Local 369 had a record year and I couldn’t be more proud of everything that we’re accomplishing in light of so many hurdles for working-class people. Even with the closing of Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, we are maintaining our membership, cutting our costs and in some bargaining units, we have delivered record-breaking healthcare savings for you and your families. The state of our union is strong and growing.
More Members, More Power
We’re proud to welcome our newest members from the Eversource Bulk Power Transmission group, who voted 18-0 to join our great union. These hardworking men and women join our family of nearly 5,000 union members across the utility industry in Massachusetts who perform crucially important work and can now count on the industry-leading wages, benefits and training that we’ve bargained and fought so hard to win.
This is a tremendous victory, and there’s more to come. By growing our ranks, we have even more power at the State House and the bargaining table. Together, we’ll keep organizing and fighting for organized labor and middle-class families.
Fiscal Stability = Strength
When I was elected Treasurer of Local 369 in 2011, the union’s financial future was in doubt. We were saddled with liabilities and debt, but with the support of the Executive Board, Trustees and Membership, I made it our mission to get our fiscal house in order. I’m excited to announce that we’re now debt-free. In April 2019, we paid off the mortgage balance on our Braintree union hall and streamlined our operations to further reduce costs. At a time when some are questioning the future of organized labor, our union has never been in a stronger financial position. Our financial reserves will allow us to fight any corporation at the bargaining table and continue to negotiate the best contracts in the country.
Greater financial strength and stability means more opportunity: more opportunity to advocate for our members, and more opportunity to provide the services that our current and future members need.
More Benefits For You
At a time when healthcare costs are skyrocketing and families are being forced to pick up more and more of the burden, I’m honored to report that here at Local 369, we’ve successfully managed to do the opposite, lowering member healthcare costs at National Grid by an average of 28 percent.
We know that you work hard and that you and your families deserve the peace of mind that comes with exceptional coverage that you can count on when you need it most. That’s why we’re so focused on ensuring that you can get the care you need, when you need it, without having to worry about the potentially high costs of medical bills.
We’re also offering educational seminars for free financial advice and retirement planning to help make sure everyone can have a secure, dignified retirement. After a career of dedicate service, you and your families deserve to have a secure retirement to spend your days free from worry.
Ramping Up Communications
We’re ramping up our communications operations, moving at full speed to get our message out on Twitter, Facebook and on the web. We’re excited about the re-launch and re-branding of our newsletter – The Current – to bring you the latest information about your work and your union. If you have any issues or interesting stories that you would like to share with your brothers and sisters, please let us know.
There’s lots of important benefits news, advocacy updates, and events coming up that you won’t want to miss. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter at @uwua369 and be sure to text “WORKERS” along with your name to 844-696-6435 to stay in the loop on important union alerts.
I hope you and your families had a very happy and safe holiday season. There is much to be thankful for, and I’m especially thankful to all of you for your hard work in making our union strong. Remember, it’s never about the money…because it is always about the money!
In solidarity,
Craig A. Pinkham
President