Utility Workers Union of America Local 127 has been in dispute with Rocky Mountain Power over renewing the worker’s contract since September, when their old contract expired. About a week ago, the local voted to authorize a strike if their contract needs are not met.

When RMP proposed the new contract, the union rejected it the beginning of November. Then in December, after meeting jointly with a federal mediator to negotiate changes to the contract, the union rejected the second contract proposed by RMP.

Harold Giberson, president of the local, said 97 percent of union members voted on the second contract with 76 percent rejecting it and 88 percent voting in favor to authorize a strike. The local is unhappy about the new contract’s pension benefits and raise of medical premiums. Giberson said RMP wanted to raise premiums by 140 percent.

On Tuesday, representatives from RMP and Local 127 met again in another attempt to come to an agreement. The meeting lasted six hours.

Giberson said some changes were made to the contract, but he still is not satisfied with the outcome.

“I’m still disappointed,” he said Wednesday.

However, he said it will be up to the members of the local to decide to accept or reject the latest contract offer, which he expects members to vote on Jan. 11-15.

Giberson said ultimately a strike is the local’s last resort.

“We don’t want to go on strike, but we may be forced into that corner,” he said.

Rocky Mountain Power, a division of PacifiCorp Energy, said their second contract was “fair and responsible and balanced,” said Jeff Hymas, RMP and PacifiCorp spokesperson.

Regardless if a strike happens or not, RMP said they will continue to offer service to customers and non-union members are “standing by” to fulfill that commitment, said Hymas.

“We have stated that we’re still willing to negotiate with the union and in addition to that, we are prepared to meet the needs of our customers no matter what the outcome is,” said Hymas.

Giberson sees it differently. He thought RMP was willing to budge a bit more than they did but after Tuesday’s meeting RMP said they would not make any further changes to the contract. RMP also said that with their last contract, however. (On Monday, Hymas said the second contract RMP offered to the local was their “best and final” proposal.)

Giberson also believes a strike could cause RMP customers to go without power. There are 571 Local 127 workers who are employees of RMP. If the local strikes, RMP service will be affected, Giberson said.

“And that means Pinedale goes without power, or it could,” he said.

For the complete article see the 01-01-2010 issue.