Iowa Utility Workers Vote for IBEW

By a nearly 3 to 1 margin, Aquila (formerly Peoples Natural Gas of Iowa) workers voted for respect on the job with Local 204, Cedar Rapids.

The February 6, 2003, 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 Frank E. "Tad" Gusta said a combination of hard work and 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 noted that the campaign benefited from the guidance of Eleventh District International Vice President William C. Eads, who spent many years as an organizer. "Our folks put 150 percent into this campaign," Gusta said. Aquila has a unionized work force in Missouri and Nebraska, so it did not vigorously fight the organizing drive, Gusta said.

"They’ve worked with the IBEW before so the fear factor from the company’s end wasn’t bad," Gusta said. "A lot of companies that I worked with liked having a union there. They like having someone who will communicate with the membership."

The local held a meeting with the Aquila workers on March 1, 2003, in Des Moines "to determine their priorities for upcoming contract negotiations," said Local 204 Business Manager Ronald Garrett.

IBEWCURRENTS

April 2003 IBEW Journal