There has been encouraging movement today. Discussions at the table have been more positive on key issues. We are hopeful that we may be able to push for an agreement before expiration.
Today we met with the Company and passed a counter proposal regarding their uniform and boot allowance proposal. There was much discussion around the need for a more generous Company contribution to both and we presented the results of our research to support our position.
Your bargaining team had several meetings with the company today. We proposed a fair benefit package for all employees, including retirees. The company seemed taken aback that we asked them to consider bringing premiums down. We explained that we expect our healthcare and benefits to be just as important as corporate profits.
The bargaining team met at the Utility Operations table today and passed a proposal to expand the definition of time worked. We then had discussion around the other proposals on the table, and once again were disappointed the Company?s comments were centered on flexible work rules and costs of adding improvements to the contract.
Your bargaining team met with the company and discussed several items pertinent to our overall success. The company made it clear that improvement to employees? healthcare and pension plans are dependent on how much work we are willing to allow to be shifted into the Wire Tech scope of work.
The bargaining team met today at the main table where the company presented a number of counter proposals to several of our proposals. We are caucusing among ourselves and have scheduled a meeting with the company to respond.