A contract agreement has been reached between Penelec, a
subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., and the International Brotherhood
of Electrical Workers Local 459, the company announced Friday.
“We have a contract. The majority accepted it and we will go
back to work Monday morning,” said Greg Wolfe, assistant business
manager for IBEW Local 459.
The union voted in four sections, with votes held Monday in
Towanda; Tuesday in Clearfield; Wednesday in Johnstown and
Thursday in Corry.
This means the Bradford shop will be open Monday for the first
time since May 21, as union workers went on strike at 11 p.m. that
day and the shop was closed accordingly.
“It is good the guys are getting back to work. We’ve come a long
way,” said Paul Kemery, Bradford union steward.
Minimal staff was working out of the Warren shop for the
duration of the strike, including some contractors hired to help
supplement Penelec management staff who were handling work during
the strike.
“We are pleased; We look forward to workers returning Monday,
July 20,” said Scott Surgeoner, Penelec spokesman. “It is a
three-year contract which includes no wage increase this year; a 2
1/2-percent wage increase for 2010 and a 2 1/2-percent wage
increase for 2011.”
When asked if there were any other notable points to the
contract, Surgeoner said no.
In a release from Penelec Friday announcing the ratification of
the contract, James Napier, Penelec Regional President, stated “We
are pleased that a new contract has been ratified so we can all
continue to focus on our most important job – providing Penelec
customers with the high-quality service they expect and
deserve.”
Workers mentioned concerns with safety on the job, callout
requirements for overtime and sick leave issues when discussing
their reasons for the strike.
Pickets were held in Bradford and Warren during the strike, as
well as many other locations throughout Pennsylvania. A rally was
held in Erie recently and a planned rally in Warren was canceled in
deference to the preliminary agreement between the union and
Penelec.
IBEW Local 459 represents 517 employees, including linemen,
substation electricians, meter readers and support personnel for
Penelec in the Erie, Towanda, Clearfield, Johnstown and Oil City
areas. Penelec serves more than 590,000 customers in 31 counties in
Pennsylvania.
FirstEnergy Corp. is headquartered in Akron, Ohio, and provides
energy to 4.5 million customers within a 36,100-square-mile area of
Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The corporation, through its
seven electric utility operating companies, comprises the nation’s
fifth largest electric system.
