NYPA trustees approve contract with IBEW

The New York Power Authority Board of Trustees has ratified a contract with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers that will raise salaries and require union members to increase contributions for their health insurance.

Members of IBEW locals 2032 and 2104 overwhelmingly approved the contract earlier this month.

"This agreement contains many provisions that address the concerns of our unionized workforce while allowing NYPA to achieve greater certainty over our labor costs," said Gil C. Quiniones, NYPA president and CEO. "We look forward to strengthening our relationship with the IBEW."

The contract covers about 560 employees who work at NYPA's St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project in Massena, the Niagara Power Project in Lewiston, the Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project in Schoharie County and small hydropower facilities in five upstate counties.

The agreement is retroactive to April 1, 2011, when the last contract expired, and runs through March 31, 2019. There will be wage increases beginning in 2014 and every year going forward.

At the same time, the parties agreed to gradual increases in health care contributions to reflect escalating costs. Changes in retiree health insurance coverage for both current employee and new hires were also made to include the assumption of some costs, eligibility thresholds, and continuing plan terms in retirement.

The parties also agreed to increases in tuition reimbursement for craft workers and to work together to revitalize the Power Authority's apprentice program.