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Organizing Dakota Gasification Co.

August 9, 2001

First-Ever Contract Ratified

Some 471 previously unorganized plant workers at Dakota Gasification Company in Beulah, North Dakota, have gained their first-ever collective bargaining agreement with the company - a contract secured with IBEW representation during contract negotiations.

"Because North Dakota is a ' right-to-work' state, IBEW Local 1593 decided to take a novel approach to organizing employees at Dakota Gasification," said Business Manager Gary Leinius.  "The IBEW agreed to represent the employees in contract negotiations with the understanding that they could choose union membership pending a union-bargained contract.

Following tough negotiations that required federal mediation, an agreement was reached earlier this year.  Plant employees ratified the contract June 12, 2001, and it was signed July 10.  Now that the contract has been approved, the plant workers can elect to become IBEW members.  "The membership drive is now under way and workers are signing membership cards," said Leinius in early August.

Highlights of the one-year contract include a 5 percent wage increase as well as seniority, grievance and arbitration provisions.  "Under the new contract, everyone is eligible to bid jobs," said Leinius.  The new IBEW members work as plant operators, electrician, welders, mechanics and machinists, and in warehouse, lab, inspection, operations and maintenance positions.

Serving on the IBEW negotiation team were:  Eleventh District International Representative James L. "Jim" Simmons, Local 1593 Business Manager Leinius, Local 1593 President Gerry Henriksen and Dakota Gasification employees Norlan Bayer (a member of Local 714, Minot, North Dakota), Valdie Magstadt, Gordon Leingang, John Peterson, Nate Corbin and Ken Unruh.

In addition to the new members at Dakota Gasification, Local 1593 also represents some 800 members employed at rural electric cooperatives, power plants and a coal mine.

The Dakota Gasification plant produces synthetic natural gas from lignite coal.  The company is a subsidiary of Basin Electric Power cooperative, which operates seven coal-fired power plants in North Dakota and Wyoming.