HECO, workers reach deal

Associated Press

A tentative contract settlement was reached yesterday in talks involving electrical workers and Hawaiian Electric Co. and its subsidiaries Maui Electric Co. and Hawai'i Electric Light Co.

The old contract, covering more than 1,100 members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260, expired at midnight Friday. Contract negotiations began in mid-August.

"The agreement was reached collaboratively and is fair," said Harry Kameenui, business manager and financial secretary for the union.

"It is subject to ratification by our union members on O'ahu, the Big Island, Maui, Lana'i and Moloka'i," he said. "We will present the settlement proposal to the membership next week."

Terms of the pact were not disclosed.