NorthWestern Energy/U26
 2011 Contract Negotiations

August 16, 2011

U26 Members to Vote on 2 Year Wage Offer

The U26 negotiating committee, agreed to send out a 2 year - wage only contract offer to a vote of the membership.  The offer is:

2012  - 2.75%

2013 - 3.0 %

Note: The Company also proposed that the Gas Foreman and General Foreman wage differential would increase from 7% above the Journeyman rate to 10%.

At the System Council U-26 meeting on July 23rd, the membership overwhelmingly recommended that the negotiating committee pursue a wage only proposal to the Company.  The Company agreed to pursue the option if terms were reasonable.  Both sides reserved the right to enter full contract talks if wages could not be agreed upon.

The committee said that the offer is more than some recent agreements and less than others.  With the current state of the economy, they said that the offer is a reasonable one.   The Union negotiating committee is recommending a yes vote on the proposal.

Members also will discuss the option to move to the same health plan as non-union and Montana union employees.  The employee cost share would remain at 14%.  This is significantly lower than many other agreements.

There will be further updates on meeting and voting dates.  Voting is expected to be complete by early September.