This fall, the UWUA National Executive Board gained four new members — a dedicated group spanning both coasts and representing every corner of the utility industry. From New York’s Con Edison to California’s SoCal Gas, these leaders bring decades of experience in utility work and a shared commitment to strengthening solidarity, amplifying workers’ voices, and preparing the UWUA for a rapidly changing energy landscape.
Frank Dominguez
Local 1-2, New York
Joining Local 1-2 at age 19 as a Con Ed meter reader, Dominguez soon became the local’s youngest shop steward. Over two decades, he’s served as steward, business agent, and now senior business agent — always focused on improving representation and pride in unionism.
In his new role, Dominguez aims to refocus attention on UWUA pride and elevate the union’s visibility. “We have the best utility workers in the world,” he says. “We need to make sure everyone knows it.” He also hopes to strengthen UWUA’s influence within the broader labor movement.
Married with three young sons, Dominguez represents a generation of workers grounded in solidarity, service, and the belief that union strength grows from member unity.
Robert Griffin
Local 1-2, New York
A Con Edison employee since 2003, Robert Griffin worked across gas, water, and construction management before becoming a senior business agent. His broad experience gives him a firsthand understanding of members’ day-to-day realities.
Griffin’s priorities: engage young workers, elevate women’s voices, and rebuild unity across generations. “We have members who don’t see themselves in the future of the union,” he says. “We need to fix that.” He’s passionate about inclusion in what remains a heavily male industry: “Women are entering the trades in greater numbers. They deserve to be heard, supported, and respected.”
A lifelong New Yorker and second-generation utility worker, Griffin is grounded in UWUA’s values while pushing for a more equitable future. Married with five children, including a son at Con Edison, he’s proud to see the next generation carrying on the family tradition.
Bill Gilbertson
Local 132, California
With a 14-year career spanning several roles in SoCal Gas customer service and distribution divisions — from meter reader to energy technician to lead construction technician — Bill Gilbertson brings a fighter’s spirit and a deep commitment to protecting the future of natural gas workers.
Now president of one of the largest gas locals in the country, Gilbertson defends good union jobs amid California’s push toward electrification. “We’re not against progress,” he says. “We just want to be part of the solution — not casualties of it.”
Since being diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, a form of blood cancer, in 2015, he has continued to lead with tireless energy — commuting four hours between his home in Visalia and Local 132’s hall in Glendora. “You don’t stop showing up for your members,” he says. “You keep pushing forward.”
Through labor council activism, community outreach, and solidarity efforts, Gilbertson is elevating Local 132’s visibility and building bridges across Region V. He credits his wife and three children for keeping him grounded and believes his fight — both personal and professional — embodies what the UWUA stands for: perseverance, unity, and resolve.
Richard Nasca
Local 1-2, New York
A third-generation union member, Nasca grew up where solidarity was a way of life. His grandfather, a WWII veteran and business agent, taught him the value of respect and service — lessons he carries into every aspect of his work.
He joined Con Edison in 2002, advancing from general utility worker to senior substation operator, steward, and business agent. His vision for the executive board centers on connection — linking locals nationwide so their experiences shape national priorities.
“Politics drives the utility sector,” Nasca says. “We need to educate policymakers about what our industry truly needs — reliable infrastructure, responsible generation, and a trained workforce.” He views the union as a national family that grows stronger through political engagement, education, and preparation for the future of energy.