National Grid, union continue talks as contract expiration looms

Negotiations for a new contract between National Grid and its nearly 1,200 unionized workers were moving at a glacial pace, the union said Thursday, as the parties neared another contract expiration deadline of Friday night.

“We’ve had four weeks of extension and my patience has worn thin,” said Pat Guidice, business manager for Local 1049 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

The union has threatened to strike if a new contract agreement isn’t reached by midnight Friday.

The union represents workers who operate the Long Island natural gas network, serving some 600,000 customers, and National Grid power plants contracted to LIPA across the region.

National Grid late Thursday said it “remains at the table and has consistently made responsive and reasonable proposals with fair wages, health care and retirement benefits.” The company added, “It takes two parties to be reasonable and come to a deal.”

Guidice said the union on Thursday afternoon had “moved on a couple of items” in its contract requirements and was “awaiting a company response.”

“I’m hoping my movement stimulates a counter offer or a response on their part,” said Guidice, who declined to be more specific.

Earlier this month, union members voted 617 to 252 to reject an earlier company contract offer. National Grid said the tentative deal provided “fair wage increases, job security, and equitable retirement and medical benefits.” Guidice said workers expressed anger about the offer during a meeting to discuss it.

The union is hoping for more than London-based National Grid’s offer of a 3% pay hike over each of the next four years, better pension benefits than the company has offered, and movement to an IBEW-administered medical plan the union said could save the company millions of dollars.

Union members have support from dozens of local and state leaders and held a rally over the weekend to demonstrate the support.

Meanwhile, workers have received notices this week reminding them that they would not be paid wages and their benefits would be paused during any work stoppage. “You can, at your own expense, continue group medical, dental and/or vision coverage through COBRA,” the notice said, adding, “You will not have access to National Grid facilities, vehicles, email, computer networks and other company property for the duration of a work stoppage.”

The union contract isn’t the only issue facing the company. On Friday a coalition of advocacy groups is preparing to rally in Mineola to protest National Grid’s second of three planned rate hikes through 2026. The groups in a statement said they’re rallying in support of the NY HEAT Act, which they said would limit the amount households must pay for natural gas. National Grid said the hikes are needed mostly for infrastructure improvements.

National Grid in 2024 received approval from the state Public Service Commission to increase average bills by more than than $33 a month for 2024-25, another $8.19 a month starting next month and another $18.81 a month in 2026, Newsday has reported.

The union has said the rate hikes combined with healthy profits at National Grid are reasons the company can do better in raising the bar on salaries and benefits for unionized workers.