City Utilities ratifies labor agreement

The City Utilities board met July 14 to give a status report of the agreements up for approval.

One agreement, a Statement of Intent submitted by the Laborers International Union of North America Local 676, was approved. It will run July 16-April 2, 2009.

Two expiring labor agreements were extended for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Amalgamated Transit Union. Final contracts for both unions will be determined after further discussion between the CU negotiating committee and the unions’ negotiating committees.

“The IBEW and Transit Union held their vote and they did not approve (the agreement). We are continuing to meet with them,” said Mark Viguet, a spokesman for CU.

Viguet said CU plans on keeping its final offer on the table for both contracts and has no intention of negotiating terms.

The main element of each contract is a 3 percent increase in wages in 2006, an additional 3 percent increase in 2007, and an increase between 3 percent and 5 percent for both 2008 and 2009.

Union employees at CU provide construction, office, transportation and electrical services.