Local 1245 members and community supporters rallied at NV Energy headquarters in Reno on May 27 to urge the rejection of the company’s contract proposal.
The union’s bargaining committee recommended “Vote No” because the contract proposal takes away benefits from current and retired employees, including a pension conversion plan that will hurt most employees and could cause some to lose up to 82% of their pension. The company proposal also would eliminate most of the contractual protections in terms of working hours and eliminates all contractual protections for retirees.
At the May 27 rally, many members took advantage of the opportunity to cast their ballots in public. Completed ballots were dropped in a nearby mail box.
The union is urging all members to complete and mail in their ballots immediately.Ballots will be counted June 17, so ballots should be mailed by June 12 to assure that they will arrive at union headquarters in time to be counted.
The union hopes a solid rejection of the company’s proposal will get NV Energy back to the bargaining table for good-faith bargaining. It is possible a federal mediator could be invited to join the negotiations to facilitate a resolution.
Members at NV Energy who have not received a ballot should immediately contact the union to request a replacement. Either call 707-452-2728 or e-mailawl3@ibew1245.com and leave the following information:
- Say you are requesting a new ballot
- Your name (spell last name)
- Your address (spell street name)
- Company you work for (NV Energy)
- Your phone number (with area code)
Do not deface your ballots as defaced ballots will be void and your vote will not count.
Photos from the May 27 rally in Reno appear below.
Jeff Turk and Dave Miller. At right, Advisory Council Member Michelle Ramsey.
Mike Armstrong, left, collects completed ballots for mailing. David Thieme, at right, offers his opinion, which was widely shared by members marching on NV Energy’s Reno headquarters.
