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A new contract agreement between Dominion and its employees appears to be coming down to the wire.
The contract is between Dominion Hope and the United Gas Workers Union.
Recently, Calhoun's Dominion employees voted unanimously to reject the companies offer, which allows the cost of health insurance to go up 1000%.
The current deal expires April 1st.
The two sides are continuing to talk, but appear to be far apart on health insurance issues.
Willard Swiger, Region 1 Director of United Gas Workers Union Local 69-2, says Dominion has moved slightly from its original offer that included "enormous medical premiums", saying the current offer would hurt workers and retirees.
Swiger says Dominion has been very profitable in recent years, significantly exceeding its profit projections last year, and he believes the company could come up with a better, more affordable health care plan for its workers.
"They can get group plans with reduced rates and they can pass those savings on to the employee, but they are just not willing to do that," he said.
The union overwhelmingly rejected the first contract offer.
Dominion Hope spokesman Bob Fulton said the company hopes to reach an agreement by the deadline. He says the company doesn't want a work stoppage, but is preparing for one.
"As any prudent company, if it does come to a work stoppage, we're fully prepared to continue to operate our system safely and reliably and serve our customers," Fulton said.
Swiger says "These are the guys called out of bed early in the morning when someone smells gas or their gas goes off. We're the ones that are taking care of that and helping make Dominion profitable. But we go to the negotiating table and that's how they reward us..."
Union workers rallied in Bridgeport yesterday.
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