National Grid, unions reach deal

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2007/05/12/national_grid_unions_reach_deal/

National Grid, unions reach deal

By Christopher Rowland, Globe Staff | May 12, 2007

National Grid USA , the state's biggest electric utility, and unions representing its line workers and customer service agents, struck a tentative deal for a new contract last night, averting a strike that had been set to begin just after midnight.

The unions' representative said they won important provisions from National Grid to increase worker staffing levels and invest more money in preven tive maintenance on power lines and equipment as well as 3 percent raises in each of the four years of the contract. The company declined to confirm details of the pact pending union ratification.

"It's a good deal for us," said Gary Sullivan , president of Local 369 of the utility workers' union. "The company was very cooperative about addressing what our issues were."

In Massachusetts, National Grid operates the utilities formerly known as Massachusetts Electric, Eastern Edison, and Nantucket Electric. It serves 1.3 million home and business customers in 169 cities and towns, including Brockton, Gloucester, Medford, Quincy, and most of the Merrimack Valley and Worcester County.

More than 1,300 members of several Utility Workers Union of America and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers locals had been poised to strike at 12:01 a.m. today in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and parts of western New Hampshire. National Grid executives and supervisors were prepared to step in for line workers , and the utility said it had taken other steps, which it would not elaborate on, to ensure service would not be affected.

Both sides said last night they were pleased to avert a strike.

FULL story at link.