No progress in talks with JCP&L, striking workers
(Fri, Dec/31/2004)
NEWARK, N.J. - Six hours of talks hosted by a state mediator failed to end a strike by union workers at the state's second-largest power company.
The mediator will join representatives of Jersey Central Power & Light Co. and the union for more negotiations on Wednesday, The Star-Ledger of Newark reported Friday. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union went on strike Dec. 8 over health care costs.
"We made no progress," Ed Modzelewski, union vice president, told the newspaper. "We made a proposal in the future retirees' health care that the company rejected and the company has no counter proposal," Modzelewski said.
Company spokesman Ron Morano said costs related to retirees' health care was the issue most discussed during the negotiating sessions.
"This is not just an issue at JCP&L, it's a nationwide issue," Morano told the newspaper.
The company is using management workers with training as line workers to fill in during the strike.
In September, the company had offered a 9 percent wage increase over three years, but the union rejected it. The company said the cost of providing health coverage to the union workers has doubled from $7 million in 2000 to $14 million this year.
The strike is the first since 1987 for New Jersey's second-largest utility, which provides electricity to 1 million customers in 13 counties, primarily in the northern part of the state.
The five local unions that comprise IBEW System Council U-3 represent linemen, technicians, clerks, mechanics and other employees of the Morristown-based company.
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On the Net:
IBEW Unit 3 System Council: http://www.ibew1298.org/JCPL-FENews.htm
JCP&L: http://www.firstenergycorp.com/welcome/index.jsp
Article's URL:
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/104-12312004-425223.html
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