IBEW Local 611 reaches 11th Hour Agreement with PNM

PNM, workers union leaders reach labor agreement
By James Monteleone
(Farmington, New Mexico) The Daily Times
Posted: 05/05/2009 12:00:00 AM MDT

ALBUQUERQUE — PNM officials and leaders of the electrical workers union reached a contract agreement in late-night negotiations Friday, according to a company spokesman.

PNM and the Electrical Workers Local Union 611 earlier were unable to reach agreement through the final day of the 2005 labor contract April 30, union and PNM officials said, despite holding more than 50 negotiation meetings since February.

Although the contract was expired, negotiators agreed to extend the outdated agreement through May 14, giving union members an opportunity to approve the settlement.

Work never was stopped as a result of the union negotiations running beyond the contract period.

"We did reach a tentative agreement on Friday evening, and the union will be putting it to a vote of its membership either this week or next," PNM spokesman Don Brown said Monday.

Brown declined to comment on details of the agreement.

Union President Carl Condit did not return calls for comment Monday. The union previously has declined to comment on the status or terms of the contract negotiations.

Preparing for a potential walkout of union workers on Friday if a new contract wasn't reached, PNM hired and trained temporary workers to ensure operations at the San Juan Generating Station would continue, according to an internal PNM memo.

After the preliminary contract agreement was reached, the recently hired temporary workers were released from the company Saturday, Brown said. The number of temporary workers hired and laid off by PNM was undisclosed.

Approximately 670 PNM workers statewide are represented by the Albuquerque-based union, about a third of PNM's total work force. Nearly 75 percent of the 381 employees who staff the San Juan Generating Station are represented by the union.

James Monteleone:

jmonteleone@daily-times.com