Dispatch Selects Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO Local 369

On January 20, 2010 the UWUA was informed by Ms. Quinn, of the The Labor Guild that employees of National Grid had again selected UWUA as their representatives.  Ms. Guild in part wrote, "I hereby certify that I have supervised a card check on the question of representation for purposes of collective bargaining of the employees of  National Grid in the Dispatch Operations at the Lincoln, RI and Westborough, MA facilities by Utility Workers Union Local 369."  adding that, "A majority of the eligible employees having authorized representation by Utility Workers Local 369, I certify for purposes of collective bargaining, Utility Workers Local 369 shall represent the employees at  Dispatch Operations at the Lincoln, RI and Westborough, MA facilities".

The process was agreed to as part of the contract extension negotiations concluded in September 2009 between the UWUA, AFL-CIO and Ngrid.

ORGANIZATION OF THE LINCOLN & WESTBORO DISTRIBUTION DISPATCH CENTERS

The signatory parties agree to the following provisions with respect to the UWUA’s  organizing campaign of the Lincoln and Westboro Distribution Dispatch Centers:

1. The Company will provide the Union with the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the Lincoln and Westboro Associate Operators and System Control Center Operators.

2. The Company agrees to remain neutral consistent with Article 1B of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.  All provisions of Article 1B apply unless specifically modified as part of this Agreement.

3. The Union agrees to provide the Company with a start date for the organizing campaign, and said organizing campaign shall not exceed 60 days.  A 30-day extension will be granted upon request by either party.

4. During the organizing campaign, the Company agrees that the Union may conduct two on-site meetings with the Operators.  One meeting will be conducted in Westboro, and one meeting will be conducted in Lincoln.  The Union may request one additional meeting at each location and the Company will grant the request.

5. The parties agree that the card to be utilized in the organizing campaign will be identical to the one utilized in the engineers’ organizing campaign, 

6. The parties agree that the Labor Guild will be responsible for validating the signed cards.

7. The Company agrees to recognize a union upon receipt of proof of support by a majority (50% + 1) of those eligible for inclusion in the bargaining unit.

8. If the Union is successful in their organizing campaign, a new contract will be negotiated in the next following six months.  If after six months, there is no agreement on a new contract, the Federal Mediation Board will be contacted for the purpose of assigning a mediator, and the issue will be put to mediation.