Related Articles
Iowa Utility Votes for IBEW February 14, 2003
By nearly a 3 to 1 margin, Aquila (Peoples Natural Gas of Iowa) workers voted for respect on the job with Local 204, Cedar Rapids. The February 6 election netted 124 new members who are primarily meter readers and maintenance and repair crew working throughout the state of Iowa. Eleventh District International Representative Tad Gusta said a combination of hard work, cooperation between the local and district staff and an enthusiastic Aquila organizing committee share credit for the IBEW victory. "We had a fantastic group of people who worked hard to see the messages were delivered and they kept it going," said Gusta, who said they benefited from the guidance of Eleventh District International Vice President William Eads, who spent many years as an organizer. "Our folks put a 150 percent into this campaign." Aquila has a unionized workforce in Missouri and Nebraska, so it did not vigorously fight the organizing drive, Gusta said. "Theyve worked with they IBEW before so the fear factor from the companys end wasnt bad," he said. "A lot of the companies that I worked with liked having a union there. They like having someone who will communicate with the membership." Next the local will survey the workers to determine their issues for the first contract. Negotiations will likely center on job bidding, dignity and fairness on the job, as well as pension and medical insurance, both for active workers and retirees.
|
|
