The new contract provides annual wage increases of 2.25 percent, 2.75 percent and 3 percent over the agreement’s three years, a $1,000 bonus to all union-covered workers for having ratified it, and improvements in the defined benefit and 401(k) retirement plans for current employees, Cooper said. It also continues the job security guarantees of the prior contract, enhances workers’ health care and retirement benefits and improves disability benefits for disabled workers, Cooper said.
A majority of workers approved the new deal in a vote on Thursday, April 22, union leaders said. Negotiators for Vectren and the union had reached the agreement on April 14.
“We very much appreciate the patience of our Ohio work force, both union and management, who faithfully performed their jobs after the contract expired,” said Dan Berry, president of Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio.
The old contract expired on Oct. 31, 2009, and was extended until Nov. 10, 2009. In January, union members voted 118-25 to reject a prior Vectren contract offer.
The contract covers nearly 150 Vectren employees in the Dayton area, including service technicians, underground construction technicians and propane plant operators. The company delivers natural gas to about 317,000 customers in all or parts of 17 counties in west-central Ohio.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or jnolan@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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