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Koch M ayo rIBPA lair A. low nsend D ep u iy M ay o rM ich ael P. H u e rta C om m issionerBrooklyn.------ meBrooklyn Union Gas Strikers Reject AnotherContract Offer From Management By 2:1 VoteBY ROB TAYLORBrooklyn Union Gas Company enrichedits bargaining offer to its 2,330 out-of-workmembers of Local 101 of the TransportWorkers Union, but the union rejected thenew contract offer from the utility companyon October 22 by a 2-1 vote.The official tally, 1,093 to 464, indicated aweakening of the 2,330 union members%u2019resolve from the initial rejection in Augustwhen they voted 20 to 1 against the first offer. Both contracts were rejected by theunion negotiators and were referred to themembers for their approval by a Federalmediator.But, despite concessions from BUG withthe second offer on some of the stickierpoints including medical benefits, wagesand work rules, the clerical workers andmechanics, who began receiving unemployment checks last week, appear determinedto continue their battle.%u201cAs far as we%u2019re concerned it%u2019s the samescenario as last time,%u201d says John Herrity,vice-president of Local 101. The union hassent a telegram to the gas company requesting further negotiations and suggesting an unconditional offer that the unionmembers return to work until the dispute issettled.BUG officials maintain the company hasa policy that does not allow employees towork without a contract. The lockout tactic,however, is being used by more and morecompanies to gain concessions from unions.Brooklyn Union spokesman WilliamFederici says the company was %u201cdisappointed%u201d that Local 101 had rejected theproposal and adds that the contract offered%u201cmet their needs and their concerns.%u201dAccording to Local 101 leaders, the unionhas been fighting for wage increases of atleast four percent, an increase in the company%u2019s contribution to the medical plan andthe retention of a 37.5 hour work week forthe clerical staff.The second contract appeared to concedesome of these points to the union members.Brooklyn Union says it offered a newpackage that included the wage increasethat was being requested, a new medicalplan and the maintenance of the 37.5 hourweek. The medical coverage appears to bemost controversial as the initial offer wouldhave required the workers to pay all theirpremium with no company contribution by1988. The new offer contained two options: anew HIP program with no employee contribution, according to Federici, or the current coverage with the company picking upabout one-fifth of the premium by 1988.Herrity says the offer was basically thesame as the previous one, but he declines tocomment on whether he felt BUG had madeany concessions to the employees.%u201cI think part of the problem is that theleadership misinterpreted the contract,%u201dsays BUG%u2019s Federici, adding that the unionis very sensitive about the %u201ccontractingout%u201d portions of the offer. Brooklyn Unionsays that the city has had an infusion ofFederal money to repair streets and utilitycompanies are not going to be able to keepup with the utility work on these repairs ifthey do not contract to outside constructioncrews.The union fears that this is a method toget rid of some of the employees, butFederici maintains this is not the case. %u201cWehave guaranteed them that nobody presently working would lose their jobs. We are notreimbursed for any work we have to do ongas lines and the employees we have cannotkeep up with the work load.%u201d Federici addsthat BUG would not permanently hire moreemployees and then lay them off when thework was completed.The labor dispute is now entering its 11thweek and no additional negotiations havebeen set. Local 101 has taken out full-pageadvertisements in the Daily News accusingWe have guaranteed themthat nobody presently workingwould lose their jobs. We are notreimbursed fo r any work we haveto do on gas lines and theemployees wehave cannot keepup with the work load.the company of poor and unsafe service tothe utility customers, has marched acrossthe Brooklyn Bridge to bring attention to itsSeement and has convinced elected ofto stake a claim in the matter. %u201cWehave spoken to many officials including thegovernor and asked them to get involved,%u201dsays Herrity.Two weeks ago, State Attorney GeneralRobert Abrams joined the fray, asking theState Public Service Commission to cutBUG%u2019s rates charged to the customersbecause of the dispute. Abrams chargedthat Brooklyn Union was saving money as aresult of the work stoppage. Local 101 inaintains that the rates charged by BUG wereapproved with the salaries paid to theworkers. %u201cBut they are denying servicesand making money from it,%u201d says Herrity.Federici, however, denies that the company has %u201cmade money%u201d from the workstoppage, explaining that Brooklyn UnionGas has to pay overtime to its managementstaff who are trying to do all the requiredwork. %u201cWe%u2019re accustomed to Abrams takinghis shots,%u201d says Federici. %u201cBut whatdisturbed us most was that his actionscame so close to an election. We wonder ifthe union leaders put him up to it.%u201dThe Public Service Commission says thatit has been monitoring Brooklyn Unionsince the labor dispute began and havefound no irregularities that require actionfrom the commission.As far as safety is concerned, says Herrity, %u201cthey have been lucky to date,%u201d despiteBrooklyn Union%u2019s contention that theirmanagement employees are fully trained torespond to emergency problems. Federicisays the company wants to see theemployees back on the job soon, but so farBUG has been able to keep up with most ofthe work load.BrookeStephens &AssociatesPersonal Financial PlanningInvestment Advisory ServiceIncome Tax PlanningDon%u2019t Wait for %u201987To Plan For %u201986Certified Financial PlannersNo Charge For1 . t u %u2014 %u25a0 ^ .1J%u00bb - %u00a7%u25a0 %u201e___163 Joralemon St.Suite 1138 llliliu i v ^ u iid u iiu ir u ii Brooklyn, NY 11201 All Fees Are (718) 875-2575Tax DeductiblePage 0, TH E P H O E N IX /B R O O K L Y N .IN C S ec tio n Two, O c to b e r 30, 1986