Posted on: Friday, April 30, 2004

Teamsters authorize strike at gas utility

By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer

Unionized employees of The Gas Company voted Wednesday and yesterday to authorize a strike, if necessary, as the company negotiates a new contract with the Hawaii Teamsters and Allied Workers, Local 996.

A strike would affect 33,000 residential customers throughout the state, as well as restaurants, hotels and laundry businesses that rely on gas service.

Officials with The Gas Company said they do not anticipate a strike because they are not asking union negotiators for any givebacks.

Contract talks have been going on since February and have focused on union proposals, said Steve Golden, spokesman for The Gas Company.

Teamsters President Mel Kahele said 94 percent of the Teamsters who cast ballots statewide voted to authorize a strike. The union says it represents about 220 employees; Golden said the number is closer to 210.

Both sides have been meeting with federal mediator Ken Kawamoto, who mediated the recent strike between the Teamsters and Hawai'i's two largest concrete producers.

The main issues in The Gas Company talks focus on pension, health and welfare benefits and revising "language in the contract to provide more job security," Kahele said.

The union's five-year contract with The Gas Company expires tomorrow.

Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8085.