesperson Denise King said safety also is the company’s “number one priority.” After temporarily extending the union’s contract for two weeks on Oct. 1, the union and utility appear to have drawn close on one safety provision at issue in the contract talks. The two have tentatively agreed to form safety committees within the utility’s various departments and geographic units. Labor and management representatives would sit on the committees. However, the two still had substantial differences over another safety provision. The union wants the company to allow its members to stop working when they consider situations unsafe and to not face any disciplinary action as a result. The utility is countering with a proposal that simply states it agrees to abide by SB 705, which it supported, and all other legal safety requirements for pipelines. The differences remained at press time as union workers and the local version of the Occupy Wall Street movement--Occupy L.A.--rallied outside SoCal Gas headquarters late on Oct.14 in downtown Los Angeles. The temporary labor contract extension was set to expire at midnight on Oct. 15.