Vectren union employees ratify labor agreement

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Vectren Corp.'s subsidiary, Vectren Energy Delivery of Indiana--North, has announced that its employee-members of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 1393 and United Steelworkers Locals 12213 and 7441 have ratified a new three-year labor agreement.

The unions have notified the company Thursday evening that they had ratified the new contract.

"We are pleased that both parties were able to move forward and get a contract in place before the holidays," Vectren Vice President of Utility Operations Bill Doy said. "The new contract contains provisions that will enhance customer service and safety and ensure these employees are fairly compensated for the critical jobs they perform."

The employees, who serve more than 570,000 Vectren Energy Delivery of Indiana natural gas customers in central and southeast Indiana, had previously rejected a new three-year contract on Dec. 16.

On Wednesday, and at the request of a federal mediator, labor contract negotiations resumed at 1 p.m. and ended shortly after midnight after the parties reached a tentative agreement on the terms of a new contract, subject to ratification.

Union leadership then presented the proposal revisions to their employee-members Thursday with a recommendation that they vote in favor of the contract. Union members ratified the contract Thursday evening.

As such, the 270 employees returned to work Friday.

Vectren serves 570,000 customers in Putnam County and all or a portion of Adams, Allen, Bartholomew, Blackford, Boone, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Floyd, Fountain, Grant, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Henry, Huntington, Jackson, Jay, Jefferson, Johnson, Lawrence, Madison, Martin, Marion, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Orange, Owen, Parke, Randolph, Rush, Shelby, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Vermillion, Vigo, Wabash, Warren, Wayne, Wells and White counties.

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