National Grid, union leaders reach tentative contract agreement

National Grid and union leaders representing nearly 1,200 natural gas and power plant workers on Long Island reached a tentative contract agreement in the early morning hours of Saturday, both sides said.

The pact, which still must be ratified by workers, averts a strike that could have been called for Saturday. 

Pat Guidice, business manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1049, who had been at the table until nearly 4 a.m., said Saturday he already signed the tentative pact and would be endorsing it to his members.

"It's a good contract," he said. "I don't have everything I want but it's an agreement I can endorse."

The four-year agreement "is an improvement" over the tentative contract National Grid had offered workers last month, which he said at the time workers greeted with "anger." 

National Grid in a prepared statement said the two parties "signed a new tentative collective bargaining agreement that provides job security, fair wage increases and equitable retirement and medical benefits for our workers, who dedicate themselves to meeting the needs of our customers safely, reliably and affordably, day in and day out."

A ratification vote is expected to take place by mail in coming weeks, after a union meeting to discuss the tentative offer. A vote tally will take place in April. 

"This is a fair contract that respects our dedicated workforce," National Grid spokeswoman Wendy Frigeria wrote in an email.

Specifics of the agreement were not available Saturday.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, in a statement to Newsday late Friday, said she had urged "both parties to stay at the bargaining table in good faith until they reach a fair agreement that recognizes these workers’ vital contributions while ensuring reliable service for New Yorkers." Guidice said he'd spoken with the governor during negotiations Friday.

The union had been advocating for a pay hike higher than the 3% that London-based National Grid had offered in early rounds of bargaining. The union also wanted significantly improved pension contributions from the company and movement to an IBEW-administered medical plan the union said could save the company millions of dollars in coming years. Earlier this month union members voted 617-252 to reject that previous offer, which Guidice did not endorse.

Contract talks come as the second of three planned rate hikes for National Grid's Long Island customers are scheduled to take effect.

National Grid in 2024 received approval from the state Public Service Commission to increase average bills by more than $33 a month for 2024-25, another $8.19 a month starting in April and another $18.81 a month in 2026, Newsday has reported.

By Mark Harrington

mark.harrington@newsday.comMHarringtonNews

Mark Harrington, a Newsday reporter since 1999, covers energy, wineries, Indian affairs and fisheries.