The Eugene Water and Electric Board will make its final offer May 28 to more than 150 of its unionized workers who are threatening to strike over health care and holidays.
The 156 EWEB employees who belong to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union voted 100-42, with 14 members abstaining for various reasons, on May 11 to authorize a strike.
Ron Johnson, assistant business manager for local union 659 IBEW, said EWEB sent his chapter a letter this week saying it would make its final offer May 28.
Negotiations have been scheduled to continue from May 23 through May 25 and on May 30 and 31 if needed, Johnson said.
Union workers are demanding better health care benefits after a survey of 10 Northwest utility companies found EWEB’s workers were second to last in welfare, pension and health care.
EWEB officials said the union’s demands would create a two-tier health care system that would be unfair to non-union workers.
The union also wants Veteran’s Day to be a holiday. EWEB officials said workers in past years voted to trade the holiday status of Veteran’s Day with the day after Thanksgiving to give them more time with their families.
IBEW’s workers at EWEB are primarily construction workers, linemen, field workers and workers who hold other electricity- and water-related positions.
They make up approximately 31 percent of EWEB’s total work force.
EWEB officials said they have contingency plans prepared should the union actually strike.