Posted: May 1, 2008
A large and energetic mobilization of union members has produced a new agreement with Turlock Irrigation District.
The new agreement provides IBEW members with a 4% wage increase on May 1, along with a 3% rubber gloving premium. The four-year agreement provides an additional 3.75% general wage increase per year. Under the new agreement the employer will pick up 85% of the medical premium payment, a significant improvement over the previous formula.
Members of IBEW Local 1245 overwhelmingly ratified the new agreement on April 29.
The favorable outcome to the protracted dispute was made possible by strong member support for the negotiating committee, which included the Turlock Irrigation District Employees Association as well as IBEW Local 1245 negotiators. The member mobilization included a mass meeting on March 27, with over a third of the two unions’ combined membership in attendance. Over 200 people signed a petition in the following days that urged the District to settle the dispute in a fair manner.
The unions had declared an impasse in the negotiations earlier in March after mediation failed to produce any significant movement by the District. The matter then was scheduled to go before the District’s Board of Directors. Over 200 members of the two unions requested time off to attend the Board meeting, an astonishing display of unity that prompted the Board to urge the general manager to get personally involved in the negotiations.
In addition to the wage increases, the agreement improves the pension formula to 2.5% at age 55 and makes improvements to the vision and dental benefit, among other provisions.
Negotiating for the union were Rich Lane, Ken Gross, Aaron Baker, and Rick Brenes, along with Business Rep. Lynne Morel.