
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 29, 1994                   TAG: 9404290131
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By ALLISON BLAKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

APCO UNION SOUGHT

A union organizer said Thursday that workers in Appalachain Power Co.'s Pulaski division apparently concerned about problems magnified by this winter's ice-driven power outages, want to unionize.

The request to the National Labor Relations Board for a union election was mailed Tuesday, said Merle Wykle, business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, local union 978.

Apco spokesman Dick Burton said the company is still awaiting official notification of the filing from the national board.

"We understand it has happened," said Burton. "I would point out that some four years ago, in 1990, a similar petition was filed (from) Pulaski. Our employees voted not to be represented by the union."

Wykle, a former power company worker, said employees backed off their effort to unionize when "the company asked for more time to work out the problems without bringing the union in."

The Pulaski Division is one of a handful that has not unionized within the company, he said. The employees who voted to ask for a union election include those who work on line crews, station crews, as meter electricians and store attendants in Christiansburg, Floyd, Galax, Hillsville, Pearisburg, Pulaski, and Wythville.

"They're disgrunted," said Wykle. "They want a voice in their job."

Workers were paid overtime during icy weeks that found them stringing downed lines and chasing outages in remote areas, but the situation exacerbated existing problems, said Wykle.

"They want a real grievance procedure. They have one, but it's really a figurehead-type procedure where management has the last say," said Wykle. "They're short of manpower to get the job done. They're overworked. Everyone likes overtime, but they're getting too much. Everybody's fatigued."

That, in turn, has raised safety concerns among workers, said Wykle. Also, workers want rotating work assignments.

"Fair and equal treatment," said Wykle. "They would like that."

Between 60 and 65 workers were eligible to vote to hold the election, which was approved by a majority. The board should respond to their request in about six weeks, said Wykle.

by CNB