Massachusetts Gas Workers Vote to Authorize National Grid Strike

Gas workers with USW Locals 12003 and 12012 announced today that they have voted overwhelmingly to authorize leadership to call a strike against National Grid over the company’s attempts to gut critical safety and worker protections.

The vote comes as the current National Grid contract is set to expire on June 24th. Workers are prepared to strike if necessary in part due to National Grid’s continued push to make significant changes to the way gas work is done in Massachusetts. This includes outsourcing critical safety work that is currently performed by experienced employees, such as meter changes and live gas work. The company also wants to use contractors to perform all mark out work – a vital job that ensures National Grid’s gas mains in Boston and other communities are protected from inadvertent damage that could result in leaks, ignition or explosions.

“The work done by our members is critical, but it can also be extremely dangerous,” said John Buonopane, president of USW Local 12012. “Putting inexperienced or lesser trained contractors in charge of tasks like mark outs and live gas work could create unnecessary risks. We hope National Grid will work with us to negotiate a fair contract that makes public safety a priority.”

Replacing experienced gas workers with contractors can also be costly. For example, an outside contractor from Massachusetts hired by National Grid undermined a pipeline while performing gas work in Rhode Island last year. A major gas leak occurred, which forced dozens of people to evacuate and shut down a highway for hours, costing the city of Providence over $130,000. National Grid was fined $101,000 for violations related to the gas leak.

National Grid is also pushing a number of proposals that would cut employee health and retirement benefits and drive down wages. This includes, reducing healthcare benefits for current employees and retirees, and eliminating protections for long-term employees against other cuts. National Grid also wants to change how overtime is allocated, a move that could create safety and fatigue concerns by piling up excessive worker hours over a short period.

“At a time when National Grid is flush with profits and has just received a massive tax cut from the Trump Administration, there is simply no financial justification for these cruel assaults on workers’ livelihoods,” said USW Local 12003 President Joe Kirylo. “The National Grid proposals are an attack on the middle class. We will continue to fight for a reasonable contract that reflects the crucial work these dedicated men and women do each day across Massachusetts.”

Gas workers also recently rallied on the steps of the Massachusetts State House with MA AFL-CIO President Steven Tolman, calling on National Grid to negotiate a fair contract.

United Steel Workers Locals 12003 and Local 12012 represent about 1,100 gas workers employed by National Grid in more than 85 Massachusetts cities and towns. Their contract with National Grid expires on June 24th, 2018.