UWUA Local 369 approved Strike Authorization Vote against National Grid; call center workers contract expires March 31

 

BRAINTREE AND NORTHBORO, MA, ISSUED MARCH 25, 2008...Approximately 125 workers at the National Grid Call Center in Northboro, MA, have voted to authorize a strike against National Grid as early as next week (March 31), when their contract expires.

Gary Sullivan, President of the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) Local 369, said today that the vote taken Monday evening was 99.5% in favor of authorizing a strike if a contract is not reached prior to the Monday March 31 contract expiration date.

The 125 workers affected are Customer Service Representatives and Accounts Processing Representatives at the Northboro Call Center. According to Sullivan, there are key issues that separate the two sides, including the issue of stressful and unsafe working conditions, cuts in benefits, wages as well as outsourcing.

"The workers are under a great deal of stress and uncertainty over the status of their work, and thus far management has not been forthcoming in negotiating a contract or in alleviating any of their concerns about continued outsourcing," said Sullivan, who added, "Anyone who reads a newspaper knows that there is a great concern with people living week to week. Many of our members are single mothers. Any working class person can sympathize with these workers, especially when their company is profiting billions."

The vote means that workers can now strike next week if a contract is not reached. "No one wants this to happen," said Sullivan, who added, "Least of all the end users of National Grid services, namely the customers who do not want to be further inconvenienced by not having responsible and qualified people staffing the call center." He added, "We call upon the management of National Grid not to operate in this ‘sweatshop' mentality any longer."