DOMINION EMPLOYEES REJECT CONTRACT PROPOSAL - Calhoun Workers Vote 34-0 Against, Health Insurance Increasing 1000 Percent

(03/01/2008)

Union employees at two Dominion Resources subsidiaries have rejected a new six-year employment contract, mostly because of gigantic increases in health insurance they are being asked to pay. Calhoun's Dominion employees voted 34-0 against the contract. New reports say 867 members voted this week, with 836 voting against and just 31 voting in favor of the new deal. Dominion has about 1,000 members in the Utility Workers Union of America Local 69-II. The proposal calls for Dominion Transmission and Dominion Hope workers to get a 3.5 percent pay raises and protection if the companies are sold. The union recommended members to vote no because of increaseD health insurance premiums. Region One Director Willard Swiger says the raises are fine, but medical insurance premiums would increase about 1,000 percent and that is unacceptable. Swiger says this vote should send a message to the company that the members will not take those types of premiums. He says many members went as far as to say that they would be willing to strike in April when the current contract expires if the next deal is anything like the one they just voted on. Swiger says he hopes it doesn't come to that and that the union is willing to go back to the negotiating table. Richmond, Virginia-based Dominion has been trying to sell Dominion Hope, which has about 115,000 West Virginia gas customers. Dominion Transmission transports and stores natural gas in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Maryland and Virginia.

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