National Grid workers OK 4-year contract calling for 4% annual wage hikes

A majority of National Grid’s unionized workers on Long Island voted to approve a four-year contract that provides them with 4% annual wage increases, the union said Monday.

The vote tallied over the weekend indicated that 682 of the workers in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1049 voted in favor of the contract, with 90 voting against, according to Pat Guidice, the local’s business manager. More than 300 members either didn’t vote or didn’t receive or post their mail-in ballot in time to cast it, he said.

The union represents about 1,100 workers who operate the Long Island natural gas network, serving about 600,000 customers and National Grid power plants contracted to LIPA across the region.

Average union workers whose existing pay is $57.07 an hour will see an increase to $59.35 in the first year, and up to $66.84 an hour by the fourth. Average National Grid workers known as A1 mechanics make around $120,000 a year with overtime, Guidice said. The compounded four-year increase amounts to 17.12%.

"I’m happy with the agreement," said Guidice. "It’s a good and fair agreement.” He commended union members for "standing together in solidarity” through the months of negotiations, authorizing a potential strike, voting down an initial offer and rallying for better terms.

In March, workers voted down a four-year contract which union officials said included 3% annual pay raises.

National Grid, in a statement, thanked members for ratifying the contract and Guidice for his "leadership through the negotiations.”

In addition, the company thanked its "dedicated employees for the work they do each day to deliver safe and reliable service for our Long Island customers.”

Guidice said he was less successful in getting National Grid to move on retirement savings, noting that the company increased the matching contribution to the 401(k) plan by 0.5% to 4% for those who contribute the maximum of 8% of their pay into the plan each year.

"It fell short of my targets for retirement, but even so, rank-and-file members have good jobs with a decent retirement system they can be proud of,” Guidice said. "We look forward to getting refocused on doing our jobs serving the community.”

The contract includes a switch to a new medical plan provider, Aetna, from the former Blue Cross/Blue Shield, with "little to no disruption” in the service offerings and doctors who can be accessed in the plan, said Guidice, who had proposed that the company switch to a union-administered plan.

Members will also get a life insurance plan that would pay two times their annual base pay in the event of their death at no cost, and free legal plans, among other benefits, he said.

Union members in February had voted to authorize a strike if an agreement wasn’t reached by the Feb. 14 contract expiration, but a strike was avoided after Gov. Kathy Hochul urged both sides to keep negotiating. 

By Mark Harrington

mark.harrington@newsday.comMHarringtonNews

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