(NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK) – A new three-year contract covering more than 500 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)-represented New York Power Authority (NYPA) Workers has been overwhelmingly ratified, Union Officials tell WNYLaborToday.com.

The agreement, which runs from 2019 through 2022, covers 350 Workers represented by Massena-headquartered IBEW Local 2032 and another 208 Workers represented by Niagara Falls-headquartered IBEW Local 2104.  The Workers are employed in a number of job categories, including Electricians, Linemen, Mechanics, Operators, in Clerical, as Clerks and in the Building and Maintenance Department.

The new pact includes a 2% wage increase in each year of the three-year contract, IBEW Local 2104 President/Business Manager Lou Fazzolari tells WNYLaborToday.com.  In addition, there was “minimum impact” to IBEW Members in health care benefits and contributions, a “couple of minor co-pay adjustments,” he said.  “The retirement plan stayed the same,” he added.

The IBEW Membership “overwhelmingly ratified” the new agreement during voting that was held during the month of June, Fazzolari told Your On-Line Labor Newspaper.

“We’re ‘excited for the opportunity to provide security and stability for our Members for the next four years,’” said Fazzolari, who responded “yes” when asked if the contract reflected the appreciation of the work that IBEW Members who are employed by NYPA make across New York.

The contract covers IBEW Members employed at NYPA’s St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project in Massena, the Niagara Power Project in Lewiston (Niagara County), the Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project in Schoharie County, the Clark Energy Center in Marcy (just north of Utica), and small hydropower facilities in five other Upstate New York Counties.

The previously negotiated agreement runs through March 31st, 2019.

NYPA is the Nation's largest State Public Power Organization, through the operation of its 16 Generating Facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines.

NYPA, which uses no tax money or state credit, finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity.

Also according to information posted on its web site, more than 70% of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower.