TO: ALL UWUA MEMBERS AT NATIONAL GRID
FROM: BARGAINING COMMITTEE 4-27-07
SUBJECT: CONTRACT NEGOTIATION UPDATE

THE U.W.U.A. LOCALS HAVE MET WITH NATIONAL GRID ON A DAILY BASIS AT THE CROWN PLAZA HOTEL IN WORCESTER. WE HAVE EXCHANGED PROPOSALS AND ARE NOW DEBATING EACH ONE. THE COMPANY IS PROPOSING MAJOR TAKE-A-WAYS TO OUR EXISTING CONTRACT IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS (TO NAME A FEW):

HEALTH BENEFITS RETIREMENT BENEFITS
SICK PAY 401K
LIFE INSURANCE STORM RESTORATION
OVERTIME RESPONSE RATE CONTRACTORS
VACATION POLICY SENIORITY
REST TIME WAGE REDUCTION
POST RETIRMENT MEDICAL FITNESS FOR DUTY

NOTHING HAS BEEN AGREED TO AND WE ARE STILL VERY FAR APART. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN MEETING WITH THE IBEW AT AN ATTEMPT TO STAY ON THE SAME PAGE AND REMAIN UNITED.

THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS RUMORS DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS, SUCH AS THE UNIONS TURNED DOWN A CONTRACT EXTENSION. THIS RUMOR AND OTHERS ARE NOT TRUE AND COULD BE MANAGEMENTS’ ATTEMPT AT DIVIDING US. IF YOU HEAR A RUMOR NOTIFY YOUR LOCAL IMMEDIATELY!

WE MET WITH ONEILL AND ASSC., OUR CONSULTANT ON PUBLIC RELATIONS, ON FRIDAY APRIL 27, 2007. TOGETHER WE COMPLETED OUR STRATEGY IN THE EVENT THAT NATIONAL GRID CONTINUES TO BE UNREASONABLE IN THESE NEGOTIATIONS.

ALL MEMBERS THAT BELONG TO A COMMITTEE ARE REMINDED TO COMPLETE THEIR TASKS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND REPORT TO YOUR RESPECTIVE LOCAL.

WE WILL CONTINUE WEEKLY UPDATES UNLESS SOMETHING UNUSUAL OR MAJOR OCCURS. THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR YOUR SOLIDARITY AND PATIENCE WHILE WE FIGHT CORPORATE GREED.

REMEMBER UNITED WE BARGAIN DIVIDED WE BEG!