IBEW 410 ratifies first contract; Local 1900-Pepco talks continue

After four failed organizing drives and two years of negotiation, the 1,400 members of IBEW Local 410 ratified a first contract last Sunday with Baltimore Gas and Electric. “Congratulations to the Local Union 410 bargaining team, and welcome to the IBEW,” said Fourth District International Vice President Brian Malloy in announcing the conclusion of a 20-year campaign for the protection of a negotiated and democratically approved collective bargaining agreement. The members of Local 410 now officially become members of the IBEW, the largest single-day growth of the Brotherhood in more than a generation, said Director of Professional and Industrial Membership Development Jammi Juarez. “It took about a year and half longer than I thought it would, but this deal is pretty close to what we originally offered,” said Local 410 Business Manager Eric Gomez. “But however long it took, this changes things.” IBEW.org
Meanwhile, IBEW 1900 has now met with Pepco 31 times in ongoing negotiations there. “We continue to make proposals and counter-proposals in an attempt to reach a fair contract,” reports Local 1900 president Jim Griffin. The Federal Mediator continues to work with both sides as negotiations continue; the contract has been extended through Sunday July 7.
photo: Members of the negotiating committee and stewards of Baltimore Local 410 celebrate the contract ratification: A.J. Aziz (Negotiating Committee), Robert Sexton (steward) Jeff Flannery (steward), Fourth District International Representative Gina Cooper, Dave Waldhauser (steward) Gerry Werner (chief shop steward), Business Manager Eric Gomez, Marvin Austin(Negotiating Committee), Matt Tanner (steward) Ben Ferstermann (Negotiating Committee), and Fourth District International Representative Chuck Tippie, Mark Dill (Negotiating Committee).