Union

The local IBEW 1547's three divisions voted down the company's offer on a four-year contract extension.

The company's offer is as follows for the O & E employees:

2013 Raise       3.75%
2014 Raise       3.25%
2015 Raise            0
2016 Raise       2.25%

Healthcare cost increases for 2013:  Company pays 60%, employee 40% with a $500 deductible.

Increases 6-10% for the following three years.

This means the lower grades, mainly Member Services, will be working for less wages in four years than they are now.

Still, you gotta have health insurance and you gotta have a job and there are so many out of work now, even up here.  The Anchorage School District just laid off over 200 people and the teachers are up in arms.

I feel we are very fortunate.