a:25:{s:9:"weblog_id";s:1:"4";s:8:"entry_id";s:0:"";s:6:"sticky";s:0:"";s:14:"allow_comments";s:1:"n";s:16:"allow_trackbacks";s:1:"n";s:10:"entry_date";s:19:"2010-06-02 05:18 AM";s:15:"expiration_date";s:0:"";s:23:"comment_expiration_date";s:0:"";s:8:"category";a:1:{i:0;s:1:"4";}s:9:"author_id";s:1:"4";s:6:"status";s:4:"open";s:14:"trackback_urls";s:0:"";s:18:"versioning_enabled";s:1:"y";s:5:"title";s:31:"IBEW/NECA Seek Competitive Edge";s:9:"url_title";s:31:"ibew_neca_seek_competitive_edge";s:6:"submit";s:6:"Submit";s:11:"field_id_26";s:31:"IBEW/NECA Seek Competitive Edge";s:11:"field_ft_26";s:4:"none";s:11:"field_id_31";s:0:"";s:11:"field_id_44";s:249:"A new agreement signed by IBEW Local 1 and the St. Louis Chapter NECA takes a proactive approach toward the loss of market share inflicted by the double whammy of the recession and a new electricians union formed by the Carpenters District Council. ";s:11:"field_ft_44";s:4:"none";s:11:"field_id_28";s:20:"NECA, IBEW, contract";s:11:"field_ft_28";s:4:"none";s:11:"field_id_29";s:1258:"<p>A new agreement signed by IBEW Local 1 and the St. Louis Chapter NECA takes a proactive approach toward the loss of market share inflicted by the double whammy of the recession and a new electricians union formed by the Carpenters District Council with a major wage and benefit cut and work rule changes.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Doug Martin, executive director of NECA, said that his 147 NECA members and signatory contractors have seen almost a 40 percent cut in the hours worked by the 3,100 electricians they employ.</p>
<p>Martin said that the new agreement, which went into effect June 1,&nbsp; includes an 8.2 cut in wages for the rest of this year, increasing to 8.8 percent in January. With decreases in benefits said the total package represents a 10 percent reduction in the hourly rate paid by IBEW/NECA customers. The agreement can be reopened in a year.</p>
<p>On top of the decreases the union/contractor team has revised work rules in recognition of the additional competition mounted by nonunion contractors and the entry into the market of Local 57 of the Carpenters union.</p>
<p>\"Our goal is to allow our contractors to compete in this environment and going forward, and to get our trained electricians back to full employment,\" Martin said.</p>";s:10:"category_0";s:1:"4";}