After construction members voted down the tentative agreement reached at the end of August with Emera Utility Services (EUS), the negotiating committees were back at the table last week. The following are highlights of the final offer from EUS:

• 4-year contract
• 2.5% annual wage increase per year on the contract anniversary
• added total employer contribution of $1/hour to employee pension, an increase of $0.25/hour per year 
• per diem language remains the same as current contract (a contract which expires at the end of this month)
• increase in bank time from 45 hours to 90 hours
• payment for travel in line vehicles where there was no provision for compensation before
• boot allowance increase $50 over life of contract

This is the final offer from EUS. If this offer is not approved, conciliation is the next step and everything is back on the table for negotiation. Voting takes place on Wednesday, September 25th at the New Glasgow Holiday Inn from 3pm to 5pm. Votes will be held the same day for members working for EUS in Ontario and Newfoundland. Voting will also take place at the union office in Bayer's Lake on Friday September 27th from 9am to 5pm.