Strike Averted For National Grid Workers On Long Island
MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A strike has been averted for 1,100 National Grid workers, who repair gas mains and help operate power plants across Long Island.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1049 reached a tentative agreement with National Grid late Friday after more than 10 weeks of bargaining, according to a news release. If no agreement had been reached, workers would have walked off the job at midnight Friday night.
The agreement covers more than 1,000 National Grid workers.
"We are pleased that we have reached a tentative agreement with National Grid that recognizes the contributions of our members and provides them with economic stability and security for the next four years." IBEW Local 1049 business manager Donald Daley said in the release.
Union local spokesman Pat Giudice had expressed optimism as talks progressed Friday night, WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported.
"After a very long negotiation, we're able to see a lot of log jams that were blocking us being able to complete this negotiation," Guidice said. "They've been broken, and we're seeing some significant progress on many of the outstanding issues."
Health and retirement benefits had been among the sticking points, Guidice said.
Talks Continue In Bid To Avoid National Grid Workers Strike On Long Island
"My members already contribute towards their health care," Guidice said. "We feel that they contribute a fair amount towards their health care coverage. What we do mind is paying twice as much for half the benefits."
The specifics of the agreement when it comes to health benefits were not released.
The workers have said they intend to strike if no agreement is reached, though the details ironed out late Friday were likely to prevent that from happening.
National Grid had not commented late Friday.
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