United Mine Workers of America International Vice President Mike Dalpiaz confirmed that the union miners are voting to ratify the deal he struck with Energy West representatives on October 20. Dalpiaz explained the deal to current employees of the mine on Wednesday, November 5 at the LDS Church in Huntington. The miners then were given 48 hours to read and review the contract, discuss it with their families and obtain further information from union officials.
Starting at 11 a.m. Friday morning, Deer Creek’s current union employees began voting on whether or not to accept a deal that will affect thousands of current and retired miners. Voting was set to continue through 12.30 p.m.
According to a source close to the mine, the miners voted on a two contract package Friday morning, one that would go into effect should Energy West remain the owner of Deer Creek and one should they sell or lease the mine.
Just over 125 full-time Deer Creek coal miners voted Friday to accept the deal, yes or no. Their decision by single ballot will affect literally hundreds of miners who retired as UMWA memers.
“We have a very democratic organization,” said Dalpiaz. “By accepting this deal I only secured a vote. The active miners decide by single ballot and they decide for everyone affected by the deal.”
Dalpiaz has been in negotiations with representatives from Energy West’s parent company PacifiCorp and MidAmerican Energy since November 5, 2012.
“I negotiated this deal all across this country,” said Dalpiaz in an interview on Thursday evening. “We didn’t have a set schedule, but for almost two years we discussed this contract every chance we got. We literally spent thousands of hours in negotiations.”
According to one source, the contract ensures that the miner’s medical coverage and retirement benefits will stay intact, as long as Energy West owns the mine. Should they sell however, the second contract voted upon Friday would go into effect.
The second contract reportedly states that once the mine is sold, all those still working would have their retirement benefits frozen. While they would keep everything they had earned up to that point, Energy West would no longer be responsible to continue any investment into their retirement fund. The new owner would then be required to start a 401K account in the name of all current employees, according to the source.
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