National Grid, union continue contract talks; Gov. Hochul urges 'fair agreement'

Talks to hammer out a new contract for nearly 1,200 unionized National Grid workers continued into the night Friday, with Gov. Kathy Hochul urging both sides to reach a "fair agreement." 

Leaders of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 1049, said they had presented several counteroffers to one presented by National Grid earlier in the day. By 9 p.m. the union was preparing to "counter their counteroffer," said Pat Guidice, business manager of the local.

The problem, he said, was that National Grid was "rearranging the deck chairs" without adding new funding to the offer. "It's the same money," he said. 

The union membership has authorized a strike Saturday morning if a new contract isn't reached by midnight, though it was far from certain such a move was imminent. 

Hochul, in a statement late Friday, 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 declined to say if he'd extend the contract expiration, as Hochul's statement suggested. "I'm hoping for a deal tonight," Guidice said, adding that he'd spoken to Hochul. "I'll keep my commitment to her as best I can. I have deep respect for the governor." 

Hochul's statement called the unionized workforce "the backbone of Long Island’s energy infrastructure, keeping our communities powered and safe."

Earlier in the day, Guidice reported National Grid had "moved on items that are important to us, including wages and benefits, but we're not there yet."

"The last thing I want to do is put my members out of work," he said, but also noted he had "no interest in negotiating past midnight." 

The union represents 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.

Earlier this month, union members voted 617 to 252 to reject an earlier company contract offer. National Grid said the tentative deal provided "fair wage increases, job security, and equitable retirement and medical benefits." Guidice said workers expressed anger about that offer during a meeting to discuss it.

The union is hoping for more than London-based National Grid’s offer of a 3% pay hike over each of the next four years, better pension benefits than the company has offered and movement to an IBEW-administered medical plan the union said could save the company millions of dollars in coming years.

Union members have support from dozens of local and state leaders and held a rally last weekend to demonstrate that support.

National Grid has sent workers notices telling them they won't be paid and their benefits paused during any work stoppage. 

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.

The union has said the rate hikes combined with healthy profits at National Grid are reasons the company can do better in raising the bar on salaries and benefits for unionized workers.

National Grid has said its contract offers have been "fair to our employees and affordable for our customers."

By Mark Harrington

mark.harrington@newsday.comMHarringtonNews

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