Vectren and its union employees have reached a new 3 year contract.
Employee-members of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 1393 and United Steelworkers Locals 12213 and 7441 notified the company Thursday evening they have ratified the new agreement. The company locked out union workers last week after employees rejected a contract offer.
“We are pleased that both parties were able to move forward and get a contract in place before the holidays,” said Vectren’s Executive Vice President of Utility Operations Bill Doty. “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.”
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. The union members ratified the contract Thursday evening.
As such, the 270 employees will return to work Friday. These 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 with the company on Dec. 16.
Vectren Energy Delivery of Indiana – North serves 570,000 customers in 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, Putnam, Randolph, Rush, Shelby, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Vermillion, Vigo, Wabash, Warren, Wayne, Wells and White counties.