When employees at Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) talk about “having a voice,” they mean it literally. Through decades of sustained political engagement and grassroots organizing, UWUA Local 686 has achieved something unprecedented in the American labor movement — a union seat on the Philadelphia Facilities Management Corporation (PFMC) Board, which oversees PGW’s management, budget, and long-term planning.
The achievement represents a first-of-its-kind milestone in U.S. public-sector labor history: a union with a direct role in corporate governance. According to Local 686 President Keith Holmes and UWUA National Vice President Craig Pinkham, it was no accident. It was the product of deliberate political strategy, disciplined relationship-building, and a membership that understands the power of civic participation.
Building relationships that matter
For Holmes, political engagement isn’t a side project; it’s central to how the union protects jobs and benefits. The local’s strong relationship with the Philadelphia City Controller’s Office — whose leader also chairs the Philadelphia Gas Commission — has become a cornerstone of its political strategy.
“When former city controller Rebecca Rhynhart ran for mayor in 2023, we’d always had a great relationship with her,” Holmes recalled. “But when she lost, and longtime staffer Christy Brady stepped into the role, we built a new relationship right away.” Brady, who spent 25 years in the controller’s office before her election, quickly proved to be a strong ally.
For the past few years, Local 686 has hosted major fundraisers for Brady — events where city and labor leaders come together to network. “We make it a celebration,” Holmes said. “People have fun, but it’s about showing our support for someone who supports us.” The most recent event raised between $30,000 and $40,000.
A strategic endorsement pays off
That groundwork paid off during the 2023 mayoral race. As the election drew near, and with Local 686 still undecided on an endorsement, then-Councilmember Cherelle Parker approached Holmes seeking union support. The local’s leadership quickly recognized an opportunity to secure lasting influence.
“We told her, ‘We’ll support you — but we want a seat on the PFMC Board,’” Holmes recalled.
When Parker won, she kept her word. For the first time in PGW’s history, labor gained a formal voice in management oversight. Pinkham was appointed to represent the union — not as an observer, but as a full voting member.
Political savvy and union strength
Pinkham said the achievement underscores Holmes’ political skill and courage. “That endorsement wasn’t easy,” he explained. “Keith had to choose between a longtime ally and a candidate who could deliver lasting gains. His decision got Local 686 the board seat, maintained a great relationship with the new controller, and positioned the local as a political powerhouse.”
The payoff came quickly. In 2024, Local 686 reopened negotiations early and secured a four-year contract with 16 percent wage increases — far exceeding what other city unions achieved. Its members enjoy no-cost health care, a no-layoff clause, and pension options that few public-sector workers still have.
The COPE engine behind it all
Behind Local 686’s political influence lies one of the strongest COPE (Committee on Political Education) programs in the UWUA. About 80 percent of the local’s 1,100 members contribute, typically $1 per week — an initiative reinforced during every new-hire orientation.
“Every new hire meets with us during their first week,” Holmes explained. “We tell them about COPE — how we beat back the proposed sale of PGW in 2014 and how political action keeps their jobs secure. Almost everyone signs up.” The result is a consistent $900 in weekly contributions.
Those contributions fuel year-round engagement — from campaign donations and community events to golf-outing fundraisers and election day canvassing. Still, Holmes is selective. “We don’t just give money to anyone,” he said. “They have to support us 100%.”
A model for labor power in public utilities
For Pinkham, Local 686’s success offers a blueprint for public-sector unions nationwide. “What Keith did is a model,” he said. “If other locals can build this kind of political engagement, they’ll not only protect their members — they’ll help steer their industries.”
Holmes agrees. “We’re a city-owned utility in a very political town,” he said. “If we’re not engaged, decisions get made without us. But when we show up — in elections, in meetings, and at the table — we win.”