MidAmerican Energy workers approve contract, avert strike

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2278063/

Sat. April 18, 2009; Posted: 03:58 PM

DES MOINES, Apr 18, 2009 (Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX)
There will be no strike at MidAmerican Energy Co.
Two local chapters of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers said Friday their 1,600 members have ratified what the union called the "last, best and final contract offer" from the Des Moines-based utility.

The contract between MidAmerican and IBEW Locals 109 and 499 was due to expire April 30. If that had occurred, the company had said that it would find replacements for many, if not all, of the unionized workers -- 81 of whom are in Cedar Falls and Waterloo.

Members voted Monday through Thursday, and the votes were tallied Friday.

Union leaders made it clear they were less than pleased with the utility's offer.

"Despite its profitability, the company chose to reduce the retirement benefits for our members and shift more of the medical costs to employees," Don Krause, business manager of Clive-based IBEW Local 499, said in a news release. "The hardest thing for the bargaining committees to understand was the basis for the company's decision to bargain for those cuts when, at the same time, the company has been making a profit. Hopefully, the company chooses to pass on the savings to its customers."

MidAmerican issued its contract offer April 9. In response, the unions' bargaining committees sent a letter to members that did not recommend ratification. But the committees also cautioned workers that they needed to understand the "consequences" of turning down the offer -- specifically the likelihood of a strike.

"From the beginning of negotiations, we told our members that they would have the opportunity to vote on the company's last, best and final offer," Krause said in the news release. "This week, our membership took that opportunity and decided to ratify the company's offer. While the bargaining committees did not recommend the company's offer, we respect the decision of our membership."

FULL story at link.