Tuesday, January 18, 2005

Alliant Cuts Back on Service, IBEW Local 949 (Burnsville, MN) Members Laid Off

Alliant Energy workers laid off
Last Updated: 01-13-2005 07:30:53 PM

(KAAL) -- Several local Alliant Energy employees have been laid off. Vince Guertin, of IBEW Local Union 949, said last week's notice affects 11 employees who are also members of the union. Guertin says Alliant failed to meet its union contract obligation by not discussing other job possibilities within the company before issuing a layoff notice. He told 6 NEWS FIRST alliant violated the union agreement by not keeping union members informed of work within their jurisdiction, and gave work union members would normally do, to contractors. Line crew foreman Steve Arneson works in the Albert Lea area and is scheduled to be laid off.

"We're the people that restore power and in this type of, you know weather you cut personnel, what's your response time you know, and I'm not only an employee I'm a stock holder and we just don't know where this company is going."

In an official statement Alliant said, quote: "The decision will not impact the quality of customer service in the Minnesota-IPL Electric service area. Our employees will continue to focus on safety and providing safe, reliable and environmentally sound service.”
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